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. One beauty product you always take with you on trips?
Sunscreen!
2. Pick a dessert — ice cream, cheesecake, pie or a fruit salad.
I wouldn’t mind a scoop of ice cream right now.
3. What’ve you been listening to lately?
So much retro music! Mostly ‘80s pop and ‘90s dance music.
4. Have you thought about fall/back to school yet?
Believe it or not, yes. I bought some new shirts for Connor’s school uniform a couple weeks ago. I need to order her a backpack and lunch bag soon, too. I don’t want to be doing it all at the last minute!
5. Do you care much about the Nordstrom sale?
I used to, but now, not really. The things I want are never in stock online, and I’ve had some not-so-great experiences with customer service at Nordstrom in the past year.
6. Would you rather ride an e-bike or an electric scooter?
Hard pass on both (I don’t need to be going that fast), but if I had to choose, I’d go with the bike.
7. How’s your summer going so far?
It’s been a little stressful at times trying to balance working and spending time with Connor at home, but all in all, I’ve had a blast! We’ve met a few new friends in the neighborhood with kids, and I’ve spent some time getting to know some really down-to-earth moms. It’s been really hard to meet people on my wavelength here in Marin (there’s lots of “keeping up with the Joneses”), and I think I’m on the verge of finally making some true friends. I’m trying to keep my expectations in check, but still, I’m hopeful.
Happy Monday, my beautiful friend. Here’s a sweet hug for you, and a wish for you to have a wonderful day.
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. One beauty product you always take with you on trips?
2. Pick a dessert — ice cream, cheesecake, pie or a fruit salad.
3. What’ve you been listening to lately?
4. Have you thought about fall/back to school yet?
5. Do you care much about the Nordstrom sale?
6. Would you rather ride an e-bike or an electric scooter?
7. How’s your summer going so far?
1. One beauty product you always take with you on trips?
Sunblock and concealer.
2. Pick a dessert — ice cream, cheesecake, pie or a fruit salad.
Cheesecake – not something I would make myself!
3. What’ve you been listening to lately?
Podcasts – Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend is a favorite!
4. Have you thought about fall/back to school yet?
Yes – I have to go back to work August 1st and the college students will be back August 14th!
5. Do you care much about the Nordstrom sale?
A little – I did sign up for their card so I could get early access. About the only thing I have my eye on is a pair of Zellla joggers. And maybe an Eileen Fisher top.
6. Would you rather ride an e-bike or an electric scooter?
Electric scooter – we have them for rent in our town and I keep meaning to try them out!
7. How’s your summer going so far?
It’s been so nice to have it off work and spend time with the girls! I’m glad I switched jobs but now I am seriously dreading going back!
1. One beauty product you always take with you on trips? My ISDIN sunscreen.
2. Pick a dessert — ice cream, cheesecake, pie or a fruit salad. One small scoop of ice cream would be an enjoyable summer treat.
3. What’ve you been listening to lately?
4. Have you thought about fall/back to school yet? Not at all! Autumn is my favorite season but I can’t see the purpose in rushing things. Every season has its joys.
5. Do you care much about the Nordstrom sale? It varies year to year. Some years I see lots of things that interest me and other years there is nothing except for the Natori bras I like. Although I get the preview info and have early access, I notice there are so many more things on sale in store and so it’s always worth a look.
6. Would you rather ride an e-bike or an electric scooter? Neither one because I like the idea of exercise and I prefer more control over my biking experience. Give me a regular old-school pedal bike any day. But, if I used it to go to work or that type of thing, I’d probably learn to appreciate an e-bike.
7. How’s your summer going so far? So far, it has been a very quiet one. The weather has been quite mild for this time of year which undoubtedly means we’ll be in for major heat August – October.
Ooops! I forgot #3. I’ve been listening to the news and then I switch to music for our sweet husky who has been under the weather just lately. She likes the music by Soothing Relaxation. It’s hours of gentle, peaceful music. She particularly likes the compilations that have bird songs in the background. We have gazillions of birds where we live and so it makes her feel like all is well in her world to hear birds singing.
Happy Monday!
