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 10 (!) 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. Do you like big butts and you cannot lie?
I have a big butt, so of course I like ’em. I would never lie about that either.
2. Are holiday get-togethers peaceful in your family, or do they ever turn into battlegrounds?
Can I plead the Fifth on this one? If so…I plead the Fifth. ? If not, everything’s always peachy keen, and everybody always gets along. It’s all perfect little angel babies, puppies, kittens and rainbows. ????
3. Do you think your coworkers would notice if you showed up to work wearing a different eye look on each eye?
My coworker is 
Tabs, so hell no.
4. Do you trim your nose hairs? (Bonus: Have you ever trimmed somebody else’s nose hairs?)
Um… Haha! I have trimmed a hair or two on myself, but I haven’t had the pleasure of trimming someone else’s. Yet. ?
5. What are we celebrating today?
We’re celebrating our general fabulousness. And ? doughnuts.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Here are the questions to copy and paste!
1. Do you like big butts and you cannot lie?
2. Are holiday get-togethers peaceful in your family, or do they turn into tumultuous battlegrounds?
3. Do you think your coworkers would notice if you showed up to work wearing a different eye look on each eye?
4. Do you trim your nose hairs? (Bonus: Have you ever trimmed somebody else’s nose hairs?)
5. What are we celebrating today?
1. Do you like big butts and you cannot lie? No.
2. Are holiday get-togethers peaceful in your family, or do they turn into tumultuous battlegrounds? The get-togethers in my home are always peaceful and joyful because, at my age, I’ve managed to successfully eliminate toxic people from my life. I bring people together as an act of love and friendship; not as a declaration of war.
3. Do you think your coworkers would notice if you showed up to work wearing a different eye look on each eye? I’m retired so I don’t have to worry about that but, if I were to go out in public like that, people would probably just right it off to my being a “funny old lady”. LOL
4. Do you trim your nose hairs? (Bonus: Have you ever trimmed somebody else’s nose hairs?). No, for me it is not necessary. I’d never trim someone else’s nose hairs unless they were incapacitated in some way and needed/wanted help with that bit of personal grooming.
5. What are we celebrating today? The first good rain of the season. Here in So Cal it’s been too dry for far too long. It’s a shame we didn’t have rain earlier in the season. Perhaps it would have lesssened the severity of the fires.
Hi Eileen,
It’s raining here in Nor Cal too. I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed it until now! There’s something so cozy about hearing the rain tap on windows. We’re up on a hill which means I get a big vantage of it coming down from the sky. In its own way, it’s very beautiful.
How was your weekend? Did you do anything fun?
I’m sure in some parts of our country they think Californians are nuts when we get so besotted with rain. It’s such a blessing, though, in the Golden (and dry!) State. LOL
My oldest son’s wonderful lady just got back from doing some volunteer medical work in Peru. We had a casual, relaxing lunch with them this past weekend and got to hear all about her adventures. Since South American is one part of the world I’ve never had the opportunity to explore, I particularly enjoyed her narrative.
Your son’s partner sounds like such an interesting lady. How cool that she does medical volunteer work in a different country! I’ve had Peru on my bucket list since my mid-20s, by the way. One day I’ll see Machu Picchu in person. One day…
I hope you get the chance to go someday, too, because you never know where life will take you.
1. Do you like big butts and you cannot lie? I have a big butt, so yes. lol
2. Are holiday get-togethers peaceful in your family, or do they turn into tumultuous battlegrounds? If we’re talking just hubby and the kids, they’re usually peaceful. My extended family: Battleground. My mother will stir up trouble if nothing happens on its own.
3. Do you think your coworkers would notice if you showed up to work wearing a different eye look on each eye? I work from home; no co-workers.
4. Do you trim your nose hairs? (Bonus: Have you ever trimmed somebody else’s nose hairs?) I’ve never had to trim my own or anyone else.
5. What are we celebrating today? My ears are much better and the vertigo is gone. I think I’m kicking this virus, finally.
Hi Rachel,
Glad to hear you’re feeling better. We’ve been fighting two back-to-back colds here at Casa MBB. Hope you’re 100% soon!
Thank you! Sorry you’re dealing with back-to-back bugs. That’s so miserable. I hope you guys get all better soon, and get a good long break before the next virus. (((((hugs)))))
Hi Rachel,
Glad that inner ear virus is easing up. When it happened to me about 15 years ago, the vertigo and inability to put one foot in front of the other without falling down had me momentarily thinking I was having a stroke. A trip to the doctor quickly put that to rest, though, and got me on track handling an inner ear infection. Unfortunately, viruses will always be with you and whenever I get the flu (which is blessedly very rare), I’ll experience some vertigo again. Take care and be well 🙂
Thank you, Eileen! I’ve had ear problems since childhood, so I’m used to the recurring vertigo. It’s just been a couple years since it was this bad. Sorry to hear you get it sometimes, too.
