Just For Fun

You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”

Well, it isn’t much of a poll. It’s more just a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past four years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

1. What’s the first thought that crossed your mind this morning?
   “I can sleep for 10 more minutes…” Let me tell ya, I did not want to get up this morning. I would have kept hitting the snooze button if it hadn’t been for Tabs, who was aggressively up in my grill begging for breakfast.
2. Have you been reading anything lately?
   The Great Gatsby. Re-reading it. I want to get through it before the new Baz Lurhmann version comes out with Leo.

   I’ve also sort of committed to reading some of the classics again this year — you know, the things they made us read in school. If you have any favorites, please let me know!

3. When was the last time you wore false lashes?
   Valentine’s Day.
4. What are your three secrets to happiness?
   1. To pick your battles carefully (in other words, you can’t win ’em all or do everything)
   2. To look for silver linings everywhere
   3. To adopt stray cats 😉
5. Do you prefer eye shadow palettes or single pans?
   OOH! So tough. Well, for traveling, definitely palettes, but if I’m not going far from home, then single pans.
6. What’s one of your imperfections that you cherish?
   I’m probably a little more — okay a lot more! — emotional than many folks, and it’s kind of a pain in the @ss, because I take everything to heart. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve cried in front of strangers on trains/on the phone/at the supermarket/etc. because of something small, and it’s a struggle sometimes to keep it together.

   But at the same time, I’m thankful for my emotions. I think they help me empathize with others and express myself creatively.

7. Has a skincare product ever changed your life?
   Skinceuticals C E Ferulic has. It’s been a minor miracle for me. Since I started using it, my skin definitely feels smoother, I get fewer breakouts around my chin, which is one of my troubled spots, and I think my skin tone just looks more even.

   Love the stuff!

8. Do you like your hair better long or short?
   For the most part, long. It depends. I go through phases, but I always return to long.

   I like keeping my hair short, too, but weirdly it’s so much more work. I can’t just ignore it when it’s short. I have to style it, but when it’s long, I can just throw it in a bun or ponytail and not have to think about it. Plus, when it’s cold in winter, longer hair sure keeps my head and neck warmer.

9. Is there something you’re currently lemming?
   Yargh, the YSL Summer collection. I keep thinking about the quads and the new Manifesto perfume…
10. Write yourself a Post-It note:
    “Be bold, take risks, and do not be afraid to fail!”

To complete the Monday Poll, just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

Le List

1. What’s the first thought that crossed your mind this morning?
2. Have you been reading anything lately?
3. When was the last time you wore false lashes?
4. What are your three secrets to happiness?
5. Do you prefer eye shadow palettes or single pans?
6. What’s one of your imperfections that you cherish?
7. Has a skincare product ever changed your life?
8. Do you like your hair better long or short?
9. Is there something you’re currently lemming?
10. Write yourself a Post-It note:

Give yourself a big hug for me today. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Does your cat hide your brushes? Have you caught your dog chomping on your compacts? Does your pet love beauty products just as much as you do?

With Tabs, where to start!? How about soothing massage? He likes having his cheeks brushed with my makeup brushes, with blush and bronzing brushes being his tools o’ choice.

He’ll also rub up against various bottles, jars and compacts, claiming them as his own. If it’s makeup-related and he thinks I’m into it, he’ll give it headbutts or rub up against it with his cheeks.

He seems particularly interested in Chanel and Dior. Whenever I leave a compact somewhere on the floor, he’ll plop down on top of it and take a nap. (Sometimes he’ll even stay still enough for me to place some on his back and take pics.)

And then there’s the matter of the disappearing makeup… I don’t know how Tabs does it, or whether he’s involved, but shiny things have a tendency to disappear when he’s around.

I think he hides them in a secret kitty stash (which I still haven’t found).

On a scale of 1 to 10, with one being totally uninterested and 10 being a full-on beauty-obsessed animal (haha), how would you rate your pet?

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Tabs clocks in at a solid 10!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”

Well, it isn’t much of a poll. It’s more just a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past four years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

1. Do you usually apply your making sitting down or standing up?
   Mostly sitting down in my office, but I’ll do touch-ups standing up when in the bathroom, like while I’m doing my hair.

   You know how sometimes when you take a step back and see everything from that extra foot away in the mirror, it totally changes your perspective?

2. Have you ever cried at work?
   Oh, hell yeah. Many, many times. When I worked in the city, I even had a special bathroom stall that I always went to when I needed to cry. It was my safe place, and um…I spent a lot of time in there.

   I think my co-workers thought I had serious digestive issues…

3. When was the last time you wore body glitter in the daytime?
   Hmm… Full-on body glitter? Probably Vegas in 2003.

   I did also wear Michael Kors Leg Shimmer last summer on Kauai…but I don’t know if that counts.

