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  • Silvertree

    Mod post: No wishlist posts in blogs

    By Silvertree

    Please be aware that we do not permit swap-related content on profiles or in blogs. Please post this content only in the For Sale, Swaps, and Wanted forums, or in the Wishlists topic. ~from Swapping 101  Thanks!
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Cam's Blog
 

Halloweenies have landed! And a CD locket! All in one day!

My Halloweenie order arrived today!   Harvest Moon, Hellhound On My Trail, Chant d'Automne, Huesos de Santo, Sugar Skull, Samhain, Brom Bones, Fearful Pleasure, Gunpowder, Ichabod Crane, The Hessian of the Hollow and The Witching Time of Night.   Plus my replacement bottle of SGA for the one stolen by someone in the post office.   These are so right up my alley. I love fall, and autumn scents.   AND... my CD locket from BPTP came today too. It is beautiful! I love it.   Not surprisingly, given the size of my order, I got a ton of frimps from the lab. 20, to be exact. Plus 6 from the post. Of the 26, only one was a scent I had tried before, and there were only two pairs (two Queen Gertrudes and two Wantons).   Looks like I've got a LOT of sniffing to do.   Oh! And I will soon have Halloweenie decants, once I try them all and decide which ones I'm willing to decant, and which I want to hoard.
cam

cam

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Beware of Redhead - The BPAL Version
 

Even MORE questions...

***9/1*** Who here is a complete, over the top, Alice In Wonderland fanatic? While I like 'em fine, I'm not a fanatic Are you a Trekkie? If so, which series do you prefer? Do you have a favorite character? I like the show a lot, not a Trekkie tho. I love me some Picard. I am however an X-Phile, a fiend for anything Joss Whedon has done, and a huge New Doctor Who/Torchwood/Sarah Jane junky. Do you have phobias? Yes. Clowns. How do you like your mix CDs? Random? Stuff you know you'll like? Both. Would you rather get food or jewellery? Hm. I don't see how you can go wrong with either choice...tho I'm not sure about food crossing the border/ Do you like children's toys, such as jacks, those little things you tilt around to get the ball in the right hold (wtf are those called?), the aforementioned caplet dinosaurs, cap guns, etc?: I like Hello Kitty and Chococat a lot English candy/tea/marmite or other stuff that you love and can't easily get outside of England? I'm in Canada so I have a good source of British stuff anyway (we have a British Grocery, but you can't ever go wrong with Cadbury or tea. But oh please not marmite! Fanfic as a gift* - yay or nay? Your fandom? Slash preferences?*well, a virtual gift obviously. You know what I mean. Yay. Torchwood (where obviously slash is canon), Doctor Who, X-Files, Buffy, Firefly etc. I don't like romance fic honestly, I prefer alternative type episode fics really. The exception being Torchwood which, while it's about catching aliens, it's also about the relationships. Any beaders here? Need beading supplies? Nopers Do you like making up your SW packages around a theme, or prefer to mix it all up? I haven't decided yet Band-aids: do you like the fun and funky ones? Absolutely. What's the scariest thing that's ever happened to you? Recently? My dad having a heart attack. Ever? Being in the hospital with my then 3 year old having them check him for CF. He's fine, has asthma and is turning 16 or my dad having his heart attack. ***8/31*** What is everyone's favorite Halloween song?! Tubular Bells. How many of mah fellow witchies play video games? Platform? Do you like used games? I play DDR and Karaoke Revolution on our PS2. We also have a Wii n the house that I haven't played games on as much, tho I'm pretty good at Wii Sports. And yes, used games are cool. What kind of music (genres, please) do you like?Most everything but country and opera. New stuff, old stuff, stuff in between. Have any of you ever received a book from a Witchy and loved it so much you ended up buying a copy for a later Witchee? Nope. What kinds of eye shadows do we all like? MAC, Urban Decay and Hard Candy mostly for big names. Fyrinnae and Archetype for mineral stuff, tho I want to try She Space too. Gently used make up is also cool btw. Oh and I wear browns mostly but I love experimenting. I can't seem to find a green that works, and red makes me look like I'm crying but I'm open to suggestions, I'll post a picture later so you can see what I look like Do you like lip balm? If so, do you like tinted, glossy, sparkly, pearly or just plain lip balm? All of the above. What are some of the SW gifts/finds from past rounds (or you can just name a gift in general that you found for someone if this is your first round!) that you are the most proud of in terms of your sleuthing skills? I think the Alice in Wonderland stuff I got for Delphinine. And, secondly, what is something you've been searching for but just can't find? The perfect purse, but I don't expect you all to help with that ***8/22*** Where does everyone like shop for witching goodness? I have a variety of e-tailers I like to use. What is your favorite pumpkin goodness? Um. I don't actually like pumpkin. Not the smell, not the taste...and the pulp makes me itchy. I like carving them I guess. OH and the roasted seeds are good!
Aevalin

Aevalin

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Seismogenic's Blog
 

Halloweenie 2008 Switch Witch questions

Cue massive compilation post! This will be updated as more questions are added.   Favorite Pumpkin thing? Pumpkin lattes/cappuccinos. Or Trader Joe's pumpkin butter.   Favorite thing about fall? The colors, and the air temperature that is not quite warm, not quite cold, but not just in the middle either.   Favorite Office supplies? Fineliner pens in assorted colors. Armed and ready to doodle!   Favorite Halloween Candy? Probably Twizzlers or Whoppers.   Will you be participating NaNoWriMo? Not this year, I don't think. I have a partial idea for a novel, but unless there is a stroke of sudden inspiration - and a gap of sudden free time - it won't be doable in/by November. I may try to do another chapter of my graphic novel in that time, though.   Any period of time that you love? Turn of the 20th century. The year 1906 is important with so many of the different things that interest me that it's actually pretty weird.   Right or left handed? Righty.   Favorite craft supply? Do prismacolor markers count?   Reduce - REUSE - recycle. Do others feel the same? Definitely!   Tattoos! Do you have em? Do you want em? Whatcha got or getting? I don't have any, and while I don't actively want one now, I haven't ruled out the possibility if I think of a design I'd want to have on me forever and ever. Right now, I think some sort of waveform could be appropriate, to represent both seismic and sound waves, but again, I'm not sure how I would feel about that in the future.   What about the Halloween scents? I ordered a bottle of Fearful Pleasure, but that's it. I was also intrigued by Meditation In Autumn, Pumpkins II and IV, and Ichabod Crane, but I knew I was only going to order one, and I kept thinking back to Fearful Pleasure, so that it was.   What is one item that you've wanted forever, could have afforded, but have never gotten and why (haven't you gotten it!)? I've wanted an iPhone since they came out, but I can't justify it because my normal cell phone works fine, my iPod works fine, and my parents haven't kicked me off the family cell phone plan yet, so I'm actually not paying phone bills right now. I could afford the phone bills (and, of course, the actual phone, since the TA salary is pretty decent), but the longer I can go without having to pay them, the better.   Who here prefers stylus and ink to ballpoint? Anyone invested time and effort into calligraphy or proper Victorian writing? I mostly have ballpoints, but I like fountain pens, too. I have this really awesome little fountain pen that I bought in Germany. I have not put in effort for fancy handwriting, though. My handwriting, when I am not trying hard, is horrid. It baffles me when people say they think it looks cool, though this has happened.   What about stationery? Need some? What styles do you like? I have fallen out of the habit of writing actual letters, so I don't use stationery. I do, however, like blank books with nice paper in which to write/draw.   Do you decorate for Halloween? Nothing beyond a carved pumpkin, and I haven't had time to do that for a couple of years. This is sad! Maybe this year...   Bats, cats, skeletons, monsters, vampires, witches or what other ghoulies do you prefer? I am partial to cats, bats, werewolves, and unusual/creative monsters.   Do you dress up? I like to! I haven't been able to for the past two years, no thanks to school and work, but Halloween is a Friday this year...   Do you like horror flicks? Not particularly, unless they are tongue-in-cheek.   If you have a garden/planter box, what do you grow? Don't have one. I had a tangerine bonsai tree at one point, but it croaked and I was sad. I think there is not enough light in my apartment. If I ever have a house with a yard, I so want fruit trees in it.   Incense? I've never used it.   Bugs? I like them on four conditions: 1)They are not in my apartment, 2)They are not in my food, 3)They are not trying to bite me, 4)They are not mosquitoes, even if they are not actively biting me   Favorite campfire ghost story? When I was little and was in scouts, we made up a story about a haunted latrine. I can't remember the actual story, but that is probably just secondary to the fact that it's a haunted latrine.   Imp storage? Right now, they're just on in a row on one of my desk shelves. There are only eight of them, so it is not like they're crowding anything out. (The rock collection still dominates that shelf.) I guess I could go the Altoids box route.   Candy corn? In moderation! Once a year counts as moderation. I get in the mood for it, eat too much of it, and then don't want it again until the next October.   Are there any of y'all who are allergic/sensitive to having natural fibers on your skin? I have never had problems with this.   What keywords do you use when searching for items for yourself on Etsy? I've actually never poked around on Etsy. I probably should; it seems like the kind of place I could sell some of my own stuff.   Halloween. Do you like it kooky or creepy? A good combination of both.   Reserved or Raunchy? Deeefinitely reserved. Other people being raunchy makes me embarrassed.   Earth, Wind, Fire or Water? All of those personality test thingies online I've done for elements - and apparently my zodiac sign as well - say I'm Wind. It fits well. But, as a geologist, I have a very strong interest in/attachment to Earth!   Tea or Coffee in the morning? Coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon.   Fruity snacks or chocolate? Depends entirely on my mood.   Would you accept art? YES! I will also likely draw things for people.   Antiques or Brand New? Both are cool.   Crossword puzzles? Other pencil puzzles? Sudoku!   Favorite artist? Hmmmm. I really like the art deco/art noveau/jugendstil style of the turn of the 20th century. Klimt is awesome. I also tend to like impressionism. Jeez, I gotta go to more art museums. Am I allowed to say any photographers? Because Ansel Adams is awesome. What about comics artists? P. Craig Russell!   Favorite poet? Eichendorff is good. Goethe, too. I've set some of Stephen Vincent Benet's work to music. Should also read more poetry, really.   What is your favorite autumnal-seasonal drink? Gonna have to go with that pumpkin latte again. Though I love hot mulled apple cider, too.   What's your favorite book? Oh GAH. May I abstain, for the inability to narrow it down?   Meaningful symbols? Alto clef, music notes in general, string instrument f-hole, seismograms, those half-arrows used to show the direction of fault motion on a geologic map, cat paw prints, the constellation Orion   What's your favorite type of music to hear live, rather than recorded? (I figure I should answer my own question, yeah?) Symphonic music. I can always hear so many more details in the orchestration and texture in a live concert than on a recording. Also, the sheer volume that can come out of a full orchestra may get lost in the transfer to CD.   What size socks do you wear? How about hat size? Small socks! A large from the boys' section fits better than a small from the men's section. I haven't a clue about my hat size, since the only pieces of headwear I currently own are an adjustable Steelers cap and a Civil War soldier cap with no size printed on it. I would say small hats, to play it safe.   Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand? Heck yes! In terms of published graphic novels/comic books, some favorites are Neil Gaiman's Sandman, Bill Willingham's Fables, Alan Moore's Top Ten, Peter David's X-Factor, and Hayao Miyazaki's Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, and P. Craig Russell's adaptions of operas. I've also been meaning to pick up Hellboy. In terms of webcomics, I follow Ozy and Milllie (SO sad this is ending soon!), Wondermark, Wapsi Square, Zebra Girl, XKCD, and Khaos Komix. If something looks like I'm not going to stand it, I generally don't pick it up. Haven't really run into anything like that yet. I guess I'm not a huge fan of the brand of superhero comic that's just one-shot vanquishing of villains, one per issue, without any overarching plot. I like plot.   By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl? Night owl, no question. My thesis advisor, however, is a morning lark. This could make for interesting scheduling of meetings once the school year starts.   Vanilla Creme Kisses? If this is, in fact, candy, then yes!   BoiWitches? Question for you both.....Hath any of thou own a Kilt? I don't have one, and it really wouldn't be practical for fieldwork. However, if I'd been a band geek instead of an orchestra dork, I would've had to wear one in undergrad. Our mascot was the Tartans, and the marching band was called the Kiltie Band. (Now I'm at a grad school where the mascot is the Highlanders, but only the actual bagpipe corps wears kilts.)   Are you a soap addict? I use soap! (I'm sure you're all glad!) But as a practical thing, not as a thing of particular interest. If it kills germs and doesn't make my hands get all dry and cracked, we're good.   What is one (only one) object that you collect, that totally goes against your personality or beliefs? Hahahaha, probably BPAL! I've honestly never been someone who puts a whole lot of effort into my appearance or grooming ritual. I do functional and comfortable. I actually surprised myself with how much the BPAL scent descriptions intrigued me, and was even more shocked with how much I'm enjoying the actual scents so far. (I smell like Tenochtitlan right now. It is nice. It also is a good distraction from the smell of the building being under construction.) Needless to say, this speaks quite highly of BPAL.   Some of my favorite places? Carrizo Plain National Monument, California Parkfield, California San Francisco, California (Lots of people seem to think I'm from there. It's kind of weird.) Back to the Grind, a coffeeshop in downtown Riverside, California Antietam National Battlefield, Maryland Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Caliban Used Books, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Fenwick Island, Delaware (ahh, the nostalgia!) Mary Riley Stiles Public Library, Falls Church, Virginia (more nostalgia) The Smithsonian, Washington, DC (I was a docent in the Natural History museum for nine months) Munich, Germany Steinbach am Attersee, Austria Toblach (AKA Dobbiaco), Italy   Fall birthday? Nope. June.   If you had one minute of fame, what would you do/say in the spotlight? Uhh. I think this would depend on the reason for the fame. Either way, I think I would not be all that articulate. (I actually might be in some newspapers in the near future, as part of a story about laptop seismometers. The Associated Press wants to take pictures of my computer in its "setup." This means I have to CLEAN MY DESK. AHHHH!)   What would you tell yourself 6 months in the past about 2008 so far? You are not going to explode. You are going to make it just fine. All the school things you hope will happen actually will.   Robots versus zombies: who wins? Robots. They don't have brains, so the zombies can't eat them. Metal is good for bashing in zombie brains. Therefore, robots win. (If the robots were Wall-E and EVE, though, they would be so adorable that the zombies would just plain forget themselves.)   What would zombie say? Uh, "Ciirrrrrrrrcuits"?   How many of mah fellow witchies play video games? Platform? Do you like used games? I've never owned a game console.   What kind of music (genres, please) do you like? Classical (particularly late 19th and early 20th century stuff), "Oldies," Javanese gamelan, bluegrass, mariachi, silly music   Have any of you ever received a book from a Witchy and loved it so much you ended up buying a copy for a later Witchee? This is my first ever SW round, so this has not had a chance to happen yet! But I will often give other people copies of books I received as gifts, if I think they will like the book.   What kinds of eye shadows do we all like? I don't wear it.   Do you like lip balm? If so, do you like tinted, glossy, sparkly, pearly or just plain lip balm? Just plain. No colors or sparkles, please. I wear it for the purpose of not having chapped and bleeding lips.   What are some of the SW gifts/finds from past rounds (or you can just name a gift in general that you found for someone if this is your first round!) that you are the most proud of in terms of your sleuthing skills? I guess it doesn't count as sleuthing, but I like to make things for people based on inside jokes we have. They don't expect it, and crack up immediately from both the surprise and the joke.   And, secondly, what is something you've been searching for but just can't find? Men's jeans with inseams shorter than 30 inches.   Favorite Halloween song? Overplayed though it is, I do love The Monster Mash.   What's the scariest thing that's ever happened to you? When I flipped my car off the freeway and rolled down an embankment. I didn't think I would make it until the car stopped moving.   Who here is a complete, over the top, Alice In Wonderland fanatic? I'm not an over-the-top fanatic for it, but I enjoyed the book when I read it. I should reread it, though; the last time was probably ten years ago!   Are you a Trekkie? If so, which series do you prefer? Do you have a favorite character? I've never even seen a full episode of any of the series straight through.   Do you have phobias? Heart disease, cancer, roads that are narrow and winding and unpaved and on the edges of cliffs (never mind that the road I actually fell of of was straight and paved and only raised by 15 feet)   How do you like your mix CDs? Random? Stuff you know you'll like? I like them to include songs I don't already have, but clearly no Witch is going to know every song I have! That said, I think a good rule of thumb for making mix CDs is to base them largely off what the recipient likes, but then throw in a few things that are further afield.   Would you rather get food or jewellery? Food, since the only item of jewelry I own is a woven black bracelet thingie from Indonesia, and I usually don't wear it.   Do you like children's toys, such as jacks, those little things you tilt around to get the ball in the right hold (wtf are those called?), the aforementioned caplet dinosaurs, cap guns, etc?: Caplet dinosaurs! So awesome! They would probably live on my desk and have epic battles, a la Wash from Firefly. Seriously, though, I don't really play with little kid toys anymore, and even if I did, the cats would probably steal them and hide them.   English candy/tea/marmite or other stuff that you love and can't easily get outside of England? English tea == yes plz. Marmite scares me a little, though. The teacher of the field geology class I took this spring is from England, and he tried to get everyone in the class to eat some marmite before the quarter was over. I wasn't sure whether or not I liked it, but I was not thrilled that it overpowered the avocado.   Fanfic as a gift* - yay or nay? Your fandom? Slash preferences?* I used to read and write Redwall fanfic, but that was ages ago. I don't really follow any fandoms seriously anymore, and have never been into slash, so it might be lost on me. Original fiction, however, is excellent.   Any beaders here? Need beading supplies? I don't bead.   Do you like making up your SW packages around a theme, or prefer to mix it all up? I'm not sure yet! I will see what my witchee's questionnaire inspires me to do.   Band-aids: do you like the fun and funky ones? Fortunately, I rarely need band aids. I have a box of them that will probably last me a good few years yet. They are the boring skin colored ones, though.   Livejournal? Username is dsch. I've been very lax about updating lately. It's friends-only, but I tend to add whoever asks.   How do people feel about receiving baked goods/kits to make said goods? Or other cooking items? I will never argue with the concept of free baked goods or food. As for kits and recipes, I am good with those, too, though the instructions will have to be kind of idiot-proof. I think my smoke detector gets secret evil glee out of going off when I cook. (I have not made actual flames in a long time, though. I am improving!)   Would you enjoy oil or vinegar flavored with herbs grown at home? Strange and exotic spices with recipes to try? Cookies made with carnation petals? Flavored oil and vinegar are excellent. Interesting spices are good, too, though as with above, recipes will need to be idiot-proof. I have never had a carnation petal cookie, so I don't know whether or not I like them, but I certainly wouldn't refuse one if offered.   What are your pet's names, and what are they named for? I have two one-year-old cats. Andreas is a classic tabby, black and sort of tan-gray, with a cream colored belly and amber eyes. Garlock is all black, with yellow eyes. Both are named after fault lines. The San Andreas runs through most of the length of California, marking the boundary between the Pacific and North American plates; it's responsible for, among others, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Andreas the cat is far more benign - he is my big purring furmonster. The Garlock fault intersects the San Andreas near Gorman and cuts widthwise across the state, marking the northern boundary of the Mojave Desert and the southern end of the Sierra Nevada. It is not a very active fault, which makes sense for a very vert timid (read: he is the biggest coward on four paws, afraid of everything except me and Andreas) cat. Andreas and Garlock were born in my apartment, and are only two out of a litter of six. The other four were also named after faults, though their new owners may have changed that.   How do you scent yourself? Do you layer soaps, moisturizers, etc. or do you go straight to slathering your bod with BPAL? BPAL is pretty much the only scented stuff I use. I guess my handsoap and shampoo and stuff smell like something, but I didn't choose them for their scent, so they don't count. (Actually, the handsoap smells kind of gross, but it fades quickly.)   Do you/how do you scent your world? Candles, incense, diffusers, potpourri? None of the above? I've never really put any scent into my living space. I spray anti-pet-odor stuff around, but that doesn't have a smell in and of itself! I have been thinking about venturing unsteadily forth into the realm of scented room spray, though, to mask any residual eau de litterbox.   BPAL is such a scent-ual experience. What are your other tactile, aural, or olfactory pleasures (I was going to say, "And let's keep it clean", but what's the use fun in that?!?) Scent: I love the smell of coffee, though smelling it usually leads to me wanting to actually drink some. I will sometimes just sniff the bag of coffee beans, though. I also love the smell of woodsmoke, providing it is fireplace woodsmoke (or barbecue woodsmoke) and not entire-mountain-range-on-fire woodsmoke. Sound: I love music of many kinds. Generally, listening to music of my choosing makes me feel good. There are some particular pieces, like Mahler's Third Symphony, that never fail to cheer me up. In terms of nonmusical sound, purring is such a wonderful thing, and I fortunately get to hear it pretty often! Touch: My kitties are so soft and cuddly. I also like the sensation of using a nice pen to write (or draw) on nice paper. The fuzzy feeling of the inside of a brand new sweatshirt is also nice, even though it makes me reluctant to wash new sweatshirts. Oops!   If you drink coffee (and make it yourself) do you use a French Press, regular filter basket coffee maker, Espresso Machine, Percolator? I grind the beans as fine as they'll go (practically to a powder), then put them straight in the cup and pour water on top. The grounds sink to the bottom when stirred if the coffee is ready. According to the gamelan teacher at school, this is how they prepare coffee in Java, and I think it gives extra flavor (and extra caffeine) when compared to filtered coffee.   What movie soundtracks (or scores) do you love? All of the recent Pixar movie soundtracks (I thiiink Michael Gioacchino is responsible for most of those), much of Danny Elfman's work, the original Star Wars trilogy (John Williams has gone drastically downhill since then)...Funny thing is, I tend to notice bad soundtracks more than good ones, often because they stick out like a sore thumb, rather than blending in seamlessly with the overall effect of the film, like good soundtracks do.   What kind of indulgences do you really really want, but can't seem to make yourself buy? Maybe out of character, or a part of yourself you're busy denying? I have been eyeing the iPod touch for a while. (Well, actually, the iPhone, but I just had to replace my regular cell phone today, since the old one died spectacularly. I did not get an iPhone this time. The iPod touch does almost all the same things, though, just not the phone part.) I also admire the MacBook Pro from afar. But the fact stands that I do not need either of these, since my regular iPod and my regular MacBook (both acquired in 2006) work fine. I simply could not justify spending the money when I do not need these things on account of having entirely functional alternatives. I have also been looking at turn-of-the-20th-century/vaguely steampunky outfits online, but I'm sure I'll never add any of these things to my actual wardrobe. A lot of it is expense, but I've also never been one to focus a lot of attention on my clothes, or to spend a lot of money on them. It'd be very out of character for me to suddenly be spending a lot on such things.   My questionnaire is chock-a-block with ideas for Witching me on the cheap, and without sending "stuff for stuff's sake". And I just came up with another one--make me a Pandora, Finetune, or Last.fm station you think I might like! What manner of affordable Witchery might you covet? Homemade things are fantastic! Baked goods and other edible things are also great. I have never used Pandora, Last.fm., or Finetune, but were I to receive a playlist, I would figure out how those sites work! Mix CDs and used books are also great.   Does your cell phone have a place to attach charms? I just got a new cell phone. It has lots of little holes, though most of them look like places to plug things in. Of those that are not obvious plugs, I am suspecting they're speakers, since this is a music phone. So I would guess no on the place for charms.   Forum buddies? I haven't really been active here long enough to have gotten to know anyone really well yet. This is, in my book, an excellent reason for doing Switch Witch - getting to know more people.   What is your favorite art movement and/or style? ie impressionist, surrealist, art nouveau, etc. I really like art noveau/art deco/jugendstil, and other turn-of-the-20th-century shininess.   Do you have a case for your mp3 player/digital camera? If you would want one, what size is your digital device? I have a case for my digital camera, but not for my iPod. It's a black 30GB from early 2006, and it's so scratched up already that it would almost seem silly to put a protective case on it now. But hey, it survived being thrown through the back windshield of my car as it was rolling down a hill, so I am not irked by the scratches it received from that incident.   For tea drinkers, do you bag it or prefer loose? Either one is good! Though I'm currently without an infuser for loose leaf, since my cats broke the old one.   Does the weather change where you are, as in, does it get cold in the winter? Anyone need homegrown scarves, hats, mittens, etc? I live in southern California. We have four seasons: summer, fires, rain, and mudslides! Seriously, winter here generally means 60 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. It usually isn't even cloudy, though the clouds that do happen bring rain rather than snow. Because I'm basically in the desert, it can get into the 40s or sometimes the 30s at night. That said, if I end up doing fieldwork in the winter, I know it gets really cold in the mountains.   Are you planning on buying anything off your BPAL and/or other wishlists during the round? Nope.   Do you wear a watch? If so, what kind/style? I got out of the habit of doing so, since my cell phone has a clock and all.   How do you feel about having a donation made in your name to something? If you like that idea, what types of organizations/groups would you want the donation to go to? That'd be great! Animal adoption/care/advocacy is good (I volunteer for a group called TLC of the Inland Empire), as is autism awareness. Donations to natural disaster relief groups are also good, providing the group will actually use it for what they claim it's for.   If you could have dinner/drinks/coffee with any 3 living people that are not your family/friends already, who would they be? Hrmmmm. Michael Tilson-Thomas, Brad Bird, and John McPhee   Re: the Lilith Victoria scents . . . Honestly, though I love the concept of scents to celebrate the baby, none of them jumped out at me as must haves. Heck, I haven't tried regular Dorian or regular Snake Oil yet!   If you could bring back any TV show, what would it be? Firefly. Ayup.   I wonder if my witchee would like a blanket type thing. Would you? Blankets are awesome. I can't sleep without one, even if it's stupid hot in my apartment. Even if I try to sleep without it, I wake up and it's on again. With that in mind, if my witch is inclined to send blankets, lighter weight ones are better for the climate where I live. It seldom gets actually cold.   What's your favorite "I know it's bad for me but I can't help myself" treat? Ice cream. Though I have just discovered pumpkin spice Hershey's kisses, and they are also reeeeally dangerous.   What one (or two, if you really must) BPAL bottles are you most longing for? Hrm. I know it's only a matter of time before I buy bottles of Tombstone and Coyote.   What's your favorite animal? Hard question! Hm. Foxes, cats (of all sizes), pine martens, dogs (and wild canids), otters...   Funky chocolates? Definitely good, for the most part. I don't think I could bring myself to eat chocolate with meat in it.   Tarts? No ides.   Say, witches, I have a question about birthdays: do you expect/rely on other people to plan birthday outings and activities? I generally don't like to make a big deal about my birthday. Other people usually end up making it a bigger deal than I ever would have.   What think you about receiving tea accessories and/or miscellany (like mugs, cups, saucers, strainers/filters, honey, natural sweeteners [like stevia])? These are good things! Well, maybe not so much on the saucers, since I've never been in the habit of using one, but the rest of the things on this list are excellent.   Munsters or Addams Family, y'all? Addams Family!   What's your ringtone? An excerpt from an east Javanese gamelan piece. No chance of me confusing my ringtone with someone else's!   If you have pets, is there a SPECIFIC toy they like to play with; brand and size? Is there a treat/cookie they eat? What brand and size? Andreas and Garlock like catnip mice, just the regular cheap ones they have at PetSmart. They also loved these 9Lives yellow and orange rubber balls with sticky out bits. In terms of treats, they are surprisingly finicky, as they are total pigs about actual food. They seem to like Pounce pretty well.   Burned CDs/ DVDs / &c. Fine by me!   Pirates: ARR!   Dia de los Muertos: I don't know a huge amount about it, but it seems awesome enough that I really ought to learn more.   Nightmare before Christmas: It has been entirely too long since I last watched this, because it's awesome.   Sending melty stuff: It is still pretty darn hot here! Chocolate might liquefy, but oh well. Do not take this as a reason to not send chocolate! Odds are that the package would sit in the apartment office if I wasn't home to accept it anyway, and it's air conditioned in there. Melty should be fine.   If candy is sent, would you prefer small amounts to a Halloween sized bag? I...do not know how to answer this. Because if it is a big bag, I will eat all of it, which is probably not good for me, but will make me happy at the time.   Do you like floral bath soaps, shower gels, etc? I am not really into florals.   How do you feel about trinkets? I enjoy small silly things designed for the easily amused! Though they will probably end up getting lost on my desk sooner than later.   What do you think of Irrelevant Disturbing and Surreal Crawdad Dream? Love it? Hate it? Kicking yourself for not getting a bottle? I never tried it. I was intrigued, based on the name alone, but not enough to cough up the cash.   How do y'all feel about honey and maple? And different flavored honey, not just the standard kind? Excellent on all accounts!   Do you play a musical instrument? Long answer time! I play viola, violin, piano, tenor viol, recorder, guitarron, and many of the instruments in a Javanese gamelan. I also sing badly and compose decently.   Stance on Joss Whedon and his enterprises? Firefly and Dr. Horrible are the only Whedon things I've seen, and I like them both.   Has anyone tried ice wine before? Do/did they enjoy it? I've never tried it.   What other perfume companies (besides bpal) have you been curious about? I have never worn scent until finding BPAL, and haven't really looked into anything other than it. I received a freebie Possets decant in a forum order recently, so I looked at their site, and I admit to being intrigued by some of the States, but I haven't actually contemplated ordering. I plan on sticking to BPAL for now!   Does anyone here do anything with grave rubbings? Nope.   Would you enjoy art based on original Graveyard photography? I don't think now would be the best time for this for me. A close friend of mine died earlier this year, and I suspect it would make me think of her more, but not for the right reasons.   What's in your Netflix or Blockbuster queue, do you want any new Netflix/Blockbuster friends, if so how do we find you on there? I don't have a Netflix account or a Blockbuster queue.   Do you like Mystery Science Theater 3000? Have you tried out (and if not, would you be interested in doing so) its weird little brother, RiffTrax? I've only seen a couple of MST3Ks, but I thought they were funny. I've never even heard of RiffTrax before.   What will you like from Singapore? Candies? Food? Asian crafts/toys? I admittedly know very little about Singaporean products, but if my Witch happens to be over there, send something that is representative and cool? Also, I never ever object to candy.   What is everyone's "luck" item? I don't really have one. I can't bring myself to get rid of the key to the car I totaled, but that's not for the sake of warding off bad road luck, even though I have not had bad road luck since then.   Do you like art deco/nouveau - style prints? Yes! Particular appeal points if they also relate to music somehow.   What is one thing that, if you received it in the middle of all the hubbub, would make you smile and take your mind off of all you have to do for a bit? The mere concept of expecting something in the mail is making me smile! All the more so since I don't know what or when it will be.   How do you feel about Hello Kitty? Really not my thing.   What makes everyone stand out from the Switch Witch herd? Uhm. I can detect the word "earthquake" from across the room? I dunno. Maybe the number of instruments I can play.   If you are into the original Nintendo system, what 3 games would you want that you don't have? I never had a Nintendo.   What is your favorite category of the GC? At this point, I have not tried enough things to have an overwhelming favorite, but as I peruse the catalogue, the descriptions in the Wanderlust category jump out the most. Probably because I want to travel to all kinds of places.   What would a perfume based on me smell like? Jeez, I dunno! Rocks, coffee, books, and viola rosin.   Do you often drink take away coffee in paper mugs? Probably about once a week, more often during finals.   Blood Moon update? Despite the fact that the Blood Moon description uses the word "earthquake," I don't think I'll be ordering it, simply because a single word that is tangential to the meaning of the oil on the whole should not be the entire reason that I order something! Not that I didn't think about it... (Now, if it'd been an actual earthquake scent, that would've been a different story.)   How does everyone feel about really green gifties? I was thinking of giving my witchee some of my handy-dandy "paper" towels (hand-sized, washable muslin squares--kinda like ultra-cheapo cloth napkins) in a kitchen-friendly decorative box, but I didn't want to seem preachy ("Stop using paper towels, you environment destroyer!"). Would y'all use something like that? That'd be awesome.   What craft (or crafts) have you been wanting to try but have no idea where to start? I don't know if it really counts as crafty, but I would like to try doing some animation. I draw a lot, and I'd like to see if I could make those drawings move. I haven't the foggiest idea of how to get started with that, though.   Would you appreciate some tunes in future packages? And if so, do you care if you get any CDs or mp3s you might have all ready? Or would you be able to find a way to post a list of things you're (a) looking for, or ( b ) all ready have? Tunes are good! I do not object to receiving things I already have, though, of course, new things are exciting. I admittedly do not have a list of things that I already have on the internet, but I will think about making one.   Polish goodies! Who wants them? Baked goods, candies, kielbasa, pirogies, magazines, you name it? The edible goodies would be a good thing! Magazines not so much, since I don't speak/read Polish and would therefore be left confused.   How do you avoid popping an item for yourself into an order you're placing for your witchie? I remind myself very firmly of my financial status (ie largely broke grad student). I also try to go to places or use search terms that rule out some things I would personally want.   Underpants? Do you like them? What's your style? Size? I wear them! I would probably be a bit weirded out to receive some from someone I don't know, though.   BPTP Room Sprays...your thoughts? I haven't tried any of them. They were all sitting there at Will Call, and I looked at them, but did not actually sniff, and I'm not sure why.   Would you like to receive baked goods from your Witch? And if so, are there things you WOULDN'T like? Baked goods are always welcome! Though not ones with cherries, because I'm allergic to cherries.   Tea? I have not met a flavor of tea I didn't like. Any tea would be most welcome, whether a classic flavor (I've always loved Earl Grey) or something unusual/hard to find. My current tea stash ranges from Lapsang Souchong to Darjeeling to genmaicha to peony white, among others.   I made a mess the other day trying to put ketchup on a hot dog. I could've just wiped the ketchip on the forum!   What sort of (makeup) colors do you currently wear? Do you want to branch outside that? What would you like to try? I don't wear any.   About incense: do you like sticks or lose incense? Incense and my allergies don't really play well together. Even if they did, I suspect my cats would cause problems with the incense anyway.   What's everyone's favorite fairytale and what are your favorite versions of it? When I was little, there was this picture book of a Russian fairy tale called "Little Sister and the Month Brothers" that I absolutely adored. I don't know who did the illustrations, and I don't even remember the details of the story, but it involved this little girl coming upon a meeting of people who were the personifications of the twelve months of the year. Looking back now, I am sure this partly influenced my own graphic novel involving personified days of the year, even though I wasn't thinking of The Month Brothers when I started work on my project.   So how many imps/decants is officially 'you have gone overboard and your Witchee is going to expire from scent overload'? This question is making me worry that I haven't included enough!   Who needs a recipe box? Not I.   ANYONE ELSE want a home-made cookbook? If it is a fairly idiot-proof cookbook geared toward someone with simple kitchen tools, that would be fantastic!   Favorite cartoons or animated films? So far, I have adored every single Pixar film. As far as I can tell, they can do no wrong, and they are concrete proof that animation is an art in and of itself, rather than just a storytelling medium. I am soooo excited by the prospect of them possibly doing effects for that 1906 earthquake movie... I also like the Shrek trilogy, The Triplets of Belleville, and some of the older Disney movies. I was completely obsessed with Oliver and Company when I was three. As for TV shows, stuff like Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, Histeria, and Freakazoid were favorites. I also liked The Magic School Bus; I was a PBS kid!   Your take on the election? In other words, would you enjoy campaign related gifts, or prefer to stay neutral? I am absolutely without a question voting for Obama, but I think I'd like to keep politics out of fun/recreational activities for now. Maybe that's residual from growing up in DC - politics is srs bzness, but also crazy-making.   Villians you sympathise with? I tend to not sympathize with the villain, even if I find that villain to be an interesting character. I have this gut feeling that sympathizing with the villain, no matter how fictional, makes me a less-than-good person, and then I'd feel all guilty and weird.   Your stance on the all important peanut butter issue: crunchy? creamy? allergic? chocolate? maple? go directly to nuttella, do not pass go? Peanut butter of all types is good. Nutella is fantastic.   Who here likes to read historical fiction? If you do, what eras/people/countries intrigue you the most? In the rare event that I have time to read fiction, I do enjoy historical fiction very much. I particularly enjoy stuff set at the turn of the 20th century in general (though, in terms of actual history, I know more about the US and Europe than I know about the rest of the world), and also American Civil War stuff.   Dried fruit? Yes! This is a good thing, just so long as it is not cherries. I'm allergic to cherries. Apples are fantastic.   What kind of tea (or coffee) puts you in a fall/Halloween mood? And where do you get it? In terms of coffee, I'm going to have to go with pumpkin spice lattes, though I think I'd drink these year round if they were available. Pumpkin is one of my favorite flavors! I just know it's fall when I start being able to get pumpkin stuff. The ones at Starbucks are good, but there are some local coffee places around here that have better ones. As for tea, hrm. I guess fall is when I start drinking tea hot instead of iced! I don't have anything explicitly autumnal, though I guess the smoky aspect of Lapsang Souchong sort of counts. But again, that's a tea I'd drink much more often if I knew where I could get a regular supply. Also, hot spiced apple cider. Haven't found any around yet, which makes me sad.   Are you interested in Tarot cards? And if so, are there particular decks you like (or don't or already have or whatever)? I know next to nothing about this. I've never had a reading done, and certainly couldn't do one myself. If I were given a deck, I would probably admire the artwork, but have no idea what to do from there.   Betty Page? I had to look up who this is. Aheh. That said, I'm not into pinups.   Star Trek? I've never even seen an entire episode of any of the incarnations of this show. (Shocking, I know!)   Apple butter? YES PLZ NOM NOM NOM.   Villainess Retrograde? Sounds awesome, until it gets to the part about the flowers. I am wary of the flowers. But holy crud, there's a lapsang souchong soap? Whoa. Now that is tempting.   Lush? Never tried anything of theirs.   Maple? One of my very favorite flavors! (My cats seem to agree, when it comes to maple yogurt. They always try to steal it.)   Gold vs silver vs copper vs brass etc? Well, I know who isn't my witch now, since I know I answered that question as "makes no difference to me, since I don't wear jewelry." For what it's worth, I've had silver glasses frames and copper-ish-brown-ish glasses frames in the past, but never gold ones.   One BPAL only forever and ever? Even for a n00b such as myself, that's a hard question. The variety of the catalogue is one of the things that makes BPAL really cool. I'd be really hard pressed to pick between Tombstone and Coyote, but I'm leaning toward Tombstone, if only because I'm wearing that right now and I love it.   Halloween costume? I'm going as the anthropomorphic personification of the Hayward Fault. Earlier this year, I drew a whole bunch of characters who are personified fault lines, and a few friends and I are going as a handful of them. Because we are nerds.
Seismogenic

