Beauty gives dating advice

Soon after graduating from Newport Harbor High School, Danielle Elizabeth got married, had kids and settled down.

When she got divorced 14 years ago, her life was turned upside down and suddenly being a stay-at-home mom was not enough to keep up her lifestyle in Newport Heights with two young kids.

She did odd jobs in different industries, and in the meantime threw herself back into the dating pool.

After a slew of experiences — good, bad and just plain embarrassing — she decided to write a book.

She self-published “Diary of Dating From a Beautiful Single Woman,” a couple months ago and it’s now being sold on Amazon.comand a variety of other Internet book vendors. It is based largely on her own attempts at finding Mr. Right, which haven’t been successful yet, she said.

The Pilot caught up with her to ask a few questions about what it’s like for a single mom to date in Newport Beach.

Tell me about the dating scene in Newport Beach.

The dating scene is very tough. It’s hard to find someone you actually have that chemistry with. In Newport, people are so superficial and they are more into what you look like, what you drive, what you’re wearing.

What are some of the challenges of dating when you have kids?

For people who have children there has to be some kind of understanding with the other person. Your children take up so much of your time. There are going to be days when you plan something and you say, ‘Oh my God, I can’t go because my son’s sick,’ or ‘I can’t do anything this weekend because I have a water polo game to go to.’ Another thing is you can’t bring someone in your life to meet your kids until it’s a really solid relationship, and I’ve been guilty of that before myself. A lot of people think that being single is a taboo once you’re a certain age, but it’s not a bad thing.

Have you had some bad dates?

We all have more bad dates than good dates. You’re going to dinner and there are those silent pauses and you’re wondering, ‘How am I going to get out of this date?’

For example, I was set up on a blind date and the gentleman arrived at my home and he wasn’t exactly what was described to me. He was the complete opposite. He was much older and during our dinner his dentures fell out. I’m thinking, “Oh my God! This is so embarrassing. Do I know anybody and did anyone see this?”

Another time, I actually went on a date with a guy and we went to the Taste of Newport and unbeknownst to me a girlfriend of mine was there too and she had had breakfast with him two days prior. And of course that makes a very awkward situation. Of course, we didn’t go on a second date.

What about good dates?

A good date is someone you can really carry on a conversation with. Their car is running, they’re wearing decent shoes and their dentures don’t fall out.

One time, I was asked to go to breakfast, so I rolled out of bed and surprisingly enough the guy picked me up and we drove down the coast to the Montage and had brunch and that was nice because I thought we were going to go to Starbucks and have a bagel and some coffee, but he actually mapped it out and put some thought into it. It was romantic, overlooking the ocean on a sunny day.

Where are some hot spots in Newport?

The Wildfish seems to be a big place. Mastro’s Ocean Club, Bandera, Villa Nova. I think there are a lot of things on PCH by Corona del Mar. The Cannery has a nice atmosphere. There’s a really great fire pit there. It’s cozy, inviting and warm. But I think too we’re so fortunate in Newport Beach because there’s always the beach. We have bike riding and surfing and it’s much easier to meet people when you’re out and about. You can go to the gym, take a dance class, join a singles club.

What was your goal with the book?

I just wanted to give people not hope, but the realization that you’re not alone: You’re not the only one that’s had a bad date; you’re not the only one that’s been stood up. There are not a whole lot of books out there like that.

Reporter ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at alan.blank@latimes.com.