By Whitney Baker

Sure, sometimes it’s fun to splurge on a fancy date, but other times, it’s nice to do something simple, entertaining and budget-friendly with your guy. Regardless of what you do, he’ll be excited that you took the pressure off of him and planned a cheap outing. Whether you enjoy exploring a new area of town, staying indoors (and avoiding the summer heat!) or being active, there’s a date idea on this list for you:

…there’s more after the jump. Click here.

By Whitney Baker

Wedding Cake for Breakfast: Essays on the Unforgettable First Year of Marriage, edited by New York literary agents Kim Perel and Wendy Sherman, offers an intimate peek into the first year of marriage, as experienced by twenty-three critically acclaimed female writers. This collection of essays explores the unexpected and often difficult moments — from a surprise pregnancy to ghosts of husbands past to blending families — that brides fail to plan for as they prepare for their “big day,” and the 365 days that follow. …Don’t miss the rest! Click here for more.

By Whitney Baker

Earlier this week, Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise signed their divorce settlement, reaching an agreement faster than most Hollywood couples. While details of the arrangement remain private, sources say that Suri, the couple’s six-year-old daughter, will live in New York with her mother, while her father will have generous visitation rights.

In order to better understand the ins-and-outs of this process, we spoke with Judge Lynn Toler, who hosts ‘Divorce Court,’ the longest-running court show on television. Since 2006, Judge Toler has brought both tenacity and compassion to the courtroom, focusing on the relationship at hand and dispensing helpful advice to real litigants. …On the edge of your seat? Click here to continue.

By Whitney Baker

As a relationship expert and executive matchmaker for the past seven years, Amy Laurent has plenty of advice when it comes to navigating the dating world. And, now she’s putting it out there publicly starring on Bravo’s new reality series ‘Miss Advised,’ a show that features three single relationship experts as they attempt to follow their own dating advice in the search for love.

Given Laurent’s background, we thought she’d be the perfect source to comment on the most talked about divorce of the week (and most likely the year), the infamous TomKat split.  By now, we’ve all read the tabloids or heard the news that Tom’s obsession with Scientology was a huge factor in their divorce (source), but how important is religion to a marriage?

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By Whitney Baker

Harlan Cohen, a nationally-syndicated advice columnist for over 17 years, knows what he’s talking about. The author of The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into In College has already helped thousands of people survive dorm life. Now, with his recently-released Getting Naked: Five Steps to Finding the Love of Your Life (While Fully Clothed & Totally Sober), he’s taking his advice a step further. With his simple approach, Cohen offers a candid guide to falling in love and finding happiness. …On the edge of your seat? Click here to continue.

By Whitney Baker

According to recent polls, twenty-three percent of females now own a gun — up from thirteen percent in 2005. However, plenty of women are still fearful of this powerful weapon. Ann Csincsak, ‘The Bachelor’ Season 13 contestant and wife of ‘The Bachelorette’ season 4 winner Jesse Csincsak, knows this feeling all too well.

“I grew up in a ‘no gun home,’” Ann says. “We strongly believed in the right to own firearms but never did so ourselves. Until my late twenties, I had never even touched a gun.”

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

By Whitney Baker

There are some celebrity couples that we love to hate. Sure, they annoy us, but we can’t help but wonder what they’ll do next. And then there are those couples that we want to go away. They’re constantly in the news — and often, for the wrong reasons. Thanks to their outlandish behavior, we’ve forgotten why they’re famous in the first place.

From their frisky displays of public affection to their willingness to do anything for attention, these five Hollywood pairs have us wishing that they’d break up already:

…want the rest? Click here for more.

By Whitney Baker

Fans know Holly Durst as the bubbly winner of ‘Bachelor Pad 2,’ but now, she’s content just being a newlywed. Durst and Blake Julian, who met while competing on the reality show, tied the knot in South Carolina on June 2, 2012. The big day was perfect and more than she ever imagined. “I’m so happy! I love married life. It’s just the best,” she gushes.

Durst says her best piece of advice for brides-to-be is to hire a wedding planner. She adds, “I planned my whole wedding on Pinterest. I wanted to make sure that I remembered all of the little things.” …Don’t miss the rest! Click here for more.

This post is sponsored by Pea Pod Paper & Gifts.

By Whitney Baker

If you’ve been watching this season of ‘The Bachelorette,’ you’ve surely taken note of Emily Maynard’s fabulous wardrobe. Week after week, she continues to impress us with her easy sense of style, transitioning effortlessly from date to date. Whether she’s wearing jean shorts and a crochet sweater for a day by the water or a one-sleeve gown at the Rose Ceremony, one thing remains the same: her eye-popping jewelry. And now, CupidsPulse.com readers have the opportunity to win one of two Towne & Reese jewelry giveaways OR receive 15 PERCENT OFF the entire Towne & Reese collection, including the highly-anticipated Fall 2012 Collection, from Pea Pod Paper & Gifts. Use the discount code cupidspulse at checkout.

