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 five more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007). I love reading your answers, and it helps me get my week off to a good start. ?
1. Candy canes or gingerbread men?
Candy canes…but only the traditional red and white ones.
2. Mittens or gloves?
Because I usually have the cat or the baby with me when I’m out and about, I’m going to have to go with the practicality of gloves…although I do like mittens, too, because I like having all of my fingers enclosed together in one snug space. I feel like it keeps my hands warmer for some reason.
3. Try any new beauty products lately?
Yes! A couple things from the Wander Beauty line — the Nude Illusion Liquid Foundation and the Wanderess Chill palette, which has (GASP!) cool-toned browns and neutrals.
4. Road trip or plane ride?
I can’t believe I’m saying this, because I’ve always appreciated how much faster you can get places on a plane, but right now, at this point in my life, I prefer a good road trip.
I like having control over when and where you can stop and that you don’t have to deal with strangers in your space. Plus, the last time I was on a plane I felt really claustrophobic for the first time ever.
5. Walk me through the steps you take to fill in your brows.
Short and sweet these days:
- First, brush a little bit of clear brow gel through them, and wait for it set.
- Lightly draw in a minimal amount of hairs to fill out the gap in my left brow and the tail of my right.
Really, that’s it!
Pink angel kitties and pickles
Good morning and happy Monday to ya, friend! Hope you’re healthy and happy on this beautiful day. ? I actually woke up feeling somewhat human (and not like a walking brick of snot) for the first time in days this morning, and I’m in a really good mood because of it.
Yesterday I forced myself out of the house and ventured to Target, and while I was there I wandered into the holiday section. Man…the holiday section had some slim pickings. I was hoping to get a new tree topper and maybe a few ornaments, but all that was left were these weird decorations, like the sad pink angel kitty at the top of the post (why does she look so depressed?) and things like pickle ornaments… Can you fathom why anyone would decorate their tree in shiny pickles? Am I missing something here? LOL!
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. Candy canes or gingerbread men?
2. Mittens or gloves?
3. Try any new beauty products lately?
4. Road trip or plane ride?
5. Walk me through the steps you take to fill in your brows.
Gingerbread men to dunk in my coffee or tea.
Gloves for the mobility. Waterproof and in a fun color or texture.
A superfine white shimmer shadow, gold shadow and sparkly black. I’m branching out for the holidays. Shopped my stash for ones I typically pass over.
Grab your water and your snacks, it’s a road trip!
Karity primer over lids and brows. Wet my Kat Von D taupe powder and draw in some thicker brows with her super angled brow brush.
1. Candy canes or gingerbread men? – gingerbread men
2. Mittens or gloves? – gloves, cause they are easier
3. Try any new beauty products lately?- yes! I went to Ulta on Saturday, because they had the Tartlette palettes 50% off, plus I had the 20% card from the mail that allows you to use it on premium products, so I got the Tarte Tartlette In Bloom palette that you recommended for ….. $16.11!!! I love this palette!! I hope it is never discontinued, cause I intend to replace it whenever it runs out.
4. Road trip or plane ride? Road trip, hopefully on a scenic route, with lots of interesting places to stop along the way.
5. Walk me through the steps you take to fill in your brows. Right now, I just fill in lightly with a medium brown eyebrow pencil from NYX.
1. Candy canes or gingerbread men?
Neither, really! I get tired of candy canes after a few seconds. But they look great on the tree. Same with gingerbread people! We used to bake holes at the top and put strings through them to hang on the tree. Our dog ate all the ones she could reach. 😉 For this Question, I’ll go with gingerbread men, because they’re fun to decorate. We made our first ever gingerbread House yesterday, and it was very satisfying for the grade schoolers!
2. Mittens or gloves?
My mom knits a wicked mitten, and I have tons. I’ll go with mittens. But gloves are better for many things.
