Blog Posts by The_Stir

JoAnn from Bensonhurst talks mannersI'm sure that ever since the dawn of time, there have been dating rules of the road. Some dos and don'ts have stood the test of time, like having the tact to thank someone after they've paid for dinner (or, in the dark ages, perhaps they hunted or gathered it) or knowing better than to talk so much that you don't let your date get a word in edgewise. But other rules are a bit hazier, I'd say ...

Not according to JoAnn From Bensonhurst, though. The Brooklyn mom is talking "manners" in her latest episode on CafeMom Studios' YouTube Channel, and when it comes to courtship courtesy, she certainly makes some some awesome points. But I gotta say, I'm not with her 100 percent on some of her old-school rules.

Check out the episode ...

Okay, so breaking up via text? Yes, totally wrong! Have the decency to break up with someone face-to-face ... and not via FaceTime! In person! But the sex on the first date as an absolute no-no? Ehhhh ... come on, JoAnn, not everyone who ends

kardashian kollection jeansHave you heard of Sears' Kardashian Kollection -- the clothing line designed by inspired by the Kardashians? It had toungues wagging this fall when the sisters came out with their smokin' lingerie line. If you're promoting your undies it makes sense to pose in your undies, right?

Okay, so what about jeans? The Kollection (ooh, it hurts every time I write that) has added a new denim line -- just for curvy women like the Kardashian gals. Yay! And what do you wear to promote that line? Jeans, of course! And, apparently, nothing else. Yes, the Kardashians have posed topless. For Sears.

More from The Stir: Sneak Peek of Kardashian Swimwear Shows It's Even Sexier Than We Thought

Okay, when we said a few months ago that this isn't your momma's Sears that was one thing. I mean, whatever, lingerie. I guess. For a lark. Why not? But posing topless for a line of jeans at Sears? I don't know if I can take that leap with the K-sisters.

First of all, who is that image going to

Lindsay FerrierThe wine glass necklace has to be one of the best inventions ever --

Also, one of the silliest.

In theory, it's a great idea.

Wearing your wine glass around your neck leaves you free to cook, change diapers, or work on your computer.

But it also leaves you looking like, well, a buffoon.

That's why I just had to try out the wine glass necklace for myself at a trendy bar on a recent Friday night.

Yes, folks. I TOOK THAT DARE -- and while I worried I'd be shunned, I was pleasantly surprised to find that wasn't the case!

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There was a smart, funny crowd on hand that night, and they had lots to say about my, erm, interesting new accessory.

Check out the latest episode of "I'll Take That Dare."

I loved this dare. We had a lot of fun that night.

And by the way, if you're sort of wondering what the hell I was thinking CRIMPING my hair for this episode,

couple shadowWhen the news came out about Dooce blogger Heather Armstrong separating from her husband Jon, I really felt sad for them and their family. Heather wrote about it on Dooce in such a way it will bring tears to your eyes. Jon's post on Blurbomat cannot be read without feeling the sadness either. He says how Heather has asked him to find work outside of Armstrong Media, the empire they built together.

Two people who have children and loved, lived, and worked together are now ending their relationship. It's a dangerous thing to work with your partner, but it could also be a fantastic thing. Could Armstrong Media have reached the success they did if Heather and Jon weren't a team? Hard to say, of course, but the drive and passion they had for it must have been unparalleled, beyond intimate, something you can't find from an employee or employer.

More from The Stir: 5 Most Common Relationship Fights & How to Avoid Them

But the risks of working together might be too great to

cute wedding cake topper figurinesPop quiz: What's being touted as the #1 marriage killer these days? Is it ... A. for Adultery, B. for Budget, or C. for "Could You Please Just Shut Up Already?!" Well, I'm sure there are those who could make the case for D. all of the above, but believe it or not, C., otherwise known as nagging, is starting to get more credit as THE major poison for many couples. A recent Wall Street Journal article cited it as more common than cheating and just as big a trigger for divorce.

The research is there, too: A study published in the Journal of Family Psychology found that couples who became unhappy five years into their marriage had about a 20 percent increase in negative communication patterns ... like nagging.

More from The Stir: 10 Things You Should Never Ever Say to a Divorcee

We shouldn't be all that surprised!

We tend to forget some seemingly small but actually very important factors that influence our relationship with our partner, and one of those is how we speak

Trying to attract a guy isn't always easy (as we all know!), but it's also not as impossible as it feels sometimes. There are plenty of ways to attract an awesome guy without using your body, but by using your personality instead.

Personality is one of the first things people notice about you and one of the most important parts of a compatible relationship. There are lots of ways to use your wit, personality, and charm to attract a good guy.

Here are some tips.

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1. Stand tall and proud. Self confidence is one of the biggest turn-ons out there -- for men and women alike. So, ladies, be confident, be strong, be powerful and proud of who you are. That's bound to turn more than a few heads.

2. Think positively. There's very little that's attractive about someone who is always a Debbie Downer -- as a friend or as a partner. Guys really dig girls who are positive and upbeat, so exude that positive

Parents, matchmaker
My cousin has a running quip that gets funnier as we get older: back in the day, elders - especially ladies in our church - believed in playing matchmaker for the younger set, and since we come from a family of big-hat wearin', hallelujah-shoutin' sisters of the sanctuary, it seems like that tradition would still be alive and kickin'. "I wouldn't be 37 and single," my cousin insists, "if our moms had stuck with the script and found me a nice young man to marry when I was like 21." Well, she does have a point there. They are kinda slippin'.

Even among my married friends, though those are few and far between, there seems to be a distinction between the yesteryear and the here and now. Most of them make more money individually than their parents did together, but they don't have as much material stuff to show for it. And boy, do some of their moms and dads give them the blues about it.

More from The Stir: Has Your Parents' Relationship Shaped Your Love Life?

It usually

Couples fight. We know this. Even the most functional couples have spats now and again. Relationship fights, they happen.

However, there are many relationship fights that happen that can be avoided. Because let's face it -- the more stress and fighting a relationship has, the less enjoyable it is.

Here are some common relationship fights and how to (hopefully) avoid them.

More from The Stir: Couples Who Fight Have Better Marriages Than Those Who Don't

1. Money. The most common relationship fights are about money. How it's spent. How much you have. How "responsible" you are with it. Finances put a major strain on most relationships. You can prevent (some) of these spats by being upfront about money and making sure you're both working toward the same goals.

2. The past. It's really tempting to pick a fight over the past. Maybe you had unresolved fights. Maybe one (or both) of you cheated. Maybe there are issues with an ex. To avoid this ugly fight, remember the