5 Ways to Really Make Your Husband Happy

Browse through Cosmo or Redbook and you'll find suggestions for keeping one's husband or boyfriend happy. Some of them are realistic, but some just go overboard. Below are five typical suggestions with realistic advice.

1. Cook your husband a special dinner. Open up the pages of any woman's magazine and you'll find this suggestion planted in there somewhere. Here's the catch -- spending hours on a fancy meal isn't going to work wonders when it comes to pleasing your man.

Instead, cook his favorite meal. Don't worry about candles or dishes that have names you can barely pronounce. If he is a fan of chili or fried chicken, make that, along with his favorite meal complements. Not only will he appreciate what you've done, he'll actually enjoy it.

2. Watch the game with him. While there are a few things men love more than watching the game, this is a biggie. However, one problem many women make when they decide to be gracious enough to watch the game with their man is sitting beside of him, twiddling thumbs, and waiting for it to be over. That really sucks out the fun.

Instead, choose one of the following options. First, invite his friends over, fix up some sandwiches, and plop a cooler full of his favorite beer next to the couch. Then leave. Don't come in every five minutes asking what they need. Just leave. Make plans with a girlfriend or go upstairs and read a book. Second, you could learn about his favorite team and sport and actually get into the game. Pull this off and your husband will be eating out of the palm of your hand for ages to come.

3. Always look your best. So much emphasis is place on always looking your best. Wear the nice, expensive, sexy clothes and always wear makeup. Many believe this is a surefire way to keep a man happy, but it couldn't be farther from the truth.

Instead, realize and embrace the simple truth that sometimes less is more. Most men feel a little uncomfortable by a woman who thinks she needs to look perfect 24/7, especially since this pressures him into dressing to the nines or makes him look like a slob. I'm not saying to wear the same crusty t-shirt for three days or to ditch makeup completely, but be a little conservative with it and don't be afraid to pull your hair back and slip on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt every once in a while. He'll find you just as appealing.

4. Surprise him in bed. This isn't bad advice, but it isn't always necessary to research the internet or buy a new piece of lingerie every time you want to plan a little surprise for your husband.

Instead, light a couple of non-scented candles (most men despise those highly fragranced candles), strip down, and pull the sheet up to your shoulders. Call your husband up and check out his reaction when he climbs in bed. Did I already say sometimes less is more? Believe me, your man will agree.

5. Plan an evening out for the two of you. Be careful with this one. Sure, it's fun to take the reins and plan something special, but don't go overboard with it. Dinner at a fancy restaurant followed by a horse-drawn carriage ride isn't always the route to go when planning an evening out.

Instead, buy tickets for a local sporting event. Grab dinner at the game and afterward, catch a late movie. It'll be fun, relaxing, and considering the time you will be watching the movie, you may be able to enjoy a little alone time with your husband in the back of the theater and relive your youth. Your husband be so relieved at not having to worry about which fork to use at dinner, he may even spring for flowers the next day.