As Kate Middleton strolled to and from church with the royal family on Christmas Day, she looked stunning as usual.  But, the thing that turned heads and made headlines were the new pair of sparklers she wore with her outfit.  We’re talking about the $3,000 diamonds dangling from her ears.  People.com has confirmed that the jewels were by Kiki McDonough, the designer who made similar items for Prince William’s mother Diana.

What are some unique gift ideas for your partner?

Cupid’s Advice:

When it comes to jewelry, diamonds are still a girl’s best friend, but shopping for your boyfriend is a little different!  Cupid has some tips to help you win his heart.

1. Wardrobe:  Guys can always use new clothes, and picking them out is a plus.  However, instead of getting something for him, buy something sexy for yourself that turns him on.  It’s a win-win gift situation that could heat-up your romance during the cold winter season.

2. Game day: Relationships require sacrifices, so if you’re not a sports fan it’s time to be one for a day.  Buy your guy tickets to his favorite sporting event and he’ll be part of your cheering team for a longtime to come.

3. Appetite: When aren’t men hungry?  Making a romantic homemade dinner that includes his favorite foods will leave him feeling more content than ever.

What gift did your guy love the most?  Share your comments below!

By Amy Osmond Cook, Ph.D.

When it comes to gifts, I am an expert–at receiving them.  I love gifts of any kind … from other people.  (No, I’m not going to buy myself a $285,000 pink Bentley like Paris Hilton did last year.)  The problem is, when it comes to giving gifts, I am a nervous wreck.

Gift giving represents two things: (1) that you care about a person enough to give a gift, and (2) that you know a person well enough to give something that he or she will like.  Mess one of those up, and it does some damage to your relationship.

Related: Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

Take, for example, the gift I gave to my husband five years ago.  We were newly married, and I wanted to get him something personal and meaningful.  He loves golf, and he’s a funny guy–so I thought the trick remote control golf ball (that you can move when your opponent is about to swing) was going to be a hit.  I waited in anticipation as he opened the box and saw a momentary look of confusion before he masked it with a smile.  He thanked me and said that he loved it, but the damage was done.  In that one look, I knew that my gift had tanked.

Fast forward five years.  After watching him play golf (a lot!) and listening to his golfing adventures with his buddies (a lot more!), I would never give him a remote control golf ball.  I now know that, for him, the rules of golf are sacred.  A serious golfer never tries to move an opponent’s ball–especially for a laugh.  It violates one of the cardinal rules of sportsmanship.  (So does laughing at someone when he shanks his shot — I found out the hard way!)  My gift bombed because I didn’t know my husband well enough.  I knew that he loved golf, but I missed the intricate details.

Stories like mine are a dime a dozen–a woman receives a vacuum cleaner from her husband, and she runs to her room and cries.  A man receives a toolbox and feels ashamed that he doesn’t know how to use the tools inside.  For better or worse, we attach special meaning to gifts, especially over the holidays.  So if you want to put some currency in your partner’s emotional bank account this holiday season, buy . . .

Related: 10 Gift Ideas

1. Something intimate. Take note if your partner voices his wish list for Christmas.  If he cares enough to say what he actually wants, paying attention to that will make him feel valued and understood.  If he doesn’t have a Christmas wish, try to find something that will have special meaning between the two of you.  Still have those Angels tickets from your first date?  Frame them!

You can also make a gift meaningful by giving to something your partner cares about.  For example, many celebrities, like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, care deeply about charitable causes and prefer donations to their favorite charities to extravagant gifts.

2. Something valuable. Take this relatively.  If you want to take your relationship to the next level, give your partner something that says, “You are so valuable to me, I would sacrifice anything to have you in my life.”  That’s what women hear when their boyfriends buy them expensive jewelry or spend all day helping them cook.  It’s not the money or the time, exactly–it’s the fact that someone would sacrifice to give them something beautiful or meaningful.  You don’t have to be like Nick Cannon and buy your significant other a $400,000 Rolls-Royce Phantom or pull a Jude Law and buy your love a $200,000 diamond-and-sapphire ring, but it should be better than the pack of bubble gum my friend got from her boyfriend one year.

If you’re like me, gift giving is a nail-biting phenomenon.  That said, if you give your partner something meaningful and valuable, you can move that relationship dial to the next level.  Then again, you could always take your chances and buy a pair of two-person mittens that Chelsea Handler and Chuy are sporting this year!

