So…what is the Monday Poll?
Excellent question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll, like with little clicky buttons. It’s just a list of five more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007). I love reading your answers, and it helps me get my week off to a good start.
1. Can you change a tire?
Probably not! I wish I could. It seems like one of those life skills everyone should learn in high school, but…ya know. I did not.
2. Liquid, pencil, gel or cake eyeliner?
Pencil, because smudgy lines and diffused edges 4 life, baby.
3. Summer, spring, winter or fall?
Spring, assuming there are allergy meds around, because apparently I’m allergic to life as we know it.
And my second favorite season is fall.
4. How many TVs are there in your house?
Just the one in our living room. El Hub has been lobbying for a second TV in our bedroom for years, but I’m not having it, LOL!
Of course, every phone and tablet screen substitutes for a TV nowadays, so I don’t know how much it matters.
5. Favorite color or colors?
I’ve always loved purple, but I’ve been drawn to pastel coral, pink, yellow and orange more than ever lately.
Essie Expressie Update
Hiya! I’m off to work at the bakery in just a few, so before I remove my nail polish and say g’bye to my pink Essie Expressie weekend mani, here’s what the polish looked like after two days…
The nails on my left hand, which is my usual swatch hand, survived Saturday and Sunday with minimal chips at the tips.


There were a few decent dents on my right hand, all of which showed up immediately after I was futzing with some Legos (#MOMLIFE) on Saturday morning. To the polish’s credit, the chips didn’t get bigger over time.

All in all, it held up pretty well, considering that I didn’t use a separate base coat or top coat. If you need to quickly paint your paws for an event, or if you’re like me and only need your nail polish to last a couple days at a time, these polishes do the trick quite nicely.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Here are the questions to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to ya soon.
1. Can you change a tire?
2. Liquid, pencil, gel or cake eyeliner?
3. Summer, spring, winter or fall?
4. How many TVs are there in your house?
5. Favorite color or colors?
1. Can you change a tire?
Yup!
2. Liquid, pencil, gel or cake eyeliner?
Today pencil, usually liquid.
3. Summer, spring, winter or fall?
Fall! Except I get bad fall allergies.
4. How many TVs are there in your house?
Two – one in the living room, one in our bedroom.
5. Favorite color or colors?
Emerald green and sunshine yellow!
Seriously impressed by your ability to change a tire! Who taught you? And is it hard?
It’s not too bad! The hardest part is getting enough leverage on the wrench to get the lug nut off. My dad taught me, but he also kept a metal pipe for assistance with leverage in my car.
1. Can you change a tire? 25 years ago, yes. Today, maybe not because they use these electric things for fixing, so it will be difficult to lose the screws.
2. Liquid, pencil, gel or cake eyeliner? No liner at all.
3. Summer, spring, winter or fall? Fall, because I was born in October, spring would be second.
4. How many TVs are there in your house? Only one, plus laptop and tablet for Netflix…
5. Favorite color or colors? All shades of grey, and blue.
Have a good week everyone!
Hi Karen! Hope you had a great weekend!
1. Can you change a tire? – I’ve never had to but I’d like to think that I could, if need be.
2. Liquid, pencil, gel or cake eyeliner? – It’s a toss up between pencil and liquid. I go through my phases.
3. Summer, spring, winter or fall? – My favorite are in this order Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter.
4. How many TVs are there in your house? – Too many. Living room, master bedroom, back bedroom and basement.
5. Favorite color or colors? – Purples, pinks and greens.
1. Can you change a tire?
Absolutely not! I also feel like this is something I should know how to do. I’m sure my dad taught my older brother. I think he just got me AAA!
2. Liquid, pencil, gel or cake eyeliner?
Pencil. I’m all about the smudge.
3. Summer, spring, winter or fall?
Fall is my favorite. There is also something peaceful about winter and I appreciate it more and more. The bare trees against the blue sky. Even got to watch a little snow fall this weekend in the south!
4. How many TVs are there in your house?
One. In the living room. And it seems tiny compared with what most people have these days but it works for me.
5. Favorite color or colors?
Various shades of blue and green. Although lately I’ve been drawn to purple, particularly shades of lavender.
1. Can you change a tire?
Nope! I can’t even drive. I was practising with a friend around 2017-2018 but then life happened and got in the way. I intend to get back at it this summer.
2. Liquid, pencil, gel or cake eyeliner?
Gel, because it’s the only thing that will last on my mega oily face.
3. Summer, spring, winter or fall?
If our falls were not so wet over here, I’d say fall but I guess summer.
4. How many TVs are there in your house?
Two! Although that Tv in the bedroom thing has come up before and I’m a firm believer the bedroom is for sex and sleep. I mean, just walk downstairs… there’s a perfectly good TV there. I’ll never understand the need for so many in one house unless you have kids/lots of people living there.
