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. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish?
Oh, easy question. All of them? I could happily nosh exclusively on the fixin’s and straight-up skip the turkey.
But if I have to pick one…it’s mashed potatoes.
Buttery, creamy, silky mashed potatoes with an obnoxious amount of gravy!
2. What time did you wake up this morning?
According to my unholy jack@ss of an alarm clock, it was 5:45, but PGR (Pretty Girl Rosie) thought it would be fun to climb onto my head and turn on her purr machine at 5, so I’ve been up since 5.
Does anyone else live with a furry friend who gets up at obnoxious hours?
3. Choose a lipstick color: orange or brown?
Brown! — but not too brown. A pinkish brown would be ideal.
4. Something you need to finish by the end of the day?
YARGH, I need to pack for a trip. We’re heading to Hawaii tomorrow to spend Thanksgiving week with El Hub’s side of the family.
Purr usual, I’ve left the packing up to the last day, but I’m determined to have everything done by noon… That way I’m not stressed out and throwing random crap into my luggage at the last minute.
5. Who’s the best cook in your family?
In my extended family, hmm… Well, probably my godmother. She lives in the Philippines, and homegirl can throw down in the kitchen. Her oxtail soup moves me to tears, no joke! In my immediate family, probably me and my brother. We can both follow a recipe, and we both have a general understanding of the timing and ingredients in a dish.
San Francisco Spartan adventures
The Spartan race in SF on Saturday was BONKERS, and I mean that in the best possible way. It was really fun, challenging, and I might just do one again.
I recommend it 100% if you ever get a chance and the urge. The one I did was in Oracle Park stadium in SF, but they have them in neat locations all over the country.
In case you have no idea what I’m taking about, Spartans are group running races with additional obstacles peppered along the course. The one I did was a “Stadion Sprint,” which was three miles interspersed with 20 obstacles, and because it was in a stadium, there was lots of going up and down stairs, which I’m OK with (I don’t mind doing stairs), but there were numerous dicey moments when I was really high up in the nosebleed seats, and I remember thinking to myself, “Karen, please don’t fall. It’s a LONG way down.”
The most challenging parts for me were the obstacles involving heights. I’m not afraid of heights per se…but the obstacles with a height element were very much off the ground. Like the rope climb, OMG! I made it to the top and rang the cowbell, but as I was inching my way up, I remember looking down and thinking, “Geez, I’m further from the ground than I am from the top, so I should probably just keep going up before something horrible happens.”
I think it was 12 feet up? Whatever it was, IT WAS HIGH.
Also, hoisting myself up and over the obstacles with high wooden walls was challenging. I think the highest one was eight feet off the ground.
I think those walls are why I keep finding these weird bruises on my arms…
Oh, and that pyramid thingy with the ropes! That was also surprisingly nerve-wracking, again because of the height element.
Overall, it was a fun day, and if you ever have the chance and any inkling of desire, I would highly recommend it, especially if you can do one with a team. I did it with a bunch of people from the gym, and we all cheered each other on.
Have a great rest of your 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. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish?
2. What time did you wake up this morning?
3. Choose a lipstick color: orange or brown.
4. Something you need to finish by the end of the day?
5. Who’s the best cook in your family?
That race looks like so much fun!!!
1. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish?
Well I am a vegetarian so I literally only eat side dishes at holidays haha! I love mashed potatoes, brocolli, glazed carrots, and my mother-in-law’s famous french bread stuffing (made in muffin tins, not in the turkey)!
2. What time did you wake up this morning?
I tried to sleep in so about 8am for me, and the 2 cats happened to be on board with that this morning.
3. Choose a lipstick color: orange or brown.
Brown! I just did a nude brown lip with a smokey eye on Saturday and I loved the Kardashian vibe I was getting.
4. Something you need to finish by the end of the day?
I have a big mailout project for work that I want to get done today.
5. Who’s the best cook in your family?
In my household between me and hubby, its me hands down. In my entire family I would say my Grandma – she home bakes every pie or dessert you can think of, makes fresh bread almost daily, homemade jam, and grows over 15 veggies in her garden. Yum!
