This one is for the brothas. Some of you are in tune with your woman and some of you are so lost in your own world that you are unable to recognize anyone’s needs outside of your own. This is a short list of things that women wish men knew and would incorporate into their relationship regularly. There are many more so feel free ladies to add on in the comments. Brothas, take notes:

1. We Like When You Remember Small Details About Our Dating History.

We like when you remember little things like what we had on when you first met us. We like that you can recall how sweet we smelled that night among the smell of cigarettes and must that covered the night-club.

2. We Like When You Listen To Us When We Talk.

We like when you listen to us when we are talking. Really listen. Not that pseudo listening. The kind where you are trying to listen to us while playing a video game or watching basketball. Sometimes we want all of your attention. Sometimes, we want you to look at us when we are speaking and digest all of what we are saying. One word at a time.

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3. We Like When You Tell Us How Pretty We Are

We want to feel beautiful even when our outside appearance does not realistically match the definition. It is still wonderful when the man we love and that loves us, can say with honesty and adoration in his eyes, that despite how crappy we feel, we are still beautiful to him. Loves it!

READ THE REST HERE!

8 ways to have date night on a dime

Breaking up is hard to do. What can be even more difficult than the actual split is the aftermath: getting over the loss and trying to start fresh. Many people can get stuck after a breakup by finding excuses to stay in contact with their former lover.

In her new book, Getting Past Your Breakup, Susan J. Elliot says that a rule of “No Contact” with an ex is necessary to fully heal and grieve after a tough breakup. Although she understands how difficult this notion can be, she says, “in order to truly get past your breakup, you need to separate emotionally, physically, and psychologically from the relationship.”

7. I just need to give his stuff back. Do it quickly, in the first couple days. After that, use one of our many mail services.

6. I’m just so horny. And your ex is familiar because you know him (and it won’t increase your “number”). But again, this is just prolonging the inevitable and will keep you stuck in the past. Time to cut off the ex and find someone new (or maybe even just yourself) to get jiggy with.

5. I just need to make sense of it all, and I just have one more thing to say before you go. That’s just another version of “getting closure” and another reason to stay in contact, when in reality this just gives your ex another opportunity to hurt you. Not fun. READ MORE HERE!

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He like ‘em, OK? But, says Jake, there are some Dos & Don’ts to know.

I travel a lot and generally end up exploring a particular kind of landmark: bars. Hotel bars. Airport bars. Western-themed bars. It’s a habit that’s led to great conversations with people I’ll never see again. It’s also led to at least 10 one-night stands.

I know firsthand that these kinds of hookups don’t always end well—the proverbial “walk of shame” can involve massive guilt and that special kind of hypochondria reserved for your naughty bits. There’s also the very real possibility of getting your feelings hurt. Take, for instance, the time I had relations with a beautiful hostess who worked at an upscale restaurant. “I have vodka back at my place!” she said after last call. We piled into the back of a cab and ended up at her apartment for a nightcap—and other, unmentionable things that caused us to knock over a candle and almost set the place on fire. I woke up thinking this could be the start of something. But the next day, she didn’t return my calls. She just texted that she was “crazy busy.” Ouch! Wounded pride aside, let me state something bold here: One-night stands can be good. Great, even—provided there’s a stash of condoms and you’re aware of these following things:

He’s There to Have Sex

The number-one reason guys have one-night stands? We want to get laid. So forget about using sex as a fast-track tactic to make a guy fall in love. That’s not to say he won’t (hey, I was totally falling for that hostess)—just that the sex matters much less than your general chemistry. But here’s an ugly-truth confession: He may fake feeling something just to close the deal. How to tell if he’s being sketchy or sincere? I have no clue. That’s why ever since the hostess blew me off, I’ve adopted this One-Night Stand Golden Rule: I don’t do anything I’ll hate myself for or feel embarrassed about, regardless of what happens the next day. Try it—it works.

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No, He Doesn’t Think You’re a Slut

My best friend married a woman who slept with him on the first date (and they’re hands down the happiest couple I know). Another friend has been with a woman for three years, and it all started with a one-night stand. I’ve never once heard a male friend imply that a woman he had sex with on a first date is a slut—even if it was unclear there’d be a second date. And I hope that doesn’t sound like a line a guy uses to get in your pants, because it may be some of the clearest evidence that men are evolving. Use it to your advantage.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS STORY

4 ways to think like a man in your relationship

(From shine.com)

Playtime is getting short shrift, and while children might be the ones most obviously suffering the consequences through slashed recess, obesity, and a slavish attention to resume-building activities, adults need to whoop it up, too. Studies show that a break from work can lead you to take fewer sick days and be more productive and inventive when you’re back at your desk.

The National Institute of Play takes play as serious business, calling good old-fashioned fun vital to our health and relationships: “A life or a culture devoid of or deficient in play exists as a heightened major public health risk factor. The prevalence of depression, stress related diseases, interpersonal violence, the addictions, and other health and well being problems can be linked, like a deficiency disease, to the prolonged deprivation of play.” So how can we have more fun?

