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What’s a ‘best’ friend, anyway?
Have you seen the movie Bridesmaids? There’s a fantastic scene where two of the bridesmaids get into in a verbal arm wrestle over who is the bride’s ‘best’ friend. There’s Annie – the childhood pal, who knows all the secrets, who shared Lillian’s adolescent angst, danced with her to Wilson Phillips. Then there’s the new [read more]
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Sex in a long-term relationship. By Nikki Gemmell.
It’s been 8 years since Nikki Gemmell‘s international – scandalous! – bestseller The Bride Stripped Bare was released. Did you read it? Millions of Australian women did and it was a watershed in publishing…one of those moments when people collectively said “Ah, yes!” In that book, Nikki wrote about sex in a long-term relationship. About [read more]
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I almost screwed up my wedding
I have cake-regret. Lana has perm-remorse. Meanwhile Mia still has nightmares over her too-long-guestlist. Let me explain. Each of us screwed up some aspect of our wedding and frankly, if we could have the big day all over again, there are things we would change. Quite a few things. Like what? Take a seat, this [read more]
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The secret language of families. What’s yours?
My husband and I spent three years living in Scotland, during which time our first child was born. Hearing the news of my pregnancy at a work function, Craig’s boss confidently predicted that his wife would be thrilled to help out with babysitting, enthusiastically proclaiming that “Susie just loves babies!” I was pleased to hear [read more]
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20 things women try to change about men
I have a friend, a life long old friend that I went to school with. He’s funny, exuberant, charming and great company. I love to be around him because he makes me laugh. He hasn’t changed much since school days and maybe that’s part of the appeal for me – he takes me back to [read more]
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A beautiful post that you HAVE to read
I stood outside the gates and waited while the old people eased their ways slowly off the bus. She middled among them, a bird of paradise next to their drab pidgeon colours; grey, brown, faded. Sunspots and cardigans. She had her pink hat cocked a jaunty angle and wore flowers, patterns, everything bright, sunshiney and [read more]
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Accidental rape. I knew I hadn’t committed a crime but…
Note: As with many articles about sexual violence, particularly those that include anecdotes, this may prove triggering for some. “Sometimes I say ‘yes’ when I’d rather say ‘no.’” It’s been nearly 25 years, but I can still remember the beautiful Berkeley fall afternoon when I heard those shattering words. Katie and I were sitting in [read more]
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This is what casual sex can lead to
Many single women are familiar with that popular mid-90s dating guidebook ‘The Rules: Time-tested secrets for capturing the heart of Mr Right’. In fact, among most of my female friends, it was considered a second bible and they swore by it. Strangely a lot of them remained single, but more [read more]
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Two kids… still easy?
This is an extract from an article from Jacinta Tynan that appeared in Sunday Life magazine on the weekend: “As someone who relished my foray into motherhood finding it easily the most joyful, meaningful, rewarding thing I have ever done, there was plenty of room for error. When I wrote about it at the time from [read more]
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There wasn’t a gutter filthy enough for me to cry in.
I cheated on my partner. We’re not in an open relationship. I wasn’t drunk. There was nothing to justify it, there rarely is. When this mange-ridden cat finally limped its pathetic way out of the bag, the person I love almost collapsed. That night, twice, he had to run to the bathroom sick with sadness [read more]
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What’s your number?
Boy, do we love a bit of useless movie trivia in the MM office. That’s how we spend our days. Mia sends us emails with pictures of lobsters. Nat bangs on about touch footy. And I send emails that start with, “Hey did you know that Ryan Gosling built the kitchen table featured in The [read more]
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Would you like a threesome with your bananas?
I’ve always thought of the supermarket as quite an unglamourous place. Probably because it is, really. It’s somewhere you really don’t need to make an effort. Like the gym. No one really cares what you look like, right? Well, that’s the perception that I grew up with. My mum used to complain [read more]
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The male body: hot or gross?
As a teenager, I felt natural hooking up with guys–a seatbelt in my back, a heel popping out the car cigarette lighter. And yet I felt confused. I was unsure how to treat the male body, what to do with it, exactly. When I lost my virginity, my partner proudly showed [read more]
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Why do we need to hide some of us?
Watch this to the end. Seriously, watch it until the last moment and tell us you’re not completely shattered by the revelation. This simple experiment involving a costume bear begs the question: do we really need to hide ourselves to get a little bit closer? “There are only a few people who don`t have empathy [read more]
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“An affair helped my marriage”
It’s easy to say that you’d just leave. That you’d pack up the kids and the dog and run away to Mexico. Or your mother’s house. But if it actually happened – if you found out that your partner had cheated on you – could you walk away? Would you walk away? [read more]
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My life is perfect. But…
Having it all. The perfect family, job, house, car, friends, social life, and everything else. It’s something that everyone always seems to be working towards and it’s also what Mamamia reader Polly* is currently enjoying. But she can’t help feeling that there’s something wrong with the picture. Polly writes: “I live an insanely blessed life. [read more]
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Do we really need photos to relive the moment?
