Next time you’re restocking any of your favorite department store makeup or perfume, take a minute or two to shop around online before heading out.  Check out the websites for different department stores like Macys, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales etc. to see if the brands you like are offering any special deals.  Often, they will offer a gift with purchase but usually only at certain stores.  Know before you go and you can find yourself stocked up on sample sizes of your favorite beauty products, as well as mini makeup bags that are perfect for travel!

A study recently published by the University of Michigan showed that sharing secrets and gossip with girlfriends increases levels of progesterone, a hormone that reduces anxiety and stress.  So that feeling of comraderie you feel when unleashing a story that you’ve been tight-lipped about is your body giving you the thumbs up!  (Just keep the gossip above the belt, Diva.)

The heat is in full effect, so cool off with the perfect summer cocktail that uses sweet tea and citrus to quench your Diva thirst!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups white sugar
• 7 cups water
• 4 tea bags
• 2 cups boiling water
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen orange juice concentrate
• 2 cups gin

1. Put 7 cups water in large saucepan, and heat on high until boiling. Add sugar and stir until dissolved; set aside to cool. Place teabags in 2 cups boiling water, and let steep until desired strength is acquired.
2. In a large bowl, mix together sugar water, tea, lemonade concentrate and orange juice concentrate. Stir in gin. Place in freezer container and freeze overnight.
3. To serve, Place several scoops into a tall glass, and fill with any clear carbonated beverage.

Next time you are hosting a swanky cocktail party, last-minute get together, or even a casual night in, get crafty!  Instead of using traditional tall candlesticks, opt for something ambience with an edge.  Fill a colorful cupcake tray with votive candles to add a festive sparkle to your dinner or coffee table and bask in the praise as the oohs and aahs pour in.

Every Diva has certain money saving tricks for when times are tight.  Maybe you forgo your $30 designer fragrance bodywash for an equal sweet-smelling $3 drugstore brand, or keep your favorite nailpolish handy to do touch-ups from home and wait an extra week before your next manicure.  But take it from BlogDiva, one area you do not want to pennypinch on is shaving care.  Don’t risk it!  Buying cheapo razors and/or skimping on shaving gel can lead to painful razor burn and a not so cute rash.  Take your thriftyness elsewhere, Diva!

Whenever you go out for a night on the town, always stash an emergency twenty in your shoe or underwear.  That way if something terrible happens (such as having your bag stolen), you’ll alway have enough cash to take a cab home. (Also, keeping $20 where it’s difficult to get to will deter you from spending it on anything else.)

Hey Divas, July 9th is National Sugar Cookie Day!  It is the perfect opportunity for you to cheer up a friend or bring a pick-me-up surprise to work.  Sugar cookies are quick and easy to make, but if you’re feeling super pressed for time many grocery stores cary pre-made dough that will make the process even easier!

Ingredients:

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.

2.In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.

3.Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

Surely all you Divas slathered up with sunscreen this weekend and spared your skin the sun’s harsh rays, but if you’re of the very fair ilk and still got scorched, here are some tips and tricks to ease your pain and get rid of those burn lines.

• First, take up to 400 mg of ibuprofen every four hours until the redness and puffiness dies down.  Ibuprofen reduces the inflammation of your skin in the same way it reduces the inflammation of a swollen joint from a sprain!
• Sip some antioxidants!  Green tea and pomegranate juice or extract are miracle workers, helping to get rid of some of the skin damage you can’t see on the surface.
• Moisturize like a maniac.  If/when your skin begins to peel, DON’T exfoliate until the peeling is over with.  Instead, make sure you’re rubbing in a rich lotion several times a day.
• If your tan lines are (as in this BlogDiva’s case) less than ideal, make sure you wear clothes that work with your tan lines instead of against them.  For example, if you have bold red lines in the shape of a halter top, save the strapless dress for later.  Applying a minimal amount of bronzer can also work in your favor to make the burn less noticeable.

Above all else, remember to next time apply and reapply that SPF!

Having the right playlist prepped for any bash is key, but the Fourth of July demands TWO well-prepared options.  Chances are, you and your guests will be spending time outside during the evening, and then later moving inside.  For the earlier part of the party, this Diva suggests keeping the tunes mellow and classic.  Think Glen Miller and Big Band tunes, which are very all-American without being obnoxious, and recognizable without taking over conversation. Once the fireworks are overwith and you have reached the apex of your evening, turn on the danceable tunes.  Pick your favorites, but add a mix of all eras to accomodate for taste. You, my Diva-Friend, have successfully thrown the very best Fourth Fiesta on the block!  Cheers!

Fill a goodie bag that packs some punch!  Using a canvas tote (which you can find in bulk online) is a great Fourth gift because you guests can use it at the beach again and again, rather than tossing it in the recycling.  Here are some ideas of what to fill it with!

Sparklers: a must have for the firework festivities, boxes of sparklers are super cheap and make you feel like a kid again.

American Flags: when else can you wave a flag around gleefully in heels and in public without getting sideways glances?

Chapstick: no Diva should celebrate with a less than perfect pout, and the summer’s harsh rays can do some serious damage.  Pick one with SPF 15 to be layered under lipstick!

Hand Fans: These are also available in bulk and very inexpensive, but if you’re feeling like a Crafty Diva you can also make your own!  Find an assortment of colors to mix in to your bags and help guests fight off the heat.

For the especially Eco-Friendly Divas, seed packets or small potted plants can make a great summer gift, and can be handed out in compactable, reusable cloth shopping bags in red, white or blue.

Other ideas include: star-shaped sunglasses, party poppers and if you are going to splurge, red, white or blue USB bracelets (attn: Tech Savvy Divas!).