From reality dating shows to speed dating events to eHarmony commercials, it seems like everyone is in a race to the altar. Today’s society might make it seem like being single is not an option and that it’s just a phase until you find “the one.” Michelle Cove documented people on their journeys to find love in her new film, Seeking Happily Ever After, and inadvertently found gourds of proud singles out there.
In her companion book Seeking Happily Ever After: How to navigate the ups and downs of being single without losing your mind (and finding lasting love along the way), Cove explores why there have been more single women than ever lately, while allowing single women to reclaim their own stories. With wit, humor and sage advice, Cove uses others’ stories to answer questions raised during filming and creates a self-help book expressly for women who are single and loving it.
Brody Jenner and Avril Lavigne. Photo: Andrew Evans / PR Photos
If you think you and your new beau can’t be friendly with your ex, think again. People reports that Avril Lavigne and boyfriend Brody Jenner recently partied with Lavigne’s ex-husband, Deryck Whibley of Sum 41. Even with her ex nearby, the pop star and her reality-TV boyfriend couldn’t keep their hands off of each other at the Hollywood club. Reports say that Lavigne, 26, and Jenner, 27, were kissing and snuggling up to each other all night after Whibley, 30, spent some time chatting with them at their table. The PDA-friendly twosome have been together since the spring. Here’s hoping that the couple that parties together (with an ex), stays together!
How friendly should you be with your partner’s ex?
Bradley Cooper and Renee Zellweger. Photo: Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos; Janet Mayer / PR Photos
Longtime couple Renée Zellweger and Bradley Cooper were caught by paparazzi as they left restaurant Katsuya last week. Before dinner, the couple had attended CAA’s Young Hollywood charity event at MyHouse, but refused to pose for photos. The cold atmosphere lasted the rest of the night, reportsE! Online. A source claimed that the couple were “not affectionate at all” during dinner, a claim bolstered by a video of Zellweger and Cooper leaving Katsuya. Cooper allowed for another man to escort Zellweger down a staircase, and was blown off by Zellweger when he tried to open a door for her. Is there a possible reason for the couple’s cold outing? “The studios aren’t happy that their movie Case 39 took so long to premiere,” reports the insider. “They’re trying to get publicity going.”How can you tell if your partner has ulterior motives?
Michael Sheen and Rachel McAdams. Photo: Landmark / PR Photos
Actress Rachel McAdams has recently been spotted with Midnight in Paris co-star Michael Sheen, according to People. The actress, who just finished work on the film clearly left an impression on her costar! “All my scenes were with Rachel,” said Sheen. “Yeah, we had a great time in Paris. She’s a genuinely lovely lady as well as being stunningly beautiful and very talented so, you know, she’s got it all going on there.” The pair were spotted together at an after-party at the Toronto Film Festival, and were again seen later on in the evening holding hands as they walked around Toronto (McAdams’s home town).When should you take your relationship public?
Ryan Seacrest and Julianne Hough. Photo: Janet Mayer / PRPhotos.com
Despite flying rumors, former Dancing With the Stars pro Julianne Hough and E! icon Ryan Seacrest are not headed down the aisle — yet. In fact, when asked about buzz that Seacrest proposed, Hough laughed and told Entertainment Tonight, “Well, that’s news to me, and I think it’s news to him.” Although the pair won’t be hearing wedding bells anytime soon, things do seem to be heating up. In reference to the couple’s summer European vacay, Hough remained mum on matters of the heart, but did admit that one of the best parts of the trip was, “Eating, eating, eating, eating.” But for now, the wedding caterers are on hold.Why is labeling your relationship important?
After a hectic couple of years, Taylor Swift graces the cover of Glamour Magazine looking like a new, more mature woman. And why not? In the past couple of years, the 20-year-old singer has had to deal with everything from a breakup with actor Taylor Lautner to Kanye West’s infamous interruption at the 2009 VMAs. HollyScoop reports that Swift was especially open about her love life in her interview with Glamour, where she said, “I don’t seem to have any real strategy or pattern when it comes to love… At times I’ve been really guarded and careful and afraid to trust someone. But other times, you want to jump in headfirst… I’ve been careful in love. I’ve been careless in love. And I’ve had adventures I wouldn’t trade for anything.” To hear even more of her honest opinions about life and love, check out Swift’s new album Speak Now, out October 25.
In the romantic comedy Life As We Know It, Josh Duhamel plays a new dad, a role he says he’d love to have in real life. According to People, Josh says that getting the chance to play a father is what “initially drew me to” the role. During the New York premiere at the Ziegfeld, he opened up even more saying, that he has “always had a real fondness for kids.” In terms of his wife, he says, “She’ll be a great mom … She got to meet [costar Katherine Heigl’s daughter] Naleigh on set. It was great.” Maybe this is a hint of what’s to come for him and Fergie in the very near future!
How do you know if your partner is parent material?