1. Do you like big butts and you cannot lie?
Haha, sure! Or in our house I’m constantly commenting on the fluffy butts walking around. 🙂
2. Are holiday get-togethers peaceful in your family, or do they turn into tumultuous battlegrounds?
There’s been some drama over the years, but they are mostly peaceful gatherings.
3. Do you think your coworkers would notice if you showed up to work wearing a different eye look on each eye?
Hmm..probably not. I’m usually hunkered down in my cube staring at my computer screen.
4. Do you trim your nose hairs? (Bonus: Have you ever trimmed somebody else’s nose hairs?)
Luckily, I haven’t had to do either!
5. What are we celebrating today?
I’m happy it’s finally above freezing!
Happy Monday!
Oh thank goodness for “good” weather (anything above freezing). How was your book? Was it good? I ended up ordering take out Chinese food because of you, by the way. I got my favorite honey walnut prawns, veggie egg rolls, and chicken chow mein.
Your Chinese food order sounds yummy! My favorite place has a dish called Coco Curry that has coconut milk and veggies. It’s got a little bit of spice to it, but just the right amount. It’s so good!
My book was good. A real page turner, but also a little bit sad. I started another one called “Missing, Presumed” from Susie Steiner. It’s a police procedural about a missing person. It’s okay so far – maybe a bit slow.
Hope you are having some nice weather out there!
The Chinese food here in the North Bay Area is passable but not nearly as good as the Chinese food in the East Bay or South Bay or SF (there’s not as big an Asian population here as there is in the rest of the Bay Area), but when the craving strikes you gotta do what you gotta do! If you ever see honey walnut prawns on the menu at your favorite place you should give it a go, it’s delicious. The prawns are coated (in flour, I think), fried, then tossed in a sweet and slightly tart sauce and then sprinkled with walnuts. SO good!
It’s raining today here but I don’t mind it at all. It’s barely rained this season and it’s nice to hear the sounds of the raindrops on my window.
You have Netflix right? I just started watching this show called Great British Baking Show Masterclass and it’s so fun!
Fried and tossed in a sweet sauce? Count me in! Sounds delicious.
Thanks for the Netflix recommendation! I’ve heard good things about that show. I recently started watching The Good Place with Kristen Bell. I’m only on the third episode and it’s pretty good so far.
Yeah, it’s really good. It’s my usual dish of choice at Chinese places. I love the crunch of the crust on the prawns and the silky sauce. The walnuts add a beautiful texture too. The nuts are usually coated in a sweet glaze!
I marathoned that show with Kristen Bell in the fall and laughed the entire way through it. It’s funny! When you get to the end of the season we’ll have to talk about it.
1. Do you like big butts and you cannot lie?
I don’t, and I’v been working out hard in the past few months to decrease the size of mine, lol!
2. Are holiday get-togethers peaceful in your family, or do they turn into tumultuous battlegrounds?
In my own family there is often drama. That’s why living on another continent isn’t that hard on me… These days I spend holidays with my in-laws and it’s rather peaceful.
3. Do you think your coworkers would notice if you showed up to work wearing a different eye look on each eye?
Kitty is also my sole co-worker at the time – unless I can count the mail man? He would notice!
4. Do you trim your nose hairs? (Bonus: Have you ever trimmed somebody else’s nose hairs?)
I do. One of the unexpected joys of getting older is hair you never know you had growing longer for no reason… But I’d never trim someone else’s. No way!
5. What are we celebrating today?
The first day of my new fitness challenge at my studio! I made a lot of progress last time so I’m hoping to get motivated enough to take a class every day, except on my weekly run with my buddy.
Hope you had great holidays Karen! We drove up the California coast hoping to reach Oregon, but it’s a lot farther than I realized, lol! We made it up to Crescent City before turning back. It was a fun road trip.
Hi Lulle,
Congrats on working out so hard for the past few months! I know it’s hard work. What kind of exercise are you doing?
And oh, you guys got so close to Oregon! Too bad you didn’t make it up all the way. Sounds like you had fun though. What was your favorite part about the trip?
I do spin and combination classes mostly (spin+barre or spin+weights). It’s very intense but I’ve seen amazing results very fast – like my legs have changed a lot in just a few months, I have quads, yay! I also run a bit and do yoga.
