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. Have you ever done Clinique three-step?
GIRL, isn’t that a right of passage for every beauty lover? I totes did it when I was a teen! I had the little green plastic container for the special soap and everything. ?
2. Is colorful mascara a regular thing for you?
Nah, it’s a once-in-a-while thing, although I should probably do it more because I think bright blue lashes with a mask is cute and fun.
3. What’s one thing you find frustrating about makeup?
Hmm… Well, currently, I want to wear all of it, but I also don’t want to wear all of it. I still enjoy painting a full face, but I also really love the freedom of just throwing on some sunscreen, filling in my brows, putting on some mascara and going on my merry way. The last year has been liberating in that way.
4. Something you could use right now?
I would absolutely appreciate a substantial inheritance with no strings attached from a mysterious benefactor right now! LOL. If I couldn’t get that, I would love someone to help make the animals that I live with dinner every night.
5. String cheese or Babybel?
Babybel with a Honeycrisp apple. THE BEST SNACK!
6. What’s worse — pants that fall off your butt (so that you end up pulling them up all day), or pants that are too tight?
Too tight pants, ugh. I can’t deal!
7. Do you have spring allergies?
Yup, I’m pretty much allergic to all of nature from now until June.
8. Brows, lashes or lips?
Lashes!
9. What’s for lunch?
Spinach salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, feta cheese, dried chickpeas and crumbled up pita chips. It’s my new favorite thing in the whole world for lunchies.
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. Have you ever done Clinique three-step?
2. Is colorful mascara a regular thing for you?
3. What’s one thing you find frustrating about makeup?
4. Something you could use right now?
5. String cheese or Babybel?
6. What’s worse — pants that fall off your butt (so that you end up pulling them up all day), or pants that are too tight?
7. Do you have spring allergies?
8. Brows, lashes or lips?
9. What’s for lunch?
P.P.S. Hello, my friend, and welcome to a new week. I hope your day is treating you well so far. Please remind yourself today (and all week long) that you’re doing great. I’m so proud of how far you’ve come. Be proud of yourself, too! ?
1. Have you ever done Clinique three-step?
Only with samples, I wasn’t really a fan.
2. Is colorful mascara a regular thing for you?
I haven’t tried one, I’m still on the road of kilometric black lashes.
3. What’s one thing you find frustrating about makeup?
The fact that it still doesn’t agree well with face masks, that’s the main reason I decided to skip most complexion and lip products. Which gets me to the other point of my frustration: people not getting used to “males” using makeup, as eye makeup is more notorious, I do get more people watching me.
4. Something you could use right now?
I also need the big inheritance with no strings attached, or at least a fully renovated kitchen with a dishwasher and a Kitchenaid.
5. String cheese or Babybel?
Babybel on fresh baked bread.
6. What’s worse — pants that fall off your butt (so that you end up pulling them up
all day), or pants that are too tight?
Pants that are too tight, you’ll always remember your mistake.
7. Do you have spring allergies?
I have allergies most of the year, but yes it’s worse on Spring and Autumn.
8. Brows, lashes or lips?
Lashes, they make me look awake.
9. What’s for lunch?
Grilled chicken, we still don’t know with what.
So, I need all the good vibes today because I’ll receive a mail to see if I get to the second round of a master’s degree application process. Also happy Monday to everyone.
Good luck, Efra! Sending all the good vibes.
GOOD LUCK!!! Where is the program? Will you be going back to Germany?
Thank you both of you.
With all the Corona I decided it was better to apply for a master’s degree here in Mexico as student’s visas requirements have been changing a lot.
So, the university is in Mexico City. I know there’s still time to go back to Germany in the future.
1. Have you ever done Clinique three-step?
I definitely had the soap and the yellow lotion (dramatically different?). But I don’t think I did the 3-step purposefully.
2. Is colorful mascara a regular thing for you?
I don’t think I’ve ever tried it. I’m open though. A nice purple.
3. What’s one thing you find frustrating about makeup?
Probably when I feel like I’ve spent a lot of time carefully applying my makeup (for a special occasion maybe) and later when I see pictures or catch a glimpse of myself, I look like I have nothing on. I think it has more to do with my application than the makeup per se.
