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 more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007).
Monday Poll Back-to-School Fall 2022 Edition
1. Name a scent (or scents) you wore back in your school days.
In high school I was all about Cover Girl Navy and YSL Paris. I also really liked Exclamation and Debbie Gibson’s Electric Youth (whoa, throwbacks!), but I knew too many people who wore them so I didn’t go there, although I really wanted to. In college I wore Estee Lauder Pleasures, Clinique Happy and Juniper Breeze Body Lotion from Bath & Body Works. Funny thing I remember about Bath & Body Works “flavors.” There was an unwritten rule that if your roommate wore a certain scent, you couldn’t, so even if you liked Country Apple, if your roommate claimed it first, then you had to find something else.
2. Were you into decorating your school locker?
I have a vague recollection of doing it in middle school and for freshman year in high school. I remember cutting out pictures from magazines and putting them up with tape and thinking how cool I was, LOL! I wonder if kids still do that.
3. What school activities did you do?
I geeked out in the band SO HARD you don’t even know. LOL! I was also on the high school paper during my senior year, too; honestly, it was nothing anybody took seriously. Nobody really cared about having a byline. You joined the paper because you got an extra lunch period!
4. How often did you take the bus to school?
I took the bus during my first couple years in high school, and man, that was some scary sh*t. Public school transportation will teach you things real fast. It was like “Lord of the Flies,” no joke. I was quiet and shy and insecure, but luckily I had friends whom you did not mess with, which helped me get through that era without any major incident.
5. Did you go to your high school reunion?
Nah. Didn’t feel the need. My friend still Cindy keeps in touch with a group of people from that era, so if/when there’s news, she’ll loop me in with what’s going on.
6. Describe your high school hairstyle in five words.
Big, curly, stiff, time consuming.
7. Your high school makeup essentials?
Corn Silk Pressed Powder (remember that?), Coty Airspun Loose Powder, all the liquid foundations that were way too beige and made my skin look grey, Revlon Toast of New York Lipstick and Cherries in the Snow Lipstick, Wet ‘n’ Wild 666 Lip Liner, Clinique Lipstick and Blush…
8. How concerned were you about photos on picture day?
Probably too concerned. LOL! I remember obsessing over possible “looks” for weeks.
9. Some advice to those going back to school this fall?
When you’re taking school pictures, remember to put some powder on to take down the shiny spots. Also, your school years go by faster than you think! Try to enjoy this season in your life as much as you can. It won’t last forever.
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. Name a scent (or scents) you wore back in your school days.
2. Were you into decorating your school locker?
3. What school activities did you do?
4. How often did you take the bus to school?
5. Did you go to your high school reunion?
6. Describe your high school hairstyle in five words.
7. Your high school makeup essentials?
8. How concerned were you about photos on picture day?
9. Some advice to those going back to school this fall?
P.P.S. Hey, beautiful girl. This week is going to be a good one for us. I can just feel it! 🤗
1. Name a scent (or scents) you wore back in your school days.
I liked CK One, not sure if for the actual scent or the innovative (for the time) image.
2. Were you into decorating your school locker?
No, I wasn’t really invested.
3. What school activities did you do?
None.
4. How often did you take the bus to school?
Until I got my driver’s license at 16.
5. Did you go to your high school reunion?
No, I’m not in touch with anyone from high school.
6. Describe your high school hairstyle in five words.
Chin-length curly bob, dyed black for the first couple of years. Then shaved head.
7. Your high school makeup essentials?
I didn’t really wear makeup, the only thing I can remember having was Clinique Black Honey.
8. How concerned were you about photos on picture day?
I wasn’t, but for my senior photo I submitted my own black and white photo, very “arty” lol.
9. Some advice to those going back to school this fall?
Do your readings before each class, ask questions, keep your eyes on the prize! Best of luck and you can definitely do it!
To everything there is a season—and I let go of my high school days decades ago, but some of the questions are fun.
1. Name a scent (or scents) you wore back in your school days. I wore Jolie Madame by Balmain and L’Interdit by Givenchy.
2. Were you into decorating your school locker? No.
3. What school activities did you do? I was in Play Production.
4. How often did you take the bus to school? Never. It was just three miles so I walked.
5. Did you go to your high school reunion? No. I had absolutely no interest in that particular trip down memory lane.
6. Describe your high school hairstyle in five words. Long, straight, curtain bangs, ratted at the crown.
7. Your high school makeup essentials? Black eyeliner and mascara (my brows were already thick and black) and a light pink frosted lipgloss by Yardley of London. This was the sixties 😃
8. How concerned were you about photos on picture day? I wasn’t concerned because I didn’t purchase school pictures. My grandfather was a professional photographer and he always took my headshots.
