Many may consider taking a break from a relationship a major occurrence. But whether you need to take a step back to decide what you really want, open your partners’ eyes to a serious wrong doing or just to have some breathing space to focus on yourself, sometimes taking a break can be the right move for you. Occasionally in a relationship you discover things that you wish you hadn’t and are unsure whether you can forgive them. Other times you can feel neglected, disrespected or just trapped. There are many reasons/situations that people choose to follow this road. Taking a break can be an excellent way to assess your partnership and establish whether it is something you desire to persist in the future.
Taking a break could be the occurrence that your relationship requires to endure and can regularly bring you closer when the choice is made to reunite. Keep in mind that your partner may not react well to the suggestion of a break from each other. Your partner may get angry, upset or even give you the cold shoulder. There is no guarantee that they will want to talk about it or accept your decision. Here are a few tips to help you when considering to take a break in your relationship.
Discuss Why - Firstly, discuss with your partner why you feel that you need to do this. Breaks can often be seen as an end. Assure your partner that you have not made a decision yet and need this time to decide what it is you really want.
Set Ground Rules - Ground rules are important to any break within a relationship. If something occurs during this time that you are not accepting of, you cannot hold it against your partner if they did not know the guidelines of your break. In order for a break to work both parties must agree to the rules. I.e. Are you aloud to date other people? It is important to discuss what is and isn't acceptable during this time apart.
Decide Time Frame - When agreeing to a break, establish a time that you will regroup to discuss your decision. If you are not sure how long you will need, make an estimation and inform your partner that you may need more time than this.
Keep in Contact - Just because you are taking a break from each other does not mean that you cannot have any contact at all with your partner. It is important to keep the lines of communication open. Taking a break does not mean shutting each other out and/or ignoring your partner.
Expect the Unexpected - Even if it is you that initiates the break to begin with, it is important to remember that this time apart can also change how your partner feels and what your partner may want. A break goes both ways and either of you can end the break or the relationship at any time.
At the end of the day, it is you who has to decide what you want and if you can be open to second chances, trust and/or forgiveness. Seek advise so that you feel less alone, but do not take others opinions on as your own. You are the one who has to live with your decisions. It is your life and therefore you have to live with the consequences of your decision. Be sure that the decision you make is of your own choosing.
Trust or
emotional safety in a relationship can often be a very difficult emotion to
master, particularly for those who have been hurt and/or betrayed in previous
relationships. Time does not always heal
wounds of our past. Regardless, the fact of the matter is that trust is the basis of any relationship. If you cannot trust someone you cannot have a healthy
relationship with them, as these trust issues will end up destroying the
relationship. It may not happen right away, though slowly but surely it will be
what breaks you apart. In order to be in
a happy relationship you have to be willing to work on a mutual trust. Here are a few pointers in building trust in
your relationship for those of you who find that trust does not come naturally
to you.
Be Honest – Number one rule in building trust in a
relationship is merely to continuously be honest with your partner. If your partner senses that you are being deceitful
this will make it harder for them to trust you.
We do not always like what we hear but it will be a comfort to know that
honesty is applied in every instance.
There is no room for secrets or lies in a healthy relationship.
Communication – Express your needs and feelings on
situations with your partner. If
jealousy occurs let your partner know how it makes you feel. They are then aware of your feelings and will
take measures to let you know that there is nothing to worry about. Give your partner a chance to set you
straight and always be clear and completely honest about how you are feeling
and listen carefully to their concerns in return.
Don’t hold your partner accountable for others
actions – As much as you wish you could control every situation, it is
unrealistic to believe this is possible.
Do not hold your partner accountable for others actions in any situation
no matter how hurtful. Your partner
cannot change anyone’s feelings or events anymore then you yourself can.
Be reliable – In order for someone to surrender to
trust they need to know that their partner is reliable. If you say you are going to be somewhere, be
there. If you say you are going to do
something for your partner, do it. If you
can rely on someone it makes it easier to trust them.
Don’t go to bed angry – Never let issues go
unresolved. If trust issues or jealousy
occurs between you and your partner do not try and avoid the issues. Although the conversation may not be desired
it is mandatory to address them before they get even larger. Resentment stems from feeling unheard or
failing to deal with a problem.
Forget the past – Do not compare new relationships
to the old ones. Just because your
previous partner may have hurt you, does not mean that your new one is even remotely
capable of making the same mistakes. Do
not lay that burden on them; it is not their burden to bear.
Remember nobody is perfect - Acknowledge that nobody is perfect and that
happenings can often be different to how they appear. Discover and compliment your partner’s
qualities. Belief in each other will facilitate
trust building in any relationship.
