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. Longest plane ride you’ve ever taken?
It was 14 hours! We went from San Francisco to the Philippines. I was in my early 20s at the time, and I went there to visit family with my mom. Funny thing is, I don’t remember being uncomfortable on the plane or thinking that it was taking forever. I just remember the plane touching down in Manila and everyone — and I’m talking EVERYONE — clapping uproariously like we’d just finished watching the world’s greatest movie. “Woo-hoo!” That was the first and only time I’ve been on a flight where that’s happened. Apparently, everyone was just so dang happy to be getting off that thing, LOL!
2. Your go-to under-eye concealer at the moment?
The one from Maybelline with the sponge tip applicator.
3. What did your makeup look like in the early 2000s?
GIRL. I wanna say it was a mess, but looking back it was pretty typical of the era. Filled in, pencil-thin brows (MAC Concrete and an angled brush, baby!), frosty eyeshadow from lash line to lid (usually a taupe Clinique duo I discovered in college called “Fawn Satin”), a taupe pencil liner, mascara, concealer, blush and glossy lips (either MAC Nymphette or Spite).
4. Have you ever lived on a farm?
I haven’t, but I think I’d like to, especially if it was still relatively close to neighbors and maybe 10-15 minutes from the suburbs and civilization. I can definitely see myself living on a plot of land with animals, but I couldn’t deal with being too isolated.
5. “If you’re going to be hanging around with someone all day, they might as well smell like _______.”
Pizza. ?
Totally kidding. ? Can you imagine smelling salty pepperoni all day long?
So…I’m going to say something from Dolce & Gabbana, since they make so many scents I like.
BONUS QUESTION: Are you currently marathoning any shows?
Yup! I’m in the middle of season one of Fixer Upper. Watched a few episodes last weekend and learned this so far: People usually choose the house that needs the most work, and Jo-Jo will almost certainly knock down a few walls, paint everything white, wrap a few ceiling beams with cedar, and add a kitchen island.
Activation energy
Hey, friend! To quote the coywolf, “Good morning! It’s a beautiful day.” And it is, because you and I are here, we’re doing the damn thing, and we’re doing it with a smile on our face. ?
That was SUPER CHEESY, I know, but I can’t help it. Sometimes I like extra cheese in the morning. Part of it is because I like to watch motivational TED Talks when I wake up because, and I’ve only said this *a million times*, but I’m naturally not a morning person, so in order for me to get up and get cracking to where I want to do something other than stay in my bed underneath my warm and toasty covers, I try to get other people to give me the boost I need to attack my to-do list.
Every day, I slowly chip away at wanting to make some kind of mark on the world.
I watched a TED Talk this morning called “Stop Screwing Yourself” (seriously, what a great title), by relationship expert Mel Robbins, and it’s one of my favorites so far.
The crux is that people need something called “activation energy” to get up and do the things they were put on this earth to do.
I know it sounds corny, but when Mel talks about it, it’s totally not. The video also discusses how you overcame incredible odds just to merely exist on this earth, so heck, you might as well do something with it.
Activation energy is that little extra push you need to do the things you want to do, and I feel like one of the things I’m meant to do is help others, in my own way, even if it’s just making someone giggle or think, and in order for me to do that, I usually need some extra help in the morning. Hence this video.
I hope it helps you in some way. Take a little time to listen to it if you can.
On that note, I’m going to imbibe more coffee (one of my prime sources of activation energy!) and hop ? to it. Have a good day, ‘k?
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. Longest plane ride you’ve ever taken?
2. Your go-to under-eye concealer of the moment?
3. What did your makeup look like in the early 2000s?
4. Have you ever lived on a farm?
5. “If you’re going to be hanging around with someone all day, they might as well smell like _______.”
BONUS QUESTION: Are you currently marathoning any shows?
1. Longest plane ride you’ve ever taken?
-I’ve only been on one trip but it was 7 hours.
2. Your go-to under-eye concealer of the moment?
-Mac mineralize concealer (I need a new one ASAP)
3. What did your makeup look like in the early 2000s?
-I wasn’t wearing anything other than lipbalm ha ha. So pretty natural looking lol
4. Have you ever lived on a farm?
-I haven’t but it does appeal to me.
