So…what is the Monday Poll?
Good question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll. It’s just a list of five more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past gazillion years (more than 10!). I love reading your answers, and it helps me get my week off to a great start. ?
1. Velcro or buttons?
Buttons.
That is all. I don’t have anything else to add.
2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett?
Hmm… If we’re only talking about music I’m most likely to listen to on the treadmill, then Taylor Swift. But if I were picking one of them to draw strength from as a lifeforce, then Joan Jett for sure.
3. How much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta?
I check ’em. Mostly, I skin through them to see if I can detect any themes that keep popping up over and over again, and I’ll keep them in mind when I’m thinking about purchasing a product, but I don’t comb through each and every single one because I know that some people leave 5-star reviews because a product is new and they think it’s cool.
It’s like anything. You have to take them with a grain of salt.
4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now?
All sorts of gluten-free nonsense, none of which I want to eat. We’ve got some pad Thai (wasn’t very good; there was only one potato, which to me is a travesty), yellow chicken curry and some leftover cold, soggy French fries.
Except for the tacos El Hub made last night, it was not a weekend of culinary delights.
5. What’s the best nail polish top coat?
I really like Smith and Cult Above It All. It keeps my mani shiny for longer than other top coats.
I also like Seche Vite, which I’ve been using off and on since the Triassic Period (apparently, I’m not the only one who likes it either).
The only thing I don’t like about Seche Vite is that it gets really goopy, really fast, so the bottles never last too long.
Deep thoughts on a Monday morning… How do you feel about frosting?
So we’ve gone to a couple of festive parties lately, and I’ve noticed something interesting to me that I would like to get your opinion on.
Frosting.
Kids will do anything for frosting. They lose their damn mind, and from what I’ve gathered, for kids, frosting is the main event. It’s more important than the actual cake or cupcake.
Like at a recent 3-year-old’s birthday party we went to, the second one boy’s mom wasn’t looking, he leaned over the table with his spoon and scraped off a huge chunk of frosting from the birthday girl’s cake, and even when Connor eats cupcakes, she’s all about the frosting. She eats the frosting first, and then may or may not eat the cupcake or the cake as a secondary afterthought.
For me, frosting is an accompaniment to the main event, but I don’t know if I’m in the majority. What about you? What’s your take on frosting?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Question time! Here they are to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to you soon.
1. Velcro or buttons?
2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett?
3. How much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta?
4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now?
5. What’s the best nail polish top coat?
5.1 How do you feel about frosting?
1. Velcro or buttons?
Buttons, I guess?
2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett?
Not a Taylor Swift fan so definitely Joan Jett.
3. How much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta?
Like you, I skim through them. Sometimes if I’m making an impulse purchase at CVS I’ll whip out my phone and check to see what people say about a certain product.
4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now?
Salmon dip I made for a Halloween party on Saturday, not sure what I’ll have for lunch!
5. What’s the best nail polish top coat?
Seche Vite! But now I’ve been using the Essie Gel Couture line and you are supposed to use their topcoat with their polishes and it works really well.
5.1 How do you feel about frosting?
I think when I was little I liked it way more than I do now.
I’m aaall about frosting! Seriously when I eat a layer cake I’ll eat the cake first and keep the frosting layers for ”dessert” !!
1. Velcro or buttons? Buttons! Even with my old arthritic fingers, I prefer buttons.
2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett? If I had to choose, it would be Joan Jett. There’s a self-indulgent immaturity to TS’s music that I dislike.
3. How much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta? By and large, they are meaningless because we are all different: physical features, tastes, skill levels, needs, life styles, discretionary income, priorities, etc. In addition, so many of the reviews are written by people who don’t know what they are talking about. When our president first coined the phrase “fake news”, I immediately thought of online reviews. LOL
4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now? I don’t keep leftovers because my husband won’t eat them. I only prepare enough for dinner and that’s it. When I make soups, chilis, stews, etc., I portion them and freeze half for a later meal.
5. What’s the best nail polish top coat? Seche Vite. Nothing fancy; just reliable.
5.1 How do you feel about frosting? I love a good–emphasis on good–butter cream. I can’t stand the stuff in a tub or the cheap stuff market bakeries use.
I like the cake portion more. I like frosting, but just a small layer. I think it ruins the cake if there is too much frosting. I can’t remember if I felt different as a child.
1. Velcro or buttons? Buttons
2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett? Joan Jett
3. How much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta? Same as you
4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now? Chicken enchiladas
5. What’s the best nail polish top coat? I’ve been getting mine done at a salon for son long, I don’t know any more.
5.1 How do you feel about frosting? The cake or cookie is the star, but the frosting can make or break it.
1. Velcro or buttons? Buttons
2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett? Joan is a rock star AND a beast.