Seismogenic

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Argentwolf's Blog
 

The Mock Turtle's Lessons

Category: The Mad Tea Party   So this is the apple note...yummy. I definitely detect that the most, as well as the mint, and a hint of lime, both of which add a coolness and freshness to the candylike sweetness of the apple. (At least, from a distance; when I come in close for a sniff, the tartness of both notes asserts itself and indeed gives a mischeivous and contrary jolt to my nose.) It truly is wet and aquatic, but in an...alcoholic sort of way. In fact, looking at the notes, it sounds like it would make for a really good cocktail. Gotta try that, sometime.   It lasted all day, and had a pretty decent throw. I found myself sniffing my wrist quite a lot with this one. I think I'll hang onto it for a while.
Argentwolf

Argentwolf

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Argentwolf's Blog
 

Loralei

Category: Ars Amatoria   This is a very pleasant, mellow floral that is nicely balanced by the neroli. It has a very slight bit of warmth to it. It has staying power, but I didn't detect all that much throw out of it. I feel it could possibly be a good 'crossover' scent for people who don't usually like florals, as the other notes keep it from getting too sweet or overpowering. Unfortunately, it just doesn't have enough kick to qualify as a favorite for me.
Argentwolf

Argentwolf

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Argentwolf's Blog
 

Succubus

Category: Ars Amatoria   I mostly get very sweet mimosa, resting on a solid foundation of bergamot. It's quite lovely and sweet, and has decent staying power, but I don't get much in the way of throw. Personally, I like Eris better as a perfume with the mimosa note.
Argentwolf

Argentwolf

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Lumina's Blog
 

Switch Witch Questions & my answers: part the 3rd

...And some more! See, I'm doing it   Do you have phobias? I 'm phobic of dead fish, especially when it's served as food. Same for seafood in general. Prawns really freak me out. I'm not phobic of live sea creature, just dead ones on plates! I used to fear spiders but am now pleased to see them as long as they do not sneak up on me like one did this evening! (A huge one, too. But kind of cute in a spidery sort of way )   How do you like your mix CDs? Random? Stuff you know you'll like? I'm too anti-competent with technology to even know how to make a mix CD But if it helps, I prefer my playlists to cover one category at a time, e.g. I would never mix jazz with classical on the same playlist. Is that even a sensible answer to the question? *feels sort of dopey*   Would you rather get food or jewellery? Unfair question! How am I supposed to choose between the shiny and the yummy?!   Do you like children's toys, such as jacks, those little things you tilt around to get the ball in the right hold (wtf are those called?), the aforementioned caplet dinosaurs, cap guns, etc?: Children's toys in general - no. But, I would :love: a wooden or metal puzzle toy like pretty much any of the ones shown *here*. Or a tactile/sensory stimulation/fidget toy, e.g. tangle toys, (I'm an Aspie, and a bit of a texturephile )   Fanfic as a gift* - yay or nay? Your fandom? Slash preferences?*well, a virtual gift obviously. You know what I mean. Fanfic? Yay! Halloween-themed fanfic? Extra double triple yay! My fandoms are Harry Potter, Good Omens, Hellblazer, Brimstone, and one or two rarer ones. I love slash. I don't read non-con/rape stuff, but pretty much anything else goes   Any beaders here? Need beading supplies? I'm trying to learn beading, but am still kind of crappy at it. I'm very new to it and haven't even got the most basic supplies. I would welcome absolutely anything my witch might send me for this. Note: when I say I don't have the basics, I mean stuff like headpins, findings, wire, beading thread, calottes, crimp beads & covers... you know, all the essential stuff. Because I just bought myself a load of the shiny beads and forgot that I needed stuff to fix them together Um. Bad me. I also don't have crimping pliers, although since I don't have crimps either... Oh, you get the idea!   Do you knit/crochet? Do you need any supplies? I attempt to knit. Um, I could use some pretty yarn (anything from dk to chunky). Even 1/3 of a ball or less would be useful for my little projects, if my witch wants to get rid of leftovers! I already have stitch markers that I don't use, so don't need any more of those. Pretty buttons/sew on sparkly gem things/sequins etc. would be lovely.   What kinds of eye shadows do we all like? None. I don't do make-up. At all. Ever. Please, don't send me any - I won't be able to use it.   Do you like lip balm? If so, do you like tinted, glossy, sparkly, pearly or just plain lip balm? Okay, lip balm is *love*. I much prefer plain, medicated, or lightly tinted. Glossy is okay, but I wouldn't pick it or myself. Sparkly or pearly I just won't use, because it then counts as make-up!
Lumina

Lumina

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Jupiternf's Blog
 

Switch Witch Fall 2008 Questions

Hello my dear Witch!   I have FINALLY caught up on questions. Go me:)   I just updated my amazon wishlist, so it had that new list smell. I added some CDs and DVDs I am interested in or looking for, but in general I am a big fan of mix cds and burnt dvds too. I love to meet new songs and shows.   The only Charles deLint I have read is in the form of short stories in Anthologies, and I am about to read Moonheart, so everything else is fair game:)   It is wonderful to meet you.     Switch Witch Fall 2009 Questions:     There has been a lot of talk about chocolate, but none about Candy! What is your favorite Candy? What candy do you hate? I love sour candy, gummies, maple sugar candy, caramels and marshmallows, esp. in strange and exotic flavors. I dislike anything banana flavored, and I am not a big fan of bubble gum flavor either.   Do you have a Blu-Ray player? nope   Do you have any objections to receiving downloads? Is your internet connection fast enough for you to download large files like music easily? Are there any songs, albums, movies, or TV shows that you can't find/haven't been released that you want? I have fast wifi, so downloads are no problem. Movies I want to see- the new fro the POV of the Cylons Battlestar Galactica move that is supposed to come out in the fall, and other impossible things:) I do want to see Ponyo and Across the Universe but keep missing them for some reaon.   Are you interested in things like home remedies for ailments, cleaning solutions, etc.? I lover herbal remedies and home made recicipes for cleanign the house- mostly now I use a lot of white vinegar. In terms of remedies, I would make the most use of things for head or muscle aches, and things for lifting the mood or prolonging concentration while I work.   If you do any kind of craft, could you use supplies? What kind? knitting needles, yarn, amazing fabric, pinking shears, cool thimbles or pincushins, jewelery making supplies, beads, etc.? I love supplies- I like to paint in all mediums, but I also like to include things like dry leaves and old lace and whatever is lying around to make mosaics and collages and shrines. I kind of view everything as an art project. I love boxes to decorate, silver and copper wire to make into jewelry, beeswac for encaustic, different powdered pigments- but I am horrible at knitting and the like- if you send me beautiful yarn or fabric, it will end up in a collage and not a coat or scarf:)   What's your favorite pain-relief remedy or ritual? I have a few TAL oils I will use, or lavender or peppermint essential oils, and I will anoint my pulse points and temples, roll up a towel and place it under my back and just lay with my limbs stretched out and breathe deep. I usually take a scorching bath, but there is no bath here I can use in my temporary home between homes, so that is really a problem right now for my back!   Do sounds make you happy? What ambient noises make you smile? I like to hear the sounds of someone else working nearby- cooking, or whistling, and I love the sound of a rainstorm outside.   When you receive your SW packages...do you like receiving things that are individually wrapped inside? or unwrapped? or both? The individual wrapping thing is fun, for the surprise factor, but not needed. A hilarious witch once sent me a beautifully wrapped empty box and it was a great laugh.   Of course, we're all going to be grateful no matter what our witches give us, but for the record, what is your anti-present? Tell us something that you think your future witch might give you that you absolutely, unequivocally DO. NOT. WANT. I don't need a planner, because I am making my own for next year.   What BPAL scent have you never tried but always wanted to? What scent have you tried and LOVED, and haven't been able to get more of and why? I love Hod and Chaste moon, and have a precious impful of each. I have never tried MonsterBait underpants, mostly because I am afraid to fall in love iwth the unattainable.   I know we're all scent sensitive here. What are your favorite non-perfume smells? Day in the life stuff? I love the smell of my cats soft fur. I love the smell of my DH when he comes in from outside. I love love love the smell of Jasmine Green tea brewing, when Jasmine perfume seems to go horribly for me- go figure. I love the smell of mushrooms, garlic and onions simmering in butter. Or just butter in general.   Coffee drinkers, what types of beans to you like? Kona, Sumatra, Kenya..etc. How do you like them roasted? Do you like flavors, such as hazelnut, vanilla, etc. in your coffee? I like ground coffee, because i use a french press. I like super dark roasts, and enjoy most any flavor save the alcoholic ones.   Who has a birthday falling in this round? Just had mine (Sept 1)   For those of us who like chocolate, do you like anything /in/ your chocolate, like fruit, nuts, or for the more daring among us, chilies? I just had great cardamom white chocolate, and a lavender milk- herbs are a huge favorite of mine- spicy is good too!   Are there any childhood shows/movies/games/books/etc. that still hold a really special place in your heart? I am very excited about Where the Wild things Are this fall, also loved Space Quest and Day of the Tentacle as a young'n, Watership DOwn, Rainbow Brite, and a lot of other fun 80s things:)   Super power? Flight, or perhaps emphathy. I would definitely go for a universal translator.   If I send you whole spices or coffee beans, would you be able to grind them or would you prefer them preground for your convenience? Ground (no grinder available in limbo land here)   For the tea and coffee drinkers: Opinion on tea- and/or coffee-related accessories/etc? (Teaware, sugar crystals, infusers, tea chests, etc)How do you take your coffee (or tea)? Black or with cream and/or sugar? I add honey- different fun kinds, and sometimes soymilk to my tea and coffee. I have tons of tea supplies, but I sitll want to try those blooming teas you put in a clear pot. Or any new fun flavours of tea are always welcome.   Restaurants you'd like a gift certificate to on Restaurant.com? I like non-chain places mostly, but I can't say no the Cheesecake Factory or the Melting Pot   In your perfect world it is chocolate and...? salted caramel, or peanut butter   How do you scent your home: tarts, reed diffusers, BPAL, candles? pure beeswax candles, tarts, and BPAL or other oils   What's your favorite dessert treat? Ice cream? Cake? Pie? Fudge brownie cake with pie flavored ice cream on top? creme brulee   Do you believe we control our destiny, or does our destiny control us? Free Will balances Destiny- you may have one, but you can choose to go towards it or not.   What one thing that is missing from your life would you like to have above all else? A home where I can be together with my kittens. A bathtub! An awesomely successful art business. All in all, I am not missing much else, so no complaints here.   What was your favouritest job ever, and why? I love working for myself- it is scary, but I can make art for 12 hours and no one stops me. The most rewarding job I have ever had is teaching art to students with Autism.   What GC scent have you been putting off getting since it'll "always be there"? Hmm- i keep thinking I should get Cockaigne, and passing it up.   Any cooks? Could you use anything cooking related? Aprons? Cookbooks? Measuring Cups? Recipes? Herb/Spice containers? Fancy Spices? Dish Towels? Cocktail napkins? Amazing Beaded Pot Holders? (like from our very own Pottersville! ) Something else? I don't have my own kitchen, but I use it constantly when I do- I esoeially lover fancy spices and I need some basic cookbooks- I esp. want Julia CHild's now that I've seen Julie and Julia   What's your favorite candy to stock up on at Halloween? reeses umpkins   What are your phobias? Not sure, but I am not big on needles or surgery, or cockroaches   What is your favourite flower (or plant)? violet, white roses, lavender, sage, hazel tree   Duct tape purses and wallets and things are pretty darned cool. Who else thinks so? I do! I like to duct tape up school folders or notebooks to give them an indestructable edge   An anonymous benefactor gives you $500 (or an equivalent amount of money in your currency of choice) with the following stipulations. You must spend all of it within a week: any money left unspent must be returned. You must spend at least half of the money on yourself. You may not use it to pay off debts or bills of any kind. What do you do with the money? Take friends and family out to a big dinner, and go on an art supply spree with the rest. I have been longingly looking at liquid acrylic paints for a while now- and nothing is better than food and drink with people you lov e and rarely get togther with all at once.   Who likes coloring books? I like ot take my little pony coloring books and cut and paste the ponies into compromising positions, because I am a horrible person.   Are you an avid reader? What's your favorite book/series? I read every day. Favorites are hard ot pick- but I adore The Once and Future Kins, Stranger in a Strange Land, The Dark Tower, Dune, and The Great and Secret Show   Do you have a Good Reads profile? If so, make with the link! If you don't have one, go make one! I do not know about this- I shall check it out...   You're in the kitchen at the end of a pay period and groceries are pretty scarce. Do you take the five ingredients you find first and make something fabulous, or do you order take out? I love broke kitchen challenge:) You end up trying onew things when supplies are limited.   If you could decorate/redecorate any 1 room in your home, what would it be and how would you decorate it? I dream of making a big spacious and organized studio for myself someday, like the spreads in "Where Women Create" I would fill it with old type drawers and tons of pictures and strange little bits of ephemera, and my zillions of art supplies.   Any rabid sports fans out there? What teams do you root for? What are these sports you speak of?   What's your favorite animal? (You can have more than one.) If I could only choose one, probably the sea turtle. AFter that, wolves, cats, giant squid.   This is how the world ends... zombie apocalypse, robot uprising, alien invasion, return of the elder gods... which doomsday scenario do you prefer (or make your own!)? I like the scenario where we all ust get our shit figured out, or possibly where penguins become sentient and kick our asses and we are all penguin slaves for all eternity.   In the year 2525... if man is still alive... what sort of future do you imagine? (apologies to anyone who gets that song stuck in their head!) Who knows- things have changed so radically, it is hard to say - but I fear that our natural resources will either be scarce, or we will be scarce at that point. Perhaps we will all be living sustainably and more ismply, perhaps some more feminine wisdom will be commonplace, for both men and women, and there will be a gentler, more communicative world. ANd perhaps, penguisn will be our evil, waddle-tastic overlords.   Do you believe in magic (or magick, if you prefer)? What does it mean to you? I believe in things we cannot explain with science. I believe that everything matters in some way, and that there are connections we cannot fathom, but still touch. But I don't think there is anything unnatural about it, so yes to magic, but not as a supernatural force- it is completely organic, simply unquantifiable.   If you found the puzzle box from Hellraiser, what would you do with it? ( and would you be able to resist playing with it? ) If anything remotely horror movie happens to me, I like to not be the idiot virgin blonde who investigates the basement alone wihta broken flashlight, thankyouverymuch. But then again, I am very curious...   Do you like pinup art/images? I like old vintage pin up pictures- they are beautiful and naughty, which is a great combination.   What are your plans for Halloween? Have you made any yet? Do you have any traditions? Carving punpkins and roasting the seeds is a definite tradition, as is going apple picking, but I could use some more Halloween traditions. I am goign to recognize Mabon and Samhain more traditionally this year, so that is a change for me.   Who are your BPAL forum buddies? You know, people I could conspire with to Witch you! I am a bit buddy-less right now- while moving I kind of dropped of the edge of the world, but Lexis is a great Witcher or me for sure:)   What is your favorite color? Green- all those deep, lush shades   Any other steampunk fans/lovers? yes, and YES.   Describe your ideal picnic lunch. Where would you go? Who (if anyone, and yes there can be multiple people) would accompany you? What sort of food would you take? And, of course, if a picnic lunch sounds like a horrible idea, feel free to say so! I have this picnic kit I pack salad and fruit and cookies and wine into to take to Arboreums and prks with my DH, and it is pretty much a perfect escape from the world.   Any Gamers here? What kind? Board games? RPG? Miniature? MMORPG? Love borad games, like Balderdash, have played a lot of FInal Fantasy, used to play WOW, and have never got into anything like DnD, but am curious.   Is anyone playing this round of SW into ABJ? (asian ball jointed dolls) Never heard of them before.   What is your favorite Halloween icon? Vincent Price? Edward Scissorhands? no- Drucilla from Buffy. SHe is the bestest insane chick ever.   Ok, more later, I am ti-red:)   Imagine that you're given a shoebox-sized time capsule, and you are asked to put any number of items in the box that symbolize who you are. The items can be may be anything you can imagine, and money is no object, but they must fit within the box. Which items do you choose? I guess I've already donethis in miniature all over my house- I collect little things- scraps of pictures, quotes from books, holy medals and special rocks and little leaves and dried up bits of silly string, bits of cat fur- It would be a mishmosh of tiny memories.   Are you involved in any long-term, ambitious project? something like decorating your house or saving for a trip to the other end of the world, for example. I am in the middle of three really big things: Relocating from DC to Buffalo, NY, with all the job hunting and house hunting it entails. Trying to make it as a visual artist. and writing Logos, a graphic novel I am working on with my husband that we started 4 years ago.   Favorite kind or take out kinda burger? Whats your burger preference? Veggie,meat or ???? In DC they had this place with rosemary salted fries and a little burger with melted brie and caramelized onion straws- ohmahgawd.   Whats your favorite childhood toy? Well, mostly imaginary things, or my library card, or my stuffed unicorn, Sapphire, who is totally real. Also, I had an awesome little tool set that I loved, and ghost buster figurines.   If you have a pet, what kind of gifts would be good for them? My kittens enjoy catnip, feathered things, and those squishy fuzzy balls for fetching.   Do you Tweet? What is your Twitter name? TaraSas   Are you on Ravelry? What is your Ravelry name? no skill here! But I'd love to learn...   What are everyone's favorite Halloween-y/Autumn-y/spooky movies? Are there any you don't own but would like to? I love me some Burton, and Donnie Darko, and fun adrenaline movies like Jurassic park- I really want to see Kiki's Delivery Service:)   Are roasted pumpkin seeds and home made chex mix the best fall snack foods, or what? I adore roasted pumpkin seeds!   Whats your favorite pie, my dear SW's? I love raspberry pie!   What kinda socks are you wearing tonight? The tall scrunchable green ones I bought with your awesome gift certificate:)   Do you like socks? Blankets? Wrist warmers? Arm warmers? Headband? Shawl? Or what kind of knitted thing would you love the most? I love arm warmers, especially the ones that loop around yoru thumbs, and tube scarves, and blankets are awesome in general   How do you feel about ghost stories? Do you like to tell the old tales around a campfire? Read true accounts on the web way past your bedtime? Do you like to pick up a good anthology of Poe stories on a blustery day? Or is all that too scary for you? I have a love hate relationship with this stuff- I am fascinated and love to red them, but also have an overactive imagination. I love my Poe anthology and am looking for a Lovecraft one. I'm also a fan of S. King and Clive Barker   Who here is LOVING Warehouse 13? My mom, or one!   Nother question! Coffee or Tea? Both- tea every day, coffee as a treat or weekend thing.   Interested in locally produced products? Food, skincare or both?Olive oil? Lavender oils or soaps? I am a locavore, I love handmade food and skincare stuff. Lavender is a big friend to me and my aching head.   Does anyone in here wear a lot of dangly earrings or collect pendants of all kinds?? How about hair clips or pony tail band things? I have been unable to wear earrings, and recently discovered I can wear danglies if I switch out the hooks for non-allergy ones made of pure silver, so I am now looking for cool earrings as I have about 2 pair total. I pretty much put my hair up with sticks, and not much else.   What is your favourite historical period? Tricky- does Firefly count? I am pretty into steampunky victorian things, but right now is a great period to be alive. I think the nostalgia for old times is always better than they were.   What other hot beverages everyone likes for fall? Love cider- and it isn't hot, but blending fresh cideer with cinnamon ice cream is the best fall milkshake ever.   Did you order anything from the most recent update? Yep- a back up bottle of samhain, and cakesmash   Vampires or Werewolves? Or some other monster? Spike from buffy is my monster of choice. But also, I adore sea monsters, especially the kraken and nessie.   What sort of odd or regional foods do you crave? I miss shopping at the hoo-wah, where they had awesome rice crackers, and the local Indian grocery for various grains and lentils and spices.   ******9/24***** Do you use henna at all (hair or skin)? hair and skin from time to time- not on my hair anymore   What about 2010 Wall calenders? Or 2010 journals or appointment diaries? What subject? I am all set for that.   What are your thoughts on Halloween decorations? I love old looking spooky stuff, or natural dried autumn harvest stuff. What tarot card do you most identify with? Great question. I am still learning Tarot, so I am pretty sure I am still the Fool, but I think it would be in Pentacles for my earth leanings, or The World, not so much because that it me, but I find it to be a lovely and affirming card. ******9/23***** Who collects ACEOs/ATCs? I do! Especially of sea monsters, steampunk, and art nouveau   Switch Witches, which shoes do you own that are your favorite? What are your "daily drivers"? I love and have way too many boots- mostly flat ones for stomping around in- I also have a great all purpose pair of black flats I will miss when they fall apart.   If you could describe yourself in 5 words, what would they be? intense, creative, flawed, loving... ( asked husband and he added mystical, swirly, and bootilicious)   Do you collect new/used stamps? Will you like to get stamps on your mails? not really, but they can be beautiful.   Any WKAP you're excited about? blackberry scones, sigh. I missed it online.   How do you feel about stationary? (pens, notepads, cards, pencils, etc.) ******9/21-22***** The New update is next week.....Is everyone ready for the Yules and everything else in store? I am unprepared financially, but I will pick one or two awesome scents to splurge on and treasure them:) Cake or death? Oh my- did you hear he is doing stand-up again in January? And cake, please:) Are there any foreign food products that you'd love to get or to try? I do not understand turkish delight, but I like C.S.lewis. I like to try new things!   Tea lovers, loose or bag? Paraphernalia? both, though I have mostly loose. I want to try tohe blooming teas in the glass teapot thingies. ******9/20***** Would you object to annonomous postcards (real ones) from your witch before the big reveal??? nope:) ******9/19***** Do you drink alcohol? Wine, beer or liquor? What is your favorite wine/beer/mixed drink? I prefer wine, but fruit lambics are wonderful, and I love a good mango mojito Do you like to find out there's a package on the way or to receive a tracking number to stalk, or do you prefer surprise packages? Either is fine. If I were your witch, and I wanted to make you a spell or mojo bag, would you be into that? And, if you were, would you want it for something like love, prosperity or luck? Or would you want it for a certain element? Or would you want it for something more personal- and what might that be? I would love a personal bag- maybe about my elements- fire for passion and earth for grounding, or whatever speaks to you. ******9/18***** Do you wear lip gloss/lip balm? If so, what flavors/scents? mostly burts bees- so honey or mint I guess What is one thing you constantly keep with you that you constantly loose? the above mentioned chapsticks- so I have a zillion of them:) What are your favorite fruits? whatever is in season- but especially berries, mangoes, fresh tart apples, figs, concord grapes- oh drool... If Beth made a perfume called "switch witch" what notes would be in it? well, it would obviously have to be a chaos theory set of blends, cause we are all such special snowflakes, the lot of us! What is your favorite cookie type? shortcake, snickerdoodles, anything with ginger ******9/17***** Are you into 80s movies (like i am ) if so, which are your favorites and who are your favorite characters? ghostbusters! Do you like Villainess soaps? What are your favorite scents? I love Killer Beez, Birthrite, Ginger snapped, and well, most everything I try Do you mind artificial colors in your food? not really- I mean I eat candy corn! Who wants hair pretties?(headbands, barrettes, pony-o's, scrunchies, bobby pins, hair clips, etc) I like fascinators. If you were my witchee, would you like any of the scents/sizes that are available on clearance? for where? I am on an origami crane kick recently, so I wonder if anyone will be interested in origami crane earrings, origami crane in a glass vial (~1.2cm wide) phone charm/pendant or just a container filled with cranes of different sizes. I actually make my own cranes often- so that would be cool- and paper to make them would be even better.   How do you feel about clothing/accessories made from animals? Anti-fur, leather, shells, etc.? Does even faux wig you out? faux fur wigs me out, but faux leather is cool- I have some of the matt n natt bags made from plastic bottles that is great.   How do you deal with stress? What's your favorite way to unwind? baths, reading, long walks in the woods, and especially locking myself in the studio   You're given the opportunity to apprentice at any trade (or craft) of your choosing for the period of one year. Your mentor may be any currently living person. Which field of study would you choose, and who would be your mentor? Oh wow- a toss up: Odd Nedrum to learn how to paint like the "old masters," or Charles Vess to learn his amazing skills at illustration. ******9/16***** Who is musically inclined? What instruments (voice counts) do you play? Would you enjoy sheet music? I sing and have been in a few bands, and I would love sheet music, maybe of older lyrical stuff, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Leonard Cohen, or for newer stuff- Josh Ritter Favorite musicals? Pippin, Sweeney Todd (the stage version for the music) Which of the seven deadly sins is most likely to be your undoing? Gluttony. Wait, maybe pride. Like I would make the worlds best chocolate cake and think I'm all that, and then eat the whole thing.   Anyone want a nickname and embroidered headband from PandaBite? I guess so?   I have seen a lot of yankee candles haters..... personally i like yankee candle (some of them, anyway). do you or don't you, and if not, what candles do you like? this assumes you like candles. otherwise, what specific home fragrance do you use? I burn the small jar candles in my studio- and I am into foody and fall scents right now- like leaves and apple cider and all that.   Would a "gift" donation to one of the organizations/causes you support be a great gift, or a lame gift? I love kiva.org, but I have a lot of loans going there right now, so it is up to you. ******9/15***** Does anyone have any symbols they consider to be personally significant or talismanic? Cats, wolves, the luna moth, foxes, fuzzy caterpillars, giant squid, fire, all manner of trees, honey. Are there any Gods, Goddess, or other mythological figures of whom you're particularly fond? Mary, Sophia, Apollo, St. Brigid, King Arthur and the Questing Beast   Super villain or vigilante? Which would you like to be? Which would you like to receive? I always heart the villains, and am pretty ambiguous myself.   What mythical or fantastic race of creatures (dragons, unicorns, griffins, elves, dwarves, faeries, etc.) do you most identify with, and why? Well, I want to be a wood elf, and I play one in WOW.   How do you feel about Dia de los Muertos? Are you interested in sugar skulls? Catrina (or other) skeleton figurines? I am curious but don't know much.   Do you have a favorite poem or poet? Yeats. Rumi. Tennyson. ******9/14***** For the crafty people out there: would you prefer something crafted or crafting supplies? Oh I love both, Supplies make me so so happy to use, but I love art I have gotten from others and really treasure each piece in my home. Can you use pill boxes, a hard ID case, coin purse, etc? I love hard ID cases   Any songs you are desperately into at the moment? I am looking for some classical guitar to paint to for the fall.   What's autumn like in your neck of the woods? What do you love and/or hate about it? Autumn is chill and crisp and perfect, and I adore it!   What's your favorite product(s) at Trader Joe's? We talked about this ! Pretty much everything... If you're caught in front of the tv, what are you watching? Buffy or West Wing on DVD, star trek, sci fi goodness of some kind, or monsters on the discovery channel. Or glee!   Any Amy Brown art fans? I don't know- some of her work is beautiful, but I think her characters are a little too perfect for my tastes.   How do you feel about Halloween music? (mix CDs, what have you) I love to make mixes, and love new stuff.   Who else is reeeeeally looking forward to Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland? ME   Is there a store that you love which does not have a location near you (but that has a physical presence somewhere, not just online? Why do you love it so much? BPAL, nuff said Lolcats....yeah or nay? I can has them now please? What is your favorite creepy folk story or legend? Cthulhu esque stories If your witch were to either write something for you or put together a collection of ghost stories, would you rather have it in writing, recorded as an oral telling, or both? I love books, so in writing. If you had the funds to commission an original painting for yourself, what would it be of? What would it be like- colors, size, style? I would want a painting of light filtering through the woods, maybe with a mysterious figure or two, or a huge but obscured creature, with deep greens and purples. ******9/12-13***** What's something you're really looking forward to in the semi-near future? ettign my own place and stocking the kitchen What fictional character do you most identify with and why? Merlin, because he is cool, but confused and doesn't agree with linear time Could you use a 'travel' imp case? How many should it hold? I have a few of my own As a witchee, would you prefer to have many little packages sent to you throughout the round with a not-so-big final package or fewer things throughout the round with one huge final package to seal the sweetness? What is your idea of the perfect evening at home? cook a cool multi course meal, eat it with a bottle of wine and DH or maybe a few guests, and then have a bonfire or play a fun boardgame Are you on any social networks (MySpace, Twitter, LJ, Facebook, Bebo, etc)? If so, make with the links! Are you open to new friends? I lik efreinds- I am jupiterpsyche on LJ and Tarasas on twitter, and Tara Sasiadek on facebook What kind of socks? green or black and warm How often do you update your wishlist? with new wishes- so maybe once a month May I help you fill out your costuming wardrobe (assuming you costume)? Are there articles you are seeking to enhance your a) Halloween costume, Renfest attire, c) Cosplay, d) Steampunk accouterment? Oh wow- I would love any cool steampunk stuff- maybe a hat with goggles? I love lacy gauntlets and stuff. So, who has a store or ETSY shop or knows of a shop of a fellow BPALer that everybody needs to check out? I have an etsy shop that no one knows exists, and I am sad but determined to keep at it. It is at www.TaraNova.us   Oh my, my fingers are tired!
jupiternf

