smonster, I tried on the waist cincher last night, and am def wearing the black necklace and earring that you sent.

I bought a vivid red permanent dye for my hair, and then some Manic Panic in Pillarbox Red to vividfy it further, and I'm so psyched! Leave on Thursday!

I promise I will take lots of pix, and I am SO GRATEFUL for you and Jill helping me to put this together.

NYX, hmm? Ponder...

Well, doing stuff isn't inherently BAD, doll. The offer to call is always, always open if you need to vent and bitch and moan.

In addition to the sore throat and sinuses and ears, I've got the kind of achy all over feeling that usually means I've got a fever. But I don't have a fever. Odd.

I haz a Yantoe.

Oh! It's a fanfic Ianto!

And Hil, feel better.

Bitches! I need your advice. I am going to ditch my Loreal Voluminous in Carbon Black (HATE -- smudges so badly) and splurge on a good mascara with a bit of my garage sale money. The rest goes to bills.

My dilemma -- I am a Lancome Definicil's devotee, BUT so many of you have recced a Dior mascara. Which one was it, and should I stay with my tried and true Lancome, or should I try the Dior (I think it was Diorshow?)

I adore DiorShow [link] but it will smudge a little on me. That said, the Makeup Forever Aqua Smoky Lash [link] that Jilli loves and gets her through anything? THAT smudges on me as well. I tried the DiorShow Iconic [link] which only barely smudged but I hated the brush. So I am tempted to try the DiorShow waterproof [link] and see if my skin and lashes can maybe not defeat that combo.

My best trick recently has been to wear the Blinc on my lower lashes because that doesn't smudge with its tubes. But it doesn't give me the lashes I want on top.

So Blinc on the bottom lashes, and either DiorShow (I do really personally love this mascara and brush) or Makeup Forever on the tops for me these days.

The Makeup Forever smudges on me, too.

About the only thing other than Blinc that didn't was one of the Cover Girl waterproofs.

The Makeup Forever lasted through my personal version of the apocalypse, so I love it unreasonably.

Drugstore-ish mascaras that I like: NYX Doll eyes and Rimmel Glam'Eyes (yes, I growl at the ridiculous apostrophe). They don't smudge on me, but won't last through hysterical sobbing.

I met sj! She and her DH are truly awesome! We had a really lovely time at Nottingham Castle and at the oldest pub in England (which serves very good desserts and, I hear, not bad ale).

Thanks for the info, ladies! I am all ready to go, but am not wearing mascara. I think I will stop by the Dior counter and sample DiorShow and make up my mind.

I don't usually have a problem with smudging, which is why I was so pissed at Voluminous Carbon Black. It it awful, but the regular Voluminous was my go-to drugstore mascara, but I liked the idea of blacker-than-black. I can't UNrecommend Carbon enough.

I don't wear waterproof; I just don't like it for some reason. I will report back -- I know you're DYING to know my decision! @@

I don't wear waterproof

Oh, then try the DiorShow. Man, I love it. I am hoping to try the waterproof and love it just as much but with added "can make it through a PNW winter"ness.

Granted, makeup is all personal just like anything else. Anything you can try before you buy is a good idea, in my book.

Hee! I want to know! I'm in the market for mascara. I haven't been able to find the Blinc locally. And anyway, this month spending money went toward bulbs, and next month it's going toward birdseed, so it'll be well nigh unto winter before I have spending money for makeup.