9. Some advice to those going back to school this fall? Be true to yourself without becoming self-absorbed. Giving of yourself to others does not diminish you, it enriches you. The teen years are formative so take the time to get to know yourself while acknowledging that everyone has their own path to follow in life. Don’t try to mold yourself into their image. What works for them might not work for you and that’s as it should be.
Happy Monday!
1.Name a scent (or scents) you wore back in your school days. I wore Clinique Elixir in high school and Lauren by Ralph Lauren in college
2. Were you into decorating your school locker? no
3. What school activities did you do? Drama club
4. How often did you take the bus to school? every day
5. Did you go to your high school reunion? no
6. Describe your high school hairstyle in five words. What ever was trendy. I did the Dorothy Hamill cut my through out my senior year
7. Your high school makeup essentials? Not much. I was not a makeup wearer then.
8. How concerned were you about photos on picture day? Not concerned at all.
9. Some advice to those going back to school this fall? Enjoy your time in school and don’t sweat the small stuff.
Speaking of school, Zack goes back this Friday for his Senior year in college. The time has really flown by.
Be well!
1. Name a scent (or scents) you wore back in your school days. Calyx by Prescriptives in the early 90s
2. Were you into decorating your school locker? Not at all
3. What school activities did you do? Tennis team and all the school service-type clubs (to pad college applications lol); peer tutoring
4. How often did you take the bus to school? First couple of years until my best friend and I got cars and could finally carpool
5. Did you go to your high school reunion? No
6. Describe your high school hairstyle in five words. Black, straight, one-length bob, middle part
7. Your high school makeup essentials? Just some Prescriptives concealer and always a red lipstick
8. How concerned were you about photos on picture day? Didn’t really care much because we didn’t buy the pictures
9. Some advice to those going back to school this fall? Don’t take on too much. The stress isn’t worth it!
1. Name a scent (or scents) you wore back in your school days.
Tresor by Lancome – looking back way too grown up for me I guess.
2. Were you into decorating your school locker?
We didn’t have school lockers in Germany.
3. What school activities did you do?
Drama group and school paper.
4. How often did you take the bus to school?
Never, always went by bike.
5. Did you go to your high school reunion?
Yes, I did actually this year. It was a lot of fun, especially the mean girl that got drunk and started apologizing to everyone about things she had said back in the days.
6. Describe your high school hairstyle in five words.
Never right and much effort.
7. Your high school makeup essentials?
Full coverage foundation (to “hide” the acne – didn’t work), turquoise liner and nude lipsticks.
8. How concerned were you about photos on picture day?
It isn’t a big deal in Germany, so not much.
9. Some advice to those going back to school this fall?
Don’t stress about maths, it is the people you should focus on.
1. Name a scent (or scents) you wore back in your school days.
Didn’t. Really got into scents in my early 20s. Though in college I remember really wanting a vanilla body splash after frequently smelling whiffs of my roommate’s vanilla-scented deodorant. My brother eventually got me one( since I was too broke to get anything at the time)
2. Were you into decorating your school locker?
No, didn’t have a locker, but I wonder if I would’ve gone so far as sticking things on mine if I had one. Nope, probably wouldn’t have dared defacing mine at the time. (I never stuck stuff on the bedroom walls either. Just could never get into it)
3. What school activities did you do?
Well, band was one. Yeah that was it, really. In high school there were several activities but none that I cherished as much my music class in elementary school.
4. How often did you take the bus to school?
In elementary school, a LOT. It was the school bus, everyday. And I’m pretty sure I still suffer from trauma from those days.
5. Did you go to your high school reunion?
Nope. Don’t think we had one but even if we did, I wouldn’t bother. A college reunion I would consider going to.
6. Describe your high school hairstyle in five words.
Long. Plaited. Ribbons. Simple. Happiness.
7. Your high school makeup essentials?
Lots of kohl, or eyeliner, and I’m ready 🙂
8. How concerned were you about photos on picture day?
Not at all really. It was always a fun time.
9. Some advice to those going back to school this fall?
Study well. Look after yourself, academics included, even if people taunt you and make fun of you along the way. Be proud that you’re a SCHOLAR!
1. Name a scent (or scents) you wore back in your school days.
YSL Opium
2. Were you into decorating your school locker?
Not that I recall, but my boyfriend and I left notes in each other’s lockers that we typed in manual typewriters in typing class (that class gave me excellent keyboarding skills for life!)
