So…what is the Monday Poll?
Good question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll. 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 gazillion years (more than 10!). I love reading your answers, and it helps me get my week off to a great start. ?
Rise and shine, morning glory! Happy Monday. ?? I’ll be in and out today because I have some cool things to do for the Connor Claire store. And I want to do ’em. So that’s what I’m doing today, but I’m also blogging in a way because I’ll be wearing makeup and testing a few things to share with you.
Now, the poll!
1. A little…never hurt anyone.
A little dry shampoo never hurt anyone (best one of all time: R+Co Death Valley). I mean, if you think about it, you get an extra day out of your hairdo, lift at your roots, and, in some cases, kick-@ss perfumes (hi, Oribe)… Actually, when I’m done with this, I’m gonna use some because my hair feels gross. It’s been like two days since I washed it.
2. Crazy baby hairs — how the heck do you tame them?
Well, you can stop fighting them and just let them be all crazy, which is what I do sometimes. Or, you can do certain things, like redirecting your part, to make the taming process a little easier.
I part slightly down the center left now, whereas I used to do a deep part on my right, and the only reason I do this now is because of a few weeks when I was too tired to bother with my hair, and I just let it do what it wanted to, and the baby hairs always went a certain way…so when I just go with it and don’t spend all my life fighting them, it makes my life easier.
So, go with the grain.
Also, use lots of products if you need to. I highly recommend R+Co – CONTROL Flexible Paste, and also use a strong hairspray that doesn’t flake (I like Bumble and Bumble Strong Finish Firm Hold Hairspray).
3. Who or what do you currently need a break from?
Honestly, I would love a break — or, perhaps, a permanent breakup — from my anxiety. That would be nice. Basically…it’s hard to adult in the Bay Area. There are so many times when I just wish we could pack up and move someplace 1) cheaper, 2) that isn’t out in the middle of nowhere, 3) that’s still close to my family, 4) that has nice weather 5) and lots of Asians and different cultures.
Where is this place?? You tell me, ’cause I’ll move there. I’ll be your neighbor! ??
Anyway, kids are expensive! And Connor’s starting preschool soon. If we conveniently won the lottery, that would be great.
4. What kind of pie would you like?
I don’t think peaches are in season yet, but they should be soon, right? I would love a peach pie with a crust made from scratch and a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. (Not Breyers though. Breyers is bullsh*t.)
5. Reggae — love it or leave it?
I love it for about three hours if it’s sunny and I’m drinking a Corona and wearing shorts and a tank top, but after that I’m asking the DJ to please play something else. I’m done pretending I’m in a Shaggy video.
~ Advice on fancy ice cream and life ~
I went to a frou-frou ice cream place last weekend for birthday ice cream, and I appreciated their attention to detail with all organic everything, but you have to test every single flavor you’re considering when you go to a place like that. You don’t just jump in and get the mint and then be shocked when it actually tastes like real mint (like El Hub did, haha).
I tested all the flavors. I did my due diligence. ??
So test, test, test! Test all those flavors, girl — even if you’re holding up the line and people are behind you tapping their foot.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Here are the questions for you to copy and paste with your answers in a comment:
1. A little…never hurt anyone.
2. Crazy baby hairs — how the heck do you tame them?
3. Who or what do you currently need a break from?
4. What kind of pie would you like?
5. Reggae — love it or leave it?
1. A little…never hurt anyone.
A little piece of chocolate never hurt anyone.
2. Crazy baby hairs — how the heck do you tame them?
Hmm I don’t really mess with mine. It sucks when I try to make a bun though and they decide to pop up.
3. Who or what do you currently need a break from?
Figuring out what to do with my life and my anxiety. I hate my anxiety so much as well.
4. What kind of pie would you like?
Apple pie! I loved eating it as a kid.
5. Reggae — love it or leave it?
I just like it, not love though. I could listen to Shaggy and Bob Marley.
1. A little…never hurt anyone.
Dessert! I basically have dessert at least after one meal each day!
