May 23, 2013

New Study Uncovers Men’s Surprising Sexual Position Preference

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(Phatforums News / The Stir) — Do you want to know what sexual position men prefer? You do, don’t you. That’s maybe why Esquire posed the question to their readers and published the results last week. The outcome wasn’t too surprising, but there was one little of data that caught my eye. It wasn’t that 14 percent of married men have had at least one with another man, though that was an raiser, it was that 28 percent of the who actually took the time to fill out the survey said that their favorite posish is missionary style. Well well well.

Would you look at that. To be honest, I’m not surprised surprised, but listen. How many times have you seen headlines on the covers of magazines say something like, “How to Spice Up Your Sex Life!” or “Ways to Make Your Man Go Crazy!” or “This New Position Will Save Your Marriage!” You’ve probably even seen a headline or two like that on this very site. But according to the Esquire study, all 28 percent of us have to do is lay back and relax.

That said, 30 percent of men prefer their on top, facing them (as opposed to not facing them, just to be clear). Another 26 percent like doing it doggie style, and the others around doing it while in the position, or standing up, or the reverse cowgirl.

The takeaway here, ladies, is we don’t need the LATEST HOTTEST NEWEST AWESOMEST MOST-IMPROVED COOLEST out there to keep things exciting in the . There are only three positions that guys are apparently really into, despite what Cosmo, , or any other publication has to say. Three.

Kind of refreshing, no?

Are You Two Too Alike?

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(Phatforums News / ) — You talk the same, laugh the same, maybe even have the same haircut. Studies show that -y are more common than ever — but is a guy just like you really the right guy for you?

We all know one of those couples: same shaggy haircut, same black-framed glasses, always finishing each other’s in a way that’s, OK, a little annoying, but they do seem to be happy. Recent studies show that it’s common to gravitate toward others who look and talk like we do. And we’re doing it now more than ever, says dating coach DeAnne Lorraine.

“People are getting married later, and we’re becoming pickier,” she says. “We want someone who’s similar to us, the perfect fit.” But can dating your doppelgänger ever become too much of a good thing?

Sometimes being alike is a plus …

“When we’re repeatedly exposed to something, we find it to be more enticing, and there’s nothing we see more than ourselves,” says Jeremy Bailenson, Ph.D., who studies facial recognition at . And Bailenson says it’s not a bad thing to choose a mate who reminds you of, well, you. Same goes for talking alike. By testing how similar a couple’s conversational style is — even while texting — , Ph.D., a professor at the University of Texas in Austin, says he can tell almost immediately how well they’re getting along.

Shares glamour.com commenter shortstuff, “My boyfriend and I often say the same thing at the same time!” All those bode well, says Pennebaker. “It means two people really hear what the other person is saying.”

…but sometimes it’s not!

Shared looks and might start the off well, but Lorraine makes an important when it comes to personality. “A woman needs to keep her own identity and not change just to fit her partner’s needs,” she says.

Take Victoria, 29. “With my , I thought that if I read all the same books he did and listened to the same music, he’d like me more,” she says. Her friends finally set her straight. “They were like, ‘This isn’t you!’ I realized I had changed just to please him.” They broke up soon after. Says Pennebaker, “It’s all about finding someone who interests you and enjoying him or her.” It is not about turning into each other.

How The Flirtiest Girls We Know Get Guys

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(Phatforums News / ) — Attracting guys has never been a problem for Julie Wilson, 34. The Greensboro, North Carolina, native has been proposed to an astonishing four times. “My friends can’t understand why even so-called players want to run down the with me,” she says. “And they keep calling me long after the ends.” Wilson’s fantastic, but so are plenty of other girls—so what is it about women like her that men just can’t resist? What do they know that the rest of us don’t? We present to you: their secrets! Soak ‘em in, then do some super-attracting of your own.

Go Out Looking for a Good Time—Not Your Future Husband
Super-attractor Rule No. 1: Don’t go hunting. “Too many girls focus on meeting The One when they should be looking for a tasty drink and a out,” says Amber Kallor, a 26-year-old in New York City who’s known for getting guys of all stripes—hipsters, bankers, , you name it—hopelessly hooked. “When you’re out seeking your ‘’—you know, because penguins mate for life—men sense that, and no guy wants or needs that kind of pressure.” Adam LoDolce, a Boston-based dating coach and author of Being Alone Sucks!: How to Build Self-Esteem, Confidence and Social Freedom to Transform Your Dating and Social Life (cheesy title, solid advice), agrees. “There’s nothing more appealing than the girl who carries herself like she’s having a good time,” he says. “Who wouldn’t want to be around her?” So buy your own martini, and enjoy yourself. That’s bait.

