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 often do you contour?
These days, never…although I did go through a brief phase in 2014 when it was an everyday thing for me…and by “everyday,” I mean every. Day.
2. Massage or a mud bath?
I’ll take a deep-tissue massage. Please, oh please, oh please, oh please.
I did have a mud bath once, though, and I never want to have mud in any of my bodily crevices ever again…
3. Have you ever had acrylic nails?
They were big when I was in college in the early ’90s (#datingmyself), and everyone I knew had acrylics, but I never got around to trying them. Plus, I didn’t really have extra room in my budget to keep them up with the salon appointments, and whatever money I did set aside for beauty items I usually spent on makeup. I’ve always liked nails, but my first love is and has always been makeup!
4. Do you tend to stick to the same perfume, or do you like to switch things up?
I tend to stick to the same core group, but I will combine them sometimes in a halfhearted but somewhat serious attempt to create something personalized to my mood.
5. Leopard, zebra or snake print?
Leopard print all the way. (What else would you expect from a cat lady?)
Please pass me some coffee…
Because coffee is the elixir of life.
Happy Monday, friend. It’s a new week, and I’m feeling excited and energized because 1) COFFEE, and 2) I’m slowly working through my MAC lipstick collection.
MAN! — rediscovering gems I haven’t worn in a while is giving me life. I just wore this pretty pink Cremesheen yesterday called MAC Fanfare… Remember when the Cremesheens came out in 2008? I feel like it was just yesterday…
I’m also swatching my way through a few of the new MAC Love Me Lipsticks (pic at the top), and some of the new Honest Beauty Liquid Lipsticks (which I’ve been wanting to try).
It’s gonna be a lipstick kinda week, and I’m not mad about it. Lipstick might be a little thing, but those tiny tubes are packed with mood-boosting power.
And we gotta get our joy wherever we can find it, ya know? Because the world can be a scary place.
I hope your week goes well, friend. Love you extra today.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Question time! Here they are to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to ya soon!
1. How often do you contour?
2. Massage or a mud bath?
3. Have you ever had acrylic nails?
4. Do you tend to stick to the same perfume, or do you like to switch things up?
5. Leopard, zebra or snake print?
1. How often do you contour?
Never! I don’t think I have the skills to pull it off. I do blush and highlight pretty much daily though.
2. Massage or a mud bath?
My bff and I were just texting about how we wish we could schedule a luxury spa day. She’d choose massage. I’d go for the mud!
3. Have you ever had acrylic nails?
Nope! I’m very low maintenance when it comes to my nails.
4. Do you tend to stick to the same perfume, or do you like to switch things up?
I stick to the same scent family but I like trying new fragrances. My fav this summer is By Rosie Jane’s Leila Lou.
5. Leopard, zebra or snake print?
I love a touch of leopard. Although I have warmed to some snake print pieces more recently too (in small doses).
Lipstick definitely brings me some joy. I’ll have to check out those liquid lippies from Honest. Have a great week, Karen!
1. How often do you contour? – Hardly ever. I feel like everytime I try I look muddy and not pretty, at all.
2. Massage or a mud bath? – Never had either but I’ll go with the massage.
3. Have you ever had acrylic nails? – Yup. During the 90’s. I had them taken off when I got pregnant with Max in 99-2000 and I’ve never had them since. I just paint my natural nails now.
4. Do you tend to stick to the same perfume, or do you like to switch things up? – I have a group of about 4-5 scents that I seem to stick to.
5. Leopard, zebra or snake print? – Leopard, all the way.
1. How often do you contour?
Never! I don’t think I would do it right if I tried.
2. Massage or a mud bath?
I could really use a massage right now!
3. Have you ever had acrylic nails?
Yes, in college for me (early 2000’s) fake nails were definitely in and I usually had french tips (cringe)!
4. Do you tend to stick to the same perfume, or do you like to switch things up?
It depends on the season. I pretty much only wear florals in the summer and something more musky, like Angel, in the winter.
5. Leopard, zebra or snake print?
I have to go with leopard although I find the contrast of black and white zebra print quite striking!
I agree with you Karen, thank goodness for coffee! Are you into cold brew coffee at all? I had it a couple times this weekend and now I’m looking at how to make it at home because I love it! Especially for summer! Have a great, highly caffeinated week!
1. How often do you contour?
I’ve never tried it. It just seems a little… extra.
