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.
Just waking up this morning… I was still in bed when El Hub whispered to me on his way to work about the shooting in Las Vegas. We stayed in that same hotel a few years ago for Photoshop World… I remember tubing down the hotel’s lazy river.
I have no words for the sadness and what it must have been like for the people who were there last night. 🙁 No words. I’m so sorry.
I wrote today’s Monday Poll last night… I don’t think I would have felt up for it had I tried to write it this morning, and if you don’t feel like answering the questions and would rather talk about something else, I understand.
1. Which ’90s super model are you? — Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, Stephanie Seymore, Christy Turlington or Tyra Banks?
I deeply, deeply want to be Naomi Campbell because she’s a phone-throwing diva and nobody messes with her…but I’m probably closer to Christy Turlington? I dunno… She always seemed like she was pretty normal, or as normal as you can be while being preternaturally gorgeous and famous.
2. Doughnuts or doughnut holes?
GIRL. Forget the doughnut holes. I don’t want any of that nonsense. Gimme a doughnut, please. The doughnut holes are just more effort. You gotta keep picking them up, putting them in your mouth… With the regular doughnut, on the other hand, you get all that fried goodness in a single handful. To me, that is VERY appealing.
3. Where do you usually get your nails done?
Casa de Karen!
Once or twice a year I’ll go to a nail shop called NJ Nails in the shopping center by my house, but the only services I’ve gotten there are basic manicures and pedicures, so I don’t know what it’s like to get gels or acrylics there.
I’ve had good experiences the few times I’ve gone. The place is clean, they’re always busy, and they’re pretty affordable.
4. A beauty product you recently tried but wouldn’t recommend to a friend?
Oh, speaking nails! I bought a bottle of this topcoat by OPI called Rapidry at Nordstrom Rack, and ugh — it was so not good. It was thick, goopy and took forever to dry, and THEN my nail polish chipped within a day!
I usually love OPI, but this particular top coat wasn’t my fave.
5. What was the last social event you attended?
For someone who doesn’t get out much these days, I’ve been to two social events over the last week. TWO. That’s a lot for me lately.
I went to a SoulCycle group spin class hosted by Sweat Cosmetics on Saturday and a mixer with a mom’s group here in town a few days before that.
Here are the questions to copy and paste
1. Which ’90s super model are you? — Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, Stephanie Seymore, Christy Turlington or Tyra Banks?
2. Doughnuts or doughnut holes?
3. Where do you usually get your nails done?
4. A beauty product you recently tried but wouldn’t recommend to a friend?
5. What was the last social event you attended?
Hello, Monday
Hi, friend. I hope you had a nice weekend. About that SoulCycle event on Saturday with Sweat Cosmetics (I’ve talked about them before. You can find them at Sephora now.), they do mineral makeup for gals who like to wear a little something-something when they work out. The brand was founded by a group of professional athletes, including a few Olympic soccer players…so I got to spin at SoulCycle with Olympians (!). It was kind of surreal, and not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning.
The event was at SoulCycle in Los Gatos, which is about 90 minutes south of Novato. After I got my sweat on, they handed out these sweet swag bags with their Illuminator, a pair of running socks from Lululemon (which I totally needed, yay!), and some yummy healthful snacks I promptly ate on my drive home.
The best thing was this juice from Juice Co LG, a shop right across the street from the studio.
I usually prefer to make smoothies and juices at home (more cost effective, and I can be picky about what goes into my drink), and it’s rare when I go out and buy a juice, but this was such a nice treat. It had watermelon, strawberries, lime, chia seeds… MMM! Very good and refreshing.
Anyway, I had fun, and I learned some new things about some Sweat Cosmetics products. Apparently, they have this transparent loose powder with broad-spectrum SPF 30 that comes with the same travel twist brush applicator that their loose powder foundations, bronzer and illuminator have, and you can easily use it on kids — like during sporting events, or any time you’re out in the sun — and lazy hubbies (or wives) who are usually too lazy to put on liquid sunscreens. But it’s easy with the brush.
I use their loose powder in 300 with my weekend makeup. When I’m running errands, I dust a little on my face, curl my lashes, and apply a coat of MAC In Extra Dimension Waterproof Mascara, fill in my brows with MAC Brow Sculpt Pencil, and slick on some lip balm.
Anyway, check ’em out if you haven’t already. The brand is relatively new, and they’re here in the Bay Area, which I think is awesome.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I hear you, 100%. I’d sent out an email this morning to a friend, just full of silly stuff that doesn’t matter. And then I heard about Las Vegas. It’s so terrible. All those poor people and their loved ones. 🙁
I heard about LV during breakfast. I really hope everyone stays safe south of the border.
