1. Be prepared

As the famous motto goes: a woman who comes prepared is worth two. On your wedding day, this is especially true. A few months ahead of the big day spend some time in all things bridal beauty, by researching good stylists, hairdressers and make-up artists who might be able to help you achieve that ideal look. Get recommendations from friends or family, but remember that adding a personal touch to your look is also important. Save different images of beauty looks you like to show your bridal beauty team and make sure to book a trial session in advance, so you have time to go back and forth on your look as much as you need, until it’s perfect!

2. Be simple

When deciding on your look it is best to go for something classic and elegant, nothing too elaborate or distracting. Traditional braids are a great option for long locks: they are old fashioned chic at its best! And if you have a short hairstyle, like a bob cut, you can style it with elegant waves or keep it even more simple by just adding a bridal headpiece for a tasteful touch.

3. Be comfortable

This gets us to another important tip when it comes to styling for your wedding day – find a way to keep hair out of your face and your makeup on point so you’re as comfortable as possible throughout the day! You want to be able to enjoy the ceremony, not stressing about a strand of hair hanging over your eyes or the mascara rubbing off. In favor of a beautiful, yet comfortable, look go for an elegant updo or just a classy hairpin on the side if you have a bob cut. And don’t forget the benefits of waterproof makeup and some oil-absorbing sheets to remove shine.

4. Be stylish

You can keep your beauty look simple, but still jazz it up with accessories to add that touch of personal style. Ribbons, jewels, flowers, sequins and pearls are amongst the bridal headpieces you can choose from. Your wedding day is the day to enjoy a little glamour and this is a great way to match your beauty look to your clothes too. Try weaving a piece of material matching your dress into your hair, or place a few flowers matching the bouquet along a braid.

5. Be pampered

Your bridal beauty look won’t come together only on the big day with hair and make-up – you have to book the last week before the wedding to pamper yourself from head to toe, as you deserve! This will be your spa week, to relax and get some final touch ups done so your look is flawless. You should make room in your agenda to do the following:

• Visit your dentist to get your teeth gleaming for when you say the big ‘Yes!’.
• Get your waxing up do date ahead of time, so you don’t have to cover up fresh red patches on the day.
• Prepping your skin by exfoliating and moisturizing, in order to get rid of dry skin cells and achieve a healthier look.
• Getting your eyebrows tinted plus eyelash extensions – your eyes will thank you later when they really stand out in the pictures!
• Prepping your hair with deep conditioning treatments plus a hairdresser appointment to get rid of split ends and touch up the roots, if needed.
• Booking a manicure beforehand – choose a shade that matches your wedding’s colour scheme and consider getting fake nails if you are addicted to biting them. Don’t forget all eyes will be on your ring finger on the big day!
• Find a moment to relax! You deserve a day in the spa before becoming Ms. and this includes a nice massage, of course.

There are so many options you can choose from when it comes to hair and beauty for a wedding. The key things are to plan in advance, know what you want and don’t settle until you get it! And in the midst of all the planning, don’t forget your own self and take a moment to relax and get the pampering you deserve. Good luck and enjoy the most beautiful day of your life!

#1 Baking

I know, but don’t hate me for the stereotype! Baking (not cooking!) is a fun way to surprise your boyfriend. Buns, angel cakes, sweet treats, and biscuits are all easy things you can do. It’s fun for both of you, and it tastes good! Try cutting out shapes of his favorite things! Footballs are – sort of! – easy to do, but you can also buy some cheap shapes from cartoons, comic books, and movies that you can use for baking some sweet things!

#2 Celebrate his birthday…or just because

New promotion? New car? Or just the fact that you managed to go a whole day without messing up your hair? Whatever it is, celebrate it. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just a nice meal or takeaway can be a great way to surprise him. Perhaps you know he’s had a bad day at work – offering some time away from it with a foot massage and a few beers will take away that stress he’s been feeling.

#3 A little mystery…

Place little notes around the house, each with a clue leading to the next note. Eventually he’ll end up somewhere obscure, like the closet or the garage – only you’ll be inside, wearing your best underwear and seductive smile (or winter coat, if you pick the garage!). Or get creative with your clothes – leave an item of clothing along with the note, it’ll have him guessing what he’ll find when he gets to you…

#4 Get crafty

There’s no creative way in how to surprise your boyfriend without dabbling in some arts and crafts. Make a special card for your anniversary, or if you’re not that artistic, get one of his favorite photographs or sayings printed on a t-shirt!

#5 Treat him

It doesn’t matter what they tell you, guys love a good pampering session. Relaxing massages, scented candles, top-of-the-line facial creams and moisturizers – he’ll be blown away by your attentiveness and caring nature. It’s also a nice relaxing way to being you both together physically without the pressure of being too intimate (though that’s fine too!).

