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. How early is too early?
5 a.m. is too early IMO. I think we should officially declare that it’s “too early” for productive work.
And 4:30 is waaaaaaay too early!
If I have to, though, I can do 5… If I HAVE to.
2. Walk me through how you like to do your eyeliner.
My current phase is to *only* liner my upper lash line. No tight line. Just the upper lash line, and I do the thinnest line I can get away with using the Clinique Pretty Easy Liquid Eyeliner Pen. Then I load a flat smudge brush with a dark brown powder eyeshadow and smudge the edge of the line.
Sometimes, I’ll also wing out the outer corner ever so slightly.
3. How often do you “overline” your lips?
Never.
But, um…if we’re talking about 2014, then that would be another story, LOL!
4. Today I’m feeling ______.
Hopeful! 
Also, truthfully, a little tired… Two-day weekends are never long enough.
5. Bake from scratch ? or buy from the store?
My answer to this question varies based on many factors… Right now? I’d rather buy it from a store!
Yup, I’m still going through a dainty nail polish phase…
It’s funny how one’s taste in nail polish colors ? can change so quickly! I would’ve thought that a week with a nude-ish polish on my nails would have been enough to get this pastel phase through my system so I could go back to wearing the blues, greens and yellows I’d normally wear, but alas…that’s now how it played out.
I saw this display of bridal-inspired spring Essie Gel Coutures in Target and nearly swooned in front of the greeting card aisle.
When has that ever happened? UM, NEVER! If you have a favorite pastel please let me know!
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. How early is too early?
2. Walk me through how you like to do your eyeliner.
3. How often do you “overline” your lips?
4. Today I’m feeling ______.
5. Bake from scratch or buy from the store?
1. How early is too early? 5 is pushing it. I’m awake by 6 everyday. Out of bed is another story
2. Walk me through how you like to do your eyeliner. Don’t use eyeliner
3. How often do you “overline” your lips? Don’t use lip liner either
4. Today I’m feeling sad…my mother is in hospice care so it is only a matter of time
5. Bake from scratch or buy from the store? I love to bake but time sometimes requires a trip to the store
Melissa, I’m sorry to hear about your mom. I hope you’ll be able to spend as much time with her as you can. Hugs to you.
Thank you
1. How early is too early?
Work day 6 am
Like leaving for vacation 4 am
2. Walk me through how you like to do your eyeliner.
step one: find eyeliner
step 2. situate my elbows on the desk
step 3: hold down one eyelid at a time
step 4: apply a medium thick line starting from the center
step 5 : fill in line closer to lash line
3. How often do you “overline” your lips? never, i have beautiful full lips anything else would like over inflated
4. Today I’m feeling ______ like a happy hour would do me good
5. Bake from scratch or buy from the store? buy from store and then set oven to 325
1. How early is too early? Anything before 6 a.m.
2. Walk me through how you like to do your eyeliner. Pencil liner placed as thinly and as close to upper lash line as possible. Run over it with a soft liner brush to soften it up.
3. How often do you “overline” your lips? Never.
4. Today I’m feeling ______. Tired. Haven’t sleep since the stupid time change. Can we just be on standard time all year round. Please?
5. Bake from scratch or buy from the store? When I have time. Bake from scratch. Unless it’s croissants, then I go to to either Colette’s or Manresa Bread. Almost always disappointed by store bought baked goods.
Can you do a post of your pastel pink manis? I’m looking for a good light pink that’s not too sheer, not too Barbie pink with just a touch of shimmer or holo.
Yes! I just painted them this morning. My right hand is wonky-wonks (it was so early, and I was shaking from the coffee, OMG!) but my left is in pretty decent shape. When the baby goes down for a nap I’ll take some shots.
Thank you! Looking forward to seeing pretty pink nails. Lol, I would never try to do my nails after coffee. The polish would be all over my cuticles and I’d probably knock the bottle over and send polish flying everywhere. I have a hard enough time doing a neat job when I’m calm. And I always spread paper towel or newspaper underneath, you know, in case I spill.
