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. An old school scent you loved back in the day?
In high school, I always wanted a bottle of Electric Youth, which was Debbie Gibson’s perfume. I wonder if I would still like it if I got a whiff of it now!
2. What did ya have for breakfast?
Oatmeal with blueberries, a dollop of peanut butter, a splash of oat milk and a drizzle of maple syrup. Oh, and coffee, of course.
3. Something that helps you stay organized?
A relatively clean desk with minimal clutter is VERY helpful. Also, physically writing things down helps me a ton! I don’t know what it is about the act of putting pen to paper, but organizing on a piece of paper works much better for me.
4. Rain coat or rain boots?
Boots. I could do with a new pair, sigh. No more wet socks!
5. Last time you danced in public?
Um, now that I think about it, it was with Connor last week, while we waited in line at Chipotle. Hey man, the Chipotle by our house plays the jams!
6. Have you started making plans for summer yet?
Yes, believe it or not. I don’t know if it’s just because things book up quickly here in the Bay Area, but over the weekend we made plans for camping in June and July.
7. A piece of makeup you wore recently?
Milk Rise Mascara. Still don’t know how I feel about it.
8. What’s next on your to-do list?
I gotta prep for an interview I have on Thursday. On that note, please wish me luck!
9. Something you watched over the weekend?
A movie called “The Menu” with Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes. It’s BANANAS.
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. An old school scent you loved back in the day?
2. What did ya have for breakfast?
3. Something that helps you stay organized?
4. Rain coat or rain boots?
5. Last time you danced in public?
6. Have you started making plans for summer yet?
7. A piece of makeup you wore recently?
8. What’s next on your to-do list?
9. Something you watched over the weekend?
P.P.S. Happy Monday, my friend. I hope that you find plenty of focus this week. I know you’ve got a lot on your plate, but I believe in you. You’re going to do great!
An old school scent you loved back in the day? The Original Charlie by Revlon.
2. What did ya have for breakfast? Oatmeal with a handful of Plantstrong brand Apple Pie Granola
3. Something that helps you stay organized? A big old-fashioned calendar I can write lots of notes on.
4. Rain coat or rain boots? Coat.
5. Last time you danced in public? I think disco was “in” at the time.
6. Have you started making plans for summer yet? We go to my husband’s family farm in southern IL when we need to escape the city.
7. A piece of makeup you wore recently? GXVE Anaheim Shine lipstick in “Screen My Phone Calls”. A really pretty peachy/pink with just a slight shimmer.
8. What’s next on your to-do list? Clean out the closet. In the last 4 years, with changes to my eating (vegan 98% of the time and low salt & oil) I’ve lost 45 pounds so I have some nice business attire I need to donate somewhere.
9. Something you watched over the weekend? We didn’t, but I finished a couple of books with some time off after the holiday going on’s.
I’m so excited to learn to cook some vegan meals, Brigid!
Good luck on your interview! I had a screening interview this morning, and I think it went well. #jobsearch #funemployment
1. An old school scent you loved back in the day? I remember Exclamation was one of the first fragrances I bought. It was a strong floral, I’d probably hate it now. I also liked Anais Anais. I still have a bottle of that.
2. What did ya have for breakfast? Frosted shredded wheat cereal and milk + coffee with collagen protein
3. Something that helps you stay organized? The notes app on my phone
4. Rain coat or rain boots? Boots after all this rain, the atmospheric river has reached us
5. Last time you danced in public? This is sad but probably at a wedding more than 5 years ago
6. Have you started making plans for summer yet? No
7. A piece of makeup you wore recently? Laura Mercer blush in Chai
8. What’s next on your to-do list? Vacuum the rugs
9. Something you watched over the weekend? The Prince Harry interview on 60 Minutes.
Thanks, Laura! How did your screening interview go? May I ask what questions they asked? I’m prepping for my interview right meow!
1. An old school scent you loved back in the day? Happy by Clinique but I don’t think I wore it, only my friends did. I wore Liz by Liz Claiborne. I was obsessed!
2. What did ya have for breakfast? A handful of nuts and a whole lotta coffee
3. Something that helps you stay organized? a clean desk
4. Rain coat or rain boots? both but my rain boots are good right now. I’ve got national park Pendletons that I adore and are really comfortable. But, my rain coat was destroyed in our barn fire so I really need a new one.
5. Last time you danced in public? At a wedding a zillion years ago?
6. Have you started making plans for summer yet? no
7. A piece of makeup you wore recently? some blush but I can’t remember who made it. Paaarty was the color I believe.
8. What’s next on your to-do list? editing photos
9. Something you watched over the weekend? The Bernie Madoff series on Netflix! It’s a little bit of a creative format, which I wasn’t sure about but it sucked me right in. I was only going to watch one episode but I ended up watching 3 and staying up way too late. One left. It’s really well done.
