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.
- Coffee (always coffee)
- Having gotten a good night’s sleep
- My sweet and supportive husband
- Clear, crisp fall days
- The roof over my head and the food in my tummy
- Mechanical pencils (random, but they’re kind of fabulous!)
1. Today I’m grateful for _____ (fill in the blank).
So many things, including…
2. An article of clothing you wear all the time?
Well, a friend of my recently gave me a pair of Athleta workout tights that no longer fit her, and let me tell you — my world has been ROCKED. If I could live in those pants 24/7, I totally would.
3. Burrito or taco?
Tacos, baby!
4. What are you wearing on your lips today?
MAC Smoked Almond lipstick, which has been my neutral jam for the past couple weeks.
5. How are your brows these days?
They were my nemesis throughout October, because I sorta forgot about them, to which they responded by growing wild and unchecked, but I trimmed the unruly bits last week, so balance has been restored to the land once again… So they’re doing fine and cooperating with me for once. LOL!
You. Are. Magical.
There’s been a lot of talk of warm white light lately at our house.
So much talk about it that I’ve started walking around the house bathed in it.
Wait — let me take a step back…
First things first, good morning! Happy Monday, my friend. 🙂
OK, so the warm white light thing. Basically, Connor recently moved from her crib to a big girl bed, and she’s at that stage where the newness has just worn off, so at bedtime lately she pulls out all the stops to get us to let her sleep with us in our bed, or just to delay us turning off her bedroom light.
One thing we do whenever she feels scared about something, after we try to talk through it logically (which doesn’t always work), is what we call “mommy magic” and she calls “Coco magic.”
The magic involves surrounding yourself with an imaginary beam of warm white light. This warm white light surrounds you with protection, with love and with anything and everything you need at that moment to feel secure and safe.
So, whenever anyone in our house needs a little TLC, we tell them to take out your magic, and surround yourself with your warm white light. As silly as it sounds, it kinda works! It works for Connor, and I’ve been doing it for myself, too (I know, I know!), and for some reason, it just feels good.
Anyway, if you feel a little scared or anxious at some point today, remember that you are magical. Anytime you need it, you can surround yourself with the special warm white light. You are loved, you are protected, and you are safe. 🙂
On that note, I’m off. I have a coffee date in a few (today’s my day off from the bakery…so of course I’m gonna hang out in another bakery, HA HA HA!), which leads me to today’s bonus question: croissant or scone??
Have a wonderful day. ❤️
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Here are the questions to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to ya soon.
1. Today I’m grateful for _____ (fill in the blank).
2. An article of clothing you wear all the time?
3. Burrito or taco?
4. What are you wearing on your lips today?
5. How are your brows these days?
1. Today I’m grateful for _____ (fill in the blank).
Coffee!
2. An article of clothing you wear all the time?
Zella live in leggings.
3. Burrito or taco?
Hmm that’s too hard! I like both! Tacos if I had to choose, especially fish tacos!
4. What are you wearing on your lips today?
NYX clear limp plumper. Happened to find it in my desk at work and put it in my pocket for the day.
5. How are your brows these days?
Okay I guess. I see and hear about a lot of women getting microblading so I am sort of considering it. Plus my cousin is a makeup artist so I like to give her business when I can.
Sooo I find the idea of permanent makeup a little terrifying (the commitment!), but I have seen some really natural-looking microblading. I hope that if you do get it that you love the results. 🙂
1. Today I’m grateful for _____ (fill in the blank).
My job, my pets, my husband, chocolate
2. An article of clothing you wear all the time?
Lace tights!
3. Burrito or taco?
Taco!
4. What are you wearing on your lips today?
Nothing but they’re really dry so I should put some balm on.
5. How are your brows these days?
Fine! Uneventful LOL
And croissants all the way!
Uneventful brows are a great thing. 🙂 Are you still into Boy Brow? One of these days I’ll get around to trying it!
Late reply but I like Boy Brow, but am currently using the Anastasua brow gel in Caramel because it matches my hair better.
No worries, friend! I like Anastasia brow products. Old school but effective!
