love Archives - A Million Lives

February 22, 2019 by Greg Underwood

Mother of the Bride Hats: 5 Tips to Choose the Right Headpiece as the Mother of the Bride

If you are the mother of the bride who is set to marry in a few days’ time, you need to be elegant with your outfit. Because it is one of the biggest occasions of your lifetime, you may want to put your best foot forward to get everything right. Here are the 5 tips to choose the right headpiece along with the mother of the bride dresses.

1. Keep It Simple:

When it comes to choosing a headpiece for marriage, the thumb rule is to keep it simple. Avoid excess exaggeration with the decorating headpiece – the simpler the choice, the better. Choose a piece which will make you look elegant and beautiful without the over-the-top impression.

2. Choose Suitable Accessories:

Do you wish to get appreciation from others for your headpiece? In fact, you would hardly find the mother of a bride who doesn’t crave for it. One little secret to do this easily is to choose a wedding hat which matches with the outfit. If you are planning to wear a traditional outfit, your headpiece should be in line with it.

In case you have a liking for one of the contemporary mother of the bride dresses, make sure you choose your wedding hat accordingly. This will make for a fantastic look which will enable you to earn appreciation from others.

3. Select Matching Colors:

You wish to have a flawless appearance, isn’t it? If this is what you intend to achieve with your wedding headpiece, then you need to choose a piece with the right color combination. Ensure that you choose a clothing item in a way that its color does not clash with the outfit on your head. Also, remember this rule while choosing a headpiece after buying your wedding dress.

Although for the color combinations, you can go with several elegant choices, the popular options in this regard include brown and black, orange and grey, blue and grey, red and black, etc.

4. Talk to the Bride:

Depending on the arrangements for the wedding reception, you can make a plan for buying your headpiece. It is a good idea to have a word with your daughter to find out more about the plan for the wedding reception. Depending on their arrangements, you can either choose a casual or formal headpiece.

Regardless of the kind of attire you wear, the idea should be not to look ridiculous with your wedding hat. Your best bet to ensure it is to pick one in accordance with the plan of reception.

5. Get Your Jewellery Right:

Do you like jewellery? You can get that perfect look with the headpiece by picking up the right set of jewellery. Consider the preferences of the couple for an informed choice. If they prefer jewellery items, you can add something valuable, such as a precious stone for a sophisticated appearance. This will be the sure-fire way to get love and appreciation of people around you.

Conclusion:

So, there you go. Whether you have chosen the mother of the bride dresses long or short, these are the considerations to look your best at the wedding of your daughter by choosing an elegant headpiece.

May 31, 2018 by Greg Underwood

How to Impress on the First Date

First dates are always something super fun and something that gives you those special butterflies. And since you are searching and reading articles such as this one, I will dare to assume that somebody is getting quite nervous about her first date, am I right (wink)?

Jokes aside, the first impression really is important when it comes to relationships, so without further ado, here is the ultimate list of ways to make yours count.

The look

It’s a no-brainer that you should try to look your best for the first date with a guy you think of as possible boyfriend material. However, that doesn’t mean you should try too hard and overdo it. The point is to emphasize your best features and hide your flaws. Men are visual types and trust me on this one, he will scan you from head to toe.

When it comes to clothes, you should pick it depending on the venue, but make sure you are wearing your most flattering pieces, and NEVER reveal too much.

When it comes to hair and makeup, make sure your hair is nice, neat and freshly washed, and your makeup simple and not too strong. Feel free to put on a little extra perfume, and always have a gum in your mouth just in case (wink).

Stick to positive topics

Let’s see, maybe you have some disagreements in terms of political views or religion, but that doesn’t mean you should shove your negative comments into his face. If you notice any form of disagreement, the best option would be to change topics. You’ve just met for God’s sake, there’s no need for arguments right away – you’ll have plenty of time for it once you get married and have kids LOL.

