So…what is the Monday Poll?
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 NINE (!) 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. 🙂
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional?
Fully functional? Probably 6 a.m. Anything on or before the 5:30 range is still technically doable…but I’ll be really, really out of it, so even though I could do simple tasks like make coffee or feed the cat, I can’t do (not well, at least) more complicated things like drive or, I dunno, chop carrots with a sharp knife.
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails?
I just painted them last night! I’m wearing two coats of Chanel Beige Beige from the spring 2017 collection.
They look like responsible interview nails, LOL! I’ve been defaulting to blues and greens lately, but I felt like trying something different…
3. What are you looking forward to this spring?
So many things! Sunshine, warmer weather (I’m such a California weather wimp), my neighbor’s freesia plants blooming (I look forward to them every year), being able to go jogging and walking outside, dresses and sandals, visiting the Japanese Tea Gardens in SF when the cherry blossoms are in bloom…
4. Three things you’d like to do today?
- Catch up on my emails, because I am so behind on them
- Do another load of laundry, and I’m not going to say “finish the laundry,” because it never ends, especially with the baby’s stuff. I’m ALWAYS doing laundry.
- Attend a mini dance party with Connor Claire
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it?
Hourglass Peacemaker Girl Lip Stylo, because it’s a perfect peachy nude, and I can just throw it on without stressin’.
We meet again!
You know what I was thinking this morning? Isn’t it funny how we can learn life lessons, but then forget that we’ve learned them, and then re-learn them later again?
Why do we do that?? Why did we ever forget it in the first place?
This applies to so many things for me, but right now I’m talking about hair. LOL! I usually deal with mine in the mornings, but I had some extra time last night after I put the baby down, so I decided to blow dry and curl it so I wouldn’t have to style it this morning. And it saved so much time!
Anyway, just some food for thought…
Have a good day and a wonderful week, my friend. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Here are the questions to copy and paste…
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional?
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails?
3. What are you looking forward to this spring?
4. Three things you’d like to do today?
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it?
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional?
I would say 6AM for me too. Even then sometimes I do dumb things like pour coffee creamer in my smoothie!
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails?
Essie Fishnet Stockings
3. What are you looking forward to this spring?
The ability to be outside! Winter here means snow/cold/hibernation.
4. Three things you’d like to do today?
1. Make it through work. 2. Go to the gym. 3. Reward self with Netflix.
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it?
Clarins Super Restorative Day Cream. I have a mini of it (I think from a Christmas kit of theirs) and it works so good! But then I looked up the price of the full size and cried.
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional?
6 AM.
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails?
Essie Ballet Slipper.
3. What are you looking forward to this spring?
Nothing in particular, to be honest. 2017 is such an open year for me…
4. Three things you’d like to do today?
My day is almost over though! Buuuuuut I’m gonna with enjoy my fruit salad, find something new to watch on Netflix and run into that rare pet I’ve been hunting in WoW.
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it?
My Morphe 35OM Eyeshadow Palette! Talking about it in today’s video, actually 🙂
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional? 6:55am
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails? Silver no chip
3. What are you looking forward to this spring? Going to Costa Rica with my family!
4. Three things you’d like to do today? Clean my desk at work, clean my desk at home, and make a healthy dinner.
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it? MAC Mineralize skinfinish, it just makes my makeup look so nice!
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional? 6am. Before that I am a zombie for the rest of my day.
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails? Cirque smoky quartz. A true gem. Spectacular in the sunlight.
3. What are you looking forward to this spring? Moving into my new apartment. And pastel nail polishes. And fruity cocktails. And brighter lip colors. And flip flops.
4. Three things you’d like to do today? It’s the evening here so I have done all the things I wanted to do: getting a bikini wax, making soup and trying a new lip combo.
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it? Peter thomas roth black mask really works and I am always surprised at the quality of my skin the next day.
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional? Before retiring I awoke at 5:00 a.m. and hit the ground running. Now that I’m a lady of leisure, I’m usually up by 6:00 but I can still get up and be fully functional as early as 4:30-5:00. No problem. I’m an early bird by nature.
