Guys Boys & Men

Dating after divorce

2012-02-09T13:18:00.000-08:00

Anyone who has been recently divorced knows, it can leave you feeling extremely low and questioning why things happened as they did. Could you have done more to avoid it? Were you not affectionate enough? How did the communication breakdown? And when did the love end – or has it?

The hardest part for many people to come to terms with, is the fact that they will no longer be spending the rest of their life with the person they had planned to grow old with. It can be even harder when you’ve brought up a family together, or gone through hardships that you thought would make the relationship stronger.

However, some things aren’t meant to last and one of the worst and traumatic experiences can be the long divorce settlement process that you have to endure. This can be extremely taxing on couples, families and even friends. But once the dust has settled, what do you do next?

Many people believe that a divorce means the end of their love life, especially if they’ve spent a large part of their adult life with one partner. A lack of confidence is often an issue for many people and the thought of getting back on the dating scene can be daunting.

If you don’t want to jump straight back into the dating game and start looking for a future partner, you don’t have to - nobody is forcing you. Take some time to come to terms with your current situation and plan for the future. One healthy way to focus the mind is to take up a hobby, or rekindle an old passion that you couldn’t do while you were married. For instance, if you wanted to start a new hobby like dancing, it could give you the opportunity to mix with new people, allowing you to grow in confidence and prepare you for dating again.

At some point friends and family members will encourage you to “get off the shelf” and in some instances they will set up blind dates for you. If this is the case, why not go? It could be worthwhile, if only to help build your confidence and assess how far you’ve come since your divorce. You could end up enjoying yourself more than you thought you would.

Alternatively, attending a speed dating night with a couple of friends can also be fun and enjoyable. The process isn’t what it used to be – and many people do go to these events. Often these sessions are a good opportunity to test the water and meet new people.

I’m not suggesting you should replace the love that you felt for someone, but it is about moving on with your life. It probably seems impossible to match the love you once had for your ex-spouse. However, it is important not to compare what could be something new, to what you had in the past.

It is best not to rush into the dating game once you have been divorced, but instead ride the crest of a wave and see where life leads you. Make the decisions that are best for you and your lifestyle – and who knows you could come across a new love.

Prince Charming on Internet: Really?

2012-01-30T12:39:00.000-08:00

Image Source by Don Hankins

Online dating has proven to be worthwhile for some people. Same goes for me. They have not only found true love but also, in some cases, have decided to take the relationship to the next level. Some people, who have not been very lucky in establishing relationships in real life have finally been successful through Internet. Whatever the reason, the success rate shows it is at least worth giving a chance.

However, finding your soul mate on through a virtual medium, may not always be a happy experience. There are a lot of issues which need attention before you take the plunge. Read on to find out about some of these issues regarding online dating. If you have already planned to find love on net, this article will help better prepare you.

1. Wearing a mask

Perhaps one of the greatest dangers of online dating is dishonesty. Most of the time, the reality is hidden or embellished to increase the value of the ad. What you see, isn't always what you get. Even photographs of the person may not be real and it can be very hard to tell otherwise. All you can do is to check for any signs, such as old photographs or strange backgrounds to indicate that the posted photograph is a fake one. Treat online dating like a blind date, be prepared for the worst, whilst still hoping for the best.

2. Don't judge a book by its cover

It's quite difficult to judge a person based on still photographs or textual communication. You need to interact with the person face to face to gauge their behaviour. A person's appearance can reveal a lot of things that are not possible to determine through an online profile. Also, in most of the cases, the poster may leave out certain details about themselves which may be significant to initiate a relationship. A certain level of chemistry is essential to make the relationships work and meeting face to face will confirm if there are any real sparks between you!

3. The distant lover

Undoubtedly, distance can spoil a relationship and the same goes for online dating. You need to consider distance when looking for a potential relationship and the best way to deal with this is to use the distance filter available on the dating site. This way you will only receive matches who are located close to you.

4. Be safe

Safety is a major concern when it comes to dating online. Being alert and using common sense is a must. With many posters only interested in flirting, it has become essential to maintain your privacy. Simple steps such as keeping the address of your residence a secret and arranging your initial dates in public are good precautionary measures. Like everything in life it's better to be safe than sorry and make sure you take precautions. Telling a loved one where you are going and arranging to be picked up at a certain time are good ways to help you stay safe.

5. The best things in life are free?

Unfortunately, online dating isn't one of them. Most online dating sites have specific charges for membership and some charge extra for updating your profile or receiving information. Be sure to read the terms and conditions before signing up to a dating site, even a free dating site to check for hidden costs.

Conclusion:

Love can be planned and you can look for it, but it can take time. If you are looking for your perfect mate online then a good tip is to be choosy, concentrate on fewer profiles and only choose people who appear to have the qualities you're looking for. Remember that fools rush in and that being careful is the best thing to save you from getting hurt. Happy dating; you never know, you might just find your Prince Charming waiting for you!

About the author: Alyssa Clarke is a kindergarten teacher by profession and a passionate blogger. These days she is busy doing research on baby monitors. Amongst her accessories, she is fond of her cell phone, Casio watches, pretty bracelets and her iPod.

British affair: Groundbreaking study reveals intimate habits of a cheat

2012-01-29T09:51:00.000-08:00

Image source by www.CourtneyCarmody.com
Have you ever wondered what goes on when someone has an affair? A study conducted by Illicit Encounters surveyed 3,000 UK spouses to find out just that, and it's not as wildly glamorous as you might think.

From the results gathered, a pattern emerged revealing a similar chain of events that are shared by cheating couples across the UK.

68% = The number of cheating spouses who meet their bit on the side after work.

15% = The number of lovers who meet during working hours.

The study found that those who have affairs are least likely to meet their lovers on weekends or Bank Holidays, this comes as no surprise with these being the times when a family would be expected to spend time together.

£50 = The average amount that is spent on a clandestine meal for two. Italian is the preferred choice of cuisine, with most adulterers admitting a love of red wine and Italian dishes.

Where do these nights of passion take place? The Ritz? The Hilton? A lovely suite with a romantic view? Not quite so fancy. Most love affairs take place in popular budget hotel chain Holiday Inn. Classy!