Love is all about losing yourself in your
feelings. Take the leap and have faith
that everything will work out the way it is meant too. Building
trust is not always easy and requires on-going work to keep it afloat, but it is important to remember there is no point in worrying about something
that may never come to pass. Live in the
present and appreciate the happier moments of life.
We would love your thoughts on
this article. Please leave your comments below.
The most
important thing for women when wearing lingerie is to feel comfortable. The more comfortable you are, the sexier you
will feel and ultimately the more confident you will be. If
you’re not sure what’s the most flattering lingerie for your body shapehere
are a few tips on choosing lingerie for your figure.
Whether you have
great legs, impressive cleavage or toned buttocks, it is vital to your
confidence to accentuate your best features.
Once you know what you want to cover up and would prefer to draw attention to, you are one
step closer to finding the right style of lingerie for you. Here are a few ideas to accentuate different parts of your body.
Babydolls and
Camisoles - If you are conscious of your stomach or thighs sexy babydolls and camisoles
are an appropriate choice. These styles
are perfect for covering the stomach and the tops of your thighs. They are flowing in design and avoid clinging
to your stomach. babydolls and camisoles
come in a variety of materials, so you can decide on how see-through they are
depending on how big your insecurities are with these areas. Darker colours also have a slimming effect so
if you are insecure about your weight steer clear of anything pastel in colour. You can find a range of babydolls and camisoles here.
Corsets - The corset is the suitable choice for anyone who views their cleavage as their best asset. The corset draws attention to this area and also accentuates the natural curves of a women. For this reason, a lot of women with curvy figures tend to choose this style of lingerie. You can find a suitable range of corsets here.
Teddies - The teddy is great for accentuating the legs. The body suit styled teddy makes you appear taller. Teddies look great with stockings which will also provide extra attention to your best asset. You can find a range of teddies here.
Matching sets with garter belt - This approach is well applied by taller women. It shows off your stomach and accentuates your
long legs. If you have smaller breasts, you can opt for a push up bra to give you that extra lift. If you are aiming at focusing on your legs choose a bra that doesn't give your boobs lift, but alternatively a light material bra that caresses what you naturally have. You can find garter belts and stockings here.
Matching sets with g-string - This combination is perfect for drawing attention to your bottom. It is classic sexiness and suited best to those who consider their bum to be their best asset. Boyleg undies can also bring success in this area. You can find a range of suitable matching sets here.
Bra and Skirt Sets - The bra and skirt sets are more suited for those who are happy with their boobs and/or stomachs but a little self conscious of their thighs. You can choose your bra depending on your boob volume and cover your thigh area with a pretty flowing skirt bottom. This will lead focus to your boobs or stomach depending on what bra you decide to wear. You can find a range of bra and skirt setshere.
It doesn't matter what your insecurities, you can successfully find a lingerie style that suits you and draws your partners attention away from those areas you are self conscious of. So why not make the effort to get something for yourself? One will never feel as sexy as when they are wearing lingerie. Your confidence grows with sexy lingerie, even if it's just wearing sexy undies underneath your work clothes.
With a birthday coming up I know how easy it is to find
yourself wishing time would stop so you don’t have to watch the dial on the
second digit of your age tick over once again.
The fact of the matter is nobody likes getting older. This often has us reluctant to celebrate our
birthdays and we often find ourselves not wanting to admit to our age or even
face the reality of all the things that we were meant to have achieved in this
point in our lives, but haven’t. Nevertheless
it is important to acknowledge and cherish this day every year. It is the one day of the year that is all
about you and you never know when it is going to be your last, so by no means
take it for granted. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to help each of us put ourselves in the
right frame of mind to take on our birthday.
Achievements – Don’t focus on those things that have not yet
happened. Instead celebrate those
achievements in your life that you have managed. It is always wise to focus on those things
you do have rather than those things that are yet to happen. If you look hard enough you will see that you
have more to be proud of then you give yourself credit for. If you find yourself struggling, look around
you at all the people who are wishing you well on your birthday.
Indulge – This is the one time of the year when you can
indulge yourself free of guilt. Get yourself pampered, book dinner at that
restaurant you always wanted to go to, but could never justify the expense or
go all out and take yourself away for the weekend with a few close friends.
Appreciation – weeks in life fly by and it is easy to lose
yourself in daily routine and spend less time with friends and/or family who
are no longer at easy reach. There is no
better excuse to get everyone you hold dear under the same roof, then to help
you celebrate your birthday. And nothing will make you feel more appreciated
then having everyone take the time aside to be with you on your birthday.
