25 Romantic Ways To Say 'I Love You'

Use this handy cheat sheet to expand your romantic vocabulary!

Marriage and relationship experts agree on the importance of communicating love to our partners often and in a variety of forms. In his New York Times bestseller The 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman makes a strong case for spouses learning to communicate love to one another in many forms. Not the least of these is through the spoken and written word.
"I love you." It's vital these three important words be conveyed regularly and often to keep a relationship healthy and strong. How To Say "I Love You" Without Words

Throughout the almost 30 years of their marriage, Jim and Carrie Gordon — authors of The Intimate Couple and The Romantic Couple websites — have given and received hundreds of love letters and romantic cards to and from each other. Carrie asserts that Jim is a true romantic and has a keen ability to include romantic phrases in the love letters and greeting cards he gives to her. His use of romantic expressions clearly communicates "I love you" to Carrie!
Recently, Carrie sifted through her growing collection of cards and love letters from Jim to compile a list of loving words, romantic phrases and expressions of passion. We're including her partial list here as a cheat sheet for guys to use!

Refer to this handy list of romantic sayings the next time you're looking for a special phrase to personalize a purchased greeting card, add variety to a love letter or email, include in a text, write on a bathroom mirror or
use in a note tucked inside a book. 3 Love Lessons From 'The Hunger Games'
1. You, sweetheart, are my one and only.
2. You take my breath away.
3. Lovingly yours.
4. With you, forever won't be too long.
5. To the world's best wife!
6. When I see you, I think "Good job, God!"
7. You are the love of my life!
8. It's awesome to spend my life with you!
9. Love you, sweetheart! Learn To Say 'I Love You' In Over 100 Languages
10. I treasure you.
11. I adore you.
12. Sweetheart, you stir my soul!
13. I'm head over heels for you.
14. I cherish you.
15. You turn me on!
16. Life is incomplete without you.
17. To the one I love:
18. We were made for each other!
19. You're my soulmate and the love of my life. Advice: Is Finding A Soul Mate Unrealistic?
20. You're one hot babe!
21. I'm looking forward to spending the rest of our lives together!
22. Sweetheart, you add peace, subtract sorrow and multiply joy in my life!
23. I can't even conceive of life without you.
24. The best thing in life is spelled Y-O-U!
25. You, my love, are my inspiration.

From: Youtango.com/ Posted by Mags

Secrets Never to Keep in a Relationship

If you've been hiding any of this stuff, it's time to fess up.

 "Secretly spending and trying to hide the purchases is a big indicator that there’s not a lot of trust in your relationship,” says Ian Kerner, a relationship expert and author of Passionista. Try to figure out why you’re not disclosing what you buy: Do you feel that your decisions are being ridiculed? Does your husband tend to control the majority of the money or your relationship overall? Or do you have a problem with compulsive spending? Then, come clean. Explain that you know you spent too much, but that there's a reason you didn't share—for example, you haven't felt comfortable expressing your needs in general recently. Use this mistake as an opportunity to get on the same page about not just money, but also about how to effectively communicate and stand by your wants and needs. Kerner then suggests devising a budget in which you both allocate funds for personal discretionary spending, which will help set you up as financial equals. And make an agreement that any time you’re considering making a purchase over a set amount, say $100, you’ll discuss it with each other before you plunk down your credit card.

  

Telling your hubs that you’ve been faking it since giving birth six months ago would downright devastate him. Since he likely thinks he’s been doing a great job, avoid throwing grenade into your relationship and instead approach him with a new fantasy that you’d like try. “Have a vision about what would excite you and then present the sexy wish,” says Kerner. Suggest using a vibrator together, trying a new position, or simply locking your bedroom door if you’re worried about the kids and having a hard time concentrating. It's natural that passion ebbs and flows in a relationship—and just because it's on the low-end right now doesn't mean that situation's permanent.

 

You and your husband had a disagreement. Instead of letting bygones be bygones, you make a derogatory comment about him behind his back—to your kid. And this may not be the first time you’ve bashed your man in front of your children. “Forming alliances with your kids not only creates a wedge in your marriage, but it can also cause anxiety for kids, who you’re burdening with issues that they shouldn’t have to know about and simply can’t handle,” says Kerner. The best way to resolve the situation is to open up a three-way conversation. Tell your husband what you’ve been up to and that you recognize it’s a problem. Then have a conversation with your kid letting them know that dumping on their dad was a mistake and that it won't happen again. Either on your own or with the help of a therapist, try to figure out the root of your negative emotions, and work to tell your husband—not another person outside of your marriage—when you’re angry with him.

