You might be wondering, “So what in tarnation is this Monday Poll thing anyway!?”
Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past seven years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.
- Stripes, plaid or polka dots?
All three at once!Just kidding.
Kind of. 🙂 But if I had to pick one…I would definitely pick plaid.
I LOVE plaid shirts, and I won’t say no to a really well-fitting pair of plaid pants.
- Do your brows match your hair color?
Uh…not really. My brows are my natural hair color, which is a dark, dark brown — almost black — but my current hair color is some kind of chocolatey thing. They haven’t matched in a really long time, and I also — oh, I also always go one shade lighter when I fill in my brows because I feel like it makes them look less harsh.So the long answer to a short question is “no.”
- This week I’m really looking forward to…
I’m really looking forward to Saturday, because El Hub got us tickets to the symphony!Should be a lot of fun. It’s been a few years since we’ve gone, and I get to dress up a little.
- What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work?
Hmm…For blogging, get really handy with a camera. Not only is it empowering to not have to depend on other people to take your pics, but it makes everything easier. And when you sit down at the keyboard, try to approach your projects from a place of joy and love. Leave all of your other baggage out of the mix.
Try to, at least. It’s very hard sometimes, but try.
- If you were a song today, what song would you be?
Charli XCX’s Boom Clap.‘Nuff said.
Your turn. 🙂 Just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em!
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots?
2. Do your brows match your hair color?
3. This week I’m really looking forward to…
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work?
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be?
I would raise my cup of coffee to you, but I’m not drinking coffee today… I’m drinking tea.
It’s good green tea, though. 🙂 So I raise my cup of tea to you, my friend! I hope you have an easy week highlighted by bouts of honest laughter.
In other news…I’m kind of heartbroken about what happened on The Walking Dead last night, because first Bob, then Beth, and now this? It feels like all of the loving, gentle characters who had hoped for a better world are being picked off, one by one.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Looks like Tabs is getting some good exercise!
Hi Rachel,
He loves that tree! He hops on it to work his claws and get a better view of the neighborhood.
Happy Monday to you. 🙂 How was your weekend?
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots? Probably thin stripes, but I like ( and have ) all three in my closet.
2. Do your brows match your hair color? Hmm, close! My hair is colored a slightly lighter brown and my eye brows are rather dark.
3. This week I’m really looking forward to… The long weekend!
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work? Sorta wouldn’t recommend it, which is why I’m leaving it.
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be? Working for the Weekend (Loverboy)
Monica.
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots?
I don’t usually do patterns at all.. but probably polka dots.
2. Do your brows match your hair color?
Not even kinda. I have dark blonde barelythere brows, and pinky purple hair with charcoal roots. (I can color my brows with my sephora brow pencil really quickly though.)
3. This week I’m really looking forward to…
Everything being cancelled because it still hasn’t stopped snowing.
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work?
.. very few people are interested in teaching Chemistry.
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be?
.. probably a mashup. Like this one (http://youtu.be/QyiXCXA-y7c)
Yes, that is Tabs’s Tree!
On to the Poll:
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots? Plaid. Shirts, cape, pants (small grid), hats. I even bought Dear Daughter a red plaid pair of Guess high heels (her first pair of heels!). And yesterday I took down the tartan plaid valances in the sunroom to put up the roosters-on-red valances (sewn by Moi). So plaid gets the highest rating.
Stripes are for tops. Horizontally, they can shorten a gal in no time Dots, one dress/tunic.
2. Do your brows match your hair color? Pretty much. Maybe 1 shade lighter which is the advised contrast. But today I make the Hair Appointment! There is enough to work with and then I decide if I want to go a bit darker or a touch lighter with the reddish blonde. And, yes, I have an arsenal of brow products to coordinate with each minutely-altered shade. It’s a condition I nurture.
3. This week I’m really looking forward to…the haircut! But the event pales in comparison to the San Francisco Symphony!! You can wear the Guerlain Night at the Opera makeup! Mozart is as good as any opera. He’d agree with me
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work? Unless you can absolutely, under all circumstances, avoid it, then tread softly into the world of writing. It will give to you as much as it takes from you but ya gotta be patient for an even exchange!