We saw Oregon from the beach North of Crescent City so I say it counts, lol! It was a lot of driving so we didn’t want to go much further. The State Parks were awesome, Fern Canyon, Big Lagoon, all the small beaches with beautiful views of the rocky shore were so beautiful! And also wine tasting in Mendocino County and Sonoma on the way back 😀
1. Do you like big butts and you cannot lie? haha. No.
2. Are holiday get-togethers peaceful in your family, or do they turn into tumultuous battlegrounds? They are peaceful. We did have a mild snafu leading up to Thanksgiving but that family member ended up not making it.
3. Do you think your coworkers would notice if you showed up to work wearing a different eye look on each eye? Yes, they would notice. 🙂
4. Do you trim your nose hairs? (Bonus: Have you ever trimmed somebody else’s nose hairs?) No but on the right side I kind of need to. No, my husband has a trimmer tool.
5. What are we celebrating today? That it’s the first day since Christmas where it’s above freezing out! 33F. We broke all sorts of records with the most recent cold snap. For my New Year’s Eve in Maine it was -18F.
Hi Leah!
You’re the third person today I’ve talked to today who’s happy about the temperature being above freezing! It’s mid-50s here in my town in Northern California. You’d probably be tempted to wear shorts. 🙂
What did you do on the weekend? Anything fun? We stayed close to home because Connor’s got a virus.
Hi Karen,
I went to a yoga event on Saturday (at my gym). It was like 4 classes in one with two different teachers. It was great! Saturday night we had dinner with friends from the neighborhood. We did our Secret Santa which was with books this year! 🙂
That sounds like fun workout. I bet you learned a lot, too.
What book did you get from your Secret Santa? And what book did you give away?
I got a book about Southern FL. We are heading to the West Coast of FL next week so they just got the location wrong. (keeping the book anyway) and also a blank journal with the quote “Not all who wander are lost.” on the cover. 🙂 I gave a book about Lake Winnipesaukee in NH. I gave it to a friend that loves the lake and history so it’s perfect. For tonight’s bookclub meeting we read ‘Little Fires Everywhere’ which was very good!
Just added Little Fires Everywhere along with Celeste Ng’s first book, Everything I Never Told You, to my list. Thanks for the recommendation. I need a new good book to read; I just finished a thriller/murder mystery that I checked out from the library called The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda, and eh… It was okay. It started off slow and wasn’t very thrilling, but the only reason why I finished it was because I had already made it over halfway through, and by that point I was like TELL ME WHO DID IT ALREADY DAMN.
Ruchita here in the comments recently recommended The Secrets She Keeps by Michael Robotham. Got that on my list as well!
What are you doing in Florida next week? Vacay?
Thanks for the suggestion on ‘The Secrets She Keeps.’ I added that to my list. 🙂 Next week I’ll be on vacation for a few days to celebrate my Birthday on the 18th! Hopefully the weather is amazing. We’re visiting family in Englewood and staying for one night in Longboat Key. 🙂
You’re so welcome. 🙂 Ruchita’s often here in the comments; she’s super nice and reads a lot so you might want to chat her up sometime for book recommendations.
Happy, happy early birthday, Capricorn! I bet you’re stoked to be traveling to some place warm. Ooh, you know what might be fun? Finding yoga places along the way so you can take classes while you’re on the road.
1. Do you like big butts and you cannot lie?
On me or on a man? On me , a big butt is great. even if i lose weight my hip and butt ratio is big. On a man , it only works on football players, the perfect c butt in spandex.
2. Are holiday get-togethers peaceful in your family, or do they turn into tumultuous battlegrounds? depends on my sister .
3. Do you think your coworkers would notice if you showed up to work wearing a different eye look on each eye? no and yes. out of 20 people … less than ten might notice and the others would come by to see what the fuss was about
4. Do you trim your nose hairs? (Bonus: Have you ever trimmed somebody else’s nose hairs?) no . ( bonus: no but pimples popped ,yes)
5. What are we celebrating today? nothing. a new year , people around here are still saying happy new year.
1. Do you like big butts and you cannot lie? YES!!! I’ve got a big butt, my daughter’s have big butts, big butts are healthy butts!
2. Are holiday get-togethers peaceful in your family, or do they turn into tumultuous battlegrounds? Let’s just say that I enjoy many many cocktails during the holidays! Lol! It’s never a battleground, but I do enjoy cocktails. Lol!
3. Do you think your coworkers would notice if you showed up to work wearing a different eye look on each eye? I am a stay at home mom, but I walk my 6th grader to class every day, and 6th graders notice everything. Everything. Every. Thing.
