Thanks for your encouragment Elanor! How long did yours take to heal?
*lives in hope*

Let me see . . it seemed like a really long time, but it wasn't that long, Eowyn . . no more than 2 or 3 months. And if you just take them out for like 15 minutes a day at first, and then keep moving it up, and eventually sleep without them. It does take a lot of patience.

On the subject of tattoos - I most definitely would not get one. Personally I don't want one but even if I did my parents would have about 15 fits if I suggested it

Ditto.

On the subject of tattoos - I most definitely would not get one. Personally I don't want one but even if I did my parents would have about 15 fits if I suggested it

About 15, eh? That's not so bad. Just don't let them get to fit number 16.

Ha ha... yeah well!!! One of my sisters and I have occasionally teased Mum and Dad saying we were going to get one on our ankles and that was a joke that didn't go down real well!!! No, I'm not into tats

Let me see . . it seemed like a really long time, but it wasn't that long, Eowyn . . no more than 2 or 3 months. And if you just take them out for like 15 minutes a day at first, and then keep moving it up, and eventually sleep without them. It does take a lot of patience.

Oh well mine has been like 11 months (gosh that gives me a shock just typing it down). One of my cousins took 8 months to heal but yeah.... *sniff, sniff*

I can actually take them out now for a week or so which I do regulary when they start bleeding. For the most part they don't hurt - its just they WON'T heal

I think my mother would have been upset about me getting tattoos if I was more of a rebellious person, as it stands I'm actually really boring so she doesn't feel she has to worry about me going off the rails

I had a similar problem with my ears, Eowyn, it took about a year before I could leave them out for long periods of time without them trying to close up or getting aggravated. I actually got them pierced twice, once when I was younger and they kept hurting and closing up so I gave up, and then again in my teens and it still took ages for them to heal. I think the problem is I actually heal very quickly, so my ears kept trying to heal the wound and then getting annoyed when I shoved an earring in it.

I had a similar problem with my ears, Eowyn, it took about a year before I could leave them out for long periods of time without them trying to close up or getting aggravated. I actually got them pierced twice, once when I was younger and they kept hurting and closing up so I gave up, and then again in my teens and it still took ages for them to heal. I think the problem is I actually heal very quickly, so my ears kept trying to heal the wound and then getting annoyed when I shoved an earring in it.

That descibes my problem exactly! However, I now live in hope

I only like having my ears piecered. I was once planning on getting two in each year but never got around to it. I don't see the point of getting your tongue done because you can't see it and it would be so uncomfortable. I am fine with he rest but they are not for me.

And please make sure the studio is licensed and clean, and insist on seeing the artist's other work beforehand!

HIGHLY ditto. I've heard some stories around work of some awful mess ups, so its always best to be ultra careful.

I like the idea of a hip-bone-tattoo, except I want one that's more visable...I'd like to get "it's better to be absolutely ridiculous then absolutely boring" on my wrist, circular, like a bracelet.

....how would that fit, exactly? It would have to be really small to fit around my wrist (was just measuring it ), and I have really big wrists. Would you somewhat stagger it, so that some of the text is sitting right above the rest?

I think my mother would have been upset about me getting tattoos if I was more of a rebellious person, as it stands I'm actually really boring so she doesn't feel she has to worry about me going off the rails

Eh, mine would freak about it no matter what. A while ago for fun I was actually drawing out possible tats, but never really came up with something that was a)pretty b)would go someplace where I wouldn't mind one, and c) wouldn't shortly turn into a mess (colored tattoos don't survive well). So I abandoned the idea, and haven't looked back.

LA, I'm not expecting it to meet up completely around my wrist in a full circle, but probably go around my wrist twice or so. I don't want it to look perfect, I want it to look kinda like a spiral...not a circle. If that makes sense.

My parents aren't crazy about the idea of tattoos, but I don't think they full on HATE them. At any rate, they're not stopping me getting one.

If i wanted one i would get one but since i don't want one i won't.

That sounds very reasonable, IloveFauns.

I'm old enough that it doesn't matter what my parents think, but nonetheless they will make their opinions known. Ever since I had the dream that I had the tattoo of the ash tree, I've become obsessed with getting it. Can't afford it right now though.

I recently started using a different foundation on the advice of a friend. My previous one that I still use sometimes is NARS sheer glow (in the lightest color), and the new one is http://www.covergirl.com/ultimatefinish ... wdermakeup That one. I would never have bought a drugstore foundation but I LOVE this one! Seriously! It's soso easy to put on and the sponge helps blend it in better then using my fingers. It stays in the compact, and it's like powder, but it's also like liquid. And it can be easily put into your purse for touchups. Also, I can guarentee it has great staying powder since I've worn it for my 9 hour shifts without looking cakey or slimy I'd highly reccomend this!

I'd also highly reccomend Clinique's moisturising lipglosses. I got one as a sample size and then got a larger size in a different shade. They are as moisturising as a balm and I don't even have to worry about putting vaseline on when I wear it. And you don't get that sticky feeling where your hair sticks to your mouth

I think my parents would kill me if I ever got a tattoo. They're okay with tattoos as long as they're not on me.

I don't even have my ears peirced. My aunt keeps pressuring me to get them pierced, but I don't want to go through the pain. And I'm kind of lazy and I'm probably going to give myself an infection from not cleaning them constantly. My friend got hers pierced when she was in 8th grade and it was not fun watching her complain about the pain.

I'm the laziest person I know ( ) and my ears have never been infected. I cleaned them, but I certainly wasn't obsessive about it. I guess I'm just one of those lucky people who don't have sensative ears?

Lately I've come to a few conclusions--one, that buying hair and skin products with natural ingrediants (especially without parabens and sulfates), is to be encouraged. I'm using John Frieda's entire Frizz Ease line and while it keeps my hair from being frizzy I can practicly *feel* it weighing down my hair.

Which leads me to my second thought--anti-residue shampoos are amazing. Just tried one and can seriously see a huge different. My hair feels smoother and less...gucky? idk, but I'm a fan. It's by Neutrogena and was super cheap (5 bucks?)

Third thought--Vaseline as a lip product isn't actually such a good idea. I mean, it's a petroleum product and it basically just sits on your lips, creating a barrier between the air and your skin...I read somewhere it doesn't actually hydrate, just gives the feeling of smoothness. I've been experimenting with 100% shea butter and other lip balms/chaps (Burt's Bees is nice), and although I like the smooth look Vaseline gives (and I certainly won't give it up just yet!) I've been noticing that the other products make my lips feel...more moisturized, somehow.

That sounds very reasonable, IloveFauns.

I'm old enough that it doesn't matter what my parents think, but nonetheless they will make their opinions known. Ever since I had the dream that I had the tattoo of the ash tree, I've become obsessed with getting it. Can't afford it right now though.

I don't want to get one because when you are old they don't look very good.

I don't ever clean my ears or earings.

Valiant_Lucy, Vaseline just sits on your skin, it doesn't really help moisturizing. I read somewhere that products with beeswax in them is really good. I love Burt's Bees lip products. They are sooo good. Right now I am addicted to their tinted lip balms. I have the color rose and it gives my lips a great color.