TresSugar

Five Rules For Meeting His Parents

DearSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:00:00 -0700

The holidays are fast approaching, so if you're meeting your boyfriend's parents for the first time, you might want to check out the five helpful tips that Glamour magazine is sharing with us in their November issue. As we all know, meeting the parents is a huge rite of passage, one that is never taken lightly, so check out my take on their five suggestions below and a few of my own, too.

Be present. If you're overly consumed with a pimple on your face or worrying that you're not saying the right thing, you could in turn come off aloof. Make sure his parents know you're interested in the conversation and in the moment.
Don't overspend to impress. Sending a thank you note, flowers, or bringing a small gift as a thank you for hosting you is always a nice gesture, but don't go overboard - you don't want to seem like you're trying too hard.
Volley the hard questions to him. If his parents put you on the spot to the point of uncomfortableness, turn to your boyfriend and cue him to take over. He'll know how to pull back the reins.

To see two more of Glamour's tips and to check out my additions, just read more.

Drink in moderation (the night before, too!). Being hung over isn't cute, so make sure you're bright-eyed and bushy-tailed when meeting his parents for the first time. No one likes a drunk and chances are his parents will notice how much you drink, so know your limits and act like a lady.
Treat them like friends, not fogies. You don't want to age his parents by sparking up dull conversation about the weather. They are people in addition to being your boyfriend's parents so engage them like you'd want to be engaged!

In addition, here's what I suggest!

Have your boyfriend debrief you pre-visit. If you go in knowing what they are interested in, you'll be able to have an edge by knowing exactly what to say!
Be yourself. There's a reason your boyfriend wants to show you off to his parents so relax, take a deep breath, and let them get to know you.
Don't be too affectionate with your boyfriend. A little PDA goes a long way, especially in front of adults. Even if you're usually a very touchy-feely couple, tone it down a notch; you don't want to make them feel uncomfortable or come off as needy.

If you've already been through this, do you have any tips to add? If so, please share them in the comments below.

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Five Times We Are Sexy to Men

DearSugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Feeling sexy means something different for every woman. Sometimes it's when we're in sexy clothes, and other times it's when we've just woken up, au naturale. Of course it is all about how you feel inside, but according to the October issue of Glamour magazine, it's these five simple acts that men find sexy. Check out what they are below:

When you lock eyes and smile: Researchers at Scotland's University of Aberdeen Face Research Lab proved that when a woman looks at a man, smiles genuinely and locks eyes with him, he finds her face much more attractive than if she were to stare at him without the grin.

When you use girly body language: According to the classic study of 1985 conducted by psychologist Monica Moore, PhD, women have 35 "courtship signals" ranging from hair-flipping to lip-licking that work when attracting men. In Moore's study, the women who used these body language techniques were approached by an average of four men. Those that didn't use body language didn't get approached at all.

Want to see the other three? Just click here to read more.

When you don't starve yourself: After researchers at the University of Texas at Austin drew figures of female body types for their participants, all the men were more attracted to the curvy images. Apparently men subconsciously know that curves are a sign of health and fertility - nice!

When you're ovulating: Men are especially attracted to women when they ovulate. Researchers say that estrogen plumps skin and lips and promotes a healthy glow so ladies, be sure to hit the town come ovulation time!

When you're the woman he loves: Just because you're coupled up doesn't mean the passion is gone. Research proves that men who know, like and respect someone find her more attractive. And the more he loves you, the sexier you become in his eyes!

Do you agree with these picks? Do you think anything is missing from this list? Share your thoughts below.

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Is Your Bedroom Equipped For Love Making?

DearSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:00:00 -0700

I know many people who consider their bedrooms their sanctuaries. They spend a lot of money on a comfortable bed, soft sheets, and perfect lighting to make bedtime all the more enjoyable. But even if your bedroom is perfectly outfitted for a good night's sleep, let me ask you this: Is it suitable for a good night of sex? According to Tina B. Tessina, PhD and author of Money, Sex and Kids, for starters, we should all be taking it easy on the family photos:

Pictures of family and friends can spark subconscious thoughts of things troubling you or of obligation.

Additionally, she says TV is a big no-no in the bedroom. Researchers have found that those couples who do watch the tube in bed actually have less sex!

I'm pretty sure we all know how to set the mood when need be, but tell me, is your bedroom already well-equipped for sexy time at a moment's notice?

