So…what is the Monday Poll?
Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past 10 (!) years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.
1. What was the last drugstore beauty product you bought at an actual drugstore (yes, Target counts)?
It was a refill pack of Venus razors, which, FYI, they keep on lockdown at Target these days! You can’t just roll up and grab a pack of Venus refills off the shelf anymore.
Anyway, I bought the pack with the three blades because, honestly, who needs five blades?? I feel like three is enough, LOL.
2. Who taught you how to cook?
A friendly gal named “The Internet!” But seriously, in my family… Well, I’ll give my parents props because there was always food on the table, and the food was always home-cooked, which, as you know as a busy adult, is really hard to do.
But my parents weren’t and aren’t foodies. Preparing food was more of a task they had to get done than something inspirational or creative, so there were many meals with meat that tasted like an old shoe. You ate it and moved on with your life.
So cooking wasn’t a high priority for me growing up, and I didn’t really learn much about it until my 30s, which is when I discovered food blogs!
3. What’s a concept or a technique that helps you get through your days?
I need to believe that every task I complete gets me closer to some goal I’ve set for myself.
And, you know, the goal doesn’t have to be a huge thing. It can be something small like making time to jump on the treadmill in the afternoon, meeting my writing deadline for the day, or taking a five-minute walk with Connor…
I just like to feel that every task has a purpose and moves me closer to achieving something else, and when I realize sometimes that I’m busy, but I’m busy doing things that weren’t even on my list, I start to spiral…
4. Express your current mood using only emojis.
☀️☕️☀️☕️☀️☕️☀️☕️☀️
5. What’s one of your long-term goals?
This is like my own personal NeverEnding Story, but it’s to finally, eventually, someday get my house to where I know exactly where everything is, and there’s no wasted space. Not even in the closets! My deadline date for this is January 1, 2018.
To this end, I have to remind myself all the time that everything doesn’t have to be perfect! This is an issue that has plagued me for most of my adult life. If left to my own devices, I get paralyzed by the thought of doing a half-@ssed job on a task because of not having enough time and having it not turn out exactly the way I want it, so I end up not doing anything about it at all…
I constantly need to remind myself to chill and accept that on some days, 50% is going to be the best I can do.
So this is a gentle reminder to myself and to you that everything doesn’t have to be perfect. Ya just gotta get in there and do something!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Here are the questions to copy/paste.
1. What was the last drugstore beauty product you bought at an actual drugstore (yes, Target counts)?
2. Who taught you how to cook?
3. What’s a concept or a technique that helps you get through your days?
4. Express your current mood using only emojis.
5. What’s one of your long-term goals?
Hey Karen! Aw, man, some of these are kinda hard. Let’s see…
1. What was the last drugstore beauty product you bought at an actual drugstore (yes, Target counts)?
Hmm, I think it was a charcoal toothpaste which sounded interesting. Turns out to be working really well for me – something I didn’t really expect.
2. Who taught you how to cook?
Ha, erm… I’m sure anybody who visits me will agree that… nobody. I can google stuff and recipes usually turn out OK, but most of the time I simply cannot be bothered to put in the effort. So I usually end up having very simple meals, like a bag of salad with cheese and a can of tuna ..!
3. What’s a concept or a technique that helps you get through your days?
Honestly, I think it’s switching to make-up, which is always a relief and fun. I’m trying to finish up a gigantic thesis before I start a job, and I’m not sure I’ll manage. So they’ll overlap and…I expect to delve even deeper into the world of make-up so I can cope. :-/
4. Express your current mood using only emojis.
😯 ❗ :coffee:
5. What’s one of your long-term goals?
Hmm, I suppose two related ones – making sure I am dealing with negative things in life in a healthy way, without running away from them, and trying to always ask myself if I am happy doing what I am doing, and what should happen if I’m not.
Lex recently posted … Chanel Travel Diary Collection 2017: Reviews for the Road Movie and City Lights quads, plus retractable brushes
Hi Lex,
The simple meals are the best ones! It helps to have good ingredients, I’ve found. Takes it to the next level, ya know?
Anywho, how far are you into your thesis? Are you nearly done?
Well, not quite… I’ve written 4 chapters out of what will probably be 8 chapters overall. Oh boy. :-/ Job starts mid-September…so I’ll get more done, but don’t think it’ll be possible to finish…
Anyhow, happy Monday and hope you have a great week Karen! 🙂
Lex recently posted … Chanel Travel Diary Collection 2017: Reviews for the Road Movie and City Lights quads, plus retractable brushes
Happy Monday!!