Amy Osmond Cook, Ph.D. is a faculty associate at Arizona State University, where she teaches Communication and English classes.  She is the publisher of Sourced Media Books and co-author of Hope After Divorce and Full Bloom: Cultivating Success.  Amy and her husband, Jeff, have five children and look forward to welcoming baby #6 in April 2012.  For more information about Amy, please visit amyosmondcook.com.

This was the first year that Kendra Wilkinson and her husband Hank Baskett spent Christmas at home.  Since their two-year-old son, Hank IV was old enough to participate in Christmas activities, the reality stars decided to start making some holiday family traditions.  “I woke up and realized that this is going to be baby Hank’s first year to really know what’s going on.  It’s not really about me anymore – it’s about him now,” Wilkinson told People.com.

How do you make your child’s holiday special?

Cupid’s Advice:

Kids just want to be included and do the things that the “big” people are doing!  Cupid has some tips to help make your child’s holiday a special one.

1. Wrapping presents: Wrapping gifts can be a difficult task for anyone, especially a child, but let them help you by sticking the tape down or putting the Christmas tag on the box.

2. Baking: Christmas cookies are a part of the major food groups during the holidays, so why not join in the festivities?  You and your child could make Christmas-character treats with cookie cut-outs.

3. Christmas tree: Load up the car and go somewhere where you and the little ones can pick the Christmas tree together.  As they grow up it will be something they always remember doing as a family.

How do you make Christmas special for your children? Share your comments below.

Hollywood couple Ashley Hebert and J.P. Rosenbaum are celebrating both Christmas and Hanukkuh during their first holiday season together after recently getting engaged on the reality TV show The Bachelorette. As Rosenbaum told People, “We have been celebrating the first few nights of Hanukkuh. We lit some candles.”  Rosenbaum also introduced his celebrity love to the Jewish tradition of having Chinese food. The happy Hollywood couple spent Christmas in Maine with Hebert’s family eating and singing holiday carols.

Although this Hollywood couple had different holiday traditions, they still celebrated with each other. How do you adapt to your partner’s family traditions?

Cupid’s Advice:

When you start a new relationship and love, you and your partner may have so different traditions — and that’s okay! One of the fun things about being in a partnership is learning new things. Here is some relationship advice on how to celebrate your love’s traditions:

1. Participate: You may not understand your partner’s traditions or religion, but don’t be a Scrooge. For the sake of your relationship and love, give their family a chance and try it out. Ask for ideas about what to make or bring over. You’ll enjoy the festivities even more if you contribute!

Related Link: The Holiday Gift Guide for New Couples

2. Educate:  If you’re feeling uncomfortable and don’t know what to expect from your partner’s family, the best way to learn about Hanukkuh or the Italian ‘Feast of the Seven Fishes’ is to research the tradition before you go. It won’t make you a pro, but it will surely give you some background and make you feel more comfortable.

Related Link: P.A.C.E. for New Holiday Traditions

3. Ask questions: Show interest by asking questions about certain activities, prayers, or food. Most people love to talk about family traditions and how they got started. Being inquisitive fills the evening with nostalgia and shows how much you care.

What’s your favorite holiday tradition?  Share it with us in the comments below.

Sorry, girls!  Rob Kardashian is flying solo this holiday season.  “I mean, I want a girlfriend.  I’ve been single for a while, but I’m 24 years old and I feel like I have a lot of work to do on myself first and that’s really what I’ve been focusing on.  I’m focusing on my health and getting into shape and my career,” he tells People.  What does Kardashian want exactly? Just time together with his family.  The whole Kardashian crew spends Christmas Armenian style and, of course, together as a family.  Kris Jenner gives out pjs every year for the whole crew, and they all sleep at the house, get up at about 6 a.m. and celebrate together.  “My mom also throws an awesome Christmas party every year and at the end of the party — once everyone leaves — we all sit by the fire and talk as a family.”

What if the man you like doesn’t want to settle down?

Cupid’s Advice:

So what do you do when you’re ready to pick a wedding date, but your significant other doesn’t even want to live with you yet?  It’s difficult, but it might be time to move on:

1. Talk about why he doesn’t want to settle down: Maybe there is an underlying factor that is scaring your man from committing fully. It could be some pressure you place on him, or it could have to do with how his own family worked out.  Either way, talk to him and try to understand on his level.

