If I followed my fabulous cousin's advice, I'd wear red fur boots to church. So no, I'll have to say just because they swish doesn't mean they're experts.

Totally agreed. Bravo. I had two kids and lost 50 pounds, I'm getting the damn tuck. I'm already married and our kids are fine, but who cares we're not getting big vacays for awhile. My body and self-esteem matter!

Hee, in the end I'll have spent more on procedures than the cost of my wedding (if you don't count the ring & honeymoon). So what. It was one night eating dinner. My tummy tuck? FOR-EVAH! (Hopefully.)

It's an acute problem! Oh, math jokes . . .

Exactly. I believe we agree.

Of course it's stupid. I was attempting to illustrate how rude of an ad it was. What if you called an older lady less of a woman? That would be hideous.

What if they had a post-menopausal granny trying to one-up a younger woman?

I just noticed Jill Thompson was on last year's list. FUN FACT: She happens to be my next-door neighbor and she dresses up as her characters for halloween every year and gives my kids her books. She's as cool in person as in her work!

It was the little boy wanting to open presents : ((((((((

I'm not just hinting it's at odds with my politics, I'm saying it. I don't think the government should stipulate what kind of nutrition people choose with their Welfare money AND YET, at the very same time, I think it is a mistake to waste money on professional cakes when you are poor.

Yup, I know a Christina AND a Holly both born on Christmas. So kreative.

Song singing judgement societies! HAHA! I want to go there and sing and judge.

Actually, now that I thought about it, I know why there's such venom. How dare a poor person not stay down? I had the audacity to live the American dream and *gasp* do better - maybe even better than you.

You know what's fucked up? Look at this thread. A person who was at the poverty level managed to benefit from the public school system, put sacrifice above comfort and actually change her circumstances - then gets lectures in entitlement.

Great. I have two daughters. Everything is the mother's fault.

Please know, I'm not actually advocating Welfare start policing how people spend their benefits. That's very dangerous territory. I'm just saying from MY experience, I would have done without rather than purchase luxury items. I think less people escape poverty than could.

So I'm morally bankrupt because I figured out how to manage my money instead of just buying whatever sparkly thing caught my eye? Alrighty. Look, when it comes to gay rights, universal healthcare and most other liberal issues, I'm liberal. I'm not even saying welfare should regulate what people buy. But I am saying…

Okay, I have to agree with some points here only because I was dirt poor and homeless before working my way through scholarship-funded college and now get too enjoy Rich Lady Stuff.

My husband is an over-thanker. He says its the Buddist in him, I say thanking is apologizing without the conflict.

Mentally, I guess I "get" people getting married for social reasons etc. but in practice, I just can't get my mind around making such a crazy leap and sacrificing so much unless it's under the influence of CRAZY love hormones - that is to say lots of compatible sex.