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. Fruit OR vegetables?
Ooh! Tough one… I have a sweet tooth, so I generally prefer the taste fruit, but I always feel so much better, both physically and mentally, after I eat a massive bowl of vegetables…so I’d go with veggies, if I had to choose one.
2. Ulta OR Sephora?
You know I love me some Sephora…but I gotta give it to Ulta because of their variety (I really like that I can get MAC and drugstore stuff there, and I know that some Ulta stores even carry Chanel, which is awesome!), and I also think they have a waaaay better rewards program.
3. Have you ever had a pet who disliked your significant other?
Nope. Also, Tabs loved El Hub to pieces. Anytime El Hub called his name from anywhere inside or outside of the house, Tabs came running.
4. Wearing perfume or cologne while you’re working out in a public place: a do or a don’t?
It’s a do! Go for it! I certainly don’t mind when someone lifting weights next to me smells really good. Just please don’t douse yourself to the point where your Drakkar Noir fills every square inch of the room, thanks.
5. Do you like your water with or without ice?
With ice. Yummy tasting ice. I have zero tolerance for ice that tastes weird (you know what I mean if you’re the same way). I also like ice because I love biting down on it, for some weird reason.
Don’t know why, but it’s very satisfying to me.
Hearst Castle, San Simeon, California
My birthday trip to the coast last weekend was tons of fun, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Hearst Castle. All my years in California, and I had no idea just how huge and opulent and…huge it is. It’s huge! In fact, the tour we took, referred to as the Grand Rooms tour, is just one of many tours available of different parts of the estate. We didn’t even see the upstairs of the castle!
I highly recommend seeing the castle if you’re ever visiting that part of California. It’s a truly remarkable architectural wonder.
(Oh, yeah, and there are also wild zebras.)
Where we stayed: Moonstone Beach in the small town of Cambria a few miles south of Hearst Castle
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. Fruit OR vegetables?
2. Ulta OR Sephora?
3. Have you ever had a pet who disliked your significant other?
4. Wearing perfume while you’re working out in a public place: a do or a don’t?
5. Do you like your water with or without ice?
“excuse me sir, where are the pool noodles?” ? What an amazing place! Gorgeous.
1. Veggies. I feel like an Earth goddess after I eat a bunch of veggies. I just finished a homemade gazpacho soup with veggies from my local farmers market and it was so good!
2. Ulta because it’s the closest to me! I don’t get the shop there very often but when I do I imagine it feels about the same as how my boys feel when we go to a playground.
3. No. But my neighbor’s dog absolutely hates my husband. She has four dogs but this one just really doesn’t like him for some reason. the dog was a stray so I’m wondering if my husband reminds the dog of a previous bad owner. ☹️
4. I personally don’t but I definitely don’t mind it when someone is wearing good smelling stuff! As usually the only woman in the free weight area I feel like I already attract enough attention and wearing perfume I feel like would just make it worse.
5. Ice! but I’m with you on the weird ice. And no pellet ice! Just regular size ice cubes, please.
Karen, Happy Belated Birthday! Those pictures are beautiful and that pool looks amazing!!
1. Fruit OR vegetables? – I think I prefer veggies over fruit. It depends on the mood I’m in.
2. Ulta OR Sephora? I agree 100% with Ulta. Don’t get me wrong, I love Sephora but I like that you can get high end and drug store at Ulta and their rewards program is soooo much better.
3. Have you ever had a pet who disliked your significant other? – Nope.
4. Wearing perfume while you’re working out in a public place: a do or a don’t? Sure, why not. Just not overbearing.
5. Do you like your water with or without ice? – If it’s a scorching summer day, I like my water ice cold. I don’t mind room temperature water though. I only craved crunching on ice when I was pregnant with Max. Once I had the baby, that craving was gone.
Thanks for sharing these photos. That place is so gorgeous! I love the water lily pond. I have a pond, technically it’s called a farm pond, and I want to plant water lilies but I haven’t gotten around to it.
I’m so glad you order dessert. This makes me really happy.
I love beachcombing! It’s one of my favorite things to do. Also, love the toddler bedhead peeking at the basket!
1. Fruit OR vegetables? I have to say vegetables because if necessary, I could get somewhat of a fruit fix by eating sorbet (kidding) but there’s really no substitute for vegetables.
2. Ulta OR Sephora? Sephora!!!! I’m not that in love with Ulta but it could be that the one near me sucks. Also, I think Sephora’s rewards program is way better. I think you need to do a post comparing the two so I can understand what you’re talking about.
