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 well do you pull off slang?
Oh, boy. Ha ha ha! I can’t help but laugh at this question, because at one point in time I felt like I was “hip” (she says awkwardly!) to the slang here in the Bay Area, but now I just… I don’t think I can do it anymore. I just feel awkward when I try it, and sometimes, I swear, I don’t know what people are saying! You know it’s probably time to retire your slang habit when you do things like google, “Why do kids say Gucci.”
I mean, I will occasionally still throw a “hella” here and there, just because it’s part of my vocabulary DNA (Hey, man, what can I say? I grew up in the East Bay.), but I generally don’t use as much slang as I used to.
2. What’s your favorite red lipstick?
Most of the time, anything with a coral undertone and a matte finish.
Mmm… I love me some bright coral-reds. MAC has this one called Relentlessly Red, and it is perfection in a tube. ?
3. Do you think you could successfully handle being a member of a royal family?
HELL, NO, GIRL. I would be the one sister who’s the black sheep of the family because she’s always doing stuff she’s not supposed to and chillin’ with inappropriate company because I don’t like being told what to do.
And from my understanding based on the Disney princess movies and every single show I’ve seen about the British Royal Family, every public move is choreographed, and I would have a difficult time with that. I mean, maybe there’s a slight chance I’d get in line eventually… Slight chance.
4. What do you think of hair vitamins?
Hmm… I know they’re a thing now, but I’ve never tried them myself.
I will say this though: my hairstylist friend Alis says that she’s seen a huge difference in her clients who take the Viviscal hair vitamins. Also, from my personal experience, when I was taking prenatals consistently, my hair was thick and luscious and strong.
Note to self: start taking prenatals again.
5. Something you do when you need to be brave?
This is gonna sound silly, but it works for me. When I’m really scared but have to put a brave face on, I’ll sit in a quiet place (sometimes it’s my car), and I’ll say out loud to myself over and over again, things like, “You can totally do this. You’ve got this. You are so strong and brave.”
I’ll just repeat those mantras to myself over and over again, and I’m not talking one minute or two. I’m talking like 30 minutes. I’ll do this for a really, really, really long time, just repeat the same things over and over again.
And I’m also a firm believer in “fake it ’til you make it” in these situations. Like, if you need to be strong, act like you are strong, even if you don’t feel like it, and I swear, you’ll start to feel legitimately stronger after a while.
This dog is my spirit animal
This magnet makes me laugh (I saw it at Copperfield’s bookstore in Petaluma)! This color is totally a his-or-her color. It reminds me of the time I was making dinner, and it got suspiciously quiet in the living room where Connor was playing… When I looked over at her, she had red marker all over her lips, and when I asked her what she was doing, she said, very matter-of-factly, “I’m putting on red lipstick.” ?
Hey, wanna make a pact with me to wear red lips one day this week? Who’s in?
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 well do you pull off slang?
2. What’s your favorite red lipstick?
3. Do you think you could successfully handle being a member of a royal family?
4. What do you think of hair vitamins?
5. Something you do when you need to be brave?
P.P.S. Give yourself a big hug for me, will ya? ?
Oh my gosh. The dog magnet followed by Connor’s lipstick look. ? Hilarious! ❤️
1. Terribly. at this point in my life my slang only dates me. “I’m feeling so fly!” And if I try to use current slang I only sound stupid or racist.
2. oOoOO, I love my reds! A couple weeks ago I gave myself a challenge to wear one red lipstick a day. I own 6. My favorite is Maybelline super matte stay in Pioneer. and although Stunna by Fenty is really hard to apply, I like how it looks once it’s dried down.
3. I was going to say yes but poor Megan has been treated like s*** for being herself. I don’t get what she’s doing that is so controversial! Wearing dark nail polish? So yeah I guess it’s a hard pass. If they can’t be nice to Megan there’s no way they would accept me and I feel like I’m pretty chill!
4. I think they are BS. ?
5. I pretend I’m acting. Like, I set my real self to the side and go through the situation as a different person. Or as if I’m watching myself go through the situation. I did this a lot when I worked in HR and had to deal with a lot of uncomfortable situations. I think it’s like when I was growing up my mom sometimes went into Nurse mode. (Her profession was in Nursing) She would set her motherly feelings and self aside and take on the role of a Nurse whenever the situation needed it. Kind of a way to shut down your emotions and focus on what has to be done in a very methodical way.
Happy Monday! ❤️
1. How well do you pull off slang?
I don’t try. It’s never been my thing, but I do love to hear it! It can be very creative and funny!
2. What’s your favorite red lipstick?
This is a total Sophie’s choice question. I love red lipstick, it’s my default lip color and have sooo many. My current favorites are Bite Beauty Red Velvet matte pencil and Rouge Camille.
3. Do you think you could successfully handle being a member of a royal family?
Only if I was allowed to be the the eccentric, reclusive one who lives in a castle with lots of animals and only wears haute couture (If Enya and Daphne Guinness had a royal child.)
4. What do you think of hair vitamins?
I think Biotin and Silica can do wonders for hair and nails, any good health food store should have a ‘Hair, Skin, and Nails’ formula that is way cheaper than the designer stuff.
