Men can be vocal about what they want from their significant others, sometimes expecting them to anticipate their needs or indulge their desires. Yet, they don’t always express what they would like to do with their partners. So, here’s a list of things that your man might like to do with you, in regards to entertainment, sex, and hobbies, that you might not have thought of.

Skin Ink

When love seems eternal, some men like to signify that by having the both of you mark one another with a token of affection, like an image or name written on the other person’s body. The latter idea is kind of a terrible idea, so even if your man doesn’t want you to tattoo his lips on your hips, or put his initials on your body,  a lot of men simply enjoy getting tattoos with their significant other and hitting up the tattoo parlor together for a quick thrill.

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Americans like to celebrate everything. As my mother would say, every time you turn around, if there’s not a birthday, there’s a week, day or month dedicated to buying something, eating something or doing nothing at all. Sometimes the holidays and events have a good message behind them, as in one’s that promote awareness about health conditions or push the importance of loving yourself, but do we need a whole month to talk about how fab garlic is? That can go, as well as eight (the last one can stay) others that are a bit much in the random department…

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From Essence

I’m not going to lie, 2012 has been a rough year. I know many people share that sentiment, as I know most of my friends do. For me, the year started with the loss of my favorite entertainer, Whitney Houston, then one of my favorite aunts (I only have two), and it ended with the loss of my dear friend, celebrity make-up artist Ross Burton. And, of course, the entire nation and world is mourning the recent tragedy that occurred in Newtown, Connecticut. On so many levels, I think we are all in need of a collective healing.

Not one for ever wallowing in sadness, I am super excited about the holidays because what better time to celebrate life, make wrongs right and be hopeful for a brighter future? Yes, leading up to [today] has been trying, but the closer [we got] to it, the more I [was] able to focus on the rejuvenation that the holiday season can bring. I’m taking the opportunity to do some things to recharge my spirit and truly embrace the beauty of the season.

Check out a few practical ways to heal a troubled spirit on Essence.com.

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You’re probably having day dreams about snow ball fights with your guy, getting away to a cabin in the mountains together, drinking hot cider by a fireplace and exchanging the perfect presents. But as the holidays loom closer, you’ll remember one little detail: there are a dozen more people that need something from your man. They’re called family. And you may have to deal with them too! Here is how to survive the holidays—filled with his fam.

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This holiday season, as you see couples enjoying hot cider together, window shopping and going on winter getaways, skip the resentment. All that ever gets you is more bitter, which everyone can smell from a mile away, and which happens to be a repellant for men…The secret to attracting love is loving yourself and your life, and that’s no different this time of year. So here is how to love being single around the holidays.

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From Black Voices

What do Drake, Sammy Davis Jr. and Adam Sandler have in common? These three men share more than just fame and good looks, they’re also part of God’s chosen people.

We’re at the height of the holiday season, and the end of the Festival of Lights, the eight-day Jewish celebration commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. And what better way to enjoy then to see the celebrities who are Jewish?

In honor of the last day of Hanukkah, The Huffington Post Black Voices has compiled a list of 10 black celebrities you may not have known had Jewish lineage or practiced Judaism. From musicians, to actors to NBA ballers, check out these stars who are all people of The Good Book.

Read more at BlackVoices.com.

About This Episode

Looking for ideas when decorating your home for the holidays this season? The Home Savvy team has you covered!

Find out how the Home Depot is your one stop shop for the holidays this season, and answer our Question of the Week for your chance to win a $100 gift card to the Home Depot!

Featured Products:

• Home Accents Holiday 150-Light 4Ft.x6Ft. Net Light/Internet #202945402
• Martha Stewart Living 36 In. Pre-Lit Hawkins Pine Artifical Wreath/ SKU #267990
• Ecosmart Warm White C6 50-LED String Light Set/SKU #403584
• Ecosmart Warm White Energy Smart 100-LED String Light Set/SKU #632769
• Home Accents Holiday Universal Shingle/Gutter Clip (75-Pack)/SKU #233682
• Home Accents Holiday 48 In. 100-Light White Wire Reindeer/SKU #155551

WANT MORE HOME SAVVY? WATCH THESE EPISODES: 

