Valentine’s Issue
How To
10 Steps to Winning Valentine’s Day (with Just 1 Trip to the Grocery Store!)

Short on time? Don’t want to spend a lot of money? But still want to acknowledge your undying affection on Valentine’s Day? All it takes is one trip to the grocery store, a little effort, and a lot of love. 1. NO Red Roses! Go with their favorite flower instead — it’s less cliche, more personal.   […]

Pop Culture
The Science/Poetry of Kissing

We once heard an interview on NPR with Sheril Kirshenbaum, author of the book “The Science of Kissing: What Our Lips Are Telling Us.” (It was was timed perfectly to come out about a month before Valentine’s Day). The question came up: Are we the only species that kisses? To which Kirshenbaum answered: …Well, scientists have […]

How To
5 New Things to Try in Bed on Valentine’s Night

We know that it’s pretty traditional on Valentine’s Day to share a candle-lit dinner which concludes with some kind of dessert involving chocolate and strawberries, and then you go home for face-holding, teary-eyed sex together. Well, in case you hadn’t noticed, we’re not exactly the traditional type around here. So here are five better ways […]

Pop Culture
The 15 Best Romantic Dramas Streaming on Netflix

  With Valentine’s Day around the corner, it’s time to get in the mood for love. These 15 films currently streaming on Netflix can help. All are highly rated, with each getting a better rating than the next!     1. Blue Jay (2016) If you like the prolific Duplass brothers, chances are you’ll fall for […]

How To
A Buttload of Romantic Valentine’s Ideas That Won’t Break the Bank (Or Crush Your Soul)

Denis and Emma Merkas are the founding couple of Melt: Massage for Couples. As a massage therapist since 2000, Denis has taught more than 15,000 couples the art of a great back rub. Between now and Valentine’s day, you’ll get their Foot Massage Tutorial FREE when you buy their video massage guide — the perfect […]

Toys
Get Up to 59% OFF LELO Gift Boxes for Valentine’s Day!

  There are some ridiculous deals going on at LELO.com right now. All their lovely luxury gift boxes — some new, some classic — are on sale for Valentine’s Day: get anywhere from 27 % to 44 % off! Plus, they’re offering Em & Lo readers an additional 15% OFF* with the code “EMANDLO17”! Order before February 8th to […]

How To
10 Novel Ways to Ignite Your Relationship (from Readers!)

We asked readers to give us their single best tip for lighting up their love life, and we got a lot of inspiring answers. So many in fact, that we’re not just going to publish the 5 big winners of the 5  Wildfire Pleasure Oil Prize Packages, we’re going to publish the top 7 runners up […]

How To
8 Ways to Spice Up Date Night!

Getting some quality time with your partner, let alone making time for sex, is not always easy. So, when you do get some precious hours to yourselves, you want to make the most of it, right? It’s easy to fall into a dinner-&-a-movie rut. So use these tips to take a ho-hum date night to […]

How To
10 Easy Ways to Be More Romantic

Romance is contagious. So the best way to get your partner to be more romantic is to be more romantic with them first. Here are 10 not-too-arduous ways to do just that. 1. Wax nostalgic. Ninety-eight percent of romance is remembering not to take each other for granted. So tap into long-lost crush feelings by […]

Pop Culture
20 Sexy Poem Quotes to Tattoo On Your Body

Forget angels and butterflies — the latest trend in tattoos is words. Check out Flavorwire’s roundup for the best literary quotes ever tattooed, for some awesome examples. We also love their feature on celebrities with literary tattoos — did you know that both Lena Dunham and Elliott Smith inked Ferdinand the Bull on their arms? […]

How To
How to Give a Great Couples Massage

When Denis Merkas, founder of “Melt: Massage for Couples,” asked us to review his online video series, we admit we were a bit trepidatious: images of sensitive ponytail men came to mind, the sound of cheesy tantric sitars filled our imaginations, and we thought we could suddenly smell a hint of patchouli in the air. […]

Pop Culture
The Best (Most Affordable) Valentine’s Day Present You Can Give

Here are the top 10 reasons why our award-winning book 150 Shades of Play: A Beginner’s Guide to Kink — now also available in a discreet Kindle edition! — makes the best Valentine’s Day present: It gives you the great excuse to try something new in the bedroom — perfect for longterm couples on Valentine’s Day. It […]

Wise Guys
Wise Guys: Does Valentine’s Day Have Any Appeal to Men?

Advice from three of EM & LO‘s guy friends. This week a straight woman asks, “Does Valentines day have any appeal for guys or is it just for the ladies?” Gay Single Guy (Justin Huang): I personally observe Singles Awareness Day on February 14th (during which I eat a lot of chocolate and watch a zombie […]

Pop Culture
Valentine’s Day Cards That Don’t Suck

Instead of waiting til the last minute like usual, why not get a jump start on some Valentine’s Day card ideas, you know, before Monday, February 13th sneaks up and cupid-arrows you in the ass? From Someecards, the king of irreverent greetings: e.g. “Sorry the only ring you’re wearing this Valentine’s Day is a contraceptive in […]

Wise Guys
Wise Guys: What’s the Best Valentine’s Gift for a Man?

Advice from three of EMandLO.com’s guy friends. This week they answer the following: “What’s the best Valentine’s Day gift for a man?” To ask the guys your own question, click here. Straight Married Guy (James Glazebrook): The last thing a man wants is anything sentimental, romantic, flowery or chocolatey — anything too valentinesy. As all […]

Wise Guys
Wise Guys: How Can I Get Him to Be More Romantic?

Advice from three of EMandLO.com’s guy friends. This week they answer the following: “How can I get him to be more romantic?” To ask the guys your own question, click here. Straight Married Guy (Irad Eyal): The secret I’m about to reveal is guaranteed to make a guy more romantic. It also works if you […]