Blog Posts by Cosmopolitan.com

Firing off too many messages can kill a budding relationship. We tell you when to step away from the cell. Before you hit send, find out the 10 most annoying texting habits.

1) When you're drunk.

Since phones don't come with Breathalyzers, it's up to you to stop yourself from sending a tipsy message - especially one that suggests you two meet up ASAP. "Being too available lets a guy know he has all the leverage," Krieger says. You might come off looking kind of crazy or out of control.

2) When you're angry.

It's annoying when a guy flakes, but sending a "Why haven't you called me?!" inquiry makes you look massively insecure. Avoid angry texts once you're in a relationship too. "When it's in writing, you can't easily take it back," Kirschner says. It's even smart to ban bitchy humor, which can sound meaner than it is.

 Warning: If he's trying to make you look like the bad guy, he might just want out of the relationship.

3) When you've already

Sick of having to force him to have the where-is-this-relationship-going talk? We've figured out the reasons guys clam up and pinpointed strategies for getting him to bring up the subject. But beware: Having The Talk, no matter who initiates it, might either scare him off or cause him to give you an answer you don't want to hear ("I don't want a commitment, but I'd love to continue having sex with you. Okay?"). But come on. You don't want to spend the rest of your life pining for some guy who thinks you're great to share a burger and a bed with but little else, right? The risk is generally worth taking.

1) Take a vacation. Jetting off with nothing but a bikini and the promise of a postcard gives him a small taste of life minus you. Plus, the freedom to flirt when you're ostensibly single cuts both ways, and if he's into you, that'll stick in his craw. "When my girlfriend told me she was going on a cruise with three of her friends, I figured, cool - three weeks of bachelor

Losing pounds doesn't have to be torture (we're looking at you, cayenne-pepper cleanse). Adopt at least three of these behaviors - they're simple to integrate into your day-to-day routine, and all are enthusiastically backed by nutritionists - and you'll be thinner and healthier in days. (Plus, the weight will stay off.)

1. STEP ON THE SCALE DAILY

If your regular weight increases several days in a row, it's a red flag letting you know you need to cut back a little or beef up your workouts slightly.

2. HAVE FRUIT TWICE A DAY

Fruit has no fat and is mostly water, so it'll fill you up while leaving less room on your plate (and in your stomach) for high-cal fare. Don't freak about fruit's carb count - we're talking the good kind of carbohydrates that contain lots of healthy fiber. Make sure to add some of these fat-burning foods to your daily diet too.

3. SCULPT THREE TIMES A WEEK

Doing 5 minutes each of push-ups, lunges, and squats (in 30-second intervals) will

While you're scanning the crowd at a sports bar, your next date may be in hot pursuit at Bed Bath & Beyond. We convinced single dudes to divulge their pickup plans. (But don't totally give up on meeting guys in bars. We'll tell you why.)

1) MASTERING THEIR DANCE MOVES

"I once signed up for salsa lessons. Being in the class not only helped my footwork, but it also allowed me to be myself with the ladies...and show off my moves. I didn't even have to think of any corny pickup lines because the class gave me an instant in." -Jerry, 29

2) TAGGING ALONG ON TOURS

"When I lived in New York City, I used to ride the cheesy double-decker tour buses in hopes of picking up single out-of-town girls. Whenever I travel, I always want to meet locals, so I figured the bus patrons might be easy to get a date with. I figured right." -Dave, 27

3) CRUISING HOME-DECORATING STORES

"I've gone

Dear Snooki,

We're not afraid to admit it: even though Jersey Shore is the latest show-you-love-to-hate, we kinda like you. Your "Porn Star in Training" trucker hat makes us laugh. Your back walkovers in a thong and mini skirt impress us. And your ability to come up with jewels like, "He shows his good side then he shows his jerk off side, that's what I like: a good guy and a jerk off, it's all in the same," give us writer's envy. (BTW, Snooki isn't the only badass chick we have a girl crush on.)

But as great as you are, there's one thing about you that really bothers us. (And no, it's not your "freakin' poof.") Our issue with you is that you bake your skin. We were willing to overlook the comments about your ideal man being "Italian, dark, muscles, juice-head, guido" since maybe you just meant a naturally dark-skinned guy (who, uh, uses Steroids?) and your ultimate dream being "to move to Jersey, find a nice juiced, hot, tanned guy and live my life" since maybe you were

Monday through Friday need not be so dreary. By adding a few exciting activities to your routine, you won't have to live for the weekends anymore.

1. Exercise in the A.M.

If you're like us, hitting the gym at the crack of dawn sounds about as appealing as jumping into an icy lake in mid-February. But there are real benefits to squeezing in an early workout. Your friends will love this hilarious fake news segment!

3. Head Out on Wednesdays

Why save all the fun for Thursdays? Going out on Wednesday gives you something to look forward to on those dismal Mondays and Tuesdays. Hit a bar for happy hour or invite friends over, pop open a few bottles of wine, and order pizza. You won't spend a ton of cash if you read these tips about entertaining on the cheap.

4. Make Weekend Plans in Advance

Start scheduling your Saturday and Sunday activities on Monday. Spending the first few days of the week talking to your guy about cool stuff to do- like these practically free

Imagine that 2010 can be the best year ever for your love life. Follow these commandments and watch your bond with your man grow even stronger.

1. Stop overanalyzing.
Alright ladies: This means not rereading a text message 12 times and wondering if you should reply now, in five minutes, or in two hours. All that energy could be spent doing something else...like, shopping.

2. Quit the toxic guys.
Bad boys may be intriguing (and usually hot), but do you really want to waste your time on an unemployed man-boy with commitment issues? Even Audrina finally ditched Justin Bobby!

3. Monitor your Twitter TMI.
Your followers don't really need a play-by-play of your budding romance. It's the new way to overshare and just as bad as posting 500 pics of the two of you making out on Flickr. You aren't alone in this dirty habit. Check out these insane Twitter confessions.

4. Don't let him take over your iCal.
Do you really need to join his fantasy league when you couldn't care less

We want to applaud these artists formerly known as train wrecks and give credit to whom - or what - we think helped get them back on track. Still making your list of resolutions? Make 2010 your best relationship and prettiest year ever. Plus: Find out some crazy things celebs said in 2009.

By Katy Lindenmuth

Britney Spears

The Princess of Pop is much, much stronger than yesterday. Follow her comeback. Under strict surveillance from Papa Spears, Brit went from the lowest of lows (think bald, bug-eyed, and brandishing an umbrella at photogs) back to her rightful place atop the entertainment world. The proof is in her current sexy single "3" and ongoing smash world tour, y'all.

Props to: a Cheeto-free diet, gazillions of diehard fans, a new boyfriend who's neither a backup dancer nor a paparazzo

Robert Downey Jr.

A series of drug-related arrests throughout the '90s made RDJ the poster boy for self-destruction and wasted talent. But look at him now: sober,