We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, Fox News Magazine. Today, we hear some experts' reasons on making it through election season with a politically polar opposite partner.

Ryan and Taryn have been dating for two years. He's a conservative while she's a self-proclaimed "bleeding-heart liberal." And as the presidential campaign gets into full swing, the Washington-DC based couple acknowledges that some tension may creep into the relationship ahead of Election Day.

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Sound familiar? We asked some relationship experts how couples with different views can get through election season.

Decide if You're Willing to Date Across the Aisle

When it comes to dating across party lines, experts recommend deciding how important your partner's political beliefs are to you before getting in too deep.

Wildly different political views "can be a complete deal breaker" says matchmaker Janis Spindel, who also advises that couples avoid talking politics when they first start seeing each other.

"If you have really strong political views, you might not want to waste your time dating outside your political party," says YourTango expert Kate Richlin-Zack. "You're only asking for trouble. It's hard to avoid especially when many of the hot button political issues hit very close to home."

Find Common Ground

Of course, not all couples with different political views are doomed. And if you find yourself in a committed relationship with someone who holds different beliefs, try to avoid tension this campaign season by embracing the positives.

"Focus on what you have in common," Richlin-Zack advises. "There are probably some issues where you both agree."

For Taryn and Ryan, their relationship works because they both consider it a team effort.

"We have to work together to work through our differences," Ryan says.

And "It doesn't hurt to be with a guy who tells you every day that he loves you, even if you are a bleeding-heart liberal," Taryn says.

Keep reading for more advice!

We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, Fox News Magazine. Today, we get advice on hooking up with someone without it getting serious.

We know we're not going to fall in love with every person we meet. And sometimes a "no strings attached" fling sounds more appealing than a full-fledged relationship. But the casual "hook up" can lead to a broken heart. How do you know if yours can handle it?

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Amy Laurent, professional matchmaker and star of Bravo's Miss Advised, says it starts with being honest with yourself.

Know what you're getting into. "This isn't about convincing a girl to do it," says Laurent. "This is for women who say, 'No, this is what I want, and I'm okay with it.'"

Read the situation. "You met a guy at a party or you hung out with him — and he's not exactly courting you and asking you to dinner," she says. Don't lie to yourself about the situation — it's nothing more than a casual fling.

Have the upper hand. Laurent says it's imperative that you have the upper hand. How do you know you're in control of the situation? "You don't find yourself constantly thinking of him during the day and you don't find yourself looking at your phone extra times to see if there's a text," she says. "If you're doing either of those things, you can't do it. There's part of you that likes him."

If you don't have feelings for the person, you're not going to think of them during your day. "You get busy and forget about him," Laurent says. "If you're attracted to him and you're not thinking of him that much — or caring — then you're in control. And that's what it's about — you have to be in control."

Once you're in control, the rest is up to you.

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We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, Fox News Magazine. Today, we hear some experts' reasons why cohabitation may not be a good idea.

In generations past, couples met, fell in love, got married and began building a life together. But times are changing, and these days, it's more common for couples to spend some time living together before taking a trip down the aisle.

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While co-habitation can be convenient and easier on your wallet, it isn't always a step toward happily-ever-after. Here are the most common reasons couples decide to shack up, and why some relationship experts warn against it.

You aren't engaged . . . but are hoping it's a step toward a proposal

Deciding to move in together is a good idea only if you've had honest, open conversations about getting married to each other, says relationship expert April Beyer. "I've seen plenty of men say yes to a future when they felt backed against the wall, only to back out at a later date. If you have a reluctant fiancé, you've also got a reluctant husband!" Beyer says.

According to dating coach and YourTango expert Samantha Karlin, "living with someone without a firm eye towards marriage means that anyone can get up and leave at any time, which breeds mutual disrespect, as opposed to mutual respect."

Karlin adds that she has "known a lot of women who move in with their boyfriends with the assumption that a proposal is one step away — but then two, three, four years later, the proposal still hasn't come. I think that's because some people move in together not because they genuinely want to see this person every morning upon waking, but because it's convenient."

You want to see if you're compatible as roommates

A roommate and a romantic partner are not the same thing, yet many couples think that living together will give them the chance to see how their relationship works with the live-in dynamic.

"Living with someone as a roommate is different than cohabitating as partners," says relationship therapist Kimberly Seltzer. "As roommates, there is always an underlying notion that you can 'get out' if things don't work."

However, Beyer says if you and your partner are eyeing the same goals with the same timelines, then she believes living together "could save you from marrying the wrong man."

Keep reading for more reasons why you shouldn't move in together.

We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, Fox News Magazine. Today, Allison Pescosolido shares some of the reasons it's easy to still have feelings for an ex.