jupiternf

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Stink Shoe - The Musical of My Life
 

Random Things I Really Love

Cryptozoology - I dearly hope the Loch Ness monster is real!   Sharks - the whole reason I signed up for cable was Shark Week. I'm interested in most species but my all time favorite is the Great White.   Cosmic Dream Catcher by Lush - I love that massage poor to freakin' death.   **List will be added on to whenever something pops into my funny little head.
Pope

Pope

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Stink Shoe - The Musical of My Life
 

Switch Witch Questions Part I

If you have a garden/planter box, what do you grow? Don’t have one - unfortunately neither the cats nor the weather would allow it. What incense scents do you prefer? I like it as a BPAL note but I don’t like lighting it in the house Do you decorate for Halloween? What sort of decorations? Dress up for Halloween: I love, love, love to decorate for Halloween. I like the whole scary castle or vampires lair theme. So I like to use a fair amount of candles, gothic props, skeletons, bats, cats and whatever trinket catches my fancy. I prefer to decorate for my own pleasure rather then everyone else’s so this would stay in the house. I haven’t been able to do any of this for years because of the cats and the absolutely horrid necessity of having to pay bills. Bats, cats, skeletons, monsters, vampires, witches or what other ghoulies do you prefer? All of the above with the exception of the creature from the Black Lagoon as he just seems plain silly to me. Do you like horror flicks? Do I ever! More specifically anything that has to do with a haunting or shape changers. Who here prefers stylus and ink to ballpoint? Anyone invested time and effort into calligraphy or proper Victorian writing? I’m a lefty. Writing pretty was never in my future and even when I do put effort in my handwriting it usually ends up all smudged. What about stationery? Need some? What styles do you like? Do I ever! Anything that has fantastical creatures, monsters or a sea theme. What Halloween scent are you most looking forward to? Ichabod Crane! Reduce - REUSE - recycle. Do others feel the same? Anything to help the environment, don’t go any further then separating our own trash but every little bit helps right? What is your favorite crafting supply? GLUE it holds things together and when you are a klutz like I am it is priceless! But that nearly isn’t as fun as Halloween glitter or confetti Any period of time that you love? The Stone Age – no seriously! What's your favorite book? American Gods by Neil Gaiman What size socks do you wear? How about hat size? 8 ½ - 9 in shoe size. I don’t know my hat size other then to say BIG as my hair is very very very thick. Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand? They have been my thirteen year obsession. Favorites include The Sandman, Batman, Starman, Fables, Kabuki, Lucifer and most things written by Warren Ellis. I hate hate hate what has happened to the X-Men and have been rolling my eyes at what most of Marvel puts out for years now. By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl? More of a morning person these days, I’m a wuss and am usually in bed by 10:30 most nights. What's your favorite type of music to hear live, rather than recorded? Folk! What is your favorite autumnal-seasonal drink? Mulled wine all the way
Pope

Pope

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Cyphersushi's witchy help
 

Extended wishlist

Ok, my bpal wishlist can be found though my signature but this is the extended version with all kinds of stuff.   Bath and Beauty Hair I just changed my hair and am in desperate need of a nice product that will make my curls curl even better. If I could get an as natural alternative as possible I would be extatic. I am in love with Lush schampoos and would love to try them all. I am also curious of other brands like Cocoa Pink and Oyin but the shipping has stopped me. Same goes for conditioner.   Skin I am such a Villainess fangirl. Their soaps love love love my skin and the whipped is great for my face. I would try all their scents but the pure citrus ones. Favorite scent right now is a toss-up between Scintillating and Asphyxiate.   Bath I would love a muscle relaxing bath salt or bath bomb. I never take baths in the morning so bathproducts made to make one more energized or awake is lost on me. relaxing, sexy and soothing is my melody in the bath.   Nailpolish Any color, any brand and kind of glittery, sparkly, shiny, pearly... I would use anything - probably in strange combinations.   Make up I do not wear much make-up but I am trying to get better at it. I don't use liquid eyeliners, I prefer to use brushes for everything - even eyelining. I think I look best in colder colors but have blue eyes so golden hues tend to make them pop too.     Clothing Jinx I fight like a girl Rogue   Threadless Two detectives one thief Insomnia Ghost on the machine Bone idol Technology ruins nature Fish tank Epic battle Urban camoflage Billy says it's haunted   And this is as far as I made it today - will be continued.
cyphersushi

cyphersushi

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angelfish323's Blog
 

Halloween Switch Witch questions

***9/1*** Do you have phobias? Not really. I don't love spiders or bats and centipedes are just . . . *shudder* But I'm not sure I'd call any of them phobias. How do you like your mix CDs? Random? Stuff you know you'll like? I like 'em however the one making them wants 'em! Would you rather get food or jewellery? Do I have to pick? Because I love both. I suppose, since I should theoretically be eating healthier, jewelry. But, really, food is totally welcome. Do you like children's toys, such as jacks, those little things you tilt around to get the ball in the right hold (wtf are those called?), the aforementioned caplet dinosaurs, cap guns, etc?: Sure! I don't embrace my inner child nearly enough. And, if it's Hello Kitty related, I'll love it. English candy/tea/marmite or other stuff that you love and can't easily get outside of England? No marmite, please. But English tea and candy? Hell yes. I LOVE European candy, even if I've never had it. The novelty and newness of it makes me irrationally giddy. Fanfic as a gift* - yay or nay? Your fandom? Slash preferences?*well, a virtual gift obviously. You know what I mean. Sure! Well, hm . . . I'm not that involved in any fandom, but if I had to pick I'd probably go with Harry Potter or Battlestar Galactica. Snape paired with nearly anyone, but I have to confess I am one of those who enjoys a good Snape/Harry fic. As for BSG? Adama and Roslin & Lee and Kara are my favorite pairings. Oh! Buffy and Angel would work too. Spike and Buffy? Yum. Buffy and Angel? Yum. Any beaders here? Need beading supplies? Not a beader . . . Do you like making up your SW packages around a theme, or prefer to mix it all up? I always think about doing it, but I just don't have the creativity for it, I guess. Band-aids: do you like the fun and funky ones? Yes! What's the scariest thing that's ever happened to you? Probably getting Bell's Palsy at age 16. Never heard of it until then. One day, over the course of about 8 hours, half of my face froze. Literally - no muscle movement. Noticed something a little bit strange in the morning, but by night, when I tried to smile, only half of my face moved. It's a possible symptom of Lyme disease, which is what they eventually diagnosed me with. Bell's Palsy can last for a few weeks, a few months, or can have permanent effects. For an insecure 16 year old, that possibility was pretty terrifying. (Okay, so no real life threatening things, but still.) ***8/31*** What is everyone's favorite Halloween song?! The Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack! Especially "This is Halloween." How many of mah fellow witchies play video games? Platform? Do you like used games? I have a Nintendo DS, which I love. And I've been known to play PC games on occasion. I've recently dug out my King's Question Collection and started playing them again. Love the Sims games. Used games are fabulous! What kind of music (genres, please) do you like? Have any of you ever received a book from a Witchy and loved it so much you ended up buying a copy for a later Witchee? Hm, not yet. But . . . I haven't received that many books. What kinds of eye shadows do we all like? I don't really wear eyeshadow. Do you like lip balm? If so, do you like tinted, glossy, sparkly, pearly or just plain lip balm? Love lip balm! And I love it all! (Although sparkly in the sense of glitter, not so much. But shimmery is fabulous. Just don't like the bigger pieces of glitter in my balm.) What are some of the SW gifts/finds from past rounds (or you can just name a gift in general that you found for someone if this is your first round!) that you are the most proud of in terms of your sleuthing skills? In the last round, I sleuthed jesvet like a mad woman. She mentioned once in a previous round loving this children's story book series from the 1930s but having trouble finding any of them. I managed to find two in good condition on ebay. I was quite proud of those. And, secondly, what is something you've been searching for but just can't find? ***8/30*** Do you knit/crochet? Do you need any supplies? I actually just taught myself how to knit! And I'm loving it. Which means, I could certainly use supplies. I currently have one crochet hook (G), two sets of knitting needles (sizes 8 and 10), Stitch n Bitch (the book), and a handful of things of yarn. Who here has an etsy shop? No etsy shop for me. What are your two favorite etsy shops? Yikes. Only two? Hm . . . I love charliemotel's stationary so very, very much. And . . . Flameworks. Absolutely adore her deoderant, lip balms, and body butters. Are you active on any other boards/forums? If so please specify where and your username there. I'm relatively active on the Nocturne Alchemy forum. I'm angelfish323 over there as well. ***8/29*** What would you tell yourself 6 months in the past about 2008 so far? Hang on, it's going to be a very, very bumpy road. And I probably would have told myself to stock up on feel good things - tea, books, movies. Oh, and beer. If you had one minute of fame, what would you do/say in the spotlight? Robots versus zombies: who wins? Gotta go with the robots. I mean, seriously. A zombie up against a cylon? Clearly the cylon wins. What would zombie say? Brrraaaaiiiiinnnns. Of course. Where are a few of your favorite places? Out of curiosity, all the fall babies who are celebrating their birthdays during the round - who are you, and when is your bday? I'm a spring baby. What is one (only one) object that you collect, that totally goes against your personality or beliefs? Are you a soap addict? Anything you like to avoid in soaps (goat's milk, lye, dyes, etc...) or any particular scents you like or brands you want to try? I love soap! Lye is icky . . . Do you like kilts and would you wear one? I like them on boys, but would probably not wear one myself. What's your favorite book? Goodness people. Only one? The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, if I had to pick only one . . . What size socks do you wear? How about hat size? Well, my shoe size is a size 6. Mmm. I love socks. Hat size? Hrm. I have no idea. How does one figure that out? Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand? Um. Yes. A lot of them. Strangers in Paradise started it all. I'm currently reading Echo, The Walking Dead, Sword, Locke & Key . . . recently finished Y: The Last Man, Sisterhood . . . fallen behind but still reading DMZ, Ex Machina . . . there are a lot. Lots and lots and lots. I'm not really into the traditional superhero comics, though I do love the occasional Batman graphic novel. Arkham Asylum, for example, is outstanding. Symbols that are meaningful to me? By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl? Night owl. I hate mornings. What's your favorite type of music to hear live, rather than recorded? What is your favorite autumnal-seasonal drink? Pumpkin Ale. I just had my first at the Elysian yesterday. ***8/28*** Crossword puzzles? Other pencil puzzles? Love them, even though I'm rather terrible at crossword puzzles. Favorite artist? Mark Ryden and half of Kandinsky Favorite poet? I'm not much of a poetry reader. Much of what I love has some connection to music that I love. For example, I adore Ani Difranco's and Mike Doughty's poetry. Halloween. Do you like it kooky or creepy? A little bit of both! Reserved or Raunchy? I'm probably more reserved than I'd care to be, but I can certainly be raunchy when the situation calls for it. Earth, Wind, Fire or Water? Earth. Tea or Coffee in the morning? Coffee. Fruity snacks or chocolate? Chocolate. Would you accept art? Very, very happily! Antiques or Brand New? Antiques are awesome. Though I'm horrible at hunting for them. What keywords do you use when searching for items for yourself on Etsy? Are there any of y'all who are allergic/sensitive to having natural fibers on your skin? Nope. Although, not a fan of angora. I find it itchy and it sheds everywhere. I have two long haired cats. Enough shedding going on around these parts . . . What was your favorite ghost/scary/campfire story growing up? Probably Bloody Mary. And there's a particular book that's on the edge of my skull, but I can't for the life of me think of the title or the author. I just remember it was a popular one to bring out at sleepovers . . . Bugs? Do you like 'em or not? Butterflies and dragonflies. Cliche, yes. The rest . . . I can leave. i haz no imp storage. do you? I have some. A handful of ammo boxes and a cherished box from syrenemyst for my very special decants. Always happy for more storage. ***8/27*** If you have a garden/planter box, what do you grow? Brown thumb. What incense scents do you prefer? I don't normally burn incense, but I'd be happy to start! Do you decorate for Halloween? What sort of decorations? Dress up for Halloween? Bats, cats, skeletons, monsters, vampires, witches or what other ghoulies do you prefer? Cats and Vamps! Do you like horror flicks? I love cheesy horror flicks. Especially of the horribly cheesy science-fiction variety. You know, the type where a man turns into a giant fly due to some sort of medical mistake and terrorizes a community? WIN! Who here prefers stylus and ink to ballpoint? Anyone invested time and effort into calligraphy or proper Victorian writing? No calligraphy for me. What about stationery? Need some? What styles do you like? I love stationary! Cards, cardstock, individual sheets, notepads, whatever. ***8/26*** What is one item that you've wanted forever, could have afforded, but have never gotten and why (haven't you gotten it!)? What Halloween scent are you most looking forward to? I don't know how to pick just one . . . Probably Fearful Pleasure and Sticky Pillowcase! Tattoos! Do you have em? Do you want em? Whatcha got or getting? I have two. I have an abstract outline of a butterfly on my lower right back in red henna. (Well, it's a real tattoo, but it's that color.) And then I have stars on both of my hips. Reduce - REUSE - recycle. Do others feel the same? Yes! What is your favorite crafting supply? At the moment? Probably yarn, since I'm just learning how to knit. But I love markers, stickers, scrapbooking type stuff. Weigh in...Are you right or left-handed? Definitely right handed. Any period of time that you love? Hm . . . I've always had a random love for WWII era America. ***8/25*** What's your favorite part about Fall? I miss Fall in upstate NY. Seattle doesn't have the same sort of beautiful changing of the seasons. I miss the beautiful oranges and golds that the trees turn in NY. Do you like office/school supplies? If so, what is your favorites? YES! Probably pens. I love pens. More than I should. What's your favorite Halloween candy? Oh boy. Um, all of it? I confess I'm one of those odd people that loves candy corn. And miniature anything is fun. Will you be participating NaNoWriMo? If so, is there anything you'd like to have for that? Not for me. ***8/22*** Where does everyone like shop for witching goodness? What is your favorite pumpkin goodness? I have never met a pumpkin anything that I didn't love. I look desperately forward to Pumpkin Ale every year. Pumpkin cookies, brownies, pumpkin curry, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin spice lattes . . . pumpkin EVERYTHING!
angelfish323

angelfish323

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MoonstoneMama's Blog
 

Halloweenie Switch Witch random questions v2.0

How do people feel about receiving baked goods/kits to make said goods? Or other cooking items? Would you enjoy oil or vinegar flavored with herbs grown at home? Strange and exotic spices with recipes to try? Cookies made with carnation petals? I'd say no to this, mostly because I'm paranoid about getting sick.   What are your pet's names, and what are they named for? My cat's name is Merlin. And he's named for The Wizard. I wanted to name him Harvey (after the white rabbit in that movie (Harvey) with James Stewart), but then once I got him it was obvious he's not a Harvey.   Who here is a complete, over the top, Alice In Wonderland fanatic? Fanatic? Not so much. I did really love the books, and I loved the Disney movie, and I'm really (really!) looking forward to the Tim Burton movie version.   Are you a Trekkie? If so, which series do you prefer? Do you have a favorite character? I hate the word "trekkie." However, I did really enjoy TNG. I hated Voyager at first, but then it really grew on me (it was the only thing on I could watch when I would get home at midnight after working my temp job at Firstar Bank in Milwaukee) and became my favourite of all the Star Trek series. I tried to watch Enterprise when it was on, but it was just so laughably bad that I had to stop even though Connor Trinneer is seriously hot.   Do you have phobias? spiders, heights   How do you like your mix CDs? Random? Stuff you know you'll like? I like most kinds of music, so random is fine with me.   Would you rather get food or jewellery? If by "food" you mean "dark chocolate" then my answer is "both"   Do you like children's toys, such as jacks, those little things you tilt around to get the ball in the right hold (wtf are those called?), the aforementioned caplet dinosaurs, cap guns, etc?: not so much   English candy/tea/marmite or other stuff that you love and can't easily get outside of England? not really, I'm not all that familiar with English candy. I do hate turkish delight.   Fanfic as a gift* - yay or nay? Your fandom? Slash preferences?*well, a virtual gift obviously. You know what I mean. It depends. I'm a total Supernatural fangirl. If it doesn't involve Wincest or one/both of the boys dying, I'd probably enjoy it. Harry Potter/Supernatural crossovers that don't involve either of those things would be okay too.   Any beaders here? Need beading supplies? Delicas, Delicas, Delicas. Seriously. Any and all Delicas will be loved! I never have enough. I always end up having to buy more of the colours that I already have and I never have enough colour choices.   Do you like making up your SW packages around a theme, or prefer to mix it all up? I've never done this before, so I guess it will be determined by what my witchee likes and what I can find/make/buy for them.   Band-aids: do you like the fun and funky ones? I like funky band-aids I'm accident prone and frequently end up cutting myself, so I figure if I have to wear a band-aid it might as well be interesting.   What's the scariest thing that's ever happened to you? car accident. and, after that, almost car accidents. there have been a couple of near misses since the accident I was in that have induced panic attacks.   What is everyone's favorite Halloween song?! probably "This Is Halloween" off The Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack   How many of mah fellow witchies play video games? Platform? Do you like used games? no video games for me.   What kind of music (genres, please) do you like? 80's pop, prog rock, classic rock, alternative, classical (particularly piano and strings), opera, old musicals... pretty much everything that's not country (except old country), rap, or hip hop.   Have any of you ever received a book from a Witchy and loved it so much you ended up buying a copy for a later Witchee? n/a   What kinds of eye shadows do we all like? mostly I wear the L'Oreal HIP shadows   Do you like lip balm? If so, do you like tinted, glossy, sparkly, pearly or just plain lip balm? mostly plain, natural peppermint flavour is good. really shiny or coloured balms/glosses just look out of place on me   What are some of the SW gifts/finds from past rounds (or you can just name a gift in general that you found for someone if this is your first round!) that you are the most proud of in terms of your sleuthing skills? n/a   And, secondly, what is something you've been searching for but just can't find? good imp storage. I like my imps to be upright with the labels not rolled. I had made myself an imp box, but it didn't turn out quite right and I had problems with the varnish sticking to itself and melting near slightly leaky imps. Also, a box the appropriate size for all my 1ml roller vials. Something flat and shallow where they'll all fit on the bottom so I can see all the labels and easily pick out what I want to wear.   Do you knit/crochet? Do you need any supplies? I've been trying to learn beaded crochet, but I'm just not that good at crocheting anymore. I'm the worlds worst knitter, I don't think any amount of practice will actually make me any better at it.   Who here has an etsy shop? I have an etsy shop, but there's nothing in it right now.   What are your two favorite etsy shops? I love the 2 custom tins I bought from badinfluence, they're the only thing I've ever bought on etsy.   Are you active on any other boards/forums? If so please specify where and your username there. nope. I can only really handle one forum at a time, bpal.org is currently it.   What would you tell yourself 6 months in the past about 2008 so far? what I would tell myself is sooo not appropriate for this forum   If you had one minute of fame, what would you do/say in the spotlight? honestly? I would say, "omg! leave me the f**k alone!"   Robots versus zombies: who wins? no one would win. robots have no brains for the zombies to eat, but zombies are already dead. so the zombies would just be constantly replenishing themselves while the robots kept destroying them. it would be a never ending stalemate.   Where are a few of your favorite places? The Memorial Union Terrace (reading on the pier), the Capitol lawn (again reading), James Madison Park (do I need to say reading again?), our family cabin in northern Wisconsin (Gordon, on Bass Lake), I loved Key West when I was there, just about any tropical beach...   Out of curiosity, all the fall babies who are celebrating their birthdays during the round - who are you, and when is your bday? nope, my birthday is in July   What is one (only one) object that you collect, that totally goes against your personality or beliefs? n/a   Are you a soap addict? Anything you like to avoid in soaps (goat's milk, lye, dyes, etc...) or any particular scents you like or brands you want to try? I have really sensitive skin, most soaps dry it out. Every body wash or shower gel I've ever used has given me a rash. Soaps that I don't have problems with: Villainess, Lush, Dr. Bronner's (bar soap, but NOT the almond scented)   Do you like kilts and would you wear one? no and no   What's your favorite book? The Chronicles of Narnia, followed closely by Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino   What size socks do you wear? How about hat size? normal adult women sized socks, I don't wear hats except to keep my head/ears warm in the winter   Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand? no comics for me   Symbols that are meaningful to me? stars, 7 pointed stars, the cancer/leo tattoo I have, solar or lunar symbols in general   By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl? night owl   What's your favorite type of music to hear live, rather than recorded? all music I prefer live. the only music I love but never listen to recordings of is Opera, I've tried, but I just can't do it, it feels wrong.   What is your favorite autumnal-seasonal drink? hot apple cider   Crossword puzzles? Other pencil puzzles? when I have time I do the daily crossword puzzle at work, I've gotten better at them, but I still kind of suck. I love the Sudoku puzzles, I nearly always can finish them, and I always do them in pen.   Favorite artist? Picasso, Monet, Carot... I love impressionist paintings, also most abstract art   Favorite poet? Yeats   Halloween. Do you like it kooky or creepy? both just no spiders   Reserved or Raunchy? depends on the audience and/or location   Earth, Wind, Fire or Water? Fire and Water   Tea or Coffee in the morning? both   Fruity snacks or chocolate? dark chocolate   Would you accept art? yes!   Antiques or Brand New? both   What keywords do you use when searching for items for yourself on Etsy? I've never searched for anything on etsy   Are there any of y'all who are allergic/sensitive to having natural fibers on your skin? mohair and angora make me sneeze, otherwise, no   What was your favorite ghost/scary/campfire story growing up? I didn't really have one, I scared easily   Bugs? Do you like 'em or not? not   i haz no imp storage. do you? no imp storage I like
moonstonemama

moonstonemama

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Cam's Blog
 

Just got these LE/unimpable decants (and a frimp)

