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Today is Tuesday February 9, 2010

Be Kissable on Valentine's Day!

February 5, 2010 at 3:28PM by Gennifer Delman |

Listerine Total Care

Ah, kissing. Arguably the best perk of Valentine's Day. Well, maybe the Godiva chocolates are the real perk, but regardless, kissing is a rite of passage when it comes to the day of love. Smooching is a great way to show your boyfriend or crush how you feel, but there is nothing worse than kissing someone, or being that someone with not so loveable breath. Read below to get all you need to know on oral hygiene, so you can worry less about your breath and more about how cute he looks in that shirt you picked out for him.

Sixty-eight percent of men and women say that having white teeth makes them feel approachable. Rinsing your mouth twice a day for one minute with Listerine's Whitening Restoring Rinse will whiten your teeth, restore enamel, and freshen your breath. Gleaming teeth and fresh breath? Your crush won't be forgetting your smooch anytime soon!

Rinsing in the morning and evening with a mouthwash like Listerine's Total Care in Cinnamint is also a big help. This has the power to prevent cavities (probably from those Godiva chocolates), strengthen teeth, kill bad breath germs and fight plaque above the gum line.

Make sure to pick ones of these up before the 14th to keep yourself looking and feeling ultra-kissable. Be sure to check out more kissing tips here!

What kissing advice do you follow?

xoxo,

Gennifer

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Personalize Your Own BFF Necklace

February 5, 2010 at 11:00AM by Gennifer Delman |

Jewelry by jules.

Calling all best friends! Looking for the perfect matching BFF necklaces? Designer jules. has created a fun line of personalized ID tags and bracelets and it's officially the most stylish BFF-wear around.

All chains, shapes, metals, and engravings can be mixed to match personality and preference. You can make a necklace with your initials and then swap with your favorite pal! They're available in sterling silver, 14K gold, as well as oxidized silver for guys. Necklaces start at $90, or you can get a bracelet for $150 for up to 5 tags.

These pieces make great birthday gifts and are guaranteed to add flair to any ensemble. Grab your BFF and head over to shopjules.com to create your own necklace. Then you and your best friend can show off your matching looks in school!

What do you love about your BFF?

xoxo,

Gennifer

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3 Secrets to Fine Dining

February 5, 2010 at 9:07AM by Colleen Moody |

Love at First Bite

Nervous about messing up during your prom dinner? Don't be! Stick with these guidelines to get you through the formal part and on to the dancing!

Make a lower-case "b" (for bread) with your left hand and a "d" (for drink) with your right one to remember which side of the table you'll find your bread plate and drinking glass.

To find the correct fork, always start from the outside and work in toward the plate. The salad fork is the farthest left; the next one in is the dinner fork.

Finished? Pretend your knife and fork are the hands of a clock. Set them on your plate at 4:30 to signal the waiter.

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The Best Prom Dress for Your Shape

February 5, 2010 at 9:05AM by Colleen Moody |

girl at prom3

Before you pick your perfect prom dress, it's important to know what dresses work best for your body type. Read below for expert advice for those with a smaller chest size.

What's the best dress if you're flat-chested?

Wear a dress with a lot going on at the chest level. The perfect example is an empire waist dress that has some standout decoration, such as a pretty beaded waistband, says Christine Hamm, vice president and creative director of Alyce Designs. The band is eye-catching - and unlike lower-waist gowns that can flatten a small chest, the empire waist allows the bust to be all it can be. Other dress styles can work too, Hamm says. Look for a gown that has a simple design but that features beading, stitching, or gathered fabric right at the bustline. The decorations will act like visual padding and add to your natural size.

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How to Pick Your Prom Heels

February 5, 2010 at 9:04AM by Colleen Moody |

Shoes For Spring

Every prom dress is typically accompanied by a great pair of high heels on prom night. Sure, they may make your legs look great and be perfect for boosting your height in pics, but there's just one problem. Your feet feel like they may fall off before dinner even begins! Fret not, Sandi Dikuza of D2 by Dikuza shoes shares these tips to pick a stylish and comfy pair of heels for prom.

