Every couple could use a little free therapy, but who knew that a relationship in itself could provide just the healing you need? Dr. Harville Hendrix explains it all in his book, Getting the Love You Want.

In the first of several books he’s penned on relationships, Hendrix delves into Imago Therapy—a theory created and nurtured by him and his wife, Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt. In a nutshell, Imago explores the idea that, as a couple, you can strengthen your bond by supporting, instead picking at, each other. As anyone who’s been in an LTR knows well, that’s easier said than done.

But what we like about this particular type of relationship therapy is that it takes you beyond a “don’t nag when he leaves his socks on the floor” place to a more philosophical approach to love. For now we’ll leave you with this fortune-cookie bit of Imago wisdom:

    “Conflict is growth trying to happen.”

Wise words. And there are more where they came from. Getting the Love You Want is being re-released in honor of its 20th Anniversary. But only Tango has an exclusive excerpt here.

 No reservations? No worries. A dinner by candlelight may be the standard plan for Valentine’s evening, but we at Tango have higher standards—and so should you.

Skip the appetizers and go straight for the main course: a racing pulse, contagious laughter, and romance on a platter, by trying one of our innovative ways to celebrate the sweetest day of the year.
Stumped? Try one of our ideas:

“Travel abroad night: choose a city or country that she’s always talked about wanting to see, then buy food (prepare or order in), wine, and music that represents that area. Rent a movie set in that place and settle in to watch with dessert.”

“Relax and unwind together. My boyfriend and I stumbled upon this amazing Korean spa that’s open 24 hours: We plan to go for a really late-night visit—recline in the sauna, hop in the steam room, take a dip in the sake-infused wading pool, then get massages side-by-side.”

“I’d take him to the late night set at a hole-in-the-wall Jazz lounge where there aren’t too many people—words can’t express how much he means to me, but the perfect riff might just come close.”

Check out some more of the Tango staffers’ ideas for an unforgettable Valentine’s Day, or click here to tell us yours. If you send one of the 10 best comments we receive, you’ll win a free copy of Harville Hendrix’s bestselling book, Getting The Love You Want, 20th-Anniversary Edition: A Guide For Couples.

Xo
Tango  

Valentine’s Day can be a perplexing holiday—and not just for guys. Is it a real holiday, designed to celebrate your love? Or a fabricated fest invented by a profit-hungry greeting card company? Ahem. Here at Tango we think it’s actually a golden opportunity to tell someone how much you appreciate them.
  
 And we’re not saying to do it with roses. In fact, we’ve polled our staff for their best out-of-the-heart-shaped-box gift suggestions. Plus, we dreamed up five quick (and sensual) getaways guaranteed to put the va-va-voom back in Valentine’s. 

So if you are playing cupid, originality is key – leave the teddy bears and candy hearts to middle schoolers; here’s a taste of that what we consider innovative alternatives to the yawn-worthy usual.

“What I’d really want: Doing a Babeland or Good Vibrations workshop either alone or with a partner to spice up your sack sessions.”

“Sneak away his iPod and load a playlist on it – it’s the 2008 version of a romantic mix tape.”

“He gave me a gift certificate for a flying lesson last year and told me that he wanted me to feel the adrenaline rush I give him on a daily basis.”
   
 Now, we just have one question: What does Valentine’s Day mean to you? Take our quiz and pour your heart out–we promise to report back with all the juicy results.

Xo,
Tango

It’s 2008. Who says a woman can’t be just as engrossed in the Super Bowl as a man? However, in the event that she might not be, she can still fake it ‘til she makes it. This year, take Tango’s crash course in everything you need to know to appear a pigskin-savvy goddess, regardless of how you really feel.

If you’re single, head to a sports bar or a sure-to-be-testosterone-drenched party, then mingle and throw a couple of choice phrases in—we’ve got a need-to-know vocab list. Master this and any guy worth his nachos will soon be fantasizing about you wearing nothing but his Giants jersey. Attached? Impress your man by throwing out a few of these doozies alongside the rest of the fools plastered around the plasma screen.  This, we assure you, will ensure your induction into the Girlfriend Hall of Fame.

Try this one out this Sunday, and don’t forget to put your game face on.

