When it comes to relationship advice, sometimes it’s more effective to see what’s working for others than seek out so called ‘relationship experts’. So when one person asked how he could improve his relationship on this Reddit page, not only did he get a lot of responses, but they were actually real life things that the people sharing them were actually doing in their own relationships. Take a look at some of the most up-voted responses he got…

#1. Take his towel while he’s showering and do this

“I like to steal her towel and put it in the dryer. Then when I hear her shut off the water I know I have about thirty seconds befor she opens the shower door cuz she has little wiping her face off and pushing her hair I back routine. So I open the door and wrapper in the hot towel, kiss her cheek while her eyes are still shut and walk away.”

#2. Don’t say sorry – say “thank you” instead

“When you say, “Sorry for being a jerk,” the other person is forced to either call you a jerk, or say it wasn’t a big deal. Instead, say “thank you for being so being so patient with me.” It let’s the other person know you understand your shortcomings and it gives them an opportunity to tell you they love you.”

#3. Spend more time together in the mornings, even if it means less sleep

“My significant other gets up around 5:30 every morning. Instead of staying in bed, I wake up make coffee for him before he hops in the shower. I get everything ready the night before even the cups with sugar and creamer and just hit the brew button when I jump out of bed, then we have coffee and breakfast together when he’s out of the shower. Seems like a small thing but it gives us 5 extra hours together a week and it’s some of the best moments of my day.”

#4. Take pictures of her when she’s not looking, and then send them to her during the day

“I take random pictures of her and the rest of the family, then I just send them randomly to her during her day. So out of no where she’ll get a nice pic of our kids, or the two of us somewhere. Then I basically tell her each time how lucky I feel to have her and the kids. I don’t overdo it. But just a subtle ‘I’m a very lucky man…’ and then a picture, but I never forget to do it, and I hope she knows I never take for granted the great things I have.”

#5. Dance with her

“I dance with her. Not anywhere special, it doesn’t even have to be in public, usually. I’ll just start dancing with her. We’ll be doing the dishes or something and I’ll put my arm around her waist and start humming.”

#6. Make a list of what they like, and then give it to them from time to time

“I get him these things from time to time – most recent was ‘mini cadbury eggs’ because he said it was his favorite Easter candy. I want him to know that I’m always thinking about him. I’m not so much a words person, but more of an actions person.”

#7. Prepare their toothbrush every morning

“All I do is put the toothpaste on it add a little water and set it on a little thing to keep it off the countertop. It’s a small gesture to let her know I’m thinking of her when I wake up and when I go to bed and all day in between. She loves it. I got the idea from my dad, who’s been doing it for my mom for like 38 years or whatever.”

#8. Give yourselves some “igloo time”

“For five minutes a day we huddle under a blanket, pretend we’re in an igloo, and discuss our high and low for that day. I don’t know why we make like it’s an igloo. There was probably a reason for it when we first started the practice and we’ve both forgotten about it by now.”

#9. Give each other small, inexpensive presents

“One of the best stories my mom told me about my grandparents. They had 12 kids on one, maybe one and a half salaries sometimes, so money was always tight. My Papa would work, Nana would stay home with the kids, but balance the checkbook and pay the bills. She’d give him an allowance every week for lunch, gas, and whatever little thing. He’d save as much of the remainder as he could and every few weeks to a month, he’d buy her a teacup and saucer from a china shop. He’d usually want to buy her the entire tea set, because she loved that sort of thing, but they’d end up selling the other pieces and he’d have to get a mismatching set. So now she has a ton of beautiful china that she adores, and none of it matches but it makes it better that way because it was more than just laying down a checkbook, it was the thought of him counting his pennies and nickels for weeks just to do something nice.”

#10. Make your very own “Fight Box”

“They call it a fight box. Some people build one of these at their wedding, but you can also put one together the first day you say I love you. Write love letters to each other and place into a box along with a bottle of wine. Nail it shut. When you have your first fight, open it up, pour the wine, go to separate corners, read the love letters, and remember what it’s all about.”

#11. If it’s special and it can break/wear down, keep a second pair so you can surprise them with it when the time comes

“She had broken this pair of rubber boots she was in love with and enjoyed jumping in puddles all the time. Of course they didn’t have the exact same boots at the store. She got new boots and she liked them but missed her old boots. I anticipated that she would eventually fall in love with the new pair as she got used to them. I went out and bought a second exact same pair and kept them at my house. Then about TWO YEARS later she texted me “I BROKE MY BOOTS :(((” When I showed up with the boots and told her the story she just about killed me with a bear hug.”

#12. Be a tease

“I told my ex-GF that I couldn’t pick her up from the airport after she was away for a week, but I’d give her the money for a cab once she got home. Then I went to airport in a suit, and stood in baggage claim holding up a sign with her name on it as if I was a limo service.”

