12 Wacky Skills for Every Chick!

12 Wacky Skills Every Chick Must Master

Consider this Cosmo's crash course in dealing in the real world--where being able to fit everything in your handbag and using a public toilet are keys to survival.
By Cara Litke
Photo: Tamara Schlesinger

HOW TO...

1 Grab a Bartender’s Attention
The name of this game is getting noticed. “Bartenders are used to people waving and shouting at them, so smiling and not being pushy automatically makes you stand out,” says Michael Genchi, a bartender at PURE Nightclub in Las Vegas.

But you can’t rely on charm alone, so here’s a tip: Don’t wait in one fixed spot, as if you’re in line. Instead, follow the bartender. “We start at one end of the bar and work our way toward the other, either right to left or left to right. When you see which way we’re headed, get in place so we’ll come to you next,” he says. Most important is to have money or a credit card visible in your hand. “This will signify that you are ready to purchase drinks,” he adds.

2 Use a Public Restroom (Without Picking Up Germs)
You’re unlikely to catch an STD even in the grungiest bathroom. But disease causing bugs do thrive there, including deadly E. coli, so be smart.

Step number one, choose the first stall. “Studies show that the middle and last stalls have the most bacteria because people use them more often,” explains Charles Gerba, PhD, coauthor of The Germ Freak’s Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flus. Then put down a seat guard or toilet paper as a physical barrier between the seat and your bare butt. (No need to squat; the seat is actually not that germy.) Once you do your business and flush, hightail it out of the stall. “Flushing sends fecal particles 20 feet into the air,” informs Gerba.

Now, to wash up: “The faucet is loaded with microbes, so hold a paper towel or wad of toilet paper when you turn the water on and off,” he says. Finally, dry your hands completely with another paper towel or the dryer, using your elbow to turn the dryer on.

3 Fake Wearing Makeup
If your boss calls an emergency meeting for five minutes from now or you spot your ex-boyfriend at a café and—Murphy’s Law—you’re sporting the au naturel face, freshen your look fast with these easy-to-find beauty stand-ins from celebrity makeup artist Gita Bass:

Foundation: Splash a little cold water on your face. “This will temporarily tighten your pores and help even out your skin tone,” explains Bass.

Powder: Blot your oily skin with a napkin, a towel, or even your shirt.

Concealer: Camouflage zits with eye-drops, which take the red coloring out of blemishes.

Lipstick: “Cranberry juice or a piece of red or pink sucking candy will stain your lips,” says Bass.

Mascara: Your lashes will appear longer and darker if you carefully dab petroleum jelly on them. A tiny bit works wonders for unruly brows too.

Blush: Pinch your cheeks for color, then streak a colorless lip balm onto your cheekbones for definition.

4 Fit Everything in Your Handbag
First, you have to redefine everything to mean only day-to-day essentials. We’re talking about your keys, wallet, sunglasses, cell phone, notebook and two pens, makeup bag with the basics (one lipstick, blush, and mirror), and personal-care items, such as tissues, tampons, pain meds, and a totable hairbrush. All other items should be kept at work, in your car, or at home, says organization expert Julie Morgenstern, author of Organizing From the Inside Out.

Next, make sure you invest in the right bag: a big one (about the size of a laptop computer) with one main compartment as well as several smaller pockets, she suggests. Stash large items like your wallet and makeup bag in the main part, while tinier things (such as your keys) should be in the pockets. “That way, the big things will always be visible and the little ones won’t get lost,” she says.

When you switch bags, be consistent. For example, always put your keys in the inner zippered pocket, your cell phone in the outer pouch, and so on. “If you keep things consistent, you’ll always know where everything is and you’ll be able to reach in with your eyes closed and pull out exactly what you’re looking for,” says Morgenstern.

Lastly, make sure the bag you buy has a light-colored, not black, lining. “It’s much easier to see what you’re looking for when the background is colorful—things tend to blend in to dark shades,” she says.

5 Make a Great Omelet Every Single Time
We asked Emile Castillo, executive chef at Le Parker Meridien New York hotel, for the secret:

Heat 2 ounces of butter (or 1 tablespoon of cooking oil) in a nonstick pan set on medium, and coat the entire bottom evenly. Add three beaten eggs to the pan, then (and this is key) continually push the cooked edges toward the center of the pan. You want to keep the eggs moving so they don’t stick.