Personal details

Even though it is desirable to share some of your personal or funny stories with him, don’t give away too much – there’s no need for him to know how you eat tomatoes with your hands like apples when you are drunk, or how once you accidentally pissed your bed, no matter how far your conversation has gone, or how much information he shared. Keep it classy, keep him wondering and always have in mind that mystery is BLOODY hot.

Ask questions

If you want your conversation to be good, you have to express your interest. However, note that you are not interviewing him, and that you are trying to get to know him better in terms of what kind of a person he is. In other words, avoid boring: What do you do for living questions, but rather focus on his hobbies, his favorite band, his funny childhood fears etc. Not only you will have more fun together, but you will also connect on a much deeper level.

Set boundaries

Remember, everything is your choice, and you are the one who decides about the things that can and cannot happen You don’t have to accept every single suggestion of his. Sure, as a man, he will probably try to push his luck, but if you are not feeling comfortable, it is your job to politely and respectfully let him know. However, the general advice is that, even though you should always follow your feelings, you should still try not to sleep with him on the first date. It sounds cliché, but he really will respect you much more, not because of the act, but because of your abilities to stick to your boundaries.

Agree on an ideal date venue

Remember – he doesn’t know you. And if you want to have a good time, you shouldn’t leave all the planning to him. If you currently don’t have inspiration, check online for some interesting date ideas to help you with your decision. If you choose a place such as a restaurant, your date will go much smoother since you will have time to talk and you’ll be able to maintain a conversation, unlike bowling, bike riding or hiking date for example.

Be yourself

Believe it or not, but men can smell fake from miles away. They like women who are honest and open, honestly friendly and honestly interested. There is no need to fake anything, you are already here with him, so you must be at least somewhat interested.

Show but don’t show off

It is simple, share all those things that make you stand out in any way, but don’t brag about them. Be modest – that’s always a good idea.

Hold the liquor

Sure, you might need a drink or two to loosen up, after all, you are sitting with a guy you like on your first date. But, make sure you keep your drinking on the level where you’ve had just enough to unwind, and not so much that you come off as an alcoholic.

Do you have some more tips you would like to share? Let me know.

February 1, 2018 by Greg Underwood

It’s Broken: Understanding Annulments, Legal Separations, and Divorce

When you think about the end of a marriage, the word “divorce” often comes to mind. However, this is not the only way a marriage can end.

There is always a lot of confusion about the differences between annulments, legal separations, and divorces.

That’s why if you are thinking about ending your marriage, it is important you learn what your options are so that you do what’s best for you.

Annulment

An annulment is a way to dissolve, or cancel, a marriage as though it never existed in the first place.

Every state has their own laws regarding annulments. That said, here are some situations that will qualify you for an annulment:

You were tricked or forced under duress to marry someone
There is a valid case of bigamy
The marriage is between family members
Either spouse was mentally ill at the time of marriage
One of the spouses was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of marriage
Either spouse was under the legal age to marry and did not have parental or court consent
There is an inability to consummate the marriage

With an annulment, the courts will find your marriage null and void and you will return to your “unmarried” marital status.

Legal Separation

A legal separation is when two people agree that their marriage is breaking down and they need a break.

When you are legally separated from your spouse, you are still legally married. In fact, you may still be living together. However, the court may call for support orders such as:

The ability for each spouse to date others
One spouse paying for child support or alimony
The end of shared debt

Legal separations work for a variety of reasons. For those that needed a break, but reconciled in the end, the trouble of having to go through formal divorce proceedings and marrying again is prevented.

On the other hand, for those that do not reconcile, a legal separation makes the divorce proceedings very simple since a legal separation is one step shy of an actual divorce.

Keep in mind however, that any court orders that were (or were not) in place during your legal separation may come to light if you decide to follow through with a divorce. This is especially true if neither spouse was paying child support during the legal separation. You can bet some form of child support order will be put into place during divorce proceedings.

