TresSugar

9 Sites That Will Instantly Lift Your Mood

GeekSugar — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 08:41:24 PST

Annie and Jay-Z were right: it's a hard-knock life. Sure, there are amazing days that make you smile and affirm how fantastic it is to be alive, but some days you can't help but get bogged down in the day-to-day grind and have to fight to be positive. There's work to be done, to-do items to be checked, bills to pay and people who won't stop pestering you to do things for them. Next time you are sitting at your computer having a "how did I get here?" moment skip sharing your frustration on Twitter or your blog and check out a guaranteed mood lifter website. Remember, we're all in this together.

Lock Your Love and Throw Away the Key: Love Padlocks Around the World

Tara Block — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:57:04 PST

Shrouded in superstition and romance, love padlocks (aka love locks) are a worldwide trend that have been spotted everywhere from Budapest to Paris to Seoul to Moscow. Traditionally, the padlocks are affixed by a couple to symbolize their eternal love, but the origin is unknown.

What we do know is that in Rome the padlocks on the Ponte Milvio bridge are attributed to Federico Moccia's book I Want You, and the padlock tradition in Serbia began with a legend dating back before WWI about a woman who died of a broken heart. Serbian girls would write down their names with their loved ones on padlocks and affix them to the bridge where the infamous lovers used to meet, Most Ljubavi (the Bridge of Love). In Fengyuan, Taiwan, the locks are attached in pairs to an overpass in the city's train station and called "wish locks." The story goes that the trains generate a magnetic field that energizes the locks, granting the wishes. And according to a legend in Montevideo, Uruguay, there's a fountain where if you put a lock in it with the initials of two people in love, they will return to the fountain and be "locked in love" forever.

Love locks have recently arrived in Venice, Italy, and despite the city of water being known for its romance, Venice's administration is not feeling the love and is worried they'll cause damage to the buildings and bridges. One would think the ritual would be welcomed since they are less destructive than, say, graffiti or gum walls (have you seen those? Disgusting), but if Venice shut down the trend it wouldn't be alone. Paris stripped the locks on several bridges in 2010, and Florence removed 5,500 padlocks on the Ponte Vecchio bridge in 2006. But love perseveres, as usually it's only a matter of time before they return.

Take an international trip with us now to see the locks of love!

Men and Women Agree: Marriage Is Still Relevant

Annie Scudder — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:50:46 PST

Just in time for Valentine's Day, we have some good news for old-fashioned romantics: marriage is still relevant. We partnered with Ask Men to survey thousands of men and women about their relationship goals, hoping to find out how they are changing and whether or not marriage is part of their love "end game." Despite the fact that marriage rates are declining in the US and people are putting off marriage until they are older, 78 percent of men and 87 percent of women we surveyed said they do want to tie the knot.

Attitudes are evolving, though. Most men and women would not get married right away if their partner got pregnant, and they also agree that cohabitation is good for a relationship. Although on these issues, men are more likely than women to take the traditional outlook. See a breakdown of all the results now, some of which will surprise you!

Count Your Roses to Decode Your Valentine's Hidden Message

Colleen Barrett — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:38:28 PST

As old superstitions fade and Emily Post-like etiquette evolves, you're probably not counting the number of roses or orchids or hydrangeas you received today (or, like most people, didn't). But the number of roses a man once gave a woman held hidden meanings, so check out what your Valentine either intentionally or, more likely, unintentionally told you today.

