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. Eyeliner: liquid or pencil?
Yes, please! I like both, and I can even do liquid liner when I’m in a hurry. (The secret is choosing the right pen, and Clinique’s Pretty Easy is the best IMO.)
2. Have you ever had any immediate beauty regrets?
Oh, all the time, like whenever I get a mani or pedi at a salon. Whenever I do, I immediately regret my choice of polish. Whatever I choose is always either too dark or too light, or too blue, or not blue enough…
Sigh!
It’s always something, and it happens so often that I just bring in my own nail polish color when I go now.
I think it may have something to do with paying for the service? The pressure makes me overthink it, I guess, whereas when I do my nails at home and I don’t like the color, no big deal. I just swap it for something else.
As you can see, I’ve thought about this in detail, LOL!
3. Something you wore a lot when you were a kid?
Braces. I wore them from the ages of 8-16, so I had a mouth full of metal for most of my childhood. ?
4. A sunny place you’d like to be right now?
Kauai, please. From a pool-side chair at a resort with a view of the beach. ?️
Ah…
5. What shoes are you wearing today?
My favorite pair of Nike Winflo running shoes. They’re black and white and go with everything. (They go with the black stretchy pants I’m wearing today.)
It feels like I’m walking on fluffy clouds of cotton candy…
Have a wonderful week
Hiya, friend. That’s my new desk planner up there at the top. I got it at CVS last week because I’m trying something new… Well, it’s not *really new.* I go through a pen/paper phase every once in a while. It’s actually low-tech, but I like how it forces my mind to sloooooww down, so I’ve been organizing my thoughts and my to-do lists with pencil and paper for a couple of weeks, and sometimes in challenging times it helps, for reasons I don’t completely understand.
Sometimes I like to start the week with a literal blank sheet of paper.
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. Eyeliner: liquid or pencil?
2. Have you ever had any immediate beauty regrets?
3. Something you wore a lot when you were a kid?
4. A sunny place you’d like to be right now?
5. What shoes are you wearing today
1. Eyeliner: liquid or pencil?
Liquid usually, and the Clinique really is the best.
2. Have you ever had any immediate beauty regrets?
Yes. The bob I got a few years back.
3. Something you wore a lot when you were a kid?
When I was very small I had this pink ruffled sweatshirt with a castle on it I loved and wore all the time.
4. A sunny place you’d like to be right now?
Anywhere! I’d go to Kauai with you!
5. What shoes are you wearing today?
So I was actually just thinking about shoes because I got the approval from my orthopedic surgeon to move from my surgical boot to shoes but I have special inserts to wear. However, they don’t fit in any of my shoes (maybe my combat boots, but it’s a little too warm for those) so I need to buy some! I’m working from home today so I’m not actually wearing shoes at the moment.
1. Eyeliner: liquid or pencil?
Pencil. I have slightly hooded eyes so pencil is easier than liquid! And I apply it to the top lashline only. Maybe I will add a liner to my bottom waterline but rarely
2. Have you ever had any immediate beauty regrets?
Usually buying things that are over hyped on social media. IT CC Cream is gawd awful. And Juvia’s Place is not very good. Good for the price maybe but they are Morphe quality which is just average imo and not as good as half of Youtube makes them out to be…sorry!
3. Something you wore a lot when you were a kid?
I had the braces too from 8 to 16 lol. But I’d say Jellies. I loved wearing them as a kid:)
4. A sunny place you’d like to be right now?
L.A. Warmer than WI I’m sure and my sister and her family lives there
5. What shoes are you wearing today
White Sperry’s Pier Slip Ons
I always regret my polish choice at the salon too! I swear the colors look one way in the salon, and then as soon as I get in my car my nails look like a totally different color!
1. Eyeliner: liquid or pencil? – Liquid. I love the Physicians Formula Eye Booster in ultra black but I’ll have to check out this Clinique one.
2. Have you ever had any immediate beauty regrets? – Yeah, makeup that is so hyped up and it’s a total dud! Hate that.
3. Something you wore a lot when you were a kid? – Braces and tube tops and those one piece terry rompers that were shorts.
