5 Love Lessons We Can Learn from Beyonce

We can all learn from this “Independent Woman” (see what we did there?).

-YourTango.com

She was just named GQ’s Sexiest Woman Of The Century, is set to perform at President Obama’s inauguration and the Super Bowl, she has an HBO documentary coming out in a month… it’s no secret that Queen B is on top. And she should be.

There’s a lot to love about Beyoncé, from her grace to her unbeatable dance moves. Let’s count down what the megastar has taught us about love.

1. Keep your relationship private.

One thing, among the many things, that Jodie Foster touched on during her Golden Globes speech was the importance of keeping her love life private. Jay-z and Beyoncé are the ultimate power couple and they’re always in the news. They look happy and in love, and their hand-holding at basketball games and song lyrics prove it, but they know the importance of keeping their relationship details private. They don’t brag about their love or complain about things on Twitter — which seems rare nowadays. There’s less people involved, less speculation and less drama.

Read 8 Love Lessons Women Can Learn from ‘The Bachelorette’

2. Be independent.

She’s married to one of the most successful men in the business, but it doesn’t stop her from being as powerful or successful as ever. Beyoncé knows the importance of being a strong woman, with songs like “Independant Woman” and “Run the World (Girls)” to back it up. Even when she split from Destiny’s Child, she remained friends with the other girls and didn’t let the fame go to her head. Recently, the girl group announced a reunion. In July 2011, she told Essence: “We were taught we needed a plan and the discipline to execute that plan to the fullest. I strongly believe if you work hard, whatever you want, it will come to you.”

Read the rest here!

How Guys Tell If A Woman Is A Keeper

Are you his Mrs. Right – or just his Miss Right Now?

-Kristen Mark

So, you’ve found a guy—not just any guy, but a great guy! And you want to make sure he thinks you’re a “keeper,” too. If he likes you, it should be obvious, says sex educator and Good in Bed expert Anna Potter. “Women tend to analyze every small interaction between themselves and a potential partner to try to figure out whether or not he is interested, and to what extent,” she explains. “But generally, you’ll just know if he’s into you.”

Read Celebs Who Waited It Out For A Ring

But what if your radar feels off in terms of decoding whether or not he’s “into you”? Men rely on a few surefire signs to decide whether the woman they’re with is just the flavor of the week or a long-term prospect. Today, the experts at Good in Bed are going to share those signs with you…

Make Your Man A Better Lover!

Great lovers aren’t born, great lovers are made!

-Kristen Mark, Good In Bed

So, you’ve found a great guy: You have a great time with him, he gets along with your friends, and he makes you laugh hysterically with his charming personality. But do you feel like your relationship is missing a little something—some talent, perhaps?

Read Did His Buddies Pick You?

That can be a really frustrating position (pun intended) to be in. Everything else feels perfect, but there are no fireworks under the sheets. Those fireworks are what distinguish your partner from being your best friend, so they shouldn’t be ignored. And remember – great lovers aren’t born; great lovers are made.

At Good in Bed, we believe that your sex life is an important priority. So follow these simple steps from our experts to turn your partner into the lover and orgasm whisperer you know he can be:

• Communicate

o Open communication is key to making him a better lover. “Let your partner know what feels good and what doesn’t, while he’s doing it, suggests sex educator and Good in Bed expert Anna Potter.” That means you’ve really got to be comfortable communicating your needs to your man. When he is doing something you love, say, “Keep doing that; it feels amazing.” Or when he is doing something you don’t like, say, “I really liked it when you did [xyz]…will you do that again?”

o A lot of men (and women) don’t necessarily realize that clitoral stimulation is key, for example. By telling your partner what makes you feel good, you’ll be completing the first step toward forming a mediocre lover into a great one.

o By opening the lines of communication, you’re not only telling him what you want, but you’re also talking to him about sex during sex, something that a lot of men go wild for. That brings us to the next step in attaining pleasure-induced bliss…

Prenup Myths!

Striking up a prenuptial agreement has many benefits.

-Libby Keatinge

You may have every excuse under the sun about not wanting a prenuptial agreement, but many myths about this paperwork are just that. The fact is, a prenup can protect your future – as well as that of your children!

Read Jesse James: Idiot Of The Week?

Some may think a prenup is unromantic – well maybe – but whether you don’t have any assets, or think you will never get divorced, a prenup can protect your child’s college fund and hold your financial future stable. Read more about the truth about prenups at YourTango.com!