Get outside. For adults who haven’t played since grade school, going outside is the easiest way to get into the playtime spirit. Simply stepping outdoors can bring out the playfulness in many of us, but if you need a more concrete activity, head to a playground. Squeeze into a swing and pump away.

Do what you love. Maybe there’s a passion you’ve given up as you’ve grown older. Well, it’s high time to dig through the attic to find the tennis racket, doll house, or roller skates. Doctor’s orders. Embrace the activities that made you lose sense of time and laugh.

Are you a great girlfriend?

Object play. When was the last time you threw a frisbee, flew a kite, or kicked around a soccer ball? These are great ways to get in family playtime, too.

Bring out the parlor games. The next time you have a dinner party or family night, play charades. The thinking on the spot and being flexible to new problems is good for your brain.

READ THE REST HERE

3 ways to keep your cool around your ex

sheknows.com hit the streets to find out straight from the mouths of men, what makes a great girlfriend.

Is it nightly nookie, legs for miles, free-time with the guys or just a BFF to call their own? Well, interestingly from coast to coast, 20-something to 40-something guys pretty much all want the same things, and truth be told, their formula is a lot less complex than ours tend to be. Follow the recipe below to become a keeper in the eyes and hearts of men.

A great girlfriend is a woman who:

ENCOURAGES FREEDOM

“All of my relationships have started to sour when my girlfriends began suffocating and trying to control me. As they attempted to police my every action and rob me of my freedom, we became adversaries.” – James, NY, 25

TRUSTS HER MAN

“If I catch a girl searching my phone or she starts suspiciously questioning me, it is over. A great girlfriend is secure in herself, and trusts me. If you put your faith in me, your feelings on the line and just trust me, the last thing I want to do is disappoint you.” – Shay, San Francisco, 35

HAS SIMILAR INTERESTS

“I need to have the same idea of what fun is as my girlfriend does. For example, I am a speed tourist – I can’t last with someone who would take 7 hours at the Vatican – 2 hours is plenty; I want to see the waterfall, not hike in it for hours, and so on. We need to like the same kind of restaurants, parties, etc. Also, be willing to try ‘my’ things because I will be willing to try yours.” – Mark, Seattle, 43

HAS A COMPATIBLE SEX DRIVE

“I can’t be with someone who doesn’t want sex as much as me, or more than me. We definitely need to be on the same page in bed.” – Gregory, Houston, 31

HAS A LIFE OF HER OWN

“The biggest thing that separates a good girlfriend from an OK one is someone who has a life of her own. If the relationship is a girl’s primary focus, invariably she finds things missing in it, whereas if it’s a compliment to the rest of her life’s goals and interests, the little things are no big deal.” – Matt, Los Angeles, 27

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3 ways to keep your cool around your ex

How do you tell when your boyfriend’s a jerk? Check out these tips below:

1) He gives you a verbal resume on a first date. Even if it sounds impressive, run.

2) He begins 75 percent of sentences with I.

3) He likes to talk about how successful he intends to be in the future, insisting that money won’t be an issue despite the fact that he has four roommates and no career to speak of.

4) He really wants to be famous. For something. He’s just not sure what. But something.

5) If you make suggestions about how he could be better in bed, he twists around the problem to be your fault — you’re too uptight, not relaxed enough; you must not like sex; you must have intimacy issues, etc.

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6) He refers to himself in the third person.

7) He asks you, point blank, if he’s the best you’ve ever slept with.

8 ) He talks about himself in superlatives, like “I’m the smartest guy you’ll ever date” or “My boss says I’m the best employee he’s ever had in his whole life.”

Want more? Click here

4 awkward things you NEED to say

(From livestrong.com)

Men have many different thoughts when they are in relationships. Men want companionship, friendship, a lover and someone who can keep up with them intellectually. A relationship will go through many stages, and friendship, warmth, attraction and honesty are must-haves at every stage.

1) Communicate openly and honestly. No buildup, no drama and no excuses. If you want something, ask for it directly. If something is bothering you, say so without a lot of hemming and hawing. Don’t overthink situations in your mind and let them build up for weeks and weeks when two or three sentences could have addressed this problem on Day One.

2) Show an open and adventurous attitude towards sex. This does not mean that your man wants to set records and see his name in the Guiness Book of World Records, but that you enjoy making love and you are giving and very natural with your body. You are not trying to make any statements but you want to share each other. Most men crave the feelings that go with sex and that includes warmth and security. Many women think men want to validate their masculinity through sex but that is just a small part of it. They can do that with someone who is not relationship-worthy. Think of sexual compatibility as a private journey that the two of you will take for the duration of your relationship.

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3) Demonstrate your independence. Men like to be in a relationship with someone who has the strength to be on her own financially, emotionally and intellectually. When both partners in a relationship can function as individuals, that’s when the relationship has a chance to flower. Neither one is dependent on each other and therefore neither person owes the other. They are both choosing to be there and there are no hidden agendas.

4) Allow your man to get close and stay close. Many women fear that their relationships will end or get sabotaged at one point or another. So instead of letting the relationship run its course, they sabotage it themselves by not letting the man in at crucial moments. Courage is needed to trust someone. Both parties in the relationship must have it. One partner may very well make mistakes that hurt the other partner, but don’t think you can protect yourself and still have a relationship by not letting your partner “in.”