Feeling strong impulses to reunite, "start fresh" or try a failed relationship again is normal, especially when one is particularly committed to the relationship. It happens to many of us at some times after the breakup.

Just because you feel drawn to get back together with your ex doesn;t mean it is necessarily the best idea. Like an old habit, a relationship can be extremely difficult to break, even when we know that those habits are tremendously unhealthy for everyone involved. Before acting on such feelings, however, it's a good idea to take thorough stock of your past and present dynamics as a couple.

Why We Love Who We Love

There are a number of reasons that individuals might seek companionship with an ex. Some miss their previous lifestyles and choose to view their ex-partners in a new, idealized light. Others simply feel lonely and as though they have no place else to turn. Whatever your personal situation happens to be, think twice before you succumb to any of the following motivations or justifications.

Familiarity

Whether the relationship was ideal or not, it was a way of life to which you had become accustomed. After a breakup, when we are most vulnerable, we often find ourselves clutching for remnants of the past — a time when we felt better than we do now. Although this familiarity can be appealing, statistics show that most rekindled relationships end as they did the first time around: in failure. As you pine for all of the positive aspects of your absentee spouse or significant other, remember that the negative aspects that you left behind are lying in wait for you as well.

Selective memory

After the breakup, our mind plays tricks on us. It seems to remember the good times we spent together but forgets about the reasons why things ended. These thoughts can be so compelling that, if we allow our mind to wander, we soon become so caught up in our own fantasy world that we find ourselves on the phone or even in bed with our ex.

They appear to be making positive changes

Words can be extremely convincing, but demonstrating a strong intention to change is not enough. The limited contact that you and your spouse currently share may seem primarily positive in nature. This will be especially true of exes exhibiting their best behavior in an effort to restart the failed relationship. Such behavior, however, is not likely to be indicative of what your shared future together will ultimately entail.

Hopes and dreams

The physical reality of your breakup doesn’t put a stop to your imagination. In fact, your ability to dream and fantasize is likely to grow even stronger now that you are using it more. This type of wishful thinking is nothing new, however. It started long before you married or even met your ex. The storybooks and Disney movies of your childhood planted seeds in your mind about what a relationship would, should and could look like. A key to having a dream relationship is choosing a partner that is compatible with you at this particular moment in time. Seek out individuals who will support you in your efforts to become the most authentic version of yourself.

Better than nothing

An ex almost always looks more attractive compared to being alone. And for those who have failed to make much of an effort to date, old spouses might seem significantly better than any new alternatives that they might imagine. The truth is that after putting time into learning from past relationship mistakes, healing our wounds, and educating ourselves about how to date as a responsible adult, the probability is high that we can achieve greater happiness by developing a brand new relationship.

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We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, Fox News Magazine. Today, Kelsey Harkness shares tips from a professional matchmaker on jump-starting your dating life.

Newly single or stuck in a dating rut? Matchmaker, author and Bravo TV reality star Amy Laurent says it's time to change your ways — but that doesn't always mean calling in a professional.

"Not everybody is going to hire a matchmaker," Laurent says. "Obviously, it's what I do, so it's my one recommendation, but there are other things that people can do to jump-start their dating life."

Are You Hard to Set Up?

1. Tell people you're single. "A lot of times, people don't know that you want to be set up," Laurent says. "If you're really going to do this, bring it up to people and say, 'I'm ready to put myself out there and start dating.'"

   Get the word out and make it official, she advises. "You never know where opportunities are going to come up."

2. Leave your house. "You would think it's a no-brainer, but people don't make an effort," Laurent says. Instead, too many singles make plans with their friends, break them, and then complain about never meeting anyone.

   "I'm not saying be a party person," she adds. "All I would ask somebody to do is make a conscious effort to get out of your house, commit to plans and be a little social."

3. Be strategic with your plans. "What people tend to do is get lazy and say 'OK, let's meet at that corner pub down the street because it's convenient.'" Instead, Laurent advises planning activities or going to places where other singles in your age range will likely be.

   It's also smart to be more deliberate about who you hang out with. "Chances are, if all you do is spend time with your friends who are married, you're not really hanging around single people," Laurent says.

4. Watch your body language. "Sometimes when you're not open to dating or you're not making it a priority, you walk around texting on your phone, you don’t make eye contact with anyone — you don't put off that vibe that you're friendly and approachable," Laurent says. "You have to be really conscious of your body language, and when you go out to that bar with your friends . . . make sure that you're open to it and you're putting off that vibe."
5. Look in the mirror. "Don't run out with your sweats with the holes in them," Laurent advises. "I'm not saying put on a full face of makeup to go walk your dog at seven in the morning, but think like a single person." A quick look in the mirror before you leave your house can make all the difference. "I hear so many stories of chance meetings, opportunities that happen in the most random situations," she says.

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