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 something you love about fall?
The fallen leaves on a windy day, especially when a breeze hits and they get swept up and dance in the wind!
2. A drugstore hair product you like?
BIG fan of Pantene Overnight Serum, although I haven’t been able to find it in stores lately… Boo!
3. Mashed potatoes or green bean casserole?
Oh, mashed potatoes! 100%! Gimme all the carbs…
4. A Thanksgiving memory that makes you smile?
Years ago, shortly after El Hub and I started dating, we took a trip to New York City over a Thanksgiving. We watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, saw the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and did all the touristy things one’s supposed to do when in NYC. Thanksgiving night, we walked and wandered around until we found a small restaurant serving a traditional T-Day meal.
It seems like so long ago!
5. Are your nails painted, and if they are, what color are you wearing?
Essie Bordeaux on my fingers and toes today.
6. Who was the last person who made breakfast for you?
The bakers at Creekside Bakery in Novato who made me a killer ham and cheese croissant yesterday morning.
7. Apple Bottom Jeans or boots with the fur?
Boots with the fur… My feet are cold!
8. Casual or formal?
Casual.
9. Is pencil lip liner stressful?
Only if I plan on taking pics and if the lip liner is dark. Nude liner on a random weekday just for fun? NOT stressful!
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 something you love about fall?
2. A drugstore hair product you like?
3. Mashed potatoes or green bean casserole?
4. A Thanksgiving memory that makes you smile?
5. Are your nails painted, and if they are, what color are you wearing?
6. Who was the last person who made breakfast for you?
7. Apple Bottom Jeans or boots with the fur?
8. Casual or formal?
9. Is pencil lip liner stressful?
P.P.S. Hello there, my friend! I have it on good authority that you’re going to have a good day today. ? I just know it.
Kicking my week off with your poll, xx!
1. The beautiful colors of the leaves.
2. 100% aloe gel – I use it as a gel to set my waves and a pre-wash conditioning mask.
3. ‘Tatoes!!
4. Celebrating it with my husband’s best friend’s family.
5. Haven’t painted my nails in months…
6. My husband.
7. Apple bottom jeans cuz’ Mama’s got a booty thanks to quarantine.
8. Casual.
9. Nope! I love lip liner. Sometimes, I’ll use lip liner and top it with gloss and I’m good to go.
Thank you for filling it out today! Have a great week!
1. What’s something you love about fall? Halloween decorations!
2. A drugstore hair product you like? Those Goody metal barrettes than snap open and closed. They are awesome for my fine hair.
3. Mashed potatoes or green bean casserole? I think I’ll try the beans today.
4. A Thanksgiving memory that makes you smile? 15 years ago my parents went to Vegas and left us 4 kids and a couple boyfriends/girlfriends some money to buy beer and make a meal. There was an elliptical machine and someone had to be riding it at all times. It was silly fun!
5. Are your nails painted, and if they are, what color are you wearing? Yes! Lone Pine from Death Valley Nails.
6. Who was the last person who made breakfast for you? I made myself cabbage, eggs n cheese yesterday.
7. Apple Bottom Jeans or boots with the fur? Boots for shurr.
8. Casual or formal? Casual!!!
9. Is pencil lip liner stressful? No I love it always.
You know, I don’t think I’ve ever had cabbage for breakfast, ever! For some reason I think of it solely as lunch or dinner food! You’re blowing my mind right now. LOL!
My hubs puts cabbage in breakfast smoothies. Also big chunks of radish. He’s crazy about this combo. !!! With a banana and berries.
Seriously I had no idea people did this with cabbage in the morning! LOL When I think of cabbage I think dinner food like corned beef and cabbage, or cabbage rolls. I may have to try this just to satisfy my curiosity!
Good afternoon, Karen! I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving this week.
1. Aldi’s Maple cream cookies. My husband and I are obsessed and I buy 2-3 boxes each time I grocery shop. Normal people like pumpkin spice, but as for me and my household, we obsess over maple cream cookies! The law of diminishing returns does not apply.