3. Have you ever had a pet who disliked your significant other? No but I have had a boy kitty who preferred me to all others. He would hang out with husband but he didn’t really bestow any kisses and scrunches on him.
4. Wearing perfume while you’re working out in a public place: a do or a don’t? Probably a don’t and I try not to be the offending party myself but I really do love perfume and I feel naked when I leave the house without it.
5. Do you like your water with or without ice? Ice, all the ice, always. But I agree, weird tasting ice freaks me out.
Ulta reward system translate into money off. Right now I have about $15. I can use it to take $15 off my purchase or keep adding up. I could use that too in addition to a 20% off coupon. One time I had 2000 points and got $200 to spend. Sephora just gives you lame point perks. Usually it is the same Caudlie, Cliniqie and Smashbox stuff but once in awhile there is something good and they do have gift cards you can get with your points if they aren’t sold out but you cannot use in combination with other rewards. Ulta has a much better reward system hands down
Oh, my goodness, Hearst Castle. So shabby. I mean, only like 100 sculptures and carvings on every surface. Step it up, folks. 😉 What a beautiful place and it looks like you had a fantastic day. Connor is adorable and I love her tutus. I’m glad you all had a great time! 🙂
1. Fruit OR vegetables? Probably vegetables though I can’t say I’m too enthusiastic about either. HAHA!
2. Ulta OR Sephora? We just got an Ulta about a year ago so I haven’t really spent much time there. I’m much more familiar with Sephora.
3. Have you ever had a pet who disliked your significant other? No, all the cats are fans of the Hubs. I always feel like he pets them too hard but they seem to love it.
4. Wearing perfume while you’re working out in a public place: a do or a don’t? I think a light application is key. I’m not a fan of strong fragrance smells, even if they’re pleasant. They tend to give me an instant headache.
5. Do you like your water with or without ice? Usually without these days. I have sensitive teeth so the cold bothers me.
1. Fruit OR vegetables?
I know it’s easier for me to eat fruits, so I’ll be honest and choose them.
2. Ulta OR Sephora?
Never been to Ulta, but it seems to be the option to buy from drugstore to high end.
3. Have you ever had a pet who disliked your significant other?
I’ve never presented a boyfriend with my pet; but I had this fuckfriend which Max actually loved.
4. Wearing perfume while you’re working out in a public place: a do or a don’t?
If it isn’t too hard, yes, but I prefer to use only deodorant.
5. Do you like your water with or without ice?
I prefer water that’s cold so you don’t need ice.
Seems you had a great birthday, Happy birthday again!
What gorgeous pictures, Karen!! So glad you got to take some time away for your birthday. <3
1. Fruit OR vegetables?
Ughhh I have to pick?? …at the moment, I'd go with fruit. Ask me in the winter and maybe I'd go with veggies, but at the moment I am super-craving berries and apples and cherries!
2. Ulta OR Sephora?
Hmm… I'd have to go with Sephora, just for accessibility's sake. There are only a few Ultas in the city, and they're a little tough to get to.
3. Have you ever had a pet who disliked your significant other?
Nope! My parents' dog *loved* my hub to bits. Poor hub did not like her as much, hahaha.
4. Wearing perfume while you’re working out in a public place: a do or a don’t?
Definitely a do, as long as you're not drenched in the stuff. I'm with you on this one, Karen!
5. Do you like your water with or without ice?
No ice, please! I much prefer tap-cold or room temperature water, unless it's really, REALLY hot. Even then, I prefer it chilled and not iced. It's the singer in me – don't want to ice those vocal cords.
That pool I need some 24k gold spray pool floats
1. Fruit OR vegetables? Fruits. I love sweet and tart fruits.
2. Ulta OR Sephora? sephora but i hear ulta has a better rewards program
3. Have you ever had a pet who disliked your significant other? no. i have had pets that like my significant others more than me. someone said, it may be my nervous energy
4. Wearing perfume while you’re working out in a public place: a do or a don’t? do. i am doing my part as a human to smell good in an otherwise smelly world
5. Do you like your water with or without ice? without. infact room temp water.
I just wanted to jump into the gorgeous photos you took, thanks for sharing! Beach combing heaven there.
1. Fruit OR vegetables? Vegetables. I love anything earthy& freshly picked.
2. Ulta OR Sephora? Sephora. Idk why I just can’t get excited about Ulta.
3. Have you ever had a pet who disliked your significant other? . Thankfully no. I think pets are a good judge of character for sure.
4. Wearing perfume while you’re working out in a public place: a do or a don’t? A light, clean fragrance yes. Wouldn’t want to annoy anyone at the gym.