5. “If you’re going to be hanging around with someone all day, they might as well smell like _______.”
-clean (nothing), or a fragrance that I like 🙂
Happy Monday!
1. Longest plane ride you’ve ever taken? That I’m old enough to remember: Eugene, OR to Aspen, Co in a 4-seater
2. Your go-to under-eye concealer of the moment? I don’t under-eye conceal much, but Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer in Bavarian when I do.
3. What did your makeup look like in the early 2000s? A matte face: BareMinerals Original Foundation and Mineral Veil (the only thing working on my super-oily skin back then). BareMinerals All-Over Face Color on cheeks and across nose, hairline, and a touch on the chin. Either a brown daytime smokey eye, a one-and-down shimmery nude (usually bareMinerals Bare Skin, Nude Beach, or In the Buff), or a taupey-purple eye. Black mascara. Either Wet n Wild lipgloss in Rose Gold (I think it went by just a number back then), a shimmery taupey purple gloss from Mary Kay, or a brown lipstick. I left my brows full and natural, against trend but I’m glad I didn’t pluck.
4. Have you ever lived on a farm? No, but I lived in a very small town in farm country for 9 years. Very pretty scenery, but too isolated.
5. “If you’re going to be hanging around with someone all day, they might as well smell like _______.” Clean. I’m good if they showered and put on deodorant.
1. Longest plane ride you’ve ever taken?
Most of mine have been in the 3-4 hour range, nothing too crazy! I really don’t think I could do a flight in the double digits!
2. Your go-to under-eye concealer of the moment?
Makeup forever full coverage, I like that it stays on all day.
3. What did your makeup look like in the early 2000s?
I think I was going through my bare minerals phase, I bought it from an infomercial once! Glossy lips and shimmery silver eyeshadow.
4. Have you ever lived on a farm?
Sort of. I grew up in a house out in the country (nearest neighbor 1/2 mile away) surrounded by farm fields but my dad isn’t a farmer. It is quite picturesque but being an only child was kind of lonely and I always wanted to hang out with my cousins who lived “in town”. Luckily I did often, as the nearest town was only 15 minutes away.
5. “If you’re going to be hanging around with someone all day, they might as well smell like _______.”
Clean laundry! I love when a guy smells like that!
1. Longest plane ride you’ve ever taken? – I have only flied once to Wisconsin to visit my brother and new born nephew. I forget how long the flight was but I remember it wasn’t that long but we had a layover in Atlanta for a few hours and it felt like I was traveling all day.
2. Your go-to under-eye concealer of the moment? – Been loving the Bright Future Gel-Serum Sephora brand concealer.
3. What did your makeup look like in the early 2000s? – It’s funny you ask this. I just found some pictures and my eyebrows are so light, you can’t even see them.
4. Have you ever lived on a farm? – Nope.
5. “If you’re going to be hanging around with someone all day, they might as well smell like _______.” – My all time favorite perfume is Chloe. Make them smell like that.
BONUS QUESTION: Are you currently marathoning any shows? – Just finished Santa Clarita Diet and started the new season of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
1. Longest plane ride you’ve ever taken? Los Angeles to Tokyo. Over the years, as airplanes have made advancements, the time it takes is shorter and shorter. Thank heavens because I’m getting older and older! LOL
2. Your go-to under-eye concealer of the moment? I don’t use one. Instead, when I need a bit of lightening in that area, I use Touch Éclat mixed with a bit of my foundation. It diffuses the shadows without looking heavy or unnatural.
3. What did your makeup look like in the early 2000s?
4. Have you ever lived on a farm? No, but I live on a few acres in an area that is zoned for agriculture. On our property we have a vairity of fruit trees, a small veggie garden, and we used to have horses. I know keeping chickens is trendy, but being a vegetarian, that’s something that has never appealed to me.
5. “If you’re going to be hanging around with someone all day, they might as well smell like——Mandarino di Amalfi by Tom Ford. It’s a unisex fragrance that is fresh and light. It’s the sent of citrus groves and ocean breeze on a hot summer day.
.
