A couple on their first date. Photo: luckybusiness / Bigstock.com
By Steven Zangrillo
Here it is, your huge, nerve wracking first date. After obsessively digging through the mountain range of shoes, dresses, belts and bags in your closet, you’ve nailed down the perfect outfit. Your hair looks good and you’ve even managed not to overdo your make-up. All signs point toward success.
Lest we forget, as great as you may look, you must “wow” him or her with your intellectual acumen. That is, don’t say anything that’ll earn you a trip back to Match.com. We’ve outlined a few conversational situations to steer away from, should you find yourself talking yourself … into a corner.
A woman eats healthy! Photo: JohanJK / Bigstock.com
It’s easy to indulge in the mountain of cookies, candies and other calorie-packed goodies we stuff in our mouths over the Holidays without considering the consequences. However, if you pack more padding on your belly, it could have less-than-exciting ramifications for your love life.
Not to mention the fact that a few extra pounds can have an impact on your psyche. If you’re looking for ways to improve your relationship whether it’s losing a few inches or finding the self-confidence to love yourself, no matter what your jean size, here are a few tips to get you started:
It’s hard to deny how infatuated our society is with the lives of our favorite celebrities and their relationships. We sit with our friends and gossip about each of them on a first name basis as though they’re our best buds. We fawn over their fame, fortune and good looks. But it’s the rich and famous stars who handle their popularity with a dose of humility that give us a real reason to love them. Having it all and making top headlines in the media is one thing, but the way they act off screen or outside of the studio is what really exemplifies who they are as people. So, let’s put aside the celebs with an attitude and stuck up demeanor, and give credit to the ones who have their feet planted right here on Earth.
Pop sensation Katy Perry and actor husband Russell Brand spent Christmas apart this year. After a planned trip to Brand’s hometown of London, Perry ended up flying to Hawaii with some friends. According to UsMagazine.com, the couple had a major argument, which resulted in cursing at each other and storming off. Perry was spotted without her wedding ring while splashing in the Pacific Ocean, and Brand was seen catching up with old friends in a local pub in Coverack, Cornwall. Although the couple denied divorce rumors in November, trouble is threatening. “The split may come soon, but they are both so dramatic and volatile, the relationship could become great again,” says a source.
What are some ways to quickly move on from a fight?
Man giving gift to woman. Photo: AbElena / Bigstock.com
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.
Kissing in the street. Photo: blanaru / Bigstock.com
By Steven Zangrillo
With the New Year right around the corner, many of you may be starting to stress about those ten pounds you stacked on courtesy of Grandma Anna’s sugar cookies; or how you’ll manage to get those last minute gifts shipped to your beloved in-laws and cousins you don’t know very well. Instead, take a deep breath.
Now is a great time to step back, look around and re-evaluate your relationships. Whether you’re a wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend or in the throes of a fleeting fling, there’s never been a better time to understand your tendencies (good or bad) as a lover and a partner.
Right under our noses lie some of the most common and simple adjustments we can make that will help get you started on the path of relationship improvement. Take to heart some of these “romantic resolutions” that you may want to put into practice as 2012 approaches:
Friday was bring your boyfriend to work day, or at least it was for Jennifer Lopez. Lopez’s new boy toy, Casper Smart, was seen arriving to the American Idol set in Lopez’s Bentley as he stopped by to visit his new lady. The new couple have been inseparable, having recently spent Thanksgiving in Hawaii with Lopez’s twins before jetting off to Morocco. While the singer seems to be wearing divorce well, her ex-husband Marc Anthony, isn’t quite complimenting her style. According to various sources, not only does Anthony not want smart to drive his kids around due to his arrest for drag racing, but he apparently doesn’t want Smart around his kids at all, according to Hollyscoop. In the meantime, Lopez and Anthony have continued working together in their Latin-American talent show venture, Q’Viva!
What do you do if your ex is upset with your new relationship?
Russell and Taylor Armstrong. Photo: Allen Berezovsky / PR Photos
Taylor Armstrong from Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills will be releasing a tell-all memoir through the publisher Simon & Schuster entitled Hiding From Reality: My Story of Love, Loss and Finding the Courage Within. The book is scheduled to be released Feb. 7 and will outline her relationship with her ex husband Russell Armstrong, who tragically committed suicide in August. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the couple had filed for divorce only a month before the suicide.
What do you do if your ex “tells all” after a split?
Many couples don’t realize the pressure and work it takes to move in with a significant other. Lack of communication, romance, bad habits and finances can all take a toll when two people shack up for the first time. “Will you move in with me?” seems like a benign question for so many couples who’ve been together and are ready for the next step before marriage. However, you may never make it to the alter if you don’t set boundaries and expectations.
