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I Am Not Someone You Could Settle For. Either Love Me For Real Or Let Me Go

By
Stephanie Reeds

I see what you are trying to do. You are confused. You have no idea what you want to do with your life. You only know that you want to settle down and have a nice life with someone. At least that is what’s expected of you. I am not sure if that is your own personal desire. It just doesn’t feel like that.

So, you see me. I am the perfect addition to your plan. Honest, kind, mature, nice-looking, educated, independent woman. The perfect catch. But you don’t love me. No, you just love the idea of me. You know we would look good on paper, that’s all.

Well, too bad, because that’s not going to cut it.

I am not a woman you could settle for. You are not going to fool me with your cheap tricks.

I am not here to settle for a comfortable relationship and a half-assed love. I am not here to help you prove to your family that you’ve found love. I am not here to make your ex-girlfriend jealous. And I am not here to be your trophy wife.

I am here to fall in love. Madly, deeply and passionately. I am here to find a person who will make me feel things I’ve never felt before. I am here to find a man who will not be afraid to show me how crazy he is about me. More importantly, I am here to find myself.

All my life I’ve been dreaming the same. To feel love and to find the other piece of my soul. I am not saying that I’ve never done mistakes. I am just saying that even though my heart has been broken many times, I’ve never allowed myself to settle for just about anyone. I’ve made a vow to myself that whatever happens to me, I will never say yes to someone I don’t love, or to someone that doesn’t love me. I’ve promised myself that I will never ever settle for a relationship that doesn’t feel right. Even if I end up alone forever.

So, don’t think that I will make an exception for you.

I am not a woman would you could settle for.  I am not someone you could marry because I fit perfectly into your plans.

I have my hopes and dreams and the only thing that I care for is finding real love. An out-of-this-world, crazy, all-consuming, can’t-live-without-each-other love. I want to fall asleep and wake up with a smile on my face. I want to feel wanted. I want to know that I have the right person in my life. I want to be able to rely on my soulmate. I want to know that there is someone out there who cares for me dearly.

Don’t make things hard for us. I deserve to experience real love, and you do too. So, please don’t force us to pretend we have something between us when it’s clear that we are not made for each other. Love cannot just happen when you want it to happen.

If you are not able to give that to me then please leave me alone and let me find my own happiness somewhere else.

6 Common Behaviors Men Exhibit When They Are With Their One True Love

By
Stephanie Reeds

It is true that men and women have completely different ways of displaying their love. But it is not true that women are more sensitive and open to expressing their innermost feelings than men. It is also not true that men are cold, heartless creatures who are ashamed of their feelings.

I refuse to be a part of that group that enjoys stereotyping people. I refuse to believe that ‘all men are the same’. Because they aren’t. I myself, have been lucky enough to find you, the real proof that men love purely and from the heart.

Here are 6 common behaviors a man exhibits when he is with his one true love:

1. He listens and pays attention to everything you have to say to him. When a man finds his ‘forever’ person and falls in love, he makes a commitment to that woman. This means that he is ready to spend his life next to his one true love. The first sign that will reveal his love for you is his willingness to be there for you and listen to everything you want to share with him.

2. He is ready to get out of his way to make you happy. And he is more than willing to make a sacrifice to protect what you two have. A man in love is ready to do whatever it takes for his one true love. Because your happiness means everything to him. When you smile, he smiles too.

3. He allows himself to be vulnerable in front of you. If you ask me, this is the biggest sign that a man is head over heels in love with you. When a man opens up his heart and lets welcomes you inside his world, that means that he is ready to spend his life with you by his side.

4. He is proud of you and supports you every step of the way. A real and mature man is not afraid to show the world how proud he is to have a woman like you beside him. He is not afraid to let everyone know how happy he is to have found his other half. More importantly, a real and mature man is not afraid that your light will outshine his. He supports you and everything that you do.

5. He treats your loved ones with respect. He knows how much those people mean to you. That is why they are important to him as well.

