Who Washes and Who Dries

Unless you have been living together, you will need to have a discussion about household duties. If you do not have this discussion, you are opening the beginning of your marriage to confusion, arguments, and possibly contempt. Talk to your future life partner and ask them what chores they like/don’t mind doing and what they absolutely loathe and then decide on who will do what and what will be shared. Being able to come home from your honeymoon and know exactly who will do the laundry and who will do the grocery shopping will help you to get on your way to a well oiled machine.

The Holiday Tug of War

Do not wait until the first holiday to figure out which side of the family you will be spending it with. Understand that you will have to compromise in order to try to fit everything and everyone in. Talk with your fiancé to find out what traditions their family has and share what your family’s traditions are so that making the decision can be a little easier. You may want to start your own traditions as a new couple, which you will then need to explain what you are doing to each side of the family so as to prepare them properly.

Growing the Family

Most likely you have already discussed whether or not you will be having children and how many, which is an important factor when creating a life together. The discussion does need to go a little further though. Talk with them about what kind of discipline you believe in, how you want to educate your children, what faith they will be taught, what values you would like to institute in them, and so on. Remember that you and your fiancé were raised in two completely different atmospheres and there will be things that you want to use when parenting as well as things that you want to steer clear of; just make sure that your partner feels the same. If you two disagree on issues, talking early will help the two of you to find common ground.

Sharing the Finances

When the two of you become one on your wedding day, that also includes your financial situation. Know what you are getting into before you make it legally binding. You should sit down with your future companion and share everything that has to do with money. Pull your credit reports, bank statements, investment statements, and anything else that has to do with finances. If there are issues, discuss how those issues will be rectified and decide if that needs to be done before marriage or not. Once you have had full disclosure, then you will need to decide if your money will be community or individual. After that has been established, it would be prudent to create a budget so that you are both on the same page when it comes to your finances.
Making sure that your marriage is strong will start well before you exchange vows. Dig as deep as you can into what makes each of you who you are so that you can establish a strong foundation in which to build upon. The more you know ahead of time will help to alleviate some of the bumps in the road that will surly occur.

Author’s Bio

Stephen Minton is a freelance blogger for prenuptialagreements.org and strongly recommends seriously considering getting a Premarital Agreement before you make your vows.

Button-Down Shirt | Jeans | Aviator Sunglasses | Boat Shoes | Light Jacket

When going on a first date, you can’t go wrong with having dinner at a nice restaurant followed by a movie (of her choice, of course). Layering is a popular trend, so incorporate it by wearing a light jacket over a button down shirt. If you are going for a more casual dinner and it’s warm outside, you can opt for a polo instead of a long sleeve shirt. Still bring a light jacket, since the movie theatre or restaurant could be cold. You can then offer your jacket to your date to show you are a true gentleman. A nice pair of darker jeans and casual loafers or dress shoes will look very smart with your top selection. To complete the look, opt to include a pair of fashionable sunglasses, such as aviators, for when you walk outdoors during the sunset. If you have a silver or gold watch, I suggest wearing it for this date.

Button-Down Shirt | Sweater | Retro Sunglasses | Pants | Boots

Another popular first date, or “getting to know you” meet-up, is having a cup of coffee during a break in your work day (or over the weekend). If it’s sunny out, many will enjoy their coffee at an outdoor table or a local park/outdoor venue. While the goal of this date is to get to know the other person and see if you hit it off, you still need to dress to impress. Unless it is above 80 degrees, you will want to wear a nice pair of khakis (although jeans will work too). If it is a chilly day, I suggest wearing a nice collared shirt with a sweater over it. You will also want to wear a nice pair of boots that don’t go above your ankle. If it’s warmer out, a nice pair of clean sneakers can also be worn and will still look stylish. Since you will be outdoors, I suggest bringing a pair of sunglasses so that you don’t have to squint while looking at your partner. Retro sunglasses, such as the wayfarer, are very popular and are definitely in style!

Dress Shirt | Blazer | Khakis | Loafers

Many adults like to get to know each other over a drink at an upscale bar or lounge. For a date like this, it’s important to dress a bit nicer than business casual, but don’t go overboard and wear a suit (unless you are meeting after work and you wear a suit to work). I suggest wearing a dress shirt with a nice pair of khakis. You will want to wear a blazer or sports jacket to dress up a bit and signal to your date that you care how you look for the occasion. To complete the look, you should wear a pair of dress shoes or loafers and make sure your belt matches your shoes!

We hope these tips lead to a successful first date and hopefully many more to follow! Do you have a lucky item you wear or carry with you on dates? Let us know in the comments below!

Author’s Bio

Adam enjoys helping fashion minded customers find the right sunglasses to complete their wardrobe. When he isn’t busy at work, he enjoys golfing, traveling, and cooking.

1. Set a realistic budget
When it comes to how much you should spend on an engagement ring, the general rule is 3 months salary. But really this is an out of date and often unrealistic rule. If you can afford to spend 3 months of your salary on an engagement ring, go for it! But if you can’t, don’t stress out about it. A better rule to follow is to have a realistic budget for the engagement ring. What can you afford? If you save up a bit of money and wait a month or two, will you be able to buy a nicer ring? Whatever you do, don’t spend more that you can and end up in debt because of the ring. The last thing your fiancée wants is for you the two of you to start off your life together paying of her engagement ring.

