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).
1. What’s the last picture you have on your camera roll?
A croissant and latte from yesterday’s breakfast at Creekside bakery in Novato. (Please see above.) The croissant was perfectly flaky and buttery, and the latte was rich and creamy. If you’re ever in town, definitely stop by for a bite.
2. Pick a mode of travel — airplane, train or car?
I’d pick a car first, but only if the drive was less than 10 hours and did not involve winding roads. Otherwise, I’d go with the airplane. I’ll give the train a hard pass as I’ve only traveled by train a handful of times in Europe. I remember it being stressful because of the language barrier; I also remember being on guard and not being able to relax at all.
3. Would you rather read a book or listen to an audiobook?
I’d rather read a book. It has to be a physical book where I can turn the pages, though. (I don’t do Kindles.)
4. What helps you relax after a long day?
A hot shower, comfy pajamas and a simple, healthy meal. If I can have those three things, I feel cared for.
5. Loose powder: love it or leave it?
Love it, but it’s gotta be Chanel.
6. Three beauty-related things you never get tired of?
Hair care products, fragrances (I love reading about them!) and sunscreen.
7. A podcast you like?
“Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing” is my favorite at the moment.
8. How many hours of sleep do you need?
Eight hours is my sweet spot. Note to self: go to bed early tonight!
9. Something nice that happened to you recently?
Yesterday, Connor and I took a walk in our neighborhood. During our stroll, someone rode by on a bike with a basket on the handlebars, and inside the basket was the cutest little dog having the time of its life! It was such a fleeting moment, yet it brought both of us so much joy.
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 the last picture you have on your camera roll?
2. Pick a mode of travel: airplane, train or car?
3. Would you rather read a book or listen to an audiobook?
4. What helps you relax after a long day?
5. Loose powder: love it or leave it?
6. Three beauty-related things you never get tired of?
7. A podcast you like?
8. How many hours of sleep do you need?
9. Something nice that happened to you recently?
P.P.S. Good morning, beautiful! Happy Labor day to ya. Hope you’re enjoying a relaxing day off. 🤗
1. What’s the last picture you have on your camera roll? Cinnamon Rolls made from scratch.
2. Pick a mode of travel: airplane, train or car? Car, By the time you deal with O’Hare airport here you might as well drive to most places in the Midwest.
3. Would you rather read a book or listen to an audiobook? Real “dead tree” book, please.
4. What helps you relax after a long day? Long hot shower and a cup of herbal tea.
5. Loose powder: love it or leave it? I’ve never worn powder, since my skin is super dry it just makes it look more so.
6. Three beauty-related things you never get tired of? Soap – I have quite the collection of soaps, my favorite right now is made with ground rose petals and shea butter (Alpenglow Skincare of Alaska), lip balms, and sunscreen.
7. A podcast you like? I haven’t listened to any in a LONG time.
8. How many hours of sleep do you need? 8 hours or I’m a zombie.
9. Something nice that happened to you recently? My acupuncturist brought me a big bunch of homegrown herbs to use in cooking.
Have a lovely time cooking with those herbs! YUM!
1. What’s the last picture you have on your camera roll?
A game/puzzle that was completed
2. Pick a mode of travel: airplane, train or car?
I’m gonna go with airplane. Definitely not car.
3. Would you rather read a book or listen to an audiobook?
Read a book
4. What helps you relax after a long day?
Probably curling up with my iPad and watching something on YouTube
5. Loose powder: love it or leave it?
Right now, leave it
6. Three beauty-related things you never get tired of?
Lip balm/chapstick, eyeliner and body moisturizer
7. A podcast you like?
None at the moment (not really a regular podcast listener)
8. How many hours of sleep do you need?
In 24 hours, I’ll take a min of 7-8
9. Something nice that happened to you recently?
Visited my kid’s new classroom recently. Felt great
1. What’s the last picture you have on your camera roll? Nibbler hugging my foot while curled up on the sofa.
2. Pick a mode of travel: airplane, train or car? Airplane. Can’t cross the Atlantic or Pacific in a car or train. Just once I’d like to know what it’s like to fly private and avoid the long TSA lines. Just once.
