- You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”
Well, it isn’t much of a poll. It’s more just a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past three years, which I guess makes this somewhere around Vol. 151. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.
- Mood:
- One thing you’d like to learn in “the 2011”?
- One thing you love about yourself?
- What’s your current beauty obsession?
- Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why?
- What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine?
- Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution?
- What’s surprised you most about your life so far?
- What’s for lunch today?
- Weekly goals:
A little sleepy (today was the first time I’ve had to wake up before 8 in ages) but excited about the day ahead. I’m feeling extra organized and positive!
While watching The Fighter, a movie about boxing, last weekend, it hit me (haha) that knowing how to throw a punch would probably be a good life skill to have. I don’t plan on joining a fight club or getting into a bar brawl or anything; I just want to have enough muscle memory to clock someone should I ever need to throw down.
My weird sense of humor. Sometimes I can be reserved when I first meet people, so when it comes out of the woodwork I think it catches them off guard.
Bangs — it’s amazing how just a few snips can change your look. I haven’t been this enamored with them since my hair bear days in the late ’80s/early ’90s.
I’m majorly infatuated with the MAC 239 at the moment. The dense brush head applies just the right amount of color, and the size is big enough to cover a decent amount of area, yet small enough to do detail work.
I pluck below and between the brows with a Tweezerman to give them an arched shape, trim the tops with scissors and then fill in sparse areas with Benefit Instant Brow.
Yes! During my junior year in college I wanted to get more physically fit, so I set a goal to run the San Francisco Bay to Breakers (a 7.46 mile race that winds through the city) in May. I started running short distances around my house, gradually increasing them over time. When May rolled around I ran the race just fine — well, the flat parts at least. The hills just about killed me.
That I can make all the plans I want, but part of the equation seems to always involve a crapshoot — being at the right place at the right time, knowing somebody who happens to know somebody else, that kind of thing. Sometimes it works in my favor, and sometimes it doesn’t.
It’s really cold out, so a bowl of hot, comforting corn chowder sounds good right now.
Cross off everything on my daily to-do list, cook a couple of healthy dinners and find some new running music.
Another year, another Monday poll, babe. You’re probably back at the grind, getting ready to tackle your regularly scheduled programming (LOL!), but if you’ve got a second, will you please pop in? I’d love to hear from you so we can start the new year together. 🙂
- To complete the Monday Poll, just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.
1. Mood:
2. One thing you’d like to learn in “the 2011”?
3. One thing you love about yourself?
4. What’s your current beauty obsession?
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why?
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine?
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution?
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far?
9. What’s for lunch today?
10. Weekly goals:
Let’s set the tone for 2011 by having a fabulous week, ‘kay? I’m sending lots of positive energy your way…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
lexi says
1. Mood:
doing OK so far – found a nickel on the floor, so…there’s something!
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011?
I totally agree, Karen! We saw The Fighter this past weekend as well – and was thinking it would be a good thing to know how to defend myself, and throw a punch without breaking knuckles/fingers/wrists, etc.
3. One thing you love about yourself?
My ability to handle stressful situations, multi-tasking, communicating/navigating through situations that some may find hopeless
4. What’s your current beauty obsession?
I REALLY want to try the Estée Lauder DayWear Plus Multi Protection Anti-Oxidant Moisturizer SPF15 Sheer Tint Release. I need something that evens my skin tone and make my skin look brighter. I’m also loving the Egyptian Magic cream – my hands are pretty wrecked this winter (already!).
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why?
oh boy – I suppose it depends on what look I’m going for or what I’m doing. That being said – fave crease brush: CS Pro Blending Fluff Brush (their new MAC 217 dupe) – it is a SPOT ON dupe for MAC’s 217, and works so well in the crease. I also like my Studio Tools Crease brush.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine?
I pluck if there are some sticking out in weird spots, but try to be hands off. I trim about once a month because they grow fast! I color about once a month as well. My hair is dyed dark brown, and my natural color is dishwater blonde, so I have to keep the brows looking similar to the hair color! I use the Revlon ColorStay Brow Enhancer in Light Brown to fill in and tame during the day. Love this stuff! I’ve tried so many high end products and this is the best for me.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution?
I don’t think so!
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far?
That I’m not where I thought I would be at this age. I’m 30, and will FINALLY graduate with my undergrad degree next spring. I went to college a year and a half early (at 16), and was really on the fast track to do good thing, academically. But, finances got in the way, then working full time got in the way – and I’ve had to work full time and go to school just about full time for the past few years to catch up. But, I’m SO excited to have that degree, and move onto my masters.
9. What’s for lunch today?
Jimmy John’s – #5 w/o Capicola or tomatoes, and e-z onion 🙂
10. Weekly goals:
Enjoy my last week of freedom before spring semester starts next week. Buy myself some goodies on Friday when I get paid! (NARS Cruising l/s, the Estee Lauder lotion mentioned above, and maybe some MAC Fix+ spray)
Karen says
Hi Lexi,
I say you go for the Fix+ spray! I use it on the daily and love it. Wet a skunk or a foundation brush with a spritz or two and then use it to buff in your foundation — it looks totally natural.
Gotta get myself some of that Egyptian Magic Cream…
beautylogicblog says
1. Mood: Very happy! It’s a new year!
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? I’d like to become advanced in Final Cut. I really want to do more youtubes.
3. One thing you love about yourself? I love my eyes. People used to tease me about them because they are huge, but I love them.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? Bangs too, I’m dying to see how I look with them, but I’m too nervous to cut them so I’m going to buy the fake ones.
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? My Mac $217. I can use that for my whole look if I want.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? I use ardell’s lash groomer. It really makes my lashes look fuller. They are so thin and I hate it.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution?Yes!
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? How much I loved staying home and just being a mother. I am a huge career person, and I loved my job in the news business, but hanging with my son is one of the best things ever.
9. What’s for lunch today? Yogurt with Lecithin granules. Lecithin is so good for you! (I’m on a diet)
10. Weekly goals: To finish some blogpost and to smile.
Karen says
I used to toy with the idea of buying fake bangs! I think I’m gonna get some fake hair color extensions just for fun.
Marina says
1. Mood: tired…
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? I’d love to finally start and finish a certain course! AT LAST!!!!
3. One thing you love about yourself? I am very determined
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? Hourglass and BECCA Cosmetics, quite a few items from the brands.
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? I won’t be original but probably 217 by MAC, you can do pretty much everything with it
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? Nothing special really, I just pluck them myself.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? Ehm. I don’t need a NYE resolution to change things I need to..
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? It is full of surprises hehe
9. What’s for lunch today? So many things… I can’t stop eating, I justify myself by saying that it’s a holiday still lol
10. Weekly goals: I’ve got so many things going on that I don’t know where to start.
Have a fab week, Karen 😉
Karen says
You have a great week too, Marina.
BTW, I’m also obsessed with Hourglass and Becca. 🙂
Antithesis says
1. Mood: lonely
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? to be patient
3. One thing you love about yourself? sense of humor
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? nude makeup
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? i dont have one yet
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? MAC smut + angled brush
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? no…
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? how quickly it’s gone by
9. What’s for lunch today? blackened chicken quesadilla
10. Weekly goals: clean room, clean makeup brushes
Karen says
Sorry to hear you’re feeling lonely, Antithesis. Hopefully this week will pick up for you.
Rads says
1. Mood: Was lousy..now good.
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? Do my eye makeup properly..and more importantly photograph it properly! Sorry – that’s two things…but I need to learn both 😀
3. One thing you love about yourself? Hmmmmmmmmmmm….err…maybe eyes..thinking thinking..
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? Eyeshadows..:D
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? I use TBS eyeshadow brushes but would like to get a MAC 217 just because everyone says it’s awesome.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? Get it done whenever I get the time – threading.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? No 😀
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? Things always work out all right in the somehow.