Divorce

Divorce, as most people are aware of, is the final dissolution of a legally binding marriage. In a divorce, one spouse files a petition with the court to dissolve the marriage contract and assign things such as property, support, and child custody and visitation orders.

Each state has their own requirements for granting a divorce, though most states allow for “no fault” divorces. In a “no fault” divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences” is enough to have the divorce granted by the court and the appropriate orders put into place.

It is important to hire a divorce lawyer if you are thinking about filing for divorce. This is because divorce proceedings can become very complicated, especially when there is a lot of money, property, and of course, children, involved.

In the end, if your marriage is on the rocks, one of these three solutions will help you get through it. However, it is important to understand what each is so that you make the right decision that is going to be best for you and your family.

January 3, 2018 by Greg Underwood

What happens to you when you don’t date for a long time?

Staying single for a while can be a nice break from the hectic life of a couple, you get plenty of time to yourself and with that comes plenty of freedom. However, staying alone for too long can start having some effects on you that are not always the most desirable. It’s a bit more than not riding a bike for a while, and it can certainly require more than a few days to get back up to speed with the whole dating gig. Today we look at the things that happen to you when you stay by yourself for too long, and we offer possible fixes for you to get back on track as soon as possible.

1 – Socializing issues

Problem – Okay so just because you’ve been single doesn’t mean you’ve retreated into a cave altogether; you still have friends and people you see on a regular basis. However, the one thing that isn’t so good is when you approach a person you are attracted to. You might find that you stutter a bit more, or you simply lose your words and end up spewing some sort of word salad when you’re trying to flirt with someone. Let’s face it, you’ve lost a bit of that old magic it it’s hitting you by surprise. Who thought those once-acquired skills would be gone?

Solution – It’s okay to be nervous, if anything you will be giving that person a sign that you like them. These days people are so sure that confidence is the best thing ever, but knowing how to express your lack of confidence can work just as well. Just be honest with that person, tell then that you’re a little nervous because it’s been a while since you’ve talked to someone that you like and fancy. Just come up with your own version of it, you’ll just be telling the truth and honesty is a quality most desired by people when it comes to choosing a partner. In fact it might well give you a charm that is lacking in today’s over sexualized world.

2 – Sex, or the lack of it for so long

Problem – Speaking of over-sexualisation, it’s been a long time since you’ve done…you know… anything sexual with another person. Even if you have the past of a stallion but you stop for too long, you will unavoidably get that fear of being a bit too early when it comes to the act. Premature ejaculation isn’t a joke, and if it’s been a while since you’ve has some skin contact then you might have the fear that things will work out like they did for your first time. That is unless you’ve been practicing tantric sex with yourself all that time, but not many people do that, let’s be honest.

Solution – There is truth to what we are saying there, and your next performance might not be the best. You can try to delay ejaculation, there are different techniques and they do work. Also you can try adult dating, it sounds silly but you’re better off finding someone just to have sex with and tell them you might need a couple of times to get going. You’re not the only one with issues, and you’ll most likely find quite a few forgiving people a free fuck site like My Sex Hookups or other no-strings dating platforms. Just find yourself a friend with benefits, you’ll get that sexual confidence back in no time.

3 – Personal hygiene

Problem – This is the less pleasant aspect, not to put you off but the issue needs to be addressed. It’s bad, but not the end of the world, and certainly not atypical just to single people. You know that when you’re dating you make a personal effort to look better, and this includes looking after yourself. Your lips, your nasal hair, your health… all seem to take a step down when you’re alone for too long. It’s only fair, after all it’s not like you have to impress anyone. The thing is that over time, those showers you miss and those things you leave untreated can accumulate to a point where you feel a bit scared to get it sorted. In terms of dating, this means that you can sometimes lose a lot of confidence as you’re not your best self. Physically speaking, you might even feel a little broken, and that’s when you realise that you do need someone in your daily life to look after you.

