4 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Live With Your New Boyfriend

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We know that many of you have embarked in new relationships and as we get older, having a boyfriend seems more serious to us. But, don't confuse your perception of serious with the idea that you have to make serious, life-changing decisions early on. One question posed in a lot of relationships is "Should we live together?". We do caution living with a brand new person you've just barely started a relationship with for four (4) reasons:

1. You will sacrifice solitude. Living with your new boyfriend means adopting a roommate. This means, no more privacy. You have to ask yourself if you're ready to share the same space with another person and sacrifice moments of peace and quiet.
2. You might feel trapped. Signing a lease puts you in a legal bind for a set amount of time. What if things don't work out in your new relationship? Then, you run the risk of living in misery since you're tied to a lease. Even if you found a way out, the headache in finding someone to take over your lease is enough to not sign one in the first place.
3. You will be playing house. Are you ready to potentially cook, clean, do your boyfriend's laundry, fold their clothes, and do every other thing that a wife might do for their husband? Expectations and standards may be set too high for you to handle.
4. You may lose sight of working on the relationship. Moving in together is often times perceived as a huge step in a relationship. A lot of the time it implies that the next step is marriage. Along the way, it isn't uncommon to get so comfortable living together that effective communication gets lost and there is no progression in the relationship. You run the risk of signals getting crossed, complacency, stagnancy, or lack of interest overall in the relationship. 

Of course, not all living situations are the same and ultimately it is your decision how you want to move forward in your relationship and your living situation. Overall, it's all about being smart about your choices and weighing the pros and cons. "Am I just trying to save money?" "Am I ready to live with someone of the opposite sex?" "What am I trying to gain from living together?" These are some questions to ask yourself as you evaluate whether it's for you.

How To Slowdown Your Relationship

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Just like a friendship, a relationship is always evolving. The idea is that it should never end. With all that being said, there is no need to rush in your relationship. Often times we feel the need to follow how our friends and their significant others are living out their relationships and it puts unneeded stress on your own. Slow it down.

Forget About Society's Timeline

As women, we aren't going to lie: marriage is an exciting thing. However, it's also a lifelong commitment so you have to be 100% right about your ever-after. Rushing into marriage after hardly knowing your partner is a recipe for DIVORCE. Take your time to fully get to know your partner and carefully consider the timeline you hope to fulfill on your own time.

Hold On To Your Goodies

Save yourself sexually until you feel it seems right. Getting physical, especially early on can cause a rift in your relationship because there is nothing to look forward to. When you give yourself away entirely, it unfortunately does create a vulnerable environment in which women (and men) start to feel used.

SAVE the 'Save the Date'

Talking about marriage speeds up your relationship. When a man has met his chosen woman, he doesn't need any push to make any special proposal moves; a man knows what he wants and will get it. Forcing marriage on a man will shut them down.

Any other tips & advice to slow down your relationship? Leave a comment below!

What To Say When They Ask: Why Are You Still Single?

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If you haven't heard the "Why are you still single?" question then just know it's coming from someone whether it's at your beloved nail salon or from your sweet mother who simple wants some grand children to keep her company. But, don't get too uptight whenever anyone asks you this, because this is your moment to set the record straight so there is no confusion on where you stand. Being single is probably one of the greatest things you can offer yourself, especially in your twenties. You shouldn't be chasing after love; it will fall into your lap when you least expect it. But, in order for "the one" to find you, you've got to be prepared to meet him. That means working on your flaws and perfecting yourself so that you're ready to be in a relationship and give the best of you that you can. A part of growing and evolving into the person you were meant to be, is by embarking on life adventures on your own. There will come a time where it will be about that bond with your significant other, but hopefully by then you have dug deep within yourself so that you have a sense of personal identity.

So, in a nutshell: Tell them that you're still discovering who you are and preparing yourself to be found by the man of your dreams.

Self-realization and self-love is the best kind of love.

P.s. You better believe that when you find the right person he/she WILL put a ring on it!

6 Modern Myths About Love {United Healthcare}

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We always love reading up on important health tips from our favorite healthcare providers, that we were glad to have stumbled across this article that United Healthcare wrote regarding modern myths about love. Love is special, but often times we fall victim to false love. Read United Healthcare's perspective on modern myths about love and leave a comment below with your thoughts!

6 Modern Myths About Love
How much do you know about matters of the heart?
Zing! With a well-aimed arrow, Cupid can fill your heart with passion. That's how the ancient myth goes.

We may not believe that. But plenty of modern myths about love miss the mark too. Here are six you've probably heard.

Myth No. 1: I have to be in a romantic relationship to be happy.

The real deal: Just one can be fun! Single people can and do live full, happy lives. Their secret? They fill their hearts with what brings them joy and satisfaction — family, friends, meaningful work, hobbies, fitness, etc.

Myth No. 2: All you need is love.