BILQUISThe Queen of Sheba, half-demon, they said, on her father's side, witch woman, wise woman, and queen, who ruled Sheba when Sheba was the richest land there ever was, when its spices and its gems and scented woods were taken by boat and camel-back to the corners of the earth, who was worshipped even when she was alive, worshipped as a living goddess by the wisest of kings, stands on the sidewalk of Sunset Boulevard at 2:00 A.M. staring blankly out at traffic like a slutty plastic bride on a black-and-neon wedding cake. She stands as if she owns the sidewalk and the night that surrounds her.   Honey, myrrh, lily of the valley, rose otto, fig leaf, almond, ambrette, red apple, and warm musk. In the bottle, this is spicy, with honey and almond. There's also a bit of green that I think may be the fig leaf, and something else. The ambrette? On wet, the myrrh comes out a bit, but not overwhelmingly so. It's still mostly a spicy/honey/almond scent. Dry, the rose comes out, but surprisingly, it's not bad. This is really nice.   OCTOBERAy, thou art welcome, heaven's delicious breath! When woods begin to wear the crimson leaf, And suns grow meek, and the meek suns grow brief And the year smiles as it draws near its death. Wind of the sunny south! oh, still delay In the gay woods and in the golden air, Like to a good old age released from care, Journeying, in long serenity, away. In such a bright, late quiet, would that I Might wear out life like thee, 'mid bowers and brooks And dearer yet, the sunshine of kind looks, And music of kind voices ever nigh; And when my last sand twinkled in the glass, Pass silently from men, as thou dost pass.   Dry, cold autumn wind. A rustle of red leaves, a touch of smoke and sap in the air. In the bottle, this smells like sap and smoke. On wet, it's pretty much the same. Green and a bit smoky. As it dries, the pine sap softens a bit. Dry, it's really nice. Very fall.   BONFIRE NIGHTGuy Fawkes, Guy; Stick him up on high! Hang him on a lamp post And there let him die! Guy, Guy, Guy! Poke Him in the eye! Put him on the fire, And there let him die! Burn his body from his head: Then you'll say Guy Fawkes is dead! Hip, Hip, Hooray!   Beer, woodsmoke, tar, and treacle. In the bottle, I get smoke, a bit of beer and treacly sweetness. Wet, it's very similar, but warmer and musky. Dry, this is really nice. The scents are very well integrated. Smoky-sweet autumn joy.   I've got to get one of the room sprays from BPTP.   OGUNOgun is the Master of Iron, Lord of the Knife, the Toolmaker, the Supreme Hunter, the God of War. He is primal instinct, energy and motion, strife and resolution, effort and perspiration, locomotion, force, contraction and expansion. He is the lord of all mines and mineral wealth, and his energy is expressed in the transformation of sandstone into marble and carbon into diamonds. His control over transformation transcends this into the metaphorical: Ogun helps to shape the spirit, and hone it into something finer, and He compels us to look deep inside ourselves, searching for our true potential. He is physical might, ruler of the heart, giver of courage and sustainer of war, and is the bond that men fashion with one another during battle. He is gunpowder. Ogun is responsible for teaching mankind to fashion tools and weapons from iron, and his primary implements are the anvil, hammer, machete, rake, hoe, shovel, pick and pry. His favored animal is the dog, who shares his loyalty and unflagging strength. Ogun’s ofrenda is heavy and dark cigar tobacco, gin and juniper, melon, chili pepper and a touch of honey. In the bottle, gin and juniper are the strongest notes, with maybe a hint of the melon and a bit of chili. On wet, it's pretty much the same. It's pretty and interesting. Unfortunately, it just doesn't work on me once it dries. The gin, juniper and tobacco combine in a way that smells like sweat.
cam

cam

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Neyahala's Blog
 

Switch Witch Questions

Favorite cartoons or animated films? I like Family Guy, Robot Chicken, Meet the Robinsons, TNBC, Beauty and the Beast, Lilo and Stitch. Your take on the election? In other words, would you enjoy campaign related gifts, or prefer to stay neutral? I'm sick of politics. Villians you sympathise with, or are interested in boinking? Villians I would like to bonk...hmm....I can't think of any really. I like the Joker and Harley Quinn. I'm a big fan of Poison Ivy. We've got all of the Joker's Asylum comics though. I also really like the Mad Hatter, but I don't know if he's a Villain so much as an anti hero. Your stance on the all important peanut butter issue: crunchy? creamy? allergic? chocolate? maple? go directly to nuttella, do not pass go? I love peanut butter, i don't care what kind. I really like nutella as well, but my hubby hates hazelnut so I have no excuse to buy it for myself. Who here likes to read historical fiction? If you do, what eras/people/countries intrigue you the most? I do read historical fiction. i read a Harry Turtledove novel once and really enjoyed it. Other than that i read mostly Amanda Quick which is England in the era of balls and high society. I'm not sure what time period that would be really. But I'm up for anything really. I just like to read.   What sort of colors do you currently wear? Do you want to branch outside that? What would you like to try? I wear purples, greens, blues, and blacks/greys. I'll try anything. I like sparkly stuff.   About incense: do you like sticks or lose incense? Have you got one of those devices to burn lose incense over a bit of charcoal? All incense smells the same to me, so I don't really burn it. What's everyone's favorite fairytale and what are your favorite versions of it? Hm...probably Alice in Wonderland. And i'm a big fan of American McGees Alice. So how many imps/decants is officially 'you have gone overboard and your Witchee is going to expire from scent overload'? I have no idea. Who needs a recipe box? All I have is cook books right now   ANYONE ELSE want a home-made cookbook? Yes please!   How does everyone feel about really green gifties? I was thinking of giving my witchee some of my handy-dandy "paper" towels (hand-sized, washable muslin squares--kinda like ultra-cheapo cloth napkins) in a kitchen-friendly decorative box, but I didn't want to seem preachy ("Stop using paper towels, you environment destroyer!"). Would y'all use something like that? I'd totally use something like that. I don't really like using paper towels to wipe up spills anyways. What craft (or crafts) have you been wanting to try but have no idea where to start? I want to get into knitting, and i want to get back into counted cross stitch, because i have some patterns (and want to find more) by Jessica Galbreth) Would you appreciate some tunes in future packages? And if so, do you care if you get any CDs or mp3s you might have all ready? Or would you be able to find a way to post a list of things you're (a) looking for, or ( b ) all ready have? I love tunes, so if you send me stuff I already have, no big. Polish goodies! Who wants them? Baked goods, candies, kielbasa, pirogies, magazines, you name it?I'm not really into polish goodies.   How do you avoid popping an item for yourself into an order you're placing for your witchie? I haven't ordered anything for my witchee yet, but i think when I do, i'm going to have problems not ordering for myself. Underpants? Do you like them? What's your style? Size? I wear underpants everyday but i don't really wear sexy ones because I can't find them in my size. What is your favorite? What tea would you love to try but haven't because of price or difficulty to get? I'm a really big fan of Lipton Vanilla Caramel Truffle tea triangles. I want to try loose tea, but i just haven't bought any because I don't have anything to make it with. BPTP Room Sprays...your thoughts? I'd love to try Gooey Pillowcase and Samhain Would you like to receive baked goods from your Witch? And if so, are there things you WOULDN'T like? Sure! Breads and cookies are always good. And it'll probably be shared with the hubby.   Your thoughts on the update? I don't want Blood Moon really, but I'm excited for the BPTP update. I want like, everything they updated with. I'm a sucker for foody scents, because they make me feel comfort and help with my depression. How do you decide what to put in which package for your Witchee or how many packages to send? My first package was kind of random, my next two are going to be themed, but i'm not sure which one to send first. I want to end with a big package, but I think I'm going to have to add other stuff into my final package to make it complete. I haven't started buying anything yet, because i'm broke, but I already know what I want to send. If you were my witchee, would you be terribly offended if I sent you a box containing project "experiments" or random miscellaneous pretty bits of brainstorming that I thought you might like/wear? No way! That sounds really awesome!   Do you often drink take away coffe in paper mugs? When I get take out coffee it's usually in a paper mug because i don't have any travel mugs. What would a perfume based on you smell like? Something foody and sweet. Probably caramel and chocolate, maybe peanut butter. Who here likes Wizard of Oz things? I'm not a huge fan of WoO, but I do enjoy it.   Do you like Mystery Science Theater 3000? Have you tried out (and if not, would you be interested in doing so) its weird little brother, RiffTrax? I've never actually seen MST3K What will you like from Singapore? Candies? Food? Asian crafts/toys?Amigurumi books, candies, little toys. What is everyone's "luck" item? My Replica Evenstar pendant. Do you like art deco/nouveau - style prints? I'm really meh about them. What is one thing that, if you received it in the middle of all the hubbub, would make you smile and take your mind off of all you have to do for a bit? An email or an ecard.   How do you feel about Hello Kitty? I love Hello Kitty and everything therein.   Legwarmers? Armwarmers? Arm warmers, sure, but not legwarmers please. What makes everyone stand out from the Switch Witch herd? My unusual dolls. Big heads, little bodies. If you are into the original Nintendo system, what 3 games would you want that you don't have? I don't have my original nintendo anymore. What is your favorite category of the GC? Mad Tea Party   Stance on Joss Whedon and his enterprises? I don't really have an opinion. I've never really been into Buffy or Angel and I've never seen Firefly.   Has anyone tried ice wine before? Do/did they enjoy it? I have not, but it sounds like something I might like. What other perfume companies (besides bpal) have you been curious about? I wouldn't mind more of Arcana and Blooddrop, and I need to add the new dragon council scent from Mythos Mixtures to my wishlist. Does anyone here do anything with grave rubbings? Nope, I never quite got the hang of it. Would you enjoy art based on original Graveyard photography? That would be cool. I love graveyard photography. What's in your Netflix or Blockbuster queue, do you want any new Netflix/Blockbuster friends, if so how do we find you on there?I don't have Netflix or Blockbuster currently. Do you play a musical instrument?I used to play the flute, but I haven't played in years, and I don't remember much.   What do you think of Irrelevant Disturbing and Surreal Crawdad Dream? Love it? Hate it? Kicking yourself for not getting a bottle? I'm kicking myself for not getting a bottle because it sounds deliciously foody. How do you feel about trinkets? You know - tiny toys or doodads that serve no purpose than to be cute, take up space and make us smile. Love them or waste of money? I love little trinkets and toys. I just bought a tiny Squirt at the dollar store, because I love Finding Nemo. Can melty things be shipped to you, or will they be in puddles by the time you open the package? Melty things are iffy. It should be okay, because it normally doesn't sit outside a real long time. Who likes pirates? I do, I do! What are your feelings about Dia De Los Muertos? I've never really celebrated it, but i find it fascinating. What do you think about the Nightmare Before Christmas? Love it. It's one of my favorite movies. If candy is sent, would you prefer small amounts to a Halloween sized bag? Which ever. It'll probably get shared with the hubby, because he gets pissy if i don't share. Do you like floral bath soaps, shower gels, etc? If so, what florals work on you and what don't? I do like some florals, normally stuff like jasmine and lily.   How do y'all feel about honey and maple? And different flavored honey, not just the standard kind? I love honey, i use it to sweeten my tea usually. I also put it on peanut butter sandwiches. I use to but raspberry honey in michigan, but they don't sell that down here. Maple i'm torn on, because some maple is too sweet for me. What is your favorite thing to do on a cool fall day? Snuggle up in a sweater and sit outside under a tree.   If you have pets, is there a SPECIFIC toy they like to play with; brand and size? Is there a treat/cookie they eat? What brand and size? My dog LOVES squeaky plush toys. If you're going to buy something for the dog though, buy cheap, because it will end up with a broken squeaker within an hour and the stuffing will be ripped out within days. What's your ringtone? See you again - Miley Cyrus. I'm going to be getting a halloween one though, and then after that will be Carol of the Bells again. Just to throw a silly question out there...Munsters or Addams Family, y'all? Addams Family. Much catchier theme music. What think you about receiving tea accessories and/or miscellany (like mugs, cups, saucers, strainers/filters, honey, natural sweeteners [like stevia])? That'd be cool with me. It'd probably get me drinking more types of tea than just the boxed tea that comes from the store. How do you feel about copies of music or dvd's that your witch might have that you might enjoy? Not just mixes, but whole copies?If you love to sail the seas, you are a pirate! Say, witches, I have a question about birthdays. do you expect/rely on other people to plans birthday outings and activities? I usually conspire with my husband for my birthday. I tell him what I want to do and if we have the money we do it. Tarts? Yes/no? I'll say yes, even though I don't have a burner yet. I'm wondering if my witchee would like to try these types of things (like the caramel with sea salts or chocolates with chilis/bacon/salt etc.)? I dunno about weird things in my candy. Maybe carmel and chocolate with salt, but please no meat/chilis. I'm very sensitive to spices, and it's just bad.   What's your favorite animal? Cats. Any type of cats. I love lions and pumas and panthers and house cats. and Penguins What one (or two, if you really must) BPAL bottles are you most longing for? Hellhound on my trail. and I haven't reseached yet, but if there's one that smells like Fall in a bottle, I would love that. If you could have dinner/drinks/coffee with any 3 living people that are not your family/friends already, who would they be-? Stephen Colbert. I think the man is brilliant. The creator of Fables. I can't remember his name right off the top of my head. And Astrid from Blooddrop. I'd love to be able to pick her brain about perfume and corset making.   If you could bring back any TV show from cancellation what would it be? Power Puff Girls. I miss that show so much. I wonder if my witchee would like a blanket type thing. Would you? Sure! I love snuggling under blankets What's your favorite "I know it's bad for me but I can't help myself" treat? Either Reeses Cups or Jelly Belly jelly beans Very important question: Are you planning on buying anything off your BPAL and/or other wishlists during the round? I probably won't have the money to, as much as I'd like to buy the weenies before they leave.   How do you feel about having a donation made in your name to something?If you like that idea, what types of organizations/groups would you want the donation to go to? I'd be okay with that. Probably the ASPCA or similar group. NOT PETA though. What is your favorite art movement and/or style? ie impressionist, surrealist, art nouveau, etc. I don't really have a preference. Do you have a case for your mp3 player/digital camera? If you would want one, what size is your digital device? I have a case for my camera. And i don't think I'd really use one formy phone. For tea drinkers, do you bag it or prefer loose? I've only had the bag kind, but i've been told that we have the ball to make loose tea. I want to try adiago tea. Does the weather change where you are, as in, does it get cold in the winter? Anyone need homegrown scarves, hats, mittens, etc? I dunno what the weather is really like in the winter. I've been told we don't really get snow, but i'd love arm warmers/fingerless gloves because my hands get cold easily. Do you wear a watch? If so, what kind/style? I like digital watches, but i'm not a huge fan of leather bands or sports watches. What kind of indulgences do you really really want, but can't seem to make yourself buy? I'd really like a BPTP scent locket, but i can't get myself to spend the money for it. I've just got a wire one. I'd like one with a design. My questionnaire is chock-a-block with ideas for Witching me on the cheap, and without sending "stuff for stuff's sake". And I just came up with another one--make me a Pandora, Finetune, or Last.fm station you think I might like! What manner of affordable Witchery might you covet? Letters, E-cards, note cards, handmade stuff. Little things you might think I'll like. Does your cell phone have a place to attach charms? It does! I've got a few already, but i'm always willing to add more! If you drink coffee (and make it yourself) do you use a French Press, regular filter basket coffee maker, Espresso Machine, Percolator? I drink coffee heavily creamed and sugared. We've got a regular filter basket, but I want to get an Espresso Machine eventually. What movie soundtracks (or scores) do you love? I love the Nightmare Before Christmas Soundtrack. I'm also a big fan of the Hairspray (movie) soundtrack, And Rent (movie, only because i've never gotten a chance to hear the broadway recording) soundtrack. How do you scent yourself? Do you layer soaps, moisturizers, etc. or do you go straight to slathering your bod with BPAL? I usually just slather on the bpal, but i have a scent locket that I really want to use, but i have nothing to put inside of it to put the scents on. I have no scented soaps, just my body wash and that doesn't last long, and my moisturizer is unscented. I use lotion some, but they're not real strongly scented either. Do you/how do you scent your world? Candles, incense, diffusers, potpourri? None of the above? I love candles, but I didn't get to bring any with me when I moved. I forgot them at home. BPAL is such a scent-ual experience. What are your other tactile, aural, or olfactory pleasures? I love fabrics. Touching different kinds. and Yarn! I love different types of yarn. How do people feel about receiving baked goods/kits to make said goods? Or other cooking items? Would you enjoy oil or vinegar flavored with herbs grown at home? Strange and exotic spices with recipes to try? Cookies made with carnation petals? I love baking things, and I'll try anything once. What are your pet's names, and what are they named for? i have a dog named Kipp that lives with us, and a dog named Jazmin that currently lives with my grandparents. Jazmin was adopted and came with the name, Kipp is my husbands dog, and i'm not sure where the name comes from. Who here is a complete, over the top, Alice In Wonderland fanatic? I'm a fan, but not a fanatic. Are you a Trekkie? If so, which series do you prefer? Do you have a favorite character? TNG was pretty good. Do you have phobias? I'm terrified of spiders and snakes. How do you like your mix CDs? Random? Stuff you know you'll like? Random stuff usually, but stuff I know I'll like. Would you rather get food or jewellery? I have to pick? lol Do you like children's toys, such as jacks, those little things you tilt around to get the ball in the right hold (wtf are those called?), the aforementioned caplet dinosaurs, cap guns, etc?: Not so much, And honestly if I got them, they'd probably go to my husband's classroom, with the exception of a cap gun. English candy/tea/marmite or other stuff that you love and can't easily get outside of England? I've never had anything from england. Fanfic as a gift* - yay or nay? Your fandom? Slash preferences?*well, a virtual gift obviously. You know what I mean. Not really, sorry. Any beaders here? Need beading supplies? I usually just use seed beads, because of the type of bracelets I make. Do you like making up your SW packages around a theme, or prefer to mix it all up? I'll probably mix it up. Band-aids: do you like the fun and funky ones? I love the fun and funky ones. What's the scariest thing that's ever happened to you? When I was younger, I got locked inside the pool in my home town. What is everyone's favorite Halloween song? Thriller. How many of mah fellow witchies play video games? Platform? Do you like used games? I love video games! I've got a DS, PSP, Wii, PS2, and GBA. I'm not opposed to used games. What kind of music (genres, please) do you like?Rock, Jpop, classical, alternative What kinds of eye shadows do we all like? I love dark metallics. Do you like lip balm? If so, do you like tinted, glossy, sparkly, pearly or just plain lip balm? I love all types of lip balm! And, secondly, what is something you've been searching for but just can't find? books on making plushies. Joanns here doesn't seem to carry them. Do you knit/crochet? Do you need any supplies? I crochet, and I could always use more yarn, hooks, and stitch markers, since mine keep disappearing. Who here has an etsy shop? Not yet! What are your two favorite etsy shops? I'm not on etsy that much really. Are you active on any other boards/forums? If so please specify where and your username there. I'm on Gaiaonline. My username on there is Neyahala. What would you tell yourself 6 months in the past about 2008 so far? Save your money, don't spend it all. If you had one minute of fame, what would you do/say in the spotlight? Robots versus zombies: who wins? Zombies. What would zombie say? Brains Where are a few of your favorite places? What is one (only one) object that you collect, that totally goes against your personality or beliefs? I don't really think I collect anything. Are you a soap addict? Anything you like to avoid in soaps (goat's milk, lye, dyes, etc...) or any particular scents you like or brands you want to try? I've not really gotten into soaps, but I'm willing to try anything! Do you like kilts and would you wear one? Probably not. What's your favorite book? I don't really have one, but I like Neil Gaiman and Amanda Quick What size socks do you wear? How about hat size?I don't know what size sock i wear, but I wear shoe size 8, and I'm not sure my hat size either. Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand? I'm currently a big fan of Jokers Asylum, but I read more Manga that comics, as for Manga, i like Fruits Basket, DN Angel, Kare Kano, Kodocha, Tsubasa, and XXXHolic. My favorite comic character is Harley Quinn Symbols that are meaningful to me? None that I can think of at the moment. By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl? I'm totally a night owl. What's your favorite type of music to hear live, rather than recorded? Orchestral. What is your favorite autumnal-seasonal drink? Mulled cider. Crossword puzzles? Other pencil puzzles? I'm not a big fan of crosswords, but I do like word searches and I used to be into sudoku, but I haven't done any puzzles in a while and I suck at them now. Favorite artist? Brian Froud Favorite poet? Ari Berk Halloween. Do you like it kooky or creepy? A little bit of both. Reserved or Raunchy? Reserved until I get to know you. Earth, Wind, Fire or Water? Fire and Water. I'm a fire sign, but act like a water sign, and my husband is a water sign but doesn't act like it either. Tea or Coffee in the morning? Soda usually, but i perfer tea. Fruity snacks or chocolate? Chocolate because i'm picky about fruity snacks. Would you accept art? of course! Antiques or Brand New? brand new usually. What keywords do you use when searching for items for yourself on Etsy?Steampunk, lipbalm, amigurumi patterns Are there any of y'all who are allergic/sensitive to having natural fibers on your skin? Wool makes me itchy, but i'm not allergic. What was your favorite ghost/scary/campfire story growing up? I didn't really have one. Bugs? Do you like 'em or not? I hate bugs except butterflies and dragonflies. i haz no imp storage. do you? Not really, I currently store all my imps in a plastic bag. If you have a garden/planter box, what do you grow? I have a brown thumb and kill everything I try to grow. What incense scents do you prefer? All incense smells the same to me. Do you decorate for Halloween? What sort of decorations? Dress up for Halloween? I'd love to decorate for halloween, but we're not allowed to here. Halloween is the favorite holiday of both myself and my husband. Bats, cats, skeletons, monsters, vampires, witches or what other ghoulies do you prefer?All of the above, plus zombies. Do you like horror flicks?I do, but I usually don't sleep after watching them. Who here prefers stylus and ink to ballpoint? Anyone invested time and effort into calligraphy or proper Victorian writing? I make a mess with inkwell and pen. I'm much better with a regular pen. What about stationery? Need some? What styles do you like I love stationary. I like anything, note cards, regular stationary, whatever and I have all sorts of different styles, i'm not picky. What is one item that you've wanted forever, could have afforded, but have never gotten and why (haven't you gotten it!)? I want a BJD, and I had the money for it at one time, but I gave it to my husband so he could pay off some of his bills. What Halloween scent are you most looking forward to? Sticky Pillowcase, but I don't know if i'm going to be able to get any scents. Tattoos! Do you have em? Do you want em? Whatcha got or getting? No tattoos, I'm not big on pain. Reduce - REUSE - recycle. Do others feel the same? I do. I recycle when I can, and I'm up for previously loved stuff. What is your favorite crafting supply? YARN! and animal eyes, i'm also a big fan of beads. Weigh in...Are you right or left-handed? right handed. Any period of time that you love? The renaissance and I don't know if steampunk counts. What's your favorite part about Fall? The smell of fall, and the color changing in the leaves. Do you like office/school supplies? If so, what is your favorites? I love gel pens and little notebooks. What's your favorite Halloween candy? Chococlate candy corn, but I want to try the new kinds I've spotted at the store, and I LOVE reeses minis, but anything chocolate is usually good. Will you be participating NaNoWriMo? If so, is there anything you'd like to have for that? Probably not. I've had epic writers block for a while now. Where does everyone like shop for witching goodness? This is my first SW round, so I dunno yet. What is your favorite pumpkin goodness? I'm not a real big fan of pumpkin. The only pumpkin thing I've ever had that I liked is pumpkin bread.
Neyahala

Neyahala

0
BPAL Chronicles
 

Mouse's Long and Sad Tale

Vanilla, two ambers, sweet pea and white sandalwood.

In Bottle: Gorgeous! I can smell each note from the sweet vanilla to the hint of white sandalwood. It's very sweet in a non-foody way.

Wet: Same as in the bottle, each note is distinct but not potent.

Dry: Lovely, so light and girly. It's really hard for me to find a girly scent that isn't really floral (I hate florals) but this one is really nice. There is a moment in there where it smells really really strong for a couple minutes but it tones down and settles to an overall beautiful scent.

Later On: Pure vanilla. My skin must really amp vanilla because it's all I've been smelling for the last few hours. I normally love vanilla especially when it's paired with other deliciously foody notes but this is a bit much for me. I did love this when it was in it's earlier stages though.