2. See if you can make any compromises: Could it be possible you are too controlling for his liking?  If your man is nervous about living with you because of such issues, make compromises.  You won’t wake him up or 6 a.m. yoga on Saturdays if he will put the toilet seat down.  Talking about issues like that might make your man excited about the whole idea, instead of trying to run from it.

3. Consider moving on: If all else fails and your man still doesn’t want to settle down, you might have to find a new man.  We all hate to hear this, but you and your lover have to want the same thing for your relationship to succeed.  There is sure to be someone out there who wants what you want.

How did you get your man to settle down?  Share your stories below.

Dave Haywood, 29, gave his girlfriend, Kelli Cashiola, 29, the holiday gift every girl wants: an engagement ring!  A representative for Haywood confirmed to People that he proposed on Monday evening.  He did so first by picking up his finance and blind folding her as he drove her to their home, which was converted into a winter wonderland.  When the blindfold was removed “will you marry me” was spelled out in Christmas lights on the front of their house and Haywood slipped a ring onto Cashiola’s finger.  Cashiola, of course, said yes.  Haywood is the final Lady Antebellum band member to be engaged.  A date has not been set, but it is said to be after the spring wedding of band mate Hillary Scott.

 What are some unique ways to propose? 

Cupid’s Advice:

 Every girl dreams of the day a man will get down on one knee and ask her to spend her life with him.  Guys, this is how to do it and make sure your girl says “yes”:

1. Return to the spot of your first date: What is more special than the spot of your first date, or even better, your first kiss?  Nothing.  Bringing back all those happy memories and first date jitters will be sure to make the moment romantic and unforgettable.

2. Make it unexpected: Try not to let your honey know what you’re up to.   The more of a surprise it is the better!  The look on your girlfriend’s face will be priceless.

3. Tie in all of her favorite things: If you and your girlfriend love skiing take her on a ski trip and propose by the fireside after her favorite meal.  Or maybe you love baking together… bake cupcakes and drop the ring into one and make sure that’s the one she tastes first.  No matter what you choose to do, make sure it’s something special and unique to you as a couple.

How did you propose? Share your stories below.

By Evan Fischer

While Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries may no longer have to worry about dealing with the in-laws, there are plenty of newlyweds out there facing the first real test of their matrimonial commitment this holiday season: meeting their new family members.  For Jerry O’Connell and Rebecca Romijn, who recently renewed their vows, this will be old hat.  But celebrity couples like Wills and Kate and Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert will find themselves in the same boat as every other newly joined couple in the world; facing the uncertainty of several days trapped with their in-laws.  The good news is that there’s no need for stress.  By following just a few simple guidelines, newlyweds everywhere can have an enjoyable and relaxing holiday, even if the in-laws are a little bit crazy.  Here’s how:

Related: Ways To Impress Your In-Laws

1. Offer to help: The best way to get in good with the in-laws is to offer assistance here and there.  Your mother-in-law may not want you in the kitchen while she’s cooking, but perhaps she’ll let you watch her make her special recipe (no doubt she’ll be flattered by your interest).  And you can always offer to set the table, wash some dishes or otherwise make yourself useful.  Don’t be pushy, but offer frequently.

2. Clean up after yourself: Even if you’re treated more like a guest than a member of the family, you need to be a responsible adult and try not to make more work for your hosts than necessary.  This means picking up after yourself, doing your own laundry (towels included), washing dishes (or at least putting them in the dishwasher) and generally making an effort to leave a room just as neat as you found it.

3. Set aside “me” time: There’s nothing wrong with taking a little time out for yourself, especially if it saves you from a meltdown.  No matter what you do, there’s going to be some pressure to perform for your new partner’s family.  So give yourself breaks here and there to decompress; take a bath, a nap or a walk to get away.  And any time you can manage it, drag your new spouse along for some alone time.

Related: Dealing With Difficult In-Laws

4. Participate: You’ve joined a new group, but you’ll always be an outsider unless you integrate yourself.  Even if you don’t want to play board games, sing carols or look at family photo albums, be a sport.  It will help you become a family member a lot faster than opting out.

5. Delegate “handling” responsibilities: This is a biggie, and it could just save your holiday.  Each spouse needs to handle their own family, including making arrangements and dealing with any issues that arise.  The person that approaches in-laws in an aggressive manner is going to be seen as an interloper, so don’t try to be dominant.  You handle your family, and let your spouse handle the in-laws.  Less stress over the holidays will greatly reduce your chance of winding up in relationship counseling in the New Year.

