Marriage Lines You Should Never Cross

International best-selling author, Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku talks about the lines you should never cross in a marriage.

The Best Romantic Honeymoon Destinations in the United States

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Your wedding day is almost here. Where you go on your honeymoon will depend on your budget and preferences. When planning your honeymoon, sit down and determine where you both would like to go. Doing something you both take pleasure in will turn an ordinary escape into a memorable journey.

 

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There are many destinations where you can go for an enjoyable honeymoon. Some destinations are tropical and private, while others will put you close to cultural and historical sites. 

Following are some of the most romantic cities that couples visit:

 

Aspen, Colorado - This small town in Colorado offers a variety of lodges where couples can retreat to and enjoy time cuddling by the fire, go skiing, or sit back and enjoy the view.

 

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Charleston, South Carolina - Enjoy a romantic honeymoon complete with tons of Southern charm when visiting Charleston. Couples can enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides and romantic walks on the cobblestone streets.

 

Kauai, Hawaii - Kauai caters to couples looking for a romantic honeymoon getaway. This area of Hawaii offers luxury resorts with views of the bright sunsets, dark sands, and aquamarine waves.

 

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Key West, Florida - You can watch the sunrise and sunset over the waters surrounding the Florida Keys. Key West takes you to a place where time stands still, especially when you are enjoying your time kicking back at the beach.

 

Lake Tahoe, California - Begin your new life together by enjoying the beautiful landscapes surrounding Lake Tahoe. The clear waters among the mountains create the perfect backdrop for a romantic honeymoon.

 

Maui, Hawaii - Maui offers couples a chance to play in the sands and enjoy tropical resorts. There are plenty of opportunities to surf, enjoy an authentic luau, or hike through Haleakala.

Nantucket, Massachusetts - Spend your first few days as husband and wife enjoying the waters of Nantucket during the day and sipping on locally crafted wine at night. This area offers a chance for couples to relax and spend time doing many different activities, including bike riding along the water, sailing, antique shopping, and dining in some of the area’s finest restaurants.

 

Napa Valley, California - This region offers couples a chance to spend their honeymoon exploring vineyards while sampling a variety of wines created throughout the Napa Valley area. There are many opportunities to go golfing or relax at one of the area‘s many spas.

 

Savannah, Georgia - If you are looking to take things slow after the hustle and bustle of your wedding, Savannah may be the honeymoon destination for you. The atmosphere in Savannah is laid-back, making it the perfect place to take things slow. The moss-canopied trails make it possible for couples to enjoy quiet strolls together.

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Dating Sites for People Over 50 by Miss Know It All

Miss Know It All 

Growing old is not for wimps. If you are a woman looking for someone for dating, romance, marriage, or casual relationships, you may think the pickings are not as plentiful as they were in your younger years. You want to find someone who has the same values, interests, and good ethics as you do. Maybe you want to have a friend with benefits. I am not here to judge. No matter how old you are, there is always someone out there seeking an individual like you.

 

Online dating sites for women and men over 50 can help you find your ideal partner. There has been a huge hit on many online dating platforms. With the proliferation of new dating sites, there seems to be no indication of slowing down, as long as people continue to search for Mr. or Ms. Right. 

 

Following are some trendy dating sites for people over 50 years of age. You do not have to be a senior citizen to visit or use these sites. Many young people are seeking older men and women for an authentic relationship.

 

Elite Singles  - is a free online dating site focusing on education. If meeting an educated man or woman is one of your goals, then this may be the site for you. More of their clientele hold an above-average education. This website is for people seeking an honest relationship. With many people joining this site, it is incredibly well known and successful. Users can look at pages seeking contacts. 

 

BlackPeopleMeet - markets itself as the premier dating service for Black singles, but anyone can join this site, even if they are not Black.

 

Zoosk - a worldwide online dating service available in 25 languages and in about 80 countries. It does not specify a race or ethnicity. There will be many races and ethnicities using this site. 

 

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Silver Singles - is an adult dating site. Members include women and men. You can find some amazing women who seek friendship and a pleasant date. On this website, a woman can find her best companion by height, age, area, or faith. This website is one of the fastest-growing platforms on the internet, and you might get many similar 50+ singles here.