2. Massage or a mud bath?
Massage, and immediately would be so great, since it feels like I’ve been school shopping for about a century now.
3. Have you ever had acrylic nails?
Yes, back in the day. And they were a pain in the behind.
4. Do you tend to stick to the same perfume, or do you like to switch things up?
I wear a different scent every day. I have a pretty pink glass plate (it was my grandmother’s) on my makeup table that’s filled with those little sample spray bottles from Sephora, along with my regular roller ball scents. (My love for Nest fragrances is deep and abiding.)
5. Leopard, zebra or snake print?
Leopard or zebra. Never, ever, ever snake.
Umm, excuse me, who is that Big Girl I’ve been seeing in photos on your blog lately? That can’t possibly be Connor Claire. Where does the time go?
1. How often do you contour? Almost every day, but just lightly under my cheekbones, around my chin, and my nose.
2. Massage or a mud bath? I’ve never had either, but a message sounds nicer (and less messy).
3. Have you ever had acrylic nails? I’ve had them off and on since 1991. The last couple years I’ve gone with NexGen dip nails, which because I developed an allergy to regular acrylic.
4. Do you tend to stick to the same perfume, or do you like to switch things up? I like to mix it up.
5. Leopard, zebra or snake print? I like all three, but if I have to choose one, then leopard.
1. How often do you contour?
Almost never. Once in a blue moon I’ll lazily sweep some bronzer under my cheekbones.
2. Massage or a mud bath?
Definitely massage.
3. Have you ever had acrylic nails?
No, I think it would make my nails feels claustrophobic.
4. Do you tend to stick to the same perfume, or do you like to switch things up?
I like different scents depending on my mood, lately I’ve been loving Le Labo’s Jasmin 17. It’s so delicate.
5. Leopard, zebra or snake print? Leopard is my first and biggest love, in fact I was wearing it today. It really is a neutral. I have a snake print sweater I bought last year and didn’t wear, but now that I’ve remembered it I will make it a point to wear it soon.
1. How often do you contour? Never really
2. Massage or a mud bath? Well never had a mud bath so I will say massage
3. Have you ever had acrylic nails? Nope
4. Do you tend to stick to the same perfume, or do you like to switch things up? Depends on if I am trying to use a perfume up or not
5. Leopard, zebra or snake print? Snake print I guesss
1. A few times 1-2 years ago. To me it just looked like mud on my face.
2. Massage, please! Today was a heavy gym day, a massage would be nice.
3. Nope.
4. I use only one, but I’m not above rubbing samples on myself that come in the mail! It’s a fun way to change things up.
5. Leopard. My favorite PJs are this cute leopard sheath with matching robe. ?
1. How often do you contour?
Never. I can’t quite get the right shades together.
2. Massage or a mud bath?
Definitely massage.
3. Have you ever had acrylic nails?
Once, for my wedding. They were great until I removed them and saw how thin my nails were. It took months for them to get back to normal. I stick with gel polish now.
4. Do you tend to stick to the same perfume, or do you like to switch things up?
I have 3-4 I rotate. A couple for fall/winter and a couple for spring/summer.
5. Leopard, zebra or snake print?
I’ve never worn any of them. Maybe snake?
1. How often do you contour? Nowadays, never. Several years ago I used Tom Ford’s Shade and Illuminate to “sculpt” my cheekbones and soften my jawline as part of my regular makeup routine. Now, I can’t be bothered although I always highlighted my cheekbones.
2. Massage or a mud bath? Oooooooo . . . definitely a relaxing massage. I love being touched.
3. Have you ever had acrylic nails? No. I tried once and had a bad reaction. I had to have them removed immediately. Besides, I’m able to grow my own long, healthy nails.
4. Do you tend to stick to the same perfume, or do you like to switch things up? I have my favorites that usually correspond to the season. For example, I love Musc Ravageur and Noir Pour Femme in winter, L’Interdit and Shanghai Lily in spring, etc.
5. Leopard, zebra or snake print? Leopard, but only as an accessory like a purse, shoes, or a belt. Back in the early 1960’s I had a leopard hat that I loved ?
1. How often do you contour?
Once in a blue moon, I never even have time for full make up so it is a very rare occasion I get to contour.
2. Massage or a mud bath?
Massage – I can’t deal with the mess of mud but a really firm massage is heaven.
3. Have you ever had acrylic nails?
Nope, but I have had gels for 6 months and I am now in the process of growing them out because of how thin they left the nail under it.