1.One beauty product you always take with you on trips? The Ordinary Multi-peptide serum (formally The Buffet). I just find my skin feels so much better with this item in my daily routine.
2. Pick a dessert — ice cream, cheesecake, pie or a fruit salad. Blueberry pie ala mode with Vanilla ice cream. You can’t get any better than that (imo).
3. What’ve you been listening to lately? Lots of 1970’s rock.
4. Have you thought about fall/back to school yet? Nope. My son graduated college in May 2023. We are done with school for now.
5. Do you care much about the Nordstrom sale? Not really.
6. Would you rather ride an e-bike or an electric scooter? Not sure about either. Electric scooters scare me, though.
7. How’s your summer going so far? Not bad. I wish there were less rainy weekends, but it’s been ok. I am trying to get more walks in my morning routine.
Be well.
Happy Monday, Friend! Congrats on the new neighborhood moms – I hope they turn out to be great! 🙂
1. One beauty product you always take with you on trips? Q-tips.
2. Pick a dessert — ice cream, cheesecake, pie or a fruit salad. I think I’ll skip dessert. 🙂
3. What’ve you been listening to lately? Country, but now the boys are saying they don’t listen it very often anymore, so I may get to move on!
4. Have you thought about fall/back to school yet? Not in the sense of buying things, but yes because we have paperwork to fill out.
5. Do you care much about the Nordstrom sale? No, we’re nowhere near one so I’ve never been to into them.
6. Would you rather ride an e-bike or an electric scooter? Totally e-bike. The faster the better. HAHA!
7. How’s your summer going so far? Too fast! And the weather has been crazy, but overall it’s nice to have some sun. Though, between wildfire smoke and near constant rain/flooding, there hasn’t been a ton. Still, our area is much better off than some, so I’m not complaining!
1. One beauty product you always take with you on trips? Sunscreen, always sunscreen. And if it’s winter, a good nighttime moisturizer and lip balm.
2. Pick a dessert — ice cream, cheesecake, pie or a fruit salad. Ice cream. Always ice cream, even in winter. Then chocolate cake!
3. What’ve you been listening to lately? The industrial strength air cleaner and dehumidifier the workmen installed to address the hidden water leak we had.
4. Have you thought about fall/back to school yet? Thankfully, I don’t have to worry about that anymore now that Dear Daughter just had her 30th. Although she’s thinking of applying to school again, she wants a PhD. Let’s knock wood it all works out.
5. Do you care much about the Nordstrom sale? Sorta. Not so much for the beauty products, but I could use some clothes that fit. I’ve found that emailing the store manager about customer service usually gets things rectified quickly.
6. Would you rather ride an e-bike or an electric scooter? An e-bike. Dear Daughter has one and her speed is adjustable. It really helps when biking uphill. After speed skating and galloping horses, I still feel the need for speed!
7. How’s your summer going so far? Stressful. Dealing with fixing the water leak and resulting damage, a family funeral across the country, Dear Husband leaving his job later this month (and losing the company car) and a good friend leaving an abusive situation it’s been more than I’d rather deal with.
Gosh, I can’t believe I just spilled all that. Usually I just suck it up, try to keep calm and carry on.
Tatiana – that’s a lot to deal with and I bet your husband and friend feel blessed by your support during it all.
I feel blessed to have my Dear Husband support me. He was my steady rock during the funeral weekend. Traveling is rarely easy these days and last minute bookings more so, but he brings a calm and sense of competence no matter what comes up.
I sometimes feel like a heel, because I had no idea how bad it was for my friend. Her partner always put on this happy, easy going guy act.
1. One beauty product you always take with you on trips? Face moisturizer
2. Pick a dessert — ice cream, cheesecake, pie or a fruit salad. A light fruity cheesecake
3. What’ve you been listening to lately? Karma Chameleon ukulele tutorial lol
4. Have you thought about fall/back to school yet? Yes and I can’t believe we’re halfway through summer break!
5. Do you care much about the Nordstrom sale? I usually get the same things to stock up on (lash/brow serum and hair care stuff), but I don’t mind if I miss it
6. Would you rather ride an e-bike or an electric scooter? E-bike since we live in a hilly area, but man it’s getting treacherous with all the teenagers riding them at insane speeds
7. How’s your summer going so far? It’s going much too fast, but I’m still looking forward to a short trip at the end of the month so I’m excited
1. One beauty product you always take with you on trips? My Boreal Folk Shampoo Bar – hotel shampoo just destroys my hair.