 

 It’s one thing to go out with some of your friends and have a couple of cocktails, but if you’re drinking to self-soothe, there’s a good chance you might have a problem. “Drinking and hiding it is a classic pattern of substance abuse,” says Kerner. If you think an issue is starting to develop, talk through your concerns with your husband. Are you lonely or bored with parenthood? Do you need to change your career?" Assure him that you’re asking for his help because you don’t like what’s happening,” says Kerner. If opening up about the problem alone isn't prompting you to cut back, Alcoholics Anonymous can help figure out next steps.

   

It started as a fight about who should come home to relieve the babysitter and ended in you both taking a couple of cheap shots. But the mud he slung is still smarting—and every time you think about it, your blood boils. Over time, bottling up your emotions creates resentment, which can lead to feeling perpetually angry with your partner. Ultimately, if you don’t express yourself, you’ll just lash out at each other and say hurtful things that you really don’t mean. “It’s not bad to argue—fighting is a form of communication—but you have to be constructive,” says Kerner. “As a couple, you need to learn how to complain about solvable problems instead of criticizing each other.” Start by fessing up to why you’re still upset and work to clear the air. Then move on by developing guidelines for how to argue more productively, such as instigating a no-name-calling rule.

  

Some not-so-classy pictures from a spring-break fling have found their way onto Facebook. Or that time you got arrested in college all of a sudden popped up on a Google search of your name. It’s not easy, but it’s better to fill your husband in before he discovers this stuff on his own. “When you don’t share your past experiences as they come up, you miss an opportunity to get your partner’s support and feel closer,” says Sue Johnson, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and author of the upcoming book Love Sense: The Revolutionary New Science of Romantic Relationships. Say something like, “It’s hard to tell you this, but I’ve recently been reminded of something happened a long time ago, and it’s really bothering me. Can you listen to the story?”

“We usually get ‘extreme’ in response to stress—which is just the time when you should turn to someone you love for support,” says Johnson. “They can help us find our emotional balance.” Since food issues are potentially damaging to those around you too, you shouldn’t face them alone. “While it might seem like handling it on your own is the responsible thing to do, your partner is likely to become hurt and angry that you didn’t share or confide in him,” adds Johnson. She suggests broaching the subject by saying, “I have been restricting myself around food a lot, and this seems to have a life of its own now. I’m worried that I don’t know what to do. Maybe I just need to share it with you.” But if you suspect you have or may be developing an eating disorder, merely speaking with a loved one isn’t going to fix things. Consider getting professional help by contacting the National Eating Disorders Association.

  

 “Depression interferes with your ability to engage with others and tune into them,” says Johnson. “It will definitely affect your ability to be a really loving parent or partner. But we’ve found in couples therapy that an important step in coming out of depression is connecting with your partner.” So tell your husband that you’ve been sinking into a bad place, and that you don’t know what to do about it. Share your fear surrounding talking about your feelings—that it’s scary because you don’t want your guy to think less of you or see you as someone who can’t cope. “In the best relationships, people don’t have to be perfect—but they do have to be present,” says Johnson. And that’s hard to do if you’re hiding your feelings of vulnerability. While it’s important to tell your man if you’ve been down in the dumps, it’s vital to seek professional help if the black cloud doesn’t seem to lift on its own. Find a therapist through the American Psychological Association.

From: Redbook.com / Posted by Mags

Single Girls Offense

http://t.living.msn.com/love-relationships/modern-day-matchmaker-10-behaviors-that-keep-you-single

Posted by Smooches

Love Lessons Moms Should Teach Their Daughters

Heart to Heart

There are certain lessons only a mother can teach. A grandmother may not be as relatable, and a sister may not have enough wisdom—which is why it's up to Mom to initiate a heart-to-heart about matters of the heart. Although it can be a difficult subject to broach, your greatest gift to your daughter might just be the knowledge to face tough times and come out stronger. Here are the ten most important things young women need to know about love, and how to explain them.

You're Enough

"If ever there were a message daughters need to hear from their moms, it's this," says self-esteem and confidence guru Jess Weiner, author of Life Doesn't Begin Five Pounds From Now. "Believing you are enough means remembering that nothing in you needs to change to be loved." Teach your daughter that anyone who tries to convince her otherwise isn't right for her, and someone who doesn't see her worth hasn't earned a place in her life.