2. Crazy baby hairs — how the heck do you tame them?
I don’t really have baby hairs! My hair isn’t that thick, so I don’t really notice them. My problem is grey hairs that are a completely different texture than the rest of my hair, for now I pluck the visible ones but that won’t work forever!
3. Who or what do you currently need a break from?
Umm work! I always could use a break from work, whether its going out of town or just having a stay at home day with the cat!
4. What kind of pie would you like?
Rhubarb! It is in season in North Dakota right now and I know lots of people that give it away! Yum!
5. Reggae — love it or leave it?
I love it, it reminds me of when I lived in Northern California because thats what everyone listened to!
What a cute pic of you two! That ice cream looks delicious. I can actually tell the difference between homemade/organic ice cream and the kind you get at the store. They add so many fillers and weird stuff to it nowadays that I don’t even really buy it unless its from a creamery.
1. A little…never hurt anyone.
– sleep. Maybe it’s just my workplace, but hardly anyone high up values sleep. I do! I need it and they should probably get some more themselves. Seriously.
2. Crazy baby hairs — how the heck do you tame them?
-eh, I kinda don’t. I like a side part and my left side has these wispy baby hairs. Sometimes I use a wax to try and flatten and a bit of hairspray but they generally do their own thing.
3. Who or what do you currently need a break from?
-quite ironic, this-I’m going through a difficult time. I’d say, I need a break from mundane reality. I need to do something fun. I need to have a belly laugh, again. It’s been too long.
4. What kind of pie would you like?
-cherry, or pumpkin.
5. Reggae — love it or leave it?
-same as you. I like it in small amounts.
Happy Monday – Connor looks thrilled about her ice cream! 🙂 That’s a bummer for El Hub. I’m not too into ice cream but when we were in Savannah we went to Leopold’s and I had the Tutti Frutti since it was an original flavor since 1919 (and it had Georgia pecans). It was fine but I liked the history aspect better than the actual ice cream. Which, I think, would be the case with pretty much any ice cream 🙂
1. A little…never hurt anyone. Netflix? At least I hope that’s true. HAHA!
2. Crazy baby hairs — how the heck do you tame them? Luckily my hair is too fine to have babies!
3. Who or what do you currently need a break from? Cookouts! I know the season just started but those things are loaded with carb-filled deliciousness that I just can’t resist.
4. What kind of pie would you like? Does a torte count? My family makes an apple one that has a dense, buttery crust with cheesecake-like filling and is topped with apples, cinnamon and slivered almonds. So good.
5. Reggae — love it or leave it? I laughed at your Shaggy comment. I love Oh, Carolina but it reminds me of one of my friends (who was not a fan) commenting “oh, the Sliver soundtrack. Skyrocketing up the charts with ONE sale”. HAHA! I like a little reggae in very small doses. I’d be OK with one song per year. Reggae and ice cream – I guess they have that in common for me.
1. A little…never hurt anyone.
Nap!
2. Crazy baby hairs — how the heck do you tame them?
I don’t really do anything with them! I don’t have s ton of them.
3. Who or what do you currently need a break from?
Doing too much stuff on the weekends!
4. What kind of pie would you like?
Hmmm… maybe like an ice cream pie with an Oreo crust?
5. Reggae — love it or leave it?
Leave it.
1. A little…never hurt anyone. a little tequila never hurt anyone. its a lot of tequila. lol
2. Crazy baby hairs — how the heck do you tame them? from what i hear a bit of hairspray and a toothbrush
3. Who or what do you currently need a break from? my family. my family and my job
4. What kind of pie would you like? cherry. i know i have spoken about this in the past. cherry pie is my ultimate form-i mean favorite pie.
5. Reggae — love it or leave it? dancehall, like the new stuff yes. no women no cry only in certain situation
1. A little…never hurt anyone.
Dirt! I’m always surprised by how many people get one tiny speck of dirt of them and then completely spaz out. All I can think is, “Lady, do not sit next to me. I can guarantee I have sand from the barn in my car which has probably transferred all over my shoes, pants, perhaps my sweater somewhere. And no one wants to eat that sand. That sand is not sterile. Nu uh. Horses are in that sand day in and day out as well as the barn cat and neither know what a bathroom is. I probably have hay somewhere….dirt is fine.”