Solution – It’s simple: get a piece of paper and make a list of those physical problems you might have developed. Write down about that that itch that won’t go, that spot you’ve been meaning to get checked, or that tooth that is giving you that weird breath. Then take an appointment with your General Practitioner and just talk to them about putting a plan together to attack all those problems. It will take time and will cost some money, but once you put the mechanics in place things should roll nicely. Before you even know it, you will be a brand new you that you feel so much better about.

We hope this article comes useful to some of you who have been in the single boat for a long time. We cannot cover all the aspects of prolonged singledom in the one article, but those are the main ones most people will face in that situation. The key thing is this: just take some time to look at yourself, make a note of your issues. You will find that it is just a matter of meeting one problem with a solution, it’s a simple step-by-step approach rather than having to face everything head-on. We wish you all the best with your dating life, may you find that person that is right for you!

December 20, 2017 by Greg Underwood

Why you should discuss these 3 awkward relationship problems

In every relationship, there are likely to be a few problems that crop up now and again that can be awkward to discuss. While it’s easy to turn a blind eye to these issues, it could cost you your relationship, so it’s vital that you speak up. In this blog, we look at three tricky topics of conversation that you should always try to be upfront about.

1. Intimacy issues

If you’re experiencing intimacy issues in the bedroom, it can be embarrassing to broach the subject with your other half. While you might be tempted to bury your head in the sand in the hope that the problem will go away, you could be putting extra pressure on your relationship. It could cause a rift between you and your partner, and it may lead to feelings of frustration for both of you. So, if your sex life is starting to suffer, it’s important that you do something about it.

There are a number of reasons why you might be having problems between the sheets. For example, it could be that your partner suffers from erectile dysfunction (ED) – the inability to get or maintain an erection. While this can be an awkward topic to discuss, it’s important that you encourage your partner to seek treatment. ED can be the first sign of a much more serious health condition, such as heart disease, so it’s crucial that they get checked out. You might want to speak to a doctor to get to the root of the problem first. They should also be able to advise you of the medicines that are available. For example, men can use sildenafil citrate, which is often sold under the brand name Viagra.

2. Financial woes

Money is a topic that many couples struggle to talk about. It can be especially difficult to discuss if you and your partner don’t always agree when it comes to your finances. From credit card debt to frivolous spending, it’s important to be upfront and honest about your money matters. If not, your financial woes could soon drive a wedge between you and your other half.

By opening up to your loved one and tackling the problem together, you might be able to find a solution to your money troubles. Katie from civilizedhealth.com agreed “financial problems cannot be covered up and can inevitably get worse, don’t struggle alone talk to your partner.”

3. Jealousy

Feelings of jealousy have the potential to ruin any relationship, especially if you get into the habit of keeping your envy to yourself. Whether you suspect your partner might be having an affair or you’ve noticed that they’ve been spending a lot of their time elsewhere, letting your jealousy build up is a recipe for disaster, and it could just make the situation worse.

You should try speaking to your partner instead. By voicing your thoughts, you might feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. It’s also likely that your other half will reassure you that you needn’t feel this way in the first place. In sharing your concerns, you should be able to straighten out any misunderstandings and as a result, make the connection between you and your partner even stronger.

There’s no denying that discussing these issues can be awkward. However, by opening up and confiding in your loved one, you should be able to solve the problem together.

December 19, 2017 by Greg Underwood

Three Top Tips for Finding a Long-Lost Friend

Over time, everybody makes friends – however, it’s not always easy to keep in touch with some of your best friends from earlier in life. It’s not uncommon for people to lose touch with some of their best friends from school and college as life takes them in different directions and they focus on their careers, families, and life goals. However, the good news is that today, it’s easier than ever to find old friends that you want to catch up with. Perhaps you have an old school friend who you haven’t seen for years and are wondering how they are doing, or maybe you’ve lost touch with your old college roommate and haven’t been able to find any contact details for them. Here’s what you can do to get back in touch with an old friend.