Seal definitely had a lot of fun making the music video for his new single “Secret,” where he and supermodel wife Heidi Klum don their birthday suits — in bed! The single, off Seal’s new album Seal 6: Commitment, is about he and his wife’s relationship. “The song, the movie, it’s the story of our love,” said the 47-year-old singer. Klum, 37, told Us Weekly, “I feel so lucky to have found my husband especially at the time when I did.” The pair married in 2005 and have three children together, ages 5, 3 and 1. Klum also talked about what the song means to her. “It’s the story of two people in love. My husband is what I always wanted and never thought I would have.”
How do you know what qualities you need in a partner?
Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey. Photo: Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos
Jenny McCarthy was full of explanations about her recent split with actor Jim Carrey on ‘Oprah’ this week, according to People. The couple, who dated for five years, separated on friendly terms and still express admiration for one another. “The first thing is, when it’s not fun anymore, you need to start investigating and do an inquiry into the relationship,” said the former Playboy model. McCarthy is at peace with the breakup, explaining, “I always got back on my feet, and I know especially this year who I am.” But will the couple ever get back together? McCarthy admitted that she “didn’t even think about” the possibility of rekindling her romance with Carrey.
Tye Strickland and Melissa Rycroft. Photo: Juan Rico/Fame Pictures
Reality star Melissa Rycroft and husband Tye Strickland are getting ready to face a different reality by becoming parents. According to People, the former ‘Dancing with the Stars’ contestant and hubby are taking the upcoming arrival of their little one in full stride. While the two wait for confirmation on the sex of their baby, Strickland has been doing whatever he can to make his baby’s mama comfortable and feeling pretty.
How can your beau help make sure your pregnancy goes as easily as possible?
Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag. Photo: Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos
The Hills stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag have had their share of ups and downs. After deciding to divorce, Pratt admitted to TMZ that he didn’t take proper care of himself.Digital Spy now reports that he wants to clean up his image because the couple are “spending more time together.” Shaving his beard seems pretty minor considering the changes his estranged wife went through for him. Multiple plastic surgeries later, Montag has bigger breasts, a thinner nose and fuller lips. But Pratt says he would shave his beard if it meant getting back together with Montag. “I’m really sorry to see it [his beard] go… For months it was my only friend, and a perfect place to save leftovers,” he joked. Pratt and Montag fueled reconciliation rumors after the pair were spotted together in Los Angeles recently.Should you change your image for love?
In honor of National Singles Week, Cupid interviewed Nicole Porter, the self-published author of The Break-Up Cookbook. This witty collection of recipes, stories, and quotes, is a must-read for singles everywhere. Though it is said that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, the way to a woman’s broken heart seems to have always been through the same vital organ. Being from Minnesota where the temperature can hit 40 degrees below 0, comfort food is in Porter’s blood. Don’t be fooled, however, because this book puts the “party” back into the phrase “pity party.” In spite of dealing with issues such as the tragedy of a broken heart, The Break-Up Cookbook is nothing, but funny and optimistic. Continue reading →
Audra Marie and Joe Manganiello. Photo: Izumi Hasegawa / PR Photos
True Blood star Joe Manganiello, who plays a hunky werewolf on HBO’s hit vampire series, jokingly announced that he sometimes brings his beastly role home with him to his girlfriend, Audra Marie. “I sniff you a lot. And I growl a lot when you ask me to do things, like clean up,” Manganiello said to Marie at the preview of Boardwalk Empire. Marie doesn’t seem to mind, according People, although she does draw the line at her beau coming home from the set in full werewolf makeup. How can you make your career a positive part of your relationship?
With Zoe’s (Jennifer Lopez) biological clocking ticking away, she gives up on love and makes a plan to have a sperm donor create her family. No sooner is the in vitro process finished and Zoe meets her soulmate, Stan (Alex O’Loughlin). The problem is, Zoe can’t see past her personal love issues, which stem from a childhood where her mom died, her dad ran out, and her grandmother was left to raise her. Not long after discovering that her procedure was a success, Zoe begins falling for Stan. She struggles to hide her pregnant ‘condition,’ but eventually chooses to let him in on the truth, including the fact that she’s having twins! Although Zoe expects Stan to run away, he steps up and expresses his desire to stick around. Anyone can fall in love but doing it backwards, in a nine-month window, with two kids on the way could stress out even the best of us.
How do you find time for love when you have a busy schedule?
2010 SingleWomenRule.com Blog Crawl for National Unmarried and Single Americans Week
September 19 — 25, 2010
Day 2
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Wes Hayden and Gia Allemand. Photo: ABC/RickRowell
They’re together! Gia Allemand and Wes Hayden confirmed that they are, in fact, a couple this week on the finale of the Bachelor Pad. Although the pair were flirtatious on the show, nothing had previously happened between them because Gia had a boyfriend back home. However, the pair sealed the deal on the finale with a much-anticipated kiss. “It’s about time that that happened!” cooed co-host Melissa Rycroft, according toUS Weekly.