#6 Make him laugh

Like really laugh, until milk comes out of his nose! Hold your very own comedy theme and play stand up for a night. The worst you are, the more you’ll giggle! Or play some karaoke or Guitar Hero and compete against each other.

#7 Get his friends round

Every male needs some guy-time. Message his buddies, put some beer on ice, and leave out the takeout menus. Then make yourself scarce! Your guy – and your relationship – will love you for it. (It also lets you have unashamed girl-time with your friends too!).

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So with that in mind, here are 10 ways you might be able to tell.

1. He Hasn’t Dropped His Dating Apps

This would be a pretty obvious bonehead move on his part, but if he hasn’t dropped his hookup apps—er, excuse me, dating apps—he might still be using them! Tinder and its various alternatives are great for casual flings and maybe even meeting that special someone. Maybe he even used one of these apps to meet you, but there’s no getting around it: people in relationships don’t need these tools anymore.

2. He’s Suddenly Busy

This is another one of the more obvious signs. Simply put, if he doesn’t have time for things he used to be available for, and there’s not a clear explanation as to why… Well… do I have to spell it out?

3. Work Hours Have Lengthened Considerably

Going along with sign #2, it’s specifically a red flag if his lack of availability is vaguely chalked up to longer hours at work. Why? Because according to an infographic of cheating habits, 30 percent of cheaters meet their partners at work—more than anywhere else. That doesn’t mean you have to go crazy and scrutinize every female in his company, but work should be on your radar as a danger zone if there are other signs.

4. There’s Too Much Cash

This is only an issue in fairly serious relationships. You know, the ones in which you might have access to his bank statements or payment information. If that’s the case, and suddenly you’ve noticed he’s handling a lot of cash or making more cash withdrawals, you should be aware that it might be because he doesn’t want a record of where he’s going and what he’s doing.

5. His Computer And/Or Phone Suddenly Has A Password

I mean… Maybe he’s just hiding an embarrassing new porn habit (which you may or may not have a problem with). Maybe he’s concealing a surprise gift he’s working on for you. But you have a right to be suspicious if his personal security ramps up.

6. He’s Just Plain Shifty

In a search for extra ammo for this article, I read through a list of signs a guy might be cheating, and pretty much all of them can be bundled into this: he’s acting shifty. If he’s hard to get a hold of, evasive when you ask what he’s up to, prone to sneaking away or turning his phone off—wake up! He’s got something to hide!

7. He’s Suddenly Talking About Old Friends

Old friends are usually fine. Maybe they’ve always been in the picture and he loves seeing them now and again; maybe one just moved to town, which is a perfectly reasonable excuse for him to talk about it. But if he’s suddenly mentioning someone (or a group of someones) a little too often for no apparent reason, it might be the result, or even the beginning, of an old fling heating up.

8. He’s Taking Better Care Of Himself

This could mean dressing better, dieting, spending more time at the gym, or a number of other things, which could be a sign he’s trying to impress somebody else.

9. He’s Tall

I love this one. Apparently there are scientific indicators of cheating potential, with certain body types, features, or tendencies showing statistically significant correlation with cheating. I don’t buy most of them, but apparently guys over 5’10” are twice as likely to cheat. Hmm…

10. His Sex Drive Is (Or Seems) Down

This might be the most obvious sign of all. News flash, ladies: guys have only so much stamina. If he suddenly seems like he’s not up for sex, it might be because someone else wore him out.

1. An at-home spa day

Put together a special menu of spa events that can include massages, foot rubs, a pedicure and manicure and any other spa-related activities that sound fun. You can show your boyfriend the list and have him pick out what he would like to sit back and enjoy. You can let him know what you want too. At the end of the day you’ll both feel relaxed, refreshed and invigorated!

2. Take out a board game

Play a board game with your boyfriend and set up special rewards for the winner. Guys always love to have a challenge – especially if there is a special prize waiting for them at the end of the game.

3. Enjoy a picnic

This is a fun thing to do that doesn’t cost a lot. You and your boyfriend can plan the picnic menu, prepare the food together and then set out for a romantic picnic under a special tree. Don’t forget to bring along a soft comfortable blanket!

4. Camp out in your living room

Do you remember when you were young and used to create forts in your house? Now it’s time to create an adult fort and pull out the sleeping bags and blow-up mattresses. Heat up some TV dinners, make some s’mores and tell some ghost stories before bedtime.

5. Video game night

If you love video games you can take on your boyfriend in head-to-head matches for an entire evening. If you don’t like playing videos, spend the evening doing it for him just for a change. The expression on his face when you tell him that you’re planning a video game night with him will be worth the time spent playing the games!

6. Play poker

Grab a pile of poker chips and enjoy a night with your special boyfriend. Of course, strip poker is an option, but that will be entirely up to you!