2 = The number of times a month a cheating spouse will meet their lover.

5 years = The average amount of time an extramarital affair will last.

Guy's opinion: How to tell if a guy is just using you?

2012-01-12T13:33:00.000-08:00

Photo credit: elvissa from flickr.com

It's an honor to be writing a guest post here at Guys, Boys & Men. I would like to thank Alice X for allowing me to share some great information with you here on this fine blog of hers.

A lot of you ladies may have a guy that you would really like to go out with, but no matter what you do, you can't figure him out. His thoughts are always contradicting his actions.

So how do you know if a guy is just using you?

Below, I am going to share text conversation that I had with one of my friends. Read through the texts, and see if your guy has any similarities to the guy described in the texts below.

After you read through the texts, be sure to checkout the key points below them to see if your guy is showing you any red flags!

Me: Are you caught up on an ex?

Girl: Well, not really an ex. I had a thing with a guy and tried really hard to be his girlfriend and to make a long story short, it has not worked. I hadn't seen him for a long time until last night and I don't know... He acts one way, but says another. It's just confusing. The whole time I keep wondering why I am not good enough, you know?

Me: You are good enough. I am a good judge of character. If he can't see that, be with someone who actually will. As for him acting one way and saying something that contradicts how he acts, I am guessing that he is cool with the physical hugs, kisses, etc, but not with the emotional stuff. He does not want a relationship, but he likes to cuddle and kiss. I may be way off, but in general, that sums up a lot of guys our age.

Girl: Yeah. He says he likes me and he cares, but he doesn't know if he wants to be in a relationship. I don't know what it is. I just need a guy that will appreciate me.

Me: For sure. So you can just go with the flow on this guy, forget about him, or tell him exactly what you are telling me. In my experience, not knowing is the worst. You're an attractive girl and he needs to realise that you have other options... Also known as guys that will actually be straight with you and treat you right.

Girl: Well, thanks. That makes me feel a lot better because I wasn't sure if I should try harder, or if I did something wrong.

Me: Well, I am not there so I don't know the full story, but if he knows you like him, he probably just does not want to commit to anything. Does he just want to chill with you randomly, and at late hours?

Girl: Well, yeah. He would come over and hang out with me, and he would stay the night, but I only see him once a week. Sometimes he says he will come over, and then he never shows up.

Me: Have you seen the movie White Chicks?

Girl: Yes. Why?

Me: OK. Remember that one dude, Keith, I think? He would want to chill with that blonde whenever it was convenient for him. Finally, she told him that she was not his doormat. This guy just wants you whenever he feels like having you... That's what it sounds like. You deserve better. He is not worth your time.

Girl: Awww! Well, I am glad you think so. That is really sweet! Thanks. :)

Me: No problem. :)

Red Flags to Lookout For!

If a guy wants to be with you, he will usually tell you. It's too hard to keep things like wanting to be with you all bottled up. Eventually, he will tell you.

If a guy wants to chill with you whenever it is convenient for him, especially during late hours, there's a good chance that if you're giving him satisfaction, then he is simply using you for that, and that only.

If a guy contradicts himself by showing physical interest, but ignoring the possibility at being in a relationship with you, then he is definitely using you.

Taylor Thompson owns a blog that teaches people how to build muscle at home. Be sure to checkout it out if you are interested in learning more.

Cam Gigandet maintains his six pack studying ballet

2012-01-07T12:10:00.000-08:00

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It's been a while since i updated my Hollywood Hunks Hall of Fame so i thought I'd kick start the new year by delighting you're eyeballs with a sexual new edition.

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Cam Gigandet, seen above flexing his bad ass torso can also be seen in films such as Twilight, Never Back Down (i personally recommend this one for ample amounts of shirtless screen time) and Easy A. Gigandet is usually cast as the bad guy; a role that fits his bad boy looks perfectly. Let's face it ladies, bad guys are so much hotter than the good guys.

Quick Facts

His middle name is Joslin

In a 2008 interview he stated that he had been studying ballet for 15 years which helped him give a graceful performance as sadistic vampire James in Twilight. (So that's where he gets those muscles.)

He originally auditioned for the role of Emmett in Twilight

Happy New Year everyone!

Top 10 Valentine's Day Gifts

2011-12-29T07:47:00.000-08:00

Photo credit: ladyheart from morguefile.com
Everyone’s mind is on Christmas, but believe it or not, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, which means soon it will be time to plan for the one holiday that is geared specifically toward the man or woman that you love. For some, this is an even more daunting task than preparing Christmas holidays, as it tends to inspire a need to pick out the perfect gift for whomever you love. So, with no further ado and along these lines, here are 10 of the top gifts for you to give to your significant other this coming Valentine’s Day.

1.) Flowers! If you’re a man looking to give a gift to your girlfriend, spouse, or even crush, this is the number one gift. In fact, you may even say that it’s a necessity. Fortunately, buying flowers can be as simple as ordering an arrangement off of the Marks & Spencer website. This is good news, because you may also want to get her something else in addition to the flowers.

2.) Jewelry – This is another gift that never fails, and can accommodate a wide range of shopping styles, preferences, and budgets. Even if you don’t have a lot of money to spend, a small piece of jewelry can express a great deal of love and care.

3.) Chocolates – This is one more fairly traditional gift that a lot of couples exchange regularly. They don’t have to come in heart-shaped boxes (though it can’t hurt), but chocolates are important for Valentine’s Day.

4.) Couples’ Massage – This is a great gift to consider, in that it involves giving your significant other something that the two of you can share in enjoying.

5.) Spa Products – If you’re buying gifts for a woman, it’s hard to go wrong with spa-related gifts – things like soothing facial creams and bath bubbles. These can last for quite a long time, and offer her a bit of luxury.

6.) Vacation – If you really want to go above and beyond, you can offer your significant other a romantic getaway for the holidays. Surprise him or her with plane tickets, or the keys to a vacation home, and head away with just each other for a few days.