Never Bash Other Women
Another insight man magnets share: Being catty will get you nowhere with guys. Men want to know that you’re confident. “Think about it: If you two start dating, he has a , sisters and female friends he’ll want you to spend time with,” says Marie , 29, a marketer from San Francisco whose male buddies are all in love with her (or so say her annoyed girl-friends). “Showing a guy that it won’t be a nightmare to bring you to a family dinner is a good first step.” Philadelphian Meredith Klein, 23, sums it up this way: “Someone else’s strengths don’t make you look bad—but being jealous and insecure does.”

Be Easy
We’re not talking easy; we’re talking easygoing. Guys are drawn to girls they can picture having fun with in either a dive bar or a schmancy restaurant. “Men appreciate that I can hang with their friends, kill it at a work event and chill at home,” says New Yorker LaNora Williams-Clark, 32, who has been single for a total of three months since she started dating more than 15 years ago. “It boils down to charm and an ability to roll with the punches.”

Don’t Dress for Girls
The super-trendy stuff you’d wear to impress your friends often leaves men cold. Guys Glamour spoke to gave the thumbs-down to maxidresses (“They cover too much skin,” says Rob, 38), rompers (“How do you even pee?” asks Thomas, 36) and harem pants (“MC Hammer is calling,” quips Kyle, 30). But you don’t have to squeeze into a Kardashidress to get his attention, either. What’s universally sexy, according to men? A woman in a white tee, cute-butt jeans and a pair of heels. Done and done.

Be (Genuinely) Busy
This trick’s not about playing hard to get; it’s about having so much great stuff going on in your world that he wants to be a part of it. “Women who are genuinely busy feel more fulfilled, are happier and are more confident—three powerful magnets for attracting men,” says Angelica Perez-Litwin, Ph.D., a Nyack, New York, psychologist and relationship counselor. Says Mickelle Jackson, 30, a school administrator from Trenton, New Jersey, who’s had more than a few male friends confess romantic feelings: “If a man has to choose between a clingy beauty and an unavailable average girl, he will choose average every time.”

Two Words: No Bitching
When your crazy boss is blowing up your iPhone after hours and your sister is insisting you wear pistachio-and-melon-striped chiffon to her wedding, it can be easy to slip into a monologue about why life sucks. Don’t! “It makes you look like a drama queen, and if there’s one thing all guys hate, it’s drama,” says Christina Nguyen, a 31-year-old from Minneapolis who’s been told her fun-loving attitude makes her memorable. LoDolce agrees: “It’s impossible to flirt if you’re complaining.”

Let Him See Your Ambitious Side
It’s a corollary of “be busy”: Guys like women who have passions in life, so show yours! “When my husband and I were dating, he would always tell me how much my inspired him to be better,” says Jessica Guberman, 34, a vice president of marketing and development for a national nonprofit in Princeton, New -Jersey. For Alexa Carlin, 20, of Wellington, Florida, fulfilling her dream of running her own fashion company caused a noticeable spike in male attention: “Girls who are motivated to accomplish their dreams show drive and determination—guys love those qualities.” Sharing your goals up front also affects the type of guy you attract. “High-quality men are drawn to ambitious women,” LoDolce believes. “I hate when women worry about intimidating men. If a guy is intimidated by you, he doesn’t deserve you.” Amen to that.

Be the Person You Want to Date
Sounds simple, but you can’t seek a man who is secure, self-assured and emotionally evolved if you’re not all of those things yourself. It’s basic relationship karma! “If you wouldn’t want to date yourself, then how can you expect someone else to want to date you?” says Lina Shivangi, a 31-year-old marketing director from Austin, Texas. Nadarah Butler, 31, a doctor living in Los Angeles who has never gone more than a year without a serious boyfriend, agrees: “If you haven’t figured out who you are yet, you can’t possibly know what you want in a guy.”