3. How much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta? If it is a product like skincare or foundation that I am seriously considering, I check Beautypedia reviews and Sephora reviews. they have proven helpful.
4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now? Coconut black bean and sweet potato stew.
5. What’s the best nail polish top coat? Out the Door is HG. When I needed something thinner and shinier, I used to enjoy the Chanel Top Coat( before they switched to Gel.)
5.1 How do you feel about frosting? ugh. Usually it is pretty gross. It’s a rare one that gets me as excited as I used to get when I got the flower on the cake at the birthday party.
1. Velcro or buttons? Buttons
2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett? Joan Jett
3. How much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta? Not one little bit after the Sunday Riley fiasco. How can any of the reviews be trusted?
4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now? I made a crock pot of chicken pozole yesterday so I have a fridge full of yummy for the next couple days.
5. What’s the best nail polish top coat? The Out the Door one from Sally’s.
5.1 How do you feel about frosting? I feel like a year old at a birthday party if it’s good frosting, aka not your usual fake buttercream from a grocery store.
1. Velcro or buttons? Buttons
2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett? joan jett ( i dont know if she had a lot of drama or we just never heard of it)
3. How much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta? oh my god. i dont or atleast i am cynical. word on the curb is some people have been paying for good reviews.
4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now? i have no idea. my bf cleaned house.
5. What’s the best nail polish top coat? would it be a sin if i didnt know. i used to use revlon but i am not a good self manicurist
5.1 How do you feel about frosting? LOVEEEEEEEE. my bf says i am an icing girl. he loves the cake i love icing and i mean buttercream. traditional wedding cake is my favorite.
1. Velcro or buttons?
Buttons on most things. Velcro occasionally, when it’s the best functional thing to do the job. But never for aesthetics, obvs!!
2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett?
Joan.
3. How much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta?
When I found out there are companies that write 5-star reviews for a fee, or write 1-stars about your competitors’ stuff, I just quit reading them for the most part! I do still browse through to identify a few that are obviously from customers (e.g. the super detailed ones with ten photos and updates over time). And I usually read the 1 and 2 stars to see if there are documented quality issues.
4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now?
Half a burrito. Mung bean “pasta” (it’s really good, to my entire family’s surprise). I’m not sure what else.
5. What’s the best nail polish top coat?
I have a favorite base (Orly rubberized base coat). But not a favorite top coat.
5.1 How do you feel about frosting?
It’s the bee’s knees. If it’s got, like, three ingredients (butter, cream, chocolate)! Cake has to be really good to compete with the frosting!
BTW, Karen – search for pics of Princess Ayako at her wedding today. AMAZING bridal hairdo!! I hardly know how to process it! Super minimal makeup. Her clothing is absolutely stunning.
Hi Amy,
I just googled her. Are you referring to the amazing hairdo that looks like kinda like a waterfall split in two? WOW!
Yes! WOW for sure!! And it has a kind of heart-shaped aspect from the front. And those “wings” on the side. I am intensely interested in the technology that goes into making a hairdo like that!
1. Velcro or buttons?
Buttons.
2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett?
As a child of the 90s, definitely Joan Jett.
3. How much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta?
I like to skim through them to get an idea of some of the pros and cons.
4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now?
Chinese food from lunch yesterday. A beef stew I made last night, which is for dinner tonight.
5. What’s the best nail polish top coat?
I haven’t done my nails at home in forever, so I’m open to suggestions!
5.1 How do you feel about frosting?
Yes, please! I think the cake and frosting are equally important. I think my favorite is yellow cake with chocolate frosting. Now I’m hungry. 🙂
Happy Monday!
Speaking of reviews, did you see the Sunday Riley email where part of their employees jobs were to create fake accounts to leave reviews. That’s one reason I take them with a grain of salt.
I always wanted to try the Sunday Riley oil/serum but I don’t think I ever will now. I’ve heard lots of good things about the products, but that left a bad taste in my mouth.
1. Velcro or buttons?
Buttons. 🙂
2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett?
Joan, because she could actually kick my ass.
3. How much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta?
They can be helpful, but I’m with you – you never know where people are coming from or what their expectations were, so you gotta take it with a grain of salt. Also knowing your own general preferences helps! (Like how so many loved MUFE’s O.G. primer and I can’t stand the silicone consistency.)
4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now?
Pork wrapped in bacon, yum! We meal plan so there aren’t really ever leftovers so much as ingredients for the next meal. 🙂
5. What’s the best nail polish top coat?
I love Essie’s Good to go quick dry top coat because it has a nice shine and helps me get my mani done quicker! Been using it for at least 5 years. I liked Seche Vite too, but I’m with you on the goopiness. Not worth it to me.
5.1 How do you feel about frosting?
I recently tried a recipe with a meringue frosting and I’m forever changed! So light and fluffy!