6. He cares for you. Simple as that. A man who is deeply in love with his woman cares for her feelings. He protects her. He wants to make her happy. He attends to her needs. He loves her from the bottom of his heart. He is always there for her. 

This Is What Girls In Their 20s Need To Hear About Friendship From Women In Their 40s

By
Riley Cooper

Few things make our lives fulfilling, happy, and exciting as the friendships we have. Your friends are the people that have a deep, powerful influence on your happiness and fulfillment. They’re the people who have a great role in your life and undoubtedly, a special place in your heart.

Your friends are the people you build a strong, deep connection with. The people who are the most comfortable to be with. The people who are there for you when you need them. The people with whom you create sweet, happy, precious memories that last a lifetime. The people who know all your annoying habits, insecurities, and fears and never judge you for them. Instead, they accept and cherish you for who you are. 

While it’s true that friendships make life easier and more fulfilling, it’s also true that they’re not meant to be flawless. Therefore, you need to make sure you invest time and energy in your friendships. You need to make sure you nurture them.

So, we talked to a couple of 40-year-old women who have managed to establish deep, firm, long friendships and we asked them how they did it.

Here’s what they told us:

1. Don’t talk about each other – talk to each other instead.

Of course, exchanging the recent gossip over a cup of coffee is sometimes inevitable. But, don’t let this become a habit. Instead of wasting your time talking about others behind their back, talk to each other about your priorities, goals, desires, and problems.

2. Always make time for your friends.

It’s not like you have to hang out with your friends 24/7. But, make sure they never feel ignored or neglected because you always have more important things to do than spend time with them. Being in their presence and talking with them nurtures your soul.

3. Always remember that friendships are as important as your romantic relationships and the relationships you have with your family.

4. Always be open with your friends.

Always be sincere about your feelings in your conversations with your friends. Express your opinions and ideas clearly and directly no matter how much they differ from those of your friends. Remember: close, deep, lifelong friendships are only built between honest, trustworthy individuals.

5. Remember that fights are what make a friendship healthy and deep.

Instead of pretending that everything is okay and sweeping problems under the carpet every time you want to complain about something your friends said or did to you, have an open conversation with them. Tell them clearly what it is they do that hurts your feelings. But, also make sure you do this in a calm, civilized, mature manner.

6. Don’t use your friends as your punching bag.

Yes, your friends are supposed to be there when you want to share your problems with them or complain about your strict boss or jealous coworker. But, that doesn’t mean that you can vent your frustration on them whenever you feel upset or angry.

7. When talking with your friends, get rid of distractions.

Whether it’s your phone, your laptop, or you name it, make sure you focus on what your friend tells you in your conversations. Concentrate on the person standing in front of you and enjoy the time you spend with them and don’t let unimportant things, such as social media, prevent you from it.

8. Know that sometimes your friends know what is best for you.

Your friends know your weak sides. They know your vulnerabilities and fears. But, they also know your soul, your qualities, and strength. Therefore, when you make decisions, don’t forget to take into consideration their advice. Because remember – the only thing they want is to see you feeling content with your choices.

9. Don’t hide things from your friends.

Don’t keep secrets. A true friend will never betray your trust. Therefore, tell your friends everything about you. Sharing your secrets with them will only strengthen your friendship.

10. Your friends make the difficult times in your life a little bit easier.

Your friends may not always be able to help you solve your problems. But, know that they’ll always be there to give you their help and support. They’ll always be there to comfort you and tell you, “everything is going to be okay.” They’ll always be there to remind you of your strength and that you don’t have to deal with your problems and pain alone.

11. Your friendships make your successes worth celebrating.

Your successes and achievements don’t mean anything unless you have genuine, caring people by your side to share them with.

12. True friends bring out the best in you.

They make you a better person. They encourage you to learn and grow. They inspire you to work on yourself until you become the best version of yourself.

8 Definite Signs Your Boyfriend Is Deeply In Love With You, Even If He Doesn’t Say The Words

By
Riley Cooper

There is nothing more powerful and magical than when you hear those three profound words “I love you” from the person you love from the bottom of your heart. There’s nothing more beautiful and fulfilling than when the person you’re in love with is not afraid to be vocal about their feelings.

