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. Golden brown or reddish brown?
Golden brown, baby!
2. Skincare advice you’d give to your teenage self?
Girlfriend, step away from the Sea Breeze toner. DON’T DO IT! Also, get thee a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide cream ASAP, and don’t be chintzy with it, either.
3. Name three beauty products you’ve used today so far.
Korres Greek Yoghurt Cleanser, Skinceuticals CE Ferulic and Avene Solaire UV Mineral Multi-Defense Tinted Sunscreen Fluid…because I’ve keeping it “minimal” in the morning since we’re traveling and all.
4. Basil or cilantro?
Basil, please.
5. Who’s the best at doing makeup in your family?
Allegedly, it’s me, but I think Connor’s editorial style is much more interesting.
6. How do you like your toast?
I like it when my bread is lightly toasted. If it’s overdone in any way I won’t have anything to do with it! My teeth and I can’t deal with bread that feels like a scouring pad.
7. Pickles: dill or bread and butter?
Bread and butter; I like the hint of sweetness.
8. Boy George or George Michael?
DUDE. How can one even choose? I guess I’d go with George Michael since his songs were basically the soundtrack of my childhood and teens.
9. What’s something you have to remember to do this week?
I have to remember to reorder migraine medicine, or else I’m gonna be in a world of hurt!
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. Golden brown or reddish brown?
2. Skincare advice you’d give to your teenage self?
3. Name three beauty products you’ve used today so far.
4. Basil or cilantro?
5. Who’s the best at doing makeup in your family?
6. How do you like your toast?
7. Pickles: dill or bread and butter?
8. Boy George or George Michael?
9. What’s something you have to remember to do this week?
P.P.S. A bright and sunshine-y aloha to you this morning, sweet girl! It’s a new day, and I have a feeling you’re going to have a good one. Please take time to enjoy a simple pleasure — a hot cup of coffee, a hug from a loved one, a text from a dear friend. The small things are ultimately the big things, you know?
I’m going to try to take this to heart today, too. In case you missed it, I’m currently visiting family on Oahu who I haven’t seen since pre-pandemic times, and I’m especially enjoying the small things that I love and have missed doing. It’s amazing how much the beach (with warm water!) does for the heart and soul. ?
Here goes:
1. Golden brown or reddish brown? I like more of a cool brown.
2. Skincare advice you’d give to your teenage self? Stop picking your pimples and use a strong sunscreen, not baby oil.
3. Name three beauty products you’ve used today so far. Scentuals Vitamin C Serum, The Ordinary Caffeine & EGCG and Supergoop Sunscreen
4. Basil or cilantro? Basil definitely, I am one of those people who can’t stand the smell of Cilantro.
5. Who’s the best at doing makeup in your family? I am the only one that uses makeup in my family.
6. How do you like your toast? Brown, not too well done.
7. Pickles: dill or bread and butter? I actually like Half Sour kosher pickles.
8. Boy George or George Michael? Neither. George Harrison would be my pick.
9. What’s something you have to remember to do this week? Make an appointment for a pedi-mani.
Have a great time in Hawaii and be well!
1. Golden brown or reddish brown?
Livin’ my life like it’s golden brown.
2. Skincare advice you’d give to your teenage self?
CHANGE YOUR DIET.
3. Name three beauty products you’ve used today so far.
(1) Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40; (2) Typology Tinted Serum; (3) Jones Road Miracle Balm.
4. Basil or cilantro?
Cilantro!
5. Who’s the best at doing makeup in your family?
At one point it would have been me; probably my sister now since she’s still in show biz and constantly prepping for shows, video, and photo shoots.
6. How do you like your toast?
Brown and crunchy with a sh*tton of butter.
7. Pickles: dill or bread and butter?
Dill.
8. Boy George or George Michael?
George Michael!
9. What’s something you have to remember to do this week?
Complete and submit HR forms for my next legal stint.
Happy da kine Monday, sis!
That’s awesome! I’ve been in and out, so I didn’t realize you were in Oahu. I’m sure you’re having a wonderful time (and I don’t blame you a bit about the sun protection!). 🙂
1. Golden brown or reddish brown? Reddish, pls.
2. Skincare advice you’d give to your teenage self? Hit the salicylic acid hard and wear sunscreen.
3. Name three beauty products you’ve used today so far. Neutrogena Rapid Repair lotion, Tata Harper Rejuvenating Serum and Tarte BB Cream.