7.) Pictures – If you and your significant other tend to keep things a bit simpler, one nice gesture is to frame a photo of the two of you, and give it to her to keep. It’s not extravagant, but it can be sweet.

8.) Wine – Fine wine is never a bad gift, and can strike a specifically romantic tone if given on Valentine’s Day. This along with a well-cooked meal can be a very nice gesture.

9.) Specific Gift – Everything listed up until this point is something that is traditional of Valentine’s Day. However, if you know of something specific that he or she has been wanting, there is nothing wrong with picking this up for the holiday as well.

10.) Flowers! Again! – It can’t be stressed enough – flowers are a must!

Giving your boyfriend a makeover for less than $100

2011-12-19T12:16:00.000-08:00

Photo credit: gracey from morguefile.com

Don't know what to get your boyfriend this Christmas? Today's guest poster does and she's got some great ideas for those of you who live across the pond, so without further ado...

Admit it, you want to give your boyfriend a make-over. It’s OK. You know, he’s probably thought about what you would look like with a makeover, too!

So, for the holidays, how about this deal: if he lets you give him a make-over as a gift, you will let him pick out a new style for you. It’s only fair! Put a $99 limit on each of you and this might actually be less than what you were planning on spending on gifts for each other.

We’re going to have to stick to low-end items to make our budget, but that’s no biggie—I’ve noticed many guys don’t care about designers and brand names anyway.

Now, here are my suggestions for what to get for your man:

Proper haircut : $15

Has your boyfriend been getting the same haircut over and over again since he was in middle school? Or, does he just try to cut his own hair, like mine?

A haircut can really make a difference in a guy’s look, so this should be your first stop on makeover day.

Try to talk your boy out of going to his regular barber, however. A makeover means a new look, and his barber might just end up giving him the usual.

Instead, try to talk him into going to a salon that cuts men’s, women’s, and children’s hair. These hairdressers tend to be more up-to-date when it comes to haircuts, since they have to keep up with the fast-paced women’s market while still serving all ages and genders. And remember, your boyfriend might want you to get something done to your hair, too!

Since I’ve got you on a tight budget, pick a low-end salon, such as Mastercuts. Another good option is going to the local cosmetology school. The students there need people to practice on, so they will provide haircuts for very low prices, under the supervision of experienced teachers. If they make a mistake, a teacher will almost always fix it for free, so it’s a pretty good deal.

Actual shoes: $30

I don’t think I’ve ever dated a guy that owned more than three pairs of shoes. Usually, this meant a ratty old pair of sneakers, a pristine pair of dress shoes I wasn’t allowed to touch without washing my hands first, and either dark sandals or flip flops. Yeah, sound familiar?

It’s time to help your boyfriend find a normal pair of shoes that he can wear and look good in while either going out or hanging out.

I’m only giving you $30 for this one, so that pretty much means Walmart! But Walmart actually has pretty cute shoes. For instance, they have Dr. Scholl's Men's Ross Oxford Shoes for $30 in black and brown. They’re leather and have laces, but are still really comfortable, in part due to the gel dome cushioning.

And don’t be surprised if your boyfriend picks out high heels or ballerina flats for you—your man is probably tired of seeing you wear ratty old sneakers, too.

Pumice stone: $3

Let’s pick up a few more things while you guys are at Walmart.

So, does your boyfriend have rough feet and crusty elbows? Mine does. But, with a pumice stone, you can make that skin soft again.

Once you start doing this, your boyfriend will start asking you to use it on his feet as soon as he gets home, since it is pretty relaxing. You have been warned.

New razor refill cartridge OR pack of disposable razors: $5

Some guys won’t go for a razor blade refill until they are getting a totally dull shave. OK, some girls do the same thing. That includes me.

As part of your boyfriend’s makeover, get him either a refill for his razor or a pack of disposable razors so he can get a close shave again. He might hand you the razor when he’s done with it!

Trendy t-shirt: $13

If your boyfriend wears out band t-shirts until they look like Swiss cheese, you’ve probably been wishing you could see him in a new shirt for once.

Luckily for you, fast fashion retailer H&M offers a selection of men’s t-shirts for $12.95.

But watch out, because they also offer dresses, and your boyfriend will probably want you to wear one.

Fashionable jeans: $25

Don’t leave H&M yet.

Their &DENIM men’s jeans come in a 5-pocket low-rise, slim-fit style with slim legs that nods to the skinny jean trend without making your boyfriend look like a teenage girl. And they’re available for $24.95, too.

Seeing your boyfriend look really hot: priceless

There are some things money can't buy. For everything else, there's Mastercard.

Or Visa. Or American Express. Or Discover. Tiffany Price from CreditDonkey says, whichever credit card you’re using, be sure to look into your credit card rewards program to see if they have any holiday specials going on. Some credit card providers offer pumped-up rewards bonuses during this season, such as extra points on certain purchases or special discounts, and you wouldn’t want to miss out.

Good luck with the makeover!

Do you expect a guy to buy you stuff? Jenna Marbles tells it like it is.

2011-12-12T12:22:00.000-08:00

Jenna Marbles is my favourite YouTuber. If you don't already know who she is, then shame on you! She's the brain child behind the famous viral video How to trick people into thinking you're good looking. She also has a bunch of other hilarious videos on her channel, so go check her out.

Jenna Marbles gets the party going!

Here she is making a very good point about gender roles. I totally agree with her on this.

What do you think? Do you know any women like this, who expect guys to buy them stuff just because they are female? I personally feel great knowing that i've earned the things i own through hard work. Receiving gifts from your partner is really nice, but i don't expect presents just because I'm a female.

Internet Blind Dates: Advice & Safety Tips

2011-12-01T16:10:00.000-08:00

Image Source by Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

Meeting someone in person who you’ve met on the Internet can be nerve-racking because you never really know what to expect; you’ve never met face-to-face and people can present themselves falsely through the Internet. What’s positive about an Internet blind date is that it is not totally blind; generally, you know what your date will look like and what they are interested in. Below you will find tips for your first date as well as how to protect yourself.