Give Respect to get it 

And that goes for not just significant others but also friends and family. "You must model the respect you seek in a partner," Weiner says. "When you care for your body—feed it well, rest it well, treat it well—then you will more naturally be drawn to someone who will do the same."

Don't Lose Yourself

Falling in love can cause a woman to fall out of sync with who she is without her other half. "Don't let your own insecurity or your relationship stop you from living the life you deserve," says Weiner. Remind your daughter to keep her interests, friends and alone time. She needs them all to lead a happy life and continue to feel fulfilled—whether or not the relationship lasts. "There's plenty of room for self-love and romantic love," adds Weiner.

Listen Closely

Remaining perceptive can save her heartache. If the guy she's interested in says he isn't looking for a girlfriend, tell her to believe him. If he snaps at his mother, she should take note. "If you notice a person being unkind to someone else, don't fool yourself into thinking it will be different with you," says Weiner. Often, people show and tell everything you need to know. Remind her not to trick herself into believing she knows “what he really means" instead.

When to Move On

Mothers must teach their daughters true love is about affection, selflessness and generosity. If those qualities aren't there, she shouldn't be either. "Loneliness, reenacting the past, outside pressure or shared friends aren't reasons to stay with someone,” says marriage and family therapist Carin Goldstein. "Don't wait until your daughter is in a crisis to give this advice." Help her learn how to recognize signs she shouldn't stay with someone before she has to make that decision.

Know What You Want

Sometimes relationships look right on the surface, but feel wrong deep down. Maybe she's not getting out of it what she's putting in, or she simply feels something's missing. Tell her to understand her wants and convey them, so she can fix issues or move on. "She must have a strong sense of self, not try to be what the other person wants her to be," Goldstein says.

Learn From Loss

Your daughter will never need your advice, and shoulder, more than when she's brokenhearted. Remind her that it's OK to feel pain, but a breakup can be a lesson in itself. "Nothing teaches a woman more about herself than losing love," says Jaime Morrison Curtis, author of Prudent Advice: Lessons for My Baby Daughter, A Life List for Every Woman. "How she handles her first breakup will shape her future relationships in a profound way. She will learn what she's willing to accept, what she really needs and when and how to let go."

Give Him Room

Teach your daughter not to desperately pursue; love will arrive when it's ready. “The heart wants what it wants, but it often sabotages itself with impatience," says Curtis. "Dogs run away when chased, and so do people. Everyone needs room to breathe."

Trust, Don't Test

Don't administer litmus tests as measures of a person's love. "Testing is a sign of one's own fear and insecurity," says Curtis. "While opening up to the nuances of sharing your life with someone is scary, that's also what makes love rewarding." The keyword here is trust: Teach your daughter to trust her significant other, the strength of the relationship and herself. Remind her she was born with good instincts. That self-confidence will set her up for healthy relationships.

Be Your Own Hero

Tell your daughter not to model her life after Cinderella. "There's no shame in enjoying a fairytale, but see these stories as opportunities to teach your daughter that real love is complicated, and comes in all different forms," says Curtis. Remind her she carries equal weight with her other half, and she can "slay the dragon herself," Curtis adds.

 From: Glo.com/ Posted by Mags

Love in New York

http://www.thedatereport.com/dating/pop-culture/25-most-romantic-stories-and-photos-from-humans-of-new-york-2/

Posted by Smooches

Worst Things You Can Say In A Relationship

http://www.chacha.com/gallery/5763/what-are-the-worst-things-you-can-say-in-a-relationship

Posted by Smooches

Advantages of Being Married

Many people today take marriage too lightly and think that it is easy to survive a marriage. Moreover, in some countries people believe that marriage is a commonplace term. But when you read these advantages of being married, you might change your mind and see marriage as an important part of life.

Longer life

 A risk of mortality of married couples is twice lower than that of unmarried couples. When you have a sweetheart and a family, you take better care of yourself, avoid taking unnecessary risks and live a longer, healthier life.

Taking better care of yourself

 According to statistics, married women and men live healthier and longer lives. That’s because they take more responsibilities towards their spouse and children, and they are less likely to harm themselves and they also take better care of themselves.

Lower risk of STDs

 Married women and men have a lower risk of STDs, because they have a regular and stable sex life. Married couples attain bigger satisfaction because of having sex with a partner they trust and love. This reduces the chance of getting STDs due to unsafe sex.