4. Something you could use right now?
Sign me up for that unexpected inheritance. But more realistically right now I’d love an iced coffee on a sunny porch.
5. String cheese or Babybel?
Don’t care for either. I’ll take the honeycrisp though!
6. What’s worse — pants that fall off your butt (so that you end up pulling them up all day), or pants that are too tight?
Tight for sure.
7. Do you have spring allergies?
Only mild fortunately. It’s a tough time in these parts for folks with allergies.
8. Brows, lashes or lips?
Lashes make the biggest impact on me I think.
9. What’s for lunch?
My go to salad, which right now is mixed baby greens, cucumber, radish, sunflower seeds, feta and white balsamic vinaigrette. I also have some leftover asparagus with TJ’s vegan pesto (very good btw!). Your salad sounds great! I’m going to need to hunt down some dried chickpeas.
Have a great week!
1. Have you ever done Clinique three-step?
No
2. Is colorful mascara a regular thing for you?
Not really
3. What’s one thing you find frustrating about makeup?
An over emphasis on too much makeup. Makeup is a good accessory, I don’t need it ALL THE TIME. I’ve realised that over the years I’ve been developing this fear of feeling naked if I didn’t have a full face of makeup on, which is sort of ridiculous considering my partner has no problem barely washing his face and proudly stepping out of the house.
4. Something you could use right now?
Peace of mind
5. String cheese or Babybel?
La vache qui rit
6. What’s worse — pants that fall off your butt (so that you end up pulling them up all day), or pants that are too tight?
Pants that are too tight
7. Do you have spring allergies?
No
8. Brows, lashes or lips?
Brows
9. What’s for lunch?
Good question. Chickpeas maybe
1. Have you ever done Clinique three-step? No- just the trial size version, but not the full size.
2. Is colorful mascara a regular thing for you? When I was younger, but not so much now.
3. What’s one thing you find frustrating about makeup? All of the new collections and products out there- it’s very overwhelming at times.
4. Something you could use right now? A massage
5. String cheese or Babybel? String cheese
6. What’s worse — pants that fall off your butt (so that you end up pulling them up all day), or pants that are too tight? Too tight. Pants that are too big you can wear a belt/it seems like an easier fix.
7. Do you have spring allergies? I have year round allergies and get lots of sinus infections. I go for allergy shots.
8. Brows, lashes or lips? Brows- for some reason I feel like when they look good, I feel good, even if my skin is congested/acting up.
9. What’s for lunch? Leftover pasta with a side salad.
1. Have you ever done Clinique three-step? Yup. As a freshman in high school. The first set they sent me home with totally ripped up my skin. My mother dragged me back to the counter, showed them my face and scolded them. The SA took it back and sent me home with the mildest set. It was still too harsh. My mother made sure we got a refund.
2. Is colorful mascara a regular thing for you? Not at all.
3. What’s one thing you find frustrating about makeup? It’s all created and aimed at much younger women with younger skin. There isn’t a foundation out there that doesn’t settle into my lines (I’m not even gonna call them fine at this point), migrate into my pores, or make me look more lined and dryer than I already am.
4. Something you could use right now? A two week vacation away from cooking and this house. Preferably some place with healthy delicious food. I miss traveling to Japan.
5. String cheese or Babybel? Either. Never thought of doing babybel with an apple.
6. What’s worse — pants that fall off your butt (so that you end up pulling them up all day), or pants that are too tight? Too tight. I hate too tight anything when it comes to clothing.
7. Do you have spring allergies? Yup. They used to start just before Mother’s Day and last through Father’s Day, but they arrive earlier and earlier each year.
8. Brows, lashes or lips? Before pandemic I would say lips. Now it’s lashes then lips then brows.
9. What’s for lunch? Leftover lamb chop with salsa verde and a side of toast with pickled ginger and smashed avocado mixed with yuzu sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil and sprinkled with sesame seeds.
Wow, Tatiana, I’d like to come over to your house for lunch!
1. Have you ever done Clinique three-step?
Oh, for sure! That was all the rage back in my teens and early 20’s.
