We argue. Are we incompatible?

So you and your partner love each other – but the arguments just don’t seem to stop. Does this mean you’re incompatible? Not necessarily.

Tracey Cox, host of Love Bytes on iVillage.com, thinks “it’s probably more dangerous to have no arguments than lots of them.” She also thinks that “people who don’t argue tend to be either apathetic about each other, not really caring if they’re heard or understood or terrified of rocking the boat in case the other buggers off.”

Passion is what keeps relationships going. If it’s important to you that your partner completely understands you, you may find yourself faced with more arguments than not.

As theory has it, there should be five good times to every one bad time in a relationship. Arguments are okay, just be sure to balance them with lots of love!

10 Quirky Kissing Facts

We all know a thing or two when it comes to kissing. But these quirky facts will fascinate you! Laura Schaefer, author of Man with Farm Seeks Woman with Tractor: The Best and Worst Personal Ads of All Time, names 10 fun facts that “not only could provide some steamy ‘Did you know…?’ chit chat, but they’ll help you see all the benefits a satisfying lip lock can bring into your life.” Enjoy!

1. Two out of every three couples turn their heads to the right when they kiss.

2. A simple peck uses two muscles; a passionate kiss, on the other hand, uses all 34 muscles in your face. Now that’s a rigorous workout!

3. Like fingerprints or snowflakes, no two lip impressions are alike.

4. Kissing is good for what ails you. Research shows that the act of smooching improves our skin, helps circulation, prevents tooth decay, and can even relieve headaches.

5. The average person spends 336 hours of his or her life kissing.

6. Ever wonder how an “X” came to represent a kiss? Starting in the Middle Ages, people who could not read used an X as a signature. They would kiss this mark as a sign of sincerity. Eventually, the X came to represent the kiss itself.

7. Talk about a rush! Kissing releases the same neurotransmitters in our brains as parachuting, bungee jumping, and running.

8. The average woman kisses 29 men before she gets married.

9. Men who kiss their partners before leaving for work average higher incomes than those who don’t.

10. The longest kiss in movie history was between Jane Wyman and Regis Tommey in the 1941 film, You’re in the Army Now. It lasted 3 minutes and 5 seconds. So if you’ve beaten that record, it’s time to celebrate!

Chubby Hubby

We all know the deal; once you get comfortable in your relationship you and your man tend to gain a little ‘happy weight’. It’s all cute and snuggly at first; but what happens when he’s really in a slump and lacks the motivation to kick his butt into gear?

We all go through this love/hate relationship with eating right and exercising. I like to think we girls know how to motivate ourselves and each other to keep up the good work. The question is – how do you motivate your man to get back into shape?

Writer Lynn Harris knows this is no easy task. “Arguing, nagging, and giving ‘advice’ and trying to get him to “improve” (not to mention blaming him for making it hard for you) is probably backfiring, making him feel bad instead of motivating him to feel good.”

Giving him a guilt trip and forcing him to work out and eat right isn't the way to go. Check out the article for tips on how to motivate your man without pushing him too hard. And when in doubt, just remember there’s more of him to love!

The Secret to Staying in Love

We’ve all seen them – the couples that have been together for years and are still soo happy. The question on many minds is...how?

A recent article in Ladies Home Journal, “The Secret to Staying in Love: Real Couples Reveal,” interviewed seven happy couples who have kept their love alive year after year. Here are their secrets:

• Creating Grown-Up Time
• Gestures of Love
• Attitude of Gratitude
• Renewal of Faith
• You’ve Got Mail
• Know Thy Partner
• Rules of Engagement

If you have your own secret that you’d like to share we’d love to hear it!

Wedding Cost Calculator

Tis the season…for weddings that is! “On average, US couples spend between $14,366-$43,098 for their wedding, while their wedding budget is typically 50% less.” And that doesn’t account for the honeymoon or the ring!

If you’ll be taking the plunge in the near future and wondering just how much money your big day will cost you, check out http://www.costofwedding.com/. Just pop in your zip code and they’ll instantly give you the average cost in your area. The results may surprise you!

Doting on Dad

Father’s Day is over and now that the kids have shown Dad how important he is (cards, breakfast in bed, and yet another tie), it’s your turn! It’s time to show your man some gratitude for all the wonderful things he has done for you and your family over the years. And what a better way to do so than with a little romance?

“If you have a family, you’re probably in a state of constant chaos, and romancing your man may not rank high on your list of things to do,” says writer Francesca Clarke. But wait, there’s hope! Clarke surveyed some men in her life and determined that dads are pretty easy to please (what a relief!). “So many dads are busy balancing work and family that all they really want is a little break.”

Clarke came up with 7 romantic ways to spoil him this Father’s Day (and everyday!)

Let him be a kid again
Take care of a tedious “to-do”
Go for a drive
Have a movie night
Breakfast in bed (or a midnight snack)
Step out of the chaos
And for the beer lover, a little fireside beer tasting

How do you plan on celebrating your man?

Couples Cutting Costs

Times are tough! Gas is more than $4.00 a gallon, the cost of food is through the roof and, given the current state of the economy, millions of Americans are being forced to tighten their purse strings. But, what do you do when your "big day" falls during an economic slump?

“According to Richard Markel, president of the Association for Wedding Professionals International, the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is now between $18,000 and $21,000. Of course, the costs vary greatly from region to region. He notes that in the elegant suburbs of Long Island, N.Y., the tab routinely reaches $40,000 to $50,000, while 'you can have an awesome wedding for $12,000 in Walla Walla, Wash.,' he says.”

Many brides and grooms are now being forced to re-evalute their wedding day budgets and, while these average costs are still feasible for some, they may be quite a stretch for others. Luckily, there are now quite a few ways to cut costs, save cash and still have the beautiful and unique ceremony you've always dreamed of. SmartMoney.com lists eight tips that are sure to help you say your ‘I do’s’ without breaking the bank! Check ‘em out here!