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails? Nothing.
3. What are you looking forward to this spring? My garden waking up.
4. Three things you’d like to do today? Start my tax prep, go to the market, meet my husband for a late lunch and a movie.
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it? Tom Ford’s Spin Spin Sugar has been a go-to for me. I love a more natural looking highlight as opposed to a “spotlight” and Spin Spin gives me just what I’m looking for without any visible sparkle. I can wear it sheered out during the day for a subtle gleam or build it up for more evening impact.
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional?
Mmm… it really depends on how much of a sleep deficit I have going. If I’ve had 8-9 hours of sleep for 3 or 4 nights in a row, I can wake up at almost any time (even 3am or 4am) and be functional, if the situation calls for it. If I’ve only been getting 5-7 hours of sleep, though, I’m just a perma-zombie.
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails?
nothin! They’re nekked! And I’ll probably keep them that way for a while, since we’ll be vacationing for a month (in New Zealand, hooray!) and I’ll be packing really really light… which doesn’t allow for polish & remover. Sorry, nails!
3. What are you looking forward to this spring?
Flowers on the trees! Leaves sneaking out of buds! That crisp but bright feeling in the just-warming-up air! I love spring, and it’s so pretty in NYC.
4. Three things you’d like to do today?
1) Yoga. Holy crap I just feel like I need to STRETCH.
2) The dishes. I let them go over the weekend, and it’s not a very pretty sight.
3) Sleep! I had two extremely late nights over the weekend, and I am just. freakin. tired.
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it?
I’ve been super into the Body Shop’s Down to Earth Palette – which I got after you reviewed it, Karen! I love how easy it is to blend… I can’ t normally do a smokey eye very easily, but I knocked one out of the park with that palette the other day. I was pretty excited. 🙂 PLUS that shadow stays put on my lids all day without creasing even the tiniest bit when I use the ELF shadow primer underneath… so baller!
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional?
Probably 7 or so.
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails?
Not a darned thing!
3. What are you looking forward to this spring?
Weather! Maybe going to visit a friend in California, which I’ve never been to. Depends on my bonus at work.
4. Three things you’d like to do today?
1. Lay back down (I think I sprained my ankle.
2. Buy groceries (which is hard because of the ankle – husband might need to help, we do not have food in the house)
3. Finish reading a fanfiction I was reading!
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it?
I just got a new vitamin c serum and girl, my skin loves it. My skin is all bright and the texture is now smooth!
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional? 7am. I’m not a morning person.
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails? a very chipped Opi pink. I need a polish change!
3. What are you looking forward to this spring? I’m still in winter mode here in New England but I’d have to say flowers blooming in the garden. 🙂
4. Three things you’d like to do today? Drink tea (it’s a rain/snow mix outside so it was much needed), go to yoga (I have not been to my Monday yoga class in a while), eat homemade soup (leftovers from last night).
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it? I’ve been breaking out a lot lately and witch hazel has really been helping!
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional?
6am for me too. Although when I’m in my hometown in Indonesia I could do 5:30am (just because my bedroom faces east and the sun shines directly on my bed)
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails?
A matte dark silver nail polish from Armani.
3. What are you looking forward to this spring?
More light! Being able to easily run in the morning again. Flowers blooming. A short spring vacation!
4. Three things you’d like to do today?
Today is almost over in Berlin so maybe I share one for Tuesday instead:
– Morning yoga session
– Go and see A Streetcat Named Bob at the cinema
– Review some beauty products
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it?
Kjaer Weis Lip Tint in Sensuous Plum. Easy color, and so comfortable on during these dry months.
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional?: Um, maybe 6:30? But I would need lots of coffee.
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails?: Zoya Cheryl.
3. What are you looking forward to this spring?: Getting some herb plants and starting to grow plants in my apartment.
4. Three things you’d like to do today?: Relax, take off my old nail polish and continue watching “Pushing Daisies”.
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it?: L’Oreal Voluminous mascara. I can’t believe I slept on this miracle mascara. It really does make my lashes look amazing!