2. Is colorful mascara a regular thing for you?
No, I haven’t done that in years.
3. What’s one thing you find frustrating about makeup?
I have never been any good at eyeliner.
4. Something you could use right now?
Sleep!
5. String cheese or Babybel?
Babybel, ftw.
6. What’s worse — pants that fall off your butt (so that you end up pulling them up all day), or pants that are too tight?
Pants that are too tight.
7. Do you have spring allergies?
So bad! My area is infamous for allergies, so I automatically start taking Claritin on March 1 every year.
8. Brows, lashes or lips?
Lips, but not right now. Sigh.
9. What’s for lunch?
A hot dog. Blah. I need to grocery shop!
1. Have you ever done Clinique three-step?
No, couldn’t afford. Plus, all the popular girls used it and goth-girl me did not want to follow that crowd. In addition, I needed the nuclear option for my teenage acne.
2. Is colorful mascara a regular thing for you?
No. I saw someone at MAC wearing this chartreuse green one and I thought it looked cool. But def not on me!
3. What’s one thing you find frustrating about makeup?
Too many releases; tried and true products being discontinued.
4. Something you could use right now?
Some self-confidence in this job search thing. UGH. I had it here somewhere…
5. String cheese or Babybel?
Baby cows all the way! I love peeling off that red wax.
6. What’s worse — pants that fall off your butt (so that you end up pulling them up all day), or pants that are too tight?
Pants falling off.
7. Do you have spring allergies?
Thank goodness, no.
8. Brows, lashes or lips?
All…3…? Lashes, if I had to choose.
9. What’s for lunch?
Grilled saba from Poodland!
Happy monday (and new moon), happy start of the zodiac cycle!
. Have you ever done Clinique three-step? yes, when i was a teenage
2. Is colorful mascara a regular thing for you? no but i would like to try it
3. What’s one thing you find frustrating about makeup? applying it like the tutorial
4. Something you could use right now? a handyman
5. String cheese or Babybel? string cheese
6. What’s worse — pants that fall off your butt (so that you end up pulling them up all day), or pants that are too tight? pants falling off
7. Do you have spring allergies? yes . all year around
8. Brows, lashes or lips? lips
9. What’s for lunch? it was suppose to be beef shawarma tacos .
1. Have you ever done Clinique three-step? Of course! Everyone did in the 90’s.
2. Is colorful mascara a regular thing for you? No, but I’m getting blue mascara. It’s cool.
3. What’s one thing you find frustrating about makeup? That there’s so much of it, primer, foundation, concealer, contour, bronzer, blush, highlight, shadow, liner, mascara, fake lashes, lip liner, lipstick, lipgloss. No thank you! I’m a simple girl, less is more for me. But I love a full face on other ladies.
4. Something you could use right now? A coffee. My freshman is back to in person school, and getting up at 5:30 is early!
5. String cheese or Babybel? Babybel, it’s satisfying to open.
6. What’s worse — pants that fall off your butt (so that you end up pulling them up all day), or pants that are too tight? Too tight pants.
7. Do you have spring allergies? A little bit, but I have been having huge sneezes.
8. Brows, lashes or lips? Pre-pandemic it was lips, now it’s lashes.
9. What’s for lunch? I had a big piece of avocado toast for breakfast, lots of avocado, so I’m not hungry for lunch.
Happy Monday, Karen! The picture on this post is droooooool-worthy, yum!
1. Have you ever done Clinique three-step? YES, loved it as a teen. Total right of passage!
2. Is colorful mascara a regular thing for you? Nope. I had purple mascara in college but I haven’t used colored mascara since.
3. What’s one thing you find frustrating about makeup? Having to reapply lipstick sooooo often. I love lipstick! I just forget to reapply once I get to work.
4. Something you could use right now? A vacation. Not a staycation (have done a few of those in the last year, I’m tired of my house!), but an actual get out of the Chicago metro area and be a tourist vacation.
5. String cheese or Babybel? Babybel – so creamy and yummy!
6. What’s worse — pants that fall off your butt (so that you end up pulling them up all day), or pants that are too tight? Too tight! They end up worming their way down and falling off. At least too loose you can use a belt to fix it.