Ok, here we go! This is two coats of Sally Hansen Mega Strength in Boss Gloss, with the Mega Strength Hardener base and the Ultra Shine Top Coat.
Oh that’s a real pale one. It’s almost white. Love the glosses you’re holding in your hand.
Is that a good or a bad thing? I’m usually not into pastels but for some odd reason I’m going through a phase.
Ooh, those are the NARS Multi-Glosses! You can use them on lids, lips and cheeks. I’m wearing the rose gold one today, they’re fabulous! I’ll have a review up soon.
1. How early is too early?
Never. I like getting up at 4 AM to practice yoga and I love hearing the dawn symphony starting up as I’m singing opening chant. ;D The birdsong of summer are back!
2. Walk me through how you like to do your eyeliner.
Lining upper lashline, slight flick at the corners.
3. How often do you “overline” your lips?
Starting to now (*gasp*), but just connecting the cupid’s bow. I’m otherwise happy with mah lips.
4. Today I’m feeling ______.
Impatient. Waiting to hear if we got approved for another apartment so we can move away from that @$$hole who still thinks we are banging on his walls.
5. Bake from scratch or buy from the store?
Neither. But if I had to eat baked goods, preferably from scritchyscratch. 😉
Girl, when do you go to bed?! I need to learn the ways of waking up at 4! My body doesn’t want to but I really want to because I can get so much done early in the morning.
I start “wrapping up” for the night around 7, 7:30 and try to hit the hay by 8:30. Doesn’t always mean I fall asleep right away but being awake that early, my clock shifts. I keep as close to Circadian rhythm as possible! 😉
That’s smart. I went to bed early last night (for once) at 8:30 and woke up at 5:30 feeling pretty good. I have to try to do this one week just to see if I can!
1. How early is too early?
I wake up at 4am to workout. Anything before then is too early but most people I know think 4am is crazy early.
2. Walk me through how you like to do your eyeliner.
I take liquid eyeliner on my to lash line and smudge away. (It’s been a recent revelation that I can smudge liquid liners—for some reason I thought you can only do that with pencil or gel. Love the lasting power of liquid but not the harsher line.) I try to make the thinnest smudge but often end up with thicker liner than I intended. ?♀️
3. How often do you “overline” your lips?
Never. I don’t really use lipliner but have many in my collection.
4. Today I’m feeling ______.
Energized! My baby didn’t wake up in the middle of the night! Amazing how 5.5 hrs of uninterrupted sleep feels when you’ve been getting only 3-4 hr stretches for months.
5. Bake from scratch or buy from the store?
Bake when I have time. It’s one of my favorite activities. But certain things, like bday cakes, I feel are best bought from the store. The effort is almost never worth it—bc I suck at frosting cakes!
Hi Kate,
I would *love* to be able to work out at 4am to just get the workout over with and done. What time do you usually go to sleep? And do you have to do a lot of tricks to get your body to get going that early?
Hi Karen,
I’m naturally a morning person but before kids, that meant waking at 6am. I sleep around 830-9. On a bad night 10pm. I forced myself to wake up early bc I NEED my alone time, and that wasn’t going to happen unless I woke before all my kids (including hubby in this group ?). I made sure coffee was on timer and ready when I woke. Also had my workout clothes ready (sometimes I slept in them), workout gear available and picked what workout I was going to do. Sometimes it was the indecision that killed time. Maybe you can ease your way into it, like wake up 30 min earlier each week or two? Good luck!
Oh, I totally get it. Some people like to stay up late to have their alone time but I’m similar to you, I’d rather have it happen early in the morning, because that way I feel like I got everything I needed to get done DONE. Thank you for mentioning preparing everything before the next morning. I was doing something similar when I was getting up consistently at 5 (getting the coffee ready, prepping my clothes and the baby’s clothes, breakfast, etc.). I’ll have to get back in the habit again because it really does work! I haven’t tried sleeping in my workout clothes but hey, why not? If it saves time it makes total sense. Thank you for the motivation!
