The Art of Love

Wedding ceremony

2012-01-09T21:24:00.000-08:00

When two people who deeply love each other decide to marry, they reach into their essence of their beings in order to create and nurture something greater – their union.

These two people had their whole lives in front of them and wanted to spend that time together as husband and wife.

The wedding ceremony is the heart of the wedding day and the couple are the stars of the show.

The purpose of the wedding is the exchange of vows. The flowers, the rings, the prayers, the blessings and everything else just reinforce those pledges of commitment.

Marriage represents the commitment of two people to each other and to their union.Wedding is a special day for as a couple.

The ceremony sees marriage as a celebration of human destiny, It knowledge that the union will have as one of its major commitments the willingness of the partners to search for, discover and support each other.
Wedding ceremony

Engagement ring

2011-10-15T22:57:00.000-07:00

To symbolize the new relationship into which the engaged pair has entered, the young man present his respective bride with an engagement ring.

Since the custom of a man giving an engagement ring to his betrothed first began, this one pieces of jewelry had brought more joy than any other symbol of marriage.

A diamond solitaire is the traditional engagement ring, set in yellow, gold, white gold or platinum. It is the most common form of symbolizing an engagement.

A man consider one of many gorgeous and equally beautiful gemstone available such as rubies, sapphires or aquamarine.

The custom of giving diamond engagement rings in the United States began in the late 1800s.

Diamond engagement ring perhaps the most extreme, and successful form of branding incorporating the female body as a projection of make honor. It is one that has become so heavily ingrained into modern American culture.

There are as many ring choices as there are people interested in getting one. There are many choice of shape that is round, oval, marquise, pear, radiant, emeralds, heart and princess, all with a variety of setting.

In 1992 there was a report suggested that 55 percent of engagement rings buyers preferred round center stones, and 23 percent chose tapered at each and marquise cuts.

The symbolism of the engagement ring as an eternal circle tying the wife to her husband in a marriage, in which only death could do them apart.
Engagement ring

Anxiety of love

2011-09-11T07:21:00.000-07:00

Psychiatry professionals confirm that anxiety is closely related to fear. Anxiety is more typically focus in something distant or in future something that may or may not happen. For example that anxiety that love might not succeed.

When he or she found a partner and established a love relationship, the coupled then often anxious that he or she may lose their love.

All this social emphasis being humorous an interesting conversionalist, fun, impressive, and gender appropriate in actions provoking for both sexes, but perhaps more so for men than women.

The pressure caused by anxiety is only worsened by the normal dating expectation that one will be not be ‘uptight’.

Love relationship always rely on a particular anxiety. The very feeling of falling in love is coupled with a feeling of anxiety than can sometimes prevent the subject from pursuing his or her love interest.

The man could transform his own social anxiety into coping with risk and feel more in control, because it his choice of risk. Humor is another way to cope with anxiety, by laughing it off.

Believe in love at first sight forces men and women anxiety about love in general. Whether eyes meet across a crowded room, or passion stirs after a respectable period of time, falling is hard to do with dignity.

The problem being that stupid love or true love feel exactly the same,. They both involve the sensation of falling.
Anxiety of love

Wedding Ring

2011-07-11T03:10:00.000-07:00

Wedding rings are not just gold or silver they can be almost any metal, either plain or with gem settings.

However the most traditional wedding ring is a simple gold band.

Some new wedding bands are thin rings of ruby or sapphire and some even have fine bits of metal inlaid into the band.

There are many styles of rings to choose from. The bride want to try on a variety of rings to help determined what appeals in terms of the shape and setting.

While the diamond is the most popular engagement ring choice, some brides prefer colored stones, semiprecious stones or their birthstone.

The wedding ring has evolved in from countless times. Its purpose however has remained unchanged: to signify unending union.

Ancient civilizations living along the fertile plains of the Nile River were the first people to form tokens of commitment.

They twisted and varied grasses and reeds from the riverbanks into symbolic finger rings.

Iron was preferred by the early Romans, who believed this strong material reflected the strength of their unions.

During biblical times, great dowry gifts were given at a couple’s betrothal. It has been speculated that a ring, especially one of the precious metal, was substituted as a less expensive dowry.

In many Western cultures the wedding ring is worn on the left hand. In some countries such as Germany, India, and Chile, however it is worn on the right hand. Also in Spain it is worn right, except by Catalan people.

A traditional reason to wear the wedding ring on the right hand stems for Roman customs. The left had a negative connotation and the right a good one.
Wedding Ring

Mood and Love

2011-06-11T21:57:00.001-07:00

When we are in a good mood we tend to feel good about the people around us.

When we feel happy, satisfied, excited, interested, curios, we show great interest in people and are friendlier and more open than we are sad, depressed or despairing.

If you found in good mood, you might whistle while you work or sing in the shower. Little annoyance will not bother you as much.

You’ll let your guard down and feel free to be yourself. True love allows people to be themselves in the company of the one they love.

Mood is responsible for the seasons of the psyche, seasons that nurtures certain thoughts and extinguish others, seasons that not even the heart can ignore.

As our emotions give color to the canvas of human consciousness and our thought the designs of its images our moods determine the brightness and contrast that textures all experience.

Our mood also influences our romantic attraction.

The reason is that the story of our hearts mood and desire. When we are happy, we love; when we are not happy, we don not love.
Mood and Love

The Right Moves on Casual Dates

2011-04-12T17:52:00.000-07:00

The first dates is nothing more than an opportunity for the two to get to know each other better.

If conversation ranges widely yet avoids certain topics, proper behavior is a mixture of adhering to slightly shaky codes of behavior and providing excitement though spontaneously and the unusual.

In the traditional gender behavior code, the male opens doors and pays for everything and is in charge of ‘showing her a good time.’

He defers to her desires. But her first priority is to please him.

There are three goals for the first date: get to known each other, have fun and make a good first impression while remaining authentic.

Even after twenty five years of liberation, young men worry about their assumed responsibility for success of the date but women may be as frequently concerned about the right places to go and significantly concerned about money and who pays.

The penalty for not doing the right thing can be not getting a second chance. Both partners normally avoid any corrective feedback and act as if everything is going fine all during the date, in order to convince each other that they are ‘fun to be with.’

Actually first dates are fact-finding missions that should be short and inexpensive, such as an outing for coffee, lunch or after-work drinks.

Further more, a first date could happen without without the two even knowing or planning it.
The Right Moves on Casual Dates

Sentiment of Romantic Love

2011-01-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

Sentiment of Romantic Love
In many of the poems a nobleman would fall in love with a lady at the royal court. He would become her knight and devote himself to her service though his passion for her would rarely be consummated.

The love of Lancelot for King Arthurs’s wife, Guinevere, is perhaps the best known story to emerge from this literary genre.

If romantic love really were an invention of some medieval ports, nobody could have felt this emotion before the Middle Ages.

In fact, romantic love probably goes back much further than this, perhaps even to the dawn of human kind. A hundred thousands years ago, while our ancestors were still confined to the African plains, their physical activities were very different from ours, but their emotional lives were probably very similar.

The first humans spent much of their time scouring the terrain for edible plants and making temporary shelters, activities now completely absent from all but a few human communities.

But many evolutionary psychologist have argue that they also spent a lot of time getting infatuated with one another making love, feeling jealous and getting heart broken, just as we do today.

Romantic love can also be found in cultures separated from our own by space as well as time, in the remote preliterate societies studied by anthropologists.

The cultural theory of romantic love defined that romantic love identified the following core features of the idea: a powerful feeling of sexual attraction to a single person, feelings of anguish and longing when the loved one is absent and intent joy when he or she is present.

Other elements also lifted including elaborate gestures such as giving gifts and showing one’s love in song and poetry.
Sentiment of Romantic Love

The Feeling of Unconditional Love

2010-09-07T18:26:00.000-07:00

The Feeling of Unconditional Love
Unconditioned love means to love without conditions. This might sound simple but it really entails a lot.

Feeling loved and becoming unconditionally loving doesn’t happen all at once. Experiencing real loves takes time and patience and you’ll stumble and fall along the way.

Unconditional love love is loving your self and your neighbor and friend totally without the concept of judgment or need.

Unconditional love, loves totally without even the concept of need for the love to be returned.

But the the journey is well worth every effort. This not fantasy. Thousands of people have successfully used this simple process to find real love, genuine happiness and fulfill relationships.

However, sometimes we are thinking that, we can’t just unconditionally love people when they’re wrong, Somebody has to speak up when mistakes are made.

It’s true that we sometimes do have responsibility to teach and correct people – children and employees for example. But that never has to be done with disappointment and anger, the two signs that always reveal that your true motivation is to get something for ourselves and that is not real love.

Loving people unconditionally also doesn’t mean that you have their responsibility to give them everything they want. That would just be indulgent and irresponsible.

When we love people unconditionally, we accept them as they are and contribute to their happiness as wisely as we can.

Unconditional love is often thought of as a spiritual attribute or quality. In order to love without conditions, it often takes a greater spiritual understanding.

Unconditional love is the perfection of love and caring. It is the truth of love and caring.
The Feeling of Unconditional Love

What is Love?

2010-07-25T09:58:00.000-07:00

What is Love?
Love has intrigued people throughout history. Its joys and sorrows have inspired artists and poets, novelists, filmmakers, and other students of human interaction.

Indeed, love is one of the most pervasive themes in the art and literature of many cultures.

Each of out own lives has been influenced in significant ways by love, beginning with love we received as infants and children. Our best and worst moments on life can be tied to a love relationship.

Love is a special kind of attitude, with strong emotional and behavioral components, it is also a phenomenon that eludes easy definition or explanation. As the following definitions suggest, love can mean different things to different people.

Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful, it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

As difficult as love is to define, can it be meaningful measured? Some social scientists have attempted to do so, with varied result. Perhaps the most ambitious attempt to measure love was undertaken years ago by psychologist Zick Rubin, who developed a 13 item questionnaire (the Love Scale) designed to asses a person’s desire for intimacy with, and caring and attachment for another.

Some evidence supporting the validity of the Love Scale was obtained in a investigation of the popular belief that lovers spend a great deal of time looking into one another’s eyes.

Couples were observed though a one way mirror while they waited to participate in a psychological experiment. The finds revealed that weak lovers (couples who scored below average on the Love Scale) made significantly less eye contact than did strong lovers (those with above average scores).
What is Love?

The Arousal Caused by Expecting Romantic Love

2010-06-27T07:17:00.000-07:00

The Arousal Caused by Expecting Romantic Love
Expression such as “love at first sight,” “a match made in heaven.” And “made for each other” are familiar to all of us and generate higher expectations of romantic love and for falling in love.

Romantic movies, books and mythologies about great loves help built these expectations.

A poll showed that over 56% of the people polled believed in love at first sight; analysis of the romantic attraction interview showed that only 11% actually experienced it.

Most people growing up in a western culture know what romantic love is and have experienced it at some point in their lives.

For many, romantic love is one of the most powerful positive emotions ever felt. Some believe that love can answer the question of human existence, celebrate the freedom of choice and pursuit of happiness and provide the best basis for marriage.

There are three requirements for falling in love:
*A social cultural background that builds the expectation to fall in love
*An appropriate candidate (in terms of such things as appearance, personality, background and values)
*Arousal that obtains the label “romantic love”.
The Arousal Caused by Expecting Romantic Love

Casual Dating Relationships : Stable or transitory?

2010-05-21T22:02:00.001-07:00

Casual Dating Relationships : Stable or transitory?
When students were asked what influenced them to enter the most significant romantic involvement of their lives to date, the most frequently mentioned factor was the “social clock,” that is, their reactions to getting older combined with expectations of those around them that is was time to find a mate.

If a decision to seek (not to seek) intimate involvement can make the difference between casual and series dating, can casual dating relationships be stable in themselves? A medieval treatise on courtly love tells us:

It is known that love is always either increasing or decreasing. If love diminished, it quickly fails and rarely revives.

If this is true about human nature, then once the increase of love is thwarted by words or actions designed to keep the relationship casual it is on its way to extinction.

But couldn’t two causal lovers counteract this instability by agreeing to keep their feelings dampened in order to mutually avoid either having to commit to “love” or terminate?
Casual Dating Relationships : Stable or transitory?

