Passing along the info to your new honey that you’ve got an STD is something you’re probably looking forward to about as much as attending your nephew’s 5th birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. Need hints on how to deliver the dirty truth? We asked Jill Grimes, M.D., author of Seductive Delusions: How Everyday People Catch STDs for some tips, after the jump…

In my opinion, if you’re over 25 and don’t have at least one “bad boyfriend” story, something’s wrong with you. Mine, who I dated right around 23, was a totally self-absorbed, not particularly cute, questionably gay co-worker who was occasionally kind to me, yet more often a serious ass, bringing that annoying Katy Perry “Hot ‘N Cold” song to life. Seriously, I could spend weeks posting insane accounts of his jerk-tastic behavior or the emails my friends sent me pleading that I please, for the love of God, cut him loose. Because I probably spent more money on Kleenex than rent during the tenure of our relationship, looking back, I want to smack young, immature me for putting up with his nonsense for so long. What kind of self-assured woman lets a dude treat her like dirt? I did, but, believe it or not, I’m glad he’s included in my relationship Rolodex. Had I not dated Mr. Not-So-Incredible, I never would have been able to fully appreciate the warmth, kindness, generosity and - gasp! – maturity of Mr. Truly Incredible, who I later married. 

Do you want to rip the clothes off your partner’s body not because you’re insanely attracted to him, but because you hate his style so much? While it may seem like an impossible task, switching up your guy’s style is actually quite simple—as long as you carefully plot the steps you need to take to correct his numerous wardrobe malfunctions. Need tips on where to begin? We’ve got some fail-safe man-makeover suggestions from Laurie Graham, a celebrity fashion stylist in Los Angeles.

‘Tis the season to shower the people you love – and, of course, get a little soaked yourself—with pretty wrapped packages. While giving and receiving can be oh so joyful, it can also create a serious amount of stress and anxiety. Puzzled about who on your list actually deserves a present - and who’s better left off? Concerned about whether you should be honest with your Mom about the horrendous handbag she gave you? Unsure as to what kind of gift is appropriate to give your brand-new girlfriend of six weeks? As you prepare to play Santa or Hanukkah Harry this holiday season, consider the advice of Dallas Teague Snider, founder of Make Your Best Impression, a business protocol and etiquette consulting firm, and Diane Gottsman, Director of The Protocol School of Texas. After the jump, find their guidelines for grateful holiday gift-giving – and receiving…

Miracle of miracles, the current economic crisis doesn’t look like it’s going to saddle you with major financial setbacks. Your significant other, however, hasn’t been so lucky. Whether your partner’s been laid off, forced to take a pay cut, or seen a formerly robust stock portfolio become awfully puny, it’s become quite clear that his or her financial future is looking grim. Though it makes you feel a little guilty, you’re beginning to re-evaluate whether, going forward, his or her financial situation will be able to provide or assist you with living the kind of lifestyle you’d like – or at least to which you’ve become accustomed. Are you being cold and superficial or wise and practical? We consulted Debra Mandel, Ph.D., a psychologist and author of Dump that Chump! for advice on how you should best approach the situation.

There are so many reasons to travel: discovering new cultures, sampling exotic cuisines, scoping out gorgeous, historical scenery, and, of course, the opportunity to say that you’ve done it with someone from another country, in another country. If globe-trotting for the sake of sex isn’t in the cards for you anytime in the near future, you’re not completely out of luck when it comes to sampling what’s on the menu at the International House of Lovecakes. Laura Corn, author of all sorts of amp-up-your-sex-life literature, believes that integrating some internationally-inspired romanticisms into your oh-so domestic sex life is not only the next best thing to actually getting lucky on foreign soil, but might actually be the key to revving up an otherwise lackluster love life. Just think: Cheeseburgers are damn good, yet how sad would your palate be without the likes of sushi, Pad Thai, and enchiladas? You get the picture. 

E., my best guy friend in college, believed that women should eliminate giving handjobs from their hook-up repertoire. “They always end up either hurting or not being satisfying at all,” he asserted.  “The bottom line: there’s no way you can do it as well as he can.” It did make perfect sense. Why should I—or any woman, for that matter—attempt to please my guy with something of which he’s perfected the art? That would be like making Italian food for Mario Batali, or giving Spencer Pratt of “The Hills” lessons on how to be a douchebag.

Sooner or later, everybody falls in love. When it’s good, it’s freaking amazing: birds sing, the sun shines, your Mom doesn’t annoy you so much and your checks are perpetually rosy, When it doesn’t work out, however, it burns like the fiery pits of hell. All that was good with the world has been obliterated – along with your self-esteem. And the way you’ll likely add insult to injury be inflicting even more torture upon yourself – well, that’s not so pretty either. Either you can’t eat or you’re eating pint after pint of Ben & Jerry’s, you’re sleeping all day or not sleeping at all or you’ve either abandoned all personal grooming habits or, in a particularly “screw-it” moment, went and got a majorly unflattering short haircut [Or a totally flattering one!—Editor] or tattoo. As a post-dumpage Lloyd Dobler was labeled by his buddies outside the Gas ‘n Sip in “Say Anything”, you’re null and void. 

Whether it’s sitting in silence during dinner or enduring the long, uncomfortable pauses when he’s out with you and your friends, dating a shy guy can create some incredibly frustrating situations. What you might not realize, however, is that inspiring an introverted date to open up is surprisingly simple. “With a shy guy, you have to take the lead more often,” says Diana Kirschner, Ph.D., a recurring guest psychologist on “The Today Show” and author of “Love in 90 Days: The Essential Guide to Finding Your Own True Love”. “It may seem like a challenge, but once you give him a few little pushes in the right direction, he’ll open up to you with ease.” Find Dr. Kirschner’s hints on how to encourage your guy to take a walk on the wildly talkative side, after the jump…

Fantasize about dating a rock star? Who doesn’t? They’re sexy, mysterious, oh-so-dangerous, and, apparently, insanely wild in bed. If you wanna make like Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson, Liv Tyler, or Cameron Diaz, but you’re all hung up on your lack of a Hollywood pedigree, mega-wattage celebrity, or rock star funds, fret no longer, my sister. You, too, can land yourself a music man—without looking all “groupie”—with the help of Cherry Bomb: The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Better Flirt, a Tougher Chick, and a Hotter Girlfriend, and to Living Life Like a Rock Star, a land-a-rock-star manual by Carrie Borzillo-Vrenna, who’s married to a rock star herself.