9. What’s for lunch today? It’s midnight here, but I skipped lunch today…just fruit juice.
10. Weekly goals – Walk for at least 30 minutes every day.
Lindsay a.k.a. RVAfashionista says
1. Mood: Relaxed but feeling like I’m moving slow. It’s 1pm EST here and I haven’t been too productive yet other than writing a blog entry.
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? I really want to get better with crease-work makeup wise.
3. One thing you love about yourself? I like the color of my eyes – a mix of blue/green with a hint of grey and hazel. They will lean towards more green or more blue depending on my eye makeup and outfit.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? The e.l.f. eyelash curler! I re-disovered the difference that curling my lashes makes!
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? I love love love my CVS Essence of Beauty Dual-Use Shadow Brush. I use that thing EVERY day. I don’t use the smaller end as much except for smudging out liner. But the wide end lays out the right amount of color. Great for applying an allover wash of color too.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? I try to pluck them at least every couple of days or when I notice a random hair when I’m doing my makeup. I used to get ’em waxed and threaded but my eyebrow fuzz is too fine so I noticed I get better results if I maintain things regularly with the tweezers.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? Not really. 🙁
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? Hmm, that’s a tough one. I’ve had a lot of ups and downs. I’m ready to make 2011 my year though!
9. What’s for lunch today? Had a late breakfast of a sausage-egg-cheese Lean Pocket and some coffee. May eat that apple that’s staring me down!
10. Weekly goals: Blog, clean out my makeup stash, and get my apartment in tip-top-shape again. Being out of town and being on the slight side of messy normally has resulted in more laundry than I’d like to fold!
Karen says
Hi Lindsay,
I hope that 2011 is a great one for you!
BTW, I hate folding laundry, too.
Lindsay a.k.a. RVAfashionista says
I wish I could hang up more stuff in my closet but heck, I’ve ran out of space there too!
. . .
OK, time to attack the laundry… Wish me luck!
Oh yeah, 2011 resolution – keep my home space more organized!
Liz! says
1. Mood: Pretty good. About to hit the gym, then just back home to do some catch up on things I didn’t do over the holiday weekend.
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? I’m reallllllly hoping I learn the best skincare routine for me yet, my skin had been doing ok for a couple years, but I’ve been changing around my bc so now my face is breaking out like craaaaaaazy 🙁
3. One thing you love about yourself? I’m pretty silly 🙂 Fortunately this endears most people.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? I broke out my Benefit Coralista blush last week because it hadn’t been in my rotation for a while, and I totally remember why I love that stuff. So pretty! I’ve been rocking it pretty much every day since.
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? I’ve been liking a flat one my Urban Decay lately (I forget the number, sorry!) because I’ve been doing a lot of looks that require a brush to pack on a lot of color on the lid and it works quite well.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? I pluck them to keep them shaped. Occasionally I’ll wax them myself. My brows are pretty thick so I’ve never really bothered to fill them in with anything.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? I don’t really do New Year’s resolutions per se. Whenever I want to change something about myself or if I come up with a new goal, I go for it right then and there! I’m usually pretty good about keeping those. This New Year, I reflected on last year and decided to keep doing what I’ve been doing, because I made a lot of good life changes last year and this summer. So I guess I resolve to keep doing well with school, keep stretching myself, and keep up my way healthier eating and exercise habits.
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? That the last couple years have NOT gone as I’d planned at all lol. But I tend to be optimistic, so I definitely see the good in it. I always thought I’d get married later in life (now at 26 I’ve been married 2 years), I always thought I’d be done with school by now (stilllllll working on my master’s lol) and I never ever thought I’d get burnt out the way I did at my last job (guess I thought I was stronger than that), but I’ve learned sooooooooo much from things not going the way I always thought they would when I graduated college.
9. What’s for lunch today? I’m really looking forward to a nice hot bowl of split pea soup!
10. Weekly goals: Keep studying for my MTEL test, look up random HR stuff for my Dad, keep strengthening my previously injured ankle by rocking my workouts.
Macha says
1. Mood: Lazy. I have had the last 8 days off from work and have to go back tomorrow. There is laundry, dishes and other cleaning to do but this couch is soo comfy!
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? How to be more fiscally responsible.
3. One thing you love about yourself? That I am a good listener. I sometimes get distracted with life things but I always like to consider what people want to tell me as something importnt.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? I just got a new haircut and also got bangs again. Perhaps I shall keep up with regular haircuts this year to keep my hair looking this nice 😉
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? MAC 217. I got this brush several years ago in a holiday set when I was just becoming obsessed with makeup. I love to use it to get into the outer V area of my eyes.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? I usually just pluck away the strays. If I need some major shaping I go and get them waxed.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? Yeah, I have been good about some. A couple of years ago I resolved to only drink water. While I don’t think that it was the case that I only had water it definitely increased how much water I drink today.
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? That the timeline I had in mind when I was 15 has nothing to do with my life today and thank G-D it doesn’t!
9. What’s for lunch today? It’s already lunch time on the East Coast but I just recently had breakfast of eggs with toast.
10. Weekly goals: Hit the gym more this week. Get some grocery shopping done and be better at keeping the apartment clean.
Stephanie/Yukaeshi says
1. Mood:
Excited, I’m leaving for the airport in a few hours to the island where I grew up with my boyfriend (His first time) 🙂
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011?
I’d like to learn to be a better person in general, as cliche as that sounds. In terms of skills, I’d like to hone my designing skills more haha 😀
3. One thing you love about yourself?
My confidence and my sense of humour (Though sadly not everyone gets it) 😛
4. What’s your current beauty obsession?
I’m quite obsessed with skincare, still am.
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why?
I don’t use eyeshadow, alas 😡
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine?
Just trimming around the original shape is fine for me- with a mini shaver (Specifically for eyebrows) and tweezers.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution?
Not that I actually remember to be honest 😛 I hardly make resolutions in the first place, really.
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far?
That I can achieve so much by myself, and be confident, and be rather successful (IMHO), and it just drives me to achieve more.
9. What’s for lunch today?
It’s going to most likely be aeroplane food haha!
10. Weekly goals:
Enjoy my holiday with my family and boyfriend 🙂 That’s all, since that’s where I’m going and what I’m going to be doing!
Amber says
1. Mood: Happy to have one last day off, and easing back in tomorrow with a 3-day week!
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? Hmm. I guess I’d like to learn to start shooting in raw.
3. One thing you love about yourself? I can almost always have fun!
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? Nail polish! I just need more time to change it.
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? A little angle brush, because it really packs the eyeshadow into my lash line.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? Look for strays daily, trim once in a while, even out with a teeny bit of pencil and powder.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? Stuck to? Can’t even remember them. So I stopped making any!
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? That it really does get more awesome after 30!
9. What’s for lunch today? It’s more of a brunch day. I made scrambled eggs and sausage — for the 4th day in a row, and it was no less delicious. 😀
10. Weekly goals: Avoid getting tasked with too much new busywork. Okay, that’s not really in my control, but my boss is coming back after like 8 weeks out for surgery, and I’m a little worried that he’ll pile a bunch of new stuff on me.
Nikki B. says
1. Mood: apprehensive; thoughtful
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? How to scuba dive so I can go to the Keys with a purpose.
3. One thing you love about yourself? My bull-dog attitude – even when I feel like everything is against me I keep kicking.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? One ‘N Only Argan Oil…maybe it’s just the Argan Oil itself but since I haven’t tried pure Argan Oil I’m sticking with the One ‘N Only version. Oh and my InStyler <3
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? I really don't have one actually….I actually need to step my brush game up. I have a set that I got from Sephora but I've really been wanting a whole new full-size set to play around in. Any recommendations?