Evan Fischer is a freelance writer and part-time student at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California.

By Thomas Doane

With the holidays just around the corner, some people are starting to panic as they worry about what to buy for everyone.  Of particular concern for many is what to buy for their significant others.  Whether you are newly attached or longtime lovers, everyone wants to find a gift under the tree.

Believe it or not, even celebrities have these worries.  After all, behind the fame and glamour, they are flesh and blood humans.  Just like us, they have similar worries and doubts.  In that spirit, here’s a guide to holiday shopping for your significant others, whether you’re famous or not:

Related: 10 Holiday Gift Ideas For That Someone Special

If you’ve just started dating, think small.

Not only will your new love not expect a large gift, but it may freak them out a little, which is definitely not what you want or need at this time of year.  Try to find something small and meaningful for under $50.  This could be something simple like an item of clothing, or you could be a little more personal and plan a candlelit dinner at home.  Whatever you choose, be sure to look for deals, and don’t feel pressured to overspend.

George Clooney and Stacy Keibler should take this advice!  The pair has only been together for a couple of months and shouldn’t worry about lavishing each other with expensive gifts.  In fact, due to George’s infamously skittish nature, Stacy may want to go the dinner-at-home route, in order to appear appropriately aloof.

Related: Simple Ways To Please Your Man

If you have crossed the one-year threshold, then you can splurge…a little.

Still keep spending to a reasonable amount, but try to find a gift that reflects your feelings for one another.  Once you have reached the one-year mark, it is likely that you are in love, so go for something romantic, if all else fails, like a weekend getaway for two, or a small piece of jewelry.

This would be a good guide for Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez, who recently celebrated their first year together.  While this pair is awfully young to be worrying about jewelry, they obviously like vacationing together, and should feel comfortable expressing their feelings for one another.  In doing so, they can be assured of one another’s affections, and their budding love will continue to bloom.

If you are in it for the long haul, then go all out.

Whether you are married or in a long-term relationship, the holidays are the perfect time to show your devotion and hope for a bright future together.  Accordingly, buy your loved one something that shows how much they mean to you, and emphasizes your familiarity with their likes and dislikes.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are preparing for yet another Christmas together, and despite repeated rumors of their demise, it looks like they are still going strong.  Now would be a great time for them to travel to another country, away from their passel of children, and reaffirm their love to one another so that next year will be even better than the last.

Regardless of where you stand in your relationship, the thing to remember is that the holidays are not about who gives the best gift or how many you receive.  The true reason for the season is spending time with your loved ones and preparing for a great new year.  So, just relax and spend the day with your sweetie.  Happy holidays!

Thomas Stone is a freelance writer and frequent contributor at the SprightlyShopper.

By SMF Marcus Osborne for GalTime.com

It’s well documented that the holidays are the toughest time of the year for millions of people.  Depression rates skyrocket because people confront various personal demons and/or a multitude of interpersonal crises.

This got me to thinking about the myriad of ways the holidays can be ruined when you’re in a relationship.  I sat down with one of my partners at StraightMaleFriend.com, Matt Staudt, and we came up with a pretty strong list of 8.  Now, once we’d finished the list, with perhaps a couple of exceptions, it was clear that men and women probably aren’t that different when it comes to this topic.  You be the judge.

1. Not “Keeping It Real“:  Don’t be coy about your excitement surrounding the holidays.  Let’s not pretend like it’s not a big deal when it really is a big deal.  Don’t say, “Oh, the holidays don’t really matter to me” and then when your guy decides to boycott the commercialism of the holidays by boycotting your gift – don’t get mad!

2. Being shallow: Your guy has gotten you a gift.  The correct and proper response is “Thank You.”  Don’t be the woman whose holiday cheer is grounded in the price tag of said gift.  Hey look, the economy is in the tank.  Remember it’s the thought that counts (allegedly) so try to be appreciative.  This shouldn’t need to be said – but unfortunately this is one holiday tenet we often forget.  Whether he got the gift off of Ebay, the clearance rack, or Tiffany’s – he got it for you.  Of course if he spent 20 bucks on your gift but buys himself a two-thousand dollar flatscreen there may be reason to gripe.

