[LiteraryLark]

It was definitely a night to remember. It was me and three friends and we all dressed up in costume. One friend as soon as she arrived slammed her whole hand in her car door, so we all rushed out to her and put her hand on ice, then once she felt better, we all pitched in to cut up vegetables to make a soup. While we were waiting for the soup to simmer, the friend who smashed her hand brought a big canvas and paint and we all worked on painting together. Then we did our friendship activities I planned. My friends bought me stuff for our move which I totally needed (and fun stuff like wine glasses with cute sayings and framed photos of all of us and hand-made cards), then everyone got a teddy bear and a glass jar, one friend got us all pins/buttons and one friend got us heart rocks that changed colors in the light, and I got them playing cards to remind them of how much I loved games. We played "Friendship Scavenger Hunt" with 9 statements and we all raised our hands if the statement applied to us, then we played 2 Truths and a Lie, then on index cards we wrote to each other our fondest memory and one thing we liked about each other. We had dinner and I made a toast with Martinelli's in fancy wine glasses, then after dinner we decorated a cake with tubes and tubes of icing and sprinkles...we ate the cake with our hands---no forks, plates, or even napkins!--and then I smashed my face in the cake. We chatted and laughed for a while, then they went home and one friend stayed the night with me. It was sooooo much fun! Even with a few bumps like my friend smashing her hand and her and another friend being gone for well over an hour just to pick up potatoes, we had a lot of fun and it was amazing.

Before the party, I spent two hours at the beauty college getting my makeup down. It was my first time getting it "professionally" done, and my first time wearing fake eyelashes and my eyebrows done. Between the makeup and my outfit I couldn't help but gawk at myself in adoration every time I walked past a mirror. I looked pretty damn good!

sounds a good night.

so glad you enjoyed yourself

[*Laurie*]

You look terrific, LL! Your have beautiful skin, you're so lucky. Make-up looks great on you. How did the eyelashes feel? My daughter wears them. They look so sexy on people, but the last time I wore fake eyelashes (about 100 years ago) the glue burned and itched horribly. Did they bother you at all?

The party sounds like a blast. That painting is a keeper! It's something special. I'm glad you had a fun send-off party. You'll be fortunate to get out of this .

[LiteraryLark]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

You look terrific, LL! Your have beautiful skin, you're so lucky. Make-up looks great on you. How did the eyelashes feel? My daughter wears them. They look so sexy on people, but the last time I wore fake eyelashes (about 100 years ago) the glue burned and itched horribly. Did they bother you at all?

The party sounds like a blast. That painting is a keeper! It's something special. I'm glad you had a fun send-off party. You'll be fortunate to get out of this .

Thank you Laurie. Weird thing about me? My right cheek is always smoother than the left, I'm guessing because when I drive the sun hits my skin. I was just overjoyed with how my makeup turned out. Definitely worth the two hour wait. The eyelashes were definitely different. The glue did not bother me, the student let another student who was used to it do it. It felt heavy on my eyes at first, a very strange feeling, but after an hour or so it felt natural. I was very, very happy to get a perfect wing tip. I cannot do it myself and that was one thing I've always wanted makeup-wise. I searched pinterest for the right look, and she didn't have the exact colors but I felt it was even better than the photo on pinterest. I absolutely felt so pampered and so beautiful. My outfit was a shock to my two straight-edge vanilla friends, but they thought my hair and makeup was jaw-droppingly beautiful. And of course, one of my best friends has a phone specifically to take really good photos, and she took some amazing photos. It was such a special night, everyone had a good time.

Yes, the plan was to cut the painting into fourths so everyone could walk away with it, but when everyone was done I looked at it and thought no, this is something they made for me, and we all had fun doing it, so I am bringing the painting with me on our road trip up to the house. It will be a very special addition to my new room in my new home.

Yes, I can't wait to get out of California. I just hope that the fires don't cause trouble on our way up. Keep me in your prayers on my journey.

[*Laurie*]

There is NOTHING nicer than the perfect wing-tip. Love it.

You have my prayers. Let us know when you get there.

[LiteraryLark]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

There is NOTHING nicer than the perfect wing-tip. Love it.

You have my prayers. Let us know when you get there.

Will do. I am very glad we reconnected. Maybe this is not appropriate to say out loud, but I don't remember why but I did not follow your posts for a long time and recently decided that whatever I didn't see in you a long time ago, I thought what the heck, let's see where this goes. And I am very glad to have you as my friend. You are very upbeat and positive, and you make me laugh and I enjoy having you reply to my comments. Again, I apologize if this is too direct, but you have been a pleasure to reply to.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by LiteraryLark

Will do. I am very glad we reconnected. Maybe this is not appropriate to say out loud, but I don't remember why but I did not follow your posts for a long time and recently decided that whatever I didn't see in you a long time ago, I thought what the heck, let's see where this goes. And I am very glad to have you as my friend. You are very upbeat and positive, and you make me laugh and I enjoy having you reply to my comments. Again, I apologize if this is too direct, but you have been a pleasure to reply to.