Hope – Remember that age is just a number. You are only ever
as old as you feel. Let your hope for
the future keep you feeling young. If
you haven’t achieved everything you ever wanted then take comfort that you
have something to look forward too.
The more you acknowledge this day and the more effort you put
into celebrating it, the easier the transition to your new age will be. Don’t let yourself sit at home alone focusing
on feeling old and feeling sorry for yourself. There is so much in life
to celebrate. There may be one more
candle on the cake then last year, but that’s only because there’s one more
year to be thankful for. The greeting is "Happy Birthday." So give it a try...
In my books – (pun intended ha-ha) the only author more impressive then Nicholas Sparks, is “The
Hunted’”s creator Kristy Berridge. She
has a gifted way with words that are equally relatable and effortlessly
imagined. With the exception of The Twilight
Series, the supernatural fiction genre is not generally my cup of tea, so I was
genuinely surprised by how much I cherished every minute of this 572 paged novel. There is nothing you won't find among these pages. It has something for everyone to enjoy. There is magic, vampires, werewolves, kick butt action, witty humor and above all romance. Better yet, it is not your typical supernatural fiction and is nothing at all like anything you have already read or seen. Berridge makes the effort and takes the time to establish the characters and their back stories in the chapters of book one in a series of five.Berridge also manages to bring new life to the fictional world of vampires and werewolves inventing new rules within the genre. This makes it unpredictable and builds curiosity the further in you get, making it difficult to put down.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Elena Manory is by no means an ordinary teenage girl. Being
born with the ability to heal herself from any injury, and with the knowledge
that on her eighteenth birthday she will become a vampire, Elena is aware that
she is more than a little different from other girls her age. It isn’t until
she meets William Granville, an alluring and impossibly handsome vampire, that
she begins to question her destiny and what secrets the Institute of Magical
Intervention and her adopted family have withheld—secrets that could change the
fates of not only her own life, but of the lives of all the immortals. As
events spiral out of control, William may be the only person Elena can place
her trust in. He, and Elena’s magical family, must fight to save her, joining
forces to defeat a common, deadly foe. For William, it is his chance to save
the girl that he has searched eternity to find.
The heroine in this highly-imaginative Aussie-based tale is a
vampire—but she is something more. This is a fast-paced, intelligent and
highly-entertaining novel … The final chapters are climatic, desperate,
chilling. For a first novel, Berridge ticks all the boxes. She has the makings
of a career author. To attempt what is now a well-worn theme and produce
something fresh, vital and entertaining is the mark of an enterprising and
crafted writer. —Wendy O’Hanlon, Acres Australia
This is a debut novel from a bright and bubbly young author.
It is entertaining, quirky and has some wry touches of humour … an adventurous
lightly romantic read that will appeal to teenagers and other devotees of the
vampire horror genre. — John Morrow’s Pick of the Week
Furthermore, take a look at the original book trailer here.
I am no expert book
reviewer so I will keep this short, but here are my reasons “The Hunted” should
be on everyone’s must read list. Every
teenager has a little bit of the main character Elena within him/her; even if
it’s merely similar mocking thoughts expressed or even unspoken. Her sarcasm and witty temperament alone makes
for a good read. The most appealing element
to this novel for me would have to be the relationship between Elena and
William. The feelings between these characters
are intense to say the least and Berridge realistically explores a connection
between these two paranormal beings. My romanticism
aside, “The Hunted” follows a well written heroine in her effort to contend
with typical teenage hormones all the while having the extra baggage of being
born of the supernatural world. The climactic ending to the first book in the series leaves you anticipating what comes next in Elena's world. It is hands down the best book I read last year. If i had read it this year then I am quite confident it would have taken that trophy instead...
“The Hunted” is
already available on Amazon in paperback and kindle form.
As you may already know you can become a fan of this spectacularly
written book on Facebook. For all those
existing fans, you may benefit to know that you do not have to wait till the release
of book number two “The Damned” (expected in July 2012) to read the humorous words of Kristy
Berridge. Kristy has her own worldly popular
Blogger page with over 18,000 views to date. WARNING: It is an addiction
waiting to happen! For this reason, I
would hate to keep it a secret. Nothing
wrong with a healthy addiction of LAUGHTER!
Follow this link to start your obsession today! Book number two “The Damned”
is so close to release you can almost touch it. But for the time being there's also the book trailer here to keep us on our toes.
