Growing up, I learned there are three touchy topics that can turn people from Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde: Politics, Religion, and Money. These days, how can politics not be on the tips of everybody’s lips? How do you handle it when you and your own family are on opposite sides of the political fence?

I’ve got thirteen people in my immediate family: my parents, myself, four siblings and their spouses, and two outspoken nieces. Although only eleven of us are actually eligible to vote, my not-yet-voting-age nieces are damn well informed. As you can imagine, our family dinners tend to get heated, and we’ve got a recipe for disaster. So, here’s how I deal with my family politically.

Sure, it’s Election Day, but that doesn’t mean you have to be all about the politics. You’re focused on the candidates, the issues, the outcome—but that doesn’t mean you’re not thinking about the opposite sex, too. So, here’s a few tips on how to get frisky in election-friendly ways.

CLOTHING PARTY LINES
You might not have Sarah Palin’s wardrobe budget, but you definitely need to look good enough to make someone want to stuff your ballot box. This Tuesday, make the most of the possibilities. Don’t wear headphones while waiting in those long voting lines, or show up at the polls in a crazy American flag hat. Instead, wear a flirty dress inspired by Michelle Obama. That is, if you want to go home with something other than an “I Voted!” sticker.

“Find your place, and let the world gravitate to you. None of this mix-and-mingle business.”—Diana Vreeland, former Vogue editor-in-chief

There was a period in my early twenties, not too long after college graduation, and even sooner after the painful break-up of my first real relationship, that I hopscotched through a series of dead-end jobs (seven in four months!), dated recklessly, and pumped my body with substances I wouldn’t clean a carburetor with these days. Then, one day, perusing the self-help aisle in Borders, I came across a book on the “quarterlife crisis.” I picked it up, found a comfy chair in the back of the store, and skimmed enough pages to understand there was a name for what I was going through, a phase, and it was just a matter of time before I’d move past it.

After two and half years together and a few short domestic trips, my boyfriend and I recently put our relationship to the test with a two-week jaunt through China. Sure, hiking the Great Wall, braving squatter toilets, and eating breakfast with chopsticks were all an adventure, but the real challenge of vacationing together was spending every minute together for 15 days straight. If you think your relationship is up to the test, do yourself (and him) a favor by following my hard-learned tips after the jump…

Have you ever dreamed that you slept with your father? Or rode a mechanical bull while a coworker watched? We have and were disturbed for months. Fortunately, dreams don’t always mean what you think they do, and having sex with your father is nothing to worry about, so long as it only happens in your subconscious. Here, we ask psychologist Veronica Tonay, Ph.D. to decode your crazy dreams each and every week, so that you can sleep at night, and dream some more.

THE DREAM IN QUESTION: I had a dream Brad Pitt and George Clooney made me their sidekick. George wanted to go to IHOP for pancakes. They tried to figure out the back way to get in so paparazzi wouldn’t catch me and take photos of me as their “lady friend.” I didn’t like the dress I was wearing. We arrived at the back entrance of IHOP. I was wrapped around the motorcycle with my crotch pressed into Brad’s back. It was more me and Brad, and George was nearby. I didn’t really care about George. I didn’t mind the paparazzi taking photos of me though. My hair was windswept. I looked fierce, storming towards the entrance in my boots and my wrap dress, feeling tiny between these two, big men. Brad kept rubbing the small of my back. It was a GLORIOUS dream. —Stealing Angelina’s Husband, New York, NY

Have you ever dreamed that you slept with your father? Or rode a mechanical bull while a coworker watched? We have and were disturbed for months. Fortunately, dreams don’t always mean what you think they do, and having sex with your father is nothing to worry about, so long as it only happens in your subconscious. Here, we ask psychologist Veronica Tonay, Ph.D. to decode your crazy dreams each and every week, so that you can sleep at night, and dream some more.

THE DREAM IN QUESTION: I was an actress in a small ensemble group. I found a note saying that someone was going to kill me in the performance. I think I knew who sent the note and it was another guy in the cast. My boyfriend was also in the cast. So, at our meeting before the show, I told everyone that I found this note (because I thought that if I put it out there, the guy would know that everyone knew someone was going to try to kill me). I made eye contact with him when I was reading the note, and he gave me a creepy look. After that, the director told me he thought it would be best if I just went ahead with the show and everyone would be on the lookout for the killer. So my boyfriend and I started to go back to the hotel we were staying at, and on the way back I told him I thought we both needed to get out of there. We were going to run back to the hotel and get all of our stuff and leave town. We just started running, through parking structures, up and down the stairs, across the rooftops (it was really scary) and then I woke up and realized it was a dream. —Don’t Want To Die, Portland, OR

Have you ever dreamed that you slept with your father? Or rode a mechanical bull while a coworker watched? We have and were disturbed for months. Fortunately, dreams don’t always mean what you think they do, and having sex with your father is nothing to worry about, so long as it only happens in your subconscious. Here, we ask psychologist Veronica Tonay, Ph.D. to decode your crazy dreams each and every week, so that you can sleep at night, and dream some more.

THE DREAM IN QUESTION: I have a reoccurring dream that I discover a wing of a mansion hidden in my apartment. For example, one day I open the closet and find a door that leads to a series of overly decorated rooms that are HUGE. Often in my dreams I discover these rooms are haunted or someone died there. The rooms have really dated furniture, and it’s apparent these rooms have not been lived in for ages. I grew up in a tastefully decorated home—what’s with the tacky furniture?  —Living Amidst Shag Carpet, New York, NY

Have you ever dreamed that you slept with your father? Or rode a mechanical bull while a coworker watched? We have and were disturbed for months. Fortunately, dreams don’t always mean what you think they do, and having sex with your father is nothing to worry about, so long as it only happens in your subconscious. Here, we ask psychologist Veronica Tonay, Ph.D. to decode your crazy dreams each and every week, so that you can sleep at night, and dream some more.

THE DREAM IN QUESTION: My dad had just left my mom for Margaret Cho. He was staying in a bachelor pad, and my mom wasn’t bummed about it at all. In fact, she seemed happy. (In real life they are still together after 38 years.) I was staying at my dad’s place and had to sleep in his bed since it was a studio. He had a hot body and accidentally spooned me, thinking I was Margaret Cho. While I was disgusted, I was also slightly turned on. WTF is wrong with me? —Cuddling Daddy

Have you ever dreamed that you slept with your father? Or rode a mechanical bull while a coworker watched? We have and were disturbed for months. Fortunately, dreams don’t always mean what you think they do, and having sex with your father is nothing to worry about, so long as it only happens in your subconscious. Here, we ask psychologist Veronica Tonay, Ph.D. to decode your crazy dreams each and every week, so that you can sleep at night, and dream some more.

THE DREAM IN QUESTION: I was a guest co-host on The View. I had to go on in 30 seconds, but I was naked and wasn’t wearing any makeup. And Rosie (yes, I realize she’s no longer on the show) was like, “GET ON SET OR ELSE!” I was terrified.  —In The Nude On National TV, New York, NY