Don't Be Fooled

Do guys really care what you wear?

Whether it's a first date, second, third or ninth there is always an underlying worry in the back of our minds hovering over the evening like a dark cloud--what do I wear? But more and more it seems that your makeup and clothes are the last thing a guy notices about you. According to the site GirlsLife.com, wearing ridiculous outfits on dates isn't the way to impress someone. "I think girls gel mixed up because of how people dress on TV," one user said. "Showing a lot of skin in super-tight clothes just says to everyone, 'Please look at me!' If you need to wear those kinds of clothes, you're obviously not confident." And when it comes to makeup, the same sentiment is shared. "Girls at my school wear all this black crap on their eyes, and their lips are, like, thick with brown goop," another user told GL "It's ugly. Do they really think that will get them a guy?"


Sure, it's easy for a guy to get out of bed, throw on a t-shirt and push some gel through his hair but for girls, sometimes looking "natural" can be just as tiresome as getting all dolled up! We snagged some quotes from top fashion experts, designers and lovers that shared their advice with Bazaar on effortless styling. Try one of these on your next date and see how much time and attention you score!

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Maggie Gyllenhaal's advice when it comes to styling with the greatest of ease is all about inner beauty. "If you feel good in the clothes, then it comes out naturally," she said.

She couldn't be more right. How many times have you worn something too tight or short to then pull and tug at it all night wondering if you will still look skinny after you eat that mozzarella stick. It's just not worth it. If you want to have a successful and stylish date wear something that isn't only comfortable to wear, but something you also feel comfortable in also. That leather skirt might look great on the hanger, but on you it may be another story. If you are comfortable, you'll feel better on your date and can let your personality shine through, rather than experience an accidental flash at the dinner table.

Erin Wasson


This model turned designer has the perfect advice for getting ready. "When you think you've spent too much time getting ready, stop." It's better to get dressed on a whim because you make instinctual decisions."

Wasson's idea to go with your gut not only will save you hours of toiling over your closet, but will also speed up your getting ready time. Don't plan what you are going to wear on your date weeks in advance. Instead, see how the mood hits you for the time and place and judge you outfit based on that. You may come up with something you wouldn't have thought about before by keeping an open mind.

David Evangelista


This Manhattan celebrity makeup man knows all about being stylish without showing the effort behind it. He says that when getting ready, there is one part of the face that will immediately draw attention when out and that is what you should mind to when preparing for a big night out-the eyes. "The focus is definitely on the eye," he said.

So if you want to add a little extra to your outfit, do it there. It's the first thing your guy will see on your date and you might even turn a few other heads while you are out. But careful of how you treat your peepers. As users told GL guys aren't a fan of "black crap" all over your eyes.

Best Comic Book Couples

Fights are on a whole other level when you have super powers
We've all idolized comic heroes at some point in our lives. We've all secretly wished we had some kind of super power whether it was flying or the ability to scale skyscrapers. But the only thing better than being a superhero is being a superhero power couple. Take a look with us as we unveil the best superhero couples of all time. Which superhero couple do you think describes your relationship?

The love triangle-Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman



These three are probably the most iconic comic figures to date. Wonder Woman was originally a member of an all female tribe the Amazons, who were set to bring peace, love and of course, sexual equality to a world torn about by man. With her Lasso of Truth and indestructible accessories, there is nothing this woman can't do, or man for that matter, that she can't tame.
Superman on the other hand is the American dream. A good old Midwestern boy, Clark Kent was really just a specimen born on the planet Krypton with born given super powers (talk about natural talent). His buddy Batman is philanthropist Bruce Wayne by day, superhero by night.
Together, the three are often referred to as the "trinity" in DC characters and though it may seem that Wonder Woman and Superman would be oh so cute together, with their matching outfits and all, perhaps the third wheel Batman was really the catch for Wonder Woman. Check out the clip below as Wonder Woman intrudes on Superman's bromance.


