Illustration: ThinkstockBy Leigh Newman

Nice Thing #1: "The way you handled that huge, hairy spider on the wall of the shower was hot."
This is also known as "the way you handled that insane toddler temper tantrum was hot" or "the way you handled that endless grocery list was hot." The most joy-inducing aspect of each of these examples is that you're not being cute or indulging in flattery in order to make your partner feel good. Completing these kinds of trying tasks do have a nugget of honest-to-God sexiness. Bravery, even in the face of bugs, is sexy. So is self-control and patience in the face of a furious child throwing blocks around his room. So is grit and determination in the face of 76 aisles of glittering food products and a cashier who won't take coupons. So your other half didn't save a kitten from a burning house this week. Recognizing his everyday acts of heroism makes those acts--and him--feel spectacularly unordinary, if not extraordinary.

Nice Thing #2: "You smell like the day I met you."

Boxing GlovesBy Jennifer Berg

The turkey? Burning. Parents? Nagging. Every relationship is filled with arguments and almost-arguments -- but never more so than during the holidays. Here's a guide to how to pick your battles with your beloved:

Is It Worth It?
"There's value in working through conflict as a couple." says Rachel Kleinman, an expert partner at YourTango. "There is also value in asserting your needs and desires in a relationship." Just be careful of how often, and how forcefully, you make those needs known.

"The most successful relationships are ones where the parties have developed effective strategies for resolving conflict, yet avoid it as much as possible," Kleinman says. "High-conflict couples rarely last. So, unless something is really important to you -- that is, unless it speaks to your core values or your identity -- consider letting it slide."

Think About What's Really Bugging You
So you flipped out on him for loading the dishwasher incorrectly. Chances are, clean cereal

Getty ImagesBy Ronnie Koenig

You might think you have sexy down to a science. But do you know what real men actually want in a lover? Read on to find out.

Enthusiasm
When it comes to sex, you can get an "A" for effort. Guys want to be with someone who's actually into sex and not doing it as a favor or just going through the motions.

"There is nothing more seductive than an enthusiastic lover," says Lou Paget, certified sex educator and author of The Big O: Orgasms: How to Have Them, Give Them, and Keep Them Coming. "That beats out the perfect body or the perfect face anytime. A man wants feedback that a woman is into doing things with him!"

New Tricks
Men want a lover who is willing to try new things from time to time. That doesn't mean you have to go all 50 Shades of Grey. Just be open to ideas.

"Sexual desire is like an appetite," says Paget. "We all want to try different flavors -- otherwise we'd get bored eating at the same place all the time. Men want someone who is willing to explore

Getty ImagesBy Natasha Burton

These 14 warning signs to look for on his profile will help you weed out the wrong guys.

Red Flag #1: He Focuses on Looks
Sure, we all want to find someone we're attracted to, but some guys take this too far. Watch out for men looking for a woman who is "stunning," "hot," "fit" and "sexy" (or any similar adjective). If these guys don't seem to care about a woman's personality and character, they're probably on the hunt for arm candy, not a woman with substance.

Natasha Burton is a love and relationship writer whose work has appeared in The Huffington Post, Glo.com, WomansDay.com, Maxim, iVillage.com and Mom.me. She is the coauthor of dating guide The Little Black Book of Big Red Flags.

Red Flag #2: He Doesn't Say What He Has to Offer
A guy's profile shouldn't be solely about what he wants in a woman -- he should reveal what he brings to a relationship. Without sounding arrogant or shallow, he should be able to explain why he's a good catch. For example, he's a

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Little strategic moves you can do with your clothes on to make things hotter than ever when you finally go skin-to-skin tonight.

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Go on a breakfast date. Romantic dinners are overrated. For one, they're pricey; plus, you're usually too full to even think about hooking up when you get home. Clocking some quality one-on-one time, anytime, is what really matters. Couples who go out together at least once a week are three times more likely to have wowza sex, according to research from the National Marriage Project. Grab a table at Starbucks, buy a couple of muffins, and catch up while you caffeinate.

Chillax. How crazed are you at work, on a scale from zero to "I'm ready to jump out a 10th-story window"? We ask because you're 76 percent less likely to have sex during weeks when you're super stressed, the Journal of Family Psychology notes. Ease your nerves by spending 10 minutes outside. (Lie in the grass, and think of

The Eight of Wands card suggests that your relationship or love life may be up in the air. You might not know if you are coming or going, especially if you have rivals or competition. Unexpected events and strong emotion may sweep through your life. Things could be moving too fast or seem out of control. In your haste or enthusiasm you might be unable to hold back. You could find yourself saying, 'We didn't plan it -- it just happened.'

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There's a lot of advice on what it takes to build a strong, healthy relationship, but not all of that advice comes from the people who know it best: those in happy, long-term marriages. Of course each couple has its own rules and tricks they use to stay happy, but I've rounded up a list of general suggestions lovebirds can use to strengthen their bond with their significant others. Click through for 8 simple relationship tips from happily married couples! - By Krishann Briscoe

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We love you, guys, but these things are making us crazy.You know that moment when your eyes widen and you think, did he really just do that? Sometimes, no matter how much you love him, your man does that one thing that just irritates the hell of you. New research shows annoying behavior can actually slow down your brain activity. So listen up, ladies, you've got your minds to protect. Here are 10 things you must get your guys to out the kibosh on.

1. Planning Spontaneous Trips

This might be a shocker, but we hate surprises. British airways conducted a survey and found that not only 60% of women hate surprises, about a third felt unexpected trips are on their list of "don'ts". The problem with unplanned getaways is we don't have enough time to prepare. Turns out, we need about 7 days and 11 hours notice in order to fully enjoy a romantic vacation. Guys, please give us this time - we wouldn't want to leave our toothbrush behind.

More from YourTango: I'm Bored With Our Sex Life. What Should I Do? [VIDEO]

2. Falling Asleep After Sex

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