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional? I get up at 5:30am, that’s the earliest I can function. But I drink an obscene amount of coffee in the morning.
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails? A deep navy from the OPI Infinite Shine line.
3. What are you looking forward to this spring? Blooming trees, Easter candy, not having the heater on during the day.
4. Three things you’d like to do today? Drink more coffee, exercise, and I need to run to Target for some essentials.
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it? Anything with charcoal!
Love those Monday polls.
1. What is the earliest you can get up int he morning and be functional? since I always get up at 6:00 AM to get my son and husband out the door and get me going, that would be it.
2. what are you currently wearing on your nails? Nothing, but I am wanting to try Chanel Ballerina. have to but it first.
3.What are you looking forward to this spring? If all goes well, a family trip to Florida to see my folks during Zack’s spring break. it will be Passover and Easter so i am guaranteed to have high fares.
4. Three things you’d like to do today? stay indoors this evening, it’s eerie today, get my food shopping done in time for the rain deluge and finish the laundry.
5. What beauty product you’ve been into lately and why you love it? That’s a tough one because I am loving all my new Chanel products, but if I need to chose, I’d say the Joues Contraste in Rose Ecrin. It is the most beautiful neutral peachy-pink shade.
I love your photo also. I used to love to walk around NYC with Zack in the Baby Bjorn. He felt like a part of me.
Be well!
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional? 7 but if i am about to go on vacation like 5 in the morning
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails? nothing but i usually like purple pink colors done by me but by a nail tech , red.
3. What are you looking forward to this spring? the end, summer.
4. Three things you’d like to do today? drive, eat my pizza and clean my room
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it?
moisturizer and serums. I just need my face to feel plump and youthful. I didnt understand that in my twenties but when I get home I love the korean 10 step system.
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional? 7 but if i am about to go on vacation like 5 in the morning
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails? nothing but i usually like purple pink colors done by me but by a nail tech , red.
3. What are you looking forward to this spring? the end, summer.
4. Three things you’d like to do today? drive, eat my pizza and clean my room
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it?
moisturizer and serums. I just need my face to feel plump and youthful. I didn’t understand that in my twenties but when I get home I love the Korean 10 step system.
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional? Maybe 8 a.m.? I’m not a morning person, and I have insomnia.
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails? Nexgen nails in a grape purple cream, with a sparkly purple accent nail.
3. What are you looking forward to this spring? No more ice and snow.
4. Three things you’d like to do today? 1) Receive my paycheck (big messup; they didn’t direct deposit). 2) Wash makeup brushes. 3) Try out the ring light I got for my cell phone.
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it? Medusa’s Makeup Blush in Dangerous Liaison. It’s such a pretty, bright pink with a beautiful satin finish.
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional?
I want to say 6am but I get up at 6.15am every morning.
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails?
Nothing! Bare nails 🙂 I don’t really like nail polish.
3. What are you looking forward to this spring?
Sunshine, please God, Sunshine.
4. Three things you’d like to do today?
1) Finish a chapter of my book.
2) Drink some homemade matcha latte.
3) Maybe take a nap?
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it?
I’ve really been into blush lately especially since my skin has been healing and my redness is going away.
1. 6am. depending on when I went to sleep, this may even be 7am 2. French tips 🙂
3. spring dresses!
4. 1 load of laundry, make it to yoga, and watch some bad reality tv.
5. I have been wearing the becca aqua luminous perfecting concealer!! My shade is Medium and I have not stopped using this baby since I got it in…November maybe?
it’s like 8 hours of sleep in a tube. every time I wear it, it makes my dark circles go away and the finish is a perfect matte. no caking, no creasing, just beautiful bright under eyes!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional?
I am very lucky that even with Fibro, I can get up whenever I need to. How long I can function well depends. If I have to get up at 4 or 5 I need a nap by 10. I prefer to wake up naturally between 8 and 9 after going to bed around 12 am. If I get about 7 hours of decent sleep I can function all day with no issues other than pain, but my mind will be mostly fine.
