Power Play

It took a good night’s sleep and two cups of coffee for me to fully come to terms with my little rendezvous with Justin (oh, and in case you’re wondering, the spray tan didn’t fare so well). This is the conclusion I arrived at: It was a fluke hook up, and while I would not pursue it again, I would consider it if Justin booty-texted me, which seemed unlikely to happen.

I went for a run since I knew I was going to be eating/drinking a lot—at 10 a.m., I could already hear the roof deck parties starting up. I showered, fixed my tan with lots of exfoliating and blending with a cheap drugstore self-tanner, and headed out to meet Ashley and Nina for brunch.

“Why do you look like you just ate the canary?” Ashley asked as I slid into the booth across from them.

“And what is going on with your legs?” Nina added. I looked down. My knees were like three shades darker than my calves. This was not the look I wanted.

“I can answer both of your questions in five words.” I paused dramatically. “I hooked up with Justin last night.”

Nina counted on her fingers. “That’s seven words.”

“Really?” I rolled my eyes at her.

“Wait,” Ashley said, sharply. “I thought he was back together with his ex.”

I shrugged. “He says they’re ‘seeing where things go,’ but she’s not his girlfriend.”

“And you believe him?” Ashley’s voice pitched sharply.

“Maybe.” I shrugged again. “It’s just not really a concern of mine.”

“How can it not really be a concern of yours after you’ve been that girl who’s been cheated on?” Ashley demanded, referring to my college ex Eric, and the not-confirmed-but-we-all-know-they’re-true allegations against Peter.

“Ash, it’s been a little over a month since we broke up. Logistically it doesn’t really make sense that they could be in a full blown relationship after such a short period of time.”

“But it’s possible,” Ashley said.

“Yeah, it’s possible.” I took a sip of my water. “I guess I just don’t care.”

“Wow,” Ashley spat. “Nice.”

I glared at her. “Why are you coming to the defense of someone you don’t even know?”

Ashley shook her head and laughed, bitterly. “You’re missing the point. I don’t care about her—I care about you. You’re better than that.”

Now I laughed, sarcastically. “What are you, the morality police? That’s rich, coming from you.”

“What does”—

Nina jumped in before Ashley could finish. “Time out, time out!” She slammed her water glass on the table so hard both Ashley and I jumped. “It is the goddamn 4th of July and it’s just un-American for friends to be fighting like this.” She turned to Ashley. “You may not like what Josie did, but you don’t get to judge her.”

“Oh, like you two didn’t judge me when I dated Luke?’ Ashley shot back.

“Yes, and we were wrong to do that and remember how shitty that made you feel,” Nina pointed out. That shut Ashley up.

“And you,” Nina turned to me. “No bringing up the past that’s already been buried. It’s not fair.” I’m assuming that was in reference to my, “That’s rich” comment.

“Fine,” I said. Nina and I both looked at Ashley.

“Fine,” she said, pursing her lips. “Can we just order? I’m starving.”

Brunch was awkward, but Nina tried her darndest to pretend like all was merry. Just when I thought Ashley and I were getting back to where we used to be, this had to happen.

We headed to our college friends’ party but Nina and I only stayed an hour. Nina wanted to get to Brad’s and Ashley wanted to stay, so I gladly volunteered to head over to Brad’s with Nina.

“What the hell was that all about?” I asked in the cab ride over to Brad’s, once Nina and I were finally alone.

Nina shook her head. “I’m not getting in the middle of you two again. Figure it out for yourselves.” Okay, then!

Brad’s party was just getting going when we arrived. I spotted Kevin in the corner by the keg, pumping a stream of beer into some guy’s solo cup.

“Hey!” I said, walking up to him.

Kevin looked surprised to see me. And did I detect a hint of disappointment in his eyes? “Oh,” he said. “Hey, Josie.” He nudged his friend. “This is Adam.”

“Hey Adam,” I said.

“So you’re Kevin’s reality TV girlfriend?” he asked, looking me up and down in such a studied way I blushed.

“Love interest,” I corrected.

“I see.” He took a sip of his beer and said (very snippily I might add), “Whatever you do, don’t wear white on camera.” He puffed his cheeks out, the universal porker sign, and stalked off.

Ugh! I turned to Kevin, outraged. “What the hell?!”

Kevin shook his head. “Excuse him. He’s an actor and wanted on this show badly.” He leaned in close to me and whispered in my ear, “I think he’s a little bit bitter.”

I was not going to let what Adam said—or my little tiff with Ashley—ruin my good time. It was a fun crowd, and a few hours into the party, I was definitely enjoying myself. I was chatting with Nina and Brad when I felt my phone vibrate in the back pocket of my American jorts (a huge hit BTW). I pulled out my phone and gasped.