 

Muslima - is where compatible single Muslims meet. It is for Muslims looking for marriage that adheres to the Islamic rules on courtship. This site is compatibility-focused, not appearance-focused; you know you are getting genuine matches. Age is not a factor.

 

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SeniortoDate - for Jewish singles over 60 but age does not matter when it comes to this platform, as long you are of legal age. You can meet singles from your area. The site also has online chatting. 

 

Our Time  - is a highly regarded adult dating site for 50+ people everywhere. There are more women on the website than men. The site gets right to the point and contains a record of successful committed relationships.

 

OkCupid - features options for the LGBTQ+ community. Users see curated matches based on personality questions and interests. The site states it makes 90 million matches each year. 

 

Christian Mingle  - is a dating site for Christians that caters to serious relationships and schedules. The site has more women customers. There are many appealing people to see on this site, with many checkouts per month by men and women worldwide. ♥

 

Remember to use caution when searching for someone on any dating site. For more information on how to protect you from dating scams, please click here

Ten Spellbinding Books to Read with Bombshell Endings by Vivienne Diane Neal

 

Who loves to read a book with an ending that will shock you to the core? I do. Following are ten stories written by some of our favorite authors that will do just that, have you reeling at the end. Just click on the link, buy a book and start reading these delightful mysteries, suspense, and thrillers.

 

Hostage News (Book 2) by Nadia Siddiqui - A police officer uses her negotiating skills at a domestic disturbance.

 

Aloha & Bullets by Alex Cage - While on vacation in Hawaii, an ex-government agent and his friend encounter dangerous criminals.

 

Hidden No More by Karen Kandau - A private investigator witnesses the murder of a senator’s wife and her supposedly lover.

 

No Stone Unturned by Brandon Massey - A successful owner of a real estate company discovers he has an adult daughter but has no idea who the mother is.

 

Easy Money by Pamela Samuels Young - Two law partners from the opposite end of the spectrum engage in unethical schemes.

 

Delia’s Decision by Debbie Mumford - A retired military investigator has to ponder what her next job will be.

 

Bullet Fist Gunn by Alex Cage - A relentless restaurant owner seeks the help of a martial arts instructor to be her bodyguard.

 

Mirror of Lies (A Jessica Smith Series Book l) by Ava S. King - A journalist learns that her best friend died under mysterious circumstances.

 

My City by Jason T. Seals - A recent graduate of Harvard Law School returns to his hometown for a job interview at a prestigious law firm but ends up facing an unpleasant incident.

 

Equal Verdicts by Antonne Jones - Based on a true story about a mass murder that occurred on December 28, 2000, in Philadelphia, PA.

Advisors' Creative Solutions for Getting their Clients Tested Before Travel

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"COVID-19 testing" has become one more point that travel advisors need to add to their pre-departure checklists for clients. It is one of many.  Avril Winkle, owner of Destinations Travel Services in Sterling, IL., was asked, how much more work does a single booking takes now, as opposed to pre-pandemic. She said, "Oh, my gosh, lots of extra hours of work."

 

COVID-19 testing has added another complicated layer to trip planning in 2022, especially with test shortages and difficult-to-predict turnaround times from labs. Though many believe shortages and delays are a short-term problem, testing before travel is likely here to stay for at least some time. Here is how a smattering of advisors is handling it.

 

Winkle talks to clients about what they are willing to do to travel and are split them into two main groups. One is fully vaccinated and boosted and likes the idea of destinations that require everyone to provide proof of negative COVID-19 tests so they feel as safe as possible. The other is not vaccinated, does not want to jump through hoops, and will probably end up going somewhere without said hoops to jump through, largely Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

 

In her area, the Chicago suburbs, tests are easy to come by. For clients who live outside that area -- perhaps in more rural, small towns -- she encourages them to make an afternoon of it and travel near her to get a test and dinner. "I always find a way around it, and, at the end of the day, if somebody wants to travel, that's just what they'll have to do," Winkle said.

