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. Brow pencil, brow powder or brow gel?
OH, SNAP, it’s another seemingly impossible makeup choice, LOL! I’m going with brow pencil… A skinny, twist-up one (like Urban Decay Brow Beater) because I think fine tip pencils create more realistic-looking brow hairs. Also, I think pencils last longer than powders and gels, so there’s that.
2. Eau de parfum, eau de toilette or scented body cream/lotion?
Eau de parfum, and I like to spray them into the air and run through the fragrant fog. 🙂 This morning I ran through a few spritzes of Idôle!
3. Fill in the blank — I like big _____ and I cannot lie!
I like big butts and I cannot lie… OK, Sir Mix-a-lot! No, really, I like big cats. 😼 The bigger and fluffier and chonkier the better!
4. Scrunchies or claw clips?
Scrunchies 100%. They don’t give me headaches or leave weird bends in my hair. I can wear them to bed, too. Also, SUPER CUTE! The velvet ones are my favorite at the moment.
5. Press-on fingernails or press-on toenails (side note: yes, this is a thing)?
I’ll go with the press-on fingernails, but I’m going to have to take them off after an hour because they’ll start driving me nuts if I don’t.
6. These are a few of my favorite things: _____ (list at least three).
Nail polish that dries fast, coffee with half and half first thing in the morning, having a clean desk, snuggling with Connor and listening to lullabies before she falls asleep at night, feeling organized, having enough food in my fridge to last at least a few days (am I the only person who feels anxious when the fridge is empty)?
7. Something on your to-do list today?
Write out a step-by-step list of things I need to do to reorganize my linen closet… I just bought a bunch of new bath towels (um, do you want me to review them?!), and so now I want to keep them organized neatly in my closet!
8. What are the names of the animal members of your family?
Rosie Posie (a.k.a. Rosie Pose, a.k.a. The Pose) is my current kitty boarder. Previous to Rosie taking up residence, I lived with Tabs the Supermodel Kitty and Sushi the betta fish (RIP, my buddies).
9. A movie that always makes you laugh?
Frickin’ Step Brothers with Will Ferrell. THIS DUMB-A$$ MOVIE! It is so ridiculous, but every time I watch it, I cry so hard that tears run down my face. 😂
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. Brow pencil, brow powder or brow gel?
2. Eau de parfum, eau de toilette or scented body cream/lotion?
3. Fill in the blank — I like big _____ and I cannot lie!
4. Scrunchies or claw clips?
5. Press-on fingernails or press-on toenails (side note: yes, this is a thing)?
6. These are a few of my favorite things: _____ (list at least three).
7. Something on your to-do list today?
8. What are the names or the animal members of your family?
9. A movie that always makes you laugh?
P.P.S. Good morning, sweet girl! 🤗 Just a couple Mondays left in 2020 — can you believe it? We’re almost to the finish line, and, FYI, you’re doing amazing. Keep it up!
Suzanne C says
December 21st, 2020 at 12:21 pm1. Brow pencil, brow powder or brow gel?
Tinted brow gel- fast and easy.
2. Eau de parfum, eau de toilette or scented body cream/lotion?
Eau de parfum.
3. Fill in the blank — I like big _____ and I cannot lie!
I like big books, baby!
4. Scrunchies or claw clips?
Mini claw clips, right now, because my hair is chin length again.
5. Press-on fingernails or press-on toenails (side note: yes, this is a thing)?
No to both. Too much trouble.
6. These are a few of my favorite things: _____ (list at least three).
Shopping with my nieces (but not school shopping!), Starbucks salted caramel mochas, Argan oil from Trader Joe’s, and Pilot erasable Frixion pens.
7. Something on your to-do list today?
I’m making small quilts for the two younger nieces.
8. What are the names or the animal members of your family?
Our dog is Julia. We call her Julia Child, because her favorite thing is eating and can always be found in the kitchen with her humans, supervising the cooking process.
