Long-Distance Relationships: What to Do and How to Withstand it

Guest post by Melisa Marzett

LDR (Long-distance relationships) is a term that describes an intimate relationship when the partners are separated from each other by a distance.

Have you ever imagined that our planet has 7.046 billion citizens? And every man has his own character, his appearance, and his thoughts. And only one of them is your soulmate. This person can be everywhere, the life is not an easy one, and your “perfect partner” will not live in the house next to yours.

Today social media services help us a lot in out relationships. Even if our relatives, friends or our love are far away, we can speak with them, see them with the help of different programs, and hope that we’ll meet them soon.

Of course all the intimacy is conveyed in a rapid text exchange and it will never compare to the feelings of closeness. And sometimes the romance starts to totter. The main problem of such relationships is waiting. You’re waiting all the time for the call, for the letter or simply for the online status. It’s time to exploit the power of social media to the utmost!

Facebook is one of the most popular social networks. It can be the great way to help sustain your relationships. Photos and status updates can make you feel that you’re nearby, when you’re far away. There are also a lot of people there, and you can find everyone. May be you know only the name of the person you’ve met and you’d like to keep your connections with him. So the Facebook will help you.

Pinterest. Some people can say that this site can’t connect people. But it‘s a really great way to find creative and interesting solutions to make your relationships more exciting. This service helps to make your relationship more intimate and personal. That inspires and makes you closer to each other.

Different phone apps. Of course not all the apps were made for lovers. But there are a few you can try out. You can begin from Avocado application. You can show your love to the partner by sending him “kisses” and “hugs,” pictures you can draw, this program also allows making the list of events and it even has a function of an automatic countdown for your anniversary.

Blogs are the great way to understand each other better. If your love has a blog with personal thoughts and art works you can know almost everything about him. He can tell you that everything’s all right, may be with a view not to make you sad, but in any case you can support him if you understand that something goes wrong.

Some people make dates over Skype. Others prefer to play games together and even create a weekly game night and play all night together. Some couples send each other voice notes to let them know that they’re thinking of each other. There are so many ways to show your love, so be creative and it’ll bring you closer as a couple making you feel together all the time.

***

About the author: Melisa Marzett is an experienced blogger. She writes mostly for writing service She’s a diversified person interested in different spheres. Melissa is always ready to speak at
Google+.



Social Media, Writing, and Editing Services I Offer - Erin O'Riordan

Trying to Meet Women the Old Fashioned Way - Guest Post by the Conflict and Scotch Blogger

Originally published on the Conflict and Scotch blog. 

I have a face made for online dating. It's not because I am so devilishly handsome that women would fall over themselves to meet me. On the contrary, with online dating I control the first look women will have of me. I decide which slightly blurry old photograph taken at just the right angle where I pass for attractive will be placed in my profile. This way a woman could get to know me before actually meeting me face-to-face. Why do I need this buffer? Well, if there is one thing I know about myself is that I can write funny e-mails and once I get someone laughing, I've won half the battle of winning them over.

Before online dating I had to meet women the old fashioned way: drinking and going to bars.

I have never been very good at meeting women, whether in a bar or on the street (not hookers). I don't have many success stories of ending up in a long term relationship with a woman I met in a bar. I met my ex-wife in a bar (enough said). Maybe it was me, the way I presented myself. One Friday night I was standing at the bar at a local franchise restaurant and, after one or two beers, the bartender came up to me and asked me if I was alright. I assured him I was fine.

"Ok," he said, "just wanted to check. You look angry."

The next night I was in another bar and, after one or two beers, that bartender came up to me and asked me if I was okay. I assured him I was.

"Okay," he said, "just wanted to check. You look angry."

I would think a six-foot-two-inch man grinning wildly, alone, at the end of a bar would be more frightening than that same man just staring off in the distance sipping on a beer. Live and learn.

I did have a few barroom encounters that I thought would have ended better.

I will preface this first encounter by saying the following - after my initial separation I had a very hard time concentrating or getting any sleep. This went on for quite a while, to the point where I needed some help. A doctor (bless her heart) to whom I just told my aforementioned problems reached into a drawer, handed me samples of Zoloft, and then wrote a prescription for additional supplies. While on Zoloft I had no anxiety whatsoever - zero. I will credit Zoloft, and the beer I wasn't supposed to be drinking while taking them, with what happened next.

It was a random Saturday afternoon in Hoboken, New Jersey when I found myself standing alone in a bar. I looked over and saw a very pretty woman being bothered by the man that stood next to her. With each step back she took her unwanted companion matched it with his own step forward. I then did something I had only seen done in movies. Something I had never done before or since. I stepped in between her and her unwanted friend, slipped my arm around her waist and said, "There you are, I've been looking for you" and then guided her away.

Thank you, Zoloft.

The rest of the day flew by, we had great conversations, and we laughed - a lot. She lived in Brooklyn but her family was originally from East Brunswick, N.J, which is not far from where I grew up. Just before she left with her friends I asked if she'd like to get together again and in response she gave me her number. The following Monday I called her from work.

"Hello?" she answered.

I told her who I was and she quickly replied, "Can I call you right back?"

That was twelve years ago - I'm almost ready to give up hope that she will return my call (almost).

