By Taylor Jenkins Reid

Before I got married, I thought married couples spent their weekends doing things like double dates and cocktail parties. But being married has taught me that marriage is a little bit more low key. Here are 10 steps for acting like a married couple on a Friday night:

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By Sanetra Richards

Want to show your love? Try singing it! According to UsMagazine.com, that is exactly what Keith Urban did for his wife, Nicole Kidman, at his concert in Melbourne, Australia on Wednesday, June 25th. The country star made their eighth wedding anniversary special by performing his self-written 2006 song “Once in a Lifetime” for his love (and rest of the audience). “A couple of months before the wedding, we were in our hotel, and we were talking about the future, and Nic was getting very nervous about marrying me,” Urban told fans. “She was saying things like ‘It’s a long shot,’ but I knew she loved me and was just nervous. I did everything I could to remind her that I was going to be her man forever,” he continued before performing his sultry ballad. Urban didn’t stop there — he went on to sing “Making Memories of Us.” “This is a song a lot of people have at their wedding,” Urban said. “We had it at ours. I sung it. I was too cheap to get anybody else, ” he joked. “Eight years, baby girl. This song is for you.” He then expressed his adoration to his wife, who was sitting in the VIP box. “I love you so much.”

What are some ways music can make your anniversary special?

Cupid’s Advice:

Your special day is coming up, and you have no idea what to do for your partner of X amount of years. Of course, you want to make it memorable and nothing like before. What better way than to incorporate music into your planning? Cupid has three ways that a sweet melody will sweep your sweetheart off their feet:
…It gets sweeter! Click here for more.

By Whitney Johnson

According to WeddingWire, about one third of engagements in the United States happen between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. So guys, if you’re ready to pop the question, why not surprise her with an engagement ring on the Fourth of July instead? Make your own fireworks on this red, white, and blue holiday with one of these five creative Independence Day proposal ideas:

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By Sanetra Richards

There’s a bun in Vanessa Carlton’s oven! According to UsMagazine.com, the A Thousand Miles singer announced that she’s expecting her first child with husband John McCauley  on Thursday, June 26th. The 33-year-old songstress posted a photo of her tiny bump and a update of her fifth album in progress: “I can now reveal the reason as to why Liberman will not be released until next summer. See the picture below,” she captioned. She continued on with a little humor about her bundle of joy: “No, those aren’t a bunch of croissants. We’re expecting a baby. It’s healthy and moving around like a champ.” Carlton added, “I’m bummed to delay the album because it’s so special to me and the perfect combination of England and Tennessee. When I put the record on it feels like medicine. I hope it does the same for you…in due time! Thanks for sticking with me. John, Victor, and I are over the moon.” (Victor is the couple’s pooch).

How do you decide the best time to have a child?

…There’s more! Click here for more.

By Sanetra Richards

Another soon-to-be husband and wife! According to UsMagazine.com, Courteney Cox is on her way to becoming a married woman. The Cougar Town star and boyfriend Johnny McDaid both sent out their announcement via Twitter on June 26th: “I’m engaged to him!” and “I’m engaged to her!” The two were first spotted as a couple back in December 2013 at a holiday party hosted by actress Jennifer Aniston in Los Angeles. Ed Sheeran, the couple’s mutual friend, spread the word in April that the pair moved in together. “I’m not sure that it’s public knowledge, so maybe I shouldn’t have said anything—but, yes, they’re already living together,” the singer told The Mirror, a UK magazine. “Things are moving fast. He moved in and, judging by the last time I saw them, they couldn’t be happier.” Later on that month, the love birds gushed about their relationship and singled out each other at Cox’s directorial debut premiere, Just Before I Go. “He supports me in every way,” Cox said. “He supports me creatively. He really believed in the movie…and not just because he likes me, though I know that helps.” McDaid added onto the gushiness: “Courteney is the most completely confident person I’ve ever met—at everything.” He continued on to say, “She gets music. She gets art. She gets the way a scene gets constructed, the way dialogue works. And she puts it all together in her mind and then explains it to the world and makes movies that make people laugh and cry, squirm and jump, all those things.”

How do you know when your relationship is ready for marriage?