Choose an Ankle-Strap Style

The strap keeps your ankle steady (sort of like a high-top sneaker does) so you'll feel safer and more confident. It also minimizes wobbling when you walk.

Try a Platform

It gives you a sturdy landing pad. Plus, the platform takes an inch off the heel height, so the shoe looks as high as a regular heel but is more comfortable.

Consider a Chunkier Heel

A thicker heel gives you more to land on compared to a skinny stiletto.

Strut Around Your House

Dikuza says to practice on an uncarpeted floor. Keep your eyes straight ahead and put one foot directly in front of the other. It'll train you to lift your entire foot up and down as you walk.

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Rag & Bone Bindery Photo Albums for Prom

February 5, 2010 at 9:01AM by Colleen Moody |

Rag & Bone Photo Albums

With all the work you are doing to get ready for prom, you'll definitely want some place to put all of the great pictures you and your friends take during the night!

These super cute Rag and Bone Bindery albums are the perfect place to store your prom memories! From Photo Binders to these Paper Page Albums, you can create your own scrapbook from the best pictures of the night. Plus, you can customize your album cover and the pages inside to virtually any colors you want! Make your album extra special by getting the cover and pages in your school's colors to keep as a prom memento you can take to college with you!

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The Rocket Summer's Bryce Avary's Prom Scoop

February 5, 2010 at 9:00AM by Colleen Moody |

The Rocket Summer's Bryce

First, Taylor Lautner and Ashley Greene, then the Neon Trees, and now, The Rocket Summer's Bryce Avary is spilling on his prom memories! Check out his story and pick up the band's debut album, which hits stores February 23!

"I had a fairly dramatic high school experience full of good and bad.  I put out my first Rocket Summer EP when I was 16, and it was something straight out of a movie. I sent it to the big local rock radio station, and shockingly enough they started playing it. The quiet indie kid was now all of a sudden someone who people knew.  As you could imagine, that came with a lot of good and bad things respectively.  I remained the same fairly quiet kid, but people started learning about me.  It was weird.  The punks didn't like me because I wasn't punk enough, I was "straight edge" so the kids that did drugs loathed me, the jocks didn't like me because my girlfriend used to date one, and then there was everyone else who generally seemed to think I was an alright dude.  I guess in a way it set me up for what became my life."

"Before all of that though I started dating the girl of my dreams.  She was the most beautiful girl in school who loved Jimmy Eat World and MxPx when no one knew who they were. She was voted "Most Sincere" and she was a cheerleader, yes a cheerleader. But she was the cheerleader who sometimes wore black framed "nerd rock" glasses in her cheerleader uniform at pep rallies. She was that girl, the one that literally every guy had a crush on - the jocks, the punks, the anime kids, everybody.  And somehow I landed her, and I did that before any silly "high school fame" or whatever you want to call it.  She was the Holy Grail of popularity and yet somehow she saw through all of that and liked something about me.   Her ex was the epitome of crazy /abusive/ throw his fist through a locker during passing periods while yelling at his girlfriend jock guy and I hated the way he treated her.  So naturally, when they broke up, I flew in like a wannabe hero to try and rescue her.  As a result, he pretty much made it clear to a lot of people he wanted me dead and I had the pleasure of getting to deal with that concern every day. After all, he did bite a chunk out of a dude's leg in football practice from the anger of his break up with the girl.  I was prepared for it though, I knew in my 16-year-old brain that this girl would be my wife one day and I would fight to the death for her if that's what had to happen.  Luckily it never came to that (whew!)."

"When prom rolled around there were ballots where students could cast their vote for superlatives. I was a bit shocked when they called my name for "Most Talented" as it was still weird to me that anyone even knew who I was, and that award was quite a compliment.  While I was walking up to get my "award" they announced the next category for the award of "Most Likely to Go to Jail" - the only award of that nature.  And who got it? You guessed it, crazy "I want to kill Bryce" guy.  Yep.  Both of us standing there together, being recognized for two totally opposite things in front of the whole senior class.  Mine was a moment of affirmation and glory and his was a moment of sheer humiliation.  I can't lie, I loved that deep down after all of the fear that the dude injected into my teenage life, he was getting some sort of payback.  Looking back now on that scenario, I feel bad for the guy. People can change for the better, which I think he probably has, just like I know I have. Prom can really suck for some people and rule for others.  Regardless, I say go. You never know, you might find yourself writing a crazy story for CosmoGirl ten years from now about how you married the Prom Queen.  Oh, did I mention she was the Prom Queen?  And did I mention I married her?  BOOM!"