2. Crazy baby hairs — how the heck do you tame them?
I don’t. Each and every baby hair is precious to me as I lost a lot of hair over a span of three months thanks to lupus and an allergy to dimethicone, so I refuse to tame my wee baby hairs that are growing in! It means my hair is back!
3. Who or what do you currently need a break from?
Doctors! I could really, really appreciate a good long break from them for a while.
4. What kind of pie would you like?
I dislike pie, but I’d love a coffee cake!
5. Reggae — love it or leave it?
It really is not my favorite, but when it’s warm I don’t mind it for a while. Bree is quite fond of reggae though.
1. A little party never hurt anyone. You have to have fun, however, if you do raves every week please invite before you get sick.
2. Crazy baby hairs — how the heck do you tame them?
I don’t tame them, just let them be.
3. Who or what do you currently need a break from?
Stress, even though I had a really calm weekend, I’ve been struggling with lots of stress from Germany project (my Visa appointment is until August 10th, yes few days before I leave), uni stuff (that diploma is getting harder to get, and I’m only talking about paperwork) and the last touches of the paper I wrote.
4. What kind of pie would you like?
Somehow in Mexico we consider cheesecake a pie, and I’d love to get one right now.
5. Reggae — love it or leave it?
Love it, but after more than two hours I feel I’ve been listening to the same song.
Happy belated birthday Karen! I hope your weekend has been amazing. You’re such a nice person and deserves to be happy with all the people you love. Sending you a big hug.
1. A little…never hurt anyone.
Cake! Life is too short to not eat cake.
2. Crazy baby hairs — how the heck do you tame them?
My hair is so curly they just blend in to the rest of my curls.
3. Who or what do you currently need a break from?
We just started to use a new system at work and it’s created a lot of other problems. I need a break from all of the things technology wise that are now “broken.”
4. What kind of pie would you like?
Maine blueberry pie. It’s got those small blueberries and they are so good.
5. Reggae — love it or leave it? Leave it. Not my thing.
1. A little…never hurt anyone. Bright lipstick. Instantly perks up your whole face. And perfume, just a spritz, makes me feel all fancy!
2. Crazy baby hairs — how the heck do you tame them? I don’t have baby hairs. I do have a couple of wiry grays that are the literal bane of my existnace. I just pull those effers out!
3. Who or what do you currently need a break from? This is going to sound bad, but the kids. One week into Summer vacation and I need a break! They’re 12 and 15 and they eat ALL DAY LONG! Is it wrong I’m counting down the days until school starts back up?
4. What kind of pie would you like? Chocolate cream! With a huge layer of whipped cream! Today is my 43rd birthday, I might go get a piece pie to celebrate!
5. Reggae — love it or leave it? I don’t mind one song every hour or so in a party playlist, but that’s it. Reggae just isn’t my jam.
I live in the Central Valley of CA. Don’t move here. While cheaper than up North, housing is stupid expensive, gas is high, it’s freaking hot, and you’re only allowed to water your lawn once a week. Our plan is to leave the state in six years when the soon to be 7th grader graduates high school.
Omg that pic of you and Connor Claire is so dang cute!!
It looks like you both were having a blast. ?
1. A little…kindness…never hurt anyone. Man, it pains me to hear people constantly talk down about themselves or others. I swear we are the worst critics about ourselves, and that negativity gets picked up by others and changes how they perceive us. Also, sometimes people (in an effort to make themselves feel better), belittle others. Ugh. A little kindness for yourself and others goes a long way in making the world a better and more thoughtful place for everyone.
2. Crazy baby hairs – Arrgh! I used to do the toothbrush and hairspray method, but learned you have to really shellac the cr*p out of them to get them to lay flat, especially if you have wavy or curly hair – which gives you crunchy hair *le sigh*. And now with grey hairs starting to take up prime residential spots on my head, I’ve thrown in the towel in trying to strong-arm my hair to obey my wishes and embracing the ‘tousled CA surfer girl look’….okay maybe more ‘tousled CA surfer girls’s mom look!
