There’s nothing I love more than having a special date night with my guy.  It’s the perfect time to catch up and unwind without any distraction and a great way to reconnect with each other after a crazy work week.  More often than not we check out a new restaurant, grab a retro cocktail at one of our favorite bars, or head to a viewing of that new movie we’ve been dying to see.  But sometimes there’s nothing better than switching it up and staying in the comforts of your own home. Yes, it doesn’t necessarily sound all that exciting, but some of my best date nights have been of the stay in kind.

Here are some of my favorite, easy tips to make your night unique and memorable:

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As Shakespeare eloquently says in one of his famous sonnets,” By chance or natures changing course untrimm’d; By thy eternal summer shall not fade.” Whether you’re single or in a relationship, the summertime is the chance to make memorable and take your budding romance to the next level. And with a number of free outdoor activities and events happening across the country, you’ll not only woo your other half, but make new memories together.

Try one of these fun date ideas for a hot rendezvous:

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I was friends with this guy for 6 years (and nothing more) until recently – he’s now my boyfriend.  He’s not mean, but he just never says or does anything nice.

What I don’t understand is I’m way out of his league – I’m very attractive, have an outstanding degree and a high-profile career.

He just does not appreciate me. I’m convinced he’s using me for sex. He never makes time for me, claiming he’s busy, but he will go out with his friends. And the last three times we met we had sex in the car. Gosh I’m disgusting.

How do I get away from him? Honestly his dismissive ways are so attractive to me.

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Summer is great for getting some work done around the house and whether you’re in the early stages of dating or you’re shacking up, now is the perfect time for you and your guy can tackle a fun home DIY project together. Home décor and repair can get costly and getting crafty is a great way to save money, create something new and original, and spend some quality time with one another. Working on a project together is also a great bonding activity and can help freshen up your relationship.

DIY-ing can be anything you want so start by picking a project or try one of these 5 great DIY ideas you don’t need to be a pro at to take on with your man. [continue reading…]

I’ve been seeing this guy who I really like for about two weeks now. He really is the perfect guy and has everything I want in a guy. I haven’t had much luck with men so I’m really excited about him, maybe too excited. I’d wish I could spend all my time with him and I’m scared of seeming too needy or desperate. I’m trying to stay in control and not text him more than twice a day or nag him on messenger if he doesn’t want to talk for very long.

The only thing is, I’m afraid I’m holding back too much. He actually once pointed out that I’m kind of distant with him him. I’m also afraid of appearing too needy. What should I do? I really don’t want to lose him.  [continue reading…]

I’ve been getting mixed signals from a guy I work with.  He’s funny and nice to me… but he’s an easy guy to like.  He flirts with me, but I can’t tell if he’s just charming in general or if it’s because he’s attracted to me and interested…

I’d love to know what you’d consider the biggest, best, most clear signs a guy likes you… I just want to be sure whether or not he’s into me before get too excited…

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I been talking to a guy for a little over a month now and he hasn’t asked me to be his girlfriend. I’m in college and when we’re at school we spend a lot of time together. I decided to have sex with him just before we went home for winter break.

He acted normal for the first week after we slept together, texting and calling regularly but then things started to changes around the third week of the break and he was barely making contact. Also, about a week after we had sex I asked him if he sees this going anywhere and he replied “Idk yet.” I didn’t respond. I’m so confused by his behavior. Did sex ruin us? What should I do now? [continue reading…]

OK… I’m confused. How do you get a guy to text you back?

The guy I’ve been dating for the last two months used to text me back right away whenever I texted him. He would send me sweet messages, he’d never leave me hanging, and he seemed really into me.

However, for the last two weeks I feel like something changed. Now there have been times where he won’t text me for a day or two and when we do text, I feel like it’s always me initiating the conversations. It went from him showering me with attention and affection to him not responding to texts for hours.

I don’t know what changed but I have this horrible feeling I screwed something up or maybe I’m bugging him. I’ve eased up on the texts (just in case I was overwhelming him), but for the times I really want to hear from him can you tell me how to get him to text me back?

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Do men and women speak different languages? Based on the amount of time and energy most women spend decoding male texts you would think so!

I’m not sure what women analyzed before the invention of cell phones, but in this day and age it’s all about male texting habits. Why he takes so long to respond, why his answers are so short, why he doesn’t respond, what he means when he says XYZ. Texting was once thought to make communication easier but really, it’s leaving the women of the world more and more confused.

The reason women get so stuck in the text-analysis trap is they often use a man’s texting habits as a sort of litmus test for the relationship. A man’s texting habits can never reveal the full spectrum of how he feels, no matter how many hours you spend dissecting the words and emoticons. His texts, and your interpretation of them, can give you insights into the state of your relationship though.

To give you objective clarity on what his texts mean, we’ve created this “Secret Text Message Meaning Quiz.”