Oops! I forgot #3. I worn more iridescence on my brow bone, heavier eyeliner, more blush color, and glossier lips.
1. Longest plane ride you’ve ever taken?
I’ve never been on a plane. (I know, right?)
2. Your go-to under-eye concealer of the moment?
I seldom use any, but when I do it’s Bobbi Brown’s Creamy Concealer Kit.
3. What did your makeup look like in the early 2000s?
I honestly don’t remember. I was working full time and going to college evenings and weekends, so my makeup was pretty basic because of time constraints.
4. Have you ever lived on a farm?
Not a farm, but I lived way out in the country when I was little. I don’t miss driving forever just to pick up some milk, but I absolutely miss the quiet.
5. “If you’re going to be hanging around with someone all day, they might as well smell like _______.”
…. something from the Maison Margiela ‘Replica’ collection. Preferably ‘Jazz Club’, because that is the bomb, but I will settle for just about any of the scents.
BONUS QUESTION: Are you currently marathoning any shows?
I’m not, but I’m about to start season 3 of This Is Us. I’ve been waiting for the season to be over, because they like to pull nasty, random little cliff-hangers and leave you waiting two or three weeks while the network airs something stupid. I tend to get hostile if you take my Milo away from me.
1. Longest plane ride you’ve ever taken? 7 hrs with stop over from Detroit to Nashville to Fort Walton Florida. On flight home we hit really stormy weather and we had so much turbulence that we couldn’t take seatbelts off not even the stewardess could be standing. We happened to be at the very back beside a stewardess and she could see I I was having anxiety as I have to wear a soft collar anytime I fly and on long drives. She took my hand and said u don’t have to worry we have two senior captions on this flight it’s there last flight before retirement they will get us down. We got to Detroit and they couldn’t see a thing let alone the landing strip but they got us down with a bit of a bump but we were down save we all cheered like had won the Stanley cup. Both captains cane out to say gb to everyone on that flight and in return we all thanked them. I’ve flown a lot since shorter flights but that was most remembered
2. Your go-to under-eye concealer of the moment? E.L.f
3. What did your makeup look like in the early 2000s? Not good very basic
4. Have you ever lived on a farm? I grew up on a dairy farm with family all around us it was amazing to have cousins so close. Wish my kids and grandkids could have that experience
5. “If you’re going to be hanging around with someone all day, they might as well smell like ______.”the tree called rise of Sharon and my pinky winky hydrangeas tree or lilac trees we have three
BONUS QUESTION: Are you currently marathoning any shows? I just did fixer upper my home town and untold stories of the er. Normally I don’t do this but what else do u do on bedrest only lol.
1. Longest plane ride you’ve ever taken? Ghana with one layer
2. Your go-to under-eye concealer of the moment? bioderma
3. What did your makeup look like in the early 2000s? lipgloss with a black pencil but that was not long lived . very little of nothing.
4. Have you ever lived on a farm? no . but my father has a very country family and i have visited farmland, I have a great uncle that grew sugar cane
5. “If you’re going to be hanging around with someone all day, they might as well smell like _______.”
ralph lauren Polo Light blue
BONUS QUESTION: Are you currently marathoning any shows? Sabrina the teenage witch and osmosis oh and my favorite is korean odyssey , my favorite character is the devil king played by Cha Seung-won, he is very handsome on the show
I meant one lay over
1. Longest plane ride you’ve ever taken? 12 hours. I went to Israel from NY.
2. Your go-to under-eye concealer of the moment? None. I haven’t been wearing under-eye concealer in quite some time. Now that spring is here, I may go back to wearing it, although allergy season is on the way!
3. What did your makeup look like in the early 2000s? Very, very Bobbi! Need I say more!
4. Have you ever lived on a farm? I never lived on a farm, but stayed as a guest for a few days, when I was in Israel. My cousins live on a farm and I actually got to collect eggs for my breakfast.
5. “If you’re going to be hanging around with someone all day, they might as well smell like _______.” I think the fragrance is Calvin Klein’s Eternity of Bobbi Brown’s Beach fragrance. They both smell like a day at the beach.
