img via momtobee

If one celebrity couple exemplified the reason to squash reality television now, it’s the Gosselins. Lead by uptight Kate and slacker Jon, the family rose to fame, shattered, and fell apart on national television.

And now that their reality show got the boot, the divorced couple’s battle is heating up, with Kate claiming that she is “freaking out” about going broke without the show and Jon, who has been seen working on a construction crew as of recently, showing no sympathy for his ex-wife:

Via RumorFix:

“Reality TV is not a career. Get back to a normal life — a simple life. Provide for your family. Things will work out the way they should work out. Obviously there are families out there that have several kids – people work normal jobs and things work out. Everything is possible.”

Jon was certainly looked down upon after the divorce for dating a much-younger woman, partying, and dressing 10 years too young. However, as Kate splurged on fancy cars and vacations across the world, it seems Jon was the one thinking logically.

Maybe Kate should have stayed out the spotlight once her divorce was aired to the public. Or maybe Jon should have taken off the Ed Hardy t-shirts and concentrated on his children.

Or MAYBE, and I think this is most likely – maybe no one is in the wrong here except the executives behind the reality show that destroyed this family’s life. When a celebrity gossip blog says it, I think it’s time to listen.

via newhomesbolton.ca

I realized that the world was becoming more progressive when my mother, a devout Spanish Catholic, said that it was a “smart idea” for a boyfriend and I to move in together before we started talking about marriage. Of course I already knew that, and we had plans to move in together anyway, but it was a shock to hear it from my mother, who I assumed thought I was still a innocent virgin who had never even seen a boy’s bed.

So it was only a bit of a shock to me this morning when I read that 92% of British newlyweds already live together. This number is a stark contrast to 25 years ago, when only 10% of couples cohabited before getting married. This information was discovered from a poll by eHarmony.co.uk. Dr. Gian Gonzaga, Director of Research & Development at the company, said of the results:

“Whilst a lot has changed in the journey couples take to marriage, one thing remains true. It is important to take the time to understand if you and your partner will be compatible across the long haul.”

The survey compiled a few other stats that were fairly interesting, including that half of newlyweds had spent time “on a break” before getting married, and that more than a third were already raising a child together before marriage. This is far different than 25 years ago, when only 20% had ever broken up before getting married, and a minuscule 9% that had a child before getting married.

These numbers show many things, one being of course Gr. Gonzaga’s conclusion, that people are taking the time to prepare and ensure they are ready for marriage, but also that we as a whole might becoming more progressive about sex and relationships! Here’s to fingers being crossed that this trend can help us stem the flow of teen pregnancies, divorces, and child neglect.

What do you think? Would you prefer to live with a boyfriend or girlfriend before marriage, or would you rather wait until you are officially husband and wife?

Via Googlenews

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Ever since the divorce of Tron beauty Olivia Wilde from her Prince husband Tao Ruspoli, the gossip magazines have had a field day guessing who she might hook up with next. She was recently seen out and about with Ryan Gosling, so of course there was speculation there. And now there are reports that she spent a long night cuddling and sipping cocktails with singer and actor Justin Timberlake at the Roxbury in Los Angeles, who she met while filming Alpha Dog.

We wonder what it’s like to get divorced or go through a break up in Hollywood. Not only do you have people speculating and making assumptions about why the breakup happened in the first place, but then you’re basically not allowed to hang out with any of your actor friends without the pressing slapping your photo on their covers saying you guys are having sex, and maybe that’s what caused the breakup! Although we admit we’d love the luxurious life of a celebrity, perhaps the intense scrutiny about what is supposed to be your private life just wouldn’t be worth it!

Via People

We got to thinking about it, and it makes sense. There is a reason that so many dating profiles say they’re looking for someone with a great sense of humor. Or why guys who otherwise might not be given a second glance become sex symbols because they are just so funny you’re drawn to them.

But we got to thinking, once you’re in a relationship, why is laughter so important?

We thought of a couple reasons:

1) Gives you something in common

We’ve all been around the couple that constantly makes little inside jokes together. It’s almost irritating because you’re like, “why can’t I be involved?!” However, these kinds of small inside jokes can help to keep a couple bonded and close.

2) Gets you through tough times

Remember when SNL wasn’t sure if they were going to air the week after 9/11? And then they decided to? And it was great, because people were able to laugh despite a horrible tragedy having just happened? At an obviously much smaller scale, that’s what laughter can be to your relationship. The good times can be made better with a funny joke, but the bad times can be improved with a laugh as well.

3) Builds trust

Laughter releases endorphins and the hormone oxytocin, naturally occuring chemicals which relieve stress and give the laugher a feeling of well-being and belonging. A great relationship full of laughter will keep the couple happy and close for a lifetime.

Read more about the importance of laughter in a relationship at PicktheBrain.com.

