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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. Pick a holiday gift set for yourself: skin care, hair care or makeup?

I’ll take the makeup set. Something from Chantecaille or Chanel!

2. Cookies or brownies?

Let’s go with the cookies, so I can eat them with a hot cup of Earl Grey tea. Don’t ask me why tea and brownies is a weird combo to me.

3. Real or faux tree?

Real, for sure. It’s messier and inconvenient (and steadily getting more expensive, it seems), but faux plants and trees have always given me the heebie-jeebies.

4. Who makes the best underwear? (LOL, asking for a friend!)

I’m a cotton kinda gal, so for higher end, I like anything from the Natori Bliss collection. For a more affordable option you can’t beat the cotton ones from the Jenni brand from Macy’s when they’re on sale.

5. A holiday song that easily gets stuck in your head?

“Feliz Navidad” drives me a little crazy, not gonna lie!

6. Have you ever had your brows laminated?

I never have because it’s just one more thing to do at this point in my life. I keep my brows relatively low maintenance, which is more my speed these days. Do they look decent? I dunno, it’s questionable. LOL!

7. Last person you kissed underneath the mistletoe?

Connor Claire. 🙂 We were at the tree farm getting our tree, and she held a piece of mistletoe over my head and gave me a peck on the cheek.

8. Your thoughts on holiday themed manicures?

Sure, why not? I love a festive mani. I’d like a dark forest green one with various types of shimmer, cream and glitter. I used to do red and gold manis for the holidays, but I got tired of people asking me if I was a 49ers fan. Maybe that’s a Bay Area thing?

9. Marshmallows or whipped cream in your hot chocolate?

I’ll take a little whipped cream!

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. Pick a holiday gift set for yourself: skin care, hair care or makeup?
2. Cookies or brownies?
3. Real or faux tree?
4. Who makes the best underwear? (LOL, asking for a friend!)
5. A holiday song that easily gets stuck in your head?
6. Have you ever had your brows laminated?
7. Last person you kissed underneath the mistletoe?
8. Your thoughts on holiday themed manicures?
9. Marshmallows or whipped cream in your hot chocolate?

P.P.S. Happy Monday, my beautiful friend! Here’s to another week filled with promise and good vibes. I’m about to make a cup of Earl Grey tea (I’m obsessed). Are ya in? 🤗

Hello, friend. Greetings from rainy Northern California.

For some reason rainy days like this make me think of Connor’s toddler days, and how it felt like we had countless time to splash in puddles together. Le sigh!

Anywho, as you know, I’m a bonafide coffee enthusiast, but lately with the cold and wet weather, I’ve been drinking loads of tea.

Do you have a favorite flavor/brand of tea? I’m on a mission to find my favorites. So far I’ve been really into this green tea by Starbucks called Teavana Jade Citrus Mint (I buy it at Target). I like it because it’s mild and not too bitter! I also really love Earl Grey, especially with cream and sugar. 🙂

This week’s reading

• Pat McGrath digs “Star Wars.”
• If your skin care tingles, does that mean it’s working?
• Deep thoughts — Should cats be allowed on airplanes?
• The YSL lipstick gadget, an at-home machine that can create 4000 different shades of lipsticks, uses an AI powered app to help find your perfect shade. Go science!
• Well, this is new: NARS launched a lipstick collab with virtual brand ambassadors.

Pretty!

Can someone please let me know how these dogs get such shiny coats?

How interesting!

Please show me the way.

LOVE.

What are you up to this weekend? I’ve got a host of dance mom things involving driving Connor to and from various rehearsals and performances. Christmas shopping is also on my to-do list.

Take it easy and talk to ya soon.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

In the comments yesterday, Nina and I (hey, Nina!) were chatting about department store brands from back in the day. I got to thinking about all the beauty brands at the counters in the mall that make me feel nostalgic. I have so many good memories of walking into the New Park Mall in Newark and seeing all the gorgeous, glittering products displayed at Macy’s.

My favorites back then were Clinique, MAC and Prescriptives… Remember Prescriptives? I wore their foundation and powder for a couple years. I was all about their perfume Calyx, too.

I also liked popping by Origins for their body products and Estee Lauder for their perfumes.

When I think of Clinique, I remember the Clinique counter that was in the bookstore at my college in Davis. Yup, you could pop in for an organic chemistry book and pay for it at the Clinique counter just as long as you bought some makeup or skin care. I’d stock up on my favorites: a taupe pencil liner (I wish I could remember the name, ugh!), Black Honey lipstick (the OG), loose powder and a taupe eyeshadow called Fawn Satin.

If I wanted to grab lipstick or lip liner from MAC, I’d have to drive to Sacramento to the Arden Fair mall. I still remember the tiny little counter tucked in the corner and buying a tube of Paramount lipstick and Mahogany liner.

Oh, and the perfumes! Goodness gracious. Estee Lauder Pleasures, Clinique Happy and MAC Turqoatic were my jams back in the day.

What makeup brands make you feel nostalgic? Please share in the comments.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Hope your week is going great so far. We’ve reached the hump. Friday is just around the corner, woo hoo!

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. Vanilla or musk?

Oh, I like both notes! Let’s go with a musk today because I’m feeling nostalgic for the musk scent by the Body Shop that I used to wear in the early 2000s.

2. Cilantro — yes please or no thank you?

It doesn’t taste like soap to me, so I don’t mind a little bit.

3. A perfume bottle you think is pretty?

There’s something timeless and feminine about Tocca bottles which I love. I also love the clean lines of the Chanel bottles.

4. Something you need to do this week?

Put the tree lights and ornaments on the Christmas tree. I’m hoping to get it done by this evening so we can light it up tonight!

5. Face oils: your thoughts?

I like them for layering with other products. On their own, oils aren’t enough for my dry skin.

6. Chocolate or peppermint?

Chocolate!

7. How’s your hair at the moment?

Absolutely out of control. LOL! It’s been raining for the past few days and the humidity makes my waves extra cray, so I just tuck my hair underneath a hat and call it a day.

8. Satin, shimmer, matte or cream?

Matte or satin for lipstick, cream for nails and shimmer or satin for eyeshadow.

9. Finish the following sentence by writing something nice about yourself: I am _____.

I am smart, and I am organized, and I am surrounded by so much love!

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. Vanilla or musk?
2. Cilantro — yes please or no thank you?
3. A perfume bottle you think is pretty?
4. Something you need to do this week?
5. Face oils: your thoughts?
6. Chocolate or peppermint?
7. How’s your hair at the moment?
8. Satin, shimmer, matte or cream?
9. Finish the following sentence by writing something nice about yourself: I am _____.

P.P.S. Hi there, sweet friend! I hope joy finds you this week in unexpected places. 🤗

P.P.P.S. My neighbor gave me some turnips fresh from her farm! Aren’t they beautiful? Thing is, I have no idea what to do with them. If you have a recipe that you like, please leave it in the comments for me.