I haven’t been watching anything regularly since Bruce and I binge watched Shtisel. I started to watch Russian Doll which is on Netflix and stars Natasha Lyonne, but it was too weird for me. I’ve gone back to reading and I’m waiting to get my copy of Michelle Obama’s book.
Be well!
Hi Jane,
I watched that entire show and yeah, it’s weird! I started watching it because I like her hair (SO CURLY GOOD) but ended up enjoying the sci-fi weirdness of it all.
BTW congrats to your baby for getting into school! So happy for you… Next stop, college graduation.
1. Longest plane ride you’ve ever taken? Non-stop? Just slightly more than 11 hours to Tokyo. But there was the time I got sick on a research trip and flew home from a just slightly post soviet eastern european country. The first leg was 3 hrs. to Frankfurt and I prayed the airplane would hold together until we landed in Germany. Then a 2 hour layover to catch a 9 hour flight to Chicago then another 2 hour layover for a final 5 hour flight to San Francisco. I was so happy to get home.
2. Your go-to under-eye concealer of the moment? Nothing. Too lazy to sit here and blend.
3. What did your makeup look like in the early 2000s? I don’t remember. Clinique mascara. Lipstick probably Stila Natalie or NARS Dolce Vita. Maybe MAC Satin Taupe?
4. Have you ever lived on a farm? Good god no! I’m a city person. A few years back Dear Husband and I took a trip up to Portland (looking for a place to retire to) and we looked at places with room for a horse or two outside the city. I cried inside a little more at each place we looked at and just kept thinking “how long would it take me to get to the city from here?” Luckily, Dear Husband decided it wasn’t for him. And unfortunately Lucy passed from complications of laminitis, so I don’t have to worry about finding a place to keep her anymore.
5. “If you’re going to be hanging around with someone all day, they might as well smell like _______.” Vintage Guerlain, Hermes or Chanel perfume. Or Amouage or Parfum d’Empire…
BONUS QUESTION: Are you currently marathoning any shows? Marathoning no. But I did decide to give the new season of Project Runway a try since there’s no more Heidi Klum or Tim Gunn.
How’s the new Project Runway? I haven’t watched it in forever!
It’s pretty much the same. I miss Tim Gunn. I loved how erudite he is. Karlie Kloss is about the same as Heidi except without the Auf Wiedersehen. I’d never heard of Brandon Maxwell before this. And Nina Garcia is still Nina. Not sure I’ll finish watching the rest of the season.
I can’t believe Nina is still on that show. I pretty much quit after Michael Kors left. I loved his wit, and his scary orange spray tan!
1 – Longest plane ride? – I’ve flown to Singapore which is a 25 hour flight from Los Angeles. Of course I live in Florida so first I had to fly 5 hours to Los Angeles. So…30 hours? Yikes.
2 – Under eye concealer – Also the Maybelline one with the sponge tip applicator.
3 – Makeup in the early 2000’s? Pretty much the same as nowadays.
4 – Have you ever lived on a farm? No, but I lived next door to a small farm when I was a kid. Fun times.
5 – If you are going to be handing around with someone all day they might as well smell like………Mango or coconut perfume/essential oils. Love it.
6 – Currently marathoning “The Romanoff’s”
Hi Linda,
That is a crazy long flight. Did you go to Singapore for work or for fun?
1. Longest plane ride you’ve ever taken?
Longest non-stop: 15 hours from San Francisco to Sydney, Australia (then onward to Melbourne, where my husband is from)
Longest total trip: 25 hours from San Francisco to Bangalore, India, through Hong Kong then Singapore.
2. Your go-to under-eye concealer of the moment?
Tatcha Pearl
3. What did your makeup look like in the early 2000s?
About the same color-wise (lipstick daily!), but I wore more foundation then because I had adult acne on my cheeks at that time.
4. Have you ever lived on a farm?
No and I don’t think I want to. I used to have a horse that I kept stabled at a local ranch, and that’s enough farm animal smell for me. 🙂
5. “If you’re going to be hanging around with someone all day, they might as well smell like _______.”
Something citrus
Hi Nancy,
Tatcha Pearl is so good! It’s so perfect for a little something-something. Do you use it on its own or set it with a powder?
Happy Monday!
