Ooh, we have fruit fly battles. Try these: [link] I don't know if they work or if they just give me the patience to outlast an infestation, but I get fruitflies, I remember about the traps, I put out new traps, the fruit flies die. When we came back this summer, an entrepreneurial spider had built its web over the entrance to the traps. It was gross, but completely full of dead flies.

Yeah, hydrate, ita, even if you don't feel like it.

Is it just the silicone that does the trick? Because I have an Avon silicone hand cream that has dimethicone in it. Should I try that until I can get to the CVS?

You should still hydrate. And eat. But if you have to choose, hydration.

Statistically, men are supposed to have longer lashes than women.

I've always wondered if dudes have actually longer lashes in general or if they don't end up breaking off or falling out a little early from mucking about with curling and mascara and makeup removal. I mean, I haven't wondered enough to even heavily Google it, but I've mildly pondered.

Is it just the silicone that does the trick?

Basically, yes. It fills and smooths.

I'd personally probably not try a hand cream because they are often way too intense for my face. Sometimes too intense for even my hands. Stupid fragile flower sensitive skin.

But primer is just basically spackle with a really smooth finish. Like a base coat, for your face. I make cosmetics sound so romantic...

Cool, Liese!

The apple cider vinegar really works. I mean, there are a lot of fruit flies in the homemade traps I've set out. It's just that there are so many more left! I've never had an infestation this bad. I've put out eight (!!!) traps, and they are all full of flies, and I still have flies all over the place--in my bedroom (why?), in the bathroom (why?), in the kitchen (I get that), and they are just hanging around, hanging out on the mirrors, everywhere. Like it's a social club. It's creepy. I know without a food source and all these traps that they will eventually either die or drown, but they're really giving me the creeps. What I need are a few enterprising spiders.

What is this tubing mascara? Am I just an idiot for never having heard of it?

I hate my mascara. I hate my eyelashes too, so perhaps the two are correlated.

Blinc (used to be known as Kiss My by Blinc) mascara. [link] It makes ... tubes? around your lashes. It is COMPLETELY waterproof and oil-from-your-skinproof too. It comes off with warm water and gentle pressure (rubbing).

The only times I've had it come off are big-time crying (because tears and squinchy eyes) or massive allergy attacks (for the same reason). But even then, they come off in a little tube and you can just brush them off so you never get that running mascara look.

If they gave me the lush, drag queen look, I'd never wear anything else. But it's my daily wear for my lower lashes and often I wear it on both levels of lashes.

The insides of Fig Newtons are made with dried figs.

Figs don't need to be peeled, and they can be used in anything you'd put fresh fruit into, like clafoutis and pies. They make great jam. Fig recipes: [link]

Figs. Nom, nom.

Amyth, are the larvae in any of your drains? I read that you can put saran wrap or something over a drain to see if the flies come up and stick to it; you'll know that's a breeding place. Also, have you thought about a pyrethrum spray? I know pesticides are a last resort, but it sounds like your infestation is pretty bad.

I've used this hand cream on my face before successfully, so maybe I'll give it a go and see.

Also! How do you sharpen your eyeliner pencils? I didn't buy the specialty sharpener because I was all, I have a pencil sharpener. But I swear, I lose half the pencil every time, breaking it off in the cheapie sharpener. But I do that with regular pencils too, so maybe I just have a coordination problem?

Amyth, are the larvae in any of your drains?

Oh yikes, maybe they are! I'll have to test it. I have no idea how this could have gotten this bad. A combo of having tomatoes and bananas, and not taking the compost out for over a week...but STILL. And I don't use the A/C that often, because I'm cold-natured. BUT EVEN STILL.

I'm going to do that Saran wrap thing now, and I may go the pyrethrum spray route. This has got to end. Thanks!