Just provide honest answers to these 6 questions to find out for sure what he really means and how he really feels.

Note: In order to receive your quiz results, we collect your email at the end of the quiz. Just wanted to give you a heads up so you know what to expect. :)

There’s nothing better than an evolving relationship and that point when you start spending more time at each other’s places.  And a lot of times, that involves the girl spending more time at her beau’s place, which always brings up the dreaded new relationship dilemma: leaving necessities at his place.

You’re not ready to move in, but you’re past the occasional sleep over and you start craving the simple things in life that you’ve become so accustomed to.  It’s now time to start leaving things at his place.

Here are 5 tips to help you do just that without freaking him out.

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I’ve been with my boyfriend for the past year and nine months. We have been in a long distance relationship for the last three months.

Prior to being in a LDR, we did everything together – we would see each other almost every day and talk all the time. We were always comfortable together and the relationship was always very loving.

Recently, I have started to fear that he’s slipping away. I can’t tell if it’s just me being crazy or if this is my instincts picking up on him losing interest… Can you please tell me how to make a long distance relationship work?

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Whether you’re decorating a new place or you’re looking to liven up your current home for spring, adding some new little touches is an easy way to amp up your living space.  It can be something as little as adding a new flea market knick knack or as large as refinishing a piece of furniture – regardless of what your new addition is, your house will feel fresh and lively with it.

Here are 10 ways to add amp up your living space this spring:

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I’ve been with my boyfriend for the last three years.  We have stable jobs, we live together, and we get along with each other’s friends and family.

We have a good relationship, but I’m at a point where I’m starting to ask myself: Is he the one?

None of us are getting any younger and I’ve been thinking about my future, being married, etc.

Nobody’s perfect and we do love each other, but how do you really know if he’s the one I’m meant to be with?

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“I’ve been with my boyfriend for over two years.  He says he loves me and is happy, but I secretly feel like he’s out of my league and that he could date other girls that are much prettier than me.  Even his ex-girlfriend is prettier than me.

Why is he with me?  It’s not that he’s done anything wrong or given me a reason to worry, but I just secretly fear that one day some other girl will come along (who’s prettier, skinnier and sexier than me) and he’ll leave me out of the blue.

Again, he says he’s happy and he loves me, so I guess I just want to understand why does he like me and why is he in love with me?”

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While most of us are overworked and sleep deprived, it’s not always easy to actually fall asleep once the lights are out. Below are a list of foods that will help you get more (and better quality) shut eye. [continue reading…]

My boyfriend of 5 months has become overweight due to alcohol and stuff. He used to be a fitness freak and had 6 packs before, but he is not able to hit the gym regularly because he is studying abroad and working.

He’s extremely upset about the weight he gained and not talking to me properly, saying that he’s feeling empty.

We’re in a long distance relationship, I don’t know what to say. Please tell me what to do. I love him truly and it doesn’t matter to me if he’s fat or not.

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What’s the deal with guys and porn?  My boyfriend and I have been together for a year.

I get that guys watch porn I guess, I will never understand it, but I’ve grown to accept it.

But how much is too much? Is there such a thing? I’m not going to lie, it does make me uncomfortable.

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Single? Engaged? A fan of V-day? Indifferent? Here’s the ULTIMATE guide to Valentine’s Day, from chocolate, to Cupid’s marathons, to sex moves that scorch calories. You don’t have to love fitness to love this guide. [continue reading…]

Overeating on special occasions – a birthday dinner, holiday meal or during vacation – won’t derail you from reaching your health and weight loss goals.  After all, indulging within reason is a key component to any healthy diet.

However, regular binge eating is extremely detrimental, even if you are “healthy” most of the time. So if you find yourself making your way through peanut butter jars, pints of ice cream, and boxes of cereal in just one sitting, it’s time to get a handle on this destructive habit and consider the following tips. (Take it from someone who’s been there!)

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If you’ve completely screwed things up by being needy, insecure, etc, and given everything so the guy doesn’t feel the need to commit to you anymore, is there any hope in hell of changing things around, considering the renewed attitude I received thanks to you guys?

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Whenever I need a recipe idea, the very first resource I consult is Tara Stiles. Not only is this yoga guru extremely talented, beautiful, and sweet, but she comes up with the best healthy, easy-to-make recipes I have ever seen. Every time I watch one of her cooking videos on YouTube, I find myself saying, “I want to make that now!” And unlike some of the fancy recipes I add to Pinterest, I actually do. Her Arugula-Red Pepper-Hummus Tortillas are a lunch staple, and the Detox Kale Crunch Salad was just what I needed after overindulging during the holidays.