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? I get them threaded every two months. The threading lasts a long time (for me at least) and I don't really do much besides run a brush or my fingers over them to smooth them out.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? Ummmm…..I don't think so. The worst resolution I've always made is to "lose weight" or "get in shape" whatever lol
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? Like a previous poster I'm surprised that I'm not at the point in my life I thought I would be…I'm still in school and it seems like a never ending process but all I can do right now is keep on trucking until something (or everything) falls into place.
9. What’s for lunch today? Oooo half-day at work means no lunch for me today 🙁 but if I was having lunch I'm feeling in the mood for a Chicken Frontega panini and broccoli & cheese soup from Panera Bread – yum!
10. Weekly goals: To be a better me…to not stress as much….finally finish cleaning my room lol
BeautyMaven says
Nikki! What’s your hair type? I’m really curious about the InStyler~ I have fine medium-thickness hair, and I think it would be better than a straightener 1. since I don’t really need the heat and 2. to help keep some volume! Any info would be delightful =)
Nikki B. says
Hey BeautyMaven! So I thought I answered this last night but apparently replying via the celly doesn’t work. Anyhoo…my hair type is thick, curly Afro hair. I’m like a 4b? 4c? I don’t know how that hair typing thing works. I can give u a visual tho. If you’ve seen ‘Dreamgirls’ my hair is like Beyonce’s or Jennifer Hudson’s towards the middle/end of the movie (ie Beyonce channeling Cleopatra and J. Hud singing in the bars). The thing I like most about the InStyler is that it straightened my ends which I could not do for the life of me with my T3 flat iron. The most important thing with this flat iron/curler/etc is to detangle. I learned that the hard way. When I first used it, I didn’t like it and it wasn’t until I gave it another go with my hair fully blow-dryed and detangled properly did I understand why I didn’t like it in the first place. It’s a little tricky at first getting used to the product but I picked it up quick. I only use the highest setting on my hair the first time I use it and then medium or low when I’m doing touch-ups.
Sarah says
1. Mood: Jacked up sleep schedule from being on vacation for 12 days plus second-degree burns in my mouth from my latte….not an awesome Monday.
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? Re-learn yoga. I don’t remember why I stopped.
3. One thing you love about yourself? My resiliency
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? Benefit’s Girl Meets Pearl
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? My Smashbox angled liner brush.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? I wax myself once a month or so, and tweeze the strays
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? I don’t make them
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? That I made it all the way to 30 with no divorces or surprise children.
9. What’s for lunch today? Sandwich and chips
10. Weekly goals: Get back on the treadmill, yoga 3 times, return to my normal sleep patterns
dani@callitbeauty says
1. Mood:
– Optimistic 🙂
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011?
– Oh goodness… Oh! I’d like to learn how to use a DSLR (and own one, of course)!
3. One thing you love about yourself?
– I’m with you on the weird sense of humor! It bonds me with people who are similar and weeds away those who are too serious :p
4. What’s your current beauty obsession?
– Foundation. I want more!
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why?
– Sigma’s tapered blending brush (it’s incredibly soft) and EcoTools’ angled eyeliner brush (it’s so versatile)!
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine?
– I just clean up all the “undergrowth” once in a while. I’m blessed with fairly full, nicely shaped eyebrows (another thing I like about myself). I get compliments on them all the time when people see my eye looks :).
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution?
– Oh, for about… 3 months or so? :p
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far?
– That it’s taking so long to fulfill my dream… *sigh*
9. What’s for lunch today?
– No idea! Probably eggs benedict coz I’m craving some 🙂
10. Weekly goals:
– Get a job!
Tracy says
1. Mood: Tired-first day up at 6AM after the holidays is not a fun day at all!
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? To swim! I don’t know how and I’d like to surf, so knowing how to swim would be a good idea I think. 🙂
3. One thing you love about yourself? My sense of humour, and I have great cheek bones. 🙂
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? Navy eyeshadow.
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? My MAC 217-it’s the best.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? Trim, pluck-the usual. Although I have noticed I don’t have to pluck as often as I’m getting older.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? I don’t really make them.
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? How fast time has flown by. Seriously, I can’t believe my baby girl is graduating high school this year!
9. What’s for lunch today? Soup.
10. Weekly goals: More cleaning and organizing.
i♥makeup says
1. Mood: Happy.
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? To be kinder and more understanding.
3. One thing you love about yourself? I’m a good listener.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? Borghese Moisturizing Lipstick (love love love)
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? Ditto on the M.A.C 239, hands down best e/s brush out there!
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? Thread them every 2-3 weeks, pluck stray hairs, and fill in eyebrows.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? Yup, my ’04 resolution was to lose atleast 20 lbs! I did it, stuck to a healthy diet, exercised, lost all the weight. I still manage to maintain a healthy lifestyle 7 years later.
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? How patient I am. It still surprises me.
9. What’s for lunch today? I have a lunch date with my fiance, so we shall see.
10. Weekly goals: Eat healthy, study for GRE’s and fill out college apps for my Masters’
Kerry says
1. Mood: Excited, nervous. I had a phone interview this morning and will have an in-person interview early next week!
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? WEDDING PLANNING! Haha…I’m getting married in 2012, so I need to learn all about this stuff. Plus ones, not plus ones; cash bar, open/limited bar; DJ or band?
3. One thing you love about yourself? My personality. I’m fun-loving, but am hard working and dedicated, too.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? I don’t think I have one right now. Maybe my fingernails? I’m on my last long winter break ever, so I’ve been as lazy as possible.
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? Hmm…The E.L.F. C brush, I guess.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? I tweeze below the arch, snip the long hairs, and run some clear gel through them
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? Yes. I ran a half-marathon in November. Other than that, no. I lost a lot of weight, but I’m not at my goal yet.
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? Everything! My fiance most of all, I guess. He was my RA in college, and the first person I met there. I came into college with a different boyfriend, so the turn of events was totally unexpected.
9. What’s for lunch today? Tortilla chips with shredded cheese and olives, microwaved for 45 seconds, and caffeine-free Coke. Yum.
10. Weekly goals: Get a J-O-B! I feel like this is my weekly goal EVERY week. 🙂
Shannon says
1. Mood:
urg. I have a residual headache from my somewhat-sickness over the holidays. No fun. I’m making a day of it at work, though!
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011?
I’d love to start rock climbing. It used to scare the crap out of me, but for some reason, now it sounds really exciting! I have access to a rock wall on campus, so I should totally take advantage of it, methinks.
3. One thing you love about yourself?
How easy it is for me to get along with people.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession?
omg. the Kirkland Signature facial wipes. Those things are thefreakinbomb.com!
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why?
On of the smaller shading brushes in a set my friend gave me years & years ago. It’s small enough to do some detail work, but big enough to handle shading my whole eye.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine?
I tweeze to keep my shape in check, thread occasionally if the little clear hairs get on my nerves, and fill in with a brush and powder.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution?
I don’t think so. I don’t make them too often.
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far?
How much I love being around my parents. As I get older, I miss them more and more.
9. What’s for lunch today?
leftover 3-mushroom pizza! num.
10. Weekly goals:
to get the apartment clean and start doing some intensive research on Gogol Bordello.
Liz! says
Gogol Bordello are hilarious/awesome. Research away!
gio says
1. Mood: ok
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? French
3. One thing you love about yourself? my sense of humour
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? colored eyeliners
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? the ELF professional eyeshadow brush. It is so cheap but the bristles are soft, dense and don’t shed, and they pack on a lot of color on the lids. It can be used for blending too. It’s a very versatile brush and the quality is awesome for the price.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? I have nice natural eyebrow (at least I think so) so I just tweeze a few stray hairs every now and then.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? nope! lol.