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By Shannon Seibert

Couples don’t seek out arguments, but they are bound to arise from time to time. Many different factors come into play during a fight, and a healthy relationship is all about being able to handle them in the best way possible. We’ve pulled together five articles from our partners to explain why you and your love may be arguing:

1. You’re hearing what you want to hear:  Sure, you’re hearing them speak, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re listening. You have to consider the emotions behind the words. For instance, your man may be saying that his boss is unfair, but what he’s really saying is that he wants to feel like his work is appreciated. So pay attention and be the shoulder he can lean on. (GalTime.com)

2. You’re using the wrong tone of voice:  What you say and how you say it go hand in hand. Your tone of voice can add a multitude of connotations to a single phrase. Couples tend to misinterpret the different tones in the heat of the moment, but then they fail to talk about it. Open communication with your love is one of five important steps to a strong relationship. (YourTango.com)

3. You’re asking already answered questions: Nothing is worse than asking a question that’s already been answered, so sometimes, it’s best to refrain from asking questions at all. If he’s upset about something and you can’t quite understand what he’s saying, let him finish telling you what’s wrong. Or just take a cue from Kanye West, who supports his wife Kim Kardashian in everything she does, including throwing their baby an over-the-top birthday party. (CelebrityBabyScoop.com)

4. You’re avoiding the root of the problem: He’s probably not picking a fight about dirty dishes just because he despises your lack of care for clean cutlery. There’s usually a deeply-rooted problem in disagreements that a lot of couples fail to address. Try finding the source of the problem before the tension becomes unbearable. (GalTime.com)

5. You’re having the same unresolved arguments: You’re going to keep fighting about the issue until you come to a conclusion. As a couple, you need to sit down and discuss what’s really going on. Make sure you’re on the same page at the conclusion of the discussion so it won’t happen again. (YourTango.com)

How do you handle arguments with your man? Share your stories with us in the comments below!

By Leslie Chavez

Chocolate and romance are two things that go together oh so well. The sweet, dark candy is considered to be an aphrodisiac and can add a little passion and sensuality to any relationship when used correctly. If you have a sweet tooth, these chocolate-filled date ideas are sure to satisfy it!

…Don’t miss the rest of chocolate-filled date idea!

On this week’s Single in Stilettos show, founder Suzanne Oshima talks to Ms. Solomon, dating coach and founder of TheDatingTruth.com, about where to meet men. Ms. Solomon is a proactive dater herself, so she knows the best spots to find a good guy.  She even plans specific activities with the intention of meeting someone new! She encourages you to head to the following three places: the men’s department at local stores, hotel bars, and the gym.

Related Link: Jonathon Aslay: Where Are All the Good Men?!

For more information about Single in Stilettos shows, click here.

For more videos from CupidsPulse.com, check out our YouTube channel.

Where do you go to meet men? Share in the comments below.

Dating Advice from E!’s Famously Single Laurel House on Dating Lots of Guys

…On the edge of your seat? Click here for more!

By Courtney Omernick

Ah, love. The subject is covered on television, in books, movies, magazines, and now, here! Sometimes, it seems
that we receive an overwhelming amount of suggestions on how to love our partner’s better, express our love, etc. from every form of media. But, what if you don’t even know if you’re in love in the first place? Never fear, Cupid to the rescue!

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By Shannon Seibert

Uh oh, the rumor mill is at it again. Kelly Osbourne hooking up with Quincy Combs, Puff Daddy’s stepson. The pair had recently started following each other on social media, and had a moment together captured on Instagram. But Osbourne remains her independent self and isn’t officially tied down to anyone, sources told UsMagazine.com.  

How do you keep a casual relationship on the down-low?

…Want to keep reading? Click here!…

By Shannon Seibert

When you were a child and jumped rope, singing along to the popular carol, we were taught that in a relationship the correct timeline was love, marriage, and baby in a baby carriage. But in today’s day and age, society is going about things quite differently.  We’ve pulled some facts from a recent study by Zoosk that shines light on the underlying truth on how the current generation approaches their relationships in contrast to how they’re idealistically projected.

…Want to keep reading? Click here!…

By Shannon Seibert

Waiting to go all the way before your wedding day is one thing, but waiting for your first kiss is practically unheard of. As Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard concluded their vows, they shared their first kiss together. Duggar’s family is known for their courting rules on the reality series 19 Kids and Counting and the star, 23, decided to stick with them and wait until her wedding day to kiss the love of her life.  The star’s parents explained to UsMagazine.com that dating and courtship is merely getting to know a person with focusing on the end game being marriage.

What are some ways to limit those you invite to your wedding?

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By Shannon Seibert

Even though they have publicly denied dating, the tension between Jennifer Lopez and Maks Chmerkovskiy is absolutely sizzling. Apparently the Dancing with the Stars pro, 34, attended Jennifer Lopez’s show at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut on Saturday, June 21. Lopez, 44, and Chmerkovskiy then went and danced all night at Shrine Nightclub, creating quite the flirty scene for onlookers. Sources say that the two remained close to each other all night and the pair even held hands and talked before sharing a long hug and saying goodbye, according to UsMagazine.com.

How do you decide when to go public with your new relationship?