#13. Leave notes for each other

“We have very different work schedules and he leaves for work before I even wake up, so every night I write him a note (a funny story or joke, thanking him for something he did earlier that day, etc.) and leave it by the coffeepot for him to read so it’s kind of like we get to ‘talk’ in the morning. In return, he makes coffee and opens all of the curtains so I can wake up to fresh coffee and natural sunlight.”

#14. Take their parents to lunch

“This is an even bigger gift to your significant other as your parents get older. Having one, often lonely parent, is a burden. Sometimes, I show up at her Dad’s house and take him out to lunch. He loves it, but she loves it even more. I do whatever I can to take some of that burden off her shoulders.”

#15. Make lots of tiny, small sacrifices

“We keep a book of Sudoku puzzles in the bathroom. I only do the puzzles on the left, even though we’re both right-handed.”

#16. Relax and kick back together

“There’s a lot of advice out there about doing insane activities together, but sometimes we ALL like to kick back, take off our shoes, and zone out to TV. So, we have shows we watch together on Netflix, and we’re not allowed to cheat and watch ahead. If we skip ahead, we buy the other person a candy bar or some beer. It all works out. I think it’s great watching a show with your loved one because the topics that come up in the show can be fodder for conversation down the line.”

#17. Cook together

“We cook dinner together every night. She usually makes a salad or the vegetables. I do the meat. It’s 30-45 minutes a night we work together to make something, and it’s every night.”

#18. Turn your phone off when it’s time for dinner

“I’m 31, but man, I have a hard time not looking at the thing for an hour or so. But when I do, and I look at her when she’s speaking, you can see her light up and she becomes a lot more talkative, happier about life, etc.”

#19. Let them have the last bite

“I always give my significant other the last bite of anything we’re sharing. Especially dessert. No matter how amazingly delicious…I insist.”

#20. If you don’t mind doing it, do it

“I make the bed every single day. I’ve never really cared about whether the bed was made because you just sleep in it right? My wife told me early in our relationship how much she liked to get into a made bed at night and that she thinks it makes the room look neater, but I didn’t take much notice and just kind of kept leaving it messy. One day I made it on a whim and when she came home from work it meant way more to her than I had realized. She had had a bad day and just that little gesture made her cry happy tears. I started making the bed every day and it’s such a small thing but she’s told me a few times how much it means to her!”

#21. Have some awesome hobbies that you do alone

“You can’t do everything together. Living with someone can be difficult if one or both people rely on the other for attention and entertainment all the time. My wife likes to read. I like to play video games and shoot hoops with the neighbors. We have things we like to do together, but it’s nice to be able to get away and do our own thing when we feel like being alone.”

#22. Exercise together and get high on endorphines

“Going out to eat together or for cocktails on typical dates gets old really fast, and after a long day of staring at a computer I usually don’t feel like seeing a movie. For some reason, I used to refuse to exercise in front of my partner, but since I started going for 20+ mile bike rides with my current boyfriend, I’ve realized how silly that was. Who cares about sweat? The experience of working out together is exhilarating…plus, the couple that exercises together has a better time in bed together. FACT.”

#23. Lay down together and just talk

“At one point, we realized we’d had sex about three times in 2 months, so we started trying to have sex at least once a week – and usually multiple times. In that effort, we also wound up spending a good deal of time just lying on the bed, chatting. For some reason, our conversations while we were lying there naked were always much more personal and intimate.”

#24. Just be there for them and listen

“He needs to talk things out to make decisions. I don’t – I’m the quiet one in the relationship. But, I listen and ask questions when I can, and it helps him. He knows I get bored (he’s a self-employed handyman, and he sometimes talks me through his improvement projects in DETAIL to make sure he’s prepared for the job). But, I listen because it helps him and it’s a small sacrifice to help him feel confident that he’ll be doing his job efficiently.”

Remember, no relationship is perfect, but it’s never too late to start making it more awesome.

Falling in love is one of the most incredible and exciting part of your youth. Over time, your relationship may morph into something even greater and you realise how close you have grown to your significant other. They become your best friend and partner in crime. You feel like, together, you can take on the world!

Being best friends is a good sign of a long, lasting relationship. After all, an interview by ‘Your tango’ revealed that no relationship has ever passed the test of time without also being a friendship. Most of the time couples in long time successful marriages view their spouse as their best friend.

Best friends have a special kind of relationship, do you have such a relationship? Below are 6 signs to check if your partner is your best friend and if he/she isn’t then ask yourself why not.

1. Your partner is your safety blanket

He is the one you go to with all your problems. You trust your partner so much that you feel comfortable enough to share about your burdens. You confide in your partner for everything – when you have a bad day; when you are having trouble with something or when someone treats you badly. He is that shoulder to lean on.

