Monday, October 20, 2008

Romantic Tricks For Teenage Love

You know, it wasn't too long ago when I was 14 or 15 and I had my very first boyfriend! But I didn't have a job and we really couldn't go out anywhere sooo it was more of an in-school/hang out kind of thing. But him and I BOTH manage to find ways to keep things romantic in a "like you like you" way! These tips cost little to no money to do but speak VOLUMES to the object of your affection.

1) Love Notes Between Classes Is A "Class"ic

The most obvious tip I can EVER give a young couple in love is to write notes to one another! Now, not every note has to have you declaring your love for the person over and over again but just knowing that it came from your "hunnie" bunches of oats is enough to make you go "awwwwww".

Wanna add an extra twist of romance? Write a note on a special piece of paper or type it up on the computer with a few clipart pictures and a nice boarder to give it that extra "I took time out to do this for you because I like you like you" flare. You can even place a lipstick kiss on the bottom of the note or spray it a few times with your favorite cologne so they can have a sensory tie to the note with you.

2) Buy Something For Them That You Saw That You Thought They Would Like

My first boyfriend brought a magazine to school and gave it to me and said "I saw this while I was grocery shopping with Mom and knew you would like it. I remember you saying you were into things like this." I went even more head over heels for him!

When you see things out and about or even in your house that you KNOW your hunnie will like, buy it and give it to them. They will LOVE that you were actually listening to them and receiving a gift, no matter how big or small it is, is always romantic.

3) Show Up To Their House And Help Them Study For That Big Test

I know some of you are saying, "That isn't romantic at all!" But trrruuusstt me, your hunnie will think it was the sweetest and most loving thing you could ever do for them.

If they have a big test the next day and have to get some major studying done, do some quick planning and help them out. Show up to their house with flash cards of facts they need to know for the test or come up with a game that for every question they answer correctly, they get a kiss on the cheek or lips. You guys will have fun, get to spend time together, you will show your hunnie that you care about them enough to help them grow, and further your education! What more can you ask for?

4) Make A Reservation To A Restaurant On A Busy Night

I doesn't have to be a fancy french restaurant but something as simple as your local Pizza Hut or Friday's. Making a reservation on a busy night of the week will show your hunnie that you are willing to plan ahead for them, and that's really romantic and sincere. It's especially overwhelming for them when you don't tell them that you have the reservation and show up to the place.

Your hunnie will see the long line and say to you, "We'll never be able to get in and make curfew" or something along those lines. That's when you put a huge smile on your face, march right up to the host/hostess with them and say, "Hi, yes, my name is ____________ and I called in a reservation for tonight earlier this week. Is our table ready?" The host/hostess will say, "Ahhhh yes, we got your table all set up and waiting for you right now. Right this way!"

At this point and time, please note the look on your hunnie's face. You will see that you just scored HUGE brownie points with them and feel good about yourself!

5) Write Them An Actual Letter, You Know, The Kind You Get In The Mail

This is similar to Tip #1 but this is more of the time when you should declare your love for them after you guys have been going steady for a while. Receiving an actual letter in the mail will surprise your hunnie and make them feel extra warm and gooey on the inside. I bet you will be getting a call over the phone with them basically screaming with joy how much they love it and how wonderful you are!

6) Don't Rush Saying The "L" Word

I've noticed alot as I've gotten older that kids get together and say, "I Love You" even before the first date. You shouldn't say this word unless you 100% mean it!

Saying "I Love You" too soon throws the whole relationship off from day 1 and there will be no where to really build from later on down the road. In my personal opinion, the "L" word shouldn't be dropped until at least 3-5 months of steady relationship status. But that's just me.

With these tips under your belt, you can find TONS of other things to do to make things a bit interesting in your teenage love affairs. Remember, all relationships are different so these tips are just basic guidelines for you to create your own version!

Saturday, October 18, 2008

What I Believe About Lovers And Being Single... - A Personal Blog

"It's Better To Be Unhappy Alone Than Unhappy With Someone..." - Marilyn Monroe

I would rather be unhappy by myself then uphappy with somebody any day! I know alot of you are thinking, "Yea right...you scream all the time that you wish you had somebody to love." and yes, I DO wish I had somebody to love on BUT...

I would never EVER be with ANYBODY for the sake of being with somebody. I have more respect for myself then to just fling myself on the first person who will have me.

