
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 ever-changing, more-or-less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since early 2007). I love reading your answers. It helps me get my week off to a good start, and I hope it does the same for you.
1. What does your hair look like today?
Well, I got up a little earlier than usual today so I could do my hair and wear it down (same loose waves, purr usual), but I already have it up in a haphazard bun.
Sigh…
No matter what I do, my hair ends up in a fun bun!
2. Would you rock a Towelkini?
Sure, why not? I’ll take the pink one.
3. Your favorite thing to buy at Bath and Body Works?
The three-wick candles, of course! I also love their foaming liquid soaps, but I don’t buy them often because we go through so much hand soap in our house, and it’s just not cost-effective.
4. Zebra stripes or leopard print?
Leopard print, because I’m all about that cat lady life.
5. Your favorite pair of earrings at the moment?
A pair of dangly gold leaf earrings the coywolf got me for Mother’s Day.
Open spaces

Good morning, sweet girl. ?
One thing I love about living in the Bay Area: If/when you need a break from the bustle, you can drive 30 minutes in pretty much any direction and find yourself in wide open hills somewhere, where you can stretch your legs and recharge your soul. Our local favorite hiking spot is the Indian Valley nature preserve, with its miles and miles of trails.
Whenever I feel like getting outside, it’s a quick 5-minute drive. Because there isn’t much shade on the trails, I think the best time to go is early in the morning right around the crack of dawn. That way you can enjoy the walk without the sun beating down on you, but even if you get there any time before noon in the summer, and you bring lots of water and a hat, it’s still bearable. You’ll just be hella sweaty afterwards, since summers are usually hot in Novato.
We were there yesterday, and I was surprised to still see some green grass and flowers on the ground! Normally by this time of year, everything’s the gorgeous golden color that coats every inch of the hills around here.


How are you on this beautiful Monday? ?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Question time! Here they are to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to you soon.
1. What does your hair look like today?
2. Would you rock a Towelkini?
3. Your favorite thing to buy at Bath and Body Works?
4. Zebra stripes or leopard print?
5. Your favorite pair of earrings at the moment?

