Long distance relationships can be hard. Regular relationships are hard enough. Dealing with the immense distance between you can be hard to do every day. If you really love a person there are ways that you can make your long distance relationship work. No long distance relationship will work forever so it’s important to have an idea of when you will finally be together. You can then look forward to this time and even count down the days in anticipation. Below you’ll find some tips to help keep your long distance relationship fresh and fun.

Tip #1: Communicate Regularly

Communication is essential in any type of relationship no matter how near or far away you may be from each other. You should be communicating with your partner every single day, perhaps even multiple times per day if you expect a long distance relationship to really work. You should try to ask your partner about general stuff like how the weather is and what they did that day as well as some personal questions like how they feel about something they’re going through. It’s possible to stay intimate with your partner by sharing personal feelings and details.

Tip #2: Always be Honest

Trust is another important part of any relationship. Long distance relationships are especially susceptible to trust issues. It’s important to always be honest about everything that’s going on in your life. You should be consistent and do the things you tell your partner you’re going to do, when you say that you’re going to do them. If you say you’re going to call at 6pm and don’t call until 10pm and only talk for 10 minutes your partner is likely to get suspicious, even if you aren’t doing anything wrong. This is another way communication can help a relationship.

Tip #3: Spend Time Together

Even though you may have to be apart most of the time, it’s important that you find ways to spend time with your partner. Even if it’s just for a weekend or a few hours here and there the time you spend together will help keep your relationship strong. Finding a quiet, comfortable place to spend time together will help open the channels of communication that bring you closer together.

Tip #4: Nurture the Relationship

You can nurture your relationship by showing your partner how important they are to you and how much you appreciate them. The easiest way to do this on a daily basis is to tell them how you feel about them and let them know that even though you’re far away you still love them and are thinking about them all the time. Little things like this can really go a long way in nurturing the bond of your relationship.

Tip #5: Make use of Technology

Thanks to the power of technology you can now stay closer to people even if they’re thousands of miles away. You can chat in real time, talk on the phone, share pictures, videos, play games and more all from the comfort of your own home. Phone calls are great but video chat can be a lot more personal and you can get a better idea about what your partner is thinking. A daily email can be a great way to catch-up but it isn’t nearly as personal as seeing someone live on your screen. Sending an e-card can be a nice way to show how much you care without having to go to the store for a real card.

Kisses can be the first step in a physical relationship with a new partner. Whether or not you’re a good kisser can easily make or break the relationship. It’s important to know when the right time is to steal a kiss as well as what kind of kiss to use. Read on to discover the top 6 mistakes people make kissing.

#1: Unwelcome Kiss

For most people it can be fairly obvious whether or not a date is going well for them. Getting close, laughing and having a good time or making plans for the future are all the right signals that a kiss will be welcome. If you’re not getting these signals odds are a kiss isn’t going to be welcome at the end of the night. You can easily ruin a new relationship by trying to sneak an awkward kiss. Usually you can follow you gut feeling on whether or not the person you’re with is ready for a kiss.

#2: Big Wet Kiss

Your date shouldn’t have to wipe their face off after you’ve laid a big kiss on them. Big, wet, sloppy kisses can be a huge turnoff. You don’t want your date to feel like they’re making out with a slobbering dog. Of course open mouth kisses are going to be a little wet by nature but it doesn’t mean you need to go overboard.

#3: Takes Your Breath Away

It’s important to allow a little time to breathe even in the middle of a serious make-out session. If you notice your partner is trying to change position a lot you should probably take a hint and give them a little more space. A kiss is supposed to leave you breathless not take your breath away completely.

#4: Open Eyes

Some people prefer to keep their eyes open while most people would rather close their eyes. If you’re one of those who likes to keep their eyes open you should probably play it safe and keep your eyes closed at least in the first few kisses. If your partner prefers to keep their eyes closed and opens them for a second to see you staring at them it might freak them out a little bit. It’s important to help keep your partner comfortable to avoid killing the mood.