5. Favorite color or colours?
My favourite pop is a turquoise/teal color but I prefer to live in neutrals.
Really love that you included a shot of your nails after a couple of days!
1. A Lego tire? Then yes. 😁
2. Gel. I don’t even know what a cake liner is! I’ll have to look it up. I live for a sharp cat eye.
3. Summer!
4. One. Not including handheld devices of course.
5. A deep, true red. ❤️
1. Can you change a tire? Absolutely. My Dad taught me in the 70’s. (Yep, I’m getting up there in age.) He also taught me how to sand, caulk and paint the house. How to do mechanical engineering drawings. How to ride a bike when I was 4yrs. old. I was the only girl and I got spoiled with his time and attention.
2. Liquid, pencil, gel or cake eyeliner? Urban Decay pencil or Bobbi Brown gel liner in the pots. Only two liners that don’t migrate on my droopy, hooded eyes.
3. Summer, spring, winter or fall? Fall and winter. I live for cool, fresh air and piling on cashmere sweaters. Oh and boots!
4. How many TVs are there in your house? One. And sometimes I feel like it’s too much. I feel like a TV in the bedroom just messes with sleep.
5. Favorite color or colors? Blue! And purples. I used to love green too. But I had a falling out with a woman who was crazy about green. (Her nickname was even Greenie). Now every time I try to buy green clothes I think of her and I just can’t.
I was standing in the drugstore this morning looking at the Expressie display. I was drawn to a few of the shimmer shades. Then I reminded myself I own enough nail polish and need to sort through and destash before I start adding more bottles.
Hope this week isn’t too crazy for you at the bakery and you have a good one.
1. Can you change a tire? No but it should be a required class in high school or simply car maintenance since your adult life or at least mine has been at the repair shop!
2. Liquid, pencil, gel or cake eyeliner? Pencil. With my eye shape, it’s the only thing that works!
3. Summer, spring, winter or fall? Spring or Fall, mainly Fall!
4. How many TVs are there in your house? One. It’s in my bedroom. My living room is the quiet, electronic free zone!
5. Favorite color or colors? Green or blue. I like most colors except purple. Not a fan of purple😉
1. Can you change a tire?
No, which is sad because my dad and both my grandfathers were professional mechanics at some point in their lives. Any one of them could’ve taken a car apart down to the last nut and bolt, then put it back together within a couple of days. I’m proud that I can change the windshield wipers. 😄
2. Liquid, pencil, gel or cake eyeliner?
Pencil.
3. Summer, spring, winter or fall?
Spring when it’s Spring, Fall when it’s Fall. Never, ever, ever Summer. #FloridaLife
4. How many TVs are there in your house?
Two. Living room and my bedroom.
5. Favorite color or colors?
Blue, with purple a close second. My favorite decorating color is gray; it’s an excellent neutral.
1- Can you change a tire? I used to be able to, and I think in an emergency I could, but at almost 70, I’ll call someone.
2- Liquid, pencil, gel or cake eyeliner? Pencil.
3- Summer, spring, winter or fall? Used to be spring, but I live in Florida now and I prefer the dry season over the wet season.
4- How many TV’s in my house? 3
5- Favorite color or colors? Greens, but I also like peach/coral.
1. Can you change a tire? No , I wish
2. Liquid, pencil, gel or cake eyeliner? Pencil
3. Summer, spring, winter or fall? In the order I like fall ,spring ,summer . I detest winter
4. How many TVs are there in your house? 1
5. Favorite color or colors? Black
1. Can you change a tire? Back in the day, yes. When I was in college (1960’s), I took my VW bug to the local high school auto shop one Saturday and actually helped this student rebuild the engine–under the supervision of his shop teacher, of course. Nowadays, with the arthritis in my hands, there is no way I could change something as easy as a tire. BTW, when I was taking Driver’s Ed in high school, we all had to learn to do simple repairs like changing a tire, changing oil, topping up the radiator, adjusting a fan belt, etc. It was just part of the curriculum.
2. Liquid, pencil, gel or cake eyeliner? Most days I use a pencil–preferably Chanel’s waterproof Style Yeux in Noir Intense. When I want something highly defined, I prefer a “felt tip”. My favorite is by Tom Ford.
3. Summer, spring, winter or fall? I love everything about the fall with it’s glorious day-by-day transition from summer to winter.
4. How many TVs are there in your house? There are four. There’s a very large one in the family room (it’s the only one my husband and I use) and then we have smaller ones in my sons’ bedrooms for when they come to visit as well as one in the guest room. I think it’s nice for people to have a bit of privacy and downtime when they visit.
5. Favorite color or colors? Blue
Happy Monday to ya! 🙂
1. Can you change a tire?
I haven’t had the chance yet, but if I had access to instructions, I might be able to….oh, who am I kidding? I have AAA on speed dial lol.