Your partner is also the one you seek advice from. He knows you as well as you know yourself and he is capable of guiding you when it comes to making difficult choices. You find that he is the first person you want to text or call when something crops up. After all, best friends are the people who make your problems their problems, just so you don’t have to go through them alone.


“The best thing in life is finding someone who knows all your flaws, mistakes and weaknesses and still thinks you are completely amazing.”

2. You have more fun with your partner than with any other friends

Best friends are the people you instinctively gravitate towards because you love spending time with them. It doesn’t matter what you guys do, you will definitely have fun in each other’s presence.  In fact, sometimes it is perfectly fine for the both of you to do just about nothing and simply “chill”. The best part is that you can be yourself and act the craziest with him because you know he will never judge. If your partner is the person who entertains you more than anyone else, then your partner is also your best friend!

You may have no problem hanging out without your partner, but in the back of your mind, you want him to be a part of your outings and events and you end up bombarding them with “You should be here” texts.


“If love is the treasure, laughter is the key.”

3. Your partner can get along with your friends.

There is no doubt that you can get along with your partner and you often spend the most amount of time with him. However, it becomes a good sign when you feel that you prefer it if your partner were to hang out, even if part of a larger group of friends.  This shows that he isn’t just your lover, but also a good companion. After all, your group of friends reflect the kind of person you are; they are the ones that are as crazy and quirky as you. If your partner happens to fit in with your friends then it shows how similar you guys are.

In the first place, your partner is someone that you want to show off to your friends. You want all your friends to get to know your partner better so that they can be friends too.

“You can have friendship and you can have love, but only when you have both together, will you have a great love.”

4. You don’t fight too often, but when you do, neither of you take it to heart.

Friends can argue and get bitter but best friends never take it personally. If you can patch up quickly and forgive each other, it shows that you and your partner understand how important you relationship is. You are willing to take the time and effort to sort out your differences and frustration to come to a solution.


“Couples who fight are most likely stronger; it’s not the fighting that makes them stronger but what takes place after.”

5. You share many of the same interests.

You get along well because of common personalities and preferences. You can agree on most things and you share similar likes, dislikes, hobbies and habits with your partner. Best friends are best friends because they relate on so many different levels.

“A best friend isn’t just someone who’s always there for you. It’s someone who understands you a bit more than you understand yourself.”

6. You have numerous inside jokes with your partner.
You and your partner have been through so much and shared so many experiences that it is almost as if you can read each other’s’ mind. The two of you can burst out laughing at things that no one else understands. You can look at each other and tell what the other person is thinking. You also have self- created lingo that no one is privy to.

“Friendship is about finding people who are your kind of crazy.”

Now, think about how you are with your best friend. You tell each other everything. You look forward to being together and you freely give your time and energy to your friends. Do you do the same with your partner?

If you have a solid friendship with your partner, congratulate yourselves and celebrate your friendship this week. You will likely be together for a very long time.

=============

Article content contribution by LunchClick, Singapore’s first female-centric dating app, developed by the dating experts behind the Lunch Actually Group, the biggest dating agency in South East Asia with over 10 years of proven track record.

Anyone who’s gotten sucked into an all-night Law and Order marathon knows a lack of shut-eye can wreak havoc on you—poor sleeping habits make you cranky, make it difficult to focus, and in the long-term, have even been linked to increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart problems.

And now research is showing that poor sleep habits are negatively impacting your love life, too.

The UC Berkeley study enrolled over 60 couples between the ages of 18 and 56 in two experiments. The first experiment asked couples to keep a journal of their sleep patterns and how the quality of their snoozing affected their feelings about their significant other. The second experiment tasked the couples with problem-solving tasks.

Turns out, you’re not the only one snapping at your significant other after a night of tossing and turning. In both experiments, researchers found that participants were less appreciative and showed less gratitude towards their partners after a bad night of sleep. “Poor sleep may make us more selfish as we prioritize our own needs over our partner’s,” explained UC Berkeley psychologist and lead investigator of the study Amie Gordon.

A night of sleep that leaves both of you exhausted can leave you feeling “too tired to say thanks” and less attuned to your partner’s needs and moods. And even if it’s just one of you who’s sleep-deprived, the partner who got their full eight hours can still end up feeling unappreciated and taken for granted.

So what’s a snoring, tossing and turning, sheet-hogging couple to do?

1. Have Enough Blankets to Go Around

Sharing a blanket is cozy when you’re cuddling in front of the television, but when it comes to turning in for the night, make sure there’s enough blanket to go around, even if that means separate blankets. No blanket-hogging means fewer interruptions during the night, which means a more peaceful sleep.