Field of flowers. Photo: monkeybusinessimages / Bigstock.com
By John Powers
Contrary to popular belief, men are simple creatures. It doesn’t take much to make us happy. All you have to do is find out what your man likes and then take an interest. That’s honestly all it takes. Spend quality time together doing things you both appreciate and your relationship will flourish. Here are some ways to make that happen:
Enjoy each other’s company.
Laugh, smile, and be silly and lighthearted. It may sound impossible, but it’s necessary to eliminate stress. Do this by sharing inside jokes and special moments. A good relationship will bring out the best in both of you, and you should look forward to being together. Most guys are low-maintenance, and we want our downtime to be carefree.
In a interview for Vanity Fair, Lady Gaga opened up about her love life. The singer is known less for her romantic relationships, and more so for her dedicated relationship with her fans. According to E! Online, Gaga thinks that she will never know martial bliss. With the divorce plague that many stars face, it can be hard to find love in the entertainment business. Gaga told Vanity Fair that it isn’t the men she dates that are the problem, but herself. Whatever the issue, we hope Gaga finds love. But if she doesn’t, her little monsters will still get great music out of it.
What are the advantages of playing the field and staying single?
As the Holidays draw closer and families get together, it’s easy to get roped into the manic hustle and bustle. Cooking with your loved ones, especially your special someone, can act as a great escape from all of the stress. It can even bring you and your partner closer. CupidsPulse.com spoke with Food Network’s Anne Burrell and Geoffrey Zakarian and got their take on whipping up some holiday romance in the kitchen.
For more videos from CupidsPulse.com, check out our YouTube channel.
Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake. Photo: GG/FameFlyNet
Actress Jessica Biel made a great hostess and girlfriend at her dinner party for Tod’s at the Chateau Marmont. Biel and rumored boyfriend Justin Timberlake showed affection toward each other without overdoing it, and an onlooker told People that the two were “very sweet” together.
What are some ways to show affection without being obvious about it?
Photo courtesy of Jules Mancuso and Lena Sutherland.
By Andrew Pryor
To every woman who’s ever gone to bed early on a Sunday night during playoff season, thinks a “pick-and-roll” is something people do when there’s no Kleenex around and that a “buttonhook” is a nifty solution for a torn shirt–know this: You are not alone.
Lena Sutherland and Jules Mancuso, two long-distance best friends and self-proclaimed “sports widows,” found that they had a lot in common when it came to sports. They realized this one day while talking on the phone while their husbands were engrossed in a big January football game. They chatted about their opinions on different sports, how hot the players were and how they’d always been interested in knowing just what a “sacrifice fly” could possibly mean. While talking this over, they came up with the concept of a show that would cater to other women whose husbands are married to the game. Thus, While The Men Watch was born.
If you’re in a new relationship, the looming holidays may mean you’re a tad anxious about meeting “the family.” Naturally, you want to make a good impression, and while it’s what’s on the inside that counts, your appearance will speak for you before you even open your mouth. What you wear should certainly reflect your personal style, but try to move away from anything that’s terribly polarizing and stick with something simple and classic. That means no glitter or sequins, nothing too body-hugging, and nothing low cut or short. Those rules are pretty much a no-brainer, but not everyone keeps that in mind! You don’t have to go as far as a turtleneck and pearls, especially if that’s not “you” – but try to channel more Olivia Palermo … and less Kim Kardashian.
Are you looking for a happier love life? Happiness expert, author, life coach and TV personality Sophie Keller gives us 50 key ideas for improving your relationship in her upcoming book, How Happy Is Your Love Life?: 50 Great Tips to Help You Attract and Keep Your Perfect Partner.
The book is part of a four-book series coming out November 27. Keller notes her goal for the ‘How Happy Is’ brand is that [her] practical, easy to use advice will help you discard outdated attitudes, habits and beliefs in order to make more positive choices in your life.
Field of flowers. Photo: monkeybusinessimages / Bigstock.com
By Tanni Deb
With Election Day around the corner, this is the best time to campaign for a better relationship. Whether that means leaning to the left with a liberal approach or moving toward the right with a more conservative one, you deserve the best you can get. Use the following guidelines and you just may win a vote from that special someone:
To find the perfect partner:
1. Figure out what you want in a partner: Knowing exactly what you want in a partner will help you narrow down your choices just as you would with a candidate in an election. Otherwise, you’ll settle for anyone.
Denise Richards and Richie Sambora. Photo: Fame Pictures; GG/Flynet
Being reunited must feel good for on-again couple Denise Richards and Richie Sambora. The two were seen together Sunday night at a Japanese restaurant in California, according to E! Online. After a year long relationship in 2007, the couple have decided to try their hand at love together again. In Richard’s memoir, she discussed her relationship with Sambora saying, “Richie and I shared an easiness I hadn’t before had.” She also revealed that since their split, the couple has met up a few times. It’s clear that they both still care for each other, and hopefully this time around proves to be more successful.