The World of Happiness

2010-04-26T00:48:00.000-07:00

The World of Happiness
The world of happiness do not mean the fleeting pleasure get from money, sex, and conditional approval.

It also do not mean the brief feeling of relief experiences during the temporary absence or conflict or disaster.

Real happiness is not the feeling we get from being entertained or making people do what we want.

Genuine happiness is a profound and lasting sense of peace and fulfillment that deeply satisfies and enlarges the soul.

It doesn’t go away when circumstances get difficult. It survives and even grows hardship and struggle.

True happiness is our entire reason to live and that kind of happiness can only be obtained as we find Real Love and share it with others.

With the real love, nothing else matters; without it, nothing else is enough.

The greatest fear of all for a human being is to be unloved and alone. Those people were consistently more afraid that no one cared about them.

We all have a deep yearning to fell connected to each other and when that connection is missing, we are terrified.

When someone is genuinely concerned about our happiness, we do feel that connection to another person. We feel included in his or her life, and in that instant we are no longer alone.

Each moment of unconditional acceptance creates a living thread to the person who accepts us, and these threads weave a powerful bond that fills us with a genuine and lasting happiness.

Nothing but real love can do that. In addition, when we now that even one person loves us unconditionally, we feel a connection to everyone else.

We feel included in the family of all mankind, of which that one person is part.
The World of Happiness

The Appearance of Love

2010-03-28T23:24:00.000-07:00

The Appearance of Love
Love is an evolutionary product; that is, the talent to love, the wish to love, the ability to love, and the need to be loved are somehow genetically passed on from generation to generation.

But evolution has been going on for about 4 billion years. When did love appear? Was the first living created , probably some kind of virus or microbe, capable of love?

Love requires warn blood. Warm blood causes warm feelings and warm blood is a very new “invention” of evolution, being only 150 million years old.

It was brought into the world by the mammals, the last family to appear on earth and to which we belong.

All life forms that existed before the mammals – that is all life forms on earth from 4 billion to 150 million years back - constantly needed an external source of warmth in order to function and were dependent on the sun.

The mammals invention freed living creatures from immediate dependence on the sun. Mammals maintain their body temperature at an almost constant level throughout the day.

Humans, for instance, refule body temperature around 37 degrees C throughout the day – summer or winter morning, noon, or night at the north pole or at the equator. This is how they achieved independence.

We are no longer addicted to the sun in order to start the day.

When we think of the world as the mammals found it 150 years million years ago, ruled by big reptiles, goat lizards and dinosaurs, this is a great advantage. Their rule was absolute, powerful, total – the newly arrived, tiny mammal did not have a chance on earth to find is livelihood.

A small creature, such as a mouse or a shrimp could not compete against these giants for living space unless it were to outsmart them and steal out in uncharted territory – the night.

Then it could even steal one of their eggs because they were helpless fuels less at night and the winnings went to those who could maintain their body heat at night.

This available “niche” of nighttime is what encouraged the appearance of warm blood. And so we get an entirely new creature: one that is economically independent.

To this day, 90% of all mammals are night creature. The night, as we have said, gave birth to warm blood. But what is the connection between warm blood and warm feelings? We were looking for warn feelings, feeling of love.
The Appearance of Love

Reactance Theory

2010-03-04T18:53:00.000-08:00

Reactance Theory
Why do girls get prettier at closing time? One explanation is offered by reactance theory: When our freedom to act, think or feel is threatened, we are motivated to try to get it back.

This is whey people want more the things they have lost and why, in the case of romantic love, they desire those who are not interested in them and those they could not or did not have. This is also why the kiss that did not happen continues to haunt us.

Reactance theory also explains why obstacles enhance love. To enhance love, says reactance theory, the obstacles need to be outside the relationship, for example, an enforced separation or parental objection.

The most famous case of such obstacles to love is no doubt the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet, a story that pulls on our heart strings hundred of years after it was written.

Does parental interference really enhance love? Researchers who investigated the “Romeo and Juliet effect” found that for both married and unmarried couples there was indeed a positive correlation between romantic love and parental inference .

The greater the interference was, the greater was the love. The implications of this finding for parent who disapprove of the romantic choice of their offspring should be obvious.
Reactance Theory

How do casual partners communicate?

2010-02-19T01:31:00.000-08:00

How do casual partners communicate?
It is very important for most casual dating partners to be able to talk comfortably with each other. In one study problems college students experienced on dates, 35% of men and 20% of women listed communication, while 20% of men also mentioned shyness.

Casual dating conversation is supposed to be fun, and yet some important information is being gained about both the partners and the process of relating to each other.

Conversation is likely to focus directly on activities and attitudes the two people have in common, mapping out new territory the two might explore in their time together.

Or, conversely one may strive to identify herself in an area as a distinctive individual.

Most people do some of both – seeking inclusion by fitting in, and of differentiating oneself by standing out.

As students compare attitudes and interests, they usually come out in favor of honesty and directness.

Yet, in order to avoid committing themselves prematurely to any potentially risky attitude or a statement that might offend the partner they are likely to speak indirectly about such matter.

One way that casual daters explore their potential for a relationship is to discuss highlights of their own past relationships and those of other couples that they know.
How do casual partners communicate?

Real Love and Genuine Happiness

2010-02-03T00:29:00.000-08:00

Real Love and Genuine Happiness
Real love is caring about the happiness of another person without any thought for what we might get for ourselves.

When we give real love, we’re not disappointed, hurt or angry, even people are thoughtless or inconsiderate or give us nothing in return – including gratitude - because our concern is for their happiness, not our own.

Real love is unconditional.

It’s real love when other people care our happiness without any concern for themselves.

They’re not disappointed or angry when we make our foolish mistakes, when we don’t do what they want, or even when we inconvenience them personally.

Sadly, few of us have either given or received that kind of love, and without it we experience a terrible void on our live, which we try to fill with money, power, food, approval, sex and entertainment.

But no matter, how much of those substitutes we acquire we remain empty, alone, afraid and angry, because the one thing we relay need is Real love. Without it, we can only be miserable; with it, out happiness is guaranteed.
Real Love and Genuine Happiness

Obstacles Enhance Love

2010-01-17T09:42:00.000-08:00

Obstacles Enhance Love
Some obstacle is necessary to swell the tide of libido to its height; and at all periods of history whenever natural barriers in the way of satisfaction have not suffered, mankind has erected conventional ones in order to enjoy love.

Why are some people attracted to those who are not interested on them? Could it be the challenge that intrigues them? The thrill of the chase? Clearly, not having is more arousing for such people than having.

Folk songs are one of the best sources of folk wisdom about strong emotions such as longing and romantic love.

According to one of the country song, “all the girl get prettier at closing time.” Is it true when the time for closing the bar draws near and with it the painful thought of going home alone, the standard go down, and the attractions of the available people in the vicinity go up?

The study finding showed that a linear increase in attractiveness rating of both men and women.

As the hour grew later, the opposite sex in the bar appeared more attractive. A later study showed that this effect was not the result of alcohol consumption. It is noteworthy that men rated women as more attractive than women rated men.

Why do girls prettier at closing time? One explanation is offered by ‘reactance theory’. When our freedom to act, think or feel is threatened we are motivated to try to get it back. This is why people want more the thing they have lost and why in the case of romantic love, they desire those who are just interested in them and those they could not or did not have.

Reactance theory also explains why obstacles enhance love. To enhance love says reactance theory the obstacle needs to be outside the relationship, for example an enforced separation parental objection.

The most famous case of such obstacles to love is no doubt the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet, story that pulls on our heart strings hundreds of years after it was written.
Obstacles Enhance Love

Casual dating

2009-12-27T19:00:00.000-08:00

Casual dating
Casual dating period is a beginning with the second planned meeting or date and ending when both partners experience themselves as being “serious” or in love.

There are two different kinds of causal dating, which are most likely to be distinguished by the time period in which they occur.

First, during adolescent exploration, young people experiment with romantic involvements. They may “spend time” or “mess a around,” but often end relationship suddenly because they feel awkward or just get tired of being in a relationship and want to try something or someone else.

Adolescent couples are beginning to learn about love, and the main way of distinguishing between casual and serious dating is the length of the relationship.

On the other hand, in college causal dating, cultural norms encourage both sexes to put off seeking a marriage partner until they have finished their studies and gotten established in their career.

Many strident also have not recovered enough emotionally from the breakup of a long term relationship during and after high school to be comfortable with a serious involvement during the early years of college.

Though they may not hold back from sex, and they may allow themselves to explore and experiment with passion and intimacy, they believe in avoiding commitments.

Adolescent exploration occurs widely in Europe and may other places, but casual dating or “going out as friends” in college is prevalent only in North America.
Casual dating

Affairs of the Heart

2009-10-30T04:08:00.001-07:00

Affairs of the Heart
Romantic love is often dramatic and overwhelming.

Although falling in love can feel as warm and comfortable as putting on a favorite sweater, it also can send you on a personal roller coaster ride.

Your heart the organ primarily responsible for pumping blood through your body, also measure these emotional fluctuations.

It takes your emotional temperature and registers when something extraordinary is happening by quickening its beats.

So it’s certainly no surprise that when something as exciting as falling in love occurs your heart responds.

Although the heart is a popular symbol of love, studies show that the brain responds most intensively to love, sending the first physical messages through a series of chemical releases.

Those first moments of elation, followed by infatuation are brought about when a portion of the brain releases natural amphetamines.

These amphetamines stimulate, or quicken, your heartbeat.

After spending time with the object of your desire that initial rush will subside and your brain will release neurochemicals known as endorphins.

These neurochemicals reduce sensation s of pain and affect emotions.

They help you feel safe and at peace in the company of your beloved.
Affairs of the Heart

One Night Stand

2009-10-10T17:39:00.000-07:00

One Night Stand
The process that occurs in first encounter sex is fairly simple, at least as culturally defined in a bar.

By showing up alone or with only friends, a woman signals that she may be open to new contacts, and these might possibly include sex.

Normally, enough alcohol is consumed so that stranger-anxiety is anesthetized away and conversation is more playful that intimate.

The right “moves” are blatant to avoid embarrassing or potentially dangerous misinterpretation. If both people keep saying yes, they may end up in bed together.

Some people, such as those in the military and workaholics, may be starved for contact, affection and sex because they lack time and a few potential partners are available.

Others may be unwilling to get more involved than one night affairs because of the pain of a recent relationship breakup, fear of intimacy, or fear of the type of men or women to whom they are attracted.

Or they may want to revive their belief in themselves as an attractive person.

Sometimes the motives of enhancing self-esteem with peer group outweigh all the others. For some men daring the pick-up game with friends and beer, masculine history seems to be at stake.
One Night Stand

Sexual Love

2009-09-16T13:28:00.000-07:00

Sexual Love
Pure sexuality is a generic determined phenomenon billions of years old and is shared by many creatures, who are much older than us in the evolutionary sense and to whom we do not tend to apply the talent of love.

When a male lizard mates with a female, we view it as a sexual act, not one of love. But natural selection, in its own way, grooms this start over the generations to higher and higher complexities, to better and better perfection, and adds increasingly more mechanisms to initial sexuality, which turn the sexual process onto something more precise, fine tuned and thus more successful.

Love is the tool that assists us to correctly select a mate, to calibrate and gently adjust the process of sexual selection.

Sexual love is an evolutionary-designed tool that guides our selection of a mate. How does it do it? The judgment process involved in whom one falls in love with is based on a large number of criteria.

The first is the mechanism that guides us to fall in love with a person who is genetically similar to ourselves.

The second, on the contrary, is the mechanism that distances us from those who are genetically too similar to ourselves.

How does genetic similarity contribute lot our success in reproducing offspring? Let’s imagine somebody falling in love with a cow. They might make a very nice couple, experiencing lots peace and quite, warmth and harmony.

They would never quarrel and their refrigerator would always be full of diary products. But they would no doubt lack one thing – children.

However, children are not final end; they are but no means. The final end is grandchildren, and this is where difficult problems will arise.

It is, therefore, better for a man to fall in love with a woman, and of all women he will select the one most similar to himself, even within the same town and the same community.

An ever lengthening list of studies has found advantages in mates with great similarities. For instances, the higher the genetic similarity is, the higher fertility rates will be.

