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.
- Mood:
I’m okay. I’m a little anxious just because I kind of want to play hooky today and spend the last day of the year doing fun things out and about. - What’s one thing you’ve been doing a lot lately?
Eating. Everything that comes across my path. Because at family celebrations, um, there’s just a ton of food, and it’s everywhere. - What’s one of the best things that happened to you in 2012?
I went to Kauai last spring with El Hub. It was one of those things where I really needed a vacation, and it was the perfect type of vacation that I needed at the time. I didn’t do much, just hung out at the beach, swam my little mermaid’s heart out, and I hung out with the beach kitties. It was relaxing and just fun. - What are you hoping for in 2013?
I’m thinking…to be honest, I would love to have my work and my personal life balanced. I want to be able to write with passion and joy and not feel so angry when I get a bout of writer’s block. - Are you protective of anyone?
Yes. My cat, my brother and El Hub, although El Hub doesn’t really need a lot of protecting. Maybe just protecting from himself when he buys clothes. 🙂 - What fragrance have you been loving lately? Have you been loving any fragrances lately?
Yes. Coco Mademoiselle. I’ve been wearing it since about 2007, off and on. When I went to that Chanel thing, that trolley thing a couple weeks ago, I just sort of fell in love with Chanel scents again. - Have you ever worked a retail job over the holidays?
Yeah. Jen and I did a ton of retail jobs together when I was in college. The most memorable one was when we worked at the Limited together over Christmas. I just remember the soundtrack in the store… They played Motown all the time, and we had so much fun. I sold a ton of fuzzy sweaters to clueless dudes, and purse wallets. - Overall, how would you characterize 2012?
It was a good year. You get older, and you start to realize that you’re not going to have your family around forever, so when you make it through another year, and everybody’s healthy, and you still have your core family members around, you’re just really happy. I mean, these days I get excited to just have things stay the same, even though I know that sounds really boring. - What are you doing tonight? Are you going out for New Year’s?
I still don’t know! No parties. I STILL DON’T KNOW!! El Hub and I aren’t exactly “planning” (insert air quotes) people. I have a feeling we’re going to wing it, or end up eating a pizza in front of the TV with Tabs begging for food. - What are your weekly goals?
I want to make a healthy dinner at 6 o’clock every day. I want to end each day not feeling completely loony tunes, and feel like I did good work. And I want to give Tabs extra lovies because I feel like he’s been needing his mama.
To complete the Monday Poll, just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.
Le List
1. How do you feel right now?
2. What’s one thing you’ve been doing a lot lately?
3. What’s one of the best things that happened to you in 2012?
4. What are you hoping for in 2013?
5. Are you protective of anyone?
6. What fragrance have you been loving lately? Have you been loving any fragrances lately?
7. Have you ever worked a retail job over the holidays?
8. Overall, how would you characterize 2012?
9. What are you doing tonight? Are you going out for New Year’s?
10. What are your weekly goals?
It’s the last day of 2012. We made it through another year together, and I feel like I say this every year, but this one really did seem to go by fast, and let me just say that as you get further up into your 30s, something odd happens where the days seem to just fly by, and the seasons fly by, and it’s honestly something that I never anticipated happening.
Just you wait. Wait until it happens to you, you’ll be like, “Hey, Karen, you were so right!” 🙂
I just want to wish you a happy new year, for one, and say that whatever you’re doing today, even if it’s just working, or you’re puttering around the house, or just hanging around with your family, I hope that you get to do a little something for yourself today that makes you happy. Maybe it’s painting your nails, or curling your hair, or straightening your hair, whatever it is. Try to end the year on a good note.
Before you know it, we’ll be talking in 2013.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
she looks so cute in here party outfit is like she is saying , when are we gonna eat cake? we waiting to loooong
1. How do you feel right now?: Tired, as per usual.
2. What’s one thing you’ve been doing a lot lately?: Messing up my sleep schedule. Going to bed at 2 AM, waking up at 11 AM. Time to reset my sleep schedule, since break ends next week…
3. What’s one of the best things that happened to you in 2012?: Graduating and getting a scholarship.
4. What are you hoping for in 2013?: Happiness and success. Less procrastination!
5. Are you protective of anyone?: My family and friends. I’m an extremely loyal person.
6. What fragrance have you been loving lately? Have you been loving any fragrances lately?: None. I’m not a perfume person. There are just so many scents that I don’t like.
7. What makes you go “arrrgghâ€?: Bad driving. There’s this one part on my route when I drive to school that makes me nuts. As soon as you go from the suburbs into the city, everybody forgets how to drive. Quite scary/annoying.
8. Overall, how would you characterize 2012?: Went by pretty darn quickly. Faced a lot of changes during the second half of the year, since I entered a new part of life (college).
9. What are you doing tonight? Are you going out for New Year’s?: Staying at home with my family. My godfather’s coming over, and we’ll be watching movies and TV. (I rented “The Right Stuff”. Such a good movie!) We’ll be making shrimp de jonghe and prime rib for dinner. *swoon*
10. What are your weekly goals?: Reset my sleeping schedule. Finish all of the movies that I rented. (Must finish season four of “Oz”, and then proceed to sob in a disgusting fashion.) Pick up all of my textbooks, my parking pass, and my U-Pass. Practice driving in the snow. Also, clean out my room and closet.
Shauna is so cute! I’d party with her!
1. How do you feel right now? Pretty good! Got the masks completed for the NYE masquerade party, I’m going to work out, shower, and get ready to party!
2. What’s one thing you’ve been doing a lot lately? Napping! I’m on break from work and school right now! I need to get back on a normal schedule…
3. What’s one of the best things that happened to you in 2012? I got a paper accepted to present in Austria, and I won a massive scholarship!
4. What are you hoping for in 2013? Get in the process of getting a paper accepted to an academic journal as a coauthor. Also, more scholarships!
5. Are you protective of anyone? My fiance, my big brother, my fur babies (and kitty brother), and all of my little cousins (I have a massive amount of little cousins).
6. What fragrance have you been loving lately? Have you been loving any fragrances lately? I’ve been wearing Viva la Juicy lately! I got it a few years ago as a Christmas gift (the fiance loves the smell), and it’s too strong for summer, but it’s a pretty good winter scent. I want J’Adore though!
7. What makes you go “arrrgghâ€? Being late! I hate when I’m running late!
8. Overall, how would you characterize 2012? Successful!
9. What are you doing tonight? Are you going out for New Year’s? Going to a masquerade party at the home of some friends! I’m excited to dress up, and my mask is awesome!
10. What are your weekly goals? Stop taking so many naps, work out three times, and order books for the new semester.
As I am painting my nails with Essie Beyond Cozy just a quick note wish you a Happy New Year and a fun evening!I am going over my friends’ house for a small party with my closest friends.
1. How do you feel right now? Not motivated. =(
2. What’s one thing you’ve been doing a lot lately? Stuffing my face with sweets! LOL! Cheesecake, gourmet chocolates, flavored vodka concoctions, gourmet chocolates…oy!!
3. What’s one of the best things that happened to you in 2012? My eldest son got into the Catholic School we wanted.
4. What are you hoping for in 2013? That my boys stay healthy, we continue to growing as a happy fam and that I give myself more ‘me’ time (for everyone’s sake).
5. Are you protective of anyone? Fiercely protective of my kids. Fiercely.
6. What fragrance have you been loving lately? Marc Jacob’s Lola and Armani’s Acqua di gio for women.
7. Have you ever worked a retail job over the holidays? In college at Aeropostale in Stonestowne Galleria…was sooo much fun! The staff was young and fun…good times!!
8. Overall, how would you characterize 2012? Challenging and rewarding. Felt like I earned another notch on my mom belt and still maintained my sanity and job!
9. What are you doing tonight? Are you going out for New Year’s? We’re heading to a friend’s house so both kids and adults can have a good time!!
10. What are your weekly goals? To leave work at work and to keep giving my boys the best of me at the end of my exhausting , stress-filled day. They’re my heart, so they deserve to be treated better than anyone (apart from the hubby).
Thanks for being a part of my daily grind, Karen!! Your blog and a cup of coffee is how I start my workday! Wishing you, El Hub and Tabs a wonderful and beauty-ful New Year!! =D
1. How do you feel right now?
Melancholy, but okay. New Years is always bittersweet for me, and especially this year.
2. What’s one thing you’ve been doing a lot lately?
Buying cookbooks! Now I just have to actually use them more!
3. What’s one of the best things that happened to you in 2012?
Discovering what a wonderful man Brian is. I’ve known him since 2010, just chatting briefly with him on Sundays at church, but the friendship (and whatever it is becoming) that has grown out of a very difficult time in my life has been really nice, and helped me not to completely write off the species of straight men!
4. What are you hoping for in 2013?
Deeper relationships and figuring out what my “purpose” is. I was so focused on being Mom’s caretaker for years and now I’m not really sure what will replace that.
5. Are you protective of anyone?
I am fiercely protective of everyone I love!
6. What fragrance have you been loving lately? Have you been loving any fragrances lately?
I’m in a real apple phase right now, so the DKNY apple fragrances are great, or the Winter Candy Apple from Bath and Body Works for more casual days.
7. Have you ever worked a retail job over the holidays?
No, and I don’t think there’s enough money in the world to talk me into doing it!
8. Overall, how would you characterize 2012?
Challenging, painful, yet life-affirming.
9. What are you doing tonight? Are you going out for New Year’s?
My friend Mary’s coming up tonight, I’m cooking a black eyed peas and rice dish, we’ll ring in the new year, and tomorrow we hit the mall for some shopping.
10. What are your weekly goals?
I gotta clean up the house a bit.
1. How do you feel right now?
Exhausted. Between flight delays that landed us home at 2am and massive jet lag, I am one tired kitten.
2. What’s one thing you’ve been doing a lot lately?
Vegging. We were both sick for the entire NY leg of our trip… so I spent most of it sleeping.
3. What’s one of the best things that happened to you in 2012?
So many, but the most recent best thing was just walking through Jerusalem and taking in all the colors and sounds, the city cats and the call to prayer and the ancient stone streets (made by the Romans)… amazing.
4. What are you hoping for in 2013?
Increased business — both at the day job and my henna job. I also want to compile a book of the cat photos that I took in Israel.
5. Are you protective of anyone?
My kitties, my mother, and the hubby
6. What fragrance have you been loving lately? Have you been loving any fragrances lately?
I like Kenzo’s Flower. It’s not overly floral or sweet, but just smells nice.
7. Have you ever worked a retail job over the holidays?
Oh yeah. When I was a kid I worked in a photo store, and then I’ve done various retail jobs since. The most fun was facepainting at the Wild Animal Park (now called the Safari Park)… if you can have fun working on New Year’s…
8. Overall, how would you characterize 2012?
Awesome. I got to go to both Beijing and Israel. I started a new blog and took part in an art swap. Lots of great stuff happened in 2012.
9. What are you doing tonight? Are you going out for New Year’s?
We are going to recover from late night flying and travelling and just stay in with the cats (who need lots of reassurance that we won’t be leaving again any time soon.)
10. What are your weekly goals?
Get back on a regular sleep/wake schedule. Get back into daily walks. Eat more vegetables.
1. How do you feel right now? Pretty good, just got to rest while the kiddo did.
2. What’s one thing you’ve been doing a lot lately? Eating too much and not sleeping enough…not a good combo.
3. What’s one of the best things that happened to you in 2012? Well, my little guy turned 1 and school is going well.
4. What are you hoping for in 2013? Find a decent job after graduation!
5. Are you protective of anyone? Oh yeah! My kiddo, husband, and my mom.
6. What fragrance have you been loving lately? Have you been loving any fragrances lately? I don’t wear perfume, but love my Cashmere Glow lotion from B&BWS Works
7. Have you ever worked a retail job over the holidays? Yup and I was 6 months pregnant…can you say miserable?
8. Overall, how would you characterize 2012? It was rough. Hubby and I lost 3 grandparents on 4 months. Bring on a new year!
9. What are you doing tonight? Are you going out for New Year’s? Staying home with my guys!
10. What are your weekly goals? Get back on track eating right
1. How do you feel right now? Excited–just got off work!
2. What’s one thing you’ve been doing a lot lately? Spending time meditating.
3. What’s one of the best things that happened to you in 2012? My husband got a clean bill of health.
4. What are you hoping for in 2013? To be a mom.
5. Are you protective of anyone? Hubby, my two kitties, my mom and great aunt.
6. What fragrance have you been loving lately? Have you been loving any fragrances lately? Flower by Kenzo. This one is light enough that it doesn’t trigger migraines.
7. Have you ever worked a retail job over the holidays? Nope.
8. Overall, how would you characterize 2012? Hopeful.
9. What are you doing tonight? Are you going out for New Year’s? Heck no! We lost BBC America earlier this year and Hubby just bought the latest episodes of the newest season of Doctor Who so we’re having a Doctor Who marathon!
10. What are your weekly goals? Exercise at least twice this week (giving myself a break since there’s a holiday!), continuing meditating and refocusing on my spiritual life, and spend some quality time with my family.
1. How do you feel right now? Pretty peppy. Early dismissal from meant time for a nap before I head out for NYE.
2. What’s one thing you’ve been doing a lot lately? Moisturizing. Holy moly has the alligator skin come back with a vengeance.
3. What’s one of the best things that happened to you in 2012? Hmmm…many tough choices…meeting my twin niece and nephew…getting my first bike since middle school…making a few new, good friends
4. What are you hoping for in 2013? I’d like a new job, more travel, and more time on my bike
5. Are you protective of anyone? Definitely protective of family
6. What fragrance have you been loving lately? Have you been loving any fragrances lately? Been sticking to body washes. Sephora’s Lemon Verbena has been tickling my fancy lately
7. Have you ever worked a retail job over the holidays? Nope
8. Overall, how would you characterize 2012? Not bad at all
9. What are you doing tonight? Are you going out for New Year’s? Going to a friend’s place. They’ll have about 30 people over. Karaoke will happen.
10. What are your weekly goals? This week – not much. Had a big deadline at work today so I’m giving myself a break for the rest of the week.
1. How do you feel right now?
full! I slept in but keep snacking 😡
2. What’s one thing you’ve been doing a lot lately?
Shopping. With the Christmas money, post-holiday sales, and mall dates with friends it was inevitable.
3. What’s one of the best things that happened to you in 2012?
Graduating college and passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam.
4. What are you hoping for in 2013?
A better economy and job market.
5. Are you protective of anyone?
My little brother! He’s 15 and a sophomore in high school but in my mind he’s still 10 and can’t go to movies with his friends without a parent present lol.
6. What fragrance have you been loving lately?
YSL’s Parisienne.
7. Have you ever worked a retail job over the holidays?
no I have not.
8. Overall, how would you characterize 2012?
Tumultuous.
9. What are you doing tonight? Are you going out for New Year’s?
Probably staying in with my family. Get cozy in my pajamas, eat a bunch of round things (round = shape of a coin – symbolizes prosperity), watch the fireworks/countdown on TV and sip champagne. Avoid tourists and annoying drunk people.
10. What are your weekly goals?
Catch up on blog posts and eBay listings, spend an hour or two a day focused on my job hunt, avoid foods that agitate my reflux.
1. How do you feel right now? I am really excited because it’s New Year’s Eve!
2. What’s one thing you’ve been doing a lot lately? Sleeping in 🙂
3. What’s one of the best things that happened to you in 2012? I just have been happy!
4. What are you hoping for in 2013? To lose some weight and get a better job!
5. Are you protective of anyone? My nephews.
6. What fragrance have you been loving lately? Have you been loving any fragrances lately? Bvlgari Omnia.
7. Have you ever worked a retail job over the holidays? Yes. ugh.
8. Overall, how would you characterize 2012? OK.
9. What are you doing tonight? Are you going out for New Year’s? Going to a party.
10. What are your weekly goals? To lose 2 pounds this week.
1. How do you feel right now?
Depressed and anxious. My friend/kind of involved with boy got a tongue piercing, and I have a huge phobia of them. He refuses to take it out despite feeling guilty, and it’s literally the one thing I want most is for him to take it out, despite how selfish it is.
2. What’s one thing you’ve been doing a lot lately?
Working. Ugh.
3. What’s one of the best things that happened to you in 2012?
Meeting Rory.
4. What are you hoping for in 2013?
Not really.
5. Are you protective of anyone?
Rory, for sure. Even if he aggravates me.
6. What fragrance have you been loving lately? Have you been loving any fragrances lately?
I don’t use many fragrances, though I’m liking the warmer vanilla fragrances. I can’t get enough of them in candles.
7. Have you ever worked a retail job over the holidays?
No, just restaurant.
8. Overall, how would you characterize 2012?
Roller Coaster.
9. What are you doing tonight? Are you going out for New Year’s?
I am sitting here, bonding with my Avengers blanket and an Iron Man cup full of fruit punch.
10. What are your weekly goals?
Finish up some cosplay shopping.
1. How do you feel right now? Tired, I have been ill since last Wednesday and I couldn’t sleep.
2. What’s one thing you’ve been doing a lot lately? Watching lots of TV and DVD.
3. What’s one of the best things that happened to you in 2012? Short vacation in February and working on a project in a city I didn’t like but find it really interesting.
4. What are you hoping for in 2013? Less work, more sports.
5. Are you protective of anyone? Yes, my family and some younger colleagues.
6. What fragrance have you been loving lately? Have you been loving any fragrances lately? Everything from Hermès especially Hermessence Vetiver Tonka and Bottega Veneta.
7. Have you ever worked a retail job over the holidays? Yes, during university I sold handbags and luggage.
8. Overall, how would you characterize 2012? I learned a lot…
9. What are you doing tonight? Are you going out for New Year’s? No, ill on the couch..
10. What are your weekly goals? Becoming better, doing some housework and later start with a mani and pedi in a fun color.
Have a great 2013 everyone, with lots of life, laugh and love.
1. How do you feel right now? Well a New Year is beginning so I am feeling ok
2. What’s one thing you’ve been doing a lot lately? Hauls which is really bad for my wallet ! Kiko, well a HUGE haul that was !
3. What’s one of the best things that happened to you in 2012? Well I don’t know in fact
4. What are you hoping for in 2013? To move out, I’d like to have a larger apartment in another town
5. Are you protective of anyone? My cat( 14 years old ) a cute one
6. What fragrance have you been loving lately? Have you been loving any fragrances lately? Iris Silver Mist, the most beautiful perfume ever
7. Have you ever worked a retail job over the holidays? No I haven’t
8. Overall, how would you characterize 2012? Chaotic year
9. What are you doing tonight? Are you going out for New Year’s? I felt cold and pretty sad so I stayed in
10. What are your weekly goals? Starting to find another apartment, I want and need to change my life completely in fact
1. How do you feel right now? Introspective. That’s a good thing.
2. What’s one thing you’ve been doing a lot lately? Exercising, and I both love it and loathe it!
3. What’s one of the best things that happened to you in 2012? Moving back into town after living in a cursed house for a year and a half!
4. What are you hoping for in 2013? Health and happiness!
5. Are you protective of anyone? The kids, well, all kids really. I get so sick and tired of people saying things like “kids these days are blah blah blah.” Obviously those people don’t have kids!
6. What fragrance have you been loving lately? Have you been loving any fragrances lately? Chanel No. 5. I am a verrrrrrrry laid back girl, but No. 5 makes me feel feminine and like I have a secret identity for some reason.
7. Have you ever worked a retail job over the holidays? Never.
8. Overall, how would you characterize 2012? Life-changing highs, and soul sucking lows, but probably one of the best years of my life!
9. What are you doing tonight? Are you going out for New Year’s? Hanging out with the husband and kids, eating a tub of roasted garlic hummus, and smooching all of them at midnight!
10. What are your weekly goals? Get the kids to bed at a decent hour, they go back to school next week! (Thank GOD!), clean out the refrigerator, get some exercise in.
1. How do you feel right now?
Tired and sick. Opened the new year with a terrible cough.
2. What’s one thing you’ve been doing a lot lately?
Reading! It’s one thing I have been lacking in lately. Forgot much I use to love reading 🙂
3. What’s one of the best things that happened to you in 2012?
I gained a best friend. It’s really hard to actually have someone who you can rely without being judged. So I am very thankful for her.
4. What are you hoping for in 2013?
I hoping for a new career path where I can finally build a foundation of a happy home for my family.
5. Are you protective of anyone?
Yes! I am very protective over my two wonderful boys 🙂
6. What fragrance have you been loving lately? Have you been loving any fragrances lately?
I have been drowning myself in DKNY Pure 🙂 Love this smell.
7. Have you ever worked a retail job over the holidays?
I honestly have never worked a retail job.
8. Overall, how would you characterize 2012?
Hard but with some fun times.
9. What are you doing tonight? Are you going out for New Year’s?
I am just about getting ready to go over to my sister-in-law house. She is having a lunch-dinner party.
10. What are your weekly goals?
My weekly goal is combat this cough 🙁
Happy New Year!
xx
1. How do you feel right now? Worried! I have a lot to do, going back to the office tomorrow after 10 days off (first vacation in 8’months, too) and I simply relaxed the past week. I needed it but I already feel behind.
2. What’s one thing you’ve been doing a lot lately? Oh man, playing outwitters on my iPad and eating junk.
3. What’s one of the best things that happened to you in 2012? I got a new and have tripled my salary. My workload increased sixfold though and I don’t do much else.
4. What are you hoping for in 2013? Organization. I want to do a lot of things but I need to manage my time a lot better. Tonight I devise a system and some lists. Honestly Karen, when I got this blog update in my inbox and saw the questions on your poll, I decided this is something I need to do more,often (lists)!
5. Are you protective of anyone? My 2 kids — they are everything.
6. What fragrance have you been loving lately? Have you been loving any fragrances lately? Guerlain Le Petit Robe Noir — simply fantastic. Though I’ve been pulling out Coco Mademoiselle andVictor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb a lot since mod November.
7. Have you ever worked a retail job over the holidays? I worked at a kid’s clothing store during the holidays, but it was not an Xmas specific job. Hours grew longer. You need those jobs in university, to remind you why you’re there!
8. Overall, how would you characterize 2012? Successful. I turned 30, landed a new job, passed some certifications, am filing my biggest tax return (good and bad) and my family is heathy and happy. Now to maintain this momentum.
9. What are you doing tonight? Are you going out for New Year’s? Nope, just a usual evening with hubby and kids, hopefully complete ing the aforementioned lists, scheduling and some outwitters. 😈
10. What are your weekly goals? Check work email tonight and not freak out too much, get through the work week (3 days, sheesh) to a weekend ill enjoy, do some blogging and most of all, fake it and make it.
1. How do you feel right now? Bored, nothing to do at the office haha
2. What’s one thing you’ve been doing a lot lately? watching youtube 🙂
3. What’s one of the best things that happened to you in 2012? Go to a Florence + The Machine’s concert!!
4. What are you hoping for in 2013? Travel more
5. Are you protective of anyone? My family, friends and my cat 🙂
6. What fragrance have you been loving lately? Have you been loving any fragrances lately? Hmmm I’m loving Viva La Juicy by Juicy Couture lately 🙂
7. Have you ever worked a retail job over the holidays? nope, my first job has nothing to do with retailing LOL
8. Overall, how would you characterize 2012? Hard but with many things learned
9. What are you doing tonight? Are you going out for New Year’s? I stayed at home with my family
10. What are your weekly goals? Do my NY resolutions 🙂