Before we go any further, some words of encouragement. For a start, don’t feel like you need to rush into a marriage! These days the divorce rate is over 50% so not only is it likely that some of your friends will end up back on the prowl with you but it also shows the importance of finding the right partner for you rather than the first one you can “bag”. Don’t start panicking yet!

What are your standards like? If you set the bar too high there may not be a man in existence that can reach it. Despite what Hollywood tells us there is no such thing as a “perfect” or “ideal” man for you. The sooner you can truly realize this the sooner you will be able to find happiness. Instead of searching for perfection rather realize what is right in front of you. Look for people that share lots of your common interests and core values and put less importance on physical or financial situations!

Do it better! Being single can be sucky but it is actually an amazing opportunity to become a better person! Spend your time improving yourself in whichever way you see fit! From starting to hit the gym to studying a new university course you actually have a rare opportunity where you have time to add depth to your character and improve your lifestyle. Follow your pursuit of happiness so that when you do finally meet someone they will see a happy, healthy and interesting person.

I don’t mean to intrude but what are you doing to find a man? Unfortunately men won’t come knocking randomly on your door and start pitching woo (or at least this hasn’t happened to me yet), you need to position yourself in way that gives you an opportunity to meet people. Even if your friends are now wedded-recluses the internet has made it very easy to meet people in the exact same position as you! Internet dating is becoming more and more popular for a few reasons:  you can start right now, you can do it from home and within a few clicks you can find local guys that match your basic criteria.

If you really want to get ahead of the game when it comes to finding and keeping a man then the next 5 minutes of your life might be the most romance enhancing minutes you have experienced yet! Check out David’s Review and change your love life today.

The most common complaint when it comes to a stagnating relationship is the monotony of routine. Monday morning, wake up, breakfast, work, come home, watch TV together, sleep. Tuesday. Repeat. Sound familiar? If you are bored with a monotonous routine then it can be very easy to blame your partner, but before you do so, acknowledge your own role in the routine! I hate to say it but have you considered that maybe you are boring? Unless your partner is forcing their sedated lifestyle on you then you are free to spice up life as much as you like! If you are bored with your own life then the relationship may not be the problem, unless you expecting your partner to resolve your boredom!

Is it the end? People change over time and this often confuses the situation! Have we drifted apart or is this just the next phase in our relationship? Before you throw all your hard work out the window with a breakup do your best to ensure that your slump isn’t a result of circumstance. For example if money is tight at the moment you won’t be able to go out as much, does this mean you should dump the relationship? It may even be your own issues with progressing to the next phase of relationships that is causing your discomfort!

So what do you do if you love your partner but you are still bored and your relationship has stagnated? Take the reins and lead it back to romance town! If you are aware that things have slowed down in your relationship then it is time to make an extra effort to rekindle things. Try and recreate the effort you put in when you first met each other. Remember when you organized a week in advance to go bowling? Or to the movies? Why not do the same now! Organize a date night together where you can try new things that will get you both out of your comfort zone. Things like cooking classes or live art performances are great ways of re-bonding, having a great time and also turning up the romance meter!

Over time relationships naturally slow down. Part of this is getting comfortable with each other and I also half suspect it is part of getting older as a person. Before you breakup out of sheer boredom though make sure you have tried to rekindle the flames of love and also make sure that your own life is filled with enough excitement!

Be your own woman – Men are looking for a woman that can stand on her own two feet and won’t need to hassle him for every minor decision. Do your best to be decisive if the situation requires it. A lot of men will be turned off by neediness so if you can even introduce yourself as an independent woman you will have already impressed him.

Get confident, stupid – This goes hand in hand with your independence. Walk with confidence, speak with confidence and well, be confident! Talking into your drink and a lack of eye contact will send a lot of men walking in the other direction. Confidence is sexy and confident women can propose a bit of a challenge to some men, but this is a challenge they want to take on.

Chat about boy stuff – If you know anything about sports or cars it won’t hurt you to at least make an effort to mention it! Some men may not give you the option of setting the conversation topic so just do your best to nod your head and ask a few questions. Just like women, men love it when you show an interest in their lives, even if you get it a little bit wrong it will show you are interested.