1. Longest plane ride?: Well living in New Zealand with family and friends in UK I remember one trip we had to fly auckland to Sydney (3 hours)with a 3 hour stop over then on to Singapore (approx 12 hours) with a 5 hour stop over ( mind you the airport in Singapore is the best in the world that I’ve been to) then on to London heathrow ( approx 12 hours). You can imagine the state we were in by the time we arrived!!
2. Undereye concealer?: YSL’s Touché eclat ( although I do have a little bit left of the Cle de Peau concealer too).
3. Make up in the early 2000’s?: erm… pretty much what I wear now although my eye makeup is a little more simplified ( I’m in my 50’s so I don’t want to look like mutton dressed as lamb!)
4. Have I ever lived on a farm? Not exactly although where we live now is on an acre and a half, surrounded by paddocks belonging to our Neighbours with cows and sheep and horses but only 10 minutes to the mall. Country in the city I like to call it.
5. If you’re going to be hanging around with someone all day they might as well smell like …… just nice and clean although I do like Jo Malone’s English Pear and Fresia. Just sayin…
6. Currently binge watching Line Of Duty. It’s an English drama focusing on the polices anti corruption squad. Great stuff!!
Hi Kiwimakeuplover,
That is a crazy flight!
One of these days I hope to make it out to your country (have always wanted to go). Did you grow up there or move there for school or work?
Hi Karen, I grew up in the UK which is where I met my kiwi hubby. Four days after we got married we moved to NZ where we’ve been since.
You absolutely should come out this way! It’s a beautiful country ?
1. Longest plane ride you’ve ever taken? I cannot remember how long but it was a pretty long flight when I went to Italy!
2. Your go-to under-eye concealer of the moment? Maybelline Instant Age Rewind
3. What did your makeup look like in the early 2000s? It’s not too far off from now except I have the access to Ulta and Sephora. I wore bronzey eyes, peachy pink blush and a peachy glossy lip. I remember mixing luminizer into my foundation for a more radiant look. But my makeup was mostly drugstore. Now it’s much more high end. I was happy though. Revlon and Loreal had phemonenal curated collections…I was obssessed!
4. Have you ever lived on a farm? Nope but my dad did and when my grandfather still lived on his farm, we would visit for family functions and we called it going to “the farm”. We always had much fun snow mobiling, sledding, having bon fires and jumping in the bales of hay in the shed. Now my dad sister lives there and raises pigs. You couldn’t pay me enough to live on a farm or the country…doesn’t appeal to me!
5. “If you’re going to be hanging around with someone all day, they might as well smell like _______.”
Coffee or Gucci Bamboo
BONUS QUESTION: Are you currently marathoning any shows? I binged Santa Clarita Diet in one day. My daughter was like why didn’t you pace yourself? Now I’m watching Fresh Off The Boat. I didn’t realize it is on its 5th season so I had many seasons to catch up!
1. Longest plane ride you’ve ever taken?
That I remember? Milwaukee to Orlando. The longest I’ve ever done though is Munich, Germany to Phoenix, AZ. I was 2.5 years old.
2. Your go-to under-eye concealer of the moment?
Sad to say, I don’t wear concealer these days. I just wear the circles.
3. What did your makeup look like in the early 2000s?
Very heavy, full coverage, panda eyes. ?
4. Have you ever lived on a farm?
I haven’t! I go to one every week though.
5. “If you’re going to be hanging around with someone all day, they might as well smell like _______.” Nothing. Seriously. I’m crazy sensitive to scents, although I guess if you smell like your dog, your horse or peppermints that’s okay?
BONUS QUESTION: Are you currently marathoning any shows?
I just finished marathoning all 46 episodes of Kurt Seyit ve Sura (an epic Turkish love story based on the real Kurt Seyit) on Netflix. I’m now watching Our Planet (also on Netflix) and have decided that is a ONE EPISODE a night docuseries as I was crying over walruses last night. Sir David Attenborough, what are you doing to my heart?
1. Longest plane ride you’ve ever taken?
I’ve done Detroit to Amsterdam or Paris and back a bunch of times – 8ish hours.