 Jump ahead a few years from that first encounter and again I was in a crowded bar, Zoloft-free now, with my friend, Kevin. He looked over my right shoulder as we talked and then told me that a woman across the bar kept looking at me. I laughed it off but he insisted that she was. I quickly turned and scanned the crowd (I am so smooth) and found the woman on the other side of the bar. A man stood next to her, who leaned in close, and talked to her - continuously. She looked bored and after a few seconds I saw that she turned her eyes away from him and looked directly at me. She then repeated the routine: she listened, she listened, she looked.

This was new.

A short time later she left her companion and moved toward the restrooms but instead of taking the less obstructed route she cut through the most crowded part of the bar and then squeezed past me.

"She did that on purpose," Kevin said and I astonishingly agreed.

On her return trip she squeezed past me again and as we stood eye-to-eye her right hand appeared and she handed me her business card - all without saying a word. She then returned to her companion but continued the flirtatious glances in my direction.

The next day (too soon?) I called the number on her card, but it went directly to voice mail. I told my female co-workers what happened, and asked them if I should call her again since she didn't reply. They unanimously agreed that I should not call her again, that I should wait for her to return my call. So, of course, I called again and left another message on her voicemail.

Maybe she was on the phone with the girl from Hoboken, but I never heard from her.

I'm not sure why women would give me their numbers, even unsolicited on my part, and then never return my calls. Was it a game, give out your number and then see which idiots would actually call you? Is there a bell near their phones that they ring, like bartenders receiving tips, to let the room know that they caught another one?

So back to online dating I went. But, just to be safe, if in the future you happen upon a slightly blurry man who, given the right angle could pass for attractive, and he's grinning wildly to himself while sipping a beer - that will be me.

What You Shouldn’t Do if You Love Somebody - Guest Post

Love will die if somebody betrays it. It can be lost if somebody hurt it by indifference and cruelty.

What kills love in marriage

You meet when you both have time for it. Your relations get on such way, that you always have time for communication and intimacy. Everyone thinks that his beloved person is the most important one in the world. But when you start live together your feelings will put to different tests. “Suddenly” you will see that your dear gave parents, friends, job, hobbies and affections. Of course you heard about them before, but now all husband’s relations are actualized and take much of his time and attention. You should realize and accept such state of affairs if you want your marriage be strong.

Creative Commons image by pedroalmovar

A type of blackmail

In relations with a man you mustn’t lay claims to him which only love is able to perform. “If you love me you will never do anything without me; If you love me you will do everything I ask you; If you love me you will give the thing I want…” Such manipulations, if you formulate them more frankly, sound like blackmail.

Myth about sameness

“Family requires total sameness” is a mistaken opinion. It is impossible to find two absolutely identical people, even if there is total coincidence. There always will be many differences between you in taste, dreams and hobbies. It would be really boring if all people became identical.

Re-education plan

Some women before the wedding think: “We will get married and he will change under my influence”, some of them begin to make plans about husband re-education. Every of us heard that it is impossible to re-educate an adult person, but tries to do it all the same. Everyday lectures and moralizes will make everyday life unbearable for both.

Creative Commons image by Jenn Davis from Austin

Pros and cons of love

Of course love is beautiful and miraculous. It is the only thing which can give boundless opportunities for receiving absolute satisfaction and real pleasure from each other. Love guarantees us the most powerful feelings, but what? It is unknown. Love is feeling, and feelings are selfish and changeable. Love can’t be measured, there are no precise predictions how it will develop, will it remain or will be over. It can’t be weak or strong, short or eternal, unhappy or happy… But “love” and “family” will always stand close to each other. Only love can’t satisfy all the life’s demands. We need new knowledge, impressions, some development and professional progress. Risk of loss of beloved person leads to agonizing worries onset, arouses negative emotions. Time and mind help to make from a passionate love a calm and wonderful feeling, which brings you less anxieties but more happiness and joy.

So as you see it is not so difficult to save such awesome feeling as Love. You just have to follow such easy points and never try to change your beloved person as you personally like.

About the author: To make wonderful and qualitative work in short notice is job for Paul Smith – the most intelligent writer. If you don’t believe it, try Paul and you will see how quickly and in workmanlike manner he copes with any work, where is it’s art, fashion or design. All you need is to contact Paul on Google+|custom essays.

Getting Married After Living Together - Guest Post by Annabeth Leong

Thanks so much for hosting me today!

After I got married, tons of people asked me if it "felt different." I think this question comes partly because there are plenty of reasons that it seems as if it might not. For many people today, the wedding night is far from the first time they've had sex, and it doesn't necessarily mark the transition from living with parents to living as an adult or the moment that a couple begins to live together.

I've heard some people answer that question by saying that they don't think it's different to be married, but I don't agree. For me, marriage is different from living with a partner in many ways. It may not be romantic to say while talking about a story that I wrote about a wedding, but a lot of what I know about marriage came from getting divorced. When I went through my divorce, I learned exactly how tied to my spouse I was. For the first time in my life, I couldn't pack up my CDs and clothes and just leave. I had to disentangle myself legally, financially, and emotionally. I had to break the tiny family that my spouse and I had formed together, and I had to leave the larger extended family that I had been accepted into. I also had to back out of meaningful spiritual and emotional promises that I had made.

