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Bizzare Sex Fads From the Past

Monday, March 21st, 2011

by Stephanie G.

The current trend of young people abstaining from sex seems exceptionally prude when compared to what was in vogue back in the day.

Jack and Jill Off Parties: As a reaction to the AIDS epidemic, “masturbation orgies” became popular in the mid-to-late ’80s. The parties died off as safe sex awareness heightened.

Illegal Contraceptives: While abortion remains the “now” controversial post-contraceptive, it was illegal to produce and sell condoms in America up until 1930.

No-pan kissa: No-pan kissas were popular cafes in Japan during the ’80s – the waitresses would wear short skirts and serve their tables sans panties. Did I mention the floors were mirrored? Kind of gross, but the cafes were able to charge four times the going rate for coffee.

Mummy Dearest: In Ancient Egypt, a woman’s body was left to decay for days after death to discourage embalmers from having their way with the corpse.

History of the Cock Ring: One of the oldest sex toys in existence, the first documented cock ring was born in Ancient China. It was made of the goat eyelids (the eyelashes remained attached.)

Stephanie is a NYC lifer who enjoys new-age dating, sharp-dressed men, and occasionally acting as big spoon. Follow her on Twitter!

This Week in Love: Porn Stars, Charlie Sheen, the Three Year Glitch and More

Saturday, March 12th, 2011

Perhaps the smartest thing she’s ever done… Most of us stash mementos of past loves in the back of a closet, but then again, most of us haven’t dated Charlie Sheen. Sheen’s porn star ex-girlfriend is auctioning off off mementos of their relationship on eBay, including a letter he wrote while to her while in rehab and a copy of the 1991 Complete Drug Reference Guide that Sheen signed, “From one druggie to another.”

The “three year glitch.” Our collective ADD now goes beyond the channel surfing and iPhone obsessions. A survey of 2,000 British adults in steady relationships pointed to the three year mark as the time when “relationship stress levels peak.” The study also says that more couples are starting to take vacations away from their partners in order to keep romance alive.

Move over, 401k. It’s not just your retirement fund that should be getting regular deposits: SheKnows relationship expert Noelle Williams recommends building a “relationship nest egg” to keep your relationship afloat if the going gets rough.

 

 

 

 

“Guybrows” is Manscaping Run Amok

Friday, March 11th, 2011

by Becky Ellis

The New York Times reported today that more men are hitting the salons to get their eyebrows waxed, sculpted and trimmed–”guybrows.” Now, women go through so much to look good–bikini waxing, mani/pedis, pricey skincare concoctions, three different kinds of conditioner toppling over in the tub, etc–so maybe I should be pleased when men make an effort that consists of more than a 2-in-1 shampoo and a swipe of Right Guard. But instead of feeling like it’s evening the score, I’m slightly appalled. (more…)

This Week in Love: Ain’t Nothing But Mammals

Monday, February 21st, 2011

by Becky Ellis

Birds do it, bees do it, and if you happen to be in London, you can see hyenas, flies and chimpanzees doing it, too. Last week, London’s Museum of Natural History opened its ‘Sexual Nature’ exhibition, which explores the mating habits of the wild kingdom. The display includes red deer stag, monkeys and hedgehogs, all positioned in ways that give new meaning to the words “mounted animals.” This not just a staid, scientific recounting of the mechanics of pollination, or a description of a peacock flaunting his feathers; this is graphic, 3-D animal porn.

There’s also a surprising narrative arc: In spite of strictly biological–rather than emotional–motives, animals’ mating games have plot points that could have been penned by Shakespeare himself, including jealous lovers, elaborate seduction rituals and sometimes tragic ends. The banana slug, for example, gnaws off its penis after intercourse, leaving it in the female so that no one else can penetrate her. A female spider might eat a male who fails to seduce her, or even bite off her lover’s head should she desire a post-coital snack.

Elsewhere around the web:

-A pair of white rhinos at the Madison, WI, zoo have spent nearly 40 years in a loving, but sexless marriage.

-Treehugger determined that men’s courtship rituals have devolved past that of their animal brethren, and compiled a slideshow of dating do’s featuring mating strategies of our fine furry and feathered friends.

photos courtesy of The Guardian

Sex Tips Gone Wild: Hot or Not?