Advice for Your First Date:

1. Meet somewhere casual.

A cafe or relaxed bar/restaurant for coffee or drinks is a great place for a first date. Movie dates don’t offer much time for conversation. Overcrowded, loud locations can make it difficult to talk and lead to an awkward date.

2. Dress to impress, but wear comfortable clothes.

Readjusting clothing is awkward, annoying, and can indicate to your date that you are uncomfortable or nervous.

3. Arrive on time to your date.

Arriving late is rude and will not reflect well upon you.

4. Be honest, but not too open.

Be honest during your conversations so that your personality is visible, but keep the conversation light. Definitely talk about your interests, your professional background, your beliefs, your family, and so on; but don’t go too in-depth on topics like politics, which can end up dominating conversations, and don’t tell your date your inner-most secrets.

5. Keep the conversations going.

Try not to ask “yes or no” questions; instead, attempt to ask questions that require an explanation and can lead to continued conversation. Listen intently to your date as he speaks so that you can get an idea of whether you are compatible and if you’re interested in him.

6. Know before the date:

a. How you will handle who pays for drinks, food, etc.: Will you or your date (if he offers) pay or would you prefer to split it?

b. How you will exit the date if you want or need to leave.

Safety Tips for Your Date:

1. Check up on him before the date.

Facebook and Google are great places to do research on your date.

2. Meet somewhere.

You do not know this person through a friend; you met him on the Internet. Do not allow him to pick you up from you home. If he offers, make a polite excuse, like, “I have to meet you straight from work,” or “After our date I have to meet a friend down the street.”

3. Tell friends and family where you’re going.

We’ve all heard horror stories; we shouldn’t be paranoid, just cautious. Just in case your date turns out to be dangerous or discourteous, make sure your family and friends know where you are so they can pick you up or notify the authorities if something goes wrong.

4. Pick a public place.

Always choose a public place for a first date; do not go to your date’s house or invite your date to your house. Aside from the safety aspect of this, it will also make the date more comfortable.

5. Don’t drink too much.

If you do go somewhere with alcohol, limit yourself to 1 or 2 drinks max; you need to be fully cognitive for safety reasons. You should also keep an eye on your drink as drugging is not unheard of.

6. Trust your gut.

If you get an uneasy feeling about your date, then get out of it. Don’t be rude, just cut it short politely by saying something like, “I had a long day today,” or “I have a long day tomorrow.”

Gina Williams is a guest post and article writer bringing to us first date advice and safety tips.

Gina also writes about motorcycle safety.

When Gina approached me about guest posting on Guys, Boys & Men about the topic of Internet dating safety, i jumped at the chance. Not only because i haven't broached the subject before on this blog but also because she knows a thing or two about safety. Her site is dedicated to helping motorcyclists stay safe on the road, so if you know someone who rides motorcycles or if you yourself ride one make sure you visit her site above, it has some great advice and tips on safety.

Perhaps you should embroider a red A on your wardrobe, you abominable tramp.

2011-11-26T10:35:00.000-08:00

Last night Stacy slept with a guy she met at a bar. It's the fifth guy she's had sex with in two weeks. All of them gorgeous, all of them one night stands. If you were at that bar last night you couldn't have missed her, she's really pretty. Stacy was sat alone at the end of the bar wearing a short skirt and a low cut top, stroking the stem of her cocktail glass whilst flirting with the barman. Stacy sleeps around, it's no secret. Everyone knows. Stacy's is a bit of a ____________. [Fill the blank]

What word came to mind at the end of reading that? Be honest. Let's try reading it again but this time it's slightly different.

Last night Jon slept with a woman he met at a bar. It's the fifth woman he's had sex with in eight days. All of them gorgeous, all of them one night stands. If you were at that bar last night you couldn't have missed him, he's really good looking. Jon was sat alone at the end of the bar wearing slim fitted jeans and a shirt that clung to his muscles, sipping a JD whilst flirting with the waitress. Jon sleeps around, it's no secret. Everyone knows. Jon's a bit of a ____________. [Fill the blank]

What word popped in your head this time? Was there a difference between your reaction to the first and the second story?

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I watched Easy A last night — a film based on the themes in the book The Scarlet Letter — and it got me thinking. There is and i guess always has been a double standard when it comes to promiscuity. While the majority of today's society prides itself on open mindedness and an ever growing tolerance for what could previously have been considered inappropriate, still there exists a double standard when it comes down to the sexual exploits of males and females.

Men, and excuse me for generalising here, are often praised, glorified even, by other men if they sleep with lots of women. A man can be a complete whore, bed as many women as he likes, brag about it to his friends and will most likely receive pats on the back and gain more respect from other males for doing so. He's now 'The Man'. If a woman were to do the same, she too would gain a reputation but unlike her male counterpart would be less respected, being labelled a skank/slut/tramp/easy. Is that fair? I think not.

There have been some attempts to break down this unfair labelling; shows such as SATC did a fairly good job, but still, in the real word, people gossip, bitch and spread rumours.

Now this is where it gets interesting. I used to be of the opinion that it was mostly men who label women sluts for sleeping around and whilst a small minority might *insert crude rap lyrics here* after thinking about it, i don't think men are the culprits. It's other women. Unfortunately for society, a lot of women/girls judge each other, bitch about one another and some even take comfort in tearing others down. These self righteous women are the ones spreading the rumours and labelling fellow females as sluts. Whilst i myself wouldn't choose to sleep around, I'm not going to go around bitching about other women who do. It's their choice and quite frankly, none of my business. So to quote the wise words of Mean Girls:

"You all have got to stop calling each other sluts and whores. It just makes it OK for guys to call you sluts and whores."

Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 1: Review

2011-11-20T09:55:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since I've blogged about Twilight but this weekend saw the release of the fourth film in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1.

*BEWARE SPOILERS*

Breaking Dawn is the final book in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga and sees the end to the unusual love triangle between wolf, human and vampire.

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The film opens with an angry, shirtless Jacob running away after receiving an invite to the wedding of Edward and Bella. Any film that opens with shirtless men is OK by me.