#5: Mistiming

Like most things, with kissing timing is everything. You should make sure you’re in a quiet, relaxed moment before you decide to make your move. Avoid kissing when your date has just taken a bite or food or is chewing gum or taking a drink. The end of the night is the perfect time to steal a kiss, especially if it’s your first kiss together. If you feel like your date has had a good time and wants to see you again, go ahead and try your luck at a kiss. If you feel like you’ve got more of a friend vibe or something more negative you might want to reconsider.

#6: Choose the Right Kiss

There are times when a deep passionate kiss may be in order although those times may not be as often as you’d think. It can be easy to get carried away especially when you’re really attracted to the person you’re with, though it’s important to control your urges. They might not be ready or just not in the mood at the time. Start small and see where that gets you before diving in head first.

Trust is the foundation of any strong relationship. Trust can be accomplished best through open communication of feelings as often as possible rather than relying on misdirected hostility. All relationships have their ups and downs but you may find that there are things you can do to help minimize the downs and make the ups that much better. Building or even rebuilding trust is important, that’s why we’re going to be looking at the top 5 ways you can tackle trust issues in a relationship.

#1: Admit You Have a Trust Issue

Just like most other problems the first step is admitting that you have a problem to begin with. Both people in the relationship need to admit that trust issues exist before you can even consider working on your trust issues together. Men especially have a hard time admitting there are any problems in a relationship or any other part of their life for that matter. It’s important to open up and communicate effectively to put any fears you may have to rest before you will be able to move forward.

#2: Don’t Play the “Blame Game”

When begin communicating with your partner about any trust issues you may have in your relationship it’s important not to start throwing blame around. It’s also important to keep excuses to a minimum. It’s possible to apologize without blaming your partner. Of course this is a two way street. Both sides need to be able to admit their faults in order to work through them. If you’re going to take the time to try and communicate your feelings about such a sensitive subject it’s important to be patient. Leave childish games at the door before you start dealing with real issues and you will get a lot more accomplished.

#3: Always be Consistent

Being inconsistent by breaking promises can often times bring about distrust in a relationship. You should always try to do what you say you’re going to, when you say you will. If you say you’re going to be home at 6pm but don’t get home until 9pm it’s important to communicate with your partner to avoid unneeded worry which can also lead to distrust. It’s also important to begin to understand why fights start to begin with so you can be more mindful of preventing them in the future. Fighting rarely accomplishes much and can leave a lasting negative impact on anyone involved, especially children.

#4: Prepare What You Want to Say

Bringing up trust issues is about as fun as getting a cavity drilled but if you’ve made a commitment to change it will need to be done. Always keep in mind that while you may think it’s a great idea to talk about feelings, your partner may not think so. Having what you’d like to say prepared can help you steer the conversation a little more smoothly and maybe even turn it into something productive. If the conversation begins to derail and negative subjects that are way off topic come up it’s important to take a timeout before it turns into a full blown fight. Address only what you’re feeling. For example “I feel worried when you don’t come home” not “You’re probably out with someone from work cheating on me!”

#5: Take Action

You can talk the talk but can you really walk the walk when it comes to tackling tough trust issues in your relationship? We all know change is hard but when you work hard at it over time you can begin to change your behavioral patterns to improve your quality of life. If your partner is pulling away then make efforts to get closer. Just talking about what makes you unhappy in your relationship is not enough. You have to take action to make a real change.

1.    At the club: ‘Dare you to show me that moonwalk.’

To guys, it’s as mandatory to prove themselves in a dare as it is to apply deo spray every morning. Macarena, Dougie, or moonwalk – he is going to oblige. When he ends up making a total clown of himself, you will be right there to go in and save him from 2 left feet. Guessing he’s going to be polite enough to repay you with a drink.

2.    At the restaurant bar: ‘They’ve got the best ever nachos here. Have you ever tried them?’

If no nachos are on the menu, choose some other menu item you’ve got strong opinions of, like wings or pizza. Best bet? He comes with you and agrees to share up a plate of it. Worst case scenario? The guy disagrees and you fight over it flirtatiously. Then, you offer him to buy some – simply to prove the guy wrong. It’s really a ‘win-win’ line that’s going to get any guy eating right off the plate. Quite literally.