4. Do you trim your nose hairs? (Bonus: Have you ever trimmed somebody else’s nose hairs?). Mine, yes. But nobody else’s. I have mentioned to my husband that he trim a little bit when necessary.
5. What are we celebrating today? Today is the last day of Christmas vacation for the kids!!! It’s been a loooooong three weeks. I am looking forward to tomorrow. Also, it’s raining in Central CA, yay!
Hi Stephanie,
It’s raining here in Nor Cal too! Isn’t it nice? I’ve missed it so much.
Hope you had a great weekend and a wonderful week ahead.
1. Do you like big butts and you cannot lie? No
2. Are holiday get-togethers peaceful in your family, or do they turn into tumultuous battlegrounds? I avoid holiday get-togethers with my extended family. I only do Dear Husband and Dear Daughter get-togethers. On occasion I’ll do my middle brother and his wife.
3. Do you think your coworkers would notice if you showed up to work wearing a different eye look on each eye? They might, but I’m not sure the horses would say anything about it. They’re too polite that way. Everyone else would chalk it up to poor barn lighting or shade from my helmet visor.
4. Do you trim your nose hairs? (Bonus: Have you ever trimmed somebody else’s nose hairs?) Every now and then.
5. What are we celebrating today? Really great workout with my trainer and walking to the gym and back home in the RAIN!!!! Also finding mallards in the local creek!
Good for you for getting your workout in and getting it done, girl! What kind of exercises did you do today?
We saw mallards the creek by the library just before Christmas. 🙂 There’s a bakery right across the way from the library that gives away free cookies to the kids who go to baby story time, and you have to cross the creek via a footbridge to get there. Connor gets a real kick out of saying hi to the ducks when we visit.
Free cookies for kids are awesome! Does Connor enjoy being read to?
The standard gym workout. Goblet squats and lunges with a 10 kilo kettle bell. (No swings or any dynamic work yet, because my shoulders have been bugging me) Push ups, flies and rows for the shoulders, arms and upper back. Squat rolls and ab work. Box step ups, etc. After realizing I gained more weight than I would have liked over the holiday I started watching what and how much I was eating last week and I’ve already taken off a pound and a half. More work to be done.
She loves it when I read to her at home, but when we’re in a group setting like story time it’s a challenge to get her to sit still right now. She’s the kid who walks into the middle of the room, turns around so everyone can see her, and then she starts dancing and smiling. I spend most of Story Time chasing after her, LOL! But we keep going back in the hopes that one day she’ll want to sit and listen quietly. It’s happened once or twice, so I know it’s possible.
Your workout sounds like it was sweaty and satisfying, YES! I love doing squats but man, lunges, especially weighted lunges, are killer. I’m going to HIIT class tonight and am excited to sweat it all out… I’m so out of shape though. That’s what I get for skipping workouts and eating cookies every night after dinner for three weeks. Eh, it was fun and I wouldn’t take back a single delicious bite, but I miss being able to make it through a 45 workout going at 100%, ya know? Gotta believe that we’ll get where we want to go eventually…
Oh, do your trainers ever roll you out? GURL. If you don’t roll out already, you need to start.
1. Do you like big butts and you cannot lie?
You other brothers can’t deny!
2. Are holiday get-togethers peaceful in your family, or do they turn into tumultuous battlegrounds?
Thankfully my family is pretty darn awesome, so pretty peaceful. Boisterous maybe, but not a battleground (as long as I ignore my aunt and uncle when they start talking politics). 😉 My husband’s family, on the other hand…it’s a 50/50 chance.
3. Do you think your coworkers would notice if you showed up to work wearing a different eye look on each eye?
Probably, I work with lots of women.
4. Do you trim your nose hairs? (Bonus: Have you ever trimmed somebody else’s nose hairs?)
I haven’t had to do either yet!
5. What are we celebrating today?
Because it’s the final countdown! I’m at 35 weeks, that due date is really starting to loom large!
Happy Monday!
1. Do you like big butts and you cannot lie?
Ayup. Also another lady with some junk in the trunk here!
2. Are holiday get-togethers peaceful in your family, or do they turn into tumultuous battlegrounds?
Mostly! One side of the family could easily turn dicey, but hasn’t. Other side is drinking too much wine to argue about anything.
3. Do you think your coworkers would notice if you showed up to work wearing a different eye look on each eye?
I’d put it at 50/50 as to who notices, but I can only think of one who would actually ask me what’s up with that. I feel like most would be like, “Oh that wacky Christine” or “Oh man I bet she didn’t sleep last night and that’s what happened…!”