Superman and Lois Lane



Comic lovers know that the real love in Superman's life (sorry Batman) was Lois Lane, reporter for The Daily Planet. If you've stayed with DC long enough, Lane has even become Superman's wife in recent issues.
This is one love story that tugs at heart strings everywhere. The idea that an average, everyday girl is swooped up by a gorgeous man with super powers is, well, every girls dream to put it bluntly.
I mean, if this guy did this for you, wouldn't you be speechless?

Elektra and Daredevil

These two are the epitome of a love/hate relationship. Elektra is one girl you don't want to mess with. A ninja assassin of Greek descent, it is her violent lifestyle that eventually divides the two.
But as they say opposites attract, and the opposite of Elektra would have to be Daredevil. He is one of the only superheroes with a disability, being that he was blinded as a kid in a radioactive accident. His accident may have taken his sight, but it gave him radar senses to everything around him. Though Elektra was just one of many love interests in his life as most guys Daredevil certainly seemed to have a type. When he wasn't interested in high danger ladies, like Elektra he went for the "ordinary" and somewhat plain girl, who often ended up killed or traumatized by being in his presence. Ouch.

The perfect couple: Spiderman and Mary Jane

We use the term "perfect" loosely when it comes to Peter Parker and Mary Jane's relationship, as no relationship where people are always after your man for dead is really ever that perfect. But these two showed an unconditional love that many other comics don't. Peter Parker was a bit of a dork, dealing with the typical cruel high school world along with loneliness and rejection. But when Mary Jane started to notice Spiderman, that was all he needed.
They were more than just in lust however, these two were best friends and in some scenarios, husband and wife. And though in some tales, Spiderman has moved on to greener pastures, such as Gwen Stacy and the Black Cat, Mary Jane is still #1 in our hearts.

Dating Outside the Box?

                                                            by. S.De balko

Everyone has a type. Mine? Generally, the tattooed, gorgeous brooding musician, or some variation on that. Pretty much everything your parents hope you never bring home. See, I love a bad boy. Maybe it's the rebel hidden somewhere in me (I've always been a goody two-shoes), or perhaps I'm just genetically hard-wired to go for the mysterious type.

Either way, I've never had very much luck chasing this type of guy. While not all tattooed guitar players fit into the bad boy stereotype (I actually know a few who are sweet, if a little misguided), I haven't come across one who has stuck around, whether it was my choice or his. This got me thinking, am I just making things harder for myself by only pursuing a certain type of guy with very specific attributes? And am I the only one who does this? Or do we all have a checklist somewhere in the back of our minds, and when someone doesn't fit the bill, we cut them loose without taking a second look?

For me, I think part of my problem is that I love a challenge. I don't want to be pursued, I want to pursue. And the less interest a guy shows in me, the more I want to make him come around. This, in and of itself, is going to get me nowhere, because if I'm constantly chasing, I'm never going to have the chance to settle down with anyone. You can't help to whom you are attracted--if you could, relationships wouldn't be so difficult. But you can stop pigeon-holing yourself. I guess my point here is that it might not be a bad idea to expand my dating horizons and meet people I wouldn't typically date. And maybe anyone who feels the same should also try looking outside the box.

I'm not saying that we should all just haphazardly start accepting every offer we get. If someone gives you a bad vibe or just doesn't seem right, trust your gut. We shouldn't live dangerously, just a little more openly. I also don't think you should try to force yourself to like someone just because they might be good for you. Trust me on this one, if you aren't attracted to someone, or if you don't get along well with them, trying to make yourself settle isn't going to work out. I have been there and done that and it is definitely not the answer.

I'm thinking more along the lines of just putting myself out there. Maybe, instead of constantly going to see bands, I should try hanging out at different places, with different groups of people. It might not hurt to just see what else is around, as far as personality types go. Judging a book by its cover is my other problem, because if I meet a guy who doesn't fit the ideal of what I think I want, I run in the other direction. Perhaps I should give it a little more time, take things slow, and get to know some new people. At the very least, I might end up with a few more friends. As far as my love of a challenge goes, I think I may just have to hope I grow out of that. In the meantime, maybe I can view this new outlook on dating as a brand-new kind of challenge.