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails?
Does dirt count?
3. What are you looking forward to this spring?
Husband comes homes after more than a year apart. I’m also looking forward to not freezing my ass off or broiling it off. I swear it’s been the hottest and coldest year I can recall in WA.
4. Three things you’d like to do today?
Realistically or dreaming?
Realistically speaking I’d like to get my dog lightly worked out, catch up on some tv, and get a bit of cleaning and cooking done. In my dream reality, I’m doing rich and fabulous things like lounging in Bora Bora enjoying a frosty hydrating beverage while looking at the water.
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it?
Skin care wise I’ve been living for Fresh Black Tea Sleeping Mask. It’s a time saver for when I’m lazy as it does a little of everything and doesn’t break me out.
Makeup wise, TF Mitchell lipstick… OMG GIRL HE’S EVERYTHING!
Haven’t done one of these in quite a while, been going through some big life changes.
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional?
– Probably about 0600 hours, provided I got quality sleep the night before.
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails?
– NARS Orgasm on my toes. Can’t have painted fingernails for work unless it’s clear polish.
3. What are you looking forward to this spring?
– Motorcycle riding weather 🙂
4. Three things you’d like to do today?
– I accomplished talking with the divorce attorney, cleaning up my inbox, and researching my court cases for this week.
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it?
– Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Rose Gold. It brightens up my eyes and looks totally natural.
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional?
I would say 6:00 a.m.
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails?
Naked 🙁
3. What are you looking forward to this spring?
The flowers and birds chirping
4. Three things you’d like to do today?
1.Take a shower it’s hard to do with kids.
2. Paint my nails
3. Clean up house
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it?
So I ordered an eye cream from sokoglam.com called Missha Yang eye cream. I love love how a little goes a long way. It comes in a cute little.bottle and has gold flecks in it. Lucky me “crossing my fingers” knocking on wood. I dont have much of a problem area under my eyes. So i can’t really say how it performs as far as reducing fine lines or dark areas. But I do love how it lasts a long time its a nice thick formula. Im almost out so I’ll be ordering again.
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional?
Morning? Functional? Did you say morning? I don’t do mornings.
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails?
Nada. Nail polish and horses don’t mix.
3. What are you looking forward to this spring?
HEAT!
4. Three things you’d like to do today?
Get dressed. Cuddle with the dog. Eat.
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it?
Still loving my Aura Cacia Argan Oil.
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional?
8 am, and no I’m not joking… I’m really, really not a morning person, and I’m absolutely miserable if I have to get up early. I used to have this job that started at 8, and I was in a state of constant exhaustion, besides hating my life. Luckily I now have a job that starts much later and it makes such a huge positive difference for me to be able to get up after 8!
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails?
Nothing, I haven’t found the time to paint them in a while!
3. What are you looking forward to this spring?
The end of the monsoon? We’ve had such a wet winter down here in SoCal this year! It’s been raining a lot more than any other winter since I moved here.
4. Three things you’d like to do today?
Work on my next blog post, shape/file my nails, find something cool to watch on Netflix.
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it?
The ELF concealer brush (the black one from their premium line). I saw somebody recommending it on a blog, or maybe on Youtube, and I thought, why not, it’s 3 bucks! I’m SUPER impressed, it gives me a true airbrushed finish, nothing I’ve tried before ever gave me such a flawless result, especially with my dry undereyes prone to fine lines. Well worth the investment!
You are so right about “life lessons” Karen! I often re-discover better ways to do things that had been a habit for me in the past…
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional? 7:30. Although lately it’s been closer to 8:45 or 9. I just can’t seem to wake up these days. Never have been a morning person.
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails? Nothing, but I have Chanel Organdi and the Tinted Topcoat in Black Metamorphosis pulled out to try together. I tried Beige Beige in Neiman’s but it just didn’t go with my skin tone.