Fewer abortions and healthier children will follow.

In addition, the levels of altruism and mutual assistance within the family are higher, harmony and stability in the couple’s life are better, and their marriage satisfaction is greater.
Sexual Love

The Two Factor Theory of Love

2009-09-01T19:04:00.000-07:00

The Two Factor Theory of Love
A terrified person is potentially a person in love, as is an angry person, a jealous person, a rejected person, and a happy person.

Actually, every person who experiences the physiological arousal that accompanies strong emotions is potentially a person in love.

A woman who meets a man after the excitement of winning a great promotion in her work is more likely to fall in love with him than she would be on a routine day.

Likewise, a man is more likely to fall in love with a woman when mourning a terrible loss.

The reason, in both cases, has to do with the two components of love: arousal and a label.

The two factor theory of love is a derivation of a more general theory of emotions. According to this theory, like a car in order to arrive at its destiny needs for us to start the engine and then determine its direction, to define a certain emotion we also need two things:

One (which is analogous to starting the engine) is a general state of arousal; it is similar for all strong emotions and includes such physiological responses as rapid heart beat and fast breathing.

The second (which is analogous to steering the car in a certain direction) is an emotional label that explains the arousal – love, anger, fear, jealousy.

We learn the appropriate labels for different states of arousal (which is what we are supposed to feel in different situations) from our parents, teachers, friends, the media and personal experience.

We know, for example, that we are supposed to feel delighted when a dear friend comes for a visit, but anxious when followed on a dark street even when the physiological arousal involved in the same.

Combined effect of physiological arousal and a romantic label on the experience of romantic love can be explained:

To love passionately, a person must have first be physically aroused, a condition manifested by palpitations of the heart, nervous tremor, flushing and accelerated breathing. One he is so aroused all that remains is for him to identify this complex of feelings as passionate love, and he will have experienced authentic love.

Even of the initial physical arousal is the result of an irrelevant experience .....once he has met the person, been drawn to the person, and identified the experience as love, it is love.

Many people are personally acquainted with the phenomenon of spring fever.

This wonderful love ailment strikes during the early days of string, arriving with the sun, the blossoms and the fresh air the long gloom of winter.

But, as the personal experiences suggest every major life change causes arousal. From the exciting yet anxiety-provoking change of starting school or a new job, to a change in residence, to the painful loss of a significance person, major life changes increase the like-hood off falling in love.
The Two Factor Theory of Love

“Playing Hard to Get”

2009-08-05T07:17:00.001-07:00

“Playing Hard to Get”
People can attempt to gain control in initial encounters by appearing less available, less interested in relationship, or more popular than their potential partners.

This has been called the principle of least interest: “That person is able to dictate the conditions of association whose interest in the continuation of the affair is least.”

But the accent is on continuation. Playing “hard to get” doesn’t seem to work very well until a relationship is already established.

Studies of a “hard to get effect” on pre-relationship behavior only showed that people like prospective partners who are selective, but not too selective, or liked people who liked the research subject., but lacked in interest in anybody else.

In initial encounters, prospective partners may already establish some control over the process by being less available or more assertive.

But they must first appear to have enough interest in the other person that a desirable relationship appears to be possible.

Without the hope and experience of satisfying times together, few people will submit for long to the intermittent reinforce of: “I really like you – but I won’t be available for awhile, because I’m too busy with other things.”
“Playing Hard to Get”

The Evolution of Love

2009-06-21T04:44:00.000-07:00

The Evolution of Love
Students of evolution, especially those who study the evolution of love, are faced with a not so easy dilemma of values.

Western philosophy glorifies science and the scientific way of reaching conclusions, based on the hard facts of quantification, measurement and microscopic viewing.

But the stories of evolution are not always of the kind that can be placed under a microscope, especially not those concerning the evolution of the special human traits that enable us to love.

These have not left behind fossils in some geological strata. And yet these are the very questions we so urgently want to ask and to find the answers to.

The same right we take when we suggest an evolutionary of explanation of a physical characteristic, such as an organ, a tail, an eye, or an ear, is valid when we try to find the evolutionary explanation of feeling, behavior, the brain and even consciousness and love.

The task is difficult, but those who adhere only to what can be placed under a microscope are falling into the same trap as does the drunk who searches for his lost key under the street lamp.

If the key is there, that is all well and good. But there is a big chance that the key is elsewhere, somewhere in the dark space surrounding the lamp, the drunk will do better to search there as well.

Quite probably, the keys to many evolutionary stories are still in the dark spaces, where we ought to try and look, although we might at times found ourselves telling tales that include quite a bit of speculation.

The same is true about the evolution of love. Love is one of the most intense, dramatic, powerful experiences known to humans.

It is sometimes perceived as stronger than life itself. “Love is as fierce as death” says the Songs of Songs, “Omnia Vincit Amor.”

Our thirst for love is so intense that it seems as if our entire lives are about what happens to us during the restless pursuit of love.

In discussing the evolution of love, we are obliged to make two assumptions. The first states that the talent to love and to be loved, as well as the need to seek love, is part of human genetic equipment and is passed on from parents to children via heredity.

The second states that this talents appeared somewhere along the lines of life on earth and has been undergoing changes since then by natural selection.

These changes are what brought love in humans to such intensity.
The Evolution of Love

Suggestion for People Seeking Love

2009-05-25T18:18:00.001-07:00

Suggestion for People Seeking Love
An opportunity to meet and get acquainted is almost a prerequisite for the development of a romantic relationship.

Although platonic love relationships do develop by means of letter, telephone and more recently electronic mail and can be extremely exciting and rewarding as such, most people need to meet in person before they allow themselves to fall in love.

And, when people live, work, or play in close proximity, their likelihood of meeting (and of a romantic spark getting ignited) increases.

But, meeting once is not enough. Repeated exposure is yet another requirement for a romantic spark to turn into the steady flame of a love relationship.

Meeting repeatedly, however does not guarantee love. If the first impression is negative, it is best to cut contact, let the first impression dissipate, and then give the relationship another chance.

In such a case, repeated exposure will not change the initial dislike or disdain into love but will most likely increase them.

The conclusion for people who are seeking romantic love is obvious. Try to arrange your life in such a way you have many varied opportunities to meet regularly people through your work, place of residence, or recreational activities who are likely candidates for a romantic relationship attachment.

Being involved in activities you love or could love is important not only because such activities are the most likely meeting grounds for people who are kindred spirits (and what group offers a better pool of candidates for a romantic relationship?) but also especially because such activities guarantee living more genuinely and therefore more happily.

When seeking candidates for a romantic, the encounters should offer not one-shot opportunities, the type that take place on a busy street or in a crowded bar but instead opportunities for meeting repeatedly and spending time together.

The meetings should either take a while – such as a spiritual retreat, a ski vacation, or mountain biking trip – or recur regularly as dally encounters at the cafeteria at work, next to the elevator or the mailboxes at the apartment during a year long class or a regularly scheduled athletic activity, so long as they offer repeated encounter bid deepening acquaintance.
Suggestion for People Seeking Love

Who starts communicating interest in another?

2009-04-26T17:23:00.000-07:00

Who starts communicating interest in another?
It is generally assumed that males usually take the initiative to start the courtship dance, while female play the receptive role.

But the truth is more complicated than that.

In contemporary colleges, male students prefer that women deliver hints about their approachability.

Both sexes declare that men and women can be equally free to initiate courtship contact.

In many situations, deciding who really initiates a courtship approach may be as difficult as sorting out the proverbial chicken and egg.

Males may resolve their anxiety over making the first direct overtures by approaching only women who have already signaled their interest nonverbally.

Researchers have coined the term “proceptivity” to describe actions that women take that indicate that they are receptive to man’s advances.

In contrast to verbal approaches, non verbal proceptive behavior (such as gestures, facial expressions, postures, etc) can mean what the viewer thinks it means or something different or nothing.

The vagueness of inexplicit signals of liking allows the signaler to plausibly deny having given them.

Thus the signaler can avoid the loss of self esteem or embarrassment that often comes with overt self-exposure or rejection.

If I’m interested in a guy, I would rather catch his eye a few times than get somebody to tell him I like him. Catching his eye just makes him think about me. I figure if he approaches me without knowing for sure how I feel, it’s more likely that he really likes me.

This disadvantage of such plausible is that the signals may be missed or misunderstood. Both men and women can overlook plausibly deniable attraction cues and the receiver’s lack of response can be misunderstood by the signaler to mean “Don’t approach me that way. I don’t want that.”

On the other extreme, men are more likely than women to misinterpret female attraction signals as a sexual “come on”

They may then orient themselves mentally for a quick sexual conquest, whole discrediting that woman’s moral character: “If she’s that blatant without wanting me, perhaps she does this all the time.”
Who starts communicating interest in another?

Casual Dating Stage

2009-04-06T06:03:00.000-07:00

Casual Dating Stage
We can define the casual dating period as beginning with the second planned meeting or date and ending when both partners experience themselves as being “serious” or in love.

There are two different kinds of casual dating, which are most likely to be distinguished by the time periods in which they occur.

First, during adolescent exploration, young people experiment with romantic involvements.

They may “spend time” or “mess around,” but they often end relationships suddenly because they feel awkward or just get tired of being in a relationship and want to try something or someone else.

Adolescent couples are beginning to learn about love, and the main way of distinguishing between casual and serious dating is the length of the relationship.

On the other hand in college could dating, cultural norms encourage both sexes to put off seeking a marriage partner until they have finished their studies and gotten established in their careers.

Many students also have not recovered enough emotionally from breakup of a long-term relationship during and after high school to be comfortable with a serious involvement during the early years of college.

Though they may not hold back from sex, and they may allow themselves to explore and experiment with passion and intimacy, they believe in avoiding commitments.

Adolescent exploration occurs widely in Europe and many other places, but casual dating or “going out as friends” in college is prevalent only in North America.
Casual Dating Stage

Adult: Relationship and Loneliness

2009-03-10T19:01:00.001-07:00

Adult: Relationship and Loneliness
As adult marry, have children and take on increasing responsibilities in their jobs, their social networks appear to shrink somewhat.

Middle-aged adults have close ties to many relatives, but they often have fewer close friends than younger adults do, perhaps because they have less time for friendship.

What about their elderly people? Do they social network deteriorate? Apparently not. Older adult especially men do, do have fewer friends, but they have about as many close relationships with relative as middle aged adult do.

Moreover, they seem to receive about as much as social support from relatives and friends as middle aged adults do.

In other words, adult’s social network do shrink some in total size from nearly adulthood to very old age, but most elderly adults still have rich social networks.

But aren’t most old people socially isolated and lonely, you ask? There is a report that fully 65% of U.S adult aged 18 to 64 believe that loneliness is a “very serious” for most old people.

Yet when elderly adults themselves were asked about their “very serious problem,” only 13% cited loneliness. Older people spend more time alone than younger adults do but it is young adults who more often report feelings of loneliness.

Perhaps young adults, because they are less secure in their relationships, are anxious when they are not with other people; perhaps elderly adults have learned that being alone need not mean lonely and can enjoy time to themselves.

Whatever reasons, we must rid ourselves of the myth that most older adults suffer from a lack of close attachments and are lonely.
Adult: Relationship and Loneliness

Where does love originate?

2009-02-09T10:17:00.000-08:00

Where does love originate?
Where does love originate? Does it originate form the stomach or bowels, as many in antiquity believed?

Are the poets correct that love derives from the heart? Or does it spring, as some in Hollywood have seemed to suggest, from the loins?

A growing number of voices in contemporary science suggest that the brain serves as love’s origin – or at least as its crucial sculptor.

Neurology, perhaps more than any scientific discipline, confirms that biology strongly influences our capacity to love. Love is a mind activity.

The human brain occupies the majority of the human skull, and it consists of various regions and sub-regions of cell collections.

In the last century, various neuroscientific techniques have demonstrated that each sub-region guides a person’s mental and physical activities.

Each brain cell that guides activity contains a neuron, and each neuron interacts with tens of thousands, perhaps millions of other neuron. Billions of small gaps synapses exist between neurons and between branched neural clusters that extend throughout the brain.

The electrochemical firing of tiny neurotransmitter traverses these synapses. Because of rapid neural interaction, our brains operate in ways we may never fully gaps.

