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. Where would you rather go on vacation: New Zealand, Alaska, Costa Rica or Switzerland?
I’d love to go to all of these places, but right now Switzerland sounds pretty cool.
2. Ponytail or curls?
Hmm. I like ponytails because they’re functional, but sometimes they give me a headache, so let’s go with curls. They’d have to be super loose ones, though. And kinda messy!
3. Did you ever have a job where you had to wear a uniform?
Kinda. We had very specific guidelines for safety when I worked at the bakery, like close-toed shoes, no nail polish, hair tied back.
4. If you were in school, whom would you likely hang out with: the athletes, the drama crew, the band kids or the honors society?
You’d likely find me with my people, aka the band kids. If I wasn’t with them, I’d be with the honors society. I was a big old nerd back then!
5. Something on your self-care list for this week?
I would love to treat myself to a bottle of Skinceuticals CE Ferulic! Oh, and a nap would be great. 🙂
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. Where would you rather go on vacation: New Zealand, Alaska, Costa Rica or Switzerland?
2. Ponytail or curls?
3. Did you ever have a job where you had to wear a uniform?
4. If you were in school, whom would you likely hang out with: the athletes, the drama crew, the band kids or the honors society?
5. Something on your self-care list for this week?
P.P.S. If you’re reading this, thank you. I know I haven’t been around much lately, which is super unusual for MBB. I’m doing my best to balance everything, and I’m afraid I’m not doing a great job at it, LOL! I’m really trying, though. One thing I’ve been dealing with is this perpetual feeling of being tired ALL THE TIME. I don’t know if it’s a mom thing, a 40-something thing, a holiday thing (why is there so much to do?) or a combination of all the things. Please know that you stopping by here is very much appreciated. Love ya lots, friend.
1. Where would you rather go on vacation: New Zealand, Alaska, Costa Rica or Switzerland? I’ve been thinking about a Costa Rica vacation. My teenage son is on board – now I just need to convince my husband!
2. Ponytail or curls? Curls, definitely. Ponytails give me a headache.
3. Did you ever have a job where you had to wear a uniform? Not really, although I have had to wear a lot of safety equipment at some of my jobs – hi viz vest, hat, steel toe boots, etc. It’s sort of a uniform for sure.
4. If you were in school, whom would you likely hang out with: the athletes, the drama crew, the band kids or the honors society? Also band or honors – another big nerd here!
5. Something on your self-care list for this week? Don’t let work stress me out and take time to exercise
Karen, I never comment but I wanted you to know that I’ve been reading and enjoying your blog for years and years (maybe 16 or 17 years, if that’s even possible) and I so appreciate that you are still posting here when you can. I don’t remember your exact age but I know I’m a little older than you. Perimenopause did a number on my emotions and energy levels in my late 40s/early 50s. Don’t underestimate what those changing hormone levels can do! Hormone therapy was right for me (I know it’s not for everyone). Maybe do a little research and don’t be afraid to ask your doctor about it, or just the tiredness in general. In the meantime, I wish you a full night’s sleep and freedom to just get done what you can!
1. Where would you rather go on vacation: New Zealand, Alaska, Costa Rica or Switzerland? I love Alaska, not a fan of either tropical climates or LONG plane flights.
2. Ponytail or curls? Ponytail.
3. Did you ever have a job where you had to wear a uniform? Airline pilot – REALLY ugly hat.
4. If you were in school, whom would you likely hang out with: the athletes, the drama crew, the band kids or the honors society? I was a band nerd (who was in honors society, I think we all were). .
5. Something on your self-care list for this week? Don’t freeze to death – supposed to be 5 degrees in Chicago on Wednesday or Thursday.
1. Where would you rather go on vacation: New Zealand, Alaska, Costa Rica or Switzerland?
Costa Rica. It’s cold where I live so a warm beach getaway would be great right now!
2. Ponytail or curls?
Curls – loose wavy ones.
3. Did you ever have a job where you had to wear a uniform?
Yes – in high school I bussed tables at a nice restaurant and we had to wear a white button up shirt with black pants.
4. If you were in school, whom would you likely hang out with: the athletes, the drama crew, the band kids or the honors society?
Drama crew – but doing something behind the scenes. I would be to scared to be on stage!
5. Something on your self-care list for this week?
Taking a personal day – which I can check off my list because I did that today!
You’re right when you say there’s so much to do this holiday season, and I blame it on thanksgiving being so late! I wanted a day to make my Christmas candy tins for friends and family so I got that done today while I played hooky! It was much needed and deserved!
1. Where would you rather go on vacation: New Zealand, Alaska, Costa Rica or Switzerland? Switzerland! Because it’s closer than New Zealand and I can visit other adjacent places.
2. Ponytail or curls? Ponytail.
3. Did you ever have a job where you had to wear a uniform? Yes. At Swensen’s Ice Cream Parlor. The uniform was ugly but I actually like having to not think about what to wear.
4. If you were in school, whom would you likely hang out with: the athletes, the drama crew, the band kids or the honors society? Band kids FTW!
5. Something on your self-care list for this week? Get enough sleep.
1. Where would you rather go on vacation: New Zealand, Alaska, Costa Rica or Switzerland? Probably Alaska – as part of the US, and with so much (for now) unspoiled wilderness, I’d love to see it. If not that, then New Zealand. Looks amazing in those “Lord of the Rings” movies.
2. Ponytail or curls? Ponytail most of the time. I keep thinking I’ll set aside some time to curl my hair, but I never do. My hair is wavy, anyway.