2. Your go-to under-eye concealer of the moment?
I’ve been going without recently because I realized what I had been using looks like hell at the end of the day, and treating the eczema around my eyes has made them look so much better!
3. What did your makeup look like in the early 2000s?
Minimal! I didn’t really wear much, I was in high school.
4. Have you ever lived on a farm?
Nope! My parents’ neighbors have farm animals though. Horses used to break out and come to our field to romp!
5. “If you’re going to be hanging around with someone all day, they might as well smell like _______.”
Just clean! Or like tea.
BONUS QUESTION: Are you currently marathoning any shows?
We finished the whole second season of Sabrina on Netflix this weekend since I still can’t walk! Also watching the new season of Santa Clarita Diet.
1. Somewhere around 5 hours if you include time sitting on the tarmac. This was a flight from Philadelphia to DFW. Not fun. Jet fuel fumes got into the plane while we were waiting for permission to take off. I’ll always wonder if this had something to do with my developing lymphoma around eight years later.
2. Not really into concealer. My skin is so pale it’s just about impossible to find one the right shade.
3. I rarely did anything more than lip balm back then. I didn’t get into makeup too much until I decided to get rid of my premature gray hair.
4. Never. It’s still my lifelong dream to have a place where I could legally keep a horse. Most likely that will never happen.
5. Nothing.
Bonus question – nothing right now. I don’t have a streaming service. I just get DVDs and blu-rays from the library. I have the first season of “The Americans” but I haven’t watched it yet.
1. Longest plane ride you’ve ever taken? Houston/Amsterdam – RT was approximately 11 hrs each way.
2. Your go-to under-eye concealer of the moment? Either ELF or Maybelline with the sponge. May go back to the Bobbi Brown one when these are empty.
3. What did your makeup look like in the early 2000s? Mineral Veil, black gel liner and red lipstick. Smashbox had the perfect red that they discontinued.
4. Have you ever lived on a farm? Nope, big city girl all my life.
5. “If you’re going to be hanging around with someone all day, they might as well smell like _______.” Fresh/clean.
BONUS QUESTION: Are you currently marathoning any shows? Just did Killing Eve season 1, so I could start Season 2 with last night’s episode. So good. Bosch drops either this weekend or next, so that will be next.
1. Longest plane ride you’ve ever taken? I’ve only been on a plane once, from central CA to Mazatlan Mexico.
2. Your go-to under-eye concealer of the moment? Boing by Benefit.
3. What did your makeup look like in the early 2000s? I had my older daughter in 2002 and am a stay at home mom. I didn’t do makeup in the early 2000’s.
4. Have you ever lived on a farm? Yes! Grew up on one! Agricultural not animal. Cotton when I was a kid, walnuts when I was in high school. My parents still farm walnuts. They took in every dumped off dog, so my childhood was full of dirt and dogs. It was heaven.
5. “If you’re going to be hanging around with someone all day, they might as well smell like _______.” Baby powder or anything very lightly scented. I don’t like strong scents.
BONUS QUESTION: Are you currently marathoning any shows? Cupcake Wars! I just finished Brooklyn 99, and Bosch is coming back next week! I prefer marathoning shows rather than network tv these days.
1. Longest plane ride you’ve ever taken? A little over 15. Hong Kong to Toronto. Of course, then I had to fly to Montreal and drive another hour home.
2. Your go-to under-eye concealer of the moment? Air. 😉
3. What did your makeup look like in the early 2000s? The same as now but I don’t think I filled my brows much back then. That’s what I like about my makeup look. It’s timeless. HAHA!
4. Have you ever lived on a farm? No, but I grew up around plenty and spent time doing all kinds of farm stuff. Nothing very useful, I’m sure.
5. “If you’re going to be hanging around with someone all day, they might as well smell like _______.” Clean cotton.
BONUS QUESTION: Are you currently marathoning any shows? No, I’m woefully behind on shows but I did just read HG Wells’ Time Machine in an afternoon since one of the boys needs to rewrite his book report and I’d never read it (I know, I was a bit stunned, too). I can’t ask him thought-provoking questions without knowing the answers. HAHA! Next up is a re-read of Kafka’s Metamorphosis for Son #2.