How to Make Every Love Feel Like the First

This New Year will mark a clean slate of dating opportunities for countless hopeful singles out there. Like resolutions, our desires to find new love fill us with optimism.

The idea of a new love heals us from the past and encourages us to start anew, in hopes for something more incredible than ever before. The very idea of novelty is exciting, refreshing and pure.

But does new love always feel genuinely fresh? Or can it sometimes feel stale, as both parties have such a past? As we meet more and more lovers, words and feelings can get rather redundant without even realizing. So here are a few reminders to keep you from ever going stale with a new lover.

1. Highlight the unique attributes you’ve never dated before
You may have dated x number of women/men, but you definitely will not come across two people who are exactly identical. Sure, a new lover may have traits that remind you of your ex, but try to focus on the different rather than the familiar. Voice it out loud, mention how you’ve never seen this or felt that before. Be attentive to the new elements in your relationship and it’ll feel like first love all over again.

2. Try new things
This one is a given, but always a good reminder. Be explorative, go to a new city, try a new activity. If you have a go-to date spot that feels safe or popular, don’t go there. Like you did with your first love, make every event a new chance to discover and explore.

3. Use new nicknames
The typical pet names like “babe” or “honey” can be dangerous, especially if you’ve had a longer relationship in the past. If you’re used to “babe” rolling off your tongue, chances are it’s a habit carried over from the past. Catch yourself and think of something more original – it’ll feel much more intimate and personalized.

4. Start new traditions
Some couple-y traditions are hard to alter – like if you would always call your ex at a certain time, or have dinners on Sundays, or spend every Halloween together. Of course, you will practice some of the same routines you practiced with your ex. But don’t let the traditions be exactly just that. What you can do is think of ways to break your old habits by creating new ones.

5. Love with all your heart
Go that extra mile. It’s easy to get discouraged or skeptical or even embarrassed when you yourself have a past and you’re dating someone new with his/her respective past. Don’t let things that no longer matter get in the way of something with vast potential. Love like you have never been hurt before, push yourself to be evermore giving, understanding and in love – and it will not feel stale even after years.

Why the Holiday Season is the Absolute Perfect Time to be Dating

1. It’s cold outside… and naturally you’ll huddle together
If you’re just starting out, it’s a great time to build intimacy – both physically and emotionally. Rubbing eachothers’ cold hands and engaging in a long warm hug in cold weather doesn’t have to be just a scene from a movie. Walk the streets in the cold, in the snow, and feel yourselves finding warmth through skinship with your partner.

2. More gifts, more joy
The joy of enriching your life by adding an extra person on your Christmas list and receiving one more special surprise in return. Unwrapping gifts during the holiday season is a unique type of joy you can look forward to, especially with a lover.

3. Let it glow
People are generally happier during the holiday season – what better time to lighten up, when you’re on a break from work to spend time with a loved one? Let the jolly aura resonate within your relationship. If you both were going through some rough patches, you should be relieved that the holidays are just around the corner – it’ll make everything better.

4. It’s a natural way to get a little more serious
Bringing your girlfriend, boyfriend to meet the family may not always be easy, but the holidays makes it natural and wonderful. The spirit of gathering can automatically escalate your relationship to the next level when you learn more about eachothers’ lives through attending celebrations together.

5. There’s gratitude and love all around
This is the perfect time to be reminded – we should be thankful for all things in life, especially for a boyfriend or girlfriend that completes our day-to-day. The holiday spirit will let you experience love on a whole new level – not just the romantic type, but also the appreciative, platonic type of love you feel for someone you can lean on.

Zepeel wishes you and your lover a happy holiday!

5 Ways to Spice Up Your Sexuality

What is your capacity for sexual desires? Studies suggest that people who have more sex may be doing better in other aspects of their lives – and masturbation doesn’t count!

Now, not everyone is on the same level of intensity for sexual feelings. Some of us are either shy, afraid or nonchalant towards making good, healthy and fun love several times a week. Not to encourage having casual sex with random partners all the time or anything (though that’s totally up to you!), but rather, we’re trying to get your juices flowing, to feel more alive, to enhance one another’s lives via natural pleasure – so lets get started on how to spice up your sexuality.

1. Indulge in erotic scenes
This doesn’t necessarily mean porn. It can be anything that stimulates you romantically or emotionally. Widening your capacity for romance or emotions can heighten your sexual desires. Because sexuality isn’t just a physical drive, it can be a mental one – no wonder sex is linked to enhanced moods, cured depression and is even considered spiritual!

2. Aphrodisiacs
Experiment with different aphrodisiacs, choose your favourites. Make a conscious choice to indulge in them! Don’t know what you like? Refer to our top 4 surprising aphrodisiacs list here.

