Melissa Fiorenza - Twentysomething Girl: 1001 Quick Tips and Tricks to Make Your Life Easier

By Melissa Fiorenza and Laura Serino
Illustrations By Kristina Hultkrantz

Arcade Publishing

Copyright 2013 by Melissa Fiorenza and Laura Serino Illustration copyright 2013 Kristina Hultkrantz

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

ISBN: 978-1-61145-763-6

Printed in China

I f youre a twentysomething girl, chances are you have friends that are married, engaged, single, full-time mothers, and total workaholics. You might own a house, have a healthy 401k and zero debt, but be best pals with a gal that lives month-to-month and is riddled with student loan and credit card bills. If youre in grad school, your best friend might already be a vice president at a company. Suffice it to say, were all on different paths. Its what makes our generation so complex. We were the first to grow up with the Internet (and learned patience when connecting to AOL) and now we cant walk anywhere without our smart phones. We were part of the self-esteem generation where we were told that we can do anything and everything, but as weve gotten older, weve realized just how hard thats going to be. On top of our towering expectations, were inundated with promises on how to make our chaotic lives a hell of a lot easier: how to lose five pounds in five days, get the job you want in ten steps, one hundred ways to give him an orgasm.

With suggestions, tutorials, and do-this, do-that tomes of never-ending guidance that come in the form of Google, magazines, e-books, apps, podcasts, smoke signals, and hieroglyphics, (you name it, its out there), the onslaught of information can become a little dizzying. Our lives are incredibly busy and itd be nice if there were less search engines and more reliable help out there, right? Wouldnt it be great if there was a book that waded through all the clutter and just delivered the good stuff you need to know to make this crazy decade... easier? We realized such a book was missing: a guide that streamlines all the helpful advice out there into bite-sized tips to help make life just a little bit easier in all different categories. We give you Twentysomething Girl.

We first met when we worked together back in 2006 in New York City at Quick & Simple magazine, a weekly offshoot of Good Housekeeping. Its taglines were along the lines of all tips, all the time, and buy it weekly, use it daily. In other words, it was all about fast, easy tipsones you could read in a split second and use for the rest of your lives. We became borderline obsessed with great advice that we could pass on to others. After Q&S, Laura went on to Family Circle magazine and Melissa to All Youwhere quick tips were once again the normthen on from there to write for a broad range of publications, websites, and companies. Even after we hung up our editor heels for a slower paced life, we still kept our penchant for the give-it-to-me-straight kind of wisdom.

Heres how we propose you read Twentysomething Girl: Grab a cup of tea, coffee, or wine and start on page one. Even if youre not looking for advice on money or career right now, just read it. The one thing you cant really Google is a tip youre not yet looking for. With this book, we promise youll find tips you may have never sought out, but youll be glad you did. Plus, we deliver it in the way weve promised you we love: quick, easy, and straight to the point. You can read it standing up on the subway or in a crowded Starbucks and not miss a beat, because the best advice for a modern, on-the-go girl is dispensed quickly. Once youve read it all the way through, keep it on your bookshelf and return to it when you cant remember that one tip, when you need an idea for a house party, or when you want to find out how to clean up red wine without reading a million suggestions for the best result.

Were not here to teach you, were here to help. Weve spent the past decade of our twenties writing down the stuff we learned, the stuff that stayed with us, and the mistakes we already made so you dont have to. And that, friends, is not something you can find in a search engine.

Lots of luck to you,
Melissa & Laura

YOU DONT KNOW HOW HARD IT IS BEING A WOMAN LOOKING THE WAY I DO.

Jessica Rabbit

Its time to put our best face forward. Whether that means finding the perfect shade of lipstick or applying sunblock every morning, taking care of our bodies from head to toe isnt just a vain endeavorits the right thing to do. Theres a good reason why its perfectly acceptable to treat yourself to a smart beauty routine: looking good on the outside boosts your confidence on the inside. Without going into all the trends you read in your favorite beauty mags, here are our timeless beauty basics thatll give you that top-to-bottom glow from the inside out.

When your eyeliner pencil tip starts to get crumbly, toss it in the freezer. After ten minutes, it should be firm enough to use on your skin.

Blow-dry your eyelash curler for ten seconds before using it for a more effective curl.

Bummed about your lipstick choice? Dont assume the store wont take it back. Places like CVS and even some big department stores will actually offer a full refund for opened and even partially used products.

Before applying eye shadow, dab a little foundation or powder on your lids. It will help keep shadow on for longer.

Your makeup brushes need a bath, too. Try to do it at least every two weeks; just use a drop of baby shampoo and rinse with warm water, then reshape the bristles and let them airdry.

Washing dishes barehanded helps weaken nails, so always slip on rubber gloves first.

Out of makeup remover and sporting waterproof mascara? Olive oil + cotton ball = instant removal.

A 2011 study led by a Harvard Medical School assistant professor showed that women who wear makeup are seen as more competent. Even if youre not trying to impress anyone at the office or in class, dab on a little blush and mascara for good measure.