Velcro . It’s faster
Joan Jett
I read some reviews but I pretty much know the products
Leftovers : something from a restaurant I’ll probably toss and my friends egg rolls which my husband covets ?
Gonna have to say Essie top coat
I love frosting if there are large chocolate curls I could scoop it up with !
Hi Michele,
The Essie couture gel top coat is great!
Have a happy Halloween!
Hi Karen! Happy Halloween! 🙂
1. Velcro or buttons? I have a wool jacket with velcro so this week with the chilly weather I’m all about the velcro.
2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett? T Swift all the way. I listen to The Highway on SiriusXM so I’m a country gal.
3. How much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta? I don’t pay much attention to them but the ones on Amazon I really focus on.
4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now? Leftover pad thai also and some left over chicken from Chicken Picatta last night.
5. What’s the best nail polish top coat? I don’t add one after the manicure but I’m back to doing gel manis after my last mani only lasted a few days.
5.1 How do you feel about frosting? I only love it if it’s yellow cake with real ganache. YUM.
Happy Halloween, Leah! Are you doing anything fun for Halloween? Connor Claire has a preschool costume parade at school on Wednesday, and then later on in the evening we’re taking her trick-or-treating.
Happy Monday!
1. Velcro or buttons? Buttons for the look
2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett? I like Taylor’s music if it’s on, but I saw Joan Jett front row at a NY music festival and omg is she bad ass!
3. How much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta? Just skim through only
4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now? A veggie frittata I made with Tempeh “bacon”, roast chicken with mashed potatoes
5. What’s the best nail polish top coat? No idea, will check the comments for one ?
5.1 How do you feel about frosting? As excited as Connor Claire gets! Love a good frosting almost more than the cake.
Hi Diana,
I’ll happily give my frosting over to you, unless it’s cream cheese. 🙂 I love me some cream cheese frosting, girl!
Thanks for filling out the poll and have a great week!
You too! Enjoy Halloween! Word on the tabby street is it’s National Cat Day ?
1. Velcro or buttons? Buttons. Hate the sound velcro makes when it’s ripped open. Also the hook part always seems to get gunked up with lint. That said, I like velcro to hold my riding gloves securely on.
2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett? Not really into either.
3. How much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta? Not much, considering there was a Reddit feed on how Sunday Riley was pushing employees to write Sephora reviews for it’s new products. https://imgur.com/a/QyqmaCl
4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now? Sausage pizza from Pizzeria Delfina.
5. What’s the best nail polish top coat? So many. I like Seche Vite. But I probably like Glisten & Glow top coat a bit more. I also like Essie Gel Couture Platinum top coat.
5.1 How do you feel about frosting? I like a tiny little scraping with my cake. I’m all about the cake. Frosting is just sugar and fat and tastes like it. Cake is more interesting. I hate when you get a cupcake and there’s more frosting than cupcake.
Never heard of Glisten & Glow. I just looked it up; is the one you like called Glisten & Glow HK Girl Top Coat?
They’re one and the same. I’m pretty sure they recently renamed it by dropping the HK Girl. It’s one of those top coats you need to just let a generous bead of top coat drop from the brush at the base of the nail and then use the brush to pull it to the tip without splaying the bristles of the brush too much.
I’ve never tried the Smith & Cult top coat. I’ve been hearing good things about it, so I need to walk over to Space NK and pick up a bottle to try.
Definitely buttons.
Taylor Swift
I read them
No leftovers, I make dinner for (number of people). No one in my family likes leftovers.
Sally Hansen
Hate frosting
Thanks for filling out the poll today, Linda! Have a great week.
1. Velcro or buttons?
Buttons
2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett?
Joan Jett
3. How much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta?
I read them and then look for independent reviews too.
4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now?
Shrimp fried rice
5. What’s the best nail polish top coat?
No idea!
5.1 How do you feel about frosting?
If it’s cream cheese or butter cream sure anything else is gross.
I love cream cheese frosting too, Erin! Yum!
1. Velcro or buttons?
Buttons
2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett?
Joan Jett
3. How much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta?
I’m like you, I read them, but I know there are a lot of fakes on there. I’m more likely to trust recommendations from bloggers I trust (like you!) or independent sites.
4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now?
None, just cleaned it out!
5. What’s the best nail polish top coat?
I almost never wear nail polish, but I like Essie Gel Couture it Sally Hansen’s gel topcoat.
5.1 How do you feel about frosting?
I’m picky about it. I only like good frosting – butter creams, chocolate, cream cheese. I also think most cakes and cupcakes have too damn much of it.
1. Velcro or buttons?
Buttons
2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett?
Both – depends on the mood
3. How much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta?
A bit but mostly I read them for entertainment. Some of them are hilarious. My favorite was the comment about not liking the taste of the argan oil facial cleanser
4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now?