I think that photography is part of the vision of blogging — your words and the images are so intertwined that someone else doing the pix would ask you to yield too much of the creativity to him or her. But I’m a purist in those matters.
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be? Katrina and the Waves, “Walking on Sunshine” is the order/song of the day!
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots? I’ve always gravitated towards stripes, I love striped shirts.
2. Do your brows match your hair color? Most of it. I have dyed blue hair, but most of my hair is brown, same as my brows.
3. This week I’m really looking forward to…going through my hall closet and cleaning it out, we’re spring cleaning and it’s time to throw some stuff away!
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work? I’m a stay at home Mom. Im very lucky to be able to do it, it’s not for everyone, but if you can do it, I think you should.
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be? Old-school Elton John, I’m just feeling it right now!
1. Plaid and stripes, always! Would never wear polka dots, just too sweet and girly for my features (I would look like a 16 year-old.
2. Brows are a bit sparse on the right side, and probably lighter than the hair (both natural, though, except for some very subtle highlights on the ends). However, I prefer a stronger brow look and fill them in most of the time.
3. Can’t wait for the long weekend! I want to dance and party all night 🙂
4. I’m not really in a position to give advice yet. But maybe in 5 years I will?? I want to be a researcher/scholar/social worker.
5 . Song: No Scrubs by TLC :O
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots?
Polka dots, all the way!
2. Do your brows match your hair color?
No, actually. My hair is a DARK DARK DAAAARK warm brown, but my brows are kind of cool in undertone…
3. This week I’m really looking forward to…
Payday! Haha Gotta make dem student loan payments guuurrrl.
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work?
I work in Compliance at a hospital, so… read up on your healthcare laws, and get GOOD at critical reading. My background is in philosophy, and all the critical reading and analytic thinking saved my bum when I started this job.
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be?
Hmmmm… If I were a song today, I’d be Let it Go. Feelin’ the throaty vocals, man.
OMG Karen. I straight up cried last night. I couldn’t handle the “reunion” scene with Beth and the girls. I’m also really confused as to why Glenn isn’t with Maggie right now. I’d be worried about her!
I kind of got the feeling that Glenn is going to be the next one to get all ruthless… He just looks like he’s had it.
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots? Love ’em all but if I had to choose, it would be polka dots!
2. Do your brows match your hair color? yes, my colorist dyes them when she does my hair
3. This week I’m really looking forward to… nothing because the snow pattern that we’re stuck in is supposed to continue for another two weeks
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work? think again because my line of work – focus group moderator – seems to be on the downward trend, unfortunately
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be? Let It Snow
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots?
All of the above
2. Do your brows match your hair color?
Nope, brows are darker!
3. This week I’m really looking forward to…
My Date for V day with my hubby!
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work?
Don’t. IT is the suck.
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be?
Sour Times by Portisehead. It’s moody but beautiful.
I DVR’d the Dead and will watch tonight so I won’t be able to commiserate with you until then. 🙁
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots? Stripes, for sure. Vertical only, of course.
2. Do your brows match your hair color? I just had to look but, yeah, I think they do.
3. This week I’m really looking forward to… I hate saying the weekend because it’s like wishing my life away so I’ll say “finishing work in 30 minutes”. I know I’m looking forward to cooking and cleaning when I get home but at least it’s seizing the day. 🙂
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work? Be flexible. Non-routine things come up all the time. There actually is very little “routine”. If you’re someone who gets stressed by that and by short deadlines, consider a different line of work. Said in a nice way, naturally. No one wants a job where they feel constantly stressed and overwhelmed. This is actually a good job for natural procrastinators who do their best work at the last minute.
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be? The Commitments’ Try a Little Tenderness. Off to a slow but pleasant start and finishing with a ton of infectious energy (hopefully). HAHA!