3. Try any new beauty products lately?
I’ve been using juice beauty illuminating primer for a few months now, and I love it. Also this isn’t new, but I broke out my Kjaer Weiss blush in suntouched last week after forgetting about it for awhile (why?!), and I love it as much as ever.
4. Road trip or plane ride?
Road trip, assuming I have the time. My husband is great at them. He always knows about the best mom n pop attractions, historic parks, and things like random restaurants used on TV sets in the 70s. I just like going along for the ride (literally).
5. Walk me through the steps you take to fill in your brows.
Shu Uemera makes an excellent ash brown pencil. I just use a few swipes of that. Or their liquid version with the brush.
I know the reason why there are pickly ornaments! I could explain it, but the article I’ll to link does a better job.
https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/christmaspickle.shtml
1. Candy canes or gingerbread men? Candy canes.
2. Mittens or gloves? Gloves but they have to have touchscreen tips.
3. Try any new beauty products lately? I put Swarvoski crystals on my eye recently for a Tenacious D concert.
4. Road trip or plane ride? Plane ride though I’d love to road trip down to California sometime soon.
5. Walk me through the steps you take to fill in your brows. Benefit Gimme Brow in #3 and that’s it.
I think the pickle on the tree is an old tradition and the first child to find it on the tree gets an extra gift. And I think those angel kitties are put on the tree in memory of deceased kitties, probably why it looks sad!
Can confirm this pickle tradition! Our family did it growing up.
Happy Monday!
1. Candy canes or gingerbread men? Candy canes, although I’ve never had gingerbread men.
2. Mittens or gloves? Gloves, especially leather ones.
3. Try any new beauty products lately? I just bought Laura Mercier Flawless concealer the other day. So far, i like the coverage, but I think I got a defective tube and need to exchange it.
4. Road trip or plane ride? Road trip. I am not against flying, but I get travel anxiety about getting to the airport on time.
5. Walk me through the steps you take to fill in your brows. Lately, I keep it simple, I use the cool grey-brown shade in the Chanel Clair Obscur quad with my eyebrow brush. I use a light hand and whatever stays throughout the day is it. No big deal.
On my way to Lord & Taylor to exchange the exchange the concealer. I may check out a cream blush as well.
Happy holidays to all!
1. Candy canes or gingerbread men? Candy canes! I do love gingerbread men too, though. Now I want to get baking.
2. Mittens or gloves?
Fingerless gloves with the little mitten top that you can pull over your fingers. Best of both worlds, and phone-screen-friendly.
3. Try any new beauty products lately?
A bunch! The new shade of the Fenty gloss (fabulous), the Sephora Colorful Shadow and Liner in Taupe and Brown (both beautiful, especially Taupe), and the Benefit Dandelion Twinkle highlighter (super pretty and subtle!). Also the L’Oreal Lash Paradise mascara (nice, but nothing spectacular), Revlon Colorstay Brow Mousse (bizarre brush, formula, a little clumpy, not a disaster but don’t recommend), and the Wet N Wild white brushes with the pink tips (great for the price) from the drugstore.
4. Road trip or plane ride?
Plane ride. I know most people despise the whole process of checking in, security, waiting in the airport, boarding, and the actual discomfort of the plane ride. But since I don’t drive, I feel more in control when flying, and I’ve gotten pretty efficient about getting through security with minimal fuss so I don’t really mind it, even at places like Newark and JFK. If only it wasn’t so pricey… If I do get my license, this answer would probably change.
5. Walk me through the steps you take to fill in your brows.
I usually either just use the ABH tinted brow gel if my brows are in a good shape, or I use the brow powder duo to color and shape my brows, followed by a clear gel (I use NYX right now) if the shape is bothering me. My main goal when doing my brows is to make my naturally ashy-brown brows match my bright auburn-red dyed hair, rather than to build up fullness or shape like most people. I also just purchased a new pot of Dip Brow because my original is a good 3 or so years old and even though I can still use it, I think it’s time to move on. But pomade is more of a glam-day product, or if I know I’ll be sweating. All in the shade “Auburn.”