When? After a big hit (aka, a tackle)
You Say: “He got jacked!” Or you can say, “He won’t need a new clock any time soon, he just got his cleaned.”

Clever banter aside, check out the cheat sheet for common terms like “Buttonhook and Bootleg” (no, not the latest, greatest Levis). Also, get the lowdown on this year’s contenders, the Giants and the Patriots, as well as some great party recipes. See you in the hall of fame, girlfriend.

Valentine’s Day might be right around the corner, but this month a lot of us are in the mood to club cupid over the head with his own arrow. That’s right – January is National Breakup Month, so if there’s trouble in paradise, don’t worry because you’re not alone.

If you have decided to give your other half the boot (or vice versa), Tango has the band-aids for your wounded heart. Here are a few of our favorite stories to help you survive and succeed after a breakup.

Surviving Your Romantic Hangover: Ben & Jerry’s Double Fudge Brownie not doing it for you? Get the best remedies for the emotional and physical aches of love’s aftermath.

The Rules of Ex-Sex: Can being physically intimate with an ex hold you back from moving on? Get the scoop on boundaries you need to set.

Love at Work: Is today’s workplace really a “Romantic Petri Dish”? When you are ready to move on, you might not have to look further than the next cubicle.

Check out the rest on our Tango’s Top 10 List of Ways to Mend a Broken Heart.

You don’t have to wait for your next brunch with friends to catch up on the hottest trends, must-have products and juicy relationship tidbits.Instead, check out Love Buzz, Tango’s ever-fresh spot to get the latest on everything you want – and need – to know. It’s your one-stop shop for the latest scoop on love. Below are a couple of our favorites. And see what’s got us buzzing this very minute.Not interested in joining the Mile-High Club? Get your kicks before you board at one of the Ten Lustiest Airports in America.

Think ABC’s Cashmere Mafia is the new Sex and the City? Think again. Our beloved Carrie would never use those Manolo’s to crush people on her path to the top. Get our review here.

For the politically conscious bride-to-be, here’s a site that combines two rather unlikely topics: wedding fare and the 2008 presidential race. Who says you can’t rock that white dress with an intention to rock the vote this fall?

In the interest of keeping your new year bright and romantically optimistic, Tango’s amassed the top 2007 break-up stories to learn from, make-up tales to inspire and the most titillating love lessons of the year. Want to be the resident sexpert in ’08? Or just have juiciest gossip at the water cooler? Check out our round ups of the stories that spawned the most buzz.

The Best of the Daily Dish: Covering everything from celebrity divorces to appalling parenting techniques (we should’ve just called this list ‘The Best of Britney’) – indulge, cringe, and just be thankful it’s not your life.

The Best of Sex 2007: Here’s one topic you can never know too much about. With some help from a slew of acclaimed experts, Tango provides the lowdown on everything from the basics like bringing more heat to your marriage to some futuristic perspectives like rhythmically charged vibrators that can take you to the next level.

Tango’s Top 10 Trends of 2007: Geeks the New Chic? Who would’ve thought? Finding and maintaining love warrants just as much creativity and innovation as any other endeavor. So just what are people doing about it out there? Here’s our list of the top relationship trends that raised eyebrows in ’07. 

Can’t stand another pop-up ad for last minute online shopping? Need a little time away from the hussle and bussle of shoppers rushing home with their treasures?  Click off the computer, grab your cozy throw, and recharge on the couch with one of Tango’s favorite holiday flicks.
 
Scrooged: It’s Bill Murray at his best, as cantankerous TV exec Frank Cross interacting with Christmas ghosts (past, present and future, of course) of the fairy and cab-driving variety, and Bobcat Goldthwait as an employee so disgruntled, he makes Bob Cratchit look like a sugarplum fairy.

Love Actually: An apt title for a tear-jerking romantic comedy filled with tales of keeping up appearances and how ultimately, love forces us to come clean. The all-star cast offers plenty of eye candy (Keira Knightly? Colin Firth?) and the airport reunion scene may cause you to levitate with feel-good warmth.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: Classic Griswold disaster-inducing antics weave a warm holiday tale of electrocuted cats, desiccated turkey, countless Cousin Eddie (played by Randy Quaid) quips and an all’s-well-that-ends-well family, SWAT team and kidnapping victim dance party.

