How to Make Love a Decision

This story below is one of those stories that gets about on the interwebs. I received it in my email recently from a friend and tried to find the original writer. It is written by Michael D. Hargrove and titled "Don't Hope, Friend.... Decide!" for the book "A 5th Portion of Chicken Soup for the Soul".

I also found that in their book, How to Make Love Everyday... Guaranteed, Peter Crook and June Crook used the story to illustrate the benefits of public displays of affection in building and sustaining love and romance in a long term relationship, and even it works in building your relationship with your children. I hope it touches you as it did me.

While waiting to pick up a friend at the airport in Portland, Oregon, I had one of those life-changing experiences that you hear other people talk about — the kind that sneaks up on you unexpectedly. This one occurred a mere two feet away from me.

Straining to locate my friend among the passengers alighting through the jet way, I noticed a man coming toward me carrying two light bags. He stopped right next to me to greet his family.

First he motioned to his youngest son (maybe six years old) as he laid down his bags. They gave each other a long, loving hug. As they separated enough to look in each other’s face, I heard the father say, “It’s so good to see you, son. I missed you so much!” His son smiled somewhat shyly, averted his eyes and replied softly, “Me, too, Dad!”

Pregnant Kate Middleton Glows in Peach

It really seems like height helps a woman carry a pregnancy better. Kate Middleton continues to look great with her bump as she attends official engagement almost 7 months into her pregnancy. And some reports are indicating that it may really be a boy :)

10 Things Every Mom Needs To Know

This is from the president himself, or the Kid President if you will. This little guy is just so cute and hilarious in his deliveries, love him. Happy mother's day in advance to all the moms in the house. This is the time to remember and honor moms, and believe me, mothers rock!

Kid President's 10 Things Every Mom Needs To Know
(on behalf of all kids everywhere)

1. Put down the phone (unless your kid is named "Phone").

2. Don't name your kid "Phone."

3. We love you. Just sometimes, we don't know how to say it.

4. Stop cleaning.

5. Mom upside-down is Wow.

6. Let's cool it on the meatloaf.

7. Thank you for cleaning up all the poop.

8. Have fun!

9. Hug more. Shout less.

10. The secret to changing the world is -- moms.

4 Bedtime Habits That May Be Killing Your Sex Life

by Shelley Emling

Finding a longtime couple who complains about too much hot sex is about as unusual as coming across an ice cube in the Sahara. For many, sex can grow a bit mundane after so many years with the same person. But all is not lost. You, too, can revitalize your sex life just by changing even a few of your everyday habits. Having been married for 22 years, I speak from experience. I also learned a few things by reaching out to Huff/Post50 contributor Ken Solin,who’s also AARP’s dating expert.

“If you’re sex life is on auto-pilot that may mean you’re not being fully present when you’re making love with your partner. The same foreplay, position and orgasms are boring after a while,” he said. “While it does require some amount of thought, it’s helpful to try to make love at least a little differently each time. Change the foreplay menu. Avoid monotony by making love in new positions. The words ‘boring’ and ‘sex’ don’t ever belong in the same sentence.”

For additional help, here are four bedtime habits that may be killing your sex life. Have your own ideas? Let us know in comments.

Michelle Obama Answers - What's Your Ideal Mother's Day?

Michelle Obama, after signing copies of her new book, American Grown, in a Washington D.C. bookstore, revealed  to TODAY that she's blissfully planning a quiet Sunday. “I mean, like any mother, I get to sleep in, or for me, it's wake up when I feel like it.”

She says the rest of the day will consist of a workout, spending time with her mom, and deciding what’s for dinner. “My mom and I pick our meal. So we decide what we want to eat that day. So it's our choice.” Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama's mom lives with them in the White House, and I'm guessing that like most mothers around the world, they rarely get to choose what's on the family menu. So this would surely be a treat :)

Asked to finish the sentence, “My mother taught me…,” Michelle Obama replies. “What my mom taught me and continues to teach me is patience and good humor and common sense and openness. You know, my mom is such a good listener. And she has taught me that one of the best things I can do for my daughters is to listen, not talk or always give advice, but to be there with an open ear and a warm hug and an understanding heart because I still find myself going up to my mom's room and just talking to her for hours about any and everything. And that relationship keeps me whole, not just here as first lady in the White House but it has sustained me throughout my entire life. And if I could be half that mother for my girls, then I will have done a good thing.”

That's a great relationship she has with her mom, and I totally agree with her!

Dear Myne - I am 30 and Single and Losing Faith

I gave my life to Jesus in my final year in school 2007, and since than I’ve stayed with God faithfully. I am born again and serving God faithfully, I judge him faithful who has kept me this far. Am 30 years old, single and never been married. Every year of my life men come in and out of my life, they come in batches asking my hand in marriage but after praying to God to choose the best for me none will eventually marry me (reason that I refuse to have sex with them that’s for some, while others won’t say why they left).

I really want to keep myself till my wedding night though I am no longer a virgin (lost it in school before i gave my live to Christ). I am tired because this challenge is really depressing me and is affecting my walk with God seriously. I don’t want this batch upon batches of suitors again, I just want my own HUSBAND to come. Please pray for me I am really loosing hope.

What else can I do to keep hope and faith alive?

Comedienne Princess Weds Adeshola Jeremiah

Comedienne Damilola Adekoya, popularly known as Princess, celebrated her marriage to Adeshola Jeremiah recently. This is following their registry wedding which held about a month ago. I heard she also said, kinda like JayZ, that he saved her. I think it shows because she looks sparkly happy in her non-traditional blue and silver gown. I wish them the best of married life :)

10 Tips For Effective Anger Management in Relationships

by Dr. Susan Heitler

In relationships, we all have our fights, and having the occasional heated debate with your significant other is even healthy. But when these fights cross into full-blown blow-ups, the arguments can quickly get out of hand. Follow these 10 tips for effective anger management if you want to enjoy a lasting, loving relationship.

1. Know when to make an exit. Remove yourself from a situation you can’t handle. If you can’t gracefully leave the room, gracefully change the topic.

2. Exit earlier than you think you need to. Exit when your anger is at a level three on a scale up to 10. By the time you’re up over level four, exits will become increasingly difficult. Self-righteous indignation will propel you to keep trying to prove your point and will make your wants seem all-important. (As a friend of mine once put it, “My anger makes what I want feel holy and what you want is totally insignificant.”)

3. Change your focus. Phew. You’ve separated yourself from that situation you couldn’t handle. Now what? Focus on something other than what you were mad about. Avoid further thoughts about the person.

4. Evoke peace and laughter. Find something to think about that evokes calm images or even laughter. Close your eyes and picture yourself on a beach.

Date Night - Quansah For Tsemaye Binitie

Ojy Okpe and Bawo

5th + Quansah along with designer, Tsemaye Binite celebrated the unveiling of his debut bridal collection at Didi Museum recently. The audience was mostly female fashion lovers and admirers of the designer's work, but some came along with their SOs, and others just with friends or family. Enjoy...

Magazine Covers I'm Loving - Funmi Iyanda on Genevieve

Talk show host, Funmi Iyanda is on the cover of the latest issue of Genevieve Magazine and inside, she discusses her humanitarian work, personal style and her life philosophy. She also talks about being outspoken, raising awareness about Nigeria’s inequalities and refusing to marry. That should be interesting :)