Ahh, Happy! I have good memories attached to that scent.
1. An old school scent you loved back in the day? I used to love Jean Nate after bath splash.
2. What did ya have for breakfast? A smoothie with Bananas, Spinach, Strawberries, Kale, Mango, Keto brand yogurt, and Almond Milk.
3. Something that helps you stay organized? I love the calender on my phone. I use it constantly.
4. Rain coat or rain boots? Raincoat.
5. Last time you danced in public? At my son’s wedding 2 years ago.
6. Have you started making plans for summer yet? Yes! We just booked a transatlantic cruise to Barcelona.
7. A piece of makeup you wore recently? I actually wore some eyeliner! light brown.
8. What’s next on your to-do list? I am working on a soap for a soap challenge, this one is really hard.
9. Something you watched over the weekend? We are currently binge watching Yellowstone.
Ooh, I’m excited for your cruise! How long will it be?
1. An old school scent you loved back in the day? An everyday scent I wore when I was a teen was Yardley’s Oh! de London.
2. What did ya have for breakfast? I had a couple pieces of multi-grain toast and a small pot of tea.
3. Something that helps you stay organized? I love having a calendar on the fridge where my husband and I can jot down things that are of mutual interest.
4. Rain coat or rain boots? A have an “ancient” Burberry raincoat that I love.
5. Last time you danced in public? That would have been in the 1970’s.
6. Have you started making plans for summer yet? No, there’s no rush. I love winter. Enjoy the moment!
7. A piece of makeup you wore recently? Haus Lab’s foundation. I really like it.
8. What’s next on your to-do list? I need to start getting tax records together.
9. Something you watched over the weekend? I also watched the movie “The Menu”. You’re right—Bananas!
That movie was crazy! I’m going to rewatch it to see what I missed the first time around.
Definitely worth a second watch—what was serious, what was comic, what was a serious mind f—k!
1. An old school scent you loved back in the day? Victoria Secret Love Spell and Clinique Happy
2. What did ya have for breakfast? I do intermittent fasting so I do not eat breakfast. I do drink a black coffee in the morning. At 11, I had greek yogurt (blueberries and granola mixed in) and walnuts & pumpkin seeds
3. Something that helps you stay organized? Post-it notes and a large dry erase board in my kitchen
4. Rain coat or rain boots? Coat…If I don’t cover my hair in the rain…it gets crazy
5. Last time you danced in public? Not sure
6. Have you started making plans for summer yet? I already planned what week to take off…but not what we are doing
7. A piece of makeup you wore recently? Mac E for Effortless
8. What’s next on your to-do list? Too much😝
9. Something you watched over the weekend? Amazon’s Something from Tiffany’s…I didn’t like it
1. An old school scent you loved back in the day? I was also gonna say Electric Youth! I remember that bottle so well. Lady Stetson was really popular in my teens too.
2. What did ya have for breakfast? Two slices of bacon, a hash brown patty, and a gigantic Honeycrisp apple. And coffee.
3. Something that helps you stay organized? Having a calendar/planner. Writing things down is the only way I’ll remember them.
4. Rain coat or rain boots? Boots.
5. Last time you danced in public? Grocery store, a couple days ago, my 17 year old was horrified. YES.
6. Have you started making plans for summer yet? Just for places we want to explore, we moved to a new state last May, so it’s been fun getting to know it.
7. A piece of makeup you wore recently? Black Honey lip gloss from Clinique.
8. What’s next on your to-do list? Clean out my refrigerator. Good luck on your interview!
9. Something you watched over the weekend? “Sister Wives”. I am obsessed. I have to remind myself that they are real people and there are real family effected by all of this.
1. An old school scent you loved back in the day? Victoria’s Secret Beauty Rush Double Body Mist in Strawberry Fizz. It has a light, sweet smell and I would receive many compliments on it while out in public. (I had a million perfurmes and body sprays, so I could never remember which one I was wearing and felt bad/stupid…)
2. What did ya have for breakfast? Oatmeal with raspberries on the side and OJ
3. Something that helps you stay organized? “To Do” lists, notes, calendar reminders on my phone
4. Rain coat or rain boots? Jacket with a hood or hoodie
5. Last time you danced in public? Probably years ago at a concert
6. Have you started making plans for summer yet? Just trying to make it through winter first, lol
7. A piece of makeup you wore recently? Concealer for the zit on my chin! (I’ve named him “Arnold”.)
8. What’s next on your to-do list? Buy a new lamp
9. Something you watched over the weekend? Jack Ryan on Prime
1. An old school scent you loved back in the day?
Exclamation!