9. A movie that always makes you laugh?
O Brother, Where Art Thou? I know George Clooney is going to fall out of that train, yet I laugh every. single. time.
2020 is almost over! I’m doing the fun, nerdy end-of-the-year things, like starting the 2021 budget spreadsheets and a new reading journal. And no, you’re not the only person who get refrigerator anxiety, lol.
Karen says
December 21st, 2020 at 1:13 pmI love all those nerdy end-of-the-year things! I need to clear out my file cabinets for next year’s files. Exciting stuff!
Have fun making the quilts today. 🙂
Tatiana says
December 21st, 2020 at 1:14 pm1. Brow pencil, brow powder or brow gel? Brow pencil or the brow marker from SUQQU.
2. Eau de parfum, eau de toilette or scented body cream/lotion? Depends on the scent. Some are better as EdP and some are better as EdT. And some are absolutely perfect as a pure extrait.
3. Fill in the blank — I like big _____ and I cannot lie! Big Chocolate Cakes! Or big bowls of ice cream! What can I say? Don’t always get to eat dessert, but when I can I like cake.
4. Scrunchies or claw clips? No idea. I’ve never used either. But now that my hair is longer I might try to find some scrunchies to pull it up at night, since having hair on my neck bothers me so much it keeps me awake at night.
5. Press-on fingernails or press-on toenails (side note: yes, this is a thing)? I guess fingernails, because “press-on toenails, ewww!”
6. These are a few of my favorite things: _____ (list at least three). Dear Husband, Dear Daughter, cats, horses and riding, weight training, ice skating, reading, drawing and painting. Going out to dinner (gosh how I miss this) so that someone else cooks. A freshly made bed with crisp, cool, sheets, fluffy pillows and a fluffy, down comforter.
7. Something on your to-do list today? Vacuum, sort through old Christmas ornaments to give away the ones we no longer use, address Christmas cards. Make soup for dinner.
8. What are the names or the animal members of your family? Only remaining one is Nibbler (Dear Daughter’s cat). RIP soft, sweet Nora (my beloved black cat) and Lucy my amazing, smart and kind hearted mare. And here’s hoping Nika the mare we leased for Dear Daughter has found a wonderful and caring home. We leased her as an equitation horse but she cleared every fence like it was a puissance.
9. A movie that always makes you laugh? Monsters Inc. I love Billy Crystal in it. I also loved him in The Princess Bride “Have fun storming the castle!”
What a year it’s been! And now Kilauea is erupting again! Wonder if Mother Nature is trying to tell us something? I don’t think we will ever have the old normal completely back. What we will have is a new normal. I’m just hoping it’s more sane and less stressful than this year has been.
Karen says
December 21st, 2020 at 1:23 pmGuess what! El Hub and Connor went on a hike last Saturday (I stayed home to wrap a few gifts) and they told me that they met a lady on the trail who had a horse companion who lived to 42. Isn’t that incredible?
I’m researching riding lessons for Connor (and looking for ways to fund said lessons, LOL). Someone on Instagram told me that “girls who ride horses don’t have time for boys,” and so I was like, SOLD. Gonna find a way to get this child some lessons!
I hope you are having a nice day so far. 🙂
Tatiana says
December 21st, 2020 at 2:21 pm42! Wow! That was a well kept, healthy horse. While I was sad that the vet didn’t catch Lucy’s laminitis in time to help her, I’m pretty sure Dear Husband is super glad she didn’t live to be 42. Although I would have loved a few more years of her nickering and muzzling her way into my heart.
Let me know how far you are willing to drive to riding lessons. There are plenty of barns in the north bay. A cluster around Santa Rose and there’s the Sonoma Horse Park at 7600 Lakeville Hwy. just north of 37. You have to consider how far you’re willing to drive, because if Connor gets crazy about it, you will be driving her to and from the barn very often until she gets a drivers’ license.
