Let’s face it: Anyone who is planning a trip abroad is also hoping for a romance story to tell her girls when she gets back.  We all expect to take on some unsuspecting locals and show them what it means to be from America.  Of course, it is possible to have the fairytale ending that we see in every movie.  It’s also important, however, to stand your ground and not let the native tongue sweep you off your feet too fast!

The ideal situation would be to go to the airport heading home in style: on the back of the motorcycle of some hunk who makes your heart melt just by saying his name.  You met in a small cafe when he knew exactly how you like your coffee and everything took off since then. Okay: time to get real.

Most foreign men know exactly what to do and say to make your heart melt. The second their native language comes out, it’s essentially ‘game over’ for most girls.  “Te amo,” he whispers in your ear on the dance floor: it undoubtedly gets us every time.  It’s important to keep in mind that you are a tourist in an unfamiliar area.  He is going to try to flatter you just as hard as you would take on a foreign hottie in your neck of the woods.  Here are some horror abroad stories that I have collected over the past few days:

“I met this guy at a bar and we talked a little bit.  When I ran into him again the next day and he remembered my name, so I thought that I should give him more of a chance.  I was spitting out every possible word of Italian that I could remember and he flattered me with profound thoughts about love and life. He seemed so mature and put together, very different from the guys I usually date in the states.  Although we didn’t discuss many specifics about his life, he did mention that he is a successful business owner.  When he asked me to leave with him, the truth came out. I found out that he is 23 and lives with his parents.  I’m 35 with a full time job.”

“I met this guy in Israel and he was doing everything right.  I was really young and stupid and blew him off because he had the same name as my brother.  I ended up getting wasted that night and barely remembered anything about him the next day.  Coincidentally, we met again the next night and this time his name was different.  Sure enough, we ended up hooking up.  2 weeks later I find out that he DOES have the same name as my brother and had made up the exact life story that I had told him that I want to find in a guy the night before.  I guess I blame myself for being dumb and too drunk, but he definitely knew how to spit game after he knew what I wanted.”

Time to be positive.  There are definitely people who managed to work their way into the foreign world and come out with a gentlemanly stud.  It’s all about standing your ground and making sure that you aren’t being taken advantage of.  Not all foreign men are jerks just because they are hot:

“I met a guy at a dance club one night and he was actually Prince Charming.  It seemed as though he was right out of the books my mom used to read to me when I was little. He bought me dinner and took me to sights that I didn’t even know existed.  I was nervous about getting too attached to him because I was leaving in a few days but I decided to just live it up while I could.  Admittedly, I was devastated when I was leaving, but he has actually been keeping in touch with me and is a great friend to me now.”

“I have some family in Italy so I was going out with them a lot when I visited.  My cousin introduced me to her friend that she was sure I would hit it off with.  Sure enough, I found myself laughing like a fool after each martini that passed.  I’m usually not the “mushy gushy” type, but I definitely fell in love that night.  We didn’t hook up the first night but I think that I learned more about him that night than I have ever learned about a person in one sitting. I’m usually pretty standoff-ish in front of people that I don’t know.  For whatever reason, he made me appreciate men in general more than I ever have… some of them really know what they are talking about!”

Mo’Nique

Comedian Mo’nique made some interesting points when on an episode of her show, she had a couple on who advised women to submit to their men more. Her and her guests went on to explain how it is the natural order of things.

I do agree that women can stand to be more submissive to their mate and allow him to take the lead in the relationship. However, here is where I have a problem with this theory. Not every man is worth submission. Not every man deserves a woman that is undoubtedly loyal to only him. Unfortunately many women chose the wrong men to submit to and this ruins the idea of love and trust within a relationship for them for life.

He Is My Man But His Behavior Says Otherwise

Another thing that I want to throw out is that if more men were more honest, loyal, and took the role as being a leader and provider more seriously in a relationship/family then perhaps more women would be willing to trust a man’s leadership and submit. It is hard to submit to anyone and follow their lead if you think that they could lead you down a path of sadness, heartbreak, and suffering. In other words, it is easier for a woman to submit if she trusts the man’s, judgment, and intentions towards her and knows that they are good.

My advice to women is yes submission can be a wonderful thing in a relationship. But when you are with the wrong man, or you continuously choose the wrong men to submit to, then it taints the idea of relinquishing control. Be selective in who you decide to submit to. Be selective in the type of man who you allow to take a leadership role in the relationship. Get to know him, his heart and his spirit. Know yourself. What you want and do not want.