2. Pick a dessert — ice cream, cheesecake, pie or a fruit salad. Ice cream.
3. What’ve you been listening to lately? Violin Instrumental by Daniel Jang (my massage therapist was playing it and now I have to listen to it at home)
4. Have you thought about fall/back to school yet? I love fall, but with my youngest being 45 (how did THAT happen) back to school days are long over.
5. Do you care much about the Nordstrom sale? Nope.
6. Would you rather ride an e-bike or an electric scooter? Give me a regular bike any day.
7. How’s your summer going so far? My husband has had more time at home than usual with his job so we’ve enjoyed some walks and biking – taking advantage of a pretty cool summer by Chicago standards.
Brigid, where do you get this Boreal Folk Shampoo Bar? It sounds like something I need for my hair when traveling. Along with my Aquis hair turban.
1. One beauty product you always take with you on trips? Sunscreen is a given but always have lip balm
2. Pick a dessert — ice cream, cheesecake, pie or a fruit salad. Ice cream
3. What’ve you been listening to lately? I’m not a big music person- I have been doing true crime & hockey podcasts mostly
4. Have you thought about fall/back to school yet? Not really but I can’t wait till it cools down – May & June were great weather wise but the last 2 weeks have hot, humid & ugh!
5. Do you care much about the Nordstrom sale? A bit – a few beauty things i use are part of the sale so I’ll get a few things
6. Would you rather ride an e-bike or an electric scooter? Scooter
7. How’s your summer going so far? Not bad despite the hot and humid. Our home reno is moving along & we have lots of plans coming up in the next month
1. One beauty product you always take with you on trips? Tinted moisturizer with SPF, or sunscreen. Since all of the last 3 trips (more than 10 years ago) I’ve taken were business trips, I didn’t get to spend a lot of time outside.
2. Pick a dessert — ice cream, cheesecake, pie or a fruit salad. Cheesecake, or key lime pie.
3. What’ve you been listening to lately? I don’t listen to music as much as I should, but my favorites in recent years have been Al Stewart (his music after “Time Passages” has been terribly ignored by radio in the US), Supertramp, and 1960s through early 199os rock/pop.
4. Have you thought about fall/back to school yet? Doesn’t apply to me – I’ve never had anyone to buy for. Kids in my area have to go back to school in mid-August, which is utterly nuts – the schools (taxpayers) have to pay for air conditioning in one of the hottest times of the year. No one should have to go to school until after Labor Day, like it was when I lived in CA as a kid.
5. Do you care much about the Nordstrom sale? Not really. I don’t gravitate to luxury/high end stores.
6. Would you rather ride an e-bike or an electric scooter? Neither. Too dangerous in traffic with cars, and there’s nowhere else to ride one.
7. How’s your summer going so far? Miserable, as usual. Hot and humid weather, screeching cicadas, traffic and construction noise, my health and my mother’s health, family drama. I hate summer, and most people in Texas do, too, I believe.
1. One beauty product you always take with you on trips? Sunscreen and lip balm.
2. Pick a dessert — ice cream, cheesecake, pie or a fruit salad. Fruit salad, it just sounds refreshing right now.
3. What’ve you been listening to lately? 70’s playlists, hits, soft rock, rock, I like the simplicity of the music and how familiar it is.
4. Have you thought about fall/back to school yet? A little. My younger daughter will be a Senior in high school. This is my last Back to School season.
5. Do you care much about the Nordstrom sale? Not even a little bit. I didn’t even know it was a thing.
6. Would you rather ride an e-bike or an electric scooter? An e-bike. I kind of want one, and I kind of don’t. They give motorcycle vibes, and that’s not my thing.
7. How’s your summer going so far? Busy busy busy! Working, planning for family to visit, getting everything cleaned up, Summer is short here in Michigan, gotta get as much as possible done in a few months.