Libby Keatinge is a senior editor at BettyConfidential.

3 Signs Your Online Date Isn’t Actually Single

Is the guy you met online already in a relationship? Here’s how to tell.

-YourTango.com

You’ve joined an online dating site and are excited to meet new people and explore possibilities. Finally, you discover one person in particular with whom you have a lot in common and feel that wonderful bubbly sensation of looking forward to meeting and deepening the relationship. Yet, you begin to notice a few things.

1. He avoids communicating evenings or on the weekends.

You notice that your date only seems to talk to you during the week, or while in transit during travels (e.g. while at airports or hotels). If your date consistently stops texting, emailing, Skyping, etc. on the weekends or evenings then reappears during the week or during the day, that date could be a person who is married or involved.

Often times, people who are married or are otherwise attached will avoid communicating when their partners are around, usually evenings or weekends. People who are truly unattached and available will usually communicate equally on the weekends and evenings compared to communications during other times.

Read 5 Romantic Winter Road Trips You’ll Love

2. He gives mixed messages.

He drops out of communication for stretches of time yet still expresses interest or desire for you. Usually when people cheat, they are wracked with guilt. They may love the excitement and adventure of pursuing someone outside of their relationship, yet they may also feel awful that they are cheating on a partner.

This conflict often manifests as the behaviors of pulling away from the new person for a while, returning to the existing marriage or relationship only to discover that there is still unhappiness, then reaching back out to the new person again. A person involved in another relationship might say to you, “Oh I’ve just had a lot of work or have a lot on my plate so have been a bit out of touch but let me make up for that — let’s plan a romantic weekend get away!”

Read the rest here!

Don’t Panick! 10 Fab Last-Minute Gift Ideas For Any Occasion

Panicked? Desperate? No need! Whether you need to ship or give in person, we have some great ideas for any occasion!

-April Daniels Hussar

1. A subscription to Craft Coffee. For your coffee-loving lovah. Each month, Craft Coffee experts sample 50+ coffees from roasters around the country, and only the top three make it into the box! (Starts at $29.99 for one month, craftcoffee.com)

2. L’Occitane Lavender Foaming Bath is TO. DIE. FOR. L’Occitane has tons of shops if it’s too late for shipping! ($34 for 16.9 gorgeous ounces, usa.loccitane.com)

3. Chandon Classic Brut by Domain Chandon. In my opinion, a bottle of bubbly is ALWAYS the perfect gift and this one is only about $10 at your local wine store! Check out Chandon’s Facebook page for some fun holiday sparkle ideas including decorating tips from Simon Doonan.

4. blush: the unbelievably absurd diary of a gay beauty junkie. Written by one of our BFFs and a frequent contributor Harvey Helms, this is a hilarious must-read! ($19.99, Amazon.com)

5. Some nailpolish and a gift certificate for a mani! Pop over to CVS and get some pretty holiday colors, or head to Sephora for something like this totally fab I want this Sephora by O.P.I. “Tinsel Town” Collector’s Set with 16 minis and one jewel top-coat. Pair it with a certificate for a manicure and your recipent will be all set for New Year’s Eve (and love you 4-ever!). ($33, sephora.com)

6. A magazine subscription! You can bust out the big bucks for a New Yorker subscription (I hope my husband is reading this because I SO WANT ONE!), or go for something more affordable and fun like two of my favorites, MORE and O! The Oprah Magazine; or a year’s worth of juicy celeb news with Us! Weekly; or something like TIME for the news-hound in your life. You can wrap up a current copy and give it along with a gift certificate!

7. Fannie May Champagne Celebration Strawberries from 1-800-FLOWERS. Each giant, hand-picked strawberry is generously dipped in creamy white and pink champagne-infused real chocolate and decoratively sprinkled with gold, platinum and clear sugar. Y-U-M!!!!! ($34.99 plus shipping,1800flowers.com)

8. The Charity Navigator “Good Card” is SO cool. From the reputable company Charity Navigator, this card allows your gift recipient to donate the value of the card to the charity of their choice. It’s too late to have a physical card delivered by Christmas, but you can order an email card or print one out! Each card cost $5, plus however much money you add to it — ALL of which is tax-deductible for you. The $5 goes toward Charity Navigator and The Network for Good, both of which are non-profits themselves. WAY COOL. charitynavigator.org/