3. Don’t Take Him Shopping:  This is cliché but absolutely on point.  Shopping is mostly recreational for women.  For guys not so much.  There are few experiences less thrilling than standing around department stores for two hours.  Although it seems that many stores have gotten hip to the man’s waiting game dilemma by setting up “man areas” where there’s mens magazines and a couch for the guys who happen to be in shopping purgatory.

4. Pulling Out The Baggage:  We’ve all got our personal “stuff.”  The holidays sometimes dredges up old feelings about an ex or some other notable experience from your past.  You may feel an intense urge to bring those issues up while we’re decorating the Christmas tree.  Please resist that urge.  Let’s talk about it after New Year’s Day.  This is supposed to be the season of joy.  Save the baggage for a trip.

5. Selfish Hint Gifts:  Oh you don’t know what “hint gifts” are?  You’ve been telling me to lose weight for the last six months.  Christmas morning you give me a gift card for one free round of liposuction.  “Hint Gift.”  I’ve been out of work for 6 months, Christmas morning you hand me a ribbon-wrapped Starbucks application.  Hint gift.  Big no-no.

6: Don’t Hate On Dinner:  You may not like his mom’s cooking.  Suck it up and keep it in.  There are no winners in that game.  Unless you’re planning a break up that night, let it go and keep that opinion to yourself at least until the holidays are over.

7. Holiday Break Up: Pretty self-explanatory.

8. Dying: Yeah, this is a pretty dark thought but also pretty self-explanatory.  Actually, this particular one has been known to be a downer all year-round.

Ok, your turn….your worst holiday break up or near break up story.  Share!

By Amy Osmond Cook, Ph.D.

Reese Witherspoon is my favorite actress.  Not only is she a beautiful woman and a classy mom, but she also starred in Legally Blonde, a girl-power movie that I watched every day (I kid you not!) for the first three months after my divorce.  I cried when Warner dumped Elle and cried again when Elle emerged triumphant at Harvard.  I kept thinking, “If Elle Woods can do it, so can I.”  So this year, I am cheering for Reese.  She has moved on from what she called a “humiliating” and “isolating” divorce (Elle Magazine, April 2009) and has found happiness with Jim Toth and a peaceable relationship with her ex, Ryan Phillippe.

While it sounds like Reese has got it all together, she may have a little bit of anxiety as she and Jim manage their special occasions together for the first time.  As a divorced and remarried mother of five children, I know what it’s like to try to manage innumerable family get-togethers over the holidays.  There are too many schedules, too many conflicts, and (let’s face it) too many cookies.  So, for what it’s worth, here are my suggestions for surviving the holidays with a newly blended family:

Related: Ways to Impress Your Future Family

Give your ex a present. Yep, a real one.  His old razor that he left behind or a picture of the children that he doesn’t visit often enough don’t count.  The other day, my ex complimented my son, Jake, on his new orange SkullCandy headphones as he was picking him up for the weekend.  I had accidentally bought two pair, so I gave Jake’s dad one for his approaching birthday.  In the eight years that we have been divorced, I don’t think I have ever seen him more excited.  He has smiled more lately, and I swear it’s because of the headphones.

Buy presents together. When it comes to holiday presents, is so tempting to compete with your ex.  I admit I have asked the question, “What did your dad get you for Christmas?” with the secret hope that my present was better than his.  But there are two reasons to give your children joint presents.  First, it is a symbol of solidarity and communicates to your children that you and your ex are united in your parenting endeavors (even if you’re not).  Kids need to feel loved by both parents, and a joint gift communicates that effectively.  Secondly, gifts become increasingly expensive as children age.  They want iPods instead of Barbies.  If you can swing a joint present, you can give your kids what they really want without spending too much money.

Related: 10 Holiday Gift Ideas For That Someone Special

Know your limits. When I was divorced and single, it was sometimes difficult to see married couples enjoying their lives.  This was especially true during the holidays.  I tried to focus on the things I could enjoy, but when it got too hard, I left.  I could do parties, but not dates with couples.  I enjoyed Christmas with the family, but not New Years’ Eve (banging pots at midnight with toddlers–Nuff said).  And I never held babies, because if I did, then I wanted one–but not without a husband.  As Reese aptly told Marie Claire, divorce is “really, really stressful”  (October 2011), and it’s okay to flee the scene when the stress starts to mount.