5. Do you like your water with or without ice? With ice and lemon is great! I hate that stale ice taste, so gross lol
1. Fruit OR vegetables?
Fruit! There’s so many fruits that I love.
2. Ulta OR Sephora?
Ulta. Love the mix of high end and drugstore products, and MAC of course.
3. Have you ever had a pet who disliked your significant other?
No. I had an ex-boyfriend who was allergic to cats though so I’m not really sad it didn’t work out!
4. Wearing perfume while you’re working out in a public place: a do or a don’t?
I don’t really like to because the scent intensifies and makes me nauseous. I like the clean smell of deodorant!
5. Do you like your water with or without ice?
I like ice water. I feel like the funky tasting ice pretty much always comes out of someone’s refrigerator ice maker and that’s because the water is sitting in the plastic lines for long periods of time, which is gross.
Wow Hearst castle looks amazing! I wonder if anyone ever swims in the pools there? It’d be a shame not to! Next time I visit California I might have to make a stay there!
Oh my, what a gorgeous place! And I didn’t realize how different your beaches are than mine. Those rocks are beautiful.
1. Fruit OR vegetables?
Fruit usually, but veggies are in season right now and are delicious!!!
2. Ulta OR Sephora?
Sephora. Our Ulta isn’t that great.
3. Have you ever had a pet who disliked your significant other?
I haven’t had a pet when I’ve had a significant other.
4. Wearing perfume while you’re working out in a public place: a do or a don’t?
Something light is ok. Heavy scents affect my asthma.
5. Do you like your water with or without ice?
Definitely with. I hate water that isn’t really cold.
Beautiful photos, Karen! It looks like you had a wonderful birthday trip!
1. Fruit OR vegetables? Fruit. I grew up not liking vegetables and only came around to liking and eating vegetables on a regular basis as an adult.
2. Ulta OR Sephora? Sephora since I tend to be a bit of a makeup snob. Ulta doesn’t carry many of my favorite brands like Hourglass and Drunk Elephant.
3. Have you ever had a pet who disliked your significant other? Nope. In fact, I think one of my college boyfriends was the reason why the car I had at the time liked me.
4. Wearing perfume while you’re working out in a public place: a do or a don’t? Do if in a public place BUT a huge don’t if working out. Body odor is bad but that combined with perfume is even worse to me.
5. Do you like your water with or without ice? With ice but it has to be good ice. I’m one of those people who is picky about water (soft water is life!) and therefore I am also picky about ice.
Stunning pictures! I’m glad you had a nice trip. Happy Birthday!
1. Fruit OR vegetables? Vegetables. I need my salads. I also refuse to give up zucchini.
2. Ulta OR Sephora? Sephora, because their online shopping actually works for me. Ulta’s doesn’t, they say can’t fix it, and their CS for online is just awful in general.
3. Have you ever had a pet who disliked your significant other? No, animals are all crazy about my husband.
4. Wearing perfume while you’re working out in a public place: a do or a don’t? Do, as long as you’re not drenched in it.
5. Do you like your water with or without ice? Without. I’m totally with you about funky-tasting ice. Gross.
Thank you, Rachel! I hope you had a great weekend!
Happy Belated Birthday Karen! You did it right – I no longer want just a dinner out for my birthday – I want a trip! There are so few left.
1 – Definitely fruit – mostly because I have a smoothie every morning and even though I do put spinach in it – it’s mostly fruits.
2 – Ulta, because Sephora is so far away (an hour). And you’re right, their rewards program is pretty good.
3 – No, we had our beloved Marshie – a calico for 17 years – my husband was adamant – no pets! But he loved that cat.
4 – This is a tough one – because I almost always put perfume on – but veerryy lightly!
Some people are too heavy handed.
5 – Ice please, but of course then I need a straw!
Hi Linda,
I get it! I’d rather have new experiences rather than things, so birthdays are for trips to unexplored places!
P.S. Calicos are sweet kitties!
1. Fruit OR vegetables? Both. But a slight preference for veggies because I like my food to crunch. Like romaine, snap peas, broccoli slaw, etc.
2. Ulta OR Sephora? Sephora, only because I prefer shopping in person and there’s one a 10 min. walk from my house. No Ulta conveniently nearby.
3. Have you ever had a pet who disliked your significant other? No. I’ve a SO who has at times disliked my pet. Like the time Calcutta (first cat when we were a couple) clawed the inside of his nose to wake him up first thing in the a.m. wanting to be fed. She used to do it to me, too. Nora liked sitting on Dear Husband’s lap while he was in recliner watching TV.