Ultimately, do you think it is as easy as deciding to be more open-minded, or is there a better way to escape the dreaded dating rut?

Time Tug-O- War

by: Katie M.

Balancing time between your significant other and your friends

Finding a great significant other is a wonderful part of life. Sometimes you become so caught up in a relationship that you start devoting most of your time to being with the one you love. However this dedication can start taking up too much of your time. Your friends, those who were there before your new boyfriend or girlfriend, may start to feel neglected since they no longer get to spend as much time with you as they used to. It is tempting to spend every minute of your "free time" with your significant other since you enjoy their company, but friends should not feel left out from your life. 




Time is definitely limited among the lives of young people between school, jobs, hobbies, friends, family, and significant others. There is only so much free time during a week to spend with loved ones after responsibilities are taken care of. However, when it comes to your relationship with your friends and the relationship with your significant other, balancing your time among them becomes very important. There are a few ways to create this balance so that your boyfriend or girlfriend, friends, and even you can be happy.

Create equality within your free time 

After school, work, and other obligations are met, think about how much free time you actually have. Once you know how much time you have to spend with friends or your significant other, try to split it equally. This can be done by days or even hours. With seven days a week, try to spend three days a week with your significant other and three days a week with your friends, while using the other day to catch up on time to yourself. If you cannot split your time among days, split your time within your day. You could spend the day with your friends and spend the night with your significant other or vice versa. Your time doesn't have to be split right down the middle, but when it comes to hanging out with your friends or spending time with your significant other, you want to try to give each of them a relatively fair amount of time within the week or day. Neither your significant other nor your friends should feel like they are losing you to one another.

Address the issue if it starts to become an problem

If your friends or your significant other start to say things like "You're never around anymore" or "I miss spending time with you," you may start to realize that you have been spending too much time with one or the other. When your friends or significant other says something like this, they may make it seem like a joke, but it may not be. The best thing to do in this situation is to address your friends or significant other directly. Ask them straight out about how they feel about you hanging out with the others. Try to explain to your friends that you enjoy spending time with your boyfriend or girlfriend and you still enjoy spending time with them as well. If they feel that you are spending too much time with your new love interest, try to truly listen to them and see what they might suggest. Also talk to your significant other. Explain to them that you need to spend that quality time with your buddies, even though you may like to spend most of your time with him or her. Suggest that they have a night where they spend time with their friends so that you can spend time with your own friends. If your friends and boyfriend or girlfriend care about you enough, then they should understand. Sometimes it is alright to tell someone "no" and explain that you need to devote some time to all of those that you love. They want you to be happy, and you're trying your best to keep them happy as well.

Make plans and don't break them!

Part of balancing your time between your significant other and your friends, requires a bit of planning. Your friends or your significant other may want to go somewhere in particular with you at a certain time. When making plans with either, make sure you are actually free. Don't tell someone that you will be with them when you had already had plans with someone else. Being ditched is a terrible feeling and neither your friends nor significant other should have to feel ditched by you so that you could spend time with someone else.




Multi-task your social life!

Sometimes you don't need to leave someone out. There are occasions where you can spend time with both your significant other and your friends simultaneously. Group hang outs can be a lot of fun. It is great to spend time with your significant other and his or her friends so that you can become close with them. It is also good to have your loved one hang out with you and your friends so that they can become closer as well. Every moment that you spend with your significant other does not have to feel like a date, where it is just the two of you. There should be time for alone time and also time to have a nice day or night out with all of those who are close to you. You could even arrange time where both your friends and your significant other's friends can all hang out, creating a possibility of double dates. If your significant other and your friends can get to know each other better, they may not feel jealous when you want to spend time with just your friends or just your boyfriend or girlfriend. By including your significant other and your friends in things that you do, nobody feels left out and you strengthen your social circle.

Although time is limited, when it comes to balancing the time between your significant other and your friends, it really isn't that difficult. By trying to split your time equally, communicating, making plans and keeping them, and hanging out with your significant other and your friends simultaneously, no one should feel like they are not getting enough of your time. Relationships with friends and with a boyfriend or girlfriend involve making sacrifices. Sometimes you just need a night out with your buddies, and other nights are great for being in the arms of the one you love. You just need to make sure to not neglect anyone so that everyone can be happy.

