How to Have a Happy Love Life

When you first fall in love, it can feel like your entire life is in harmony. You feel totally connected to the other person and you want to spend every waking moment with him or her. You haven't yet noticed the other person's flaws and it's as if the sun rises and sets with this new love in your life. Unfortunately, this phase doesn't last. The newness eventually wears off as reality sets in. The good news is that with the right mindset and attitude, you can keep the magic in your relationship.

1. Decide that you are going to have happy relationship. Anything that you ever do will begins with a thought. Visualize yourself and your partner in a happy and healthy relationship.

2. Handle conflict in a loving way. Every couple has disagreements. The way you handle them will help determine the success of your relationship. Don't insist on being right. Instead, focus on understanding your partner's point of view and be a good listener. This will help keep your partner from becoming defensive and he or she will appreciate being heard.

3. Be responsible for your own happiness. Understand that it's not your partner's job to make you happy. In the early stages of your relationship, your partner may feel flattered to know that you depend on him or her for fulfillment, but after a while, they will feel drained and suffocated. True happiness comes from within. Be your own source of happiness and that will make your relationship much sweeter.

4. Don't be consumed by jealousy. This can do serious damage to a relationship. The poet Maya Angelou once said that jealousy is like salt. In small amounts, it can add spice to a relationship but too much is unhealthy.

5. Don't take your partner for granted. Remind yourself why you fell in love with this person in the first place. Focus on your partner's positive attributes and remember that no one is perfect.

Tips:

- Spend quality time alone with your partner.

- Compliment your partner.

- Be supportive of your partner.

- Don't dwell on previous disagreements. Let them stay in the past.

- Don't nag your partner.

(Source: ehow.com)

20 Items That Should Be in Every Woman's Handbag

Women are often accused of carrying too much 'rubbish' in their handbags but if we didn't carry such essentials then who else would?!

Below we've listed our top 20 items which should live in every woman's handbag - without these items we would be lost!

1. Money - probably an obvious choice but how many times have you left the house and forgotten your purse? Get rid of your loose change instead of collecting it in a jar at home.

2. Mobile phone - what on earth did we do before mobile phones were invented? Well I guess we used smelly telephone boxes but that meant that people couldn't get hold of us if they were running late, also it meant that we would have to talk super fast before the beeps told us that the call was ending - urgh.

3. Credit card- a girl's best friend or a girl's worst enemy depending on how you look at it. Going on a shopping trip? Make sure you take your plastic friend with you for a little day out.

4. Shopper or old plastic bag - plastic bags are evil. Fact. When out shopping don't a) ruin your outfit by coordinating it with a tacky branded bag or b) add to the ever-increasing land fill problems by using up another plastic bag. Reuse an old plastic bag or use a cotton shopper that can fold up inside your handbag instead.

5. Book/magazine - you will regret not bringing a book with you when you're sat in a cafe/restaurant alone and have nothing to look at but the smoochy couple sat at the table next to you.

6. Diary - unless you have a fancy mobile phone you'll need something in your bag which acts as an organiser. Otherwise you'll forget what day of the week it is.

7. Makeup - how many times have you gone straight from work to a bar or restaurant feeling slightly 'naked' as the makeup on your face has miraculously disappeared? Don't let this happen again!

8. Tissues - toilets without paper, sneezes, hay fever...we all need tissues.

9. Tampon/San pads - don't be caught out again, make sure that you always have a tampon with you!

10. Pen - you'll need this to write in your diary or your number on his arm.

11. Keys - you don't want to be locked out do you? Then don't forget your keys.

12. MP3 player with headphones - sunny lunch hour in the park? Lonesome walk across the bridge? This needs a soundtrack.

13. Safety pins - why doesn't everyone keep at least one in their bag? Safety pins are so handy. Broken bra strap? No worries. Broken bag? No worries. Broken heart? Well we can't help you there...

14. Plasters - sore feet from painful shoes aren't pleasant at all and can actually ruin your day. Make sure you keep a couple of plasters in your bag. You'll be so grateful the day you need them.

15. Comb or hairbrush - cave woman chic? We don't think so. Tidy yourself up a little and keep your hair sleek.

16. Vaseline - great for dry lips, dry hands and getting a ring off your finger if it gets stuck.

17. Moisturiser with SPF - chapped dry skin isn't fun and neither is sunburn. Make sure you keep a mini bottle or sachet of moisturiser in your bag that contains a medium to high sun protection factor.

18. Sunglasses - for sunny days, hangovers and those who like to look a little mysterious.

19. Wet wipes - spillages, dirty hands, armpits - your choice.

20. Chewing gum/mints - keep fresh throughout the day, for your sake and everyone else's.

(Source: ezinearticles.com)

10 Tips for Mental Health

1. Build Confidence 
Identify your abilities and weaknesses together, accept them build on them and do the best with what you have. 

2. Eat right, Keep fit 
A balanced diet, exercise and rest can help you to reduce stress and enjoy life.

3. Make Time for Family and Friends
These relationships need to be nurtured; if taken for granted they will not be there to share life's joys and sorrows. 

4. Give and Accept Support 
Friends and family relationships thrive when they are "put to the test".

5. Create a Meaningful Budget 
Financial problems cause stress. Over-spending on our "wants" instead of our "needs" is often the culprit. 

6. Volunteer
Being involved in community gives a sense of purpose and satisfaction that paid work cannot. 

7. Manage Stress 
We all have stressors in our lives but learning how to deal with them when they threaten to overwhelm us will maintain our mental health. 

8. Find Strength in Numbers 
Sharing a problem with others who have had similar experiences may help you find a solution and will make you feel less isolated. 

9. Identify and Deal with Moods 
We all need to find safe and constructive ways to express our feelings of anger, sadness, joy and fear.

10. Learn to Be at Peace with Yourself 
Get to know who you are, what makes you really happy, and learn to balance what you can and cannot change about yourself.

(Source: www.cmha.ca)

Caffeinated Drinks

Think twice before downing a latte or diet Coke. According to a study from the University of Bristol, caffeinated drinks may increase your stress levels, rather than helping to keep them under control. In a trial of 96 people, researchers found that individuals with caffeine in their system had higher heart rates, performed less effectively as part of a team, and felt more “stressed out” than individuals who went caffeine-free. (Source: Men’s Fitness)