I know that it’s cold out and you just want comfort foods and treats to snuggle up with on the couch. Trust me, I get it. My sweet tooth seems to kick into overdrive this time of year! And when I was tasked with making a dessert for a  co-worker’s birthday recently, I thought hard about what would be yummy and healthy, and then I came up with this recipe! (Who doesn’t like peanut butter and chocolate?!) [continue reading…]

I’ve had a few discussions with women about “commitment-phobic men” recently.  That is, men who have a “fear of commitment” when it comes to relationships.

The typical scenario where a woman will label a guy a “commitment phobe” is when he’s been seeing a girl for a while – they spend the majority of their time together, they eat together, they sleep together and so forth….but he won’t commit in an official sense. That’s usually when they’ll come to me looking for answers.

Well, let’s get into this…

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I would venture to guess that the motivation that comes with setting New Year’s resolutions is already starting to wane ever so slightly. (It is Blue Monday after all.) Am I right? It’s cold…you’re carrying five extra post-holiday pounds…your skinny jeans are tight. And did I mention it’s coooold out?! I hear ya — but don’t surrender to your environment and get stuck in a slump!

I think it’s always a good idea to have a few workout DVDs on hand this time of year. I’m all for making my life easier, and friends, we still need to sweat this season. A lot. That’s exactly what you’ll do with the Jillian Michaels Buns & Thighs DVD. I chose to try this one because well, my flat-as-a-pancake posterior has much to be desired, and I knew that the Tough Love Queen would push me harder than I could on my own. Want to get your butt kicked? This workout will do it…literally.

I’m a pretty fit gal who enjoys the types of plyometric circuit workouts that Jillian promotes. Burpees? Love ‘em. Pushups? Bring ‘em on. The varying movements never get boring and I love being challenged in multiple ways at once. In this video, an exercise that works your core will also likely challenge your upper body strength and balancing abilities.

So as you can see, I’m not a beginner, but I will try to write this review in a way that can be beneficial for everyone. [continue reading…]

Who hasn’t bonded with girlfriends over mounds of French fries and pints of ice cream? But it’s time to ask yourself if that “bond” (which inevitably leaves you feeling bloated and guilty later) is truly worth it.

Here are three key tips to dealing with friends and food: [continue reading…]

Hey guys! How are you feeling now that the holidays are over? Do your skinny jeans still fit? I hope so!

I’m sure you’re starting to put your New Year’s health resolutions into place, but before you do, take a minute to consider these points: [continue reading…]

Sure, eating is fun — a lot of fun — particularly when you’re out with a group celebrating a special occasion. ‘Tis the season for ugly Christmas sweater parties, cookie swaps and extra-jolly happy hours. Temptation is everywhere you turn right now, so you might wondering if it’s even possible to avoid gaining five (or 10!) pounds this year? The answer: Yes.

Consider these tips no matter what scenario you find yourself in: [continue reading…]

The holidays are a great time of year, but there’s always the daunting task of trying to find the perfect gift for all of the beautiful people in your life. I LOVE coming up with gift ideas, but if you’re like 98% of my friends and family the thought of gift shopping stops you dead in your tracks.  So here I am to share with you some ideas to help get you through the process with ease and to find the perfect gift for that someone special.

We’re going to kick things off with the party hostess.  One of the best parts about the holiday season is the parties. What’s better than mingling with your family and/or friends while sipping festive cocktails and stuffing your face with food?  Nothing.  And these overindulging festivities wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of your favorite hostess with the mostess, which is why I find it in good taste to bring a gift to show your gratitude for the invite.

Here are some gifting ideas to really flatter the party planners in your life:

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Sex and sports: what do they two have in common?  For starters, both require good performance in order to succeed.

You’ve seen the TV advertisements, you’ve browsed the vitamin/pill aisle for a quick fix, and you’ve been subscribing to Cosmo for years. But there still seems to be something missing from your sex life. The answer: exercise.

I think we can all agree on one thing: sex is great. But what if it could be better? What if a few pelvic-thrusts on the MAT could really improve your pelvic-thrusts on the MATress? Well, they can.

Below are a few exercises that will enhance your sexual performance, and more. [continue reading…]

Now that you’re eating a healthy breakfast every morning and making better choices at lunch and dinner, it would be a shame to blow it in between meals, wouldn’t it?

Here are my tips on how to snack smarter:

Munch mindfully: As you know by now, I am a huge advocate of mindful eating, and snacking is not an exception. It doesn’t have to be a painful process, but it does take a little bit of effort and awareness. Oh, and a positive attitude. Yep, that always helps. Be thoughtful when you’re snacking—put fruit or popcorn in a bowl and don’t eat standing up.

If you eat a piece of string cheese on the short walk from your fridge to the computer, chances are, your brain won’t actually register than you had something to eat. But unfortunately, it counts. Every handful, every nibble…it all counts, whether you took the time to actually taste and enjoy it or not. And think of it this way: Consuming 500 less calories a day for a week is a one-pound weight loss. Do you really want to use up those precious calories on bites that you hardly even remember? [continue reading…]