4. Basil or cilantro? Basil for anything Italian, cilantro for anything Mexican. 🙂
5. Who’s the best at doing makeup in your family? Sadly,me.
6. How do you like your toast? Same. Lightly toasted. The roof of my mouth can’t take sharp foods.
7. Pickles: dill or bread and butter? Dill on sandwiches/burgers, but b&b to eat from the jar.
8. Boy George or George Michael? George Michael for sure. And I’m going to emphasize that with a Deadpool “WHAM!”.
9. What’s something you have to remember to do this week? Finalize travel plans, finalize boys’ grad party details, remind them to submit all necessary paperwork for college (and about 100 other things). HAHA!
1. Golden brown or reddish brown? Golden brown!
2. Skincare advice you’d give to your teenage self? Sunscreen!
3. Name three beauty products you’ve used today so far. Sadly, after an extraordinarily busy weekend, I haven’t done anything with skincare and it’s after 11 am! But I will put on Vitamin C serum, an SPF 50, and fill in my brows.
4. Basil or cilantro? Cilantro. All of it! But I love both.
5. Who’s the best at doing makeup in your family? Ha! We’re a bunch of natural ladies, probably me because I watch all the tutorials, but I wear very little.
6. How do you like your toast? Medium toasted, it must stay flat when held because I like a ton of butter, or a ton of cream cheese and jelly, or a ton of avocado. Not burnt, but we’ll toasted.
7. Pickles: dill or bread and butter? Dill. Baby kosher dills. And I add red pepper flakes to the brine so they’re spicy.
8. Boy George or George Michael? Whyyyyy do you ask the impossible questions? Culture Club was my first album when I was 9, so I’m gonna go with Boy George. But I seriously love them both with my whole heart.
9. What’s something you have to remember to do this week? Make appointments for my boy kitties to go see the vet and get their ⚽️ ? cut off! Lol! I’m the Queen of Neutering! I’ve got three boys who will be considerably lighter by the end of the week!
1. Golden brown or reddish brown? Reddish brown
2. Skincare advice you’d give to your teenage self? Stop all the washing and toner use. You’re making the oily skin worse!
3. Name three beauty products you’ve used today so far. Prescription cleanser for my rosacea, Volition Strawberry-C Serum, and MAC Spring Flock blush.
4. Basil or cilantro? Basil! I love fresh basil. I detest cilantro.
5. Who’s the best at doing makeup in your family? I am
6. How do you like your toast? Wheat bread toasted till golden, with butter.
7. Pickles: dill or bread and butter? I don’t eat pickles. Hubby likes the bread and butter kind.
8. Boy George or George Michael? George Michael
9. What’s something you have to remember to do this week? Turn in my hours and milage for work.
1. Golden brown or reddish brown? Golden as long as it’s not leaning too orangey.
2. Skincare advice you’d give to your teenage self? You will not get a suntan no matter how long you lay out in baby oil. So find some shade. (Sorry the highest SPF they had when I was a teenager was SPF6).
3. Name three beauty products you’ve used today so far. Just sunscreen. I put it on before my workout and haven’t gotten into the post-workout shower yet.
4. Basil or cilantro? Both.
5. Who’s the best at doing makeup in your family? Dear Daughter. She can do the sharpest cat-eye liner using an UD 24/7 pencil liner. Also her eyes are not hooded and her lashes are so dang long.
6. How do you like your toast? Golden brown please. Anything darker and I’m at the sink with a knife scraping the dark color off.
7. Pickles: dill or bread and butter? I’m gonna be contrary here. Korean radish or daikon pickles please. Although my grandmother used to make the best dill pickles.
8. Boy George or George Michael? Boy George
9. What’s something you have to remember to do this week? I need to remember to find and send a birthday present to Dear Daughter.
Hope you have a wonderful time with family in Hawaii. Love the hat you’re wearing in the water. Is that photo from Kailua Beach Park?
1. Golden brown.
2. You’re beautiful no matter what you look like on the outside. Don’t let anyone, including and especially your own mother, tell you any different.