4. Do you trim your nose hairs? (Bonus: Have you ever trimmed somebody else’s nose hairs?)
I do not need to, thankfully…and thankfully, I’ve not ever trimmed somebody else’s.
5. What are we celebrating today?
I’m celebrating finally feeling like a human after about 10 days of a head cold, albeit on very little sleep and a busy day at work.
Small steps!
1. Do you like big butts and you cannot lie? Hell yea!
2. Are holiday get-togethers peaceful in your family, or do they turn into tumultuous battlegrounds? Peaceful mostly because I try to keep everybody cool and relaxed.
3. Do you think your coworkers would notice if you showed up to work wearing a different eye look on each eye? Totally. Most girls check my makeup out as soon as I arrive.
4. Do you trim your nose hairs? (Bonus: Have you ever trimmed somebody else’s nose hairs?) Nope and hell no!
5. What are we celebrating today? The release of the too faced peachy matte palette in sephora France!! I have been waiting months for this!
Eye makeup they would probably notice, though not necessarily say anything. I did wear two different shoes one day on accident and no one noticed, including me.
Hello, Karen! I just got back from buying a 35 lb bucket of pet safe ice demelter. (it was the only size! I really wanted a smaller size! I could hardly lift it!) You should have seen my dad’s face when he saw it. “How much did this cost?” “It was the only size!” “That didn’t answer my question.” “Only $58.” “Oh, only $58.” “At least it’s enough for a decade.” Ha ha ha.
1. Do you like big butts and you cannot lie?
I think all butts are beautiful! But big horse butts are especially beautiful.
2. Are holiday get-togethers peaceful in your family, or do they turn into tumultuous battlegrounds?
Well, that depends on which side of my family you go to. My dad’s is small so we’re fairly peaceful. My mom’s…chaos.
3. Do you think your coworkers would notice if you showed up to work wearing a different eye look on each eye?
Well, seeing as Bree is my co-worker…no.
4. Do you trim your nose hairs? (Bonus: Have you ever trimmed somebody else’s nose hairs?)
Occasionally, yes. That’s what you get when you are German. ?
5. What are we celebrating today?
Bree went potty and then walked aaaaaaall the way up the patio until she hit snow by the stoop BY HERSELF. (With some encouragement.) She despises snow.
Hi Kate & Bree,
Ya know, I had no idea what pet safe ice was, so I had to look it up. The things you learn when you live in a place that doesn’t snow… And hey, at least now you’ll be prepared for roughly forever. LOL!
Congrats Bree for taking a big step toward your independence!
Now you know, right? You do need salt ice here or you slip and slide and basically hurt yourself. (I’ve done this more than I’d like to admit. Doing this while carrying a dog would not be good.)
I, thankfully, am not in charge of shoveling.
1. Do you like big butts and you cannot lie?
Yes, finally. My big butt, the bane of my high school (and college) existence, is suddenly in fashion. Boy do I appreciate that fact, because it isn’t going anywhere.
2. Are holiday get-togethers peaceful in your family, or do they turn into tumultuous battlegrounds?
They are peaceful on the actual holiday, but that doesn’t promise smooth sailing the day before or the day after!
3. Do you think your coworkers would notice if you showed up to work wearing a different eye look on each eye?
Honestly, I could probably leave my condo wearing a different eye look on each eye, a huge bowler hat and handlebar mustache and carrying a diamond-tipped cane as well and my neighbors wouldn’t blink. (They’d all be looking at the ground anyway because it’s covered in ice.)
4. Do you trim your nose hairs? (Bonus: Have you ever trimmed somebody else’s nose hairs?)
I have trimmed a few exuberant ones, but it makes my eyes water. As for somebody else, I have yet to cross that hurdle. Thankfully. (Although my dad once asked me to shave the back of his neck, which I refused. Why he didn’t ask my brother to perform that task is beyond me.)
5. What are we celebrating today?
Naps. We’re celebrating naps.
1. Do you like big butts and you cannot lie?
While I’m not a butt person, I like all the butts. Except maybe baboon butts. I also love Sir Mix-a-lot. If you ever need a pick me up, youtube him and the seattle symphony!
2. Are holiday get-togethers peaceful in your family, or do they turn into tumultuous battlegrounds?
Both but usually peaceful!
3. Do you think your coworkers would notice if you showed up to work wearing a different eye look on each eye?
Nope cause I work from home!
4. Do you trim your nose hairs? (Bonus: Have you ever trimmed somebody else’s nose hairs?)
No I don’t I seem to have very few and they are short!
5. What are we celebrating today?
Nothing… I’d love to be celebrating something!