1. What was the last drugstore beauty product you bought at an actual drugstore (yes, Target counts)? Some Burt’s Bees cleanser. Actually, the Hubs picked it up per my request.
2. Who taught you how to cook? Food Network when I was on bed rest for the kiddos for 6 months! My mother is a very good cook – though she will say that she just follows the recipe – but we never had to do anything growing up. I started cooking after the kids were born. When we bought our house a couple of years earlier, the joke when people asked if the kitchen was big was “it only needs to be big enough for a phone”. Now, I cook dinner every day.
3. What’s a concept or a technique that helps you get through your days? Quite honestly, it’s counting down the hours until I leave work and can get started on all the “important stuff”.
4. Express your current mood using only emojis. 🙂
5. What’s one of your long-term goals? To (hopefully) help my boys to grow up to be happy, healthy, successful, caring, generous and productive members of society!
Hey Kim,
Happy Monday! How is your work project going? Are things moving along (hopefully smoothly)?
I’m almost afraid to answer and jinx it. HAHA! I think we’ve overcome all the big packaging and production challenges so fingers crossed that the distribution portion is a success. At this point, things are looking promising!! Thanks for asking. 🙂
1. What was the last drugstore beauty product you bought at an actual drugstore (yes, Target counts)?: I feel like it was a NYX something at CVS, or possibly a L’Oreal something at Rite Aid.
2. Who taught you how to cook?: My grandmother and mother. I really learned by watching them. They rarely took me into the kitchen to actually receive a cooking lesson.
3. What’s a concept or a technique that helps you get through your days?: I remind myself that no one owes me anything (helpful when people are not nice to me) and I often switch my thoughts to things I like and want to own, like jewelry, makeup or a nice house.
4. Express your current mood using only emojis. Oh no, I’m at my work desk on a regular computer, but it would be the sleepy emoji.
5. What’s one of your long-term goals?: To run a successful cosmetics empire and to own this house: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/170-Shonnard-Ter-Yonkers-NY-10701/32986836_zpid/
Wow, pretty house! When you make that dream happen let me know if you’re looking for a copy writer. 🙂
1. What was the last drugstore beauty product you bought at an actual drugstore (yes, Target counts)?
A Mizon sheet mask and some sunblock!
2. Who taught you how to cook?
My grandmothers, mother, and Aunt. Also, quite a but myself. I used to watch PBS as a kid, all the cooking shows.
3. What’s a concept or a technique that helps you get through your days?
Jail sucks…
4. Express your current mood using only emojis.
🙁
5. What’s one of your long-term goals?
To sleep 7 to 9 hours regularly!
Hope you feel better soon, Erin!
1. What was the last drugstore beauty product you bought at an actual drugstore (yes, Target counts)? Physicians Formula mascara
2. Who taught you how to cook? A little bit of my momma, a little bit of YouTube and the rest of the Internet and a whole lotta Food Network!
3. What’s a concept or a technique that helps you get through your days? I actually focus on the time throughout the day, kind of visualizing where we are in the day. I try to step out for a minute, whether that’s outside or just out of the chair, to get some steps in and clear my head. And COFFEE. Caffeinated coffee or tea gets me through the day.
4. Express your current mood using only emojis. ??☕️?
5. What’s one of your long-term goals? Make a difference in our world.
That’s a great reminder, Lydia. I really need to step out more during my work day. Gonna take a quick break to grab some air in the lady sanctuary!
Happy Monday to you!
Happy Monday! We’re getting a break from the heat this week. Temps in the mid-70s to low 80s. Can you feel me happy dancing?
1. What was the last drugstore beauty product you bought at an actual drugstore (yes, Target counts)? Ponds makeup remover wipes
2. Who taught you how to cook? My mom taught me some, and in the 90s my hubby and I used to watch all the cooking shows on Oregon Public Broadcasting every weekend.
3. What’s a concept or a technique that helps you get through your days? Taking one day at a time. I have anxiety disorders, so it’s a lot of work not to constantly worry about the future.
4. Express your current mood using only emojis. 🙂
5. What’s one of your long-term goals? Travel to other countries
I can’t believe it’s hot where you are and freezing cold down here. I’m sitting at my computer with a sweater on, LOL! Do you guys have plans to get out and enjoy the weather? I hope so!
How weird that you guys are cold! I’d rather be freezing than have temps between 95-and 108 like we’ve had the last couple weeks. Too hot for me! I’ll probably get some shopping done while the temps are cooler.