7. Run a movie marathon

Pick up some popcorn and special flavorings to pour on it. Rent some movies that you’ve always wanted to see but never got around to viewing. Set up the living room with comfortable blankets and be prepared to sleep in the room. Once you’ve watched enough movies you’ll probably fall asleep during one of them.

8. Have a massage night

Schedule an evening where you both get to give each other a massage. Purchase some special oil and look on the Internet for proper massage techniques. This is definitely one of the fun activities to do with your boyfriend that he’ll agree to immediately!

9. Create a theme night

If you’re a creative type of person you can have a lot of fun planning a special theme night for you and your boyfriend. Make it a 70s night, for example, and put on the disco music, make some old fashion sodas and be sure that you both dress sharp for the event.

10. Schedule a cooking competition

Let your boyfriend know in advance that there will be a competition held on a certain night to find the best cook. He can come over with his ingredients and together you can create some enticing masterpieces. If you’re both of age, you may also want to include a bottle of wine so that you can enjoy the cooking process even more. If you’re not of age, you can try out a new recipe for a smooth alcohol-free drink that you can sip as you create your culinary delights.

11. Your night – his night

This is a great idea that you can put together for a weekend. Designate Friday night as his night where your boyfriend gets to choose the plan for the evening (within limits of course!). The Saturday evening can be your night to choose the activities. Part of the fun will be not letting the other know what the plan is until the evening begins.

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1. You need to take the initiative

Don’t wait around for your guy to approach you first. If he is shy, it’s not likely that he’ll be making any moves on you. It’s up to you to take the first step forward and we’re going to show you how to best do this in the next steps.

2. Approach him when he’s doing something he enjoys

Find out more about what makes this guy tick. Does he belong to any clubs or sports organizations? If so, you can walk up to him when he’s in his own element. This is the place where he will feel the most confident about himself and will be the most likely to open up with you. If he has a hobby, you may just want to learn more about the hobby yourself so that you can talk to him about it intelligently.

3. Give him an honest compliment

It’s hard for any person to look away or ignore you completely if you start the conversation with an honest compliment. This shouldn’t be too gushing or fake but an honest assessment of something that he’s good at. It would be best to compliment him on some activity that he does well and not on his looks. When it comes to shy guy flirting, talking about his appearance may very well be way over the top and hard for him to handle when you’re just starting to get acquainted.

4. Be sensitive to his feelings

A lot of shy people are also struggling with their own self-esteem. Keep this in mind and be very sensitive when you’re talking to him. Just try to say things that can’t be misconstrued in any negative way and remember to be yourself. This way, if you do trip up, you’ll be able to correct it honestly and turn the conversation in a more positive direction.

5. Ask for help

There’s something about most men that makes them want to help woman. If you’re trying to find an instant connection, ask him for some help with something. Make it a simple task at first such as help carrying something heavy. You certainly wouldn’t want to find yourself in a situation where you are asking him to help fix your bicycle when he doesn’t know a thing about bikes!

6. Be mysterious

There’s something about a mystery that intrigues every man. When you wear your heart and soul on your sleeve and expose everything about you within the first few minutes, it’s a turnoff for most guys. Approach conversations slowly, don’t give away too much about yourself but be very interested in what he has to say. This will be something new for him to experience and will probably love it. If you do it right and bat your eyes ever so slightly while glancing down, he’ll be left wondering what you’re thinking and what exactly makes you tick.

7. Make a move

After putting the above tips into action, don’t expect a shy guy to make the first move. If you’re wondering how do shy guys flirt, they often don’t. You’ll need to initiate the first contact and then make a move forward from there. As things progress and he comes out of his shell with you, he’ll start to initiate things on his own. Until then, it’s up to you to get things rolling.

The first date is always going to be the most difficult but once you can get past this things should start rolling a lot more smoothly. When you’re ready to ask the guy out, the word “date “should never be mentioned. Simply suggest going for a walk in the park, ask him if he can walk you home from school or work one day or even ask him to meet up at the gym to work out. Use non-committal words at the beginning and simply get to work on the relationship slowly. The more you flirt at his pace, at a speed that he can accept, the more success you will see. Good luck with your flirting girls!

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If you find that you don’t have as many friends as you used to and find yourself more isolated and lonely despite being involved in a relationship, it’s time to dig deeper. You may be involved in a controlling relationship that is only going to get worse as the years go on, until you find yourself struggling to really discover yourself again. Here are some of the obvious signs to look for in a relationship that you’re no longer controlling.

1. Distant relationships with friends and family members

You find that you aren’t going out as much, phoning or texting with your friends or family and are home alone much more than you’d like to be. This probably didn’t occur overnight but was most likely happening in a transition phase that you didn’t even notice. All of a sudden you are snuggled in a chair with a blanket on top of you watching your favorite movie with a bowl of popcorn on your lap. Your partner is out for the evening and you don’t have anyone to call. At this point you need to take a look at the sequence of events that led you here.