Tip #1. Try Mutual Friends

If you are still in touch with any mutual friends of the two of you, they could be your ticket to finally seeing and talking to your old friend again. Maybe you are trying to find somebody that you attended high school with and is now living abroad, and who lives close to another friend who may still be keeping in touch with them.

Tip #2. Search on Social Media

When it comes to finding long lost friends, social media is a key tool. Thanks to massive social networks such as Facebook, with millions of members worldwide, you can easily find friends that you have lost touch with years ago by simply typing their name in the search bar, as long as they are signed up with a profile that anyone can find. However, don’t despair if you can’t find your friend on social media. You may be able to find other friends who can help you get in touch or family members who will be more than happy to pass your message and contact details along to them. Don’t forget to check other social networks such as Twitter or Instagram, too.

Tip #3. Try White Pages

If you are no longer in touch with any mutual friends and are having no luck with results when searching for your old friend on social media, then searching for your old friend can become a little bit trickier. However, don’t worry, as all hope is not lost – there are still some options that you can consider. Before social media, people would search white pages and look in the phone book to find contact details for individuals, and it’s still possible to do that today. The good news is that instead of combing through everyone’s number in a paper phone book, the process has become much easier, as you can conduct your search online. Check out the California white pages, which can help you get back in touch with any old friends you have lost touch with in the most densely populated U.S state.

Did our tips help you in your search for your friend? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.

November 21, 2017 by Greg Underwood

Top 5 Tips To Find Your French Soul Mate

French men have always been captivated by women around the world. They might not be the most handsome around in Europe, but there is a certain aura of “je na sais quoi” about their personae which radiates a sense of being more to their charm than just being eye candies. Whether it is their Parisian fashion sense combined with native etiquettes or their eloquent French accent, we cannot know. What we do know, however, is that this makes them extremely irresistible for women. So, the question arises, how should women actually go about finding their French date? While a French dating app or a website may be of great help, it can only aide you in spotting your desired French man. An insight into what can make him desire you is more important. Roses Only has devised some tips that will help you in finding your soul mate in this modern dating age. These tips would also be helpful if you are already dating a lucky French man and want to exchange vows with him.

Dress Appropriately

The first thing that differentiates a French man from others is his outfit. A Parisian is known for having no competitor worldwide for fashion sense. To match his sense of distinction and elegance you need to dress as per his expectations. This will assure him the striking mutuality between you two. Add a foreign tint to your dressing while maintaining their traditional fashion sense, and you are sure to turn some French heads around!

Be Confident

The undefined aura of French men that differentiates them from others is hard to interpret. But its perception comes from the fact that they love to look directly in your eyes. In fact, it is considered bad manners if you do not make an eye contact. Also, looking into the eyes manifests your confidence. This confidence conveys your sincerity towards continuing the relationship. Never invest in a relationship unless you are confident about it.

Converse With A Sense Of Humor

Generally, we want to spend life with the person who can converse well since it’s only via talking and sharing that we understand the other person and his needs. Similarly, you can never hate the one, with whom you laugh. Therefore, a French man will always prefer someone with whom he can talk about everything be it food, fashion trends, sex, wine or anything else in the world. Also, it always feels great to be with someone who make your tummy tremble with laughter, so it would be prudent to develop good a sense of humor

Smile More

Smiling develops a positive vibe which, in turn, makes you more sociable. As you smile, your eyes look radiant and its spark shows how good you are feeling. Be it French or any other man, he will always want to be with someone who feels good about herself. To have a smiling face of a soul mate is the dream of all, so practice this as it will bear good results not only for your relationship but also for your personality. Of course, you do not have to be unnatural about it.

Be Strong

French women are known to be strong and energetic. If you aren’t French, your dream of having a French soul mate will only materialize, in most of the cases, if you are emotionally strong and physically active. The more spirited your French man perceives of you, the more are your chances to develop a strong and everlasting relationship with him. You must make your man know that how comfortable you are in his company and how you two can be good fit for each other.