Every thing form drinking coffee to calisth enics, from enjoying Mozart to memory recall, from depression to doodling on paper can stimulate brain interactions.

Research scientist at the National Institute for Mental Health, has argued that that the human brain evolved slowly into three distinct but interrelated regions. The encephalic hypothesis about love’s origin takes distinct form when supported by evolution theory.

The first evolved region of the triune brain the ‘reptilian brain’. This reptilian brain region often continues to function in comatose persons, enabling them to maintain breath and a heartbeat even after “brain death”.

What we know as human love would not be possible without the reptilian region, but the reptilian region of the triune brain in important for love mainly because it keeps us alive.

The second region of the brain to evolve – the limbic (“mammalian” or “emotional”) region – plays a power full formative role for love. This neural region is common to most mammals, and it drapes atop the reptilian.

The limbic area supports basic social activities, including vocal communication care for offspring and playful activity.

The region also supports our most basic feelings of empathy and care. While organisms possessing only a reptilian brain are to some degree social, the limbic region supports complex social activities and the highly developed love than can emerge thereby.
Where does love originate?

The Effect of Proximity on Attraction

2009-01-13T21:37:00.000-08:00

The Effect of Proximity on Attraction
A number of classical studies demonstrated that as the geographic distance separating potential couples decreases, the probability of their marrying each other increases.

In one of these studies, conducted in Philadelphia in the 1930s, some 5,000 marriage licenses were examines. Result shows that 12% of the potential couples lived in the same building, as evidence by the same address, when they applied for a marriage license.

An additional 33% lived a distance of five or fewer blocks from each other. The percentage of marriages decreased significantly as the geographic distance between the potential couples increased.

In another study, conducted in Columbus, Ohio in the 1950s, 431 couples who applied for marriage licenses were interviewed. It turned out that 54% of the couples were separated by a distance of 16 blocks or fewer when they first went out together, and 37% were separated by a distance of a 5 blocks or fewer.

The number pf marriages decreased as the distance increased between the couples’ places of residence.

The two most famous studies documenting the relationship between proximity and attraction were conducted in college dormitories. Because most of the students who live in dormitories have not known each other previously, a dormitory provides a good setting to study how close relationships develop.

Renowned social psychologist Leon Festinger conducted a study of the residents of married student housing on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus in Cambridge.

These dormitories were built in a U-shape around a central courts covered with grass. The exterior sides of the building faced the street; the central section faced the inner courtyard, Festinger’s famous conclusion was that the architect had inadvertently determined the patterns of relationships among the dwellers of these building.

Two factors appeared to exercise the greatest influence on personal relationships: the location of the apartments and the distances between them. The most important factor in determining who would be emotionally close to whom was the distance between their apartments.

The closer people lived to each other, the more likely they were to become friends. Next door neighbors were far more likely to become friends with each other than with people who lived in adjacent buildings.

As a matter of fact, it was difficult to find close friendship between people who lived more than five apartments way from each other. In more than two thirds of the cases, close friendships were between next-door neighbors.

In addition, the location of some of the apartments created more opportunities for their residents. Those residents who lived near staircase or mailboxes met more of their fellow residents and met them more often. The frequent encounters in increased the chances that these well located people would talk to others get to know them, form friendships and increase their own popularity.

On the other hand, people who lived in apartments that faced the street had no next door neighbors. As a result these residents made half the number of friends made by those who lived facing the inner court.
The Effect of Proximity on Attraction

Eye Contact

2008-12-31T03:38:00.001-08:00

Eye Contact
Lengths of gaze, rate of blinking and dilation of pupils all have effects on attraction between people. In America, a gaze lasting slightly longer than the cultural norm of two seconds communicates modest interest, while a longer stare takes on a predatory boldness.

In some cultures, staring curiously at strangers is allowed, while in others, anything, more than a fleeting glance is considered rude.

Since proper eye contact is strictly limited by cultural norms, how does one give out adequate visual signals violating cultural norms? The answer lies in “gaze-crossing” or “catching his eye”.

Both men and women can signal the intention to gaze by sweeping their eyes across another person’s view-field, apparently in the course of shifting their attention between two other targets of interest.

If gazing rights are culturally determined, increased blinking is a normal involuntary response to the emotional arousal which mutual gazing causes.

Some women wear mascara or artificial lashes to accentuate the blink. Since people blink faster when they are anxious, women who blink or “bat” their eyes are telegraphing that another person is arousing them. But men are not expected to blink faster when attracted, and many of them experience the anxiety associated with emotional arousal as a stumbling block in initiating relationship.

Expanding pupils are also an involuntary response, and they both induce and respond to attraction in powerful ways that are not yet fully understood.

In the middle ages women took drug belladonna to enlarge their pupils and make themselves more attractive. Dilated pupils still have the same effect. In a modern study, men compared two nearly identical photos and rated the one with artificially enlarge pupils as more attractive, though they couldn’t say why.
Eye Contact

Meaning of Love

2008-12-21T19:18:00.000-08:00

Meaning of Love
Figuring out what people mean when they use the word “love’ often difficult and sometimes seemingly impossible. The word is used in so many ways, and we intend it to mean so many different things. Consider the following explanations of love:

Love is a kind of warfare. - Ovid

Love is just one of many passions … and it has no great influence upon the sum of life. – Samuel Johnson

Love is never ending feeling. – Adeil Prince

Love is just another four letter word. – Tennessee Williams

Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs. - William Shakespeare

Love kills. – Sid Vicious

Love ain’t nothing but a heartache, hits you when you’re down – Linda Ronstadt

Love means never having to say you’re sorry. – Erich Segal

Love is a perky elf dancing a merry little jig, and then he suddenly turns on you with a miniature machine gun. – Matt Groening

Despite its wide range of meanings and uses, billions of people today and throughout history deem love the ultimate ground for how they understand reality, regarding love as the key to world peace, progress and unity. Countless individual deem love the key to healing broken and painful relationships.
Meaning of Love

Healthy Love

2008-12-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

Healthy Love
Some have described love as the ultimate religious experience. It revels in the perpetual goodness that being in a relationship offers. Love is doing everything with a joyful heart and without trying to escape our pain. In deep love there is awe, mystery, gratitude, sorrow, rapture, ecstasy, grace, luminosity, and sacredness. The flood of emotions runs deeper than deep and more expansive than whole. Love knows no limits. The love inspired person displays a nobility of character, and his or her virtues flourish! Witness a mother’s love for her newborn, lovers in love, a person grieving the death of a beloved friend, a child reveling on the birth of kittens. When people belong, everything seems to fall in place, even in times of chaos and doubt. When intimacy is profound something inside of us says, “This is it.” True love defies al words, it is indescribable. When it is there, no words are necessary.

Hints of the idea of deep partnership love appeared at the beginning of the twelfth century, when courtly or passionate love for another, rather than being considered sinful, was viewed as love emanating form the soul. Passion meant suffering. Eros, our longing for physical union, united with agape, the universal spiritual love of our neighbor, and became amour, a profound personal love relationship. This profound feeling precedes any physical union. With amour, touch and sexuality are sacred. This experience is in complete contrast to the lover or euphoria or the lover of a sexual high. There, pleasure is the only goal. In healthy love, the senses are honored and respected as a meaningful part of the lover relationship.
Healthy Love

Definition of Love

2008-11-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

Definition of Love
In the Art of Loving, Erich Fromm, the German-born American psychoanalyst, says most efforts to love fail unless a person has actively tried to develop his or her individual potential and personality.

Fromm defines love as “the expression of productiveness (which) implies care, respect, responsibility and knowledge; a striving towards growth and happiness of the loved person, rooted in one’s own capacity to love.”

Concepts we often associate with healthy human loving include affection, caring, valuing, trust, acceptance, giving, joy and vulnerability. Love is a state of being that emanates from within us and extends outward. It is energy, it is unconditional, it is expansive, and it needs no specific object.
Definition of Love

People attract each other through nonverbal behavior

2008-11-05T19:15:00.000-08:00

People attract each other through nonverbal behavior
There are three categories of behavior that serve to attract sexual attention among people:

Announce someone presence – I’m here
Advertise one’s gender identity - I am female/male
Declare receptivity - I’m harmless and hospitable

Movement serves to announce one’s presence, since the eye is hypersensitive to motion. People will move in ways that show off their gender identity. College men will swagger, subtly flex their muscles or playfully display strength and agility, such as punching or arm wrestling during greetings, or tossing a frisbee. Women can groom themselves, toss their hair, and allow their hips to sway to show they enjoy being in their bodies. Both sexes may laugh or make exclamations that broadcast the ring of their voices and their capacity for enjoyment and pleasure.

In addition to attracting attention and advertising gender, one’s behavior must also assure onlookers that one is harmless and hospitable to approach. Lifting or shrugging shoulders, tilting the head to one side, toeing in slightly, leaning forward slightly, and relaxed positions or uncrossed limbs are all subliminal postural signals inviting others to approach. Shrugging, tilting, and pigeon-toeing are all remnants of the protective startle reflex which can be easily seen in young children confronting a stranger. With these actions our brain unconsciously communicates that we are struck or startled by the other and therefore closer to fright than aggression.

By broadcasting that we are reacting more like a child than a predator, we may stimulate caring and protective reactions in the onlookers, or invite him or her to approach and capitalize on his or her superiority. Women and subordinates shrug, tilt, and toe in more than men and bosses, and are frequently seen tilting or gazing down or away in magazines ads. But both sexes do it in attraction scenes.
People attract each other through nonverbal behavior

The Art of Love

2008-10-24T22:55:00.000-07:00

The Art of Love
Throughout history people have tried to understand and control the mysteries of love with the magic potions, spells, prayers and the powers of witches and sorcerers. This is not surprising, given the fact that for most people, falling in love constitutes one of the most emotionally intense, exhilarating, exciting, and significant of life’s experiences.

The expert describes falling in love as divine madness that is akin to the experience of mystical vision. Falling in love is a thing that strikes like lightning and is, therefore, extremely analogous to the mystical vision. Not really know how people obtain the experiences and there is not as yet as clear rational as to why it happens.

Even after many years, couple can describe in great detail how they fell in love with each other. Occasionally, but it’s rare, their love is at first sight; a little more frequently it springs from a long friendship. At times it’s the beloved’s look that sparks the romantic attraction, at other times it’s wonderful and endearing quality, or a deeply moving, shared experience. The infatuation may evolve into a rewarding, committed love, or end in a destructive and painful relationship, or it may just fizzle out. These last cases make us wonder. Since there was obviously nothing there to love, what was it that made me fall in love with this person? The inevitable conclusion is I was blinded by love. Like the Romans who believed that Cupid, naughty angle, arbitrarily shot his love arrows at his unsuspecting victims, so too do many of us believe in the arbitrariness of love.
The Art of Love

Desirable Characteristics of Love

2008-09-20T00:53:00.000-07:00

Desirable Characteristics of Love
Height and Weight
Research confirms that being overweight has a negative effect on both perceived and self perceived attractiveness for woman, much more so than for men. There is also attractiveness bias associated with height, with tall men and short women having more frequent dates than short men and tall women. Both sexes normally prefer that a man be taller than his date. Nevertheless, research indicates that good looks probably do not lead to more marital satisfaction or happier life.

Once they find him personally attractive, American women look for success potential in a man, typically seeking “a strong personality who is going places’. This attitude continues even though women are now free to seek success through their own careers and develop more ego strength of their own rather than just seeking success and strength in their partner. In addition, women may look for physical attractiveness as a desire factor and social status symbol in ways very similar to men, even if they prefer not to mention it.

Similarity and Liking
Numerous research projects demonstrated that students consider similarity of characteristics and attitudes important when they have no contact with a prospective romantic interest. But when people do meet, projecting liking through smiling, eye contact, leaning forward and appearing interested, can completely overshadow the negative effect that concrete dissimilarities normally have.