5. Something you do when you need to be brave?
Lots of deep breaths in a quiet place, if possible, and at least one item that brings me comfort and makes me feel confident (that can be a favorite piece of clothing, or a ring that I can touch to steady myself, or a lipstick I know looks good on me.)
1. How well do you pull off slang?
Any slang I use is from my own generation or approved by my girls, lol.
2. What’s your favorite red lipstick?
MAC Russian Red or NARS Cruella.
3. Do you think you could successfully handle being a member of a royal family?
No way. I see nothing in that life that would be worth it. And the more I watch The Crown, the more it reinforces my opinion.
4. What do you think of hair vitamins?
I always see improvement when I take Biotin, but I see no reason for really expensive versions. I’m good with my drugstore gummies.
5. Something you do when you need to be brave?
I wear makeup and an outfit that I feel attractive and comfortable in. Also, it helps to remember that I have four pairs of eyes on me, needing me to set a good example, especially since so many other people in their lives are setting bad examples for them.
1. How well do you pull off slang? quite well
2. What’s your favorite red lipstick? ruby woo by mac but i have many and i always searching for my next top red.
3. Do you think you could successfully handle being a member of a royal family? i think i would need to be medicated. they deal with a lot of criticism and because i am a klutz.. i would have tons of her royal tumble
4. What do you think of hair vitamins? i dont know. i already take a vitamin that has 100% biotin
5. Something you do when you need to be brave? pray
-Slang—not so much
Favorite red is tough because —I’m so entrenched in pinks. In fact, I can’t even remember the names of the reds I own.
-Could not be a royal. Too outspoken/ say what I think when I’m thinking it. They’d excommunicate me.
-will hair vitamins help my post menopausal thinning hair? Then I’m all in.
-I have a mantra from yoga class that I repeat to myself if I’m in a dicey situation—like about to have a biopsy. It works!
Hugs coming right back at ya! OMG, on Connor’s pic. All I could think of was “paging Dr. Joker McBallerina”. It is all kinds of awesome rolled into one picture! HAHA!
1. How well do you pull off slang? I do it to embarrass my kids and make them laugh. I would only use it for comic relief with anyone else. I’m definitely too old for slang. And, I also had to google Gucci so you’re not alone. HAHA! But I am very handy with movie quotes. 🙂
2. What’s your favorite red lipstick? The one that looks brown? Kidding. I love Clinique’s discontinued Just Gorgeous which is more blue-toned berry than red but I’m counting it. I’ll do the red lip with you. I’ll wear it while working the snack shack at the soccer game tonight so everyone can do a double-take. 😉
3. Do you think you could successfully handle being a member of a royal family? If I was born into it, maybe. To try to conform now? I think it would be very tough. I have a hard time not speaking my mind or sticking up for myself/others. I think I’d be a handler’s nightmare.
4. What do you think of hair vitamins? This is new to me. I’m into any vitamins disguised as gummies, though.
5. Something you do when you need to be brave? I think I probably use humor when I feel uncomfortable. And distraction. I’ll talk to someone to take my mind off nervousness. In “what if” situations (usually related to the kids) I’ve also had to silently scream at my brain to STOP. Stop thinking of things that could go wrong, stop working yourself up for no reason. Just set it aside and think of something else. I’m pretty grateful that the need to be brave doesn’t come up much for me. I know there are people who battle these real issues dozens of times daily. Just another reason to try to be kind to people.
1. How well do you pull off slang? I don’t. I have a friend who said once they cut the umbilical cord you’re automatically square. I’m constantly googling the meaning of stuff now.
2. What’s your favorite red lipstick? Chanel Rouge Allure No. 5 in the red tube. It was a LE color.
3. Do you think you could successfully handle being a member of a royal family? Oh heck no. I’m not good with strict rules and I could not stand the invasion of privacy and the constant popparazzi. I mean just listen to all those shutter clicks when Kate dropped Charlotte off at school. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3egMBKa-sEs Also, I when I wasn’t making my kid ride her bike to school, I’d just throw on a sweatshirt over my pj’s to drop her off. No pretty dresses with heels and a perfect blowout for me. At least not that early in the morning.
4. What do you think of hair vitamins? I’ve been taking Halo. And I swear my hair is thinner, not thicker. But my nails are less dry and less ridged. Maybe I’ll try Viviscal next. I had the best hair and nails when I was pregnant and I wasn’t taking any vitamins. I think it was just the hormones.
5. Something you do when you need to be brave? I put on vintage (70’s era) Chanel No. 19 or Clinique Aromatics Elixir. Those are my suit of armor fragrances.
Dead quiet. The ultimate tell tale sign your kid is up to something.
1. How well do you pull off slang? OK. I try to not go overboard and attempt to sound like I’m 14, though.
2. What’s your favorite red lipstick? MAC La Vie En Rouge, which is more red-coral. Actual red, MAC Von Teese.
3. Do you think you could successfully handle being a member of a royal family? Not one of the main members. The press is too vicious and invasive. There are too many rules about dress, appearance, EVERYTHING. I might be able to handle being a distant cousin, Lady Whatever, old eccentric and hermit.