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

By Jennifer Latkiewicz

If it’s coming from sex bibles Cosmopolitan and The Joy of Sex it must be good, right? But 60 international editions and 8 million copies later, respectively, are we any closer to demystifying than we were forty years ago? Or do bad sex tips simply beget

Our panel of guys discuss these and other equally creative albeit slightly ridiculous advice

Would these new bedroom tricks blow his mind… or have him scratching his head?

Guys discuss the real-life application of these kinky, out-there and extremely dangerous sex tips. Do not try these at home?

weird sex tips

“tip”

“tip”

Everyone knows Cosmo is all about the sexy time. Every issue is packed with sexy sexual … So, it’s surprising that a lot of the expert sex tips and tricks they feature are impractical, nonsensical and sometimes, painfully awkward.

But even Cosmo can occasionally teeter between adventurous and confusing.

Do the editors really think their readers will try these techniques?

An odd combination of ,, and props, Cosmo sex tips are uniquely Cosmo. “I would probably think it was kind of weird and ask ‘You’ve been reading Cosmo again haven’t you?’”

most of us probably spent our formative years with a very different understanding of sex than the one we have years later.

Until they institute an objective rating system or make it an Olympic sport, sex will .

As pervasive as sex is, our society still lacks a structured way to teach us exactly how to do, um, it. Sure, we had Sex Ed but it did little to demystify this whole S-E-X thing. We may have learned about the tools in our toolbox but unfortunately, no one ever showed us how to actually use them.

And if you’ve ever been a 12-year-old girl, you know how mind-blowingly inaccurate the information about sex can be.

Depending on the resources available, perspectives will likely vary.

the glazed donut, the dddd —  are they just still wingin’ it?

And with everything from sleepover gossip and romance novels, to lad mags and “Shaving Private Ryan” bootlegs at the foundation of our sexual know-how, tips and advice will likely vary.

Coming from an 8th grader, the idea that oral sex is defined by timbral quality is one thing. But to see renowned “sex bibles” (written by adults who presumably have had sex for real) print it in their pages definitely had me questioning the credibility behind it and other ‘mind-blowing’ gospel. Donut-y fellatio, sex on a moving motorcycle and more — our panel of guys weigh in on sexdom’s most out-there ‘expert’ tips.

Before you, check out what our panel of guys has to say about a few of the ‘kinkiest’ and most out-there sex tips.


Donut Penis Ring

According to Cosmo: “Slip a glazed doughnut around his manhood and nibble it off.”

Food and sex — it worked in 9 1/2 Weeks, didn’t it? Jono insists, “No, not together!” “I would rather eat the (clean!) donut myself after we’re done,” says Andy, 31.

But if it’s not the mess that deters him, the general idea of high-calorie fellatio may. “I would be amused by her efforts but not find it to be hot at all.  It would sort of kill the mood,” Daniel admits. Agrees Nick, 31: “I would probably think it was kind of weird and ask ‘You’ve been reading Cosmo again haven’t you?’”

“‘A’ for effort though,” says Daniel.

Joyride
Giving safety and sensibility the big heave-ho, the original sex bible, The Joy of Sex, suggested couples get frisky on horseback and a moving motorcycle.
If you have access to a private road, the hazards are yours,”

Not only is weird, but illegal, too.

Spice It Up

“Sprinkle a little pepper under his nose right before he climaxes. Sneezing can feel similar to an orgasm and amplify the feel-good effects.”

Apparently it’s sneezegasm-inducing black pepper — not ‘variety’ — that’s the spice of life. ”‘Annoy him to such an extent that he fails to achieve a satisfying climax,’ is what this sounds like,” Jono says.

Joystick

Another suggestion was to move the penis around like “an old-school Atari joystick, up, down, side to side.”

While I find the handjob/Space Invaders connection to be somewhat horrifying, the guys say there may be something to this joystick joyride. “I like this move,” John says. “Circles are fun, too.”

If you’re not into video games, Max has another suggestion: “A little Shake Weight action would be good, too.”

Nick has a simpler perspective. “Anytime a woman is holding my penis I’m generally a happy man.”

Hair Scrunchies

“Start by stacking six scrunchies on top of each other over his package. Then remove them one by one using your lips and tongue.”