1. What was the last drugstore beauty product you bought at an actual drugstore (yes, Target counts)? Aveeno shave gel at CVS.
2. Who taught you how to cook? My Mom. She’s a retired Home Ec teacher so I’m very lucky!
3. What’s a concept or a technique that helps you get through your days? Anything learned in yoga. Mostly just to remember to breathe. 🙂
4. Express your current mood using only emojis.
I’m on the computer so I’ll have to write them out:
[boat emoji] [canoe emoji] [water emoji] [beer emoji]
Wishing I was at my lake house this week (but we are renting out to friends).
5. What’s one of your long-term goals? To keep staying at my current job. It’s been almost 7.5 years!
That’s great you’ve been at your job for 7.5 years! It seems like it’s the thing to do to jump from gig to gig but there’s something to be said about stability. Do you like what you do?
1. What was the last drugstore beauty product you bought at an actual drugstore (yes, Target counts)?
My beloved Maybelline Lash Sensational. I don’t think I will ever switch to any other mascara. Every high end one I’ve tried is horrible and doesn’t offer anywhere near the same length!
2. Who taught you how to cook?
I am mostly self-taught (with the help of cookbooks, YouTube and The Food Network of course). When I was around 12, I gave up red meat and my father, furious, told me I had to make my own dinners from then on because he “wasn’t making two different meals.” It worked in my favour though because now I know how to cook and I am extremely comfortable in the kitchen. I love cooking, and baking as well.
3. What’s a concept or a technique that helps you get through your days?
Knowing I get to come home to my cat, Salem. (I know you’ll understand, Karen! LOL.) Sometimes after I get off the bus and start walking home, it actually makes me walk a little faster knowing he’ll be there to greet me and then I can relax and cuddle him. On a broader scale… just trying to keep faith that everything I am doing will somehow get me to where I want to be. I don’t like my life the way it is now but I am doing the best I can with what I have, hoping for a better future.
4. Express your current mood using only emojis.
?
5. What’s one of your long-term goals?
I really, really, really want to work with animals. I have already been back to school twice and there’s no way I could afford to do it again (I am still paying off debt), but somehow, some way, I want animals to be part of my daily life. I know if my job involved animals I would never dread going to work again. I don’t have a plan for how this is going to happen right now, but I know it’s something I want and need.
I totally understand where you’re coming from, Ash. When we go on trips and are finally coming home, I start getting antsy when I know where less than 10 minutes away because it means I get to see Tabs again! I love coming home to my sweet boy (when he isn’t cranky!).
I hope you find a way to work with animals in the future. Maybe for now do some volunteer work at a local shelter? I know the local
1. What was the last drugstore beauty product you bought at an actual drugstore (yes, Target counts)?
Oh man, I haven’t bought much recently. Maybe L’Oréal Lash Paradise mascara?
2. Who taught you how to cook?
I can’t cook to save my life!
3. What’s a concept or a technique that helps you get through your days?
Sometimes as I walk out of my job for the day I say “I quit.” and it helps me feel better.
4. Express your current mood using only emojis.
The laughing / crying one!
5. What’s one of your long-term goals?
Maybe learning to cook? :p
LOL your answer to number 5. Who does the cooking? The kitties?!
Zack’s a pretty good cook! Otherwise I buy a lot of prepared foods or eat yogurt, berries, and granola :p
1. What was the last drugstore beauty product you bought at an actual drugstore (yes, Target counts)? – Funny, I just got back from CVS! I bought 7 Days facial mist and 2 NYX lip products.
2. Who taught you how to cook? – My grandmother – if I was supposed to add garlic to something, I’d ask her how much. She’d say, “well, you just have to judge”. What? She never measured ingredients!
3. What’s a concept or a technique that helps you get through your days? – I try to think of the things I already accomplished that day if that makes sense!
4. Express your current mood using only emojis. – I don’t have emojis on my computer! 🙂
5. What’s one of your long-term goals? – To raise my daughter to the best of my ability.
Hi Mary Ann,
I have a daughter, too. How old is your girl? Mine is a year and a half.
1. What was the last drugstore beauty product you bought at an actual drugstore (yes, Target counts)?
An ELF foundation brush from Target.
2. Who taught you how to cook?
My mom hates to cook, but taught me the basics, like how to boil an egg, etc. My grandma was a really good, plain cook who loved to feed people, so she taught me a bit more. Really, though, I started reading cookbooks in Kindergarten and that’s how I learned most of what I know. Now I know how to cook a wide variety of cuisines, the history behind them, and also a lot of the science behind cooking.
