The Pretty Price Check: Your Friday roundup of how much we paid for beauty this week.

First of all, that is the most hilarious Cartoon Me at Beauty U (in the red glasses, worriedly holding wax sticks) ever.

Second of all, that’s a screen grab of my brand-spanking new essay, “My Year in Waxing School,” which just got published over at Slate. I would sincerely love you forever if you would hop over right now, read it, comment, and share it with your friends and neighbors.

(That’s a trick, I already sincerely love you, dear blog reader. So just do it because you’re so nice?)

And here’s some Price Checking for you, as my way of saying thanks.*

• FULL 8. Is what former plus-size model Crystal Renn’s people promise she is in the December issue of Harper’s Bazaar, where she looks um, tinier than that. While I’d be sad if Crystal bowed to industry pressure and lost a bunch of weight, I think maybe all this kerfuffle over her size is missing the whole damn point? Which is you can be healthy and beautiful at any size? Why are we all so convinced that a woman’s weight must remain static at all times? (Via Hairpin)

• 6200 new moms say they feel pressured to lose their baby weight as soon as possible, according to a new study. Again, people. Bodies change. Life emerged. Be patient. (Via Jezebel)

• 10: The number of ingredients that Wired decodes for you in CoverGirl LashBlast Luxe Black Royale Mascara. Some are magnetic. (Via BellaSugar)

• 53: The age of British television host Miriam O’Reilly, who was fired for looking old on camera along with a bunch of 40-and-50-something female colleagues. Fine work, BBC. (Via Jezebel)

*My other way of saying thanks is to tell you that I’ll be taking alll next week off from blogging so I can fully devote myself to eating turkey, because I have two Thanksgiving dinners to attend, and I do not mess around with that. You should do the same. Let’s all meet back here on Monday, 11.29, and regale each other with songs and stories? It’s a plan.

Happy Thanksgiving! xx