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? how quickly time flies by!
9. What’s for lunch today? pasta
10. Weekly goals: work out more.
Shah'ada says
1. Mood: Sleepy but happy
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? how to effectively study case law in prep for law school …
3. One thing you love about yourself? my sense constantly evolving style
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? my *finally* awesomely shaped brows!!
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? 239 b/c it packs on color PERFECTLY and a cheapo no name $1.50 Walmart brush b/c it rocks for crease color
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? ummmm, plucking?
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? no because I do not make them as I believe there is no day better than the present to make changes. That said, yes, I have kept most goals I make for myself as I make sure they are very realistic and achievable!
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? That I have 3 children at my young age
9. What’s for lunch today? not sure!! had a late post-run breakfast of homemade smoothie bowl topped w/ pumpkin granola though!
10. Weekly goals: enjoy the last week of vacay before super full school semester starts, go to bikram 3-4 days this week, run 4 3.5 mile runs, get plenty of sleep!
vonnie says
Mood:
relaxed, watching tv, and supposed to be doing work but putting it off, lol. excited to see how my New Year’s Giveaway goes on my blog.
One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011?
I’d love to learn how to make great youtube makeup tutorial videos!
One thing you love about yourself?
My eyes! I get so many freaking compliments on their almond shape and “innocent” look, lol. I quite like them
What’s your current beauty obsession?
eyeliners in all forms. i can’t get enough!
Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why?
hmm….i’m not sure, i just grab whatever I see first in my drawer, lol! Not good, I should be more focused
What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine?
I try to go get them waxed or threaded within every 2 weeks. I don’t do anything at home to them myself; i HATE tweezing or anything
Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution?
lol, probably not…i need to stick to something long term
What’s surprised you most about your life so far?
That I am not a published author yet and that I haven’t put fire under myself to make it happen and finish a book. ugh
What’s for lunch today?
just had fried shrimp, lima beans, and sweet potatoes. yummy!
Weekly goals:
workout again this week, haven’t in a while. gained back 10 lbs and that’s NO bueno….must lose lose lose weight
Tiffany H. says
1. Mood: Sullen…ready to get off of work.
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? French. I took it in high school (many, many years ago) and I want to learn again.
3. One thing you love about yourself? I also love my sense of humor
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? Nail Polish. I can’t get enough!
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? MAC 217. Great multi-purpose brush
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? Tweeze the strays and fill in with MAC Brun
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? Yes, when I lost 30 lbs in 2003
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? I am still at my first post college job.
9. What’s for lunch today? Lean Cuisine 4 cheese pizza
10. Weekly goals: Study for CPA exam
Meg says
1. Mood: Pretty chipper! I’m about to go meet a new guy for an early movie.
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? I already trust my gut, but I have issues with actually following through with those instincts. So i’d like to learn to be more proactive on my thoughts.
3. One thing you love about yourself? I’m copying you Karen, but my sense of humor is my best quality too. It’s dry, witty, and always sarcastic.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession?Smoky shadow at the lashline, even for day!
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? My fluffy shader brush from Trish McEvoy. Her brushes are my fave and I’ve had my original set for over 10 years. still going strong!
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? Damp angled brush in a brown shadow that doesn’t have much red. I like charcoal brown from MAC but i have some other randoms that i dip into a lot too. Then i spray a spoolie with hairspray and brush my brows to blend in the shadow and ensure staying power.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? No, because I never make them!
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? How I took a different path than was expected of me. But I had to break away from my parents wants to find myself. I think that in the end, even though i feel unstable now, I will be happy in the long run.
9. What’s for lunch today? I had pumpkin oats with some pineapple chobani yogurt! And I may have also snuck a piece of cornbread.
10. Weekly goals: Wash my car, clean up my space, apply to five jobs.
Nina says
im gonna need a lot of those good vibes. today has not been a great day… 😀
1. Mood: harassed. my car battery died this morning. would not respond to a jump start so we had to get a new battery. the hubs put the battery in but i guess the terminals need a good clean because the car died again when i got to work LOL. its okay for now – my co worker did a quick fix. my mechanic will take a look at it on wednesday.
all that made me an hour and a half late for work and im playing catch up now! :/
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? capoiera. 🙂
3. One thing you love about yourself? my positive attitude. 😛
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? skin tone eyeliner (hello there, chromagraphic pencil!)
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? the 226 by MAC. its the perfect crease/blending brush for my small lid space.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? i have it threaded every 3 weeks.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? nope. 😛
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? that i have a hubs. i always thought id be an old maid.
9. What’s for lunch today? pad thai. the hubs and i met for lunch. i drove him home after – he left his project car at the mechanic for some repairs before lunch. yep – today is a car trouble day!
10. Weekly goals: finally catch up with work, get to work early everyday this week (ever since we moved, i kinda slacked a bit with being early, work out!
have an awesome week, hope you feel better!!!
Alka says
1. Mood: pretty good considering I have a ridiculously busy week ahead of me.
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? Threading
3. One thing you love about yourself? My inner strength
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? My skincare routine – to once and for all outsmart my adult acne.
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? Hard to pick from my MAC Fab Four (208, 213, 217 & 224) but I think the 217 is the fairest of them all.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? Tweeze and fill in with MAC Espresso using my 208 brush.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? Not for the whole year – sadly no.
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? That I am actually NOT dreading the big 4-0 – in fact I am more comfortable in my own skin now than I have ever been.
9. What’s for lunch today? Turkey on whole wheat with spicy mustard, handful of carrots and a cup of hot tea.
10. Weekly goals: drink water every day and run at least 3x this week
Fieran says
This may sound creepy – but I’d kill for your lunch 🙂 Send some this way please?
Alka says
Not creepy at all…there is something comforting about a turkey sandwich made just the way you like it! Unfortunately I think the tea would get cold by the time it made it to you in Norway. 😉
Fieran says
Probably – I’ll just live vicariously through you then 🙂
Fieran says
1. Mood: So-so. PMS is making me feel a bit up and down. I’m also having a slight cold so I’m not feeling 100%.
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011?
I’d like to learn how to be successful – haven’t quite mastered that yet. I seem to be doing fine but I really feel like I need to do more and go somewhere, but that path is just not visible for now.
3. One thing you love about yourself?
My perfectionism – it makes me strive to be better.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession?
Eye shadow, eye shadow, eye shadow, eye shadow bases, eye shadow. LOL.
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why?
MAC 239 – I picked it up because you recommended it Karen and I have to say it’s a really good brush. It has made me so much more brave to play around with pigments. Thank you!
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine?
I used to go for threading back when I lived in Malaysia – but I don’t think threading is available in Norway so I tweeze it myself then I use a facial hair trimmer (mine’s by Philips) to trim the length of my brows. When I wear makeup I fill them in with MAC’s Velvetone pencil.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution?
Yes – last year’s resolution – I took a Norwegian language course and upped my gym routine. Now I just need to stick to gym 3x a week to start losing weight.
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far?
That it does not always turn out the way I want it to – but maybe that isn’t so bad after all? I never planned to live in Norway let alone date a German dude, but things happen I guess. I also did not plan to become a makeup addict – I just fell into that, I think MAC pushed me 🙂
9. What’s for lunch today?
I had a sandwich in the office cafeteria – it was not good :/
10. Weekly goals:
Try to go to the gym twice this week, eat healthy, start filling in my food diary and survive PMS.
BeautyMaven says
1. Mood:
– Optimistic– hopefully this week will be good!
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011?
–
3. One thing you love about yourself?
– I can get along with most people and even make conversation (gasp!).
4. What’s your current beauty obsession?
– False lashes! I tried individual “permanent” ones for New Year’s, and they were fantastic! I think it’s linked below~ lots of pics, haha. And I had them on for 5 days!