Hi, long time since my last comment! I still read though. Just wanted to say thanks for the Monday Poll, I always look forward to it.
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots?
Stripes and polka dots! I don’t do a lot of plaid. I recently bought a navy blouse with white dots, and it makes me feel responsible and dressed up and playful at the same time.
2. Do your brows match your hair color?
My brows are naturally light blonde and I color them in a muted brown color. My hair is strawberry blonde, so… no.
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots?
stripes or plaid it depends, stripe black and white always work for me.
2. Do your brows match your hair color?
yes they do
3. This week I’m really looking forward to…
tranquil week
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work?
are u sure? dealing with kids/adolescent can be hard sometimes, but it has rewards ( the good students then )
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be?
just the way you are ( bruno mars)
correction NO plaid for me. I had something else in mind.
Just white and black stripes
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots?
Yes to all three, but selectively- no horizontal stripes ever and I’m careful with polka dots, because they can look immature at my age.
2. Do your brows match your hair color?
No. My hair is dark brown, but my brows are very light, almost blond.
3. This week I’m really looking forward to…
…getting an electrocaridiagram over with. Just tell me if I have a heart problem already and let me quit worrying!!
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work?
I’m not working right now, soooo, quit your job?
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be?
“Under Pressure”- Queen featuring David Bowie
Hi Suzanne,
Sending you good thoughts for your electrocardiagram. When do you go in?
Totally agree about the camera thing with blogging!
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots?
-If every one of my clothing was covered in polka dots, I’d be totally cool with that!
2. Do your brows match your hair color?
-Perfectly 🙂
3. This week I’m really looking forward to…
-Blogging!
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work?
-You can’t get anywhere without putting the work in.
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be?
Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones
Hi Kelly B.,
Yes, it’s definitely a great skill to have. Not just for blogging, but for life stuff too. I’ve become the de-facto photographer for many family events. It’s something I enjoy doing — capturing the day for my loved ones!
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots?
Stripes – always stripes!
2. Do your brows match your hair color?
Yes. My hair is dark brown, and my brows are brown/black. I have never dyed my hair or my brows.
3. This week I’m really looking forward to…
Winter break! YAY!
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work?
I’m still in school.
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be?
Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie, because school is killing me.
Hi Nina,
Good luck with your school work! I take it you’re doing exams? What are you studying? When I was in school I studied English and Biology.
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots?
oooh… do I really have to pick?? I guess plaid, then. But I love ALL those patterns!
2. Do your brows match your hair color?
Nope. I have only recently come to terms with that fact, lol. My natural haircolor is a light-to-medium golden brown, and my brows are a slightly darker brown. I actually use the Hourglass brow pencil in Dark Brunette (with a light touch, but still).
3. This week I’m really looking forward to…
Band rehearsal on Wednesday, woohoo! We’re gonna work on a bunch of new songs. I’m sorta stoked.
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work?
Hmm… that would be music, and I would say be sure it’s what you love. The next step would be subscribing to the Sonicbids blog, and reading everything on there ever 🙂 lol.
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be?
This is so harrrrd… how about Bobby McFerrin, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” 🙂
Hi Shannon,
Excited that you’re working on new music! How does your creative process work? Does you work on the lyrics first, then the music? Do you and the band collaborate on pieces? I’m always so curious about how people go about their art.
Happy Monday! 🙂
It depends on the song! But I’ll usually create the melody & lyrics together, and then set the chord structure. Then I bring that to the band, and they help me to form the “feel” (I’ll usually have at least a vague idea that they help to flesh out, or if I’m a little lost they’ll help me to construct something) and they also help tweak things if the song needs it. It’s an ever-changing process, though! I feel like I explain it differently each time someone asks, cuz we’re always at a different spot 🙂 It’s super fun.
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots? Stripes
2. Do your brows match your hair color? Not without a little cosmetic help. 😉
3. This week I’m really looking forward to… Valentine’s Day. My hubby has it off. He’s been working major overtime, afternoon till about midnight. I’ve hardly seen him the last few weeks.
