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. Have you ever practiced your smile in the mirror?
I totally have! I vividly remember doing it before picture day in middle school.
I practiced one smile where I’d press my lips together so that I could see the dimples that only show up when my lips are pursed (I look like a mean Filipino auntie when I do this, though!), and there was another smile that was a big toothy grin that looked like I was laughing, “Hahaha!” I looked CRAY.
2. What was the last song you heard?
Chris Cornell’s Can’t Change the World from his first solo album, Euphoria Morning.
It’s very Beatles-esque.
3. Shorts, a skirt or long pants?
Shorts, homie! I’m not into skirts… I’m short-waisted, so they end up riding up under my boobs, and you know how I feel about pants, a.k.a. leg prisons. 
4. How well do you deal with change?
Not as well as I did 10 years ago, and I think I’m better at handling planned changes than unexpected changes, but I think that’s because life has been so routine for so long, which is both a good and a bad thing.
5. When was the last time you cleaned your lash curler?
If we were talking about the Shu Uemura curler I retired a few weeks ago…girl, you don’t even want to know the real answer to that. Must have been years.
But I cleaned my new Surratt curler last Friday though! 🙂
I hope somebody cooks a meal for you this week (isn’t that the best?). If that doesn’t happen, then I hope your highlighter kisses the tops of your cheekbones with the same gentleness that Ryan Gosling uses when he kisses puppies and babies.
OK, someone’s in a crazy mood day. Must be the heat. My office is already baking…
Have a good one, sweets. Talk soon!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
1. Have you ever practiced your smile in the mirror?: Yes. When I was 13 I was self conscious about my jagged lower teeth. I would practice smiling in a way that concealed my lower teeth.
2. What was the last song you heard?: “Rescue Me” by Madonna.
3. Shorts, a skirt or long pants?: Long pants!
4. How well do you deal with change?: As someone on the autism spectrum, not very well. Like you, I deal better with planned changes rather than out of the blue changes.
5. When was the last time you cleaned your lash curler?: Yesterday! I try to clean it frequently. I also washed my sinfully grimy makeup brushes. I feel so accomplished!
Happy Monday, Karen, Connor Claire, Tabs and everyone else! 🙂
1. Have you ever practiced your smile in the mirror? Yes! I can get a bit toothy, so I’ve worked out a genuine and natural smile. I work on my kids on picture day too!
2. What was the last song you heard? “The way you make me feel” by Michael Jackson was on the radio when I came home from dropping the kids off at school. He’s not my favorite, but that’s a great song.
3. Shorts, a skirt, or long pants? Shorts!!! It’s going to be 101 degrees in central CA where I live, shorts all the way!
4. How well do you deal with change? Not well! I like things to be done the way I want them, change throws a wrench into everything. I can deal with change, I just don’t like it.
5. When was the last time you cleaned your lash curler? I have one, I don’t use it. I don’t know if I’m not using it correctly, but it doesn’t seem to work for me.
Hi Stephanie, you may want to try with a spoon to curl your lashes, it’s really common here in Mexico and some say the curl is better.
Happy Monday – I love how attentive Connor looks in this pic. 🙂
1. Yes, totally. I’m ridiculously un-photogenic so, even with practice, it’s a bad scene. HAHA!
2. I can’t remember. Something on an oldies’ station for like 2 minutes on the way to work. It couldn’t have been anything exciting.
3. Shorts or sweatpants. Really nothing with a button or zipper if it can be avoided. 😉
4. I don’t know. I think pretty well. I like to plan everything to the smallest detail but I don’t mind if we end up winging it/changing plans. Unless it affects other people. I don’t like to be late or to inconvenience others and I definitely hate it when people don’t have that same consideration for me. In fairness, I guess I don’t really have much experience with too many big, unexpected changes.
5. I never use one. Not having curl isn’t one of my lash challenges. 🙂
I’m sorry for the heat, so early. We’re rainy and 50ish, here but I can always put more clothes on. Being hot is much tougher!!
1. Yes of course
2. Chris Cornell’s Billie Jean, but I’ll admit I really had no idea who he was until this week.
3. Long pants or a short dress. I don’t like skirts or shorts very well.
4. I deal with change pretty well but I do not deal with uncertainty at all. I hate it when I don’t know how things are going to go.
5. Umm, once since I got it in december, I really don’t use them often though.
*starts daydreaming about Ryan Gosling*
I don’t even know where my lash curler is!
And I definitely practiced smiling in the mirror before lol.
Shorts! But I like dresses, too. Less work to put an outfit together and I don’t have to worry about an uncomfy waistband =)
haaaaappy Monday!!
Have you ever practiced your smile in the mirror? Yes, I saw a picture as a teen years ago and i hated how I smiled so I rehearsed the smile I wanted in the mirror. I have kept that smile to this day.
What was the last song you heard? I dont know some disco song maybe from Chic on Pandora
Shorts, a skirt or long pants? Always jean pants . my only option for my life.
How well do you deal with change? I am cynical about change but sometimes I just give in.
When was the last time you cleaned your lash curler? I really dont use one since I pinched my eyelid one time.
1. Have you ever practiced your smile in the mirror?
Yes, but I haven’t managed to get the perfect smile.
