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. How good are you at crafts?
I do okay if there are very detailed instructions. As long as I can follow a standard operating procedure (SOP), everything’s gonna be alright!
2. Do you speak any other languages besides English?
I understand the commonly spoken Filipino language, Tagalog, but to a limited capacity. I can follow conversational Tagalog, but if it’s academic or the news, I can’t keep up with the vocabulary.
I can also speak simple sentences in French. Nothing truly useful, just things like, “I’d like a croissant, please,” and “Hurry up, we’re going to miss the bus.”
3. Have you started thinking about Thanksgiving yet?
A little bit. It looks like we’re sticking to a small celebration this year — me, Connor and El Hub — so I don’t have to do any big meal planning. We’re going to do a crab feast instead of turkey, with a few sides and a pie or two. Maybe we’ll go to a movie afterwards.
4. How would your partner do if you sent them to Ulta with a list?
I think he would be OK if I put the exact name of the product on the list and included screenshots and links. LOL! I would also have to specify the exact size of the item; otherwise, I’d end up with sample sizes of everything.
5. Charlotte Tilbury or Dior?
Dior.
6. Your 20s or 30s?
30s! I was traveling a lot for MBB and working really hard. Good times.
7. Lipgloss or lipstick?
Gloss.
8. Baby age or toddler age?
I loved both so much so it’s hard for me to choose. I do miss the cuddly baby years a lot.
9. Summer or fall?
Fall.
10. Tell ’em off or walk away?
Sigh. Tell ’em off because I can’t help myself. Then hopefully I’ll walk away.
11. Something you’re grateful for today?
The sprinkling of rain we got over the weekend. The ginger slices at Trader Joe’s (so sweet and spicy). The second season of “The Gilded Age” (I love getting lost in a story that’s not too scary). My chosen tribe. Sunshine early in the morning. Honeycrisp apples, especially when they’re sliced, cold and crunchy.
Happy Monday to you, sweet pea
In case you need it, here’s a big hug and a reminder that you’re doing OK. You’ll probably run into some challenges this week, but I know you’ll be able to handle them with patience and grace.
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. How good are you at crafts?
2. Do you speak any other languages besides English?
3. Have you started thinking about Thanksgiving yet?
4. How would your partner do if you sent them to Ulta with a list?
5. Charlotte Tilbury or Dior?
6. Your 20s or 30s?
7. Lipgloss or lipstick?
8. Baby age or toddler age?
9. Summer or fall?
10. Tell ’em off or walk away?
11. Something you’re grateful for today?
1. How good are you at crafts? Pretty good! I was that kid who checked out all the library books on arts and crafts and spent weekends at the art stores buying supplies. I don’t get to do it much now, though!
2. Do you speak any other languages besides English? Yes, Tagalog. And *tried* to learn Japanese while living in Japan years ago
3. Have you started thinking about Thanksgiving yet? A little. I really just want to eat out!
4. How would your partner do if you sent them to Ulta with a list? Very well, I think.
5. Charlotte Tilbury or Dior? CT but I mostly just use her lipsticks
6. Your 20s or 30s? 20s. I can’t believe how fearless and adventurous I was back then lol
7. Lipgloss or lipstick? Lipstick
8. Baby age or toddler age? Both but toddler age was crazy and so much fun!
9. Summer or fall? Summer
10. Tell ’em off or walk away? Walk away (but tell ‘em off in my head)
11. Something you’re grateful for today?
My and my family’s health; beautiful weather; quiet house for the next few hours
1. How good are you at crafts?
Not great! I don’t have the patience for that kind of thing.
2. Do you speak any other languages besides English?
No not really. I took Spanish in high school so I know some of the common words and phrases.
3. Have you started thinking about Thanksgiving yet?
Yes we were invited to my aunt’s place. We will go after the girls have their nap so everyone else will probably have eaten but that’s okay, its casual over there!
4. How would your partner do if you sent them to Ulta with a list?
I would never do this. He can’t even follow a grocery list!
5. Charlotte Tilbury or Dior?
Dior.
6. Your 20s or 30s?
I think my 20’s. I lived in California after college and I miss it! Also just miss that carefree time in my life.
7. Lipgloss or lipstick?
Lipgloss.
8. Baby age or toddler age?
Toddler age. Having twins its nice when they can do some things for themselves.
9. Summer or fall?
Summer.
10. Tell ’em off or walk away?
Walk away. I am not confrontational whatsoever.