2. Take Snoring Seriously

Snoring is annoying—and it can also be a sign of a serious underlying cause, like sleep apnea. It also doesn’t tend to go away on its own, so if you or your partner snore, address it with a doctor who can suggest treatments and remedies. A little quiet goes a long way when it comes to getting a good night of rest.

3. Upgrade Your Mattress

A king-sized bed or a memory foam mattress can make all the difference in giving you both enough room and comfort to sleep well. Consider it an investment towards your relationship.

4. Let There Be No Light

Turn off iPhones and laptops before crawling into bed, and, if your bedroom lets in too much light, consider blackout curtains or wearing a sleeping mask to bed—you’ll sleep more deeply when your room is dark.

5. Make Your Bedroom a Kid-Free Zone

Lots of families co-sleep with younger children, but having the kids snooze alongside you can have an impact on the quality of your sleep, leaving you distracted and moody the next morning. Consider gradually weaning your kids off co-sleeping if you find yourself tossing and turning or waking up in the middle of the night. The same goes for the kids’ toys in your room—keep the bedroom off-limits for playtime for a more peaceful atmosphere when you’re ready for bed (bonus: no more stepping on Legos when you get up to pee in the middle of the night!)

Love is... giving someone the power to break your heart, but trusting her/him not to.

Decorating the tea leaves on plate

Trying to figure out how to go about doing it

Something is cooking

Is it a flower?

What do you guys think?

Looks like a windmill to me

Doing the final touches

Dragonfly on board the bus lying on windowsill

Cup corrosion on bottom after someone fill up with hot water

A movie tix! 

Trying to be funny!

The almost finished beancurd

Friends' Blog
*Akii*`
*DanTheTiggr*`
*Estelle/Nadia*`
*Eus0N/Ex MaPLe Bf*`
*Fardhilla*`
*Faz*`
*Huilian*`
*Jacky Woo/Sleepyeyes*`
*Jess Toh/PhoenixJess*`
*Jon Lim/AhJon*`
*MeLLo/NeXTChiLL*`
*Michelle Quek*`
*MinisterMenTaL*`
*Nina*`
*Nurul*`
*Nurul Huda*`
*Qianhui*`
*PearLL*`
*Robin aka Trekker*`
*Selin Tan/LIN*`
*Sihui*`
*Sotyna*`
*Sue*`
*Tsehwee*`
*Vivian*`
Celebrities' Blog
#Carrie Yeo#`
#Corrinne May#`
#Cruz Teng#`
#Dasmond Koh#`
#Dawn Yang#`
#Desmond Tan#`
#Eelyn K0k#`
#Fan Wen Qing#`
#Felicia Chin#`
#Ivy Lee#`
#Jeanette Aw#`
#Jessica#`
#JiaHui#`
#Joanne Peh#`
#Joi Chua#`
#Jolin Tsai#`
#Kang Cheng Xi#`
#Kanny Theng#`
#Koh Yah Hwee#`
#Lin Xiang Ping Yvonne#`
#Mark&Cat#`
#Meixin#`
#MiLuBing#`
#Nat Ho#`
#Qi Yu Wu#`
#QingLing-Girl Wh0 Reviews#`
#Quan Yi Fong#`
#SHE#`
#Show Luo#`
#Tang Ling Yi#`
#Sweety#`
#Ye PeiFen#`
#ZhiYang(Campus Superstar)#`
#Zhou ChongQing#`
Local Bloggers/Models
[Celeste Chen]`
[Celestina Tiew]`
[Charles Ng]`
[Huirong]`
[Nicole Chen]`
[Sharon Kho]`
[Tammy]`
[Vampie/Bettina]`
[Xiaxue]`
Games && Local Webbies
^Maple^`
^Neopets^`
^Viwawa^`
~Omy@Sg~`
Cl0thes&BeautyGal0re
♥Dainty Flair♥`
♥DblChin♥`
♥Drama&Rants♥`
♥FlirtyDolly's Blog♥`
♥GMarket♥`
♥Miyake♥`
♥Nadnut♥`
♥The Sample Store♥`
♥Thy Dowager♥`
♥Vivianlly♥`
Videos&&Miscellaneous
{AIOMobile}`
{Boosj-Drama}`
{CCTV-Drama}`
{ClubStudio}`
{Crunchyroll-Free Anime}`
{DreamStar}`
{Ginnwei}`
{iHoneyjoo}`
{MTime-Drama}`
{MusicXpress}`
{PPLive-Drama}`
{Purpur.black-}`
{Qire}`
{Return2Eur0}`
{Sg Club}`
{Sg Clubber - My Profile}`
This blogskin is proudly presented to you by Anna May, the background made by Bruna, opinions from Gabby, graphic from The Fading Night and inspiration from Nicole and Wanjing.