Well, Valentine’s day is just around the corner, and we are pretty sure, sweethearts all around the world are gearing up to celebrate this romantic day with their loved ones.

We are also pretty sure you might be in need of some Valentine’s day gift ideas and this is where we come in to give you our top 3 gift ideas and where to easily get them. This year, instead of the usual chocolates, flowers and cards (which is cool by the way) why not add some spice to the tradition and make that special person feel giddy with love on this day.
LOTUS GALLERY: Has something for everyone, with creative and thoughtful presents you can personalise with special messages, dates, photos and more to show that person you love just how much you care. Customize a cozy throw pillow or a picture frame with his or her photo or even customize a mug with your own words. Whether you are an old pro or a newbie to the game of love, www.lotusgallery.com.gh is your one-stop-online gift shop for unique gift items.

RELATED ARTICLE: LOTUS GALLERY, GHANA’S FINEST ONLY ONLINE GIFT SHOP
MELONS CANDLESHOP: What better way to spice up the romantic atmosphere than including candles in your celebration of love. From a personalised candle to heart-shaped tea lights, melons candleshop have you covered. They are a Ghanaian handmade candle and accessories makers. Hit them up on Instagram @melonscandles for different size candles and all your go-to fragrances.


CHOCO TOYS: Whether you’re looking for a Valentine’s Day gift for yourself or for a romantic night with your sweetheart, Choco toys has something for everyone this Vals Day! They have high quality sex toys we think would each make a fantastic gift for a lover. Visit www.chocotoys.com to spice up your sex life.

NB: If your Valentine has no sex toys to your knowledge, please proceed with caution. It’s much better to have a frank and honest conversation about sex toys rather than blindsiding them with a gift they do not want.

If there is one thing most people enjoy the most, that will be sex and so when it comes to condoms, people think that everyone knows how to put them on. They’re quite easy to put on, but there has always been a first time for everybody, whether they had to put it on themselves or by a partner. We all aware of the reason for the importance of using condoms, to avoid unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.
Some people also have issues with wearing condom before intimacy because no one eats a banana with the peel. Yes, but let’s not forget HIV is real and in as much as HIV can be treated, you wouldn’t enjoy sex as much as you used to when going through the process of being on medication if infected. And this is a time when most people fancy multiple sexual partners, and no matter how faithful and loyal you’re or your partner is in a relationship, when its comes to sex, you can’t be so sure, so be sure to always use a condom. Wearing condom during sex is as sensual and pleasurable as sex is supposed to be but when you don’t wear it well, that’s what brings about the discomfort and tearing of it during sex. Condoms are affordable and easily accessible but make sure to always use a latex condom to keep it safe.
1. Condoms last a long time, but you should always check the expiration date printed on the wrapper or box. Use your hands to tear don’t use teeth or scissors, use hands and do it carefully (we all know it seems a long process, but don’t risk your future for just some few minutes of pleasure)
2. Make sure the condom is ready to roll on the right way: the rim should be on the outside so it looks like a little hat, and it will unroll easily. You can unroll it a little bit before putting it on to make sure it’s right-side out. If you accidentally put a condom on inside out, do NOT flip it around and reuse it, get a new one.

3. Pinch the tip of the condom and place it on the head of your penis. Leave a little bit of space at the top to collect semen (cum). If you’re uncircumcised, it might be more comfortable to pull your foreskin back before placing the condom on the tip of your penis and rolling it down.

4. Unroll the condom down the shaft of your penis all the way to the base. You can put a few drops of water-based or silicone lubricant inside the tip of the condom before you roll it on. You can also add more lube to the outside of the condom after it’s on your penis. (Water-based or silicone lube can make sex feel even better, and it helps stop condoms from breaking.)

 

5. Have sex!

6. After you ejaculate (cum), hold onto the rim of the condom and pull your penis out of your partner’s body. Do this BEFORE your penis goes soft, so the condom doesn’t get too loose and let semen out. After ejaculation, hold base of manhood with tissue and take off condom while manhood is still hard, tie the end of condom to avoid spilling and in tissue

7. Carefully take off the condom away from your partner so you don’t accidentally spill semen (cum) on them. Throw the condom away in the garbage — dump in trash can  and not water closet.