Fabulous Life of "Real Cinderella"

A true fairytale of celebrity wives.

 Imagine this:

One day you're working a simple job as a waitress in a restaurant. A handsome, wealthy man walks through the door and starts chatting you up. Next thing you know, you're being flown across the country to keep up with a whirlwind romance. Before long, you're married and living a life of luxury you could only dream of months before.

Being ripped from obscurity by a wealthy, handsome man seems like every girls fantasy, but only a few lucky girls get to live out such a fairytale in real life. Here's the story of three girls who met their Prince Charming in their own real-life Cinderella story.

She started out working hard as a bartender to make ends meet as a single mom. But then one day while Matt Damon was filming in Miami, he swept in and scooped up Luciana Barroso so that she never has to struggle again. Two years after they met, the two married in New York City Hall with Luciana's seven-year-old daughter in tow. Now, two more kids later, Luciana is living a dream with houses in Miami and New York City, vacations around the world, and a new career as an interior designer.

When they met, she was a 19-year-old Muslim waitress earning $10 a day at a hotel in Belarus where she began working only two weeks before. But when she was told to take an orange juice to the presidental suite of the hotel she was working in, she didn't know it was for Sheik Saeed bin Maktoum al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai. While he only intended to be there for a skeet shooting competition, the Prince quickly extended his stay and within two weeks, Natasha Muslimorova married into one of the richest ruling families in the world. After their hasty marriage, the two took off for Cyprus for the next stage of his shooting competition via luxury motorcade and yacht. But this isn't your typical Cinderella story, as Natasha's husband won't be the only one in competition -- she'll have his first wife to compete with for the Prince's attention.

While at the Slip Inn Bar in Sydney during the 2000 Summer Olympics, a simple girl from Australia met a charming man that was traveling with the Danish sailing team. Commoner Mary Donaldson from Tasmania was soon part of a long-distance relationship with Frederik, the Crown Prince of Denmark. After three years of dating, Mary was formally presented to Frederik's mother, Queen Margrethe, who then announced her consent of their marriage to Parliment. Within a year of their engagement, the two wed and had a ceremony that even included a horse-drawn carriage through the streets of Copenhagen. Now she's in next in line to become the queen of Denmark, resides in a royal palace, and receives a $1 million-per-year allowance.

"Boyfriend Time"

by H.Wight

How to balance time between a boyfriend and friends/family.

So, you have your first serious boyfriend and you are crazy about him. You are on the phone for hours, even when most of the time is just spent breathing. You want to spend as much time as you can with him, but it is very important to not forget about your family or friends, either.

Certain holidays should always be spent with your family. These include: Thanksgiving, Christmas/Hanukkah, Father's & Mother's Day, Easter. Fourth of July could go either way and holidays like Halloween, New Year's, and Valentine's Day could be spent with your boyfriend and friends. Do not let him talk you into going to his family's house for the major holidays. You might think it would be more fun just because it will be different. However, who knows if you will be with this guy forever and when you look back, you will regret missing holidays with your family to spend it with someone who is now an ex.

If you spend everyday after school or work with your boyfriend, you will miss out on things at home. Your parents are only going to be cooking dinner for you every night for so long. If you have siblings you will miss precious time with them. When you or they go off to college you will not be able to ever go back to how your relationship was with them before. Do not change your everyday occurrences to suit a boyfriend. If you have family game night on Thursdays, make sure you still attend it. If you want to, invite your boyfriend along, but makes sure that he knows how important it is to you.