3. What are you looking forward to this spring? Not sure. I don’t really like hot weather and by the time spring rolls around these parts, I’m hot.
4. Three things you’d like to do today? Go to the gym to workout, get a load or two of laundry done clear out at least one drawer. (I’m trying to downsize and only keep things I truly love and wear. Which is a heck of a lot more than Ms. Kondo would find acceptable.)
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it? Caroline Hirons double cleanse for Pixi. It has helped move my skin from super dry and finely flakey (still with acne) into soft and supple with less acne.
1. I can get up at any time and be functional as long as it doesn’t involve talking to anyone until after my shower and some coffee. Talkative people first thing after I wake up, no matter the time, irritate me beyond belief.
2. My toenails are painted with Essie’s Flowerista. It’s been my go-to for the last year.
3. This spring I am looking forward to a mini-vacation in March and also to getting back in my writing groove. The writing groove begins tomorrow, in fact.
4. My day is nearly over but I did complete three things I had on my list: make chicken salad for my lunches this week, shaved my legs, and remembered to buy more contact lens solution.
5. Do skin care products count here? Because a couple weeks ago I found Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Peeling Facial Pads at Target. I had some hyperpigmented spots from cystic acne and I was hoping the peel pads would help fade the color. I love them. So much. So very very much. I swear my skin looks much brighter, the spots have faded, and I think it’s even helped control oil.
I adore the Nip+Fab facial pads! I’ve been through about half a package and I’m already in love. I’m super impressed with how well they work, not even considering how inexpensive they are.
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional?
Hmm…functional? I’m going to say 7. Any earlier than that and I need a nap before noon.
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails?
Nada. They are in a breaking period due to my recent rampant use of Clorox wipes.
3. What are you looking forward to this spring?
Tulips!
4. Three things you’d like to do today?
Well, the day is almost over, but:
1. Figure out how to back up photos from my hard drive to an external hard drive. (My desktop seems to be in its death throes; it’s been a good 10 years.)
2. Order a humane mousetrap online. After a week of borrowing my friend’s Siamese cat to assist, there is still evidence (yuck) of mouse activity.
We had a lot of fun playing with the feather toy, though.
3. Match up receipts to various returns (the usual culprits, Marshall’s, Ross, TJMaxx) so I can get them out of my house already!
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it?
Every night before bed I slather The Body Shop Honeymania body butter on my hands, really rubbing it into my cuticles. Result? Soft hands and a relaxed me. The scent is fantastic.
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional? Anytime on Day 1. Even all-nighters aren’t too bad. It’s on the 2nd day that it hits me, no matter how much sleep I get. 🙂
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails? Flecks of Essie Madamoiselle that haven’t yet worn/chipped off.
3. What are you looking forward to this spring? Finally going to Hawaii, woot, woot!
4. Three things you’d like to do today? Not get in a car accident (freezing rain and snow – schools are all cancelled), get out of the dump pants I chose to wear this AM, cook a roast.
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it? I’ve been using Tatcha Cleansing Oil for a while and I like the way it takes off every bit of my eye makeup.
1. What’s the earliest you can get up in the morning and still be functional?
Ugh, unfortunately, I frequently have to get up at 6:30, so I’d say 6 AM.
2. What are you currently wearing on your nails?
Nothing, actually! I might paint them after showering tonight.
3. What are you looking forward to this spring?
I have some cute dresses I can’t wait to bust out once the wind and rain and snow has gone away!
4. Three things you’d like to do today?
Write some grownup-type emails (cue horror movie music), do some homework (day 2 of the semester and I’m already busy!), and finish unpacking from moving back out to school.
5. What’s a makeup or beauty product you’ve been extra into lately, and why do you love it?
Kind of a random one, but the Wet n Wild Coverall primer! It’s a fantastic primer (kind of a hydrating, watery primer but it also seems to somehow blur pores and make foundation last longer) and it’s literally $5! I’ve been through two bottles already. I saw it on sale yesterday at Target for $4.50 and bought all of them.