Wash your penis and hands with soap and water. You can’t reuse condoms. Roll on a new condom every time you have vaginal or anal sex. You should also use a new condom if you switch from one kind of sex to another (like anal to vaginal).
Practice these steps always when you want get intimate with anyone and remember there are people living with  HIV but don’t show symptoms, one’s status can’t be judged on physical appearance.

 

 

Much as being in a relationship is the sweetest thing that can happen to us, still not all relationship that has a beautiful beginning end up that way. A break in a relationship is such a sad but necessary realization. There are so many factors that contribute to this and in other relationships there come times where partners want to end it all without any concrete stand to call it a quit, this is when partners spend less time together than before, but sometimes a  break in a relationship is essential to bring it back on a solid ground. These are five reasons why it’s so:

1.Time for reflections: 
When you have a break in your relationship, it grants you the time to cast your memory to when you went out with your friends and enjoyed some time with your family. When you read books or listen to music to unwind when you didn’t have to worry whether you partner called or not, and all the things you did when you weren’t in a relationship.

2. Weigh between before/after the relationship:
This is when you compare if it’s actually worthwhile to continue in the relationship or not. You’ll look at the times when you were not with anybody but yourself and your focus was to be happy and satisfied in life and when you were in the relationship, your thoughts were not only about yourself but also about your partner’s happiness.

3. Pick out the odds:
This is when you’re able to plan how you want to be treated in the relationship. What you could have done right and you never did. Find your strength and weakness in the relationship and figure out how you and your partner would have to continue the relationship as loving as it was from the onset.

4. Make new resolutions:
When there is a break, it doesn’t mean its over yet, it’s just a time for you to recap on your relationship and see where it will lead to, if you are to continue and also make changes if possible.

AUTHOR: TTDHOKU

African men aren’t the most expressive due to societal and cultural expectations.  They can be quite elusive with their feelings, especially when it comes to being vulnerable and in love.  Even still, their love may be growing for you, yet they won’t show it.  Nevertheless, there are little clues they will leave here and there that can ensure you two are heading to greener pastures. Here are some unconventional ways African men show love and affection.

Asks for your two cents

If someone values your input enough to ask for your advice, then you should know that the person holds you in high regard.  Especially when it comes to matters of the heart, it’s often those we care about the most that will be in our inner circle. So, if he opens up to you, it can be an inkling of his growing feelings.

He helps you with ‘unmanly’ chores

Let’s face it, African men across the board are conditioned to think that woman should be responsible for many of the numerous household demands – even if you work outside of the home as well.  If your husband cares enough about your well-being to help out, despite his upbringing, then he is a keeper.

He’s romantic, even when you two aren’t in bed

Many men use romantic gestures as a means to get the booty.  This is one of the oldest tricks in the book, nonetheless, if he goes out of his way to make life extra convenient for you, take it as a good sign.

He buys or cooks food for you

Nothing says I love and care for you more than a meal.  The way to a man’s heart may be through his stomach but there are women out there who are foodies too! If he picks you up a snack when you ask or even unexpectedly, he cares…big time.

Taskmaster

If your partner takes the time to plan and execute a nice getaway, a quick weekend trip, or a lovely day or evening for you, he definitely loves to see you smile because it more than likely means you’re happy. It’s an even bigger bonus if he’s the reason for your jubilation.

He doesn’t entertain other women

Some individuals need to be validated as proof they are loved.  A man can have female friendships but one who is serious about one woman won’t let his friendships get in the way.  He’ll have clear boundaries set and you, as his partner will be well aware of all of his female friends.

Doesn’t take your presence for granted

Some of us tend to get bored when we’re around the same person often. This can cause complacency which can dull the fires in your romance.  If your man is dazzled by your presence in the general scheme of things, your relationship is solid. This doesn’t mean you don’t have rough patches; it just indicates that you navigate through challenges together effectively.