SEASON 2

• Episode 1: How to Install a Bathroom Vanity 
• Episode 2: How to Install a Bathroom Faucet
• Episode 3: How to Save Money on Your Home Energy Bills
• Episode 4: Home Decor Tips
• Episode 5: How To Decorate For The Holidays
• Episode 6: How to Light Your Home For The Holidays 

SEASON 1

• Episode 1: Creating a Container Garden
• Episode 2: How to Grow Vegetables at Home
• Episode 3: Interior Painting
• Episode 4: Closet Makeover 
• Episode 5: Kitchen Backsplash

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Manners don’t take a break for the holidays. Even if nonstop boozy holiday parties make you lose your composure, your lunch, even your pants once or twice, there are some formalities that we can never do away with.

For that, we turned to our friend Stephanie Hunt, director of Swan Noir, a company specializing in etiquette classes and programs. Below are Hunt’s five etiquette rules for making it through the holiday season. Have you broken any yet?

1- Say “Thank you” 

If the gift is not handed to you personally, do not forget to send a thank you email, call, or, even better, send a handwritten note expressing appreciation and discussing how you will use the gift. The point being, please do not let someone have to seek you out to make sure that you received their gift.

It is OK to roll with technology, just be creative and expressive. A “thx” text is not creative nor expressive. Most people just want to feel appreciated for the things they do for others, whether the gift is big or small. So, got a bright red sweater from Grandma? Tweet a pic of yourself to your network and send a pic to Grannie. Your smiling face wearing that sweater can be sweeter than words to some.

2- Giving Cash

To some who may be traveling or extremely busy at holiday time, it may be downright convenient to give cash. Should you give cash to someone who is unemployed? It depends on the relationship. Not everyone who is unemployed is strapped for cash. But, if you know the person is really suffering and doesn’t have much savings, by all means give cash. Gracefully, of course, no strings attached. Privately give a card with a caring message and cash inside if you think giving the cash gift in front of others will cause any embarrassment.  You could always give anonymously as well.

3-  Should we say Grace at the meal? 

If you know that you will have a few guests of different faiths or some that are nonbelievers then you can preface Grace with, “If you wish to share in grace, please join me if you feel comfortable.” You can skip Grace and your guests can say what they are grateful for, or you can make a nonreligious statement thanking them for their friendship, love, or generosity.

4- Give a gift or a Tip? Here is the short list for who to tip and who should receive a gift during the holidays:

Tip- Doorman, Building super, Handyman, Paperboy ($10-$50 dollars)
Gift- Assistant, Teachers, Home health aide, Nanny, Day care staff (Stay away from intimate gifts. Gift cards are best. Or gifts made from your children are great for nanny’s and teachers)
Either a Gift or a Tip- Hair dresser, Dog walker, Trainer, Cleaning lady, Babysitter (One week’s pay or amount of one visit)

5- Re-gifting

Keep the gift in its original packaging. The packaging shouldn’t be worn or torn, faded from sunlight, etc.
Never re-gift something broken, used, has a part missing or doesn’t work.
Never re-gift to the person who gave it to you.
Never re-gift something personal or intimate.
Never re-gift an item that is out of style or off the market.

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Is it just me or do you also go from grown a** woman with her own place who pays her own bills and stays out til whatever time her heels say it’s time to go home, to a pre-teen who is automatically in a position to get robbed, raped, or murdered anytime she goes home for the Holidays? When I was college and came home at Thanksgiving and Christmas, I expected the reigns to be a little tight. Afterall, I was only 18-21 and I understood I didn’t need to be rolling in my mother’s house all times of the night — or morning — even if I was about that life when I was back on campus. At 27 though? I’m going to need mama to chill out, and instead of creeping in my room to see if her child is nestled all snug in her bed, she turn her butt over and go back to sleep instead.

I’ll never forget the dramedies that occurred the last time I was at home this summer. When I was in between jobs I’d went back home for a few months and one of the “conditions” of my return was that I could not stay out til the wee hours of the morning. Cool. There aren’t too many places to hang out in my home town anyway and since I knew most of that rule was based on the fact that my mom didn’t want her car parked “just anywhere” when I went out, as if break-ins, accidents, and mirror scrapes are more likely to occur at night, I took careful precaution to catch rides with other people, and most times family members. Unfortunately for me, that didn’t matter.