3. What school activities did you do?
Synchronized swimming, pottery, art, pit orchestra (violin) for every stage production, stagecraft scenery
4. How often did you take the bus to school?
Never—rode my bike (maybe 3-4 miles) and then went to boarding school
5. Did you go to your high school reunion?
No, no interest
6. Describe your high school hairstyle in five words.
Naturally straight mid-length minimally styled
7. Your high school makeup essentials?
None until I bought a brick red Prescriptives lipstick at the mall, and I wore it for dressy occasions
8. How concerned were you about photos on picture day?
It was kind of exciting, and I thought about my outfit and hair, but not really concerned
9. Some advice to those going back to school this fall?
Take classes that reflect your authentic interests. Whatever they are, you’ll be able to transfer what you learn to your authentic interests and work later on. Don’t be afraid to delete social apps for a day, a week, a month. Sit quietly with your own thoughts and no monetized media (no phone) and think about things regularly. Be in nature whenever you can. Study history from good academic sources (use the internet to find them and ask your teachers). Identify your best qualities and enjoy and strengthen them. Do the same for others. Identify your worst and work to overcome them. Don’t get easily offended; celebrate the best and let the rest go.
Wow, that was a tome. Lol! Happy Monday Karen!
1. Name a scent (or scents) you wore back in your school days.
Oh I definitely rocked some Happy and I remember Pleasures! I also loved the Gap body sprays and Heaven was my favorite. I remember asking for Chanel Allure for my 14th or 15th birthday. I guess I thought I was fancy!
2. Were you into decorating your school locker?
I know I had a locker in high school but I barely remember using it. I don’t know why!
3. What school activities did you do?
I was somewhat involved in Drama Club (but I think mainly b/c so many of my friends were). I was also in Beta Club and Future Educators of America.
4. How often did you take the bus to school?
I only took the bus if I had plans after school with a friend who took the bus.
5. Did you go to your high school reunion?
Never been to one. I keep up with who I care about. I also have a friend who is on social media and will give me the scoop.
6. Describe your high school hairstyle in five words.
It took so much time. I blew out and flat ironed my naturally wavy/curly hair most days. But looking back at pics I did wear it natural at least some of the time.
7. Your high school makeup essentials?
I know I wore foundation to cover up acne (probably poorly, lol). At some point I wore eyeliner because I remember before school started one year (maybe before 10th grade?) my mom commenting how grown up I looked with eyeliner. It’s funny how some things stick with you. I also wore Clinique black honey (thanks to my cool friend, Lauren) and most definitely some wet n wild lip color.
8. How concerned were you about photos on picture day?
Probably most concerned about my skin by middle/high school. Even at 42 I have skin insecurities from acne. And my skin is honestly pretty good now.
9. Some advice to those going back to school this fall?
Find a healthy balance between school and fun. Don’t turn down exciting/interesting experiences and opportunities that come your way!
1. Name a scent (or scents) you wore back in your school days. I was quite poor growing up, there was no money for perfume. Got my first when I started babysitting and it was CK One.
2. Were you into decorating your school locker? No.
3. What school activities did you do? Several clubs: Teachers club, and Library get-togethers.
4. How often did you take the bus to school? Every day. Got my license at 16, but didn’t get my first car until I was 19.
5. Did you go to your high school reunion? Yes, I went to my 45th & 50th! So many classmates already passed away.
6. Describe your high school hairstyle in five words. Straight, straight, straight, straight, and straight! It was the thing at the time, I actually ironed my hair (like in an ironing board & a real iron!). I have curly hair so it was difficult.
7. Your high school makeup essentials? City Airspun all the way, and lipstick. My parents didn’t allow me to wear mascara, or liquid foundation.
8. How concerned were you about photos on picture day? Not very.
9. Some advice to those going back to school this fall? It goes by so fast. Try to realize that everyone else is just as insecure as you are.
1. Name a scent (or scents) you wore back in your school days. so in college i wore a lot of vanilla scents and cool water for women.
2. Were you into decorating your school locker? no
3. What school activities did you do? in high school, fbla , mock trial , model senate. you’d think i would be a lawyer. lol . in college , i did a sorority, psi chi etc.
4. How often did you take the bus to school? very often
5. Did you go to your high school reunion? no.
6. Describe your high school hairstyle in five words. 90% was a raggedy pony tail
7. Your high school makeup essentials? lotion on my face and clear lipgloss
8. How concerned were you about photos on picture day? i was always nervous about school related stuff but i never wanted the pictures in middle and high school
9. Some advice to those going back to school this fall? make a goal before the semester starts.
1. Name a scent (or scents) you wore back in your school days. Uhm, that was sooo long ago. Let’s see L’Air du Temps in high school. Can’t remember what I wore in college. I just remember every time I broke up with a guy, I changed my scent.
