8 Simple Things Happy Couples Do Every Day, According to Relationship Experts
These habits and routines can lead to relationship success—and they’re way simpler than you might be thinking.
Feb 13, 2020
You’re More Likely to Splurge on Your Dog Than Your Cat—Here’s Why
A recent study explains why you might be spending more for Fido than Fluffy.
Feb 6, 2020
This Is What It Means When Your Dog Puts Their Paw On You, According to an Expert
Turns out, it could be a sign of affection that translates into the three words that we long to hear.
Jan 16, 2020
Amazon Prime Has Free ‘Cat TV’ That You Can Stream for Your Pets
This week, I was introduced to the wonders of TV for cats.
Jan 16, 2020
How To KonMari Your Inbox, Relationships, and 6 More Things, According To Experts
We tapped a relationship expert and a professional organizer to share their advice on “tidying up” these tough areas.
Jan 9, 2020
Meet the Two Newest Dog Breeds Recognized by the American Kennel Club
Say hello to the Barbet and the Dogo Argentino.
Jan 5, 2020
Dogs Can Do Math, According to Recent Study
And they don't even need to be bribed with treats to do it.
Jan 5, 2020
11 Tweets That Captured What It’s Like Being Single in 2019
One can only tolerate so many dating profile photos of guys holding giant fish before throwing your phone in a lake.
Dec 31, 2019
Dachshunds in Holiday Outfits Gather for Christmas Sausage Dog Walk
What's cuter than a dachshund in a Christmas sweater?
Dec 26, 2019
These Photos Show a Prank War Between an Elf on the Shelf and Two Golden Retrievers
Elf on the Shelf is way cuter with dogs involved.
Dec 26, 2019
Apparently, Cats Love Climbing in Christmas Trees, and These Pictures Prove It
Cats climbing in Christmas trees takes the idea of a “cat tree” to a whole new level (perhaps literally).
Dec 20, 2019
Let Your Pet Share Your Bed—You Might Just Sleep Better
Apparently, co-sleeping with a furry friend goes a lot further than having a warm body to snuggle next to.
Dec 16, 2019
Be a Good Neighbor with Proper Christmas Light Etiquette
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.
Dec 4, 2019
Here’s One Way to Show Thanks to Your Community This Weekend
Weekend Projects
The power of gratitude cannot be overstated.
Nov 29, 2019
How to Be a Good Friend When Your Friend is Moving
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.
Nov 13, 2019
Your Cat Is As Loyal to You as a Dog, According to This Study
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.
Oct 28, 2019
Someone Has Built Luxury Homes for Hamsters
One of them is made out of a cabbage!!
Oct 12, 2019
This Travel Company Wants to Pay Your Dog as its Next ‘Furrfluencer’
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?
Oct 4, 2019
Winnebago’s First Pop-Top Camper Van Will Comfortably Fit Your Family of Four
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.
Sep 29, 2019
The Student’s Guide to (Mentally and Mindfully) Surviving Winter Break
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.
Sep 5, 2019
Spoil Your Pup on National Dog Day with Walks and Treats (Of Course)
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.
Aug 26, 2019
This Beagle-Shaped Airbnb Is Puptastic
Doggone it, why didn't we think of it?
Aug 21, 2019
We Need These Custom-Made Luxury Dog Retreats to Come in Human Sizes
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.
Aug 23, 2019
It’s Back to School Season: These are Our 7 Favorite Water Bottles for Kids
They'll be the talk of the playground.
Aug 13, 2019
How to Be a Good Friend When Your Friend Has a Baby
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.
Jun 26, 2019
99 Different Ways You Can Be a Better Neighbor
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.
May 28, 2019
Financial Infidelity Is a Common Relationship Problem—Here’s How to Deal With It
What to do when your partner is lying about money.
May 13, 2019
Pet Prenups Can Save You from Future Heartbreak
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.
May 6, 2019
Alice, My Neighbor Likes To Walk Around Naked
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.
May 4, 2019
Alice, Should I Let My Friend (& Her BABY!) Move In With Me?
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.
May 4, 2019
Alice, My House Guest Just Won’t Leave
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.
May 4, 2019
Alice, My Child’s Crying is Disturbing Our Upstairs Neighbor
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.