Happy Monday!
1. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish?
We don’t do Thanksgiving, but I think a badass side dish would be “Bratkartoffeln” which are boiled potatoes that are latter slightly fried.
2. What time did you wake up this morning?
7:30, which considering that I went to bed at 1:00, is early. We all slept with closed doors and now with Zeus we keep doing it because he likes to bite toes in the middle of the night.
3. Choose a lipstick color: orange or brown.
Brown lipstick, the rosier the better. But when I want to look edgy a deep brown looks good.
4. Something you need to finish by the end of the day?
Well I have a date, a meeting with a friend and German course, so I’d say my agenda is full. However I want to pimp a romper my father gave me.
5. Who’s the best cook in your family?
My mom because she made most of the stuff by instinct and with only few mistakes. But for baking Alisson and I are better.
Karen you rock, a Spartan race has always been in my bucket list, so maybe it’s time to start that fitness journey.
1. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish?
I don’t think I’ve ever had a traditional Thanksgiving with the same dishes over and over, so… Mashed potatoes? I can never get enough of them.
2. What time did you wake up this morning?
Well, I thought I heard a knock on the door at 6:45, but it was supposed to be my sleep in day so I went back to sleep until 9:30. I’ve had a lot going on this weekend and need more sleep than the average person, so I milked it today.
3. Choose a lipstick color: orange or brown.
Orange. I realize it’s gotta be the right orange or it’ll clash with my white white skin, but I just can’t bring myself to use as boring of a color as brown. Sorry! I’m just all for unusual colors.
4. Something you need to finish by the end of the day?
The reading for class tonight. Please let me finish the reading for class tonight.
5. Who’s the best cook in your family?
Hm, good question… My dad is amazing at cooking meat of all kinds, and he makes up his own spice blends and marinades without looking at cookbooks, but my mom is better at trying new recipes. My brother also loves trying new recipes, so I think with practice he’ll get to my dad’s skill level, but he’s young so not good enough yet. Yeah, let’s go with my dad, as long as he’s not following a recipe or making something that is rice- or dairy-based.
Congratulations on the Spartan! That’s pretty amazing.
1. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish?
Desserts are my favorite! But if I had to pick a side it would probably be potatoes too. We usually do scalloped potatoes which are full of cream! Yum!
2. What time did you wake up this morning?
First time was at 4 to feed the furbabies. They are in a terrible habit of waking me up to get food and I know I shouldn’t indulge their bad habits but I don’t know what else to do!
3. Choose a lipstick color: orange or brown.
Orange! I can pull of a good reddish orange, mostly in the summer.
4. Something you need to finish by the end of the day?
The workday!`
5. Who’s the best cook in your family?
Probably my mom! I didn’t realize it growing up but I’ve had a lot of friends and family say that she is, and it’s true!
Have so much fun in Hawaii! And great job on that race!
1. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish?
Stuffing for sure – always make a double batch.
2. What time did you wake up this morning?
My usual time – 5:35 AM (one snooze).
3. Choose a lipstick color: orange or brown.
Brown, but needs some pink in it.
4. Something you need to finish by the end of the day?
DH and I need to disassemble our busted elliptical trainer because the new one is being set up tomorrow.
5. Who’s the best cook in your family?
One of my younger sisters, who went to culinary school.
1. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish? I have many. I like stuffing, sweet potatoes casserole , sauerkraut, mac and cheese
2. What time did you wake up this morning? 7 am
3. Choose a lipstick color: orange or brown. brown
4. Something you need to finish by the end of the day? a study session
5. Who’s the best cook in your family? me
Congratulations on the Spartan! I’m seriously impressed also with your rope climbing skills!
1. Wh1at’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish? Mashed potatoes with gravy and cranberries
2. What time did you wake up this morning? Kitty Face decided to pull a PGR and get me up at 4am, luckily i fell back asleep
3. Choose a lipstick color: orange or brown. Brown with pink tones. The Velvet Fawn i just got from Lisa Eldridge is a perfect latte pink for me
4. Something you need to finish by the end of the day? Mailing out a tlc care package to my sister.
5. Who’s the best cook in your family? Hands down my aunt can make anything taste amazing. She can bake too. Her cheesecakes are legendary.
1. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish? Mashed potatoes lots of butter & no gravy (yuck)
2. What time did you wake up this morning? 5:30 ish. I gave 5 cats and someone is always walking on the bed
3. Choose a lipstick color: orange or brown. Neither – don’t use lipstick
4. Something you need to finish by the end of the day? My list at work – has a bunch of small random things on it but I keep adding to it so not optimistic
5. Who’s the best cook in your family? The hubby and I are both pretty good – he’s more experimental and I’m a routine/tried & true recipe girl
Gurrrrl! You are so brave! Congrats on doing the Spartan. I have a teensy bit of height fear so I’m not sure I could climb the rope. Plus, my upper body strength needs major improvement always. Even when I’m working out on the regular, I always need more upper body strength.
1. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish? Sweet potato heaven (basically sweet potato praline casserole but my mom and I renamed it year ago).
2. What time did you wake up this morning? 7 maybe? Up late with the hubs watching a documentary about John Gotti. I’ve got a bad case of holiday brain already so I was pretending I didn’t have to work this morning.
3. Choose a lipstick color: orange or brown. Ugh, tough call. Probably brown like you but bordering on pink.
4. Something you need to finish by the end of the day? an article
5. Who’s the best cook in your family? probably my mom
Enjoy Hawaii and your family! Take a dip for me! It’s 50 and sunny in Maine today and tomorrow but they’re saying snow on Thanksgiving 🙂
Congrats! That’s so awesome!!! I’m glad you had a good time. Safe travels to Hawaii, and fingers crossed for fab weather. 🙂 I LOVED climbing the rope in gym class – and I don’t mean that like Garth. HAHA! I want to say it was about 30 feet high but I don’t mind heights and I relied heavily on my leg strength. If I could only use my arms, I’d have made it about 5 feet.
1. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish? Stuffing, with an obnoxious amount of gravy!
2. What time did you wake up this morning? 5:30 but I hit snooze until 5:45.
3. Choose a lipstick color: orange or brown. Brown!
4. Something you need to finish by the end of the day? Nothing, thank goodness.
5. Who’s the best cook in your family? I think my mother is and she thinks I am. We’re both recipe followers as well; I’m probably a tiny bit better at finding new, winning recipes (I can usually tell from the ingredients if we’ll like something or not). Have a fabulous Thanksgiving!
You look like you’re having fun! That’s awesome.
Hettie likes to wake me up too early. She’ll just wag on you until you pay attention. Mina would hear my alarm go off and sit on my chest and purr. I miss her ?
1. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish?
Mashed potatoes or rolls! YUM!
2. What time did you wake up this morning?
7ish?
3. Choose a lipstick color: orange or brown.
Orange because I look TERRIBLE in brown lips!
4. Something you need to finish by the end of the day?
Laundry, yuck!
5. Who’s the best cook in your family?
My cousin in Texas is an actual chef so probably her! Our grandma was not a good cook at all.
1. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish? Anything with either gravy or butter. So that would be parker house dinner rolls, mashed potatoes, stuffing.
2. What time did you wake up this morning? 6:30 and I wanted to go back to bed because I could not fall asleep last night. It was way after 2 a.m. and I was still tossing and turning.
3. Choose a lipstick color: orange or brown. Uh orange?
4. Something you need to finish by the end of the day? Grocery list for tomorrow’s shopping trip to get all the T-Day fixings. More laundry, still catching up on laundry from our trip.
5. Who’s the best cook in your family? Except for Dear Husband who can barely make toast I would say all of us. I came from a family of serious home cooks and it looks like Dear Daughter inherited the gene, too. So from my grandmother who baked yeasted breads, milk breads and cookies all by feel without measuring tools (she was born in the 1880’s) to my mom who ran a catering business, to my brother who just remodeled his kitchen and keeps sending me photos of the kitchen and the food he’s making, we all love to bake and cook and EAT!