Happy Monday! I hope you had a nice weekend! 🙂
1. What does your hair look like today? To quote you from the TJ’s bread comment: tragic. Thankfully I’m getting it cut tomorrow because it’s been looking worse and worse for months!
2. Would you rock a Towelkini? To lounge, sure. As a swimsuit, no. Though, I don’t imagine it was actually designed to swim in. Can you imagine how that thick-n-thirsty terrycloth is going to look soaking wet?
3. Your favorite thing to buy at Bath and Body Works? It used to be Sugar Plum lotion during the holidays but I don’t think I’ve shopped there in at least 20 years.
4. Zebra stripes or leopard print? Zebra, but only if the black stripes are on a black background. 😉
5. Your favorite pair of earrings at the moment? Diamond studs that the Hubs gave me for our first Christmas. I’ve never worn another pair since.
1. What does your hair look like today? I just came in from running around the yard with the dogs so I look a frithroughout. After I finish this, I better fetch a brush!
2. Would you rock a Towelkini? No. I think they look very silly. I think they’d be cute, though, in a light, colorful fabric on a child or teenager; just not on this septuagenarian. LOL
3. Your favorite thing to buy at Bath and Body Works? I love the little hand sanitizers. I always have one in my purse and in my car. I also like to put seasonal ones in goodie bags.
4. Zebra stripes or leopard print? First of all, I’d only wear an animal print as an accessory like a purse, belt, scarf, etc. In which case I’d go with the leopard.
5. Your favorite pair of earrings at the moment? I wear a different pair every day so I really can’t say which is my favorite. I love earrings
#1 should be “I look a fright.”
1. What does your hair look like today? Messy bun! It’s hit in central CA, so it’s pretty much a messy bun or braid every day.
2. Would you rock a Towelkini? Sure!
3. Your favorite thing to buy at Bath and Body Works? My kids love their hand sanitizers, that’s about it. I find their scents to be cloying, and full of alcohol, it’s just not the place for me.
4. Zebra stripes or leopard print? Leopard, my husband hates it, but I love it!
5. Your favorite pair of earrings at the moment? HA! I didn’t wear earrings for so long that my ears grew back. I need to have them repierced, but I’m skurred. 6 year old Steffie, no problem, 44 year old Steffie, nope! I did get my nose pierced two weeks ago for my 44th birthday, it’s a rose gold ball, so that’s my favorite I guess! Lol!
1. What does your hair look like today? – Pretty darn good. Had a hair appointment Saturday so I’m rocking a fresh cut, fresh color and fresh highlights!
2. Would you rock a Towelkini? – Maybe to lounge around in. I can’t imagine going into the water with that thing on. I’d think that it would be like wearing a sopping wet towel.
3. Your favorite thing to buy at Bath and Body Works? – 3 wick candles and foaming soaps. Just had an email coupon for any soap for $2.75 and I took advantage of that. Stocked up for the kitchen and bathrooms.
4. Zebra stripes or leopard print? – I love any animal print but I’ll go with leopard.
5. Your favorite pair of earrings at the moment? – Rose gold hoops I got from my friend who sells Paparazzi jewelry.
1. What does your hair look like today? it looks okay, its “laid down” as my mom would say
2. Would you rock a Towelkini? yes.
3. Your favorite thing to buy at Bath and Body Works? black raspberry vanilla, black chamomille soap
4. Zebra stripes or leopard print? leopard
5. Your favorite pair of earrings at the moment? my opal birthstone
1. What does your hair look like today?
Down, frizzy LOL
2. Would you rock a Towelkini?
LOL I’d try it!
3. Your favorite thing to buy at Bath and Body Works?
I never go in there!
4. Zebra stripes or leopard print?
Leopard!
5. Your favorite pair of earrings at the moment?
I don’t have my ears (or anything else) pierced and I don’t wear clip ons!
1. What does your hair look like today? A barette is holding my bangs back
2. Would you rock a Towelkini? No, NEVER lol
3. Your favorite thing to buy at Bath and Body Works? Candles or foamimg hand soap but I’m not allowed to go there anymore ?
4. Zebra stripes or leopard print? Neither but leopard print I guess. Small doses!
5. Your favorite pair of earrings at the moment? I wore a beaded dangly pair yesterday but I don’t wear earrings too often bc no matter what earrings bother me!
My hair is longer and my curls were blown out so today it’s in a bun .
No on the towelkini . Looks kinda weird .
B and B works : candles , pump soap , perfume . And anything else that catches my eye .
I’m 50 – 50 w the zebra ? or leopard ?.
I love earrings that have a latch back so they stay on .
1. What does your hair look like today? Top part pulled back into a clip to keep it out of my face while working out.
2. Would you rock a Towelkini? Nope
3. Your favorite thing to buy at Bath and Body Works? Never shopped there
4. Zebra stripes or leopard print? Leopard
5. Your favorite pair of earrings at the moment? That’s a tough one. It’s between the small, white gold, huggies that Dear Husband bought for me in Munich ages ago, or a pair of Nordstrom CZ studs or a pair of small, oval, opal studs I found in Paris last December.
Good for you for working out! What did you do today, weights?
1. What does your hair look like today?
I just had a blowout- I had a hair spa treatment today at a salon as well as a foot spa with a pedicure. My hair is usually just in a high ponytail but today its hair down day with this fancy trendy headband to complement ze outfit.
2. Would you rock a Towelkini? No.
3. Your favorite thing to buy at Bath and Body Works? Candles, body sprays (pasalubongs!)
4. Zebra stripes or leopard print? Leopard -but it has to be a specific type of leopard print. ??♀️
5. Your favorite pair of earrings at the moment? A white gold bezel diamond earrings my mom gave me last month.
Mabuhay! Happy Monday from Manila, Karen! My fam and I have been here since Mother’s Day for vacation.
Oh how fun, Cha! I hope you’re having an amazing time there!
1. What does your hair look like today? Straight, parted to show off my shaved side.
2. Would you rock a Towelkini? Ha, ha, ha! No.
3. Your favorite thing to buy at Bath and Body Works? Would you believe I’ve never bought anything from there? The shop gives my husband a headache (he’s allergic to heavy scents, especially florals).
4. Zebra stripes or leopard print? I love both, but if I have to choose, leopard.
5. Your favorite pair of earrings at the moment? Large silver hoops, or my black sparkly laser-cut skulls
I can’t believe it! You’ve never shopped at Bath and Body Works, even back in the ’90s? You gotta go once by yourself, even if it’s just to smell the candles.
1. What does your hair look like today? Dirty, lank locks and not in that cool rocker chic kind of way but in the bad, unwashed way. Our water stopped working yesterday. And I hadn’t showered in 24 hours. Now it’s been like 48 and even though I’m using dry shampoo, things are bad. Plumber was supposed to come this afternoon but didn’t. Now they’re telling me tomorrow morning! I’m so dirty!
2. Would you rock a Towelkini? No, it reminds me of a one-piece short suit I wore back in 1979.
3. Your favorite thing to buy at Bath and Body Works? Eh, probably candles but I don’t go in much anymore. Their scents seem really sweet to me. I prefer The Body Shop or Lush.
4. Zebra stripes or leopard print? I like both for shoes and handbags but leopard print for blouses.
5. Your favorite pair of earrings at the moment? I haven’t worn earrings in years.
Oh girl, I feel you on the water issue! Our water heater is on the verge of breaking down, I think. Been taking lukewarm (and occasionally a very cold) showers before bed, and it’s awful, since I usually like my water hot enough to melt my bones. We’ve gotta get it fixed ASAP!
1. What does your hair look like today?
Not as bad as you’d think, considering I saw a Beatles tribute band last night and danced, whipping my hair around.
2. Would you rock a Towelkini?
No. Just, no. For $200? Hell to the no.
3. Your favorite thing to buy at Bath and Body Works?
Haven’t been there in years.
4. Zebra stripes or leopard print?
Leopard print! I look better in browns and tans.
5. Your favorite pair of earrings at the moment?
Who can pick favorites? I wouldn’t want any of my earrings to feel unloved! However, over the weekend I bought some new onyx danglers that caught my eye at the Arts Festival.