May 4, 2019
The Bedtime Rules & Rituals that Happy Couples Swear By
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.
May 3, 2019
Ami & Chaz’s Foxy & Laid-Back Backyard Bluegrass Bash
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.
May 3, 2019
Ashley & Ca’Ron’s Simple and Sweet Elopement
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.
May 3, 2019
Angie & Seth’s NYC Elopement, With a Katz’s Deli Reception for Two
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.
May 3, 2019
Christian & Trey’s Beachy, Peachy Key West Sailboat Wedding
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.
May 3, 2019
James & Pam’s “Punk Rock, With Tacos” DIY Backyard Bash in California
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.
May 3, 2019
When Should You Get “Financially Naked” With a Partner?
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.
May 3, 2019
(A)social Media: Avoid These 5 Modern Friendship Pitfalls
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?
May 3, 2019
The 7 Unexpected Benefits of Working Out With Friends
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.
May 3, 2019
An Art Deco Wedding Inspired by Architecture and Old Hollywood (And the Best First Dance You’ve Ever Seen)
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.
May 3, 2019
Alice, My Fiancé and I Are Moving in Together and It’s Stressing Us Out
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.
May 3, 2019
Change of Plans: Cancelling a Big, Fancy Wedding for a Low-Stress Boston Elopement
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.
May 3, 2019
How To Make IRL Friends Online If You’re New in Town
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?
May 3, 2019
There’s an App for That: Roommate Dramas That Can Be Avoided With Your Phone
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.
May 3, 2019
Alice, My Brother is a Smelly Houseguest
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).
May 3, 2019
Why You Should Keep a “No-Reason” Group Text Going With Your Best Friends
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.
May 3, 2019
A Breezy, Beachside Bash, Fused Flawlessly With Nigerian Wedding Traditions
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.
May 3, 2019
Wedding With a View: Intimate Rooftop Nuptials (With a Tiny Guest List) in New York City
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.
May 3, 2019
This Tinder Couple Got Married in the Mountains, With Just Two Guests On Top of Two Feet of Fresh Utah Snow
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.
May 3, 2019
How Not to Let Gloomy Days Bring You Down
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.
May 3, 2019
Vintage-Lovers Will Adore this Backyard Wedding
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.
May 3, 2019
A Beautiful (And Very Brooklyn) Loft Wedding
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.
May 3, 2019
Alice, I Don’t Want My Friend to Stay in My House While I’m Away
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.
May 3, 2019
The Mega List of Things to Do Together in Bed (That Have Nothing to Do With Sex or TV)
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.
May 3, 2019
Moving in Together? Five Tips from an Advice Columnist Who’s Heard It All
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.
May 3, 2019
5 Secrets of People Who Give the Best Compliments
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.
May 3, 2019
HGTV Announced A New Show About Redecorating After A Breakup
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.
May 3, 2019
Decluttering Emotional Attachments: Should I Keep My Mother’s Paintings?
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.
Apr 30, 2019
Is Your Apartment Relationship-Ready? 5 Ways to Make Sure
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.
Apr 30, 2019
Is Sharing Online Real Estate Listings the New Couple’s Therapy?
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.
Apr 30, 2019
6 Confidence-Boosting Tips to Remember The Next Time You Need to Be More Assertive
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.
Apr 2, 2019
6 Ways Introverts Want to Be Celebrated This National Introverts Week
Here are some ways to honor the powerful silent types in your life this week—especially if that person is you.
Mar 17, 2019
Embrace the Ease of a “Day-of” Party (So You Can See Your Friends More)
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.
Feb 25, 2019
Here’s What Every Love Language Is Like at Home
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?
Feb 14, 2019
5 Things Happy Couples Always Do on Valentine’s Day
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.
Feb 13, 2019
10 Essential IKEA Finds for Anyone Who Lives with Roommates
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.
Jul 26, 2018
7 Things in My Space I Need to Thank My Dad For
His preparedness has been passed down to me, one pack of emergency hand warmers at a time.
Jun 17, 2018
How to Take Care of Yourself When Father’s Day Is Hard
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.
Jun 16, 2018
10 Smart, Introspective Questions to Ask Your Partner at the Dinner Table
“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.
Jun 9, 2018
Party of Two: The Best 2-Player Board Games for Couples to Play at Home Together
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.
May 24, 2018