Relationships

A lot of people use their workout sessions as a chance to get some much-needed alone time, but getting fit with a friend—even just once in awhile—might give you a quick boost to better your workouts. Here’s why: Workouts with friends have to be scheduled in advance, so already you’re making your workout plans more concrete than when you fly solo. Also, it’s a lot more difficult, mentally, to cancel on a workout when it means flaking out on a friend.

Bride & Groom: Jacqueline Straughan (Jax) & Erik Meiselman Wedding Date: July 18, 2015 Venue: Culver Hotel, Culver City, CA Number of Guests: 65+ When a professional ballet dancer and her film-industry beau get married, you just know the whole bash is going to be glamorous. With clever nods to old Hollywood, lots and lots of Art Deco details and a professionally-choreographed first dance, this wedding sure was a stunner.

Dear Alice, Signed, Normally-Content-But-Lately-Harried Dear Harried, Moving in together is a big step and your mutual anxiety is normal and not necessarily unfounded. Even if you’ve been dating a long time, the transition to cohabitating can be a fraught one as you both adjust to sharing space, having less privacy, and figuring out new routines together. Not that the change doesn’t bring about lots of positive, fun things, too, but some amount of initial conflict is inevitable.

Bride & Groom: Caitlin & Ryan Wedding Date: July 10, 2014 Venue: Boston City Hall, XV Beacon Hotel, and all around downtown Boston. Number of guests: Zero! (Well, one counting our wedding photographer.) It’s never too late to make a change of plans. After trying to plan a big wedding for family and friends back home in Maryland, these two lovebirds decided it wasn’t for them and eloped in the city they met and fell in love in, Boston. The decision wasn’t an easy one.

Moving to a new city can be daunting, especially when you don’t know anyone. It’s stressful enough to pack up your entire life and settle into a new apartment, and knowing that once you’re done unpacking you’ll have to put yourself out there to meet new people doesn’t exactly help. Bar hopping, art classes and the like are all ways to make new friends, but what if you don’t feel comfortable approaching strangers?

Passive aggressive refrigerator notes. Arguments about how to split the utility bill. Dust bunnies that Just. Keep. Growing. These are just a few everyday scenarios that illustrate the ways in which living with roommates can be challenging (to say the least), whether those sharing the space are best friends or total strangers. Thankfully, tech can help.

Dear Alice, Recently, my brother and his girlfriend came rip-roaring through town on a summer trip across the US. I was happy to provide them access to a comfy bed, laundry machines and a regular shower. My brother, who smelled musky, did not shower the first day, and on the second day, I told him that he smelled a little ripe and ought to shower (perhaps a bit blunt).

Texting may seem impersonal at times, but for many of us it’s the easiest way to stay in touch with the people we care about most of the time. And if you’re part of a tight-knit group of friends, being a part of a group text from time to time is pretty much inevitable. Those group texts don’t have to be for specific events (like planning a party for someone) — actually, being in a long-term, no-reason group chat with your friends can have some awesome benefits.

Bride & Groom: Kristen & Donald Wedding Date: April 16, 2016 Venue: Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms, SC Number of guests: 175-200 There’s a reason we love covering weddings on Apartment Therapy: When you do them right, weddings can reflect so much about you (just like a home). They’re a reflection of your style and taste, but also—perhaps more importantly—your family and your culture.

Bride & Groom: Katharina & Ralf Wedding Date: August 13, 2015 Venue: 620 Loft and Garden, New York Number of guests: 14 An intimate wedding day doesn’t have to skimp on the glamour. In fact, a small guest list makes hosting a grand, elegant day just a tiny bit easier (on your stress levels and on your wallet). Sold on the idea? Then do I have the wedding inspiration for you: A seriously chic—and tiny—wedding that took place one late summer afternoon on a Manhattan rooftop.

Bride & Groom: Heather & Ryan Wedding Date: January 20, 2016 Venue: Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah Number of guests: 6, if you include the couple and two photographers For some couples, the walk down the aisle is more of an adventurous tandem leap. Take Heather and Ryan, for instance. For a couple who love camping and the outdoors, and who first met on the dating app Tinder (“I think that shocks a lot of people!,” Heather said), a basic ballroom wedding just wouldn’t do.

Every year, the holidays come and go, and come January 2nd, everything tends to feel a little more empty than usual. We spend so much of the lead-up to the holidays getting into the spirit, talking about the things we’re thankful for, spending time with our loved ones and basking in the magic of the season that when it’s all over, it can definitely get you down.

Bride & Groom: Lauren & Kevin Wedding Date: August 2, 2015 Venue: Lauren’s parents’ backyard! Number of guests: 50 Vintage-style lovers, do I have a treat for you. Here’s a lovely little wedding—just 50 guests—that came together as a family affair.

Bride & Groom: Margarita Passione + Byron Zinonos Wedding Date: September 3, 2016 Venue: Greenpoint Loft in Brooklyn, NY Number of guests: 120 This couple of high school friends turned into lovebirds some (ten-ish) years later—safe to say they knew each other pretty well by the time they decided to get married in Brooklyn last year.