Furthermore, in a study of students’ accounts of falling in love, being like by the other person appeared in 90% of the stories far more than any other factors. Perhaps similarity is comparatively unimportant in partners’ account of their attraction because locating similar attitudes serves as an initial way determining the field of eligibles in and melting pot of ethic, cultural and attitudinal diversity.
Desirable Characteristics of Love

Physical Attractiveness

2008-09-04T21:50:00.000-07:00

Physical Attractiveness
At first glance, more attractiveness people are more likely to be viewed as sexy, warm, sensitive, kind, modest and competent. A cross-cultural study of thirty three cultures indicates that all over the world, physical appearance is more likely to be mentioned as attracting factors by men, while women are more likely to notice a man’s financial prospects and ambition or industriousness.

It is not simple. In one study in 1989, both men and women ranked the personality characteristics “kind understanding” and “intelligent” higher than either “earning power” or “attractiveness.” Research differs on whether men’s earning power and women’s attractiveness is considered before other personality factors have been verified. Little research has been done in the perception of “kind understanding” and “intelligent”. But “personality” may be more important than looks in mate choice, and “agreeableness” or prosocial attitudes may be sometimes more desirable in a man than social dominance.

Unusual physical attractiveness can be handicap as well as a benefit. Extremely attractive people are besieged by sexual advances that press against social normal, and societal attitudes toward the very handsome and a beautiful are influenced by discomfort, irritation and competitiveness. Men admitted being afraid to court a strikingly beautiful woman because they assume that every other man would desire her too. Therefore, women in the echelon of attractiveness may have to initiate relationships with less attractive partners and frequently prove their loyalty.
Physical Attractiveness

The Power of Flowers

2008-07-31T02:23:00.000-07:00

The Power of Flowers
Many fail to realize the power flowers have on our emotional well being. Flowers overwhelm our senses with exotic fragrances and beauty. They play on our need for belonging, attention and attraction and most of all; flowers remind us that we are somehow “special” to someone.

So why do so many people underestimate the simple sentiment of flowers?

Reasons people give for not sending flowers are that they do not know where to start and that not everyone appreciates flowers, especially men.

Locating a florist near you is simple. By searching through your local phone directory or by doing an Internet search for Florists you can easily access an extensive directory of florists that should be able to accommodate deliveries in your area, nation and world wide.

Locating a florist near you, that is suited to your needs, however, may be a little more difficult. Asking a florist if they have an active database that they use for their clients is always a helpful hint. Active databases store vital information about customer, such as past purchases, delivery information, preferences and needs and “special dates to remember”.

In addition, ask if the florist performs a client profile survey. This type of survey informs the florist of upcoming special occasions for each of their customer’s data via the database. Many of times, I myself have been “reminded” of my anniversary by my personal florist through a personal phone call or by a mailer. This act alone is one of the best indicators as to how good a florist’s customer service is.

Choosing the right flowers can also be quite simple. If a client survey is performed and an active database is utilized a professional florist should easily be able to determine if a bouquet of Daisies is appropriate for your occasion or if the arrangement calls for something more sophisticated. If you are still uncertain, it is also helpful to visit the florist’s show room. This will enable you to better visualize the type of selection that will best convey your sentiment.

However, things to consider when sending a man flowers are his personal style, office décor, and personal hobbies. Most professional florists try to integrate this knowledge into the design and flower selection of the arrangement. For example; if the man you are sending flowers to is a golfer, your personal florist may want to add golf balls or tees to the arrangement. Men are also stimulated by color and are visually oriented, so it may be a good idea for the florist to use bright vivid colors as well.

Just as women love receiving flowers, it turns out, men do too. A survey, conducted by the Society of American Florists, showed that over 60% of men responded in favor of receiving flowers on special occasions and holidays, particularly Valentine’s Day.

As the need to exhibit personal gratitude, love, appreciation, and concern grows in our emotionally intellectual society it has never been a better time for people to stop and send some flowers.
The Power of Flowers
By David Skul
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Do You Know the Best Age to Marry?

2008-07-10T16:37:00.000-07:00

Do You Know the Best Age to Marry?
While there is no magical age to get married, one is almost always better off waiting to get married, for lots of good reasons.

First, the divorce rate has been hovering at 50% for years, and is much higher the younger you get married. Teenage or early adult marriages have a divorce rate of 75%-85%, and surveys show that the older the female is at the time of her first marriage, the longer the marriage lasts.

If you were boarding on a plane with a 50% chance of crashing, would you get on?

The reason for the high divorce rate, particularly among teens/early adults, is simple: From a basic developmental perspective, peoples' needs and goals change over time, and at age 30 you will be a much different person than you were at 18 or 21. Also, studies indicate that the purely chemical "butterflies in the tummy" feeling one gets when in love only lasts between two to six months, if you’re lucky. In other words, it doesn't last, so perhaps it's best to be with your current love without making things more complex by getting married.

Also, while there is no perfect way to determine the potential stability of a given marriage, the following questions are vital prior to considering such a huge life change.

Prior to getting married, one has to be mature enough to realize:

Love is not enough; the stresses of a young couple are real, and the struggle for decent jobs, housing, and health insurance are real stresses that can destroy any couple. Why rush to take on difficult adult responsibilities?

Consider your own needs, goals, and relationship requirements. Does your partner satisfy them? It is rare for a teenage or young adult to have enough life experience to know what they really want.

You must be totally emotionally, physically and financially independent from your parents. Healthy marriages require two independent individuals to make a complete whole. Young couples typically marry to get away from their parents or a negative home environment, but there are other ways to cope.

Relationships need time to see if behavior patterns are consistently healthy. So ask, how long has this union been happy and healthy?

Get to know yourself. What do you want in life? What do you wish to contribute to the world and how? Live purposefully, and then you'll meet others with similar world views and life visions.

Do You Know the Best Age to Marry?
By: Emily Kensington

Adult Social Network

2008-06-11T23:36:00.000-07:00

Adult Social Network
Whom do adults interact with and how socially active are they? For most adults, a marriage partner becomes central part of the social landscape, and interactions with one’s children soon become important as well. Adults also maintain close relationships with their parents and other relatives. Moreover, most adults enjoy many nonfamily ties. They have close friends, associate closely with colleagues and coworkers, and often become members of “peer groups” devoted to such activities as poker, softball, car pooling, or child abuse.

Do the social networks of younger and older adults differ? Young adults are busily forming romantic relationships and friendships with both men and women, typically choosing to associate with people who similar the in important ways, just as children and adolescents do. Young singles seem to have more ties to friends and fewer to family than older and married adults do. Young adults derive great pleasure from their social ties, but they are also more likely than older adults to express concern about their relationships or to wish they had more of them.
Adult Social Network

Secret for Getting Noticed

2008-05-08T15:53:00.000-07:00

Secret for Getting Noticed
Chances are that you have had a wide variety of experiences in your quest for meeting singles. These can range from an event that yields several nice interactions and at least one offer to get together for a date, to going home feeling frustrated and convinced you are destined to be a dating failure.

The following are tips for helping to present the best to others. It's always helpful to ask friends to weigh in with their observations.

1. Present yourself as confident and in possession of a healthy self-esteem.
In general, people are attracted to those who appear confident and who feel good about themselves. If you feel desirable and sexy, it makes sense that others will too. If low self-esteem is a problem for you, this should be the first area you work on in yourself. It is not necessary to have over the top confidence, just a sense that you are someone that has a lot of positives to offer others. Do some reading, take a class that teaches assertiveness and/or practice daily affirmations. Remember also that when you treat yourself with respect and adhere to healthy boundaries with others, you will foster a healthy sense of self.

2.Be Yourself NEVER try to be someone you are not.
Trying to be cool, aggressive, (etc.), generally just makes you awkward and unapproachable. Relax, be natural, be the you that your friend and others who know and like you, see and appreciate. Think back to the times you have witnessed someone "acting" in a social situation, and the general reaction of those around them. Then think about the people you know who are good at meeting others. These are the people who present their true (best) side.

3. Smile and Show Enthusiasm.
Have an open and inviting expression. Make good eye contact. People are drawn to others like this. Let that attractive stranger know you are open to meeting them and happy to be there. If they have an interest back, this will pave the way for a first interaction. If you don't feel like smiling it may be a good idea to sit this one out at home with a movie or a good book or a low-key get together with a good friend.

4. Present Your Best Appearance
Always make your best effort in your grooming and choice of clothing. Attractive is just that. This also includes presenting an attractive personality. Be friendly, not pushy. Be open, not indiscreet. Have opinions, don't be a know-it-all. Always remember to consider others' feelings and needs. These interactions are not just about you.

5. Have Some Good Openings Lines Available
Hint: Natural conversation is best. Some possible ones to consider:
*Do you know so and so?
*I noticed you were enjoying the music a lot, isn't this a great band?
*Your drink looks good- what is it?

Remember that there are no rules anymore about who goes first. If you see someone who interests you, go for it. Just remember that they may not return your feelings. Then you move away gracefully, look around for someone else that attracts you, and make an overture towards them. Also remember that rejection is part of the process. If you let the fear keep you from taking that first step, you will greatly lessen your chances of meeting and connecting with compatible singles.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com
Secret for Getting Noticed

The Economics of True Love

2008-04-10T07:38:00.000-07:00

The Economics of True Love
In the real world, can there be romance without finance? A common saying: No romance, without finance. But what does it mean really? After a little thought about it and a hard look at the big picture, we see that it actually derives from the fact that in the real world, there is actually some level of bias to any decision we make, including our decision to love or be in love.

In a land of utopia therefore, it would seem perfectly reasonable that Love would know no bounds, experience no biases. In our world however, far from any kind of utopia, biases begin to play their different roles, one way or the other.

From a financial standpoint, most women want to be secure and go with whoever comes correct as far as finances are concerned. But finances aren’t the only bias in our society: upbringing, level of education, manners, carriage, height, persona, charm, etiquette, to name a few. Plus of course, he or she should be generally approved by our loved ones.

Expression of our individual biases however, does not mean we are mean people, or self-seeking individuals. On the contrary, they point immediately to two main glaring things: that we are merely humans in an imperfect world and our very human nature, with its whims and elements of choice and free will, allow us to “filter” out our choices till we arrive at our ‘true love’.

But is this love so defined, pure and divine or is it just a load of baloney anyway? Yes it can be pure and divine; no, it is not a lot of baloney. Why? Because from our very natures and the nature of the world in which we live in, our whims must be tolerated, till we see Prince Charming or the Fair Maiden, whoever they turn out to be.

True Love found in this manner, mustn’t be confused with “love” that stems from a desire for self-gain and greed. Yes, it is perfectly possible that finance may drive a romance. And yes, it is perfectly possible that for the less-materialistic of us, finance does drive a romance, but to a much lesser degree than may be considered healthy by most average standards.

A lust for self-gain and the romantic attachments that derive from this may only be considered greedy and disgusting (relative terms, mind), if the romance that results is only for the material possessions and nothing else.

A financially-motivated romantic relationship then, in this guise may not be true love at all, but just the love of self and the desire for self-gain. At the same time, whilst most ‘decent’ folk may not have a no-holds-barred attitude toward the ‘present’ material/financial status of the one they admire, everyone wants to see that the loved one has some “prospects”, or some desire and motivation to make something of him or herself in life. No one wants to be in love with the future bum. In this regard, because of the basic instinct of survival which is perhaps the greatest instinct of all living creatures, humans included, True Love may be assumed.

In this last context however, true love can only be assumed, after it has been tested, not to be a play for the gold, but as a really genuine state of the mind. This brings us quickly to the story of Romeo and Juliet. First and foremost, they were both from two powerful, perhaps financially free, albeit feuding families. Without the knowledge (possible bias) that Romeo was of the Montague family, she is drawn by him. When she later finds out, she mourns her fate to the heavens and Romeo, hiding in bushes close to her house, hears her lamentation and despite being initially dismayed that she was a Capulet, (this dismay cannot have been too great however, otherwise what was Romeo doing lurking around Juliet’s house in the first place?) is immediately emboldened to make his feelings known to her. True Love had been found!

What is the moral of the story therefore in the light of the theme of my discourse? True love can be found, despite any and all biases, financial included. He or she may not be well-off now, but that can always change. Romeo and Juliet were not willing to risk their love over pride and the squabble of some old and dead people; a squabble which was probably silly, of which they knew nothing.