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Sterling Knight Stars in StarStruck

February 3, 2010 at 12:45PM by Gennifer Delman |

Starstruck

Sonny With a Chance's Sterling Knight is no stranger to playing sought after celebrities. The 20-year-old is bringing his natural charm to his Hollywood pop star character Christopher Wilde in StarStruck.

Though you will have to wait until Valentine's Day to find out the juicy plot for the movie, Sterling's music video has just been released. This infectious song about the glitz and glamour of celebrities is the first tune on the movie soundtrack, which will be available in stores and online on Tuesday, February 9. For more news about the show, check out the Official Website. Watch the video below:

What do you think of Sterling?

xoxo,

Gennifer

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Become a Member of VS PINK Nation

February 3, 2010 at 12:00PM by Gennifer Delman |

Victoria's Secret Pink

Are you a member of Victoria's Secret PINK Nation? This February, the brand will be providing special discounts, giveaways and access to special events exclusively to PINK Nation members.

From Feb. 2 until Feb. 15, you can receive $10 off their cozy Vintage Slim Pants plus a free basic tank with the purchase of any VS PINK item.

It doesn't end there! On Feb. 21, VS will host after hours shopping events at 115 locations nationwide. To see if your local store is participating, check out VSPINK.com.

Do you wear VS PINK?

xoxo,

Gennifer

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Get Red Hot Shoes for Valentine's Day!

February 3, 2010 at 10:00AM by Gennifer Delman |

TOMS shoes

Looking for the perfect date shoe this Valentine's Day? Look no further than TOMS. With a reasonable price tag and comfort a major priority, these shoes are guaranteed to grab your crush's attention.

Rocking it solo? Blast "Single Ladies" and slip into a pair of TOMS red canvas shoes ($44). These kicks are super cozy and look great with sleek skinny jeans.

If you have your eyes set on warmer weather, check out these red stripped wedges, available in June! Wedges are a great transition shoe from winter to spring. You can pair TOMS's red stripe version of the wedge ($69) with a flowy dress or a denim skirt for a romantic look. Your date won't be able to keep his eyes off of you!

The best thing about this stylish footwear is that TOMS gives a pair of shoes to a child in need with each purchase made. This means that you can make a fashion statement and make lasting positive change at the same time!

Check out TOMS for more ways on how you can help out with the TOMS cause.

What do you like to wear on Valentine's Day? Share your thoughts below!

xoxo,

Gennifer

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Friends with Benefits

February 1, 2010 at 12:31PM by Divya Bahl |

Couple

In college, you'll hear about hook-up buddies or friends with benefits. No, the benefits are not free food at the restaurant he works at, it's a bit different and in college, these friends aren't too hard to obtain.

Friends with benefits is typically someone you are friends with and have a sexual relationship without being emotionally involved. There is no romantic, monogamous relationship or any kind of commitment.

To some of you this may appear great; to others maybe it's a nightmare. One thing's for sure, this can be emotionally excruciating if you don't know what you're signing up for.

Some people don't like commitment, and this is an easy and convenient way to release sexual tension with someone they trust. For others, it's difficult to keep their emotions in check when their relationship becomes physical. Then there is also the risk of leading someone on in case they break the rules and start to have feelings for you.

Many think friends with benefits never works, while others don't think it is a big deal. If you do decide to have a friend with benefits, make sure you are both on the same page and have a mutual understanding of what the relationship entails. If you don't you could be setting yourself up for heartache, losing a good friend, or putting yourself in a situation you don't want to be in.

Have you ever had a friend with benefits? How did it turn out for you?