9. Kiehl’s Creme de Corps. If you don’t want to pay for expedited shipping, you can get an e-gift card! Otherwise your best bet may be to pop into an actual Kiehl’s store. I am a slavish fan of their Creme de Corps and would probably propose if someone gave me one of the giant bottles! ($11-$75, Kiehls.com)

10. Sephora’s Color Daze Blockbuster. Sephora really is a great stop on your last-minute shopping excursion. This baby, a compact, expandable palette featuring 148 gorgeous formulas, finishes, and textures, is the ULTIMATE gift foryour beauty junkie friend! ($49.50, sephora.com)

Eight Healthy and Savory Food Swaps

Want to save some calories the easy way? Try these simple food substitutions the next time you whip up a meal.

-Michele Bender, YouBeauty.com

Trimming calories from your favorite meals is easier than it sounds. And you can do it without giving up flavor or hunger-busting satisfaction. You just need to trick your taste buds with a few simple food swaps. Spread on the avocado. “Instead of buttering your toast, spread it with a scoop of avocado and a pinch of sea salt,” suggests Marti Wolfson, culinary director of Blum Center for Health in Rye Brook, New York. You can also skip the mayo on your sandwich and use a few thin slices of avocado. The texture is still satisfying and creamy, but you replace the unhealthy fats with the good-for-you variety. Plus, avocado contains lutein—a powerful plant chemical improves eye health. Make portobellos your pizza crust. Instead of using an English muffin or bagel for your next do-it-yourself pizza, try a portobello mushroom. Place it stem-side up, remove the stem and use the mushroom as the base for your sauce and cheese. “This simple swap helps you cut carbs and calories,” says Cheryl Forberg, R.D., an award-winning chef, best-selling author and the original nutritionist for The Biggest Loser. “Mushrooms also have a meaty texture and rich flavor and are loaded with nutrients and antioxidants.”

Read Find Your Super Power!

Switch your chips. Hit the dip with jicama sticks instead of potato chips and you’ll save yourself some fat and calories. “Also known as ‘the Mexican potato,’ jicama is a sweet, edible root that has 45 calories per cup versus around 137 per cup for chips,” says Forberg. It’s also brimming with filling fiber—6 grams—and nearly 40 percent of your daily vitamin C requirement. Just peel the jicama, slice it thinly and then cut these pieces into sticks. Mash more than potatoes. “Mashed potatoes are void of nutrients while cauliflower is high in vitamin C and folate,” explains Wolfson, whose millet and cauliflower puree will make you forget the real stuff. Just heat olive oil over medium heat, add one cup of millet, stirring until it toasts. Then toss in half a head of cut-up cauliflower and 2 1/2 cups of vegetable stock. Once it boils, simmer for 30 minutes. Drop in a roasted garlic clove and puree until creamy with an immersion blender or food processor. More tasty tips up next!

Five Great First Date Ideas

Coffee dates? Been there. Cocktails? Done that. Try something new for a great first date!

-YourTango.com

Planning a first date can be exciting but it can also become routine and tired. If you have been on a string of first dates, you may find yourself consistently planning the same night out. Going to dinner, meeting for coffee or cocktails at happy hour seem to be the norm.

Don’t save the fun and interesting dates for later in the relationship. Why wait? Shake up your routine and try something new. If you’re bored of going out for dinner and the barista at Starbucks knows your name, it’s time to think outside the dating box. Here are five great ideas for your first date.

Read The Post-Breakup Social Media Guide

1. Find your inner Top Chef.

Rather than go to dinner, learn how to make dinner or dessert. Go to a local culinary school or cooking center and take a class together. It’s a great way to work together and create a delicious dish. They say a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Take the direct approach and get to cooking.

2. Explore vineyards of the world.

Take a wine tasting class together. Find a local winery, wine bar or restaurant to learn more about wine and food pairing. Buy a bottle that you both enjoy and plan to drink it on your second date. Be sure to sip and not gulp. Try not to get drunk, unless you’re drunk on love.

Read the rest here!

The Post-Breakup Social Media Survival Guide

Don’t stalk your ex online, and other rules to live by.

-YourTango.com

Who can resist the urge to look at their ex’s Facebook page? Admit it. It calls your name and whispers, “Check me out!” No harm, right?

An astute researcher in England begs to differ. A recent study concluded that the more time you spend on your ex’s Facebook page, the more psychological distress you experience, the greater your desire for your ex and the more difficulty you have moving on.