Related Link: ‘The Bachelorette’ Season 8, Episode 5:The Dos and Don’ts for Taking Your Relationship To The Next Level

GIVEAWAY ALERT: Send an email to cupid@cupidspulse.com, with ‘Towne and Reese Giveaway’ in the subject line, saying that you want to enter the contest. Once you do, you will automatically be entered to win either the Daisy Turquoise Ring or the Brooke Earrings in Crystal OR Mint Green! Both of these pieces were worn by Maynard on ‘The Bachelorette.  Giveaway ends at 5pm on Monday, July 9th so act quick! 

Congratulations to our winners, and thank you to everyone who signed up!

Ashley Grulich won the Daisy Turquoise Ring, and Elizabeth Gottier won the Brooke Earrings in either Mint Green or Crystal.

Pea Pod Paper & Gifts, a one-stop shop for all things paper and gifts, is a company known for their quick turnaround time and impeccable customer service. In addition to selling personalized paper products, monogrammed gifts and party supplies, they also have a wide range of jewelry, including Towne & Reese items.

This post is sponsored by Burst Media on behalf of Claritin®.

By Whitney Baker

Your cute neighbor — who you’ve been crushing on since he moved in — finally asked you out on a date. He even planned the evening for you: an al fresco dinner at your favorite restaurant followed by a romantic stroll through a nearby park. Sounds perfect, right?

It is…until your allergies show up (uninvited, of course) and you can’t stop sneezing. Itchy eyes and a red nose is not how you hoped to end your night.

If only you would’ve learned from Brooke Burke-Charvet’s mistakes. Merck teamed up with the Dancing with the Stars host to create the video below, showing you how easy it is to live your life with your allergies instead of constantly battling against them.

Thanks to non-drowsy Claritin®, Burke-Charvet can survive her busy day — and you can make the most of your relationship with that new man in your life. The difference is clear.

By Whitney Baker

Despite her hectic schedule as she prepares for the 2012 Summer Olympic games, Hope Solo, goalkeeper for the United State’s Women’s National Soccer team, strives to live a balanced life — both on the field and off the field.  When she’s not training, she loves being social and enjoying life. As for romance? She is looking for a confident and honest partner, someone who wants the best in everything that they do.

Solo’s also partnering with Unilever to promote their Simple Skincare line.  As someone with sensitive skin, she understands the importance of a skincare line that she can trust as she travels from city to city.

For a chance to win a trip to Los Angeles and meet Solo, visit the Escape with Hope Facebook page!

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

By Whitney Baker

When you embark on a new relationship, you end up with more than just a great guy in your life. Soon enough, you will meet his friends, his family and his co-workers, and your social circle is immediately changed — for better or for worse. Some of these new friendships may come easy for you, while others may be a struggle. Either way, try your best to be open-minded: don’t make assumptions about his friends or their feelings towards you and always be yourself. Remember that there are pros and cons to bonding with his buddies.  Here are a few things to consider before introducing yourself:

…want the rest? Click here for more.

By Whitney Baker

Tonight, the Discovery Channel reloads for sixteen episodes in season two of American Guns. This reality television show features Rich Wyatt, a gun master and retired police officer with over 20 years of experience, and his family as they work at Gunsmoke Guns. Located in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, just outside of Denver, Gunsmoke Guns specializes in gun manufacture, trade and customization.  Additionally, Wyatt, along with his son Kurt and a number of trained instructors, teach numerous shooting classes as well as a three-day self-defense course. …On the edge of your seat? Click here to read more.

By Whitney Baker

Fans of ABC’s General Hospital recognize Jen Lilley as the most recent actress to step into the very fashionable shoes of the sassy, Maxie Jones.  In addition to her role in the world of daytime soap operas, Lilley also appears on MTV’s hidden camera romance show Disaster Date and plays a supporting role in the Academy Award-winning film The Artist.   Her diverse acting resume, coupled with her family history (her parents are both marriage counselors), makes her a valuable source of advice for all questions related to relationships. …Don’t miss the rest! Click here for more.

By Whitney Baker

Thanks to Bravo’s reality television hit Million Dollar Listing, viewers have gotten an inside peek at the high-end real estate business.  And thanks to the aggressive tactics of real estate agent Josh Altman — also known as “The Shark” — fans of the show know what it takes to make it in such a cutthroat industry.  What they may not realize are the lessons in love that Altman learns from selling houses to bachelors, single women, new couples and divorcees alike.  …Don’t miss the rest! CLick here for more.

