Q: Psychologists have said that effective communication is one of the key factors in successful relationships. Keep communicating and put effort into talking. This doesn't mean that you can never pause or enjoy a moment of silence, but is instead meant more metaphorically. If you know how to communicate and the right things to talk about with your girlfriend, your relationship will bloom into a better romance, and your girlfriend will become more enamored of you. There may be times when you feel like you have nothing more to say, but if you want to have that spark, there are lots of ways to keep the communication channels flowing beyond "pass the salt, please." Talk about your life, the things you want to do, your future goals and aspirations and the like. Do you see college or university in your future? What kind of job do you plan on having? These are potential topics of conversation. Women generally like men who have a vision for their futures and work towards that vision. Discuss her interests, her friends and her family. Ask her about her friends, her family and their lives, and have long conversations about how she likes to spend her days. What are her hobbies? What are her likes and dislikes? Talk about everyday things that interest her, be it shopping, cooking, listening to music, or blogging. Your girlfriend will feel special in that you're willing to stop and listen to her. Many women find it annoying when men just talk about themselves. Talking about your girlfriend's interests will help her see that you're genuinely interested in knowing everything about her and her life. It also shows her that you're intent on sticking around for a while. Be genuine. Don't fake an interest in something; this could backfire and end up hurting her feelings. You may find that you share common hobbies, thus bonding you more tightly. And when you do meet her friends or family, you'll already have a bunch of conversation starters with which to impress them! Social psychology researchers have found that asking questions to one another almost always make two people feel better about each other and want to see each other again. The top 5 questions to ask are: 1) Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want to go out for dinner with? 2) Would you like to be famous? 3) Before making a phone call, do you ever rehearse what you're going to say? Why? 4) What would make a perfect day for you? 5) When did you last sing to yourself and/or to someone else? You should each take a turn answering each question and do so in order.. All of us have our own individual views about life but we often keep these to ourselves. By inviting her to open up about the big questions of life, you'll understand more about who she is at her very core and her value system. Ask her about whether she attends church or how she was raised. Ask whether she plans to keep up her family's beliefs and traditions. Getting into the big stuff will show her that you're committed and also that you're able to be serious as well as playful. Childhood memories are always fun to talk about and to listen to, especially if they involve something embarrassing or hilarious. Talk about your first crush or the time you did something silly. Then get her to spill all of her stories. Both of you will benefit from learning more about each others' histories. You'll laugh and get a better sense of how the other person came to be who they are today. Talking even about painful, embarrassing or hurtful past memories will also show her that you trust her enough to tell her the less savory stories alongside the funny ones. Hopefully she will show her trust in you by disclosing her past experiences too. Compliment your girlfriend on her dress or thank her for something special she did for you. Genuine compliments can lead to better romance and more romantic conversations; they let her know that you think she's special and that you feel lucky to be with her. Don't just compliment her looks. Her personality is really what you love, so let her know how funny, clever, and smart she is. Show her that you're well informed and are an engaged civic actor. She'll respect you for caring about the world around you. You'll also learn a lot about each other and your political views. You can start to check in about your compatibility. Generally, women end up talking more about their days while men just listen. But guys can talk too! Be open and tell her about all of the little things you did that day, whether it be at school or work or at home. This keeps you two engaged in each other's day-to-day life, which is, let's be honest, not the most exciting, but is highly important. It's the everyday that keeps you connected; this is way long-distance relationships are so challenging. Girls love a guy who can open up and be frank about his fears. You can tell her your girl about the big things that scare you (e.g., like saying "I love you" or someday getting married) and also about your other, more everyday fears (e.g., like spiders, heights, or your own cooking!) By talking about what scares you, you'll make your girlfriend feel closer to you because you're revealing your vulnerable side. If something bothers you or you're upset, talk about it with your girlfriend. She'll be interested and will probably offer her you her support. Tell her how you feel irrespective of whether it's good or bad. You can work wonders if tell her what you're thinking and feeling and then listen with an open mind.
A: Never stop talking. Talk about your future. Talk about her. Play the questions-and-answers game. Talk about her beliefs. Talk about your childhoods and your pasts. Give her compliments and romance. Talk about world events. Talk about your life for the day. Talk about your fears. Be honest.

Q: Add the squash, and bring it to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer. Squash should be soft when finished. On a cutting board, cut the skin off of each cube of squash. Return to the pot. Use a fork to mash the squash, and then whip until smooth.
A: Fill a large pot with water. Continue to cook for another 15 minutes. Drain the pot. Add butter, sugar, and nutmeg.

Q: Lacking an understanding of your personal values is like going on a trip without a GPS or a map of any kind. Values help us navigate through different circumstances, so that we lead a life that is personally fulfilling. To figure out some of your personal values, answer the following: Which individuals have your greatest respect? What traits do they hold that you admire and why? If your home were on fire (any people and animals are already considered safe), what 3 objects would you save and why? What moments in your life were incredibly satisfying? What about the moment made you feel satisfied? After you have narrowed down a short list of important values, you must develop S.M.A.R.T goals that support these values. Once you have developed goals that allow you to live out your values, do one thing that lets you move toward these goals daily. S.M.A.R.T. goals are: Specific - clearly answer the "who, what, when, where, which, and why" Measurable - outline how you will assess your progress towards the goal Attainable - able to be achieved with the resources, skills, and abilities you have Realistic - the goal provides a challenge but also represents an objective that you are both willing and able to meet Timely - the determined time-frame must be feasible, while including some urgency The most common mental barriers to getting things done are often what we are telling ourselves on a daily basis. If asked why you haven't reached a particular goal, your response is because all the variables are not perfectly in place. These are excuses and you must remove them from the equation in order to achieve your goals. Remove excuses by getting serious with yourself. Whatever you are using as an excuse is probably just a way to protect yourself from having to change. Setting SMART goals should help you to alleviate some of your excuses. For others, such as not having time, money, or resources, closely examine your life to determine what you can afford to cut out. Remove an insignificant activity or cost to prioritize a significant one. Don't wait until all the variables fall magically into place. Purposefully change your life so that it supports you reaching your goals.
A:
Identify your values and beliefs. Set goals that align with your personal values. Eliminate excuses.