3. Touch yourself in sensitive places
This doesn’t necessarily mean masturbation! Your body may not have discovered its sweet senses yet, so experiment with stroking, itching, rubbing parts of your body that may intensify some feelings. You know that image when you see Mariah Carey touching herself all over her body? That’s embracing ones sexuality right there. Lets all be more like Mariah Carey.

4. Imagine things and let your mind freely wander
Hormone levels are one thing, but some people don’t take enough time to think about sex. This is normal for people who are busy with work and going about their daily lives… But we should always fit in our schedules some down time to day dream.

5. Be more interested in people and in ideas
Despite all these brain exercises, there’s really one simple thing that is sure to boost your sexuality. Simply take an interest in it, in people and in their wildest dreams. Sex essentially makes people feel loved – it’s a way for you to give love. So simply care, take interest and go out to find a special someone.

7 Cute & Sexy Halloween Costume Ideas for Couples

Oh yes, it's that time of year again. The one day you can dress completely and absolutely inappropriate, and all the more outrageous if you're with a special someone to match your Halloween costume with.

If you're usually the type to go all out for the festivities, then you've probably tried (and are tired of) all the cliche Halloween couple costumes you see on the market. Well, good news for you, there are still plenty of ideas you have yet to try, evident by these cute, sexy and sometimes hilarious pairs that serve as great sources of inspiration. So flip through, get creative and make this Halloween the sexiest one yet!

1. Modern day vampire lovers

Who says vampires have to look like Dracula? This simple costume idea is the perfect blend of sexy, scary and sweet - all you need is some pale makeup, fangs, fake blood, long fingernails and whatever you want to wear.

2. Anything that plugs in

If you want to be that funny couple, this option might be the perfect fit. Browse for these getups at your local costume store or online.

3. Boobs...   

 Need I say more?

4. The sexiest, most PDA couple on Earth 

The very essence of this Kim Kardashian & Kanye West as a couple screams sex... So dressing up as them will undoubtedly be sexy and maybe even borderline raunchy.

5. Sexy book characters

 This one might be easier for the ladies, but gentlemen - don't be afraid to reveal some skin, too!

6. Anything marvel

This one is a classic. Why not be really original by coming up with your own superpowers and making up your own superhero duo name?

7. Calvin Klein underwear model lovers

This could be a fun try at home, or easily public-appropriate by throwing on matching white undershirts on top of jeans. Be hot, sexy, passionate and fabulous for a day, as if you're in a Calvin Klein underwear photoshoot.

Dating tips from high school sweethearts

September may not mean much for many of us now, but remember those days when it meant the whole world because it was back-to-school season? In timely manner, we’ve compiled a list of some relationship tips that high school sweethearts would definitely approve of. How many of these do you and your lover practice every day?

1. PDA is not a choice
High school sweethearts are not high school sweethearts until they walk down the hallways holding hands. In a crowded, public setting like a school where hundreds of people are pooled together, the only way to mark territory and confirm exclusivity is to show it physically – something we tend to forget once we go into the real world. Feel how refreshing it is to sweetly hold each other in a public setting, with as much passion as a teenage couple. It will liven up the relationship in many ways.


2. Dress to impress every day
Going to the same school means seeing each other every day, which means having to dress up and smell nice every single day. Of course, high school in itself is a place we all wanted to look best for, but having your lover attending the same school meant more than just looking presentable – you want to look dashing. For those who have gotten complacent in their love lives, remember that the feeling of newness can happen every day with the right attitude. The type of attitude you’d have when getting ready for school, to see and impress your crush every day.


3. Leave little love notes
Cellphones are technically not allowed in classrooms, so high school couples will take other measures. I’m talking about scribbling sweet (and sometimes silly) messages on ripped lined paper and sticking them in lockers, passing them on in class and sneaking them into pencil cases for your lover to find spontaneously. Surprises are always welcome and don’t happen enough – it can be something as small as a note!


4. Walk each other places
When was the last time you walked your partner to his / her next destination? High school sweethearts meet for a few minutes in between classes and walk each other to class. It’s such a small thing, but means a lot because you know they are really milking the time they have to spend together.


5. Breaking the rules and acting out of pure spontaneity
When you’re so passionate about each other, sometimes all you want to do is spend time together – forget going to class. The coolest high school couples will skip class together and run off to the fast food joint or park where they will spend the hour cuddling instead of learning. When’s the last time you took a day off (when you weren’t supposed to) to hang out with your lover? May sound crazy, but why not initiate it? High school sweethearts may seem silly to some, but they are inspiring in some ways. They remind us to love with a burning spark like a young couple meeting eyes in the hallways.

Reasons why there's no such thing as 'ridiculous' in Love

If you’re ever hesitant about a relationship and think that it's arguably “questionable,” think again... because the words love and ridiculous should be synonymous already. Whether they're crazy circumstances or crazy thoughts, allow me to let you in on a secret: there's no such thing as crazy when it comes to love. Below are a few of many reasons why you shouldn't be afraid to embrace the crazier types of romantic instances, the types that challenge traditional archetypes. Enjoy!