11 Things Not To Tell Your Parents About Your Boyfriend

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(Phatforums News/ ) - Your family is almost always happy when you’re in a . But there are certain details about your beau that veer squarely into TMI and don’t need to be shared.

[Editor's note: Erin Meanley writes for the Glamour.com love and relationships blog, Smitten. This is an that blog.]

One of my college friends just told me she’d had an “overshare” moment with her parents yesterday. She was filling them in on the guy she is seeing casually — he’s an amazing musician and a really incredible person all around. But she happened to mention that he has a few tattoos and one piercing. By the way they reacted, she told me, you’d think he was a card-carrying communist or something. So she was really bummed, but she did express relief that she hadn’t said something like, “His hands are deceptively small.” Ha!

So I asked my what else a parent would not want to hear about her daughter’s boyfriend. She gave me the following a list. A parent would not be happy knowing …

That he’s ever had an .

That he cheated on his ex.

That he also likes guys.

That he believes in something strange like extraterrestrials.

That he plays 10 hours/week.

That he has zero .

That he talks to his mom twice a day (because that means you will never be #1 and the mom will be a wedge ( is hard to give up)).

That he is estranged from his parents (because if things are so bad that he can’t be near them, then there is hurt and baggage. Even if it’s not his fault, there will be ).

Like MSN Lifestyle on

That he has a record. (As in, criminal record.)

“Color-blind Love: Always a Do!”

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(Phatforums Blog/ MSN) – Pretty much the only time I ever read is when I’m on an . You can only read through Skymall so many times in one flight, you know? So this time around I picked up Glamour, just because (Olivia Wilde is on the cover. I learned that she got married at 18 to an Italian prince that she met at O.O ). Anyhow, I was reading about, you know, stuff….and I came across an article called “Color-blind love: always a do!” It’s a short article about how mixed race exist and a brief interview with some (Diane Farr) who wrote a book called Kissing Outside The Lines, which is about “her mixed-race with her Korean husband, Seung.* She tells us…how we can finally, actually, really be ‘postracial.’” Uhhhh.

So I haven’t read the book. I don’t really know anything about the author. It’s entirely possible that the things she says in the interview were taken out of context and are not actually representative of the book. But there are some…questionable aspects:

On postracial-ness: “We’ve all spent so much time trying to define ourselves in specific subcultures that we’ve skipped over our common identity as Americans. But when enough people keep mixing and mixing, we become one culture.” Well gee! Why do you think people didn’t realize before how trendy it is to date outside their race? Do you think it could possibly have anything to do with and ? Do you think maybe certain people clumped into their specific subcultures because they were being legally, economically, and socially segregated? This kind of thinking right here is why we’re nowhere close to living in a “postracial” society. Considering yourself colorblind and ignoring a history (and present!) of racial inequality doesn’t fix anything.

On :”I think is way ahead of the curve—there are so many famous ! And there’s nothing like seeing beautiful people who are making it work to inspire somebody to say, ‘I wanna go join that team.’” Oh dear. Hollywood is many things, but it is not ahead of this particular curve. Yeah ok, there are some actors and famous people in interracial , but that almost never gets translanted to TV and movies (what is the last movie you saw that featured an interracial couple?). Also, Hollywood is definitely not good when it comes to stereotypes. (And really? Famous people in interracial inspires other people to date outside their race?)

And last but not least…on her marriage: “When my husband and I were dating…he was afraid his parents would never accept me. We had to fight for us.” Well, haven’t you heard, Asian parents are crazy and never want their children to be happy.

Uhh yeah, so, it’s not a huge deal or anything, but it bothered me. And…that’s it for now.

*It goes without saying that Farr is white, because why would you assume otherwise?

The World’s Worst Divorce Excuse

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(Phatforums Blog/ The Stir) – We all know that has played a in the ruining of today’s society. Despite its gloriousness (and it really is glorious), watching the Real Housewives and the cast of use the smoosh room has not done us well. We think drinking to excess is perfectly normal and buying $2,000 hair extensions isn’t extravagant. It has made us bad people. And despite my love for the stuff, I will not defend anything about these shows other than their sheer . Except when a dude says reality TV broke up his marriage.

Howie Kohlenberg and his wife Christine appeared on Jerry Seinfeld’s The Marriage Ref last year, and now, after 14 years of marriage, she’s walking out on him and their 4-year-old son. Kohlenberg doesn’t accept any responsibility for his divorce. Instead he blames “Jerry, Mr. . And his show.”