Celebrate the holidays . . . whenever. Who says Christmas has to be December 25?  When the holidays get crazy, flexibility is truly a virtue.  For example, this year my family is celebrating Christmas on December 23, so we can celebrate it with everyone.  My kids love it, because they get two Christmases instead of one and don’t have to feel left out of one family’s traditions.  If you can change the family party so your kids can be there, do it.  If you can’t, then create a few traditions that they can look forward to before or after the holiday.

The combination of exes, children, and the holidays can be as distasteful as a cup of wassail gone bad.  But if you are flexible, know your limits, and reach out to your ex, you might find yourself tolerating–and even enjoying–the holiday season.

Amy Osmond Cook, Ph.D. is a faculty associate at Arizona State University, where she teaches Communication and English classes.  She is the publisher of Sourced Media Books and co-author of Hope After Divorce and Full Bloom: Cultivating Success.  Amy and her husband, Jeff, have five children and look forward to welcoming baby #6 in April 2012.  For more information about Amy, please visit amyosmondcook.com.

By Cara Davis

The countdown to the holidays has begun. With it comes the only time of year that’s simultaneously joyous and stressful. For some, this season will bring with it the event of a lifetime: a wedding.  Those planning holiday winter weddings have several opportunities to save money and lessen the stress burden for themselves and their guests.

Related: 8 Alternative Wedding Trends for 2011

1. Deck the Halls.

Most event locations will have already decked the halls for the holidays, allowing you to piggyback their efforts for a low-cost wedding. Go with Christmas hues of gold, red and green — or go for a silvery winter blitz. Strings of white Christmas lights will transform any room into a holiday paradise.

2. Silver Bells.

Create budget large-scale ornaments as decorations using Styrofoam balls spray-painted and covered in glitter. Or create groupings of bare branches spray-painted white and covered in silver glitter. Paper ornaments, like these ornament greeting cards, make great wedding invitations or wedding favors.

3. Seasons Eatings.

Comfort food is a popular winter wedding choice (think soups, pasta, pot pies and mac-n-cheese). Don’t shy away from cost-cutting measures like serving family-style or buffet. Consider a hot chocolate, cider, eggnog or coffee bar to which your guests can immediately help themselves (plus, you’ll save hundreds by skipping the alcohol).

4. Marshmallow World.

Gingerbread houses make quaint table centerpieces, as do natural greenery and berries. Cocoa mixes or cookie cutters also make inexpensive wedding favors.

5. Peace on Earth and Online.

Couples are increasingly using online wedding planning tools, like creating or sending save-the-date and invitations online (40-percent increase over the last two years), personal websites and online RSVP services (23-percent and 31-percent increases respectively) and using social media to communicate wedding details (78-percent increase), according to TheKnot.com. Brides and grooms also have the option of registering online for gift cards at sites like CardAvenue.com, which is a great option for guests already overwhelmed with holiday shopping lists.

6. Jingle Bell Rock.

If you chose to have your wedding around the holidays, it’s likely a favorite time of year for you. As such, incorporating favorite holiday tunes into your wedding reception is a must, and a fantastic way to get your guests into the holiday spirit. Pandora is an excellent, economical method to pipe in some yuletide carols at the appropriate time during your reception.

When all is said and done, you’ll begin your first happy new year together, and that’s something to celebrate indeed.

Related: How To Have A Special At Home Proposal

Weddings expert Cara Davis is the author of Cheap Ways to Tie the Knot and blogs from her home in Orlando, FL, about cheap ways to spend and save at CheapWaysTo.com.

By Kelly Kirsh

The holidays are approaching; it’s time to let loose in a flirty, flavorsome, and fun way. It’s a time for celebrating, party planning, and present shopping. Deciding on the perfect gift can be very challenging. However, there’s nothing better than a bottle of wine for your own pleasure, whether you give it to one of your single friends, your work colleagues, or your significant other.

I recently tried and thoroughly enjoyed Naked Winery’s Vixen Syrah. It has attitude and aromas that ignite the senses with silky tannins that bite and hold on. I had to read more about it on their website and found that manufacturers describe it as coy at first then comes on strong with tasteful elements of red raspberry and black cherry on the nose. I couldn’t agree more. A reserve white cheddar or parmigiano reggiano with slices of Italian salami would pair nicely with this as well.