2. Go with her current style
If your fiancée wears a gold daughter’s pride ring and a gold graduation ring, you may not want to buy her a white gold or platinum engagement ring. On the flip side, if she prefers silver jeweler, white gold, or platinum will be the perfect thing. The point is you want to get something that fits in with her current style. Not only will it mean that the ring will fit in with her current jewelry, but you’ll also be pretty much guaranteed that she’ll love the ring.

3. Know the lingo
Before you go to buy a new computer, bed, or car, you probably do some research right? You read up on the current models and lingo so that you know what to look for when you go shopping. Well, the same rule applies when buying an engagement ring. When you go to a jeweler, he or she will want to know not only your price range but what cut of diamond, setting and band style you will want. You will also need to know a bit about carat size and clarity of the diamond. If you know all of this before you start to shop, you will be less likely to panic and just choose the first ring that you see.

4. Ask her
If you and your girlfriend have been together for a while, odds are that the topic of getting married has come up. More and more couples are discussing marriage before an engagement takes place. This usually means that the fact that you are going to propose won’t be a surprise. Most women have a vision in their head of their perfect engagement ring. If you both know that a proposal is coming, there’s nothing wrong with shopping for the ring together. In fact, this is the best way to make sure she’s getting the ring that she wants. And the when and where of the proposal can still be a surprise.

5. Trust your instincts
If you do decide to keep the fact that you are proposing a secret from your girlfriend then, when you’re looking for the perfect engagement ring, trust your instincts. After all if you are about to propose, odds are you know her pretty well and know what kind of ring she’ll love. And always keep in mind the fact that it’s coming from you and is a gesture of your love, even if it isn’t the ring she had been envisioning, she’ll love it anyway.

Author’s Bio

Diane Ferraro is the Advertising Director for Robbins Brothers. Robbins Brothers provides a huge selection of engagement rings and promise rings so you can find the ring that you are looking for. Started back in the 1920′s, the core value of the company is still “love the customer.”

1. Being too Needy

Falling for a woman too early on can lead to needy behaviour. Suddenly, your cool and sexy demeanour melts into a giddy, schmaltzy train wreck. Needy behaviour also includes sharing too much information too soon and buying your date gifts she didn’t really want. Neediness is unattractive and takes the fun out of starting a new and “edgy” relationship.

2. Being too Self-Involved

Having a one-way interaction during conversation tells your date that you are hopelessly self-involved. If you sense that a woman is giving you one-word answers then it’s your job to make the conversation more interesting and more productive. Men often times fail to see the dilemma and continue going out with a one-word wonder. Eventually, the conversation becomes unbearable for the woman and the great charmer is unceremoniously dumped.

3. Being too Arrogant

Misunderstanding the “rules” of dating, some men go to the extreme and turn their confidence up to 11, thereby killing any potential interest from a date. While confident is a turn on, simulated arrogance rubs people the wrong way. Avoid bragging about your other women, checking out waitresses, and talking like a self-worshiping sex machine. It doesn’t work.

4. Being too Lovelorn

Let’s get down to it: the biggest mistake men make in dating is banking their entire love life on one woman they very likely can’t have. The more obsessive the man becomes, the more he suffers from “tunnel vision”, a dreadful dating disease that destroys good relationships before they ever happen. Remember that dating should be an enjoyable time, and one of limitless possibilities. Don’t talk yourself out of happiness by focusing on the “one that got away.” Look around you and appreciate for a moment the great opportunities in front of you.

Familiarity in the bedroom can sometimes be a boring thing. When you are both fretting going over the same routine, try to do something spontaneous. Make love in another room, or even in a semi-public place.

2. Make your lovemaking more physical.

When you combine sex with a strenuous workout, you get double the adrenaline rush from all the endorphins, pheromones and dopamine going around. If you sense that things are getting too stationary, then pant, sweat and groan your way to a better sex life.

3. Extend the foreplay.

Stop taking for granted your situation. You’re in bed with a lovely woman and there’s nowhere else to go for the moment. Savour each sensation and extend the foreplay for as long as you both can take it.

4. Play with some toys.

If your imagination hasn’t quite taken off yet, then buy some adult toys online. Many toys are made for couples and “shyer” students of lovemaking. Not all sex toys are as freaky as you think.

5. Eat healthier.

Believe it or not, your diet can play a major role in your level of testosterone, level of energy and general appetite. Improve your intake of fruits and vegetables. Substitute sugars and fats with a few natural aphrodisiacs and enjoy the results.

6. Exchange fantasies.

Don’t be afraid to bring talking into the love play. Sharing fantasies increases mental stimulation for both partners and this can heighten orgasmic response. Too much “doing” and not enough thinking can sometimes cool off an otherwise hot relationship.

No need to thank us…we’re just happy you’re getting some!