Howie says that after doing the show, his wife got totally obsessed with being famous. He claims that after experiencing the “ of being a reality show contestant,” she started getting , wanted to do Playboy, and had sudden to be an actress. Howie feels that these things were the nails in his marriage’s . I say he’s crazy.

First off, let’s state the obvious: They were going on a show about couples having marital problems, for crying out loud! Saying The Marriage Ref is responsible for their divorce is one of the most delusional statements one could ever make. It doesn’t make sense. That would be like me saying, “I’m going to the gynecologist tonight, so I better pet my dog.” Wha?

Second of all, let’s get real for a second. Couples don’t ever break up over one incident (unless that incident is cheating). When something happens in a , it’s preceded by a slew of other things, or “clues.” If Howie and his wife chose to ignore them, that’s their (his) problem.

It’s like anything in life. You don’t want to wait ’til the last second to fix something — whether it’s cleaning your room, paying your bills, or saving your marriage. Ignoring the problem isn’t going to make it go away. And if Howie really is totally blindsided by this divorce, I can only imagine what other problems he’s ignoring in life.

As for his wife, well, she sounds like a real piece of work. A piece of work who just might be highly entertaining in a spin-off.

Four Sneaky Ways To Put The Moves On A Guy

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(Phatforums Blog/ ) – Is it OK to hit on a guy? Sure — but he might go into shock. Try these four of letting him know you’re interested and he might think it was his idea all along.

[Editor's note: Ryan Dodge represents the male perspective in "Single-", a blog for Glamour.com ... this is an excerpt from that blog]

One of the questions women always ask me is whether hitting on guys is a good move. I know why they’re conflicted. We are socialized to believe that when it comes to the game of love, men should be on permanent offense. And I’ll admit that on the exceedingly when a woman has approached me at the bar, I don’t know how to react. But that’s not to say women should play the role of when they spot Prince Charming. You just need to be strategic in your approach.

The key to successfully putting the moves on a guy is not being too overt about it. You want him to leave the feeling like a stud even though you were the one with the cojones to start things off. Here are a few ideas you can try out, preferably at a bar or party:

Ask him to settle an argument. This one requires some help from a combative . Maneuver yourself close to your and then start pushing your homegirl’s buttons with provocative like “Dave Coulier was cuter than John Stamos.” When things start getting heated, ask your crush to play tiebreaker. Soon enough you’ll be the Rebecca to his Uncle Jesse.

Ask him where he got his shirt. He’ll probably say, “I dunno, it’s just a shirt,” but that’s only because he doesn’t want to seem like a wussy fashion dude — odds are he knows who designed his shirt and is tickled that you asked. If you’re feeling especially bold, reach around his neck and look at the tag.

Tell him he looks like a high school classmate. Maybe this is immoral, but I’d also advise making up some about the dude just to get the ball rolling. As long as you’re not trying to make yourself look good, I think tall tales are a perfectly acceptable courting tool. And if you end up together it will be a cute story for the kids.

Ask him if he knows what song is playing. Be judicious with this one — if you ask him during the national anthem he might suspect you’re up to something.

20 Reasons a Best Friend is Better Than a Boyfriend

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(Phatforums Blog/ Glamour) – In what can sometimes feel like a mad scramble to find Mr. Right, we can often lose sight of the fact that our biggest fans and supporters are our best . Here are 20 ways your BFF is better than any BF.

Editor’s note: Erin Meanley writes for the Glamour.com relationships blog, Smitten. This is an that blog.]

Believe it: a true friend is way more valuable than a boyfriend. The same is true when you’re 20 as when you’re 80. So while some of you may be scrambling to meet a guy or working overtime to make a happen, just remember that your is for life. The guys will come and go — and they’ll cause a lot of drama in between. In case you need a reminder, I’ve listed 20 reasons a BFF is more important than a BF!

1. A best ’t care if you haven’t shaved your legs or painted your nails today.

2. A best friend doesn’t make you watch boxing on TV.

3. A best friend is equally as literate in The and DWTS as you are.

4. A best friend doesn’t call you.

5. A best friend isn’t concerned whether you’re Julia Child or not.

6. You won’t have to diet to meet your best friend’s .

7. A best friend doesn’t talk about marriage just because s/he thinks it’s what you want to hear.

8. A best friend doesn’t spook at the word “baby.”

9. A best friend understands your issues about bangs, periods, nasty bosses, push-up bras, straightening irons, and driving in heels, because she has the same issues.

