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. You can never have enough (FILL IN THE BLANK).
Savings. True friends. Clean underwear. Lotion and hair conditioner. Honestly, this list could go on forever!
2. Someone you enjoy makeup/beauty shopping with?
My friend Marisol, because she’s into beauty, she’s fun and she also has great curly hair product recommendations for me! I also quite enjoy beauty shopping with the Coywolf. She asks a lot of questions, and it’s interesting to see what catches her eye.
3. Are you into the Beautyblender sponge?
Currently, not really. I loved it for blending concealer and foundation back when it first came out, but now I wear less base than I used to, so I don’t really need it. I’d rather just use my fingers and call it a day!
4. Something on your beauty bucket list?
I’d love to try Latisse someday.
5. Black licorice or jelly beans?
Ideally, neither, because I’m not a fan of either candy! If I had to choose, though, then jelly beans. The popcorn ones by Jelly Belly.
6. Least organized part of your life?
Connor’s toys, OMG! They’re all over the place! I try to organize and contain them with labeled totes and whatnot, but it’s a losing battle. In the end the Legos, stuffies and art supplies always end up taking over.
7. A simple thing you can do to make your life better today?
Drink a green smoothie! Oh, and go to bed early.
8. Something that simplifies your beauty routine?
Planning what hair and makeup I’m going to wear the next day. It takes the guesswork out of figuring out what to do at the last minute.
9. Your favorite type of apple?
Honeycrisp all the way! I also like Pink Lady apples for baking.
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. You can never have enough (FILL IN THE BLANK).
2. Someone you enjoy makeup/beauty shopping with?
3. Are you into the Beautyblender sponge?
4. Something on your beauty bucket list?
5. Black licorice or jelly beans?
6. Least organized part of your life?
7. A simple thing you can do to make your life better today?
8. Something that simplifies your beauty routine?
9. Your favorite type of apple?
P.P.S. Hey there, my friend. Good morning and happy Monday to you! Here’s a big hug in case you need it today. I’ve got you, OK? 🤗 Have a lovely week, and take good care of yourself.
1. You can never have enough (FILL IN THE BLANK).
Blankets
2. Someone you enjoy makeup/beauty shopping with?
This is someone I mainly chat with online, but my friend Kat.
3. Are you into the Beautyblender sponge?
Nah. Too much upkeep, fingers are easier to keep clean.
4. Something on your beauty bucket list?
I’d also love to try Latisse. Purple hair sounds fun but I’m very attached to being a redhead.
5. Black licorice or jelly beans?
Jelly beans – I used to work at a restaurant that sold Jelly Belly and I don’t like the popcorn ones, but they’re so popular. We also sold black licorice Jelly Belly, so gross.
6. Least organized part of your life?
All of it.
7. A simple thing you can do to make your life better today?
Stay hydrated, get enough sleep.
8. Something that simplifies your beauty routine?
Keeping my routine consistent from day to day.
9. Your favorite type of apple?
Honey crisp, Jazz, Pink Lady. There’s a variety I see here sometimes called Ginger Gold that’s good. I have Michigan honey crisp apples right now, so good. Raw apples give me some tingling and burning due to pollen allergies but I still love them.
1. You can never have enough – hugs
2. Someone you enjoy makeup/beauty shopping with? Just me.
3. Are you into the Beautyblender sponge? No, I typically use my fingers whenever possible.
4. Something on your beauty bucket list? I’m going to finally do a red lip
5. Black licorice or jelly beans? Jelly beans.
6. Least organized part of your life? My home office, I have to share it with my husband who is not the most organized person.
7. A simple thing you can do to make your life better today? Smile
8. Something that simplifies your beauty routine? Tinted moisturizer with some SPF. I am sometimes lazy or in a rush to have to use five products in the morning.
9. Your favorite type of apple? Macouns when they first come out,especially the local NJ ones, but overall, Honeycrisps are the most consistent.
Be well.
Red lip! Yay! Good luck! I hope you are able to cross this item off your beauty bucket list. I guarantee it’ll look great on you!
This must be a record – I’m back on a Monday for the Monday Poll. HAHA! Hugs right back at you!!
1. You can never have enough (FILL IN THE BLANK). Cuddles from your kids, no matter how old they are. 🙂
2. Someone you enjoy makeup/beauty shopping with? The Hubs because we have the same mentality. Go right to the item you need, grab it and check out. HAHA!
3. Are you into the Beautyblender sponge? Funny you ask this because I have a new eco-friendly blender that I’d been putting off testing for weeks until this morning (only because I absolutely had to). It just adds so much more time, wastes product and then I feel the need to immediately clean it. Like you, if I was wearing a full face of makeup, it would be different. But, for everyday, tinted moisturizer, it’s an extra step I don’t need.