3. Did you ever have a job where you had to wear a uniform? No.
4. If you were in school, whom would you likely hang out with: the athletes, the drama crew, the band kids or the honors society? Good question – I was in band, but that was my mother’s idea, not mine. I wanted to play the piano. The honors society kids in my school were the lucky ones who’d spent their entire school career in one district and were generally thought of as just short of geniuses (I’m sure they weren’t). I found out on my high school transcript that my IQ tested out as 129. I wish they had let me know that years earlier! That’s just one point below “gifted”
If I had not had my education in three different school districts I think I could have given the honor society people a run for their money. I was an “honor graduate” in my graduating class. But I doubt I would have enjoyed the company of any of these cliques.
5. Something on your self-care list for this week? Just want to rest and get a decent amount of sleep.
To comment on what you said about being tired, there could be many different reasons for that. 1. They say at age 40 we all undergo molecular changes in our bodies that have an impact on how we feel. 2. Perimenopause. 3. Borderline anemia (not uncommon in women – I have it). 4. Thyroid hormone imbalances. 5. Scariest one – cancer. If I were you, I’d get a complete thyroid hormone check as most doctors don’t do that. FWIW, both George Bush Sr. and his wife had *overactive* thyroids in old age – maybe due to living in China when he was the ambassador there?
1. Where would you rather go on vacation: New Zealand, Alaska, Costa Rica or Switzerland?
Normally I’d jump on New Zealand, but for some reason I’m all about Switzerland today.
2. Ponytail or curls?
Curls. Ponytails for when I’m cleaning the house.
3. Did you ever have a job where you had to wear a uniform?
Not as yet, thankfully.
4. If you were in school, whom would you likely hang out with: the athletes, the drama crew, the band kids or the honors society?
Somewhere between band kids and honors society.
5. Something on your self-care list for this week?
Still haven’t scheduled that dental appointment. Hope springs eternal.
1. Where would you rather go on vacation: New Zealand, Alaska, Costa Rica or Switzerland? New Zealand
2. Ponytail or curls? Curls
3. Did you ever have a job where you had to wear a uniform? Yes
4. If you were in school, whom would you likely hang out with: the athletes, the drama crew, the band kids or the honors society? None of the above
5. Something on your self-care list for this week? I finally got a new elliptical 😁…my previous one broke a few months ago
40’s are an adjustment😐. Balancing kids, work, pets, self-care, maintaining a home…it’s alot. I’m always tired and I always feel like I can’t get enough done in a day. I am sorry that you are struggling too…but happy to feel less alone in this crazy world. It’s nice to have someone else admit that even if you love your life…sometimes it’s just hard to be a human🤪.
1. Where would you rather go on vacation: New Zealand, Alaska, Costa Rica or Switzerland?
Alaska
2. Ponytail or curls?
Curls or more like loose waves. Hair’s too long for a ponytail at the moment.
3. Did you ever have a job where you had to wear a uniform?
Never
4. If you were in school, whom would you likely hang out with: the athletes, the drama crew, the band kids or the honors society?
Oh, definitely with the band kids for sure.
5. Something on your self-care list for this week?
Keep boundaries and honor them
1. Where would you rather go on vacation: New Zealand, Alaska, Costa Rica or Switzerland? Probably New Zealand. I sometimes travel to Switzerland for work, have no interest in Costa Rica. Alaska would be second.
2. Ponytail or curls? Curls, since my hair is naturally curly anyway.
3. Did you ever have a job where you had to wear a uniform? Yep, worked at Burger King through high school.
4. If you were in school, whom would you likely hang out with: the athletes, the drama crew, the band kids or the honors society? Band or honor society. My Jr/Sr high school was too small to have real cliques.
5. Something on your self-care list for this week? Totally zone out Friday on my day off.
1. Where would you rather go on vacation: New Zealand, Alaska, Costa Rica or Switzerland? New Zealand to see some bands
2. Ponytail or curls? Loose ponytail
3. Did you ever have a job where you had to wear a uniform? No
4. If you were in school, whom would you likely hang out with: the athletes, the drama crew, the band kids or the honors society? Oddly enough, athletes (tennis team) and honors society because they were often the same kids
5. Something on your self-care list for this week? Went to the optometrist and glad to get some new sunglasses that actually work!
I’m really late coming to this party, but here goes:
1. Where would you rather go on vacation: New Zealand, Alaska, Costa Rica or Switzerland? I wouldn’t mind going to Costa Rica. I’ve heard some wonderful things about the people there.
2. Ponytail or curls? Ponytail. Getting my hair to hold a curl is a Herculean effort.
3. Did you ever have a job where you had to wear a uniform? Yes. When I was in high school I worked at a convalescent hospital delivering meals to patients. I had to wear a white uniform.
4. If you were in school, whom would you likely hang out with: the athletes, the drama crew, the band kids or the honors society? I’ve never been one for cliques and hung out with a wide variety of people. I’m the same way nowadays. I embrace the old saying, variety is the spice of life.
5. Something on your self-care list for this week? I really need to give myself a good pedicure. My feet are looking a bit raggedy.
1. Where would you rather go on vacation: New Zealand, Alaska, Costa Rica or Switzerland? Switzerland. My husband wants to go on the Sigriswil panoramic suspension bridge.
2. Ponytail or curls? Curls
3. Did you ever have a job where you had to wear a uniform? I suppose if you call a helmet, breeches and riding boots a uniform, then I suppose working in the barn might qualify.
4. If you were in school, whom would you likely hang out with: the athletes, the drama crew, the band kids or the honors society? I didn’t really fit in with any of those crowds, but I guess I would try the honors society.
5. Something on your self-care list for this week? Trying to find a doctor in the area that is accepting patients to their practice.