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At the end of the day, a relationship can only thrive if the involved parties nurture it.  If we take the time to honor ourselves, our partners and our objectives, we will be able to live as happy as possible.

 

 

ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN FACE2FACEAFRICA

Good looks matter but this doesn’t mean you’ve got to bed the drop-dead-gorgeous “King Promise” or the very sexy “Ronaldo” type. But studies show there has to be some sort of physical “liking” in order for a girl to let her guard down and allow her vulnerability to show.

Keep in mind, girls usually pick the hot guy for the short-term romp and the average looking man for longer term relationships…Interesting eh?

Well, I decided to nose around to find out what most women find hot on men. You may not agree though but these are the 8 most said things .

THICK LIPS! Yes thick lips, most women find it hot when a guy has thick lips. Yes no matter the color whether pink or not it’s turns me on when  I see a guy  with soft fleshy lips” said one  of the many women I spoke to. “I love my guy because I can chew his beef lips when we are kissing” said another. You may think its weird but this is fact. The reason why guys with thick lips are tagged good kissers.

SMALLER WAIST! WAIT, ARE YOU THINKING WTF? I THOUGHT SO TOO…….. I was bemused when I realized how complicated women can be on things they find hot on men. This is another revelation, men with smaller waist are found hotter and especially when they tuck in. “When I see a man with smaller waist then I begin to imagine how good he can ride in bed “.  A reply from another woman.

PLAYING HARD TO GET! Experts report today that women seem to like the guy that’s not so easy to get. In other words boys, playing hard to get might just put the ball in your court. Seriously, when you aren’t available, it just might make women want you more. *WINK*

HAIRY MEN! This one would not surprise you much. Another feature on men, women rank hot, is hair. Men with hair on chest and legs  are hot according to women. They enjoy the roughness of the hair when it rubs on their skin. “Whenever it prickles me it sends some indescribable sensation through the whole of my being “. Just as she said it.

MONEY TALKS! Women look for a man that shows he has some wealth. So if you have a fancy car or nice house, you will capture her attention before a man that still lives in his mother’s house and rides a bike.

THICKER EYEBROW! This one is truly a bit weird but when you’ve got the thick not thin eyebrows, you are showing your eyes off more and apparently that’s what the girls like. “Believe it or not it turns me on” says one excited lady

DEEP VOICE AND BROAD CHEST! Any of these makes guys hot as well. If you have both then you’re super hot. Broad chest and voice. Its just natural for women to want to be dominated by their men.  “Sweet words from a man with a deep voice makes me feel like a real woman”. Oh please dont look at me I didn’t say that. “I love to lay my head on his broad chest , l feel protected and secured. Those are words from another woman.

SMART AND FUNNY! When a girl is thinking about being attracted to you, there has to be some sense of humor in you and. Experts report that funny suggests intelligence and that’s totally sexy.  One other lady said, Smartly-funny is sexy.

 

AUTHOR: T.T.

If you ask someone how to look more attractive or beautiful, in all probability, the first thing you’d hear is to just be yourself, isn’t it? But is that really working for you?

Everyone in one way or the other is beautiful to someone. But not everyone is beautiful to everyone. No offence intended here, but it’s the ugly truth in life that sometimes, being yourself just doesn’t work for most of us. A girl’s attractiveness isn’t just skin deep. And so these are the 7 well noted tips you that makes you more appealing.

CONFIDENCE! Being clad in clothes that looks nice on you and having all the the best grooming before going out to wherever, you still remain beautiful, nothing extra. When you are in town what gives you that extra beauty is your confidence. Being confident makes your beauty stand out and that is extra. Take long struts when walking and look focus not too serious.
SMILE!  Never replace a smile with anything. A smile cum confidence gives extra beauty. Smile not only to people  you know but to all people. Smile in your conversations with whoever, Practice the art of smiling even in situations that gets on your nerves.