Admit it. You are not really surprised. That’s because most of us realize that the toxic connections we have with our exes are stoked by talking about, thinking about and looking at stuff about them. While lurking on their Facebook page may not morph itself into stalking, it’s just not healthy.

Read The Single Girl’s Guide to New Year’s Resolutions

Here are the rest of my online dos and don’ts:

1. Don’t stalk your ex online. Don’t look at his Facebook page and don’t look at his Twitter feed, either. I strongly suggest de-friending your ex and un-following him. Otherwise you’ll wind up seeing posts you shouldn’t see. While you’re at it, de-friend your ex-in-laws and ex-friends as well.

2. Don’t post things about your ex online. Posting about your ex online is just asking for trouble. If you want to have a private conversation about your ex with a friend, that’s great. Just don’t use a social media platform for it. Your goal should be to decrease the time you spend ex-watching and ex-bashing … the sooner, the better.

3. Don’t “friend” your ex’s new girlfriend on Facebook. This may seem self-evident, but you’d be surprised by how many people fall into this trap.

Read the rest here!

Is Worrying Ever Healthy?

Too much worry can be a bane for beauty—but a little bit can be a boon for health.

-Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen, YouBeauty.com

When was the last time you felt no stress, no stress at all? Can’t remember? That’s right—the only time you have no stress is when you are lying quietly six feet under. Life comes with stress and we’re told over and over that stress is bad for us and that we should reduce our stress whenever possible (talk about stressful!). It’s easier said than done, we know. But stress is only bad when you make it so.

Worrying has evolutionary benefits; it signals a lack of confidence, knowledge or control and it makes us snap to attention when situations call for thought, planning and action. If you think about it, beauty is often about managing the different kinds of stress in our lives—and put to proper use, worrying can actually be good for you.

Read Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions (No Willpower Required)

Worry: The Good

Worrying can help us perform better. When our bodies are in a stressed state—say, due to a looming deadline, or important meeting—blood flow increases to our brain, which helps us think more clearly, and our mood becomes more serious, promoting increased concentration. A recent study from the University of Rochester Medical Center even found that people who consider themselves neurotic (you might call them worrywarts) and are also conscientious (organized and responsible) have lower levels of a protein called Interleukin 6, which, at higher concentrations, is associated with inflammatory precursors to conditions such as heart disease, stroke, asthma, diabetes and some cancers. And a long-term study conducted over 80 years found that people who always see the world through rose-colored glasses do not live as long as those who have a tendency to fret and fuss. A little worry goes a long way.

Worry: The Bad

Chronic stress—that is, not the acute stress you deal with when you have a project due and you get it done—brings with it a whole host of nasty side effects. It increases anxiety, causes headaches, hurts sleep, compromises your immune system and can lead to high blood pressure. It can also speed collagen breakdown, making your skin look older, can make acne and eczema flare up, and gives you dark under-eye circles. Unmanaged stress makes you crave sugar. Then eventually you start stressing even more because your jeans don’t fit!

Up next: How to deal with worry.

Live Simply: Unclutter Your Daily Health Routine

Integrating healthy practices into your everyday life doesn’t have to mean lengthening your to-do list. Dr. Jim Nicolai talks about how to make good health an effortless habit.

-Melissa Walker, YouBeauty.com

Dr. Jim Nicolai thinks that a lot of today’s ideas about health are out of whack.

“Medicine is focused on what’s wrong with you and not what’s right or how to get back into balance,” he says. The thoughtful doctor grew up wanting to be a coach. “As I looked into areas where I could guide people, health seemed like it gave me a lot of opportunities,” he says. “When you think of medicine as just treating disease, then it’s just drugs and surgical approaches. But if you think of medicine as a way to be and stay healthy, then sky’s the limit in terms of coaching people on how to get there and stay there.”

As the medical director of the Andrew Weil, M.D. Integrative Wellness Program at famed spa Miraval, Dr. Nicolai is all about simplifying our approach to health and wellness. “Health does not have to be complex or difficult to manage,” he says. “When we complicate our routines, we either chase our tails to get things done or we become so overwhelmed that we do nothing.” Sound familiar?

Dr. Nicolai’s new book, Integrative Wellness Rules: A Simple Guide to Healthy Living, focuses on what he calls “quick and dirty health tools”—everything from small ideas like tongue scraping, to larger efforts like more nutritious eating. “There are simple, doable, effective changes you can make that you can pop into your daily routine,” he says.