3. What’s a concept or a technique that helps you get through your days?
Making lists!
4. Express your current mood using only emojis.
? ? ?
5. What’s one of your long-term goals?
To survive another 6 years of the first-day-of-school, lol. Last week was chaos!!!
1. What was the last drugstore beauty product you bought at an actual drugstore (yes, Target counts)?
Eucerin lotion. I get the Eucerin without any parabens or silicones (‘cones) because my skin doesn’t like that in my lotion! This often means my lotion is expensive. Le sigh.
2. Who taught you how to cook?
My mom and my grams….and YouTube. Fine, we cannot forget YouTube. My grams mostly though! I obviously added my own flare because I just plain hate measuring crap (I only do this for baking and even then…I rough it.)
3. What’s a concept or a technique that helps you get through your days?
I have a laminated paper with tasks (“chores” I hate that word.) written on it that I can sift through. I help use this as a boredom buster and to help keep my parents off my back about not doing my “chores.” They have everything from volunteer work to walking to doing dishes.
4. Express your current mood using only emojis.
I need the doggy emoji. Why have I not figured out emojis on the computer?
5. What’s one of your long-term goals?
This sounds silly because people all ready think I’m confident around horses, but being a more confident horse woman. I still have SO MUCH to learn! I’m still very new to saddling (aka tacking up), but very experienced untacking horses. I’d love to learn how to wash them, muck their stalls…I’m generally very interested in how to care for them. I feel the more you know how to care for them, the more confident you are on them…at least I am.
1. What was the last drugstore beauty product you bought at an actual drugstore (yes, Target counts)?
It was the NYX warm neutral palette, which I bought at Target after someone claimed it was a dupe for Urban Decay Naked Heat. I actually haven’t played with it yet, though. After recently swatching the actual Naked Heat at Ulta, I’m not sure I’m in love with those colors.
2. Who taught you how to cook?
My mom. When I was growing up, all I wanted to do after school was read or hang out in the kitchen watching Mom cook the family dinner. Often she’d call me from the other room, interrupting my book to demonstrate a cooking technique she thought I’d need to know. As a kid, I always assumed that Adult Me would hire a chef to do these things, because I just wasn’t interested, despite my love of baking. I’m slightly over 50 now, and that mysterious chef has yet to materialize.
3. What’s a concept or a technique that helps you get through your days?
If I’m going through a rough patch or find myself too embroiled in seriousness, I try to cheer up by binge watching goofy old sitcoms. (“That ’70s Show” is my current binge. Today’s bonus? Kelso, shirtless).
If all else fails, crank up the music and clean something!
4. Express your current mood using only emojis.
???♂️??♀️??
5. What’s one of your long-term goals?
I’d like to write a book! Someday, someday…
1. What was the last drugstore beauty product you bought at an actual drugstore (yes, Target counts)?
Rimmel Stay Matte Powder, it’s actually pretty good too! I wanted something a little different than mac msfn
2. Who taught you how to cook?
My mom! Baking was my grandma and favorite 4-h leader, but cooking was entirely my mom and a little bit of Alton Brown and Rachel Ray thrown in for good measure.
3. What’s a concept or a technique that helps you get through your days?
“This Too shall pass”
4. Express your current mood using only emojis.
:!
5. What’s one of your long-term goals?
Moving out of Indiana
1. What was the last drugstore beauty product you bought at an actual drugstore (yes, Target counts)?
I just picked up more L’Oreal Pro Matte foundation from CVS. I should really just get two at a time!
2. Who taught you how to cook?
I learned baking from my mom, but for cooking she never worked off recipes, which I really need to see (at least the first time). In my late 20s I really got into cooking thanks to the Pioneer Woman’s step-by-step food blogging, so I didn’t have to keep pausing video. 🙂 Now I learn the most from my husband who went to culinary school for a while!
3. What’s a concept or a technique that helps you get through your days?
Focusing on long-term goals (tying nicely into #5) really helps me. My current job has become much more stressful and I’m honestly just toughing it out until I can quit just before the baby comes in January – which I am so, so grateful for. So right now I’m keeping in mind our financial goals (mainly buying a house) to keep me going until then!
4. Express your current mood using only emojis.
Dangit – um, parents with kid emoji, heart emoji, repeat. 😉
5. What’s one of your long-term goals?
Buying a house! We’ve been debt-free since last November and have been working on squirreling away an emergency fund, and now it’s down payment savings time.