3.    At friend’s party: ‘ I’ve been wanting to speak to you right since I got here, but no one’s even introduced me. So, I thought I’d go ahead and introduce myself.’

Men love confident women. He will think that your ‘chutzpah’ in approaching him is pretty hot. Of course, many guys also like making the first move. However, that does not mean that they will not be surprised pleasantly when the girl does the legwork instead for once.

4.    At laundromat: ‘I am bored. Whaddya typically do when the underwear’s drying?’

Guys are very visual creatures. Although you’ve just mentioned the guy’s underwear, he is thinking of yours automatically and how they are most likely lacy and black or not even there altogether. So, you’ve basically got him hooked onto you right there. Even if the only awesome suggestion you’ve got is a quick Fruit Ninja round on your iPhone, he’s definitely in.

5.    At the park: Any clue how this blanket can be turned into that Twister board? Really dying to play!’

This one is going to show the guy that you’re energetic, playful, and fun – an all-rounder quick line. He will be very curious to know what other impossibly crazy things you’ll dream up next.

6.    At baseball games: ‘Bet you a drink that (insert name of player)’s gonna hit a home-run within the inning.’

It is the nature of men to be very competitive. There really is nothing like a little harmless poke to get ‘em roaring and going. He will most likely raise stakes, turn that drink into shots, and even spend the rest of the time at the game speaking to you. Thus, even if the player with the cute booty ends up not hitting home run, you’ve just scored a date after the game.

7.    At the gym: ‘You definitely look like you’ve got your way about this place. Now, where’s the machine that works those glutes?’

While men consistently flatter their girlfriends (“Your hair look amazing today! Cute top!”), men infrequently receive any compliments from each other. So, when they catch one coming from you, they certainly do take note. By telling him that he certainly knows the way round that gym, it is you indirectly telling him how manly and buff he looks. That fees straight into the male macho ego. He will be more willing in helping you to find the machine you’ve been looking for in return. And, most likely, a ton more as well…

8.    At the beach: ‘Bet you’ve been wondering how I keep off tan lines.’

No. He was not. However, after that last comment, that is probably all that his mind will think of so long as you are lying next to him. If it is on him, you will definitely be staying right there and talk to him… until you’ve given up your tan spray addiction secret to him anyway.

Since good impressions, just like great outfits, are very hard to make, it’s important to pay attention to your etiquette. Good things can definitely happen if you’ve got the right etiquette. The first part: your presentation. If you’re a laid-back person that doesn’t pay too much attention to appearance, that’s about to chance. For most women, how you present yourself and put in effort to look good is a sign of the kind of respect you hold for her. So, here’s a list of the 7 things to do and not do when dressing to impress a first date:

Don’t overdo the cologne. Every girl likes a nice-smelling guy, but please don’t bludgeon that poor damsel.

Do not wear any piece of clothing or accessory for which words like ‘interesting’ ‘quaint’ or ‘zany’ could apply. T-shirts that have slapstick humour sayings, ‘Jackie for Mayor’ pins, and the old cowboy hat dad gifted you are not to be worn to your first date; strictly restricted. These don’t show how intelligent you are. Let your actions and words do that job.

Keep that phone silent. No self-respecting lady will be impressed by a guy that can’t give her his full attention when she’s with him.

Check the fly.

Yes, going out with a woman for the first time ever is a special occasion. She expects you to dress for it. No need to sweat it out in a tie, but most girls would love a smart jacket. However, if the destination demands a formal tie, make sure you don’t forget.

Groom yourself. Wash the hair, clip the fingernails. This might be something you do once in a blue moon, but today is definitely one of those days. Most women will notice these details and mark you down on them. In fact, they probably look at their guy’s hands more than their own. Dirty nails are definitely a put-off. Be presentable. They will also notice the white flakes on your shoulder. So, yes, do breakout that dandruff gel. If it’s a serious issue for you, just don’t wear a dark shirt – simple.

Women obsess over shoes.  That includes not just the shoes of other women and their own, but YOUR shoes too. So, take out your nicest pair if the venue conforms. She will judge you based on them. Pick the right pair. Here’s a guide: simple sneakers, moccasins, or driving shoes for afternoons, loafers or lace-ups shoes for evenings and flip-flops are banned. Do this bit right, and you’ll have scored brownie points before even shaking hands with her.