By Whitney Baker

In recent years, the divorce rate in America has hovered around 50 percent, and in Hollywood, this statistic appears to be closer to 70 percent.

For some celebrity couples, rushing into a serious relationship or even marriage is no big deal; they can always break up or file for an annulment or divorce, knowing that their family, friends and fans will stand behind them.  They are not held accountable by their vows, viewing any “easy way out” as an acceptable solution.

But why do so many Tinseltown twosomes approach romance with such a wavering attitude, in such fleeting terms?  Here are just a few reasons why some celebrity relationships change with the seasons:

…that’s not all! Click here to read more.

The key to a good life is a happy life — and no one knows better than TV personality Sherri Shepherd.  In addition to her co-host gig on The View and her work with the recently-launched Clorox Toilet Lounge, she has not one but three men in her life: her six-year-old son Jeffrey, her husband Lamar Sally and her Dancing With The Stars partner Val Chmerkovskiy.  Stepping out of her comfort zone and onto the dance floor, Shepherd is sure to keep us laughing as we root for her week after week.

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

By Whitney Baker

Thanks to the fairy tales that we heard as little girls, many women are searching for their Prince Charming, their perfect match.  In our hearts, we believe that there is one man for each of us — our soul mate.  Well, ladies, listen up!  In her book, The Soul Mate Myth, Jean Cirillo, PhD, offers a new perspective on finding love, one filled with realistic expectations and attainable possibilities.  Through her three-step program, she teaches women how to overcome their fears and fantasies so they can see love with fresh eyes and an open heart. …Don’t miss the rest! Click here for more.

By Whitney Baker

Some celebrity couples have the “it” factor that just draws us in and makes us interested in everything happening in their lives. Other Hollywood relationships have to work a bit harder for our attention, but still, we can’t help but take notice. They make headlines because of their enviable romances, high-profile careers, and cute kids, and we anxiously await their next moves. Below are five power celebrity couples that, for better or worse, never fail to command our attention:

…we’re just getting started. Click here for more.

By Whitney Baker

Sure, we all want to find “the right guy,” but how do we successfully approach such a task?  In her new book Get Married This Year: 365 Days to “I Do,” relationship expert, professor and psychotherapist Dr. Janet Blair Page shares her easy-to-follow 12-month plan to help readers not only get married this year but to build a loving and long-lasting relationship with the man of their dreams.  We had the chance to interview Dr. Page, during which she shared her personal story of true love. She also expanded on the steps of her program and discussed why her plan really works.

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By Whitney Baker

For many couples, the lead-up to Valentine’s Day is an exciting time filled with promise and possibility.  The cold weather offers an excuse to snuggle up, while the holidays are the perfect reason to shower each other with love and affection.  Unfortunately, many relationships aren’t so lucky.  According to a recent study in Men’s Health, the time span from Christmas to Valentine’s Day is one of the most common break-up times of the year.

Regardless of the month or season, when your relationship is over, you just know.  But if you’re still on the fence, unsure what to do about your love interest, here are five red flags you should watch for in your relationship.  Otherwise, you probably won’t make it to Valentine’s Day:

…we’re not done! Click here to read more.

By Whitney Baker

Some celebrity couples flaunt their relationship for the entire world to see, posing for the paparazzi as if they’re at a photo shoot (hello, Kardashian sisters!).  Other couples, regardless of whether they’ve just begun dating or have been married for years, choose to hide from the spotlight and stay mum about the details of their love.  Below are five Tinseltown two-somes who are keeping their lips sealed when it comes to romance:

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

By Abbi Comphel and Whitney Johnson

There are so many things to be excited about during the holidays: fun-filled family time, delicious home-cooked meals, presents waiting to be unwrapped and perhaps a much-deserved vacation.  However, if you’re nursing a broken heart, this festive time of year may seem burdened with only cold and lonely days. You may never forget your heartache, but someday, you will be healed and happy again. Just make sure to get some solid relationship advice in the meantime.

Until then, the ten tips below may make your holidays seem a bit more bearable and that damaged heart feel a little less painful:

…Want more information? Click here to continue.

By Abbi Comphel and Whitney Johnson

As evidenced by the popularity of ski resorts like Park City, Utah and Telluride, Colorado, celebrity couples love sneaking away for a snowy romantic vacation — and what’s not to love?  Afternoons spent on the slopes of a majestic mountain and evenings spent snuggling up by a fire or exploring the local nightlife make for a perfect wintery holiday.

When temperatures drop and snow begins to fall, there is sure to be an influx of Hollywood couples at the following ski destinations:

…On the edge of your seat? Click here to continue.