Xoxo,

Divya

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Snack on This, Not That

February 1, 2010 at 12:11PM by Alessandra Foresto |

Eat Your Veggies!

Meet our guest blogger Alessandra! Originally from Lima, Peru, she moved to New York less than 6 years ago and considers herself a New Yorker at heart. Some of her favorites are coffee-table books, white rice, chick lit, long cardigans, and anything pink. Her goals in life are to make a difference and read as many books as possible. She is an assistant beauty editor at a national magazine.

When hunger strikes between classes or late at night, stay away from greasy chips and fattening cookies. Instead, pick one of the sweet and salty options below recommended by Keri Glassman, a New York City nutritionist and author of The O2 Diet.

Sweet: Sliced Oranges

If tests and papers have turned you into a ball of stress, peel yourself an orange. The fruit's Vitamin C will help you relax by making your blood pressure and cortisol levels, the hormone your body releases in a stressful situation, return to normal faster.

Sweet: Blueberries with Cottage Cheese and Cinnamon

The high level of antioxidants in blueberries helps boost memory, attention, and balance. Cottage cheese will add an extra dose of calcium and a sprinkle of cinnamon will help control your blood sugar levels.

Sweet: Chunks of Pineapple

The manganese and thiamine in pineapple helps your body metabolize carbs and produce energy. Take thick slices of pineapple (you can buy them pre-cut, just make sure they don't have any added sugar) and top them with one tablespoon of crushed nuts (like peanuts or pistachios) for some filling, healthy fat.

Salty: Steamed Edamame

The choline in protein-packed edamame, also known as soybeans, help enhance memory. You can find the beans in the frozen aisle of any supermarket and add a squeeze of lemon or sprinkle of salt for extra flavor.

Salty: Pistachios

Pistachios are not only packed with plant sterols, thought to lower risk of heart disease, but also are the nuts with the lowest level of fat.

Salty: Baked Sweet Potato Chips

Sweet potato chips are a great source of beta-carotene, an important antioxidant for your skin, and definitely a better option than greasy, regular chips packed with sodium.

What is your favorite healthy snack? Tell us in the comments below!

Xoxo,

Ale

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Style Wars: Which Lady Gaga Look Is the Best?

February 1, 2010 at 11:32AM by Colleen Moody |

Lady Gaga

To describe Lady Gaga's style is, well, impossible. You never know what she is going to come out wearing or how many times in one evening she'll do a wardrobe change, and the 2010 Grammys last night were no exception.

Gaga showed up on the red carpet wearing this glitzy, solar system looking dress, complete with pointy star. Later in the night, she was spotted wearing a galactic looking leotard as she sat in the audience (we feel bad for the guy sitting behind her!).

Which Lady Gaga Grammy outfit takes the prize of the wackiest? Do you like her odd fashion choices or are you over it? Tell us your pick below in the comments!

Vote for more of Lady Gaga's fashion in our Lady Gaga Photo War!

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Five Questions with Jason Castro

February 1, 2010 at 11:00AM by Gennifer Delman |

Jason Castro

American Idol alum and fan-favorite Jason Castro is currently showcasing his talent and endearing personality on tour with label mate Matt Hires. He recently spilled on what it was like filming his first music video, how he feels about his new single, and more! Read on to see what else he had to say:

CosmoGirl: Tell us about your song "Let's Just Fall in Love Again."

Jason Castro: That song was actually written by a friend of mine. When I heard it I was just like, "That's great, I have to record that!" It had that energy that I was trying to capture for my first single. It's just a fun song about falling in love again. I think so many times in any relationship you get to that standstill or hit that wall where you're like, "I don't know if I like you!" This song just really inspires me to get back to that original magic of why I fell in love in the first place.

CG: What was it like making your first music video?

JC: It was awesome! Different directors sent in different ideas for how the video would go and it was really cool to visualize it. I picked the one that I thought was the best! Seeing the song come to life was a really neat experience.

CG: How excited are you for your upcoming album and what can fans expect?