Better health

Another advantage of being married is that women have better health. Good sex contributes to a full sense of happiness and satisfaction that promotes better health. Studies have shown that married couples enjoy better physical and mental health than those not married.

Drinking less alcohol

Recent research shows that married men and women have less addiction to alcohol. Married people rarely suffer from depression or turn towards alcohol. They believe that life has far more fulfillment and happiness without drinking alcohol.

More earnings

Although it is reported that married women and men spend more money, they also earn more money. Married people have a great stimulus in life in the form of their spouse and kids. And this helps them to achieve higher social status.

Easier to bring up kids

It is relatively easy to raise children in an environment where both the father and mother share their responsibilities in taking care of children. Married people provide happier and safer home for their children than single parents.

Better quality of life

Married couples can afford an apartment or a home in a nicer more respectable neighborhood. Married people also improve their quality of life. It is easier to pull the load with someone else than to do it on your own.

Lifelong companionship

 A happy marriage also helps to ward off feelings of loneliness that people can experience in their lives. The sanctity of marriage offers people a lifelong companionship that is quite difficult to get these days.

From: Amerikaanki.com / Posted by Mags

First Date Advice

http://shine.yahoo.com/love-sex/first-date-advice-12-dos-donts-every-girl-224100905.html

Posted by Smooches

The Other 25 Percent Things Guys Are Faking In Bed

http://t.living.msn.com/love-relationships/love-sex/the-other-thing-25percent-of-guys-are-faking-in-bed

Posted by Smooches

Surviving the Seven Stages of Marriage

Marriage is serious business. You can't just do it with anyone. You are promising to have and to hold 'till death do you part. Death is many, many years away! Hopefully. Besides the actual marriage (I hear being married isn't as easy as Cinderella makes it look), there's also the wedding. Imagine spending all that time planning a wedding only to get an annulment. Or standing up your groom at the alter because you weren't sure he was "the one." And there's cost. A wedding alone can cost upwards of ten thousand dollars. I can't waste a fabulous wedding dress and pretty centerpieces on just any dude. I will not go on a honeymoon in Tuscany or the Greek Islands if I have any doubts. The man I marry has to have certain qualities that I seek in a long-term partner, and in the father of my (future) children. That's why before tying the knot, I will ask myself these seven questions, some silly and others oh-so-essential. -By Sujeiry Gonzalez

 

When I married my husband, I thought there were only two stages of marriage: “the wedding” and “the funeral.” As it turns out, however, there are several. Sadly, I spent many years mired in a couple of the least pleasurable ones. The good news: you can navigate these stages, and you can eventually reach happily ever after. Here’s how we got through all seven stages of marriage without getting a divorce.

 

The I-Haven’t-Even-Met-My-Spouse Stage

According to a study out of the University of California at Berkeley, our genes determine at least some of our future marital happiness. People with a short version of a gene variant called 5-HTTLPR (no, that knowledge won’t even help you if you are ever a contestant on Jeopardy) tended to feel like their marriage was a lot like a roller coaster. When there was lots of humor and affection, they felt happy. When there was lots of grumpiness or stress, their satisfaction plummeted. Fair enough, right? Who wouldn’t feel less satisfied when a partner goes all negative? People with the long version of the variant, that’s who. These genetically bright-sided people were less bothered by the ebb and flow of the emotions of their partner.

What to do: Start training in compassion meditation now. Research shows that it can rewire both your brain and your DNA, making you less likely to feel personally offended when your future spouse is in a crabby mood. How to do it? Sit quietly and think about how other people want the same things out of life that you do: to be happy and to avoid suffering. Then meditate on a strong wish for others to be happy.

The Better-Than-Chocolate-Stage

You don’t need to sleep. You’ve lost weight without trying. Your friend borrows your car and wrecks it and you’re all like, “No worries. I didn’t really need a car anyway.” When everyone around you is complaining, you can’t help by smile and look silly. And your thoughts? They are single pointedly focused on one thing: the object of your infatuation.

You. Are. In. Love.

What to Do: Enjoy the sweetness, but also get honest. This stage lasts only a short while. Start practicing good conversational habits now. You’ll need them later. Be assertive. Practice standing on your own two feet. State your opinions. Don’t lose yourself. Bring out the best in your partner.

The I-Had-No-Idea-You-Could-Be-This-Bad Stage

This is when you first live together and suddenly learn about all of those unbecoming habits that your partner managed to hide from you during dating.