I Knew It In My Gut, 6 Ways To Learn To Trust People
So my question is, if more women become willing to submit and allow the man to take the lead, will more men stand up and truly take the role? I need to know men. Will you be the provider? Will you be moral? Will you be willing to sacrifice your own needs for the betterment of your family? Will you be selfless when on the inside you would rather be selfish? These are all things that any man who wants his woman to submit to him must be willing to provide her in order for there to never be feelings of a lack of reciprocity. In essence that is what submission is about. Reciprocity. I give to you, provide you with your needs and I trust you enough to know that .you in turn will play your role and give to me in the way that I need. In other words, don’t just submit to any joker….

Usher revisits those tumultuous months in a candid interview, detailing the events that led to the breakdown of their union. The singer will also delve into his past relationship with TLC star Rozonda ‘Chili’ Thomas and clear up rumors of infidelity surrounding their split in 2003.

Usher tells VH1’s Behind the Music:

“I never thought of him cheating, I don’t know I just, I didn’t expect anything like that from him because of how much we loved each other. But I kept hearing about it, then I went to him and I asked him and he… admitted it. You know I just, I felt like… a fool, I felt like everybody knew something and I didn’t, and I’m… just now finding out.” - Rozonda “Chili” Thomas on finding out about Usher’s infidelity

“The relationship between me and Tameka, uh, definitely bothered my mother… She never chooses to speak about it, but, I think that she just didn’t approve of it because she didn’t want to.” Usher on the rift between his ex-wife Tameka and his mother

“Life is an evolution. So as I look at the reality of who I’ve become, I’m very happy, you know, but at the same time I’m, I’m humbled in every way every day.” – Usher, reflecting on life

“I would not be who I am, what I am, without her.” – Usher on the influence of his mother

“At heart I am a lover man, because I’d always wanted to be in a relationship, a serious relationship.” – Usher on seeking love

“I hated the album. You know, because I just, I hated what it stood for. I hated that it was blowing up because people were thinking that ‘Oh my God, this is all about their relationship,’ it was just too much. It was a lot for, it was too much for me to handle.” – Rozonda “Chili” Thomas on Usher’s album, Confessions

Tameka Foster Says She Still Loves Usher

“I’ve been with him holding his hand since the age of 13. So he kind of wanted to step out and do his own thing as a man and I applaud him for that.” – Jonnetta Patton, Usher’s mother, on Usher firing her as his manager

“I felt like there was so much that I wanted to ask him. I wanted him to be clear about a few things with me and I wanted him to meet my son.” – Usher on the death of his father

NEW VIDEO: Usher’s “There Goes My Baby”

I’m paying a lot, but I got a lot out of the deal too, you know. Um my boys, I love them, you know, and I’ll never be unavailable for them. I’ll always be there. Not having my father be there is what makes me the father that I am to my sons.” – Usher on fatherhood and being awarded joint custody of his two sons

“They make me want to get up and live, you know. I have a purpose that is greater than just, you know, amassing wealth and being recognized, you know. This is, this is real, real life now.” – Usher on being a father

“Behind The Music: Usher” – Premieres Monday, July 19th at 8:00 PM ET/PT

Source

FROM PEOPLE: Martin Lawrence and his longtime girlfriend, Shamicka Gibbs, were married in an intimate wedding on Saturday at the actor’s home in Beverly Hills, PEOPLE confirms.

Lawrence, 45, and Gibbs, 35, exchanged Christian vows in the backyard in front of 120 guests, including Eddie Murphy and Denzel Washington. Their daughters Amara, 9, and Iyana, 7, and Lawrence’s daughter Jasmine, 14, from a previous marriage were flower girls.

After the ceremony, the newlyweds joined their guests under a tent for a reception. For the family-style celebration, event designer Diann Valentine arranged for two long tables in the shape of an “X” for all the guests to sit together.

The four-course sit-down dinner, catered by Tres LA, included salad, crab cakes and salmon, Lawrence’s favorite dish. The four-tiered wedding cake was by Rosebud Cakes in Beverly Hills.

“They wanted an intimate celebration,” says a source. “This wedding was all about family.

Lawrence was last seen in this year’s comedy Death at a Funeral. He recently wrapped Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son. SOURCE

Lala & Carmelo Anthony Get Married

VIDEO: “Basketball Wife” Gloria Govan Reveals Wedding Plans

according to www.hellobeautiful.com

Hello Beautiful recently posted report about keeping your guard up in the fight to protect yourself against sexually transmitted diseases. STDs in America are on the rise in some demographics and still having a devastating impact in certain communities. What you probably didn’t know is that American doctors are reporting an increase in STDs within the elderly population, as the use of Viagra gets some couples “back into the game.”