But, considering that in these modern times, the most genuine and purest “I love you” has lost its real meaning, I must say that what is important at the end is the thing which is done, not said aloud. Because the truth is that a person’s actions can show you so much more than their words.

Therefore, if you’re already in a relationship and you’re doubting your boyfriend’s feelings for you because he’s not very vocal about them, following are 8 things he does that show he’s deeply in love with you and you should never doubt his feelings:

1. He accepts and cherishes you for who you are.

He embraces and loves you just the way you are. He knows all your insecurities, fears, and problems, but he never criticizes you for them or makes you feel weak. He’s seen you at your worst, but he’s never called you, “overly sensitive,” “paranoid,” “drama queen,” or “clingy.”

This man knows that your weaknesses and imperfections don’t define who you are. He knows they don’t reduce your worth and both your outward and inward beauty. Therefore, he cherishes you exactly the way you are.

2. He listens to you attentively.

When you talk to him, he listens to you patiently. He shows interest in your opinions and ideas and he respects them no matter how different they are from his own. Most importantly, he doesn’t listen to you with the intention of replying to you or interfering with your decisions. Rather, he listens to you with the intention of understanding what you have to say.

3. He’s not afraid to show his vulnerable sides.

When you’re honestly and deeply in love with someone, showing them your vulnerability comes naturally to you. You don’t feel ashamed or afraid to let your guard down. You don’t feel ashamed to cry when you watch a movie together with them. Instead, you feel free and comfortable showing your real emotions in any situation in their presence. And this is exactly how he behaves around you.

4. He’s willing to make sacrifices for you.

When you genuinely love someone, making sacrifices for them shouldn’t be difficult for you. And this is exactly what your partner does. He’s not hesitant or afraid to sacrifice his own needs, priorities, and desires for your happiness.

5. He thinks you’re pretty even on your “worst days.”

He finds you attractive even when you’re not wearing any makeup, or when you’re having a bad hair day, or when your eyes are puffy from sleeping. He thinks you’re gorgeous even when you don’t feel like you are because he loves you for more than your looks and body.

6. He stands up for you.

He’s always ready to defend you. You’re someone who means the world to him and therefore he stands up for you every time someone is trying to judge you, criticize you, or make fun of you in his presence. He hates seeing you upset, sad, and hurt. Therefore, he does everything in his power to prevent this from happening.

He’s not afraid to oppose anyone who threatens to destroy your happiness and sense of peace. The only thing he’s afraid of is you being unhappy.

7. He’s immensely proud of you.

He knows what an amazing, special person he has by his side. He’s aware of your qualities and strength. He’s aware of your worth and he makes sure everyone knows how lucky he is for having you in his life.

He admires you for your pure soul, your sweet, compassionate nature, your individuality, your uniqueness. He enjoys talking about you to his friends and family and telling everyone in his life how privileged he feels for being loved by someone like you.

8. Last but not least, he treats your loved ones with respect.

He may not agree or get along with every friend or family member of yours, but he makes sure he treats all those who are close to you with respect and dignity. He never allows himself to criticize or belittle a loved one of yours when he disagrees with them on something.

Instead, he always behaves like a mature, kind, responsible person and avoids creating any unnecessary drama and tension. And he doesn’t behave like this because he feels obliged, but because he knows how important your family and friends are to you.

10 Obvious Signs That You Are Stuck In A Wrong Relationship

By
Stephanie Reeds

Relationships take a lot of hard work and patience. However, a good healthy relationship can only be made up of two loving and caring individuals. If you ask me, a ‘right relationship’ is a relationship that meets your needs, lifts you up, encourages you, nourishes your heart, inspires you to grow and makes you a better person.

A ‘right relationship’ gives you the courage to be who you are without giving a damn what others have to say about you. It makes you feel strong, invincible and confident.

A ‘wrong relationship’ on the other hand… it can be easily recognized. I know it is hard to accept the truth and acknowledge the fact that the person next to you is not meant for you, but it is something you must do if you want to find happiness. You just have to open your eyes and follow your heart, no matter how hard it feels.