11. Something you’re grateful for today?
Having a job to go to, but also having this Friday off for Veteran’s day!
1. How good are you at crafts? Not very good. I can draw out the entire electrical system of a Boeing 737 on a cocktail napkin but don’t even think about me trying to crochet or knit anything.
2. Do you speak any other languages besides English? I can speak French just enough to get by without being run out of town by angry villagers.
3. Have you started thinking about Thanksgiving yet? It’s just the two of us and I’m vegetarian so it will be a Cornish game hen and lots of veggie sides and apple pie (we both hate pumpkin anything).
4. How would your partner do if you sent them to Ulta with a list? There wouldn’t be anything I had on it – he’d see a squirrel, get sidetracked to home depot and come home with 8 new tools and duct tape.
5. Charlotte Tilbury or Dior? Dior.
6. Your 20s or 30s? 30’s – I was flying as a pilot for the airlines, traveling all over the place, no husband and no obligations other than show up for work.
7. Lipgloss or lipstick? Lipgloss. It’s just easier.
8. Baby age or toddler age? I don’t have kids in the traditional sense (only child given up for adoption to a Hawaiian family when I was a teen), so I can’t really say.
9. Summer or fall? FALL!
10. Tell ’em off or walk away? Walk away, but it took me 60 years to get to that point.
11. Something you’re grateful for today? We had a lot of leaves to rake but it wasn’t cold or windy out and was beautiful outside.
Brigid, number 4 makes me laugh out loud because it sounds like my husband. (Although the Home Depot trip would happen after the Ulta trip.)
1. How good are you at crafts? Pretty good – I have an art degree & grew up with DIY parents so I can sew, cook, paint, build stuff etc.
2. Do you speak any other languages besides English? Bits of Italian – I understand more than I can speak & I can order food like a local
3. Have you started thinking about Thanksgiving yet? Yes – trying to decide if we stay home or go out. We both have to work Friday & all family is over 2 hours away
4. How would your partner do if you sent them to Ulta with a list? It wouldn’t happen because he would end up divorcing me. The one time he came in Sephora with me he had to leave. Too bright, too crowded. If I ordered online for him to pick up, it would be fine. Walkin, grab it & go
5. Charlotte Tilbury or Dior? Charlotte Tilbury – I haven’t tried any Dior
6. Your 20s or 30s? 30s! We had a house, settled into our jobs & were traveling a lot.
7. Lipgloss or lipstick? Gloss
8. Baby age or toddler age? Toddler – I like when you can really start interacting & talking with them
9. Summer or fall? Fall
10. Tell ’em off or walk away? Walk away – I’ve spent too many years in a customer service type job to go off on people.
11. Something you’re grateful for today? Beautiful weather, feeling good & our home renovation project (9 months so far) is moving along!
1. How good are you at crafts?
Very good at some, not so much at others.
2. Do you speak any other languages besides English?
No.
3. Have you started thinking about Thanksgiving yet?
I noticed turkeys and hams on sale today, so that got my mouth watering.
4. How would your partner do if you sent them to Ulta with a list?
I don’t have a partner currently. But if it was my mom, she’d get everything, but it would be very stressful for her. If it was my oldest niece, she would totally nail it and bring me a few fun new things to try out. I wouldn’t even bother sending my next oldest niece; she does *not* do shopping, lol.
5. Charlotte Tilbury or Dior?
I have more experience with Charlotte Tilbury.
6. Your 20s or 30s?
30’s.
7. Lipgloss or lipstick?
Lipstick. I hate sticky lips.
8. Baby age or toddler age?
I loved both.
9. Summer or fall?
Fall!!!
10. Tell ’em off or walk away?
Learning to stand up for myself was a long, hard-won battle, so now I tell ’em off.
11. Something you’re grateful for today?
Yes- the second season of The Gilded Age! And fresh hair color.
1. How good are you at crafts? Very good. Taught myself needlepoint, crochet, and knitting. Also mostly taught myself drawing (from a very early age) and painting (classes are not usually great unless the teacher is great at teaching).
2. Do you speak any other languages besides English? I had the equivalent of 3 years of Spanish from Grade 4 until Grade 12. I can still understand a lot of words spoken or written (though if someone speaks too fast I don’t usually catch most of the words). I’m better at reading it than conversing in it. Unfortunately, I can tell if someone is insulting me in Spanish (it seems that most of the Spanish native speakers assume white people don’t know Spanish and won’t realize they’re being insulted, so they can get away with it).