One rose: Love at first sight, or years later "you are still the one."
Two roses: Mutual love and affection . . . so you may owe him two roses!
Three roses: The traditional three-month anniversary gift also simply means "I love you."
Six roses: Infatuation, or "I want to be yours."
Nine roses: A big jump up from six, nine roses symbolize eternal love or "I want to be with you forever."
10 roses: A perfect 10 means "You are perfection."
12 roses: A dozen is like picking the best heart from a Sweetheart candy box, it means "Be Mine."
13 roses: Thirteen may be a baker's dozen, but not so in love. Its meaning is actually disputed: Teleflora says it means you'll be friends forever, but several other sources, like Love Letter Box, say it means you have a secret admirer.
15 roses: Does he have a reason to apologize? Because 15 roses means "I'm sorry." If not, take it as credit for future remorse.
20 roses: The red starts to get excessive around 20, and supposedly that means "Believe me, I am sincere toward you." Usually, sincerity does not need to be proved with quantity, but that's just me!

People send more than 20. See what they mean below.

Love Lyrics From Grammy Nominated Artists: Who Sings It?

Annie Scudder — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:00:21 PST

Tonight at the Grammys, sultry crooners and country singers will represent alongside rap, pop, and rock stars. Whatever the genre, the popular songs of these artists often share one theme: love. Get ready for the show by seeing if you can match the love lyric to the nominee.

Question 1 of 9

"You taste like whiskey when you kiss me/ Oh I'd give anything again to be your baby doll"

Cards to Say I Love You

Annie Scudder — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:19:14 PST

Often, a heartfelt card makes a more memorable gift than any expensive product you can find. For Valentine's Day, an anniversary, or just because, track down a creative card you can fill with your feelings. Click through for a stationery selection that will help you get your love across. Links to buy each card included!

Famous Women Talk Love and Sex in 2011

TresSugar — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:05:17 PST

It's been a whirlwind of a year in the world of love and sex. Whether it was Weinergate or the Kardashian's wedding drama, there was no shortage of controversy. But as 2011 draws to a close, we thought it was only appropriate to give you our favorite quotes about love and sex from strong female celebs. Here are the 20 quotes that made our "best of" cut!

Let It Snow: Romance in Winter

Annie Scudder — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 09:22:19 PST

The steamy days of Summer are long over, and Autumn gave us a chance to fall in love with crisp cozy weather. Now with holiday season in full force, the thick of Winter is on the horizon. Take a virtual walk through various Winter wonderlands with these seasonably appropriate romantic photos.

Love Lyrics From VMA-Nominated Ladies: Who Sings It?

Tara Block — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 09:50:35 PDT

The 2011 MTV Video Music Awards are tonight, and there are some strong female singers nominated this year. From the poppy to the mellow to the manic, these talented musicians aren't afraid to belt out lyrics about feeling romantic, being brokenhearted, and getting down and dirty. So test your love lyric know-how by taking this quiz on lyrics sung by the VMA-nominated ladies now!

Question 1 of 10

"'Cause you feel like paradise and I need a vacation tonight."

Group Therapy: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Tres Community — Tue, 10 May 2011 03:05:00 PDT

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!

I have been living in the same city my entire life and have been wanting to move for the past 5 years. Because of work, parents or exes, I have stayed. I am 28 years old and I want to move. This is the time for me to experience a new city and new opportunities. The only thing preventing me from moving is my current boyfriend. We have been together for 2 years and we have a great relationship. I love him so much! I do not want to move and be away from him! But my entire life I have always put others before me, and I have so many regrets. I don't want to have anymore regrets. I do not know what to do! Part of me feels selfish for wanting to move because I could be compromising our relationship. However, the other part of me thinks it is necessary to move. He wants me to go if that makes me happy but he's pretty pessimistic about long distance relationships.

The reason he cannot move right away is because he helps take care of his mom. He told me if I could help him find a job in NYC he would move. But right now his mom and job are holding him back, which I completely understand. Should I wait for him (what if he will never be "ready")? Should I go up there, work and make contacts to help him find a job? Or go up there and have the mentality "if it's meant to be than it will be?"

Another thing I could do is take a 6 month course there and come home afterwards. But what if I love it up there and decide to stay, doesn't that seem deceptive? Ugh, I don't know what to do! Someone please help!!

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously to Group Therapy for advice, and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.

Source: Flickr User Nestor's Blurrylife