3. Nothing, nothing and nothing. Hiding indoors with my kid with all the blinds closed and lights off.
4. Basil.
5. Me.
6. Multigrain bread medium toasted.
7. I don’t like pickles…unless they’re pickled fruit.
8. Sadly, I did not live in the era where I am familiar with either of these musicians.
9. Take. care. of. myself. first.
Take me to Hawaii with you!
1. Golden brown or reddish brown?
Golden!
2. Skincare advice you’d give to your teenage self?
Don’t let yourself burn, baby. Use sunscreen, not tanning oil!!! (Hard to believe that used to be a thing, and that sunscreen was so hard to find.)
3. Name three beauty products you’ve used today so far.
Cucumber-rose toner, Juice Beauty hydrating spray, SPF 50 sunscreen.
4. Basil or cilantro?
Both! But since it’s summer and I have to pick, I’ll say cilantro. Mmmm in a burrito or on a taco.
5. Who’s the best at doing makeup in your family?
Me. I live with all men (even a male dog) who are supremely uninterested in makeup. Though they get a kick out of picking things out for me, like nail polish colors. 🙂
6. How do you like your toast?
Super toasty and saturated in butter. (Hi, Christine! We can share toast sometime.) Honey is s good addition lately, too.
7. Pickles: dill or bread and butter?
Bread and butter! They remind me of my Midwestern farming, canning, and picking roots. And love the sweetness, like you, Karen.
8. Boy George or George Michael?
Neither?! I’m sure they’re both delightful people to talk with should I ever meet either one, though.
9. What’s something you have to remember to do this week?
There are honestly too many to choose from. Sixteen are swirling around competing for attention right now!! So I’ll echo Syah: take care of myself first. 🙂 (Hi Syah!)
PICKLING roots. Also…enjoy your family island time, Karen!
1. Golden brown or reddish brown? Golden.
2. Skincare advice you’d give to your teenage self? Invent BHA liquids and lotions and get them on the market ASAP. BHA is what finally fixed my acne, and it wasn’t available when I was a teenager. I’d have gotten extremely rich, too, if I had put it on the market first.
3. Name three beauty products you’ve used today so far. Only two today: Paula’s Choice Redness Relief and Goldfaden MD Solution Bright Eyes Dark Circle Radiance Concentrate. (I don’t really have dark circles but I’m using up the sample anyway.)
4. Basil or cilantro? Neither. I’m not into herbs and spices, really.
5. Who’s the best at doing makeup in your family? Me, of course.
6. How do you like your toast? Medium brown.
7. Pickles: dill or bread and butter? Sweet pickles only.
8. Boy George or George Michael? I play Boy George songs more than George Michael.
9. What’s something you have to remember to do this week? Get a refund on a nursery plant that died on me. So disappointing – I wanted to grow a milkweed plant for the butterflies, but it started dying on me the second I got it home from the nursery.
1. Golden brown or reddish brown? golden brown
2. Skincare advice you’d give to your teenage self? Beg your mother to take you to a dermatologist ASAP and stop picking at your face, it’s going to leave a scar!
3. Name three beauty products you’ve used today so far. Cerave SA cleanser, Cerave day lotion with spf 30, Glossier balm dotcom lip balm
4. Basil or cilantro? love them both, but if I have to choose – cilantro
5. Who’s the best at doing makeup in your family? me (if my husband is using my makeup, we have a problem)
6. How do you like your toast? lightly toasted and buttered with jam, please
7. Pickles: dill or bread and butter? dill if it is on a hamburger; otherwise B & B
8. Boy George or George Michael? love them both! but if I have to choose, than George Michael (RIP George, we miss you)
9. What’s something you have to remember to do this week? finish my library book.
1. Golden brown or reddish brown?
I prefer a cooler brown, with a hint of pink or purple!
2. Skincare advice you’d give to your teenage self?
Don’t pick! Also, SUNSCREEN (not suntan oil!)
3. Name three beauty products you’ve used today so far.
Aveeno cleanser and moisturizer with SPF, MAC Studio Fix powder
4. Basil or cilantro?
Basil
5. Who’s the best at doing makeup in your family?
Me (I’m the only one who wears it regularly)
6. How do you like your toast?
Very lightly toasted and HOT
7. Pickles: dill or bread and butter?
Bread and butter
8. Boy George or George Michael?
George Michael if I have to choose, but both, really
9. What’s something you have to remember to do this week?
Get a wardrobe fitting (for a movie extra role I’m doing next month)