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 more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007).
1. Taupe or blue eyeliner?
Blue. I could use some color in my life today.
2. Are you guilty of Instagram brows?
GIRL. So guilty. I rocked those bladed brows for a few years, OMG!
3. How much do you enjoy journaling?
I enjoy it a lot, but I haven’t been doing it nearly enough over the past few years. I’m trying to get back into the habit of doing it daily. Part of it is because when I allow myself to just babble about whatever I want on the page, it’s kinda like pressure release for my brain. I feel so much better afterwards. Clearer. Another part of it is that I’m not able to hold as much as I used to in my mind. Like, for years and years I could remember all the small details of what a typical day in my life was like when I was 16, 26, 36… Now that I’m in my 40s and feel so busy all the time, I have a harder time remembering the small stuff. I want to remember those things, though, ya know?
4. A 2000s makeup trend you’d rock again?
Glossy lips all the way! I would like to leave the frosty lid (from the lash line all the way up to the brow bone) behind, however.
5. Romantic comedies: yes or no?
Yes, please. Even though they’re predictable and cheesy, I still love them.
6. Something good that’s happened to you lately?
We spent a lot of family time together in Monterey last weekend, and my heart is so full.
7. Where shall we go today, Sephora or Ulta?
Let’s go to Ulta because Sephora NEVER seems to have what I want in stock lately.
8. Banana bread or zucchini bread?
Zucchini bread, but only if I don’t have to shred the zucchini. I’ll have mine with a hot cup of jasmine tea, please.
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. Taupe or blue eyeliner?
2. Are you guilty of Instagram brows?
3. How much do you enjoy journaling?
4. A 2000s makeup trend you’d rock again?
5. Romantic comedies: yes or no?
6. Something good that’s happened to you lately?
7. Where shall we go today, Sephora or Ulta?
8. Banana bread or zucchini bread?
P.P.S. Good morning, my friend. I’ve been thinking a lot about ways we can “fill up our cups” — simple things to help our lives feel more joyful and balanced. To fill up your cup a little today, I want to remind you that you’re a good person. I know you’re trying your best, so keep it up! You can do it.
Take care and have a great rest of your Monday!
1. Taupe or blue eyeliner? My automatic response is taupe. But maybe I need to pull out UD Empire today to switch it up.
2. Are you guilty of Instagram brows? Not sure what that is. My brows are just my brows.
3. How much do you enjoy journaling? I don’t. Being dyslexic I’m not much of a writer.
4. A 2000s makeup trend you’d rock again? Can’t think of one. I tend not to follow trends and just do what I like.
5. Romantic comedies: yes or no? Definite YES!
6. Something good that’s happened to you lately? One of my old trainers texted me out of the blue this weekend with PT exercises for my shoulder. He heard I was having shoulder problems and trouble getting PT arranged and he said he’d hook me up with a PT he knew and in the mean time do these exercises.
7. Where shall we go today, Sephora or Ulta? There isn’t an Ulta near me, so Sephora.
8. Banana bread or zucchini bread? Banana bread, with nuts please. I’ve had such a sweet tooth lately.
Hi Tatiana,
Re: rom coms. I watched a couple cheesy ones from the 2000s last weekend. Hello, “Bride Wars.”
Hope your shoulder feels better soon, and that you’re staying warm and dry. We took 280 on Friday on the way to Monterey and there were sheets of hail coming down. I was also very shocked to see all the snow on the hills!
1. Taupe or blue eyeliner? Taupe.
2. Are you guilty of Instagram brows? No! Instagram brows: The worst, most unflattering, ridiculous (you get the idea) trend to come along in ages. And why did anyone ever think they needed 3-4 products in order to achieve those Groucho Marx brows.
3. How much do you enjoy journaling? I personally don’t keep a journal or diary, but I can understand how they might appeal to some people.
4. A 2000s makeup trend you’d rock again? I liked a pop of clear, vibrant pink on the cheeks along with a bit of sparkle. ,I loved Chanel’s Pink Explosion although I think it came out more towards the end of the decade.
5. Romantic comedies: yes or no? It depends on my mood. It’s not my favorite genre but there are some cute rom-coms.
6. Something good that’s happened to you lately? I can’t really think of anything that stands out. With the torrential rain all last week and roads closed to only essential travel, it was a very quiet week at home.