Here are 10 signs that you are stuck in the wrong relationships:

1. Your relationship lacks stability. You are on an emotional rollercoaster. One moment you are up in the sky and everything seems fine and then the next moment you are down in the gutter, trying to save yourself. Your relationship just doesn’t feel as safe as you thought it would feel.

2. You feel like they cannot understand you. You keep talking but it is as though they are not listening. The truth is, they hear what they want to hear.

3. Your needs are nowhere on their priority list. You feel as though you are not a part of the relationship. Every time you need them to be there for you and help you with something, they are nowhere to be found. They only care about their needs.

4. They refuse to take responsibility for their actions and blame you instead. Whatever happens between the two of you, you are the first person who always takes the blame. They always refuse to take personal accountability for their actions.

5. You don’t feel comfortable communicating your personal issues with them. Because deep down you feel that you cannot confide in them. Something about your connection simply doesn’t feel right. You are together but you are not comfortable to be who you are around them.

6. They don’t support you. In fact, it is quite the opposite. They are not interested in anything you do. They do not want to be involved in your life. They say that they do, but the reality is different. As a result, you don’t feel encouraged to do the things that light up a fire inside of you.

7. Your family and close friends don’t have a good opinion about your partner. On top of everything, your family senses that there is something wrong about them. This is a big red flag that you probably are in a wrong relationship.

8. Your relationship does not inspire you. You don’t feel like doing anything with your life. The fact that you don’t know where this relationship is going is only weighing you down.

9. You are not really involved in each other’s lives. You are together, but you don’t really know what is happening in their life. You only know what they decided to share with you. Both of you spend more time with your friends than you spend with each other.

10. Your partner lacks emotional intelligence. They are unable to express their emotions the way you do.

Beginner’s Guide: How to Do Couponing in 5 Simple Steps

By
Elizabeth Williams

Think getting started with couponing is tough? Worry not as we share the easiest ways on how to start couponing for beginners & where to find the best coupons.

Americans spend about 6 percent of their annual income on food. This means it can cost a family of four around $700 to $1,100 a month on groceries. Are you trying to save money and considering couponing?

Think getting started with couponing is tough? Worry not as we share the easiest ways on how to start couponing for beginners & where to find the best coupons.

  1. Set Aside Time and Set Goals

Before you can start, figure out your goals. Do you want to save money, stock up the pantry, or reduce your budget? This will help you get started.

It’s best to set aside at least 1-2 hours a week to plan for the week. Put together your meal plan, shopping goals, and decide where you can save the most.

  1. Find the Coupons

Next, you need to know where to look for coupons. Here are places you should check each week:

  • Sunday paper: find the one closest to you with the biggest circulation for the most coupons
  • Check online: check out sites like MUD WTR coupon, Coupons.com, RedPlum, SmartSource, Dealwiki, and RetailMeNot
  • Ask friends and family for coupons
  • Coupon apps: Look for smartphone apps like Coupons.com, Cartwheel (Target), and Ibotta
  • Store: you can find the deals and coupons in the store’s flyers or on their websites

You can also join Facebook groups or follow blogs for more tips on how to find coupons. You don’t have to print out all the coupons and use them because you have them—that may cost you more money if you buy something you won’t use.

If you are looking for ways to save money while preparing your tax, do collect this coupon H&R Block coupons.

  1. How to Organize

After you find your coupons, you need to organize them so you can find them and use them. There are various ways, so you choose the method that works for you.

You can use a binder and divide the pages into categories such as dairy, drinks, pantry, and snacks. You can also use envelopes for the same categories. You want to find a method for organizing that is easy for you to carry to the store with you.

  1. Know Coupon Policies

You will need to do a little research to figure out your store’s coupon policy. Some stores will double or even triple coupons under $1. Find out ways to stack coupons like a store loyalty program. 

Check to see if you can use one coupon per item. You also need to know if there is a limit. 