Not sure how many trainers have themselves listed, but here is a resource to start with. https://www.bayequest.com/Business/showBusi_47.htm
And yes, my daughter spent so much time at the barn and with her girlfriends at the barn that it didn’t seem odd that she had never dated when she went off to college. A smelly, sweaty, unshowered boy in dirty gym clothes was so disgusting to her, but a smelly, sweaty, unshowered horse, caked in mud was no big deal. Lol.
Karen says
December 21st, 2020 at 2:50 pmYes! El Hub asked the owner what she thought was the reason why her horse friend lived so long, she said it was good nutrition and veterinary care.
I don’t know if I mentioned this, but when El Hub and I first got married, someone he worked with gave him the following unsolicited advice: “Never buy your wife a horse.” HAHAHA!
Thank you for that resource! Bookmarking it for the future. We have a place about 10 minutes away that does riding lessons, and so maybe I’ll start her off with a camp first (if they host them this summer) to see if she takes to it. 🙂
Tatiana says
December 21st, 2020 at 5:05 pmThat was pretty good advice from a guy’s perspective. Lol. After Dear Daughter went away to college Dear Husband said, “I just never thought it would go this far.” I just looked at him dumbstruck. Really? She was 2 1/2 and we’d be driving down the freeway and she’d point out all the horses to us. Lol. I reminded him that as a parent he could have just put his foot down and said no. But it goes to show how much he loves Dear Daughter and me.
Check the age limit for the summer camp. Many places won’t take kids under a certain age for safety and insurance reasons (unless of course they are the trainers’ kids, then putting them on a horse as soon as they can sit up seems reasonable. Lol)
A horse friend of mine saw another friend put her 2 year old on a horse and commented, “It’d be cheaper and less addictive to give the kid crack cocaine.” Being completely facetious, of course.
Jennifer Emmett says
December 21st, 2020 at 1:30 pm1. Brow pencil, brow powder or brow gel? Is Dipbrow gel? Methinks powder so I can draw natural lines.
2. Eau de parfum, eau de toilette or scented body cream/lotion? Eau de parfum, the good stuff.
3. Fill in the blank — I like big tires and I cannot lie! Love big beefy tires on so many vehicles! I roll All Terrains on my Subaru.
4. Scrunchies or claw clips? What do cats have? Claws!
5. Press-on fingernails or press-on toenails (side note: yes, this is a thing)? Hands only.
6. These are a few of my favorite things: pizza and zombies, and watercolor as a hobby…. la la la
7. Something on your to-do list today? An open enrollment insurance spreadsheet.
8. What are the names or the animal members of your family? Jack, Uma and Blixy! My three feline roomies.
9. A movie that always makes you laugh? Spaceballs or Super Troopers, Don’t call me radio!
Karen says
December 21st, 2020 at 2:08 pmI love your answer to #4! 🙂
Efra says
December 21st, 2020 at 1:54 pm1. Brow pencil, brow powder or brow gel?
Right now brow gel, I bought the infamous ABH brow pomade and I understand the hype; however the learning curve is interesting if you don’t like/want bold brows.
My fave is brow pencil, specifically Maybelline Total temptation brow pencil.
2. Eau de parfum, eau de toilette or scented body cream/lotion?
Eau de parfum, because of allergies I avoid spritzing perfume directly on my skin so I need something stronger since it is only on my clothes.
3. Fill in the blank — I like big _____ and I cannot lie!
I like big desserts ma’am and I cannot lie!
4. Scrunchies or claw clips?
Claw clips for staying at home all the way, but to be honest I think I haven’t tried real scrunchies.
5. Press-on fingernails or press-on toenails (side note: yes, this is a thing)?
Fingernails but I doubt they would last longer than a day.
6. These are a few of my favorite things: _____ (list at least three).
Baking/cooking: I feel so calm when doing it and I truly think about creating an Instagram food-oriented profile.
Everyday little luxuries: I bought the Guerlain meteorites and I swear that just the fact of using them makes me feel better.
Heart warming shows/ Telenovelesque ones: Right now I’m watching Virgin River and I’m living.