The wedding scene is right at the beginning of the movie, Bella and Edward get married and hot (and cold) foot it off to the Isle of Esme to get down with their bad married selves. Now that they are married Edward is no longer bound by his goal to protect Bella's virtue. Cue hot steamy vamp sex. I was most disappointed at the lack of pillow biting during the Breaking Dawn sex scene but they did manage to destroy the bed, so high five for that!

Pretty soon after they get it on, Bella finds out she's pregnant. I'm not sure how Edward is still fertile after 100+ years of being dead, but somehow he managed it. So Bella finds herself carrying a half human, half vampire, baby which is basically destroying her from the inside out.

If you've read Breaking Dawn then you know how gross the birth scene was in the book, so lets just say i wasn't looking forward to seeing Edward chew his way through Bella's abdomen to release the baby bloodsucker. However with some nifty camera work and a healthy splattering of fake blood the filmmakers made it palatable (forgive the pun,) for their younger audiences.

And baby Renesmee is born.

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Now there's one thing about Breaking Dawn that disturbs me a little. Upon seeing baby Renesmee, Jacob, who only moments before was head over heels with Bella, imprints on the baby. Now if you don't know what imprinting is, it's basically wolf speak for i love you. So Jacob falls in love with baby Renesmee (kind of gross) and will now presumably wait for her to grow up so they can be together ewwww!

Breaking Dawn ends with a newborn vampire Bella opening her eyes to reveal her blood red irises. This is when most people started leaving the cinema. Don't. After a few credits another clip showing the Volturi is shown as a little hint of what's to come in Breaking Dawn Part 2. I've heard a few people say that they were disappointed in the ending but i think it was perfect. If they'd have ended it during the birth, it would have felt sloppy, but ending on a shot of Bella as a vampire sets up Part 2 of Breaking Dawn perfectly.

Breaking Dawn in my opinion, was closer to the book than the previous movies have been. The wedding scene is beautiful and I'm glad they finally stopped uglifying Bella and gave the girl some makeup. Edward looks smoking hot throughout, which is no surprise and the choice of music is good. All in all, being a fan of the series anyway, i loved it and I'm excited to see how they portray a stronger, fiercer and more confident Bella, as a vampire in Breaking Dawn Part 2.

Have you seen the movie yet? What do you think of Jacob imprinting on a baby?

Cosmo's Steamy Sex Games: Review

2011-11-13T10:11:00.000-08:00

Since i did such a good job of reviewing their Melt chocolate paint, Eden Fantasy's, (a couples toy store) sent me another product to try in return for my honest opinion. I am not being paid to write this. This product was a game from the Cosmo range, so i was particularly excited to try it.

What's in the box:

The box consists of 12 separate card games (118 cards in total). The box, though a little smaller than i imagined is well made and neat. The cards themselves are nicely designed and are printed on nice, glossy card.

The card games range from Sexy Scavenger Hunt to Dirty Truth or Dare, each game aiming to help you and your partner get the passion flowing.

The Games:
Each game has a different aim. There are some role playing games and some trivia games, all designed to help you turn up the heat in the bedroom.

Finish The Fantasy Game:
This one is for those couples who like using their imagination. Each card gives you the start of a steamy scenario and you have to finish off the fantasy.

An example from one of the cards:
"We're taking a hike through the woods when we come upon a totally secluded lake. The two of us have been walking for hours, and we're dirty and drenched with sweat. Nice! The sparkling water looks so cool and delicious, we're practically salivating. Then, as if on cue, we both tear off our clothes and dive in butt naked into the icy blue water..." I'm not entirely sure if you're supposed to turn the bedroom into an alpine paradise for this, or actually go hiking and pray you find a secluded lake, whatever floats your boat i guess. If you can play this game and still keep a straight face, you get my full admiration.

Call of the Wild:

The Call of the wild game is like a mini Karma Sutra. Each card showing you different positions. If the pictures aren't telling enough, they have been kind enough to add instructions beneath each one. Some of them will include furniture so pick your props wisely, unless you want an embarrassing trip to A&E with splinters in rather delicate places.

Sexy Tarot Cards:

The idea is that you lay out the 12 cards and have your partner pick one to reveal 'The Inner Him'. This game is just a bit of fun. It isn't the most educational section in the deck and seems a little immature for an adult game.

Those are just a few of the games included.

The Verdict:
These card games would be good for a new couple looking to get to know each other a little better and discover each others' likes and dislikes. However for couples who have been together a long time, the games might come across a little predictable. In my opinion they are more of a novelty than a serious way to spice things up. The games are fun, and with a bottle of wine could be make for a great couples night in, but for long term couples, i think a bit of imagination would suffice.

Geeks I'd Like to...

2011-11-06T11:35:00.000-08:00

...play chess with, and by chess, i mean sexy time:

Elijah Wood

Image Source by ElizaPeyton

The bluest eyes in Hollywood, yum! He's small, cute and played the most famous Hobbit in literary history.

Geek Grade: B-

Paul Rudd

Image Source by Insert Photographer Here
Every woman wants a guy who can make her laugh, Paul Rudd is that guy. His co-star in Our Idiot Brother said this about his geek tendencies: “He knows about all the bad '80s sci-fi. He can do all the lyrics to Depeche Mode. He's very studied in that stuff.” Paul Rudd is adorable, geeky and funny; a winning combination.
Geek Grade: B+

Rupert Grint

Image Source by 金妮·丫丫
I'm 23, he's 23. He's a sexy ginger wizard, I'm a sexy ninja blogger. It's meant to be.
Geek Grade: D+

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Image Source by quicheisinsane
Indie to the core. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the cool geek. Taking a break from acting, after success starring in films such as, 10 Things I Hate About You and Treasure Planet, he attended Columbia University where he studied Literature and French poetry. In 2004 he returned to acting and has since had a string of notable performances within Indie titles, such as 500 Days of Summer and more mainstream roles such as Inception.
Geek Grade: C+

Johnny Depp

Image Source by Lord_Henry

Johnny Depp is the mysterious geek, the quiet guy with a deep intellect. He's cultured, deep and one hell of a movie star. He is known for his odd choice of movie roles and seems to be Tim Burton's actor of choice.