4. Something on your beauty bucket list? The magic, mystical product that would give me flawless, poreless skin. Yeah…. keep dreaming. 😉
5. Black licorice or jelly beans? Ugh, neither, as you say. If I was forced, I’d do grape jellybeans.
6. Least organized part of your life? Probably a cleaning routine. I know I should have a daily schedule so things don’t build up but can’t seem to put that in place.
7. A simple thing you can do to make your life better today? Work out, no matter what!
8. Something that simplifies your beauty routine? Accepting that my hair will be wash and go. Unless it’s for something special, no more styling products, heat or actual styling!
9. Your favorite type of apple? Love the honeycrisp, too!
1. You can never have enough Soap bars. I love collecting soap bars 😉 (And lipsticks are my weakness – although I really have enough of those.) And of course: nice people around me, savings…
2. Someone you enjoy makeup/beauty shopping with? Sadly I have nobody around me who enjoys it
3. Are you into the Beautyblender sponge? Not at all, I have some make up sponges, but never use them because for creamy or liquid formulas I prefer using my fingers.
4. Something on your beauty bucket list? Nothing? There will always pop up new products I will want to try, but there is nothing I want to do someday…
5. Black licorice or jelly beans? None of both… a bar of chocolate or some winegums are my jam 😛
6. Least organized part of your life? Lately my fitness regime or should I say: what fitness routine? I love going swimming but do not dare to go to our local swimming pool because of covid…
7. A simple thing you can do to make your life better today? Move my body! I worked in the garden today.
8. Something that simplifies your beauty routine? Hmmm…. not listening to all the people what a routine should look like. I do not want a „full face“ of make up and I do not enjoy a 20 step skincare routine. Give me some concealer againsr the dark circles, some colour around my eyes, a bit of blush and something on the lips and I am happy. And I want to wash my face, apply a serum and sunscreen (or night cream) and be ready.
9. Your favorite type of apple? Jonagold (although I also really like honeycrisp)
1. You can never have enough (FILL IN THE BLANK). money, lipbalm, margaritas, funny cat videos , edible arrangements , fancy dinners, jeans , baseball hats, skincare, black eyeliner, red lipstick , cute phone cases, my perfect temperature in my bedroom, cute eye sleep masks , robes and slipper combinations , sweatpants , A+ . ok I am done for now.
2. Someone you enjoy makeup/beauty shopping with? my friend DW. she has her own beauty youtube channel (deketashanaye) and she is very sweet and the girl knows makeup
3. Are you into the Beautyblender sponge? yes I am . it helps me achieved a flawless base
4. Something on your beauty bucket list? wearing every lipstick I currently own and documenting it . I started with off with just 30 days of lipsticks and lost hope
5. Black licorice or jelly beans? jelly beans
6. Least organized part of your life? out of my entire unorganized life the least is my skincare collection
7. A simple thing you can do to make your life better today? stop eating so much candy
8. Something that simplifies your beauty routine? writing down the products that I am going use for skincare . it helps me concentrate on the ones i want empty
9. Your favorite type of apple? green apple
I love your idea to wear each lipstick you own and document it! I might have to steal that. Sounds really fun.
go ahead and steal it , are you going to document it on ig . if so share your handle . i would like to see what lipsticks you are wearing
1. You can never have enough (FILL IN THE BLANK).
Time. Peaceful joy.
2. Someone you enjoy makeup/beauty shopping with?
No one in my life rn! I’m surrounded by boys, boys, and more boys. And they are not boys who remotely relate to my appreciation for makeup. Even the dog is a boy.
3. Are you into the Beautyblender sponge?
Never have been! It just seemed pricey for a bit of sponge with dubious benefits my fingers couldn’t accomplish, and I’ve never been super into base, so fingers always worked fine.
4. Something on your beauty bucket list?
Jane Iredale. I like her stuff but haven’t gotten there yet. And…wow…a good haircut. It’s been years, pre-pandemic. If I can have just one more good haircut in my life….I will be fulfilled lol
5. Black licorice or jelly beans?
This is hard! I’ll say black licorice.
6. Least organized part of your life?
My office paperwork. Isn’t that awful? My office is upside down for reasons outside my control (moving stuff and renovating), and it’s pretty out of hand!!
7. A simple thing you can do to make your life better today?
Express more charity and gratitude. Accept the potential for good in unexpected changes.
