How long do you suppose that plant has been there? It sure has outgrown the house and yard it is with! ;-) I'll look forward to the package, and will try and steer well clear of the spines!

I feel so sorry for this young girl. Psychologically abused. Her mother for so many years basically telling her she isn't pretty unless she does all this yucky stuff. doing all this stuff to make her able to "win and be beautiful" is telling her she is ugly and not good enough for anything. That she isn't smart, and now, the state is telling her that her mother is a whacko and is doing bad things to her. That her mom is a criminal. (which mom is by the way, but hard for such a young girl to understand it) I hope they can get the child some therapy and she is able to have a normal childhood and life.

It would not surprise me if it's also used on dogs who need some "softening" around their eyes, or their cheeks. It's astounding the things exhibitors (usually professional handlers) will do to dogs for the show ring. About 14 years ago, my husband and I went to Crufts in the UK - biggest dog show in the world - makes Westminster look small. In the UK, the Kennel Club is very strict about using product in coats to make it look what nature did not, and go around taking samples of the coat and having scientists examine it for product and dye. They also look carefully for any sign of tattooing on the nose - gets rid of that pink spot that never filled in properly, but totally illegal. And they do not allow tail docking for all dogs, with the exception of Spaniels, Terriers, and Hunt, Point and Retrieve breeds that are used for work - vet must certify that the dog is used for various specific types of work (including shooting). No ear cropping is allowed either. It was quite interesting to see boxers and other dogs who typically have cropped, neatly pointed ears, with little floppy ears - changes their entire look. And then there were the poodles of various sizes; very surprising to see them with floppy topknots and coats that are not quite so fluffy as we see in the US, where they are the best examples of the "hairdresser's art" at a dog show. I wish the AKC were as strict as the Kennel Club - better for the dogs and a judge can also see what the dog actually looks like - how close is it to the Breed Standard.

@1929Spanish- I understand your position and agree with it. One of my best friends, her nieces are being raised with a staunchly "anti-girly" viewpoint. They aren't allowed to watch Disney movies, play dress up, wear girly clothes, etc. This is also not healthy! There is NOTHING wrong about caring about your appearance or wanting to make sure you look your best. It's when those wants and desires supercede anything else that it becomes a problem. When your sole, or at least primary focus becomes WHAT you look like instead of WHO you are. For me, I've got 4 daughters. I have always told my daughter's that makeup and hair is just for fun. To dress up. I also LIVE this reality by NOT wearing makeup or styling my hair in a fancy way on a daily basis. It helps that both my mother and my mother in law are the same way. We "dress up" for special occasions but on a daily basis, we don't spend an inordinate amount of time on our looks. We are clean and groomed, but not made up. My oldest is almost 13 and doesn't care at all about makeup/hair or clothes!! I have to remind her of basic grooming!! My next 2, 11 and 9 love to play dress up and get fancy and they are allowed to go hog wild with makeup, at home or on the weekends. They aren't allowed to wear it to school or out in public and they don't fight me on it either. Right now, they know it's fine and FUN but...the message I try to drive home at all times...at least so far it SEEMS I'm doing a good job of, is that, yes, makeup properly applied DOES make you look better, that's the whole point of it!! BUT...we don't NEED it to interact with others. We don't NEED others to gauge us on our looks.