Ashlee Simpson (vocally impaired younger sibling of Jessica Simpson) and her husband of two years, rocker Pete Wentz, have called it quits. The young couple have a child together, and up until the news were always viewed as a very cute, happy couple. Which is to prove the ancient adage “you can’t judge a book by its cover.”

According to reps, Ashlee is stating irreconcilable differences as the reason for the breakup, and is seeking physical custody of their son, Bronx Mowgli.

Just like yesterday’s news of Olivia Wilde parting with her beau of eight years, we have to cite the young marriage age as a reason why so many relationships fail. Young people, take heed, and get in the slow lane for once!

Financial infidelity… just another issue that makes marriage one of the most confusing institutions we humans experience. According to a report by Forbes, three in ten Americans commit “financial infidelity,” or lying to your spouse about money, which in some cases ends up causing a divorce.

The main points:

Sixteen percent of couples affected by financial infidelity said the deception led to a divorce and 11 percent said it caused a separation. Sixty-seven percent said it led to an argument and for 42 percent it lessened trust in the relationship.

The most common lie, at 58 percent, was hiding cash. Fifty-four percent of respondents admitted hiding a minor purchase, 30 percent hid a bill, 16 percent did not disclose a major purchase and 15 percent hid a bank account.

This was a big shock to me. I feel like as adults in consenting long term relationships, money would be at the top of the list of things you SHOULD be honest about. Secret bank accounts? Hidden major purchases? What is this, some sort of late 80s mafia movie?

If anything, we imagine that information like this helps the argument that marriage changes relationships, and sometimes for the worse. The legalities surrounding marriage often put your finances at risk, so it’s not all that surprising to imagine people getting a tad… secretive with the details of their money.

What do you think? Would you ever commit financial infidelity against your spouse if you felt it was for your well-being? Would you consider ending a marriage over lying about money?

In a recent New York Times piece, we get a glimpse into the life of a few long distance couples. In an increasingly digital world, the problems that plagued long distance couples in the past are not as prevalent. The article highlights applications like Skype and Facetime for iPhone as the tools that make the distance work.

Chantelle Welp and Colin Sorensen, who have been together since just out of high school, share the interesting quirks of a type of relationship that few people ever dare to try. While many would cite the distance as an issue that couple prompt one party to cheat, the couple here believe that in the end the distance makes them grow stronger.

Check out the article for the full story!

Proof that matches made in heaven don’t always last: the Disney dream couple Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens split this week, according to sources at Lainey Gossip. The couple, who met on the set of the Disney hit High School Musical, have been together for almost 4 years despite both only being just barely in their 20s. According to the sources, the relationship just “ran its course,” and there is no “third party.”

As your DatePros, we’re sighing with relief that the couple didn’t decide to tie the knot and are instead exploring other options. So many young couples today feel like getting married after a couple years of dating is the right course to go, when in reality most have no idea what they even want. We wish the both of them luck and congratulate them on making a very difficult, but grown up decision.

Our question is, does Jake Gyllenhaal (and do other guys) have a specific “type”? His most famous relationship was with low key girl-next-door Reese Witherspoon, and Taylor Swift definitely fits that mold. In fact, Reese even played a country star in the movie Walk the Line! So do most men have a type? Do they tend to date the same kind of woman either in looks or personality? Maybe… but sometimes escaping the mold and trying something new can be a breath of fresh air and a break from the monotony.

img @ smartname

Whether your idea of fun is a relaxing beach getaway or an exciting camping trip, travelling with your significant other can do wonders for a relationship. Bring it back from the brink of death, revive a stagnant sex life, or even bring a new couple into love. On the opposite end, though, is the very true fact that a disastrous trip can ruin a great relationship.

1. Compromise

When going on a trip, it’s necessary to make sure you don’t allow small arguments to ruin the trip. By making small compromises on things like where to eat, hiking trails, or budgets, you’ll ensure that the time you spend together isn’t spent arguing over things that don’t matter.

2. Plan ahead

Spontaneity is always fun, but you should make sure you’re both on the same page about being spontaneous. If your girlfriend wants to plan out everyday and you’re more into playing it by ear, you’ve gotta discuss it beforehand.

3. Know each other

Guess what will ruin your trip faster than a broken leg? Finding out your boyfriend doesn’t like insects when all you wanted was to climb through an insect-infested rain forest. Sometimes going on a trip with your significant other reveals traits about them that you hate, leading to the world’s most expensive non-married break up.

4. Discuss your budget

No one enjoys talking money (except for really rich people) so discussing how much you are willing to spend can be awkward. But it’s incredibly important to do so before you plan the trip, or you’ll risk either you or them running out of money before you even leave the house.

5. Don’t plan too far in advance

You never know when a break up might go down. If someone cheats or you just realize you don’t like each other, you’ll have the unfortunate task of deciding whether to suffer through the trip or pay to cancel it, neither of which are fun.