My name is Cristy, I'm a 41 year old Los Angeles native (Mexican-American) now residing in Toronto with my Canadian husband. We've been married for almost a year and a half, but I wasn't able to move here until this last March. I can write a book about long distance relationships, but that's another story ...
Let's see, where do I start ... I've always loved makeup and brushes. My first ever brush purchase was the MAC 116 when I was 18, and up until maybe 5 years ago, all I owned were MAC brushes. I found Sonia's awesome and amazing blog in 2012 when I was doing some research on the new Tom Ford brushes I had purchased, and WOW ... her blog became a college course complete with mid-terms and finals that I had to pass with flying colors of the brush world
... seriously though, Sonia, you are amazing!!!! From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all this knowledge. My first foray into Japanese brushes was around March 2012 with my first purchase of the Suqqu cheek after seeing Lisa Eldridge's video. I luckily had a friend in the UK who sent his mom into Selfridges to buy it for me. I was so embarrassed to ask because of the cost and feared he'd think I was a nut
Thankfully I don't have to do that anymore and acquiring brushes is much easier today. After the Suqqu I found a wonderful video on youtube by SMUTy member Bora (Konglishbeauty). I must have watched that video 1000 times and pulled the trigger and purchased the entire Z Series all at once in 2014. From then on I never looked back! My only regret is that I wished I had joined your community sooner! You ladies have the most amazing friendship and so much fun together. But between traveling to Toronto back and forth the last 2.5 years, work, family commitments and having a 22 year old son in his final year at University I barely had little time for myself.
And on a caveat, I just want to say thank you
to all the lovely ladies who have friended me on Instagram and shared your pictures. I feel as much happiness and excitement as if it was me getting that beautiful new brush when I see your posts 
Lots of love and brush happiness to everyone! I hope we can be friends
Feel free to feed/discourage my lemming!
... I own 19 pure squirrel blush brushes of different variety hair; red, blue, gray, canadian ... I do love the Z4, so for sure, I highly recommend any of the Z Series brushes. Those are my favorite, in quality, design, weight and craftsmanship. I have other brushes with more elaborately decorated handles, but every time I hold one of the Z Series, I feel like I'm holding a piece of art. 