2. Were you into decorating your school locker? Freshman year in high school I recreated the cover to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon on black construction paper and put that in my locker. I used typewriter correction tape to type the lyrics. After that I didn’t bother.
3. What school activities did you do? Theater, orchestra, art, science fairs.
4. How often did you take the bus to school? Took the city bus to high school almost every day, until senior year when this guy sat by me and starting stroking my leg, telling me he liked my thighs. I got up and moved behind the driver. My mom let me borrow her car every now and then after that.
5. Did you go to your high school reunion? No. I stayed in touch with my close friends until I was pregnant with Dear Daughter and then they started making remarks which pointed out just how different we were. Never spoke to them after that.
6. Describe your high school hairstyle in five words. Glamour magazine makeover, pixie cut.
7. Your high school makeup essentials? Maybelline brown eyeliner pencil and Clinique Naturally Glossy Mascara in brown (which they just discontinued and I’m having a hard time finding a replacement after wearing it for 46 years). Lip gloss.
8. How concerned were you about photos on picture day? Until senior photos, not very.
9. Some advice to those going back to school this fall? Make good study habits, do your homework, hand in assignments on time. If you don’t understand something ask questions in class or ask the teacher for help after class. Just because all your friends are doing something, if it doesn’t feel right or comfortable to you, don’t do it.
1. Name a scent (or scents) you wore back in your school days.
The Calgon body sprays!
2. Were you into decorating your school locker?
Nope.
3. What school activities did you do?
French club, theater, National Honor Society, I hosted the talent show, I was in our Junior Miss pageant, and I was in the class that ran the school store and Prom. I had an accounting student if the year trophy LOL
4. How often did you take the bus to school?
Never. I lived in a really large school district in terms of square miles, i would have had to get on before 7 in the morning to get to school at 8:15. My mom drove me because she didn’t want to have to get up that early.
5. Did you go to your high school reunion?
Hell no.
6. Describe your high school hairstyle in five words.
Straight, red, center part. I didn’t do much to it.
7. Your high school makeup essentials?
I didn’t really wear much makeup unt my senior year, and then it was Revlon liquid liner and some drugstore mascara.
8. How concerned were you about photos on picture day?
Relatively. My senior pics turned out nice.
9. Some advice to those going back to school this fall?
ReWriting notes by hand does wonders for memorization.
1. Name a scent (or scents) you wore back in your school days. Revlon Charlie, Loves Fresh Lemon. In College Estee Lauder Estee or Cinnabar.
2. Were you into decorating your school locker? No.
3. What school activities did you do? Band geek here as well. Chess Club, Debating Team. Sports – High School Track Team.
4. How often did you take the bus to school? Never after grade school (it was pretty far from our house). High school was only a mile away, we walked, rain or shine.
5. Did you go to your high school reunion? No, though I’m still good friends with two people from my graduating class and we talk all the time.
6. Describe your high school hairstyle in five words. Long, blown out straight, parted down the middle.
7. Your high school makeup essentials? Maybelline eyeshadow (usually a green color) and mascara, and Cover Girl lip gloss. I had pretty good skin so I rarely wore foundation, if I did it was Cover Girl.
8. How concerned were you about photos on picture day? I had braces for what seemed forever so I hated school photos.
9. Some advice to those going back to school this fall? Enjoy it, compared to the rest of your life, looking back, it will seem one of the more fun and easier parts.
1. Name a scent (or scents) you wore back in your school days. Colors by Benetton and one of the Garden Botanika oils worn alone.
2. Were you into decorating your school locker? Not really, usually just pictures of friends.
3. What school activities did you do? Band, chorus, track & field, NHS, French club, tutoring elementary school students.
4. How often did you take the bus to school? Had to every day. It was a rural district and very few families could afford an extra car. Every once in a while, I could bum a ride home. The buses were for K-12 though so it never got too rowdy because of the littles.
5. Did you go to your high school reunion? I went to the 10-year, which was entertaining, but since our class president/class officers are either too lazy or didn’t want to organize the 20th or 25th, they didn’t get organized.
6. Describe your high school hairstyle in five words. Curly, big, continual growout.
7. Your high school makeup essentials? Some nude shadow, powder, black mascara (usually Almay), Toast of NY lipstick or a pink gloss.