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work? Right now, I’m a caregiver to my adult son, who needs help due to his Asperger’s Disorder and mental health issues. I guess my advice is, the pay’s not great if it’s your primary income (it’s not for us), but there is a dearth of workers. So you can find work easily.
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be? Bring Me To Life (feeling a little off and tired today)
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots?
Polka Dots! But I do love all three.
2. Do your brows match your hair color?
Not in the slightest. My brows are pretty dark, my hair is golden blonde. Naturally I’m not even sure, I think my Brows are still darker, but I’m not even sure what my natural color is? I’m looking at a pic of Gwen Stefani though and it must be ok, her brows are as dark as mine, but her hair is way lighter!
3. This week I’m really looking forward to…
A horse show and seeing some of my closest online friends on Saturday.
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work?
Hm I need to think on that.
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be?
Little Red Wagon by Miranda Lambert.
1. Stripes, any direction as long as they’re well done. I have a chevron striped skirt I adore. Polka dots can work well, too, in a tailored top.
2. Brows: yes, pretty much. Both medium ash brown with kinda random natural blonde highlights.
3. looking forward to: second grade music concert! Should be adorable. And a very rare date with my husband. We’ll probably order in and end up doing taxes. ;0
4. Advice to a friend looking to get into my line of work: It’s a calling. Everyone has one, and if this is yours, it’ll be controversial and demanding but also joyful and useful. (I’m a church historian.)
5. Song: I feel like Bridge Over Troubled Water or Shepherd Show Me How to Go, but I’d probably be Dinosaur Tooth Care because it’s all I’ve been hearing! (See “second grade music concert” above!) 😉
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots?
Polka dots….or tartan!
2. Do your brows match your hair color?
Pretty much, but they both are my natural color.
3. This week I’m really looking forward to…
A heat wave.
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work?
Like dogs? I have no idea! I stay home!
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be?
“The Show Must Go On” by Queen. I’m just that kind of person; you can beat me down, but I put on my brave face and climb back up to the top.
Is that Tabs climbing a tree? So cute.
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots?
Stripes. Definitely not plaid. Plaid for some reason is NOT my friend.
2. Do your brows match your hair color?
Nope, getting a mean streak of gray in the middle of my right brow. Thank goodness for tinted brow gel.
3. This week I’m really looking forward to…
Getting caught up with stuff. Maybe seeing a movie w the DH.
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work?
Don’t do it! There are easier, less dangerous ways to make money.
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be?
The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers.
http://youtu.be/dJFyz73MRcg
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots?
It’s going to have to be plaid. It always looks so comfy!
2. Do your brows match your hair color?
They certainly do; I haven’t coloured my hair since I was 13 or 14. It’s a super, super, super dark brown — along the lines of 70% cocoa dark chocolate.
3. This week I’m really looking forward to…
Wednesday! I’m travelling with my mother to her work because there’s a shopping centre nearby and I’m hoping to pick up a few Australian drugstore items for a beauty swap!
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work?
As in… work at a supermarket while you study? Okay, go ahead and apply, but work as many hours as you can while you can. Don’t take management at their word and don’t expect loyalty in the long-term — but hey, the pay is pretty nice.
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be?
A Korean song called “Triangle” by DBSK feat. BoA and The Trax. I’ve been in a bad mood with work and it’s therapeutic to listen and sing along to.
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots? polka dots, the dainty ones, unless it’s a striped tee, then stripes so I can pretend to be a fashionable french woman
2. Do your brows match your hair color? oh no. my hairdresser insisted I get a whole lotta blonde highlights a year ago and I haven’t matched my eyebrows yet. So the brows are a dark brown and the hair has a whole lotta blonde
3. This week I’m really looking forward to…getting aforementioned blonde highlights freshened up and cut. I had an appointment two weeks ago that I had to cancel due to a freaking Blizzard 🙁
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work? my day job is as a newspaper reporter. they have to be incredibly nosy and curious and good at persuading people to tell you things they might not otherwise want to.