@toney_tengey
CLOTHING AND FRAGRANCE! Dress appropriately without appearing like you’re trying too hard. If you’re lost and don’t know where to start, take a look at a celebrity who looks similar to you or has the same body structure. As humans, smell plays a big part in the game of attraction, and if you smell wonderful and leave a waft of the perfect womanly silage behind you, it’s something no guy can forget, be it on a date or when you try to impress a guy as you walk past him! Find “your” perfume and always stay faithful to it. Often people are associated with a special smell, let yours be sweet!
FRIENDLY AURA! Your aura is something that envelopes you all the time, and you can’t fake it. Have you ever sat next to someone only to feel really uncomfortable and awkward all of a sudden for no reason at all? Or have you disliked someone the very first time you spoke to them? On the other hand, did you feel really comfortable around someone as soon as you said hello for the first time? When you meet someone, whether you realize it or not, your aura intermingles with their aura that’s around them, and if one of you feel negative, it rubs on to the other person. Fill your mind and thoughts with warm positivity and a friendly attitude. When you feel positive, your positivity will draw others to you all the time.
YOUR POISE! Walk, talk and behave like a lady. If you stand tall, walk gracefully and look elegant wherever you are, you’ll definitely be noticed and liked by the opposite sex. Remember, guys find girls fascinating because girls are so different from them. Show off your femininity with grace, and you’ll sweep every guy off the floor with your beauty and poise.

@Lharley
GOOD VIBES! It is good to mind your business. But remember you have to be extra beautiful. So the next time you see the person next to you down, spread some good vibes by encouraging the person with some words of love.
And always remember that beauty comes with a cost, practice is what will give you that extra beauty.
GLAM UP! It’s not silly at all to spend a while everyday to take care of your appearance before you step out. If it helps you feel more beautiful, use cosmetics and work with different brushes and colors. You’ll feel more glamorous, more confident and happier with yourself.

AUTHOR T.T.

 I was talking to Sarah aka “Priceless babe” as she’s popularly known and she was complaining bitterly about how Tunde her boyfriend of 5 yrs wouldn’t just write epistles about her on her birthday, even though he was all lovey and sweet with his comment on her page, she still wasn’t satisfied that he posted her picture on his page but didn’t write her an epistle and all the whats-not.Surely if he loved me, he would shout it from the rooftops of the inter-webs” she said. This really got me wondering and thinking if she actually wants a show off or she wants a relationship.

Social media has become the biggest online city in the world and virtually everyone lives in that city from Facebook, twitter, Instagram and even whatsapp. Regardless the age or profession you are active or averagely active on one of this platforms. In this online City you can be whoever you desire.

Social media over the years has been the beginning of some relationships as many men this days slides into DMs and ignite the spark from there, and a relationship is birthed, while this is happening though sadly many other relationships have come to their end as a result of many mishaps that occurs as a result of couples living their relationships for show while others compare their relationship with that of other couples on social media. Forgetting that some of this fairy tale relationships online are just make beliefs most time. Remember you can be anything you want in this city.

“Surely if he loved me, he would shout it from the rooftops of the interwebs.”

I’ve envied the relationships I’ve seen online—you know, the really sentimental ones, where partners write long, heartfelt statuses about each other. But in reality, the couples who write those gushingly romantic posts might be, at best, trying to make up after a bad fight or construct a reality that portrays their desired relationship, rather than their real one. At worst, they might be victims of territorial controlling partners.

A good amount of tech-related conflicts happen in relationships: 42 percent report being distracted by their phones, 18 percent argue about the amount of time spent online, and 8 percent have conflicts due to what a partner does online.

My candid advice for couples is never to compare their lives with others. Don’t live for the gram (Instagram) and pay attention to the realities of your relationship rather than juxtapose it with others especially on social media. Give your partner optimum attention when you are together, forget about the online city for a bit and give room for interaction and communication.  