Do Not Rely On Make Up/Foundation

French men, like most other men, prefer their women to have smooth and unblemished skins naturally. If you do not have a flawless skin, use a good skincare product and reconsider eating habits. While a little make-up here and there is recommended, do not use unnatural amounts of foundation to hide your actual skin tone and texture.

Be Fit

Be it French or any other, men prefer physically fit women as much as women would prefer fit and strong men. Although you do not need a super model figure to attract a French man, a consistent workout routine is good enough to not let him feel unattracted toward you just because of your physique. You do not have to worry about the hassle of going to the gym daily, there are plenty of workout routines that you can follow and carry out in the comfort of your home.

Do Not Rush

Try not to take a shortcut into bed with him. Keep your integrity and develop a chemistry first to make sure he wants you too. Men love courtship as much as women do. It helps both of you to know each other better to make a more informed decision about continuation of the relationship.

Learn French

It might not be necessary to be able to talk to your French man in his language but it is definitely a plus when you can flirt in one of the sexiest languages with some of the finest men. Romance in French only adds to the intensity of the moment. This will also exude a feeling of devotion and willingness to continue with the relationship from your side.

Keep Your Identity

While being able to communicate in their native language and living up to their standards of fashion and style are recommended, keep in mind that most French men, just like all other normal humans, love to explore and know about other cultures and traditions. So, if you are a foreign woman looking for a French date, make sure that he gets to learn from you about the society you represent and the traditions and values it is known for. In fact, to make him truly fall for you, you should make certain you are not just another French woman for him.

Whether you are looking for a French man, or just any other guy, these tips are sure to help you get your soul mate.

November 20, 2017 by Greg Underwood

Multi-Faceted Family Ties In The Modern World

Source

If you think about families in the modern age, how many are made up of non-traditional dynamics? There are an increasing number of families these days which no longer adhere to what we originally had instilled as “the traditional family”. With movements towards same-sex marriage, not being married, or having multiple partners throughout life, families today are an ever changing dynamic which are challenging traditions in some of the best ways ever and are forcing us to rethink just who we consider to be parts of our family.

Traditions No More

Whether parents are unmarried, divorced, separated or same-sex, these days families are being made up more and more of non-traditional facets. This is great as it helps us not only have multiple different kinds of family members but it also helps us create appreciations for a number of different types of people and situations. Traditionally families were made up of a mother, father and anywhere between 1-4+ children. These days though it’s quite typical for families to be made up of divorced parents, often with step mothers or fathers coming into the mix along with step-siblings, and more. Back only 50-60 years ago, divorce was almost unheard of, but today divorce rates continue to rise exponentially, creating the higher likelihood of there being step-family members being introduced at some point.

Bigger And Better Than Ever!

With so many new additions to families, it’s making families bigger and better than ever! While it can take some getting used to, you’re more likely to run into people these days in the same situation than not, making it easier to transition than it was back 20 or 30 years ago when mixed families were more uncommon. These days it isn’t unusual to have six, seven or more family members made up of half-siblings, step-siblings and parents amongst others, and we haven’t even touched on the topic of adoptive siblings either!

More Love To Go Around

These days it’s quite common for men and women to choose not to marry, or if they do a lot of people are opting for alternative weddings such as civil partnerships, small intimate gatherings, getting married in their garden at home, or eloping to far flung islands to be married in private with only very close friends and family around. The costs associated with weddings mean that more and more people are opting to go the route of just doing basic “registry office” type unions, especially if they already have children and are just looking to solidify their union to each other. For families that are unable or choose not to have their own children, adoption is a popular option to enable an otherwise needy child to have a loving home where they can feel safe and wanted, adding another facet to the family dynamic.

So overall families are really like diamonds – there are so many different sides, angles, and colours to see when you look at each one. Every family is unique from traditional ones to the more modern families made up of numerous types of family members. It can be a great way to spread the love – and after all, the more the merrier! For more information on the changing face of the family, check out this great infographic from Slater and Gordon below!