JC: I'm very excited! It's been my lifelong dream to have my debut release. It couldn't have been anymore the way I wanted it, and now I'm just anxiously waiting! I have an EP out right now, The Love Uncompromised, and three of those songs will be on the album. It's a nice sampler of what's to come. It's all acoustic driven so there are more intimate moments like "Hallelujah" and then there are upbeat rockin' songs like "Closer" and "This Heart of Mine." It's a very real album with real songs; all songs were recorded live. I think it's pretty cool!

CG: What are some words of advice that you live by?

JC: There's this quote from my first manager when I was playing drums in a band. We were rehearsing one time and getting ready for a showcase when he said this line that stuck out to me: "You've got to be undeniable." That just stuck with me. No matter what you do, it's not just about being the best, but being undeniable. That's good advice right there!

CG: Any place you are crazy about performing?

JC: I will have one by the end of this tour! This is my first solo nationwide tour and I very much prefer these intimate settings just doing an acoustic set at small venues. It's a really fun way to interact with the crowd and I love it because that's where I started. I began playing guitar in college and played five shows before Idol, so it was cool to get back to this cool energy that I've missed.

You can preorder Jason Castro's upcoming debut and get a chance to meet him at a show. Plus, don't forget to follow him on Twitter!

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Five Questions with Matt Hires

January 29, 2010 at 2:00PM by Gennifer Delman |

Matt Hires

At 23 years old, pop/folk-rock artist Matt Hires already has had his songs played on shows like Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice. With a sweet personality and an unforgettable voice, he's making his mark in the music biz. Read on to find out who is on his iPod, what he does when he isn't touring, and more!

CosmoGirl: What's the story behind your song "Honey, Let Me Sing You a Song"?

Matt Hires: There was a girl that I was into, and still am into. We were friends for a while before we started dating and this song is about how one day I saw her as more than a friend. This is the first song I wrote for her.

CG: What's the coolest part about headlining a tour?

MH: Being able to play with a band! Up until this point I've just been opening up for folks acoustic, just me and my guitar. That was great because it is a lot easier to load gear, but it's a lot of fun playing with a band.

CG: Any crazy or memorable fan stories?

MH: Before I released my record I released an EP called Live from the Hotel Café with a demo of "Honey, Let Me Sing You a Song." The lyrics were a little different than the current one. This girl at the show tattooed some of my lyrics on herself that we ended up changing! I guess that proves she's a real fan!

CG: What do you like to do when you're not touring?

MH: I like to hang out with my friends, go to the beach in Tampa, hang out with my dog (he's a labradoodle), play Wii, read...I've been trying to go back and read a bunch of the classics. I just finished David Copperfield which was really good! I try to read on tour but it's difficult!

CG: Who is on your iPod right now?

MH: I love Bob Dylan and Tom Petty. Tom has been 75 percent of what I've listened to this past year. I've got into Elliot Smith a lot lately, and I also love Bon Iver and Arcade Fire.

Keep an eye out for Matt's upcoming tour with NeedToBreathe! In the meantime, be sure to grab Matt's CD Take Us To The Start here!

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about this blog

A blog about beauty, fashion, life, guys, and celeb news and gossip. read more


about the authors

Deanne Hess

Queen of CosmoGirl.com
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see all posts from this author contact Deanne Hess

Colleen Moody

Colleen is the Web Editor for CosmoGirl.com and spends her days blogging for The Daily Kiss, toiling over quizzes and playing with the clothes and makeup products that come her way.
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see all posts from this author contact Colleen Moody

Tammy Tibbetts

Tammy is editor of CosmoGirl's sister web sites, MyPromStyle.com and MisQuinceMag.com, so she gets to play around with pretty dresses and tiaras. Leave her blog comments and she will love you almost as much as her favorite things: Spain, hummus, pink, magazines, The New York Times, and spontaneity.
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see all posts from this author contact Tammy Tibbetts

Daily Kiss Guest Bloggers

The Daily Kiss is run by fabulous guest bloggers! From interns to college students and more, these ladies are the eyes and ears of CosmoGirl.com. They scour the trends, latest products, new bands, and breaking celebrity gossip to keep you in the know 24/7.
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