Geek Grade: A-

Shia LaBeouf

Image Source by Jennuine Captures
Shia was the ultimate dorky teen when he first appeared in kids TV show, Even Stevens and though he's all grown up now, he's not lost his geeky charms. He gets minus point for the fact that I still have to google his name to remind me how it's spelt.
Geek Grade: C

Adam Brody

Image Source by Josh Jenson
Adam Brody played the ultimate comic book geek in The OC but his on screen persona mimicked some of Brody's real life loves. He has co-written a comic book miniseries called Red Menace and also writes songs and screenplays. Not to mention that he's also drop dead gorgeous!
Geek Grade: A

Vin Diesel

Image source by nicogenin
You may be thinking I'm insane putting this action star in my Geek list, but you may be surprised to learn that Vin is the King of geeks! He played Dungeons and Dragons for 20 years and even wrote the foreword for the book: 30 Years of Adventure: A Celebration of Dungeons & Dragons. During the filming of xXx it was revealed that Vin Diesel had a fake tattoo of his D&D character's name, (Melkor), on his stomach. If all that wasn't enough to convince you of Vin's geek status, he also founded his very own gaming company, Tigon Studios. Finally a geek that can kick ass!
Geek Grade: A*

The Cosmo Blog Awards 2011: Thank you post

2011-10-29T07:39:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 25th October 2011

Butterflies were brewing as the driver weaved through the busy streets of Soho, I felt nervous, excited and out way of my element. Outside a group of mostly female bloggers (although there were a few males dotted around) were busily chatting away to each other. I scanned the crowd, hoping, praying to recognise someone, anyone. I didn't.

We were let in to 24, i looked around and finally spotted a familiar face in the dimly lit venue. @BigFashionista from Big Fashionista was standing right beside the bar, she quickly introduced me to @RitziCortez from Climbing Ritzi's Ladder and @C_T_S from 52 First Dates who were also in my category. All i can say is praise the freaking lord that Big Fash was not anonymous, or else i wouldn't have recognised anyone and would have ended up slumped in a corner on my lonesome, drinking my weight in what i know know to be, alcohol free cosmo's.

Alcohol free!? Sad face.

The awards were announced and though i didn't win, i felt extremely proud to have made the shortlist. The winner of my category was @sarcastathon, whose blog Nightmares and Boners deserved the win for the name alone! Highly Commended went to fellow blogger and all round dating hero @C_T_S, who is currently braving her way through 52 First Dates. Needless to say the girl deserves a bloody medal for the sheer amount of comically horrendous guys she's had to date.

Throughout the event pictures of the shortlisted blogs were projected onto the walls along with comments that were made about them. Mine reads:

"Guys, Boys & Men is my favourite blog because it's got some really interesting advice posts and it is fun to read! Humour, great content and totally relatable posts makes it my personal winner."

As the awards were winding down we decided to grab our goody bags and head off in search of sustinance, we picked up two beauty blogger along the way @lisaandsami from Beauty Aesthetic who had travelled 11 hours from Glasgow to attend. Ritzi (our glitzy Soho tour guide for the evening) took us to a little Italian pizzeria. Unfortunately my strange dislike of practically most food groups saw me much on a giant plate of foliage. Yum!

The Cosmopolitan Blog Awards 2011 goody bag!

Then it was onto The White Hart for some proper alcohol, non of this booze free shizz! Plus we did spot Justin Lee Collins in there.

It was a pretty fabulous night for some pretty fabulous bloggers and i for one was proud to be one of them. Check out the shortlisted blogs here.

For all those who voted for me, thank you! If you lot hadn't took the time to vote, i wouldn't have been able to go to this amazing event or even be shortlisted, so here's to you. Here are some of those who told me they voted:

Jewels from According to Jewels

Lost.In.Idaho from My Own Private Idaho

Yaya from Advetures in Yayaland

Karl (You know who you are!)

The girls from Kissing and Other Dissasters

KitKat from KitKat's Tales

Minor from Red Flag 101

The guys from Love Monkey

My Pixie Blog

Marrie from Dirty in Public

Quincy from Thank Q who repeatedly RT my voting tweets.

All my family and friends (that actually know about my blog) and anyone else who voted!

I hope i haven't missed anyone!

Ryan Gosling Notebooked You

2011-10-23T14:27:00.000-07:00

Image Source by gdcgraphics

Ryan Gosling stole our hearts in The Notebook, broke them in Blue Valentine and made them throb with lust in Crazy, Stupid, Love. His laid back cool and quietly confident manner makes him one of Hollywood's most adorably handsome actors.

Ryan Gosling's portrayal of Noah in 'that film' made every woman shed a tear. Tell me you didn't cry when Noah built that white house with blue shutters for Allie? You can't, because the truth is, The Notebook made you cry like a little baby, (and that goes for all you men too).
Embrace the shame!

Ryan Gosling is not just a pretty face, but a bloody good actor too and yes, i will be watching The Notebook tonight with a box of Kleenex and a chocolate bar the size of a football pitch.

Read this if you want me to scream like a 'Belieber'

2011-10-15T12:38:00.000-07:00

Hey there blog peeps. So you want me to scream like a 'Belieber' huh? Hell yeah, let's do this thing shall we? All you have to do is vote for me to win the Cosmo Blog Awards 2011. Every vote will guarantee one, over excited, ear drum bursting, scream of joy!

Just Click Here and enter your email address, then click on sex & relationships and then click on guys boys & men until the green tick comes up. Then leave me a comment telling me you've voted so i can link you and your blog in my thank you post.

Only two more days left so get voting now!

RIP Steve Jobs: Here's to the crazy ones

2011-10-06T13:26:00.000-07:00

Image source Designed by Jonathan Mak

Today's featured man is not famous for his looks, his body, or his face. This man is famous for his creative mind. A mind that has changed the way we think, the way we interact, the way we view our entire world.

A man, who would not shy away from the new and extraordinary. A man whose work has left its mark on an entire generation. Who brought design to the forefront of a world that was previously bombarded with the practical, the functional and the tirelessly boring.

Steve Jobs has left his fingerprints behind; you carry them in your purse, wear them in your ears, have them in your hands, on your desks, on the train, in your pocket and both you and i know we'd be lost without them.

