Love
Books
A Brief History of Love, from the New Book “Love Sense”

The new book Love Sense by clinical psychologist Dr. Sue Johnson tries to take some of the mystery out of that big emotion. While that may not sound very romantic, Johnson is dedicated to the scientific exploration of love so that we may have better, more-fulfilling, more intimate long-term relationships — especially in a world where […]

Pop Culture
Top 5 Love Lessons from The Bachelor (Juan Pablo, The Women Tell All)

photo courtesy of ABC/Rick Rowell Ladies, never say you “think too much.” Serious reflection, internal debate, philosophical pondering — these are all good things in a woman, in a romantic partner, in a human being (even if they may seem surprising to Juan Pablo). Honesty is the best policy when it comes to non-exclusive relationships — […]

Pop Culture
Top 5 Love Lessons from the Bachelor (Juan Pablo, Hometown Dates)

photo courtesy of ABC/Guy D’Alema Dudes: No sleeveless tees over long-sleeved ones (even if they’re attached and it’s supposed to be a “look”). In fact, better yet: No sleeveless tees, period. If one of the parents of your date asks for either a private dance performance or a private dance lesson from you, quickly but tactfully […]

Pop Culture
Top 5 Love Lessons from The Bachelor (Juan Pablo, Ep 7)

photo courtesy of ABC/Michael Fullana If you’re looking for an “intellectual connection” with a potential mate (like Sharleen), don’t go on “The Bachelor.” If your date makes you wish you were a little dumber (like JP makes Sharleen wish she were), then that is a clear sign this relationship should be kept squarely in the booty […]

Dear Em & Lo
Your Call: I Was Bitchy, Now He Won’t See Me

photo via flickr We get a lot of advice questions coming in at EMandLO.com, but sadly, we just can’t answer them all. Which is why, once a week, we turn to you to decide how best to advise a reader. Make your call on the letter below by leaving your advice in the comments section. Submit Your Own Question to […]

Confessions
Comment of the Week: The Only Thing You Can Control Is Yourself

photo via Flickr Reader Michael wrote a HUGE response to the post, “Your Call – Once a Cheater, Always a Cheater? It was a little meandering, and we weren’t sure we were quite down with all of his advice, so we took the liberty of gently editing it a bit with the Em & Lo red pen: There […]

Pop Culture
Top 5 Love Lessons from The Bachelor (Juan Pablo, Ep 5)

screenshot from ABC’s The Bachelor Your date being interested in hearing about your career is not “AMAZING!”, it does not make him an extraordinary human being with mystical qualities that make him the perfect guy for you. Asking you about your job and him actually listening to the answer should be the bare minimum for […]

Pop Culture
Top 5 Love Lessons from The Bachelor (Juan Pablo, Ep 4)

photo courtesy of ABC/Christopher Jue When your date confides in you about their terrible, deadbeat, alcoholic father who abandoned them, do NOT respond with, “Wow, that must have been so difficult for your father.” The appropriate response is, “Wow, that must have been so difficult for your YOU.” Don’t tell your date what you think […]

Confessions
Comment of the Week: I Love EMandLO.com!

Okay, this isn’t a comment, it’s a private email we got this week, but it warmed the cockles of our hearts and stroked the nooks of our egos, so we just had to share. At first, upon cursory scan, we were afraid this might be some mildly creepy love letter from a reader with stalker […]

Pop Culture
Top 5 Love Lessons from The Bachelor (Juan Pablo, Ep 3)

photo courtesy of ABC/Rick Rowell Date location don’ts: cold and dirty city harbors (that you intend to swim in), sport stadium hot dog kitchens (that you intend to make out in), and bungee-jumping bridges next to busy 8-lane freeways. If you put just the tip in, it doesn’t count. We’re of course talking about putting just […]

Pop Culture
Top 5 Love Lessons Learned from The Bachelor: Juan Pablo, Ep 2

photo courtesy of ABC/Todd Wawrychuk Sensual massage and talk of the dearly departed do not mix. If someone on a date is pressuring you to do something that you don’t feel comfortable with, that goes against your values, and that you simply don’t want to do, then stand up for yourself and don’t do it! […]

Pop Culture
Great Love Texts from Literature: Romeo & Juliet

ACT II. SCENE II. Capulet’s orchard: Juliet: R, where u @? [No response.] Juliet: helloooo???? [No response. Juliet starts a new text.] Juliet: yo, i think i’m in <3 but our rents h8 each other Romeo: o rly? Juliet: omg! meant that for my bff, lolz. nvm! Romeo: QFT Juliet: ??? Romeo: i feel the […]

Pop Culture
Top 5 Love Lessons from The Bachelorette (The Breakup Edition)

Ouch. We find Des to be a bit of a matzah bachelorette (flat and bland), but even we felt really, really bad for her last night. Getting dumped is hard, but it’s at least twenty-five times harder when it’s televised nationally. And what are the odds: you’ve got 25 potential suitors and you fall for […]

TV
Top 5 Love Lessons from The Bachelorette (The Men Tell All)

It’s hard to come up with five decent love lessons each week when the show isn’t that exciting this season. The bloopers reel wasn’t even that good! (And such small portions, too!) A sure a signifier of just how ho-hum this cast was. So don’t expect much enlightenment from “The Men Tell All.” Fingers crossed […]

TV
Top 5 Love Lessons Learned from the Bachelorette (S 9, Ep 8)

photo via ABC.com Dating don’ts: Showing up shirtless. Showing up in an animal mascot suit. Showing up in earnest. Don’t ever, EVER, let your Dad touch your date more than you’ve touched your date. Similarly: If you ever want to have sex again, do NOT, under any circumstances, get a nasal adjustment on national television. […]

Confessions
Comment of the Week: How You Know He’s “The One”

Reader MarcieT said the following in response to our post “Your Call: How Do I Know If He’s ‘The One’?” What would you add to this list? (Um, sexual compatibility, anyone?) What would you not include? (Maybe you like watching TV on your own…) You know he’s “The One” when: You miss having him beside you […]