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why?
– One I got with the CoverGirl eye color specific eyeshadow– for some reason it just works very well! The rest of my brushes are EcoTools
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine?
– Tweezing whenever I notice, oops, and using Maybelline’s Define-a-Brow to fill in.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution?
– Nope haha but this year I hope to! Get to my goal weight, eat better/feel better, less expectations, and not to worry about things I cannot change. Easy right? lol
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far?
– That I’m not ANYwhere I wanted to be by 24 =\
9. What’s for lunch today?
– Grocery shopping! haha hopefully some hummus and pitas later =D
10. Weekly goals:
– Get an eating plan down, apply for jobs (ugggh), and hopefully keep on talking to that dude I kissed at midnight. 😉
Happy 2011!!
Catherine says
1. Mood: Pretty chipper for being tired and ridiculously sore. I got stranded in Chicago when I missed a connection on my trip back to SF and three flights plus a night in Midway did quite a number on my neck and shoulders.
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? To swing dance! 😀
3. One thing you love about yourself? I really, honestly am a good person. My classmates at one internship nicknamed me “The Good Samaritan.” I like making people happy. =)
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? An easy, natural everyday look. Bobbi Brown’s Warm Day to Night Palette, peachy coral cheeks, nude-pink lipstick and a touch of highlighter. I’ve seriously been wearing the same look every day for the last 3 months or so.
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? The one that came in Bobbi Brown’s Warm Day to Night Palette – it’s awesome!! I can do an entire eye with that single double ended brush and the fluffy side blends like a dream!
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? I pluck, above, below and in between (my brows are really quite sparse, but I have fuzz that goes from the middle of my eyelids all the way to my forehead), trim the arches and the tops slightly, get them shaped every 6 months or so, usually the lifespan of how long I can keep them looking nice, and fill them in every day with Anastasia’s Brow Powder duo in Medium Ash (which I have been using for 4 years!).
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? Errr… I don’t remember haha. Looking back at my resolutions for 2010, I think the only one I got down was sleeping more, which still definitely needs some work.
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? It’s been incredible! I realized when I wrote my thanks for Thanksgiving this year, that honestly, everything I’ve really wanted and needed and really worked hard for, I’ve gotten. I’m in a really great place right now and I’m so happy and so grateful to be here. 😀
9. What’s for lunch today? Pizza! Free seminar pizza! Which I’ll probably follow up with a banana.
10. Weekly goals: Get caught up on my emails, the next fellowship application, upload all the pictures from before vacation, from vacation, and from after vacation, post thanks to all of the wonderful people who have mailed me holiday cards and presents, get my new year’s resolutions up, start stash inventory for 2010, not miss any meetings or class this week, go grocery shopping! (I tried to go yesterday but my Trader Joe’s was out of all of their bread and most of their veggies too T_T;), find a birthday present for a friend and mail it, set up my next rotation and wrap up the last one by the middle of next week.
Er yea, but actually my biggest goal is to sleep more tonight so I can be on top of things for the rest of the week and find a heating pack for my poor neck. o_O;
Happy New Year, Karen! 😀
Vanessa says
1. Mood: Full…so full!
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? How to french braid :-).
3. One thing you love about yourself? I looove that I have my mother’s hands.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? Origins Vitazing facial moisturizer…it’s like a colorless foundation. i just dust my face with MSFN after applying the moisturizer and I look flaweless!
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? My Target medium eyeshadow brush, it picks up the perfect amount of color.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? Pluck whenever the bf stops talking to me to stare at my forehead lol.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? Not really :-/
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? all of 2010 kind of threw me off. Everything went a completely different way than planned.
9. What’s for lunch today? I had a patty melt with fries and cherry Pepsi. NOM!
10. Weekly goals: Get back into the work routine, finish cleaning and reorganizing my room, and sleeping at least 7 hours a night.
Kelly says
1. Mood: Really happy despite having to return to work tomorrow
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? How to think more positively (any good book rec’s Karen?)
3. One thing you love about yourself? I am weird and silly 🙂
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? MAC Peacocky because I want it ALL
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? Also 239, it rocks
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? I get them waxed every 3-4 weeks then maintain the shape in-between with light plucking. I use Benefit Brow Zings to fill ’em in
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? I honestly do not remember
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? That I can count the number of real friends I have on one hand. When I was in my teens and 20’s I had a ton of “friends” but looking back, they were more social acquaintances than friends
9. What’s for lunch today? Hmmm something healthy but there isn’t much at home
10. Weekly goals: Do the 30 Day Shred at least 3 more times (just did it for 1st time and it kicked by BUTT), download the Waterlogged app for iPhone so I can track my water intake and write in my new journal every night
Trisha says
1. Mood: Great!
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? Breakdancing. It’s just so cool looking.
3. One thing you love about yourself? Just one thing, huh? I really like my nose.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? Nail polish. So much nail polish!
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? I got it from Walgreen’s. It’s totally generic and had to only be a buck or two, but it has really nice bristles and a long handle.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? I tweeze whenever I notice the overgrowth. Not as often as I used, though.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? Sure! Because my resolutions usually aren’t year based and more “do this for a month” or “learn this”.
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? How much the little things can change everything. The butterfly effect. For instance, If I hadn’t been held back a grade for exactly one day, I would never have met my best friend Caitlin. Weird, huh?
9. What’s for lunch today? Tomato soup!
10. Weekly goals: I’m going to try to make tons of money. Isn’t that always the way?
Leah says
1. Mood: My hubby is home making beef and barley soup (he had off from work today). My mood just went from a 5 to a 10 upon hearing this beefy-news via gChat from hubby.
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? I’d like to learn to listen more.
3. One thing you love about yourself? I love that I have great people skills.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? going to my favorite Aveda spa and trying new products.
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? I need a new one and added it to my Amazon wish list. Right now I do not have a favorite.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? Once per month I see the same brow person I’ve been seeing since 2004 (at the above mentioned Aveda spa). They do brow sugars there instead of waxing. I will never wax again.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? Yes, I try to keep them simple!
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? How many times I would change jobs due to the nature of the beast of working in technology during a bad economy!
9. What’s for lunch today? I had a Healthy Choice and a homemade pumpkin muffin.
10. Weekly goals: Go ice skating this weekend. Try not to complain at work too much (I’ve got the post-vacation blah over here).
Lisa says
1. Mood: okay. I woke up feeling terrible, so I slept through my first class. Not an auspicious start to the term!
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? Ruby (a programming language)
3. One thing you love about yourself? My geekiness
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? Haus of Gloi’s body products
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? An Ecotools brush from a kit I got
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? Nothing. I have really pale brows, so I don’t need to pluck
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? I don’t make new year’s resolutions
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? I agree with Karen – it’s a lot of luck and timing!
9. What’s for lunch today? Not sure yet. Maybe a bagel
10. Weekly goals: Get back on track for the quarter, clean up the house, spend time with the boy
shelby says
1. Mood: pretty good, i just woke up about an hour ago (noon)… i know i know… but today is my last day to sleep in and be lazy before my classes start up again and i’m taking full advantage
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? is this something you learn?… i’d like to learn how to stop procrastinating
3. One thing you love about yourself?… i think i’m pretty hilarious, and how i can easily adapt to different situations
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? fresh’s twilight freshface glow, i love love love it, im yet to determine if it really does something, it does have an nice sheen but i dont know if it actually shows up after i put my foundation over it, i just love the way it smells and how smoothly my makeup applies over it
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? im not sure what the exact brush is, its my aunts and i used it while house sitting, it was trish mcevoy, and it had a slight angle, it was THE best for contouring in the crease area
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? about 8 years ago, i had my eyebrows professionally plucked (i was 13) and i’ve just maintained that ever since, i’ve thought about getting them professionally done again… but everyone always says how i have great eyebrows so i guess its working for me
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? gah, i don’t think so… i cant really remember my past resolutions, so i guess that a good sign i didnt stick to them
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? my ability to get what i want when i put my mind to it
9. What’s for lunch today? well lunch is really breakfast seeing as how i just woke up, so probably my standard bowl of cereal or maaaybe a soft boiled egg
10. Weekly goals: to get crack’a’lackin on my new year resolutions
Kim says
I spent the AM catching up on posts and feel so guilty. You’ve worked so hard since before Christmas and I’ve barely looked at a computer! Well, back to the grind! 🙂
1. Mood: A bit tired. I spent the last week and a half on the late night/sleep in schedule. Up at 6 AM today was killer since I couldn’t fall asleep until well after midnight.