3. I need a break from…..Silicon Valley / Bay Area…too. It would be awesome finding a city with all the qualifications you listed. If Hawaii suddenly became a bit cheaper and less tourist-intensive (and not because of volcano activity) I’d be house-hunting there.
4. Did someone say pie?!! Strawberry (with real whipped cream) all the way!
5. Reggae – It depends on my mood for the day and if on vacation. Some days I can listen for a couple of hours, others it would be, “What else is available?”
1. A little…never hurt anyone.
Kindness!
2. Crazy baby hairs — how the heck do you tame them?
I’ve mostly given up, they won. If I’m feeling real bold, dry shampoo on a toothbrush. Then a quick mist of light hold hair spray. The dry shampoo gives em a little grip.
3. Who or what do you currently need a break from?
Girl I feel you on anxiety. I feel you so much I just went back on meds for it. Honestly, I need a break from everything minus my cat and dog. I’d just like a few weeks on a beach in Hawaii with a lean to, fresh water supply and some very simple food, a pillow, and sunscreen. Maybe a towel.
4. What kind of pie would you like?
Berry or cherry pls.
5. Reggae — love it or leave it?
If I’m in the mood I’m loving it. I have to be in the mood for it though.
1. A little…never hurt anyone.
love
2. Crazy baby hairs — how the heck do you tame them?
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day creme (which I don’t use a lot but it works when I do – I kind of resisted, but my stylist sold me on it, and it’s good!)
3. Who or what do you currently need a break from?
the news (can only take in small doses!)
fatalism would be a close second
4. What kind of pie would you like?
cherry (my great aunts from Indiana made amazing cherry pie)
rhubarb, with or without strawberry, is a close second
5. Reggae — love it or leave it?
leave it back in college (though I know it has enduring cultural value for some folks, and I still sometimes find the “calypso” precursor to reggae refreshing)
Karen, what kind of ice cream did you eat after all that diligent taste testing?!
Hi Amy,
I got two flavors — Bee’s Knees (honey ice creem with honeycomb candy, burnt honey and bee pollen… IT WAS SO GOOD!), and dairy-free strawberry, which tasted like a fresh strawberry.
Wow. Bee’s Knees sounds extra extra!! Both sound Delish!!
1. A little…never hurt anyone.
Leniency. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt if there’s a weird moment, because they probably have something else going on and it’s nothing to do with me.
2. Crazy baby hairs — how the heck do you tame them?
I’m with you, I’ve stopped fighting them and part my hair accordingly. Also, eat as much protein as possible so they grow. 😉
3. Who or what do you currently need a break from?
I kinda could use a kid-free afternoon, but I’m getting one this week when I go shoot some family portraits, and I’ll probably miss her the whole time!
4. What kind of pie would you like?
Chocolate mousse, with tons of whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
5. Reggae — love it or leave it?
Leave it.
P.S. Come to Reno! It’s a pretty easy drive to the Bay area, there’s tons of jobs right now, housing is reasonable, anywhere in town takes 30 minutes or less and almost everything is cheaper. We don’t regret it at all! Also, no state income tax. 😀
Hey Trude,
You’ve been living there for a while now, yeah? Do you like the weather? How’s your neighborhood like? I’ve actually thought about this and wondered what it’s like to live there.
Yup, just over 2.5 years. We love it! There’s actual seasons, but it doesn’t get too crazy in winter, a few snow days and spring and fall are gorgeous. Summer isn’t too bad either, it gets warm but cools off at night. And I really love how many fewer people are here, it doesn’t feel so crowded like Cali did. 🙂 There’s a lot of great neighborhoods, we’re south of downtown and I really like it because pretty much everything I need is within 10 minutes. Reno is an interesting mix because there’s the ranchers and farming community, the new tech industry people, an ever-growing artist community and a lot of ex-Cali people. Everyone is just so nice!
1. A little…never hurt anyone.
Quiet time.