2. Cha-ching hair mask. It’s $4 at Ulta, and $2 at Walmart. 😀 It smells SO GOOD, makes my hair feel like royalty, and I can get 2-3 uses out of a packet. Loooove.
3. This year it’s just the 4 of us and I’m skipping the mashed potatoes in favor of green been casserole! Too much effort to make and I know my kids won’t eat them. The casserole though, that deliciousness even my kids will eat.
4. My first “norman rockwell” thanksgiving with my in-laws. It was my first time sharing the meal with 20 people and it was as magical as the paintings.
5. No. I need to though! I love the color you have on. Perfect for Fall.
6. My husband. Well, he made the kids breakfast and fed me bacon. Yum. I think it was this past Saturday morning.
7. Boots with the fuuuuuurrrr!
8. Both? I actually try to dress up a bit when I go out since it’s so rare now. I feel like now I understand why women from past generations got all dolled up just to go to the store. I’m going grocery shopping today and am planning my outfit. ha!
9. Not really. I don’t use it often so its fun! I need to get a couple more. I need a red shade and a dark wine shade.
Thank you, Jaclyn! I hope you have a splendid holiday with your family!
Happy Monday! You just crack me up. I’m still giggling over the Apple bottom jeans questions. HAHA!
1. What’s something you love about fall? Oh, everything. The crisp smell in the air, the beautiful colors and (you know I’m Goldilocks) comfy temps. Just right for putting on a cozy sweater or sweatshirt.
2. A drugstore hair product you like? When I was styling my hair, pre-COVID, I was a daily user of Elnett hairspray. Big fan. 🙂
3. Mashed potatoes or green bean casserole? It’s funny you ask that because I was just saying yesterday that I’m not a fan of either. I make up for it with 25 helpings of stuffing, though.
4. A Thanksgiving memory that makes you smile? We spent a couple of Thanksgivings at Disney (I never like holidays away from home but you have to make sacrifices for the kids – HAHA!). We were having dinner at Cinderella’s Castle when the step-sisters hustled Cinders to our table and said “you HAVE to see what these little princes can do… show Cinderella your secret handshake” (the boys were in elementary school). We were there with friends, their kids and a couple of their relatives. The boys stood up and proceeded to do this fairly elaborate handshake (that they’d learned from the Sweet Life of Zach and Cody, apparently) which ended with them smacking each other across the face. The Hubs and I just about died on the spot. Cinderella (and everyone within a 3 table radius) gasped and busted out laughing, the step-sisters were doubled over cackling and I’m sure I yelled “BOYS!” in horror before crawling under the table from humiliation. It’s pretty funny now. We had never seen the handshake before OR since! Apparently the boys had shown the step sisters while all the kids were up getting photos/autographs with the characters and we’d somehow missed it. Ah, good times.
5. Are your nails painted, and if they are, what color are you wearing? No polish today!
6. Who was the last person who made breakfast for you? I honestly can’t remember the last time I had breakfast that I didn’t make.
7. Apple Bottom Jeans or boots with the fur? Totally boots with the fur. And I’m still giggling. Thank you for that!
8. Casual or formal? Casual. I’m still eyeing track suits.
9. Is pencil lip liner stressful? No, but I am not very good at it; I used to just wipe if off if I started to look like the Joker.
You know what’s even funnier? If you ask your husband which one he would choose. I asked El Hub and he was like, “What the heck are you talking about? I’ll go with the boots with the fur.” HAHAHAHA!
HAHA! He would totally know. 🙂 The boys were little when that song came out but they were in hockey and we always had the “latest and greatest” pop songs playing at games. And there may have been an incident when I was busy dancing with my friends to that song, and he cut his hand, and I dismissed him with “go and run it under some water”. Turned out it was a bit worse than I thought. That comes up whenever the song is on (or mentioned). Uh, huh. Keep dancing. 😉 But he would also go with the boots. HAHA!