…Click here to keep reading!…

By Sanetra Richards

Goodbye, fiancé ! Hello, single lady! According to UsMagazine.com, a rep for Christina Milian’s family has announced the 32-year-old singer/actress and fiancé Jas Prince have ended their engagement. The star and her music executive boyfriend of nearly four years called off the engagement at the beginning of this month. Milan removed her belongings from their L.A. house on Thursday, June 19th. The pair allegedly began dating in 2010, following a few months after her divorce from singer/songwriter The Dream. She was spotted sporting a nice sized diamond ring in April 2013, but kept it under wraps, even when asked about it in interviews.

While not saying too much, Milian shared a quote on Instagram on June 12th about new beginnings and achieving the life you desire: “There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. Surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don’t. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is part of life, getting back up is living.” Following the message, the caption stated, “Morning inspiration. Turn your life around and do all the things that make you happy. It’s your life to live.”

How do you know when to call off your engagement?

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By Sanetra Richards

A couple that prays together stays together, right? According to UsMagazine.com, Jelena were spotted attending a bible study session in L.A. on Wednesday, June 18th. An insider also revealed the the on-and-off-again pair were not hiding their affection either: “They were very lovey-dovey and cute,” says a source of the couple who “came and left together with a few friends.” The source went on to say the 20-year-old singer and 21-year-old singer/actress “sat next to each other and listened to [Pastor Judah Smith]’s sermon.” The pair were very “smitten with each other.” Bieber posted a photo on Instagram from Smith’s Wednesday evening’s teachings. The caption stated, “Bible study with Judah Smith.” “He looks so happy and at peace,” the source says, while Gomez appeared to be just as calm and composed. The two also seek advice from Smith frequently. Gomez posted an Instagram on Easter Sunday from Smith’s church: “He is risen, @judahsmith just thank you.” Bieber was introduced to the pastor back in 2010 when he, along with his mom, Pattie Mallette, attended one of Smith’s sermons. Smith told Us in January that Bieber is “pretty sensational” and “serious about his faith.”

What are some ways to bond with your partner over your beliefs?

…Wait! It gets better! Click here for more.

Interview by Brittany Stubbs. Written by Anna Averill.

Clare Galterio is the newest face on the Music Choice Network and host of the hit show You &A, where she gets the scoop on today’s hottest artists while listeners play along at home by asking their own questions via Twitter. She has chatted with dozens of chart-topping artists, including Hunter Hayes, NeonTrees, Nick Cannon, and Imagine Dragons, just to name a few. In addition to interviews with musicians, the 30-minute talk show features live performances.
…Want the rest? Click here for more

By Shannon Seibert

To get to Mr. Right, you have to go through all of the Mr. Wrongs. There are many types of men that women will encounter on their journey to find The One. The struggle is training the brain to differentiate between the good and the bad. Check out these five articles from our partners that will clarify why each type of man below is not who you’re looking for:

…Don’t miss the rest! Click here for more.

By Leslie Chavez

If you’re strolling around that little beach town you visited for the weekend and looking for something different to do, check out that tarot card reader you spotted on the street. Come on — you know you’re a little curious! Take a look into the crystal ball and see what the future holds for you and your love.

…Want to know your romantic future? Check out the rest of this post!

By Sanetra Richards

The flame will never die! Newlyweds Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are on cloud nine and are not coming down anytime soon. According to UsMagazine.com, the 33-year-old reality star had hearts in her eyes as she attended the MailOnline yacht party at the Cannes Lions Festival on Wednesday, June 18th: “I feel as though we’ll always be in the honeymoon period,” she told MailOnline. “I try to treat him like it’s his birthday every single day. I think we’ll always be like that.” Despite their frequent long distance trips, Mrs. West credited talking constantly as their tool to remaining a happy couple. “We always try to make life as fun and enjoyable as possible,” she continued. “We do travel, and work really hard, when we’re together – and even when we’re apart, we’re always on the phone 24/7 – just trying to make that time as memorable as possible.”

What are some ways to keep the spark alive in your relationship?

…It gets cuter! Click here for more.

By Sanetra Richards

Tim McGraw hasn’t had a drop of alcohol in seven years. According to UsMagazine.com, the country star revealed his battle with alcoholism in Men’s Health July/August issue, pointing to his wife of 17 years, Faith Hill, as the person to get him back on track. “When your wife tells you it’s gone too far, that’s a big wake-up call,” said McGraw. “That, and realizing you’re gonna lose everything you have. Not monetarily, not career-wise, but family-wise,” he added. “It got to the point where my kids were getting older, and it was way past the point that they noticed it. And I noticed that they noticed.” Fortunately, the 47-year-old has been able to turn it all around since, but also credits his mother, Elizabeth Ann D’Agostino, for speaking on it before he married Hill. “Early in my career — I think I was 19 — I was so shy that to even get up onstage in a club, I’d need a few drinks,” McGraw shared. “I remember my mom tellin’ me, ‘Y’know, if you don’t get up there a couple of times without doing that, it’s gonna be a problem.'”I drank too much,” he continued. “I partied too much. And did other things too much. Chemically. No needles or that kind of stuff, but…use your imagination.” Although McGraw is sober, he still reminds himself of what his life could have resulted in. “Keith Whitley taught me how demons can overtake you if you let ’em. And I was headed down that path,” he said, referring to the late country singer (who died of alcohol poisoning). “You feel like you’re supposed to be ‘on’ all the time. Then you drink and get onstage, and all of a sudden you feel confident and powerful. It becomes a habit. Up until seven years ago, there were not a lot of shows that I didn’t have something in my system.”