7. Where shall we go today, Sephora or Ulta? Sephora.
8. Banana bread or zucchini bread? Banana bread.
Hi Eileen,
I loved that Chanel blush too and have fond memories of it!
Hope you’re staying warm and dry today.
1. Taupe or blue eyeliner? Taupe
2. Are you guilty of Instagram brows? Nope, I’ve always liked my brows so I never did much to them other than waxing the stray hairs and using tinted gel.
3. How much do you enjoy journaling? I used to journal a lot as a teen but haven’t done much lately.
4. A 2000s makeup trend you’d rock again? Glossy lips
5. Romantic comedies: yes or no? Yes, especially the ’90s and ’00s ones
6. Something good that’s happened to you lately? Found someone new to do my taxes after my previous accountant became no longer available.
7. Where shall we go today, Sephora or Ulta? Ulta for the the same reason Karen mentioned
8. Banana bread or zucchini bread? banana
Happy Monday to you! I hope you have a great week. 🙂
Oh Mr. Willoughby! I think you should join the MBB household. You and Karen look purrfect together!
1. Taupe or blue eyeliner? taupe
2. Are you guilty of Instagram brows? no!
3. How much do you enjoy journaling? I love it but I’ve really fallen out of it. I’m trying to do a daily gratitude list but I find myself transcribing it into the notes app of my phone.
4. A 2000s makeup trend you’d rock again? I was a new mom in the 2000’s. I don’t remember those years.
5. Romantic comedies: yes or no? yes! I watched all of JLO’s wedding movies on Prime last weekend.
6. Something good that’s happened to you lately? Husband cleaned house.
7. Where shall we go today, Sephora or Ulta? Both!!! But first Sephora
8. Banana bread or zucchini bread? Eh, zucchini I guess.
I’m lucky enough to catsit for him every once in a while. He’s quite a diva, but oh so easy on the eyes!
1. Taupe or blue eyeliner? Taupe.
2. Are you guilty of Instagram brows? Outside of a little brow shadow, I leave mine alone.
3. How much do you enjoy journaling? A lot. I started a blog about 10 years ago, just some journal-type writings, food photography, recipes, and lots of pet stuff. It ended up with 1.8 million readers and from it, my first book was born in 2014.
4. A 2000s makeup trend you’d rock again? Lots of lip gloss, preferably flavored.
5. Romantic comedies: yes or no? Oh yes!
6. Something good that’s happened to you lately? My husband’s business trip was delayed by two days so we had extra time together (he’s been traveling a LOT this last year).
7. Where shall we go today, Sephora or Ulta? Sephora – it’s like walking into a trendy beauty magazine, but I can take stuff home NOW!
8. Banana bread or zucchini bread? Zucchini. I still have my Mom’s recipe for a no-frosting zucchini snack cake with dark chocolate chips. Grandkids that HATE zucchini just gobble it up.
Sounds like a recipe you should share!
Brigid has a lot of good ones!
I love that your grandbabies eat their veggies! 🙂
1. Taupe or blue eyeliner? Taupe
2. Are you guilty of Instagram brows? No. I’ve learned to leave my brows alone
3. How much do you enjoy journaling? I journaled all throughout my teens and 20s and enjoyed it then. During lockdown, I tried keeping a visual diary (basically sketched instead of writing). It was fun at first but then it started to feel like a full time job lol. It’s a fun reminder of those weird times, though.
4. A 2000s makeup trend you’d rock again? I’m not sure what the trends were then. I’ve always liked a red lip with a “no makeup” look
5. Romantic comedies: yes or no? Yes but in small doses
6. Something good that’s happened to you lately? My 9 yo extremely picky eater decided he’ll give meat a try. He’s only been eating fish and some other seafood for protein so it’s been very limiting
7. Where shall we go today, Sephora or Ulta? Ulta is closer and I have points to spend haha
8. Banana bread or zucchini bread? Chocolate zucchini bread please
I hope your son expands his palette a little! It makes it so much easier when there are choices; I totally get it. What dishes are you going to try?
He just started eating beef patties (as in “burgers” but hold the bun and everything else lol)! Traveling with him is challenging, but he loved Hawaii because of the seafood options and octopus poke. Btw Monterey is one of his favorite places ever 🙂
1. Taupe or blue eyeliner? Blue, navy specifically.
2. Are you guilty of Instagram brows? No I’m not, I’ve never been much of a brow person. I also wear black framed glasses, so my brows haven’t really ever been a focal point.