AUTHOR: KMODE

The ‘Kitchen Stool’ Sex Tape is not a breaking story so why wait so long to talk about it? It is simple. I am the person who laughs 17 years on after the joke has been told. With that ice broken, let’s talk and I just may have to keep it short and straightforward as my temper is too short to be telling tall tales.

So it was Monday morning. Quite a hard earned weekday for me as I woke up with a splitting headache. I hardly slept a wink the night before and in my mind’s eye I could not see myself going to work. Ah, the traffic jam, noise, insults from driver to driver; the mere thought of those events even worsened my headache. After I successfully phoned my job to request a day off, I made myself black coffee with no sugar. I needed to stay awake to be effectively lazy that day.

Practicing a usual ritual, I jumped right onto my Twitter timeline for what was trending only to discover a freaking ‘Kitchen Stool’! Same old underrated piece of wood was trending for all the wrong reasons. I scrolled through numerous posts for some time and still couldn’t figure out exactly what all the fuss was about. Almost immediately, I discovered a video. A potential two member cast sex tape game changer. So there was this fairly older man who had been identified as a head teacher. He had mounted a relatively younger woman, apparently 20 years of age on a freaking kitchen stool as though she were a newly unboxed Plasma Television, as he thrusted in and out of her from behind. What I had seen did not look anything like rape; two adults had clearly agreed to have consensual ‘doggy’ coitus on a freaking kitchen stool! Imagine the thirst as they couldn’t even afford to have sex on the decency of a bed.

So there I was, a little shook as I read the comments discussing the sex tape. It wasn’t the age gap nor sex position that got me shook, but the overwhelming reactions the video had received. It was a bit unnatural being that the growing number of witnesses of the video seemed quite unperturbed about the gruesome blueprint of the video. Think about it; a head teacher decided to have sex with his ‘schoolgirl’ on a kitchen stool while filming on tape. How is this even not enough to make Ghanaians angry? Instead, as many as those comments came, they were all jokes and heavy promotion of a piece of wood. Not a single comment expressed any sort of anger so the question here is how did we get here?

The unavoidable logical conclusion that came to mind was that perhaps Ghanaians were just really over constantly complaining about issues of this nature without getting any real results. We know the stories from the Captain Mahama ghastly murder right down to the Rashida Black Beauty ‘melanin downloading’ housefly leaked video. Even Patapaa’s making of ‘One Corner’ was an issue that never really got addressed properly because Ghanaians were busy having ‘fun’. The oversimplication of complex issues by Ghanaians is a direct reflection of our psyche and if this is not enough to get our leaders to strengthen our institutions to reinstate and inspire hope, I doubt anything else would.

While the sexual intercourse in itself may not have been an issue because of the age factor, the academic relationship shared between the two individuals made a clear issue of the intercourse. For those still wondering what really is on trial here, hold my coffee. Before this case gets dragged until Ghanaians forget about it, let me just chip in for ease of reference, the July 2008 Presentation to the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service (GES) re the RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT FOR TEACHERS IN GHANA. It is emphatically stated in this document under Sexual Conduct that no teacher, in this case head teacher, shall directly or indirectly do anything that may constitute sexual harassment of a pupil/ student. It further stated that any teacher who has carnal knowledge of any female or male pupil/ student of any AGE, with or without his or consent, shall be guilty of professional misconduct. This is what is on trial, and with this July 2008 Presentation still in existence, one would have expected that this head teacher wouldn’t even be offered the agony of a trial which could potentially have him walk Scot free if he were to present a good case. Nevertheless, this is not an attempt to make the young lady the victim, but being the student and seemingly the ‘exploited’ party some sort of therapy is preferably a good path to pursue but any punishment whatsoever metered out to her would not be justified.

So there! About that wraps it all up. At this point my headache couldn’t be ignored any longer so I needed to take something stronger than the remaining half of my coffee which had already grown cold after sitting all through the morning’s events.  When next I read this I hope that it would be out of joy for getting a student mounting sex offender into jail ultimately. Not an amusing joke, but that prediction could put a smile on the faces of Ghanaians  even 17 years later after it goes live.