HAHAHA! Hey, when you’re really feeling the music all other things need to wait!
1. What’s something you love about fall? Cooler weather so I can wear sweaters & boots
2. A drugstore hair product you like? Suave shampoo
3. Mashed potatoes or green bean casserole? Mashed potatoes
4. A Thanksgiving memory that makes you smile? The last one before my grandfather died – the whole family was there
5. Are your nails painted, and if they are, what color are you wearing? Yes – pale pink. Don’t know the name
6. Who was the last person who made breakfast for you? Probably the husband
7. Apple Bottom Jeans or boots with the fur? Boots with fur since I don’t even know what the other is
8. Casual or formal? I like dressing up but I am a jeans and sweater girl
9. Is pencil lip liner stressful? Never used it
Have a great week, Melissa!
1. What’s something you love about fall?
The changing colors of all the leaves!
2. A drugstore hair product you like?
Pantene Pro-V intense rescue shots ampoule
3. Mashed potatoes or green bean casserole?
oooh, that’s a hard one since I love both! I’ll go with a gb casserole.
4. A Thanksgiving memory that makes you smile?
A few years ago we took the family to New Orleans during Thanksgiving break and had a great time tasting all the different foods, seeing gators, watching a Saints game AT the stadium (how I miss in person sports events) and meeting locals who helped immerse us into their city’s rich history!
5. Are your nails painted, and if they are, what color are you wearing?
Essie Expressie in not so low key and Essie mosaic on down on my ring finger nails
6. Who was the last person who made breakfast for you?
Hubby…this morning. French eggs with avo slices
7. Apple Bottom Jeans or boots with the fur?
Boots with the fur! My feet are always cold!
8. Casual or formal?
Casual but I do love to dress up.
9. Is pencil lip liner stressful?
No, I used it frequently in the past and when I have a zoom or webex, I’ll reach for it and some gloss for a quick wash of color.
I visited New Orleans a few years ago and loved it. That’s a great idea to go during Thanksgiving!
1. What’s something you love about fall? Everything! the changing leaves, cool weather, sweaters and boots, and Halloween
2. A drugstore hair product you like? Pantene Miracle Moisture Boost Shampoo (thanks to you, Karen)
3. Mashed potatoes or green bean casserole? mashed potatoes
4. A Thanksgiving memory that makes you smile? Watching the Macy’s parade on TV every year.
5. Are your nails painted, and if they are, what color are you wearing? Sally Hansen Rosy Quartz
6. Who was the last person who made breakfast for you? Does McDonalds Count?
7. Apple Bottom Jeans or boots with the fur? Boots
8. Casual or formal? Casual forever
9. Is pencil lip liner stressful? no, because I rarely use it
Yay! I’m so glad you like that shampoo. 🙂
1. What’s something you love about fall? Pumpkin spice latte, falling leaves, the colours,…
2. A drugstore hair product you like? Bed head products
3. Mashed potatoes or green bean casserole? Mashed potatoes
4. A Thanksgiving memory that makes you smile? A vegetarian Thanksgiving celebration I went to years ago.
5. Are your nails painted, and if they are, what color are you wearing? Copper
6. Who was the last person who made breakfast for you? The restaurant in Sofitel hotel.
7. Apple Bottom Jeans or boots with the fur? Apple Bottom
Jeans
8. Casual or formal? Casual
9. Is pencil lip liner stressful? Not at all.
Thanks for filling out the poll today, Mel! Have a great week!
1. What’s something you love about fall?
The cool air feels so good after a humid summer.
2. A drugstore hair product you like?
Tresseme Hair Spray. I am really not picky about my hair sprays but theirs are all pretty good.
3. Mashed potatoes or green bean casserole?
Mashed potatoes – I do not like green bean casserole whatsoever, or any form of canned green beans.
4. A Thanksgiving memory that makes you smile?
Aww your memory sounds sooo fun!