Read What’s Your Magic Sex Numnber?

His most profound health discovery? Breathwalking. “I have a hard time meditating, even though I know it’s beneficial,” he admits. “Getting into that state of calm and logistically managing it just doesn’t come easy to me.” Dr. Nicolai realized that the only thing that quieted his mind was exercise, but he had to block off specific time for it and it didn’t quite get him into the “flow state” that meditation is known for. “I wanted to find a way to access that feeling of flow in real time so that I could use it immediately when I felt stressed,” he says. He knew that breathing and walking were two things he did regularly throughout the day. And both are key components of health. Combining them felt natural.

Dr. Nicolai concentrates on a breath rhythm of four in and four out. “You’re counting with steps—one, two, three, four—almost like you’re walking up stairs,” he says. “And you can do that anywhere, without anybody knowing.” As you synchronize your stride with your breath, the breathing becomes more like a wave. “Concentrating this way gets you out of your head, which is the simplest form of meditation,” says Dr. Nicolai. “We always beat ourselves up and say ‘I’m a bad meditator—I can’t clear my mind,’ but the true strength is to catch yourself losing focus and bring it back to your breath. This is even simpler when you’re walking.”

14 First Date Do’s and Don’ts

Wondering how to get to the second date with someone you met online? Keep reading.

-YourTango.com

As most online daters know, it’s not the first date that’s hard to get — it’s the second. But if you’re dating online because you want a relationship and not just a date, making a connection and getting that second date (and third and fourth) is the whole point.

To find out the secrets to getting a second date, we asked the experts at Perfect Match — a dating site that uses a psychologist-developed compatibility system to match singles — to sound in.

The first secret? Making sure that the dating service you use connects you with highly compatible matches. You should look for a service that matches the “whole” you, not just one part of you, like your appearance or your love for pizza. Perfect Match’s Duet Total Compatibility System, which scores of PhDs have endorsed, delves into the “whole” you — your personality, lifestyle, values and preferences — the key elements that create the most successful, lasting relationships.

The second secret, of course, is making sure the first date goes well! Here’s what you should and should not do in order to get to date number two.

Read Five Great First Date Ideas

Don’t …

1. Be too serious. Yes, you need to talk about serious topics when you’re dating, but on the first date it’s important to keep the conversation pleasant and positive. Ask about hobbies and passions rather than taboo subjects like religion, politics, or money. Keep a sense of humor about the awkwardness of first dates — he’ll definitely sympathize!

2. Try to be funny. It sounds contradictory to our last point, but don’t try to be funny on the date. Don’t try to be anything! Just be yourself. If you’ve been honest on your profile, it’s you that has brought him out on this date, and it’s you that he wants to get to know.

3. Talk about past relationships. This is a big no-no. If your last boyfriend is all you can think to talk about on a date, perhaps you’re not quite ready for dating yet. Take time to get over the last relationship before embarking on the next one.

4. Misrepresent yourself online. If he shows up 20 years older and 75 pounds heavier than his profile states, how are you going to feel about that? The same goes for him. Tell it like it is on your profile. He will love you, warts and all, if he’s the one you’re looking for.

5. Go Dutch. Though some dating sites recommend going Dutch, we say don’t. Modern date etiquette says that whoever proposes the date pays for the date, but be sure to discuss who pays beforehand. Many men feel it’s traditional to pay for dinner, but if you’re a progressive kinda gal, let him know you’d like to pay for date number two. Let him pay first if he insists. Don’t argue about it. Many men may feel awkward if their date pays. For the first date, make him feel as comfortable as possible, and he’ll be more open to letting you pay on the second date.

Read the rest here!

Why Women Are Afraid to Just Say “No” to Guys

Why are some of us so afraid to reject guys we’re not interested in? We asked relationship experts for their input and advice to stop this damaging habit.

-Faye Brennan

I’ll never forget the day in middle school when one of my friends told me, “You’re too nice.” I was stunned. I didn’t even think it was possible to be “too” nice. After all, that’s what my teachers were always yelling at the bullies, “Be nice, Steven! … Stop being mean, Frank!”

But now, I know it’s very possible. In fact, my dating track record proves that I am still “too nice.” I don’t have it in me to flat out reject a guy, so I put myself in situations I don’t know how to get out of: I say yes to second dates I don’t want to go on, give guys my number even though I’m not interested, and so on. For some reason, I find it extremely difficult to just. Say. No.