1. I think I’m most like Linda Evangelista. 🙂
2. Doughnuts.
3. Home. Once or twice a year, I go to a salon myself but it’s a treat.
4. I’ve been trying to come up with one but can’t! I don’t think I’ve tried anything new in a while…
5. A house party at my house. This was last month!
Woke up this morning to the news. I say it almost everyday but there are some crazy people out there. I have no idea what makes you do something so awful. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.
1. Which ’90s super model are you? — Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, Stephanie Seymore, Christy Turlington or Tyra Banks?
I’m going with a model you don’t have listed – Yasmin LeBon. She’s gorgeous and married to Simon LeBon who happens to be the lead singer of my all time favorite group, Duran Duran.
2. Doughnuts or doughnut holes?
I love donut holes, specifically the glazed. I can’t eat just one.
3. Where do you usually get your nails done?
Do them myself, maybe once a month or more.
4. A beauty product you recently tried but wouldn’t recommend to a friend?
Hmmm…I can’t think of anything right now.
5. What was the last social event you attended?
Saturday night – dinner and drinks with ElHub and his best friend and wife. We’re celebrating birthdays. ElHub and his best friend are a few days apart.
First, I agree with Barb, I am so numb from the news from Las Vegas. I realize that natural disasters are things we cannot control, but we can do our best to help the victims after the fact, but active shootings are activities we can and should do something about now. My prayers and thoughts are with the victims, their families and to the first responders.
On to the Monday poll.
Which ’90s super model are you? — Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, Stephanie Seymore, Christy Turlington or Tyra Banks? Don’t know that I am any of them, but I have always found Christy Turlingon to be amazing.
2. Doughnuts or doughnut holes? I love doughnuts, but they don’t love me. having said that, there is an amazing doughnut shop in NYC called the Doughnut Plant. They have incredible doughnuts, especially the creme brulee. I would drive in just to go there.
3. Where do you usually get your nails done? Lately I have been doing my nails at home.
4. A beauty product you recently tried but wouldn’t recommend to a friend? I have to admit that I wasn’t thrilled with the Chanel Les Beiges natural eyeshadow palette. I found the powders to be very chunky.
5. What was the last social event you attended? My nephew’s Bar Mitzvah in May.
Just finished Yom Kippur and had time to reflect on my year. I am striving to improve myself both mentally and physically. Your posts on your workout is an inspiration. this “old broad” needs to get off her a@%.
Be well!
1. Which ’90s super model are you? — Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, Stephanie Seymore, Christy Turlington or Tyra Banks?
Oh man, I don’t know. Christy Turlington always seems so nice.
2. Doughnuts or doughnut holes?
Doughnuts!
3. Where do you usually get your nails done?
I don’t! They’re almost always bare.
4. A beauty product you recently tried but wouldn’t recommend to a friend?
Dude the Too Faced Hangover Priming and Setting Spray destroyed my skin. Still dealing with the aftermath.
5. What was the last social event you attended?
Hmm, our show that fundraised for Project HEAL a few weeks ago.
1. Which ’90s super model are you? — Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, Stephanie Seymore, Christy Turlington or Tyra Banks?
Can I mix Naomi Campbell fierceness with Tyra Banks sweetness.
2. Doughnuts or doughnut holes? doughnuts
3. Where do you usually get your nails done? this nail salon it was scrub nail boutique or this young lady erica -the nail doctor
4. A beauty product you recently tried but wouldn’t recommend to a friend? those eyeliner stamps
5. What was the last social event you attended? girl. i cant remember. my birthday is going to be a social event since working two jobs.
1. Which ’90s super model are you? — Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, Stephanie Seymore, Christy Turlington or Tyra Banks? Linda Evangelista! I loved her! I bought my first copy of Allure magazine because she was on the cover. She was just so glam and gorgeous.
2. Doughnuts or doughnut holes? Donuts! Glazed. I’m not a big sweets eater, but when I do crave sweets, it’s a donut.
3. Where do you usually get your nails done? My kitchen table. Every time I’ve had a manicure, it’s chipped that day. I’m allergic to gels so I stick to regular polish.
4. A beauty product you recently tried but wouldn’t recommend to a friend? I don’t really have one. I like everything!
5. What was the last social event you attended? I went to a wedding in LA three weeks ago, so fun! But I try to do a coffee date with my Mom friends at least once a week.