I don't care how sexy they are, what kind of car they drive, how long I've been with them, or how much money they have. If they aren't making me happy and I don't think we can work out, I will pack up my things and leave them reeeeaaaallll quick.

Life is too short to sell yourself short of what you really want and who you think really deserves to be with you. You should let NO ONE make you unhappy if you don't have to. I never understood that...why people stick around with somebody when it is obvious that you don't want to be with them anymore?

Are people that afraid of change that they'll stick with someone familiar just because they don't want to go out and try to find someone else? I mean...you'll literally put up with someone's crap just because they're "alright" to be with 1/4th of the time?

You're wasting precious time people! You aren't promised to wake up tomorrow morning. You might be 21 now but one morning you might wake up and realize you're 43 and spent most of your time under someone who doesn't really want you...

I'm 22 years old. I have my whole life ahead of me, hopefully. I cry myself to sleep at night cuddled into my pillow. I daydream most the day away thinking about how it would be to have somebody in my life again. I read Cosmopolitan magazines so I can stock up on sex tricks to use on my future somebody. And, in a nutshell, I am unhappy about being single. But...

I would never short change myself when it comes down to someone wanting to be my boyfriend. I'm not going to jump all over somebody just because they ask me out. I've made alot of mistakes in the past about who I gave my body up to because I really felt that I didn't deserve anybody. I even gave up the man I love most in life to someone else, on purpose, because I felt that I wasn't good enough for them.

I didn't feel like I was the right color, the right height, or the right weight to love them so I pushed him into the arms of another. And guess what...I regretted it EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE SINCE THAT DAY! So when the next one comes around, or if the old one decides to take me on, I'm going to make damn sure that I'm happy and that they are too!

Life is too short to be anything less then happy...I've wasted 20 1/2 years of my life being utterly unhappy and down on myself. Things aren't perfect for me yet but I'm seeing my future a whole lot clear-er then I ever did before I left for Texas. I'm NOT going to let myself down this time around!

And neither should anyone else who reads this...

So if you've taken the time to read this whole blog, please, sit down with yourself and really think about your relationship. Think about why you're with them and how things are. And don't kid yourself...if you can't say with a smile 90% of the time that you are happy to be with them...then maybe its time you need to start thinking about why you are so unhappy and if you need to get up out there.

Think about it...

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Simple Things You Can Do To Keep Friendships Strong!

Of lately, I've noticed alot of my friends, and myself included, are having problems with some of their friends not acting very friend-like. You know, friendships need their own kind of maintenance just like a relationship does! If you don't treat them right, they are just going to feel like you don't care for them as a friend and move on with their life. Here are a few simple tricks you can use to make a friend feel special without seeming like you are trying to be under their arm all the time.

1) When you call your friends house/cell phone and don't get an answer, don't hang up! Leave a voice message!

This is a great way to show that you really do care about your friend and it doesn't take any longer then a few moments out of your day. Just say in your voicemail that you were calling just to see how they were or because you wanted to chat with them about something. DON'T make it sound too serious and DON'T make it sound like you did it because you're bored. There is NOTHING worse then hearing someone say they called you up just because they're bored. That's makes them feel like they are a last resort on your list! You don't have to do it EVERY time you call their phone, but once or twice a month is okay.

2) If both you and your friend have a MySpace or other social site profile, leave them a message with something you think will make them laugh!

There is nothing better that screams, "You're my friend!" then logging into your profile and seeing that a friend of yours sent you a message with something they thought you would find funny. Seeing that you took the time out to send them something to make them smile will keep you on the top of their list.

3) Try hanging out a little more with them on a one-on-one bases

This one might seem like something you should do when you're in a relationship with somebody but it's also needed in friendships as well. When the only time your friend sees you is when you're out with a group of friends, they could feel more like an accessory for a good time then your actual friend. Having fun with your friend on a one-on-one bases will give them time to loosen up a bit more and not have to worry about social status. I mean, come on! EVERYONE feels more comfortable to make a joke or fart when it's just one other person around!