“What?” Nina demanded.

Brad had turned to talk to someone else, so I showed her my phone. It was a pic message of my building, with the message, “In your hood this time. You around?” It was from Justin.

“You’re going to go, aren’t you?” Nina asked.

“I’m buzzed and horny. Of course I’m going to go.”

Nina put her hands on my shoulders. “You know this is a recipe for disaster.”

I put my hands on top of hers and squeezed. “I know.”

I made a pit stop in the bathroom before I left so I’d be ready and raring to go by the time I met up with Justin. There was a line, so I ducked into one of the bedrooms, hoping it would have a bathroom attached to it. I was in luck! I pushed the door open and gasped again. Kevin and Adam were inside, mid-make out.

“Ohmigod.” I covered my mouth with my hand. “I’m so sorry, I”—

“Get out!” Adam shrieked, dramatically. Yup, definitely gay!

In the cab ride back to my apartment, I realized that all the pieces fell into place—how Kevin seemed so asexual, the nasty comment his boyfriend or whatever Adam was to him had made to me. It all made sense. I sent Kevin a text, “I don’t care. TRUST me, I have my own skeletons in the closet. Let’s talk this weekend?”

I saw the little dots that indicated Kevin was responding, but I didn’t get a chance to read what he wrote. Because suddenly we were on my street and Justin was opening my door for me, thrusting a twenty at the cab driver, and practically pulling me upstairs.

Justin didn’t even give me a moment to turn on my AC. The second we walked in the door, he swept all the contents off my entry way table (“Hey!” I protested. “Don’t talk,” Justin said, all dom and reprimanding. So hot.). He pushed my jorts off and propped me up on the edge of the table, wrapping my legs around his waist and pushing into me with so much force I yelped. He grabbed my hair, pulling my head back so he could kiss me. Halfway through he picked me up and carried me to the window ledge. Any one walking on the street below us would just have to look up a few floors to see my back pressed against the window, Justin driving into me at a furious pace.

After we finished and were pulling our clothes back on, Justin said, “I’m supposed to go to this party now. But, um, what’s your plan?”

I went to check my watch, realized I didn’t have one on, and looked at the clock on the cable box instead. It was 8 p.m. “I have somewhere to be,” I lied.

“Where?” Justin asked. He almost looked angry.

I smiled and gave him a kiss. “None of your beeswax.”

I didn’t have anywhere to be except my couch, watching the fireworks from my window in the ice cold AC, maybe enjoying a post-coital glass of rosé like the sophisticate I am, but Justin was so easy to play (so easy—why didn’t I realize this when we were together?), that I couldn’t let the opportunity to make him jealous pass me by.

“Want me to come over later?” Justin asked.

I made a big show of considering his offer before finally saying, “You know, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Are you going to be with that guy?” he demanded.

“Are you going to be with Adrienne?” Justin had no response to that.

I walked Justin out this time, pausing at my doorway to give him a kiss goodbye. “I’ll see you,” I said, in one of those breathy-whispers sexy movie stars use. Someone (me) was feeling coooocky. Justin had always been the one to call the shots when we were together, and I was enjoying the fact that the tables were turned. How long it will last before it all blows up in my face I’m not sure. But until then, I’m going to savor every awesome, orgasmic moment.

Want more from Josie? Follow her on Twitter @BedroomBlog

From Cosmopolitan.com. Visit Handbags reviews and advice for best reference here

Georgia May Jagger and Jerry Hall Dish on Classic Sunglasses and the Power of Red Lipstick

Cosmo: Have you learned any beauty tips from Georgia—especially since she's become the face of Rimmel?

Jerry Hall: "She has me drinking all of these juices to stay healthy [inside and out]. Today we had a blend of spinach, apple, aloe vera, carrots—and she's also introduced me to the new Rimmel red lipstick—it's my favorite!"

class="p1">Cosmo: What's the one beauty product or tool both of you can't leave the house without using?

JH: "An eyebrow brush."

GMJ: "My eyelash curler."

Cosmo: Describe each other's beauty look in one word.

GMJ: "Mum's glamorous."

JH: "Georgia is beautiful."

Cosmo: What are your most favorite fashion moments?

JH: "I actually loved what I wore on the Sunglass Hut job, and it was special to me because I got to model with Georgia."

GMJ: "Mine was the first time I went to a movie premiere, King Kong. I was only 13 and got to wear a Vivienne Westwood dress and it was amazing."

Cosmo: What won't you get rid of in your closets?

JH: "I've got some of my mom's pencil skirts that I absolutely won't get rid of."