When the honeymoon days are gone and not every day spent with your hubby seems like the ‘perfect day’ anymore, it may be time to re-evaluate your marriage and what the future holds for the both of you. Freedom may be beckoning you intoxicatingly. But, have you considered whether or not your expectations are a bit unrealistic? Have you got the inlays of a successful marriage, but are holding out foolishly for ‘perfection?’

But, then again, what exactly is a marriage that’s ‘good enough’? After interviewing many experts, we’ve uncovered the top 10 questions that you should ask yourself in order to clarify if your relationship, in spite of being a tad bit imperfect, is really worth another good go:

1.    Could you be putting TOO MUCH emphasis on your partner’s negatives?

Everyone’s got their good and bad points. For the next 3 months, try marking your bad and good days in the relationship on the calendar. You might just get a reality check.

2.    Have you left this marriage already through emotional withdrawal?

Giving up on attempts to better your relationship is a sign that it’s time to re-think the status of your relationship and its continuity. Can you think of ways to re-engage that old flame? Do you want out from this relationship?

3.    Does either of you get angry, hit the other, or throw things about at least once every month?

If you just answered yes to that one, maybe you’re hanging on to a horrible relationship out of fear of loneliness. Or, have you convinced yourself that you can’t do better?

4.    Are you frustrated because your wife or husband refuses to change certain habits and traits? Perhaps you would like him to act a bit more manly and forceful at times?

Think about whether or not it’s really important that he do the things you want him to change. Is there a family history that’s been driving you to require such transformations of him? – A father that never stood up for your mother when she needed him.

5.    You’ve been teaching the hubby all the wrong lessons. Have you been avoiding questioning his hurtful attitude?

Don’t put up with not saying anything when criticized by him in public. He never washes any of the dishes, so you go ahead and do ‘em. Resentful submission is not a good sign.

6.    Do you enjoy yourselves when you’re with each other?

In spite of life and its problems constantly hurling low-ballers at you, do the two of you take time out to joke about it? (That’s a good sign!) If you don’t, perhaps you can consider taking out time for less work and more play in the marriage?

7.    Are there conflicts that you’ve avoided in the relationship? What do you fear would happen if you confronted them?

A confrontation can do heaps to help solve this. Think about what your fears are for a confrontation on the conflicts.

8.    Do you just need to spend more time together on your own?

Taking off for a weekend just with your partner without the kids and work tensions hogging your back 24/7 might just be the solution. Your hearts will grow fonder of each other as you relive the days when you first met and love blossomed.

9.    Has something out of the blue happened? – Big event, loss of job, birth of child, or a death? Is it throwing the two of you off from your relationship? Does it have to be addressed?

Talking it out is much easier than you think it is. Remember that your partner is here with you because, at some point in time, you simply adored each other and understood everything about the other.

10.    Do you think you’ve done all you possible could to make this marriage successful? Are you definite he or she has heard the complaints you have?

Consider trying couples therapy or marriage-education class. If he refuses counselling, try going on your own to learn about what else can be done to save this union.

Ponder these questions. You might just remember those joyous aspects of the marriage that have settled dust. Remember how he used to surprise you with candle-light lavender baths and singing Valentine gifts? And, you do make up and talk from time to time – maybe not as often as you’d like to, but perhaps it’s still acceptable? Perhaps you should re-consider hanging up that marriage on clearance racks as you’ve perhaps obliviously done already? Marriage is a verb that’s all about what ‘I do’ for the better, not a one-off noun.

You prefer the Time you spend Apart

Couples naturally won’t spend all their time together. There will always be family and friends and jobs to distract either partner in a relationship. The problem comes when you enjoy the time you spend away from your partner more than you enjoy the time that you spend together.

Boredom with the Relationship

New relationships are exciting, but everyone knows that feeling never lasts. What usually happens after the excitement is a feeling of comfort and security. If instead of feeling comfort, you feel bored and tired of your partner, then the end it probably near, and it’s time to either challenge your partner to renew the relationship or just move on.