So why don't you join me in reading (well re-reading in my case) before "The Damned"'s pages are acting out in your imagination.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in Perth, Western Australia
in 1982, Kristy Berridge was ushered into the world in a decade of bad hair,
parachute pants, and blue eye shadow. Fortunately, she managed to avoid all
three influences by immersing herself in the business of growing up, and
hitched a ride with her fun-loving, and adventure-filled parents to the sunny
state of Queensland. Here she completed most of her education. Besides learning
that boys don’t have cooties, and that algebra wouldn’t kill her, she pointedly
set the path of her high school career towards success in Art and English-based
subjects, and won numerous awards for her efforts. After high school she went
on to study Graphic Design and Illustration at James Cook University, and then
furthered her studies at the local TAFE college with an Interior Design course.
With this knowledge under her belt, she also decided to undertake a three year
Design course at Rhodec International in London, to complete her education and
propel her towards the successful career she now enjoys.She currently
resides in Cairns with her husband Navaro, who is her biggest support and a
constant source of motivation to finish the next novel.
Just like any relationship you may experience, the long distance variety is a work in progress.Unfortunately it requires that little bit extra attention in areas that normally wouldn't be of great importance.Here are a few pointers for those of you experiencing a long distance relationship. A lot of advice provided in this area focuses on the Do's and neglects to mention those things that should be avoided.
Don’t expect too much – In the majority of cases long
distance relationships are due to one needing to be elsewhere for their
job. Do not expect your partner to be
available to message, talk or Skype just because you are not busy. Keep in mind that they are there to work and
time differences are also something to consider. Just because they are not talking to you,
does not mean that they are doing something they shouldn’t be. Do not let your mind and assumptions get the
better of you.
Don’t put yourself in certain situations – Long distance
relationships can leave you miserable and lonely. Do not allow yourself to be in situations
that could potentially destroy what you have with your partner. Opt out of spending time alone with someone
who may be a sexual interest, especially if there is alcohol involved. It would be a shame to jeopardise your
relationship just because you are feeling vulnerable. Be realistic when making decisions about when
it comes to situations that may become out of your control.
Don’t overdo contact – Although the urgency to hear from your partner has amplified, even in a no distance relationship we
all need space to do our own thing. Do not
suffocate your partner every second of every day just because they are out of
reach. Remember that you both still have
a life of your own, as you would if you were living together.
Don’t expect him or her to come to you all the time – Frequent
visits can become very expensive. Do not
expect your partner to always be the one to come to you. Share the travel between each other. Also remember just because your partner may
have a break from what is keeping them away from you, does not mean that they
are realistically able to be by your side.
If you share the travel cost amongst you, it will ensure you have more
time together and take the burden of just one of you.
Don’t Flirt – Avoid flirting. This could give the other person the idea
that you are interested and available and get you into situations that could
have been avoided. Save the
flirtatiousness for your partner who you are longing to see.
Don’t expect your relationship to fail – If you are a
believer that long distance relationships never work out in the end, do your
partner a favour and don’t pursue the avenue in the first place. It will save a lot of your partner’s time
when you eventually give up on the idea. Long distance
relationships take a lot of investment and if you are not willing to give it
your all, don’t be cruel by allowing your partner to think you’re in it for the
long haul.
Don’t Lie – If you can believe it possible, communication is even more
important in a long distance relationship.
Be honest with your partner on how you feel. If you need a day to yourself let your
partner know. Avoid making excuses for
why you cannot take their phone call or reply to their emails. If you start telling the little fibs, it is only a matter of time before you are dishonest about the bigger things of greater importance.
Remember, realistically it may never get easier being away from the person you love and unless someone is/has experienced the distance you are feeling then they are not going to understand how it makes you feel. But it is important on those hard daysto remind yourself that everyday you spend away from each other is one day closer to the day you will see them again.
Why not buy something to keep in your wardrobe for the day you reignite. Affordable lingerie and accessories are available here.
Movies are constantly being filmed every day with writers and directors striving to salvage the romanticism left in the world and reduce the viewers to tears with their latest dramatically told tale of true love. Here is my pick of the 16 most romantic films in order of their release.
1. Dirty Dancing (1987)
If ever there was one, this is the movie that needs no introduction. Johnny (Patrick Swayze) and Baby (Jennifer Grey) are from very different worlds. But despite Baby's fathers disapproval they fall victim to a mutual passionate love for one another that breaks all the rules and guides Baby into womanhood.
2. The Crow (1994)
A year after his brutal murder, Eric Draven (Brandon Lee) is brought back to life by a crow to avenge the death of himself and his finance Sarah (Rochelle Davis). The crow guides him through the land of the living to the members of the gang that took the life of him and his true love. This movie demonstrates that real is forever. This movie was dedicated to Brandon Lee after his tragic death during filming.