So here's to the crazy ones, the square pegs in the round holes. Here's to the late nights at the office and the endless pursuit of perfection. Here's to the guy who was, to put it simply, great at his day job.

RIP Steve Jobs

Diet Coke: I Just Wanna Make Love to You

2011-09-29T12:13:00.000-07:00

Image Source

I don't care about the aspartame, or the scientists who say "don't consume anything that tastes nice or you will die a slow and painful death". I will never stop drinking the fizzy stuff. I just love Diet Coke, but what i don't love, is their new ad campaign.

Before i show you their new advert, i want you to be able to see it in the context that i first saw it. So first, view the old adverts below. Trust me when i say they're delicious, (and I'm not just talking about the Coke!) Try your best to ignore the appalling fashion, bad perms and horrendous face furniture and concentrate on the Diet Coke drinking, hunk of hot man flesh.

If nothing else, these adverts convey a clever twist on the whole lecherous builder stereotype. Instead of the builder wolf whistling at anything in a dress, it's the women who are doing the leching. Superb!

Diet Coke's new advert on the other hand, contains puppets. Creepy puppets! Maybe I'm just weird, but anything remotely ventriloquist like scares the living bejeebers out of me. But what really annoys me about these adverts is that they're not just any creepy puppets, but vapid, female, creepy puppets. Unlike the Diet Coke adverts of yesteryear, this ad campaign does nothing for the female image, unless of course women are empowered by shaking their bootay's for a can of fizzy brown liquid. Not cool Diet Coke. Not cool!

It might have been a great campaign if it wasn't superseding the ability to perv at sexy shirtless men. Call me a lech, but bring back the meat!

Join me in my quest to bring back the 11:30 Diet ~~Perv~~ Coke break. The comments section is my mock petition so sign away ladies and don't forget to vote for me to win the Cosmo Blog Awards, Sex & Relationship category. I need your help people!

Love Monkey's Tips for Guys: Advice on how to kiss a woman

2011-09-27T12:28:00.000-07:00

Before you read don't forget to vote for me to win the Cosmo Blog Awards 2011 in the Sex & Relationship category here. I need all the help i can get! Thanks to everyone who has voted so far.

Do you remember, a few months back, when i told you i visited a Love Monkey and guest posted about How not to pick up women in nightclubs? Well it's their turn to visit Guys Boys & Men today and they've been kind enough to leave a lovely guest post for you all. Enjoy!

Image provided by Lovemonkey.net

Whether young or old, it can be said that men of all ages do not know how to kiss a woman. Guys I feel for you. If you want to know the best way to kiss a girl, the best piece of dating advice you can get is to learn what NOT to do.

If you are a bad kisser, you are in for a regretful time. You can be the most successful or the best looking but if you suck at kissing, there is always going to something missing. In addition, you may not ever meet the woman honest enough to tell you, so better to ensure you know what you are doing before the act.

Number one on the list is to remember that you are kissing a girl and not eating an ice cream cone. Pouncing on a woman can really be a sign that it's late, she has to get up early. No one wants to be pounced on. It is not a quest for attack and this is the wrong combat mode to count on when you want to leave a great impression as a kisser. Take your time and ease into it. Start off with soft pecks on the lips and slowly intensify the kisses. Make her want more!

Another downer is having hard lips. You are eliciting an emotional response from the other person. Make sure your lips are not dry and gross. Wet your lips a little or make sure you used chap stick earlier in the day. Also, relax and don't go in for the kill. Keep your lips puckered but not too loose as this is a turn off as well. A soft pucker will get you far. Not too hard and not too soft.

The best piece of dating advice (when it comes to kissing) is the prelude to the kiss. This is the moment when the girl wants nothing more than to kiss you. This happens from emotion. You can lead up to the perfect kiss by setting up the perfect moment. The date has to be going well of course, but do a little flirting and get her thinking about a possible kiss. Spark her curiousity! Be patient…this takes more than five minutes of your time.

A kiss on the lips is one of the most personal things a girl can offer. It is a giving of self. It is sensual and not sexual. The sense of wanting to kiss you is from the heart. The sensual can lead to sexual but it starts on the sensual side as she responds to you and the kiss itself. Remember not to be in attack mode yet, be in a response mode. Chewing gum and blowing bubbles is a good way to practice mouth exercises in learning to kiss. It loosens up the mouth and uses the same muscles. Good luck Love Monkies!

Drake | Love Monkey | Dating Advice for Men

Twitter: twitter.com/lovemonkies

Facebook: facebook.com/lovemonkies

Cosmo Blog Awards: I can't believe I'm saying this but...

2011-09-20T13:15:00.000-07:00

...Guys Boys & Men got shortlisted for best Sex & Relationship Blog in the Cosmo blog awards 2011. I never in a million years thought I'd be shortlisted and it's all thanks to you guys! All of you. Without you, there would be no Guys Boys & Men. Thanks to all who nominated me. Now scroll down to see how you can vote for me to win!

A special thank you to these folks who told me they nominated me. Go read their blogs after you've voted:

Jewels
KitKat
Shannimal Crackers
and Drake who did not nominate but did back my corner.

I found out at 10:45 last night and was so excited that i almost woke the whole neighbourhood by screeching like a banshee. It went down a bit like this...

I can't tell you how much this meant, to see my blog up there amongst some of the best blogs in my niche. But the hard work isn't over just yet. Now i need all the votes i can get to actually win! So please, please, please vote for me (or any other blog you might like) in the Sex & Relationships category.

All you have to do is click here, enter your email address and click continue.

You'll be taken to this screen:

Click on Sex & Relationships

Then click on Guys Boys & Men until you see the green tick. That's it!

Go do it and let me know in the comments so i can give you some blog love.

Die Duck Face, Die!

2011-09-13T12:30:00.000-07:00

Photo credit: hotblack from morguefile.com

Do you want to look sexy? Want everyone to see what a sexy face you have? Want your lips to look 'Oh So Kissable'?

