For many people, living with a partner before considering marriage just makes sense - it's a test run to determine whether you can really live together peaceably, or whether you'll actually send each other screaming in opposite directions. It might come as a big shock that he refuses to do the dishes or that she sometimes watches 12 straight hours of television. You can learn a lot about people when you're dating, but when you have separate apartments you can still retreat to your own space to engage in whatever weird behaviour you want. This week, Sam Roberts at The New York Times looks at a study that explored whether couples who live together before they get married are more likely to stay married.

And what's the verdict?

Worried that you've become too picky to ever find someone that can make you happy? We asked Lori Gottlieb, author of Marry Him: The Case for Settling for Mr. Good Enough, to explain how being picky about the right things (instead of everything) can increase your odds of finding a happy match.

Q: How is your life a cautionary tale?

A: I don't think my life is a cautionary tale. I have many wonderful aspects to my life. But I do think that had I had the information I gathered for Marry Him ten years ago, I would have made very different choices in my dating life that would have led me to a happy marriage by now. And the feedback I've gotten from women is that reading this has been immensely helpful to them in terms of making dating less confusing and helping them to focus on men who can actually make them happy instead of chasing the same kind of guy over and over, with disappointing results.

Q: So what's your advice for women?

We've been hearing a lot about sex addiction over the past few years - most recently, and unavoidably, with the whole Tiger Woods multiple mistresses debacle. This latest round of Tiger news has triggered a lot of talk about what sex addiction actually is, whether it's like other kinds of addictions or mental illnesses, and if it can be used as a get-out-of-jail free card for celebrities who are busted paying for sex or sleeping with large numbers of people behind their partner's back. Last week, the Globe and Mail took on the topic (Too Much Sex? Doctors Want to Make the Diagnosis Official by Zosia Bielski).

So what's the deal with sex addiction?

Have you had trouble over the years deciphering the signs that point to the dude you're dating being a dud? Well, Anne Milford and Jennifer Gauvain have written the book for you: How Not to Marry the Wrong Guy: Is He "the One" or Should You Run? A Guide to Living Happily Ever After.

Milford and Gauvain talked to hundreds of women who settled for unfulfilling relationships. Last week, just in time for a Valentine's Day breakup, the two authors outlined some of the book's key highlights over at The Daily Beast ("How Not to Marry the Wrong Man").

So, why do you date the wrong men?

Each morning, we dish out a few links we love.

This Valentine's day, get in the mood for love with dinner -- these natural aphrodisiacs will light your fire.

While you're enjoying a romantic weekend, don't forget to fit fitness into the equation somehow -- luckily, there are lots of different ways you two can exercise together.

Single? At least you don't run the risk of falling into the category of most annoying Facebook couples ever.

Hate Valentine's day with a passion? You're not alone.

Your lips aren't just great for kissing -- they can also reveal some very important things about your health.

In a recent issue of the New York Times (A Bachelor's Effort to Understand Love), Julie Scelfo took a look at one guy's attempt to figure out how love should and could fit into his life. John Bowe, a confirmed bachelor in his mid-forties living in New York, has experienced a lifetime of tumultuous, failed relationships, never quite finding the right woman in the right set of circumstances. When he finally fell crazy in love for the first time, three years ago, with a woman who lived thousands of miles away, he was confused by his feelings and allowed some of their admittedly problematic, circumstantial issues (their physical distance, her kids) to come between them. The relationship ended, with some relief. "You know that idea that true love conquers all?" he says in the story. "It can conquer a hell of a lot, but it can't conquer everything."

Each morning, we dish out a few links we love.

If you had a choice, would you marry your spouse all over again? That's what a recent survey asked, and the majority said yes.

Think you're safe if you don't smoke? Don't be so sure. Studies show that even third-hand smoke -- residual smoke in the environment -- can be dangerous.

Got gut problems? Blueberries will help, even more so if you pair them with probiotic yogurt.

Got a case of the 'moobs'? A new fat-zapping microwave may put an end to the dreaded man boobs.

Got an uncomfortable itch in an embarrassing spot? Here's what to do about it without losing face.

Each morning, we dish out a few links we love.

It's bad for your belly, but you might want to drink up anyway -- studies show that beer is good for your bones!

Is romance dead? Well, considering that half of all men admit they've never written a love letter, it's certainly dying a slow and painful death.

Wondering if you should take the plunge and get married? Here's some advice from real women.

Want your kids to grow up healthy? Start now -- studies show that a strong family routine is what helps keep kids healthy for life.

Tickling -- heinous or hilarious? Here's the deal with this age-old form of teasing and why it's torture for some.

In the mid-1980s, an infamous Newsweek article terrified smart girls everywhere when it stated that a single, college-educated 40-year-old woman was more likely to die in a terrorist attack than to find a husband. While that statement was discredited over and over, that didn't stop it from showing up again and again in popular culture - and the issue was revived last week when a study from the Pew Research Center reported that high-earning, college-educated women have few men to choose from if they're looking for a partner with equivalent credentials. But now the Council on Contemporary Families, reported by The New York Times' Well blog, is trying to offer smart, mature women some reassurance.