When people get married they tie themselves together far beyond the personal connection that they have. They connect themselves to each other in the eyes of family, state, and, if applicable, the appropriate deity or deities. I've read a lot of articles bemoaning what a big deal people make out of marriage and criticizing how much money couples spend on tying the knot and how caught up they get with planning details. I'm not out to support the wedding industrial complex, but I think it is a big deal. Marriage has been seen as a major life transition in many cultures throughout history, and it's appropriate to treat it as such.

I do, however, think that some things have to change in response to the practice of living together before marriage. For example, it doesn't make sense to me for a couple to register for an entire kitchen's worth of appliances if they already have a kitchen. Similarly, I think expectations for the wedding night need to be adjusted. For many couples, it's not their first time together, and it might not be the best time or the most romantic time. I do, however, think it's a significant time, and it deserves attention. In my recent release, One Flesh, Leticia and Rosalie are getting married, and as part of the process of planning, they define what they want out of the wedding night. They go farther with that than I've done in my life, but I admire the conversation, and I it's one that couples should have. Marriage, including the wedding night, is different from living together, and I think it's good to steer that difference consciously.

Blurb:

Leticia and Rosalie are planning their wedding, wanting very much to make their special day one to remember, but Rosalie has something else weighing on her mind, one more thing she wants to make as special and as memorable as the ceremony itself—their wedding night. Rosalie wants to be with Leticia in a way that neither of them had ever been with anyone else. But finding something that would be a first time for both of them turns out to be harder than expected.

As it turns out, there is one thing Leticia has wanted to do but has never trusted anyone enough to allow herself to overcome the fear of it. And it's something that Rosalie has never done either.

The women discuss the idea of fisting as a means of connecting and forming an intimate bond with each other, one that they've never formed with anyone else. They've never loved or trusted anyone else they way the love and trust each other, and they are determined to find a way to make it work.

Excerpt:

"I'll call tomorrow to tell the church how many flowers we want to order," Leticia said, sighing and folding her notebook closed. No matter how many neat lists she made with her favorite purple pen, the sheer quantity of wedding-related details was overwhelming. "Can you call the caterer back, Rosalie? I still feel like they sneaked a charge in somewhere, but I can't get a straight answer out of them about it."

Her fiancée smiled indulgently. "Better yet. I'll go in person on my lunch break, and they won't know what hit them."

"Great." Leticia rubbed her temples and closed her eyes. She'd wanted to go to bed early, but another evening of wedding planning had made that completely impossible. She was excited to be marrying her one true love and all, but it was easy to lose track of that when she had fourteen phone calls to make and her mother demanded an e-mailed progress report every single night. "That's got to be enough for now."

Leticia stole a quick glance at Rosalie. She'd changed into a cute pair of pajamas when she got home from work, the childish pattern an odd contrast with her sophisticated coppery makeup. Leticia briefly fantasized about peeling the clothing away, revealing her lover's curves and smooth brown skin. Unfortunately, at that very same moment, she had to stifle a yawn. She was so damn sleepy. They would need to get to bed immediately if she was going to give Rosalie proper attention.

"We can't quit planning yet," Rosalie said. "We haven't discussed the most important thing, and it's coming up soon."

Leticia groaned. She flipped her notebook open again and paged through her color-coded, highlighted lists. "We've talked about everything I had listed for the day, and we even went over things that have deadlines coming up in the next few days. I don't see what we're—"

"The wedding night," Rosalie purred. "We haven't discussed that at all."

There was no mistaking the sparkle in her eyes. Leticia actually blushed, the way she had at Rosalie's makeup counter the first time they met, when the other woman's soft words of praise, roughened by the obvious desire in her voice, had gotten Leticia so hot and flushed it had been impossible to identify the correct shade of foundation for her skin tone. She'd been forced to come back later, not that she'd minded.

Now that she'd figured out what Rosalie was hinting at, Leticia played innocent. For all her lover's passion, her Catholic upbringing had left her with an adorable aversion to using direct language. Leticia loved to watch Rosalie get flustered while trying to explain her naughty desires. She batted her eyelashes and focused on her notes again. "We've reserved our hotel room the night of. We've got our plane tickets to Puerto Rico for the honeymoon a couple days after that. Everything appears to be in order."

"The wedding night," Rosalie said, apparently oblivious to Leticia's teasing. She rolled her hands through the air, one over the other, the gesture an invitation to take the word "night" and run with it. "The whole reason I wanted an afternoon wedding was so we could have plenty of time together. Afterward. In the hotel."

"You mean to take a good, long nap? I'm sure we'll be tired after dealing with all the guests, and coming down from pre-wedding nerves, too." Leticia couldn't resist continuing the act.

"Not a nap. But I am talking about what we might do in bed."

