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Things About You 3 WAYS YOU CAN STILL HAVE AN EPIC SUMMER GET YOUR FESTIVAL ON Between shirtless dudes, craft beer, and cool tunes, an outdoor concert is the perfect place to create lasting memories. Visit musicfestivaljunkies.com to find out what’s happening near you. PLAY HOOKY There’s nothing quite like taking a last- minute day off from work to do something you can only do this time of year. Map out an outdoor bar/restaurant/ice cream shop crawl and drag your BFF along, sampling everything from tacos to cocktails. HIT THE ROAD You may not be able to afford that Costa Rica vacation, but you can probably buy gas. Grab your man and head toward the water, stopping at random crazy places. Instagram pics to make an album later. Never De-Tag Again Pro photogs suggest this two- prong approach to taking a good photo at a moment’s notice. Put Your Best Cheek Forward A new Wake Forest University study found that the left side of your face is more photogenic than the right side because it shows a greater range of emotion. Use Your Chin Elevate your chin, and push it forward to avoid the dreaded double-chin optical illusion. Just don’t go overboard or you’ll end up looking like a bobblehead. SOURCES: PHOTOGRAPHER CHRIS CLINTON; GETTY IMAGES STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER JAMIE MCCARTHY; PHOTOGRAPHER ALEXA MILLER Pink recently told us that she’s over her tattoos, and with laser removal up 32 percent, it looks like she has company. Before you get inked, answer the questions below to be extra sure you’re not making a mistake. What Color Is It? REGRET: Bright colors fade and have to be retouched more—plus they’re harder (and more painful) to remove. Where Is It Going? Lower Back Neck Finger Chest Face Somewhere Else REGRET: You’ll hate that tramp stamp or boob tat later (trust). Likewise for any ink on your neck, finger, or, um, face. REGRET: There will come a time when bigger is not better (at least in this sense). GO FOR IT! REGRET: You’ll outgrow a ’toon (or a guy’s name). And anything generic might get too popular and feel lame. Things with personal meaning, like a quote or song lyric, have staying power. What Is It? Yes SONG LYRIC Q u o te No Will You Regret That Tat? A new study out of the University of California at Santa Barbara found that taking a break to do something mindless helps you come up with more clever ideas for a creative project. The magic number? Ten. That’s how many minutes you get before you’re officially procrastinating. Game of Angry Birds, anyone? Arm candy with squared-off edges will make people view you as powerful. “It reminds people of a briefcase, and they naturally associate that with success and power,” says Jennifer Baumgartner, PsyD, author of You Are What You Wear: What Your Clothes Reveal About You. Sack-shaped bags communicate more of a carefree attitude than a confident one. “It’s called a hobo bag for a reason,” says Baumgartner. “People connect it with a free-spirited person, someone who doesn’t have a strong sense of organization.” PICK YOUR POWER BAG According to experts, your purse says a lot about you. Here’s how to say “I’m taking over the world!” Embrace Structure Stay Away From Slouchy T a k e 5 , E r , 1 0 Just realizing that the last couple of months haven’t been as awesome as you’d planned? Here’s how to break your summer out of snoozeville before Labor Day. T O M M Y You make one mistake on the job and suddenly you’re questioning everything you do. Squash negativity in seconds with these tips. l Keep a pair of hot red stilet- tos under your desk, and slip them on for an instant boost. It sounds silly, but tweaking your appearance in a bold way can make you feel much better. l Create a Pinspiration board full of quotes and images that lift your mood. Log on and check it out whenever you feel in doubt. l Grab a cup of coffee. Stepping out for some java will clear your mind so you don’t dwell on your misstep. SOURCE: VALERIE YOUNG, AUTHOR OF THE SECRET THOUGHTS OF SUCCESSFUL WOMEN Total profile-pic material Feeling small? The Confidence Booster You Can Stash Under Your Desk SOURCE: ALLAN IZIKSON, A DERM WITH THE NEW YORK DERMATOLOGY GROUP IN MANHATTAN Is It Larger Than Your Compact? (Smurfette) Photos 12/Alamy. (Rose, butterfly, tribal tattoos, lion, and mirror) istockphoto.com. (Cat) © Image Source/Corbis. (Bags, from top) Photographer’s Choice/Getty Images; KEVIN SWEENEY/STUDIO D. (Sunflower and clock) PhotoDisc/Getty Images. (Model) ERIC RAY DAVIDSON. 70 COSMOPOLITAN | August 2012 August 2012 | COSMOPOLITAN 71