Hi, Karen. I have the Monday blues. Abby, the horse I had rehabbed and grown rather attached to for over a year, is going to West Palm Beach, Florida for her retirement days. Logically, I know it’s for the best as she’ll be happy to romp (as much as any 30 year old horse can) in the sunshine 24/7. Emotionally, I’m a bit of a wreck still. My coach let me say good-bye at least, which I was thankful for. The last time my partner was retired, no one told me and I was really hurt.
1. How early is too early?
For me? Noon. I’m a true afternoon/evening/night owl. Do not wake me up before one pm or I become a cranky ol’ dinosaur.
2. Walk me through how you like to do your eyeliner.
You mean when I do eyeliner? Tape out the wing, veeeeeeery carefully line the lid and wing with a wet brush into powder eyeshadow.
I’ve become lazy.
3. How often do you “overline” your lips?
Never.
4. Today I’m feeling ______.
Melancholy.
5. Bake from scratch or buy from the store?
Store because I don’t feel like baking currently.
Hi Kate,
It will take a while to mourn not being able to see your horse friend. I’m sad for you but happy she’ll be able to retire in the sunshine. Sending hugs!
Yea, I have a feeling I’ll be crying when I see her stall being occupied by a new horse. She’s a good horse, but I’m sure she’ll enjoy Florida. All of the sunshine will be good for her inflamed ligaments and arthritis. (I also may be slightly envious. It’s warm in Florida!)
She’ll be happy there. Is there any way for you to contact the people who are watching her down in Florida? It might sound crazy but maybe you can Skype them!
I would say 5 AM but I have done 4 AM to get to the airport
I do eyeliner upper lid . Bottom lid I do waterline.
Since I use matte lips ? now no need for liner .
Today I’m feeling concerned ( about my husband’s health )
It’s just so easy to buy baked goods I hardly bake anymore !
There’s something to say about the convenience of store bought, especially if it’s delicious!
1. How early is too early? I normally wake up at 5:30 am. Anything earlier than that is too early.
2. Walk me through how you like to do your eyeliner. Thin top eyelid only. No tightline, I’m terrible at it, in a dark brown Urban Decay pencil. I want to use black liner, but I feel like when I use it,mit looks like a three year old does it.
3. How often do you “overline” your lips? Never ever ever.
4. Today I’m feeling ______. Slow. It’s the first day of Spring Break so both kids are home. Sleeping in is not good for me, I feel like my day is half over!
5. Bake from scratch or buy from the store? Bake from scratch, always.
LOL, Stephanie… The way you feel about black liner is how I feel about intricate cut crease shadow!
1. How early is too early? Can I say 7, lol? I’m “supposed” to be at work by 9am, but am late every day except Thursdays, when I have a 9am meeting. Most people stroll in between 9;30-10 as well, as I’m not the exception in this case, thank goodness!
2. Walk me through how you like to do your eyeliner. I only use gel pencils, because I don’t have the patience to faff with pots and brushes. Try to do a thin line at the inner corners that widens out to a wing, usually. I love colored eyeliners and use all colors on my brown eyes except ironically, black. I think it’s too harsh for my almost 50 yo eyes.
3. How often do you “overline” your lips? Never, i don’t even use lipliner
4. Today I’m feeling ______. Tired. I went to bed really early, but woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t get back to sleep for a while.
5. Bake from scratch or buy from the store? If I can, bake from scratch. I’ve really gotten into baking in the last few years, and I really enjoy the process (and the results!). From scratch is almost always better than store bought, and people really appreciate the effort, especially since so few people take the time anymore!
1. How early is too early?
Hmm… I’m gonna go with 4:30. That shiz is just NOT RIGHT. If I *have* to, I could hang at 5. But it’s pushing the limit, yo!