How do you approach helping an alcohol or substance abusive partner?

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On this week’s Single in Stilettos show, dating coach Tripp reveals how to be than just
a summer fling to your new guy. Here are his top three tips if you don’t want him to think of you as a one night stand: don’t jump into bed too soon; show boundaries but still be interested in him; and stop texting and call him instead.

Related Link: Tripp on 5 Things Men Wish Women Knew About Them

Listen up for more great dating advice!

For more information about Single in Stilettos shows, click here.

For more videos from CupidsPulse.com, check out our YouTube channel.

Ladies, what do you do to let a guy know you want more than just a fling? Tell us in the comments below!

By Janeen Diamond for Hope After Divorce 

“…great marriages are born when two people decide to come to the party!”

It’s common knowledge that most of us, at one time or another, will consider divorce as an alternative to a difficult marriage. The truth is  ALL marriages are difficult to some degree, and those of us who long for the fairy tale will be sorely disappointed. I have often said that great marriages are born when two people decide to come to the party! Marriages fail because someone decides the party isn’t all that fun.

Sadly, Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas are divorcing after 18 years of marriage. Their news comes after living separate lives due to their conflicting work schedules. They may be saying their split is amicable and ending in a loving manner, but the reality is that they no longer choose to be a couple. They will now have to face dividing their combined fortune, rumored to be worth 50 million dollars.

Related Link: Going Solo Again: Bold New Beginnings

In talking with many divorced individuals, I’ve learned that expectations about sex, money, care taking, adoration, housekeeping, ways to spend leisure time, and a whole bunch of other individual traits are often born out of selfishness, immaturity, and insecurity and sometimes even based on a lack of experience with reality. I hope that doesn’t sound negative, but the fact is we all bring our own stuff into our marriages, and often, our stuff doesn’t exactly mesh with our spouse’s stuff.

I met a couple several weeks ago who, between them, had experienced several divorces. The husband lamented that his first wife had cheated on him, his second wife just wouldn’t give him enough attention, his third wife couldn’t accept his children, and so on…

And this is the reason I try and focus on helping people stay in their marriages if at all possible! Because the cycle doesn’t end. Issues will keep popping up no matter how many times you get married, because it isn’t about the issues themselves — it’s about the people in the marriage who are creating the issues. And until we fix the people…the issues will remain. In my opinion, a good counselor could absolutely help a couple facing infidelity, attention deficits, blending families, or any other problem that exists by focusing on the real issues we just talked about — selfishness, immaturity, insecurity, etc.

If you are seriously considering divorce, I want you to spend the next week asking yourself these three questions over and over until you have the answers solidified.

— Will I be better off? Will you be better off emotionally? Will you be better off or at least be able to sustain yourself financially? Will you be happier in the long run? Think of these questions in every possible scenario.

— Am I okay with the thought of a new life? If you are forced to move from your home, will your kids be okay with a new school and new friends? Will you be able to handle all the added responsibility? Think about all of the changes that will take place for you personally and figure out if, for you, these changes are manageable.

— Have circumstances made it necessary for me to end this marriage — affairs or abuse? If the affairs or abuse has stopped, is it possible to put things back together? The roadblock often comes when one partner doesn’t want to put in the work or seek counseling and do what it takes in order to gain back the violated spouse’s trust. These are serious problems, and you need to determine for yourself if indeed you will be better off leaving the marriage.

Related Link: Attitude is Key

Divorce is a big decision. Don’t move forward with it until you have exhausted every attempt to fix things in your marriage. Once you are comfortable with your decision, whatever it is, move forward with conviction. I will root for you to go for the save!

For more information about Hope After Divorce, click here.

Janeen Diamond, author of Save Your Marriage in 30, was a newscaster for KUTV News until 2001. Since that time, she has been actively producing commercials and special programming through her company, Your TV Spot. She has hosted several television and internet productions and has been a spokesperson for several products and companies. She is a leader over the youth in her church and takes a special interest in helping kids stay on track with their lives. Janeen is currently co-creating “Teen Impact TV,” a website for high school students to give them a creative and emotional outlet. She is a contributing expert for HopeAfterDivorce.org, DivorceSupportCenter.com, FamilyShare.com, and CupidsPulse.com. Follow her on Twitter @janeendiamond and www.facebook.com/janeendiamond.