4) Ask them a deep question every once in a while

Again, this might seem like something you would do in a relationship but it works in friendships as well. Friends can feel like you are using them for shallow reasons if all you do is hang out and crack jokes. Everyone wants to have a friend that they can talk to about personal matters and get a serious answer from them. Asking them a deep question like "How do you feel about relationships?" or "What do you think about the economy situation going on?" shows them that they can be open about their thoughts and that you do care about them. Even if their answer isn't that long, trust me, they do appreciate the thought that went behind asking it.

5) Just drop by sometimes, unannounced

I'm not saying to do it 2 or 3 times a week but every once in a while, just stopping by their house without warning can show that you really want to hang with them. Most people like the spontaneous-ness of it and it makes hanging out that much more interesting while you figure out what to do. It also shows them that they were on your mind and that you really do think of them as fun. But, as I mention earlier, don't make it seem like you did it just because you had nothing better to do. That kind of spoils the special-ness of it.

6) If you can't afford a birthday gift, at least get them a birthday card/Getting them a belated birthday card/gift is acceptable and still appreciated!

Ok, this tip can apply to ANY major occasion in your friend's life. You can go out and buy a card from Dollar General/Family Dollar/Dollar Tree for 50 cents! I know ANYBODY can scrap up 50 cents if you try hard enough. Getting them a card shows them that even though you didn't have enough money to get them something really great, you wanted to give something to show that you appreciate, and care about, them. Make the card really special by writing a personal message on the inside. It doesn't even have to be a paragraph, just a few sentences can make a 50 cent card seem like gold to your friend.

Forgot? That's ok. On the day that you realize you missed the event, run out and get a card right away! Write a long message saying how much you're grateful for them being a friend and it should at least have the value of silver to your friend! Including the card with a gift will up the value to gold! *lol* But the next time around, make sure you do something extra special for them, or else it will look bad on you!

These tips are just basic guidelines! Everyone's friendships are different and should NEVER be treated the same as someone else's. Take these tips and edit them so they fit into your life and the lifestyle of your friendships and friends!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

What Is A Healthy Romantic Relationship?

One of my online buddies asked me about this the other day and it made me realize that not alot of people know the answer to it. It will be different for different people but the basics of it will be the same.

A healthy romantic relationship is about give and take, living, and growing. I know you are thinking, "That is so cliche" but hear me out for a minute. Being in a romantic relationship isn't about being with your partner all the time. In fact, a sign of an unhealthy relationship is being with your romantic partner ALL THE TIME! If you are with your girlfriend or boyfriend all the time, how can you appreciate them in the first place?

Couples need their separate alone time...if they don't get it then the relationship would just lose its luster. I'm not saying spend months or even weeks apart but at least spend a weekend or 2 a month away from your partner. And I'm talking about willing time apart. Counting the time you spend away from your partner because you are working or something along those lines DOES NOT COUNT! I know, at work you are probably missing your partner like crazy but trust me...being forcefully away from your partner isn't the same as willingly giving your partner space.

Having mutual time away from each other will give you something to look forward to when it IS time to be together. When you willingly spend time away from your partner, your mind is free to wonder and ponder, PLUS, it gives you time to do things that you need to get done. You can clean your house, finish up paperwork, think about future plans, and other things that when you're around the love of your life you just don't want to do because you want to spend all your time with them.

Another thing that most people don't realize is that the love of your life HAS to be your partner-in-crime in a sense. You guys have to have common ground or else, well, not to sound bitter or anything, it just ain't gonna last. And no amount of counseling or time apart is going to repair what was broken in the first place. If you are the kind of guy who likes to go out a couple of nights a week, loves to fish, and flop in front of your TV and play video games for long periods of time...you are going to need a girl who likes 2 out of 3 of those things. If you have a girlfriend who hates all 3 of the favorite things you like to do then...I'm pretty sure after a year or two, if the relationship lasts that long, you are going to either 1) grow bored of her or 2) grow annoyed with her. Both aren't good to feel towards your partner. This brings me to my next point...

Partners need to have a fair bit of common ground if you are going to be in a healthy relationship together but having EVERYTHING in common can be dangerous ground to walk on too. If you like all of the same things, it doesn't leave anywhere for you to grow together. You will fall into a cycle of same-ness it will leave you feeling uncomfortable and bored. You need something to thrive off of, need things to learn and new activities that you can try together. If you like football and your partner doesn't, you can have fun showing them the joys of it. If your partner likes art and it just isn't your thing, you can learn something by going with your partner to an art show. Having common interests yet having differences leads to giving and taking, which is essential to keeping the luster and life in a relationship!