The events in Las Vegas were horrific. People going to have a good time and being shot. I have a friend that was at the Jason Aldean concert, she is safe, thank GOD, but she was literally two people away from one of the victims. It’s awful.
The LV shooting is unbelievable… and simultaneously all too believable. I keep thinking not just about the victims and their families, but also the first responders and those working at the hospitals.
1. Which ’90s super model are you? — Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, Stephanie Seymore, Christy Turlington or Tyra Banks?
None of the above- I’ve never been that skinny in my life.
2. Doughnuts or doughnut holes?
Yes, please.
3. Where do you usually get your nails done?
I trim and file them when they get annoying. That’s pretty much the extent of it.
4. A beauty product you recently tried but wouldn’t recommend to a friend?
MUFE Aqua XL Eye Pencil Waterproof Eyeliner. It’s waterproof, but it doesn’t go on smoothly and is inconsistent. Some of it disappears within an hour, while some I nearly have to sandblast off. My eyeliner ends up looking like Morse Code. (It is, in fact- I’m sending out an SOS for a reliable eyeliner.)
5. What was the last social event you attended?
Does a middle school girls’ B-squad basketball game count as a social event?
I woke up to a news alert on my phone about Las Vegas, then opened facebook and found a bunch of people I know were in Las Vegas (on the strip, near the strip, for varying reasons) but thankfully were okay. Just…ugh.
1. Which ’90s super model are you? — Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, Stephanie Seymore, Christy Turlington or Tyra Banks?
Cindy!! She and I share a hometown & high school (albeit several years apart).
2. Doughnuts or doughnut holes?
Doughnuts – I can eat one and feel satisfied. Holes? I end up eating like, 10.
3. Where do you usually get your nails done?
I’ve been trying to find my spot in Chicago – and I think I finally did at this little divey-looking place next to this restaurant all the cab drivers go to near my home. The tech did a meticulous job on shaping and trimming and the no-chip lasted forever – not even packing for a corporate move chipped it! And they have a punch card.
4. A beauty product you recently tried but wouldn’t recommend to a friend?
I’ve been using the Pacifica’s Kale Brighten enzymatic mask for the last couple of weeks and I can’t really say I see a difference in tone, texture. I have really sensitive skin and it doesn’t bother it at all which is great…but…it doesn’t seem to do much, either. It makes me sad, because I like so many of their other products I’ve tried.
5. What was the last social event you attended?
My high school BFF’s wedding in Maine a couple weekends ago – it was beautiful and I totally cried during the reading I did (but my eye makeup didn’t budge!).
Like everyone else, I woke up to the bad news about Vegas. I’ve been there many times and have only good memories. Thoughts and prayers to everyone affected.
1. Ha, I’ve never thought of myself as any kind of supermodel. Tough one for me to answer.
2. Doughnuts all the way. I haven’t had a really good one in a long time. I’ll have to fix that.
3. I get my pedicures done at a little Vietnamese shop. I’ve been going there to the same guy (the owner) for 12 years. He does a great job. I keep my finger nails short and don’t do them.
4. Green concealer. It left an odd white look to my skin. It’s still in my drawer but I should just pitch it.
5. Does a funeral count as a social event? We went to 2 last weekend. Other than that, we live in FL and everyone leaves for the summer so I don’t even remember.
1. Which ’90s super model are you? — Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, Stephanie Seymore, Christy Turlington or Tyra Banks?
I’m thinking more like a Cindy Crawford – not looks wise, just because she’s so damn smart and down to earth in interviews.
2. Doughnuts or doughnut holes?
If I’m actually letting myself eat doughnuts, then I’m eating the whole damn thing!
3. Where do you usually get your nails done?
I always do my fingers myself, but when I go for a monthly pedi I’m not totally loyal to any one place in town, it just depends on where I am and who’s open! 🙂
4. A beauty product you recently tried but wouldn’t recommend to a friend?
L’Oreal Total Coverage foundation, I’ve tried it by itself and mixed with my beloved Pro Matte and really don’t see much of a difference in coverage. Sticking with Pro Matte!
5. What was the last social event you attended?
We host a lot at home, basically every weekend, so the last event we actually went out for was a friend’s surprise birthday party. Totally got them! 🙂
I feel a little numb about the shooting. It seems there is a lot of bad in the world that sometimes I just need to tune the media out, the rest of the world out and focus on what is happening in my own little world just to stay together. I have two routines to learn for Special Olympics (my coaches decided I was strong enough for dressage, something we have never competed in), so it’s very hard to keep everything together.
