Bliss Giveaway!!

We are still in the height of bathing suit season; it's so gross outside that the only thing I want to wear is my bikini. Seriously, it's too hot for clothes.

The last thing any girl wants to do right now is go for a bikini wax - the thought of hot wax in this heat makes my stomach turn. So what to do in this hairy situation?

Thankfully Sephora and Bliss are keeping things hot by cooling it down with product giveaways. Today and tomorrow, look for bikini-clad gorillas handing out free Bliss samples of hair removal and body-toning products. Check out the different creams and tools on blissworld.com, and receive 20% off through August 9th.

Rumor has it the gorillas will be walking all over the city, but to make sure you get your hands on some freebies stop by a Sephora location, especially the new store at 42nd and 7th.

Go bananas girls!

LoCo for CoCo

Have you noticed that the war of the frozen yogurt world is really benefiting consumers?

With the competition getting intense (Pinkberry, Red Mango, Mr. Berry, Berry Wild, Flurt, 16 Handles, MoJo, Yogurt Land.... need I keep going?), each yogurt house continues to create new flavors and creations to stay on top of the game.

Which translates to freebies for everyone!

Today, Pinkberry - quite possibly the original non-fat froyo chain - is giving away free small cups of their newest flavors: coconut and passion fruit!

Stop by any location from 5 - 9 PM to try out these tropical delights!

Secret Deals

If you wear MAC makeup and/or drink Starbucks coffee please continue reading.

I thought that most people knew about these "secrets," but the more I talk to people, the more I find out that not many know about these great deals.

I'll start with MAC. The cosmetics line has a program called Back 2 MAC, in which you bring in 6 MAC containers to either one of their stores or counters. If you bring your containers (empty or full) to a counter, you can receive any lipstick (except the Viva Glam line) or eye shadow for free. However, I prefer bringing my containers to a MAC store, because they will allow you choose from the above, plus any type of lipgloss, lipglass or slimshine lipstick, which is my new obsession. Think lipgloss meets lipstick = perfection.

I bet you can go in your cosmetics drawer and find 6 containers of MAC products that you don't wear. Get rid of that purple eyeshadow that you wore in 8th grade, and you're probably not going to wear brown lipstick ever again. (Please don't.)


Ok, now onto come coffee talk.

Starbucks continues to get more and more expensive - I swear it's starting to cost as much as my lunch. Which is why I save my cups and bring them back the next day for a coffee/tea refill. It costs only 55 cents!

You can't get any specialty drinks for this refill deal. So buy a latte one day, and the next switch it up for a plain coffee, which you can doctor up to your liking.

There you have it, darlings! More diva deals to come tomorrow!

Time Out New York

During this recession, we've had to cut costs on luxuries and expenses on things that we really just don't need. Which is no fun.

Instead of subscribing to my favorite magazines, or even buying them from the stands, I usually take my friends' old issues when they are done. Because how many times can one read the same issue of Cosmopolitan?

Time out! Here's an offer for a free 2-year subscription to Time Out New York!

There's no catch, no gimmicks, no scam. Sounds too good to be true, but alas, fill out your information and sit patiently for your first issue!

Re-VITAL-ize

The stress of unemployment is growing among everyone. For us in the non-working world, we feel nervous and discouraged about how long it is taking to find a job. Even those still fortunate enough to have their jobs feel the pressure to work twice as hard just to earn half of what they should be making. Unemployment is the thousand-pound gorilla in the room that nobody wants to talk about. In Harry Potter speak, unemployment is "he who must not be named."

We just need to get away from it all. Go somewhere peaceful and restorative for our minds, bodies and souls. Unfortunately, taking a week-long paid vacation to Promises right now is not the best way to show your boss that you're serious about keeping your job. And taking a spa day at the Mandarin Oriental will cost you your life savings. So those options are out.

Thankfully for us whacked-out, high-strung, face-paced New Yorkers, VitalJuice has set up a three-day "Recessionista Wellness Retreat." Today through Saturday at the former Virgin store in Union Square, VitalJuice is offering fitness classes, spa treatments, health foods and more goodies. And did I mention everything is gratis? That's free if you didn't get it.

Click here for the work-out class schedule, all powered by Crunch fitness.

If you're still confused because this doesn't involve an excel sheet or a presentation, I've organized it for you in four easy steps:

Step 1- Burn some calories and release endorphins at Street Fighter or Hula Hoop pilates class

Step 2 - Get a relaxing massage

Step 3 - Sip on some herbal tea while you learn about nutrition

(Steps 1 - 3 can be repeated if necessary)

Step 4 - Walk out of the pop-up spa a rejuvenated person and try to forget the stresses of life for a day. Or at least a few hours.

Pizza Partay!

In New York, the land of pizza and bagels, almost every pizza joint claims to be "the best in the city."

I have many go-to places to grab a slice at 3AM or sit down for a thin-crust pie dinner. My favorite spot for a quick & cheap slice is Two Boots - any location.

Normally I find myself (with friends of course) at this pizza joint in the wee hours of the morning, after a night in the LES, to soak up the vodka sodas and beers we've consumed. But I promise these slices taste even better when you're sober.

And even more delicious when they're FREE.

To celebrate the opening of their midtown location (45th and 9th), Two Boots is giving away free pizza from 6 -8PM tonight.

Go on and see what eating pizza is like in the broad daylight without any booze in your system. You might actually enjoy it.

Saddle Up for Free Food

Rodeo Bar is raising the bar for bar food.

Say that five times fast. Ok, you're done.

Instead of the measly nuts and pretzel mixes found on some bars, this Murray Hill country-western drinking establishment is offering free nachos and wings during happy hour every night from 4 - 8PM (6-9PM on Sundays). All you have to do is order a drink, then load up on cheesy chips and messy wings. I hope napkins are free and unlimited.

Strap on your boots and spurs, put on that cowboy hat and boogie on down to Rodeo Bar, partner.

*DEAL OF THE DAY*

New Yorkers love burgers. We have so many burger joints, both indoors in outdoors, and we relish in luxury meats, cheeses and creative combinations.

Many places claim to have some of the best burgers in the city, and Irving Mill is one of them. Which is why is costs $15.

However, restaurant offers "Rye-Fecta Mondays," where you can munch on their famous burger and wash it down with a pint of Sixpoint's Righteous Rye and Jim Beam's Premium Rye Whiskey - all for $15.

Watch your back, Shake Shack.

*DEAL OF THE DAY*

Mondays can be fundays too, you know.

Don't let your weekend hangover ruin your Monday. Start your work (and non-work) week off right, by having dinner at The Stanton Social. On Mondays the Lower East Side restaurant offers 25% off your entire meal.

The Stanton Social presents
"The Social Bailout"

Make your reservation
for Monday nights when 25% of your meal is on us.

Reservations available starting at 9pm.

After dinner, join us for our "Social Mondays" Party
with music by Tyson

"Recession-proofing your dining experience since 2005"

I think it's time to be social.

*DEAL OF THE DAY*

Have a bike? If so, ride it to the MoMA tonight for half-priced admission.

Cyclists get free valet parking and a reduced price at Bike to MoMA's Monday night event, from 5:30pm - 8:45pm. One Monday a month, the museum stays open after hours so visitors can enjoy exhibitions, films, DJ, cash bar and food at the cafe. The first 600 ticket buyers after 5:30pm receive free admission on their next visit.

I wonder if you get an extra discount for wearing spandex?