2. Crazy baby hairs — how the heck do you tame them?
I don’t seem to have them anymore, but I suspect I am starting to grow sideburns.
3. Who or what do you currently need a break from?
Myself. The inner critical voice has been quite the harpy of late.
4. What kind of pie would you like?
Peach-blueberry with crumbs on top, served warm with vanilla ice cream.
5. Reggae — love it or leave it?
Tolerate it for up to three songs. Then they better step up the beat to some ska, which I just adore.
Hi Susan,
Yes! Quiet time is necessary. I try to always have a little bit to myself in the morning before the day gets going. 🙂
BTW, how are things going with your DSLR camera? Have you gotten the hang of it?
Yes! Breyers isn’t even ice CREAM. It is a frozen dairy dessert. Ew.
Hi Nicol,
It’s super gross, right?! I mean… Those vanilla bean flecks aren’t fooling anyone. All I taste is fluff!
?
1. A little…never hurt anyone.
A little compliment never hurt anyone. I’m working really hard on complimenting strangers if I see they’re wearing an awesome outfit, or have cool glasses or fantastic hair. Just a quick ‘I love your hair’ or ‘your dress is so cute’ can really make someone’s day. Just make it sincere and people always respond well.
2. Crazy baby hairs — how the heck do you tame them?
I have lots of these at the moment, and I just let them do their thing. If they’re sticking up badly I’ll wet them down but that’s about it.
3. Who or what do you currently need a break from?
Viruses! It’s been a near constant stream of illness between my baby and me. I’m so over being sick constantly. Currently finishing up a strong course of antibiotics after the last virus left me with infected sinuses, chest infection and also probably ear infections too.
4. What kind of pie would you like?
Homemade apple pie, with custard!
5. Reggae — love it or leave it? Like you, I enjoy it in small doses ?
Yes, Janet! I try to do the same thing when I see someone rockin’ a cute shirt or killer makeup. It always seems to bring a smile to their faces.
Regarding your answer to #3… I’m going to be in your same boat soon. Connor starts pre-school in August and everyone tells me the first year is the toughest when it comes to viruses. I’m stocking up on vitamin C NOW. Hope you both feel better soon.
How old is Sally now?
She’s 17 months now – and the viruses have gotten an early start here. It’s only just winter, but a lot of the bubs I know have been sick, one has had croup plus an ear infection and she doesn’t go to daycare, she has a nanny.
And I’m getting better, just lingering aches & asthma now. My immune system isn’t very strong so I’m more prone to catching stuff and getting infections- hopefully you and Connor won’t get as many bugs as we have!
1. A little…never hurt anyone.
… smile never hurt anyone. That is what I want to tell People when I see them all grumpy in the streets.
2. Crazy baby hairs — how the heck do you tame them?
I don´t. I have given up.
3. Who or what do you currently need a break from?
Hm, I am actually pretty content right now. But I have a holiday break coming up, that surely helps.
4. What kind of pie would you like?
Apple pie. We talked about it earlier this week and now I am craving some.
5. Reggae — love it or leave it?
If the time is right, like if I am in Jamaica and chillin on the beach… Well, even then I would probably feel out of place.
1. A little chocolate never hurt anyone.
2. Crazy baby hairs — how the heck do you tame them? I don’t even try. What I love now is the stark white baby hairs that sprout from my skull when it’s been a month since my last color.
3. Who or what do you currently need a break from? my coworkers
4. What kind of pie would you like? Hahaha, the better question for me would be what pie wouldn’t you like, and I’d have to say cherry or peach. Had a bad peach pie experience as a small child and it still hasn’t left me. Never been a fan of cherries unless it’s in a Sonic Cherry Limeade. Soooo good. But all the other pies bring them on: apple, blueberry, strawberry (with or without rhubarb), peanut butter, chocolate, crack, scintillating lemon, lemon meringue, key lime. Can you tell I have a pie problem?
5. Reggae — love it or leave it? Love it!
I forgot about key lime. How could that be possible?? Super yum.
Key lime is the bomb–to use an expression from my youth! And the easiest, I think.