Blog Posts by HowAboutWe

If a brownie swirl sundae's what he really wants, why buy him a heart-shaped box of chocolates?
By Nikki Metzgar for HowAboutWe

Valentine's Day is coming -- and store aisles (and restaurant ads) are practically shouting at you that heart-shaped boxes of chocolate and expensive roast duck dinners for two are the components of a romantic evening. We all know that's not true for everyone, but now comes the hard part-actually figuring out what is romantic in time for your Valentine's Day date.

Keep things personalized
In other words, be thoughtful. The most romantic thing you can do is show that you know the person you're in a relationship with and act on that knowledge. Maybe the best night your girlfriend could dream of is to get drunk on margaritas and go home for sex. So why take her for a steak dinner? Maybe he loves cooking, and you don't care for it, but you spring for the sushi making class anyway. A dozen red roses might be romantic in Hollywood, but it wont mean a thing to the girl who loves lilies, just like an expensive watch won't woo the guy who

By Lauren Passell for HowAboutWe

Spicy Anything.Peppers can make you sweat big time, so if you perspire easily, you'll have a head start on getting gross and damp. Add that to the fact that you might be sweating already from nerves. Let's not fuel the fire, here.

BBQ Ribs.The average number of napkins people need when they eat BBQ ribs: 7. And it's so not cool to keep having to ask the waitress for more, and surrounding your plate with used, balled-up napkins.

Related: 15 Foods You Should Avoid On A First Date

Sloppy Joes.Unless you actually want your date to start singing Chris Farley's ode to Sloppy Joes. Which is something we recommend you avoid at all costs. Sloppy Joes are like a triple-whammy of bad date foods -- they're messy and can make you gassy, too. Try to picture someone really sexy like Ryan Gosling or Eva Longoria eating Sloppy Joes. Even that is not sexy. And if they can't do it, who can? Wait. Aren't they dating? Those two can eat Sloppy Joes together --

Which rose is the fairest of them all?By Cass Collin for HowAboutWe

Roses = love, right? Actually, it's more complicated than that. Flowers could signify a life of close friendship, or they could be a multi-meaning ode to how you fell in love at first sight. Before you get stressed, read up on these flowers and their meanings, so you'll be sure to give just the right bouquet this February 14.

Related: 5 Ways to Actually Enjoy Valentine's Day as a Single Person

Red: Yes, yes, red roses are the standard on V-Day. And with good reason. Greek and Roman mythology tied the red roses to their goddesses of love and the flowers moved through many cultures as the symbol for love and fidelity because the brazen hue stands stronger than its thorns. If you want to add an extra layer to the perennial favorite, gift them in symbolic numbers (such as two for mutual love or 24 to symbolize they are always on your mind).

Pink: Pink roses are actually the first known variety of the flower, and early on signified love

If only medicine bottles looked as classy as they used to.By Rose Annis for HowAboutWe

You know how it goes -- a prospective love interest invites you over for the first time, you make yourself comfy on his Grateful Dead tapestry-draped futon, throw back a glass or four of Chianti, and discuss your hopes and dreams/ the implausibility of last night's episode of Whitney. This stage of dating is called the "Getting to Know You" phase, and unfortunately everyone has to do it at some point or another. But, there is a way to fast- forward the whole process. Simply tip back that glass of table wine and make a B-line for his bathroom.

On the scale of 1 to Home Invasion, a quick survey of your date's medicine cabinet falls low on the Stalker Spectrum. It's like the I.R.L. version of scoping his friends of friends list on Facebook -- just don't get caught!

Is He Crazy?

Who doesn't have a mood stabilizer or two in their medicine cabinet? That's not what we're talking about here. Does your date seem to have an unnecessary number of

John Steinbeck and his wife.By Lauren Passell for HowAboutWe

John Steinbeck is famous for penning East of Eden, The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men, but maybe he should have written a relationship book. The advice he gave his son in a letter marked Nov 10, 1958 is inspiring.

Related: The Little Dating Tip That Works For Everyone

Dear Thom:We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.

First -- if you are in love -- that's a good thing -- that's about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don't let anyone make it small or light to you.

Second -- There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you -- of kindness and consideration and respect -- not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and

Can platonic love ever replace romantic love?by Chiara Atik for HowAboutWe

Last weekend, I felt like getting out of New York and enjoying the last few days of vacation before the January rush. My friend Kevin was also itching out of town, so we rented a ZipCar and headed up to Concord, Massachusetts.

We took turns driving and navigating, had discussions both trivial and weighty, drank wine with dinner and whiskey by the fire, and shared a room in a picturesque old Inn that was still decorated for Christmas.

I'm sure people thought we were a couple (we made jokes about it when a waitress at a diner brought us a milkshake with two straws), but we're strictly platonic. Our relationship had all the ease of a couple who has been together for a long time and is perfectly comfortable with each other, minus any of the bickering, boredom, and, of course, sexual tension. It was great, and thoroughly relaxing.

In the New Yorker profile of Portlandia's creators Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen, the two discuss their

As if your long commute wasn't bad enough...by Lauren Passell for HowAboutWe

You knew your long commute sucked, but did you know it could destroy your relationship? ScienceDaily found that long-distance commuters are more likely to break up than others. And not just by a little bit -- the study found that long-distance commuters run a 40 percent higher risk of separating.

Related: Common Interests That Mean You Were Meant To Be Together

Maybe it shouldn't be surprising. If you're spending three hours less canoodling with your SO, and three hours more crammed in your car, burning through gas and swearing at that gridlocking jerk who is ruining your life, something is going to break. And it seems like it will probably be your relationship.

Related: Just What Exactly Is Chemistry?

But the opposite doesn't seem ideal, either. I imagine that working, sleeping, eating, and everything-ing in your house with your SO could drive couples to some Jack Nicholson/Shining/"Herrrrrre's Johnny!"-level insanity.

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by Chiara Atik for HowAboutWe

Valentine's Day 2012 is already off to a promising start, with the circulation of these printable Valentines inspired by The Golden Girls.

Will you Bea Mine, Valentine?

Related: Is A First Date On Valentine's Day The Worst Idea Ever Or Best Idea Ever?

They're everything you'd want a Golden Girl Valentine to be: punny, acerbic, and centered around a huge glamour shot of your favorite characters.

Related: 12 Reasons You Won't Meet Your Future Spouse At The Grocery Store

What a perfect way to say "thank you for being a friend!"

(We wouldn't necessarily recommend sending one of these to a love interest.)

(Though if you think there's any guy in my acquaintance that's escaping this February 14th without receiving a "Bea Mine" card from me, you've got another thing coming.)

Related: Make Your Guests Feel Awkward With This "We Had Sex In This Room" Artwork