Buy Links:

All Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-oneflesh-1355652-149.html?referrer=6bdb1f9160564c0525b41f36e51861a0

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GUMJ080/

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00GUMJ080/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00GUMJ080&linkCode=as2&tag=lucyfelthouse-21

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-flesh-annabeth-leong/1117483502?ean=2940149014910

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/one-flesh-1

Storm Moon Press: http://www.stormmoonpress.com/books/One-Flesh.aspx

Bio:

Annabeth Leong has written erotica of many flavors—dark, romantic, kinky, vanilla, straight, lesbian, bi, and menage. Her lesbian stories have appeared in the Lambda Literary Award-nominated Lesbian Cops, Circlet Press's love-spell anthology Like Hearts Enchanted, Lovecraftian erotica book Whispers In Darkness, and others. When not writing erotica, she is frequently reading it. She has lived in six states in various parts of the United States, and traveled to most of the others. Annabeth believes passionately in freedom of speech, rights for people of all sexual orientations, and the need for compassionate religion. She loves shoes, stockings, cooking, and excellent bass lines.

Giveaway:

I'm giving away a $5 Amazon gift card. Check out the Rafflecopter below!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MzcwOGExMmE5YjFlNjVkMWIxNzU5NTBiZWUxMzE0OjY=/

Guest Post: Is It Possible to Reunite After a Breakup? by Paul Smith #Relationships

It is always a hard thing to save the relationships when there is a critical stage of them. The first thing you shouldn’t do is to let your emotions to control you. Try to be calm and assess the situation from outside. If the breakup is inevitable, think whether you want to reunite with your significant other. You should wait some time, don’t call him/her – it is the wrong decision if you think this is the best first step you can take. Otherwise, you, being still in a heated state of thoughts, can say the wrong things – I think it is not a good idea.

If the time passes, and you still want to reunite with your boyfriend/girlfriend, then take into consideration the advice expressed below.

Reuniting after the breakup can be the most awful or the most joyful experience in your life – it is up to you to decide. The one thing you should realize is whether your intentions are serious. If so, then don’t call your ex and beg for the reuniting – it is the wrong way out. Staying at home for the whole day, eating the ice-cream, watching romantic movies and crying is not a good decision either. The way to reuniting should be planned; you should have some strategy to help your relationships exist in a new, exciting way. So, I propose to you several steps to be taken to achieve the wanted result.

Control your emotions

Analyze what have happened and why it is happened. You should accept the break up with all the unpleasant feelings it has caused – it is a necessary thing for your recovering from a break. You can think over the reasons why that everything had place in your relationships and what to do now. At this stage you can think about those couples that have already reunited. Love is a magic thing – it is able to forgive everything. Very often we forgive cheating, betrayal and other most stupid and hurtful things because we are in love. And if you want your ex to come back you shouldn’t claim that it is only his/her fault – the breakup is always caused by the both partners.

Give your ex spare time and space

Stop calling and sending text messages – it won’t make you good. Besides, remember about the power of the word – it can give life or lead to the death. Talking to your ex after a break, you can unconsciously say the wrong thing, deceive your significant other and compound the existing situation. Think over it – how can your partner miss you if you keep surrounding him by your presence? Give spare time to realize the situation and consequences and give him/her the possibility to come to the same conclusion as you do.

Be honest with your ex

After the mentioned above steps have been taken, and both of you start talking about the reuniting, don’t blindly apologize for all the wrong things in your relationships and don’t promise that everything will be different this time. It won’t solve the problems, and, as a result, you will return to the same state of things. The problem should be solved, both of you should admit the mistakes and try to behave in a different way. You should understand that the successful reuniting is a new wave in your relationships, the new way of your living, new experience and the new attitude to your significant other. Treat him/her with respect and honesty, accept all the pretensions and avoid conflicts. The relationships mean a lot of efforts from both sides, and you won’t change anything to better them – be ready to survive one more breakup.

Making up a conclusion, I want to say, that the key to success in reuniting after a break is a mutual desire for it. If the intention is unilateral, there won’t be any success. You will just spoil the possible friendship and make an impression of annoying person forever. Take everything into account, make sure that there are some favorable moments for reuniting and then act. Be consistent, confident and responsible – the effect depends upon your great desire and needed possibilities.

About the author: Paul Smith is a well-known writer, who noted for his professionalism and works of high quality. He writes about the nature, literature, music, films, books and fashion. He is a person who always opens to communicate. Contact with Paul: Google+|essay writer service.

Guest Post: by Sean Jameson ~ 5 Ways to Spice Up Your Sex Life

I don't like to be the bearer of bad news, but that initial spark in your relationship will almost always eventually fade. If you are just starting a new relationship with someone, you may think that the excitement you both feel about getting sexual with each will never go away. The truth is that it will unfortunately always slowly go away :(

Thankfully, these 5 different sex tips and ideas will show you what to do to prevent that spark of excitement dying.

1. Learn Some New Sex Positions As your relationship progresses, you will start to discover which sex positions you both enjoy most. This is great! The only problem with though is that many couples find themselves only using between 3 and 7 different sex positions. These are usually missionary, cowgirl and doggystyle or a variation of it. Now there's nothing wrong with this. It's just that when sex becomes a routine, you will eventually become bored of it. Instead I strongly advise people to experiment and learn as many new sex positions as possible to try with their partner. And I'm not talking about crazy, 'you-need-to-be-super-flexible' positions either. There are literally hundreds of easy to perform positions that you can try out with your man. I have even created a whole section devoted to this on the Bad Girl's Bible.