2. Walk me through how you like to do your eyeliner.
I do it lots of different ways, but one of my favorites is to do a quick line with a black smudgy pencil, and then use a sparkly brown powder & liner brush to smoke it out. Peasy! (I’ll do it with different color combos, too!)
3. How often do you “overline” your lips?
Um.
Never.
4. Today I’m feeling ______.
Tired, frustrated, and pent up. I feel like I need to go climb a wall or something – just expend a bunch of physical and mental energy, y’know? And then go and get a massage, lol.
5. Bake from scratch or buy from the store?
From scratch, please! I’ve been making brown bread recently, and most of the time I just plop the mixing bowl on the scale and weigh the ingredients directly into it – which feels like MAGIC. One-bowl-bread!
1. How early is too early?
Any time before 7, I am not a morning person!
2. Walk me through how you like to do your eyeliner.
It changes! My Clinique liquid liner is dead but I have a preorder for the Clinique Gift at Macy’s next week with one in it. If I use liquid, a thin line with a small wing on the top only. If I use pencil, I do a thin smudgy line on the top and outer corner of the bottom. If I’m wearing my olive green glasses, I often do an olivey eyeliner.
3. How often do you “overline” your lips?
Never! But my lips are bare most of the time.
4. Today I’m feeling ______.
Drained! I have a ton of appointments this week about my broken foot and I’m exhausted and frustrated.
5. Bake from scratch or buy from the store?
Buy! We have a great local bakery near my work I like to frequent. Their bread is heavenly.
1. How early is too early?
Nothing good comes before 8:30AM, unless it’s rolling over to hit the snooze button. Sunrises are the sole exception.
2. Walk me through how you like to do your eyeliner.
I most often use the Sonia Kashuk powder eyeliner palette and the tiny tapered brush that came with it. I always outline the top outer third, sometimes the lower outer third, and occasionally the entire upper lid just above my lash line.
3. How often do you “overline” your lips?
Never.
4. Today I’m feeling ______.
Bleh. Still kind of disappointed about my weekend plans falling through. I need more dependable friends!
5. Bake from scratch or buy from the store?
Bake from scratch, unless the alternative is a very highly-rated bakery.
1. How early is too early? Before I retired, I used to get up at 5:00. Old habits die hard so even ten years later I still wake up about 5:00 but don’t actually get out of bed (I read) until 6:00. So, I guess I’d say 4:00 is too early.
2. Walk me through how you like to do your eyeliner. Fir everyday wear, I draw a thin blackest-black line along the upper lashes then slightly smudge it with a soft black shadow. I use the eyeshadow that’s left on the brush to subtly line my lower lash line My current combo is Tom Ford eyeliner pen and Sisley eyeshadow. Sometimes I like to work with deep colors.
3. How often do you “overline” your lips? Never. I think it looks decidedly fake and draws more attention to flaws than it supposedly corrects. I do use a lip pencil when wearing vibrant colors because it creates definition, but I don’t overline.
4. Today I’m feeling sleepy. It’s 10:20 PM right now. Time to go to bed.
5. Bake from scratch or buy from the store? It depends on what it is. I love to bake scones and cookies, but everything else comes from the bakery.
1. How early is too early?
-6:00 is pretty early and the only time I’ll be up any earlier than that is for a flight or some other fun reason, ha ha!
2. Walk me through how you like to do your eyeliner.
– I like a thin or thick line (depending on my mood) of black eyeliner on my upper lash line only.
3. How often do you “overline” your lips?
– not anymore as my lips are too sensitive for anything other than one type of lipbalm (*rolls eyes*)
4. Today I’m feeling ______.
– I’m feeling pretty good, it was my birthday weekend and my boyfriend made it the best one ever! But now it’s back to school and I’m beginning to stress about an assignment and exam, so…
5. Bake from scratch or buy from the store?
-depends, but I can only make cookies so anything else requested would be from a store