2. Liquid, pencil, gel or cake eyeliner?
Gel and pencil. The older I get, the more I want smudged lines. It looks less harsh on those ‘expression lines’.
3. Summer, spring, winter or fall?
Fall and then spring. Fall because all the veggies and fruits are packing the grocery stores with their last ‘hurrah’, and spring because it’s the start of growing season and everything is being made anew.
4. How many TVs are there in your house?
Just one, though we rarely watch anything on it.
5. Favorite color or colors?
Dark purple, but all colors are beautiful when put in the right setting.
1. Can you change a tire?
No, but I feel like this is something I should learn.
2. Liquid, pencil, gel or cake eyeliner?
Pencil is the easiest for me!
3. Summer, spring, winter or fall?
All of the above, except winter. 🙂 Actually I don’t mind just a month or so of winter around the holidays but after that I’m done.
4. How many TVs are there in your house?
Three – but one is in the basement and I just use it for playing exercise videos.
5. Favorite color or colors?
I am always drawn to purple, but I like bright colors like pink, red and orange. Actually I think I’m craving something other than the perpetual gray that his been the past month.
Happy Monday!
1. Can you change a tire? Yes but haven’t in a long time
2. Liquid, pencil, gel or cake eyeliner? Pencil when I use it
3. Summer, spring, winter or fall? Winter, followed by fall
4. How many TVs are there in your house? 3
5. Favorite color or colors? Green. At one point my house, car, bedroom & kitchen were all some shade of green
1. Can you change a tire?
No way which is one of the reasons I must have roadside assist.
2. Liquid, pencil, gel or cake eyeliner?
Pencil. I can’t work with gel liners due to my hooded lids and finally realised this after too many attempts.
3. Summer, spring, winter or fall?
Fall is my very favourite season – always has been since I was a child.
4. How many TVs are there in your house?
One in the living room. I used to have one in the bedroom until it died but I have not replaced it. Thinking I might at some stage.
5. Favorite color or colors?
Purple was my favorite colour as a child. I love nearly all colours but am particularly drawn to the non-colours now, white and black.
1. Can you change a tire?
Oh yes. When I got my first car at 17, I had 4 flat tires in the span of a year – and it was a new car! I had roadside assistance, but the first time I got a flat the wait time to get it changed was 4 hours, and I wasn’t having it, so I changed it myself. Was I so sufficient that I brought the then many subsequent tire changes on myself? The world may never know (but probably yes).
2. Liquid, pencil, gel or cake eyeliner?
Liquid for that crispness, pencil for a good smoke, cake when I’m listening to Etta James.
3. Summer, spring, winter or fall?
summer all the way – I’m at my best when I’m tanner and there’s many more hours of sun (New Englander here)
4. How many TVs are there in your house?
1 – Karen I am TOTALLY team no TV in the bedroom!
5. Favorite color or colors?
I don’t have one! I love all colors equally. When I was younger it was purple all the way.
1. No.
2. Gel.
3. If I lived in San Diego, it would be summer. But since I live in an insanely hot (and lengthy) summer area, Fall is my favorite, but I hate the short days. Spring is tornado season, and monsoon season, so it’s problematic.
4. 2
5. The color of the sky in the Mojave Desert (when the air is clean). It’s a blue you will never see in Texas.
1. Can you change a tire?
No. I did it once years ago under someone’s tutelage, but am no longer that strong. Also, I now have AAA.
2. Liquid, pencil, gel or cake eyeliner?
Pencil, mainly for ease and portability. Oh, and cheapness!
3. Summer, spring, winter or fall?
Spring.
4. How many TVs are there in your house?
One.
5. Favorite color or colors?
This totally depends on my mood. Lake blue, crimson, silver, celery, velvety black, soft peachy pink, lavender, fresh leafy green…I’m all over the place. One of my longtime favorites, though, is a pale greenish blue or bluish green.
1. Can you change a tire? I think so. I know how, and I’ve assisted with it several times.
2. Liquid, pencil, gel or cake eyeliner? Usually pencil, because it’s easiest and has the biggest color range.
3. Summer, spring, winter or fall? Spring
4. How many TVs are there in your house? One
5. Favorite color or colors? Red and black
1. Can you change a tire? In theory but I’d be nervous about putting the jack in the wrong spot and I can see myself face-planting, trying to remove the lug nuts. I don’t have the arm strength so I’d be putting all my weight on it. I can only imagine. HAHA!
2. Liquid, pencil, gel or cake eyeliner? Cake (eyeshadow). I need the softness.
3. Summer, spring, winter or fall? Fall. Just the right temp to do things outside, dress a bit more on the cozy side and see all the foliage.
4. How many TVs are there in your house? Three that are hooked up to power and cable. Two screens that the boys use for video games and youtube.
5. Favorite color or colors? Black. I know that sounds awful, but it’s true.