Dress so you feel comfortable – This should go without saying but if you aren’t comfortable in your clothes then it will be noticeable. It’s true, men like high heels and short skirts but if you are falling over constantly and everyone can see up your short dress then you may not be attracting the kind of man that will be a worthwhile life companion. It doesn’t hurt to show off your assets in a tasteful way, as long as you feel comfortable doing so. This can be a big part of confidence for some!

Don’t dumb yourself down – Ok, some men are still cavemen and they don’t like smart women. That’s their problem! Most men however will actually hate it when a girl plays dumb! If you have an opinion or something meaningful to contribute to the conversation you are very likely to score some points with men. Show that you can hold your own in a conversation and that you have insights and book smarts too.

If you take nothing else away from this little post then please focus on your confidence! Your body language and how you view yourself are all massive indicators to men because it comes across in the way you communicate. Confidence can be the difference between meeting the man of your dreams and spending another night alone on the couch!

Here’s to your success in love!

There is no problem repeating a fine evening out and about but eventually you will want to have a date with your partner that shows them in their natural environment. Unless your new found romance regularly dines at fancy restaurants and wears expensive clothes then you will want to find a date idea that shows you what they are really like. Fancy locations and intoxicating perfumes may fuel the initial fire of love but long term compatibility requires a bit more than some fine dining experiences!

Do something he likes – Hopefully you weren’t too lost in his eyes to be paying attention to what he likes doing! Did he say he likes flying kites or playing soccer? If you invite a man out for a second date to something he enjoys doing not only will it show you have been paying attention (and win you some points) but you will also get a chance to see him in an environment where he feels comfortable and he can show his true colors.

Just live your Day to day life – If you don’t want to pull out the glitz and glamor from the first date again then why not replicate an everyday situation with your new crush. Catching up for a quick lunch or coffee in his or your regular haunt will put you both at ease and will give you a good indication of whether or not you are really compatible. If you are a more active person why not take a walk with them on your usual trail and settle down for a picnic as well?

Something easy going with conversation points – There is a reason we have these classic, almost cliché, date ideas such as going to the movies, and that’s because they work! Sharing a movie together or going to an art gallery, for example, will give you a great conversation topic. Hearing your prospective partner’s thoughts and opinions on art (in any form) will give you a great insight into their thought patterns in general.

There are no set rules on how to proceed with the second date and there is no reason you can’t wine and dine each other well into the relationship! The dating period of a relationship however should also be used to find out how compatible you are with each other in the real world and not just on carefree Saturday nights at the disco!

“I was in a relationship with my boyfriend for about 3 years and now that I am single again I thought I’d try online dating. I just signed up to a free dating site but I don’t really want to make a fool of myself. Do I just message the guys I’m interested in? What about my profile? The other girls seem to be taking a lot of cleavage shots, are they really the key to success or are they all little girls? Please help!”

Well Jenny, sorry to hear about the end of your relationship but I am glad to hear you are out on the prowl again! Jumping straight into online dating can be intimidating for some people but remember you are still quite anonymous. Before you contact anyone (and before people will contact you) you will need to set up your profile. The best advice I can give here is to be honest and open. Sure you may be able to lie and get more responses but you will be appealing to people that you aren’t really compatible with. Lying about your eye color or breast size only lasts until you meet the other person!

Use the vast size of the internet to your advantage and express what you are really about and be somewhat specific about the type of man you are looking for. The best thing about the internet is that you have the ability to meet many more people than you would at your local disco and this greatly increases your chances of actually finding a good match. Your profile picture should reflect this too. If you feel the need to flash your cleavage to every guy you meet then incorporate that into your profile but be aware that many decent guys won’t find this an endearing quality in a woman.

Many women sit back and wait for emails and messages from their online dating profiles and this is great! Guys are more often than not willing to make the first move but you will have to sift through a lot of “Hi how are you?” type messages. Don’t be afraid to take action though and message men you might be interested in! You are all there to meet new people and a lot of men will like a woman that isn’t afraid to initiate.

Online dating can be fun but always be careful of your own privacy. Don’t reveal your full name or phone number on your public profile and prepare to sift through a lot of duds

Here’s to your success in love!

