Jon, Kate, the Mullet and Your Marriage

I love gossip magazines. I have no shame in following Lindsay Lohan's energy drink addiction or getting the juicy deets of Brad's secret meeting with Jen while someone with more sophisticated tastes reads The Economist next to me on the train. They can judge. I'm ok with that.

But I'm starting to get a little peeved that the last few cover stories have been about Jon & Kate Gosselin. I don't watch the show, and I really don't care for her haircut. A mullet is like two decades out of style ... so why would she think this oddly similar chop job would be a good idea? (For a great work distraction, check out this slideshow of other stars with the haircut.)

My frustration with their story is starting to make me rethink my reading material... Have we learned nothing from Newlyweds? When you let a camera crew into your home to document every waking minute, you will most likely wind up divorced and dating John Mayer. (Kate already has the "mom jeans".)

Aside from the fact that The Gosselins pretty much hate each other to begin with, they're dealing with an alleged affair, potential hanky-panky with the body guard, and 8 kids. But if they want to save their marriage (and their TV show), Dr. Laura Grashow has some advice for celeb gossip's couple du jour.

They need to sit back and think about if they want to stay together and make this marriage work. If these rumors of Jon coming home with someone early in the am are true, then Jon needs to take responsibility for what he has done and come clean to Kate. If they decide they want to take this time and find their relationship again, Jon needs to help her rebuild her trust and I would suggest some counseling. They are lacking in negotiating skills and communication skills. Go back to the basics and start over! Fight fair and listen to each other. If you look at them, this is not so typical - any marriage with children stresses the marriage because it's hard to find time to be acquainted and attracted to each other. They have become work partners and they need to compromise a sort of supportive parenting approach rather than one dominating the other. Prioritize your family and relationship over your TV show.

The rest of us may not have the same issues, but we can certainly learn a thing or two about prioritizing and getting through the ups and downs in relationships. According to Dr. Grashow, couples should follow these three tips.

1.      Prioritize your marriage over family. You have got to find time with your busy schedules to be together and have some fun. Ask another family member to watch the kids. Let it all go one night a week and you will have fun.

2.      Need Counseling? Do it! Learn how to fight fair and communicate with each other. Some couples work it out all on their own, join a workshop or get a counselor. No matter what you do, just remember it's hard work and you can do it.

3.      Hang In There! Remember as the kids get older the stress will get easier and that's not only a time for them, but a time for you to get to know each other and grow old together. Without all that stress a lot can change.

Now if only we could just find Kate a new hairstylist ...

Laura Grashow Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist who has been working with children, adolescents and families for over 15 years. She specializes in relationship issues, parenting, divorce, and child development. For more information, see Laura's Web site.

Plus, check out Laura's new book "Dating the Older Man." It is the ultimate comprehensive guide to coping with large age differences in love relationships. In today's world, factors such as high divorce rates, plastic surgery, increased life span, Internet dating, and even Viagra are making older men more available and more attractive choices for younger women. Get great practical answers to real problems and dilemmas- including issues relating to blended families and how to be a step-parent. The book is a veritable "how to" for relationships packed with great strategies and is an invaluable resource for women in the modern dating world.

TGIF! iMag’s Weekend Guide

When I got into the elevator this morning at work this woman said with a huge smile, "Happy Friday". She said it so genuinely, that I felt compelled to hug her. (Don't worry, I played it cool.) And then as she got out, she told me to have a great day with such sincerity, that I think I really am having a happy Friday because of it. Thanks Elevator Lady.

So, in the spirit of today being much more awesome than the previous four ... here are a few things to check out on iMag for the weekend ahead.

1) If you're planning on having friends over to celebrate not being trapped in a cubicle for two glorious days, we have some great entertaining ideas. First of all - we can help you avoid staring blankly at shelves of wine at the liquor store, ultimately picking something based on how pretty the label illustration is (that's what I do, I'll admit it). Click here to learn how to find the best bottle for your budget.

We can also help you add some special touches to your shin-dig without spending any money. For example - freeze ice cubes with mint and berries to glam up your tap. Or use empty wine bottles as water pitchers for a vintage look.

2) Treat yourself to a little shopping excursion. I never thought I'd see the day, but apparently MC Hammer-esque pants are all the rage for spring. There's no amount of money you could pay me to wear those. But if you dare, check out Noelle's video to see how to pull off this look without someone singing "U Can't Touch This" when you walk by. (Break it down. Stop. Hammer Time!)

If you don't have the funds to buy a whole new wardrobe, follow this advice and work with what you have: No $, Need Clothes.

3) Instead of spending money on expensive dates (we're in a recession people!), why don't you whip up a little something for your sweetie. You pretty much can't screw these two recipes up.

4) Be sure to get outside and exercise a little. If these videos featuring Eagles Cheerleaders don't get you motivated to start working out for bikini season, I don't know what will. (Not only are they in the best shape ever, they're all SO NICE! Not fair!).

Well everyone, enjoy your weekend. If you have any ideas for iMag videos or stories, please comment below! We'd love to hear from you.

What’s New? A Lot!