Chili & quinoa
5. What’s the best nail polish top coat?
Whatever they use at my nail salon
5.1 How do you feel about frosting?
Mostly too sweet but I love cream cheese frosting
1. Velcro or buttons?
Buttons.
2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett?
Joan Jett all the way!
3. How much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta?
I think Sephora has started to delete negative reviews, so I don’t hold them in much stead. I also check the age group of the reviewer, since some of the younger set seem to be auditioning for beauty blogger careers or possibly trying for free product, and tend to leave ridiculously glowing reviews (not everything is “holy grail”, people!). Ulta reviews tend to lack specifics. So, reviews might get a quick skim.
4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now?
Hmm…leftover Indian takeout (palak paneer, malai kofta, raita and basmati rice). Yum!
5. What’s the best nail polish top coat?
Seche Vite, only because I’m impatient and tend to smudge.
5.1 How do you feel about frosting? Must. Have. All. The. Frosting. Now. Please.
Oh, for fellow frosting lovers, I highly recommend Dollop frosting, which comes in a plastic tub. It can go on cupcakes, or you can eat it with a spoon or dip into it with pretzels or pita chips.
1. Velcro or buttons?
Buttons…they’re not noisy!
2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett?
I do love me some T Swift…I can’t even deny it. If I’m angsty, though, JJ all the way.
3. How much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta?
I take them (and any review) with a grain of salt, but I certainly read them! I look for people who describe similar skin/hair types if I’m researching a product for myself.
4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now?
None, yet. We just went grocery shopping and I just cooked my prep stuff for lunches.
5. What’s the best nail polish top coat?
YES to Seche Vite, but the struggle is SO real with the goopiness. I really like how essie’s gel setter feels thick like a no chip, but if I’m doing my own mani I’m probably going to be switching it up and I stick with my Sally Hansen Insta-dry. It doesn’t wear amazingly well, but it works if I’m doing a quick mani between salon visits.
5.1 How do you feel about frosting?
Meh. I used to go hog wild with it but now? I just really love cake. Frosting has to be a THIN layer, but really I’m just here for the cake. I prefer ganache or a glaze.
1. Velcro or buttons?
Buttons! Oh my gosh, I hate the sound of Velcro!
2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett?
You know, I can’t really say I have a preference.
3. How much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta?
Not much. I really have to test it myself.
4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now?
My homemade apple pie.
5. What’s the best nail polish top coat?
It’s been so long since I’ve worn nail polish I cannot even tell you. I remember butterLondon having a good top coat though.
5.1 How do you feel about frosting?
It depends on the frosting. I hated whipped buttercream frosting. HATE IT. Yuck. Just give me good ol’ traditional frosting. Then yes, I will eat the frosting and forget about the cake most likely. I’m not a big chocolate cake fan, but my frostings cannot mix. Chocolate frosting with chocolate cake; white/vanilla frosting with white/vanilla cake. NO MIXING. I am just that crazy.
FYI
Seche Vite makes a topcoat thinner. Try it out. It’s a game changer.
Hi Donna!
I’ve used it before, and I must be crazy because it made me crabby, LOL! I dunno… I just think I shouldn’t have to buy a separate product to make my topcoat bottle last, ya know? I just want to buy a product and know that I can keep using it for the duration of its life without having to futz with it.
1. Velcro or buttons? Definitely buttons. I just told the Hubs the other day that he’s keeping velcro in business. And I hate it because it snags all the other clothes in the washer/dryer. 🙁
2. Taylor Swift or Joan Jett? Oh, I like them both. Depends on the mood. Try Do You Wanna Touch on the treadmill or I Hate Myself for Loving You. I think you’d dig em.
3. How much do you value the reviews on Sephora and Ulta? I read the reviews on everything. It helps me to see what people don’t like about a product. The things that are important to them may not be to me – or they might be – but I still like to see why someone gives a poor review. Sometimes they’re not even reviewing the right product or they think that 1 star is the best. Gotta read. 🙂
4. What leftovers are in your fridge right now? Pot roast, penne and meatballs/sauce, spaghetti squash with a garlic, spinach cream sauce. I think that’s GF, actually – I can give you the link to the recipe if you want. It’s REALLY good. Even my kids like it.
5. What’s the best nail polish top coat? I’m not qualified to say. 🙂
5.1 How do you feel about frosting? It’s the sugar. That’s why kids love it. Every kid I know prefers frosting to the cake/cupcake. I’m not super into sweets so I would like some cake to cut the sugary frosting. If I had to choose a spoonful of frosting or a plain cupcake, I think I would probably take the frosting. But only if it was coffee, almond or vanilla. And I don’t like chocolate cake so I’d take pretty much any frosting over that.