8. How concerned were you about photos on picture day? I was most worried about my hair and rightfully so. My sophomore picture hair was still a disaster.
9. Some advice to those going back to school this fall? Wear a mask!
1. Name a scent (or scents) you wore back in your school days.
In high school, Love’s Baby Soft and Jean Nate body splash. Occasionally I would use a sample of Rive Gauche or Magie Noire, both of which were way too sophisticated for me. In college, I wore Raffinee Houbigant (which I received as a gift) and Ivoire de Balmain.
2. Were you into decorating your school locker?
Not that I recall. I was too into decorating my notebooks!
3. What school activities did you do?
I was in choir in both high school and college. I also belonged to a dance group in college.
4. How often did you take the bus to school?
Every single day. Best was in early grade school — I remember half shutting my eyes and watching the treetops and dappled sunlight.
5. Did you go to your high school reunion?
No way.
6. Describe your high school hairstyle in five words.
Dorky, dorky, dorky, dorky and dorky.
7. Your high school makeup essentials?
Bonne Bell blush (spoiler alert: it was too brown for my skin tone), Lip Lickers (lip balm in a tin), Coty Airspun Powder. I was afraid of mascara!
8. How concerned were you about photos on picture day?
Eh, not too concerned. I was more into my outfit.
9. Some advice to those going back to school this fall?
Keep your eyes on the prize!
1. Name a scent (or scents) you wore back in your school days.
Victoria Secret Love Spell
2. Were you into decorating your school locker?
Not really
3. What school activities did you do?
I did not participate in any after school activities because I got a job at the mall
4. How often did you take the bus to school?
For 2 years of high school
5. Did you go to your high school reunion?
NO! I hated high school😖
6. Describe your high school hairstyle in five words.
Straightened with blonde highlights
7. Your high school makeup essentials?
Covergirl foundation & powder (Probably too orange😒)
Revlon lipstick (usually dark plum or red)
Covergirl Mink eyeshadow
Covergirl mascara
Black Revlon eyeliner on my lower lash line
A glittery star by me eye from Claire’s ( 🤣🤣🤣)
I could put my makeup on so fast back then…no bronzer, no highlight, no special concealer under eye, no brow product.
8. How concerned were you about photos on picture day? Very concerned…They only took one and they specialized in making you look bad
9. Some advice to those going back to school this fall? High School will not matter when you “grow-up”. It’s okay to make mistakes…nobody is perfect. Learn to be kind to others…and yourself.
Happy Tuesday. 🙂
1. Name a scent (or scents) you wore back in your school days. LouLou and Poison were (and still are) two of my faves. We had access to all kinds of free/cheap designer perfumes from the local duty free, so there was quite a rotation. I remember wearing Liz Claiborne and Colors of Benetton quite a bit.
2. Were you into decorating your school locker? You know, I can’t remember. I don’t think so, but now I’ll have to quiz my friends to see if they can jog my memory.
3. What school activities did you do? Soccer, basketball, softball, Harvard Model UN, our local model UN, French Club, Key Club, Student Council, Honor Society – probably a bunch of other stuff. My friends and I were pretty active in school stuff. 🙂
4. How often did you take the bus to school? Every day from 7th – 10th grade. After that, I usually rode with friends. Totally agree about the life lessons on the bus! A lot of my friends brought their kids to school, but I made sure mine rode the bus (they had each other and a good group of friends) so they would have experience dealing with those kinds of situations and gain some independence.
5. Did you go to your high school reunion? Yes, we’ve had two and I’ve been to both. I’m still in the same area and have the same best friends, who I see every day, but it was nice to catch up with folks I never see. We only had a class of about 130 kids, though, so we were all pretty close/friendly.
6. Describe your high school hairstyle in five words. Big, crunchy, spiral, long, 80s!
7. Your high school makeup essentials? My mother’s foundation (I’m sure), corn silk loose powder, lots of Mary Kay – mascara, blush, frosted lip gloss (omg), pink & blue eyeshadow and black liner (melted with a lighter before being put on my waterline). I’m just shuddering as I type this. HAHA!
8. How concerned were you about photos on picture day? A bit. It always seemed to be a bad hair day. I did think about what I’d wear, though. Which I’m not sure, when seeing the pictures now, anyone would believe.
9. Some advice to those going back to school this fall? Enjoy this time of your life. It is unique in so many ways, and hopefully in a good way. Do your best. Do not coast. It will matter, because good habits start young. Be kind to people and try not to take it to heart if people are not kind in return. Most of the people who are so much a part of your life today will not be when you graduate – unless you choose them to be. 🙂