Mike Fisher and Carrie Underwood. Photo: Flynet Pictures
Newlyweds Carrie Underwood and hubby Mike Fisher recently celebrated their two-month anniversary. Perhaps prompted by the occasion, Underwood spoke to People about the way the two celebs handle their fast-paced life, saying it’s “a lot like dating. Sometimes our schedules will click, sometimes they won’t. But that’s good because we’re both independent.” Although busy, one thing Underwood won’t miss, no matter what, are her man’s hockey games.
What are the best ways to keep a two-career relationship intact?
Brooklyn Decker and Andy Roddick. Photo: Allen Berezovsky / PR Photos; Sylvain Gaboury / PR Photos
When model Brooklyn Decker married tennis star beau Andy Roddick last year at the age of 22, she was considered a young bride by today’s standards. ButPeoplereports that Decker doesn’t consider it unusual, partly because her and her husband’s families have a history of marrying young. Decker told Page Six Magazine, “It wasn’t weird for me… My mom got married when she was 19, and my husband’s parents got married young – in their 20s. And both sets of parents are still together.” Decker added that her career as a successful swimsuit model and her husband’s position as a world-class tennis player helped make walking down the aisle an easy choice. “We both were successful on our own, we both had our own income, we both had our friends, but it’s just what we wanted,” Decker said. “It was never part of my plan to get married young, but we did it because we really wanted to.”
It’s official: Jon Gosselin has moved on. The father of eight took his kids on a family outing last weekend with new girlfriend, Ellen Ross. According to Radar Online, the group was on a picnic in Reading, Pennsylvania, a day after his ex-wife Kate Gosselin claimed on national television that her children are anxious to get home when they’re with their dad. Jon quickly denied the claims.When is a good time to introduce your new partner to your kids?
Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus. Photo: RIV/Fame Pictures
It’s looking like teen queen Miley Cyrus and ex-beau Liam Hemsworth might not be over after all. Cameras recently caught Cyrus grabbing lunch to go with Hemsworth. Radar Online photographed the pair picking up food at Starbucks and Panera Bread in the Studio City district of Los Angeles. The pair fell for each other last year while filming the movie The Last Song, but had announced a little over a month ago that they were officially broken up. Both Cyrus and Hemsworth were suspiciously absent from the MTV Video Music Awards and may have stayed off the white carpet to keep their renewed interest in each other out of the public eye.What are the top three reasons couples break up?
Actress-singer Ashley Tisdale recently spoke out about one of the most asked questions of the dating game: is it really all about looks? According toPeople, as far as Tisdale is concerned, the answer is definitely “no.” Although she admits that, in high school, dating centered a lot more on superficial qualities. Now, Tisdale says, “ I am more into a guy’s personality. I like someone I can have fun with and who can be more laid-back than I am, because it calms me down.”What are the most important characteristics to look for in a potential partner?
Cheryl Hines and Paul Young. Photo: Jay Kravetz / PR Photos
Curb Your Enthusiasm actress Cheryl Hines has managed to do something rare in Hollywood: avoid a messy divorce and remain friends with her ex. Hines told E! Onlinethat she plans to stay close to ex-husband, producer-manager Paul Young. “You know what, it’s an adjustment [but] I married a really great guy, so we still have a really great relationship.” Hines and Young have a 6-year-old daughter, Catherine Rose. The two quietly filed for divorce on July 20, but according to a statement released by Hines’ rep, “They will remain extremely close friends.”
What are the benefits of staying friends with your ex?
Lauren Graham and Peter Krause. Photo: Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos
Former Gilmore Girl, Lauren Graham, recently revealed that her low-profile relationship with Parenthood co-star Peter Krause started as a friendship. The two met 15 years ago when the actress first moved to Los Angeles. Instead of playing the “dating game” like most couples do when they’re first attracted to each other, Graham and Krause got acquainted over board games. As the actress told People, “I think we liked each other [but] he asked me over to his house to play a board game — and that’s exactly what we ended up doing. So I was like, ‘This guy doesn’t like me. Who actually plays a board game?’ … The timing wasn’t right. I don’t think either of us was ready.”
Does starting out as friends make you a better couple?
Levi Johnston and Brittani Senser. Photo: Bob Charlotte / PR Photos
Bristol Palin’s ex-flame Levi Johnston has managed to impress at least one person: his new girlfriend, singer Brittani Senser. Senser revealed in an interview with RadarOnline that Johnston is a “really great guy.” The two met while on the set of Senser’s new music video for the song “After Love.” “It was like we knew each other even though we had just met,” said Senser. While on the set, the pair got along effortlessly. After Johnston’s second engagement to Palin was broken off, the two began to date. Senser noted, “Now dating, I’m finding that he is really a sensitive, caring person. Very bright; he’s funny. He’s a great dad; he’s a natural.”Should you judge your partner by his past?