7-Times Divorced
In America, almost 50% of marriages now end in divorce. That’s not a very uplifting statistic, but what is a bit more encouraging is the fact that some people never give up on finding the one they want to be with for the rest of their lives. Actresses like Elizabeth Taylor, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Lana Turner were divorced upwards of not once, not twice but seven times. If you thought jumping into a new relationship after a terrible breakup was ridiculous, imagine that multiplied by 7.

Long Distance
For some jobs, it’s impossible to avoid long distance. Katy Perry and her past boyfriend Russell Brand had hectic work schedules and were often apart. David Beckham and his wife Victoria were doing half-year long distance relationships when David was stationed in LA. It seems like many other couples, left, right and center, are engaged in some form of long-distance relationship with difficult time differences. But that’s totally doable nowadays, with the help of technology.

Biggest age gap
Forget anybody who’s ever questioned your taste or choice in men or women, because it couldn’t possibly come close to these. Actor Doug Hutchison was age 51 and his wife, Courtney Stodden was only 16 when they got hitched in Vegas. The youngest of the Jonas Brothers, Nick, dated singer Delta Goodrem who was 9 years his senior. He was only 18. If that’s not enough, take a look at who Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen are now dating respectively. There are the generic cute couples, then there are some strange couples, and then there are couples who couldn’t care less what anyone else thinks.

86 Years Together
It’s easy to get swept away by society’s ‘norm’ of what is considered appropriate timing, but numbers really don’t matter. No matter how short (or long), some relationships will always be functional. Just take Herbert and Zelmyra for example, they’ve been together for 86 years and hold a Guinness World's Record for it. 86 years may feel like a very very very long time for some, but to them, it was just a fun journey. 

Real love at first sight
"I think we both knew from the moment we met that we wanted to marry each other.” For some, that couldn’t sound any more ridiculous, but it was a dream-come-true for Kristin Cavallari and hubby Jay Cutler.
Fashion tycoon Tom Ford said something similar about his partner of 27 years, who he first met in an elevator. "I decided in that elevator ride that I was going to marry him. He ticked every box, and—boom—by the time we got to the floor, I was like, sold."

Like them, many couples claim that this truly happened. 

How to really win a woman's heart

1. One word: Charm

Every man has his own unique charm – let it show! Start off with a strong and confident introduction, but be comfortable – be yourself! Smile or laugh often, because at the end of the day, a woman just wants someone who can make her smile and laugh. No matter how handsome a man might be, he will not win a woman’s heart if he isn’t able to make her feel comfortable. So getting closer to a woman requires a certain comfort level and that will be hard to achieve if you aren’t feeling comfortable yourself.

2. Take her out and ask questions

Not every woman wants a fancy one, but a date is something no woman will reject if she is interested. Ask her out for a coffee, a lunch, a dinner, a drink. It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant, just a time for you two to get to know each other on a personal level.  

3. Be transparent with her

Once you’ve seen each other a couple times and you feel strongly towards this woman, you gotta let her know. Of course, this is the hardest part because you don’t want to come off too strong, but the message has to be delivered. Find the appropriate time to tell her that you find her to be amazing, attractive, fun to be around, whatever it may be. And if you can, tell her that you like her.

4. Show her that you trust her

It’s one thing to be fancied, but another thing to be trusted. It doesn’t matter whether or not she trusts you, but you should take the first step forward by showing her that you trust her. A good way to show this is by letting her in on a small secret or something rather personal, or leaving one of your belongings with her, or letting her wear something of yours until the next time you see each other. This can range from telling her a story not many people know, to letting her keep your favorite accessory for a week. This not only shows that you trust her with your stuff, but it’ll remind her of you every time she thinks about it, sees or wears it – leaving a deeper imprint and making her fall for you more and more.  

5. Show that you’re making an effort

Whether it’s going out of your way to help her out with something or making an explicit promise to her that you’ll try to be more punctual, effort is effort. Women appreciate even the littlest things that you try to arrange for them, and they will reciprocate your efforts. Building a relationship is all about compromise and giving, so once you initiate these gestures, she will not be able to resist from reciprocating back.

6. Show consistency

Sure, these steps are easy to carry out and play by the book. But the true way to really win a woman’s heart is to stay loyal and show that you will remain grounded by her side like a rock. A real woman who values herself will take her time getting to know you, so no matter how grand your efforts are, she will want to wait it out. Consistency is not something you should force, but it should happen naturally if you really like someone. If you find yourself being inconsistent in your actions, perhaps you should double check whether you really do want to “win” and be responsible for this woman’s heart… Because once you do, it will be the most precious and delicate thing for you to guard.