4. Wearing perfume while you’re working out in a public place: a do or a don’t? Don’t. I live in such a place that I don’t even try to do that. I can’t tell you how many people have told me they’re allergic to perfume. So I just don’t bother. Although almost all these people are surprised when I tell them I wear perfume every day.
5. Do you like your water with or without ice? With ice. I just don’t crunch the ice any more. I got a bone bruise in my jaw from doing that and it made eating anything too painful for about a week.
Happy Belated Birthday! Your trip looks like it was wonderful. Glad you got some cake!!! Aren’t those pools at Hearst Castle to die for? I’d skip having the rest of the mansion if I could just have the indoor and the outdoor pools.
P.S. How many buckets of stones, shells and pebbles did you bring home? For a while I thought Dear Daughter would end up becoming a geologist, we had so many “rocks” she had collected.
Hiya! We came home with two buckets of what she calls her “treasures.” Everything’s on the back deck right now drying out, and afterwards we’re going to put them in a glass jar. Have you ever been to Moonstone Beach? I think you would LOVE it.
I seriously considered accidentally falling into the Hearst Castle pool, ha ha ha!
Hi Karen ,
The Happiest of Birthdays again ???!
I love fruit but to stay on my perpetual diet I need to eat 4 servings of veggies .
Ulta or Sephora?
It depends on what you are buying . Not one has it all but they both have redeemable points !
I only had one pet and Georgie’ loved her daddy .
Perfume in public . I learned a valuable lesson while I was rehabbing in McGee . Nurses who walked in my door w strong perfume were not appreciated!
Water w ice ! Or just ice plenty
of it !
That Hearst Castle looks fabulous . I’m happy you got to enjoy on your Birthday ?
Thanks, Michele! Hope you had a nice weekend!
Happy birthday, Karen! I hope your birthday celebration cheers you up, although I know Tabs is never far from your thoughts.
1. Fruit OR vegetables? Fruit. I’m more likely to reach for fruit but I also try to eat a lot of veggies for health.
2. Ulta OR Sephora? Sephora. I want to love Ulta—I have two in my town and im a drugstore gal at heart—but their customer service sucks. The sales people follow customers around like we’re all potential thieves. And I hate that they don’t give samples but get mad at returns!
3. Have you ever had a pet who disliked your significant other? No, but I’ve only had a very loving family golden retriever.
4. Wearing perfume while you’re working out in a public place: a do or a don’t? Subtle is ok with me. Like when only the one hugging that person can smell it
5. Do you like your water with or without ice? With! Somehow it tastes better
Thank you Kate. I was thinking about him all weekend long because I used to share my birthday with him (he was a stray, so we weren’t exactly sure when he was born). He did manage to say hi to me in his way. Saw quite a few butterflies on my trip and I feel like that was him sending me a hello.
How are you doing? Did you have a nice weekend?
1. Fruit OR vegetables?
Fruit! I love strawberries, mango, bananas, apples, nectarines…
2. Ulta OR Sephora?
Ulta! There are things I have to get at Sephora but I much prefer the atmosphere of Ulta, not to mention the rewards.
3. Have you ever had a pet who disliked your significant other?
Nope! Zack is an animal magnet.
4. Wearing perfume while you’re working out in a public place: a do or a don’t?
Yes if you wear a light fragrance lightly. But if someone says they’re allergic or it bothers them, stop.
5. Do you like your water with or without ice?
With! We have a crushed ice machine at work and I love it.
I’m glad you had a good trip!
Mmmm, nectarines! I bought some yesterday and can’t wait for them to ripen up. Love me some summer fruit.
1. Fruit OR vegetables?
I love veggies, and I don’t eat meat, so that works out well. Luckily, Northern California has wonderful variety year round.
2. Ulta OR Sephora?
A real Sophie’s choice here. I spend more money at Sephora, but have found some really great products at Ulta. I agree that their rewards program is much better, but the free shipping at Sephora is great.
3. Have you ever had a pet who disliked your significant other?
No, but I have had rescue animals that were afraid of men.
4. Wearing perfume while you’re working out in a public place: a do or a don’t?
Generally a don’t. A lot of people have scent sensitivities and asthma, I’d rather not trigger those reactions as people are gasping for breath from their workouts.
5. Do you like your water with or without ice
It doesn’t really matter, just cold from the tap is fine.
Hi Ewa,
Agreed on the fresh veggies. We’re lucky to have access to such a variety of produce!