 

Bernice Bakley, the owner of Huntley Travel in Huntley, IL., starts the conversation about testing early and ensures clients get appointments on the books a few weeks ahead whenever possible. "It's not something that's an afterthought," she said. In fact, at Huntley Travel, it has become as important a topic as to whether the client has a valid passport that does not expire in the coming months.

 

Justin Smith, president of the Evolved Traveler in Los Angeles, is advising clients to get a test at the airport before departure. In Smith's experience, it takes from one to five hours, and most airports with international service have testing available.

 

This is perhaps the most direct solution heard from Kim Gorres, owner of a Travel Leaders Agency in New Richmond, Wis. She does testing in-house. The idea came from a client who did lab work for the judicial system and added COVID-19 testing to the mix. She asked if it was something she could do from her office, and the answer was yes. She received equipment and training for several employees and, in early 2021, opened as a testing center, offering rapid antigen and PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) COVID tests and flu/antigen combined tests.

 

Today, Gorres said, testing is a full-time job for one person at her agency. About 35 tests are conducted each day, which equates to more than $5,000 a week in extra income. Moreover, it has another benefit. "Besides making a bit of money at this, we are also bringing awareness about our agency and have high hopes that we will have new clients because of this awareness and the service they are getting with the testing," said Gorres.

News for Travelers

 

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The Top Destinations For Medical Tourism, What They're Know For & Cost Of Services - Over the past few years, medical tourism has become a trend that has led millions of people to travel to find affordable medical services. Learn More→

 

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8 Amazing Private Islands To Escape To In 2022 - Read More

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Virtual Reality Tourism is Now Accessible, Inclusive and Takes the Risk Out of a COVID-disrupted Getaway

As COVID-19 continues to interrupt travel plans in Australia, some of those looking for a risk-free escape are turning to virtual reality tourism.

While it may sound like a downgrade from the real thing, tour guides and designers of these happenings say it is becoming increasingly sophisticated.

 

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However, what is virtual reality tourism? Dr. Ryan Yung, a travel and tourism researcher defines it as the ability to "be physically in one location but your mind is in a different location." It can be accessed by anyone who has a PC, laptop, or mobile phone through YouTube or via virtual tours online. In addition, the experience can be enhanced by using a fold-out Google Cardboard viewer or, for those willing to spend more money, technologically advanced virtual reality headsets.

 

So is virtual tourism any substitute for the real thing? It is hard to compare the two, but virtual tourism does have some unique benefits, says Dr. Yung. "Some of the more popular attractions in virtual tourism [eventually] will be … places which would be physically impossible to visit," Dr. Yung says.

 

"If we wanted to visit Rome, for example, in the medieval times, it's possible to do so via virtual tourism."

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Some virtual experiences are also trying to integrate sensory elements, although Dr. Yung says there is still much more work to be done in this area. "With smells, they use pods, which emit synthetic smells ... similar to what you'd find in a shopping mall when you walk past a cookie stand or something with artificial smells." 

 

"With taste at the moment, there is no real substitute, but I believe some researchers in Singapore have come up with a technology where they can trick your mind through smell. "This is where you're drinking mineral water but, through the trick of color and smell, you can basically fool the mind into thinking [the person is] tasting something."

 

New Opportunities - Virtual tourism could open up destinations for those who could not access them otherwise. "A lot of the technology that's behind it [came in] years before COVID hit, and it was to overcome a lot of issues with barriers with accessibility and inclusivity," Dr. Yung says. "So people who were not mobile were able to still get some experience of the outside world."

 

It Offers Other Opportunities Too - For example, for those who are risk-averse, virtual tourism could be a way to take part in extreme sports safely, he says.

 

"[People] I've spoken to said something like … 'I would love to do something like bungee jumping but my natural fear would never let me do something like that."

 

"But [with] the comfort of VR, knowing that you physically will not be doing the bungee jump but you're able to experience something like that, that could be a substitute for the real experience.

 

"I've heard people say they want to see the Great Barrier Reef, but they are so afraid of water … so that could be [an opportunity] in the near term."