4. A sunny place you’d like to be right now? Any beach. I don’t care where.
5. What shoes are you wearing today? – My Adidas Ultra Boosts. They’re all black and I pretty much wear them every single day.
1. Eyeliner: liquid or pencil? Neither. I quit using eyeliner years ago. I think I look better without it. Just concealer, shadow and mascara and I’m done.
2. Have you ever had any immediate beauty regrets? Oh, god. I got a haircut years ago from what was supposed to be a top salon, only they cut it about twice as short as I wanted and my hair grows so slowly it was months before I felt like my cut looked good. Now I cut it myself so I have nobody to blame if I cut it too short.
3. Something you wore a lot when you were a kid? Too old to remember what I wore as a kid.
4. A sunny place you’d like to be right now? I get quite a bit of sun where I live, so I don’t mind a few cloudy days — although the forecast is for possible SNOW by Wednesday. They have got to be kidding me.
5. What shoes are you wearing today BOOTS! I wish it didn’t get so hot in the summer because I love wearing fashion boots. In the winter I have to resort to SnowPacs or Uggs for comfort but in the shoulder season, boots are my go-to! Today it’s black leather knee-highs.
1. Eyeliner: liquid or pencil?
Pencil. I’ve never gotten the hang of liquid, no matter how much I practice.
2. Have you ever had any immediate beauty regrets?
Yes, and it usually involved a perm or bangs.
3. Something you wore a lot when you were a kid?
Shorts and t-shirts. It’s hot 9 1/2 months out of the year here, lol.
4. A sunny place you’d like to be right now?
There’s not a cloud in the sky here; can I request a 10 degree temperature drop? ?
5. What shoes are you wearing today?
Some beat up Aerosoles sandals that I wear around the house. They’re so comfortable.
1. Eyeliner: liquid or pencil? Pencil.
2. Have you ever had any immediate beauty regrets? Too many to list.
3. Something you wore a lot when you were a kid? Hand me downs from my two older brothers. I got made fun of a lot.
4. A sunny place you’d like to be right now? Paris. Sunny or not.
5. What shoes are you wearing today? I wore my Brooks Glycerins to the gym and for a walk to the grocery store. I’m barefoot now.
I still use a paper planner, all the time. There’s just something satisfying about handwriting.
I’m a self-confessed stationery addict and have quite an assortment of different pens, papers, cards, etc. You’re absolutely right. Hand writing is very satisfying. Even though I have terrible arthritis, putting pen to paper gives me a sense of satisfaction that I don’t get from typing on a screen or keyboard.
Tatiana, I’m a paper planner girl, too. I find that appointments and tasks don’t really register in my brain unless I physically write them down.
1. Eyeliner: liquid or pencil? It really depends on the look I’m going for. My favorite pencil is Sisley’s waterproof stylo. There is a bit of smudge time so it is great for softer, more diffused looks. When I want something more defined, I adore Tom Ford’s liquid pen. It’s my fave.
2. Have you ever had any immediate beauty regrets? Nope!
3. Something you wore a lot when you were a kid? Sunglasses. My family spent a lot of time engaged in outdoor sports so good sunglasses were essential even for us kids. I just got in the habit of wearing them whenever I was outdoors. Later on when I was in high school, large sunglasses had a certain “cool” factor.
4. A sunny place you’d like to be right now? Well, it’s a sunny day right here, right now, but it I had to go somewhere else, I’d head up into the mountains. I love how the bright sun filters through the trees.
5. What shoes are you wearing today? I’m barefoot!
Eyeliner: liquid or pencil? Well, both. I like pencil best, but liquid stays on longer so…
Have you every had any immediate beauty regrets? Hm, maybe at a nail salon, like you.
Something you wore a lot as a kid? Like you I had braces from age 10-17. Yikes.
A sunny place you’d like to be right now? I live in South Florida – so outside (I’m working).
What shoes are you wearing today? Pretty ugly white nursing shoes.
Hi Karen! Sometimes going low-tech is great for the brain, especially when you are grieving. I find that all the high tech stuff just doesn’t process in my brain. I have a terrible time making heads or tail of anything!
1. Eyeliner: liquid or pencil?
Pencil if I have to choose between those two, but I really prefer gel. Liquid can really ruin my day. Shaky hands. >..>
3. Something you wore a lot when you were a kid?
Sadly, braces. I hated them as I wore headgear as well.
