- SINGLE GIRL THINGS TO DO BEFORE MARRIAGE (Cosmopolitan)
· Date a guy who's totally wrong for you just because he has amazing
abs. So what if he's five years younger and your polar opposite? The
joy of running your hands across his six-pack is a perfectly legitimate
reason to go out with him.
· Collect at least six country stamps on your passport, including one
from a place that until recently you didn't even know existed.
· Embrace feminine decor. Don't go so far as to paint the walls pink --
that'll freak out any guy who sets foot in your place -- but stock up
on stuff that appeals to your girlie side.
· Take advantage of the whole bed. You have the rest of your life to
stick to "your" side when you sleep next to your man.
· Spend an embarrassing amount of money on a designer bag you love or
heels that make you feel incredibly sexy.
· Learn how to change a tire and work a drill. It's easy to relegate
all those "guy" tasks to your man (and you totally should enlist his
help), but there's a sense of power that comes with being able to fix
something yourself.
· Slip one of those furry covers on the toilet. Once it's there, he'll have to accept it and they make it impossible for men to leave the seat up.
· Throw blowout bashes. Sure, it's nice to have a mellow get-together
with your girlfriends, but that shouldn't be the extent of your social
life.
· Get a grip on your dough. Sign up for a retirement plan and invest
extra income in stocks or CD accounts. Take charge of your own cash
flow before merging moola with your guy.
· Have your dad take you out to dinner as often as possible. The
reasons: It's great bonding time, and his open-wallet generosity
will dry up once you're hitched. Face it: Your reception is the last
meal that'll be his treat.
· Want a cat? Buy it now. Call it Snowflake. Let it sleep next to you
in bed. If you wait to get a pet with your betrothed, it will end up
being a big, slobbering Lab called Bif.
· If all you feel like eating for dinner is ice cream and diet soda,
buy a cone and pop a Coke. When you and The Mister mangia together all
the time, you'll be less likely to indulge those bizarre - but oh
-so-satisfying - cravings.
· Use tons of hot water in the a.m.
· Take your celeb crush to the max. Plaster a poster of Ryan Gosling
in your hallway, and set your computer wallpaper to a topless shot of
him.
· Plan your fantasy wedding. Now's the time to let your imagination
roam - rip pictures of dresses from magazines, size up ceremony venues,
and try on some rocks at the jewelry store. This stuff wigs guys out
if they witness it, so get it out of your system now.
· Start a pleasure ritual that a change in your relationship status
can't disturb. Regularly treat yourself to something you love, whether
it's a manicure, yoga classes at the fanciest studio in town, or a
superrelaxing massage.
· Set up your home in a way that fits your needs. Maybe keeping the
coffee machine in the bathroom so you can get your caffeine boost
while you put on makeup in the morning works for you. Until you have
to deal with someone else weighing in on your unusual arrangement,
customize.