7. Do you have spring allergies? Yep, and summer, and fall…I’m miserable until mid-October.
8. Brows, lashes or lips? Lashes – they’re almost always done, no matter what.
9. What’s for lunch? Roasted chicken thighs and peas.
1. Have you ever done Clinique three-step?
No, but I did have the soap in the cute little container.
2. Is colorful mascara a regular thing for you?
Not at all. I have both burgundy and blue mascaras, and they sit, unused.
3. What’s one thing you find frustrating about makeup?
It doesn’t apply itself!
4. Something you could use right now?
A hug!
5. String cheese or Babybel?
String cheese.
6. What’s worse — pants that fall off your butt (so that you end up pulling them up all day), or pants that are too tight?
Pants that are too tight. I enjoy breathing.
7. Do you have spring allergies?
Not that I’ve identified. I’ve moved on to food allergies in my adulthood. (Yay?)
8. Brows, lashes or lips?
Lashes.
9. What’s for lunch?
Actually, it was string cheese.
1. Have you ever done Clinique three-step?
I’ve done 2/3 steps. LOL.
2. Is colorful mascara a regular thing for you?
No. I stick with the blackest black I can find…in waterproof.
3. What’s one thing you find frustrating about makeup?
The learning cuuuuuuuuurve. And eyeliner. Why can’t I just have two perfect wings?
4. Something you could use right now?
A MASSAGE.
5. String cheese or Babybel?
Babybel.
6. What’s worse — pants that fall off your butt (so that you end up pulling them up all day), or pants that are too tight?
Ones I have to pull up all day, especially when I have to go to the barn. No bueno.
7. Do you have spring allergies?
I have all year round allergies.
8. Brows, lashes or lips?
Brows or lashes.
9. What’s for lunch?
Uh, well, I grabbed whatever was nearest to me and that happened to be individually wrapped chocolate in a family size bag. Everyone knows once you eat one, you don’t stop at one….you eat more like, eight.
1. Have you ever done Clinique three-step? Yes, ages ago. When Clinique first came out, the SA’s wore white lab coats and “prescribed” your regimen according to skin type. I was a very dry #1 so I used the gentle soap, mild toner, and everyone used the Dramatically Different Moisture Lotion. Although skin care has evolved dramatically since those early days, I think old-school Clinique was a great way to get women focusing on a total skin care approach.
2. Is colorful mascara a regular thing for you? No, not at all. I prefer plain old black.
3. What’s one thing you find frustrating about makeup? During this pandemic it’s not being able to swatch makeup on my hand or arm. I imagine a whole lot of makeup is being bought and returned because it didn’t work out. Not being able to actually test the makeup means purchasing is often a craps shoot.
4. Something you could use right now? I’d love a magic wand to wave over the head of all the anti-vaccers and vaccine hesitators to get them to go and get their covid vaccinations.
5. String cheese or Babybel? Lebanese/Syrian string cheese with mahlab and nigela seeds. De-lish!
6. What’s worse — pants that fall off your butt (so that you end up pulling them up all day), or pants that are too tight? Tight is OK (like leggings or skinny jeans) but too tight is downright uncomfortable and I can’t stand feeling so constricted. As for pants fallowing off my butt, I almost always have that problem because I’m on the thin side and have a flat bottom. I’ve learned how to tailor them so they don’t fall.
7. Do you have spring allergies? Unfortunately, yes, and everything is blooming right now.
8. Brows, lashes or lips? Lashes
9. What’s for lunch? I’m really not much of a lunch eater unless I’m eating out with friends. Instead, I graze a bit over the course of the early afternoon—nuts, crackers, raw veggies, fruit, small and easy light snacks, that type of thing. I really don’t care to eat much mid-day.
1. Have you ever done Clinique three-step? Yes for the combo skin
2. Is colorful mascara a regular thing for you? Yes. I love purple mascara.
3. What’s one thing you find frustrating about makeup? The price.
4. Something you could use right now? Eye cream.
5. String cheese or Babybel? String cheese.
6. What’s worse — pants that fall off your butt (so that you end up pulling them up all day), or pants that are too tight? Too tight.