Thank you, LL. Wow...your post means a lot. I feel the same toward you. Plus, it feels immensely comforting to have an online friend who comes from the same region I do. There is a culture to each geographical location; it's a great feeling...you understand.

[unaluna]

Omg! You look like a movie star! Seriously! What a face! Those eyebrows take away any sense of hesitation? They are confidence personified. Carp im getting mine done.

And that is the cutest little outfit! Sassy with a hint of sweet, just like you!

Why not just grow your hair long, if you can stand it? It might take a while, but if i remember correctly, it was pretty thick and healthy. Then i would go for some cats-eye shape eyeglasses, maybe even in clear crystal.

That said, i know i get weirded out by being too beautiful too. I tried on a tam o shanter at a store a couple of years ago, and it looked so good on me i completely freaked out. I was pulling on my friends arm to leave the store, i couldnt tell her why

[LiteraryLark]

Originally Posted by unaluna

Omg! You look like a movie star! Seriously! What a face! Those eyebrows take away any sense of hesitation? They are confidence personified. Carp im getting mine done.

And that is the cutest little outfit! Sassy with a hint of sweet, just like you!

Why not just grow your hair long, if you can stand it? It might take a while, but if i remember correctly, it was pretty thick and healthy. Then i would go for some cats-eye shape eyeglasses, maybe even in clear crystal.

That said, i know i get weirded out by being too beautiful too. I tried on a tam o shanter at a store a couple of years ago, and it looked so good on me i completely freaked out. I was pulling on my friends arm to leave the store, i couldnt tell her why

Thank you, Una!

The eyebrows wasn't much work, they just used pencil and uh? Brow shadow? I don't know these things, but since then I've bought false eyelashes and brow pencil and brow shadow. My makeup bag is now overflowing, and it's a good size bag, too! I don't have enough room for all my stuff, and I still feel it's not enough for what I need!

I do have issues with self-esteem. It took several years for me to retrain my brain to stop calling myself horrible names. I was severely bullied through all my schooling and seven years ago the word "beautiful" let alone "pretty" was unfathomable. Now I wonder why I've never been in a relationship if I am this good-looking? Ha, that's another story.

I was happy to wear my outfit. Even my mom approved. I actually showed the first photo to my coworker and my manager cuz why not, it was my last day working at that store. They thought I looked beautiful.

I do want to grow my hair out...after I shave my head. My brother, who is now in the military, has always had a buzzcut and I was sooooooo jealous of all the attention he got from it. I understand I am a young woman, but I want to scratch that off my bucket list of hair cuts I've tried...I'm terrified! but more young women like me are sporting that style. Plus, it makes it much more easier to wear a wig! But still....soooo scared to do it. But that's the beauty of hair, it grows back, and in Oregon I am not allowed to dye hair in the house, and I do want to grow it back natural. ooooh so nervous about this one.

[unaluna]

Ive buzzed my hair, i loved it. And with that makeup, you will look killer!! Wig on or wig off! Who knew your lips were so... yummy!

[LiteraryLark]

Hahaha! Una!

Yes...I got all dolled up for my last shift at my primary store and had one last kiss(es) with a special coworker...uh...manager...oops

[unaluna]

This goes way back, but you kinda look like Diana Rigg of The Avengers. She played Mrs Peele. She is ancient now, but she was my role model back in the 60's - very cool, very smart, very physical, very glam, but in an understated way. You never saw her coming (as a spy).

[*Laurie*]

Regarding eyebrows - some years ago I discovered Anastasia eyebrow pomade. The stuff is AMAZING. I have used sooo many eyebrow things over the years, but THIS one - top-notch. With a bit of practice, it's easy to apply (using an eyebrow brush) and stays and stays. Sometimes I sleep with it on, next morning my brows are still perfect. Lots of color choices. The best part? Somehow, a jar that lasts for months is only 20$. (I purchase it at Sephora.)

[LiteraryLark]

Originally Posted by unaluna

This goes way back, but you kinda look like Diana Rigg of The Avengers. She played Mrs Peele. She is ancient now, but she was my role model back in the 60's - very cool, very smart, very physical, very glam, but in an understated way. You never saw her coming (as a spy).

Thank you, I take that as a good compliment!