3. Would you rather read a book or listen to an audiobook? Read. If it’s just audio I tend to zone out and miss huge chunks of info. I need visuals.
4. What helps you relax after a long day? A good meal, a good cocktail and hug from Dear Husband.
5. Loose powder: love it or leave it? Since all the ones I used to love have been discontinued or reformulated I’m gonna say leave it.
6. Three beauty-related things you never get tired of? Sunscreen, mascara and fragrance.
7. A podcast you like? I don’t like podcasts. No visuals so I zone out and miss it all.
8. How many hours of sleep do you need? 7 is my sweet spot, but I function well on 6. Anything more than that is just a bonus.
9. Something nice that happened to you recently? My neighbor across the street helped me divide and repot the succulents Dear Daughter left with me.
1. A pic I took in front of the mirror documenting the first time I put on makeup after recovering enough from covid to wear makeup!
2. Airplane
3. Read a book. I’m a fast reader, so listening takes longer!
4. A hot cup of tea.
5. Leave it
6. Lipstick, how my hair looks after a good blowout, my fancy soap.
7. I don’t listen to any! So I’ll go with the lofi hip hop music page.
8. 6-8
9. I love this question. My husband did an amazing job taking care of me when I was sick. Somehow, he still thought I was beautiful (which made me laugh because I felt and looked like crap) and even bought me flowers. I got myself a good one!
1. What’s the last picture you have on your camera roll?
A photo of an old seventies photo of me as a baby in my late dad’s arms that I sent to my brother to see if his newest son looks like me as he grows older.
2. Pick a mode of travel: airplane, train or car?
I LOVE airplanes. And love to fly. Not cheap or easy these days I hear but feels so dramatic and exciting every time I go anywhere.
3. Would you rather read a book or listen to an audiobook?
Read hands down but for one exception – I have never been able to read self help books so audio for those is the only way I can go. No idea why this is. I’ve tried to read them in physical book four never get it done.
4. What helps you relax after a long day?
FaceTime with my niece to laugh out loud and a hug from my spouse.
5. Loose powder: love it or leave it?
Leave it. I’m a klutz and couldn’t do it without making a mess. I’m also always doing my makeup on the run so too messy.
6. Three beauty-related things you never get tired of?
Tinted lipglosses, new hairsprays with great smells and light peach semi sparkly or shimmery eyeshadow (cream best)!
7. A podcast you like?
We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle
8. How many hours of sleep do you need? Ideally 8 hours. Any less than 6 and I am a mess.
9. Something nice that happened to you recently? My brothers wedding was full of family from international locations and we had such nice time to visit and get to know each other better. Especially my dad’s family which makes me feel closer to him and in turn I missed him a little less these days.
1. What’s the last picture you have on your camera roll?
Photo of my morning coffee with steamed milk made using my new stovetop steamer.
2. Pick a mode of travel: airplane, train or car?
It really depends. If distance and time are of the essence, plane, but I hate it. If long distance and I have time, train sounds lovely. I love a car trip, but gas prices are really high, so that would be difficult.
3. Would you rather read a book or listen to an audiobook?
Definitely read, I don’t have the focus for an audiobook.
4. What helps you relax after a long day?
Quiet time, preferably alone. A cup of tea or glass of wine are nice, or a bowl of soup. Sitting outside.
5. Loose powder: love it or leave it?
Leave it. I never use it.
6. Three beauty-related things you never get tired of?
Lipstick, tinted moisturizer/spf, a really good haircut.
7. A podcast you like?
For very brief ones, I love BirdNote Daily and Poem A Day. Full length, The Great Women Artists podcast is really great.
8. How many hours of sleep do you need?
I like around 8.