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? How to do a strong, top shelf wrist shot. 🙂
3. One thing you love about yourself? I’m never, ever bored.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? Benefit’s High Beam (so glowy).
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? I really need to invest in some brushes.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? Tweeze, trim, Clinique brow pencil.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? I don’t think I’ve ever made one! Weird, huh?
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? That I’m not actually the worst mother on earth and that I’ve actually become slightly domesticated.
9. What’s for lunch today? It was yogurt and a grapefruit. Can you tell who over-indulged during the holidays? 🙂
10. Weekly goals: Home cook meals every night; keep the house picked up; hit the treadmill and weights HARD (and, sigh, cut some calories).
Karen says
Back to the grind indeed! How was your Christmas? Did the twins like their presents?
Kim says
It was really nice, though I felt like Cinderella on Thurs/Friday trying to get everything ready for our company! The boys loved everything and were really excited to be 2 of the 3 Kings in the pageant at mass. They got to sit on the altar and thought that was great. We brought them snowboarding for the first time last week and one of them was very eager to switch out his board for skis (as was I!). No natural boarding ability here! 🙂
How was your holiday? I saw Tabs got the mother lode from Lolo and Lola (which was awesome). I can see that you were working like crazy, but hope you got some quality down time with El Hub and Tabs. 🙂
We actually talked about you on xmas eve because my mom got me High Beam and Smashbox Photo Op. She was like “I didn’t know you used anything like this”, so I explained my new interest in makeup. She thought you sounded very nice. 🙂
Kate & Zena says
Hi, Karen and Tabs. Did you miss me?
1. Mood:
Very sleepy. I woke up about 45 minutes ago. Still waiting for the caffeine to kick in.
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011?
To quit obsessing. I obsess over the tiniest things!
3. One thing you love about yourself?
My natural hair color.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession?
Benefit’s Jing-a-ling. I just can’t stop applying it. I CAN’T. I love it.
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why?
Blending brushes. I hate harsh lines.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine?
I don’t really have one at the moment. I’m trying really hard to grow them out a bit. Not plucking is hard!
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution?
Um, that’s hard. I usually forget what mine are; I have stuck to some of them until halfway through the year. What normally happens is that I put them in my journal and promptly forget about them! It’s like a ritual for me. Ha ha ha. I’ve all ready written them down in my journal, but I think I’m going to write them on paper too and try to stick to them.
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far?
I’m alive, okay. I was born blue. Not only am I alive, I can walk, talk, understand things and write. The doctors gave me a very grim prognosis at a very young age. They actually suggested to my parents that they just give up on me and put me in an institution. Obviously, my parents (particularly my mom) didn’t like that idea all that much.
9. What’s for lunch today?
No idea. It’s a bit late for lunch though. It’s 3:30 my time. 🙂
10. Weekly goals:
-See the dentist.
-Get Zena her Frontline.
-Go to Marshall’s or TJ Maxx and spend gift cards.
-Set up financial plan for spring semester.
-Buy books for spring semester.
-Give Zena a BATH. She smells like Fritos again.
-Call OSD for for spring semester, especially since I’m taking communications and we all know how much I stink at speeches.
-Order my brand-new, really nifty contact lenses that cost an arm and a leg, but reduce my headaches from typing and reading.
-Make an appointment with the root canal dentist person. (Yay…not)
Yep, I have a long list.
Karen says
Hi Kate,
It’s good to see you again! I hope your holidays were lovely. Hugs to Zena. 🙂
Kate & Zena says
My holidays were crazy…as usual! Zena got dog Christmas cookies…and they smell exactly like sugar cookies.
Big, smooshie cat hugs to Tabs.
Kajal Couture says
1. Mood: Tired….I had to make a cup of coffee to keep from falling asleep at my desk
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? How to do fancy hairstyles. I think I can do it, but I have just never spent the time practicing.
3. One thing you love about yourself? My compassion…..I like that I actually care about other people and don’t have to put on a show.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? Everything from the MAC Mickey Contractor collection.
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? The MAC 224…I can practically do a whole look with that one brush!
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? Tweezing every few weeks.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? I dunno….I rarely ever make em.
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? I live in Philadelphia! I never ever thought I would live on the East Coast.
9. What’s for lunch today? Leftover casserole and stuffing.
10. Weekly goals: Work out all 5 weekdays and prep myself for taking down the Christmas tree. I feel that one ritual is so hard because it really means the holidays are over and the house will be un-festive.
Karen says
I took down the Christmas tree a few days ago and now corner of the living room feels so lonely. 🙁 I think Tabs is bummed about not having nature inside, too.
BTW, I wore both Mickey Contractor blushes as weekend and they are fabulous. 🙂
Kris Cameron says
1. Mood:
I’m a wee bit grumpy because the holidays are over and I’m coming down with a cold!
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011?
To do a one armed push up.
3. One thing you love about yourself?
My optimism.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession?
Nail polish. I change it every two days and i have to stop myself from doing it more often!
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why?
MAC’s 224, oh the crease blending. Its so great.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine?
I pluck the strays. I have thin eyebrows so I spend more time praying they wont fall out than anything else.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution?
Yes, a few years ago i made a resolution to stop reading CNN because it was bumming me out too hard. I still don’t and I’m way less bummed out.
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far?
How great it is, considering how miserable lots of other folks seem.
9. What’s for lunch today?
Butternut squash soup.
10. Weekly goals:
Hit the gym twice, hit up bikram twice, spend the weekend at a bikram clinic and not let this cold fully develop.
Karen says
Oh no! Do you have any Cold Eeze on hand? The minute I start feeling sniffly or achy I take one of those and it really seems to help ward off any sickness.
Trude says
1. Mood: Great! Making progress already this year. 2011 is about kicking ass and taking names. 🙂
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? I’d really like to learn studio lighting – even if it’s not my preferred style, I think I should still at least learn the basics.
3. One thing you love about yourself? I’d have to say sense of humor too. I can usually keep people laughing, myself included. 🙂
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? My Marilyn brush. Seriously doesn’t matter what styling product I use or don’t use, this brush is the key to making my bob look like I just walked out of the salon!
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? I love the basic Bobbi Brown shadow brush. Perfect when you want to lightly sweep color on (which is usually best for me since I’m so fair skinned).
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? I get them tinted and waxed at my local Aveda salon, because with naturally white-blonde hairs it’s practically impossible to keep them tweezed!
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? I don’t really make specific resolutions so much as general life goals for the year. And for the past three years or so, when I started getting more serious about my life and goals, I think I have. 🙂
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? I’m with you about the serendipity of life!
9. What’s for lunch today? I had Panda Express, wanted something warm and quick since I had so much I wanted to do on my break!
10. Weekly goals: Work on my new website design, get a business checking account, get film developed, get my bangs trimmed (can you tell I’m in the process of finally launching my biz?). 🙂
Karen says
Hi Trude,
I’d love to learn more about studio lighting too. If you learn of any good equipment please let me know!