7. Something on your to-do list today?
End up classifying documents at my dad’s office and finishing Alisson’s recommendation letter for college (if that girl gets accepted in an American university I’ll cry of happiness).
8. What are the names or the animal members of your family?
Maximino “Max” our 9-years-old chihuahua (Gang name: Chimino) and Zeus our 1.5 years-old cat (Gang name: Darkness).
9. A movie that always makes you laugh?
White chicks, that movie is so kitsch it’s brilliant.
Happy Monday to everybody, I hope you’re feeling happy because of Christmas, I still haven’t tried putting the tree.
Karen says
December 21st, 2020 at 2:07 pmOK so I love that your fur family has gang names, LOL! I think Rosie needs one ASAP!
P.S. Get that tree up, friend!
Danielle says
December 21st, 2020 at 5:14 pm1. Brow pencil, brow powder or brow gel? Brow pencil and clear brow gel
2. Eau de parfum, eau de toilette or scented body cream/lotion? Eau de Parfum
3. Fill in the blank — I like big _____ and I cannot lie! Butts! (Sorry, couldn’t help myself! I had to to!) Seriously though, cookies! (The bigger the better!)
4. Scrunchies or claw clips? Claw clips! I use them for straightening my hair!
5. Press-on fingernails or press-on toenails (side note: yes, this is a thing)? I used to use the press on fingernails when I was younger, but not so much now. (I keep my nails very short, otherwise they grow very long. People think they’re fake. It’s sort of a waste though, because I always cut them!)
6. These are a few of my favorite things: _____ (list at least three). Chai tea latte, candy (anything chewy), and listening to good music.
7. Something on your to-do list today? Pay bills, which I did!
8. What are the names or the animal members of your family? My cat Frosty passed, but I do have a “cat niece”, Miso. (My sister’s cat.)
9. A movie that always makes you laugh? Rush Hour- Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker!
Jaclyn D Levy says
December 21st, 2020 at 7:21 pm1. This is hard! I think I will go with brow gel because I think that’s the closest to what I use everyday.
2. Eau de parfum!
3. Fill in the blank — I like big meatballs and I cannot lie! 😁🍝
4. Scrunchies, but I haven’t used either one in at least a decade!
5. Press-on fingernails
6. These are a few of my favorite things: (makeup related) putting on lipstick, when I get my brows to look perfect (it’s rare!), this hair mask I use that makes me feel like a Kardashian. I think it’s called “cha-ching” and it’s ahhhmazing. 🥰
7. Since it’s now the end of the day I’ll share what I accomplished on today’s to-do list: cleaning my kitchen floors. Check!
8. My sons are the proud owners of one meercat named Meerkie and one hedgehog named Hedgie. They are both of the stuffed animal variety. ❤️
9. Elf! Finally watched it last night and caught myself laughing several times! Will Ferrell ftw!
Rachel Runyan says
December 21st, 2020 at 10:56 pm1. Brow pencil, brow powder or brow gel? Powder
2. Eau de parfum, eau de toilette or scented body cream/lotion? Eau de parfum
3. Fill in the blank — I like big _____ and I cannot lie! Earrings
4. Scrunchies or claw clips? Scrunchies
5. Press-on fingernails or press-on toenails (side note: yes, this is a thing)? Fingernails. I didn’t even know about press-on toenails. Ewww.
6. These are a few of my favorite things: _____ (list at least three).
Hugs from my family; eyeshadow palettes; kitties.
7. Something on your to-do list today? It’s late. For tomorrow — wrap gifts.
8. What are the names or the animal members of your family? Jack (orange tabby), Spike (Ragdoll), Coco (black cat, Siamese mix), Maize (corn snake), and Renegade (guinea pig).