While the other guys immediately deemed this technique as simply “weird”, Jono sees potential. “I could see where this would be interesting foreplay.” No way, says Andy. “If you’re thinking of using this one, it’s time to wave the white flag and join the nunnery.”

Hypnosis


While the sex tips may not always be universally on point, Cosmo does offer men important insight. ”I found that I learned much about how women view relationships,” says Nick, who was at one time actually subscribed to the magazine. “The magazine is hilarious,” says Andy. “Embarrassing tampon debacles never get old.”

Save the donuts for breakfast. Check out the latest tips and tricks from LovingYou’s resident sexperts!

Jennifer Latkiewicz is a Love/Sex blogger for LovingYou.com and long-time Cosmo subscriber. She finds the mental image of a scrunchie-covered penis to be both hilarious and frightening. Follow her on Twitter at @jenniferlat.

your hands firmly protecting on your ‘manhood’ from an onslaught of hair bands and donuts?

Love Don’t Cost a Thing: 5 Free Ways to Express Your Love

Sunday, February 13th, 2011

by Becky Ellis

Valentine’s Day is the romantic version of New Year’s Eve: expensive, overrated, and participation is virtually mandatory. This year, skip the $60 bouquet of roses and boxes of chocolates and try out one of these (free!) ways to express your love. Not only will you save a few bucks, you’ll get points for being creative, original and (yes) romantic.  (more…)

3 Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day if You’re Single

Sunday, February 13th, 2011

by Becky Ellis

Sure, if you’re single, you could spend Valentine’s Day hunkered down inside, ignoring restaurants full of fawning couples and pretending the myriad heart-shaped cards, candies and balloons don’t exist. Or you could gather your girlfriends for a chick flick–or, for the more recently jilted, slasher–movie marathon. But why not try something a little less cliche? (more…)

Will Robot ‘Cyberhugs’ Replace Human Touch?

Friday, February 11th, 2011

By Jennifer Latkiewicz
Emotional machines? In this brave new world, people feel the love by using emotion-detecting robots and sensory-enabled clothing  to share hugs through cyberspace.
woman hugging computer

Forget emoticons.

Scientists claim they’ve finally developed a way for people to share physical emotions across cyberspace. By combining machines with emotions, “cyberhugs” will bring a human-like level of sensation to online communications.

From a sense of touch, to those feelings like a stomach full of butterflies, a tingle down the spine, or that warm fuzziness sparked by true love, scientists claim they can simulate the feeling of a hug that can be shared through the Internet as an immersive experience. Talk about reaching out and and touching somebody… sort of.

Using a harness device rigged with electrical sensors and vibrators that’s connected to a computer, the “iFeel_IM!” (“I feel therefore I am”) identifies the emotions that have been expressed within the messages — joy, fear, anger, sadness, and 9 others — and responds by using a series of sensors and motors to mimic the appropriate physical sensations. Another design, the Hug Shirt, designed by Adrian Cheok of Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, allows parents to remotely send hugs to their children from far away as a way to “stay in touch”. When hugged by the parent, sensors in the teddy bear will then transmit the ‘hug’ sensation to the child via the specially-wired jacket.

This technology has been in development for a few years, and experts insist this will one day seem far less creepy and weird. In fact, robot-administered cyberhugs, they say, will be a part of our everyday life.

“For a while technology has been driving people apart, locking them in front of computer screens,” Cheok said. “Now we hope to use it to bring them together.”

A future devoid of actual human touch? Somewhere, Rick Springfield is totally freaking out.

Jennifer Latkiewicz is a Love/Sex blogger for LovingYou.com. She admits that fear of a robot uprising weighs heavily on her mind. You can follow her on Twitter at @JenniferLat.

Screw Cupid: V-Day Gifts To Give Yourself

Friday, February 11th, 2011

By Jennifer Latkiewicz
Roses are red. Violets are blue. So what if you’re single, make V-Day about you. Show yourself a little love with these red-hot gift ideas from Kajal Ruia, shoe guru and founder of trendsetting SoHo boutique Ruia. What better way to say “I Love Me” than with luxe accessories and to-die-for high heels?