I’m going out of town, and a mutual friend wants to spend the week at my house with her family while I’m gone. How do I say no? This one probably seems harder than it is, but: Just say no. (“I’m actually not comfortable with that right now.”) It’s your home and you’re not required to share it with people just because you’re not there.

Let’s preface this by stating clearly that there is absolutely nothing wrong with sex or TV. They’re both fantastic when enjoyed with a loving partner (or by yourself). But whether your relationship is brand new or you’ve been together so long you’re inadvertently starting to dress the same, building intimacy as a couple is important. And real intimacy, well, that can sometimes take more than just a little Netflix and chill.

It’s a big, exciting step in a relationship, but moving in with a partner can also be a minefield of new complications. Just ask Meredith Goldstein, the Boston Globe’s Love Letters columnist who’s been answering readers’ relationship questions with a familiar warmth and comedic candor since 2009.

Whether it’s regarding an outfit, someone’s home, or a job well done, a good compliment can leave a big—and lasting—impression on its recipient. That’s why knowing how to give a stellar compliment is a skill that we can all stand to benefit from. Thankfully, we have Myka Meier, a former member of The Queen’s Household and the current etiquette expert behind Beaumont Etiquette to call upon for help.

Sometimes, you’re lucky to learn that your relationship is incompatible early on and can detach your ex from the space you shared. However, many times there are years of memories created within those four walls, filled with design and decor decisions that represented you as a couple. Well, f*ck that. And that’s where HGTV’s new show “Unspouse My House” comes in. HGTV just announced that they will be welcoming the new renovation series as of late 2019.

Q: I was wondering whether you would kindly give me some advice. I’m sure my problem is common to many people, and yet it is not really addressed on the internet anywhere. My problem is that after my mum died two years ago, I, as only child, had to deal with all her stuff (most of it I have donated). However I am confused emotionally about her framed finished paintings she did – I haven’t been able to get rid of them although I don’t think I want them.

You may be ready for a relationship, but what about your apartment? If dating is on your mind more than ever, it may be a good time to make some home improvements. You don’t need to do much to turn your home into a date-friendly abode; a few simple changes can make a huge difference. From bedding upgrades to organizational changes, here’s how to make your apartment more relationship-ready.

Craftsman style bungalows, that’s how it all started for me and my husband. He’s more of a Greek Revivalist, and I’m more of a Queen Anne Victorian, but early on in our relationship we realized that the Arts & Crafts movement was our sweet spot. A common ground for daydreaming about the future and visualizing what style of roots we might put down together.

Standing your ground isn’t always easy. No matter how confident you feel about something, being openly assertive with others when communicating your needs is an entirely different beast. So we called on Antonia Di Leo, licensed therapist and clinical director of Andrea Cornell Family Therapy for advice on how to be more assertive from day-to-day.

Here are some ways to honor the powerful silent types in your life this week—especially if that person is you.

Life is stressful enough as it is—so make this the weekend you stop putting unnecessary pressure on yourself when it comes to hosting. Does your house need to be impeccably clean with a three-course dinner planned and a carefully crafted evite in order to have a good time? No. Is it easy to get swept up in appearances and pretend it does? Absolutely.

Everyone shows love differently. The Five Love Languages, developed by counselor and author Gary Chapman, sum up the most common ways we give and receive love. Chapman’s theory is that every person has a primary “language” for loving, which is how they naturally show their affection to the people closest to them. Curious how your roomie or partner’s love language comes out at home?

Whether you’re in a long-term relationship or newly coupled, Valentine’s Day is all about celebrating you and your partner’s unique relationship. And while that can make picking out a good V-Day gift tough sometimes, it also means that there’s a whole day devoted to celebrating all the special things you and your partner do for each other on a daily basis.

Having roommates isn’t always easy. For every good thing you share (a.k.a. rent, bills, groceries, etc.) there’s usually something a little more difficult (i.e. space and storage) to divvy up. Thankfully, IKEA knows the roomie struggle is real. The super stylish and affordable retailer offers tons of roommate-friendly solutions—think: Furnishings that are lockable and dividable—to help make sharing and sorting household stuff easier.

His preparedness has been passed down to me, one pack of emergency hand warmers at a time.

It's natural for your heart to hurt on days like this, whether your father has died, or you feel disconnected or estranged from him.

“How was your day?” Every couple sharing an evening meal together has asked this question. It’s a fine question; you care about each other, after all, and are genuinely interested in what happened that day! But sometimes, especially for couples who’ve been together a long time, dinner conversations can settle into the same grooves night after night — work talk, complaining about the subway, what’s new with the kids.

This might be the homebody in me talking, but I happen to think date night at home is better than date night out in nearly every way. The drinks are cheaper. The clothes are comfier. And, if you have the right game, it can be a really fun night for you and your love to get competitive and cuddly all at once. Based on recommendations from Amazon, Board Game Geek, Reddit’s /r/boardgames and my own experience, here are some of the best two-player games for couples to play on their own.

In their new book, Crystal Muse: Everyday Rituals to Tune Into the Real You, Heather Askinosie and Timmi Jandro of Energy Muse offer up a variety of rituals to help you root, restore and revive. And while most of the book focuses on crystal rituals, they do include a quick primer on how to make sure your bedroom isn’t killing your love vibes. If you’re looking for more romance in your life, you should be mindful of these feng shui “love killers” in your life.