2. What did ya have for breakfast?
Mush overnight oats (they have it at Target) and a drinkable yoghurt.
3. Something that helps you stay organized?
I just bought a 2023 planner from target and I’m so excited for it! I agree with you about writing things down!
4. Rain coat or rain boots?
Boots.
5. Last time you danced in public?
Saturday night on my birthday! I had had a few!
6. Have you started making plans for summer yet?
Yes things book up quickly around here too! People in my neck of the woods go to all the state parks on the north shore of Minnesota. Thinking about it, haven’t booked yet.
7. A piece of makeup you wore recently?
Mac liquid powder kiss – more the mehrier.
8. What’s next on your to-do list?
Feed the girls and get them to bed.
9. Something you watched over the weekend?
Football – although I didn’t pay much attention.
PS good luck on your interview!
1. An old school scent you loved back in the day?
Clique Happy and one from the Gap but I can’t recall the name.
2. What did ya have for breakfast?
Cheerios, blueberries with almond milk
3. Something that helps you stay organized?
Like you….pen and paper. Go old school!
4. Rain coat or rain boots?
Have both. Recently got a pair of rain boots at Kohl’s. Totes brand. I tried out about six kinds to find one I liked.
5. Last time you danced in public?
It’s not technically “in public”, but in my Zumba class.
6. Have you started making plans for summer yet?
Yes! First time for a cruise. Camping as usual.
7. A piece of makeup you wore recently?
Sephora’s lipstories in Oui (a satin cream finish) love this lipstick
8. What’s next on your to-do list?
Many things…but need to schedule said cruise
9. Something you watched over the weekend?
A Hollywood Christmas (I love Christmas movies)
1. An old school scent you loved back in the day? Shalimar.
2. What did ya have for breakfast? Skipped breakfast, had a banana and a frozen entree for lunch.
3. Something that helps you stay organized? Same as you – organized desk, and written notes.
4. Rain coat or rain boots? Raincoat. I’d like to have rain boots, but I’m not sure I could ever find any that would fit me.
5. Last time you danced in public? 3rd grade.
6. Have you started making plans for summer yet? No – I take care of my elderly mother. I have absolutely no idea when I can do anything that would take longer than a few hours.
7. A piece of makeup you wore recently? MAC Extended Play Perm Me Up mascara combined with L’Oreal Endless Pearl eyeshadow.
8. What’s next on your to-do list? So many things. Need to organize my things and declutter.
9. Something you watched over the weekend? The 1945 “Thunderhead, Son of Flicka” movie. It’s color, and not too different from the book (though it left out all of the mid-life crisis stuff about the parents that’s in the book). The music in it is terrible, though.
Good luck on Thursday!! I’ll be crossing everything for you. Though, you totally don’t need any luck. You’re amazing and anyone would be lucky to have you!!
Thank you, friend! That’s really nice of you to say.
1. An old school scent you loved back in the day?
Tresor
2. What did ya have for breakfast?
Rice cakes with mixed nut butter and apricot jam, and lots of coffee.
3. Something that helps you stay organized?
I’m not very organized, but I have a little pouch in my purse that keeps things together neatly. And the calendar on my iphone.
4. Rain coat or rain boots?
Boots, wet feet are the worst!
5. Last time you danced in public?
I dance at work pretty regularly, but it’s been years in a more traditional setting.
6. Have you started making plans for summer yet?
Hahaha. No.
7. A piece of makeup you wore recently?
Revitalash mascara/primer duo. Pretty good.
8. What’s next on your to-do list?
Sign up for classes.
9. Something you watched over the weekend?
Vienna Blood. So good!
1. An old school scent you loved back in the day? The Benetton perfume.
2. What did ya have for breakfast? My usual – a can of Diet Dr. Pepper and instant oatmeal, one packet of Maple/Brown sugar and one plain.
3. Something that helps you stay organized? Processing email as quickly as possible and using my remaining inbox as most of my to-do list.
4. Rain coat or rain boots? Rain coat. I haven’t had rain boots since I was a kid.
5. Last time you danced in public? Last time I went to a club, which was before 2004.
6. Have you started making plans for summer yet? Not really – there’s a fuzzy family vacation being planned at Rehoboth Beach, but we haven’t firmed up how long we are going for. For us, it’s a relatively short drive so we are more flexible than most of the rest of the family.
7. A piece of makeup you wore recently? Just been sticking to brow gel (Sephora clear) and mascara (L’Oreal Lash Paradise).
8. What’s next on your to-do list? Plenty, but the one I’m avoiding is making the list of electrical work that needs to be done so we can start contacting electricians to get a decent quote. I hate trying to find contractors because most of them in this area are unprofessional flakes.
9. Something you watched over the weekend? Really started to get into Andor.