Spring is here ... sort of. One day my friends and I are trying to find a spot for an outdoor happy hour, and the next day I'm trudging to the subway in my puffy jacket in a blizzard. What is the deal?

Well, here at iMag, we're turning over a new leaf for Spring, regardless of the less than stellar weather. We've embraced the changing season with a brand spankin' new, improved, fabulous, fun, wonderful (you get the point) website. We've added a lot of great content and features. So, please, be sure to fake looking busy at work and spend some time surfing our site.

First of all, we've added an At Home section. None of us can afford a decorator, so we figured it was our duty to help the fellow financially challenged show their homes some love without going broke. We've tapped into top designers that have inspiring, easy, and affordable ideas to give your abode a spring style makeover. I took their advice myself and already bought some great throw pillows (on sale) that really changed the look of my living room. On the downside, they're so comfy, I've been watching a LOT more TV, but that's neither here nor there.

If you're looking to move (should you buy, rent, do a co-op or condo?), click here for our real estate series. Our new host Michele Alfonso sits down with the best in the biz to help you make sense of this wacky housing market.

We also added a slideshow feature, which Style Guide host, Noelle Watters is having way too much fun with. She can usually be found at her desk with a tomato mozzarella salad (at 9am, mind you), cutting, cropping, and crafting images of the perfect spring looks. It's been great for the rest of us because we always know what to wear. Click here to check them out.

If you haven't been to our blog, you're missing out. Our resident "Nutritionista" Colleen has an awesome new series called Weight No More. Everyday, she posts the best healthy snacks (you will love Laughing Cow cheese triangles), easy recipes (please try the pudding pie), and advice from top nutritionists.

Unemployed? You're not alone. Get the tools you need to land your dream job with our Job Journal blog. iMag's career producer Zarine has made it her mission to find a job for every single person that's out of work. It's tough, but someone's gotta do it.

That should be enough to get you started. Be sure to check iMag everyday for new content. I'm going to check the weather. Let's hope some sun is coming our way ... we're ready!

Dating and Dumping Horror Stories

We've all had our fair share of bad (can't get out of there fast enough) first dates. We've tried desperately to decode those mystery men that say they'll call and never do. And we've wasted precious time on the wrong guys, hoping we can miraculously change them.

 

Until Mr. Right (or at least Mr. Normal) comes along, the dating scene will continue to be hit or miss. So, leave it to the experts at Zagat Survey to create a new guide that narrows down the hottest spots for a date, and the best places to tell someone you're just not that into them. For their new "Dating and Dumping Guide", 2,000 opinionated daters in New York and Los Angeles shared their dating horror stories. You think you've had it bad? Read below for a jaw dropping dose of dates gone awry.

Worst Pickup Lines:

"You remind me of my sister."

"I dig older ladies like you."

"I just got back from Mexico and picked up some ruffies. Can I buy you a drink?"

"I don't care if you're married. So am I!"

Tales of Dating Woe

"I went out with a guy who told me over dinner that he set his parents house on fire and burned it to the ground."

"I went out with someone who told me about his anger management counseling and followed up with a story of how he tried to rip someone out of his car through the window for cutting him off on his bike."

"The guy would not stop talking about himself ... his travels, his brilliant mind. By the end of the night he was trying to get me to give him made up math problems to solve so he could prove his genius."

"A guy fell asleep at the table across from me on our first date."

"I thought he was going to take me out to dinner, but he explained that he doesn't like to eat and only eats to survive. So we weren't going out to eat."

If you happen to be in NYC or LA, pick up a copy of their guide to get clued in on the best restaurants and bars that make for a romantic night or a no-drama breakup. Let's just hope your date won't be the guy that only "eats to survive".

For more relationship tips, go to iMag's LOVE section. Have a dating horror story? Leave us a comment below!

 

Valentine’s Day at iMag

There are two sides to Valentine's Day. There's the storybook scenario which generally includes roses, romantic candlelight dinners, and maybe even a diamond ring. But that only happens in movies or on The Bachelor (and they always break up after the press blitz). And then there's the other side to Feb. 14th that involves crying on a couch, cursing your ex and eating ice cream like it's your last meal. That never ends well. Hey, I'm all about those candy hearts and the excuse to eat more chocolate than usual. But, when you think about it, Valentine's Day is just a day where the restaurants jack up prices and most people feel like crap about being single.

So, in that case ... your friends at iMag will not tell you the secret to finding true love, or five ways to wear red lipstick that will steal his heart. Instead, we've taken some inspiration from cupid and put together a new series that brings out the best of Valentine's Day.

Love don't cost a thing! Our gift guide puts a new twist on the typical roses, candy and cards. Get great ideas for under $25 bucks.

Test your romantic comedy IQ. Finally, you can put all your years of watching Molly Ringwald movies to good use.

Rough week at work? Check out 10 ways to treat your body better.

Love your look. This new style series gives you the right wardrobe to accentuate your shape. And don't miss our Love Your Body series, with target workouts for your trouble zones.

Mix it up! Don't waste your hard earned money on an overpriced meal. Instead, invite the girls over (or your sweetie) for some Valentine's Day inspired cocktails. Yum...

Thanks for checking out our new blog and make sure to leave comments! We love to hear from you.

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