Relationships

We're no less stressed about the current state of the world, but we're comforted.

The federal agency suggests that people “treat pets as you would other human family members."

Social distancing is awkward.

You can still find ways to make things romantic, fun, and refreshing even when every night is at-home date night.

Want to get real food for your dog (read: no kibble!) sent to you through the mail? You can!

Your friends’ inboxes are about to get a whole lot happier.

Until you can visit these royal homes physically, then virtually visiting will have to do.

Pet owners are getting creative during this uncertain time.

They make well-designed products for your favorite felines.

You can even add autumn leaves.

As many of us are only finding out now, working from home isn’t easy. Some might say it’s even ruff.

Marco Polo has given me a way to hold special people close in my life regardless of our physical distance.

We smell some clean dogs in our future!

This couple used a pair of sweatpants stuffed with a duvet cover and a heating mat, propped up on the couch to make the fake lap.

And if guests fall in love with a dog, they can adopt it.

The matching sugar and creamer pots feature ceramic mice.

This two-story space is filled with natural finishes and a neutral color palette.

While you probably already know that owning a dog can teach children responsibility, it turns out that dogs can motivate kids to read for longer periods, too.

One dog dominates the map.

We can't help treating our dogs like royalty.

Is it about love or just food?

Items range from comfy beds, novelty toys, and outfits so adorable we want a matching set.

Take this as an antidote to all those earnest partner appreciation posts.

It’s described as “the world’s first non-ugly cat furniture.”

That's cold.

These habits and routines can lead to relationship success—and they’re way simpler than you might be thinking.

A recent study explains why you might be spending more for Fido than Fluffy.

Turns out, it could be a sign of affection that translates into the three words that we long to hear.

This week, I was introduced to the wonders of TV for cats.

We tapped a relationship expert and a professional organizer to share their advice on “tidying up” these tough areas.

Say hello to the Barbet and the Dogo Argentino.

And they don't even need to be bribed with treats to do it.

One can only tolerate so many dating profile photos of guys holding giant fish before throwing your phone in a lake.

What's cuter than a dachshund in a Christmas sweater?

Elf on the Shelf is way cuter with dogs involved.

Cats climbing in Christmas trees takes the idea of a “cat tree” to a whole new level (perhaps literally).

Apparently, co-sleeping with a furry friend goes a lot further than having a warm body to snuggle next to.

Good news: It’s now OK to start putting up your holiday decorations. Both etiquette experts and your neighbors agree that the day after Thanksgiving (also known as Black Friday and “Blow Your Paycheck Day”) is the first day that the sight of holiday lights doesn’t throw them into an “OMG-it’s-not-Christmas-yet” tizzy. But do you know when to take them down? We’ve got the answer, plus a few other holiday light etiquette tips, when you read more.

The power of gratitude cannot be overstated.

Being there for someone when they move is one of those instances when love and care creates a lasting memory and an imprint of compassion on a friend's heart.

Doggo devotees are unlikely to relinquish the rights to refer to their furry companions as “man’s best friend,” but a group of Oregon researchers gathered evidence that suggests cats are equally faithful.

One of them is made out of a cabbage!!

The truth is that the cost of dog ownership averages somewhere between $1,400 and $4,300 annually, which is a substantial amount for family members that can’t support themselves or contribute to household expenses…or can they?

The Solis, coming out in 2020, will be one of the first camper vans on the market that provides comfortable sleeping space for four people.

The first few days of winter break are a welcome vacation from final exams, but beyond that? It's not always all it's cracked up to be—here's how to get through the bad parts.

Canine lovers don’t need an excuse to smother their animal besties in affection, belly rubs and doggie treats. That’s pretty much done on a daily basis due to dogs’ tendency to be irresistible and all-around awesome creatures. However, since it’s officially National Dog Day, more doggo spoiling activities are in order so humans listen up and brace yourselves for endless hours of fetch and more.

Doggone it, why didn't we think of it?

Doesn't every good dog deserve a stylish abode, especially with National Dog Day right around the corner? Well, get ready for some serious inspo: these dog houses are designed with an expert attention to detail and execution of good taste.

They'll be the talk of the playground.

Here are a few ways to bolster a friend as they're just beginning to navigate a whole new world—whether it's their first baby or their fifth.

There's more than one way to create a home that feels comfortable and content—and a lot of it happens outside your own four walls.

What to do when your partner is lying about money.