If you are with your partner because of a materialistic reason, then you are staying in a relationship for ALL THE WRONG REASONS! Being with your partner because they have a job or a car isn't a good enough reason to be with someone. In fact, make a list of why you are with your partner and cross out anything that is physical or materialistic. Some examples: because they have a car, because they have a job, because they have money, because they give you a ride, because they give you stuff, because they are sexy, because they agree to do most of what you say, because they have big boobs, because they have a pretty smile, because they love you, ect. All these are NOT reasons to be with your partner.

You should want to be with your partner because they make you feel good, because they care about you, they help you better yourself, because you enjoy time with them. You should want to be with your partner because you feel that even if the relationship ended, you would still have a great friend and someone who will always be there for you, through thick or thin. Someone that you see in your life for a long time because of the simple fact that they help make life easier for you not because of the sex, car, or money but because they want to share life with you at an easy, encouraging pace.

You might be thinking right now that, with the way I'm talking, you should be thinking about marriage from the first date. NO, that is not what I'm saying. I can understand that there are people out there that AREN'T looking for forevers and always but something steady and enjoyable. Even if you only want something commit-full in the here and now, you still have to consider these possibilities. Relationships are like oceans, even when they are calm, you can still see and feel the changing of the tide and the movement of the water. If your relationship has stopped moving forward, if there isn't any more movement, not even a change in the tide then it is time for you two to go your separate ways.

A relationship should always be moving, changing, growing together yet growing individually as well. It should be something familiar yet always bring something new to the table every once in a while. There shouldn't be okay days, there should be great days. And yes, there will be bad days! EVERY relationship is going to have bad days and hard patches but you have to think about why the bad days are happening. If you only have a great day every month or even every week...then maybe the person you are with just isn't healthy for you.

In the end, these are only the basics and guidelines to a health romantic relationship. Everyone is different and everyone wants something different from the person they are with. Some people are just looking to fill the loneliness while others are looking for something that could be forever and always, with or without marriage.

I'm the kind of person that I could be in a relationship and not really take it personal if I was with that person for 7 years and still not heard "The Question". Now, mind you, if we've been together for 12 years we might as well get married because we have to be CRAZY about each other if we are still together that long in the state the world is in now a days. I want someone that I can sit down and play video games with one day and go out to a car show the next and then the next day just screw each other's brains out in bed. Maybe every once in a while I would want a romantic dinner at home or a walk on the beach or to go out on the town. I would be quite happy with my man working at McDonald's, as long as he is trying to move forward and take care of his responsibilities. I'm a simple kind of girl with a kinky, romantic twist on life.

Different strokes for different folks people but we all long for the same thing...something stable, healthy, and just for us. Think about it guys...really think about it and tell me what you think! I really want feedback on this one.

What Is Sensually Unlimited?

Hi, my name is Eboni Shante' AKA D.A. Athren. I'm 22 years old and have been called by my friends at times "an unlicensed sex therapist with a twist of relationship counselling". *lol* I'm painfully single but I've been in a lot of deep commitments and lost greatly during the little time that I've been on this earth. I decided, since my advice has helped so many people, both young and old, solve their problems, with friends and lovers, that I should put it up for the whole world to see.

So... now it all boils down to what this is! "Sensually Unlimited" is a blog about everything you need to know about modern day commitments both friendship and relationship wise. The times have changed SO much that even the most simple of rules to keeping good tidings with others aren't taught any more or people have just lost sight of them in the swell of vanity and selfishness that society (the media) has projected out.

"Sensually Unlimited" will touch base with these simple principles and turn them around to accommodate the changing wave of society. You'll find EVERYTHING here from basic relationship and friendship guides to sexual encounters 101. You might read one day about how to keep the intimacy in your relationship and then the very next day read about how you can make sure your best friend feels appreciated! You'll find updated first date plans to ways to make a friends' night out affordable for the crunched wallet. And guys, you'll even find easy-to-make-get-them-to-say-"Oh My God!" recipes for if you really wanna impress that lucky someone. These recipes are soooo simple that even an 11 year old could do it without setting the house on fire!

This place will be your Wal-Mart of information about anything and EVERYTHING involving another person. I SOOO look forward to meeting you all and helping you make the most out of life!