1. Candy canes or gingerbread men?
– I’m the same as you!
2. Mittens or gloves?
– I alternate between both. I don’t really have a preference.
3. Try any new beauty products lately?
– Yes! The Lancôme mascara primer is actually very nice! The trick is you have to wipe off most of it with a napkin first and then apply a small amount before mascara. If you skip this step everything is just clumpy and your curl falls. Plus I think it’s conditioning my lashes as they are in much better condition than before I started using it.
4. Road trip or plane ride?
– I don’t exactly love planes but road trips are so boring! Ha ha. I guess it would depend on the destination.
5. Walk me through the steps you take to fill in your brows.
– 1. Tiny bit of eyeshadow primer (what’s left on my finger) 2. Fill in with brun eyeshadow with angled liner brush 3. Draw tiny hairs with spiked brow pencil to define my arch and fill in my bald spots
1. Candy canes or gingerbread men? I love all ginger cookies this time of year. Currently we are eating ginger snaps from World Market. They are made in Sweden.
2. Mittens or gloves? Gloves. My brother got me really great gloves for snowmobiling that are also great for all snow sports (and snow shoveling).
3. Try any new beauty products lately? My friend gave me a hair mask and conditioner that are both from overseas. One is from Germany. I have yet to try them (I don’t have the brand names here at work). The conditioner is made with avocado oil.
4. Road trip or plane ride? We take a lot of road trips either to Maine or to Western MA so we’re on the road several weekends per month.
5. Walk me through the steps you take to fill in your brows. I don’t fill them in. I just make sure to get them waxed on a regular basis and they are pretty thick on their own. I’m way overdue for a wax though!
I went into Target yesterday and they were putting Christmas away !
So , Gingerbread. And we have a yearly gingerbread party w pizza ? when all the kids ( all ages ) put the houses together.
Gloves ?
Tried Bath and Body works body scrub w coconut and Shea butter !
Plane ✈️ had my share of road when my son played hockey ?
My brows are microbladed and I just received a touch up
1. Candy cane, any flavor really!
2. Big old Eddie Bauer gloves, bc I live in Michigan!
3. The Becca Be A Light palette in medium/deep and I luuuurve it! I find it perfect for how incredibly warm my skin tone is. It ends up looking really natural and photographs beautifully! The blush was the thing I swore I wouldn’t like, but I love it especially when I’m wearing a red lip.
4. Plane ride, my toddler would definitely shout a lot on a road trip bc girldfiend does not like to be restrained!
5. I just use the ELF eyebrow pencil in deep brown and the associated spoolie. Best 2$ spent!
1. Candy canes or gingerbread men? I have never had a gingerbread man (at least not that i can remember) so i will take candy canes. did you know they have pickle flavored candy canes
2. Mittens or gloves? gloves but mittens are suppose to be better
3. Try any new beauty products lately? constantly, i am a hoarder right now i am trying youth to the people.
4. Road trip or plane ride? plane ride.
5. Walk me through the steps you take to fill in your brows. first i start with the ends. i have to really draw them top and bottom 2. in the center to make sure i connect then 3, fill in lightly to bring it all together. 4. use concealer that matches my skin to carve out the top and then on the bottom carve out the with a bit of a highlighting concealer.
1. Candy canes or gingerbread men?
Candy canes, either traditional, Jolly Rancher, or Starburst.
2. Mittens or gloves?
It seldom gets that cold here, but gloves- so much more practical.
3. Try any new beauty products lately?
The Ole Hendricksen Banana Bright Eyes is the absolute bomb! And I unexpectedly love the Nars liquid blush in Dolce Vita. Kiehl’s makes a lip butter mask for night time that is saving my winter.
4. Road trip or plane ride?
Road trip. Planes terrify me.