1. Which ’90s super model are you? — Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, Stephanie Seymore, Christy Turlington or Tyra Banks?
I don’t know. I was never really into supermodels!
2. Doughnuts or doughnut holes?
Doughnuts, especially the swirly long ones.
3. Where do you usually get your nails done?
At home.
4. A beauty product you recently tried but wouldn’t recommend to a friend?
That brow stuff that comes in a pot. I just keep getting it too heavy! I just prefer brow mascara! It’s pretty goof proof.
5. What was the last social event you attended?
Oh gosh, aside from horse shows? HA HA HA HA HA, oh man, probably a baby shower or something.
Hi Katie,
I know what you mean. The world to me was scary before, but now it’s seems even more scary now that I’ve got the Coywolf in my life. I have no idea how I’m going to keep it together when I need to send her out into the real world. I know every parent does it but it frightens me when things like the shooting in Vegas happen.
On a happier note, congratulations on your new dressage challenge. I don’t know a lot about horse competitions but have a little knowledge from talking to Tatiana here in the comments. She’s a horse person, too. You gals should chat sometime.
Anyway, I know you’ll do great. 🙂
I was pretty well protected as a child because I grew up military. Not a lot of bad people could come into an active military base because you needed ID to get into base (except on July 4 most times), so I was often did trick-or-treating with just a few friends when I was just seven years old (this is not uncommon even today.) The security is so tight that you don’t have to worry about your kids. The lack of security in suburbs was the hardest thing for me to adjust to because all of a sudden my parents would not let me go anywhere unless I was in a large group of friends or accompanied by an adult. (Imagine being 11 and having this rule forced on you. Yep.)
Think of dressage as horse ballet. If you go onto Youtube, look up Tempel Lipizzan dressage and you can get a few good clips on dressage; I used to live five or ten minutes away from this farm. I live about 30 minutes away from them now. English Equitation shows the basic mastery of English riding. Dressage is built on the principles of English Equitation, only more complex. I have 12 steps to learn for Dressage; 5 for English Equitation and I am one of those very detail-oriented, anal retentive people so I DO NOT like messing up, even over something tiny like my line not being straight! XD
1. Which ’90s super model are you? — Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, Stephanie Seymore, Christy Turlington or Tyra Banks? Unfortunately, I don’t look like any of them. Ha! I always liked Cindy and Christy. The are both beautiful and intelligent. I especially think Christy continues to blossom in terms of looks and personal awesomeness the older she gets. In terms of how they dressed, I was more a fan of Naomi.
2. Doughnuts or doughnut holes? Doughnuts. Especially Bismarcks with the bavarian cream filling and chocolate icing on top.
3. Where do you usually get your nails done? A little more than a year ago, the Salon I went to for nearly a decade got sold. I found a place much closer to where I live now, called Isse Salon, and I get NexGen nails. I used to do traditional acrylics, but about 6 months ago I started having terrible allergic reactions, even at different salons. I don’t know if I just built up an allergy, or if my old manicurist used magical products.
4. A beauty product you recently tried but wouldn’t recommend to a friend? I can’t think of anything recently as far as product itself. I don’t like the packaging quality on the Tarte Big Blush Book Vol. 3. The print is pretty, but the cardboard is soft, and I’m afraid the blushes will fall out. Plus, it’s too big and cumbersome to use easily. I will probably end up de-potting the blushes out of mine.
5. What was the last social event you attended? You know, it’s been so long I don’t even remember. 🙁 I don’t know if this counts as a “social event,” but when hubby and I went to Seattle we went on a harbor/locks cruise. Other people were there and you could get snacks and alcohol. Sort of a social event? LOL
Hi Rachel,
I was thinking the same thing about Tarte Big Blush Book. Have you seen these empty metal palettes by Make Up For Ever? Unfortunately the $14 XL size (which is the one I wanted) is out of stock, but they look great for carrying depotted pans.
I know about them, but the bigger sizes seem perpetually sold out. Friends have said they’re really good. I’ve also had the MAC ones recommended to me.
I used to love Zpalettes, but the company was recently mocking customers on their social media, so I won’t buy them anymore. The last time I had a CS issue with them, I was not impressed. They used to be great. I don’t know what happened.