I’m not alone – in fact, many women have been guilty of doing the exact same thing. It’s something that Elizabeth K., a 27-year-old from Washington D.C. has been struggling with. “I finally JUST broke it off with someone I’ve been dating since September. My friends kept giving me a hard time because when I first started dating this guy I wasn’t really into him. Why would I carry on a relationship for six months when I didn’t see it going anywhere from the beginning?”

LJ M., a 34-year-old L.A. native, has the same problem. “I’ve been guilty of having trouble rejecting men I’m not interested in. I know what it feels like to be rejected and don’t want to make someone else feel the same way, especially if he’s a nice guy.”

Read Oral Sex 101: Learning How to Receive

What is our problem? We’re so confident in the other areas of our lives, so why do we turn to mushy pushovers when a guy we’re not interested in asks us out?

I turned to relationship experts to see if they could give me some answers, and man, did they have a lot to say. When I asked them why women are afraid to reject men, the same 6 answers kept coming up:

1. It’s in our nature. “Women tend to be sensitive, compassionate people. They care about emotions, so they empathize with the pain of rejection and don’t want to cause a guy pain.” – Dr. Kenneth Ryan, author of Finding Your Prince in a Sea of Toads: How to Find a Quality Guy Without Getting Your Heart Shredded.

2. We’re afraid of being alone. “It can be difficult to cut off dates who are so flattering and offer a fun night out. The alternative sounds quite depressing, even lonely: ‘Sit at home and do nothing? Forget it, I’m going out!’” – Julie Melillo, Manhattan relationship/life coach

3. We’re not confident in ourselves. “Instead of waiting for a quality date with someone they want to go out with, many women opt for these easy fixes of ‘flower potting’ themselves into dates.” – Maria Avgitidis, professional dating coach and head matchmaker at Agape Match in NYC

4. We’re settling. “Women who’ve been single for awhile may come down on themselves, thinking their standards are too high.” – Tiffani Murray, author of Stuck on Stupid: A Guide for Today’s Single Woman Stuck in Yesterday’s Stupid Relationships

5. We feel guilty. “Many women believe that if they break it off with someone, they’re being selfish.” – Jaymes Ian Woode, author of 101 Behaviors a Guy Needs to Understand about His Woman!

6. We want an ego boost. “Often times, women say yes to the first man that really pays attention to them and get lost in the lust and excitement of a new relationship without really knowing what they want.” – Lauren Sheehan, teacher of feminine presence classes and workshops at femininerhythm.com

Gulp… that’s a lot to digest!

Get Fit! To Increase Exercise, Focus on How, Not Why!

Set goals and get motivated to get in shape!

-E. Martin, University of Missouri

We all have heard time and time again that exercise has numerous health benefits, besides just weight loss! Exercise is important to maintain and improve health; however, sedentary lifestyles and obesity rates have become major public health issues.

Read Does Fat Make You Fat?

Researchers at the University of Missouri examined the methods commonly used for changing people’s lagging, couch potato lifestyles. What’s the solution?! An intervention! They found that adults who received interventions focused on behavior-changing strategies, including goal-setting and physician feedback, significantly increased their physical activity levels.

Interventions which try to change knowledge and attitudes, did not improve physical activity. Health providers commonly provide advice or information rather than specific goals or plans for patients. So the key here is, we all KNOW that exercise is important, but we need to be shown HOW to incorporate it into our lifestyles!

Sex Lessons From The Wise!

One woman shares what she wish she knew then in the bedroom.

-Libby Keatinge

We all have things we wish we knew when we were younger. When it comes to sex, a woman who has “been there, done that” doles out a few pieces of advice for the younger folks. What does she wish she knew!?

Read Being Alone Sucks!

“I wish I had appreciated all that my body could do and not wasted time on my ridiculous list of imperfections…So much time wasted over fretting about weight, breast size or butt shape!” she says. amen to that! She also wishes she was more adventurous. “I would definitely have liked to have been freer about using toys together.” What other pearls of wisdom does she have to share?! You have to read this at YourTango! It gives a great perspective on what really matters when it comes to the bedroom!

The 4 Major Break-Up Warning Signs

How to know if you’re about to get dumped.