When I was in college, I had a suitemate named Iris who was from Norway. She didn’t have anywhere to go for Thanksgiving, so I invited her to my family’s. She was originally from Bosnia but left with her family when she was a child to escape the war that was going on at the time. My family had so much fun asking her questions and they learned so much, and she was happy to have a nice meal and get that family vibe!
5. Are your nails painted, and if they are, what color are you wearing?
Essie gel couture “Sit Me In the Front Row”
6. Who was the last person who made breakfast for you?
My boyfriend, but it’s been a while!
7. Apple Bottom Jeans or boots with the fur?
Boots with the fur.
8. Casual or formal?
Casual.
9. Is pencil lip liner stressful?
Red liner yes, nude liner no.
Just looked up your nail polish and wow! So pretty!
1. What’s something you love about fall? The way the leaves crunch under your feet, that sound is ahhhhhhhhmazing.
2. A drugstore hair product you like? OGX coconut shampoo and conditioner, I love coconut scented things.
3. Mashed potatoes or green bean casserole? Mashed potatoes.
4. A Thanksgiving memory that makes you smile? There was one time I was driving to my parents house for Thanksgiving and the song “California Dreaming” came on and I burst into tears because I was so happy.
5. Are your nails painted, and if they are, what color are you wearing? ILNP “Olivia” on my nails, it’s a foiled chocolate rose.
6. Who was the last person who made breakfast for you? The cooks at a little place near me that serves a delicious huevos rancheros. Outside patio dining.
7. Apple Bottom Jeans or boots with the fur? Boots with the fur!
8. Casual or formal? Casual!
9. Is pencil lip liner stressful? No. I usually only use it, fill my lips in completely and add a little gloss.
I’ll have to sniff that shampoo and conditioner next time I’m at the store. Love me some coconut!
1. What’s something you love about fall? When fallen leaves make a thick blanket under trees and you can go swishing through them, kicking them up. Of course you end up with all sorts of organic matter in your shoes and maybe a few bugs, too.
2. A drugstore hair product you like? Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Hydrate + Repair Shampoo.
3. Mashed potatoes or green bean casserole? Mashed potatoes. Don’t think I’ve ever met a potato I didn’t like.
4. A Thanksgiving memory that makes you smile? The first T-Day after Dear Daughter was born we had just moved back to the states from living overseas. We went to friends of Dear Husband’s. DD was extremely fussy and getting louder by the minute even after a diaper change and feeding. So I took her into a back bedroom and rocked and sang to her. I don’t even think I got the words to the lullaby correct, but she fell asleep. When I came out of the bedroom I realized that everyone at the gathering was quiet because they were listening to me sing to her. I sang a lullaby to her every night after that until she was about 11 yrs. old when she said, “You don’t need to sing to me anymore. I’m old enough to put myself to sleep.”
5. Are your nails painted, and if they are, what color are you wearing? Not painted this week.
6. Who was the last person who made breakfast for you? The Intercontinental Hotel Century City in LA, when Dear Husband and I were down there for a Valentine’s Day trip, earlier this year.
7. Apple Bottom Jeans or boots with the fur? Not sure what Apple Bottom Jeans are, so I’ll take the boots. Always take the boots.
8. Casual or formal? Depends.
9. Is pencil lip liner stressful? I rarely use it, so I’m not sure.
I think you would love the trees around my neighborhood! All of the leaves are falling and there are thick carpets of leaves everywhere.
Hope your Monday has been good. 🙂 I just got back from taking Connor to a four hour playdate!
Monday was good! Was supposed to meet my trainer in the park for a workout at 8am but it rained overnight down here, so there were puddles in the park. Did it rain up your way? or was it just some localized precipitation. Ended up working out in my garage which I had been clearing out for this reason. We discussed where to put the squat rack and weight bench when they arrive. Did laundry, did shopping returns that didn’t work out, bought some Christmas presents, started early prep for T-Day dinner and then made black bean sauce noodles for dinner.
I hope Connor’s playdate was fun! I bet it’s been a while since she’s had one quite that long. It must be hard for kids without others to play with.