Keep your friends – I have seen this time and time again, especially with people new to relationships. Some people get possessive and don’t want to share their partners and some just get caught up in love but the end result is neglecting your friends! If you aren’t careful you may find yourself in 2 years time broken hearted only to then find out your friends have moved on without you too! Keep your own social life active and make sure your partner does the same. Friends are not only awesome but they also let you vent your issues and give you new perspectives.

Keep the love going – When you first meet each other you can’t wait to hang out. Flowers and dates seem to naturally happen during courtship but it can start to fizzle after the honeymoon period ends. Romance shouldn’t be one sided, men and women alike should be able to surprise their partner with flowers, poetry or even a surprise date. Personally I believe this romantic input and effort from both partners is vital to a long term relationship! “Love” is just a word; you have to show your partner how you feel about them!

People don’t change – It’s funny, from my observations and chats with people in relationships it seems that most people magically expect their partner to change some of their habits after marriage or once a relationship becomes official! If you find someone that doesn’t meet your criteria then they are probably not the right person for you. Pestering them to change is only going to drive a wedge between you and cause problems.

Praise where praise is due – Take a look at your partner. How many good things are there about them! Too many to count or list I am sure. In the heat of an argument or even over time it can be easy to forget just how great they are. In our society we are always comparing our lives to everyone else and we usually end up feeling inadequate because of it! If your partner works hard for you then you should show gratitude to them! Let your partner know they are appreciated now and then; we are all starved for a bit of praise!

It can be very tough to un-learn the many lessons beaten into us by Hollywood but I like to think of these realizations as personal growth. Relationships and love are much more complex and require some more work than some cheesy rehearsed lines and Vaseline on the camera!

Here’s to true love!

Break old habits – When you have been in a relationship for a while it can be easy to fall into routines together. Suddenly every Friday night is Pizza and Grey’s anatomy night and your conversations always end up the same. Beware of the patterns you may develop and do your best to break them in a fun and exciting way when you can!

Stay in touch – A hug and a kiss good morning is a great way to start the day but what about intimacy during the day? A simple touch on the arm as you walk by or holding hands on the street is a great way to show your affection for your partner and body contact throughout the day also triggers the release of hormones that help strengthen your bond.

Sex please – Unless you are both in agreement on an abstinent lifestyle then sex is important in any relationship. Not only is sex fun, but guys find it easier to connect and express their feelings for their partners through physical intimacy rather than conversation. Sex shouldn’t be a chore but it does sometimes require a bit of effort from both parties. If things are a bit slow in the bedroom department then make an extra effort to do the deed at least a couple of times a week. Your relationship will thank you for it!

Make sure you listen – During heated arguments especially it can become easy to focus more on your point of view than what your partner is actually saying. Instead of rehearsing your speech as your partner is talking actively engage in what they are saying! Nod your head and repeat or summarize their grievance so that they can see that you comprehend what they are saying. This will not only make your partner feel validated but it will make communication so much easier for your relationship.

In order to be tolerant you must tolerate intolerance – We aren’t all perfect! Before you yell at your man for leaving the toilet seat up make sure you have a good look at your own habits and mannerisms. Whilst this toilet seat example may have no upside try looking at the positives of your partner’s behavior. If your girlfriend doesn’t like meeting new people for example this shows she doesn’t need to impress everyone she meets and is happy within herself! A rare trait these days!

These are just a few things to keep in mind when you are trying to fan the flames of your relationship. Keeping things fresh and exciting as well as keeping communication airways open and free will go a long way to happy and long lasting relationship!

Get Closure – You may or may not already be past this point but before you can start moving on you need to get closure on the relationship. If your relationship ended a bit “up in the air” or it feels like there may be room for a second chance then you need to decide if you want to get back with your ex or you need to have a frank discussion that leaves you both in agreement and understanding that you are split up. This is also known as Closure!

Try not to get stuck on the good memories – When you break up it is very easy to only remember the good times with your ex. If you broke up there was probably a good reason for it. If you find yourself feeling particularly vulnerable some nights then do your best to remember the reasons why you broke up in the first place. There is a good chance it wasn’t all roses even if you choose to forget the bad times for a moment!

Remove them from your life – Old photos and mementos of your ex are only going to make things harder. Clean up your desk or work area and remove all of those objects that invoke strong memories about your ex partner. Remaining facebook and twitter friends is only going to complicate matters for you when you see pictures and status updates! Do your best to cut communication, no matter how tempting it can be to drunk dial or send them self compiled CDs.