2. Roleplaying Roleplaying with your partner is a wonderful way open up more sexual avenues in your relationship. The fabulous thing about roleplaying is that it's a safe way to explore your fantasies with your significant other. Hopefully this list of potential fantasies to try out with your man gives you some ideas on the possibilities.

 - School girl/boy and headmaster/headmistress who has to deliver some discipline
 - Doctor and patient
 - Nurse and patient
 - Prison officer and prisoner
 - Secretary and boss
 - Master & Slave who needs punishment
 - Becoming a swashbuckling pirate
 - Rich independent woman and penniless man (don't forget to switch roles too!)

There are hundreds of roleplays that you can try out, these are just a few of the more popular ones to give you an idea of the possibilities.



3. Get Outside! The bedroom is the default location for sex for most people. But some more adventurous people like to have sex all around the house, whether it's in the kitchen or in the bathroom or even on the stairs. But if you want to take it to the next level, then I highly recommend that you try having sex outside in the open. When I say outside, I don't actually mean 'outside where you can get caught'. While many find the thought of getting caught by someone else while having sex to be thrilling, it's not something that I advise. So avoid places where you are both likely to get caught (i.e. anywhere in a city, public parks, etc.) When I say have sex outside, I mean that you should try it in places where it's just the 2 of you, alone, with almost no chance of either of you being caught or seen by others, but in a location that is beautiful. This could be by a lake early in the morning, on a beach under the stars or deep inside a forest where you can moan and groan as loud as you like without fear of being caught.

4. Don't Forget About Handjobs Whenever I get questions about sex, it usually boils down to just one of 3 things: "Teach me some new sex positions!", "How can I give a great blowjob?" or "How do I talk dirty?" One question that I rarely get, but that guys love their partner to do is giving them a handjob. Giving a great handjob is thankfully quite easy as described here. But for those who want the quick start guide, these 4 steps will get you started in the right direction:

 - Start by grabbing him around the base of his shaft. Rub it up and down for between 10 seconds and a minute.
 - Then move your hand towards the head of his penis (that's the purple part). Start stroking this part of his penis upwards and downwards, making sure that that he can feel each finger move upwards and downwards over the ridge of skin where the head joins the shaft (it's called the Corona). This will give him a lot of pleasurable stimulation.
 - Alternate between the first 2 handjob techniques, then every once in a while, lower your hand(s) to his testicles and grab them softly, then start massaging them. Remember that your man is really sensitive down here, so be careful not to accidentally hurt him by being too rough.
 - While using a combination of the 3 techniques above, you should also vary the speed at which you give your man a handjob. Start off slowly, then speed up, slow down, speed up again until he reaches orgasm and then as he starts cumming slow down again.

5. What To Do When You're Not Around If you want to keep your sex life exciting even when you are not with your partner, then there are a few really cool things that you can do. - Send each other dirty texts a few times during the week. Make sure to do it randomly so they are unexpected and out of the blue. It could be a saucy statement like, "Was thinking about your ass during work and it's making me hard (or wet)!" or "I can't wait to fuck you later." Or it could be a question like, "Would you prefer me to go down on you later or would you like a nice long massage?" - The same goes for when you are on the phone. Just let your significant other know what you are thinking of. You could say something that's not too dirty like, "I wish you were here right now." or "You are making me so hard/wet just listening to your voice." My name is Sean Jameson and you can learn more about me on my website.

Sextoys - The Best Way to Present Them to Your Husband or Wife (Guest Post by John Hansen))

Introducing adult toys for your lover can be both awkward and difficult. You may not know how they might react, and you also don't know if they are going to be open to it. Exactly like anything else, when there is no change, things could easily get very boring. So it is perfectly normal for you should you wish to introduce sex toys to your significant other to spice up your romantic endeavors. It is proven that adult toys could really help to spice up to make it more interesting for couples while having sex.

Sure, even though adult toys can open up totally new doors of enjoyment for your partner and you, however, you first must introduce these to your lover, and let him or her know that you would like to use them during your intimate moments with your lover in your bedroom. Getting them to agree to and be open to it is one thing, you should also consider the actual sex toys you intend to introduce to your sex-life. You should choose sextoys that is able to give satisfaction to both parties, but at the same time, do not crush one another's self confidence.

If you wish to start using adult sex toys with your lover, you have to be completely open with them, and begin an honest conversation. A good time is when the both of you are relaxed and comfortable. The best way to start is to ask your lover an open ended question, like how they feel about adult toys. Share how you feel with your companion. Most partners will feel uncomfortable and it could possibly hurt their self esteem, thinking that they may not be good enough to pleasure you. Having said that, you have got to reassure them that it's just to spice your sex up. It's essential to assure your partner that sextoys might help pleasure the both of you, and you should also make sure they know that you aren't questioning their ability to pleasure you. This might be very crushing to one's self esteem, but if you approach this issue the appropriate way, it should be fine. 

After your lover is open to try out adult toys with you, the both of you should decide the sort of sextoys which should be introduced in your bedroom. Search for sextoys together, and choose upon understanding from the both of you. Sex toys could really be fun when added into your sexual routines together with your partner. It could even be the fire starter to light up the burning passion and desire once again. 