4. Do you tend to stick to the same perfume, or do you like to switch things up?
Sadly, the same every day. More because of time than anything else, I often only have 30 seconds to spritz myself before running out of the door and that means no time to think about what fragrance mood I am in.
5. Leopard, zebra or snake print?
Leopard, it is just always chic.
1. How often do you contour?
-never! Bronzer (no matter how many I’ve tried) just makes my face look dirty no matter how sparingly I apply. Blush, however, is a daily thing. Anything in the coral-y peachy pink family with a satin/shimmer finish.
2. Massage or a mud bath?
– 1000% a massage. I’ve never had a mud bath but I’d rather have a salt soak instead.
3. Have you ever had acrylic nails?
– No. I only got my nails painted in the effect of a French manicure but still on my real nail. You know, the process took forever, and it started to chip a few hours later. I’d never do fake (maybe Halloween) but I’d like to get a long lasting color done.
4. Do you tend to stick to the same perfume, or do you like to switch things up?
-Normally, yes, but I must have overused my Chanel this winter and spring because I just can’t wear it right now. I picked up “beach walk” by Replica, and that’s a nice, summery fragrance.
5. Leopard, zebra or snake print?
– Leopard, I think. But snake print looks cool on handbags and certain shoes.
I’m excited to see how those Mac lippies perform! I want to wear my Mac lipsticks again so bad! I wonder when I’ll be over this “beeswax” sensitivity that I randomly contracted.
1. How often do you contour? never!
2. Massage or a mud bath? neither, hot tub or bubble bath!
3. Have you ever had acrylic nails? yes, back in the day, early 90’s. they looked great but they were expensive and they destroyed my nail beds.
4. Do you tend to stick to the same perfume, or do you like to switch things up? I’ve been wearing the same fragrance, Nirvana white by Elizabeth & James, for years. Unfortunately, they’ve discontinued it so I’m on my last bottle and I don’t know what to do. I adore it! I’m a big
5. Leopard, zebra or snake print? Yes to all, love animal prints.
1. How often do you contour? light dusting of bronzer that’s about it
2. Massage or a mud bath? A Massage I will never turn down!
3. Have you ever had acrylic nails? No, I would ruin them anyway
4. Do you tend to stick to the same perfume, or do you like to switch things up? Same with a core group of 3 (jo Malone blackberry&bay, wood, sage, sea salt& philosophy graces) and random samples i spritz here and there.
5. Leopard, zebra or snake print? Touch of leopard definitely. Though the other day i saw a striking zebra print that made me pause…not really into wearing animal prints but appreciate on others.
And always its coffee coffee coffee!!
1. How often do you contour? I don’t. I am so pale and it just looks silly on me. I also do not have time to add something this “extra” to my make-up routine! I think blush and highlight adds enough dimension for me.
2. Massage or a mud bath? Massage. But I prefer “boyfriend massages” over professional ones. (I say this as I am single right now, haha.) I don’t like anything rough or hard – my back is very sensitive. So I prefer massages from someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing, if that makes sense, and someone who isn’t going to knead and pound my muscles. As for mud baths… I’ve never had a mud bath and I am not sure about trying one!
3. Have you ever had acrylic nails? Nope. My nails are already thin, brittle and they barely grow. I do not need to mess them up more! I quite enjoy doing my own nails (for free) anyway. It’s part of my Sunday self-pamper sessions. 🙂
4. Do you tend to stick to the same perfume, or do you like to switch things up? I only own a handful of full size perfumes, which I love, but I own a billion Sephora samples and mini sizes I buy with points. So I never run out of new ones to try. With all the makeup I buy, perfumes take a backseat to what is within my affordability. Haha. I wish I could afford tons of perfumes because I do love them, but I spend so much of my free funds on makeup.
5. Leopard, zebra or snake print? Leopard.
1. How often do you contour? I did it once and haven’t bothered since.
2. Massage or a mud bath? Neither
3. Have you ever had acrylic nails? No
4. Do you tend to stick to the same perfume, or do you like to switch things up? I have over 100 different perfumes, I guess you could say I like to switch things up.
5. Leopard, zebra or snake print? Depends on the product. Shoes snake. Scarves, tops, etc., leopard then snake.
I’m looking forward to your swatches of the new MAC lipsticks. I’m also excited about the new NARS lipsticks. I hope the formula is good and that Dolce Vita remains the same.