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be? Tom Petty “I Won’t Back Down”
p.s. have fun at the symphony. I haven’t been in years but my hometown symphony (St. Louis) won a Grammy last night 🙂
“when you sit down at the keyboard, try to approach your projects from a place of joy and love. Leave all of your other baggage out of the mix. ”
How true. When I sit down to talk anything beauty, it’s such a relaxing place to which I escape everyday and I imagine, if you don’t have this joy, beauty blogging will become a chore.
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots?
Stripes. Polka dots are a really close second though!
2. Do your brows match your hair color?
Yes
3. This week I’m really looking forward to…
Ordering a few liners from the MAC Pencilled In collection + going out for dinner and drinks this weekend
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work?
Have patience! Things don’t happen overnight. They take time. Sometimes a long time but if you love what you do it’ll always be worth it. Also, be self sufficient. Whatever you can learn, learn it!
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be?
This is a good one lol. I guess Erykah Badu Cleva. I’ve been vibing to it a lot lately
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots?
Plaid I even owns few pairs of plaid pants!!
2. Do your brows match your hair color?
My brows are almost black and my hairs is a dark chocolate brown so no
3. This week I’m really looking forward to…
Saturday night date night also Valentine’s Day
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work?
No just no
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be?
zipity Doo Dah
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots?
Plaid! I love plaid shirts!
2. Do your brows match your hair color?
No! My hair is brown naturally (but I dyed it dark brown/black) and my brows have always been naturally darker!
3. This week I’m really looking forward to…
My short short week at work followed by a few days off (I took vacation the past 5 days and then took a few more days off). We just celebrated my birthday so I feel spoiled celebrating V-day. We will probably keep it low key (plus it is a pretty commercial holiday anyways).
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work?
For my day job-Don’t do it if you can’t stand people! I am also starting another online business, so you really have to have an entrepreneurial/creative spirit and be willing to invest time and money that you may never get back!
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be? I can’t pick! I was going to pick a song I listened to at the gym but today I went to yoga! haha.
Oh I was angry over Walking Dead. Mainly irritated because the episode (to me) was poorly written and I swear half of it was commercials! It was like, 2 minutes of show, then commercial break, then a few more minutes, then commercials…I was like, I missed Bob’s Burgers for this! Well, as long as Daryl is still around, I am happy haha. Hopefully next week’s episode is better.
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots?
I have to say plaid, I have many shirts with that pattern.
2. Do your brows match your hair color?
I don’t really know my hair is supposed to be very dark brown, but after some henna it got a reddish undertone in the sunlight while my brows are naturally dark but sparse, so when I fill them I use a very dark brown.
3. This week I’m really looking forward to…
To get my medical diagnosis (remember the ache I told you on December, well it looks like the problem is in my pelvis) and to have a date with a guy I met online (you should do a post about how to make up for a date)
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work?
Gurl, welcome to the investigation train; now you have to read a lot but if you really like this kind of work you wouldn’t care about it, so read, read, read.
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be?
I’m not really sure, maybe Arianna Grande’s Love me harder.
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots?
Polka dots!!!!! I LOVE polka dots! Might have something to do with my love for Minnie Mouse… 😉
2. Do your brows match your hair color?
They do, I’m too lazy to change my hair colour.
3. This week I’m really looking forward to…
Friday. This is the week from hell.
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work?
Persevere. It takes a while but it will happen eventually.
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be?
A depressing one… So I’ll go cheer myself up with some upbeat ones right now!
1. Stripes, plaid or polka dots? Ugh, do I have to choose? I love ’em all!
2. Do your brows match your hair color? No. They’re dark brown and my hair is reddish brown.
3. This week I’m really looking forward to… nothing really. I know, sad.
4. What advice would you give to a friend who wants to get into your line of work? Don’t give up.
5. If you were a song today, what song would you be? Something moody. I feel a throat infection coming up so I’m feeling annoyed. Go away, stoopid virus, shoo!