More relationship posts:

Five Foreplay Tips That Will Rock Your Girl's World

Relationship Advice From The Hunger Games

5 Online Dating Tips on How to Avoid Risks

Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker

Five Foreplay Tips That Will Rock Your Girl's World! ~ Guest Post

In today’s rush-rush, deadline-oriented world, we tend to take every short cut we can or even skip steps so that we have time to check one more gadget or post one more status or check one more score.  But, when it comes to sex you definitely need to remember that how you start can be as important as how you finish.  And foreplay is the one thing women can't get enough of –okay, there are a few other things as well, but foreplay is an important one. In general terms, women are emotional creatures, and that's why they like, enjoy, and often need, foreplay.

Unlike most men, women aren't always raring to get down to it. This is because their bodies need help conjuring the lust and lubrication required for intercourse, and their emotions dictate that they feel a sense of closeness and mutual respect with their partner. All of this can be achieved through foreplay, which will also help your lady friend feel desired by you; if you simply want to jump her bones, she'll feel like a tool or a machine designed to get you off. Now, each woman is different, and some might like to get right to it without any foreplay, but the odds are that your girl will need you to grease the wheels first.

That said, here are five foreplay tips that'll help you turn everyday frolicking into something that will have any woman you seduce begging for satisfaction.

1- Talk and tease: During foreplay, the power of suggestion (especially with some dirty talk) can be as great as the sex itself for many women. If you can describe how you want to touch her, where and with which of your body parts, she'll visualize it easily and eagerly. If you know how to have sex with her brain (it is a major sexual organ), you can bet that she'll be begging you to have sex with the rest of her in due time.

If you need to touch her while you dirty talk her during foreplay, avoid touching her breasts and vagina. Instead, focus your mouth and hands on her neck, wrists, inner thighs, lower back, and ears.

2- Get started in public: Foreplay doesn't need to be restricted to the bedroom or inside four walls. If you and your girlfriend don't start crying at the thought of public displays of affection (PDA), try doing some fun things out in the open. And by fun things, I mean such things as rubbing her breasts or respectfully patting her ass in a restaurant, kissing her passionately while having drinks at a bar or dirty dancing at a nightclub, or getting hot at the gym. Make an effort to turn her on wherever you are.

If you show her that she turns you on via PDA, when you finally do find yourselves in a private situation, the good times will lead to some carnal indulgences.

3- Strip down: Strip shows aren't just for men anymore; women have gotten wise to the idea of having men perform a dance for them. While I don't suggest you dance for her as you take off your socks or install a pole in your bedroom, I do recommend that you remove your clothes slowly (especially if you're fit). Remove your socks before you do anything; they're awkward and nothing turns a woman off faster than seeing a naked man with his socks on. Now that you're set to go, start by removing your shirt (unbutton it slowly while maintaining eye contact), then your pants and finally your underwear.

At this point, undress her just as slowly. Sit her down and remove her clothing in the same order you removed yours.

4- Use your fingers and give her oral pleasure: Once again, I have to say that every woman is different and, therefore, every woman likes to be touched differently. However, the same techniques that you may have used in high school are still effective for the majority of women. Bring your hand to her vaginal area and, with the tips of your fingers, rub her outer lips (labia majora) by spreading them apart and bringing them back together. That should start the lubrication process.

When she spreads her legs a bit, that's a clear indication that she wants you to touch her a little deeper. At this point, you can start lightly rubbing her inner lips (labia minora), and then move up to her clitoris, which you should rub in a circular motion. Some women like their clitoris to be touched gently, while others prefer a more vigorous contact. Read your girlfriend's body language for a sign of what you should do.

After a few minutes, bring your mouth to the area and, while you continue to use your fingers to play around inside her, gently suck on her clitoris to give her some great oral pleasure. If a bit more lube is needed, Sliquid tastes as good as it works.

5- Watch some sex and kiss her: Porn can be a great way to get you and your girl in the mood, provided that your girlfriend is the type who enjoys adult entertainment. Put on something that both of you can enjoy (preferably other couples having sex and something tailored to women), and lie naked with each other while you watch it. Remember that an "accidental" caress here and there is perfectly acceptable, even preferable.

Every now and then, stop watching the movie and kiss her or play with her body. Make sure to pay more attention to her than you do to the movie. As well, if you see something kinky that you'd like to try, make a comment about it and gauge her response, which will give you an indication of whether or not she's game. The idea here is to get her imagination going. An S & M beginner kit is perfect for such times, as are some beginner ideas.

Foreplay Formation

And there it is. Five easy ways to drive your girl insane with foreplay. Of course, you don't have to do them all in one day. Keep things lively, fun and erotic, and she'll be incorrigible. One last time: Every woman is different and if you're attentive, you should be a success.

In today’s rush rush, deadline-oriented world, we tend to take every short cut we can or even skip steps so the we have time to check one more gadget or post one more status or check one more score.  But, when it comes to sex you definitely need to remember that how you start can be as important as how you finish.

About the author:

iOpia is a group of friends who have come together to talk about our favorite subject – sex! We also sell high-end sex toy products that you can buy and use in the privacy of your home. 