3. Have you started thinking about Thanksgiving yet? Ugh – It’s going to be awful no matter what, because my mother is gone, and I don’t even have a pet for company. I’d rather not spend it with my brothers. One has a family to spend it with, and I don’t think he’s going to invite me unless it’s out of pure pity. Not that I want to spend it with his gang (you’d have to know the whole story to understand why I say that). The other lives far away and I don’t think he’ll drive into town on my account. As an introvert (and worse yet, personality type INFJ) I don’t have a gang of friends to celebrate with. I guess I’ll either go to a movie, or spend the day continuing to go through the stuff in the house, so the house can be sold sometime in the next several months.
4. How would your partner do if you sent them to Ulta with a list? Don’t have a partner.
5. Charlotte Tilbury or Dior? Don’t know. I’ve never had either brand. But CT seems to have a better reputation for real quality than Dior. I’ve seen a LOT of really low ratings for Dior eyeshadow palettes.
6. Your 20s or 30s? Not sure the question here. I’d love to have a 20s body, and if I had it to do over again, I would have become a fitness buff so I’d be in better shape now. I also wish I’d taken some chances at that time in my life. But my parents and the economy I was raised in made me put security ahead of any degree of happiness.
My life has in general been miserable, mostly because of things that were beyond my control.
7. Lipgloss or lipstick? Lipgloss.
8. Baby age or toddler age? I have no real answer for this as I never had kids. I’m more comfortable around kids at least 8 years old – they don’t scream and cry as much, and they can at least do fundamental things for themselves.
9. Summer or fall? Fall as long as I have to live in the south. If I could move to San Diego, it would be Summer all the way.
10. Tell ’em off or walk away? I’m more inclined to tell people off as I’ve gotten older. I actually think estrogen inhibits most women from being assertive, and once the level of that goes down after 50, it’s easier to stand up for yourself.
11. Something you’re grateful for today? Nothing really. Still grieving, still horrified about all the things I have to do in the next several months, still having an existential crisis.
1. How good are you at crafts?
Hm, not that good.
2. Do you speak any other languages besides English?
A tiny bit of French but it’s been a while.
3. Have you started thinking about Thanksgiving yet?
I’m dreading it. Mom is now in home hospice.
4. How would your partner do if you sent them to Ulta with a list?
I’m currently without a partner so dependent on myself for Ulta runs!
5. Charlotte Tilbury or Dior?
Dior.
6. Your 20s or 30s?
30s. My 20s were full of confusion, and I feel like I came into my own in my 30s. Alas it was not to last.
7. Lipgloss or lipstick?
Lipstick.
8. Baby age or toddler age?
I never had kids but toddler age.
9. Summer or fall?
Fall.
10. Tell ’em off or walk away?
Walk away.
11. Something you’re grateful for today?
The warm weather. Help with Mom. And a chocolate chip cookie.
1. How good are you at crafts?
OK but I could be better.
2. Do you speak any other languages besides English?
Some Spanish but not as much as I should as the daughter of a fluent Spanish speaking mother.
3. Have you started thinking about Thanksgiving yet?
Mmm…no.
4. How would your partner do if you sent them to Ulta with a list?
He would need both a list and the app to successfully complete his mission.
5. Charlotte Tilbury or Dior?
CT for skin care, Dior for color.
6. Your 20s or 30s?
20s
7. Lipgloss or lipstick?
Lipstick!
8. Baby age or toddler age?
There’s no doubt both are very cute ages but both ages had their challenges. I liked that the toddler age allowed for more fun and adventures. And seeing them begin to make friends as toddlers is so cute.
9. Summer or fall?
Summertime
10. Tell ’em off or walk away?
I hate confrontation so I just walk away…but later hate myself for not speaking my mind
11. Something you’re grateful for today?
A new week for making new blunders. (tee hee)
1. How good are you at crafts? I’m horrible🤣. Never looks like the pictures.
2. Do you speak any other languages besides English? Not really. A few words in Thai from my in-laws. Basic vocabulary from Spanish classes in high school.
3. Have you started thinking about Thanksgiving yet? Not a fan of Thanksgiving.
4. How would your partner do if you sent them to Ulta with a list? If I sent him with pictures, he would do fine. He would complain when he saw the prices.
