ChiKat sells Mary Kay and she gave me some for Xmas, and I have to say, I'm highly impressed by it! I have the same memories of it that you do, Vortex, from some high school era parties I was forced to attend by my mom, and it really has changed from those days. She also gave me some great hand cream multi-step system that has saved my skin this winter.

their colors are not the greatest for black women

I was actually just wondered if they had improved in that area. I think scrapbooking is lots of fun, but only if you have the time.

I really like MK's cleanser/face moisturizer but they *insist* on selling it with the foundation, which I never use, and that always bugged me. WHy make me buy something I know I won't use?

I thought I remembered ChiKat selling MK -- but sadly, other than her, everyone I've ever run into who sells it has been the Church Lady type. It could be truly great makeup, and in my mind, it'd still be associated with the powder-pink flowery Look-Girly-For-Jesus vibe.

sometimes I cry at night when I remember.

I may have just shed a tear or two.

Coming from Fan Fic to this:

THere's a lot of Mary Kay/Pampered Chef among military wives.

Just makes me howl with laughter.

She also gave me some great hand cream multi-step system that has saved my skin this winter.

That shit is amazing. Someone in the shipping room at my old company was selling MK and used to do demos of that when people came down with packages. I'm sure she sold a ton. (Not in a pushy way, FTR - more like, she'd offer to one person and, offices being what they are, everyone who came by would be all "ooh, what are you doing, can I try?)

Never tried any of the other stuff, though, so I can't comment on the makeup.

Then her stylist called her in and Eddie was still there! And she was too nervous to look at him! But he introduced himself! And was all nice and friendly and even handsomer in person!!!!1!!!!

Forgot to mention my insane jealousy about this.

t /insanely jealous

I am not a morning person at all, but particularly before coffee. Mr. Jane refuses to have anything to do with me until I've had at least a cup. One morning he found me on the floor crying because I couldn't function well enough to seperate the filters to make the coffee

!!!

See, I never understood that some people WERE really wired this way, back when I used to see Garfield cartoons saying things like "Don't talk to me till my 3rd cup of coffee." And I had no idea about some people really REALLY not being morning people until I shared a flat in Romania with a guy one summer, and, my God, at first I thought he hated me from the way he was growling and scowling and generally being Captain Grumpy in the mornings. Until I realised it was consistent, and that this is just how he starts the day.

I have nothing but startled sympathy for people so afflicted - I just go from being asleep to being awake, with maybe a little grogginess if I didn't get enough sleep, but otherwise all is well. I didn't realise for years that this was a lucky fluke.

Vortex, I use their skincare but only some of their makeup. Their liquid eyeliner is the bomb. My sister is registered as a consultant but she doesn't sell it for profit. She just orders for family and friends so we all get the 40% discount.

I have to say the skin care line has kept my skin in great condition. First it cleared up my acne when I was in my 20's and it's kept up with the dry skin and crows' feet as I'm aging. I order lots of their lip balm and moisturizer, especially in the winter.

there are very few schools that operate on that schedule, so I'm sort of resigned to being sleep-deprived for the rest of my working life.

This is my life! We are expected to be at the school at 7am (except for every other week when we have a 6:45am meeting). Classes start at 7:30 and so few high schoolers are awake at this time!

During vacations I easily reset to staying up until 1-2am and then sleeping until around 11.

My DH does shift work. (12 hour rotating shifts) After 23 years of it his sleep rhythms have been ruined. He doesn't ever seem to get quite enough sleep.