What do you do when you haven’t gotten over your ex?
Master being in a relationship. Photo: Dudarev Mikhail / Bigstock.com
By Nan O’Brien
As a professional Spiritual Teacher and Intuitive Counselor, I am always asked, “When will I meet the right person?” You may think of yourself as a failure unless you are in a happy, committed relationship. You may feel you aren’t attractive, funny, sexy, or smart enough. Ultimately, it all boils down to one question in your head: “What’s wrong with me?”
The good news is, the answer is “nothing”! The most common reason people do not find happiness in relationships is because they have trouble learning the intuitive life lesson of balance. It can be tough to tell if this problem is at the root of your relationship issue. Ask yourself these questions:
Do you always feel you must take care of others? Do you feel guilty if you put yourself first? Are you attracted to partners who have had problems in prior relationships? Do you work at making your partner feel loved, while at the same time doubting if he or she feels as strongly as you do? Do your significant others go on to be in healthy relationships with others after leaving you?
Justin Theroux and Jennifer Aniston. Photo: David Gabber / PRPhotos.com
With all the flack Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux have been catching for their relationship, they do have some people in favor of their whirlwind romance. Ben Stiller spoke highly of the couple at the premiere of his movie Tower Heist on Monday. “They’re both great people. I love them both,” the actor told UsMagazine.com. Theroux is currently living with the former Friends star in her NYC penthouse. That said, no plans have been made to take the relationship any further. Aniston stated, “I’ve been married once and I don’t know if I’ll get married again.” It seems that, for now, the couple are just simply having fun in each other’s company.
How can you tell if your friend is happy in their relationship?
Michelle Betts is no stranger to tough love. As a personal trainer, she’s the one who is usually dishing it out to her clients. So how would someone like her handle being a contestant on VH1’s Tough Love Miami, taking part in a relationship bootcamp run by dating drill sergeant and master matchmaker Steve Ward?
How to communicate effectively. Photo: michaeljung / Bigstock.com
By Dating With Dignity’s Marnia Battista for GalTime.com
While some men just aren’t Mr. Boyfriend Material, others just need clear communication from you about what you want, need and expect from them. To make things trickier, many women have difficulty articulating exactly what they’re looking for. That said, imagine if you knew the following:
Exactly what you want in a partner, including his values and goals in life.
How to effectively communicate your needs and expectations without having to be bitchy, brash or judgmental.
Simple ways to set boundaries to allow the possibility of a relationship to unfold before you knee-jerk kick him to the curb.
In order to get your needs met, you have to be able to articulate exactly what you need and then be able to communicate those needs in a way that is appropriate, kind, compassionate, and reveals your true, authentic self.
Here are three steps you can take right now to begin to clearly express your desires to the man in your life so you can begin getting what you want:
Romantic date night. Photo: michaeljung / Bigstock.com
By Melissa Caballero
The status of our relationships in this modern day dating world have become much more complex than they used to be. Many couples go through multiple stages until they’re officially declared an item. From ‘single’ to ‘it’s complicated’ to ‘in a relationship,’ the situation can get blurry. Although the beginning of a relationship can be exciting, it doesn’t always end that way. Some people date for several months without a label, and then the painstaking question “Are we exclusive?’ is asked and the relationship abruptly ends with no warning. It may not make sense, or seem even fair that one question can stir so much confusion or controversy. So, many women have learned to keep mum and stay in the ‘it’s complicated’ stage instead of turning their status back to single. But, instead of going backwards how do we proceed forwards to the comfort zone of monogamy? We spoke to psychologist, professor, relationship expert and author, Dr. Karin Anderson and she offered five ways woman can navigate through:
Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries. Photo: Brian Flannery/FlynetPictures.com
By Patty Newbold, author of the award-winning marriage blog, AssumeLove.com
It can’t be easy marrying into a reality TV show, as Kris Humphries recently did. Kim Kardashian and her family speak their minds, and it’s all caught on camera. Kris already gets his share of it from her siblings, and it can’t be long before he catches angry words or insults from his new wife Kim, too.
It’s the Ratio, Not the Number
Let’s hope Kim’s already figured this out, but fighting words do not kill a relationship. Marriages fail when the nastygrams are not matched with at least five times as many respectful, loving and encouraging words and gestures. Remember: Five times. Or more.
That’s what psychologist John Gottman’s research found. He uses it to predict, in just a few minutes, which marriages will last and which will not. It doesn’t matter how many or how few unloving words, eye rolls, or shrugs are used in a relationship; only whether the good stuff happens at least five times as often as the bad.