9. Something nice that happened to you recently?
I hung out with a friend I hadn’t seen in many months. We had a little picnic at a park.
1. What’s the last picture you have on your camera roll? The family of turkeys that visit my yard every day. We’ve dubbed the mama “Ethel” and she’s got five babies. I am obsessed with those turkeys!
2. Pick a mode of travel: airplane, train or car? Car. I like seeing and visiting the little slices of the world that I normally wouldn’t see.
3. Would you rather read a book or listen to an audiobook? I like both a lot. This one is hard.
4. What helps you relax after a long day? A long hot shower and climbing into bed.
5. Loose powder: love it or leave it? Leave it. I’m a dry girl, I like looking glowy.
6. Three beauty-related things you never get tired of? Sunscreen, lip masks, and blush.
7. A podcast you like? Imagined Life, it’s sweet.
8. How many hours of sleep do you need? I like 7.
9. Something nice that happened to you recently? I recently moved to a new state and our new neighbors have been so nice.
1. What’s the last picture you have on your camera roll?
A picture of roses I bought for myself.
2. Pick a mode of travel: airplane, train or car?
Train. I’ve quite enjoyed my Amtrak trips when driving has proved inconvenient. I do love to fly but haven’t done so in years.
3. Would you rather read a book or listen to an audiobook?
Read a book.
4. What helps you relax after a long day?
A long soak in the jetted tub.
5. Loose powder: love it or leave it?
Love it.
6. Three beauty-related things you never get tired of?
Sunscreen, fragrance and body lotion.
7. A podcast you like?
I’ve yet to listen to a podcast.
8. How many hours of sleep do you need?
About seven and a half hours.
9. Something nice that happened to you recently?
I met up with a friend for lunch. We hadn’t seen each other in several years due to Covid and her big move to a state far away. It was great to catch up.
1. What’s the last picture you have on your camera roll? Not a photo, but video of the recovering trees and grass in my area. The drought and heat were intense this year, but it appears to be over now.
2. Pick a mode of travel: airplane, train or car? Airplane if I can go first class (which I have never done). I got to ride cross-country on a train before Amtrak existed, when I was a kid. It was difficult to sleep on it due to the noise. Car travel is truly frightening to me because of the high percentage of horrible drivers out there, and all the giant freight trucks.
3. Would you rather read a book or listen to an audiobook? Depends on the book. Non-fiction audiobooks are great. I got through so many on my MP3 player (still don’t have a smartphone) on my lunch period at work. I think I prefer actually reading novels. Kindles are great for aging eyes, because you can change the size of the font. My older model can even read most books to you, and you can choose the voice (male/female, and accent) it reads to you. Also, you can borrow library books on Kindles.
4. What helps you relax after a long day? Listening to music, or watching a well-loved movie.
5. Loose powder: love it or leave it? I feel like I have to use it to keep makeup in place, but I don’t really love it.
6. Three beauty-related things you never get tired of? Eyeshadow palette reviews – though I own far too many, tinted moisturizers, 2% BHA liquid.
7. A podcast you like? Noel Casler (he worked with Trump on Celeb. Apprentice – he has inside info about that guy that will curl your hair), and also Mary Trump’s podcast (she is Trump’s niece and also has a PhD in psychology).
8. How many hours of sleep do you need? Probably 8, but due to age, chemo after-effects, stress, and a bad mattress, I only get about 5 or 6 most of the time.
9. Something nice that happened to you recently? That’s a tough one. I guess finding a tiny “volunteer” blooming purple coneflower in my flower bed. (I had some coneflower plants that died, but this one was in a different place – perhaps it came up from the roots or from a seed).
1. What’s the last picture you have on your camera roll?
Lots of water bottles and the scissors I used to cut the grapes. We are currently in France for the grape harvest on my fathers vineyard and it is SO hot!