Relationship Advice from the ‘Hunger Games’

Source: CupidsPulse.com

April 5, 2012 
By Amy Osmond Cook

Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson. Photo: Mockingjay.net

If any of you saw the Hunger Games recently, you were in for a bloodbath—a very entertaining, very well produced bloodbath.  I’m a huge fan of Suzanne Collins, and the movie was one of the best I’ve seen in a long time.  But while I cheered for Katniss, cursed the gamekeeper, and threw popcorn at President Snow, I couldn’t help but notice that some of the lessons of Hunger Games could also be applied to relationships:

Hunger Games Tip #1: Don’t Let Him (or Her) Own You

Before going into the Hunger Games arena, Peeta and Katniss spend a quiet moment looking over the city.  With a wistful glance at his would-be lover and soon-to-be fellow Gladiator, Peeta tells Katniss, “I keep wishing I could think of a way . . . to show the capitol they don’t own me.  That I’m more than a piece in their games.”  And show them he does.

Healthy relationships are built on equality.  If you feel owned or used, there’s a good chance that you are being played in someone’s game.  You may be their most important game piece.  But regardless of whether you are a queen or a pawn, if your relationship feels like a chess match, run!

Related: Can Celebrities Actually Have Enduring Healthy Relationships?

Hunger Games Tip #2: Don’t Eat the Berries

While Katniss is out hunting for food, Peeta tries to be helpful and unknowingly picks poisonous Nightlock berries to eat with the meal.  Foxface watches Peeta and picks berries of her own, thinking they are edible.  She dies instantly upon ingestion.

Affairs, abuse, and drug and alcohol addiction are common forms of relationship Nightlock.  While they are possible for some couples to overcome, they can be instant relationship killers.  So if you are tempted to stray, to use, or to be otherwise despicable, be aware that you are putting your relationship seriously at risk.

Related: You’ve Cheated, So Now What?

Hunger Games Tip #3: Just Be Yourself

When Katniss first arrives at the Capitol, she is told that she needs to make people like her.  Sponsors, Haymitch (her mentor) states, can make the difference between life and death.  Katniss fails miserably at this until Cinna, her stylist, tells her, “Don’t try to make people like you . . . Just be yourself.”  When she forgets about public opinion and is true to herself, she becomes beloved by district and Capitol people alike.

It goes without saying that it’s important to be yourself in a relationship.  There’s nothing worse than sushi and ballet when all you really want is barbeque and line dancing.  Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not, if for no other reason than it’s just plain tiring—and it’s impossible to keep up the façade forever.  When the walls come down and the real you shows through, don’t you want someone who shares your secret passion for all things Woody Allen, or at least loves you for it?

Online Dating: 5 Tips on How to Avoid the Risks

Hopping by from the Coffin Hop? See Monday's giveaway post here.

We’ve all been there. On some horrifying date that your best friend set you up on where it was all you could do not to get up and run for the door…leaving you questioning your friendship with your “best friend” and the entire human race in general.

So maybe now you’ve decided to try your luck on the internet dating scene. Well, the good news is there are many positives about using the World Wide Web to begin a quest for a romantic relationship with another human being. But with the good comes a few risks. And unfortunately in this day in age, having your heart ripped out and stomped on isn’t the only thing you have to watch out for.

There are several dangers involved with online dating and if you plan to join the cyberspace arena of love, you’ve not only got to arm yourself with the knowledge to maintain a heart that is intact, but with the knowledge to maintain your safety as well.

 Tip #1: Be careful when creating your profile. Being that your information is available to anyone once it reaches the web, it is extremely important that you do not include any personally identifying details in your online dating profile. While you should create a profile that is chalk-full with plenty of original information that will set you apart from the rest of the online daters out there, here are a few items in which to omit:
• Home address
• Business address
• Phone number
• Personal email address

After you get to know someone via a safe and secure online dating site, then it would be appropriate to exchange emails and phone numbers—but take it slow when exchanging information and make sure this person has made you feel comfortable and is worthy of your trust.

Tip #2: Watch out for evil con artists. For the most part, the majority of online daters are just like you: innocent daters subscribed to dating sites, looking for love with good intentions in mind. But there are, however, some subscribed for reasons not so pure. Recently, many online daters have fallen victim to the twisted hands of financial scammers. These people are con artists who are signed up to dating websites to prey on others by seeking out their vulnerabilities with the goal of financial gains. If you think you could be dealing with a scammer, be on the lookout for these tell-tale warning signs:
• Profile pictures that resemble a model straight out of a magazine
• Confusing names or conflicting information is given
• Love is confessed at warp-speeds
• Flowers and other gifts are sent right away
• Poor grammar/language that doesn’t align with their alleged education level/career/life status
• Asking for money to help with some dire situation

Tip #3: Watch out for two-timing, married cheaters. Unfortunately, there are creeps out there who are signed up to dating sites, typing away to singles whilst wearing a token of forever around their left ring finger. No one wants to get involved with someone who is married. So before you find yourself wrapped up in the throes of some sorted love affair, look out for these red flags that will warn you if someone you met online has seemed to forget about their vows:
• Zero profile picture
• Erratic/irregular responses, emails and phone calls OR calling on a very strict schedule
• The person asks for your phone number but is unwilling to give you theirs—you might get a cell number if anything

Tip #4: Date in a safe fashion. This doesn’t mean you have to pack a Taser or brush up on your kickboxing skills before you go on a date, it just means you need to arm yourself with the smarts to play it safe…because you just never know who you could be meeting. Follow these first date guidelines and you are unlikely to find yourself in a questionable situation:
• Never have your online friend pick you up from your home or place of business—meet them at a crowded, public venue.
• Make sure you let a friend or family member know the name of your date and where the two of you are going. Call this friend or family member when you get home to let them know you arrived back safely and in one piece.
• Be observant and aware of your surroundings at all times. As alcohol is known to hamper judgment, it is a good idea to keep the drinks to a minimum.
• Never leave drinks or personal belongings unattended.