Elf: If Blades of Glory didn’t convince you that Will Farrell in tights is a crowd pleaser, than this movie will surely do the trick. A human raised by elves, Farrell journeys to New York City at Christmastime to look for his real family. The results? Pure hilarity, light on the drama with a tear-free ending.

Die Hard: Although some wouldn’t opt for a holiday movie with death implications in the title, this timeless action flick will surely lure him to the couch. And technically, it does classify as a holiday movie, considering it takes place during Christmas party and contains the cookie-cutter plot struggle between good and evil.

 ‘Tis the season for that annual event we approach with a mix of trepidation, horror and curiosity. It’s a time when CEOs do the Electric Slide, when cocktail weenie sales soar and professional reputations are made or sorely lost. Ah, the office holiday party. You know the protocol, but just in case, we’ve pulled together tips for maintaining your composure and setting limits.

Do dress up…
Add flair via fun earrings, your favorite little black dress, or, if you’re really feeling the holiday spirit, touches of red, green or blue.But don’t put the ‘ho’ in holiday party.
If your workplace normally calls for pearls and hose, the holiday party is not an apt occasion to bring out your sexiest club wear. And speaking on personal taste, save your Christmas light necklace and snowman sweater for your family gathering.

 Time’s running out to find the perfect gift this holiday, but don’t be tempted to resort to the mundane. Whether it’s for the object of your affection, or a friend who’d appreciate something sassy and risqué – cold winds shouldn’t be the only reason to make them blush this season! Check out Tango’s top five that are sure to deliver.

1. Liptrick: A tiny, yet potent vibrator cleverly disguised as a tube of lipstick, this little wonder is perfect for her purse or glove compartment (so much more fun than music if you’re stuck in rush hour traffic). It’s the gift that – literally - keeps on giving. bootyparlor.com 

2. The Art of Sensual Massage:  Heat up those frosty nights and drop your beau a subtle hint with this book/DVD set that takes you every step of the way through a passionate full body massage. amazon.com

3. Men on a Mission 2008 Calendar: Forget fruitcake and gingerbread this year and grace a girlfriend with some serious eye candy. Mormons Exposed, an organization created to push past religious stereotypes released this calendar – 12 months of sexy do-gooders – for her viewing enjoyment.  mormonsexposed.com

4. Kama Sutra Weekender Kit: For a couple looking to get away this holiday, this kit promises to add a taste of forbidden luxury. Packed with miniature versions of the brand’s sweetest treats (Sweet Almond Massage Oil, edible body powder, etc.), it’s a travel-sized treat they won’t want to leave home without.  kamasutra.com

5. Virtual Naughty Gifts: Like it quick and dirty? Facebook’s new Naughty Gift application might be your perfect fix this season. Log in, get the app, and you’ll be sending a can of Mr. Whipped Cream to your long-distance honey in no time. Sweet!  facebook.com

The holidays are upon us and it’s time to bring the glisten of twinkling lights into your home. Regardless of whether you have a large circle of friends or a tight-knit crew, dinner parties are the best way to draw loved ones together to wine, dine and celebrate. Got someone to kiss under the mistletoe this year? Even better – invite his friends to mingle with yours at a fabulous soiree. Split the work, share the credit and enjoy the buzz your memorable night will surely create.

Here are a couple of tips from Tango’s list of how to co-host an unforgettable dinner party:

1.  Seat Strategically: Set a small table so people can converse without yelling. The best way to encourage conversation is to sit guests boy, girl, boy, girl…but don’t seat guests next to their dates or mates!
 
2. Don’t Be a Hero: Rather than slaving over a hot stove, prepare one signature main dish that’s a sure-fire hit.  Then dispatch him to the prepared foods section at Whole Foods for the rest of the fixings. Your mantra: A non-frazzled hostess is the one with the mostest…smiles.
 
3. DJ Duet: Why not benefit from two musical minds rather than shouldering the mood tunes all on your own? Create a playlist together so you can enliven your collection with some of his favorites and you’re sure to spin the grooves that will satisfy everyone.
 
Check out the rest here.