Don’t talk too much (or too little). Remember, you’re on this date to narrow down the candidates for the position of “the one.”  In order to determine whether or not this person has a shot of filling this position, you will actually need to listen to what they are saying.  To truly listen, you can’t talk the entire time.   And, conversely, if the other person is asking you questions, try not to give one-word answers.  Open up a little bit, because they’re also trying to gather relevant information about you.

Don’t wear false anything.  This includes, but is not limited to, breasts, butts, eyelashes, coloured contact lenses and hair.  You may be trying to make a good impression, but you want this person to like you for who you actually are.  If you are on a date with a guy who keeps complimenting your beautiful (colour contact induced) green eyes, you will feel silly when, at some point, he sees that your eyes are actually brown.  Of course, you want someone who likes you for your personality, and not based on the thickness of your hair or the colour of your eyes, but there is something to be said for truth in advertising.

Don’t get drunk. Remember the “don’t talk too much” rule?  Getting drunk makes following that rule practically impossible.  It also increases the likelihood that you will say or do something so embarrassing that you will never see your date again.

Don’t talk about your ex. Not only is this self-involved and boring for the other person, but it loads up this fresh, new relationship with all kinds of baggage.  Right off the bat, you’ve told this guy that he’s going to have to do a lot of work to a) earn your trust or b) live up to the fable of “the one who got away.”  Who wants to deal with that after only a Caesar salad?

Don’t talk about how many kids you want to have. If you’ve already have kids, that’s one thing, but if not, the first date is not the time to talk about them.  Of course, at some point, you are going to need to talk about your hopes, dreams and goals for the future, but if you’re already talking about how many kids you’d like to have on the first date, you’re again, setting the other person up to meet an impossible goal.  How does she know that she wants to be the mother of your kids?  How does she know you like her for her, and not just for her child-bearing hips (a phrase that should NEVER be used on a first date, by the way)?

Basically, this list of “no’s” is to ensure that you are as much yourself on your first date as possible because you are the only you there is, and the person you’re on your date with is lucky to get you!

Money.  Is your boyfriend/girlfriend financially stable enough to depend upon?  You may not be joining bank accounts yet, but any debts or money issues your partner has will definitely affect you.  And if you’re signing a lease together, you’ll need to know that you won’t be left holding the bag, paying all of the rent.

Lifestyle.  Your girlfriend’s propensity to leave her socks on her kitchen table might be cute when it’s her kitchen table, but when it’s yours, you might find it a little more irksome.  Is he a night owl while you’re an early-bird?  These things may not have the power to make or break your relationship, but they can definitely put a strain on it and should be considered before you make the move.

Problems in your relationship.   Any difficulties you have in your relationship will not be helped by moving in together.  Living in close proximity to someone 24 hours a day will only intensify any issues that are already there.  Be sure you are aware of what those are, talk through them and try to come up with solutions before you move in together.

Dealing with disapproval.   Although living together without being married is more common than it used to be, there are still plenty of people out there who will meet your decision with disapproval.  You can remain quiet when they say something disapproving, or reply with something like, “I appreciate your opinion, but this is the decision that is best for us.”  Ultimately, it is your life and your decision to make.

Division of labour.  Sometimes the division of labour in a new living arrangement happens organically, but other times, you may need to sit down and have a discussion about who will be in charge of doing what.  You may be irritated that your boyfriend hasn’t taken out the trash in three days, but he may have honestly thought that you were going to do it.  As in all things, communication is key.

Merging households can be fun, challenging, and has the possibility of strengthening your relationship like nothing else has.  As long as you meet the opportunity with your eyes wide open, you’re willing to communicate honestly and openly, and secure enough with yourself to meet any opposition head-on, you will have a great time.

There is of course the school of thought that women like being strung along, and as such, you should wait at least three days before contacting her.  This lets her know that you are cool, in control, and probably have lots of options available for how to spend your time.  Oh yah, and it also lets her know that you’re a jerk.  Not only that, but keep in mind, in this age of shortened attention spans, three days is plenty of time for someone to forget what a great time she had.

Since theoretically you’re looking for a long term relationship, and said relationships are (hopefully) based on trust and mutual respect, why would you start the relationship off with game-playing and manipulation?

If you truly enjoyed your date and her company, and honestly think this relationship has the possibility of going somewhere, let her know then and there.  Not in a clingy, desperate way, but in a friendly, “see you soon” kind of way.  As you’re parting for the evening, let her know you had a great time and you’ll talk to her soon.

Then, talk to her soon!!  If you told her you’d call her tomorrow, call her tomorrow.  If you told her you’d call her on Monday, call her on Monday!  This not only shows that you are interested, it also shows that you are a man of your word and that you can be trusted.

Now, not playing games or manipulating aside, you don’t want to appear clingy or desperate, so if you told her you’d call her tomorrow, don’t call her two times tonight.  And once you’ve made the follow-up call, the ball is in her court.  You don’t need to follow-up to make sure she got the message, or check to see if she’s got plans every night this week.

Your first date went well, you followed up like you said you would, now you can relax knowing that you’ve done all you can.  She’ll call you back, and if she doesn’t, she obviously isn’t worth taking out again anyway.