BTW I know you’re a Chanel enthusiast… Have you had the chance to check out their Les Beiges eyeshadow palette (the one with the 9 neutral powder eyeshadows)? SO PRETTY!
P.S.
How ’bout those Warriors!!
I know, right?! I was so surprised!
Glad you had a smashing time for your weekend birthday getaway! I believe Hearst Castle was the location for one of Lady Gaga’s videos years ago. You take lovely pictures. The water lily and lily pads–gorgeous! Do you use a phone or a real genuine camera?
Thank you, Pamela! I took these with my iPhone because I was too lazy to lug around my big Canon (I’m also afraid that I’ll drop it or accidentally bang it against something while I’m chasing the baby around). The iPhone does great in bright light, and the portrait feature (which I used on the closeup of the flower in the lily pond) is pretty snazzy too. I do wish it handled indoor, low-light better but generally I’ve been very happy with it.
1. Fruit OR vegetables?
Fruit.
2. Ulta OR Sephora?
Ulta, because while Sephora has some wonderful products, I do not like how the employees have treated me the few times I have gone to one. I was a customer, I was going to buy a product, but it was the employees that turned me off.
3. Have you ever had a pet who disliked your significant other?
Well, I’ve never had a significant other, but I can say Bree is still a bit nervous around my parents, especially my mom. She can spook pretty easily and we’re still working on it.
4. Wearing perfume while you’re working out in a public place: a do or a don’t?
Definitely not. Wear a clean deodorant that’s nonoffensive. So many people have allergies and I feel like in an environment where you are sweating so the molecules of perfume will spread, it’s more polite to not wear it. I have migraines, allergies and asthma and I cannot tell you how much I hated gym class because of the locker rooms. The perfume would aggravate my asthma so much.
5. Do you like your water with or without ice?
Depends on the day. If it’s a hot day, yes. Most days, no! I have quite sensitive teeth!
Hi Kate,
My teeth are sensitive, too. I use Sensodyne and that helps a lot!
1. Fruit OR vegetables?
Fruit, actually. You’d think this vegetarian would choose vegetables, but they sometimes have an unpredictable effect on my digestive system. TMI!
2. Ulta OR Sephora?
Ulta all the way! Their points system has me hooked. Also, I consider myself an educated shopper (thanks, Karen!) and don’t appreciate the often over-eager Sephora employees getting up in my grill.
3. Have you ever had a pet who disliked your significant other?
No, thankfully. I did date somebody who was somewhat scared of dogs, but my fraidy-dog at the time loved him instantly, and he, her. It was adorable to watch!
4. Wearing perfume while you’re working out in a public place: a do or a don’t?
A do, as long as it’s a light fragrance.
5. Do you like your water with or without ice?
With ice — chipped, please!
Poor Karen. Your new pool looks so…understated!
Hi Susan,
I know. There’s not nearly as fancy gold tiles as I would’ve liked! Tabs would be disappointed. LOL!
How’s your day going?
Happy Birthday!!
Thank you so much for the photographs!
Hi, Lily!
Thank yo for the birthday wishes. Have a wonderful Tuesday. ❤️
1. Fruit OR vegetables? Love both but more excited to eat fruit!
2. Ulta OR Sephora? Ulta. They have a better reward system and they carry more of the indie brands that are hyped on Instagram etc
3. Have you ever had a pet who disliked your significant other? No
4. Wearing perfume while you’re working out in a public place: a do or a don’t? No
5. Do you like your water with or without ice? If I’m at restuarant yes. But otherwise I don’t bc I’m too lazy to put it in!
1. Fruit or vegetables?
-I’ll have to agree with you on that. Fruit is nature’s candy but regularly eating asparagus, green beans and broccoli has made a huge difference in how much hair I shed. It’s like not even half of what I used to lose.
2. Ulta OR Sephora?
-I don’t have Ulta where I live so Sephora wins by default. Normally I don’t care for Sephora (prefer The Bay) but I just discovered Becca blushes and my gosh! Those things are like magic!
3. Have you ever had a pet who disliked your significant other?
-unfortunately, yes. My dogs (from previous relationship) don’t like my boyfriend. We try but it’s my fault. I didn’t socialize them enough.
4. Wearing perfume while you’re working out in a public place: a do or a don’t?
-yes, but don’t make it hard to breathe
5. Do you like your water with or without ice?
-without! I don’t even like cold water. Room temperature for me.
I hope you had a lovely birthday! You deserve it. That place looks like s wonderful place to visit. I also love your commentary, mainly the pool noodles ?