 

Virtual reality can also be used to travel freely without any risk of social or cultural stigmas, he adds. "There are certain behaviors [that] certain cultures expect of us when we travel overseas, or when we're out in public. And when we are hidden deep behind this virtual lens, then [virtual tourists] are able to explore different mannerisms or cultures that you normally wouldn't be able to," he says.

 

Therefore, for those looking to scratch their travel itch, virtual tourism is opening up the world once again, says Dr. Yung. "This is one small positive that has come up with COVID in alerting research and development [and encouraging the] acceptance of the technology by everyone else."

Little Things That Matter In A Relationship

Best-selling romance Author, Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku, shares her five tips on what matters in a relationship.

Dating Trends in 2022

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Every year new trends pop up: fashion trends, fitness trends, food trends, and of course dating trends. Whether you have had it with endless and unsuccessful dating apps or you are starting to think about dipping your foot into the dating pond after the end of a relationship, the following are six dating trends that will govern the way men and women find love in 2022.

 

1. Dry Dating - the past two years have had many people reassessing their relationship when it comes to alcohol consumption while dating. The networking app Bumble found that 34 percent of global daters are now more likely to consider going on a ‘dry date’ than they were during the pre-pandemic phase, and 29 percent of Americans surveyed believe that societal norms around drinking and dating are shifting. Now that we think of it, a nice latte date followed by a chilly stroll through the park does not sound too terrible.

 

2. Hesidating - Was first coined by the dating app Plenty of Fish in its fifth annual list of Dating Trends, and means, “Feeling indifferent about dating, unsure if you want to date seriously or casually because life, in general, is so uncertain right now. While some celebrity couples have recently hopped into new relationships quickly and with certainty, 70 percent of singles say hesidating is a very real thing,” explains the experts at POF. Single people are mirroring the uncertainty of the world in general in their dating lives, leading to reluctance to put themselves out there. After nearly two years of almost indescribable confusion, many are clinging to the things that are most secure and safe in our lives. Wading back into the dating pool would introduce a level of disquiet, which can be scary. However, here is the thing: Opening yourself up to dating again does not have to be scary. 

 

3. Dating Apps for All Ages - You are never too old to find love. Just refer to Google searches for ‘dating apps for older people,’ which have grown by a whopping 3,500 percent in the past few months. Though older singles can (and should) use sites and apps like Match, OKCupid, Bumble, or Hinge, it is also worth exploring the set of services geared specifically toward more mature folks, namely Silver Singles, OurTime, or SeniorMatch. 

 

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4. Proud Singlehood - Though quite the opposite of a dating trend, it is worth pointing out that Bumble also predicts a rise in what they are calling a conscious single. “We’ve all heard of ‘conscious uncoupling’, but 2022 is all about finding that someone, not just anyone,” the site’s experts write, pointing out that, per their data, the pandemic has made half of us (53 percent) realize that it’s OK to be alone for a while. Looking ahead, people are consciously deciding to be single, with the majority of singletons globally (54 percent) being more mindful in how, and when, to date.

 

5. Emotional Intelligence - Physical Attractiveness - According to Match.com’s annual Singles in America report, emotional maturity has never been hotter. “This year, for the first time, there was a drop in singles’ preference for physical attractiveness, while preference for partner traits like being open-minded and accepting increased,” the report reads. Eighty-three percent of singles polled are looking for emotional maturity in a partner over physical attractiveness. Looks fade, but being a compassionate, progressive human does not.

 

6. Slow Dating - This one has been trending since the beginning of the pandemic. With new variants popping up every few months (or so it seems), slow dating is sticking around. Per Bumble, slow dating is the trend of “people taking the time to get to know each other and build a connection before deciding if they want to pursue the relationship or meet in person.” The result is that fifty-five percent of people on Bumble are taking longer to move a match offline. Jemma Ahmed, head of insights at Bumble, believes this is related to having the time and circumstances—a pandemic will change your outlook—to think more critically about what they want in a relationship. “People are starting to get to know themselves a lot more,” says Ahmed. “And as a result, they’re taking the time to figure out who is and isn’t right for them.”

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