1. Today I’m grateful for _____ (fill in the blank).
Your blog! Always filled with great makeup info and inspiring family stories, like the coco magic and warm light Method. That’s the seed of meditation right there, and you’re teaching Connor Claire that her fears and feelings are valid, no matter what they are, and you’re giving her empowering tools to help her work through them. 🙂
2. An article of clothing you wear all the time?
Hmmm…… the color black!
3. Burrito or taco?
Burrito!
4. What are you wearing on your lips today?
BITE Beauty lipstick in I think “Verbena” + MAC “Oyster Girl” on top
5. How are your brows these days?
MEH; patchy at best. But I can deal with some Wet n’ Wild taupe eyeliner pencil. Surprisingly, on black brows, taupe fills them in most naturally.
Oooh, MAC Oyster Girl! Take me back to 2000, low rise bootcut jeans and camisole tops at the club!
I’ll have to try that Wet n’ Wild Taupe Pencil. Have you ever tried MAC Lingering, btw? I know a lot of brunettes love it.
No lie, that Oyster Girl makes any darkish brown lipstick color instant nude lips! It’s magic.
There’s Lingering Kiss lipstick (which is nearly identical to the BITE lipstick I’m wearing!!) and then the Lingering brow pencil?? Maybe I gotta try both! 😀
I’ll give it a go. Maybe Oyster Girl with Paramount? (Two MAC OG’s right there!)
So Lingering is one of under-the-radar cult things from MAC, methinks. A lot of artists mention it in their must-have lists (which is why I remember the name).
1. Today I’m grateful for _____ (fill in the blank). Today I am grateful for the ability to send out group texts. It’s making it so much easier to organize my annual Friendsgiving event which brings me to another thing I’m grateful for today and every day—good friends with whom I love spending time.
2. An article of clothing you wear all the time? I’m not a ”uniform” kind of person. I like to change things up by dressing for my mood, the weather, the situation, etc. I do wear jeans a lot, though, but I don’t have a favorite pair. So, I can’t really say there is any single article of clothing that I wear all the time.
3. Burrito or taco? I like a good grilled veggie taco. Yum!
4. What are you wearing on your lips today? My lips are a bit chapped so I have them slathered with Elta MD Moisturizer. It’s just petrolatum and paraffin but it is highly refined so it penetrates beautifully; softening and protecting the skin (It’s also great on natural nails). It’s used after a lot of dermatological procedures to moisturize and protect sensitive skin without being heavy or irritating. It’s also dirt cheap. End of commercial! LOL
5. How are your brows these days? They’re fine. Even though I’’m well into my seventies, my brows are still predominantly black, are fairly thick, and they have a good shape. For that, I thank the eyebrow gods every day! I just brush them into place and they’re good. When I get the occasional small bald spot because of natural shedding, I just fill it in with a soft black powder eyeshadow.
Bonus question: I think a lot of the commercially prepared mass-market products you see in markets have given both croissants and scones a bad name. I love a freshly baked scone, still hot from the oven, with a cup of fragrant tea. I also love a good bakery croissant, crisped in the toaster oven, with a cup of freshly ground coffee. Bottom line: I can’t choose!
Hi Eileen,
Funny you should mention that Elta MD Moisturizer because I”m testing it out. I’m going to try it on my nails and lips now! 🙂
P.S. What are you making for Friendsgiving this year?
This will be a luncheon for twelve. While friends are arriving, we’ll have Champagne Taittinger La Française to go with a few simple appetizers: Baked Brie bites with apple-onion compote (Thank you, Gelson’s!) mixed sweet ‘n spicy nuts warm from the oven, and the best quality dried figs, apricots, and cherries—you know, dried fruit but still plump and moist. Luncheon will be the standard roasted turkey with gravy, a wild rice pilaf with cranberries and almonds, roasted rainbow carrots sprinkled with baby peas (colorful!), an assortment of flaky bakery rolls, homemade cranberry compote (Ina Garten’s recipe but without the nuts), and a 2016 Tsillan Gewürztraminer to drink. I haven’t decided on my dessert yet but I’ll probably let the bakery do the honors. I avoided the usual mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and green beans because most everyone will probably be having that at their actual Thanksgiving dinner. And, although I always have both a white and a red wine selection for Thanksgiving dinner, since this is a luncheon, I’m just pouring a white. All my guests live a good 30-45 minute drive from my place so I only ask them to bring charming selves. ?