4. A sunny place you’d like to be right now?
If it’s dry, warm and sunny…transport me there now. It’s sunny, but it’s cold here! So, Baja California? Do you need a passport to go there?
5. What shoes are you wearing today?
Slippers currently, but my mom bought me these adorable Bobs for Dogs flats and I’ve become addicted to them. I want them in literally every color and every style. SO. CUTE. Now, if only they had Bobs for Horses…
Eyeliner: liquid or pencil?
-Neither. Pencil never stays and I’m too incompetent to use liquid liner. I just use gel or a dark eyeshadow.
2. Have you ever had any immediate beauty regrets?
– Of course! Sometimes I get caught up in how “cool” something is while completely ignoring it it’s going to work for me/actually be a staple in my collection. Looking at you Mac fix plus and all the highlighters I have (what do I need these for if I have insanely oily skin…?)
3. Something you wore a lot when you were a kid?
-lip smacker.
4. A sunny place you’d like to be right now?
– hmmm, doesn’t matter which sunny place as long as I’m with who I love.
5. What shoes are you wearing today
– none today but yesterday I wore my Birkenstock’s. I used to hate them but now they’re growing on me. Plus I like the support they have for my retail-destroyed feet.
They make gel pencil liners fyi. So not the hassle of using a pot gel liner in case you’re interested and they are budgeproof!
Hi Karen! How are you doing… I’m relieved I’m not the only one that has the nail salon stress. I always 2nd guess my pick, I thought I had ocd or something.
1.Eyeliner: liquid or pencil? Both depending on time.
2. Have you ever had any immediate beauty regrets? A bodywave to try to control my waves I had already! Don’t ask it was the 80s lol
3. Something you wore a lot when you were a kid? Also braces& retainer until I was 16.
4. A sunny place you’d like to be right now? Anywhere I hear waves crashing
5. What shoes are you wearing today I’m just out of an orthopedic boot and can’t find a shoe that’s comfortable yet after my 5 toe fractures so I’m wearing slippers for now.
1. Eyeliner: liquid or pencil? I like the felt tip pen types for the rare times I wear it
2. Have you ever had any immediate beauty regrets? In college I got overzealous with hair dye and my hair was orange. I’m a dark brunette so the next morning I put on a hat and hit the drugstore.
3. Something you wore a lot when you were a kid? Jeans
4. A sunny place you’d like to be right now? We are headed to the Lofoten Islands in Norway next month. It’s above the Arctic Circle so 24 hours of daylight
5. What shoes are you wearing today. A ratty pair on black sneakers I got at target.
1. Eyeliner: liquid or pencil? Liquid, for a cat eye it’s the only way to go for me.
2. Have you ever had any immediate beauty regrets? Mostly with haircuts. I have curly hair and have had some disastrous cuts by stylists who didn’t know how to cut curly hair. Also, oxidizing foundation.
3. Something you wore a lot when you were a kid? A burgundy corduroy overall skirt/dress thing that I loooved so much.
4. A sunny place you’d like to be right now? Cape Cod.
5. What shoes are you wearing today? Navy and white polka dot Keds.
1. Eyeliner: liquid or pencil? Pencil! I am a complete spazz with liquid liner. Maybe someday I’ll figure it out, but I’ve tried a lot of liquid liners and I am so so terrible at all of them. It’s funny how bad I am.
2. Have you ever had any immediate beauty regrets? Every haircut I get. I want shorter hair, I plan it, but when it happens, it’s terrible. But only for a day or two, then I love it. But there’s a lot of regrets in those two days.
3. Something you wore a lot when you were a kid? Fancy clothes, at t I thought was fancy. Shiny black patent leather shoes, I had a faaaaabulous purple faux fur coat in the 1st grade that I would kill to have now, fringe covered blue boots that I would also kill to have now, I’m pretty basic these days with kids and dogs and life, but I miss those fancy days!
4. A sunny place you’d like to be right now? I’m in Central CA and it’s been chilly and rainy, and I love it! I’m not quite ready for 110 degree weather.