Rating: 4/5
Lauryn

Lauryn

0
Spacekitty's Blog
 

Switch Witch - Quick links for stalking me

My BPAL inventory - http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pkQ...-sPBg&hl=en My blurb/first impression BPAL reviews - http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pkQ...wc0Dw&hl=en BPAL wishlist - http://www.bpal.org/index.php?showtopic=12...amp;#entry63783 Facebook - http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=722180694 MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/gingerkangkang My other MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/102983818 Twitter - http://twitter.com/gingerkangkang MakeupAlley - http://makeupalley.com/p~witchbaby Netflix - http://www.netflix.com/BeMyFriend/PYPc6B9L7Dmg3NKZh3zR Pandora - http://www.pandora.com/people/apirkl Last.fm - http://www.last.fm/user/gingerkangkang Amazon wishlist - http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/2B5M110CX3EX6 Video game wishlist - http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/15C4WJXOT32PQ
Spacekitty

Spacekitty

0
Y Ffwrnais Awen
 

Switch Witch 2008 questions

Here is a list of questions and answers for Autumn Switch Witch.     9/18 How do you avoid popping an item for yourself into an order you're placing for your witchie? My willpower is pretty strong. If I promised myself (or someone else) I would not buy something, I won't buy it.   Underpants? Do you like them? What's your style? Size? Please, no underwear.   What is your favorite tea? What tea would you love to try but haven't because of price or difficulty to get? My favorite is Glengettie, which, coincidentally, is also extremely tough for me to find here in the US. I'm also fond of Tazo Chai and Twining's Irish Breakfast.   BPTP Room Sprays...your thoughts? I haven't tried them   Would you like to receive baked goods from your Witch? And if so, are there things you WOULDN'T like? I would love any form of baked goods.     9/16 Your thoughts on the update? I didn't really pay much attention to it.   How do you decide what to put in which package for your Witchee or how many packages to send? I usually try to build themed packages if possible. If not, I tend to limit a package to three or four large items.   If you were my witchee, would you be terribly offended if I sent you a box containing project "experiments" or random miscellaneous pretty bits of brainstorming that I thought you might like/wear? That sounds like a lot of fun.     9/14-9/16 Do you often drink take away coffe in paper mugs? Usually no.   Who here likes Wizard of Oz things? I'm not particularly fond of it.     9/13 Do you like Mystery Science Theater 3000? Have you tried out (and if not, would you be interested in doing so) its weird little brother, RiffTrax? They both have their place. I don't care for them as much as I used to.     9/12 What would you like from Singapore? Candies? Food? Asian crafts/toys? I wish I could remember the brand of green curry my ex-girlfriend would bring back from Singapore. It was pretty fabulous.   What is everyone's "luck" item? I don't really have one anymore. Years ago I had a particular lucky pendant. It was given to me by one of my aunts while I was in the hospital. I wore daily for around eight years, and it was very lucky indeed. I finally gave it to a friend of mine who had fallen on hard times with the instruction that, when she no longer needed it, she should give it to someone else who does. I know she gave it to a friend of hers. I'd like to imagine that it is still passing from person to person.   Do you like art deco/nouveau - style prints? I like the style, but I don't like prints generally.   What is one thing that, if you received it in the middle of all the hubbub, would make you smile and take your mind off of all you have to do for a bit? A big hug.   How do you feel about Hello Kitty? I have nothing against it, but it's definitely not for me.     9/11 Legwarmers? Armwarmers? No thank you.   If you are into the original Nintendo system, what 3 games would you want that you don't have? N/A   What is your favorite category of the GC? Probably Illyria     9/10 Has anyone tried ice wine before? Do/did they enjoy it? I haven't. It's been recommended to me, however.   What other perfume companies (besides bpal) have you been curious about? None, really.   Does anyone here do anything with grave rubbings? Nope.   Would you enjoy art based on original Graveyard photography? I'm not sure about something like a collage, but it certainly appreciate an interesting collection of graveyard photos.   What's in your Netflix or Blockbuster queue, do you want any new Netflix/Blockbuster friends, if so how do we find you on there? Netflix friends? I have no idea what that's about.     9/9 Do you play a musical instrument? I used to play several. Piano, accordion, lap harp, tin whistle, ocarina, siku, and tarka. I don't have the strength in my arms to play most of them anymore, although just the other day I purchased a kantele, and I believe I will have much fun with that. Otherwise, I generally stick to singing and composing.   What do you think of Irrelevant Disturbing and Surreal Crawdad Dream? Love it? Hate it? Kicking yourself for not getting a bottle? I haven't tried it. I loved the concept, but I couldn't afford it when it came out.   How do you feel about trinkets? You know - tiny toys or doodads that serve no purpose than to be cute, take up space and make us smile. Love them or waste of money? As I mentioned in a previous question, I don't typically keep little toys. Here's my answer from before: "I don't really have a place for such things in my home. So, while I love the immediate joy of little useless novelties, please understand that I am almost certainly going to play with them for a little while and then get rid of them/give them away to someone else. If that idea upsets you, I'd ask you not to get me something like that. I would hate for you to feel that I didn't love them, or that you wasted your money. There are a couple exceptions to this rule. I collect Dungeons & Dragons miniatures. Anything I can use as monsters at the gaming table earns a welcome addition to my collection. This includes little plastic dragons, objects and props that are close to the right scale (28 to 30 mm) and truly weird, unclassifiable monsters. I also love cool handmade puzzle boxes and brain teasers and musical toys."   Can melty things be shipped to you, or will they be in puddles by the time you open the package? At this point, it should be fairly safe. However, if you're going to send something perishable to me, please either inform me, or have a switch witch moderators do so. Sometimes packages go overlooked at my house.   Who likes pirates? I am sick of pirates. Also sick of ninjas and zombies. Sort of sick of Cthulhu, but I still love Lovecraft in general. I am very, very sick of anything that tries to combine the above. Still okay with steampunk, but I loved that long before it became popular. I suspect I will still love it when the fad dies down.   What are your feelings about Dia De Los Muertos? I don't have strong feelings about it either way.   What do you think about the Nightmare Before Christmas? Very cute and lots of fun. I was lamenting the other day that I don't own it on DVD.   If candy is sent, would you prefer small amounts to a Halloween sized bag? Small amounts please.   Do you like notes in your soaps or bath stuff that you don't like in your perfumes? If so which? In general, no. My nose is very, very sensitive. I can't stand anywhere near a perfume counter or a bath and bodyworks-type shop without getting a headache. However, the following fragrances are okay: tea tree, pear, strawberry, coconut, vanilla, plus anything I listed earlier in my favorite notes.   Do you like floral soaps or bath stuff? If so, what florals work and what don't? No florals, please. BPAL florals are the only kind that I can tolerate. The rest always send me to headache junction.     9/8 How do y'all feel about honey and maple? And different flavored honey, not just the standard kind? I enjoy both, and as I said before, I'm eager to try new kinds of honey.   What is your favorite thing to do on a cool fall day? I like to stay indoors, wrapped up under the covers, with a cup of tea or hot chocolate, a book, a videogame, a movie, or a loved one.   9/7 If you have pets, is there a SPECIFIC toy they like to play with; brand and size? Is there a treat/cookie they eat? What brand and size? My cats aren't really fond of toys. They like pretty much any kind of treat, but especially things that are fish flavored.   What's your ringtone? Most of my friends and family have distinct ring tones. My default is currently the "Cornered" theme from Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. Other prominent tunes include "Kefka's Theme" from Final Fantasy VI, "Gato's Theme" from Chrono Trigger, the opening theme from Curse of the Azure Bonds, and a theme from The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall. My "you have voicemail" sound is the "Link acquires a new item" noise from The Legend of Zelda. My text message alert the codec chirp from Metal Gear Solid.   One might suspect that I am a videogame nerd. One might suspect correctly.   Just to throw a silly question out there...Munsters or Addams Family, y'all? The Addams Family, no question.   What think you about receiving tea accessories and/or miscellany (like mugs, cups, saucers, strainers/filters, honey, natural sweeteners [like stevia])? I have a lot of coffee/tea mugs, and I don't really need more, but I'm not opposed to receiving one if my witch sees one and thinks "This is absolutely perfect." I do like decorative tea infusers, and I've discovered they are rather hard to find. I don't typically use honey in my tea, preferring milk and sugar/Splenda, but I've been rather interested in trying new and unusual kinds of honey. I don't think I've tried anything other than clover Honey and citrus honey.   How do you feel about copies of music or dvd's that your witch might have that you might enjoy? Not just mixes, but whole copies? I'm not entirely comfortable with this. I'm okay with a mix CD because I believe it's a fair use sampling of music. Burned copies of entire CDs/albums however, come a little too close to genuine piracy for my taste. However there are a few exceptions: Music/movies released under Creative Commons or other fair use policies, and or that have been released into the public domain.
Music/movies from countries outside the United States that have not been released commercially within the United States.
Music/movies that have been transferred from an uncommon media type (records, reel to reel, eight track, etc.). Particularly if they are accompanied by the original medium
Music/movies that are out of print and generally impossible to find.
Anything else, I really appreciate the thought, but I would prefer to have a legal copy. If you think I might enjoy a band, by all means, please send me a sample, but not the entire album.   Say, witches, I have a question about birthdays. do you expect/rely on other people to plans birthday outings and activities? I generally make my own plans, or else I don't make plans. Birthday parties planned by friends often end in tears and counseling sessions (I'm not exactly exaggerating). Last year I got some of my best friends to come visit me for my 30th per day, and it was the best birthday I'd had in well over a decade. This year, I won't be doing anything so elaborate. Probably just relaxing at home and having a nice meal.   Tarts? Yes/no? I've never used them. I'm curious but leery about using them around my pets.   I'm wondering if my witchee would like to try these types of things (like the caramel with sea salts or chocolates with chilis/bacon/salt etc.)? I'm game to try pretty much anything. I like chocolate and chilies, however, I don't particularly care for Dagoba chocolates, and theirs is the only brand I've found. I prefer my chocolate to be sweeter.     9/6 What's your favorite animal? I'm not sure I have a favorite, however I'm particularly fond of snakes, pangolins, armadillos, and cetaceans of various persuasions.   What one (or two, if you really must) BPAL bottles are you most longing for? Another bottle of Doc Constantine.   If you could have dinner/drinks/coffee with any 3 living people that are not your family/friends already, who would they be-? It'd be a rousing session Dungeons & Dragons with Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk, and Adam Baldwin roped into playing.   9/5 If you could bring back any TV show from cancellation what would it be? I'm not sure there's any such show. Not even Firefly. I confess that one of the things I really love about Firefly is that it wasn't on the air long enough for Joss to screw it up. Yes, that pretty much sums up how I feel about Joss Whedon.   I wonder if my witchee would like a blanket type thing. Would you? I love blanket type things, and also blankets.   What's your favorite "I know it's bad for me but I can't help myself" treat? Girl Scout Cookies: Thin Mints.   Very important question: Are you planning on buying anything off your BPAL and/or other wishlists during the round? I doubt it. The only thing I really need is another bottle of Doc Constantine before the carnival closes. However, if the carnival does close, I'll just look to trade for it.   Do you wear a watch? If so, what kind/style? I love watches, but I rarely wear them.   How do you feel about having a donation made in your name to something?If you like that idea, what types of organizations/groups would you want the donation to go to? I think that's a wonderful idea. Any non-religious oriented charity involving world hunger, disaster relief, micro-financing for individuals in developing countries, no-kill animal shelters, LGBT causes, or the Muscular Dystrophy Association.     9/4 What is your favorite art movement and/or style? ie impressionist, surrealist, art nouveau, etc. My favorite art movement is Surrealism, and I particularly adore the works of Remedios Varo and MC Escher. I love fantasy art, particularly that which focuses on fairy tales and myths rather than sword and sorcery, and especially in watercolour. I love the Pre-Raphaelites. I love medieval art and sculpture. I love both Art Nouveau and Art Deco. I love comics and comic book art, animation and animation art. I love video game concept art. I am a big art nerd.   Do you have a case for your mp3 player/digital camera? If you would want one, what size is your digital device? I don't have an MP3 player, and my digital camera came with a very nice case.   For tea drinkers, do you bag it or prefer loose I have no real preference.   Does the weather change where you are, as in, does it get cold in the winter? Anyone need homegrown scarves, hats, mittens, etc? I'm afraid a scarf would be wasted on me. I have a Tom Baker-era Dr. Who scarf that my mother knitted for me when I was but a wee lad. It's actually a little small for me now (it was half size to begin with), but I can't really imagine using anything else. Mittens and I are bitter enemies. I can't drive my wheelchair in them. Even gloves are nearly impossible. I love hats, however, and most of mine aren't really winter hats.   Who are your forum buddies? People you know well enough online or IRL to help your Witch pick out stuff for you? You might try heartbeast or Merlu. They may have some suggestions.     9/3 What manner of affordable Witchery might you covet? Mysterious e-mails, riddles and logic puzzles, handmade cards, handwritten letters, drawings, custom Internet radio stations, Internet goose chases, links to entertaining videos/websites, used books, LPs from garage sales and other bargain finds.   Does your cell phone have a place to attach charms? Alas, no.   If you drink coffee (and make it yourself) do you use a French Press, regular filter basket coffee maker, Espresso Machine, Percolator? Filter basket.   What movie soundtracks (or scores) do you love? To name just a few: Pan's Labyrinth, Amelie, Star Wars, Dune (1984), Krull   How do you scent yourself? Do you layer soaps, moisturizers, etc. or do you go straight to slathering your bod with BPAL? I mainly use unscented soaps, shampoos and deodorants, and use BPAL for scenting purposes.   Do you/how do you scent your world? Candles, incense, diffusers, potpourri? None of the above? Incense. I'm not opposed to trying something else, but my nose tends to be very sensitive to synthetic fragrances.   BPAL is such a scent-ual experience. What are your other tactile, aural, or olfactory pleasures? I love the feel of real fur and of silk. I love the sound and scent of rain. I love the scent of leather. (I do hope I don't offend, dear witch)     9/2 How do people feel about receiving baked goods/kits to make said goods? Or other cooking items? Would you enjoy oil or vinegar flavored with herbs grown at home? Strange and exotic spices with recipes to try? Cookies made with carnation petals? I don't have an accessible kitchen, so baking has always been one of those things I would like to do, but I just don't have the means/ability. I would prefer not to get cooking items/kits, but interesting herbs and spices might be fun. Baked goods are always welcome.   What are your pet's names, and what are they named for? I currently have three cats:   Sara - short for Saraswati, a DMH Maine Coon mix. Despite being part Maine Coon, she is the tiniest cat I've ever owned. She's a little princess. Loki - a.k.a. The Loach, a Norwegian Forest Cat. He is a total attention whore around humans, but something of a curmudgeon around cats. Grimnir a.k.a. Grim, a.k.a. Moose, a.k.a. Mr. Magoo, another Norwegian Forest Cat. He's a huge, shy, bundle of fluff. He got the name Mr. Magoo because he has vision problems.     9/1 Who here is a complete, over the top, Alice In Wonderland fanatic? I wouldn't call myself over-the-top, but I certainly appreciate Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.   Are you a Trekkie? If so, which series do you prefer? Do you have a favorite character? I used to be a huge one in my teens. Not so much anymore. I loved pretty much everything pre-Voyager: TOS, TNG, DS9, the movies, and the often overlooked animated series. I don't really have a favorite character, nor much interest in the series anymore.   Do you have phobias? No, I wouldn't say that I have any real phobias.   How do you like your mix CDs? Random? Stuff you know you'll like? I always feel slightly disappointed if someone gives me a mix CD with nothing new. I'd rather get a CD with 20 songs I hate than 20 songs I've heard before. What I really love, however, are mix CDs that have a theme. Songs Inspired by Dungeons & Dragons. Songs about birds. Songs by artists that committed suicide. Just examples, not suggestions.   Would you rather get food or jewelry? You could always give me a ring pop and satisfy both conditions. In general, I'm not overly particular. I would be happy with either. However, I have one request. If you're going to send me food, I'd really like to have something I've never tried before. So send me something unusual that you love. Then, it's not just food, it's a brand-new experience.   Do you like children's toys, such as jacks, those little things you tilt around to get the ball in the right hold (wtf are those called?), the aforementioned caplet dinosaurs, cap guns, etc?: Well... yes. However, I don't really have a place for such things in my home. So, while I love the immediate joy of little useless novelties, please understand that I am almost certainly going to play with them for a little while and then get rid of them/give them away to someone else. If that idea upsets you, I'd ask you not to get me something like that. I would hate for you to feel that I didn't love them, or that you wasted your money. There are a couple exceptions to this rule. I collect Dungeons & Dragons miniatures. Anything I can use as monsters at the gaming table earns a welcome addition to my collection. This includes little plastic dragons, objects and props that are close to the right scale (28 to 30 mm) and truly weird, unclassifiable monsters. I also love cool handmade puzzle boxes and brain teasers and musical toys.   English candy/tea/marmite or other stuff that you love and can't easily get outside of England? Oh, gods, yes. Glengettie tea, jelly babies, real Cadbury chocolate (as opposed to the stuff they sell in the US which is made by Hershey), digestive biscuits, Branston pickle. Maybe I should just move to England?   Fanfic as a gift* - yay or nay? Your fandom? Slash preferences? I don't really read a lot of fan fiction, but that could be fun. A Song of Ice and Fire, Firefly, Star Wars would be good choices   Any beaders here? Need beading supplies? Not a beader, sorry!   Do you like making up your SW packages around a theme, or prefer to mix it all up? I love themed packages, but it really depends on the person I'm giving it to.   Bandaids: do you like the fun and funky ones I never really thought about it. Do they make Shakespearean Band-Aids?   What's the scariest thing that's ever happened to you? That's a tossup. When I was 12, we have a house fire. Being disabled, I couldn't get out and had to be rescued by the fire department. That was pretty terrifying. In college, my wheelchair malfunctioned, careening into a chain partition which just happened to be right at my neck level. If it hadn't been for passersby, I very likely would have strangled to death.     8/31 What is everyone's favorite Halloween song?! Thriller   How many of mah fellow witchies play video games? Platform? Do you like used games? I play videogames on GBA, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, and PC. I used to have a very, very large collection of vintage games, but I no longer collect them. I'm totally fine with used games except on GBA and DS. Too many of the cartridges can't be erased, and I prefer to unlock things myself. For the record, I also love boardgames, card games, and RPGs. I'm pretty much an all-around gamer.   What kind of music (genres, please) do you like? The entire gamut of Western art music from medieval to postmodern. Especially medieval/Renaissance and music inspired by it. Folk. Filk. Big band. Blues. Bluegrass. Classic rock. Progressive rock. Hard rock. Alternative. Metal (strong vocals rather than growling). Ethnic. Some hip-hop. Musical theater. Some electronica (like synthpop, Italo, bands like Apoptygma Berserk; not so much gritty, dark, industrial stuff, but it has its moments. Unclassifiable indie music.   Have any of you ever received a book from a Witchy and loved it so much you ended up buying a copy for a later Witchee? No, but I love when that happens.   What kinds of eye shadows do we all like? I'm not big on it personally.   Do you like lip balm? If so, do you like tinted, glossy, sparkly, pearly or just plain lip balm? Again, not really my thing.   What are some of the SW gifts/finds from past rounds (or you can just name a gift in general that you found for someone if this is your first round!) that you are the most proud of in terms of your sleuthing skills? This is my first round in so long that I can't even remember what I gave to my witchee.   And, secondly, what is something you've been searching for but just can't find? The Serenity RPG     8/30 Do you knit/crochet? Do you need any supplies? Neither. I tried to teach myself to crochet once, and I gave up.   Who here has an etsy shop? I do not.   What are your two favorite etsy shops? Honestly, I don't go on there all that much.   What keywords do you use when searching for items for yourself on Etsy? surrealist art, fantasy art, Edwardian, Victorian, steampunk   Are you active on any other boards/forums? If so please specify where and your username there. I'm not active anywhere else at the moment.     8/29 What would you tell yourself 6 months in the past about 2008 so far? You will get through this.   If you had one minute of fame, what would you do/say in the spotlight? Remind everyone to "be excellent to each other."   Robots versus zombies: who wins? Nobody wins when fandoms collide.   What would zombie say? I prefer zombie mythologies where they don't talk. Occasional groans and growls are okay.   Some of my favorite places: Chicago's wonderful museums, Ravinia, the Morton Arboretum, Bristol Renaissance Faire, old graveyards/churchyards, buildings or places with a lot of history   Out of curiosity, all the fall babies who are celebrating their birthdays during the round - who are you, and when is your bday? I am one. My birthday is October 22nd.   What is one (only one) object that you collect, that totally goes against your personality or beliefs? I collect original artwork, and where possible, historical documents and memorabilia. This typically goes against my ideals: I believe these things should not be held privately, but should be made available for the greater enrichment of the public.   Are you a soap addict? Anything you like to avoid in soaps (goat's milk, lye, dyes, etc...) or any particular scents you like or brands you want to try? Not really. I really like scented soaps, but I don't use hard soaps, and I haven't been quite adventurous enough to try making my own scented soft soap.   Do you like kilts and would you wear one? Yes, I like them. No, I wouldn't wear one. In my wheelchair I'd just give everyone a show.   What's your favorite book? That's not remotely a fair question, however, I'll give you a little cross sampling: El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra; Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky; Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R. Hofstadter; Les Misérables by Victor Hugo; The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco; The Compass Rose by Ursula K. Le Guin; A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin; Perdido Street Station by China Miéville; Beauty by Sheri S. Tepper   What size socks do you wear? How about hat size? I don't know about size for socks. I typically wear those very thin, knee-high stretchy girlie socks. My hat size is a whopping enormous 8. (big headed? Me? Hardly.)   Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand? Yes, but I'm particular. I tend to like fantasy comics like beatification of George R. R. Martin's The Hedge Knight or the old Prince Valiant comics, historical comics, classics illustrated, dark fairy tales and the occasional manga. I like Batman comics. I like well-written comics that make me think. I've always wanted to read the Vertigo re-envisioning of House of Secrets, but I don't believe they offer that in collected form.   Symbols that are meaningful to me? The Awen. Ouroboros. Snakes. The number 22. The King of Wands   By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl? I'm a little bit of both. Either I go to bed early and get up in the middle of the night, or else I go to bed in the middle of the night and get up around dawn.   What's your favorite type of music to hear live, rather than recorded? Pretty much all music is better live, in my opinion, although I don't particularly live recorded albums because of the applause.   What is your favorite autumnal-seasonal drink? Spiced Chai, although I don't think of it as strictly autumnal.     8/28 Crossword puzzles? Other pencil puzzles? I enjoy them, from time to time. Crossword puzzles haven't really challenged me in a very long time. Sudoku puzzles I like, but in moderation. I prefer logic puzzles.   Favorite artist? Remedios Varo   Favorite poet? Rainer Maria Rilke   Halloween. Do you like it kooky or creepy? Yes. A little of both makes it more fun.   Reserved or Raunchy? Oh, yes. See above.   Earth, Wind, Fire or Water? In rough order of preference, most to least, Fire, Water, Wind, Earth   Tea or Coffee in the morning? Either, depending on my mood.   Fruity snacks or chocolate? Either, depending on my mood   Antiques or Brand New? Antiques   Would you accept art? Absolutely. I love it when someone creates art for me. I also enjoy collecting fantasy and surrealist art by up-and-coming artists. I generally don't collect prints or ACEOs, however, unless the piece is truly exceptional. I would much rather spend $200 on an original than $20 on a print. Naturally, I don't want my Switch Witch to spend that kind of money on me!! However, I wanted to make it clear that I don't really care for prints.   Are there any of y'all who are allergic/sensitive to having natural fibers on your skin? No, not at all.   What was your favorite ghost/scary/campfire story growing up? My favorite was one of a group of kids that snuck into a monastery and were captured/tortured by the monks that lived there.   Bugs? Do you like 'em or not? Not really. Although I sometimes like stylized insect art pieces.   i haz no imp storage. do you? My storage situation is pretty adequate.     8/27 If you have a garden/planter box, what do you grow? I don't have one, but in my wildest imaginings, I dream of having a little miniature garden of flowers or herbs or other plants in a bowl that I could keep on my desk.   Which incense scents do you prefer? sandalwood, pine, cedar   Do you decorate for Halloween? what sort of decorations? Dress up for Halloween? Usually, yes. Just the classic pumpkins and bats and skeletons. I also enjoy dressing up.   Bats, cats, skeletons, monsters, vampires, witches or what other ghoulies do you prefer? I prefer nameless lurking horrors and dark, unfathomable malevolences, personally.   Do you like horror flicks? I like ones that surprise and intrigue me. The suspenseful, creepy variety, rather than the explicit, gory variety.   Who here prefers stylus and ink to ballpoint? Anyone invested time and effort into calligraphy or proper Victorian writing?What about stationery? Need some? What styles do you like? Actually what I would really like is a nice rollerball pen. Ballpoints are a little too scratchy for my taste, and while I love fountain pens, I don't think using one is a good idea right now. However, I would love to have a nice, smooth gel ink rollerball (something of a medium weight) so that I can take up writing again   What about stationery? Need some? What styles do you like? I love it, but as above, I rarely write letters by hand anymore. It's just too draining. I've changed my mind. I would love stationary, or a lovely journal. I'd like to have some nice handmade stationary, well something with a rustic, parchment feel.     8/26 What is one item that you've wanted forever, could have afforded, but have never gotten and why (haven't you gotten it!)? I've always wanted a gray wool felt top hat. They are unfortunately very difficult to find in my size (8).   What Halloween scent are you most looking forward to? Some of them sounded nice, but there was nothing I was truly excited about.   Tattoos! Do you have em? Do you want em? Whatcha got or getting? I haven't decided whether I want one or not. If I get one, you will likely be the symbol that I use for my avatar.   Reduce - REUSE - recycle. Do others feel the same? Absolutely.   What is your favorite crafting supply? found objects   Right or left-handed? Left-handed.   Any period of time that you love? I've always been fond of the Dark Ages through Late Renaissance. I'm also quite fond of Edwardian clothing and design.     8/25 What is your favorite part about fall? I love cool afternoons spent strolling through autumn leaves.   Do you like office/school supplies? If so, what are your favorites? I do! I was always the most fond of art supplies. Little watercolour sets, big boxes of crayons.   Will you be participating NaNoWriMo? If so, is there anything you'd like to have for that? Possibly. I can't think of anything I might need, however, except for encouragement!     8/22 Where does everyone like shop for witching goodness? For something like this, I usually wait to decide until I get a good sense of who my Witchee is.   What is your favorite pumpkin goodness? I love pretty much anything pumpkin related. Pumpkin chai, pumpkin coffee, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin mousse, and, of course, pumpkin pie.     ~
Bard