5. Charlotte Tilbury or Dior? Neither.
6. Your 20s or 30s? 20’s – I met my hubby
7. Lipgloss or lipstick? I usually love lipstick…but lately I have felt very “meh” toward lip products. So a gloss.
8. Baby age or toddler age? Toddler
9. Summer or fall? Fall
10. Tell ’em off or walk away? Walk away. It’s not safe anymore to tell someone off. People are crazy.
11. Something you’re grateful for today? Your blog/website. Just a nice positive break from the all the negativity in the world.
1. How good are you at crafts? Awful! I have no patience for crafts. Would rather go out and buy it!
2. Do you speak any other languages besides English? Some German
3. Have you started thinking about Thanksgiving yet? Yes, and where I am going to cater from.
4. How would your partner do if you sent them to Ulta with a list? LOL! He would have no clue at all. But would try his best.
5. Charlotte Tilbury or Dior? Both! Love it all!
6. Your 20s or 30s? 20’s. OMG, had so much fun!!!
7. Lipgloss or lipstick? Both — but these days, love gloss
8. Baby age or toddler age? Loved my son at the toddler age…he was adorable. And slept all night! Ha!
9. Summer or fall? Fall – sleeping with windows open and fresh/crisp air
10. Tell ’em off or walk away? Tell em off!!! Always…
11. Something you’re grateful for today? My 25th wedding anniversary is today. So blessed!
1. How good are you at crafts? Pretty decent!
2. Do you speak any other languages besides English? I can cuss up a storm in Spanish!
3. Have you started thinking about Thanksgiving yet? Yes. In fact I need to go visit our friends who we’re doing Thanksgiving with and plan it.
4. How would your partner do if you sent them to Ulta with a list? Ha! He’d be overwhelmed in two minutes.
5. Charlotte Tilbury or Dior? I don’t have enough experience with either brand to make a choice.
6. Your 20s or 30s? 30’s, such a fun decade.
7. Lipgloss or lipstick? Stick.
8. Baby age or toddler age? I loved both. Toddlers though, they’re fun.
9. Summer or fall? Summer in Michigan is the most magical time.
10. Tell ’em off or walk away? I’m at that age where I’d tell them off, then walk away, and probably cry.
11. Something you’re grateful for today? I talked to my bff yesterday, I’m 2500 miles from her and I miss her something awful.
1. How good are you at crafts? Pretty good.
2. Do you speak any other languages besides English? A little bit of some other languages but not enough to be considered fluent. I can say I love you to Dear Husband in four languages but I couldn’t remember how to say it in the language my grandparents spoke to me in. That upset me.
3. Have you started thinking about Thanksgiving yet? Not really. Just gonna be Dear Husband and myself. Air fare was too pricey for Dear Daughter to fly home for such a limited time.
4. How would your partner do if you sent them to Ulta with a list? Considering he does well buying me Japanese cosmetics and sunscreens (including foundation color matching) when he’s in Tokyo I’d say he’d come through with flying colors.
5. Charlotte Tilbury or Dior? Dior
6. Your 20s or 30s? 20s. I still thought I was gonna get a big break and be a huge success back then.
7. Lipgloss or lipstick? Lipstick
8. Baby age or toddler age? Toddler. The more words my kid learned the easier it was for me.
9. Summer or fall? Fall
10. Tell ’em off or walk away? Depends on the situation and who I’m dealing with. But usually I tell them off.
11. Something you’re grateful for today? My neighbor in the house behind me. She took charge and managed to persuade everyone to replace the falling down fences, which is finally happening today. I’m trying to figure out a way to become her friend.
1. How good are you at crafts? Pretty decent. Good at woodworking, beadwork, and knitting. Decent at sewing/quilting although I hate ironing so that rarely happens.
2. Do you speak any other languages besides English? A moderate amount of Welsh, but my French is basically gone.
3. Have you started thinking about Thanksgiving yet? Probably going to my parents’ house about a 4-hour drive away.
4. How would your partner do if you sent them to Ulta with a list? It would have to be specific and probably with photos, but he would be OK.
5. Charlotte Tilbury or Dior? Dior. CT is very one-note.
6. Your 20s or 30s? 30s. My 20s were dominated by grad school, which was a hellish experience due to my bipolar, micromanaging adviser.
7. Lipgloss or lipstick? About equal.
8. Baby age or toddler age? Neither – childfree.
9. Summer or fall? Don’t really like either where I live now. Summer is too hot, but fall has ragweed pollen.
10. Tell ’em off or walk away? Tell ’em off unless it would get me arrested or fired.
11. Something you’re grateful for today? I had most of the morning available to do my actual job instead of a) harassing coworkers to do their job or b) doing my “extra projects.”