OK, I probably should have waited until I ate dinner to read this comment, because now I’m HUNGRY. It sounds like it’s going to be an amazing spread, Eileen!
It’s been a looooong time since I did one of these polls but I really missed them! (Life got crazy busy, it happens!) Glad to be back online and looking forward to keeping up! Love your site!
1. Today I’m grateful for _____ (fill in the blank).
I’m grateful for my husband and my friends particularly this weekend. And my kittens!
2. An article of clothing you wear all the time?
Black leggings 0 literally 5 days a week and luckily my office is super casual so I even wear them to work. I rotate about 6 big sweaters and a few cozy tops.
3. Burrito or taco?
Burrito or Burrito Bowl if that can be an option!
4. What are you wearing on your lips today?
Nivea lip balm! Winter hit me here in Canada hard so I am trying to soothe some serious dry lips.
5. How are your brows these days?
TBH I have been letting them go a little too long lately. I only pluck a few strays but I lost my tweezers so it’s been a bit longer than I want to admit!
Bonus Question: Always a croissant! Chocolate, almond, cheese, plain, any kind!
Hi Emily,
Glad to have you back. I totally understand how it gets when life is crazy, so thank you for stopping by today. I hope you have a wonderful day… And oh, please tell me about your kittens! How old are they?!
1. Today I’m grateful for _____ (fill in the blank).
Today is a hard day for me, so I’m grateful for meds & a supportive husband.
2. An article of clothing you wear all the time?
White tees. There’s just something about the perfect white tee. It goes with everything.
3. Burrito or taco?
Tacos!
4. What are you wearing on your lips today?
Just Carmex lol
5. How are your brows these days?
I got them tinted awhile ago, but they’re fading back to blonde/invisible, so I’m booked in to get them re-tinted this Friday.
Bonus question – croissants! I love scones, but I’m usually the one who makes them, so I like croissants from the bakery because I don’t have to make them!
I truly missed this awesome community! 🙂
I call them kittens (and always will) but they are actually a year and a half old, little tuxedo boys!
1. Today I’m grateful for _____ (fill in the blank).
Being able to give my sister some money for a down payment on a house.
2. An article of clothing you wear all the time?
One of two of my Amy tops from Amour Vert.
3. Burrito or taco?
Burrito all the way, especially if it’s been wrapped well.
4. What are you wearing on your lips today?
Just lip balm. The Nuxe I was wearing has worn off, so it’s one of the non-peppermint Burt’s Bees balms until I get home.
5. How are your brows these days?
Ugh. I’ve let them grow in a bit more on the ends, but they still have (what looks like to me) uneven arches. I’m seriously considering letting them totally grow out and then going to someone for a reset. I haven’t had them shaped by a professional in 15 years.
1. Today I’m grateful for _____ (fill in the blank).
Starbucks!
2. An article of clothing you wear all the time?
High waisted leggings…been loving my aerie ones that have just a smidge of compression.
3. Burrito or taco?
Burrito
4. What are you wearing on your lips today?
Jack Black lip balm (pinapple mint)
5. How are your brows these days?
Neglected…been meaning to clean up and trim them but keep forgetting. Maybe tonight will be the night.
Love the warm white light concept you shared! Will have to try that with my little one who’s been negotiating sleeping with different siblings and us every night.
1. Today I’m especially grateful for an amazing weekend and a supportive husband who helped make it happen. He stayed with the kids while I traveled to Nashville to watch my friend’s son debut piano performance (he played Chopin at 8 years old!), held a successful clothing swap with a nonprofit I volunteer for, and on Sunday traveled to Atlanta for my cousin’s baby’s baptism. It was a weekend full of joy and celebration and my heart is full.
2. Underwear. ? Other than that I don’t have any particulars! But I am wearing an awesome pair of jeans I basically haven’t taken off since I got them at the swap.
3. Tacos all the way.
4. Maybelline super matte stay in Self-Starter
5. They need some touching up! I’ll get them waxed this week so they look good for Thanksgiving.
And I’ll take the scone, please! They feel so fancy.