9. A movie that always makes you laugh? Monty Python’s The Life of Brian
Melissa says
December 22nd, 2020 at 9:16 am1. Brow pencil, brow powder or brow gel? Pencil – never used the others
2. Eau de parfum, eau de toilette or scented body cream/lotion? Now – lotion. Can’t be bothered with anything else
3. Fill in the blank — I like big _____ and I cannot lie! Sweaters – I love oversized, cozy sweaters. I own way too many
4. Scrunchies or claw clips? Neither – short hair
5. Press-on fingernails or press-on toenails (side note: yes, this is a thing)? Ugh – neither I think of the Friends episode when Monica lost one in the lasagna
6. These are a few of my favorite things: _____ (list at least three). Traveling, a good run and wine by the fire
7. Something on your to-do list today? Finish handing out the chocolates to my work peeps
8. What are the names or the animal members of your family? Elphie- from Wicked and she’s a neurotic mess of a cat but we love her. Alani – an orange tabby and from what google tells me, alani is Hawaiian for orange. Kali – the Hindu goddess of destruction in an 8 pound tabby who hides in my closet. Nori – blue & cream tabby who is very chatty and Dusty – a black kitty 🐈⬛ who looks like Toothless the dragon
9. A movie that always makes you laugh? Spaceballs. My dad and I loved that movie
Stephanie Smith says
December 22nd, 2020 at 11:57 am1. Brow pencil, brow powder or brow gel? Ooh, I like all three, but pencil gives me the shape I need.
2. Eau de parfum, eau de toilette or scented body cream/lotion? Parfum, and I like to be generous. I only wear Citrine by Nest, but I love it so much that I’d take a bath in it if I could.
3. Fill in the blank — I like big _____ and I cannot lie! Pugs! I have four!
4. Scrunchies or claw clips? Scrunchies. I have too long hair that I keep in a bun almost all the time. Scrunchies are life.
5. Press-on fingernails or press-on toenails (side note: yes, this is a thing)? Fingernails, even though I’ll never use them. Press on toenails creep me the heck out.
6. These are a few of my favorite things: _____ (list at least three). Coffee with cream, brain training games, pugs, flufffffffffffy kittens, SPF 50, comfy slippers, all the nail polish.
7. Something on your to-do list today? Clean my kitchen, it’s been neglected since my family recovered from Covid. And maybe go snoop under my parents’ Xmas tree.
8. What are the names or the animal members of your family? Okay, it’s a long list. Pugs: Carl, Bernadette, Foobs, and Big Chungus. Cats: Ghost, Krusty, Elsie, Blackie Chan, Taco, Dr Claw, Mama Kitty (a stray we are working on adopting that has a spay appointment in two weeks), Sonic, Tiger, and Dudos, her three five week old kittens that my 18 year old daughter is begging to keep. Bean the pineapple conure. Roarie and Trogdor, the bearded dragons. Athena and Magic Mike, the albino corn and albino king snakes. We have a lot of pets. Most have been rehomed with us.
9. A movie that always makes you laugh? “O Brother where art thou?” I really like that one.
ericca says
December 22nd, 2020 at 12:07 pm1. Brow pencil, brow powder or brow gel?
brow pencil
2. Eau de parfum, eau de toilette or scented body cream/lotion?
eau de parfum
3. Fill in the blank — I like big _____ and I cannot lie!
umm first answer is not appropriate so im going say mangos (fruit)
4. Scrunchies or claw clips?
scrunchies
5. Press-on fingernails or press-on toenails (side note: yes, this is a thing)?
fingernails
6. These are a few of my favorite things: _____ (list at least three).
1. mangos, kiwi, and pineapple. I love cats and my friends and lipstick. I love my nephew who is my favorite out of all my relatives . I love traveling and tropical places . I love candy and fruit pies especially in cherry . I love most nuts especially honey roasted peanuts and pecans. I love documentaries especially ones about artist. I love candles and clean sheets and big fluffy blankets. I love getting an “A” totally validating . I love money or more like all things it can buy. Whole foods italian soda and sparkling water .
7. Something on your to-do list today?
clean my room
8. What are the names or the animal members of your family?
Ajax , he is my cat . The sultan of leisure
9. A movie that always makes you laugh?
boomerang
CL says
December 22nd, 2020 at 5:16 pm1. Brow pencil, brow powder or brow gel? Pencil.