Tips and Warnings
Take chances when you have a relationship by showing your man how much you care and don’t hide it.

7 reasons he’s afraid to commit

Take a look at the hottest celeb pics on the net!

It can be stressful to introduce a relatively new guy to the people in your life, especially if you’re not sure what’s going through his head. So here’s a little insight.

So here’s what he’s probably thinking when he meets your…

…Ex
Sure, your boyfriend sizes him up to see if he has bigger guns or if he’s losing his hair faster, but unless your ex has a Tom Brady physique coupled with a Robert Pattinson ability to brood, looks really aren’t all that big a deal. Instead, your guy is much more concerned about outdoing your ex in some way. Since you’d frown on him smashing a chair over your ex’s back, your boyfriend probably just wants to make you laugh in front of him. In fact, what you do in front of your ex is far more important than anything your ex does. If you seem nervous or bothered by his presence, your boyfriend will probably assume that you still have feelings. Which you don’t…right?

…Parents
Meeting your mom is great, because it’s typically an easy way to score points. Your boyfriend knows that as long as he speaks highly of you, asks her questions, and doesn’t accidentally use her drapes as a hand towel, Mom will probably like him. Fathers, however, are another matter. Your dad is a dude and has had sex at least once, which means he knows the kinds of things your boyfriend thinks about and the kinds of things you do with your boyfriend—and your boyfriend knows that your dad knows these things. The result is at least slight discomfort and at worst naked terror, no matter how cool or laid back Dad is. So when they first meet, try not to leave them alone together for any longer than it takes you to pee.

Click here to find out what he’s thinking when he meets your parents and siblings.

10 Ways To Go From Girlfriend To Wife

10 Ways To Celebrate Valentine’s Day At Home

If you want romance, intimacy and passion, activate your enthusiasm factor – your capacity for fun, humor and adventure.The first step: silence the negative self-talk that you are not good enough which in turn makes you view others as betraying you, ignoring you, or not loving you enough. The second step: turn on your genuine smile transmitting to all the people you encounter how happy you are to greet them. If you want to be irresistible, make the other person feel irresistible! It’s what you see in him or her that makes you special. Make the other person feel important and clever and it is you who will be perceived as clever and invaluable. Then you can mute that stern inner critic of yours.

Here are some ways to make room for romance:

* Feeling sad and lonely? Go where you feel welcomed: family members, friends, fellow volunteers or spinning class.

Why YOU don’t have a man this Valentine’s Day

* You already know that when you wait impatiently for that proverbial bus, it takes forever. Similarly, don’t focus on finding love by giving yourself a deadline. Just go about your business – work and play – and there in that relaxed, surprised, frame of mind you will encounter love.

* Imagine yourself lucky and you will see the opportunity that unlucky people overlook.

Click here for more.

7 mistakes single women make

By Shamika Anglin

Valentine’s Day for some is a reminder of failed relationships and an even bigger reminder that you’re still single. We women can point out the flaws of every man we’ve been with but never stop to realize we are the common denominator. Could it be the type of woman we are that keeps our Valentine’s Day so lonely?

There are four types of women no man can stay around too long, if you can relate to any of the descriptions below, you may just be one of them.

Ms. Deranged

If you’ve somehow gained access to your guys Facebook account then yes, you are Ms. Deranged. It is a rule of thumb that if you have to snoop in your relationship then more than likely you shouldn’t be in it.  So if you have done this, and got caught, you shouldn’t be surprised if he went running for the hills. No one likes their privacy invaded and it’s an instant turn off!

Ms. Stage 5 Clinger

If you’re a stage 5 clinger, this may sound familiar: you get hooked fast, and it isn’t long before you’re blocking your number and resending text messages more than once to get a response. Honestly, this kind of behavior is downright scary. You don’t like when it’s done to you so why do this to your man?

7 mistakes single women make

Ms. Independent

Men love a woman who can take care of her own, and you should never feel bad for doing this. However, no man wants to feel as if anything he can do you can do better (even if that is the case). The ego of a man is fragile and making him feel as if he has no purpose can leave him feeling useless which will then cause him to leave you. Swallow your pride and let a man take care of you for a change, you might just like it!

Ms. Doormat

Ms. Doormat treats every guy she talks to like he’s her boyfriend, even when the title has not been given or a commitment been made. She gives her all to prove she’s girlfriend material. Men prey on this kind of woman because it’s easy. Ms. Doormat usually gives her “man” the message that to be her mate he doesn’t actually have to prove his worth. No man wants a pushover and he will soon move on to a woman that gives him a challenge. Hopefully he’ll do this before you invest the many years most doormats put in before realizing he won’t change.

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be lonely, no day of the year does. But in order to find Mr. Right you should ask yourself “am I one of these types of women?” If you’re answer is yes, you just might be the common denominator that’s ruining your relationships and Valentine’s Day. The solution is simple, make a few changes. In the meantime, this V-day show yourself some love or hang with the girls. For now it’s just as great.

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