GMJ: "I have a hard time getting rid of things, but I'd probably have to say my collection of t-shirts [that I've acquired].

JH: "She's also got a lot of my old Thierry Mugler clothes, too, that aren't going anywhere."

Cosmo: Do you borrow clothes/accessories from your mom a lot?

GMJ: "We borrow stuff from each other all of the time. While I raid her closet for vintage pieces from the '70s, she's always stealing my sunglasses." 

Cosmo: Jerry, since Georgia is following in your footsteps when it comes to modeling, what have you taught her about the business?

JH: "To be on time and be nice to everybody."

GMJ: "I would say in addition to that, to do many things that you love because in modeling, not everyone's career lasts as long as mum's."

JH: "Exactly. Georgia is also a photographer."

Cosmo: What's the best life advice you'd give one another?

GMJ: "It's hard for me to give her advice because she gives me all of the advice."

JH: "Awwww. I think to do a job that you love because it won't be like you're going to work. You'll always have fun."

Cosmo: Since we're here with Sunglass Hut at the unveiling of your joint Mother's Day campaign, what are each of your go-to shades of choice?

JH: "Aviators and cat-eye shades are my favorite, but I like big frames, too."

GMJ: "Round, cat-eye frames, wayfarers, and aviators are my go-tos."

Cosmo: So...what are you getting your mom for Mother's Day?

GMJ: "When we were in Los Angeles shooting the Sunglass Hut Mother's Day campaign, she loved the black cat eye sunglasses by Vogue Eyewear. I will definitely be getting her those."

Stumped on what to get your mom this Sunday for Mother's Day? Take a cue from Georgia May and pick her up a pair of shades. Find out what sunnies will suit your mom's face shape here!

Photo: Matt Irwin courtesy of Sunglass Hut

Follow Carly Cardellino on Facebook and Twitter.

From Cosmopolitan.com. Visit Handbags reviews and advice for best reference here

Inside Cosmo EIC' Joanna Coles' Power Lunch for New York's Christine Quinn

moving cross country, finding a great partner... or lobbing off all your hair a la Karlie Kloss). But don't fret: It's not an impossible task. It just takes some thought—and great advice.

"A lot of times people don't like what they're doing in their current job, but they haven't defined what they want to be doing in their potential new job," Nicole Williams, career expert and author of Girl On Top, tells Cosmopolitan.com.

She says nabbing your dream job starts with doing some soul-searching: "I ask people to assess components of their current working life, and match them against the career they are looking to get into."

Try asking yourself these questions...

Time: How many hours do you want to work and in what kind of environment? Big company, small, telecommute, work-from-home flexibility (you know, the kind banned at Yahoo!)

Challenge Level: How important is growth potential and being challenged to you? Are you ambitious and ready to lean in, or just looking for a 9 to 5 to fill your time?

Work Environment: Define your best possible scenario in terms of work relationships. Who are you working with and for? What kind of boss would be ideal? Do you have dreams of becoming a boss?

Passion: How important is passion to you? For example, a woman we know races triathlons and feels like she doesn't need to be passionate about her job; her passion is attached to her sport.

6. Money: How much do you need to make? How much money do you want to make?

Steps To Making A Career Change

Stop Delaying

"The longer you are in the job you are thinking of leaving, the further away you are from new opportunity," says Williams. "It doesn't get any easier. Doing it earlier is emotionally, mentally and professionally better."

Be Willing To Sacrifice Something

You may have to start from the bottom (or the middle) and work your way to the top; Either way, be ready to drop a few rungs on the corporate ladder.

"Internships can be a good idea—or be willing to take a pay cut," says Williams. "If this internship, for example, introduces you to influential people and helps develop a skill-set, you'll be able to take these things to leverage them into a bigger position."

Start Saving

"Have a solid idea of the risk and savings in the bank," advises Williams. Even if it means cutting back on luxuries. "If you know the internship is going to last for six months at a minimum, that's the number you need to have in savings, and I normally advise 10 to 20 percent in savings as a risk buffer."

Network

"People love to talk about themselves," says Williams. "Find them on LinkedIn and through people you know, and consult with them."

Williams suggests asking those in similar fields questions like, "I wonder if you'd speak to me about your day-to-day life; What do you love most about the work that you do; What do you wish you would have known going into this career?"

"Those kind of questions are going to give you the information you need and will help you know the people you are going to need to know," she adds.

Now that you are armed with more than just your resume and a fresh manicure, it's time to start hitting the pavement. Happy hunting, gals.

Want more stories from Carson? Follow her on Twitter.

