As soon as I opened my eyes and looked in the mirror, I remembered what I love about lash extensions. Just when I thought I was bored to death of my face, it was suddenly new again. My eyes looked bigger, brighter and younger; my features appeared more proportional. I couldn't stop looking at myself in the mirror. My boyfriend was even more entranced with my new look than I was. For a full day, he seemed to get lost in my eyes, whispering things like, "Your eyelashes look amazing in this light."

Probably the best part about my lash extensions is how much time they shave off my morning routine. Without lash extensions, I wore mascara, liquid liner, eye primer and, occasionally, eye shadow; I was always the last person at the brunch table. Now, my eye makeup regimen consists of neutral eye shadow or nothing at all, and I feel just as confident walking out the door.

Lash extensions may cost a wad of cash, but if you're like me, they make you feel like a million bucks. With my retirement and savings accounts in a much happier place, I've given up resisting my beauty obsession. My next appointment is in exactly three weeks.