Losing a girl friend because of a boyfriend is one of the worst mistakes a girl could make and you will always regret it. Do not ditch your friends at lunch to sit with your boyfriend and his friends every day. Switch off between the two tables, or try to have the two tables join together. Weekend time is the most important, because your friends are use to having you around for all of it. Now that you have a boyfriend, it is most likely you will spend at least one of the free days with him. Make sure to not spend the entire weekend with your boyfriend. If you do, pretty soon your friends will stop calling and asking you to hang out, because they assume you will say "no". If you do have to tell your friends "no" to weekend plans a few times, make sure you tell them why. It is best to make sure that your friends understand you are not "ditching" them, but just trying to split the time they are use to having in half. If you and your boyfriend do break up and you spent the last year ignoring your friends, guess what? They will not be there for you now, because why should they? You were not there for them, because you spent all your time with your boyfriend.

Yes, boyfriends are a lot of fun to have around. What girl does not want someone telling them how pretty they are all the time? Yet, boyfriends come and go, especially high school ones. Your friends and family are the ones that will be there for you when your heart is broken or when you have to break someone else's. Always try to remember that you can not take family and friends for granted, because of a boyfriend. In the end, they are the only ones that are sure to be there.

First Date Do's and Don'ts

 by: Anna H.


How To Nail Your First Impression
First dates are always nail bitters -- you never quite know what to expect. With summertime upon us, first dates are often outdoor activities and sometimes they can even be parties where you meet your date's friends and family right off the bat. A luau-themed party sounds like fun when you are flying solo, but it could be the subject of your next nightmare if it's the setting for your first date. Read our tips on how to nail your first date (even under these intense circumstances) and you'll be on your way to a successful first impression.

1. Don't think too far ahead.
 Meeting your date's friends and family on your first date might make you think he's ready to get serious. But don't read too much into the situation! Have a good time and enjoy the company. If someone asks about if you are in a relationship, let them know that you are still getting to know each other. Just be sure you don't start talking about how you can't wait to see them at your wedding reception!

2. Do be willing to join the crowd. One of the best ways to make a good impression is to be a good sport. Maybe you aren't thrilled about having a waterballoon throwing contest with your dates little cousins, but don't let him know. Go into the situation with an open mind and give everything a try. Your date will notice your willingness to try things (even if they don't sound so exciting) and be attracted to you because of it.

3. Don't put on a show for the guests. By show, I mean a skin show. Just because it's an outside date doesn't mean you need to show off your new barely-there bikini. Keep your outfit respectable and don't let your date know too much about where your secret tattoo is before you've been on a few more dates.

4. Do try to have fun. If you go into the situation with a happy attitude and with the mindset that you'll have fun, you will! If you think that it's going to be miserable, most likely it will be. Not only will you have a terrible time, but your date will recognize it, and in the end, he might have a bad time too since he brought you along. So what if you would rather have it be just the two of you in a romantic setting? Have fun with this situation, and in the future you'll have plenty of time to live out your fantasy dates.

Dating Disasters

Bad Examples From Hollywood Chick Flicks

Sometimes, romantic comedies make dating look too simple. How often, after all, does your crush really stand below your window, holding a boom box above their head in a sweet, slightly pathetic attempt to woo you? (Plus, today he would probably just hold up his mac laptop and have Genius choose a song on itunes, which doesn't really have the same effect.) Instead of looking for perfect dating examples in chick flicks, sometimes it helps to look back on the cheesy romantic movies for dating advice on what not to do.

He's Just Not That Into You


Although Ginnifer Goodwin plays the adorably desperate Gigi Philips in this recent chick flick, her endless phone calls and oblivious pestering almost make you look away while she naively navigates through painfully awkward moments throughout the movie.

Clueless



Although this movie will always reign as the queen of 90's chick flicks, Clueless' happy ending comes only after a series of dating disasters. Though Cher ends up with Josh (her sort of half-brother, which always seemed a little creepy, but goes unmentioned throughout the movie), she first attempts to entice Christian. Try not to follow Cher's slightly faulty radar when it comes to choosing men, and avoid her first dating disaster when she invites Christian over to watch a movie, falls off her bed and fills the house with burning smoke.