When I was seven my family went with some friends to Greece and Israel. I remember so much about that holiday. I remember the heat when the plane stopped to refuel in Nairobi and we were not allowed to get off the plane. (it was the 1970′s stay with me). I remember distinctly waking up [read more]
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Say ‘I do’ for marriage equality
Seven out of 10 Australians believe same sex couples should be allowed to marry. And yet Australian law says they can’t. This ad, by Australian Marriage Equality and Get Up, brought together a “mega-mob” of 250 volunteers to show the statistics of marriage equality in Australia. It’s powerful. Mia went along to the shoot. Take [read more]
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Should your relationship have a use-by date?
Put a time limit on your marriage. Sounds interesting, right? With a large number of marriages now ending in divorce, “happily ever after” might be a thing of the past. Well, hold the phone … Mexico City (where over 50 per cent of marriages end in divorce) is now considering a radical change to its [read more]
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Which Hollywood couple hired a prostitute?
Stop right where you are. We read this article in the MM office and we did a bit of everything. Laughed. A lot. Scratched our heads. Asked questions to no one in particular. Then kept reading. Say what you will about the subject matter, this is a brilliantly deft piece of writing. Yes, it’s true, [read more]
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Smiling assasins. Is there one in your life?
My grandma, who raised me, may not be to blame for any of my body issues, but that certainly hasn’t stopped her from playing an almost hyper-active role in commentating them over the years. A mere four days after the birth of my firstborn, when it had only just dawned on me that even after [read more]
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Group therapy: the most important wedding advice
If you are planning a wedding at the moment it is likely that you are just scanning this post looking for your breath or the number of a photographer. If your wedding planning is in the past, you’re lucky but you probably have some great advice for Mamamia reader Emily who [read more]
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Domestic violence. Which of these ads is the most effective?
We’ve heard the statistics before and yet, each time I hear them, they’re no less shocking. According to White Ribbon Australia, one in three Australian women over the age of 15 have reported experiencing physical or sexual violence at some time in their lives. And I have no doubt it’s true. I have no doubt [read more]
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Confessions of a late starter
I was a late starter. No, I wasn’t late to start walking or talking. I didn’t start school late. I was late to lose it. Yes, IT! I didn’t lose my virginity until I was 22. This wasn’t because I was hideously ugly. In fact, I was a reasonably good looking young man. I will admit [read more]
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I was born this way.
I was recently at an event with my parents, not knowing many other guests there, surrounded by pretty young things wearing gorgeous dresses. I glammed up for the occasion too – my pink Cinderella skirt from St Frock, and my silver jacket and floral top that I wore to the AusBlogCon (though I always seem to feel [read more]
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Why we need better p*rn
(SFW) When I was in high school, a group of boys in my class got hold of someone’s father’s Playboy collection and showed it around when the teachers weren’t looking. In response to their gloating, I lied about my age and bought a copy of Playgirl magazine. I taped the centrefold to the inside door [read more]
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She uses beads to negotiate sex. Wait. What?
It’s a fairly obvious indication when my husband is still sitting next to me on the couch at 11pm, battling to keep his eyes open, that he’s after more than a whiff of eau de Wife and an unhealthy dose of reality TV. He’s doing what I like to refer to as ‘The Hang’. You [read more]
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Why ‘You’re so emotional. Calm down. Take a joke’ should sound alarm bells.
You’re so sensitive. You’re so emotional. You’re defensive. You’re overreacting. Calm down. Relax. Stop freaking out! You’re crazy! I was just joking, don’t you have a sense of humor? You’re so dramatic. Just get over it already! Sound familiar? If you’re a woman, it probably does. Do you ever hear any [read more]
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The chat everyone needs to have. Just ask.
Have you ever had THAT chat with your partner or your family? You know the one where you lovingly joke about what you want to happen if you died, what kind of funeral you’d want, and where you’d like to be buried or have your ashes scattered? You know when you’re having this chat, that [read more]
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You two are going to like each other a lot
I remember her as the wild kid in class, with hair that looked like seagulls had flocked in it, wearing op-shop taffeta ball gowns with desert boots to school. She was funny, impressive and a little intimidating, and I wanted to be her friend. She tells me she remembers me as this [read more]