1. Today I’m grateful for you asking what I’m grateful for. Life has been a bit challenging lately so it was good to have a reminder that I have things to be grateful for. Some of those are a good friend, a sweet old lady dog, coffee, and donuts are work this morning.
2. An article of clothing you wear all the time? a cardigan. my unofficial uniform is a t shirt and cardigan.
3. Burrito or taco? Taco always!
4. What are you wearing on your lips today? Started with MAC Huggable lipstick in Touche ( why did they get rid of this?
5. How are your brows these days? Pretty good/I’m enjoying my natural brows.
1. Today I’m grateful for _____ (fill in the blank).
Having the day off, ha! And by “off” I mean “off from commitments to other people and having to go anywhere”, so I still need to do laundry and homework and apparently watch the drama of getting ready for a condo closing tomorrow during Mercury retrograde, when all conversation seems to implode. Soothing essential oils to keep me grounded.
2. An article of clothing you wear all the time?
Uh… a scrunchie? I don’t have a lot of clothes, but I try to rotate them through pretty frequently. So most of my clothes I wear “all the time” but none that much more than the rest.
3. Burrito or taco?
Much as I’m into tacos lately, my heart always belongs to burritos.
4. What are you wearing on your lips today?
Bite Beauty agave lip balm. I wore lipstick about 4 times last week and my lips could use some extra moisture!
5. How are your brows these days?
LOL, I don’t even know. My brows are pretty good naturally so I don’t do anything to them.
1. Today I’m grateful for _____ (fill in the blank).
1. Getting home safely
2. Being able to have a job that has benefits
3. Being able to bounce back from a breakup
2. An article of clothing you wear all the time? Tee shirts. I live in a climate where I need to layer and tees are great place to start
3. Burrito or taco? Taco
4. What are you wearing on your lips today? Nothing . For a lipstick junkie that’s a crying shame
5. How are your brows these days? I got them done so they are awesome
Hi Karen ,
Always grateful for coffee since I drink it all day .
I wear jeggings in red plaid . Very Christmas ?.
I would do an Italian roll . Tacos ? don’t work for me .
My brows are microbladed so no worries ?
1. Today I’m grateful for _____ (fill in the blank).
My dogs! They stay with my parents and I’m spending the week here with them (bf is in Vancouver all week and I don’t like being in that big house all by myself)
2. An article of clothing you wear all the time?
I wear black pants to work all the time but that’s no fun. For fun, and I’m not sure this counts, but this gorgeous burgundy/plum bra with rose gold detailing/lace. It’s so pretty and it’s the perfect fit. I always feel sexy in that bra.
3. Burrito or taco?
Depends where from but burrito if it’s from my fave place. Tacos if my moms making them.
4. What are you wearing on your lips today?
Aquaphor. Booooring.
5. How are your brows these days?
Hard to say. Two weeks ago I thought they were okay and then last week I was like “nope” and plucked a lot of hairs. I felt the hairs were dragging my eyes down instead of making me look youthful. They’re still bushy as far as brows go, but slightly thinner on the ends now.
1. Today I’m grateful for _____ (fill in the blank). Life and my child and having had good parents
2. An article of clothing you wear all the time? Black Prana yoga pants. I used to have an Athleta top that I adored. I’ve misplaced it. Related–I’ve been wondering about the quality/fit of Fableta since seeing an infomercial of sorts featuring Kate Hudson while at the nail salon.
3. Burrito or taco? Taco. After taco, then nachos, then chimichanga, then flautas then enchiladas. Burrito is basically last on my list.
4. What are you wearing on your lips today? They are wicked dry (Wicked is a new england expression, forgive me) so I’m wearing Korres lip butter in Jasmine, one of my all time faves.
5. How are your brows these days? better since I did some upkeep Sunday night but still a bit askew. I need to spend some time. Ears are good though! I’m embarassed to admit that I had to pluck a giant silver hair growing from my ear lobe–not the inside of the ear but the lobe itself. Will the horrors of post-menopause never cease?
Also, have you watched Dollface on Hulu yet???? You must, you must, you must. It’s so good. I need to know what you think.