It was supposed to rain but it didn’t happen. I wouldn’t have minded some rain!
Her playdate was super fun for her. We had her bestie from preschool over at our house, and the girls rode bikes and did chalk drawings together. They basically just ran around and climbed trees for four hours! They met again today to do gingerbread house decorating. 🙂
What are you making for Thanksgiving? We’re keeping it low-key here: ham, corn casserole, mashed potatoes and a strawberry spinach salad. I *may* do some drop biscuits if I’m feeling ambitious.
Oooh, drop biscuits!! Can you tell I love my carbs? Lol. I used to make these Martha Stewart thyme, sour cream rolls for T-Day. But they’re yeasted and you have to put in 3T. of fresh thyme leaves and it basically takes forever to strip that much thyme, so yeah, I gave up making those.
Apple, prune and rye bread stuffed pork loin, green beans with tons of butter, garlic and parsley. Dear Daughter is making potato puree. And she made pumpkin ice cream with the new ice cream maker Dear Husband gave her as an early Christmas present. That’s it. I might toss together a salad if I’m in the mood. Hope you have a relaxing and enjoyable Thanksgiving.
1. What’s something you love about fall? Sweaters!!
2. A drugstore hair product you like? Tresemme hairspray
3. Mashed potatoes or green bean casserole? Mashed potatoes!!
4. A Thanksgiving memory that makes you smile? Being together with both sets of my Grandparents.
5. Are your nails painted, and if they are, what color are you wearing? They’re not painted (and look horrible!)
6. Who was the last person who made breakfast for you? Me. I made myself oatmeal.
7. Apple Bottom Jeans or boots with the fur? The whole club was lookin at her… LoL boots with the fur!
8. Casual or formal? Casual
9. Is pencil lip liner stressful? Depends what color- nude is easy but red is a little more challenging.
1. What’s something you love about fall? Cool air! The summer in my area runs from early May until mid-October (and sometimes to the end of October). I greatly appreciate cool air. It makes me feel alive again.
2. A drugstore hair product you like? Biosilk Silk Therapy. Expensive, but a bottle lasts me a very long time. It is a drugstore product, because they sell it at CVS.
3. Mashed potatoes or green bean casserole? Mashed potatoes, but I’m not really a fan of either one.
4. A Thanksgiving memory that makes you smile? ?♀️ I really can’t think of any. My family gatherings were almost always more stressful than fun.
5. Are your nails painted, and if they are, what color are you wearing? No, but if they were, I’d probably use CC Beyond.
6. Who was the last person who made breakfast for you? IHOP, probably.
7. Apple Bottom Jeans or boots with the fur? Boots with fur.
8. Casual or formal? Casual.
9. Is pencil lip liner stressful? No, my eyesight is still pretty good, and my hands are reasonably steady.
1. What’s something you love about fall? Leaves changing color and falling-specifically the ones that are either really bright red or really dark, almost purple, red.
2. A drugstore hair product you like? Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition shampoo and conditioner.
3. Mashed potatoes or green bean casserole? Mashed potatoes. I do like green beans, just not in a casserole.
4. A Thanksgiving memory that makes you smile? This isn’t a specific memory, but my mom’s allergic to turkey, so I appreciate that our extended family groups always provide an alternate meat alongside the turkey-usually chicken on her side and roast beef on my dad’s side.
5. Are your nails painted, and if they are, what color are you wearing? No.
6. Who was the last person who made breakfast for you? The good people at Hostess-I had one of their cheese Danishes this morning.
7. Apple Bottom Jeans or boots with the fur? Either or both!
8. Casual or formal? Casual, although I’ve also been known to go semi-formal.
9. Is pencil lip liner stressful? I wouldn’t know-I’ve never used it.
1. What’s something you love about fall?
The lovely, lovely leaves changing color — this year, they were especially vibrant.
2. A drugstore hair product you like?
Kristin Ess Weightless Shine Leave-In Conditioner is a Target staple for me. It’s a light conditioner that leaves my fine hair soft and detangled without weighing it down.