Yes, every store front and commercial may seem hell-bent on reminding you of your solo status (as if you could forget), but that doesn’t mean you have to sit this Valentine’s Day out. V-Day is as much about loving yourself as it is about boyfriends and husbands! Even if you don’t have that all important ‘significant other’ to shower you with affection, you can still make the day special for yourself.

And since you’re not going to be spending the effort or money on a date, why not spend it on yourself? Ultra-hot NYC shoe boutique Ruia knows what women want and owner Kajal Ruia has a few gift ideas for anyone being their own valentine.

How do I love me? Let me count the ways…

ruia balden high heelSingle or attached, you deserve to indulge and treat yourself to some of the fabulous things you’ve always wanted, which of course, means “shoes”. For those who covet the most gorgeous designer shoes, Kajal keeps her super luxe boutique stocked with European brands that cannot be found anywhere in the U.S. Two sexy Ruia finds: ultra-fierce ‘Comoscio Rubino” booties by Baldan ($598) and neon ‘Tribeca’ wedges by Cleo B ($414) so ridiculously hot, you’ll wonder why you ever cared about flowers and “I Love You” teddy bears.

(Attached? Ruia boutique is offering guys everywhere a no-fail, stress-free option: a complimentary personalized gift cards for a sexy pair of shoes of your choice. Start dropping hints now!)

cleo wedgel

Equally fabulous: This soft suede Cowling Scarf by Hare+Hart (on sale $95) is made from ethically sourced Argentinian leather. Says Kajal, “Pair it with coats and chunky wool cardigans, or act like a rock-star with leather jackets and blazers.”

Explore other ways to keep it sexy in the bedroom this Valentine’s Day. Upgrade your Target sheets to luxury linens, and suddenly having the bed all to yourself every night may not seem like such a bad thing. Get the same sheets as all the luxury hotels — the Valentino Stripe 1200tc Egyptian Cotton Sheets by Luxor Linens ($253) would make anyone swoon. “Take it up a notch with this embroidered, red sheet set,” Kajal says. “It will be the second best thing you’ve ever felt against your skin!”

ruia balden high heelEnjoy a little pampering to make the day even more decedent,  and treat yourself to a fab spa treatment at home. Amp up the luxe factor to your DIY avocado masque with a plush spa robe. Nolan loves the St. Tropez Signature Spa Robe by Luxor (on sale $126) — it actually gets softer with each wash and with a luxe robe within reach, you can kick back in your private spa retreat whenever you want. Stay calm and tranquil with a ‘Lavender Lightly ‘candle by Kat Burki. With notes of lavender, vanilla and cassia, this calming fragrance makes for a decadent and soothing aroma. “The sprinkling of lavender buds atop is the final touch on a beautiful candle,” Kajal says. “Kat Burki candles are beautiful and delicious.”

Whether you splurge or work within a budget, just make it memorable. Says Kajal, “Make this Valentine’s Day one you’ll never forget!”

So, Ladies: Will you be spending this Valentine’s Day with “Me”, “Myself” and “I”?

Jennifer Latkiewicz is a Love/Sex blogger for LovingYou.com. She really wants those shoes — and she hopes her boyfriend got the hint. You can follow her on Twitter at @JenniferLat.

New Online Dating Site Pairs Up Singles by Grocery Lists

Thursday, February 10th, 2011

by Becky Ellis

Few places allow you to size up potential dates as quickly as the grocery store. A quick peak in a shopping cart can tell you about relationship status (Fruit Loops & Huggies), level of emotional maturity (Fruit Loops and PBR), values (organic barley and soy milk) or heritage (bagels and kosher hot dogs) faster than you can say, “Come here often?”

British supermarket chain Asda is capitalizing on the belief that you are what you eat by launching AsdaDating, an online dating service that they claim matches up singles based on their grocery shopping habits. In reality, it is less sinister–or useful–than mining data from your in-store discount card: the site is powered by UKDating.com and functions like the prototypical online dating site. The only nod to its gastronomical roots is the ‘Tasty Dates’ search option, which pairs you with people based on answers to a 12-item multiple-choice survey with questions like, “What kind of cheese do you like?” and “What toast toppings do you like?”

To kick off the launch and cater to those who prefer to shop for love in the produce aisle, two stores are hosting speed-dating events on February 13.

Want some cool ideas for your next date? Check out 100s of date ideas >>

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