Blog Posts by Cosmopolitan.com

From scoring a holiday bonus to convincing your guy to hang his stocking at your place, here's a crib sheet to getting everything you want this season, even if you've been bad.

1) Ban Bad Gifts

Launch a preemptive strike against ugly sweaters, food processors, and other unwanted presents by dropping very specific hints. "Make it easy for others to shop for you," says Padwa. She suggests saying, "You know what would make me really happy this year?" and then fill-in-the-blank with whatever you've had your eye on. Need some inspiration? We've rounded up the most scintillating presents this season.

2) Bow Out of Lame Invites

Just because your inbox is flooded with invites doesn't mean your social calendar must be solely dedicated to celebrating seasonal cheer. (You don't want to waste a hot holiday dress on a boring party. We found 15 frocks that put the average LBD to shame.) Accept only the invites to parties you'd really like to attend. Lynette Padwa, author of Say

Most of the time, text messaging is fast, easy, and convenient. But there are a few offenses that text messagers engage in that makes your skin crawl. Here, the five most annoying texting habits--and how to b!tchslap that texter.

1. The Double-Message Texter
Of course you screen calls. Everyone does. So why - why?! - do certain people feel the need to send a text letting you know that they just left a voicemail? Calm down, dude.
B!tch-slap technique: Text back, "What's next, a carrier pigeon?"
(Psst! Want to know the 5 Times You Shouldn't Text Him? Find out now.)

2. The Mass Texter
This text usually reads something like, "What are you getting into tonight?" You know in your gut that this very same text just went out to 20 other people at exactly the same time, and that the sender is just waiting to receive all his/her options before deciding what to do.
B!tch-slap technique: You know how you can block those newsletters that you never signed up for by sending an e-mail with

Ready to pucker up but have a pressing question? Get answers from Cosmo experts.
MORE: 10 Things You Don't Know About Kissing

Kissing Conundrum #1:
"My canker sores are so bad, I can't even kiss my man. What can I do?"

Answer: You can avoid these irksome mouth ulcers by steering clear of the triggers: namely stress, chocolate, citrus fruits, and ibuprofen, as well as toothpaste that contains sodium laurel sulfate, says Kimberly Harms, a consumer adviser for the American Dental Association. Also, rinse daily with an antibacterial mouthwash, which helps reduce eruptions. To soothe a sore, dab on an OTC topical anesthetic such as Orabase. For chronic cankers, ask your doc about the Rx treatment Aphthasol.

Kissing Conundrum #2:
"My boyfriend is a horrible kisser. He practically shoves his tongue down my throat! What can I do to get him to kiss less forcefully?"

Answer: To get your smooch styles in sync, take the lead and tease him with tender mouth-to-mouth maneuvers that are sure to

Did you know the decision to hire is made in 15 minutes or less? Scary huh? With that in mind, Cosmo chatted with the Society for Human Resource Management. Find out which job-hunting sins you may be making.

1. You Say, "This is My Dream Job"
Even if you mean it, 69% of recruiters will brush that off as an insincere cliché they've heard way too many times before. Ban the bogus phrases "I think outside the box" and "I'm a team player" from your vocab as well, and come up with your own way of describing how much you rock.
MORE: How to Get Your Dream Life Started

2. You Ask About Vacation Days
You may think you're being straightforward by telling your potential boss that you and your BF have a 9-day trip to the Caribbean in the works. However, 69% of bosses agree that the interview is a bad time to start asking when you can take time off from the job you don't even have.

3. You Talk Salary
Money is no doubt on your mind when you're searching for a new job. Uh, if you didn't need it you

True to form, the mysterious R-Pattz is difficult to find dirt about. But we managed to find some interesting tidbits about our favorite brooding vampire. Want to see more hot pics of Rob? Check out his 25 smoldering looks!

1. Robert reportedly got a six-pack for New Moon, thanks to makeup artists and strategic airbrushing. We'd like to inspect the evidence to find out for sure. Check out these shirtless guys with totally legit abs of steel.

2. It's hard to believe now, but when Rob first signed on to play Edward Cullen, 75,000 people signed a petition against his taking the role - they didn't think he was the right fit for the character in the Twilight books! Now, even more people are saying, "Robert, bite me"...but they mean something completely different.

These days he and his New Moon co-stars cause mass hysteria everywhere they go. See their smoking hot red carpet pics.

3. All of Rob's trademark fervid staring in the Twilight movies? It's not his acting - he

Next time life leaves you in a foul, everything-sucks mood, employ these strategies to get an insta-lift.

1. Take an iPod time-out. Put in your ear buds, and lose yourself in your favorite tunes. A slower tempo will relax you, but music that's heavy and throbbing will let you work through anger or annoyance so you can get those negative emotions out of your system quickly, explains Los Angeles psychologist Yvonne Thomas, PhD. Find out which hot new tracks Cosmo's addicted to right now.

2. Slick on red lip gloss. Red lips exude confidence and sex appeal. The reaction you get from others will help replace your bad mood with sexy self-assuredness.

3. Crack up in front of your computer. It's impossible to feel bad when you're laughing, so download a video from funnyordie.com or collegehumor.com. Or just take a time out with Cosmo's Strip Poker.

4. Have a quickie. Try one of these hot spots for fast love. If sex isn't possible, reveling in the memory of a sack session also

The average T-day meal packs a whopping 3,000 to 4,000 calories. Add in second and third helpings and you can end up looking like someone stuffed a pumpkin into the back of your skinny jeans. This year, fend off the holiday flab by making these smart (and not too painful) swaps.

If you're hosting Turkey Day, check out these awesome tips from Katie Lee Joel, otherwise beg Mom or Grandma to skim down the menu with these tips.

Scary fact: The average person packs on 9 to 11 pounds between now and New Year's. Want to get a jumpstart on shedding those pounds? Check out our best weight-loss tips ever and work these fat-burning foods into your diet!

Three ounces of dark meat (about the size of a deck of cards) contains 165 calories and unhealthy saturated fat.

Slim Swap: White Meat Turkey
Three ounces of white meat contains only 100 calories. Bonus: Lean protein like white meat increases satiety, making you feel fuller longer.

What's it really like working for the number-one young women's magazine in the world? Even more fun and fearless (and fabulous!) than you'd think. Here, just some of the benefits that come with being a full-time Cosmo girl. And, we have a killer view.

1. Does your office's dress code include miniskirts and 4-inch pumps? Yeah, we're all shoe addicts around here.

2. The annual Cosmo Bachelors party beats the typical company holiday shindig by about 50 hot, single, half-naked men.

3. Using d-bag ex-boyfriends as inspiration for stories like "What to Do When He's a Terrible Kisser" is pretty damn therapeutic. Read these ridiculously embarrassing confessions.

4. "Research" includes testing the logistics of new sex positions, experimenting with makeup that hasn't hit shelves yet, and keeping up on the intricate plots of Gossip Girl and Twilight. Think you can do that? Start by testing your Twilight IQ.

5. Surprise office visitors range from supermodel