  1. Stockpile

When you find a good deal, it’s best to stockpile items. For example, if the soup is on sale and you have a coupon, buy more than you normally would. You will learn about the store’s sale cycle. 

Buying when it’s the best price puts you in control. You don’t want to buy something when you need it because you may not have the best price or a current coupon. 

How to Start Couponing for Beginners Final Thoughts

Couponing does not have to be complicated. Once you learn how to start couponing for beginners, you will get better with practice. The main thing you need to do is set aside time and make a plan.

A Useful Tip: How To Open A Can Without A Can Opener Or A Knife

By
Riley Cooper

Imagine this situation: You’re camping in the woods. You’re hungry and the only food you’re carrying in your backpack is a can of tuna (or soup, or beans, or whatever). And just as you’re about to open it, the can opener breaks. And that’s not all – you don’t have a spoon or knife with which you could open the can.

So, the question is: How are you going to open it?

Well, don’t worry – you aren’t going to have to spend the rest of the day hungry because we have one easy, practical solution.

Popular YouTuber ‘The Crazy Russian Hacker’ has posted a video in which he explains how to open any kind of can without a knife or any type of tool. And no, to do this, you don’t need to possess magical powers. Instead, all you need is your hands and a piece of concrete.

Here’s the video.

 

5 Powerful Ways To Shift Your Mindset And Stop Giving A Damn About What Others Think

By
Stephanie Reeds

Look around you.

We are desperate for attention. We are slaves of other people’s opinions about us.

We carefully pick what to wear so that others don’t say something bad about us.

We go out of our way to make ourselves more attractive and appealing to others because we desperately want to be loved by everyone.

We beat ourselves up after everything we say (or don’t say), worrying that others would immediately change their opinion about us.

We practically live for other people. We live to fulfill their expectations of us.

Enough of that!

Other people’s opinions should not concern us. They are none of our business and they certainly have nothing to do with us. What others think or say about us is a reflection of what they think of themselves. It has everything to do with their own judgments, fears, insecurities, preferences, likes, and dislikes.

So, let’s stop going out of our minds to please everyone.

The truth is, no matter what you do, you are never going to be liked by everyone.

Here are 5 powerful ways to shift your mindset and stop giving a damn about other people’s opinion:

1.Know your values. Find out what gets you going, what leads you in life. Find out what gives you a direction and what makes you hopeful and confident in the pursuit of your dreams. Find what you truly value and follow that road. Knowing your core values is like having a bright lantern to lead your way through the dark woods. Without it, you will be completely lost.

2. Stay in your own business. People say there are three types of business in the world. The first is God’s or nature’s business. The second is other people’s business and the third one is your own business. Now, the first one will always be out of your reach. You cannot control it. The second one should never concern you. And finally, the third one is the only business that you should care about. Who you are and what you do should only concern you.

3. Do your best. I know a lot of people who had very big expectations of themselves and spent their life beating themselves up every time they failed to meet them. That is not the way to live your life. That is not self-love. That is self-hate. Can you think of how many times you failed? Too many to even count, right? Fine. Regardless of how many times you made a mistake, know that every single time you did your best. That is right. Even if it doesn’t seem to you like you did. Every moment in your life happens exactly the way it’s supposed to happen. So, every action that you take at the moment, is you doing your best.

Your best doesn’t mean working your ass off until you collapse as a result of exhaustion. Your best means working with what you’ve got at the moment.

4. Take control of your emotions. Base your emotions on your own opinion about yourself, not on the opinions of other people. Because when you let others take full ownership of your feelings, or in other words, when you let your happiness depend on other people, you practically give them the right to control your life.

Don’t let their actors influence the way you feel.

5. Accept the fact that we all make mistakes. Stop striving for perfection and realize that we are all flawed. We are all imperfect and we all make mistakes. We are terrified when it comes to talking about how we feel. But that is only because we think that we are the only ones going through those experiences.

Well, newsflash. We are all going through the same experiences and we all make mistakes. The good thing is, it is up to us whether we will decide to learn from those mistakes or keep doing them until we learn our lessons the harder way.