5. What shoes are you wearing today? Flip flops! It’s chilly, but they’re easy!
1. Eyeliner: liquid or pencil? I like both, but I use pencil more out of convenience.
2. Have you ever had any immediate beauty regrets? I’ve had a few bad haircuts. lol
3. Something you wore a lot when you were a kid? When I was little I had shiny red boots that I refused to take off, because they reminded me of Wonder Woman. My parents had to sneak then off my feet, air them out during the night, and get them back on my feet before I woke up.
4. A sunny place you’d like to be right now? Any beach
5. What shoes are you wearing today? Black slip-on sneakers with glittery tops. Comfy and fun.
1. I really prefer just using a dark eyeshadow with a small brush, but if I had to, I would use the Phys. Formula Eye Booster liquid pen instead of a pencil.
2. I once used a warm medium brown shade on my graying hair (in my twenties!), and that didn’t work at all with my skin tone.
3. The only thing that comes to mind is the old kind of lace-up cotton canvas shoes everyone called “tennis shoes” back then. Very basic, simple shoes.
4. San Diego. If I ever win the lottery, that’s where I’m going to stay for the rest of my life.
5. Black leather flats by Propet. They are old ones. Propet’s newer designs aren’t very appealing to me.
1. Eyeliner: liquid or pencil?
Pencil, or, preferably, powder and a brush. I am still pretty awkward with the liquid liner!
2. Have you ever had any immediate beauty regrets?
That time I dyed my hair from its natural (dishwater) blonde to a color called Soft Black. It did not look soft!
3. Something you wore a lot when you were a kid?
Glasses, from third grade until 8th when I got contacts. (Back to glasses now.)
4. A sunny place you’d like to be right now?
How about Nice? I’ve never been there, so now seems as good a time as any.
5. What shoes are you wearing today?
Same as always…Asics sneakers.
1. Eyeliner: liquid or pencil? Neither, most of the time I use shadow and an angled brush.
2. Have you ever had any immediate beauty regrets? Oh several, mostly involving my hair. I got a short cut in fifth grade which was meant to be a pixie, but ended up looking like a mushroom cap. Then, having some of my curliest hair relaxed in seventh grade – everything around my hairline broke off to about an inch long a couple of days later. Tried to cut my own layers in the front of my head in college.
3. Something you wore a lot when you were a kid? I had a pair of black capri leggings that I wore pretty steadily for about three years in middle school (late 80s).
4. A sunny place you’d like to be right now? Not sure, the weather in the mid-Atlantic is pretty tolerable right now and it finally stopped raining every other day.
5. What shoes are you wearing today? Franco Sarto Bocca loafers.
1. Eyeliner: liquid or pencil?
Liquid. Always liquid.
2. Have you ever had any immediate beauty regrets?
Yes. That moment when I saw my freshly waxed brows in the mirror and the aesthetician said: I made them extra thin.
3. Something you wore a lot when you were a kid?
Pigtails.
4. A sunny place you’d like to be right now?
No preferences, as long as it is sunny. Maybe Thailand, on a beach?
5. What shoes are you wearing today
I am barefoot and I hope I can keep it that way as long as possible. My daughter and I are sick, so we are staying at home.
I can see how starting the week with a blank sheet would be very appealing! And your handwriting is still so nice. Mine is extremely poor after so many years of typing everything. It’s almost embarrassing how quickly my cursive has begun to look like chicken scratch.
1. Eyeliner: liquid or pencil? Pencil (actually, I prefer powder shadow)
2. Have you ever had any immediate beauty regrets? Every time I get my hair cut short.
3. Something you wore a lot when you were a kid? I’m sorry you had all those years of braces, but it paid off. Your teeth are beautiful! When I was in grade school, I’d say “boy’s clothes”. I was never one for dresses or skirts or cute tops. Jeans and t-shirts all the way. HAHA!
4. A sunny place you’d like to be right now? This is a much harder question than it should be. I’m going to pick somewhere I haven’t been yet – Cinque Terre. Hopefully I’ll get there next March or the following March.
5. What shoes are you wearing today? Brooks Glycerin 15. With holes. They need to be moved to the “lawn mowing sneakers” pile but I haven’t changed out the laces of my new sneakers yet (they’re bright pink and need to be switched to black).