5. Walk me through the steps you take to fill in your brows.
I brush them straight up with a spoolie, then neatly back into place. If ‘m in a hurry, I just do a couple of swipes with Benefit’s Gimme Brow in shade 3. If I have a minute, I full in with Precisely My Brow in shade 3 and set with Ready Set Brow.
1. Candy canes or gingerbread men? Candy canes
2. Mittens or gloves? Gloves, so I can use my fingers.
3. Try any new beauty products lately? Pat McGrath eyeshadows. Damn, they’re A-MAY-ZING! I’m officially addicted.
4. Road trip or plane ride? Road trip
5. Walk me through the steps you take to fill in your brows.
1) Brush with whatever random cheap spoolie I grab.
2) I use Anastasia Beverly Hills eyeshadow single in Love Letter (it matches my wild hair color) and the Real Techniques Brow Brush.
3). I fill in slightly past the front of my brows to the arch. Then I go back with what’s left on the brush and fill in front. Then I fill in the tail of my brows,
4) Lightly brush brows back into place with the spoolie.
5) Use a fan brush to brush away any fallout.
1. Candy canes or gingerbread men? Candy canes, the peppermint ones from Bob’s.
2. Mittens or gloves? Gloves, I always feel elegant when I wear them for some reason.
3. Try any new beauty products lately? I did, I tried Glossier’s Boy Brow and Cheek Paint. Love them both. They might end up a new makeup obsession, I like their aesthetic of skin first makeup second, and how they like a more natural look.
4. Road trip or plane ride? Plane. We did a 5500 mile road trip two years ago, and it was wonderful, but so much time is wasted driving. Plus you have to get hotel rooms and eat out all the time, it’s expensive and hard.
5. Walk me through the steps you take to fill in your brows. I just use Glossier’s boy Brow. I’ve used other Brow gels and this one is so much better, I just love it!
Okay, you have to put a pickle on the tree! It’s an old tradition where you hide a pickle, and whomever finds it gets a little extra treat. I don’t hide our pickle, it’s just on the tree. Fun fact, the night my parents met my husband for the first time, they had him put their pickle on the tree. It’s still the only ornament he puts on our tree! Lol, 22 years of marriage and that’s his only job! To be fair, I have a very unconventional tree, I’ve got a cheeseburger, a corn dog, several pugs (we are pug people), the pickle, dinosaurs, a Diet Pepsi can from 1996 (the year we got married), and my tree topper is a Scooby Doo angel. I like non traditional. Lol!
1. Candy canes or gingerbread men?
Candy Canes, and I like a few of the weird flavors too but only ones I’d eat in other hard candy, so butterscotch, cinnamon, not cherry or chocolate.
2. Mittens or gloves?
I really hate having my hands restricted at all, but own one really lovely pair of leather gloves that I like, they’re a dark red with a cashmere lining.
3. Try any new beauty products lately?
Yeah I’m really trying out dior backstage face and body, it’s lovely.
4. Road trip or plane ride?
Roadtrip all the way, I like the in between parts as much as the destination, some of my favorite memories are at rest areas with little parks and ice cream trucks.
5. Walk me through the steps you take to fill in your brows.
I have never really done much to my brows, they’re pretty good, but recently I’ve been using a powder product in a tube from maybelline and an angled brush, it gives just a bit of definition and fills in the sparce area near the tail.
1. My famous ginger cookies of course! ?
2. Mittens!
3. Girl! I got my hands on the new morphe x James Charles palette. I’ve been playing with it everyday since. ?
4. ✈️
5. Dip angled brush into ELF “dark” eyebrow palette. Fill in my right eyebrow to perfection. Proceed to fill in the left but mangle it completely. ?♀️
Oh, Jaclyn! I so feel you with the brows. My left is my “good” brow and my right is my bad one, LOL!