Feel good about yourself – When you go through a breakup it can be tempting to reach for the ice cream and hide from the world. Instead of this approach try getting yourself healthy and looking good! Hit the gym and get a good diet plan and you will start feeling better instantly! Couple this with spending more time together with your friends and getting out of the house and you will be well on your way to recovery.

New found Freedom – Relationships (short and long) can sometimes be restrictive. Even if your partner didn’t hinder you too much it can be easy to fall into a routine that doesn’t fluctuate too much. Now you are free! Eat the foods your partner hated, go traveling, take up a new hobby and make the most of your freedom.

Everyone has their own approach to breakups and moving on from relationships and you may not agree with our suggestions! We would love to hear any tips or experience you have had with breakups and how you got back to your old self!

1. A day before we left on our trip I took the time to send my boyfriend a few sexy and suggestive messages to get the old fires started. I chose to send him a couple of text messages at interesting times but you can just as easily send emails or even leave hand written notes.
2. I made some saucy coupons for the trip – I made my boyfriend a little booklet of coupons listing things I would do for him. These ranged from a strip tease to getting him breakfast in bed and most things in between. To be honest we only used a couple of these as we got a little distracted…
3. Roll the love dice – We got ourselves a couple of love dice that basically have a number of different positions to try on each side. We had a lot of fun trying to roll the dice midway through…if you can’t find any dice try writing some different things down and picking them out of a hat at random.
4. I laid him down and gave him the best rub down and hand job of his life. Yes, you heard me, I rocked his socks! To be honest I haven’t heard him make noises quite like that before but it was nothing compared to his appreciation of my efforts afterwards!

So why was he thanking a man named Michael for this wonderful weekend? Well, the truth is that Michael Webb (the author of “stroke by stroke”, you may have heard of him as he has been on Oprah, Fox news and other TV shows) had actually given me a review copy of his latest book and it inspired me to treat my boyfriend to this wild weekend! I let him in on this secret on the car ride home and he couldn’t keep the grin to himself!

Michael told me that he recently ran a survey that shockingly revealed  82% of men would prefer a good hand job to a blow job! I was pretty surprised, but he went on to explain that it is about the location, timing, setting the mood, accessories, the right strokes but also the right sequence of touching that make it so much better for men.

Are you interested in making your man addicted to you in the bedroom? Get yourself a copy of stroke by stroke now and save 43% off the sale price! This is just a temporary offer by Michael though and will end any day now. This is perfect for Valentine’s Day and is guaranteed to improve anyone’s love life and relationship!

To your love,

Roxanne

Sabotage your partners desktop wallpaper – This isn’t nearly as malicious as it sounds! If your partner uses a computer a lot why not sneak in and set their desktop background as a nice picture of both of you?

Take a random day out together – Bored on the weekend and looking for something to do? When was the last time you went to a small festival together? Why not visit a food, wine, jazz or other music festival? Watch the sun go down together and enjoy some fine food and music! If this doesn’t spell romance I don’t know what does!

Everyone loves roses – Here is a nice little trick! Get your partner a bouquet of red roses but add a (nice looking) fake rose to the middle of the bunch. Add a card to your partner that says something along the lines of “I will love you until the last rose fades”.

More flowers? – Instead of just getting your wife or girlfriend flowers why not have them delivered to her work? This will land her praise from her co-workers and give her even more of a boost! This one is more for the guys to undertake as I’m not sure how many men would enjoy receiving flowers in the work place!

Protective Bodyguard – If you are heading away for the weekend on your own then this little gem will get you some definite “awwww’s” from men and women alike. As you are heading out the door tell your partner that you are concerned about their safety so you have got them a bodyguard. When they look at you with a perplexed expression hand them a fluffy teddy bear and give them a kiss.

Use a Facebook event to organize a date – As far as I know I am the first man to try this but I am sure it has been done before! Instead of asking your boyfriend or girlfriend out on a date why not start a Facebook event but only invite the two of you? This can be as simple as a picnic in the back yard or heading out to the movies together!

These are just a few romantic ideas you can employ or add your own variations too. Being romantic and igniting some passion isn’t a hard thing to do but it does require a bit of effort from both parties in the relationship!

What are some of your favorite romantic tips?