I ordered a couple custom palettes from Glam Tech. They were just shipped, and I can’t wait to see them. Courtney from Phyrra has some really pretty ones and she loves them. https://www.etsy.com/shop/GlamTech
1. Which ’90s super model are you? — Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, Stephanie Seymore, Christy Turlington or Tyra Banks? Ooh, I’m not really sure! I don’t know much about them beside the way they look.
2. Doughnuts or doughnut holes? Donuts! Boston Cream are my favorite, followed by jelly. Dunkin’ used to have a powdered donut with a lemon filling that was my ultimate favorite but I can’t find it anymore.
3. Where do you usually get your nails done? I rarely get my nails done, I usually do them myself, but my friend took me to a place across the street from the train station where they do seriously skillful powder gels! I got one on Friday and I’m still blown away by how good it looks. I got a tiny chip in the left index finger (a tiny little V fell out of the tip) but I smacked the finger pretty hard and it hasn’t begun to peel or anything from there so I don’t think it’s the salon’s fault.
4. A beauty product you recently tried but wouldn’t recommend to a friend? Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer. I’ve tried it a few times and it looks so gorgeous when I apply it but it oxidizes like 2 shades darker on me and I’ve heard that from a lot of people.
5. What was the last social event you attended? I went to a friends housewarming party! It was super fun and full of warm, good friends.
1. Which ’90s super model are you? — Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, Stephanie Seymore, Christy Turlington or Tyra Banks?
Claudia Schiffer. As if!
2. Doughnuts or doughnut holes?
Doughnuts, for sure. My favorite flavor is vanilla cream filled, and I’ve yet to find that flavor in a donut hole. Second fave is the cider donut, dunked in hot apple cider. Yum!
3. Where do you usually get your nails done?
Most times I do them myself, but once or twice a year I will splurge on a professional mani-pedi. Last week several nails snapped off, right when I was looking forward to finally applying a fall color. Drat!
4. A beauty product you recently tried but wouldn’t recommend to a friend?
NARS Orgasm lipstick. It is my first NARS lipstick, and it’s not only sheer (which is okay), but also not particularly luxurious or emollient. It feels like I haven’t applied anything after about a half hour. I’ve used better-feeling lipsticks, with fuller coverage and more staying power, from Cover Girl, Milani and Rimmel, so can hardly justify the spend. The name’s a hoot, but the lipstick is nothing to holler about.
5. What was the last social event you attended?
Social event? What’s that? ?
Hi Susan,
I don’t think I’ve ever had a cider doughnut dunked in hot apple cider; it sounds delicious though! There’s a few doughnut places in my neighborhood and in the nearest nearby town, San Rafael, and the best place out of all of them is this small mom-and-pop shop in a strip mall. The doughnuts are flavorful, light and fluffy, and they practically melt in your mouth. I don’t go there often but when I do go there… MMMM!
1. I’m not like any of them, but if I could choose to look like any of them, it would be Claudia Schiffer. However, I hate the fact she often posed with her mouth slightly open, which made her look like she had mental problems of some sort.
2. Donuts.
3. Home only. Can’t stand the idea of getting nail fungus, or worse, at a salon.
4. Probably Born That Way foundation. I need to try it again before writing it off completely, but it seems too dry for me.
5. None, unless you include meetings at work or visiting my mother in the hospital.
I’ve done both of those in the past month.
Late to the party, it’s been a rough week for me! THAT JUICE LOOKS SO GOOD RN!
1. Which ’90s super model are you? — Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, Stephanie Seymore, Christy Turlington or Tyra Banks?
Man, That’s a tough choice. I’m going to go with Christy. Normal-ish, health conscious, and aging gracefully. Back in the 90’s? A busty less cigi filled Kate Moss.
2. Doughnuts or doughnut holes?
I used to prefer the holes when I was a kid. I prefer the Doughnut now. Maple Bacon please and thank you. Maybe a lemon curd filled.
3. Where do you usually get your nails done?
I rarely get them done but I have a very strict Russian manicurist who is possibly the best I’ve ever seen. I’ve gone to her three times now in a year. Only for big events though, $55 a pop is too much for me.
4. A beauty product you recently tried but wouldn’t recommend to a friend?
I’m on the fence so I got a sample to keep testing but the Fenty foundation. It is way too fast drying and seems to me for oily skinned peeps. It looked like a train wreck on my hand. I removed it, moisturized and primed to filth, then used the scantest amount and worked in sections over my hand. That helped. That’s a lot of work though. I love the shade selection though. And yeah, I’m totally singing Work while I writing this.
5. What was the last social event you attended?
A wedding up in Victoria Canada. One of the last times I got my nails done too.