What would you do with the last day of your life? And once you know the answer, how would that change how you live every day from this point forward? Jim Moret, longtime correspondent for Inside Edition, has written a new book, The Last Day of My Life, where he ponders some of these big questions and encourages readers to do the same. Here, he explains how he would spend his last 24 hours, and how asking that question helped him become a better man.

Q: What prompted you to write this book?

A: I wrote this book as a personal journal. It was a cathartic experience for me while trying to get through a difficult period where I actually thought I was worth more dead than alive. At the center of my sense of hopelessness was a personal financial meltdown. Instead of ending my life, I asked myself this simple question, which took me seven months of writing to answer: What would I do if I had only 24 hours to live? The process brought me from despair to hopefulness and made me realize that my value would not be determined by a number in my bank account, but by the people and relationships in my life and the way I chose to live it. I realized that many people today are frightened and depressed -- over a loss of a job, a home or their retirement savings. While money is clearly important, we seem to have made it all important, when at its root, life has so much more to offer and we leave so much more behind. I hoped my own stories might be universal ones, offering inspiration to others.

Q: So, if you had 24 hours to live what would you do?

Each morning, we dish out a few links we love.

Not sure what the deal is with these Omega 3s everyone is always talking about? Here's the scoop on them -- and some reasons why you need them.

Be careful in the bedroom -- while regular sex is good for the body and soul, some positions can be bad for your health!

Ladies, tired of cramps? Yes, they're a pain in the you-know-what (literally), but here are some tips for coping with cramps in a more productive way.

It's true, women really do let themselves go when they get married -- studies show they're always a bit heavier than their unmarried counterparts.

Malls aren't just for shopping anymore -- The mall-walking fitness craze is not slowing down.

If you and your mate are looking to spice things up in the bedroom, maybe you should consider watching more television - on K-Y's YouTube channel, that is. The K-Y Intimacy Experiment is a 12-week series of playful 'homework' assignments designed to help Canadians restore connections and create more meaningful and exciting relationships with their partners. "The purpose is to inject some excitement into the sex lives of people," says sexpert (and spokes-sex-person) Teesha Morgan. "The homework ranges from naughty talk to giving your partner a massage to recreating your first date to telling your partner exactly what you appreciate about them. And all of the exercises are designed to enhance intimacy and bring that into the forefront. Couples can follow along, and do the exercises; plus, there's a free K-Y sample pack for signing up."

K-Y came up with the idea after some surprising results about the sex lives of Canadians. Those results?

Maybe he's collecting booties and you're dreaming about backpacking through South America. Or maybe you're looking enviably into every stroller you pass while he's window shopping for big-screen TVs. Should you start poking holes in your diaphragm or just call it quits? What happens when one partner wants kids and the other doesn't? We asked Dr. Scott Haltzman, a psychiatrist and the author of The Secrets of Happy Families, to discuss some of the issues involved and offer some tips on what you can do.

Q: If you want a baby and your partner doesn't, where can you start? Are those reconcilable positions?

A: It depends on how you define "partner." If your current partner doesn't want to have kids, but it's not the partner you plan on having for life, that can work really well. One might even argue that it's the best thing. But if it's a life partner with whom you are working together to form plans about the future, then it is a pivotal issue. Not everybody that wants to have a child ends up having a child. Sometimes it's just because of someone's social situation or it's due to infertility -- but the inability to have a child doesn't keep couples from connecting even if they want a child. But when one person wants a child and the other person doesn't, it becomes a built-up resentment because one person feels like their partner is preventing them from accomplishing a life dream, or the other partner feels like they're being forced into something that goes against their wishes.

Q: Can you bring someone around to your point of view, or is it dangerous to even try?

According to a recent study of almost 7,000 married couples, reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, both men and women who do more housework - even on top of a long week of paid work - get more sex. Surprised? After all, the (often unequal) division of household labour is supposed to be one of the most common and contentious issues between partners. But the study demonstrated that couples identified as "go-getters" actually thrive in their time-crunched schedules, and are able to successfully balance multiple commitments and still make time for frequent heat between the sheets.

The details of the study and lessons to be learned about love and housework?

Cory Honickman, psychologist, marriage planner and creator of the Marriage Prep Adventure series, explains why marriage isn't a one-size-fits-all institution and and how you can figure out what works for you and your partner.

Q: What does it mean to customize a marriage and where should a couple start?

A: The first step is knowing yourself and really knowing your needs, values, dealbreakers and expectations. After figuring that out, you have to relay it to your partner in a way that will inspire them to want to help you fulfill these things, but also empower them to communicate to you what their needs and values are.

Q: What kinds of things should be on the table?