Photo Credit: Getty Images">

moving cross country, finding a great partner... or lobbing off all your hair a la Karlie Kloss). But don't fret: It's not an impossible task. It just takes some thought—and great advice.

"A lot of times people don't like what they're doing in their current job, but they haven't defined what they want to be doing in their potential new job," Nicole Williams, career expert and author of Girl On Top, tells Cosmopolitan.com.

She says nabbing your dream job starts with doing some soul-searching: "I ask people to assess components of their current working life, and match them against the career they are looking to get into."

Try asking yourself these questions...

Time: How many hours do you want to work and in what kind of environment? Big company, small, telecommute, work-from-home flexibility (you know, the kind banned at Yahoo!)

Challenge Level: How important is growth potential and being challenged to you? Are you ambitious and ready to lean in, or just looking for a 9 to 5 to fill your time?

Work Environment: Define your best possible scenario in terms of work relationships. Who are you working with and for? What kind of boss would be ideal? Do you have dreams of becoming a boss?

Passion: How important is passion to you? For example, a woman we know races triathlons and feels like she doesn't need to be passionate about her job; her passion is attached to her sport.

6. Money: How much do you need to make? How much money do you want to make?

Steps To Making A Career Change

Stop Delaying

"The longer you are in the job you are thinking of leaving, the further away you are from new opportunity," says Williams. "It doesn't get any easier. Doing it earlier is emotionally, mentally and professionally better."

Be Willing To Sacrifice Something

You may have to start from the bottom (or the middle) and work your way to the top; Either way, be ready to drop a few rungs on the corporate ladder.

"Internships can be a good idea—or be willing to take a pay cut," says Williams. "If this internship, for example, introduces you to influential people and helps develop a skill-set, you'll be able to take these things to leverage them into a bigger position."

Start Saving

"Have a solid idea of the risk and savings in the bank," advises Williams. Even if it means cutting back on luxuries. "If you know the internship is going to last for six months at a minimum, that's the number you need to have in savings, and I normally advise 10 to 20 percent in savings as a risk buffer."

Network

"People love to talk about themselves," says Williams. "Find them on LinkedIn and through people you know, and consult with them."

Williams suggests asking those in similar fields questions like, "I wonder if you'd speak to me about your day-to-day life; What do you love most about the work that you do; What do you wish you would have known going into this career?"

"Those kind of questions are going to give you the information you need and will help you know the people you are going to need to know," she adds.

Now that you are armed with more than just your resume and a fresh manicure, it's time to start hitting the pavement. Happy hunting, gals.

Want more stories from Carson? Follow her on Twitter.

Photo Credit: Getty Images">Whether you're a doctor who dreams of doing hair, or a hairdresser dreaming of climbing the corporate ladder, career expert Nicole Williams has pro tips on how to get started.

From Cosmopolitan.com. Visit Handbags reviews and advice for best reference here

Down With Sexist Ads: #NotBuyingIt Is Crowd Funding </br> Female Power

Korin Miller
Korin is the site director for Cosmopolitan.com. She loves uncovering cool new research and learning more about what makes guys tick. Outside the Cosmo office, you can find her running with her dog, trying to convince friends to go to karaoke bars, and watching as much reality TV as humanly possible. Hit her up on Twitter: @korinmiller
Read More

Find all posts by Korin
Contact Korin

Michelle Ruiz
Michelle is the news editor for Cosmopolitan.com. She's obsessed with interviewing celebrities and spotting the latest pop culture trends. Her life highlights include chatting with Ryan Gosling about sex dolls, dancing on stage at the Oprah show, and shopping with her mom on Long Island. Tweet her: @michelleruiz
Read More

Find all posts by Michelle
Contact Michelle

Dara Adeeyo
Dara is the associate web editor for Cosmopolitan.com. She's intrigued by all things digital. Dara loves playing with html and discovering new studies. When she's not reading up on the latest cocktail recipes (for work, of course), she can be found breaking it down on the dance floor or watching the Investigative Discovery channel. She also has a sick obsession with nail polish, elephants, and most importantly, Nutella. Dara basically lives on Twitter, so tweet at her and say hey: @dadeeyo.
Read More

Find all posts by Dara
Contact Dara

Elisa Benson
Elisa Benson is the senior editor of social media for @Cosmopolitan?so, yes, she tweets about sex for a living. Elisa grew up in Ohio, attended Colgate University, and wrote love and relationship advice for Seventeen before graduating to Cosmo. She lives for girly things (weddings and eyelash extensions and Pretty Little Liars?) and frequently tweets about all of the above: @elisabenson.
Read More

Find all posts by Elisa
Contact Elisa

From Cosmopolitan.com. Visit Handbags reviews and advice for best reference here