Christy says
1. Mood: Content, better than awhile ago.
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? Something simple, I want to learn how to knit. But the complicated is I would like to figure out which way to go with my career.
3. One thing you love about yourself? I try to see the positive out of every situation.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? A pedi-egg and Earth Therapeutics Shea Butter, my feet are so dry and cracked :-/
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? Must agree with the MAC 239, it just works well all around 🙂
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? Tweeze unruly hairs and trim the long hairs. Fill in with Benefit Browzing in Dark 🙂
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? I can’t say I really have. For the longest it was not to bite my nails and lose weight. I don’t bit my nails now, but I don’t recall doing it at the beginning of the year. Weight loss comes and go, I always seem to lose a little and gain a bit back. Now I’m aiming to lower body fat content rather than the weight loss 🙂
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? You never know what will happen even with the best of plans 🙂
9. What’s for lunch today? Rice, chicken adobo, salad and half a banana.
10. Weekly goals: 3 more times to go to the gym with 1 hour of strength training and half hour of cardio 🙂 Cut back on the sweets that are overwhelming my kitchen at the moment.
Karen says
Knitting is so much fun! It’s very relaxing. 🙂
I learned from reading books — if you need any recs let me know!
Tiffany says
1. Mood: pretty good!
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? how to take better pictures
3. One thing you love about yourself? my loyalty
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? primers, lol. not sure why.
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? MAC 222
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? nothing really. They don’t really grow anymore after years of plucking in high school/college. kinda sucks actually because I’m stuck with the shape I have.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? yeah, at least once! last year I did a really good job (overall) of being healthier, working out, and eating better.
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? similar to yours – that things don’t always happen according to plan
9. What’s for lunch today? PBJ on sourdough and it was AWESOME
10. Weekly goals: finish interaction analysis for thesis, plan guest list for baby shower and collect addresses
Marian says
1. Mood: Grounded, solid
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011? more about Buddhism
3. One thing you love about yourself? My impulsivity…is that a word? lol
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? my body…making it fit and slender
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? The MAC pencil brush. It works well under the eyes, in the crease and the outer V.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? I pluck like hell…..daily!
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? I’ve never made one.
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? Everything! It’s NEVER the way I’ve planned or imagined.
9. What’s for lunch today? yogurt and fruit
10. Weekly goals: keep working out and eating right.
Emily says
1. Mood:
Ehh…dropped my phone on his face while walking home from school; no apparent damage, but I feel really bad…I HATE dropping my phone; it throws off my entire day. PLUS I have three new little tiny pimples on my chin.
On the upside, I’m starting up my daily running again, and I’m SUPER-PSYCHED to start going for a run every day, seeing as I haven’t had a proper workout since the holidays.
2. One thing you’d like to learn in the 2011?
I’d like to develop a more effective study routine. :/
3. One thing you love about yourself?
My ability to devote all my focus to one thing…except History class…
4. What’s your current beauty obsession?
MAC Nymphette Lipglass!
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why?
Surprisingly, I actually don’t really eve wear eyeshadow; its kind of beyond my level of comprehension and I just… don’t get it?
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine?
Pluck underneath and in-between, set with clear brow gel.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution?
I don’t think so…
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far?
The beautiful people in my life; I love my best friends, family, and cats beyond belief.
9. What’s for lunch today?
Skipped lunch today :/
10. Weekly goals:
– Ace the US History test (fat chance)
– Keep running 😀
Tania says
Le List!
1. Mood: distracted
2. One thing you’d like to learn in “the 2011″?
Really improve my spanish
3. One thing you love about yourself?
I’m always learning.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession?
This discontinued sally hansen nail file that’s amazing!
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why?
Cynthia Rowley eyeshadow brush.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine?
Plucking and combing plus a dab of cortaid to prevent bumps and flakes.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution?
I don’t make them.
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far?
The unexpected things in life have the most impact.
9. What’s for lunch today?
southwest chicken salad with a bit of ranch
10. Weekly goals: to live I have two projects at work along with the usual stuff. Hope the copier holds up! Get rid of more stuff,
lo says
1. Mood:
Content.
2. One thing you’d like to learn in “the 2011″?
Everything. OK, not everything, but a lot of things… I’m spending all this year taking the science classes I need to apply to med school next summer, so I have to take bio, chem, biochem, orgo, physics, microbio… basically a ton of stuff and several consecutive semesters of hard work.
3. One thing you love about yourself?
I’m very grounded and realistic. I appreciate the fact that other people see that in me, as well. It wasn’t something I noticed about myself until someone I really admire made mention of it.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession?
The UD 15th Anniversary 24/7 eyeliners! I want them sosososososoooo bad, but I really need to wait until there’s a F&F sale or something, because all my money is going to be put towards textbooks now 🙁
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why?
It’s actually a brush I’ve had forever, but I don’t know the brand. It’s a small, angled shadow brush with a long wooden handle. It’s natural bristles, so it’s held up really well after a million washings, and is small enough to get into the inner corners of my eyes (they’re kinda heavy lidded and cat-like).
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine?
Pluck when I notice strays. That’s it. They’re pretty even and a good shape, so I leave them.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution?
I don’t make them haha. Although I did take my friend’s suggestion to blog through pre-med and med school, so if I stick with that, I guess it’s a good resolution 🙂
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far?
All of it. When I started college, I never imagined I would graduate, go back to school, and start a totally new and different career track.
9. What’s for lunch today?
Skipped lunch… oops!
10. Weekly goals:
Get organized to start classes next week. I like to figure out where all my classes are, set up my school bag, decide on a fee outfits and stuff like that, so my week runs as smoothly as possible. Yes, I’m 22 and not 12, but it’s a habit that’s always stuck!
Anna says
First one of 2011 yay ! I always wonder how you come up with these questions karen ! lol.
1. Mood: Sleepy right now…
2. One thing you’d like to learn in “the 2011″? to drive, always put it off and my friend said to me the other day ‘ do you want to spend the rest of your life walking around’ lol well that does it !
3. One thing you love about yourself? That I care about others as much as I do.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? Perfecting the beach loose sexy waves
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? too many…..222 blends shadow into the crease like a dream…..217 and the 209 sorry cant pick out a fave child !!! hehe
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? Threaded every month, then just stray plucking in between.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? Dont think so lolol….
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? you can plan down to the T, but life throws curveballs at you from nowhere and you have to catch em and toss em back……
9. What’s for lunch today? I had vietnamese rice noodle rolls and a glass of cranberry juice.
10. Weekly goals: To arrange that date with a certain someone ive been dying to see (havent seen him for 2 mths !!:( ) Too stick to my work outs everyday, have a make-up clean out and sell stuff I dont use.
Rebecca says
First, I’d like to say I discovered this blog a few weeks ago and have really enjoyed reading it. I never realized there were so many beauty blogs out there, but this is one of my favorites so far.
1. Mood:
Ready to go back to work tomorrow, but sad that my time off is over.
2. One thing you’d like to learn in “the 2011″?
I’d like to get back into doing yoga. I know how, but I’ve slacked off lately due to other obligations.
3. One thing you love about yourself?
My hair. It’s naturally low maintenance. I can let it air dry and it will be shiny with a little bit of a wave.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession?
Highlighters. I just started playing around with them this fall and I love how they make my skin look!
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why?
It’s a medium sized Sonia Kashuk brush from Target. It was inexpensive but I get good results with it.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine?
Pluck strays as needed. And I use Benefit’s Speed Brown to tame them 🙂
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution?
I make goals for myself, but they don’t necessarily coincide with New Year’s. The biggest goal I met was to get a master’s degree. An on-going goal that is to try to eat healthily.
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far?
It constantly doesn’t turn out how I expect, but I’m still happy with my life so far and can’t think of anything major that I would change.