Declining Sex Life

A declining sex life is related to boredom with the relationship, but even more serious. If your partner is constantly declining to have sex with you when they used to be open and affectionate, then it means the spark has gone and physical attraction is no longer a factor. To fix this requires massive action on both sides of the relationship to bring back the interest, but it may already be too late.

The Past is better than the Future

If you spend all your time thinking about how things used to be, and not about where things are going, then the relationship is about to collapse. Having nothing to look forward to means the best times are already over. You can try to bring back what made the relationship great, usually by changing the scenery and getting a vacation, but that spark is hard to light once it goes out and it may be already too late.

You are only Making Sacrifices

Every relationship is give-and-take. Both partners should understand that there are some things that they have to change about themselves in order to make the relationship work. The collapse comes when one partner is doing all the taking and the other is making all the sacrifices. This means that there is no respect left in the relationship, and there is no happiness to be had in a relationship with no respect.

You are Fighting often and Aggressively

It’s perfectly normal for couples to fight; in fact, it’s necessary in a new relationship to set boundaries that both partners can agree with. When fighting is all you and your partner do, however, something is wrong. Constant fighting means neither partner is getting what they want, or willing to sacrifice. The end is near.

Secrets and Silence

New couples naturally want to share everything with each other; it’s a fun step in an early relationship that helps each partner figure out who they are. As the relationship gets older, this turns into trust, and the couple is no longer scared of sharing their most important secrets with one another. That trust doesn’t always develop though. Sometimes, fear takes the place of trust, and this is a death knell to a relationship. Constant secrets and a disinclination to share mean that the trust never developed, and it’s time to move on.

Incompatible and Stubborn Goals

Sometimes, even when couples get along, they want such radically different things out of life that the relationship will never succeed. Some things are simply more important than the minor changes that couples are expected to make—like where you want to live, whether you want children, whether you want to be married. If both partners have goals that won’t work and they refuse to change them, the relationship will end sooner or later.

Cheating

Cheating should never be tolerated in a relationship, as it is a violation of the very obligations that a relationship is founded on. Cheating demonstrates a lack of respect, a lack of caring, and a sexual dissatisfaction with the relationship. If there is cheating, then the relationship should have already ended before it had a chance to happen.

Abuse

If either partner is abusive, the relationship needs to end immediately. There is no salvaging a relationship that is accepts the harm of either partner. Leave as soon as safety will allow, and inform the authorities if necessary.

The spill: It can be very easy to spill coffee or sauce on your outfit during a date. Most people are pretty nervous during a first date so they might be a little clumsy. If you wear dark clothing you wont have to worry about a dark stain on your outfit. If you wear white clothing, you are risking yourself to eventually have stains down the front of you. You cannot predict the outcome of your first date unless you fully prepare for it.

Gas: You don’t want to be late because you have run out of gas in your vehicle. Not only is it rude to be late, it is also embarrassing. If you run out of gas, you either have to call someone or walk to the nearest gas station. If you walk, you are going to end up sweating in your nice outfit. The best thing to do is make sure the car is gassed up the night before. If you get in your car to go to the date and notice you have no gas, stop and put a few dollars worth just to get you by for the night.

Money: If you are the man taking the woman out, you need to prepare to pay for the dinner. It is common courtesy to take care of the check on the first date unless there is a different agreement between the two of you. Don’t show up without your wallet or with an empty wallet. If you make sure you have your wallet before you even leave, you will not have to deal with the embarrassment of making the female pay for the dinner. You should also make sure you have enough money before you even offer to take her out.

Food: You need to know what foods to order and what foods to stay away from on a first date. If you order something that will give you gas, be prepared to run to the bathroom every few minutes. Don’t order something that requires you to get extremely messy either. The point of a first date is to make first impressions. If her first impression of you is eating sloppy ribs with your hands, you might not get a second date.

The phone: Before you leave for the date, make sure your phone is on silent or vibrate. It can be rude to have your phone ringing obnoxiously during the date. This tells the female you have many people trying to get a hold of you and might not be available to date more often. If you just ignore those phone calls, she will feel you have dedicated yourself and your time solely to her.