I asked a woman out to dinner, to a place I’d been wanting to try. As is often the case with New York dates, we began talking logistics. The IKEA closest to me is a trek from my apartment. Hopping in a cab feels unadventurous when the Brooklyn behemoth painstakingly made sure it’s accessible by ferry. Without knowing this woman long enough to tempt a Gilligan’s Island-level fate, we chose the next best option: riding our bikes.

Whether you make reservations for romantic candlelit dinners, have plans to use your hoarded bath bomb for a luxurious bath for one, or you turn your nose up at the insufferable commercial appropriation of a holiday you loathe, Valentine’s Day might cause you to consider how you express your affection to those you love. Asking your partner, your child, your friends, and other loved ones one simple question can give you insight about how to make them feel loved and special all year long.

“There’s a pot pie in the oven made by a guy named Cookie Puss, who works at the hardware store. It’s 7 degrees outside. We have plastic hanging over the kitchen doorway to block the dust from the sander. There’s beer, and Kid Rock on the radio. We make Pigpen look clean. It’s our Detroit Valentine’s day.

Breakups are hard. Scratch that. Breakups are awful. Not only are you faced with the grief of the loss of a partner, you’re left with all the mementos of the relationship—photos and other visual reminders—to figure out what to do with. But what to do when the reminders of your failed relationship are still relevant to other people, most specifically, children?

When my husband and I got married four years ago, a friend of mine who had already celebrated several wedding anniversaries gave me one piece of unsolicited advice: Sometimes you’re going to eat dinner in silence — and you both should be okay with that. It’s not like we had never eaten in silence (or near silence) before. We had already been dating for many years and had hundreds (thousands?) of meals together.

Hopeless romanticism aside, I’ll be the first to admit that true love doesn’t always look like it does in the movies. (Just ask how much my husband hates it when I finish his sentences… even though that’s really a sign of how perfect we are for each other, obviously.

According to scientists, every 18 seconds, somewhere in the world, someone is leaning over to a semi-stranger and stage-whispering “You know, you can make yogurt in your Instant Pot.” It seems like we’re all in agreement that the Instant Pot does everything. It can make tender, juicy roasts; it can make perfectly poached eggs; and, if it had been asked, it would probably have found a way to avoid last weekend’s government shutdown.

Dating can be a weird experience. Meeting people is a challenge, sometimes dates you’re excited for turn out to be duds, and every once in a while you meet someone and it’s love at first sight. Not unlike shopping for the perfect furniture for your home—sometimes you have to search the internet for your dream sofa, and other times you walk into a store and it’s right there waiting for you.

Close your eyes and think back to the best moments of your youth—a lot of them probably involve sleepovers with your best friends growing up, right? From big sleepover parties that involved multiple pizzas and dozens of sleeping bags on the living room floor to the one-on-one BFF moments where you stayed up all night whispering about inside jokes, sleepovers defined so much of our time from childhood to young adulthood… and then, well, we grew up.

Date night doesn't need to break the bank—with these ideas, you can spend quality time together without actually spending much of anything, and there's something for everyone.

How do you and your honey handle decor disagreements? Do you and your partner quibble over furniture placement? Does clutter cause arguments? Designing a home can be a challenge. But trying to design one with another person — your romantic partner — can lead to turmoil. We asked couples to confess their biggest decor disagreement…and the outcome. You might find an answer to your own design dilemma in their stories below.

Every week, it feels like Monday through Friday takes forever. Then when the weekend gets here, it whizzes by so fast it’s like it never even happened. You spend the whole week working, maybe go out on Saturday night, and then before you know it, it’s Sunday evening and it’s time to go to sleep and do it all over again. That’s why, for many people, it’s important to make every Sunday a good one—whether that means doing something fun, or being super productive.

With Valentine’s Day on the brain, love is all flowers and candy. But the truth is that relationships are hard work. The most trying point for many of them is the moment you decide to move in together. We tapped relationship expert Dr.

With Valentine’s Day on the brain, love is all flowers and candy. But we all know that the truth is that relationships are hard work. The most trying point for many of them is the moment you decide to move in together. We tapped relationship expert Dr. Kathrine Bejanyan to give us a run-down of some of the issues she’s witnessed as a professional counselor, and how you can avoid the pitfalls of living together before you’re ready.

Book clubs are great because they make you read more and hold you accountable for doing so (no one wants to show up to a book club meeting when they haven’t actually read the book up for discussion) and they also give you an excuse to see friends more often (and for something meaningful, too). But if you lead a busy life and don’t have time to devote to reading novels all the time, a book club can be a lot to handle on top of all your work and other activities and responsibilities.

So… it’s not date night and you don’t have any major plans, but that doesn’t mean you have to be relegated to a night of watching Netflix on the couch. If you and your partner are bored of the same TV routine, there are plenty of little ways to switch it up without leaving—or straying far from—home, or putting in too much effort when you’re already tired from a long day. Need some suggestions? Here are 10 you can try tonight.