4. You just ordered a deli sandwich. Do you eat the pickle it comes with?
   I do, if it’s crunchy and not dripping in pickle juice.
5. Share a good memory from your high school years.
   Picture it: a band nerd. I played with the orchestra in a few school musicals, like A Chorus Line, West Side Story and Damn Yankees and had so much fun doing West Side Story!

   The flute parts were off the hook! Jen and I were the only flautists in the band and spent the the better part of each music class passing notes and talking about boys.

   Ah, to be 16 and completely clueless again… Good times. 🙂

6. Something looming over your head that you need to get done sooner than later?
   I need to go to the DMV this week, argh!

   But the lines, the crankiness, the horrendous florescent lighting. Every time I go to the DMV I break out in hives, but on a positive note, the DMV is like Disneyland compared to the telephone system at Kaiser.

7. Do you have a favorite downtime/weekend scent?
   Lately, Bobbi Brown Beach perfume. THE BEST SATURDAY SCENT! Hands down.
8. List your shower routine from start to finish.
   First, I wash my hair, then run conditioner through it from root to tip.

   I let the conditioner sit and do its thing for a minute or two, and then I usually shave before rinsing off the conditioner.

   Then I wash my face and body, and I don’t know why, but this always takes a minimum of 20 minutes.

   I’ve tried to take five-minute showers but it never works out that way…

9. What’s your stance on jumpsuits?
   I like ’em in conservative, neutral colors like black or gray, and in a materials I could wear to work. No terry cloth, no bright colors, and definitely nothing that makes me look shorter than I already am.
10. Have you ever traveled abroad?
    I’ve been to the Philippines, Western Europe, Canada and Mexico.

To complete the Monday Poll, just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

Le List

1. Do you usually apply your making sitting down or standing up?
2. Have you ever cried at work?
3. When was the last time you wore body glitter in the daytime?
4. You just ordered a deli sandwich. Do you eat the pickle it comes with?
5. Share a good memory from your high school years.
6. Something looming over your head that you need to get done sooner than later?
7. What’s your weekend scent?
8. List your shower routine from start to finish.
9. What’s your stance on jumpsuits?
10. Have you ever traveled abroad?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. We’re gonna have a good week, you and I. I can feel it in my knees.

You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”

Well, it isn’t much of a poll. It’s more just a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past four years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

1. Are you a red lip lover?
   Most definitely!
2. Do you ever wear ripped jeans?
   Sure for just knockin’ around the house, but not out in public.
3. When was the last time you shed tears of joy?
   I think it was about two years ago when my friend Jen told me that she was pregnant. A few of us had gone on a girls’ spa day. We’d just parked our cars and were standing on the corner outside the spa, saying our hellos, when Jen said, “I’m pregnant!”

   She didn’t want to tell us over the phone…and she also didn’t want us to freak out when she asked for a pregnancy massage at the front desk inside the spa. 🙂

   The tears just started rollin’!

   Now, whenever I drive by that corner I get a little verklempt…

4. What’s the most time consuming thing for you when you’re getting ready in the morning?
   It used to be my hair back before I found a stylist I have good synergy with (yes, I went there; I used “synergy” in a sentence, haha!), and I can usually do my makeup pretty quickly most of the time, so I’d say it’s picking out my clothes.
5. It’s brown-bag lunch day! What are you having?
   A vegan “chicken” sandwich from Whole Foods, a scoop of fruit salad, a snack bag of BBQ chips and a big bottle of water.
6. When was the last big fight you got into with someone?
   Honestly, I can’t remember. It was probably with El Hub over something lame like changing the toilet paper roll…

   Seriously, dude, is it so hard!?

7. If you were given a good opportunity to pursue your current dream job, what would you do?
   Well, I like my current job, but if I were given the chance to pursue something else — another dream job — maybe songwriting?

   I think I’d be pretty good at it. I think. Or maybe photography or makeup artistry.

8. I’m crazy in love with (fill in the blank).
   My cat, LOL!
9. What’s your fountain drink of choice?
   I don’t have ’em often, but when I do, a Coke and a smile. 🙂 With plenty of ice.
10. What’s one thing you say to yourself all the time?
    “You need to stay calm.”

    I say it like that, too. “You need to stay calm.” Panicking never helps.

To complete the Monday Poll, just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

Le List

1. Are you a red lip lover?
2. Do you ever wear ripped jeans?
3. When was the last time you shed tears of joy?
4. What’s the most time consuming thing for you when you’re getting ready in the morning?
5. It’s brown-bag lunch day! What are you having?
6. When was the last big fight you got into with someone?
7. If you were given a good opportunity to pursue your current dream job, what would you do?
8. I’m crazy in love with (fill in the blank).
9. What’s your fountain drink of choice?
10. What’s one thing you say to yourself all the time?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen