So…what is the Monday Poll?
Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past 11 (!) years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.
1. What’s one of your best high school memories?
Most are just small things, but there are so many to choose from! What really stand out for me are the little things that I miss so much now as an adult.
One of my best ones, and Cindy would probably disagree with this, but it was on a day when we had a written test in honors history class (because we were nerds in that way), and I remember this clear as day. It was senior year. We were in the car. Jen was driving us to school, and Cindy was like, “Are you ready for the test?” and I was like, “No, not really.” I hadn’t studied for it. I can’t remember why, but I didn’t.
It was going be an essay test, so I asked Cindy, “Well, what did you learn last night? Give me the bullet points,” and she broke it down for me over the course of the drive. From the time we got into the car, got to school, and then left the car was about 15 minutes, and Cindy told me everything she studied, everything she learned. The highlights.
We go in, and we both take the test…
I got an A on it and Cindy got a B. And she was pissed! I can’t blame her.
2. What’s the last show you marathoned?
I’m always starting shows with a bang, and I’ll watch for a few hours but never finish. But the last show I marathoned from start to finish was The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Prime Video.
It’s by the people who did Gilmore Girls, which is probably why I liked it so much.
3. Favorite decade?
I mean, I could do without the spiral perm coming back, although I’m down for hair that reaches for the sky, but obviously the ’80s. The music was so much fun, and even though I had such a hard time with high-waisted pants back then, I’ve come around to appreciating them more with my mom bod.
Also, all of the leggings we wore back then are making a comeback again, too.
4. Will you be my lucky charm?
Only if you’ll be my lucky star. ⭐
5. Peeps: love ’em or hate ’em?
I wish you could see my face all scrunchy right now. ?
In theory, I don’t like them. There’s something about the texture that isn’t appealing to me…but if you put one in front of me, I’ll go there.
New yummies
What was for breakfast this morning? You know it’s my favorite meal of the day so I had to ask. Well, it’s one of my favorite meals of the day. I’m a big fan of lunch and dinner, too, and the snacks in between. HAHA! But breakfast is my fave, which is why I looked around for some new breakfast yummies while I was grocery shopping over the weekend. They’re pretty healthy too!
Starting with… Dave’s Killer Whole Wheat Bread. I like the nutritional numbers, and this dude on the package (I’m assuming he’s Dave) cracks me up.
I don’t know why a muscled guy playing guitar on a loaf of bread is so hilarious to me, but I dig it!
Also: Thomas’ English Muffins Double Protein Oatmeal With Cinnamon. There’s 7g of protein in each muffin. I toasted one this morning and topped it with a tablespoon of peanut butter and YUM! So good.
I also picked up Dannon Light ‘N’ Fit Greek Yogurt in Strawberry Cheesecake because sometimes I wake up wanting dessert for breakfast. Wait… that never happens to you? You’re crazy!
I found all these yummies at Target, by the way, because the one in our town has a grocery section. And yes, it’s awesome.
So, Monday. Looks like it’s going to be a sunny day here in Northern California. I feel like it’s gonna be a good one, too. If you need some extra cheer, allow me to be your cheesy cheerleader and remind you that it’s a beautiful day, an absolutely gorgeous one, to be alive. I know, super cheesy, but sometimes you need a little bit of cheese in your life. Happy to provide it for ya.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Here are the questions to copy and paste with your answers in a comment:
1. What’s one of your best high school memories?
2. What’s the last show you marathoned?
3. Favorite decade?
4. Will you be my lucky charm?
5. Peeps: love ’em or hate ’em?
1. What’s one of your best high school memories?
I think having my first real crush, it was at the same time I was coming out so it was cool to fall in love while having friends support.
2. What’s the last show you marathoned?
One day at a time second season, Rita Moreno is amazing.
3. Favorite decade?
I’d love be to see the 80’s but I really love this decade even though there’s been a lot of crazy.
4. Will you be my lucky charm?
Obviously (I don’t know how to answer in a poetic way because I didn’t get the reference).
5. Peeps: love ’em or hate ’em?
Neither I haven’t tried them.
Hey girl, today we’re returning to Puebla after some days in our hometown, we’ll be having fried plantains, mashed black beans, sour cream and cheese for breakfast, you have to try it.
So your breakfast sounds AMAZING. I’d happily eat that knowing that I’d have to run 5 miles to burn it off, LOL! So what are the plans for Germany? Do you know exactly when you’re leaving?
Well if you’re worried about calories you can skip the sour cream, use any low fat cheese (in Mexico we have one called panela and by nature it isn’t high in calories, so is the only cheese you get when you’re on a diet and the serving is 30gr) and steam the plantains instead of frying them. The beans are a non negotiable if you want a Mexican Caribbean breakfast, you can also add sauce and eggs.
About Germany, the departure date is August 30th *gulp*. I’m both excited and nervous about it; I’m doing my best at German classes and I’ve already had my first seminar to know all the guys and girls that are going with me. They all seem to be nice people, which is great because they’re going to be the nearest thing I’ll have to Mexico.
My parents are proud for me, but I always see that my mom gets teary when she thinks about me leaving for a year.
GIRL if you’re gonna have that type of breakfast you have to go all the way. I’d put on the sour cream and *real* cheese happily! And I will log those five miles on the treadmill with a smile. LOL!
August is going to come up quick. So proud of you and your decision to take this big leap. Now is the time!
Well you’re right if you are going to eat a great breakfast, you have to enjoy it without any guilt; however the “light” version is still tasty. If you ever try it please send me a photo.
I know you’re living vicariously through me, so I’ll send you photos and mails about the journey (maybe I’ll send you also a mail when I’m feeling homesick). For now the only things I have truly planned are growing my hair to braid it an forget about it looking like a disaster after wearing hats in the winter.
That’s right, Germany is COLD! OMG. It will be a shock to your system but you’ll get used to it.
Random but my parents are going to Germany in about a week or so for vacation! They promised to bring me back chocolate.
It’s snowy (3 inches!) in NYC – April Fools came a day late via mother nature!
1. What’s one of your best high school memories?
Hmm… some of my favorites include going to get pizza at Costco (so cheap!) with my best friend. We were both in a program called Running Start, where Juniors/Seniors could take classes at a local Community College. So we’d bop from class out to Costco to get that cheap lunch, haha.
2. What’s the last show you marathoned?
Hmm… I think mine was probably the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, too! I don’t usually marathon shows unless I’m sick, and I think that came out right around my last sick day.
3. Favorite decade?
Oh gosh… I think I’m gonna go with the 90’s. I was a babe in arms at the start of it, but I love me some flannel and jeans. <3
4. Will you be my lucky charm?
Sure!
5. Peeps: love ’em or hate ’em?
I don't go out of my way to find them these days, but if they're around, I'll totally eat 'em. Me and candy, man… I just can't say no!
Ah, forgot to detail breakfast!
There’s a $3 breakfast deal in the cafe upstairs from my office – for $3 you get to pick any 3 of the following: scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, turkey bacon, french toast, grits, and oatmeal. Plus you get a small coffee or tea. Pretty good deal, no? So I got oatmeal today, and went with eggs and french toast to round it out – the eggs weren’t very good (sad day) so I just went with the french toast and oatmeal, the latter of which I doctored up with a little raw sugar, raisins, and peanut butter. That and my cup of decaf were pretty satisfying, I have to say!
Hey Shannon,
Yeah, I have a bunch of friends on Instagram who’ve been posting pics of the snow. CRAZY BUSINESS! Think of it this way. Once it melts away you’ll have more water around for the trees and flowers. 🙂
Oh, and that Costco pizza, if you’re in the mood for it, it’s bomb, right? So are the hot dogs. I don’t need to be eating that much meat in a tube generally, but on the rare occasion when the urge strikes a Costco hotdog is so good.
Speaking of food the $3 sounds like the perfect thing for a snowy Monday. Sorry your eggs weren’t good! I’m picky about mine too, and if they’re even the tiniest bit off I won’t touch ’em.
1. What’s one of your best high school memories?
The great thing about high school was friendship. My girlfriends and I were really close, spending lots of time together, and sharing everything. I can’t think of one particular memory, but that’s what I miss the most, this intense connection that I think is hard to get with any friend you meet later in life.
2. What’s the last show you marathoned?
Mantis, which is a French show on Netflix about a female serial killer. It’s pretty good, of course the characters tend to do very stupid things (but isn’t that always the case in thrillers?), but overall entertaining.
3. Favorite decade?
I want to say the 90s, because that’s when I “came of age” so I’m still really into the music, the popular culture, and even the way we did life at that time, you know?
4. Will you be my lucky charm?
As in the sugar loaded breakfast cereal? Hmm no? I can be your oatmeal.
5. Peeps: love ’em or hate ’em?
They’re cute but disgusting to me. If I’m going to indulge in a pure sugar snack, at least I want something that tastes good…
It’s a gray day here, really gloomy and dark! I’m hoping we’ll see a bit of sunshine later. Hope you have a great week!
My high school experience was very similar to yours. I made close friendships with my girlfriends, and they still live relatively close to me (about an hour away). What I miss most is seeing them everyday, and doing the little things, like riding in the car on the way to school and back and singing along to whatever’s on the radio. Just sitting around and hanging out at each other’s houses watching TV… Those little things that connect you to other people. I really hope Connor has that experience with her girlfriends, because I know that it’s not one that everyone gets to have unfortunately. I really hope that she has good girlfriends in her life.
Anyway, have a wonderful Monday. I hope the sun comes out for you soon!
1.What’s one of your best high school memories? For my 18th Birthday my senior year my parents rented me a limo. It was a great night! We went to dinner and also thru the McDonald’s drive-thru to get milkshakes.
2. What’s the last show you marathoned? We are currently watching Halt and Catch Fire on Netflix. It’s an AMC show that is about the computer industry in the 80s. Love the character and all of the 80s clothes/cars/technology.
3. Favorite decade? For me personally I would say the 90s. I went to High School and college in the 90s. I met my husband in 1994 and many of the good friends I have to this day!
4. Will you be my lucky charm? All I can think of here is Lucky Charms cereal! 🙂
5. Peeps: love ’em or hate ’em? Love them. Did you know that if you put them in the microwave they blow up to be a GIANT peep?
Leah,
I had NO IDEA. Now I want to get a discount after-Easter Peep so I can experiment, haha! Have you tried it yourself? And, most importantly, did you eat it afterwards?!
Karen,
Yes I’ve tried it (but not since college!). I think I ate it afterwards but I’m not sure. It’s pretty funny though. 🙂
It’s going on my list of weird things I need to try for myself. Yes, I really have that list! (Sidenote: I also have one called “dogs in my neighborhood,” and I just added another dog I met today, a 14-year springer spaniel rescue named Lola. She’s blind.)
How are things with yoga going? Are you back in the groove now that you’ve been at it for a month without the boot?
Yes my foot healed nicely! Back to yoga without any issues! Thanks for asking!
You’re welcome! Glad to hear you’re back at it. 🙂
LOL… In my HIIT class we typically do a few downward dogs in the warmup and I am always delighted when I look around and see that mine isn’t the worst one in class. I’m so not flexible! But I try.
1. What’s one of your best high school memories?
Hm, it’s hard to think of one. I actually had a decent time in high school with my small group of friends.
2. What’s the last show you marathoned?
Altered Carbon on Netflix. This was one of those dark and slightly confusing shows where I had to read recaps afterwards to make sure I understood what happened. I also recently finished up This is Us.
3. Favorite decade?
The 90s. I was in high school and college and it was before “real life” started.
4. Will you be my lucky charm?
Absolutely! I also say that my black kitties, Nina and Louis, are my lucky charms.
5. Peeps: love ’em or hate ’em?
I’m gonna pass. There are other sweet treats I would rather splurge on!
Happy Monday! Glad you are enjoying a sunny day. It snowed here yesterday and it’s going to be in the 60s tomorrow. Such weird weather!
And I had a Rice Krispie treat for breakfast. 🙂
Honestly sometimes Rice Krispies HIT THE SPOT. There’s a place in the town where I get my haircut that sells them in huge blocks that look like bricks, and they’ll do combo flavors like s’mores (my fave) and lemon! Ugh, craving one right now…
Did you like Altered Carbon? I have mixed feelings about it. I watched the whole thing because a buddy of mine was an extra on the show, and I spent most of the episodes looking for her in the background!
I made the bakery style rice krispies from Brown Eyed Baker. They have the perfect ratio of marshmallows to krispies. I need to give some away so I don’t eat what’s left!
Overall I liked Altered Carbon. It was an interesting concept, but I found the plot confusing at times. I felt like the ending was a bit tidy with how everything was wrapped up.
That’s so cool that your friend was an extra!
Just looked up the recipe and YUM! I’d be tempted to eat the whole thing if I had it in the house, too. 🙂
She’s an actress and often plays bit/background parts. I swear I looked for her in every scene but didn’t see her at all, gah! Still I’m glad that I watched it, even if it was a little slow at times.
What are you marathoning next?!
1. What’s one of your best high school memories? So long ago, I don’t remember anything in particular.
2. What’s the last show you marathoned? I’ve never marathoned a show. I can’t sit for that long and I get bored easily so after one or two episodes of something, I’m done.
3. Favorite decade? This one, right now. Every decade has had good memories and not so good memories, so I like being in this moment now.
4. Will you be my lucky charm? Sure
5. Peeps: love ’em or hate ’em? Gross, all that sugar. They’re so sweet they burn. Hate ’em!
Love the weather we’re having today. Sunny but not too warm. Had a great workout this morning at the gym, now I get to catch up on laundry!
The weather is GORGEOUS! Connor and I just got back from the playground and walking around the neighborhood. My favorite tree is blooming (yes, I have a fave tree) and we met a dog that lives in our neighborhood… It’s been a great day so far. I’m hoping that I can dodge my seasonal allergies for *just* a little bit longer.
What crazy color are you wearing on your nails today, btw? I’m just about to paint mine… same ol’ Essie Beauty Nap.
My allergies are already bothering me a bit. I’m starting to get itchy eyes when I pet Nora for too long. Sigh. I do not want to be allergic to my cat.
My nails still haven’t recovered from the last streak of polishing I did, so no color til they’ve stopped splitting and peeling. I’ve done Solar Oil, Bliss Kiss and the Dior nail and cuticle oils. Been taking Biotin. I put Eucerin on every time I wash my hands. I don’t know what else to do to get them back into shape.
1. What’s one of your best high school memories? Homecoming in 10th grade. We all went out to a restaurant as a group and then to the dance. It was a great time.
2. What’s the last show you marathoned? It’s been so long, I don’t remember!
3. Favorite decade? 70’s or 80’s. And I had a spiral perm in the 90’s (you have to condition!-most of my friends let their hair turn to straw!). Both had good and bad fashion points, but I would be happy to see either!
4. Will you be my lucky charm? I thought if the lucky charms cereal, lol! Sure! The Madonna reference cracked me up. She had a clip in Enertainment Tonight back then, and the got her on tape, without auto tune. Cringe worthy.
5. Peeps: love ’em or hate ’em? Love them! But I prefer making big homemade even better! Once you have had homemade marshamallows, the store bought never taste as good.
Hi Michelle,
Don’t forget the mousse or gel for hold! My friend Cindy got a spiral perm and it was out of control until we got some product in it!
How was your weekend? Good, I hope!
1. What’s one of your best high school memories?
High school wasn’t a great time for me, so the day we showed up and a transformer blew, so we got out of school for a few days!
2. What’s the last show you marathoned?
I watched the entire second season of Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency yesterday, so good.
3. Favorite decade?
Probably the 90s.
4. Will you be my lucky charm?
Yes! Quincy would have let you kiss all his feet for good luck.
5. Peeps: love ’em or hate ’em?
Hate! Gross.
Hi Chelsea,
OK, that show sounds fun! Where can I find it? Netflix?
P.S. RIP QB.
First season is for sure on Hulu! I paid for the second season on Amazon Prime.
Sweet, I have both! Not that I need to spend more time in front of the TV, but it’s nice to be able to zone out for a bit, ya know?
Hi Katen hope your Easter ? was fabulous ! Loved the pics of Connor Claire ; she’s more than adorable .
So , breakfast . I like eggs and toast or lo fat waffles . Sometimes I make my hi protein waffles .
I binged The Crown but I did watch the Marvius MM . Is there a second season ?
My best HS Memory was cutting the day and going to the beach ?
My favorite decade was the 60’s followed by the Paralled 80’s ! The hair was the same .
Not sure what you mean by lucky charm .
Not a Peep girl but I love Zitners double coconut ? eggs !
Only had one and it was hard .
I’ve never heard of that candy before, Michele! Maybe it’s not a West Coast thing?!
1. What’s one of your best high school memories?
High School was a hard time for me and looking back, many of the things I thought were good, were not. I’ll go with some easy ones; Going to Magic Mountain! I loved it there and it was a real long drive but worth all the rides! I especially liked going on them at night.
2. What’s the last show you marathoned?
Currently binging American Horror Story. I’d never watched it. It’s an alright show and the acting is good.
3. Favorite decade?
Probably the 90’s in terms of what I’ve lived. Historically speaking in recent times probably the 20’s.
4. Will you be my lucky charm?
I’m not very lucky so you’d be better off selecting another reader!
5. Peeps: love ’em or hate ’em?
HATE!!!!
Hope you guys had a good easter!
Hi Karen, Connor Claire and Tabs! It’s a big day for Bree tomorrow as she gets her very first bath with us! We are taking her to the very same groomer she had her ears cleaned, so I’m very excited because I think she is going to do well there. The main groomer (and owner) there is super nice and she’s handled dogs like Bree quite often.
1. What’s one of your best high school memories?
You know, my favorites are often just the interaction with teachers when they were on break and I was running passes for the counselors my junior and senior years. They weren’t in their teaching mode and many would just find a place away from the chaos (sometimes even just the hallway where I was running like a devil running passes door to door) and I got to know some of them from a human perspective, not a teacher-student one. My geography teacher often talked about his kid and how he really struggled coming from an environment that was chaos (he adopted him from Ukraine), knowing very little English, into a place that was structured and no one knew HIS language (except the swear words. He made the translator write down the swear words because apparently his kid could swear like a sailor at, you know, 8 years old.) He had adopted his son, at that point, I think for six years.
2. What’s the last show you marathoned?
Madagascar – not the movie, the BBC documentary with David Attenborough as the narrator – on Netflix. I could literally watch documentaries narrated by David Attenborough all day.
3. Favorite decade?
Probably the 90s in terms of what I’ve lived in, though I don’t remember much of it. The 50s in terms of style.
4. Will you be my lucky charm?
Of course I will Karen!
5. Peeps: love ’em or hate ’em?
When I was little, I like Peeps…and now I can’t stand them. I give my Peeps to my dad. In fact, my mom and I saw Peeps on a stick at Target, and we started laughing so hard that we bought my dad 4 of the shish kabobed Peeps as well as the packaged ones. We were just dying. We didn’t actually think my dad was going to EAT shish kabob Peeps but my dad came up yesterday saying, “Shish kabob Peeps aren’t so bad,” and I was trying so hard not to laugh. I think we’re going to have to do shish kabob Peeps for him now every year. XD
1. I could go on for weeks about the bad memories. As for good ones, the only one that comes to mind is this: I got an A on my senior English term paper.
2. “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.” While this show is wildly uneven and has a lot of impossible/illogical stuff in it, it is entertaining.
3. If you mean favorite decade you lived in, probably the 1960s, even though I was a child. The economy was good, and people were still optimistic, even after the assassinations and the Vietnam War (dragging on). The 1970s were horrible in terms of the economy, my family moved from CA to TX, and moved again in TX. I hated disco, the 1980s perms and garish makeup, and the near-deification of Reagan. Most of my life since then has been what I call a “big ugly blur.” I can remember things, of course, but most of it is not worth remembering.
4. I’m not lucky in general. At least I’m surviving my cancer treatment (so far).
5. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten a Peep, so I can’t say if I would like them. I prefer chocolate Easter candy.
1. What’s one of your best high school memories?
Hmm…that’s a tough one. High school, in retrospect, seems like one long embarrassment after another, with some absolutely lovely English classes thrown in.
2. What’s the last show you marathoned?
I caught up on EastEnders with my mom and brother over Easter weekend. Oh, the delicious drama!
3. Favorite decade?
The ’80s, primarily for the music. Punk and New Wave were (and still are, to an extent) my jam!
4. Will you be my lucky charm?
Sure, as long as I get to be a blue moon. ?
5. Peeps: love ’em or hate ’em?
Love to hate them? They look cute, but the texture is, well, disgusting.
1. What’s one of your best high school memories? field trips of course. I even went to jets stadium and got some autographs from footballplayers. I don’t even know if they still play.
2. What’s the last show you marathoned? Jessica Jones
3. Favorite decade? I like different decades for different reasons but my favorite would be 2000s because i got married , divorced, traveled
my craziest 10 years
4. Will you be my lucky charm? sure , why not.
5. Peeps: love ’em or hate ’em? hate them but I saw some sour peeps, so I may give them a try