Yes, the need for security is very high, but if you truly love him or her, if the bias can be changed, you will try to change it and have true love. If it can’t be changed, or the other refuses to change to suit your personal ‘filter’ and make you both happy, then, you may have to let go. Knowledge is not power…it is only empowering; the Application of Knowledge is Power.
The Economics of True Love
By Adeyemi Adetosoye
Source: ezinearticles.com

Apples for love

2008-02-06T21:11:00.000-08:00

It’s not roses or perfect hearts or even chocolate that was the ultimate symbol of love in ancient times. Legend has it that luscious red and juicy apple are perfect expression of love and affection

Known for producing some of the best apples in the world, Washington apples share this ancient tradition, revealing the apple as the token of love for Valentine’s relationship.

The core of the apple holds seeds that stand for fertility and regeneration. In Greek tradition apples are associated with love and marriage. They are offered to Greek brides to strengthen marital affection.

This custom has its beginning in myth with the goddess Gala gifting the goddess Hera with apples to signify long lasting love and a bless union.

Ancient Greek historians noted that couple s in the 7th century B.C would share an apple as a symbol of their marriage and hopes for a fruitful union. In olden times, apples were presented to sweethearts as a declaration of love.

In some expression, the word ‘apple’ becomes synonymous with ‘love’. Those ‘struck by an apple’ is tantamount to being ‘love struck’.

An Irish folk custom practiced by young women involved peeling an apple into one continuous ribbon while thinking of love, before throwing it over the shoulder. It was believe that the apple peel would land on the shape of women’s future partner.

Why not present apple in this Valentine’s Day? Choose from wide range of Washington Apples available including Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Gala, Fuji, Braebrun, Cameo, Jonathan Gold and Cripps Pink.

The Language of Love

2008-02-04T18:50:00.000-08:00

Do you know how your kids love to be loved? That may sound strange, but some people said that kids (and adults) have one or two primary ways they like to receive love. If your kids don't feel loved in those ways, they may not feel loved at all-even though you may show love to them in other ways. So fill your kids' "love tank" by discerning which love languages best fit them.

1. Physical Touch-Though freely given when your teenagers were children, hugs and kisses sometimes vanish as they grow older. Teenagers who feel most loved through touch need a hug now just as much as when they are seven.

2. Affirming Words-Again, don't forget that teenagers, more than ever, need support and encouraging words from you. Your affirmations give kids the assurance that they're loved.

3. Quality Time-For some kids, nothing impacts them more than when you give them your complete and undivided attention. So ask them to go somewhere with you alone, or ask to play a game with them.

4. Giving and Receiving Gifts-Some kids feel loved when they receive gifts from the important people in their lives. In turn, they may express love to others through gifts. Unfortunately, this is the language that well-off, busy parents often speak-but not all kids feel loved by gift-giving.

5. Acts of Service-Helping your son with his homework or fixing your daughter's in-line skates could be the most powerful expressions of love to them.

Say Love With Roses

2007-11-07T18:10:00.000-08:00

Many women and even several men know the value of sending flowers for special occasions. More than any other flower, roses are seen as the ultimate symbol of love and affection. The colors, types, and display of roses have their own significant meanings, which should be taken into account when purchasing roses for that special someone.

If the relationship is strictly friendly, stick with pale-colored roses, as in general, they signify friendship. Pale pink and peach colors signify admiration, sweetness, and gratitude, which make these roses the perfect choices for floral gifts of friendship. Yellow roses, though a symbol of friendship, also signifies jealousy, so be careful when choosing yellow roses in a bouquet. However, to signify your happy feelings for your friend, a bouquet of red and yellow roses together is the ideal choice.

Romantic relationships in their early stages should be signified with white roses which symbolize innocent love. They say “I’m worthy of you,” and are just simply beautiful. Light and dark pink roses symbolize joy and thankfulness, and would make a beautiful way to say how happy you are to have that special someone in your life. If yours was a “love at first sight” encounter, choose lavender roses or thornless roses. Orange roses signify fascination, which also work lovely for blooming relationships, but if you’re not sure where you want the relationship to go, steer clear of putting yellow and orange roses in the same bouquet, as together, they represent passionate intentions. If you’re planning to confess your love, the fascinating moss rose symbolizes that intention.

While the rose, in and of itself, represents love, it is only the red rose that actually proclaims “I love you.” It represents true love and desire. A dozen red roses is considered to be the ultimate declaration of love. If you’re planning to propose, consider winding two red roses together, as this is a symbol of engagement. A rosebud with leaves, but no thorns (preferably in a red shade) tells your loved one that you no longer fear, you hope for things to come. If you want your engagement to be secret for a while, consider an offer of full-blooming rose over two rosebuds, which signifies secrecy. According to tradition, touching the flower to the lips implies a “yes” answer, while a “no” is given by pinching off a petal and casting it away. If your beloved is very fond of roses and wants to include them in her wedding bouquet, a bouquet of white and red roses together makes the perfect choice, as the colors, when joined, signify unity.

Just as roses symbolize a blossoming love, they can also signify the end of a relationship. As stated before, yellow roses signify jealousy, but they also symbolize a decreasing affection and even infidelity! A rosebud without thorns or leaves means “there is nothing more to hope or fear,” which in some ways can be both a blessing and a curse. A withered white rose represents despair, a withered red rose means “our love is over,” and the York and Lancaster damask rose, though quite pretty, symbolizes conflict. As one might expect, a black rose, which typically represents death, is also the ultimate symbol of “goodbye.”

Whether you believe in the traditional meaning of rose colors or not, you should always keep them in mind when giving or receiving flowers. Your special someone might believe in them strongly, or someone you know just might be trying to tell you something that they can’t quite put into words. Color talks, and you might be speaking louder than you realize.

Young Girl and Young Man

2007-06-08T06:21:00.000-07:00

The Art of Love
Between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, girls play with love as if it were a doll; very soon after twenty they discover it is a dynamo. This is why an early and clandestine engagement often works more havoc than happiness.

For either, one of the parties to the concealed compact receives or pays attention which perturbs the other; or, a subsequent and acknowledged lover looks askance at the previous entanglement.

Since even if a clandestine engagement (as is usually the case) is merely a flirtation with the emoluments which accompany a promise to marry, those emoluments are not nice things for a subsequent and avowed lover, whether masculine or feminine, to think upon. Lastly, a laxity with regard to the claims of courtship is apt to breed a laxity with regard to the claims of wedlock. In short, flirtations, like clandestine engagements, are an affront to love. Accordingly to the engagement-ring should be as attached as much importance as to the wedding-ring.
The Art of Love

Husband and Wife

2007-05-31T08:33:00.000-07:00

The Art of Love
It has always been common to discuss the psychology of women. The psychology of men has usually been passed over, whether because it is too simple or too complicated. But the marriage question to-day is much less the wife-problem than the husband-problem. Women in their personal and social activities have been slowly expanding along lines which are now generally accepted. But there has been no marked change of responsive character in the activities of men. Hence a defective adjustment of men and women, felt in all sorts of subtle as well as grosser ways, most felt when they are husband and wife, and sometimes becoming acute.

It is necessary to make clear that, as is here assumed at the outset, "man" and "husband" are not quite the same thing, even when they refer to the same person. No doubt that is also true of "woman" and "wife." A woman in her quality as woman may be a different kind of person from what she is in her function as wife. But in the case of a man the distinction is more marked. One may know a man well in the world as a man and not know him at all in his home as a husband; not necessarily that he is unfavourably revealed in the latter capacity. It is simply that he is different.

The explanation is not really far to seek. A man in the world is in vital response to the influences around him. But a husband in the home is playing a part which was created for him long centuries before he was born. He is falling into a convention, which, indeed, was moulded to fit many masculine human needs but has become rigidly traditionalised. Thus the part no longer corresponds accurately to the player's nature nor to the circumstances under which it has to be played. The Art of Love

Grown-up girl

2007-05-24T06:47:00.000-07:00

The Art of Love
Sometimes grown-up girls are just as shy as little ones--and for thesame reasons because there is no one who knows how to play with them.
Girls often play with love as if it were one of the amusements of life; but a day comes when love proves itself the most sensuous thing on earth.And a girl is quick to discover the kind of love that is required of her.
As a rule many a girl who has been sore put to it to prove herself whole-hearted.For of course, always every suitor expects whole heartedness.
And this every girl instinctively knows. Indeed,is not a half-hearted love, or a half-hearted accepters of love, a contradiction in terms?
The Art Love

Marriage and Love

2007-05-22T06:29:00.000-07:00

The Art of Love
The popular notion about marriage and love is that they are synonymous, that they spring from the same motives, and cover the same human needs.Like most popular notions this also rests not on actual facts, but on superstition. Marriage and love have nothing in common; they are as far apart as the poles; are, in fact, antagonistic to each other. No doubt some marriages have been the result of love. Not, however, because love could assert itself only in marriage; much rather is it because few people can completely outgrow a convention.

There are today large numbers of men and women to whom marriage is naught but a farce, but who submit to it for the sake of public opinion. At any rate, while it is true that some marriages are based on love, and while it is equally true that in some cases love continues in married life, I maintain that it does so regardless of marriage, and not because of it.
The Art of Love

Flowers And Their Meanings Part 2

2007-04-26T08:13:00.000-07:00

The Art of Love
Along with anniversaries, each flower also has its own significance. Here is a list of flowers and their meanings.

Cattail - peace, prosperity
Chrysanthemum - a good friend
White Chrysanthemum - truth
Yellow Chrysanthemum - slighted love
Crocus - cheerfulness
Cyclamen - good bye
Daffodil - unrequited love
Daisy - innocence, purity
Dandelion - happiness
Fern - Confidence
Flax - domestic
Forget -Me -Not - true love
Forsythia - anticipation
Gardenia - secret love
Geranium - stupidity
Gladioli - flower of the gladiator
Gloxinia - love at first sight
Lavender Heather - admiration, solitude
The Art of Love

Flowers And Their Meanings

2007-04-24T06:27:00.000-07:00

The Art of Love
Along with anniversaries, each flower also has its own significance. Here is a list of flowers and their meanings.

Acacia - chaste love
Ambrosia - reciprocal love
Amaryllis - pride
Anemone - forsaken
Arbutus - one true love
Aster - daintiness
Azalea - fragile passion; Chinese symbolism for womanhood
Bachelor Button - single blessedness
Begonia - beware
Bells of Ireland - good fortune or luck
Bittersweet - truth
Bluebell - humility
Cactus -endurance
Pink Camellia - longing for your love
Red Camellia - you are a flame in my heart
White Camellia - you are adorable
Carnation - woman love
Pink Carnation - I’ll never forget you
Red Carnation - My heart aches for you
Purple Carnation - capriciousness
Solid Carnation - yes
Striped Carnation - Wish I could be with you, or Sorry that we are not together
White Carnation - pure love, innocence, sweet
Yellow Carnation -rejection, disappointment
The Art of Love

Flowers And The Anniversary

2007-04-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

The Art of Love
Everyone knows that it is customary to give a woman flowers but did you know that each flower has its own significance? Whether it is choosing a flower for your anniversary, or looking for the best flower to let her know that you are sorry for an argument, flowers have meanings and choosing a flower based upon its significance shows her that you are genuinely interested in her feelings and shows that you have a romantic side. So next time you choose a flower, bouquet, or even a plant choose one that is appropriate for the occasion or compliments your heartfelt apology, expresses your truest feelings of love, or compliments your fiery passion. Choosing flowers for anniversaries based upon their meanings are also a wonderful gift that any woman will welcome with open arms.

Here is a list of flowers associated with anniversaries.
1st Anniversary - Pansy
2nd Anniversary - Cosmos
3rd Anniversary - Fuchsia
4th Anniversary - Geranium
5th anniversary - Daisy
6th Anniversary - Calla Lily
7th Anniversary - Jack -in -the - Pulpit
8th Anniversary - Clematis
9th Anniversary - Poppy
10th Anniversary - Daffodil
11th Anniversary - Morning Glory
12th Anniversary - Peony
13th Anniversary - Hollyhock
14th Anniversary -Dahlia
15th Anniversary - Rose
20th anniversary - Day Lily
25th Anniversary - Iris
28th Anniversary - Orchid
30th Anniversary - Sweet Pea
40th Anniversary - Nasturtium
50th Anniversary - Violet
The Art of Love

Pink Roses

2007-04-18T12:49:00.000-07:00

The Art of Love
Though roses are traditionally symbolic of love and affection, and are the most popular Valentine’s Day Flower, the meaning of pink roses has significance depending on where you look. In ancient Roman Mythology, the God, Apollo, turned Rhoanthe into a pink rose, when she unfairly sought to become the protector of women. In this scheme of events, pink roses depict pain, long-standing suffering and death. Thankfully, there are not many people who adhere to the tenants of ancient mythology. In modern times, the pink rose is considered to be a symbol of innocent love that has not yet blossomed into passion, a flower of sweet thoughts and gentle emotions.