2. What was the last song you heard?
Becky G’s “Sola” for me it’s a really sexy song while she says she’s better alone rather than with that awful guy. Now it’s playing Despacito, and yes, I still love it.
3. Shorts, a skirt, or long pants?
Shorts all the way, I’m looking for some men’s shorts that are shorter, around mid thigh.
4. How well do you deal with change?
My mantra is that things happens for a reason so I try to accept change even though I freak out when things don’t go as planned.
5. When was the last time you cleaned your lash curler?
I have one, but I don’t use it, because my lashes are naturally curly; so it isn’t really dirty.
1. Nope! I don’t like my teeth and any smile that isn’t genuine looks like a crazy maniac 🙁
2. The last song with words was https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Sko_A6dU_U
It always gives me goosebumps. I was listening to classical earlier though.
3. Maxi skirts ALLLLLLLL THHHHHHEEEEE TIIIIIIMMMMMEEEE
4. I used to hate dealing with uncertainty or ambiguity of any sort. As I’ve aged I’ve realized pretty much what I can control and can’t control. I still rage against it at times, but I’ve gotten way better at going with the flow.
5. I haven’t cleaned or used my Shu in like years. It pinches pretty darn bad.
1. I don’t think I have! When I smile in front of the mirror I’m usually just checking my teeth for any stray greenery.
2. Does listening to my 4yo sing the Lion King intro count?
3. I’ve gotten into dresses and skirts lately. This time of year I’m so over pants! My trick is wearing a pair of spandex shorts under them. No chaffing!
4. I think I do well with change. I try to live with an adventurer’s mindset which helps in that arena.
5. Don’t have an eyelash curler and haven’t used one for years. They freak me out!
1- Smile practice: I don’t have a particular memory of doing that but I’m sure I did!
2- The Golden Age by Beck is playing on my Google Play radio station right now!
3- I wear pants most of the time but I love skirts, long and short. They’re just so comfy to wear and I feel like my legs are free!
4- Dealing with change: I also think that I don’t handle it quite as well as I did a few years back. Is anxiety about change something that comes with age? I don’t know. I made drastic changes in my life when I was younger (like deciding to move to another country) and I was actually excited about it. Now I can get very worried when things change. Maybe it’s because I didn’t decide to make these changes so I’m not in control?
5- Eyelash curler cleaning: about a month ago. I actually need to get a new curler, mine is a cheap thing from the drugstore and I’ve had it for a while. I’m wondering if it could break one day and risk injure my eyes!
I hope you have a great week Karen!
Hi, Karen! It’s so sad about Chris Cornell.
Connor’s kitty dress is the cutest. 🙂
It’s going to be 90F here today. In May! That’s crazy for the Portland area.
1. Have you ever practiced your smile in the mirror?: I did when I was a pre-teen and teen. I’ve always been self-conscious about my smile. I had to take lots of tetracycline as a young child, and it turned my teeth enamel transparent, showing the yellow dentin underneath.
2. What was the last song you heard?: Meinhard “Expelled”
3. Shorts, a skirt or long pants?: Long pants or maxi skirts (I’m wearing a maxi skirt today).
4. How well do you deal with change?: Usually pretty well; I’ve always had a chaotic life.
5. When was the last time you cleaned your lash curler?: I usually clean it after every use, but I don’t use it every day. Friday, I think.
1.Have you ever practiced your smile in the mirror? Yes! For a long.time 8n youth I did, but it’s been quite a while!
2. Last song you heard? A duet between Bonnie Raitt & bluesman John Lee Hooker. I saw him in concert in a tiny club in college, so hearing his voive on the.radio this afternoon sure made me smile.
3. Skirt skirt skirt skirt skirt
skirt skirt skirt skirt skirt.
4. How well do you deal with change? Very well! I love learning new things and/or making adjustments. I hate the same old same old.
5. Lash curler? Never had one.
1. Have you ever practiced your smile in the mirror?
I’d practice as a child before picture day lol.
2. What was the last song you heard?
It was Young Folks by Peter Bjorn And John
3. Shorts, a skirt or long pants?
Hmm I’m more of a dresses and rompers person.
4. How well do you deal with change?
I don’t like it that much, but change has to happen. I try to deal with it the best I can.
5. When was the last time you cleaned your lash curler?
I don’t own one. I think the last one I had ate my lashes lol.
1. Have you ever practiced your smile in the mirror? yes
2. What was the last song you heard? Eagles Hotel California it was on an Instagram story
3. Shorts, a skirt or long pants? Long pants. My legs are so white
they’re blinding.
4. How well do you deal with change? Depends on the change.
5. When was the last time you cleaned your lash curler? About a month ago. Haven’t used it much since then.
I have been listening to Chris Cornell’s music like non-stop. But that’s not anything new because I was recently in a Soundgarden phase, and even more recently Alice in Chains. And now it’s back to Soundgarden/Audioslave. I think we all need to band together and protect Eddie Vedder at all costs. He is the last one standing.
And I clean my lash curler with alcohol every single time I use it! I can’t stand that gross gunky product on it! I don’t want it on my eye even though it came from there! Haha