8. Something that simplifies your beauty routine?
Taking a shower the night before. I love being clean and sleeping on clean sheets, and I love waking up and not having to get in the shower! Lets me focus on washing my face and quickly doing makeup.
9. Your favorite type of apple?
Fuji! I’m the only one in my family who likes them, though, so I don’t eat them nearly as often as I aspire to. Bad ones can be mealy. Good ones are incomparable to any other apple in my book! That’s for eating. But for pies, I’ll yellow or tart crisp apples are better.
Happy Monday, Karen and all!
1. You can never have enough Soaps, I developed eczema on my body last year in response to an autoimmune disorder. Goat milk soap is the only thing I can use but there are SO many scents out there and such yummy lather. Current favorite is Shady Acre homestead soaps (current one rhubarb).
2. Someone you enjoy makeup/beauty shopping with? My best friend Lois. She is old enough to be my Mom but I’m the “older” of the two of us and we have such fun doing skin stuff and lunches.
3. Are you into the Beautyblender sponge? I have not tried.
4. Something on your beauty bucket list? scalp massage with deep condition.
5. Black licorice or jelly beans? Jelly Beans.
6. Least organized part of your life? Books – they’re all OVER the house.
7. A simple thing you can do to make your life better today? Throw out any cookbook I’ve not actually made anything out of in five years.
8. Something that simplifies your beauty routine? Really soft washcloths, to remove cleanser, makeup, and exfoliate.
9. Your favorite type of apple? Honeycrisp!
1. You can never have enough (FILL IN THE BLANK). The three theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity.
2. Someone you enjoy makeup/beauty shopping with? No one. I love talking about all things beauty with my friends, but when I shop, I fly solo.
3. Are you into the Beauty Blender sponge? No, because I hate washing and sanitizing it. Also, if you replace it as often as you should, the cost mounts up fast. The price is ridiculous considering it is a sponge. I prefer using my fingers for an everyday, natural-looking application of foundation.
4. Something on your beauty bucket list? I can’t really think of anything.
5. Black licorice or jelly beans? I’m addicted to Jelly Bellies—especially the black licorice flavored ones 😉
6. Least organized part of your life? I’m basically a very organized person.
7. A simple thing you can do to make your life better today? Take a nap! We’ve been terribly busy lately and I could use some down time.
8. Something that simplifies your beauty routine? Editing my stash regularly, keeping everything organized by product type, and avoiding clutter “spark joy” 😃
9. Your favorite type of apple? I love a crisp, juicy Fuji.
1. You can never have enough (FILL IN THE BLANK).
Dogs. Horses. Love. Books. Flowers. This list really could go on. If it makes you happy and brings you so much joy, you really can’t have enough of it.
2. Someone you enjoy makeup/beauty shopping with?
I usually shop by myself because I hate being peer pressured! My mom has a very defined list (she has it written down) and my dad will text me, “Are you done yet?” from the car. Ugh.
3. Are you into the Beautyblender sponge?
Nope.
4. Something on your beauty bucket list?
Microblading!
5. Black licorice or jelly beans?
I’m not a giant sweets fan anymore, but jelly beans if I had to choose.
6. Least organized part of your life?
Bree’s and Ty’s toys. I mean, they are EVERYWHERE. Be careful or you’ll find yourself squeaking to the kitchen. XD
7. A simple thing you can do to make your life better today?
NAPS! I don’t know why we don’t invest in napping time more. Everything seems to work itself out after a nice nap.
8. Something that simplifies your beauty routine?
Be allergic to dimethicone. I had no idea how much dimethicone was used until I was allergic to it. My daily routine is basically moisturizer (maybe mascara if I’m up to it). My dressed up look is concealer where needed, eyeshadow, eyeliner, brows, mascara, and lips (if I do not wear a mask.) I recently found dimethicone-less blush and that was a HURRAY all the way around….it was too dark. TT_TT (I’ll make it work.)
9. Your favorite type of apple?
Granny Smith. If you want a really good pie that pairs well with caramel, use granny smiths. 🙂
1. You can never have enough (FILL IN THE BLANK). money
2. Someone you enjoy makeup/beauty shopping with? my friend Jordana
3. Are you into the Beautyblender sponge? no, I use fingers or a brush
4. Something on your beauty bucket list? Daniel Sandler Watercolor Blush
5. Black licorice or jelly beans? black jelly beans
6. Least organized part of your life? finance
7. A simple thing you can do to make your life better today? get more sleep
8. Something that simplifies your beauty routine? tinted moisturizer with sunscreen
9. Your favorite type of apple? Honeycrisp
1. You can never have enough (FILL IN THE BLANK)
Love.