Reuters Health recently reported:

“… the rate of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in older men taking erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra is twice as high as in their non-medicated peers.

In both groups, however, the numbers are swelling. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were more than six new cases of STDs per 10,000 men over 40 in 2008, up almost 50 percent since 1996.

“Younger adults have far more STDs than older adults, but the rates are growing at far higher rates in older adults,” said Dr. Anupam B. Jena of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, who led the study.”

Click here to read more or take a look at some of our recent posts on STDs:

British paper The Globe is reporting that O.J. Simpson is preparing to tie the knot with a pen pal he has yet to meet in person.

The former NFL star, who is serving time in Nevada for armed robbery, has allegedly proposed to “a young blonde” named Anna, who is said to be the spitting image of his late wife Nicole.

“They’ve been writing to each other for a while now. She sent him her photo, and he just flipped for her,” a source told the Globe.

If the reports are true, Anna would become Simpson’s third wife. He was found not guilty in the murder of his second wife, Nicole, in 1995.

It appears that his marriage is ‘doing well’ due to little Cori:

Snoop Dogg has credited his daughter Cori’s battle with lupus with bringing the rapper closer to his wife Shante, insisting the life-threatening illness helped to save their faltering marriage.

The rap superstar, real name Calvin Broadus, filed for divorce from his wife of seven years in 2004, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple reunited months later, prompting Snoop to withdraw the legal petition, and they renewed their vows in 2008. Snoop admits the turning point in their relationship came when young Cori was diagnosed with the autoimmune disorder in 2005 – and her subsequent health battle made the hip-hop star and his wife realize they had to stay “together forever.”

Shante tells People magazine, “Without (Snoop), I don’t know what I’d have done. It’s amazing how this all turned out. We were gonna get a divorce. But we wouldn’t have gotten through it (the lupus diagnosis) that way.” Snoop adds, “That’s what it boiled down to. Cori’s lupus showed us we need to be together forever.”

SOURCE

BEHIND THE SCENES: Blair, Taraji And Snoop’s Alter Ego Shoots

Take a look at the couple:

GALLERY: Snoop’s Son Turns Male Model!

*Tiger Woods has just set another record, and it has nothing to do with golf.

The athlete now has the distinction of paying out the biggest divorce settlement ever seen in a celebrity split — as Elin Nordegren, 30, stands to pocket a record $750 million, The Sun reported Wednesday.

Also part of the deal…Tiger is banned from letting his future girlfriends near their two children, 3-year-old daughter Sam and 1-year-old Charlie. In return, Elin can never publicly speak out over his alleged flings with socialite Rachel Uchitel, reality star Jaimee Grubbs, porn queen Joslyn James and the countless others.

According to The Sun, Nordegren got the amount she originally sought after her lawyers proved Woods, 34, was worth much more than the $1billion she thought. Her friend explained: “Elin’s legal team have done a great job digging up all sorts of assets. The price of the huge sum is her silence: no interviews, tell-all books, or TV appearances about this for the rest of her life — even if Tiger dies first — or she’ll lose the lot.”

The friend continued: “Everything’s signed. Elin is ready to file for divorce at Orlando County Court. She expects to in the next seven days.”

According to The Sun, Nordegren gets sole physical custody of their kids but they will split legal custody. This means Woods will share decisions about their future — so Nordegren will not be able to permanently relocate them to her native Sweden. Woods will be allowed to see the kids for up to half of each week. He can renegotiate the custody agreement in five years.

Under the no-girlfriends deal, only married women not romantically linked to Woods will be allowed around the children — plus female members of staff known to Nordegren.

*Dwyane Wade’s drama-filled eight-year marriage to high school sweetheart Siohvaughn Wade has finally and officially ended.

However, custody proceedings involving their two young boys have yet to be settled.

Wade is seeking full custody of the boys and was awarded temporary custody earlier this month after a judge “determined visitation time with his kids had been frustrated on an ongoing basis as a result of continual interference by his estranged wife.”

Wade tells TMZ of today’s development, “I’m very relieved that the judge granted my divorce today … this has been a long process and I hope we can all move forward.”

He adds, “The most important thing to me right now is the next phase when the judge will decide on custody of our kids. That is the big event in my life that I am focused on.”