Bard

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Spacekitty's Blog
 

Switch Witch Questionnaire

Changes/Additions/Things I forgot to fill in are in PINK. I will update the entry title with the date if changes were made.   ----------------------------------   Switch Witch Questionnaire   Personal/Basic Information Birthday: September 23, 1974 Location: The Twin Cities, Minnesota Pets: Two 2-year old cats. They are both all black with a little white locket on their chest. Izzy is a girlcat, Bowie is a boycat. We call them "bears". Quick explaination: Bowie actually has a little strip of white running down his tummy. When he was a kitten my husband thought he looked like the Hamm's bear (which is the only tattoo he's ever wanted). ANYWAY, now we call all cats "bears". Children: None yet. Had a miscarriage last year and plan to try again this fall. Religious orientation: Agnostic. Favorite Holiday: Christmas, Canada Day, Halloween, Guy Fawkes (we burn stuff in a fire pit) and Groundhog Day (my husband and I exchange "sensible" underwear on Groundhog day. It's been a tradition of ours since before we were married.) Occupation/Major in school: Currently work for Public Television. Went to film school and cosmetology school. Living arrangement: Live with my husband and two bears. Livejournal/Blog/Website: http://gingerkangkang.livejournal.com; http://twitter.com/gingerkangkang; Facebook ID: 722180694 Just mention Mob Wars and I'll accept your friend invite without a clue that you're my Witchee - I'm not sure how much you can see that way because I have all my Mob Wars friends blocked out of everything personal. You could just invite me and tell me you're my Witchee and block me out of everything on your Facebook so that I can't tell who you are. You can also look up my MySpace. I have everything super privacy protected but if you invite me, the likelihood of me trying to figure out who you are is nil. I much prefer to be surprised and really don't want to know who you are until you want me to know who you are. Honest. Organizations/Causes/Activities (Things you belong to or causes you believe in): Public television, public radio, grass-roots orgs and the Green Party. I am pro-choice, anti-death penalty, against animal cruelty (abuse, use for entertainment, factory farming, vivisection and animal testing), for the legalization of marijuana and am anti-war (not just the Iraq war). That said, I am not a hippie and I don't do drugs.   BPAL, etc Favorite BPAL oils: Sudha Segara, Mme, Moriarty, Miskatonic University, Pumpkin III (2007), Count Dracula, Faith, Rose Red (all years), Anactoria, Bonfire Night, Hearth, Shub, Sunflower, Snake Oil, Dorian, 51, Aeaea, House of Mirrors, Midway, Embalming Fluid, Kumiho, Fruitcake, Smut, Ace of Hearts, Bearded Lady, The Apothecary, Leanann Sidhe (the one fave I don't have a bottle of), Amsterdam, Lyonesse, Victoria, Snake Charmer, Luperci, Krampus, Cheshire Cat, Red Lantern, Sin, Urania... Favorite notes: Ginger, lemon/lemongrass,/verbena lime, mandarin, currants, pineapple, grapefruit, pumpkin, plum, rose, lilac, freesia, honeysuckle, lily (particularly stargazer), peony, pine (though I amp it, so it needs to be blended well), lavender, leather, smoke, sandalwood, incense, amber, patchouli, musks, dried woods, dried grasses, caramel, cocoa/chocolate, booze, baked goods, metals, aquatic notes, ozone... Notes I love as long as they're not BPAL: Vanilla, coconut, fig, sugar, almond, honey, apple, peach and berries. Favorite non-BPAL perfumes: Issey Miyake's L'eau D'Issey, Stella McCartney's Stella Absolute, Prada, Lolita Lempicka, Aquolina's Pink Sugar (there's a time and place), Gucci Rush, Gucci II, Benefit's Maybe Baby, Nanette Lepore, Valentino V, Burberry Brit, Thierry Mugler's Angel, Possets: Gingerbread Whorehouse, Indigo, Glee, Silver Carnations, Maggie and Id Least favorite BPAL oils: Many of the Tarots and Conjure Bag. Glitter, Saturnalia, Love's Philosophy, Yggdrasil, Katharina, Dragon's Milk... the list goes on and on... Anything containing my vvv least favorite notes vvv Least favorite notes: Blossoms (ex orange blossom, apple blossom), lotus, wine, fresh grass/dirt, cinnamon, damp woods/leaves, apricot, black tea, eucalyptus, grape Last favorite non-BPAL perfumes: All Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana and Vera Wang perfumes.   Beauty Hair type: Super fine, curly Skin Type: Combination - dry and oily; sensitive (Yes, I realize many people say they have sensitive skin who don't. I definitely do.) Allergies (specifically B&B related): Sodium Laurel Sulfate, Bismuth Oxychloride, unnecessary natural ingredients like mint oils. Other things to avoid: I can't use most Lush products because they use too many irritating ingredients. Bare Escentuals rips my face apart, but I seem to have had good luck with Everyday Minerals so I'm not entirely anti-mineral makeup. Tub, shower or both? Shower Favorite bath & beauty products: I use a lot of Paula's Choice for skincare. MAC is my favorite makeup but I'm not cultish about it. I also really like Stila. I don't think you need to spend a lot on cosmetics. I like Jane and some other drugstore brands. I'm desperate to find a new shower gel since discovering the Olay STILL tests on animals (I loved the Ultra Moisture Body Wash with Shea Butter). I like Paula's Choice Hair & Body Wash but it's expensive. I use Paul Mitchell Shampoo (One and Two) and The Rinse, Sexy Hair Concepts Healthy line and some Rusk styling products. I recently tried a sample of Cocoa Pink's Shine Sweetie and I really liked it. I love love love Lush Sympathy for the Skin. Clothing Style/Fave garments: I dress like Bobby Brady 95% of the time. Jeans, t-shirts, comfy casual shoes (usually Skechers or Rocket Dog flats), hoodies, turtleneck sweaters, men's oxford dress shirts, scarves/passhminas. T-shirt size and preference (standard, babydoll, tank, cami, etc): Standard T. My favorite fit is American Apparel's 2102 in XL. I also like shirts from Threadless in XL. Type(s) of jewelry worn: I don't have any piercings - yes, that includes my ears. But I like rings and bracelets and, on occasion, necklaces. Mostly costume-styles - nothing really dainty except for fun-colored bobby pins. Ring/wrist/collar size: (ACK! I have to do this yet!) Do you have any allergies to metal? No. Favorite gemstones: Alexandrite and Sapphire (my birthstone) are my faves. I also like emerald, ruby, amethyst. I can't stand diamonds or light-colored stones. I don't like pearls because they're made with cruelty. Jewelry - gold or silver? Both. Pierced ears, stretched ears, neither? Neither.   Lifestyle Favorite colors: All of them. Depends on my mood. Mostly RED, purples, greens and darker pinks (magenta). I also like odd shades of blue but not BLUEblue or light blue. And black, of course. LOVE black. Style/home decoration style: Mod/retro... I have a tiki bar in my basement. Things you collect: BPAL, tiki/retro decor, KITSCH, silly Archie McPhee-type stuff, books about booze, makeup (I'm a lipgloss FIEND), DVDs, CDs, books and I've always wanted to start collecting those stupidly revolting ceramic kitties with rhinestone eyes or... big-eyed art. I live low class. Favorite music: Sloan, Bowie, New Pornographers, J5, Cheap Trick, Decendents, ALL, Stevie Wonder, Komeda, BIS, Old 97's, Queen, Talib Kweli, Buzzcocks, Smiths, Common, The Cardigans, The Who, Tom Waits, Ramones, that dog, Tahiti 80, Replacements, Thievery Corporation, Poster Children... Jazz standards, europop, 70's funk, rockabilly, old skool country, deep soul, electronica, east coast swing, underground rap, french cabaret, latin jazz, bluegrass, afripop, exotica, rocksteady, west coast jazz, glam, ska, punk, surf, house... Look here: Last.fm, my other MySpace, Pandora. Least favorite music: The Beatles, southern rock, Coldplay. Vegetarian/Vegan?: I don't eat red meat. Other food restrictions: None. Favorite flavors: Chocolate, candy, salty snacks, well-made tiki drinks. I'm a candy freak. I also love cupcakes and cookies. LOVE popcorn. Love but never get 'cause my husband doesn't: Indian, Greek, Italian and Thai cuisines. Also love sushi, some Chinese, Mexican, Middle-eastern and classic American fare like fries, burgers (turkey or veggie), pizza and salads with no iceburg lettuce. Favorite foods/drinks: (See above) My favorite drink that I usually order out is a Tanqueray Gimlet with lots of Rose's lime. My favorite drink that I never order out is a properly made Mai Tai. Favorite authors/genres: Andrew Vachss, David Sedaris and Raymond Chandler. I like detective novels - new and old (John Sandford, Nelson DeMille). Children's books (Harry Potter, Phillip Pullman, Block, Tolkein). Some fantasy/horror (I like Gaiman's style, but his books tend to disappoint). Some Sci-Fi (Huxley and Orwell, and Ender's Game might be my favorite book of all time). I also like the old Spy vs Spy books, alternative comics/graphic novels, political commentary and conspiracy theory non-fiction. Least favorite authors/genres: Romance isn't high on my list - that includes most women-empowering "chick lit". Books/authors you'd like to read, but haven't yet: I'm into any and all suggestions based on any of the above. I'm always looking for something new. How do you feel about receiveing gently used books as gifts? I LOVE USED! Favorite stores (including clothing stores): Sephora, MAC, Gap/Old Navy, Barnes & Noble, Half-Priced books, antique stores, H&M and I LOVE TARGET! Favorite online stores (including B&B stores): Amazon, Paula's Choice, Sephora, Threadless, iTunes store, eBay, Etsy Magazines you subscribe to: Mojo, Tiki Magazine, Modern Drunkard, All You, Allure, Martha Stewart Living, Cook's Illustrated, InStyle, Twin Cities Metro Magazines you like, but don't subscribe to: EW (it runs out and I forget to reup), Harper's, In These Times, Multinational Monitor, Cook's Country, Domino, Dwell, Real Simple, Make, Ready Made, Shop Smart (LOVE that one), Bust, Mental Floss, AdBusters Favorite movies: Creepy, dark and/or unintentionally funny (read: Bad) I especially love when filmmakers aren't afraid to disappoint their audience. * Films: The Thin Man, The Maltese Falcon, ChungKing Express, Gilda, When Harry Met Sally, The Station Agent, Amelie, Swingers, Singin' in the Rain, Valley Girl, The Bad Seed, Uncle Buck, Double Indemnity, Rushmore, Vacation, Elf, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Sin City, Shaun of the Dead, Akira, It's a Wonderful Life, Eternal Sunshine, Freaks (1932), Donnie Darko, Willy Wonka, Caddyshack, Blue, Mr.Smith Goes to Washington, Casablanca, Heathers, Repo Man * Bad horror: Spider Baby, Phantasm, any Hammer Horror, anything with Christopher Lee * Good horror: Halloween, Night of the Living Dead (1968), The Vanishing (Dutch version), The Haunting (1963), anything that keeps me up at night * Filmmakers: Hitchcock, Hayao Miyazaki, Sofia Coppola, PT Anderson, the Coens * Actors: Marilyn Monroe, Cary Grant, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Doris Day, Hepburn & Tracy. And Clooney. Favorite TV show(s): All of them? No really, I am a TV addict. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Doctor Who, Torchwood, Dexter, Weeds, Law & Order: SVU & CI, So You Think You Can Dance?, Lost, Futurama, Supernanny, Scrubs, House, Gossip Girl, The Office (both UK & US versions), 30 Rock, Daily Show, Colbert Report, Extras, Reno 911, ATHF, No Reservations, Moonlight, Veronica Mars, Buffy & Angel, Bones, South Park, Home Movies, Biggest Loser, Kids in the Hall, MST3K, Survivor, Heroes, Spaced, AbFab, Coupling, Mr. Show, The Riches, Penn & Teller's Bullshit, Gilmore Girls, Amazing Race, Dead Like Me, Firefly, The OC, Damages, 24, Sex & The City, Ugly Betty, The Soup. I like to say the one genre I don't watch is dating reality and the one show I don't watch is Grey's. Hobbies/crafts done: I like crafting, but I'm too lazy to clean up. I like to knit in short bursts. I like to cook and bake.   Wishlists BPAL Wish List (including SW/SF Help): Wishlist here. I'm not really looking for any BPAL right now. But I would like a bottle of Peacocks someday.   Other website Wish lists (amazon.com, etc): Amazon, Amazon - Video Games   And now for something completely different:   - Let's say you're "Lost" on an island: what two people and which three things would you want with you? My husband and - because I can't decide - a completely random stranger. We'd all have more to talk about since we don't know each other. If the things include survival items, then a flint, a knife and shelter. If the things are luxury items and we already have what we need to survive, then.. a radio, a board game or cards and a good supply of sunscreen.   - If you could have a superpower, what would it be? Telekinesis.   - What things do you consider a necessary part of your "comfort" ritual? PJs.   - If you were a household appliance, what would you be and why? A cookie press. Hardly ever comes out of the cupboard, specialized use, unreliable and finicky. But when it works, it's makes killer treats.   - What are the last 3 CDs you've had in your CD player, or played all the way through on your MP3 player? Robbie Williams "Rudebox", Robert Drasnin "VooDoo II" and Sloan "One Chord to Another"   - What are the last 2 movies you watched all the way through? Stepbrothers & Be Kind Rewind   Notes (Here's where you can add additional information you'd like your Switch Witch to know!):   I love candy of all kinds - especially chocolate. Or fun salty snacks. I like tea but I'm trying to cut the caffeine these days so I'm sticking to interesting herbals. Stickers, toys, useful things like pens, hair clips/pins, fun office supplies, lip gloss. Anything with skulls, pirates, zombies, black cats, TIKI, retro lounge, deco, monsters, etc are ALL GOOD.   From MySpace: I believe there is no better time of the year than when we dress in layers, gorge on candy and celebrate the dead. * I'm an unapologetic tv addict. * I have a really hard time expressing myself, I'm shy and my memory's as solid as a sieve. (Remember Mr. Short Term Memory on SNL - "You're Tony Randall!!!"? That's me.) This perfect (shit)storm of social inadequacies often comes off as cold, rude or stupid. I don't really believe I'm any of those things. * I like candy. All candy. * My personal style is fashioned after Bobby Brady. * I spend more money on perfume than anything else. * There is simply no way you can offend me. * Did I mention I like candy? * Sam Raimi and Bill Hicks are my idols * I invent Life Hacky gadgets. One day I'm gonna actually make a prototype of something.... when there's nothing to watch on tv. * I'm passionate about a lot of things (Surprise!) but I'd rather listen to your feelings and ideas than stumble and struggle to find the words to describe mine. * I hate the term "acid jazz" * I like finding money in clothes I haven't worn in a while, but I LOVE forgetting that it's payday * I don't believe in souls, but I'm afraid of ghosts. * If you want to make my day, tell me I smell nice.   From Facebook: Activities: Mixing cocktails, reading, internet "research", hanging with my sweetie, sleeping, cuddling with my kitkats, emailing Steve, working out (huh?), baking, playing games, inventing stuff, crafting, internet shopping, organizing, gift-giving, sloth. Interests: Comedy, tiki, Macs, Canada, cocktails, crime novels, sushi, perfume, mid-century modern, KidLit, coffee, monsters, cosmetics, music, cuteness, SparkPeople, hair, celebrity dirt, kittens, candy, scarves, health stuff, 43T, lounge culture, dark humor, deco, camp, kitsch       Random Questions (Just a sample snagged from Scotchgrrl's round-up. Feel free to add more or make up your own!) If you have children, would you want something included for them? I don't have kids. What are your travel imps? Rose Red, Midway, Embalming Fluid, Aeaea, and Mme. Moriarty. What is the most unexpected but thoroughly loved SW gift you've received? If you have a pet, do they like to play with toys? Yes. Do you like audio books? Yes. How do you feel about bands you may not have heard before? Sure! Or, how do you feel about mixed cds of classic stuff that you probably have heard? Love it! Most obscure interest: ALL of my interests are obscure. A better question would be what's my most NORMAL interest. And that would be TV. What goodies do you love that you can't usually get? REAL Cadbury chocolate or UK versions of American candy. What was your favorite childhood toy? Play-doh, crayons, Intellivision. How would you describe yourself--do you feel that you're shy or outgoing, laidback, high-strung... and in what ways? Shy, laidback AND high-strung. INTP. What's a talent you are most proud of? Being talentless. Actually, I make great drinks and cookies, can cook pretty darn well when I want to, beat everyone in my department (except my boss) in a proofreading exercise, and - my therapist tells me - introspection and intuitiveness. Religious preferences and patron saints/goddesses/spiritual mentors: James Randi What's your favorite flower? Tree? Flower: Stargazer Lily, Freesia, Gerbera Daisies; Tree: Maples (Canada!), Willows, anything fruit-bearing. Do you like homemade gifts? Like foodstuffs or crafts? Yes. Yes. What's your guilty pleasure? Boxed wine, ranch dressing, cheese curds, Diet Dr. Pepper, Hall & Oats, Bon Jovi, anything Oprah does. If handmade stuff is okay, and it all goes horribly wrong, would you want it anyway? Yep. Are you an indoor person or outdoor person? INDOOR! If I didn't have to leave the house, I probably wouldn't. What's your favorite color? (See above.) ---For wearing? Black, greens, purples, blues, red ---For decorating? Reds, cream, neutrals for the upstairs. Silver, grey and minty white for the bathroom. Obnoxious brights for the tiki bar. How would you describe your sense of humor? Dark, offensive, sarcastic, mean-spirted, blue, crass Anything you really absolutely don't want to get? Like, something you could imagine would be seen as a good gift idea but is, in fact, not? Candles. Lip balm, yay or nay? Yay! But with applicators or in tubes. I prefer not to put my fingers in things. 5 things that get you through the day: Coffee, comfortable shoes, the internet, earbuds, working at a tv station that requires us to have tvs in our offices ad ON while we work. Favorite Halloween Costume? While I love Halloween, I don't dress up. I do love the old ghost/sheet idea - particularly the Charlie Brown one.   Forum Information (Everything written below this line is removed before questionnaires are forwarded, and is only meant to help out the Ringleaders.)   Are you willing to ship internationally?: (This question is removed before questionnaires are forwarded.) I'd prefer not to.   Date you Joined the Forum: March 21, 2004 If you joined under 2 months ago, do you have a history/feedback under Ebay, MUA, etc (please list):   Have you participated in Switch Witch/SwapFaery/BirthdaySprite before?: Nope but I did a candy/sweetie swap. If yes, who did you send to/receive from: Sent to catsoap; rec'd from Esmeria Please talk about your past experiences and, if applicable, give us feedback on your most recent SW:   As a Witch (giver), are you more of a "silent stalker", or do you like to keep in close contact?: I haven't done SW before, but I'll probably be a silent stalker. As a Witchee (receiver), do you prefer a Witch that keeps in close contact, or does it not matter? It doesn't matter. (Note: Mentors are separate from your Switch Witches. New witches will be paired up with more experienced witches to help them learn the ropes) Do you want to be a Mentor Witch this round? Do you want to be matched with a Mentor Witch? Sure!
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Switch Witch - scotchgrrl's SW ?s (Updated 10/9 - in purple)

