Category Relationships

When it comes to marriage, most of us have a pretty clear picture of what we want from an early age. Some of us think that we'll definitely be married with two kids by age 28-because when you're seven, anything over 25 is, like, really old-or we've already decided that marriage will never be for us. And when we're young, it seems so clear and so concrete that it's hard to believe we'll ever change our minds.

Everyone wants to make their partners' days a little brighter and happier, but when life and everything else gets in the way, this simple relationship goal can fall by the wayside. But, seriously, don't let it. "You want to brighten your spouse's days because you love them, and showing your love not only makes them feel good but makes you feel good, as well," explains Jane Greer, Ph.

Although it would be nice to think that being pregnant and unmarried would no longer have a stigma in the 21st century, some social prejudices die hard. The truth is, fewer and fewer couples are getting married because of pregnancy. While in the 1970s almost 30% of unplanned pregnancies would result in marriage, today only around 7% of them do.

What if the best sex of your life was written in the stars? Between the sheets, chemistry is super important-either you got it, or you don't. And because your zodiac sign encompasses so many aspects of your personality, it's only natural for it to help guide you towards those you're best suited for in the sex department.

Looking for New Year's Eve traditions for you and your sweetie to make your own? Cue the fireworks: We've rounded up 15 fun, festive, downright romantic New Year's Eve ideas that are sure to make sparks fly. From kissing at the stroke of midnight to breaking plates, booking a special getaway to recreating your first date, you'll find plenty of ideas to help make your New Year magical!

You're married! Congrats. Now that the glitz and excitement of the big day is over, it's time to focus on what really matters: sex. Obviously. Having a healthy, mutually satisfying sex life is a key component of happy marriages. "After the excitement of the wedding day and settling into marriage, couples will often find that the quantity and quality of sex will take a downturn," sex expert Nikki Ransom-Alfred says.

When we talk about getting married, we tend to talk in terms of finalities and absolutes-your one and only, your happily ever after . There's a sense of this and only this. But the truth is, for a lot of people marriages aren't a one-time-only event. With a divorce rate hovering at around 50 percent, there's a good chance that you or your partner may have been married before, and that's totally fine.

There's nothing quite like the excitement that begins at your engagement and lasts all through the big day. But when all is said and done (and you're married!) the excitement may seem to fade a bit. While this is perfectly normal, there are many ways to keep your newlywed status exciting and special.

Wondering what to expect after the honeymoon? As you settle into married life, some things are bound to surprise you. From next-level sexual intimacy to unexpected wedding planning withdrawal, here are the highs and lows you can expect in the first weeks of marriage and beyond. 1. You'll ride a roller-coaster of emotions Just as you felt up-and-down in the days and weeks leading up to your wedding day, it's likely you'll experience a wide range of emotions your first week of marriage.

Women have been on the come-up for several decades now. In fact, a recent Pew Research study found that it only took 35 years, from 1980 to 2015, to narrow the wage gap between men and women by a whole 20 cents. Yay, progress ! Never mind that women overall still only make 80 cents to every dollar earned by men-and women of color generally earn much less.

Have you considered putting the breaks on sex for the weeks leading up to your wedding? This popular, self-imposed celibacy has been a wedding day preparation tip since what feels like the dawn of time. We had to ask: Why? Why take sex off the table? Will it really increase desire? Is it worth the wait?

Say goodbye to Seamless, and become the culinary mastermind your Pinterest board (or wedding registry) thinks you are! Whether you're a busy 9-to-5er or a side hustle extraordinaire, extra time to cook fresh homemade meals can be hard to come by. When you throw in wedding planning, fitness goals, maintaining a social life, and family responsibilities, it can feel impossible.

There is a lot of pressure placed on the honeymoon and post-honeymoon sex couples "should" be having. It's like if you're not doing it 24/7, each time putting the Kama Sutra to shame, there is something wrong with your relationship. This isn't true at all. It's not always incredible, lusty, mind-blowing orgasms right after a wedding.

When you're not in the mood, it's easier to feign fatigue than it is to muster up the energy for sex. Pretending you have a headache, saying you're exhausted, or just not feeling it are normal excuses we make to get out of sex. They are "sexcuses," if you will. If this is something you're doing on the reg, you might have a real problem going on.

When it comes to marriage and long-term relationships, we often default to the expectation that monogamy is implicitly agreed upon. But it's more than just “monogamy” that we're agreeing to: with monogamy, we're agreeing to everything a relationship comes with, from arguments to changes in sex drive.

Whoever thought a well-stocked bedside drawer was just for single people or ultra-kinky couples, wasn't exploring the full expanse of their sex life: With the right tools within arms reach, even newlyweds the best sex lives can be taken to new heights. Just because you're in a relationship for life doesn't mean the adventure stops.

How do you know when you're ready for marriage? That's the million-dollar question. Well, did you and your partner recently purchase the matching house slippers? Have you started wearing retainers and college sweatpants during sleepovers? Still wondering, "Am I ready for marriage?" Pose that question to the outside world, and you'll get the played out, "When you know, you know!

Getting ready for your wedding night? It's finally here. YAS! It is a big night on which we place a ton of pressure. While it's understandable why this is so, there really is no need to get so worked up with anxiety and nerves. This is your partner. He or she is someone you've been with for a long time.

We're often encouraged to keep our mouths shut when it comes to our private lives. What happens in the bedroom stays in the bedroom, right? This may be a rule of action we're fed, but does anyone really keep their sex life on the DL? Don't we all have at least one friend we talk to? How could you not?

It's the most wonderful time of the year! There's something so exciting about the holiday season, and if you're newly engaged or married, there's even more to celebrate this Christmas than usual! To make the season truly magical, we've rounded up nine ways to make the most of the holidays and start new family traditions of your own.