What to Do: Find the balance between forgiveness, patience, and assertive requests for change. Let the small stuff go, talk about the big stuff, and view such conversations as a learning experience rather than a punishment.

The Bliss Stage

In a recent study of more than 2,000 married people, year three was the happiest year of a marriage. Of course, some people experience bliss earlier. Others find it later, and still others have it longer. This is the stage when arguments over how to decorate the house and what to do with the cap to the toothpaste give way to a comfortable rhythm.



What to do: Continue to sharpen those communication habits. They’re going to come in handy reeeaaaallly soon. Learn how to ask for what you want out loud, without judgment, and with a lilt of affection in your tone of voice. Practice listening, too.

The What-Was-I-Thinking!?! Stage

That same study of more than 2,000 people indicated that the fifth year was the most difficult, especially if job demands or babies caused couples to feel tired, stressed, and crabby.



What to do: Learn how to tell the difference between grumpiness over fatigue and stress and irritation directed specifically at you. For the former, take steps to help your spouse overcome the stress. Perhaps a back-rub or an appointment in the bedroom are in order. Also get used to dispassionately saying, “Wow, that comment stings. Are you angry with me?” For the latter, don’t sweep things under the rug. Talk about issues openly, and use a creative brainstorming approach to solve problems.

The Make-it-or-Break-It Stage

If you get through this stage and see the other side, you end up with a long companionship. When I was mired in this stage, I fantasized about divorce several times a day.



What to do: Read as many marital improvement books as you can. Trust me: they work. This single strategy helped me save my marriage.

The Touch-and-Go Stage

This stage can last a few months to a few years. Your marriage has greatly improved, but you still feel a little touchy and you still harbor doubts that you’re both really going to make it to the end together.



What to do: Keep a journal and document your happy moments, reasons to appreciate your spouse, and other evidence that your marriage is better than you realize. This journal will help you see the continual improvement you are both making, so you’ll be less likely to catastrophize whenever one of you regresses.

The Happily-Ever-After Stage

You’ve survived the hard years and you would now describe your spouse as your best friend. Congrats! You’ve made it.

From: WWW.babble.com/ Posted by Mags

Your Man vs Skinny Jeans

http://shine.yahoo.com/love-sex/your-man-vs--skinny-jeans--when-weight-loss-ruins-love-231134854.html

Posted by Smooches

Are You Too Busy For Love

http://m.prevention.com/mind-body/emotional-health/life-lessons-caroline-myss

Posted by Smooches

Why Men Cheat?

http://m.prevention.com/sex/sex-relationships/why-men-cheat

Posted by Smooches

Sexy Scents That Are Proven To Seduce

Have you ever caught a whiff of someone's scent and suddenly thought that they were looking mighty fine? You're not alone: The link between seduction and smell is as old as civilization itself. According to the story of Cleopatra, not one but two great leaders of the ancient Roman Empire fell under her spell after smelling her perfumed concoctions. So what is it about fragrances that can bring even warlords to their knees?

Why Heartbreak Affects Your Appetite

http://m.prevention.com/sex/sex-relationships/why-heartbreak-affects-our-appetite

Posted by Smooches

How To Improve Your Relationship Using Empathy

http://www.howaboutwe.com/date-report/communication/how-to-improve-your-relationship-using-empathy/

Posted by Smooches

What I Didn't Know Until Marriage

http://ideas.thenest.com/love-and-sex-advice/dealing-with-relationship-issues/articles/what-i-didnt-know-until-i-was-married.aspx

Posted by Smooches

Little-known benefits of being single

Single? Here's why you should be jumping up and down.


 Despite what the rom-coms might have us believe, living the single life isn't always such a cakewalk. You eat your feelings in chocolate while watching "The Bachelor," it seems like all of your friends are getting engaged and flashing their rings in your face (or newsfeed), you're tired of the annoyingly concerned looks you get from your grandma when you show up to another holiday without a steady boyfriend, and I won't even get started on all the stark statistics about couples who are allegedly leading these healthy, love-filled lives.
 But when you stop and think about it, there are undeniable perks to being single. We've rounded up some little-known (study-backed) benefits of swinging solo that will have you rejoicing over your hiatus from the dating pool

Should I Change for A Guy

http://www.redbookmag.com/_mobile/love-sex/blogs/aaron-traister/should-i-change-for-a-guy

Posted by Smooches

Relationship Advice From The Huxtables

http://www.howaboutwe.com/date-report/relationship-advice-from-the-huxtables/

Posted by Smooches