10. A best friend can listen to a complaint because that’s how we communicate.

11. When all the men have left, your best friend will still be there.

12. If a best friend puts his/her career ahead of you for even one night, you can tell the person to snap out of it, and s/he’ll agree with you.

13. None of your best friend’s will make you jealous.

14. A best friend always puts the toilet seat down.

15. A best friend will not only wait for you to get ready — she’ll help you get ready.

16. You never have to suck in your stomach for a best friend.

17. A best friend is fine with you wearing a dress that looks like a tent.

18. A best friend carries spare feminine products on her person at all times.

19. On vacation, a best friend can work on her tan for nine straight hours, just like you can.

20. When you’re in the mood for chocolate, your best friend is also in the mood for chocolate.

10 Things About Him That Don’t Matter

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(Phatforums Blog/ ) – If your guy comes complete with a few quirks, keep in mind that Mr. Right doesn’t have to be Mr. Perfect. Here are 10 traits that really don’t matter when it comes to love.

So you’ve lucked out and found a great guy. Yippee! But if you’re and then brought back to earth when you trip on a wet towel or discover his extensive trucker hat collection, don’t abandon ship. There are some things that are deal-breakers (, meanness) but other stuff really doesn’t matter or can be nudged in another direction by almost-perfect you. Here are 10 things that shouldn’t trigger any alarms when it comes to love.

1. Those pleated . If he cares so little about style, surely he won’t care if you tweak his a bit!

2. Whatever’s in his (unless it’s ).

3. His kissing skills. Only a problem if he can’t be taught.

4. He’s addicted to dorky emoticons.

5. His sun is in to your moon.

6. The sketchiness of his — don’t look down! — toenails.

7. He doesn’t have cable. (Odd, yes; important, no.)

8. He has merely 11 friends on .

9. The Sports Center theme song. Hummed in his sleep. At 2 a.m. Try to think of this as cute.

10. Whether he’s actually on his knee for that . Seeing eye to eye is never a bad thing.

Five Ways to Divide Housework With Your Guy

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You and your guy are living together. Bliss, right? Until you have to figure out who’s doing the laundry and who’s . Here are some tips for dividing up chores without dividing your romance.

[Editor's note: writes for the .com relationships blog Smitten. This is an excerpt from that blog.]

(Phatforums Blog/ Glamour) - When you live with a , splitting the household chores is fairly straightforward. Even if your roomie is something of a , you both know which areas you should be responsible for. However, when you’re shacking up with your man, things get dicey. Since most of your space is shared, it’s sometimes difficult to determine cleaning responsibilities…

If by some miracle, one of you adores cleaning and has shouldered the of household chores on your own, well then that’s just fantastic. Or, if you two split everything fairly and have never once argued about cleaning, that’s also just peachy. But, if you’re like me and have quarreled more than you’d like to admit about the proper way to fold t-shirts, here are some easy peasy tips to help you and your man divide up the housework.

1. Communicate.
Communication is key when it comes to any issue. If there’s something you can’t stand, like scrubbing toilets, discuss it with your guy. Perhaps you’ll tackle the bathroom, but save the toilet for him, and you can pick up some kitchen chore he hates.

2. Take turns.
If there’s some awful chore that you both despise equally, have one partner do it one week while the other takes it on the next.

3. Have .
Maybe you’re a for making beds. Perhaps he prefers all of the items in the pantry to be organized. If you’ve got a very specific cleaning pet-peeve, share it with your partner but agree to tackle the task on your own. Just because one of you has folded socks the “right way” your entire life, doesn’t necessarily mean the other is ready to be enlightened.

4. Divide and conquer.
Washing laundry or dishes can seem pretty overwhelming. But if you divide up the specific chore, say he washes the clothes and you fold them, the task becomes much more manageable.

5. Learn to live with some messes.
No matter how diligent you two are about cleaning, some spots in your home will invariably fall victim to clutter. Desks, bookshelves and closets are some of the most common culprits. Instead of stressing and arguing about these spaces, let them go. Tidy them up when you can but try not to let these magnets for messes cause too many arguments.