This is a work in progress since people are constantly asking new, fun questions. I will update the entry title with dates when and if I've edited anything.   scotchgrrl's question roundup   ----------------------------------------------------- ***10/6*** If you had to chose one BPAL scent and only ONE to have forever what would it be? I hate this question. I suppose for sheer originality and the improbability of the commercial world ever making something similar (and impossibility of me blending something similar on my own) I'd say Madame Moriarty.   Or maybe Luperci, 51, Bonfire NIght, Voodoo, Red Lantern or Krampus - one of the really complex blends. ***10/4*** Who here likes Betty Page? Sure. I like pinups in general. The kitschier the better, I say.   How about original Trek Characters? Nah. If you were my witchee, would you like a jar of home made apple butter? This is assuming it turns out good... Sure!   ***10/1*** Are you interested in Tarot cards? And if so, are there particular decks you like (or don't or already have or whatever)? Not really. I mean, I like the art and the "idea" of Tarot. But I don't believe in it and don't collect. What kind of tea (or coffee) puts you in a fall/Halloween mood? And where do you get it? I really like pumpkin pie lattes at Caribou. I much prefer the sweet pumpkin syrups to Torani's pumpkin spice syrup. That stuff's gross. I also really enjoy hot apple cider. Actually, I think that's my go-to autumn beverage. Right now I'm using a mulled cider mix I got as a gift last year.   Favorite Halloweeen song? Funny you should mention this - I woke up with "This is Halloween" (NB4C) in my head this morning and can't get it out! Two non-Halloween songs that totally put me in the mood for the season are "Killing Moon" (Echo) and "Bela Legosi's Dead" (Bauhaus). But honestly, there will always be a soft spot in my heart for "The Monster Mash".   If you were my witchee, would you like dried honey crisp apple slices or other dried fruit? (We don't add anything to it AFAIK -- no sugar or spices.) Sure! I love dried fruit (except raisins).   ***9/25*** Favorite cartoons or animated films? I really like Home Movies, ATHF, just getting into Metalloclypse, and South Park, of course. For films I love anything by Hayao Miyazaki.   Your take on the election? In other words, would you enjoy campaign related gifts, or prefer to stay neutral? I'm passionate about politics, but I prefer not to display my political endorsements, leanings or affiliations on my person or posessions. I do have a STEWART/COLBERT '08 bumper sticker on the wall of my cube, though because it's hilarious and they are awesome. Villians you sympathise with, or are interested in boinking? Nah. I guess I'm attracted to good guys (for instance, I was going to say "Spike" but he was never entirely bad, was he?).   Your stance on the all important peanut butter issue: crunchy? creamy? allergic? chocolate? maple? go directly to nuttella, do not pass go? Creamy Jif all the way. Never had maple, sounds divine. Who here likes to read historical fiction? If you do, what eras/people/countries intrigue you the most? Nah. Not my thing. I mean, if a book/story I like HAPPENS to be historical, I'm down. But I don't seek them out for being of a particular time.   ***9/24*** What sort of colors do you currently wear? Do you want to branch outside that? What would you like to try? I think this is in regards to cosmetics. (?) I'm all over the map. I'm not afraid of color. I tend towards muted tones, though - blue-greys, lavenders and olives instead of say, electric blue, grape or kelly green. I stay away from pretty much everything in the red/pink/magenta range, though, for eye color because I've got a bit of a ruddy complexion. For lipcolor, I'm not a huge lipstick wearer, although I do wear it for special occasions. I do carry, in my purse or pocket at any given time, anywhere from 3 to 8 lipglosses. Seriously. It's a problem. For blushes, I play around depending on my mood. Mostly peachy-pinks but have been obsessed with my Benefit Dandelion lately. I am always willing to branch out and try new things. I've been wanting to try the MAC Shadestick in either Sharkskin or Beige-ing because I love love love Lauren Luke and everything she does and she swears by Shadestick as a base. ADDED 10/9: I've also recently been directed to NYX for shadows that might be similar to MACs in pigment and consistency, but cheaper and hopefully fewer allergens (the last two MAC pan shadows I bought I was allergic to. ) They have a huge range, but mostly I want to replace the lavender/lilac/purple shades that hated me from MAC. ***9/22*** About incense: do you like sticks or lose incense? Have you got one of those devices to burn lose incense over a bit of charcoal? I love incense, but haven't burned it in years. Mostly 'cause my bearbears will think of it as a toy and we can't have that. I have recently found ('cause I'm thinking of it for MY SWitchee) a covered incense burning box or "coffin box" that looks pretty cool. It accommodates both stick and cone incense. I like the basic resin scents. Nag Champaa, amber, sandalwood, patchouli, etc. Although now that I'm thinking of it, a fruitier one would be great burned in my Tiki bar.   What's everyone's favorite fairytale and what are your favorite versions of it? My mom always caled me Princess Pea because of the story of The Princess & the Pea. I'm the youngest of four with three brothers - need I say more? I was the baby, the only girl and my parents did well back in the 80s. I was SPOILED ROTTEN. And so, while my own budget can't always afford it, I do have higher quality tastes and can be a bit of an elitist and on rare occasion, a snob. I have some Pea related things, mostly from my mom who still gives me a lot of crap even though she was the one who indulged me. Haha.   So how many imps/decants is officially 'you have gone overboard and your Witchee is going to expire from scent overload'? Interesting question! I don't think I ever updated the BPAL section of my questionnaire, did I? I guess when I've run decant circles, I tend to put off reviewing and testing anything over 10 scents because it seems so overwhelming that I don't know where to start. I like to sample a few at a time.   Who needs a recipe box? I would love one! ANYONE ELSE want a home-made cookbook? I would love one! As long as it contained recipes that were relatively easy with ingredients that were easy to find. ***9/19*** How does everyone feel about really green gifties? I was thinking of giving my witchee some of my handy-dandy "paper" towels (hand-sized, washable muslin squares--kinda like ultra-cheapo cloth napkins) in a kitchen-friendly decorative box, but I didn't want to seem preachy ("Stop using paper towels, you environment destroyer!"). Would y'all use something like that? I'm not huge on green stuff because a lot of what's being marketed as such is just a replacement for something you already have - which is just redundant and wasteful. But I do like the muslin square idea. I used to have something similar a long time ago. What craft (or crafts) have you been wanting to try but have no idea where to start? OMG - crochet. Glass etching.   Would you appreciate some tunes in future packages? Always.   And if so, do you care if you get any CDs or mp3s you might have all ready? Nope.   Or would you be able to find a way to post a list of things you're (a) looking for, or ( b ) all ready have? My Amazon list has a bit of what I want right now. As for what I've got... we have over 2000 cds so this would be impossible.   Polish goodies! Who wants them? Baked goods, candies, kielbasa, pirogies, magazines, you name it? I love Polish food and treats. My husband's 1/4 Polish.   ***9/18*** How do you avoid popping an item for yourself into an order you're placing for your witchie? Oh man, this is hard but I tell myself that: a) it was just my birthday, I have a SWitchy of my own, c) Christmas is coming, and d) I have to get approved for a mortgage and can't afford to be stupid now.   Underpants? Do you like them? What's your style? Size?What is your favorite? Too personal and would think it weird to receive as a gift from anyone who wasn't my husband or my mom. (My husband and I celebrate Underwear Day on 2/2 of every year so I'm well-stocked anyway.) What tea would you love to try but haven't because of price or difficulty to get? I used to work at nearby TeaSource - one of the nation's most prolific importers of unique teas - so I don't have a problem finding what I want.   BPTP Room Sprays...your thoughts? I think they are way way way over-priced, but the ones I have (which I only bought because they were part of the Inquest packs) are really nice. Ultimately I think there are much cheaper ways to scent your world.   Would you like to receive baked goods from your Witch? And if so, are there things you WOULDN'T like? Sure! As long as they come with recipes. I'm open. I like sweet and savory. I'm not too keen on raisins so there's that. ***9/16*** Your thoughts on the update? I passed on Blood Moon because of the cinnamon. The MVJBA scents sound yummy. I'm hoping to find someone to split the Gear Pack with because"smokey, sun baked grass" sounds awesome. I'll probably get the pancake scents, too, but I'll hold off for a while.   How do you decide what to put in which package for your Witchee or how many packages to send? I try to do find themes in her wishlists and interests. I'm trying to do smallish ones every like, 10-14 days.   If you were my witchee, would you be terribly offended if I sent you a box containing project "experiments" or random miscellaneous pretty bits of brainstorming that I thought you might like/wear? Not offended per se, but disappointed.   ***9/14-9/16*** Do you often drink take away coffee in paper mugs? Yes. I should bring my own mug, but I always forget to. What would a perfume based on you smell like? Sweet, warm, cozy. Ginger and sweet patchouli. Perhaps a bit of rose and some herbs akin to those in the Apothecary or Leanan Sidhe. Who here likes Wizard of Oz things? Love the film, but that's about it.   ***9/13*** Do you like Mystery Science Theater 3000? YES!!! They're hometown heroes! Have you tried out (and if not, would you be interested in doing so) its weird little brother, RiffTrax? Nope. Kind of afraid to.   ***9/12*** What will you like from Singapore? Candies? Food? Asian crafts/toys? Exotic candy (as long as there are no bugs) is cool. I love Asian culture so I'd definitely enjoy that kind of stuff. What is everyone's "luck" item? I don't really believe in luck.   Do you like art deco/nouveau - style prints? Yup Yup!   What is one thing that, if you received it in the middle of all the hubbub, would make you smile and take your mind off of all you have to do for a bit? Wow. I don't think I can answer that. Every gift - as long as it's thoughtful - makes me smile.   How do you feel about Hello Kitty? I love all that cutecore/kawaii stuff.   ***9/11*** Legwarmers? Armwarmers? Nah.   What makes everyone stand out from the Switch Witch herd? Definitely not the most generous, but I think the most thoughtful SWitches stand out.   If you are into the original Nintendo system, what 3 games would you want that you don't have? Not into the original Nintendo, but I do have a DS Lite and LOVE it. What is your favorite category of the GC? I don't really pay attention to category. (Am I doing it wrong?!) ***9/10*** Stance on Joss Whedon and his enterprises? Love it all.   Has anyone tried ice wine before? Do/did they enjoy it? Nope.   What other perfume companies (besides bpal) have you been curious about? Conjure, Nocturne, Cobalt, Mythos. Never tried any of them, but I hear they're pretty good quality. Does anyone here do anything with grave rubbings? Nope.   Would you enjoy art based on original Graveyard photography? Sure. Not my first choice, but it might be interesting.   What's in your Netflix or Blockbuster queue, do you want any new Netflix/Blockbuster friends, if so how do we find you on there? I think I listed it elsewhere in my blog.   ***9/9*** Do you play a musical instrument? Not for a long time.   What do you think of Irrelevant Disturbing and Surreal Crawdad Dream? Love it? Hate it? Kicking yourself for not getting a bottle? Not overly impressed. A bit too sweet.   How do you feel about trinkets? You know - tiny toys or doodads that serve no purpose than to be cute, take up space and make us smile. Love them or waste of money? Hey, this is my question! It totally depends on the trinket and how much room it takes up. If I can hang it, that's great. If it rolls, is heavy or takes up a lot of real estate, I'm less hesitant to display it. Mostly, they're a waste of money but I often find myself squeeing over these kinds of things... so... Can melty things be shipped to you, or will they be in puddles by the time you open the package? Should be fine.   Who likes pirates? Me me!   What are your feelings about Dia De Los Muertos? Love it! I've wanted to go to Oaxaca for DDLM forever! I have skull molds for sugar skulls that I haven't used in years.   What do you think about the Nightmare Before Christmas? It's fun. Me like.   If candy is sent, would you prefer small amounts to a Halloween sized bag? Either.   Do you like notes in your soaps or bath stuff that you don't like in your perfumes? If so which? I don't really like bar soaps because I'm allergic to a lot of ingredients that cause residue on the skin. (That said, knowing this is after you sent the Margarita soap, I want you to know that I LOVE the Margarita bar and can't wait to try it out. The ingredients look pretty safe so please don't think I don't appreciate your gift. I totally do!) I like the same notes in my soap as I do in my perfume. Although I do tend towards cleaner, fruitier, fresher scents for showering. Do you like floral soaps or bath stuff? If so, what florals work and what don't? Florals are cool, sure. I love lilac, lavender, rose, sunflower, freesia... I try to stay away from magnolias, gardenias, orchids and some of the heavier, more cloying flowers for getting clean.   ***9/8*** What is your favorite thing to do on a cool fall day? Take walks and crunch in the leaves. Or sit wrapped up in sweaters and a blanket in my living room (we don't have a porch) with all the windows open and read. How do y'all feel about honey and maple? And different flavored honey, not just the standard kind? ***9/7*** If you have pets, is there a SPECIFIC toy they like to play with; brand and size? Bowie likes mice (something with a tail) made of practically anything and Izzy will ONLY play with pom pom sparkle balls - which I can't find locally anymore. These look fun. These, too. For me or the bears.   Is there a treat/cookie they eat? What brand and size? They like the 'nip and Greenies treats.   What's your ringtone? Just a low-toned ring. It used to be Jim Gaffigan, but I recently upgraded my phone and can't figure out how to xfer it. Just to throw a silly question out there...Munsters or Addams Family, y'all? You can't compare. The humor is totally different. That said, I think Chas Addams' original cartoons rival Edward Gorey's work. I'm a huge Gorey fan so that's saying a lot.   What think you about receiving tea accessories and/or miscellany (like mugs, cups, saucers, strainers/filters, honey, natural sweeteners [like stevia])? Nah. Unless it's like, to "round out" a theme gift, I don't really need any of those things.   How do you feel about copies of music or dvd's that your witch might have that you might enjoy? Not just mixes, but whole copies? Sure! Pirate on, I won't tell.   Say, witches, I have a question about birthdays. do you expect/rely on other people to plans birthday outings and activities? Gosh no! That's egocentric, unrealistic and weird. IMO. Ecch. Tarts? Yes/no? No. Nor candles. And definitely not reed diffusers. My cats get their little noses (and paws) in everything. I do have an electric oil burner that they are totally disinterested in. I'm wondering if my witchee would like to try these types of things (like the caramel with sea salts or chocolates with chilis/bacon/salt etc.)? Caramels with sea salts sound fricking awesome. But I'm kind of a purist with chocolate. Kind of.   ***9/6*** What's your favorite animal? Aside from the obvious (cats), I love love love cephalopods. They're smarter than we are. I never NEVER eat squid, BTW. I don't eat my friends. (As an aside, I can't stand dolphins. They're bullies and rapists.)   What one (or two, if you really must) BPAL bottles are you most longing for? Noir. (I know.) Peacocks. The Apothecary ('cause I love it and always forget about ordering a full bottle). If you could have dinner/drinks/coffee with any 3 living people that are not your family/friends already, who would they be-? I'm horribly shy, get panic attacks at the very thought of social "command performances" and am a notorious "conversation killer" so to spare everyone, I'll just say no one.   ***9/5*** If you could bring back any TV show from cancellation what would it be? Veronica Mars. One might think I'd say Buffy, but I actually thought it ended when it should have. I wonder if my witchee would like a blanket type thing. Would you? I'm a freeze baby so I would never say no to a blanket!   What's your favorite "I know it's bad for me but I can't help myself" treat? Super premium ice Cream or gelato - specifically the higher content stuff like locally made Izzy's or even Cold Stone.   Very important question: Are you planning on buying anything off your BPAL and/or other wishlists during the round? I'll have sniffie bottles of all the Halloweenies from my decant circle, and had planned to order the ones I love from that update before they came down but I can hold off. I'm also buying the new LilithBaby scents. I will probably do decant circles of the lunacies, anniversaries and Yules but won't order full bottles for myself. I promise. Do you wear a watch? If so, what kind/style? Not anymore. Probably should. I like chunky men's and kid's styles. How do you feel about having a donation made in your name to something? If you like that idea, what types of organizations/groups would you want the donation to go to? Sure. Whatever current natural disaster area needs it the most.   ***9/4*** What is your favorite art movement and/or style? ie impressionist, surrealist, art nouveau, etc. Deco, Mod, mid-century modern, film noir, manga, Polynesian Pop/exotica, big eyed kitsch and BAD art. A few examples: Shag, Heather Watts, Chris Reccardi, Walter Keane, Tamara de Lempicka, Vladimir Tretchikoff, Edward Hopper, Jessica Dickinson   Do you have a case for your mp3 player/digital camera? If you would want one, what size is your digital device? No thanks. I'm between phones right now and I hardly ever use my camera or iPod.   For tea drinkers, do you bag it or prefer loose? Loose.   Does the weather change where you are, as in, does it get cold in the winter? Anyone need homegrown scarves, hats, mittens, etc? It changes a lot and gets ASSCOLD in the winter. I LOVE homemade scarves (or any scarves)! Mittens, too, but mostly scarves! I'm more particular about hats, though. Isn't everyone?   Who are your forum buddies? People you know well enough online or IRL to help your Witch pick out stuff for you? Tasty and I have started getting to know each other. She lives in town so we order stuff together to save on shipping and hang out with drinks to swap. She's awesome!   ***9/3*** My questionnaire is chock-a-block with ideas for Witching me on the cheap, and without sending "stuff for stuff's sake". And I just came up with another one--make me a Pandora, Finetune, or Last.fm station you think I might like! What manner of affordable Witchery might you covet? This would be made of win. I listen to internet radio all day long. I currently use Pandora and Last.fm... but I'm heading over rightnow to check out this Finetune business.   Does your cell phone have a place to attach charms? Nope.   If you drink coffee (and make it yourself) do you use a French Press, regular filter basket coffee maker, Espresso Machine, Percolator? I use a regular filter auto drip maker.   What movie soundtracks (or scores) do you love? I like old film noir or cult mystery/suspense soundtracks. I'm really into old movies and music. The lower-fi and more unknown the better. The last one I bought was for a movie called Baby Doll. I also like Henri Mancini-style cocktail lounge soundtracks. Love the Ultra-Lounge series. Oh, and I love the creepy percussive sound of Danny Elfman.   How do you scent yourself? Do you layer soaps, moisturizers, etc. or do you go straight to slathering your bod with BPAL? Mostly just perfume or perfume oil. I forget or often don't have time to moisturize properly. I do like lotions, but they often go unused. I do try to coordinate my shampoo and conditioner scents with whatever 'fume I'll be wearing. I'm also not a habitual slatherer. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Do you/how do you scent your world? Candles, incense, diffusers, potpourri? None of the above?BPAL is such a scent-ual experience. What are your other tactile, aural, or olfactory pleasures? I have an electric oil burner that my cats don't mess with. I mostly burn Possets in it - I don't have anything cheaper than that. I love candles, but the cats haven't let me have any since we adopted them two years ago. =( When we have guests I can get away with having a small one in the bathroom because the door is usually closed and the bears can't go messing with the fire. As for aural pleasures, we have music or the tv on all the time. ALL the time. There is rarely silence in my house. Besides music, I enjoy talk radio (I can't really listen to political stuff because both "sides" piss me off) and we have quite a collection of comedy and talk cds. The old Jack Benny ones are great, but also love newer comics like Lewis Black and the Sklar bros. (FYI I cannot stand Dane Cook.) We're also kinda sorta hugely leftist so we have a bunch of Jello Biafra, Alexander Cockburn, Nader and Chomsky. Bill Hicks, BTW, is my hero and personal god.   ***9/2*** How do people feel about receiving baked goods/kits to make said goods? Neato! I'm much more a baker and bartender than cook. I guess I like the science more than the art of food. Or other cooking items? I have what I need, but interesting drink syrups, booze or baking vanilla extracts are welcome! Would you enjoy oil or vinegar flavored with herbs grown at home? That would be really cool! Strange and exotic spices with recipes to try? Sure! As long as there would be instructions or tips on how to use them. I'm not a creative cook. Cookies made with carnation petals? I'd try that. Sure! What are your pet's names, and what are they named for?   ***9/1*** Do you have phobias? YES! Large bodies of water. Large boats, subs or machines (oil drilling rigs) in or on bodies of water. And earthworms (not snakes). Also, the IDEA of being a witness to a crime and having to appear in court to give testimony is like, my biggest fear.   How do you like your mix CDs? Random? Stuff you know you'll like? Obviously if someone gives me a mix of music that was thrown together without my tastes in mind I wouldn't much care for it because I'd know that it wasn't really made FOR ME. But I do enjoy hearing what other people like. I guess I feel if a mix isn't special for the recipient, there's no point.   Would you rather get food or jewellery? Food.   Do you like children's toys, such as jacks, those little things you tilt around to get the ball in the right hold (wtf are those called?), the aforementioned caplet dinosaurs, cap guns, etc?: Not particularly.   English candy/tea/marmite or other stuff that you love and can't easily get outside of England? Love UK candy - especially chocolate! I have never had marmite, but have always wanted to try it. UK crisps are always fun. Fanfic as a gift* - yay or nay? Your fandom? Slash preferences?*well, a virtual gift obviously. You know what I mean. Not into fanfic.   Any beaders here? Need beading supplies? Nah.   Do you like making up your SW packages around a theme, or prefer to mix it all up? I'm new to this, but I think I'll be working in multiple themes. Like, 3 or 4 packages each with its own theme. Band-aids: do you like the fun and funky ones? YES!   What's the scariest thing that's ever happened to you? I was diagnosed with cancer when I was 16. Hodgkins Lymphoma, stage two. Chemotherapy, surgeries, radiation and horrible side effects. Lots of my chemo-mates died while I went into remission. 6 months later I relapsed with stage three. Experimental high-dose chemo put me in a coma - but also got rid of the cancer. I've been cancer-free for 14 years (3/7/04 is my transplant date/re-birthday).   Having cancer as a teenager was the scariest thing that's ever happened to me. ***8/31*** How many of mah fellow witchies play video games? Platform? Do you like used games? Nintendo DS! Used is awesome.   What kind of music (genres, please) do you like? Crikey, I know I answered this already.   Have any of you ever received a book from a Witchy and loved it so much you ended up buying a copy for a later Witchee? Nope, but I did almost buy the Ginger lip balm for my SWitchee. What kinds of eye shadows do we all like? Ones that don't irritate. I love MAC, Stila, Jane, Everyday Minerals, Paula Begoun, Too Faced, Urban Decay, Nars, Becca, Pop Sugar... REALLY WANT TO TRY NYX. Do you like lip balm? If so, do you like tinted, glossy, sparkly, pearly or just plain lip balm? I do. I'm mostly a gloss girl, though. I love my sparkles.   What are some of the SW gifts/finds from past rounds (or you can just name a gift in general that you found for someone if this is your first round!) that you are the most proud of in terms of your sleuthing skills? I can't answer this without giving away who I'm SWitching for. And, secondly, what is something you've been searching for but just can't find? Not that I can think of.   ***8/30*** Do you knit/crochet? Do you need any supplies? Not yet, but I really would love to learn to crochet. I don't have any supplies. Who here has an etsy shop? What are your two favorite etsy shops? I've only bought materials on etsy - no completed projects so I'm not sure about fave shops yet. When I'm browsing I want to buy everything on there. I seriously have yet to find anything on there that's lame. The things that draw me in, though, are the jewelry, scarves, bags, art prints and cute kitschy too dads because a) they are things I hate to spend a lot of money on and they're some of the most creative things on Etsy.   Are you active on any other boards/forums? If so please specify where and your username there. MUA - I'm witchbaby. I used to participate on the Possets and Lush forums, but I stopped using their products.   ***8/29*** What would you tell yourself 6 months in the past about 2008 so far? "Don't worry, it gets better." (It has to - this year has been pretty crappy for me so far.) If you had one minute of fame, what would you do/say in the spotlight? Not really my deal. I fear the spotlight.   Robots versus zombies: who wins? What would zombie say? Robots are some scary shit. The zombie would say nothing because it's dead.   Where are a few of your favorite places? Toronto. Chicago. London.   Out of curiosity, all the fall babies who are celebrating their birthdays during the round - who are you, and when is your bday? Me. 9/23. =)   What is one (only one) object that you collect, that totally goes against your personality or beliefs? Christmas stuff: ornaments, decorations, etc. I'm agnostic.   Are you a soap addict? Anything you like to avoid in soaps (goat's milk, lye, dyes, etc...) or any particular scents you like or brands you want to try? Not particularly. I'm more of a shower wash/cream person and I'm desperate for a new brand since learning that my fave (Olay) still tests on animals. I avoid Sodium Laurel Sulfates as they dry out my skin. Soldium LAURETH Sulfates are okay.   Do you like kilts and would you wear one? BoiWitches? Question for you both.....Hath any of thou own a Kilt? Nah.   What's your favorite book? Probably Ender's Game.   What size socks do you wear? 9s.   How about hat size? Dunno. Sorry.   Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand? I love comics, but I never read because you have to buy and I never buy because I know (from the past) if I stepped in a comic book store I wouldn't leave without spending $100. Basically, it's a habit I can't afford. I love alternative comics. Not particularly into superheroes, although I like Joss' Buffy comics and I don't have the season 8 collection yet.   Symbols that are meaningful to me? Triangles, pyramids, skulls, monkeys (particularly the "no evil" monkeys) By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl? NIGHT!   What's your favorite type of music to hear live, rather than recorded? This is a weird question.   What is your favorite autumnal-seasonal drink? Cider hands down.   ***8/28*** Crossword puzzles? Other pencil puzzles? YES! I love crosswords and have always meant to buy a book, but never think of it when I'm in the bookstore. FYI - I'm not smart enough for NY Times or Will Shortz crosswords.   Favorite artist? Edward Gorey.   Favorite poet? *Ducking* I don't understand poetry. If I had to name someone, though, I'd say Paul Westerberg of the Replacements.   Halloween. Do you like it kooky or creepy? Reserved or Raunchy? Kooky, creepy and campy. It's for kids, it shouldn't be raunchy. But it should be scary.   Earth, Wind, Fire or Water? I think I'm technically an earth although I have a temper of a fire. The symbolism of wind is neat, but as a weather phenomenon, I detest. Tea or Coffee in the morning? Coffee.   Fruity snacks or chocolate? Depends on if I'm watching my nutrition. 75% of the time it's chocolate. Would you accept art? Antiques or Brand New? For sure - I have bare walls.   What keywords do you use when searching for items for yourself on Etsy? scarf, pendant, purse, kawaii, cute...   Are there any of y'all who are allergic/sensitive to having natural fibers on your skin? Nope.   What was your favorite ghost/scary/campfire story growing up? ...   Bugs? Do you like 'em or not? HATE! I'm severely allergic to mosquito venom.   i haz no imp storage. do you? I have imps in lots of various empty truffle gift boxes.   ***8/27*** If you have a garden/planter box, what do you grow? I has brown thumb.   What incense scents do you prefer? Resins, the basics.   Do you decorate for Halloween? What sort of decorations? I don't really. I decorate by having bowls of candy everywhere. Oh, and a sparkly bat sconce on my door. Dress up for Halloween? Nope.   Bats, cats, skeletons, monsters, vampires, witches or what other ghoulies do you prefer? All of the above plus zombies.   Do you like horror flicks? YES! Both scary and campy. We always have a B-movie marathon on Halloween. We loves Hammer Horror and Christopher Lee! Who here prefers stylus and ink to ballpoint? Nah.   Anyone invested time and effort into calligraphy or proper Victorian writing? Nope.   What about stationery? Need some? What styles do you like? I have too much as it is. I love it, but I never write to people. I love journals and notebooks, though. I'm always buying (and writing in) some kind of spiral-bound book of blank pages. My fave are the 9x6" non-lined sketch books they sell at like, Walgreens or Target. But I don't mind colorful covers or lined sheets or differently sized pages. They're all good.   ***8/26*** What is one item that you've wanted forever, could have afforded, but have never gotten and why (haven't you gotten it!)? I mostly buy what I want... This is a very tough question... What Halloween scent are you most looking forward to? Hellhound on my Trail, Katrina Van Tassel, Huesos de Santo, Brom Bones, The School-House and Sticky Pillowcase. Tattoos! Do you have em? Do you want em? Whatcha got or getting? Not a tattoo girl. I can appreciate the really pretty, unique and funny ones, but I'm 99.9% sure I'll never get one. Reduce - REUSE - recycle. Do others feel the same? Reduce and reuse for sure. I prefer used items. However, I do think that recycling (are you sitting down?) is more wasteful of time, money and resources than NOT recycling. What is your favorite crafting supply? Pens, pencils, markers, stickers, tape, fun paper. Weigh in...Are you right or left-handed? Right. Any period of time that you love? I like the 20s-50s.   ***8/25*** What's your favorite part about Fall? I love it all. I love the changing of the leaves, the smell of bonfires and dying vegetation. I love dressing in layers - i love mittens and scarves. I love pumpkin-flavored everything. I love the holidays: Halloween and Thanksgiving. I love the colors of the season: oranges, browns, greys, plums, black; the flavors of the season: nutmeg, clove, apple, comfort foods like chili and corn bread and hot drinks like cider, toddys and chai. I love football and apple-picking and new seasons of TV. I love fall movies and awards shows and cuddling under blankets with my cats. I love seeing my breath in the dark morning and peeling off layers in the hot sunny afternoon, then turning on the heat at night and - oh the smell of turning the heat back on!   Do you like office/school supplies? If so, what is your favorites? I love office supplies! I'm a pen hoarder. I can never have enough pens. My favorites are rollerballs with medium points, but lately I've been into gel pens in metallics or with sparkles. I also like felt tips with finer points. Mostly, I like pens that have some heft or some width. I have long fingers so I like something substantial to hold on to when I write. For instance, the pen I carry with me everywhere is the Bic Pro+. I'm also crazy about dual-ended Sharpies.   What's your favorite Halloween candy? Caramel-flavored things and caramel apple things. I already stocked up on Carmel Apple Pops. Will you be participating NaNoWriMo? If so, is there anything you'd like to have for that? Nope.   ***8/22*** Where does everyone like shop for witching goodness? I've been looking on Etsy, UncommonGoods.com, Patinastores.com....   What is your favorite pumpkin goodness? I literally love everything pumpkin. Pumpkin lattes, pumpkin bread, pumpkin bagels with pumpkin cream cheese, pumpkin fragrance, pumpkin syrup for my coffee (not Torani's "Pumpkin Spice", though), pumpkin seeds, pumpkin muffins. I love it all.
Spacekitty

Spacekitty

0
BPAL Chronicles
 

My Collection

Just keeping track...   5ML (and partial) Bottles: Beaver Moon 2005
Bliss
Creepy
Drink Me
Egg Nog 2004
Gingerbread Poppet 2007
Marshmallow Poof
Midway
Midway (Resurrected)
Miskatonic University
Miskatonic Valley JBA
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Samhain 2005
Shill
Stimulating Sassafras Strengthener
Imps/Decants: All Souls 2006
Boomslang
Cheshire Cat
Death Adder
Egg Nog
Ex Lux Fruit
Inferno
Jack
Jailbait
Lump of Coal
March Hare
Mitzvah
MB: biggerCritters
MB: Bloody Mary
MB: Closet
Mouse's Long and Sad Tale
Punkie Night
Rangoon Riptide
Shill
Smut 2006
Trick or Treat
Wish List
Lauryn