Pink roses please all our senses. Visually, they come in a wide array of colors, sizes, and fragrances. They are beautiful to look at, beautiful to smell, and carry a wealth of deep meaning in their blooms.

The next time you need to express joy, affection, pride, gratitude, a new romance, or even good luck, pink roses are the perfect choice. This elegant flower; in its beauty and delicate shade expresses a simple, innocent joy. As opposed to red roses, which speak of deep passion, the pink roses are a gentle reminder of affections not yet awakened the gentle beginning of a wonderful relationship.

The Art of Love

Flower Girl

2007-04-14T21:43:00.000-07:00

The Art of Love
A popular idea is to have your flower girl carry a decorative basket with rose petals. As she walks down the isle, she can sprinkle the petals in her path. If you will be using petals, make sure that the ceremony facility allows them. A simple runner can be used to line the aisle, making clean up of rose petals a little easier. Keep in mind that when stepped on, rose petals with color can stain the flooring. For this reason, many florists will suggest white or cream Rose Petals. Silk Petals are another option to provide color down the aisle. If you like the basket idea, but don't want petals sprinkled, your local florist can also use whole blooms and flowers to decorate your flower girl's basket. Another option is a "Sweetheart Purse". These small totes are filled with flowers and ribbon can be attached for further accent.

Floral Pomanders are a unique alternative to a Flower Girl Basket. A Pomander is a sphere style bouquet with no outward stems. Quite simply, a ball of flowers! Ribbon is attached for carrying this unique design! A Pomander can be created with a variety of flowers. Consider using flowers similar in style to your bouquet. Ribbon can coordinate with her dress or a sheer or neutral ribbon can be used.

Your flower girl can also carry a bouquet similar in style to your bridesmaids' bouquets. A more petite posey with fewer flowers will make it easier for little hands to carry. Ribbon streamers can add a unique touch to this bouquet. This is especially appropriate if your flower girl is a little older as it will make her feel more like a "Special Bridesmaid" as opposed to a flower girl. Do you have 2 flower girls? They could carry a garland of blooms down the aisle together representing the unity of two lifes.

A decorative wreath of greens and/or flowers can be created for your flower girl. This crown of blooms will make her feel like a little princess! Perfect for younger girls that may not be able to carry their floral accessories. Flowers similar in color and style to those in your bouquets will be complimentary.

There are many options available to compliment the flower girl in your wedding. From Flowers for her hair to a detailed bouquet.
The Art of Love

Love and Sex

2007-04-11T04:28:00.000-07:00

The Art of Love
Sex and romance may seem inextricably linked, but the human brain clearly distinguishes between the two, according to a new study. The upshot: Love is the more powerful emotion.

The results of brain scans speak to longstanding questions of whether the pursuit of love and sex are different emotional endeavors or whether romance is just warmed over sexual arousal.
The findings show that the brain areas activated when someone looks at a photo of their beloved only partially overlap with the brain regions associated with sexual arousal.

Romance seems to steep in parts of the brain that are rich in dopamine, a chemical known to affect emotions. These brain regions are also linked by other studies to the motivation for rewards.

Surprise, the activation regions associated with intense romantic love were mostly on the right side of the brain, while the activation regions associated with facial attractiveness were mostly on the left.

The study also revealed that as a romance matures, so does the mind.
Also found several brain areas where the strength of neural activity changed with the length of the romance.

Love wins
The processing of romantic feelings involves a "constellation of neural systems." The researchers -- neuroscientists, anthropologists and social psychologists -- declare love the clear winner versus sex in terms of its power over the human mind.

Romantic love is one of the most powerful of all human experiences. It is definitely more powerful than the sex drive.

Scientist suggest some of the physiology of stalking behavior. Other studies suggest that up to 40 percent of people who are rejected in love slip into clinical depression.
Rejected men and women in societies around the world sometimes kill themselves or someone else.
The Art of Love

Gift Ideas For Your Girlfriend

2007-04-09T06:14:00.000-07:00

The Art of Love
Sometimes, one does not have to wait for a special occasion to give that loved one of yours that present that will last her the whole year or her whole life through. The following are creative and unique ways to tell your girlfriend how much she means to you. Choose what you think is best for your girlfriend, the tips and advice below range in budget, style and originality. The sky’s the limit, or better yet, your choices are only limited by your imagination.

Surprise her with a limo
No, you do not have to buy it for Pete’s sake. You could have one rented out. Set a date with your girlfriend. Tell her you’ll pick her up. When you knock on her door, she will be surprised or probably be elated with the vision of that stretch car outside her house, or better yet, with the vision of her sitting inside it with you. Then, take her out to dinner. Imagine her thrill of having to get off and ride in again in that limo. Of course, nothing still beats gentlemanly sincerity. Make sure you are doing this out of your expression of love for her and not primarily for the purpose of being flashy. Or maybe a little, but ensure that that is not your principal reason.

Keep it simple
It really does not matter if you do not have that much money. The cliché: it is the thought that counts, actually rings true. Your thought peppered with your creativity and genuine sincerity is all it takes to make that gift for your girlfriend memorable and extremely likable. If your girlfriend likes flowers and stuffed toys, it would not hurt if you give her the following. Give her with a bouquet of flowers when you see her. Then, if both of you are to go to your house, fill your room with scented candles. Plus, take a stuffed toy animal she likes – a monkey perhaps or a bear? Place it on your bed and have it hold a single red rose. She will definitely swoon.

Or keep it hot and airy
A very different and exciting gift you could give to your girlfriend is a hot air balloon ride. Make sure though that she is not afraid of heights and is as equally adventurous as you, or at least willing to try something new. You can catch a romantic ride on a hot air balloon. Sail on the air over rolling green hills or catch a sunset or a sunrise with your significant other. It is very romantic and quite beyond the ordinary.

Gift her with a great and memorable experience
Make her breakfast, for a change. Wake up early and prepare a breakfast that you know she likes. Make it a little bit different too from the usual stuff she used to see. If she likes pancakes, make her one or two. Make adorable cookie cutter pancakes and a fresh bowl of various fruits for the dessert.

Give her something that glows in the dark
Nope, it is not what you are thinking. Remember those glow in the dark toys that comes in various shapes, sizes and forms. They have stars, space ships and the letters of the alphabet to name a few. Try sticking the glow in the dark letters forming the words I LOVE YOU on the ceiling above her bed. When she turns off the light to go to sleep, imagine her delight and surprise seeing those words from you.

Give her something that makes her bubbly
If your girlfriend loves fun and seems to savor being the bubbly life of the party, there is a gift that is perfect for her personality. A Cosmopolitan Kit will help your girlfriend learn the do’s and don’ts of mixing that great cosmopolitan. This handy kit also consists of a drink guide, a mix for drinks as well as a CD to set the right mood. All in all, these gifts are mere suggestions. You alone know what works best for your girlfriend and your relationship. Remember to not be afraid to try out something different, yet sincere. Unique but also familiar.
The Art of Love

Engagement ring

2007-04-04T16:10:00.000-07:00

The Art of Love
The concept of Engagement has evolved way back many centuries ago which indicates the longer period between a mutual promise of marriage till the actual marriage, where the partners exchange a diamond engagement ring and the same is worn by women on her left-hand ring finger, indicating her engagement to be married which signifies her acceptance of the marriage proposal and a commitment to a future together, hence the same moulds into a formal agreement between two partners.

However an engagement is incomplete without a beautiful diamond ring which bonds two people into a relation of trust, love, and a lifetime support. Hence a diamond engagement ring has to be unique and beautiful yet solid and durable to weather the wear and tears of life yet shinning against all odds. A diamond engagement ring is a charming product to be flaunted around which adds value to your relation, and we all should thanks to the diamond engagement ring for striking your heart with love as it is believed that a diamond ring worn on the third finger of your left hand is very much connected to a certain vein of love in that finger which directly flows to your heart and making a unique space within itself.

Design of a diamond engagement ring is continuously evolving with current times and its trends. It is typically a precious band, and mounts a diamond or other gem. Current fashions for engagement rings are for a gold, platinum, or silver band with a single diamond. A diamond engagement ring which stands out of all other rings which dazzles your eyes with its soft shine and the sharp cut of the diamond to tear your heart with tenderness and love is an appropriate diamond engagement ring for you and your beautiful relation.

There is nothing that can be replaced with an awesome diamond engagement ring to celebrate this delicate occasion to offer your would be ‘significant better half’ as a promise to be with her in good and bad times and support her with love, care and tenderness and have a flourished life together. Hence a diamond engagement ring is just not a lifeless product but it speaks a lot about your relation in silence words between two hearts.
The Art of Love

Honeymoon with love

2007-04-03T06:30:00.000-07:00

The Art of Love
Planning for your honeymoon? Here are some ideas you can consider that will surely provide you the best honeymoon experience:·

Top-of-the-line Hotel Honeymoon
After the guests have left, it is time for both of you two enjoy each other. Book at one of the top-of-the-line hotels you can find whether on your area or at one of the best places in the world. There is surely a great difference between staying at top hotels and staying at a regular hotel. Top hotels have bigger, cleaner, and luxurious room. The staffs are more accommodation and are ready to provide their services to your satisfaction. The foods are carefully prepared. All these you can get if you decide to spend your honeymoon in one of the top hotels.·

Honeymoon Cruise
If exploring the seven seas is your dream, then, take yourself one step closer to fulfilling it by going on a honeymoon cruise. Not only you will get the chance to see several places (depending on the type of cruise you choose), you can see them without spending your energy traveling long hours. Your suite is also the one that will take you to different places. You and your couple can enjoy the night sky, sleep at any time of the night, spend the day embracing each other, and savoring the views presented by the cruise.

Beach Honeymoon
Whether you choose to spend your honeymoon in the Caribbean, Miami beach, Hawaii, Fiji, or any tropical paradise around the world, one thing is certain: you and your couple will certainly get the relaxing feeling and will savor every second of your stay at the beach.

Winter Honeymoon
Your honeymoon getaway could be at the slopes doing winter sports all day. Spend your honeymoon skiing, snowboarding, and other snow related activities if you choose this kind of honeymoon getaway.

European Honeymoon
Seeing the magnificence of European art, architecture, and sight is another better way to spend your honeymoon. Set your honeymoon in France and feel the charm of the country. Go to Italy and visit places of interest. Roam Europe and witness the different culture.

Weekend Honeymoon
If you want it short but lasting, you can also pack for the weekend at one of the places you and your partner love to go or would dream of going.These are some honeymoon getaways ideas you can consider. But with places and other unique ideas you can go and think of, the possibilities are endless.
The Art of Love

Wedding Ring

2007-04-01T01:04:00.000-07:00

The Art of Love
Wedding ring is meant to be worn for lifetime, so men prefer comfort while choosing their diamond wedding ring. They give comfort more preference than style and design; generally, wedding rings for men are simpler than women’s rings, though there are still a wide variety of styles available to match different individual preferences. Rings may be personalized for additional symbolism with interior or exterior engravings or elaborate details such as Celtic knots or geometric patterns. Men’s wedding bands also vary by width, metal, and gemstone use.

The groom wears a diamond band to glorify their true commitment to their bride, men prefers to wear a ring that is unique and stands out from the rest, makes the right statement of who they are, which speaks a lot about his personality. Fashion conscious bold men tend to wear zodiac wedding bands, which is strange and unique enough to make heads turn and give it a second look. Even though it doesn’t gel well within a marriage ceremony, grooms who want to make their wedding ceremony unique with panache wear it with great pride on their wedding day, as long as it works well for the couple.