Quite often you’ll see that your partner had some influence in the matter. Whether directly or indirectly, he was trying to break the communication line between you and the people that you love the most. In a controlling relationship, a person needs to be isolated from their support groups so that total control can be put into place. If you see any signs of this occurring, it’s time to reevaluate your life.

2. Jealousy and more jealousy

A controlling person will be extremely jealous of a partner. If you see that somebody is trying to spy on you, it’s never a good indication. Whether or not you see any other signs of controlling behavior, jealousy as a factor on its own should send up a red flag. The people that want you to do well in your life will be supporting you and giving you trust. The ones that want to break you down so that you can be controlled will be jealous of anyone or anything that can make you happy.

3. Lack of support

Quite often you’ll see very subtle clues showing that you are not being supported. For example, if you say that you want to take a dance class, the normal reaction from a partner would be “Hey that sounds great!” A controlling person on the other hand could say something like “Do you really think that’s a good idea? After all, you were the one that said that you had 2 left feet!” With this example, the person that wants to take dance lessons is being covertly convinced that maybe she should think about these classes since she’s not a very good dancer.

Quite often, if the subtle clues don’t work, the reasoning will become stronger. In the above example, the person that wants to control the other will simply say “We don’t have enough money for you to take dance classes right now.” As things progress in a controlling relationship, the lack of support becomes less hidden and stronger to the point where it can become extremely dangerous.

It’s important to note at this point that a controlling relationship can quickly turn into a severe situation that includes emotional and/or physical abuse. When the controlling individual sees that he is in the driver’s seat, it fuels his compulsion to control even further. The best thing you can do is to step back from a relationship that you may feel is controlling as quickly as possible.

This will give you time to assess the situation as it really is. It’s important to do so – it can actually save your life. Many of the 911 calls to police stations come from domestic disputes that have escalated to violence due to a non-conforming partner of a relationship standing up for her rights. It’s always best to assess the situation and then go back into it when you see that it is safe to do so.

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Here are our best suggestions to help you get through an incapacitating and exhausting breakup:

1. Give yourself a grieving time limit

Grief can be emotionally and physically painful. You need to give yourself some time to actually experience the grieving process. At the same time, however, you need to realize that you’ll have to get back into life and move forward. The best way to make sure that you don’t spend too much time on the grieving process is to give yourself a time limit. Some people will only need a day or two while others would like to take a week off from reality. You shouldn’t plan on any longer than a week though. Grieving for more than seven days about a breakup can lead to a severe depression.

2. Assume responsibility for the breakup

It takes 2 to tango and it also takes 2 to breakup. Getting through a breakup successfully involves taking a look, an honest look, at how you contributed to the situation. Even small things should be taken into account. Once you can realize that something went wrong on your end and that you are not a total victim, you’ll be able to move on.

This is usually much easier said than done. It is hard to really take a look at our own mistakes without putting the blame on another. It’s a hard one to confront but at the same time it is a necessary part of the process towards healing.

If you feel that you acted perfectly and didn’t do anything wrong that would warrant the breakup, you still have some responsibility in the matter. After all, you were the one that allowed yourself to get into the relationship in the first place. Once you’ve really analyzed your participation in the relationship breakup, life will get better.

3. What were you able to walk away with?

If you’re experiencing a lot of grief about the breakup the odds are good that you spent quite a while with the other person. During that time you probably gained a lot in the form of life experience, personal gifts, special friendships with others, more insight about yourself etc. Look at the positive aspects of the relationship and the things that you walked away with. Write them down. This is how to get through a breakup knowing that your time wasn’t wasted with your partner. You may even come to realize that it was just another chapter in your life that needed to close in order to start a new and better one.

4. Examine what you have learned

Take a look at the lessons you have learned and use them to your benefit. Create a new path in your life that leads towards a brighter future. Take your experience and turn it into something positive by challenging yourself to reach new heights. Try doing something different – something that you would normally not consider when you’re in the middle of a “safe” relationship. Maybe you’ve always wanted to try skydiving. Perhaps you’ve wanted to take a trip to a European country but your former partner didn’t want to go. Grab a friend or a family member and go do the things that you want to do.

5. Find out more about yourself

Take the time now to enjoy the freedom that comes with being single and learn how to embrace it. Really get in touch with who you are and establish short-term and long-term goals. Along the way, you’ll be living a life that is better focused and you will find the inner strength to combat life’s bumps and bruises as they present themselves.

You may also find that you soon naturally attract the kind of partner or spouse that truly admires you for who you are and has the same passion for life that you do.

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