The real deal: Love alone can't conquer all. In relationships that last, loving couples know it's also important to:
Respect one another
Communicate well, positively and honestly
Resolve conflicts in a healthy way
Offer support, comfort and praise
Laugh and be playful together

Myth No. 3: I can change things I don't like about someone.

The real deal: The only person you can change is you! Try to appreciate someone for who he or she is — not your vision of perfection. That doesn't mean you can't share concerns or wishes. But do so as positively as possible — and realize that accepting your sweetheart's quirks and habits is a powerful way to show your love.

Myth No. 4: Possessiveness is a sign of passionate love.

The real deal: It's actually a red flag. If one partner is controlling or jealous — for example, doesn't want the other to spend time with friends or family — it's not a healthy situation.

Myth No. 5: If it's right, it will be love at first sight.

The real deal: You might be attracted to a person instantly. But lasting love is based on knowing someone on a deeper level. And that takes time. You need to share many different experiences — from romantic candlelit dinners to frustrating flat tires — to know if a relationship can go the distance.

Myth No. 6: Romance can't last.

The real deal: Even when life is busy — with kids, work, chores and bills — love can thrive. Sweet gestures, hugs, hand-holding, stolen moments and regular date nights can all help keep your bond satisfying and special.

How To Get Through a Break Up

Getting through a break up is no easy feat, but you have to go THROUGH it before you can properly heal and move forward. Suppressing your feelings is a sure fire way to spiral into deep sadness or depression and life is too short to harbor your feelings and essentially self destruct. There is a healthier way to get through a break up and if you follow these tips, you will be on your way to emotional freedom and you'll be ready to tackle the next relationship just waiting for you!

• Confide In a Trusted Friend
• Feedback is so important while going through a break up. As much as it may seem easier to bottle up your emotions, hearing input from a trusted friend or someone who has also been in a relationship can offer more help than you think. No relationship is perfect and it's great to hear the perspective and advice from friends. They can offer a shoulder to cry on or words of wisdom.

• Travel
• Do NOT stay cooped up in your room to drown in your misery. Our thoughts are so powerful that you might find yourself suffocating in a confined space. Rather, take a trip away from it all. Whether it is a car ride with the windows down, a tropical vacation, or a fun trip to the happiest place on Earth, clear your mind so when you're ready to fully analyze the break up, your thoughts are not clouded.

• Write Down Your Thoughts
• If you want to make sense of your break up, write down everything that was shared between you and your ex that lead to the break up. Create bullet points so you can organize your thoughts. 

• After You Write Down Your Thoughts, Throw It Away
• Whether you throw away your thoughts physically or figuratively, it is important to move on. Don't rehash old thoughts because it will make you nuts and resurface negative emotions. The point in writing down your thoughts is to have a better understanding of where things went wrong in hopes that history does not repeat itself. 

• Cry
• Cry. Be human and let your body purge of the pain. Break ups can cause a lot of stress, often times not realized for a couple of days. Therefore, every second you feel like crying, allow yourself to-it's normal. The grief your body goes through after a break up is said to be in conjunction to the feeling of losing someone. Grieve; mourn the loss of the relationship and don't feel bad for doing so.

• Smile/Laugh
• Laughter is the best painkiller. Smiling and laughing will lift your spirits 100% of the time! Studies show that smiling and laughing improve your mood so don't hold back. 

• Listen To Upbeat Music
• Skip the sappy love songs and opt for upbeat tunes. Listening to music is such an easy, positive, free way to both lift your spirits and temporarily relieve pain/stress. 

• Find a Silver Lining
• Absolutely everything happens for a reason. Ask yourself: "What lesson can I learn from this past relationship?" There is a lesson to be learned from any relationship you embark on and you can apply those lessons to your next relationship whether it be with the same person in the future or a new person. 

Break ups are not the end of the world {though it feels like it..haha!}. Cry your tears, wipe them off, clean up your face, apply some makeup, and get out there and date. Life is too short to stay stuck on the past....learn from it and be the best individual that you can be. After all, you have to love yourself before you can love anyone else.

Table For Two

Dinner for two, me and you.  Since V-Day is a week away, now is the time to make dinner reservations for your romantic evening!  Most restaurants fill up fast, and there are things to look for when picking the perfect dining spot.  Whether you're out with a cute date or your BFF, this will help to make your dining experience even better!

Book early.  Make your reservation early.  Come the day of Valentine's Day, it will be hard to find an open reservation!

Prix Fixe menus.  For holidays such as this, a lot of places offer special menus at a set price.  Such as, a 4-course meal for $75.00 a person.  When booking a reservation, ask if there's a fixed menu for the night.  That way, it won't be a surprise on your wallet-- and, you can make sure you like what they're serving!

Nightly specials.  Ask about specials for the night.  This could be anything from a yummy main course, to a decadent dessert!  Some restaurants have dessert or other extras as an offer when purchasing dinner, which is good to know.

Not sure?  In that case, cook dinner at home!  Or, just go out to eat on February 15th with your sweetie.  You can avoid the crowds and pricey menus all together.  After all, every day can be Valentine's Day!