My Best Friend's Wedding



Julia Roberts has managed to play nearly every likeable character, from the sweet younger sister in America's Sweetheart to the hard-working, ingenious single mother in Erin Brockovich. Yet Roberts shows a new, less angelic angle in My Best Friend's Wedding, when she tries (and fails) to entice her soon-to-be-married best friend away from his fiance (played by Cameron Diaz). Roberts continuously attempts to embarrass the fiance in ways that merely seem to make Diaz appear more adorable. Though Roberts still comes out likeable, her man-stealing attempts only backfire in her face.

Old Dating Rules You Can Break

Some rules are meant to be broken!

The rules of dating are meant to last through the ages, right? Wrong! The dating rules of years past don't always work in our modern-day relationships, and quite frankly, some rules are meant to be broken. Here are some common old-school dating rules that you can update to fit into your own modern-day love story.

Old Rule: You have to fix every problem immediately.


New Rule: You can allow some small conflicts to go unresolved.

We've all been told you should never go to bed angry, but sometimes it's better to just sleep on the problem. This isn't to say that you shouldn't let your man know how you feel, but you should accept the fact that you won't always be in perfect agreement on every matter.

Sometimes disagreements occur that can't be resolved instantly (or even resolved after some work). If it's something small like he doesn't hang up his coat when he gets to your place and instead throws it on the back of a chair, mention it once in a joking way, but let it go.
Most likely, it's a habit that won't end, and there's no point in fighting over it.
But if it's something big like his total disrespect of your family, take it up with him and hash out the situation.

Old Rule: You can't check out anyone else.


New Rule: It's OK to observe the scenery.
There's nothing wrong with noticing a hot guy when you're out, and just because you notice someone else doesn't mean you aren't into your man anymore. But that's not to say that you should stare at every guy that you see throughout the day.

If you notice your man checking out another girl, don't freak out. You could even comment on the girl by saying she's cute, which makes you sound more confident about your own appearance and adds to you own appeal.

Old Rule: You have to give him a complete run down of your day.


New Rule: Give him the highlights and let him ask more questions.
Sometimes it's better to give your man the Cliff Notes version of your day instead of talking about every single thing that happened. Mention the big stuff, but let him dig for the smaller details if he's interested (and trust us, he will be). If you torture him by telling every single detail of Jane's new haircut and Bobby's new suit, he's going to get bored easily.

Try to give your man a quick summary or even just phrases like "I saw your friend Mark today", but don't give him anything more. He'll be intrigued since you aren't letting him in on every single detail, and he's bound to ask about what else happened during your day. Plus, since he's asking the questions, he'll be much more interested in what you have to say.

Dating Through The Decades

It may be hard to imagine, but the concept of dating has not been around for very long. This article will go through the history of dating in Western society starting from its recent beginning to what dating is like today. Hopefully you'll understand a little better what it was like to be a teenager for your parents and grandparents.




Before the 20th century dating did not exist. You might have heard about people "courting" in historical movies or books. The difference between courting and dating is that courting is specifically to get someone to marry you, while dating is to get to know a person better.

Year 1920-1945

It was around this time that adolescence (teenage-years) started to become recognized as a stage in human life with its own culture. Dating became part of that culture. It's from this period that we get the term "going out" because it meant precisely that -- leaving home and going out. Going out usually meant going dancing or going to the movies, and this required money. Often it was the guys who could afford nicer things who would succeed over those who could not.

The Great Depression and World War II put a damper on dating, basically putting it on hold until the end of the war.

Year 1945-1960



After the war, dating and marriage started to happen earlier. Dating would begin in junior high, and most people would get married between the age of 20 and 22.

In junior high, teens would meet in groups and partner off. Once you found someone you really liked you would start to "go steady". Going steady meant calling each other regularly, going on dates every week and exchanging love tokens, such as class rings or school pins.

 

 
Year 1960-2000


The role of women saw a huge change in the 1960's. The feminist movement gave women the sense of empowerment that they could be much more than just a wife. The invention of oral contraceptives (the Pill) and more widely available contraceptives led to more liberal views of pre-marital sex and made sex a more important part of relationships.

In the late 60s the first dating shows popped up on TV, helping singles find someone outside their usual social circle.