3. Mashed potatoes or green bean casserole?
Green bean casserole, only because my green vegetable intake has decreased dramatically this year.
4. A Thanksgiving memory that makes you smile?
Just some vague memories from about 15 years ago, before my divorce and before my sister and her husband moved across the country. My parents were no doubt trying to engage us all in a proper, adult conversation, but between the Silly Sisters, our goofy spouses, and my ultra witty brother, that was not going to happen. No regrets!
5. Are your nails painted, and if they are, what color are you wearing?
My nails have been bare since March. Too much hand washing is going on here.
6. Who was the last person who made breakfast for you?
My mom — she makes the best scrambled eggs.
7. Apple Bottom Jeans or boots with the fur?
Boots with the (fake!) fur!
8. Casual or formal?
Casual.
9. Is pencil lip liner stressful?
Yes.
1. What’s something you love about fall?
I love the leaves changing color.
2. A drugstore hair product you like?
I also like the Pantene hair serum. 🙂
3. Mashed potatoes or green bean casserole?
Mashed potatoes.
4. A Thanksgiving memory that makes you smile?
Just remembering the times my family and extended family got together.
5. Are your nails painted, and if they are, what color are you wearing?
Haven’t painted my nails in a while.
6. Who was the last person who made breakfast for you?
Folks at Carrows Restaurant.
7. Apple Bottom Jeans or boots with the fur?
Boots with fur.
8. Casual or formal?
Casual.
9. Is pencil lip liner stressful?
A lip pencil is one of those “extra step” products to me, so I almost never use a lip pencil.
1. What’s something you love about fall? I love taking a walk on a crisp evening and smelling oak burning in neighbors’ fireplaces.
2. A drugstore hair product you like? Scrunches. I have very long hair and have to pull it back when doing chores so I have scrunches all over the place.
3. Mashed potatoes or green bean casserole? Mashed potatoes. I love green beans but not that classic green bean casserole.
4. A Thanksgiving memory that makes you smile? My grandparents lived up in the mountains and always invited family to spend the weekend at their place. One afternoon I was sitting outside with my grandfather listening to the wind in the trees, the chittering of squirrels, the singing of the birds, and the squeals of delight as all his grandkids raced around the trees playing tag. My grandfather gave a contented sigh and said, “This is heaven, sugar babe. This is heaven.”
5. Are your nails painted, and if they are, what color are you wearing? I keep my nails groomed, but not polished.
6. Who was the last person who made breakfast for you? My husband. I was feeling under the weather a few months ago and he made me a pot of tea and some toast.
7. Apple Bottom Jeans or boots with the fur? Boots with faux fur. I don’t wear real fur of any kind.
8. Casual or formal? How about formal done casually.
9. Is pencil lip liner stressful? I don’t think makeup should ever be stressful.
1. What’s something you love about fall? Not much unfortunately, due to my mold and ragweed allergies.
2. A drugstore hair product you like? The SheaMoisture Sugarcane and Meadowfoam leave-in styler (and lots of other SM products)
3. Mashed potatoes or green bean casserole? Mashed potatoes. As a replacement for green bean casserole, I make a batch of creamed spinach and while it’s still hot, put it in a shallow casserole dish and top with the onions. Just needs a few minutes in the oven and it’s sooooo much better.
4. A Thanksgiving memory that makes you smile? Having Thanksgiving the Sunday before so my grandparents (and others) could spend Thursday deer hunting.
5. Are your nails painted, and if they are, what color are you wearing? Not painted for a while.
6. Who was the last person who made breakfast for you? Don’t recall, but probably a McDonald’s a few months ago.
7. Apple Bottom Jeans or boots with the fur? Boots with fur. Like the concept of apple bottom jeans, but they are hideous.
8. Casual or formal? Casual.
9. Is pencil lip liner stressful? Nope, although I rarely use it or wear colored lip products due to masks.