2. Eau de parfum, eau de toilette or scented body cream/lotion? EDP.
3. Fill in the blank — I like big _____ and I cannot lie! Winter coats.
4. Scrunchies or claw clips? Scrunchies. Can’t drive with a claw clip on the back of my head.
5. Press-on fingernails or press-on toenails (side note: yes, this is a thing)? Fingernails.
6. These are a few of my favorite things: _____ (list at least three).
Shetland Sheepdogs, flowers, books, horses, snow, birdwatching.
7. Something on your to-do list today? Work.
8. What are the names or the animal members of your family? Unfortunately, I do not have any.
9. A movie that always makes you laugh? Probably “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” also, “Groundhog Day.” The problem with comedy movies is that they rely on surprise for most laughs, and the more you see a movie, the less effective that the element of surprise is.
Erica says
December 22nd, 2020 at 7:32 pm1. Brow pencil, brow powder or brow gel?
Whatever MAC’s brow fluidline is – gel?
2. Eau de parfum, eau de toilette or scented body cream/lotion?
Eau de parfume – so I just need a spritz or two
3. Fill in the blank — I like big _____ and I cannot lie!
Cookies!
4. Scrunchies or claw clips?
Claw clips – only because my hair is too fine for those cute 80’s – 90’s scrunchies that are back.
5. Press-on fingernails or press-on toenails (side note: yes, this is a thing)?
Neither. Fingernails, if I had to, but I have pretty long nails as is.
6. These are a few of my favorite things: _____ (list at least three).
Driving – I love being in the car, windows open, cranking music on a sunny day
Powder Foundation – MUFE Matte Velvet specifically
The invincible power of love and of being loved
7. Something on your to-do list today?
I have SO MANY presents to wrap! Gah!
8. What are the names or the animal members of your family?
Neptune Rex – a very handsome tabby
Schuyler Naboo – a shy black beauty
RIP Avalon Skylander – my cranky old lady kitty
9. A movie that always makes you laugh?
The Wedding Singer with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore
Karen C. says
December 23rd, 2020 at 7:29 amFirst of all, I wish you and all of yours a wonderful holiday season & a peaceful 2021!
1. Brow pencil, brow powder or brow gel? Pencil – can’t get the powder to lay right and I haven’t found a brow gel I’m crazy about yet.
2. Eau de parfum, eau de toilette or scented body cream/lotion? Eau de parfum
3. Fill in the blank — I like big _____ and I cannot lie! Kitties (I’m still working on fattening mine up), hugs, friendships
4. Scrunchies or claw clips? Scrunchies (so much more comfortable)
5. Press-on fingernails or press-on toenails (side note: yes, this is a thing)? Fingernails even though I pop them off in a couple of days. (toes? ewwww!)
6. These are a few of my favorite things: _____ (list at least three). Birds, nature, beer, makeup, comfortable shoes.
7. Something on your to-do list today? Make it through this last day at the office for a glorious 4 day weekend.
8. What are the names or the animal members of your family? Kitty: Thomas / Thomasito / T-Bone / Mr. T / Mayhem. Dog: Molly Jean / MJ / Little Miss Prissy Poopy Pants / Stinky Britches / Sissy Britches.
9. A movie that always makes you laugh? omg mine is also the “Catalina Wine Mixer”, Step Brothers – I cannot NOT watch that movie if its on! Also “Those Aren’t Pillows”, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, and tis the season for both the original & 2nd “Let Me Make You Some Sandwiches”, Bad Santa. 🙂
Kim says
January 6th, 2021 at 8:21 amCheck out the Eurovision Song Contest on Netflix – it’s cute and I think you’d like it. Will Farrell is as expected and Rachel McAdam is adorable. 🙂 Step Brothers makes me laugh but I have to rate it at #3 after Anchorman and Blades of Glory. HAHA!