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Confidence Can Help Your Immune System

DearSugar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:00:00 -0700

We all know that loving yourself is good for the soul, but according to a recent article in Glamour magazine, women who like their bodies regardless of their weight felt sick 30 percent less than women who wished they weighed less. Peter Muenning who conducted this study explains that "feeling bad about yourself activates stress centers in the brain that can actually lead to disease."

This finding makes complete and perfect sense to me, but have you noticed a correlation to your health and your self-confidence? If not, hopefully the desire to stay healthy will prevent so many of us from being overly critical and self-deprecating.

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Dear Quiz: What Is the Average Woman's Bra Size?

DearSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0700

Even if you aren't a lingerie girl per se, a bra is mandatory if you're at all endowed in the chest area! Of course, women come in a myriad of sizes and shapes, but Glamour magazine has come up with the average woman's bra size. Can you guess what it is?

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Take the quiz

Do You Suffer From the Do-it-all Disease?

DearSugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:00:00 -0700

Since women hate to disappoint, we tend to take on more than we can handle, leaving us at times resentful and exhausted. Glamour Magazine recently coined it the "Do-it-all disease", and if you suffer from it, you're in luck. Pamela Redmond Satran has come up with 14 perfectly acceptable ways to say no without being abrupt or harsh. Check them out below:

I'm going to have to pass
I'd love to, but I just don't have the time
I made a resolution to start saying no more often
I don't want to say yes and then let you down
I'd love to, but my boyfriend/kids/boss would freak out if I took on anything else
Not right now
Not this year

If you want to read the rest, just read more

You caught me at a terrible moment
I can't say yes
I don't want to say no, but I have to
I'm just not comfortable with that
It's just not right for me
Ask another time
Please cross me off your list

I'm guessing that a lot of you suffer from this "Do-it-all disease", so do any of Pamela's suggestions sound doable, or are you still of the mindset that you really can do it all?

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Do You Talk About Your Spending Habits With Your Partner?

DearSugar — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:00:00 -0700

Money is one of those things that has the ability to break a relationship. If both partners aren't on the same page about saving and spending their money, there could easily be trouble in paradise! With that said, I was shocked to read a statistic in the June issue of Glamour, which stated that 40 percent of women never talk about their spending habits with their partners. Now I can understand the occasional secret shopping trip, even the notion of hiding the evidence of a spending binge, but not talking about how or where you want to spend/save your money sounds a wee bit irresponsible, even if you have your own bank account. So ladies, tell me, do you talk to your significant other about your spending habits or are you part of the 40 percent that keeps mum?

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Dear Poll: Do You Wear Your Hair For Your Man?

DearSugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:00:00 -0700

According to the April issue of Glamour, 70 percent of men prefer women to wear their hair down. That statistic doesn't really surprise me - men love to touch soft hair - but what about those times when you just want it off your neck, away from your face? Or what happens if you prefer the way you look when your hair is up? Of course we all want to look good for our mates, but tell me ladies, do you wear your hair for him or for you?

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Glamour Magazine's November Issue: Plus-Sized Beauties

TresSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 07:00:00 -0700

Glamour magazine learned that it pays to feature so-called plus-sized models in addition to the typical size 0 variety in their pages. (I say so-called because these women look pretty average sized to me!)

They got so many positive reader responses from their nude picture of model Lizzie Miller (sporting a little familiar-looking-to-most women pooch) that they've decided they're going to feature Miller and other curvy models like Crystal Renn, Kate Dillon, and Amy Lemons (shown above) in their November issue. They, too, will be in their birthday suits.

Are you looking forward to this issue?

First Lady Offers First Rate Advice

TresSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:00:00 -0700

For its annual Women of the Year issue, Glamour made Michelle Obama the first First Lady to grace its cover. The issue honors Michelle for her commitment to mentoring young women, and the First Lady shows off these mentoring skills inside the magazine, where she offers readers advice on life and love. Here are some excerpts:

On how it's important to invest in yourself: "I have always tried to put my kids first, and then. . . put myself a really close second, as opposed to fifth or seventh. One thing that I’ve learned from male role models is that they don’t hesitate to invest in themselves."
On what to look for in a partner: "Cute’s good. But cute only lasts for so long, and then it’s, Who are you as a person? Don’t look at the bankbook or the title. Look at the heart. Look at the soul. . . When you’re dating a man, you should always feel good . . . You shouldn’t be in a relationship with somebody who doesn’t make you completely happy and make you feel whole."

Do you think Michelle offers some solid advice?