Being a Best Friend Forever can be hard work, then add in variables of time and distance, and you have an equation for an even more difficult relationship. These five tried and true tips can help BFFs stand the test of time and were gleaned from insights contained in more than 16,000 essays submitted in the No nonsense® Between Friends Contest. For more information, visit www.nononsense.com.

1. Be invested. It's going to be a bit harder to connect through different time zones and different phases of life, but if you're serious, you'll be invested for the long haul. Being invested can be as simple as remembering to call weekly or monthly or as complicated as making the effort to plan vacations together. And the investment can vary over time and space, as long as the relationship remains positive and fulfilling for both friends.
2. Be authentic. The internet offers new and wonderful ways friends can share and get really personal through online support groups and chat rooms. It's paramount that you represent yourself authentically because trust and honesty are the foundation of any relationship whether it's in person or on line. When you're sharing about a personal issue, make sure you're telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth…if you don't, your friend will know.
3. Make a pact. Many friends separated by time or distance have an unwritten code … that no matter what, they'll always take that long weekend in October. Or kick off the summer with that special beach celebration. Make these "appointment" meetings the rule not the exception and do not cancel.
4. Be creative in your contact. Don't just call. Jot a quick note saying that, even though you may be separated by distance, you're thinking about her. Text her just to say hi. Send flowers to her office. Remember her birthday and anniversary. Little things go a long way.
5. Make new memories and share old ones. While time and distance certainly pose difficulties, the best friends don't let that stop them. Sharing a wonderful new memory is a great way to reconnect. Upload a photo to Facebook. Send a photo to your friend in that different time zone. Share a new experience or details of a great evening out … and let your friend know how much you missed them. Or regale your bi-coastal buddy with a "remember when?" … she'll get a kick out of a long-forgotten memory popping up on a Tuesday evening. And she'll thank you for it!

###Today, 95% of American women are familiar with No nonsense®, and 31 million wear the brand. No nonsense®'s ranking in the top 25 of Women's Wear Daily's Top 100 brands most recognized by female consumers is testimony to the brand's enduring relationship with the American woman. Headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, No nonsense® is a division of Kayser-Roth Corporation, a leading manufacturer of branded, licensed, and private label legwear and apparel in the U.S. Visit www.nononsense.com for more information and click on the "No nonsense® Between Friends Contest" link.