When the eggs become firm, cover half of the omelet with your fillings (think diced ham, cheese, veggies). With the spatula, fold the other side of the omelet over the filling side so it makes a half circle. After 30 seconds, slip it onto a plate.

6 Set a Mental Alarm Clock
You’re crashing on a friend’s couch on a weeknight, and there’s no alarm clock in the room to compel you to get up in time for work in the a.m. Try this simple mind game: Start by making sure the room is dark but not pitch black. “If light can’t get in, your body won’t be able to wake up,” explains sleep expert Michael Breus, PhD, author of Good Night.

As you’re lying down, ready to drift off, tell yourself that you’re going to wake at, for example, seven. “Say it over and over in your mind—‘I will wake up at seven’—and at the same time, envision the numbers on an imaginary clock,” says Breus. You should awaken at or very close to the desired time.

7 Talk and Eavesdrop at the Same Time
Mastering this talent gives you the perfect cover when you’re listening in on some juicy tidbits. You can completely tune in to a nearby conversation if you make a few mechanical movements within your own discussion that indicate you’re paying attention but don’t require actual focus.
“Lean slightly toward the person talking to you; this conveys an eagerness to hear what she has to say, even You can prevent your purse from becoming a bottomless pit.though you’re actually checked out,” says Debra Fine, author of The Fine Art of Small Talk. Also, maintain steady eye contact and nod your head occasionally. And every 30 seconds or so, volunteer a vague verbal cue like “Right” or “How interesting.” “These words are easy to spit out without thought, and they relate to almost any topic,” she says.

8 Freshen Your Breath With out a Toothbrush
Beat this icky situation by getting some carbonated water and swishing it around your mouth. “This washes away food particles caught in your teeth or on the back of your tongue that cause odor,” explains Jeff Golub- Evans, founding president of the New York Center for Cosmetic Dentistry.

You also can take a few bites of certain fruits and vegetables if you have them on hand. “Apples, oranges, carrots, cucumbers, celery, and lettuce contain acids that cleanse your teeth naturally,” says Dr. Golub-Evans. One especially effective breath-booster is parsley. Maybe that’s the reason why the ancient Romans started using this green as a garnish.

9 Upgrade a Flight or Hotel Room
Travel consultants Amy Bradley-Hole and James Wysong of tripso.com suggest savvy ways to get on the high-life track.

Buy a Y-Up fare, available for most flights. It costs about $100 more than a typical coach ticket but automatically puts you on the upgrade list.

Ask for it—nicely. Hospitality-industry workers often deal with grumpy customers. A courteous “This flight looks full; I’d love to volunteer for an upgrade” may be rewarded if there’s room in first class. And if a better room is available in your hotel, the manager will give it to a polite person over a bitchy guest.

Be a regular. Hotels and airlines like to give faithful customers perks, so join a specific carrier’s mileage club or one hotel chain’s loyalty plan.
Book your room over the phone rather than online. If you speak to an actual person, you can explain why you want an upgrade. The booker will make a note next to your reservation, and you could just get lucky.

10 Fix a Broken Heel
Conquering this common stiletto nightmare requires an easy preemptive maneuver—arming yourself at all times with the right extra strong glue. One celebrity-stylist favorite to buy and stash in your purse whenever you’re wearing heels: E-6000. Coat a thin layer on the heel, then press it firmly against the back of your shoe. “It’s as strong as cement and sets in minutes,” explains celebrity stylist June Ambrose, author of Effortless Style. “But go easy on your feet—it takes a while for the glue to dry completely.” E-6000 is mainly sold in arts and craft stores, but if you can’t locate some, try Gorilla Glue, which is more widely available and just as strong.

11 Tell a Funny Story
Or what kind of car they drove, don’t bore everyone with these tangents.

And second, have fun telling your story without giving away the punch line. “Go ahead and laugh while you’re talking—it will encourage others to enjoy your story and laugh along with you,” he says. Just don’t give away the punch line early on. “It’s always best to keep it as a surprise,” he says.

12 Deal With Your Period When You Don’t Have Protection
This fast fix can pinch-hit for a tampon, but it won’t absorb much liquid, so book it to a drugstore ASAP.

Roll up some toilet paper and insert it between your outer labia—far enough that it stays in place as you move, but not inside your vagina. If it’s all the way in like a tampon, bits of tissue can break off and get stuck and possibly cause an infection, explains Mary Jane Minkin, MD, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine. ■