3. Romeo and Juliet (1996)
Baz Luhrman modernizes Shakespeare's famous play retaining original dialogue with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes in the lead roles of Romeo and Juliet. Two star-crossed lovers forbidden to embrace their love go to extremes to be together and end up dying for the cause. Their deaths result in uniting their feuding families.
4. Titanic (1997)
Jack and Rose are from differing social backgrounds. They fall in love during the ill-fated maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic. Rose (Kate Winslet) recalls the events of that fateful evening back in 1912 when she lost Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) to the tragedy that claimed the lives of 1514 people.
5. My Best Friends Wedding (1997)
Julia Roberts convincingly plays Julianne, a woman whose best friend George reveals he's engaged. This revelation causes her to realize that she is in love with him herself. She sets out to win his affection with outrageous jealousy and only days before the wedding.
6. Meet Joe Black (1998)
Death enters earth in the form of an attractive man named Joe Black (Brad Pitt) who comes with the intentions of taking elderly man Bill Parrish (Anthony Hopkins) with him. Joe meets Bill's daughter and decides to explore his interest in life on earth while getting to know her on a more personal level.
7. Crazy / Beautiful (2001)
Troubled rich girl Nicole falls in love with a poor latino boy Carlos whose dreams and hard work become threatened due to her destructive ways. He tries to find ways to help her without losing sight of his own dreams. This 2001 film stars Kirsten Dunst and Jay Hernandez.
8. Tuck Everlasting (2002)
2002 brought us Tuck Everlasting, the story of a girl named Winnie (Alexis Bledel) who runs away and meets a family in the woods. The Tucks have a secret of immortality. Winnie falls in love with Jesse Tuck (Johnathon Jackson) and must choose between being immortal with Jesse by her side or experiencing all life has to offer including the inevitability of dying.
9. The Notebook (2004)
This 2004 blockbuster is based on the novel of the same name written by the most talented romance novelist of our time Nicholas Sparks. It stars Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling. It is a love story about first love between a wealthy girl and a socially unaccepted boy. Time does not rid the bond they once shared and they find away back into each others lives.
10. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Brokeback Mountain is the story of a forbidden and secretive relationship between two cowboys Ennis (Heath Ledger) and Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal) who met each other on Brokeback Mountain in the summer of 1963 whilst herding sheep. The story follows their struggle to maintain their love for another over the years, while keeping up appearances with their wives and living the life acceptable to the world.
11. P.S I Love You (2007)
P.S I Love You is based on the novel by Cecilia Ahern. It is the tale of an Irishman Gerry and his passionate wife Holly. Gerry dies young due to illness and Holly is left alone in the world. In the weeks and months that follow his death Holly finds that Gerry organized letters for her when he was still alive and they are delivered in the most surprising ways. Every letter relives something from their past together and slowly help Holly move on with her future without him.
12. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
A baby is brought into the world with a unique condition that forces him to age backwards. He is abandoned on the stoop of a retirement home by his birth father. Queenie a caregiver at the home takes him in and raises him as her own naming him Benjamin. Benjamin meets Daisy, a granddaughter of a woman resident at the home and they become lifelong friends. Daisy and Benjamin struggle through the changes that come with Benjamin's condition.
13. Letters to Juliet (2010)
Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) dreams of becoming a writer and travels to Verona on a pre-honeymoon with her fiance, where she meets the "Secretaries of Juliet". She answers a letter that was lost with time and the receiver Claire ventures back to Italy to find the man she loved when she was fifteen. Sophie tags along and unwillingly falls in love with Claire's obnoxious grandson Charlie.
14. My Boyfriend's Girlfriend (2010)
The very talented Alyssa Milano portrays Jesse, a wounded woman with a secret whose wit and encouraging nature have struggling writer Ethan falling head over heels. But who is Troy? Is he the obstacle that is keeping Jesse out of Ethans reach? This 2010 movie has an interesting twist that you won't see coming.
15. The Last Song (2010)
Yet another of Nicholas Sparks novels is brought to life in 2010s motion picture "The Last Song." Miley Cyrus plays a stubborn and rebellious teenager named Ronnie whose parent's divorce has led her to become troubled in her life. The movie follows her journey of falling in love, forgiving her father and the heartache that comes with growing up.
16. Dear John (2010)
Women all over the world can thank Nicholas Sparks for this masterpiece too. Dear John is about a soldier on leave in his hometown. He meets Savannah in a chance meeting and they become inseparable. When John has to leave for the army they agree to wait for each other and write letters to remain together even when they are apart. There love is put on hold longer when John re-enlists after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
I could keep adding more to this topic, but i would like to hear your added thoughts instead. What are your all time favourite romantic movies? Leave a comment with those movies that have left you believing in love...