The most popular men’s wedding ring are plain metal bands, with an element of design one can chose a ring with a subtle design like migraine or a masculine braid, which features a braid design with a round and soft edge for comfort. It is well said that a groom only wears a wedding ring to make his marriage a public statement, and wear it because he feels it’s his duty to wear since he is married and committed.
The Art of Love

Honeymoon with Love

2007-03-30T16:08:00.000-07:00

The Art of Love
There are so many options when choosing what type of honeymoon to take. The most important thing is make sure that both wife and husband agree on a place to go that they will both have a good time. If one person has a good time it won’t make a memorable honeymoon.

A tropical getaway can be the perfect honeymoon just relaxing in the sand and surf in a romantic setting. This is a great choice for a honeymoon as there is relaxing and generally many activities as well and can be in some of the most beautiful places in the world.

There is also the sportier honeymoon for the active couple as there are honeymoons where the focus can be on an activity, besides the romance of a new marriage. You can head to the slopes to catch some great skiing or hit the lake to water ski and partake in the many water activities available.

An exciting option for newly married couples can be a traveling honeymoon where the couple travels to somewhere they have never been before. European vacations are popular because some cities are very romantic such as Paris and Venice. For the more adventurous couple there are more active traveling honeymoons such as a safari in Africa or heading to Brazil to see Carnival.

If you want a little lady luck on your side from the beginning of the marriage than Las Vegas can be a great destination for a honeymoon. There is great food, relaxing by the pool, and lots of activities, shows, and not to mention the gambling, all intertwined in a Las Vegas honeymoon.

Travel, active, relaxing, exciting, there are so many different types of honeymoons to go on in so many destinations that it is hard to choose the right one as to be called, “the perfect honeymoon”.
The Art of Love

Christmas Gift Ideas She’ll Love

2007-03-22T05:57:00.000-07:00

The Art of love
Christmas is a magical time, especially when you get to spend it with the one you love. But finding that one Christmas gift idea for your girlfriend, fiancée or wife can be a daunting task if you’ve just started dating and you’re not sure what she’d like, or, you’ve been together or known her for a long time and you’re not sure what to buy the woman who has everything.

If you’re just stumped and can’t quite decide on what to give her, but you are looking for romantic Christmas gift ideas that will sweep her off of her feet, keep in mind that the best Christmas gift ideas require some time and effort on your part. Here are some ideas that go beyond the impersonal gift certificate or typical scarf to get you thinking about some alternatives that may put a sparkle in her eye this Christmas.

A Christmas Engagement
There are few romantic Christmas gift ideas that can top getting engaged over the holidays. You are giving her the gift of your love and commitment, and her finger is decorated with a beautiful testament to your feelings for her. Of course you can go over-the-top with planning the wedding engagement – renting a limo, an expensive dinner for two, and maybe even a horse and buggy ride. But if you’d rather put that money toward getting her a ring, or saving it for the wedding, you can create a memorable experience for her with little expense.
• Cook Dinner Yourself – Even if you aren’t the world’s greatest cook, she will enjoy the fact that you took the time to create a meal for her.
• A Romantic Walk – Taking a walk after dinner, under the stars, to enjoy the Christmas lights can be absolutely enchanting, especially if you get down on one knee and slip a gorgeous diamond engagement ring on her finger.
• The Family Gathering Turned Engagement Party – If either your family or hers is planning to get together a little before the holidays, contact the hosts ahead of time and let them know you will be proposing.
You may be able to make the gathering twice as festive – an annual event bringing the family together, and an opportunity to celebrate your engagement at the same time. But if getting engaged is not in your plans for the holidays, you can always express your love with jewelry. A pair of diamond earrings with a matching necklace or pendant is a classic choice, or, you can choose to start a tradition by giving her a gold charm bracelet that can be added onto holiday after holiday.

Traveling
Whether you’re going for the exotic island location, an outdoor adventure, or you want to completely romance her, the surprise of a vacation getaway (that she doesn’t have to plan) is a romantic Christmas gift idea that will have her glowing with happiness. Giving her the opportunity to relax and truly put her obligations on hold, whether for a week or a weekend, is a gift all by itself – and if she can do this in her favorite kind of setting, you will definitely touch her heart.
The Art of Love

Say I Love You with Meaning

2007-03-05T05:48:00.000-08:00

The Art of Love
"I love you," are three words all children need to hear often from their parents. Do you want those words to have real meaning to your child? Do you want them to connect one heart to another? Do you want to use them to develop a level of intimacy in your family that communicates your heartfelt affection for your children? If so, consider strengthening I love you with the following suggestions.

Use Eye Contact. Give your children your eyes when you say, "I love you." Souls touch when meaningful eye contact is made during moments of intimacy. Touch with your eyes. It's a way of connecting that helps you bond.

Touch. A pat on the back, a hug, or a high-five will add meaning to verbal expressions of love. So will a slight squeeze of the shoulder or a kiss. Take your child's hand in yours when you say, "I love you," and add a tactile component to your words.

Use names. The sweetest sound in any language is the sound of your own name. Names get our attention, build connectedness and help us connect. Sadly, some children only hear there own names when they are in trouble. ("William, you better get in here!") Add your child's name to your expression of love. "I love you, Carlos," or "Tadahito, I really love you." Watch their reactions. Their facial expressions will encourage you to continue the practice of adding your child's name to, "I love you."

Use the words son and daughter. These two words can add intense intimacy to your verbal expressions of love. "I love you, son," or "I love you, daughter," will create an emotion filled statement that will invite an equally emotional response.
Add non-verbal signals to your spoken message. Smile, wink, and add pleasant facial expressions to your words.

Say "I love you" at unexpected times. Children often hear our expressions of love at familiar times. We typically say "I love you" when we are going out the door on our way to work. We say it when we end a phone conversation. "I love you" is often the last communication our children hear as we tuck them into bed at night. "I love you" at those times is often expected and certainly anticipated. To heighten the impact of these three valuable words, use them at unexpected times. Say them in the middle of a meal, as you are driving down the road in your car, or as you stand at the kitchen sink doing dishes together.

Express love in different ways. Some children are auditory and near to hear the words, "I love you." Others are tactile and need to be touched to feel loved. Still others are visual and need to see love on your face and in your actions. Why not give your children all three variations when you communicate your love?
The Art of Love

Spiritual Love

2007-02-28T07:56:00.000-08:00

The Art of Love

Love is a passion which does not take into consideration any reward, utilization or return. It’s Spiritual – clothed in total acceptance.

It can be difficult to let go of some of the baggage we carry around with us from one relationship to the next but we need to let it go. Otherwise we will be let go. You can’t start the engine of a new vehicle with the key from your former vehicle.

A relationship needs a foundation and two willing builders. The outside of a person tells us nothing about what is inside. We must begin to look at people from the inside out instead of the outside in. That’s why so many people are living lonely lives. Choosing love is not like choosing fruit. The cantaloupe might be smooth on the outside but once you cut it open it’s bitter. The cantaloupes that have the lumps and bumps are usually the ones that are the sweetest.

Love blossoms where differences are respected and people are allowed to be themselves, rather than something that someone else wants or needs them to be. I can’t be everything for you because I have a hard enough time being enough for myself. Sometimes we don’t have all the answers. Sometimes we’re wrong. We must learn to give up the need to be right. There is no right or wrong…it just is! That is the essence of spiritual love.

We all have an inherent need to merge with those we love. But we simultaneously desire the comfort of detachment. Love requires a certain amount of freedom. You don't have to stop living just because you are sharing a life with another person. Spiritual love is not caged.

God is attempting to show us the essence of Spiritual Love. It’s all around us if we would only open our hearts to it. Sometimes we have to take risks. We have to step out on faith. How can we reach out to each other if we aren’t courageous enough to let others see who we really are and what we need?

The Art of Love

Perfect Birthday Flowers for Women

2007-02-10T16:55:00.000-08:00

The Art of Love

Flowers have long been considered one of the best birthday gifts for women and rightfully so. Flowers are beautiful, graceful and simply make the recipient feel very special. However, the woman you are buying flowers for may impact the type of flowers you buy. If you are interested in buying flowers for a daughter or a mom, then affectionate and cheerful flowers are more appropriate. Examples of flowers that should be given to a daughter or a mother include wild flowers, tulips, Gerber daisies, birth month flowers, or any flower that is a woman’s particular favorite.

Roses are always a popular choice, however for a mom or daughter pink, yellow, orange, or white are more appropriate. Every woman loves roses, and the alternate colors brighten up the rose as well as show love in a non-romantic way. As such, red roses should be reserved only for romantic relationships.

The best birthday flowers suggestion for your girlfriend or wife is always red roses. Although red roses symbolize love and romance and are always an appropriate choice for your wife they might not be the right choice for your girlfriend if a relationship is new. In this case, pink or any other colored roses would be an appropriate choice as well as any favorite flower your girlfriend has mentioned.

Different months of the year have corresponding flowers, much like birthstones. January is the snowdrop and carnation; February the primrose and violet; March the violet and jonquil; April flowers are the daisy and sweet pea; May represents lily of the valley and hawthorn; June is the rose and honeysuckle; July the water lily and larkspur; August represents the gladiolus and poppy; September the Morning Glory and Aster; October the Marigold; November, chrysanthemum; and December birthday’s the Poinsettia and Holly.

The Art of Love

Flowers of Love

2007-01-12T20:20:00.000-08:00

The art of love
Flowers have become universal symbols of emotions. Whenever there is a special occasion, people buy flowers to celebrate or to let someone know that they are special. People, especially men, say with flowers what they cannot say with their lips.

Unbeknownst to many, the kind of flowers that you give to actually have meaning. Your Valentine’s gift for instance of red roses conveyed the message right for it means ‘I love you.’ Other flowers convey different meanings. Here are some of the more popular ones and messages that each kind gives. Read on and find out what to give your loved one the next time you buy a bouquet.

For example:
Camellia – means perfect loveliness and gratitude, which would be a wonderful thank you gift.

Red camellia expresses excellence while the pink variety means extraordinary loveliness.

Daisy – this yellow flower symbolizes loyal love and innocence

Rose – though rose will generally mean “I Love You,” each color conveys a meaning. White, for instance, expresses purity and innocence, yellow, friendship, pink happiness and red, love and passion. Even rosebuds have meaning, innocence and purity.
The of love

Romantic Love Quotes

2006-12-18T07:41:00.000-08:00

The Art of Love
Here's a large collection of famous love quotes and sayings. These love quotes are inspiring and beautiful.

Love is a many splendid thing. Love lifts us up where we belong. All you need is love! ~ from the movie Moulin Rouge ~

Other men said they have seen angels, But I have seen thee And thou art enough. ~ by G. Moore ~

I would fly you to the moon and back if you'll be . . . if you'll be my baby. ~ From a song by Savage Garden ~

I love you - those three words have my life in them. ~ by Alexandrea to Nicholas III ~

What lies behind us, and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. ~ by Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

I have been astonished that men could die martyrs for their religion - I have shudder'd at it. I shudder no more. I could be martyr'd for my religion Love is my religion And I could die for that. I could die for you. ~ by John Keats ~

I'd like to run away From you, But if you didn't come And find me ... I would die. ~ by Shirley Bassey ~

When you love someone, all your saved-up wishes start coming out. ~ by Elizabeth Bowen (1899-1973) ~

The greatest thing you'll ever learn Is to love and be loved in return. ~ From "Unforgettable with Love" by Natalie Cole

Soul meets soul on lover's lips. ~ by Percy Bysshe Shelly ~

I have found men who didn't know how to kiss. I've always found time to teach them. ~ by Mae West ~
The Art of Love

The Art of Love

2006-11-20T05:36:00.000-08:00

The Art of Love
Love is a profound feeling of tender affection for, or intense attraction. People in love are often considered to have "good" interpersonal chemistry. Love is described as a deep, ineffable feeling shared in passionate or intimate interpersonal relationships.

In different contexts, however, the word love has a variety of related but distinct meanings: in addition to romantic love, which is characterized by a mix of emotional and sexual desire, other forms include platonic love, religious love, familial love, and the more casual application of the term to anyone or anything that one considers strongly pleasurable, enjoyable, or desirable, including activities and foods.

This diverse range of meanings in a single word is commonly contrasted with the plurality of Greek words for Love, reflecting the word's versatility and complexity.
The Art of Love