Reintegrate Home Economics Class Into Modern Education System Since Our Children Lack Basic Life Skills

By
Riley Cooper

While it was very common for Home Economics classes to be taught at schools and universities 80 years ago, today they’re taught far less often. In addition, the content is regarded as “diluted” and incorporated in several undergraduate related courses, like Family Studies, Food, and Nutrition, or Health and Safety. 

Of course, reading, writing, English, Math, Science, and History are all important subjects to learn in school, but an entire range of basic life skills that get students through daily life is not present in school curricula.

What’s more, today’s students often say that they don’t need to learn basic life skills in schools because they can learn these at home with the help of their parents and grandparents.

Yes, parents can do a lot to provide children with simple real-life skills at home, but schools can do a way better job of helping students to be better individuals not only in the education system but at home and in society as well.

Students need programs that will help them develop and master the needed skills for cooking, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, tackling budgets, and doing taxes. After all, what’s the point of expecting a student to know to analyze properly or write a Shakespearean sonnet if they’re not able to identify nutritious plants, cook, manage their finances, or use screwdrivers?

Therefore, Home Economics or Consumer Sciences Classes need to be brought back home. Schools need to provide students with all the knowledge they need so that they can enter the “real world” well prepared and know how to take care of themselves as well as rear their own loved ones.

Opinions are divided over the importance of Home Economics classes. But, we believe that it’s wrong to consider them as a part of an outdated schooling system. Because they are what provide students with valuable skills that last a lifetime.

Dropshipping: Why it’s the Best Way to start your Online Business

By
Elizabeth Williams

Are you thinking of ways to make money without having to put up a physical store or invest in inventory? If you are, then we have a solution for you – dropshipping. Dropshipping is a supply chain management method in which the business person doesn’t keep inventory in stock, but instead, gives his/her client’s orders and delivery details to the producer, wholesaler or another retailer, who then delivers the products to the client. The whole reason the dropshipping model became so popular is the dropship lifestyle that it promulgates, meaning that you can work from anywhere on the world, sitting on the beach, etc.

So let’s say you are into an on-demand print or embroidery stuff and have orders from your clients, you don’t need to design and stock these items. Instead, you can ship your details to a printing company like https://www.printful.com/and have the items sent directly to the client without you having to lift a finger.

So, when you offer dropshipping services, you do not have to worry about stocking items in a store; you also don’t need to worry about product fulfillment. Your only problem would be to market the item, receive orders, and earn a decent income. Dropshipping is a great way to start your online business without any hassle.

But don’t get us wrong – dropshipping isn’t a walk in the park. Like with other business, you’ll need to invest time to perform some research to understand your market, find a reliable supplier, study your competitors, among other things. It’s also important to note that your business will only be as good as the kind of supplier you are working with – successful dropshipping needs a partnership between you and your supplier, and trust is critical. So, before you depend on any dropship distributor, you should place a test order and take note of how it is handled. Look at:

  • How fast the order ships
  • How the order is packaged
  • And the quality of customer service

Why dropshipping is the best way to start your online business without any hassles:

No initial investment

Unlike other businesses that will need a couple of dollars to start, dropshipping is practically zero. In fact, the only cost that you’ll incur is the hosting fee, which is about $3. The rest of the things, including installation of open source shopping cart and SSL certificate, are absolutely free.

Easy to setup

With hundreds of solutions to help you set up an e-commerce platform in a few hours available today, you don’t need to worry about the tech stuff. Just browse around for a free, easy to use tool with the kinds of features you are looking for and click some buttons, and you’ll be good to go.

Lower risk

Imagine investing your money into something, and it fails to pick off – that would be a great blow financially and emotionally. The good thing about dropshipping is it’s almost free, so the risks are much lower.

Its location independent

With dropshipping, you won’t have to worry about how you’ll serve a client in the US or the UK because you can run it from anywhere. It allows you to focus on growing your business rather than trying to find a warehouse and/or employees. As it stands, dropshipping is among the few most scalable e-commerce models today.

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