2. Pick a mode of travel: airplane, train or car?
Airplane for long distance, but to be honest if I travel shorter trips I much prefer the train. I can get up when I want to, sit there and read/ watch videos/ work… It is also much easier to keep the kids entertained. I don’t mind the car too much either, but only if there is another person that I can share the driving with if it is more than 2 hours.
3. Would you rather read a book or listen to an audiobook?
Always a real book, I can’t listen to stories, I can’t focus enough for that. I do Kindle though, it is amazing for long holidays where you would otherwise need to bring multiple books.
4. What helps you relax after a long day?
Taking my makeup off and doing my skincare routine.
5. Loose powder: love it or leave it?
Love it, although I have had it make a mess in my bag more than once.
6. Three beauty-related things you never get tired of?
Red lipstick, Vitamin C and black liner.
7. A podcast you like?
I don’t listen to many right now.
8. How many hours of sleep do you need?
8-9. 9 is perfect, but usually not possible, and less than 8 leaves me grumpy.
9. Something nice that happened to you recently?
I am on holiday – lot’s of things like sleeping in, cuddles, French croissants…
1. What’s the last picture you have on your camera roll? My blood pressure reading. I’ve been instructed to monitor it.
2. Pick a mode of travel: airplane, train or car? Car as long as I’m not doing the driving on long-distance trips. Trains in countries where they are fast, clean, and efficient (Japan tops that list!)
3. Would you rather read a book or listen to an audiobook? Read a book on my Kindle because my mind wanders when I listen to audiobooks. Also I can borrow a bunch of ebooks from the library.
4. What helps you relax after a long day? A shower, curling up with a Stephen King book, and a goodnight cuddle from my little boy
5. Loose powder: love it or leave it? Leave it
6. Three beauty-related things you never get tired of? Vitamin C serum, eyelash curler and mascara
7. A podcast you like? Plant-related ones at the moment
8. How many hours of sleep do you need? 6-8
9. Something nice that happened to you recently. I played my very first round of golf with my husband and I wasn’t terrible!
1. What’s the last picture you have on your camera roll? My cat, T-Bone / Bonehead, / Thomasito / Thomas curled up in my lap yesterday. (he has multiple names!)
2. Pick a mode of travel: airplane, train or car? Preferably car since flying is such a beating, but if it’s approaching 9-10 hours, I’ll fly. I’ve never taken a long train ride so I can’t factor that in.
3. Would you rather read a book or listen to an audiobook? 100% book!
4. What helps you relax after a long day? Vegging out in front of a mindless sit-com.
5. Loose powder: love it or leave it? Leave it. I make too big of a mess with it.
6. Three beauty-related things you never get tired of? Mascara, lip gloss, night creams.
7. A podcast you like? Don’t listen to any.
8. How many hours of sleep do you need? 8+
9. Something nice that happened to you recently? Planned to get together with a couple of friends who I haven’t seen for 3-4 years.
1. What’s the last picture you have on your camera roll? A picture of the last Christmas gift (knitted) that I finished, a long-sleeved sweater for a (by that time) almost 4 year old.
2. Pick a mode of travel: airplane, train or car? Car unless it’s a >13 hour drive. Then I would bite the bullet and fly. The train is unreliable outside the Boston-DC corridor.
3. Would you rather read a book or listen to an audiobook? Read a book for sure. I’ve love to be able to listen to an audiobook and knit but for some reason I can’t stand most audiobook readers. But I like podcasts.
4. What helps you relax after a long day? Having at least an hour before my husband gets home to zone out.
5. Loose powder: love it or leave it? Leave it, don’t really need it.
6. Three beauty-related things you never get tired of? Eyelash curlers, lip balm, and clean spoolies to try to keep my brows going in the right direction.
7. A podcast you like? Lovett or Leave It.
8. How many hours of sleep do you need? I prefer at least 8, but I can get by with 7. Any less than that and there’s going to be a problem.
9. Something nice that happened to you recently? … Not much coming to mind.