7. Do you have spring allergies? Yes…so bad.
8. Brows, lashes or lips? Lips
9. What’s for lunch? Pizza and salad.
1. Have you ever done Clinique three-step? Yup! I liked the dramatic lotion.
2. Is colorful mascara a regular thing for you? Nein.
3. What’s one thing you find frustrating about makeup? Some brands still test on animals.
4. Something you could use right now? New eyeglasses.
5. String cheese or Babybel? Baybel on a backpacking trip.
6. What’s worse — pants that fall off your butt (so that you end up pulling them up all day), or pants that are too tight? Toooootightoooow
7. Do you have spring allergies? Nope.
8. Brows, lashes or lips? Brows because that’s something nonexistent without makeup.
9. What’s for lunch? It was seaweed ramen and a banana.
1. Have you ever done Clinique three-step? I’ve done 3-step skincare before, but not for a while and not Clinique.
2. Is colorful mascara a regular thing for you? Yes! Even my neutral mascara is burgundy instead of black!
3. What’s one thing you find frustrating about makeup? How bad I am at winged eyeliner.
4. Something you could use right now? I agree with Eileen on the magic wand to convince the vaccine hesitant!
5. String cheese or Babybel? I don’t eat either very often, but I guess Babybel.
6. What’s worse — pants that fall off your butt (so that you end up pulling them up all day), or pants that are too tight?
7. Do you have spring allergies? I have year-round allergies!
8. Brows, lashes or lips? Lips-I’m pretty comfortable with the natural state of my brows and lashes.
9. What’s for lunch? I didn’t exactly have lunch today-I had an afternoon shift at work, so I just ate a bag of blueberry mini muffins while I was on break.
Forgot to answer the pants question! I hate pants that are too tight.
1. Have you ever done Clinique three-step?
No. But I’ve enjoyed other Clinique products through out the years. The only Clinique I have right now is the Pep start daily UV SPF 50 because it’s a mineral sunscreen & tinted!
2. Is colorful mascara a regular thing for you?
Nope. Tried it once and it didn’t show up, but when you said it looks good with a mask, that got me thinking to find a blue mascara that actually is visible.
3. What’s one thing you find frustrating about makeup?
Too many options and never knowing what to buy and worried if I will love it.
4. Something you could use right now?
More strength to follow a low Fodmaps diet to help with my IBS symptoms.
5. String cheese or Babybel?
String cheese. It’s good sliced with tomato, cucumber, balsamic vinegar and fresh basil.
6. What’s worse — pants that fall off your butt (so that you end up pulling them up all day), or pants that are too tight?
Just bad pants altogether! Ya hear me ?. Oh pants….
7. Do you have spring allergies?
Yes, especially when it snows during spring and fall when it should be past the snowy season. That unexpected snowfall brings out the itchy eyes, sneezing and runny nose.
8. Brows, lashes or lips?
Lashes. My go-to mascara is simply, Maybelline full n soft. I always go back to it.
9. What’s for lunch?
Left over Brazilian black beans
1. Have you ever done Clinique three-step? But, of course!
2. Is colorful mascara a regular thing for you? No, the blacker the better, for me.
3. What’s one thing you find frustrating about makeup? Finding the one, perfect everything that I can wear for the rest of my life. 🙂
4. Something you could use right now? Time machine.
5. String cheese or Babybel? Babybel, which I still (after 40 years) refer to as “cow cheese” because, when I was a kid, they had the laughing cow on the Babybel packaging.
6. What’s worse — pants that fall off your butt (so that you end up pulling them up all day), or pants that are too tight? Falling off. I can’t handle tight pants.
7. Do you have spring allergies? I’ve never tested positive for environmental allergies but wouldn’t be surprised to have a touch. Seems like I always have the sniffles when the seasons change.
8. Brows, lashes or lips? Lashes!
9. What’s for lunch? Cookies and Cream protein shake. I’ve minimized the salads bc of the blood thinner so these shakes are handy.