While divorce rates have dropped slightly to 39 percent compared to when they were once closer to 50 percent, that is sure is still a high likelihood of a marriage ending. As a result, some millennials have become privy to this bleak forecast for their relationships, which explains the increase with them creating prenups with their partners. In fact, some people are signing contracts to address one issue specifically—with pet-nups.Yes, you read that right.

Dear Alice, Hope you can help me with this one because it’s getting awkward. My apartment’s kitchen windows look out onto another building and one of the tenants there likes to walk around his living room naked. I know because he forgets to shut his drapes most of the time. I’m always humiliated when it happens, but he doesn’t seem to learn his lesson and wear a robe.

Dear Alice, Thanks, Stuck between a friend and a large space Dear Stuck, I think you already know what to do. You’re clearly not looking for a roommate, even your best friend. Your concerns about privacy and her lifestyle are valid, but whatever your reasons, you don’t need to justify why you don’t want to let a grown woman and her baby share your space.

Dear Alice, My cousin is moving to my city and I made the mistake of inviting her to stay on my couch while she is looking for an apartment. I thought this would take a few weeks, max. So far, it’s been a month and it doesn’t seem like she’s making very much progress on her own place. She IS trying, but her budget is very limited (which I only found out once she arrived) and so she’s having a hard time finding something she can afford. It’s not about money.

Dear Alice, I am living with my family in a high-rise apartment. I am new to this country, Germany. My child is three-years-old and I am having trouble getting him adjusted to this new environment, but he is doing much better than in the beginning. Our upstairs tenants have a problem with my kid crying as it is loud and echoing at times. This happens especially when my son is inside the bathroom, as it is small and opposite to the bedroom.

The bedroom is a sacred space for a relationship, but it’s about more than just a good mattress, tranquil wall color and comfortable sheets. You need also to keep consistent bedtime habits with your partner–the kind that almost dare you not to go to bed in total bliss. Here are four bedtime rules & rituals that happy couples swear by: Going to bed together is a sacred time, and a great opportunity for couples to connect and download their days.

Bride & Groom: Ami & Chaz Wedding Date: August 15, 2015 Venue: Ami’s parents’ home in Pennsylvania Number of guests: 190 When the guest list for your wedding is nearly 200 people, you have to get a little creative with the details if you want to stay on budget. That’s what inspired Ami, a wedding floral designer, and her now-husband Chaz to craft a thrifty and mismatched bash in her parents’ backyard near Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Bride & Groom: Ashley & Ca’Ron Wedding Date: June 12, 2014 Venue: Maison La Vigne Bed & Breakfast in Hapeville, Georgia Number of guests: 6 “Don’t be afraid to go small.” That’s bride Ashley’s best piece of advice for future couples looking to tie the knot with a sweet and simple ceremony.

Bride & Groom: Angie & Seth Wedding Date: February 25, 2016 Venue: The NoMad Hotel, Katz’s Deli, and all over NYC Number of guests: None! It was just the two of us. I’m not really sure if this New York City elopement was the first wedding reception ever held at the famous Katz’s Delicatessen, but it is certainly the best one. Angie and Seth are a charming couple who, after 16 years of dating, knew exactly what they wanted out of their wedding day: Simplicity.

Bride & Groom: Christian & Trey Wedding Date: March 15, 2016 Venue: Smathers Beach, Key West, Florida Number of guests: 20 When searching for a wedding venue, you don’t have to limit yourself to ballrooms. Or any room, really. If what you’re after is a reception on a sailboat – complete with a tiered cake and an open bar – somewhere off the coast of Florida with 20 of your closest people, then just know… it’s totally an option.

Bride & Groom: Pam & James Wedding Date: August 8, 2015 Venue: Our friend Andy’s backyard in Santa Ana, California Number of guests: 50 This fun-loving New York couple sure know how to throw a party. With the help of their family and friends (who came together quite literally from coast to coast), they planned, gardened, lit and crafted the intimate and laid-back backyard wedding of their dreams.

In the course of a relationship, there are many milestones. Some are for celebrating, some for deliberating, and there are others that you cross just in order to stay in step on your path to domestic bliss. Deciding to go Dutch on the third date is one of the latter. So is the (much bigger, tougher) decision to start a joint bank account. But somewhere in between splitting dinner and combining paychecks, you should make it a point to hit another milestone with your partner: Getting naked.

It’s never been easier to connect with people than it is right now. Social networks reach across the globe in seconds, and there’s a video phone in every person’s pocket, as if we’re all living in an episode of Star Trek. But for all the things that modern technology has done to make it easier to make and stay friends, there are just as many pitfalls to friendship in the digital era. How many friends do you have? A few hundred? A few thousand?