Year 2000-Present

Today we live in a global technological age. Dating is still very present in our lives, but it has changed thanks to modern technology. The world of online dating expanded our search for "the One" to the entire world. Now many relationships begin online without a face-to-face encounter, and nothing is ever official until it is proclaimed to the world on Facebook.

Technology has also made it much easier for people to maintain long-distance relationship. Expensive phone bills are not necessary when you can chat with your partner online or even talk to them with a VOIP service like Skype. You can even see them with a webcam! If you live in different time zones, you can always send an e-mail instead of waking your loved one up in the middle of the night with a phone call.

Another new trend is speed dating. Speed dating is a quick way to find someone. These are organized nights where you have several short mini-dates, and once you've talked to everyone, you choose who you would like to get to know better.

We have all these conveniences available to us today, and yet dating doesn't get any easier. Regardless of what decade you go through your teenage years, heartache and heartbreak remain the same.

How To End Your Summer Fling

With summer winding down, it's time to start thinking about how to properly end your summer fling. While you both went into the situation knowing that the relationship would only last through the summer, it still isn't easy to end a relationship with someone you have grown to care about. Keep reading to find out our tips on how to successfully end your summer fling with as little drama as possible.


Pick an appropriate time.


Just because it's a summer fling doesn't mean you can be casual about ending your relationship. Ending your relationship at an appropriate time can make the experience a lot better for everyone involved. Don't wait until your significant other's (SO) cat has died or you see your SO out in public with tons of friends to break up. Instead, pick a time that's sensitive to your SO's schedule such a day when you know that he or she doesn't have much happening.

Find a neutral meeting place.

Before you decide where you break up, think about how your future ex will respond. If you think your SO will make a scene, you might want to pick a public place so both of you have to keep your emotions in check. If you think your SO will handle the situation well, then pick a more private setting so you can talk about the situation. Regardless of where you decide to meet, pick a place that's a neutral meeting ground. Don't go somewhere that's always been your SO's favorite hangout or a place that you've been going to for years. By picking a neutral spot, you avoid a home-field-advantage situation which makes the situation easier for both of you.

Do it in person.

There's no reason to not break up with your SO in person. If you break up via email, text or phone, you end up looking like you never cared about the person to begin with (and really, who wants to make someone feel that way?). Instead, set up a time to meet up with your SO in person so you can talk about the situation. While it may hurt to face the other person, you can commend yourself on not taking the easy way up. Every breakup deserves just as much respect as the relationship, so take the time to talk to your future ex face-to-face.


Stick to the facts.
 Breaking up is never easy, so don't make the situation more difficult by bringing up things that aren't important. Even if you still have suspicions that your SO cheated while he or she was away at summer camp, now isn't the time to talk about it. Let your SO know that while you had fun in the relationship, it's time to make the best decision for both of you by moving on. By avoiding the small arguments over things that did or didn't happen, you end up looking like a better person in the situation and you help make the breakup go more smoothly.




We never said that breaking up would be easy, but if you use our suggestions you can get through your breakup successfully.

Real World

Real world.

I appear to be meeting you prematurely. Already you've crushed me in your ruthless grip, squeezing me until I'm gasping for air that just won't come.

You have given me hope but then you tore it away.

The only thing I have is slipping from my numb fingers.

I might as well be dead; I will be soon enough anyway.

Stop please.

It's getting really difficult to breathe. And this uncontrollable shaking is quite uncomfortable. Then there's this feeling in my stomach -- the twisting and pulling, like I'm about to lose everything I've eaten. I've cried so much I think I've run out of tears.

You really aren't very friendly; I see why everyone complains about you.

No matter how much I beg and plead, you refuse to let go.

You refuse to let me breathe and to let me keep the contents of my stomach. You refuse to look upon me with a pitiful eye, to look upon the little girl lost and scared, clutching onto familiarity, clutching onto the safe feeling of love and happiness. You're trying to take it away, but the little girl can't let go. I can't let go.Once that familiarity is gone, that rope tied to my waist breaks; I'll fall.