If you keep these tips and tricks in mind for your first date, you have a better chance of making it as perfect as possible. If you don’t pay attention to these tips, be prepared to get shot down or stood up.

Boredom: When men get bored during their day, it can be very easy to turn the computer on and watch some porn. This will let a few minutes go by when they have absolutely nothing else to do. To them, it is a great way to pass the time by.

Boobs: Almost every man enjoys looking at boobs. Some get caught looking at women’s chests during a date. Instead of chancing the risk of getting caught, they look at boobs on their own time.

Stood Up: If a man got all dolled up to go on a date, he might have been expecting to get something that night. Some men take women out to dinner solely to get laid. If that is the case, they need to watch some porn in order to fulfill their needs.

Quick and Easy: If they don’t have the time to take someone out or call up their girlfriend, they might just turn the television on. Some men keep porn in their dvd player at all times. This makes it very easy to turn it on and reach satisfaction.

Time of the Month: If their girlfriend or wife is having their period, they usually don’t want to do anything sexual. Most women are repulsed when men ask for a sexual favor while they are on the rag. This is when men take their free time and turn into something they really enjoy, watching porn. If they can’t get the real thing, they can at least get the next best thing.

Drunk: For some reason guys like to watch porn when they are drunk, together. If they have it readily available, they will pull it out and say “hey guys, check this out”. If you happen to walk in on this kind of situation, it would be best to turn around and walk away. They aren’t necessarily watching it for the pleasure, they might be watching it because they are drunk.

Humor: Some men like watching porn simply because of the acting. Some of the videos out there are very poorly made with horrible actors and actresses. It can be quite funny to watch these women attempt acting.

Satisfaction: Some men just need to pleasure themselves real quick. The fastest way to do that, without a girlfriend, is to turn on some porn and go at it.

Morning Wood: When men wake up, most of them wake up to a little surprise in their pants. Sometimes, the only way to get rid of that surprise is by turning on the porn for a little while.

Couples: There are many men who enjoy watching porn when he is fooling around with his girlfriend. When this happens, the female usually enjoys watching the porn as well. This makes the relationship very comfortable and brings the two people closer together.

Whatever reason men use, they usually watch porn to pleasure themselves. If they tell you some bogus reason, they are most likely lying.

The first and most important thing to think about is the appearance of your roommates. If they are extremely beautiful and in perfect shape, you might not want to bring your boyfriend around them. If you have been dating for a long time, it should be no problem. If the relationship is fresh and new, he might still be looking for other options. A skinny, in shape, beautiful college girl will catch his attention more than sitting around with you will. If your roommate walks around in skimpy outfits constantly, he is bound to have wandering eyes while he is at your place. Most men are more attracted to the hot girls than the average girls. Appearance is the first thing they notice when talking to a woman. If they have amazing features and are in amazing shape, he will most likely be attracted to them.

Another reason he might choose your roommate is because of her brains. If you are the classic “dumb blonde” he might only be with you because of your looks. There are actually some men who are interested in the brains and not the looks. The looks are important but if she is extremely smart, some men cannot resist. If your roommate is the general book worm, your boyfriend might be more interested in that type. If you notice your boyfriend planning study dates with your roommate and not you, you might want to start questioning your relationship. Some study dates are completely harmless but some can lead to intimate relationships. If you know your boyfriend is very intellectual, don’t bring him around your extremely smart roommate, unless you want him to choose her.

One last reason he might have picked her over you is because of her outgoing personality. Some women don’t need the looks or the brains, they can get by solely on their personality. If they have a positive attitude and are extremely outgoing, they can grasp the attention of anyone in the room. When you bring your boyfriend over, if you catch them giggling and telling stories to each other, they could very well be making a bond. Once they create this bond, they will feel very comfortable around each other. This comfort level is how a lot of friends become couples. The best idea is to keep your boyfriend away from your roommate if she is known for flirting with absolutely everyone.

There are many different reasons your boyfriend could have left you for your roommate. These are the 3 most popular reasons. The best idea is to keep your boyfriend away from your roommates if you feel threatened by them one bit.