4. What do you think of hair vitamins? I’ve never tried them. My hair grows fast and is healthy on its own. I would think if one had a good, balanced diet already one wouldn’t need them, but I could be wrong. If they work for someone, good for them.
5. Something you do when you need to be brave? Wear red, then suck it up and do whatever it is.
1. How well do you pull off slang?
I’m not sure if I pull it off but I love the word Yeet.
2. What’s your favorite red lipstick?
Maybelline In Craving Coral!
3. Do you think you could successfully handle being a member of a royal family?
Absolutely not! I could not deal with that, being in the public eye, every move being choreographed and watched.
4. What do you think of hair vitamins?
I used to take them and I think they made my hair grow faster but too much biotin (one of the main ingredients) can make your blood work off so I don’t take them.
5. Something you do when you need to be brave?
Fake it till you make it and don’t give myself enough time to second guess. Had to do that on a roller coaster this weekend.
1. How well do you pull off slang? I’ll use it when joking around. For example, I refer to a group of ladies (all in our seventies) with whom I have lunch once a month as my “squad”. But, in the normal course of conversation, I’m a reasonably articulate person and so I don’t use slang very often except to introduce some humor into it.
2. What’s your favorite red lipstick? Tatcha’s Kyoto Red. It’s a gorgeous, perfectly balanced red in a flattering satin matte finish. I seldom wear red, but when I do, it’s Kyoto Red.
3. Do you think you could successfully handle being a member of a royal family? It would depend on the family and how high up in rank I was because I think those considerations would determine how strictly governed I would be by tradition, obligation, responsibility, protocol, etc.
4. What do you think of hair vitamins? I take a medication which has hair loss as a common side effect. When my hair began shedding at an alarming rate, my doctor told me to take 1000 mcg folic acid every day. It worked like a charm. My hair stopped shedding and the hair I had lost began quickly growing back in.
5. Something you do when you need to be brave? Well, I’ve always been a gutsy broad! LOL I am not conscious of doing anything special other than taking a deep breath and doing what needs to be done or saying what needs to be said.
1. How well do you pull off slang? I understand it. Use it somewhat. But I’m not heavily emersed in it like I was as a teen!
2. What’s your favorite red lipstick? Don’t have one. Not a fan!
3. Do you think you could successfully handle being a member of a royal family?
No, I’d be pissed off or sad most of the time!
4. What do you think of hair vitamins? Not necessary if you are healthy and eat a balanced diet. Your body can only take in so much so in reality, you pee much of it out. Not saying they never have a purpose but they don’t have a purpose for me!
5. Something you do when you need to be brave? Deep breathing?
1. I don’t try to incorporate slang in my speech. Even when I was a kid, I thought most slang just sounded stupid.
2. Possibly MAC Russian Red. I have this one, and I like how it looks, but I don’t have the nerve to wear it on the street. Plus, I’d have to have some dental work done to wear a lipstick that draws THIS MUCH attention to the lips.
3. Really, really well. I’d have gotten a good private education, and I would have had my own horse(s), which would put me way ahead of my actual life.
4. Not needed by those with a decent diet. My diet isn’t even that good, but my hair has always been in good shape, even if it was prematurely gray. The key is to not use a hairdryer, and don’t color or perm your hair.
5. Remember all the hard things I’ve already gotten through, including cancer diagnosis and treatment, and five years in a public school in which I was basically tortured every day.
1. How well do you pull off slang? Not at all – I have never been hip
2. What’s your favorite red lipstick? Never worn red lipstik
3. Do you think you could successfully handle being a member of a royal family? Not in the least. I don’t like being recognized at the bagel shop
4. What do you think of hair vitamins? I take biotin for hair & skin. I’ve noticed a difference in my skin but not so much my hair. But then again my hair has never been my problem
5. Something you do when you need to be brave? Deep breath works pretty well
My mother always told me a story of me getting her red lipstick ? everywhere! My face , my legs , her rug !
I can pull off slang because I worked in a school . You learn first hand every slang term .
I found quite a few reds I like . I don’t have the names off hand but coral reds work for me too .
I could never take orders from the Queen ?!
I take all kinds of hair vitamins : biotin , minoxidil, and prenatal .
I take slow deep breaths when I need to be brave .
1. How well do you pull off slang? Having teenagers and living in LA keeps you abreast of all the new slang, however when you start saying things to your clients like, you aint gotta lie to kick it, well that’s a problem. Especially when you’re the CMO of a large firm.
2. What’s your favorite red lipstick? A true Red, Classic Red. I believe everyone can wear Red, you just need to find the right shade.
3. Do you think you could successfully handle being a member of a royal family? No, its too ego driven and superficial. I’m not a “go-with-the-flow” kinda gal.
4. What do you think of hair vitamins? I have to say I’ve also started taking Prenatal Vitamins, after my sister gave me all those that she bought but didn’t take. I too remembered how amazing my hair and nails grew, so I bought the Olly Hair and Nail Gummies, there delicious, and my hair looks amazing.
5. Something you do when you need to be brave? I pray every morning and again in the evening, however when I need that double dose I pray all day. It always works.