I may not look like I'm falling, but I will; internally, at least.

Behind the potentially hopeful smiles, that little girl will be lost inside of herself. She'll be slipping further and further into the darkness until she finds the bottom. And when she hits, she'll break just like that rope.Bones will snap like the hope that you tore away. Blood will spill like the tears she tried so hard to fight.

The sad record spinning in her head will shatter like the dreams she cherished so dearly. And when you finally let her go to try to save her sorry soul, it will be too late. You'll try to let her breathe easily, to stop squeezing her chest.

You'll take the knife out of her heart, and you'll see she's already gone. I hate you, real world.

Romance On the road

Unsure whether your summer romance will outlast your road trip? Try watching a few of these movies before you get in the car, and perhaps, you'll be inspired to begin driving.

Almost Famous

A not-so-classic take on the typical road trip film, Almost Famous adapts the true-life experiences of a teen Rolling Stone journalist who travels across America along with a band and their groupies (or, as they prefer to be called, Band-Aides.) William Miller, played by Patrick Fugit, is an aspiring journalist for the magazine "Cream".

Though his adventures with the band Stillwater open his eyes to the intermittently decadent and depressing lifestyle of musicians in the 1970s, it is not William but rather Stillwater's lead vocalist Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup) who ultimately wins the girl. Kate Hudson plays seductively soft-voiced Penny Lane, a Band-Aide who follows Russell with fervent devotion, while trailed herself by the endlessly devoted, and eventually heartbroken, William.

Thelma and Louise

This classic film of female bonding and a small-town escape, "Thelma and Louise" reveals more about the relationship between two friends than the men that enter (and leave) their lives. Thelma (Geena Davis) sheds her melancholy life and her angry husband Darryl when she joins her slightly more free-spirited companion Louise (Susan Sarandon) on an ill-fated trip that ends at the Grand Canyon.

Meeting an adorably charming hitch-hiker along the way (played by a young Brad Pitt at his most painfully attractive), Thelma and Louise prove that their friendship surpasses the importance of any man (be it a hitchhiker, husband or police officer.)

Road Trip

Although the most juvenile film on the list, Road Trip's campy, college-boys-go-cross-country plot somehow manages to conclude with the most successful relationship of all three films in this list. Four boys drive across country, stealing a school bus along the way, in an attempt to salvage the relationship of Josh Parker (played by Breckin Meyer).

Although Sean William Scott's role (basically as Stifler part 2) shines in his bizarrely disgusting way as always, Josh's eventual courtship of Beth Wagner (Amy Smart) ultimately prevails as the romance of the film.

Your Guide to Heartache

Dealing with break-ups.

With summer coming to a close and schools opening their doors, this may mean the end of a summer fling. While the thought of having a broken heart may sound impossible to deal with, it's an inevitable part of life. So if you're in a similar situation to this, follow these tips to help ease your heartache.

1. Accept your pain. This one may not sound like much fun, but it's an extremely important part

of dealing with a break up. Remember that it's okay to cry and don't try to hold it in.

2. Talk to someone. Cry on a friend's shoulder, talk to your mom about it (she's probably been

through it before) or talk to a guidance counselor. It's okay to share your feelings, and these

people would be more than happy to listen to you.

3. Pamper yourself. Don't worry about being selfish, you totally deserve to take care of yourself

in times like this. Take relaxing baths, indulge in your favorite treat or get a manicure.

4. Write it down. Keep a journal or start an online blog. Write down everything you're thinking

and feeling. This can be a great pain releasing technique.

5. Remove the memories. It's okay to keep things to remind you of your ex, but if it's easier for

you, put everything that has to do with the relationship in a box and put it in your closet until

you're ready to see those things again.

6. Find a hobby. Maybe you like to draw or maybe you play an instrument. No matter what

your hobbies may be, enjoy them! Doing something you enjoy will help take your mind off of

the things you don't want to think about.Everyone deals with a break up differently, so find

what works for you. Always remember that a break up isn't the end of the world. Before you

know it, you'll be back to normal and completely over your heartache.