Tip #5: Always play the game by your rules. If you and your online fling have decided to exchange numbers or to meet up for a date, be sure to always keep things on your terms. Don’t let someone talk to into doing something that makes you uncomfortable. Listen to your gut—if you feel like something is wrong, there is a good chance that it is. It is best to trust your intuitive side rather than trust someone you don’t know who could possibly subject you to harm. Don’t be ashamed of your precautionary behavior—remember, your safety is of upmost importance and those who have the right intentions will respect and understand your need for protection.

The above article comes to us from guest poster, Amy Reynolds, who writes on topics such as this for some of the best adult dating sites.

Note: October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I present this post to help increase awareness of relationship violence.

Intriguing New Memoir From Bettie Young's Books

Diary Of A Beverly Hills Matchmaker, by Marla Martenson (Bettie Youngs Books, April 2010) - guest post

Beverly Hills: just the name conjures up a town chock full of aspiring actresses, wannabees, gold diggers, poseurs and opportunists on the hunt for Daddy Warbucks, and dreaming that their fabulous fannies will be seated in nothing less than a Rolls Royce, Lamborghini, or Ferrari. Then there are the Goldman Sachs size male egos on the hunt for a bevy of beauties, but only if they look like Heidi Klum or, as the author calls them in the book she's penned Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker, a size 0 waif who literally looks like "tits on a stick." The groups, you might contend, deserve each other.

It's no wonder that these types of introduction services are cropping up faster than hair plugs at the Men’s Club. So is everyone looking for the perfect 10? Well, pretty much yes, says the author. Since men are visual their main concern is that the women are in great shape and beautiful, with personality and intelligence coming in second and third on their list, and women are looking for security and an easy, breezy, lifestyle, which translates to, “I would like a man who makes at least a million a year” and on occasion Martenson would receive demands such as, “I will only date a man who has a private jet; I just refuse to fly commercial!”

Says the author, "The American dream is “to have it all,” “hold out for the best” and “don’t settle.” After all, it’s just as easy to fall in love with a rich man as a poor man, right? But just how long are singles willing to wait for the perfect specimen with whom to hook? It’s fine and dandy when a woman is in her twenties and looking like a million bucks, but when she has reached the forty mark and higher, things start to crinkle and sag, eggs dry up and dreams are dashed. The competition is the new arrivals with taut young bodies and stars in their eyes and the over forty male is often considered “distinguished” rather than the over forty woman who is just considered “old.”

No wonder online dating and matchmaking services are no longer taboo. One is not considered “desperate” to reach out for some help in finding love. But with that convenience and technology comes the expectation of “putting in an order” for the perfect mate. Martenson writes about the mentality of many male clients and the attitude, “I’ve paid you thousands of dollars to match me, so find me exactly what I want even if that means specific hair color, eye color, height, weight, and nipple preference. Yes, nipple preference. Martenson tells a story of a member who broke up with a woman because her areolas were “too big.”

Another concern of her male clients is the size of their match’s derriere. Here is an email to Martenson after a first date:

Dear Marla, I really found Sandy to be attractive, fun, intelligent, and cultured. We had a great time. The only thing is, I am wondering if she has a big butt. She was wearing one of those puffy dresses. She says that she does all kinds of activities like dance classes, working out at the gym, and hiking, but I just can’t be sure how big her butt is. Is there any way you can let me know if it’s big or if the dress she was wearing just gave that illusion?

Joseph

And did Martenson find her fairy tale ending with her perfect ten, or did she settle for second best in a heartless city in the knowledge that her clock had all but stopped ticking? A hopeless romantic, she is certain that it was kismet meeting the woman late one Friday night at a Rite Aid store on Sunset Blvd. who would introduce her to her husband a month later.

Ten years ago, Marla Martenson never dreamed that she would launch into a new career as a Beverly Hills Matchmaker, working tirelessly to find her financially upscale male clients the perfect ten to walk down the aisle with. But when a friend of her husband’s offered her a job at a video dating service, the course of her life was changed for good. After a year and a half at the dating service, she accepted a position at an exclusive Beverly Hills introduction agency as the head matchmaker.

After years toiling in the trenches unearthing the most exquisite gems to match to her well-heeled gentlemen, Martenson felt moved to write her third book, a memoir, Diary Of A Beverly Hills Matchmaker. For a woman who had given up on finding her soul mate and accepted her fate of remaining single, living in a studio apartment in Hollywood with her dog, having an open heart and mind has proven to be golden.

Marla Martenson
www.marlamartenson.com