The pickle is supposedly a German/eastern European tradition where you hang a pickle ornament and the first child to spot it gets an extra gift/treat…however, I think it’s been chalked up to a marketing ploy from way back when because no one can actually trace it back to Germany or wherever, if I recall correctly. I know my grandma on my mom’s side had a pickle but we didn’t get anything for finding it.
1. Candy canes or gingerbread men?
Gingerbread men! Fun to decorate and tasty to eat.
2. Mittens or gloves?
Mittens – they keep my hands warmer AND they’re easier to knit. I make mine with popovers and thumbs that pop over for maximum phone use.
3. Try any new beauty products lately?
I’ve been trying out Thayer’s Cucumber facial toner and seeing if I like it more than the rose one…otherwise, nothing new. My skin’s been in a good place for right now so I don’t want to tempt fate.
4. Road trip or plane ride?
Road trip. Traveling by plane stresses me out far too much!
5. Walk me through the steps you take to fill in your brows.
If I do – it’s a special occasion sort of thing because they’re pretty full on their own – I use a dark brown brow pencil and do feather-flicks throughout to help everything lay nicely.
Oh fun! Hmmm… Maybe I’ll get one, and see if Tabs or Connor can find it first, LOL!
Oh, and I *wish* I could knit my own mittens. I’ll have to look for a pair with popovers and thumbs!
1. Candy canes or gingerbread men? Gingerbread men! I love gingerbread with a cup of good tea.
2. Mittens or gloves? In So Cal, gloves are usually more than enough to keep my hands warm. I always keep a pair in the car.
3. Try any new beauty products lately? A couple weeks ago I bought three of Tom Ford’s new quads: Daydream, Virgin Orchid, and Pretty Baby. I’ve been very happy with them.
4. Road trip or plane ride? It’s a plane for me. I love flying and am always super eager to reach my destination.
5. Walk me through the steps you take to fill in your brows. Most days I simply brush my black brows into place. That’s it. Occasionally, my left eyebrow will develop a small bald spot which I fill in with a charcoal eyeshadow. It doesn’t take much.
The pickle ornaments are actually an old German tradition. You put just one pickle ornament on the Christmas tree and the person who finds it gets an extra gift. ??
1. Candy canes or gingerbread men? Both.
2. Mittens or gloves? Mittens because my paws stay so much warmer. However, right now I’m using two pair of hand me down gloves from mi madre because I lost one of my mittens like a bad kitten. My husband gave me handmade red wool mittens for my birthday last year. They’re so adorbs. His coworker made them and they have a big button on the corner of the wrist. But when the weather got cold, I realized one was missing. I must find it!
3. Try any new beauty products lately? Is the Pope Catholic? Yes.
4. Road trip or plane ride? Tough call. I love a road trip so I can stop at interesting shops and cafes along the way. But, for efficiency and speed nothing beats a plane ride.
5. Walk me through the steps you take to fill in your brows. I don’t do a ton. I have pretty good brows. Usually I just fill in a bit with a powder from Smashbox and I think I actually use a brow brush from Bobbi Brown, if memory serves correctly, haha. Then I put a wee touch of pomade–usually from the teenage boy’s stash of hair products to just finish and brush upward so I look more awake, but not so awake that I look possessed. It’s a fine line.
1. Candy canes or gingerbread men? Gingerbread
2. Mittens or gloves? Gloves
3. Try any new beauty products lately? Dr. Sam Bunting’s flawless gel cleanser. Going to order more. I like it that much.
4. Road trip or plane ride? Plane. You can’t get to Asia or Europe in a car.
5. Walk me through the steps you take to fill in your brows. Some type of tinted brow gel to color the grays in my brows. That’s it. I officially have old man, bushy brows now. The grays grow very long and every which way, so I need something to color them and glue them in place after I’ve trimmed them.
Um, my husband bought a pickle ornament a bunch of years back. I make sure it’s hung on the back of the tree. He wanted to buy multiples and I shouted down that idea. It’s some guy or tech bro thing, I think.