So glad you had fun at the Spartan Race. Dear Daughter raced on Sunday and came in 5th in her age group. She said she also shaved 10 minutes off of her time from last year. There’s a gym down this way that has spartan style obstacles so you can practice and train before you do the race. I think perfecting her wall and rope climbs really helped her time.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving in Hawaii!
Girl, so proud of you! Congratulations!
1. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish?
Dressing for sure. Cornbread, with sausage and pecans.
2. What time did you wake up this morning?
About 9:30-ish. Well, that’s when I got up. I had already done a couple of “Oh, just a few more minutes”.
3. Choose a lipstick color: orange or brown.
Brown. A nice pinkish, nude.
4. Something you need to finish by the end of the day?
I’ve done all the things for today- yay!
5. Who’s the best cook in your family?
Me. It’s my thing.
1. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish? Green Bean Casserole with the French Onions, stuffing or sweet potatoes
2. What time did you wake up this morning? 6AM
3. Choose a lipstick color: orange or brown. I love a pinky brown. I love orange too. Nothing matte or satin. I like a sheer orange or like an orange tinted lip balm
4. Something you need to finish by the end of the day? Supper. My daughter works until 8 so supper will be later than normal
5. Who’s the best cook in your family? My dad is a great cook. Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner is always a treat esp if he goes all out. No one ever leaves hungry. Wish I had his skill!
1. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish? Dressing! More specifically, sausage and apple dressing. And my MIL’s gravy, it’s one of the reasons I married my husband.
2. What time did you wake up this morning? 8:30, so late, but I was up late because my family did Thanksgiving yesterday.
3. Choose a lipstick color: orange or brown. A pinky brown.
4. Something you need to finish by the end of the day? Turkey sandwich! Since yesterday was Thanksgiving for my family, turkey sandwiches are a must today!
5. Who’s the best cook in your family? My Mom, she can throw down even though she doesn’t think she can. And nobody starves in my house!
1. I don’t really have one. I don’t care much for the traditional Thanksgiving foods. Turkey is great until it dries out (about 3 minutes). I’m all for the pecan pie dessert.
2. I wake up repeatedly every night/morning. I got out of bed around 9:00.
3. Orange. I’m so pale that brown would just make me look like a corpse.
4. Nothing, really.
5. Probably me, because I follow directions well and don’t burn food.
1. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish?
Stuffing, no contest. It’s a miracle I don’t suck some down every day I’m alive.
2. What time did you wake up this morning?
Erm, 9? 10? Let’s go with 8:30.
3. Choose a lipstick color: orange or brown.
Orange. Why not?
4. Something you need to finish by the end of the day?
Pay a couple bills online. Did it.
5. Who’s the best cook in your family?
My mom, because she cooks with love!
Karen, it looks like you had a blast at that race. You are a superhero!
1. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish? Dressing for sure. We’re empty nesters and my husband doesn’t care very much for dressing so the only time I make it is at Thanksgiving.
2. What time did you wake up this morning? 5:00. We had to drive to LAX to pick up my son and his fiancée who were flying down from SF.
3. Choose a lipstick color: orange or brown. Orange. It doesn’t have to be bright or garish. There are some lovely, soft orange shades.
4. Something you need to finish by the end of the day? I’m writing this as the day is drawing to a close and I have absolutely nothing left to do.
5. Who’s the best cook in your family? That’s easy. It’s me. I’ve always enjoyed cooking whether it is just for my husband and I or for a gathering of friends and family. My husband can heat something up in the microwave or toaster oven, but that’s about it. My oldest son does not cook—end of discussion. My youngest son is a pretty good cook and he likes to experiment in the kitchen, but he‘s a very busy attorney and doesn’t have much time.
You are so brave Karen !
TG sides ? I like stuffed artichokes !
I get up at 7:30 but wake up at 5:40
Brown lip all the way and matte please
I need to finish my shopping list for TG
Best cook is my daughter hands down . She’s creative , innovative and cooks very healthy !