-Jay Cataldo, Excelle.com

Getting dumped sucks… there’s no doubt about it. There aren’t many things more heart-wrenching than finding out that the person you love thinks he will be better off without you. But this news can really make your guts fall on the floor when it comes completely out of left field.

If an “out-of-the-blue breakup” has happened to you in the past, I don’t have to remind you of how much it hurts. But the good news is that I can show you how to make sure it never happens again. Keep reading…

You see, the tell-tale signs of an inevitable breakup will always be there if you know what to look for. And while there are many indicators that point to minor relationship problems, we’re going to be looking at the big four which indicate that a breakup is very likely to happen in the near future.

Read 3 Ways You’re Making Your Breakup More Painful

Once you notice these signs, you can make the decision to address your issues before it’s too late, or you can turn the tables and end the relationship first, on your terms.

How To Tell A Man By His Drink

You can tell a lot about a guy by his choice of beverage!

-Dater Julie

Let’s face it: a lot of the time we meet men at the bar. We’re laid back, having a good time, and it’s inevitable that we’re checking out the merchandise. But how many times have you gotten stuck in a convo with a dude who was cute from afar, but once you started talking, realized he had the IQ of a thumbtack or the ego of Kobe Bryant?

Read Excuses To Get Out Of A Date

You can learn a lot about a man without even talking to him. It’s as easy as observing one obvious detail that you may not notice right away: What he’s drinking. Like me after a few too many, an adult beverage says 1,000 words. Including cheap, manly, wimpy, daredevil, boring. You get it.

Beer is probably the most commonly chosen drink by men at a bar. Based on no evidence other than my own two eyes, it’s the All-American choice for guys and girls alike. Saying you don’t like beer is like saying you don’t like apple pie.

But, for as many different kinds of beer, there are as many different kinds of men. There’s the Bud/Coors/Miller man, who is as watered down as his drink. Domestic beers all taste the same. It’s plain and simple. So either homeboy’s just out for a cheap buzz or he’s about as exciting as dirty laundry.

Meet Your New Skincare Team: The Simple Advisory Board

Simple Skincare’s team of experts is at your disposal to help you find your best, healthiest skin.

-April Daniels Hussar, sponsored by Simple Skincare

The cool thing about Simple Skincare is that they really understand that beauty is way more than skin deep. And so, of course, is skincare, which means that although Simple make excellent skincare products, a big part of their brand mission is to educate us not just about the best facial cleansers and moisturizers for our skin, but to share their holistic approach to skincare. And that means recognizing how important lifestyle factors — what we eat, how much we exercise, our state of mind, etc. — are when it comes not only to the health (and appearance) of our skin, but to our overall health as well.

Simple knows that skin health isn’t just about products so, they just introduced their U.S. advisory board of experts who are available via the Simple Skincare Facebook page  to not only offer advice and tips, but to answer YOUR specific skincare questions!

Their advisory board of five experts includes dermatologist Dr. Debra Luftman, nutritionist Ellie Krieger, celeb makeup artist Gita Bass, psychiatrist Dr. Josie Howard, and Kacy Duke, a fitness expert. The UK has been working with a similar panel of experts for years and Simple was excited to launch the US board in 2013.

Read 10 Things About “Girls” Star and Simple Brand Ambassador Allison Williams

It’s really an excellent resource! You read their advice on everything from creating a relaxation routine (Dr. Howard), to what kind of “strokes” you should use to keep your skin youthful according to makeup artist Gita Bass, to nutritionist Ellie Krieger’s smart ways to satisfy your sweet tooth! And on top of that, you canask them questions right in the comments section.

FTC Full Disclosure: April Daniels Hussar is BettyConfidential’s Editorial Director and is a brand ambassador for Simple® Skincare. The views and opinions in this post are her own; visit www.facebook.com/SimpleSkincare to share your story on sensitive skin.

12 Out of This World Celestial Pieces for Spring

Pay homage to spring’s starry nights with celestial print tees, baubles, and more. The universe CAN be yours, ladies!

-Diana Denza

Ever since starlets like Alexa Chung and Carey Mulligan hit the red carpet in celestial prints, the ‘Net has been chock full of spacey duds. And there’s nothing not to love about the upsurge in galaxy-print pieces on the racks. They’re funky and colorful –not to mention flattering! How could we argue with that? With these 12 pieces, you’ll have them all starry-eyed in no time. Forget ruling the world –we’re aiming to conquer the universe.