2. Someone you enjoy makeup/beauty shopping with?
My former neighbor. She had an eye for glittering mermaid colors and pushed me out of my neutral comfort zone.
3. Are you into the Beautyblender sponge?
No. I’ve bought it but it remains unused.
4. Something on your beauty bucket list?
I’ve been eyeing a Make Up For Ever crease brush forever.
5. Black licorice or jelly beans?
Jelly Belly buttered popcorn for the win!
6. Least organized part of your life?
My closets — all of ‘em.
7. A simple thing you can do to make your life better today?
Drink plenty of water.
8. Something that simplifies your beauty routine?
Making sure the brushes are clean and organized.
9. Your favorite type of apple?
Snapdragon.
It’s not Monday but I could use a refreshing break. 🙂
1. You can never have enough (FILL IN THE BLANK).
Potatoes. And body lotions, I seem to have quite the collection these days…
2. Someone you enjoy makeup/beauty shopping with?
My “cousin” Grace. She and I have a similar temper for shopping, and she hangs out with makeup artists and watches drag queen makeup videos so she knows a lot of fun stuff.
3. Are you into the Beautyblender sponge?
Nope. Never got the original Beautyblender, and don’t use my Nyx knockoff one that often.
4. Something on your beauty bucket list?
Oh, this is a hard one for me. Honestly just figuring out how to combine colorful eyeshadows into a Look without needing a guide is the biggest thing I want to learn someday.
5. Black licorice or jelly beans?
Nope. But if I HAVE to choose one, I can stand jelly beans.
6. Least organized part of your life?
All of it?! Ha! For the first time in my life I’m starting to actually organize my home and put some systems in place to keep it up, but I really suck at it. My desk is a mess, my kitchen is a mess, my bathroom is starting to become less of a mess… Let’s just go with my mind, lol. My mind is a jumbled mess of thoughts coming lightning-fast all the time.
7. A simple thing you can do to make your life better today?
Put away a couple of these papers on my desk before I go to my friends’ for dinner! Good idea.
8. Something that simplifies your beauty routine?
Not having one 🙁 Actually, a big thing I like is having the same morning skincare routine every day. I like changing the evening routine to react to the day, but I love how well my morning routine is working right now.
9. Your favorite type of apple?
SweeTango. I just went apple picking last weekend, and wow there are so many varieties if you go to an orchard! I am so happy it’s apple season and I can eat SweeTangos again. Everyone seems to love Honeycrisp but I gotta recommend the SweeTango.
1. You can never have enough HAIR TIES.
2. I took my sister makeup shopping this summer and it was so fun! She is a newbie which made it extra special.
3. Nope. I basically stopped wearing foundation because I couldn’t keep up with all the things (primer and concealer and baking and foundation and contour and bronzer oh my!) and I have zero patience to tap tap tap tap tap tap my face forever.
4. Ooo, I like this question. I’d love to nail the crazy eyeliner look. Like, drawing some swirls in hot pink, or some dots in bright blue or something. Something unexpected and unconventional. Haven’t had any luck yet figuring it out!
5. Pass! But if I HAD to choose, I’d go with jelly beans.
6. Overall I feel like I’m a pretty put together grown up. Maybe my closet? It isn’t a mess, but it isn’t really organized, either.
7. Answer these poll questions. <3
8. Neutrogena makeup remover and cotton balls! Can't live without those ride or dies.
9. Right now, Sweet Tango. It's perfectly crisp and sweet. Not sure how this apple is legal, it's so good!
yessss another SweeTango lover!! I also love the idea of the crazy eyeliner look. Maybe someday I’ll try that out too.
1. You can never have enough (FILL IN THE BLANK). Coffee, bottles of nail polish, pugs, tubes of lip balm.
2. Someone you enjoy makeup/beauty shopping with? My daughters, they’re 15 and 19. They both have a really good eye.
3. Are you into the Beautyblender sponge? No. I very rarely wear foundation, so I use it when I wear it, but very rarely.
4. Something on your beauty bucket list? I can’t really think of anything I want.
5. Black licorice or jelly beans? Oh gosh, neither. Really sugary candy like that gives me canker sores.
6. Least organized part of your life? My room. I’m really bad at folding laundry and putting it away. I need to work on that.
7. A simple thing you can do to make your life better today? Walk your dog, or go on a walk around the block. The air in the Central Valley of CA is finally not disgustingly Smokey. A quick walk gets the blood flowing and clears the cobwebs.
8. Something that simplifies your beauty routine? Multiple use products, things that can be used for more than one thing. And a monochromatic look.
9. Your favorite type of apple? Jazz, all time favorites! Granny Smiths are a second favorite.