There’s no denying that this is a great gift choice for everybody, whether it’s for Christmas, Chanukkah, New Years, or any other upcoming occasion. It’s a fun and sexy choice for you and your mate to tease, please, and get in the mood. If you’re meeting new people and looking to mingle, get to know each other over a bottle. Or if you just want a humorous crowd pleaser to share with buddies and coworkers, don’t pass up on Naked Winery’s Vixen Syrah.

Sound like an appealing choice for you this holiday season?

Special Discount: The folks at Naked Winery are offering a whopping 30% discount on all purchases of the Vixen Syrah product to our readers, fans and followers. This is an extraordinary deal and a great opportunity to try it out. Just go to Nakedwinery.com and type in “single” for your discount code when purchasing. Let your inner fox come out this year!

This may have been the last Christmas Kate Middleton spends with her own family, Us Weekly speculates.  While Middleton was with her parents in Berkshire, England for the holidays, Prince William spent the holidays doing search and rescue work in a helicopter in North Wales.  Once the couple weds next April, Middleton will most likely be spending Christmas 2011 at the royal Christmas Day celebration at Sandringham.  Sources say that traditionally, her parents would not receive an invitation.  But also according to sources, changes may be in store for royalty in England.  “William is determined for this to be the beginning of a new royal family with new ways of doing things, he wants his marriage to last.”

What sacrifices should you make for a relationship?

Cupid’s Advice:

Just like Kate Middleton’s life is about to change, we all make sacrifices for our relationships in our own individual ways.  Here are some guidelines:

1. Stay comfortable: As long as you feel okay about the sacrifices you make in a relationship, that’s all that matters.  But once you feel like your partner is asking too much of you, rethink things before you go through with them.

2. Sacrifices are a two-way street: You should not be the only one making sacrifices in your relationship.  If you celebrate Christmas with your family one year, perhaps you can spend time with his family the next.  Relationships are all about give and take, and your parents will understand that.

3. Be true to yourself: Never do something that makes you uncomfortable or that you puts you in danger.  As much as you may love your partner, you are ultimately number one.

Dashing through the snow, Jon Gosselin brought his new girlfriend along as he and his eight kids picked out their Christmas tree this past weekend.  Despite negative criticisms earlier this year, Gosselin has seemed to settle down a bit, and he and Ross are looking forward to making the holidays this year about the kids.  Although Gosselin doesn’t have a huge amount of money to spend on presents for his kids this year, a source told RadarOnline, “He wants to get them gifts that mean something and that tap into their interests.”

What are affordable yet romantic gifts for your partner?

Cupid’s Advice:

Holiday gift shopping can be stressful, especially when you’re on a tight budget.  Cupid has some tips:

1. The enhanced coupon: A coupon for a free back rub maybe too cheesy, but giving your partner his favorite movie along with a coupon for his favorite homemade dinner is personal and special.  You can always make a surprise out of the back rub afterward, too!

2. Utilize the five senses: Pick a small gift to stimulate each of your partner’s senses.  For example, pick up his favorite artist’s new album, one of his favorite snacks and a framed picture of the two of you.  It’s affordable and creative.

3. Exchange promises, not presents: Agree or vow to do something that will improve your relationship together, like setting aside one night a week devoted solely to you as a couple.  It won’t cost you a thing, and will keep giving all year long.

Who would have pegged Ben Affleck for the old fashioned type?  According to People, in a recent interview with Ellen Degeneres, Affleck said that he leaves the holiday shopping up to his wife, Jennifer Garner.  Although Affleck is aware that his approach to Christmas shopping may be a bit outdated, he explained himself by saying that Garner is “just an efficient Christmas-shopping machine,” while he sits around sputtering over the single gift for which he’s most responsible — the one for his wife.

What are ways to split family responsibilities in a relationship?

Cupid’s Advice:

A relationship is all about sharing.  No one person can bear all the responsibility, no matter how capable they seem.  Cupid has some ways to help distribute the family responsibilities fairly:

1. Based on availability: Some weeks are more hectic than others.  Figure out how much free time both of you have, and then distribute the responsibilities accordingly.

2. Based on skills: Whether it’s shopping or fixing the car, you each have your own strengths.  In order to get everything done efficiently, split up responsibilities based on each other’s skillsets.

3. Based on past decisions: Whatever way you decide to split up the responsibilities, you should come to a decision each week or month about what each person is able and willing to take on.  Then, stick to it!