The first time my mom went cray on me I was sitting in an iHop eating with my step-sister, who drove us, after the bar. It was maybe 2am and by my respectable hour radar I still had about an hour-and-a-half before I had to be back in the house. That was where me and my mom had a difference of opinion because slowly but surely the “are u ok” texts started to roll in, followed by the “see this is what I’m talking about” messages, concluded with, “ain’t nothing going on this time of night but trouble.” I chose not to respond and decided since I was being treated like a child, I’d have a child-like response and pout the entire next day and not speak to my mom. Surprisingly, she gave me an “I know I was bugging” good morning kiss and pretended like that whole text fiasco didn’t happen. I, foolishly, took that as a sign she would chill out, unfortunately that too was not the case.

I’d say just about every other time I went out late after that — including going to the casino with about 10 relatives over 40 during our family reunion — my mom was hitting me with the “is everything ok” texts. Sometimes I’d get the “whoever has you out this late should know to have you home at a respectable hour” messages that left me shaking my head at my mom thinking I had a better sex life than I actually did, and most times I’d end up spitting the same spiel to her. One, what do you do the other 357 days of the year when I’m not at home and I’m riding New York City subways and living by myself and walking home past crackheads and homeless people late at night? And two, what exactly would you be able to do if I was actually in trouble? Whether I’m out at 3p or 3am there’s an equal chance of disaster that you cannot stop. In fact, expecting me to text you back while I’m driving is probably increasing the odds of something bad happening so let’s just stop that altogether, k?

I realize those weren’t the most diplomatic and comforting thoughts to put in your mother’s head, but not being a mother myself I still can’t understand the answers she, and apparently every other concerned parent on this earth, gives when they’re riding their kids too much: they can’t sleep not knowing that you aren’t home.  My mom’s defense is that when I’m in New York she doesn’t know I’m out so she can just assume I’m home safe and sound, but when I’m at her house, and she gets up one of her routine 18 times of the night to use the bathroom or get a drink of water and sees the door to my room open, she can’t rest. I can’t front, it’s a sweet thought, but one that prohibits me from actually seeing friends — and family for that matter — back home who have their own spots and don’t have to answer to a mother like they’re 16 anymore.

I’ve tried to make peace with the Holiday oppression and accept the fact that when I’m home I’m going to have to revert back to that uncool kid response of “my mom won’t let me” or simply say “I can’t” and hope no one asks why when my friends want to hit up a club late. I also found that staying the night elsewhere helps because in her mind, if she knows I’m not coming home, she can’t worry about the time I actually get to someone else’s home. Still that’s a lot of work just to catch up with friends and family over a few days. I guess I’ll just have to take my mom’s word for it and assume I’ll understand when I have a child of my own. I’m not totally convinced I’ll go this hard though. I don’t think.

Do your parents still treat you like a child when you come home for the holidays?

Brande Victorian is the deputy editor for madamenoire.com. Follow her on twitter @Be_Vic.

Between the kids, the friends, the co-workers and the significant other, the gift-giving season can be strenuous on the pockets. You strive to get everyone the perfect gift, while putting the trimmings on the Christmas tree, feeding the family on Christmas Day, and pleasing professional contacts with a great gift idea. But at what cost?

On average, Americans are expected to spend about $854 on gifts this holiday season alone, according to Yahoo! Finance. To some, that’s close to a week’s pay, which usually means cutting back extremely during the coming New Year. Minimize that expenditure and give inexpensive gifts that are more sentimental then the latest iPhone and you could have a win-win on your hands. Here are a few gift ideas that are budget-friendly, do-it-yourself, or simply straight from the heart, without costing you a whole paycheck in advance.

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Prepare and Give Your Tastiest Dish

One great idea to give this holiday if you are trying to budget while gift to a whole family is prepare and give your favorite dish or treat! Whether it is cookies, homemade candy or pie, or making something straight from the heart, something straight from your stove is a great gift for an entire family. It also saves on the money spent buying individual gifts. If someone has been raving about one of your scrumptious side dishes since Thanksgiving dinner, gift them one for Christmas. Or if baked goods like cookies are your specialty, bake a couple dozen and find a special holiday cookie tin. The only real cost is a little grocery money, elbow grease in the kitchen, and time.