3. How much do you enjoy journaling? I love it. I’ve journaled since I was 16, I’m almost 48 now. I haven’t journaled much the last couple of years, but I’ve recently got back into it and I enjoy it!
4. A 2000s makeup trend you’d rock again? I’m gonna go with glossy lips too.
5. Romantic comedies: yes or no? A big fat YES! They’re sweet and easy, I like that.
6. Something good that’s happened to you lately? My family recently moved 2500 miles away from where we grew up. My 17 year old daughter is a junior in high school. Being the new kid in school is hard. She’s not overly outgoing, more of an observer than a participant. She’s recently made a couple of really good friends and has been loads happier. She told me she’s so happy we moved and it was the right choice.
7. Where shall we go today, Sephora or Ulta? Ulta, because they have both high end and drugstore brands, my money goes further.
8. Banana bread or zucchini bread? Zucchini. With chocolate chips.
Stephanie, you need to give me a list of your favorite rom coms!
1. Taupe or blue eyeliner? Taupe. Too old to carry off crazy colors.
2. Are you guilty of Instagram brows? No – mine have always been pretty natural. A good thing – mine weren’t ruined by plucking.
3. How much do you enjoy journaling? Haven’t done it, but I should. I wanted to keep a diary/journal as a kid, but with 3 brothers I knew I’d never be able to keep it secret. I intended to keep a diary through chemo, but didn’t as I was still working and just didn’t make the time for it.
4. A 2000s makeup trend you’d rock again? Nothing comes to mind.
5. Romantic comedies: yes or no? Yes if very good; no if mediocre. The best are the classics, like “My Man Godfrey.” Of more recent movies, I like “The Princess Bride,” “Stardust,” and “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.” Yes, the last one passes as a rom-com.
6. Something good that’s happened to you lately? I won a $10.00 gift certificate from Ulta.
7. Where shall we go today, Sephora or Ulta? Ulta – it’s closer and I have the aforementioned GC.
8. Banana bread or zucchini bread? Banana bread
Congrats on winning a gift certificate! Do you have anything in mind to spend it on?
I just have to comment on Mr. Willoughby. “Blue eyes…baby’s got blue eyes!!” What a beautiful kitty!! Is he a Ragdoll cat by chance?
I’m not sure. His mom told me that he’s a rescue and they said in his adoption papers that he’s part Himalayan. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was part Ragdoll, too! Isn’t he beautiful? He sure knows it, too!
Fun fact: one of my kittehs is also named Willoughby (without the Mr.). We also had an Emma and a Harriet. Clearly a fellow Jane Austen fan. 🙂
It’s been quite some time, but here we go.
1.Taupe or blue eyeliner? Taupe shadow on lid but I could do a navy eyeliner.
2. Are you guilty of Instagram brows? No. I never go on Instagram anyway and don’t bother much with my brows.
3. How much do you enjoy journaling? I don’t.
4. A 2000s makeup trend you’d rock again? Brown hair.
5. Romantic comedies: yes or no? Absolutely.
6. Something good that’s happened to you lately? I got through COVID.
7. Where shall we go today, Sephora or Ulta? Ulta, I have a credit card and my local store sells Chanel!!!!
8. Banana bread or zucchini bread? Zucchini bread absolutely!
So our babies’ birthdays are coming up soon. Zack will be 22 on Thursday!!! Graduating college in May!!! How did that happen???
Be well.
1. Taupe or blue eyeliner? Taupe. My eyes are blue-green and it would clash.
2. Are you guilty of Instagram brows? Not at all. I’m too lazy I think.
3. How much do you enjoy journaling? I used to do it regularly, but kind of lost interest a couple of years before the pandemic.
4. A 2000s makeup trend you’d rock again? Probably the glossy lips.
5. Romantic comedies: yes or no? Yes, but there hasn’t been a good one in a long time. Sometimes, it’s good to watch the generic trainwreck rom-com, but I’m usually not in the mood for that.
6. Something good that’s happened to you lately? My bunion surgery went well – even got a dissolving pin instead of titanium. Also didn’t need to take much Percocet, so I was able to start WFH earlier than I thought.
7. Where shall we go today, Sephora or Ulta? Neither, still just ordering online.
8. Banana bread or zucchini bread? Banana, especially now that I have a good recipe with cream cheese in it that is less like a mushy quickbread (although still quickbread).