Then for the love of all that is sane a reasonable, don't do the duck face. Unless of course you want your mouth to look like an inflatable dingy. Seriously girls? WTF?

Seeing self taken, narcissistic photos of your meffed up mug doing the duck face makes me want to hit you. Repeatedly. In the face. Then you'd have permanent fish lips.

OK so maybe that's a bit harsh, but back in my day when someone said cheese, we smiled. We did not scrunch our face up and unleash the worst of all porno expressions. It doesn't look good. At all!

If i see another trout pout whilst stalking random people's pictures on Facebook - yes i like nosing at pictures of random people on Facebook, it's no biggie; everyone does it - i swear to Buddha, I'll write to Zuckerberg himself. It will go a little something like this:

Dear Zuckerface,

As conqueror of all that is ~~privacy infringement~~ social networking, please eradicate all the duck face photos from your entire network with one of your super techy gadgets.

Yours Sincerely
A very concerned citizen (with normal sized lips).

And don't even get me started on that awkward moment when you see a dear, intoxicated friend, (who is normally very respectable), doing the duck face. Oh the shame!

If you are still tempted by the allure of the duck face here's how to get maximum impact:

Step 1: Wear white lipstick. Any shade that makes you look like a dead person is a winner.

Image source

Step 2: Holy shit cake! Who ate Uncle Fester?

Image source

Always wear eyeshadow, preferably colours like black. When it comes to eyeshadow, remember, enough is never too much! Cake it on with a shovel. I like to use one of these...

Image Source by Black Country Museums

Severus is The Sex

2011-09-04T12:19:00.000-07:00

Image Source by Adam Tinworth

Alan Rickman is famous for playing the bad guy, the anti hero, the rogue. Among all the sexy men in this world, Alan steals the award for having serious sex appeal.

Alan beats the crap out of the six pack. Why? Because he's sexy in another way; he's smart. He doesn't need abs of steel and a beach tan to be attractive. He's the dark, sarcastic, and unbelievably witty Englishman, whose voice was built to make panties drop. Alan Rickman proves that age is just a number.

Image Source by jul13d0wn3s

Not only does he play an incredible, (all be it slightly camp) bad boy, he's also an amazing actor, guaranteed to steel the show!

Alan 'The Voice' Rickman is a bad, bad man... and i like it!

And the winner of the Mitchum's Love Thy Pits Competition is...

2011-09-01T13:01:00.000-07:00

Photo credit: clarita from morguefile.com

Firstly thank you for entering. Reading your sticky dating situations was really entertaining!
All of the entries were really good and all deserving of the prize. I simply couldn't choose between you, so i used Random.org to generate a random number between 1 and 4.

I assigned you each a number according to the order you commented on the post:

1 = KitKat
2 = Gina
3 = Stephanie
4 = Lizzie Bennet

And the winner is...

KitKat

So KitKat, you will never have to sweat through another date again because you not only won the $75 spa voucher but you also get a free stick of Mitchum's deodorant. Please email me at theboyfrienddrama@hotmail.com with your email address so i can arrange your prize!

Thank you to everyone who entered and you all deserve medal for the disastrous dates you've endured.

My Sticky Dating Situation: Familiar Faces

2011-08-30T12:29:00.000-07:00

Photo credit: kevinrosseel from morguefile.com

In honour of my Love Thy Pits Giveaway which ends tomorrow night, i am going to share with you my very own sticky dating situation. It's more of a story but it's 100% true so here goes...

For about half a year in secondary school (that's high school, for all you Americans), i had this on/off thing going on with a boy in my class. It was never anything serious and never actually resulted in a boyfriend and girlfriend situation. It was just the odd kiss here and there, we flirted a lot and we were really good friends.

When school was over we both ended up attending different colleges and never saw each other again, until one day, when Facebook came to town. Can i just say how thankful i am that Facebook was not really well known when i was in school, it would have made puberty so much more painful!

Anyway back to me and the boy. A couple of years later i was on Facebook when i saw that i had a friend request from a guy that looked really familiar. He'd lost weight, got a funky hairstyle and become very much the fashionista. As i was perusing his photos, (being a nosey parker) i saw quite a few of him with his arm around other extremely well dressed guys. Hmmmm?

Yep sure enough, he is as gay as they come! Secretly, i think i always knew he was, he always had a great dress sense. I can only hope i wasn't the one to put him off girls for good.

If you have a sticky dating situation to share click here and leave it as a comment. You could win a $75 dollar spa voucher plus a stick of Mitchum's deodorant.

WIN $75 Spa Voucher! Mitchum's Love Thy Pits Giveaway!

2011-08-21T08:03:00.000-07:00

Roll up, roll up! Come win some prizes.

Today i bring you gifts my friends. That's right, i am hereby announcing the first ever giveaway hosted here at Guys Boys & Men and let me tell you, I'm pretty darn excited right now, i might even be getting a little sweaty. Sweat being the key word here, Mitchum's "Love Thy Pits" campaign aims to kill sweaty Betty's with their new 48 hour deodorant and they were kind enough to let me host this giveaway so you guys can win some freebies.

One lucky reader will win a $75 Spa Finder gift card to spend getting pampered and preened. You will also win a stick of Mitchum's deodorant to make sure you don't get all hot and bothered during your relaxing spa session.

All you have to do is leave a comment about an funny, sticky dating situation. It could be absolutely anything, maybe your date had bad body odor, maybe you told the worst joke in the world! Just leave a comment below and tell me all about it. The most embarrassing, shocking or damn right hilarious comment will win. And in the event that i just can't decide myself, i will enlist the help of a random number generator to decide the winner.

The competition is open to both male and female readers so don't be shy. It will end at midnight GMT time on Wednesday 31st August and the winner will be announced on Thursday 1st September.

FTC: This giveaway is being sponsored by Mitchum's Love thy pits campaign. Just so you know, i am not receiving any monetary compensation. I will however be receiving the same prize as the winner.

Good luck!

P.S. There's still time to nominate me for the Cosmo Blog Awards 2011 so just click the big pink button below now and don't forget to let me know you've voted so i can pimp you and your blog out!

<------ CLICK ME YOU SEXY MOUSE!