9. What’s for lunch today?
Lunch was butternut squash and apple soup from the local version of a healthy grocery store.
10. Weekly goals:
Get enough sleep before work each night – I’m bad about staying up too late reading. Write at least 1 post on my brand new blog each day.
Emily says
1. Mood: Happy (with a bit of sad) I miss my husband terribly!
2. One thing you’d like to learn in “the 2011″?
Swedish, my husbands family is Swedish and speaks it often…I would love to join in on the conversation
3. One thing you love about yourself?
My lips!
4. What’s your current beauty obsession?
Aveda Volumizing tonic
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why?
My clinique powder brush! Super soft brush perfect for either powder or a soft natural blushy look
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine?
Pluck and trim
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution?
Yes! Last year I vowed my resolution would be to have the “best year ever” and I graduated with my BS, got married and just had a baby!
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far?
How much fun I have with my new son and how much I really don’t enjoy being messy (I could pass on the spit up)
9. What’s for lunch today?
1/2 grapefruit, grilled chicken breast and a lindor peanut butter truffle 🙂
10. Weekly goals:
Cleaning, shopping, and skiing! Yay snow!
Karen says
Hi Emily,
Sounds like you had a phenomenal 2010. I hope 2011 brings you many great things!
lolamd says
1. Mood: Cold..It is so cold here.
2. One thing you’d like to learn in “the 2011″? To swim well
3. One thing you love about yourself? My ability to forward think and handle stress
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? Chloe parfum…loves it
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? I don’t really have an eyeshadow brush
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? I get it “threaded” every 2 weeks.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? Yup
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? That I have made some safe choices and even though I don’t regret it I think I would like to start taking some risks.
9. What’s for lunch today? Lemonheads..haha
10. Weekly goals: Eat right, pay bills and hit that gym
Karen says
Hi Lolamd,
I need to work on being able to think forward (I’m a very “in the moment” kind of person) and handle stress. Go any tips for me?
Shanda says
Same here Lola!!
Karen,
#3 is the reason why I seem to relate to you. LOL
#10 would love to know some of your favorite recipes…
My Monday was stressful and one big fat UGH! (it wasn’t even my stress, my dear friend is having a nervous breakdown). I’ve lost the enthusiam I had for this year. I’m already exhausted. I hope I can get it together, I can’t start this year off like this. I seriously need to take some time out for myself and focus on me. Not in a selfish way, but the last 3 months have really been all about my friends and their crises. Can’t lose anymore time taking care of others and not taking care of myself.
Rosie says
1. Mood:pretty happy
2. One thing you’d like to learn in “the 2011″? i would love to learn the easiest way to clean mildew off the bathroom ceiling without getting bleach on myself. is that silly?
3. One thing you love about yourself? my sense of humor
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? tie, maybelline gel eyeliner and maybelline falsies mascara
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? i use my ring finger
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? tweeze strays under brow and wax in between every so often
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? i am trying to keep positive energy flowing, like all my problems are “so last year.” 3 days going strong!
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? I never expected to have a daughter who is smarter than me. I also never expected to have children at all. lol and i have two amazing ones
9. What’s for lunch today? today Progresso chicken barley
10. Weekly goals: keep that positive energy flowing!!
dementia says
I answered it on my blog http://lovelymorticia.onsugar.com/Makeup-Beauty-Poll-Jan-3-13084055
Rachael says
1. Mood: Tired. I can’t sleep.
2. One thing you’d like to learn in “the 2011″? Tunesian crochet. I like the look and feel of it.
3. One thing you love about yourself? I speak my mind. Sometimes too much though.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? Argon oil. Seriously tames my dry and wavy hair.
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? Eco Tool’s, it’s fluffy enough to deposit my Stila Kitten evenly.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? I pluck the middle when it’s ugly, and fill in with MAC Swiss Chocolate. I need some serious help with the shaping. It’s been a bit.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? Kinda, I eventually stopped biting my nails this past December, which was my goal.
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? My year off from university. I just assumed I’d be like all my friends and go from high school to university to real life job.
9. What’s for lunch today? Leftover pizza.
10. Weekly goals: Clean my kitchen.
Alice says
1. Mood: blah. I’m ill! But apart from that, it was a great beginning for the year!
2. One thing you’d like to learn in “the 2011″? I’m going to learn shooting 🙂
3. One thing you love about yourself? My insatiable curiosity. I love discovering new thing, learning, and widening my horizons.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? eyebrows. I never cared a lot for them, i just plucked them in the right shape, but I just learned how to fill them… And foundation. I will be 30 in a month and I start to really see the difference in my skin now!
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? MAC 238 for me too. The perfect all-in-one brush.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? Mainly I just pluck them, but for the big nights I also fill them in with the ELF eyebrow kit (wax + fixing powder).
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? Yes! I once vowed to change my stile to be more feminine… It took a lot of time (and money!) but I did it and I’m very pleased with the results.
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? My life surprises me just about every day, and I hope it goes on surprising me! 😀
9. What’s for lunch today? Don’t know yet. I’d love some pasta… Maybe if I go home on sick leave I’ll comfort myself with something good. And Nutella (I have a 5 kg jar of Nutella…)
10. Weekly goals: Try to wake up 10 minutes earlier and put some effort in looking good every day – some basic makeup and nice hair perhaps?
Stephanie says
1. Mood:
I’m bored. I don’t know what to do in my freetime. I still have vacation till monday, I’m not going to spend time on doing homework.. I ruined my last vacation doing just that, and I’m not planning to let that happen again.
2. One thing you’d like to learn in “the 2011″?
Hopefully working in front of the camera 😀 and how putting a week full of activities together for kids from 4 till 18 yo.
3. One thing you love about yourself?
My perseverance, If I have a goal I go for it till I reached my goal. My goal right now is to loose 30 pounds and I’ve already lost 10. So by the time summer comes I’m happy, haha.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession?
Nailpolish!! And use up all my beautyproducts… for example; I have over 4 hairspraycans and I want to use them before I buy new ones.
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why?
A blending brush by Glow. It costs 75 cents and it is better than the ones that more expensive that I have.
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine?
I pluck them every week. And makeup wise I color them in with an eyeshadow, brush the hairs back in place and use a browwax.
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution?
Yes! Losing weight(and gaining back, haha)
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far?
Life is not fair. People have luck or not.. and I’m a person who has to earn it. I’m working so hard on my life to get and earn the thing I dream about. And all the hard work is almost paying off!
9. What’s for lunch today?
Dunno. It’s already 2:30 PM and I still haven’t lunched.
10. Weekly goals:
Do something with my freetime, haha.
jen. says
Oh man. I have totally wanted to run the Bay to Breakers ever since I found out about the people who run the wrong way dressed up as salmon. It both cracks me up, and appeals to my last name. 🙂
Karen says
It’s a lot of fun! If you end up doing it I highly recommend getting in some hill training beforehand.
Rachel says
1. Mood: Tired, cozy, calm
2. One thing you’d like to learn in “the 2011″? interesting psychology stuffs and lots of about dance
3. One thing you love about yourself? The ability to call people out when they’re doing harmful things instead of just not saying anything.
4. What’s your current beauty obsession? red lipstick but… I want lavenderish lipstick next
5. Your favorite eyeshadow brush and why? it’s an Elf C brush
6. What’s your eyebrow maintenance routine? I infrequently pluck the strays
7. Have you ever actually stuck to a New Year’s resolution? No
8. What’s surprised you most about your life so far? patterns that tend to repeat. the people that show up in my life seem similar to ones I’ve already met. Things that happen seem to have happened before. Things like that.
9. What’s for lunch today? I ate fish and chips with malt vinegar.
10. Weekly goals: Clean things, work further on laundry, etc. etc.