1. What was the last drugstore beauty product you bought at an actual drugstore (yes, Target counts)? L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara in Blackest Black. Depending how the tube performs over time, I may not go back to expensive mascara. I’ve only worn it 4 times now, but I’m loving it.
2. Who taught you how to cook? My Mom. She had a catering business. At first I was a server, then I did prep, then I did the nasty jobs no one else wanted like manning the deep fryer. It wasn’t foodie or gourmet, but it was solid prep skills. From there I moved to NYC and started reading the NYTimes food section (this was way before there were even laptops or home computers, let alone blogs), then I just started experimenting.
3. What’s a concept or a technique that helps you get through your days? I woke up and I’m still alive. Let’s get as much done today because who knows if I’ll be alive tomorrow.
1. What was the last drugstore beauty product you bought at an actual drugstore (yes, Target counts)?
The Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink lip color, and I actually hated it. I know it gets rave reviews but it really, really doesn’t work for me! I find it super thick, heavy, it doesn’t dry, transfers everywhere and only lasts a few hours.
2. Who taught you how to cook?
My mom, and I also learned from watching other people cook like my grandmas, aunts… I think kids just get a lot more exposure to cooking fresh food in France.
3. What’s a concept or a technique that helps you get through your days?
Using some breathing and relaxation or meditation techniques I’ve learnt at yoga: deep controlled breathing, non-judgment, letting my thoughts go through my head without clinging to them, let go of expectations. I’m a lot less anxious if I practice these techniques.
4. Express your current mood using only emojis.
I’m on a laptop so no emojis for me, but that would be the zzz sleeping one! I worked all weekend and I have today off!
5. What’s one of your long-term goals?
I don’t have precise long-term goals, I’m more the kind of person that takes life day after day. That being said, I would like things to get better and more fulfilling professionally, and I would like to be more comfortable financially as well.
Okay, this isn’t really answering your Monday poll, but what is that lovely 3×3 palette in the upper right corner of the pic? It looks absolutely gorgeous (and familiar) but for the life of me it’s slipped my mind. I’m in a real makeup rut right now and this might help me break it… fingers crossed!!
1. What was the last drugstore beauty product you bought at an actual drugstore (yes, Target counts)?
Nail polish remover! By Silkygirl, a local drugstore brand. And it’s pretty good too!
2. Who taught you how to cook?
Pretty much the Internet, my mum cooks well but can’t take seeing me cook poorly (she’ll cut in and take over) so I pretty much learn from food blogs!
3. What’s a concept or a technique that helps you get through your days?
Savouring the little things in life, like a nice-smelling shower cream, and focusing on looking forward to them!
4. Express your current mood using only emojis.
???????
5. What’s one of your long-term goals?
Retirement planning- financial planning for retirement!
Hi Karen,
Would you mind sharing some of your fav food blogs.. I think I found skinny taste on your recommendation but I’m always on the lookout for more… Oh, and do a list of your fav Trader Joe’s items… Yummmmm….
Hmmm….
1. What was the last drugstore beauty product you bought at an actual drugstore (yes, Target counts)? Maybelline Age Erase Concealer
2. Who taught you how to cook? I taught myself, through trial and wrrorand with the the help of Ina Garten and America’s Test Kitchen
3. What’s a concept or a technique that helps you get through your days? I don’t know that I really have one, its not that difficult for me
4. Express your current mood using only emojis. ??
5. What’s one of your long-term goals? My goal is to show my own Golden Retriever to a championship. I haven’t found the right dog yet but I am being patient! The Golden I have now failed because his tail is too high, lol.
1. What was the last drugstore beauty product you bought at an actual drugstore (yes, Target counts)? Maybe a tiny tub of Vaseline? Not sure. I try to buy everything at Sephora for the points, even toothpaste. I’m addicted to Marvis.
2. Who taught you how to cook? I learned probably the most from my mom and also my grandma.
3. What’s a concept or a technique that helps you get through your days? I don’t know if this counts as a concept or a technique but I meditate every single morning for a minimum of ten minutes. Right now 20 minutes is my goal but I’ve got to hit at least ten. It’s only been since May 2016 and it’s been life-changing.
4. Express your current mood using only emojis. I’m typing on my desktop so I don’t have any emojis. But they would be hearts, lipsticks and espresso cups.
5. What’s one of your long-term goals? To earn enough money from my website to quit my day job. That’s a biggie!