Till the next time, be the change you want to see. Hey, write your own story!!!

AUTHOR: Maurice Boye

 

Most a times,we perceive women who marry men who are many years older than them with different notions. Well,you may not be all that right. Here are some reasons why some prefer the older men for marriage.
1.Maturity:older men are mature and can handle them better than the younger ones in terms of understanding them.
2.Cheating-free marriage:Older men don’t often cheat on their wives as compared to the younger men.And every woman’s dream is for her husband to love her alone.
3.Security:Women always love to be protected and feel secured with whoever they’re
with.Older men make women secured in providing them their needs so that they don’t lack.
4.Trend sake:Many young men marry not because they’re really ready for marriage but want to follow fashion of marrying at a young age and for the glamour of weddings of late,which makes them not be good husbands.
5.Bad fatherhood: Most young men are terrified when babies begin to show up in the marriage,they then begin to fight for attention with the children from their wives and don’t have knowledge on how to bring up children in the conducive way.
Now are your doubts is cleared?
AUTHOR: TT DOKU (@ttdhoku)

ORGASM!……UM…. DON’T BE SHY. YES YOU!

Sex is a pleasurable activity as well as a connecting one. Some people engage just for fun and pleasure but each time you have sex, you give a bit of yourself and take a little bit of the person. Like it or not, this connectivity makes sex a commitment. It is reported that most men have more orgasms than women on a normal sex day. Men release faster than women and sometimes the man goes limp leaving the woman with no orgasm due to the time space.
The art of sex can be much fun and can be frustrating as well. One can Ask, what am I doing or not doing right. Every man likes to have sex with a woman who enjoys it, screams his name and begs for more. If your woman doesn’t reach an orgasm every now and then, boy, you’re not doing something right.

ORAL SEX: Most young women are more likely than men to perform oral sex on their partner even if they don’t want to, according to researchers. Its always been a distasteful and big deal for men to perform oral sex on women. Men, please stop ignoring the clits, its needs some attention too and could help your woman in having orgasm.

NB: Ladies, please keep that cookie clean, fresh and smelling good so it can be properly “taken care of”

EXPERIMENT & SWITCH UP THINGS: Have fun and play. Allow your imaginations run wild during sex. Engage in a variety of sex acts.For example, vaginal sex plus oral sex would be linked to a higher likelihood of orgasm than either one of them alone. Explore all your body parts gainfully to achieve that earth shattering orgasm she deserves.

FIND HER G-SPOT: The G-Spot is an area of the female genitalia which is believed to possess a great amount of nerve endings that aid women to attain a stronger and longer orgasm. The location of the G-Spot varies in every woman. Tip for your quest; the G-Spot is mostly found inside the vagina and mostly surrounded by a rougher texture.

MAKE HER FEEL GOOD ABOUT HERSELF: A lot of women are insecure because some think they’re not good enough or don’t match up to a man’s standards. They’re thinking about how their face looks or what the fat on their belly is doing whether or not their cellulite is noticeable. If you need to make love to make her feel good about herself, take your time. Kiss every inch of her and make her feel she’s all you got. That way, she’ll  forget all her insecurities and allow her fantasies to come to play, then you can take her to her ecstasy and release.

TAKE YOUR TIME: This goes for both parties, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to mostly an hour to have an orgasm (20 minutes is typical, longer is totally normal). Orgasms are like childbirth: they take as long as they take, and each one is different. So just take your time and enjoy the upcoming pleasure.

AVOID DISTRACTIONS: Do not, I repeat do not be distracted by thoughts like, “What if this is taking too long?” or “What if my partner is bored?” or “What if I’m not even doing this right?” Just concentrate on pleasuring her and you will both have a wonderful and satisfying “joyful explosion”

 

NB:Mental exercises can sometimes work for men to delay their orgasm and so can firm pressure around the base of the penis. If premature ejaculation is a concern, you  may want to see a primary care doctor or urologist to find some techniques that might help.

BY PRISCA WOEDEM ABODAKPI (@_palmwine_)