The successful dinner party. It almost sounds like a myth or a legend – the combination of having enough people over, having them come over at the right time, preparing a meal that’s ready at the right time, preparing a meal that’s tasty and not too expensive, having a conversation that’s lively and entertaining…well, it all sounds like too much pressure for one night.

And none of it is going to go off without a hitch if you don’t get the invitations handled right. (more…)

We’ve all been there. It’s an argument that started about a problem – even a trifling one – and it elevated into a philosophical debate about who bears responsibility for the problem. Tempers flare – and so do nostrils – and nothing ultimately gets accomplished. And you haven’t even been able to answer the central question: “Whose fault is it?” (more…)

The Bad Movie. It ruins a pleasant evening like nothing else, robbing you of your time, energy, and money – until you decide to ponder the ultimate question of whether or not you should simply walk out. It makes for a first date nightmare, but it’s equally frustrating when you’re already in a relationship. But when you factor in the possibility that one of you might like the movie, you’re starting to see just how uncomfortable a situation the Bad Movie can become. (more…)

We all want intimacy in our lives. We want to share our lives with someone like us, and we need a support system in place when our own emotions aren’t enough to keep us centered all the time. That all happens when you build a long-lasting bond with someone else, and there are few bonds more powerful than that of the romantic relationship. (more…)

One of the most important issues in any relationship is communication. With good, consistent communication, any potential problems between spouses are quickly mitigated because they’re not allowed to balloon or fester. (more…)

Men pride themselves on being logical, direct communicators. But if you’re married to one, you know just how enigmatic and confusing men can really be. Your husband might tell you one thing and mean another – not because he’s a bad communicator, but because he’s human. (more…)

A lot of people love the idea of visiting exotic lands. They fantasize about going to Thailand with their loved one while on the lunch break at work. They can’t wait for that honeymoon in Hawaii, even if it means flying out from the east coast of the United States.

This is all possible thanks to the wonders of modern travel, of course, but that doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed a great vacation every time you go somewhere far. In fact, couples need to know some potential problems with long-distance vacations if they hope to enjoy the environment and not be after each other’s throats by the end. Here’s how. (more…)

Social networking is a new invention, a product of the digital world we live in. So it’s understandable if you’re not caught up to speed on every single piece of social networking etiquette yet. But that’s no excuse for ignoring your significant other on Facebook, or following an untrustworthy ex on Twitter. (more…)

We’ve all been there: the infamous honeymoon phase. Heck, plenty of us have been on real, live honeymoons, as well. There’s a certain magic in the air whenever your relationship with your significant other is going especially well: it’s almost as if the rest of our lives are brighter because of how fulfilled we are on the romantic front.

But what do you do when you lose that special honeymoon flavor – and don’t want to lose the relationship? You inject a little honeymoon back into your daily lives, of course. It doesn’t have to cost you a zillion dollars and a week’s worth of unpaid vacation. All it requires is a little bit of creativity. Here’s how to do it. (more…)