Finding a Christmas tree is harder than it sounds & Free Advice Friday Part ... I don't know....

My nodes are swollen. Just on the right side of my neck. Ew. And? Ow. It's also sore. Stupid nodes and stupid Christmas tree lots. Yesterday we drove around and took a peek at the beautiful Christmas lights in Hampden. Determined to buy a tree we spent a good hour wasting gas only to come up with one lot that was freaking exspensive. $25 a foot! Yikes! 'Specially when you have 15 ft ceilings and want a 10 ft tree. Today we found a great lot and even picked out a frew trees before we realized that we had no cash or checks with us. And? Using an ATM is pointless becuase moi doesn't remember her pin number. Gah. So instead we went to Target (thats Tar-jhee to you) and bought some tacky tinsel followed by some tacky ornaments followed by some classic Dane Cook. Tommorrrow we'll get the tree. We'll do it. I swear. Anyway- Heres that free advice I've been promising. Its genious I tell you. Genious.

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Dear Ashlie,
I need make-up advice!
1. My eyelashes are PUNY, but I hate wearing mascara because it makes my eyes itch. And then I forget I have mascara on & I rub them and you know what that leads to - racoon eyes. Awesome. Anyways, I have tried several different brands, but I haven't found one that doesn't irritate me. Any suggestions?
2. Also, any pretty eyeshadow advice for the holiday season? My eyes - they are blue (with puny eyelashes).

Thanks!

Carley

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Dearest Carley,

Racoon eyes of death. Hate. HATE. I feel your pain. I have the same issues during allergy season when eye makeup becomes intolerable. So here is my solution to your eye-opening issue.

1. As our dear friend Crystal in Canada stated- eye lash tinting is fantabulous. If you cannot tollerate mascara then I would highly recommend it. Just don't try it yourself if you like being able to do things like .... seeing.

2. For making the most of your what you got, here's what you need to do. With beautiful blue peepers (such as I) the colors I recommend and wear are: bronze, gold tones, peach and shimmery neutrals. These colors really make blue eyes pop. For a more dramatic look try using a slate grey and blend, blend away. After you've applied your pretty colors take waterproof eyeliner in dark brown or black and push it against your upper lashes. Work the liner in between your lashes and as close to the base as possible. Then (if you can handle it) line the inside of your upper eyelid. Then line your lower inner eyelid in white. Finish it off with a good heated eyelash curl and two coats of mascara (or not if your lashes are tinted) and Voilah! Mag-ni-feac!

Follow these steps and you should have eyes that would make Ruldoph drive the sleigh into the side of a building killing Santa, 5 reindeer and leaving two with permanent brain damage.... Or not.

Love,

Another blue eyed beauty

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Hey Ashlie,

Congrats on the new job...again! lol Seriously, jobs take up too much time of our lives to stay in the ones that are not good for us. Best of luck with the new one.

I do have a question though. As I may have shared earlier, I want to apply to * Airlines to be a flight attendant. I work at a hotel and shuttled the crews to and from my hotel for a couple of years and love how cool and friendly all of the crew members always were. I know it's a crazy job (mine is too), but for the most part, everyone always seemed pretty happy. Can I ask you why you left? I imagine that time away from home could be more difficult than some associates expect and I know how rude some travelers can be, but are there some other things I need to be ready for before I make the big step?

Thanks for any advice you may have. And good luck with the new makeup artist gig.

My best,

Mike

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Dear Mike,

Welllll. I've been a wee bit cryptic about my flight attendant position as to not *jinx* the training date. See? I'm actually waiting for airline-who-must-not-be-named to call me to training. Heres the timeline of my journey with * airline. I applied last November and was called into an interview on March 22nd. I found out a week later that I was HIRED! Woo-hoo! Then the wait began. This was my life:

Spring
Everyone: "So Ashlie, when are you going to training?"
Ashlie: "June or August. Riiightt around the corner."
Summer
Everyone: "So Ash, when do you think this whole training thing will commence?"
Ashlie: "Ummmm. Soonish I hope. September at the latest."
Fall
Everyone: "So Ash, how about this whole "training" thing?"
Ashlie: "Freakin A. I'm never going to training. Better get a couple crappy jobs to tide me over."

So basically I've been waiting for quite some time start with * airline. But? Its well worth it. So Mike, to clarify your questions and stuff here goes:
~ I didn't quit * airline. Just haven't started yet.
~ The time away can be difficult. But really? You have at least 13-15 days off a month so that totally makes up for it.
~ Travelers can be rude but so can yo mama (nothin says happy holidays like a yo mama joke). But really, you just plater a smile on your face and chant over and over "I never have to see them again, I never have to see them again."
~ To prepare for this position you need to do a few things: Get lots and lots of customer service experience and practice smiling even when you want to hit.

Sincerely,

Girl who is waiting *patiently* to go to training. Waiting. PATIENTLY.
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Well folks, Joel just threw himself into bed and I should be following shortley since I have to wake up early tommorrow and learn more about the joys of sexual harrasement in the workplace. So no, makeup artist gig hasn't started yet. But? I can tell you what to say if a man wants to buy a pink lace robe from you! Gah.

p.s. Rach!!!! Long time no see, speak, hear, talk, listen or anything to. Miss you a ton! How have you and Darel been? Going home for Christmas? So many questions. We have to work out this whole east coast/west coast thing so we can talk. If I don't hear from you before then- hugs and kisses and merry Christmas.

pps. That was my BFF y'all! Miss her.