Lauryn

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Apple's Blog
 

Switch Witch Help: Answers to Random Questions

NOTE: THIS POST IS INTENDED AS SWITCH WITCH HELP FOR THE HALLOWEEN 2008 ROUND.   =======================================   A clarification for my poor witch on my vegetarian/animal welfare stance, since I'm sure some of my statements seem contradictory. I believe that the way animals are treated in modern "factory" farming is tremendously wrong, and I do my best to reduce my consumption of animal products when and where I can. I am not vegan; I eat eggs (from free-range chickens) and consume organic dairy products (from pasture-raised cows), and on occasion I will eat wild game and fish. I keep companion carnivores (dogs and cats), and I feed them a raw meat diet. My main issue is knowing that the animals I am eating/wearing had decent lives and quick, humane deaths. It's really hard to know that about things like lanolin, gelatin, and goat's milk in toiletry items, so I prefer vegan bath products, soaps, lotions, and make-up. Likewise with wool and leather... very few items made from animal hide or hair will specify how the animal was raised, so I try to avoid these items.   I hope that helps and isn't too confusing; I know it can seem complicated. If you have any questions, just ask!   =======================================   ANSWERS TO RANDOM QUESTIONS FROM THE HALLOWEEN 2008 ROUND   Leg-warmers/arm-warmers? No thanks. Question: Stance on Joss Whedon and his enterprises? No opinion on Joss Whedon, but I love, love, loved Firefly. Buffy was okay. Never watched Angel. Favorite GC category? I've had the best luck with Bewitching Brews and The Mad Tea Party. I wanted to love so many of the Wanderlust scents, but so far only Sri Lanka has returned my affections.   Ragdoll bunnies? Please, no dolls or stuffed animals. I don't really know what to do with them.   Has anyone tried ice wine before? Do/did they enjoy it? Icewine is deeeeelicious. I tend to prefer very rich, robust, tannic red wines (e.g., peppery Syrah/Shiraz and Petit Sirah), but I also like buttery Chardonnays and wickedly sweet Rieslings. Icewine takes "wickedly sweet" to a new level - in a good way. It's like alcoholic crystalline velvet syrup. Yum! I'm not sure how I would feel about icewine tea, because I typically prefer very robust, tannic teas. Might be good, though.   Would you enjoy art based on original Graveyard photography? YES, YES, YES.   I think I already mentioned my love for Cloister Graveyard in the Snow, which captures and combines some of my favorite photography/painting subjects: snowy winter landscapes, leafless black trees, stone religious structures, and a beautiful graveyard. I would love original (or not-so-original) art based on graveyard photography!   Who likes pirates? Pirates are okay, but not a huge love. *whispers* I didn't really like the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, even though I love Johnny Depp. What are your feelings about Dia De Los Muertos? I'm not terribly familiar with this holiday.   What do you think about the Nightmare Before Christmas? I <3 Tim Burton. How do you feel about trinkets? You know - tiny toys or doodads that serve no purpose than to be cute, take up space and make us smile. Love them or waste of money? For the most part, I think trinkets = clutter. Do you like floral bath soaps, shower gels, etc? If so, what florals work on you and what don't? Do you like notes in your soaps or bath stuff that you don't like in your perfumes? If so which? While not a huge fan of floral bath stuff, I am far more tolerant of flowers (especially lily of the valley, gardenia, and rose) in my tub than I am of flowers in my perfume. Ditto for sweet scents, mint scents, and citrus scents (assuming there's no scaries in the fragrance). Another question (that hopefully my witchee will answer): What do you think of Irrelevant Disturbing and Surreal Crawdad Dream? Love it? Hate it? Kicking yourself for not getting a bottle? Didn't get a bottle; don't regret it. Blueberry perfume? Gag. Do you play a musical instrument? I can't sing (but I do it anyway), I can't dance (but I do it anyway), and I can't play a musical instrument (this is much harder to just do anyway, in my experience). I took piano lessons as a kid but didn't stick with it. I tried to teach myself to play the harmonica (I LOVE a bluesy harmonica... or one in the hands/lips of Perry Farrell) a number of yeas ago, but failed. Not having any sense of rhythm makes these types of endeavors especially tough... as does being a hopeless, slackerly dilettante.   What think you about receiving tea accessories and/or miscellany (like mugs, cups, saucers, strainers/filters, honey, natural sweeteners [like stevia])? I think that would be awesome! I don't really need any mugs, unless it's a double-walled stainless steel (with stainless steel on the inside) travel mug like this MiGo Senja one. (Though please don't pay this price for one Witchy! Just an idea if you spy one on the cheap.) I would also love strainers and filters and presses and whatnot. I love honey and I do use stevia.   Lots of less-good treats or fewer more-good treats? I prefer one or two small pieces of something really good as opposed to a giant bag of el cheapo candies. 'Cuz I'll still eat the cheapo candies (ALL of them), but I don't really enjoy them and then I end up feeling both sick and guilty and "Why did I do this to myself? They didn't even taste that good!" (This is not to say that I expect my witch to buy me expensive candies. Rather, it's to explain that I'm a complete glutton with no self-control whatsoever.)     What's your favorite animal? Dogs. The extreme variety in size, appearance, temperament, and aptitude is amazing, and the theories of their evolutionary trajectory are fascinating. And I just love them.   I also have special places in my heart for pigs, goats, llamas, guinea pigs, and African pygmy hedgehogs. The elephant is the closest I have to a totem animal.   Burned cd's, etc: Call me Trogdor. Question, question (if asked before, please disregard!) I have to say, i finally tried the vosages chocolate with bacon and it's less exciting than i thought it would be. However, the chocolate with the chilis is teh yum! I'm wondering if my witchee would like to try these types of things (like the caramel with sea salts or chocolates with chilis/bacon/salt etc.)? Oh god yes.   Tarts? Tarts scare me - no thanks. Um, unless they're the edible kind. In that case, yes please!   Are you planning on buying anything off your BPAL and/or other wishlists during the round? Probably not off of my non-BPAL wish lists... but, uh, I don't think I'm ready to admit that I have a swapping addiction. And since admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery, I don't see myself getting better any time soon. I do keep my BPAL wish list up-to-date, though.   Does the weather change where you are, as in, does it get cold in the winter? Anyone need homegrown scarves, hats, mittens, etc? My first thought upon reading this was that no, it doesn't get cold here and I never need any winter clothing... and then it occurred to me that there is one winter item that could be handmade on the cheap and that I've been looking for forever (like, for over 8 years) and can't find: a sweater for my chilly little Boston Terrier. Not just any sweater, though (he already has more sweaters than I do)... but one that would be largely immune to a little embarrassing boy-dog problem: the fact that he often manages to pee on his chest. I mean, what good is a sweater that you have to take off before you let the dog outside to go potty? Or one that needs to be washed immediately after every venture outdoors?   So, if my witchy-darling is crafty (no worries if you're not!) and likes the idea of the pee-free dog sweater challenge, here's what I'm looking for:   A thick, warm, machine-washable yarn/fabric that can withstand frequent washings. It doesn't have to be pretty. A deeply cut-out tummy/chest. (Sort of like a doggie midriff top... except long in the back. A doggie sweater mullet, maybe?)   He measures about 14" from the base of his neck to the base of his tail. His neck is about 14" in circumference, and his chest measures 20.5" in circumference just behind his front legs. His name is Milo, and I like to dress him in red (although he's not fussy about color). [P.S. I promise to post the measurements for the distance from the front of his neck to the tops of his front legs and the diameter of his front legs at the top soon!]   Do you wear a watch? If so, what kind/style? I do and I don't, in cycles. Watches never seem to last very long for me, even nice ones. The batteries always go dead so quickly, and they're no good after that. (And yes, I've tried replacing the battery, but it seems like the replacements only last about a month.) When I'm in a watch-wearing phase, I like silver-toned metal (or marcasite) bands with round, oval, square, or rectangular faces, with black Arabic numerals in interesting fonts. I might like something stretchy and beaded, too... or made with interesting wire... or with a cool antique/second-hand/recycled face. Steampunkish exposed gears and whatnot are also groovy.   How do you feel about having a donation made in your name to something? If you like that idea, what types of organizations/groups would you want the donation to go to? I feel warm and fuzzy about that idea. My favorite charities are: Farm Sanctuary, the ASPCA, and Planned Parenthood.   Who are your forum buddies? People you know well enough online or IRL to help your Witch pick out stuff for you? VeronikaGalt.   How do you scent yourself? Do you layer soaps, moisturisers, etc. or do you go straight to slathering your bod with BPAL? Pretty much just BPAL. My soap has some sandalwood oil in it, but the scent doesn't stick around. I use unscented lotions/butters, and my shampoo and conditioner are not strongly scented.   Do you/how do you scent your world? Candles, incense, diffusers, potpourri? None of the above? Actually, I am more often try to de-scent my world though the liberal use of vinegar, baking soda, and salt. 00000288.gif BPAL is such a scent-ual experience. What are your other tactile, aural, or olfactory pleasures? This question is making my brain overload. I'm a lustful greedy sensualist glutton, and I don't even know how to begin to answer this.   If you drink coffee (and make it yourself) do you use a French Press, regular filter basket coffee maker, Espresso Machine, Percolator? I don't drink coffee that often, but I enjoy the occasional cup of fancy-schmancy flavored stuff. We have a regular filter basket machine. What movie soundtracks (or scores) do you love? The Full Monty! I can't help it; I love me some soul-disco-funk... and who doesn't love Hot Chocolate? ("I believe in miracles... where you from, you sexy thang?")   What manner of affordable Witchery might you covet? The idea of a Pandora station is a great one, but my witch/wizard might be better off just giving me a mix CD she or he is so inclined... I love, love, love the idea of Pandora, but I don't tend to listen to music while at the computer and that has interfered with me exploring that more.   Otherwise, used books, used/burned CDs, used/burned DVDs are all good. Tea and chocolate don't need to be pricey to be nummy. Recipes and homebaked goods would be fabulous.   Does your cell phone have a place to attach charms? I don't think so... I never use the damn thing. Also, charms sound like the sort of thing I would routinely get caught in doors and drawers and break. I'm hard on my stuff and kind of no-frills.   How do people feel about receiving baked goods/kits to make said goods? Or other cooking items? Would you enjoy oil or vinegar flavored with herbs grown at home? Strange and exotic spices with recipes to try? Cookies made with carnation petals? Yes please! All of the above.   What are your pet's names, and what are they named for? I tend to name my animals whatever seems/sounds right for their personalities, so they're not really named for or after anyone or anything. My Boston Terrier's name is Milo (he just looked like a Milo). As mentioned above, my French Bulldog's name is Betty because we got her as an adult and that was the name she came with (although we more often call her Piggy). They both have birthdays in September; Milo will be 9 and Betty will be 11. The cats are Nix (all black, named by my husband) and Nox (black and white tuxedo kitty). The frogs are Mr. Frog 1 and Mr. Frog 2 (my husband never named them anything else), and the current crew of hermit crabs do not have names... we were too traumatized when the two that we named died.   Are you a Trekkie? If so, which series do you prefer? Do you have a favorite character? Nope!   English candy/tea/marmite or other stuff that you love and can't easily get outside of England? Rhubarb and custard candy? YUM! Sign me up for anything rhubarb and/or custard flavored... or just a nice rhubarb custard. aroused.gif I noticed that site has Turkish Delight, too. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't like the taste of it (not a fan of rose or of sugary sweets), but I've never tried it and have been curious about it ever since reading The Chronicles of Narnia as a kid.   How many of mah fellow witchies play video games? Platform? Do you like used games? We have a Wii and... some other platform. The fact that I don't even know what other game system we have should tell you how often I play it.   What kinds of eye shadows do we all like? I don't wear eyeshadow very often. Even though I've been experimenting with it more recently, I'm still pretty sure I currently own more eyeshadow than I'll ever use in my lifetime.   Do you like lip balm? If so, do you like tinted, glossy, sparkly, pearly or just plain lip balm? I like plain lip balm. Natural mint flavor is a plus.   What is something you've been searching for but just can't find? The perfect clove cigarette scent, without scary chemicals.   Bandaids? My witch from last round got me some very cool fairy band-aids, so I'm stocked up at the moment.   What is everyone's favorite Halloween song?! Thriller. Having a friend who was coerced into doing the Thriller dance in public in order to obtain her birthday present makes this one all the sweeter for me.   English candy/tea/marmite or other stuff that you love and can't easily get outside of England? Ooo... what have you got over there? I love imported chocolates, candies, and teas! I've heard of Vegemite/Marmite but never tried it.   Fanfic as a gift* - yay or nay? Your fandom? Slash preferences? *well, a virtual gift obviously. You know what I mean. Hrm... I don't read fanfic or slash and don't have a particular fandom, but I am intensely interested in slash as a concept. I might also like to read it... I'll have to think of some potentially appealing pairings.   Any beaders here? Need beading supplies? I don't bead, but I like beads.   Do you like making up your SW packages around a theme, or prefer to mix it all up? I am not a very creative person, so I just mix it all up and don't worry about themes.   How do you like your mix CDs? Random? Stuff you know you'll like? Either/both!   Would you rather get food or jewelry? Yes! I would love either/both!   Do you like children's toys, such as jacks, those little things you tilt around to get the ball in the right hole (wtf are those called?), the aforementioned caplet dinosaurs, cap guns, etc? Sometimes. Stuff like that tends to make me feel guilty, because I'll play with it once or twice, and then it becomes clutter. And then it becomes trash. And then I feel both wasteful and like I threw away a gift, which I hate doing.   Phobias: Eyes, particularly anything related to injury or surgery, or someone's eyes being forced open. *shudder* Cockroaches. Large fish, even non-threatening ones. (Although sharks horrify me, too, and I've had to cover shark avatars with my hand before... after arguing with myself over how irrational it was.)   What would you tell yourself 6 months in the past about 2008 so far? Just do it. You'll be happier.   If you had one minute of fame, what would you do/say in the spotlight? Probably stutter and blush. Then I might blurt out something to the effect that sex should be good, it should be fun, it should involve freedom from infection and unwanted pregnancy and the means and education to achieve those ends. Also, animals have feelings and deserve a fulfilling existence and factory farming should be abolished. And then I might sing a Janis Joplin tune, followed by the Humpty dance.   Robots versus zombies: who wins? Robots, of course.   What is one (only one) object that you collect, that totally goes against your personality or beliefs? Nothing is coming to mind. I like churches and church-stuff and religious iconography even though I'm not religious or churchy, but I don't really collect any.   Are you a soap addict? Anything you like to avoid in soaps (goat's milk, lye, dyes, etc...) or any particular scents you like or brands you want to try? Another thing I'm super-picky/freaky/hippie about, I'm afraid - my poor witch! No dyes, no parabens, no sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, no mineral oil, no synthetic fragrances, no animal bits. This means most soaps (even Villainess) are a no-go for me. Hand-crafted soaps using essential oils for scents are okay; the more moisturizing, the better. I like cedar, sandalwood, and spice scents. If I recall, I think BPTP soaps looked reasonably safe-for-freaks-named-Apple, and I'd be willing to try some samples. Out of curiosity, all the fall babies who are celebrating their birthdays during the round - who are you, and when is your bday? October 19th. I may have my Sun in Libra, but don't be fooled... I've got Venus and Mars in Scorpio (and in the Eighth House, no less ).   Where are a few of your favorite places? Treehouses The Smithsonian A little cabin in the Smoky Mountains... with a jacuzzi. Attics Milwaukee, WI Old churches New Orleans, LA The Day Chapel at the State Botanical Gardens in Athens, GA Boston, MA The beach: ocean or lake, especially at night Book stores Bakeries   Vanilla Creme Kisses? No Kisses of any sort for me, please. I don't like Hershey's... too sweet and and chalky.   Do you like kilts and would you wear one? No and no.   By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl? Neither. I'm sort of a mid-morning birdie. What's your favorite type of music to hear live, rather than recorded? GOSPEL!   Halloween. Do you like it kooky or creepy? I like it both ways, but I'm more of a kook.   Reserved or Raunchy? I'm not terribly raunchy on the boards or with people I don't know, but I have no trouble raunchin' it up at home or with friends. I study sexual relationships and teach a University human sexuality class, so I'm not easily offended. I am, however, easily intrigued. I can haz cone nao?   This reminds me of something I forgot to put on my questionnaire. I collect antique/vintage/used books of erotic stories and "health and hygiene" guides, as well as antiquated studies of various aspects of cross-cultural sexuality. I've got guides to marital bliss from the late 1800s, the works of Anais Nin and the Marquis De Sade, a very old treatise on male and female circumcision, "The Guide to Life and Love for Teenagers" from the 1950s, etc. So if my witch happens to find any sexy or hilarious or disturbing little gems like these at a yard sale or used book store, feel free to send them, no matter how beaten and battered they may be! I am very curious about the changing (or unchanging) nature of sexuality as presented in published texts and endlessly fascinated by these types of historic documents. Earth, Wind, Fire or Water? Wind! I never realized how windy it is near Lake Michigan until I didn't live there anymore. The air here is so still... it's creepy. I love being up high and enjoying the air. Tea or Coffee in the morning? Tea! Every morning. I like the occasional cafe au lait, but only in the afternoon/evening.   Fruity snacks or chocolate? CHOCOLATE!!! I have no use for sugary, fruity gummies or hard candies. Would you accept art? Yes!   Antiques or Brand New? Yes!   Crossword puzzles? Other pencil puzzles? Not so much. I only like to butt in and "help" others when they're doing those types of puzzles. Trying to complete one on my own is impossible with my short attention span. Favorite artist? I don't really have a favorite artist. I like ink drawings and woodcut prints and Expressionist art (Munch, Kandinsky), and paintings and photographs of the silhouettes of leafless trees in winter (e.g., I love The Cloister Graveyard in the Snow from the Salon). Like many here, I like the art on the BPAL site, especially the Aubrey Beardsley and Harry Clarke stuff. Oh, and I love me some Brian Froud!   Favorite poet? This is embarrassing because I have an undergraduate degree (with honors) in writing-intensive English, I'm married to another former English major who loves to read, write, and recite poetry, and I know tons of creative people who do all kinds of writing, but... I am more or less unable to appreciate poetry (particularly formal poetry), because I can't "hear" written word stress or inflection and so meter is entirely lost on me. So, uh, poetry isn't really any different for me than reading a novel, and I mostly prefer novels. Off the top of my head, I do know that I like James Joyce, William Butler Yeats, William Shakespeare, and Edgar Allen Poe. What's your favorite book? This is a nigh onto impossible question to answer. The Illuminatus! Trilogy by Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea is probably the most influential/mind-blowing/paradigm-shifting book I ever read (hey, I was 18 when I read it). What is your favourite autumnal-seasonal drink? Hot apple cider with mulling spices. Actually, anything mulled or spiced. What size socks do you wear? How about hat size? Um, whatever the regular size of socks is. My shoe size is 7W or 7.5W. Not hats for me, please. Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand? I don't really read comics, but I have an affection for Neil Gaiman's Death character from the Sandman/Endless series (I own the 1993 spin-off series Death: The High Cost of Living), and I wouldn't mind reading more Gaiman comics. Please no anime. Are there any of y'all who are allergic/sensitive to having natural fibers on your skin? Unless you've humanely raised the sheep/alpacas/llamas/bunnies yourself and sheared them with tender loving care, I would prefer not to receive anything made with animal fur, wool, hair, bristles, or skin.   Candy corn? With everyone talking about how much they love candy corn, I think perhaps I should stress that I think it is so very, very gross. Please, I beg you, no one send me anything vaguely related to candy corn or those sugary, artificially-colored pumpkin-shaped candies... *shudder*   Bugs? Depictions of "pretty" bugs (dragonflies, bees, butterflies) are okay... I don't really need any Cricket-on-a-Stick candies or anything, though. What was your favorite ghost/scary/campfire story growing up? I also used to play "Bloody Mary" and "Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board". And of course I loooved the Ouija board and any other potentially paranormal experience. I don't remember having a favorite ghost/scary story, though.   Do you decorate for Halloween? what sort of decorations? Yes, Halloween is my husband's birthday and we always have a costume party and do a bit of decorating for it: purple lights and pumpkin lights, green and orange glow sticks, rubber spiders, and carved pumpkins. I'm partial to jack-o-lanterns and not a huge fan of witches, black cats, skeletons and the like. I like real bats, though. We're planning to put up a bat house at some point to encourage them to hang out by our house.   Dress up for Halloween? Oh yes. I think I've only failed to do so once... and I can't remember why now. The last few years have seen me waiting until the very last minute and cobbling something together from whatever's available at home (which thankfully includes fairly extensive costume-esque clothing and make-up). I was extra lazy last year and wore my wedding dress (which, admittedly was a fairy dress complete with wings).   Do you like horror flicks? Not really, but I end up watching a ton of them because they're my husband's favorite genre. Monster movies and ones depicting supernatural events/horrors don't bother me, but I can't stand to watch any that depict gruesome possible-in-real-life violence.   If you have a garden/planter box, what do you grow? I fail at gardening. If it's not a mammal, you don't want me taking care of it. i haz no imp storage. do you? No, and I would love some! Some way to keep the little buggers upright without curling the labels...   What incense scents do you prefer? I am super picky about what I will burn. In general, I don't wear scented products (BPAL is a major concession for me), I don't burn scented candles or tarts (unscented beeswax candles only), I don't use air fresheners (with the exception of essential oil misters in the bathrooms for emergencies) or dryer sheets... hell, I don't even use anti-perspirant. This is because I am a hippie freak and worry about things like petro-chemicals, phthalates, parabens, hormone disruptors, and carcinogens. I don't like to spritz, burn, or melt anything synthetic, petroleum-derived, or that contains "fragrance oils". Essential oils are okay in small doses, and I would like to find a truly all-natural incense to burn on occasion. I love the scent of sandalwood, and I also like cedar, frankincense, and myrrh... no nag champa for me (think church, not head shop). Fruit scents are almost always synthetic (and I don't like them anyway), and I don't think I would care for anything floral. I like cones better than sticks, and I've never tried the chunks of resin that you burn in little braziers (at least I think that's what you do!). Fluevogs? I became a fan of Fluevogs in the mid-90s because I loved (and still love) big, clunky shoes and boots with high-contrast details like white stitching on a black shoe. And I adore the signature Fluevog swirl pattern. The pair that I have isn't shiny; they're chunky, matte black Mary Janes with a (surprise surprise) white floral vine pattern.   ETA: I am filled with shoe envy/grabby hands/WANT-NOWness for the Lily Darling in cherry with black trim. If they made a synthetic version, I would snap up a pair in an instant. (Actually, at that price, I would probably agonize over the decision for much longer than an instant.) And if they made a black version with white trim, betwixt the two pairs I might never need another pair of shoes. Ever. The Pipsqueak, Obrigada, and Sandra styles are also inspiring a certain level of covetousness in my greedy little heart. Thankfully (?) I think they only come in leather, so my credit card is safe.   Who here prefers stylus and ink to ballpoint? Anyone invested time and effort into calligraphy or proper Victorian writing? What about stationery? Need some? What styles do you like? I loathe ballpoint pens and like to use India ink and a brush for drawing (although it's probably been a decade since I last picked up a brush), but I think that me + stylus + ink pot would = inky disaster. I'll stick to rollerball pens for writing, thank you. I will never, ever use stationery as I never, ever write letters. Notecards, sticky notes, and index cards are another story, however. I usually use utilitarian solid colors, but I dig stylized depictions of bees and dragonflies on that kind of stuff.   What is one item that you've wanted forever, could have afforded, but have never gotten and why (haven't you gotten it!)? Hmmn... that would be everything on my Kaboodle list, with the exception of some of the pricier jewelry. I originally put things on there as gift hints for my husband, which has ended up backfiring spectacularly. You see, it turns out that he doesn't like to buy me things off my wish lists because he thinks it's "cheating" if he doesn't think of some super-awesome perfectly original gift all on his own. I mean, on the one hand I can understand where he's coming from and am very touched, but we've been together for 14 years and he's given me plenty of super-awesome perfectly original gifts... and I would be delighted to receive stuff from my wish list from him! (Of course, there are worse problems to have and I ought to be grateful he cares so much. ) So anyway, those things end up languishing in cyberspace because he won't buy them and I don't feel right about buying them for myself even though most are financially attainable. Silly, eh?   Right or left-handed? I'm definitely right-handed, but when I spar/fight I tend to kick with my left leg and jab/hook with my left hand more. Reduce/reuse/recycle? Yes! I don't mind used/recycled/found objects. Crafting supplies? I am not a crafty person. I would dearly love to learn to make wire jewelry, however, and a ton of wire with which to experiment would be useful.   Tattoos? I have only one right now: Winnie the Pooh on mah tush. Eventually I'd like to get a leafless oak tree with exposed root system on my lower back and something (maybe a gargoyle?) on one of my hips. I'm also toying with the idea of getting tattoos to cover up the scars on my knees. I've torn both my ACLs and had hamstring ligament grafts done on both knees, and I have three scars on each knee: one from the main incision (a slit a little over an inch long) just beneath the knee at the top of the shin, and two small ones from the "poke holes" on either side of the knee. Any ideas for cool knee tattoos? Favorite time periods? Apparently I prefer modernity and even numbers: the 1920s, 1960s, and 1980s all hold appeal for me in terms of music and fashion. I love art deco jewelry, old blues, soul music and Motown, go-go-boots, "window-pane" bangs and the mod look, punk, New Wave, technicolor hair-do's... oh yeah!   Halloweenies? I've ordered decants of Blade of Grass, To Autumn, Ichabod Crane, The Hessian of the Hollow, Wiley's Swamp, The School-House, The Churchyard, Mictecacihuatl, and Sugar Skull, and I'm on the hunt for decants of Meditation in Autumn, Brom Bones, and Gunpowder. I already know I'll be getting a bottle of Graveyard Dirt.   What is your favorite part about fall? Where do I start? When I lived in Wisconsin and Massachusetts, I loved EVERYTHING about fall: the cool, crisp breezes, the gorgeous changing colors of the leaves, wearing sweaters and jeans, all the wonderful smells: a hint of snowy chill in the wind, that great crunchy, dried leaf scent, apples, mulling spices, bonfires... god, I am so homesick! My birthday is in October, along with Halloween and my husband's birthday (which is actually on Halloween), and so there is much celebrating.   Now that I live in the South, there's only one reason to love fall (Halloween and birthdays notwithstanding): the mercury starts to inch toward a slightly more livable temperature. Slightly. Unfortunately, the humidity doesn't really abate until what passes for winter, so no sweaters, no crisp breezes.   Office supplies? Oh god yes. I love blue rollerball pens with micro-fine tips and Post-It notes and binder clips and notecards and notepads and organizational jazz (although I'm terrible at organizing). Favorite Halloween candy? I don't really care for most traditional Halloween candy. In fact, until I joined this forum, I didn't realize that anyone actually liked candy corn... and now I see all these candy corn-heads coming out of the woodwork! I've always been a chocolate girl, and so my Halloween faves were always the "fun size" candy bars, especially Snickers, Twix, and Kit-Kats. What is your favorite pumpkin goodness? I love pumpkin EVERYTHING, except pumpkin pie. Yes: pumpkin ale, pumpkin seeds, Thai pumpkin custard, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cake, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin soup, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin cookies... bring 'em all, but leave that nasty pie at home!   =============================================   ANSWERS TO RANDOM QUESTIONS FROM THE SUMMER 2008 ROUND   Most obscure interest: Canine nutrition/raw feeding. And dog breeds. My brain is filled with breed characteristics and nutrient content charts for things like chicken hearts. What goodies do you love that you can't usually get? I so terribly miss Bagels Forever brand bagels. They are the only frozen/store-bought bagels that taste anything like real bagels to me… but they’re only available in the Midwest. Edit: The poppyseed ones are my favorite.   Strangely enough, I have a hard time finding milk chocolate with hazelnuts in it. Just a simple bar with whole, roasted hazelnuts like the kind made by Ritter Sport or Lindt. But my holy grail of chocolate hazelnutty goodness is the Hazelnut Five Star Bar by Lake Champlain Chocolates… and the only store in town that carries it is always out of stock! Edit: Oh, and pens! I cannot find my favorite type of pen ANYWHERE anymore. I love Uni-Ball Vision pens, size: micro, color: blue. I can find the black ones in micro, but never the blue ones!   How much do you still enjoy playing with toys? I still like playing with toys. We got a GPS specifically for geo-caching (treasure hunts), I use IMVU as a glorified way to play dress-up, and I like other toys for grown-ups, too.   What was your favorite childhood toy? I liked to play with dolls and was deeply attached to several. Some were homemade or no-brand. More recognizable: Cabbage Patch Kids, Barbies, He-Man. Yes, I was a child of the 80s.   How would you describe yourself--do you feel that you're shy or outgoing, laidback, high-strung... and in what ways? I’m a little shy, but mostly because I have social anxiety, not because I’m particularly reserved. Once I have decided that a person is “safe” (this can take years), I’m pretty laid back and enjoy socializing. I’m high-strung in the sense that I have a hard time relaxing, but I’m not super-reactive. I’m nerdy and goofy and naughty… and it looks like I’m in good company here! What practical goals to you have for the upcoming summer? 1. Finish my written comprehensive examination so I can move on to the dissertation and escape from graduate school hell. Finally. 2. Ride my bicycle and lose some weight before July 24th… when I will be undergoing a second knee surgery. What’s a talent you are most proud of? This question makes me feel bashful for some reason. Um, I am really excellent at ferreting out information on random topics. And I make killer desserts.   Favorite books as a kid? I loved Judy Blume, Madeleine L’Engle, and C.S. Lewis. Haircolor experimentation: Oh yes. I’ve been through the rainbow of fruit flavors on my locks… bleached blonde, blue/purple/pink streaked, orange, red, auburn, eggplant, mousy blonde/brown… and for years I had cherry-red hair with a white streak in the front. Now I’ve given up chemical dyes and use henna to achieve a quasi-natural dark red color.   Is there anything that you have been wanting to try/buy but haven't? My covetous heart pines for many things. Jewelry from Wyrding Studios. A scent locket. BPTP atmospheric sprays (“Down the Rabbit Hole” and “Dungeon” sound so fabulous). Vosges chocolates.   Religious preferences and patron saints/goddesses/spiritual mentors: I’m not religious, but I tend toward Discordianism and Buddhism in terms of how I conceptualize the world. I find images representing chaos, Buddha, and Ganesha inspiring.   I want to know what little treats my witchee likes to be spoiled (or spoil herself) with: I usually spoil myself with food, with high-quality chocolate being a favored treat. What I covet at the checkstand: I never, ever buy them, but I do read all the trashy tabloid headlines while waiting in line. I’m not above accepting second-hand celebrity trash magazines from a friend of mine who does buy them, though.   Who needs more bpal storage? I do! I do! My imps are taking over my bedroom, and I would love some method of storing them upright that didn’t involve curling the label. What's your favorite theme or characters? For example, do you like gothic looking items or classical? Do you love Hello Kitty, Harry Potter, etc? Hrm… I like gargoyles and dragonflies, leaves, vines, and scroll-work. I like a mix of modern, gothic, and classical elements. So, feelings on used books (& CDs and DVDS for that matter)? Used stuff is fine by me! What things (that you can put in a box) make you giggle wildly, catch your breath, and touch you deeply? I am easily moved and delighted. Any gesture of thoughtfulness is deeply appreciated by me. Favorite flavors: CHOCOLATE! And almond (think almond extract). Pistachio. Hazelnut. Honey. Whatever flavor Dr. Pepper is. Basil/pesto. Cilantro. Kaffir lime leaves.   Chex Mix or Puppy Chow? Puppy Chow, but please don’t send me any!   What's your favorite flower? Tree? Snapdragons have sentimental appeal. I like the way orchids, irises, and calla lilies look, and I’m fond of humble violets/pansies. I love twisty vines and branches. I like the silhouette of bare oak trees against a barren, snowy winter landscape.   Sports? My first reaction to this question is, “Ugh – no!” because I don’t enjoy things like football, baseball, basketball, hockey, or soccer. But I’ve been involved in martial arts for the past eight years and help run a martial arts school with my husband, so I guess that counts. How about burned CDs? Is everyone okay with those? Do y'all even listen to CDs anymore, or is it straight to the iPod? I don’t have an iPod yet, and I would love CDs. Do you like homemade gifts? Like foodstuffs or crafts? Quite possibly. Pirates or Ninjas? Teehee. Pirate-ninjas, of course.   Is any witchee opposed to "naughty" gifts? If no opposition where is the line drawn? I’m pretty open to whatever. I can’t imagine being embarrassed by or opposed to a “naughty” gift unless it was delivered to my work. What's your guilty pleasure? Country music. Ice cream. Fantasies involving Joaquin Phoenix. Celebrity gossip. If handmade stuff is okay, and it all goes horribly wrong, would you want it anyway? Someone up above mentioned wanting the item accompanied by the hilarious story of HOW it went horribly wrong. I second that motion. What did you remember the morning after and wish you'd put on the questionnaire? I wondered if I should have gone into more detail (e.g., listed specific bands/musicians as opposed to just broad musical genres). Are you an indoor person or outdoor person? I am an indoor person who knows she ought to get outside a bit more.   Switch witch remain a secret or reveal herself? Ooo… that’s tough. Both options are appealing, so I will be happy with whatever my witch prefers. Edit: Oh, but I'd want to know at the very end at least, so I could thank her! What's your favorite color? BLUE!   ---For wearing? I wear a fairly monochromatic palette: black, grey, and white for the most part, with a little pale blue thrown in for variety. I don’t like my clothes to compete or clash with my red hair!   ---For decorating? I like bold colors for decorating, but we’re about to move into a new house with a more subtle color scheme. Black items are a safe bet.   Do you have a particular decorating style? I have a wonderful appreciation for home décor, but I’m a terrible decorator. (The same goes for music and art: I have no talent for either but appreciate both.) Like I mentioned in the previous question, I tend to like bold, rich colors for decorating, and our current apartment reflects this: the living room has deep red walls with white trim and black furniture; the kitchen has blue-and-white checkered wallpaper, etc. Our new house has a very different feel to it, though, and will be done in more subdued colors in the main living areas. The bedroom’s going to be purple, though. ETA: We're almost done painting - woo hoo! The living room is a very pale yellow/gold (almost cream color), and we went with a plush RED loveseat and oversized arm chair + ottoman, along with a black lacquered wood entertainment center. Bedroom has purple walls and black lacquered wood furniture with silvery grey bedspread. Kitchen is colonial blue and light grey with cherry wood table. My office is yellow with primary blue accents.   Do you have pets and what kind of gifts would be good for them? Oh yes, we have many pets. Two dogs, two cats, two frogs, and a handful of hermit crabs. Unfortunately, both of my dogs are battling mast cell tumors (cancer) right now… but they both feel okay and being bully-type breeds, they can always use more tug toys. What sort of crafties do you do and what sort of crafty supplies do you like? I don’t really do anything crafty. I would like to learn to make wire jewelry, though. I have some basic supplies and a book, but I could definitely use more wire with which to learn the various techniques.   Are you up to being gifted with anime? Uh, no.   For those of you who play video games, what consoles do you own? n/a   Mailbox situation, i.e. Can I send you chocolate and melty treats from Lush, or are they going to wind up being really decadent goo? Anything shipped to me in the summer’s heat is likely to end up gooey, but I’d be willing to attempt to reconstitute chocolate.   What’s your favorite genre of books to read? This is so sad, but I hardly ever read for pleasure anymore. When I do, my brain is usually so overloaded that I can only handle what I consider “fluff” reading: books about dog breeds, nutrition, or natural/green living, and the occasional Neil Gaiman book. Once upon a time I enjoyed reading about evolutionary biology, the bleaks tales of depressing Russian writers, mind-blowing semi-psychedelic texts, and historic erotica… but now my poor little brain is rarely up to the task of engaging with these materials. Sigh.   How would you describe your sense of humor? This is a surprisingly difficult question. Wry, maybe? I like my humor a little on the subtle side, but I also enjoy raunchiness. I think The Onion is the pinnacle of hilarity. What is the hottest and coldest it gets where you live? It never gets cold here, and I really miss winter. I’m in the southern U.S., and it seems to vary from about 30 degrees to 110 degrees, with most days in the 60-90 degree range. Things I find offensive? Most “–isms”: racism, sexism, etc. I’m not fond of displays of blood, gore, and violence, but I don’t know if I would necessarily categorize those things as offensive… depends how/why they are being employed. I guess I find Anne Geddes’ photos offensive.   LiveJournal? n/a   Favorite TV shows as a kid: I liked “Sesame Street,” Saturday morning cartoons, and “3-2-1-Contact,” but no show commanded more of my childhood devotion than “The Monkees”. Rice Krispy treats, yes or no? Homemade or prepackaged? I love Rice Krispy treats, but only the homemade kind. The prepackaged ones have a weird fake-vanilla-plastic-preservative taste, and something about their texture is… off. However, I haven’t had any (homemade or prepackaged) since I went vegetarian many long years ago. I know that gelatin-free marshmallows exist (and thanks to this thread I’ve learned that apparently you can make them with gelatin-free marshmallow fluff), but I’ve just been too lazy to gather the proper ingredients and make an attempt.   Do you still read any children's books? Yes indeed.   I'm a big soap fan, so which kinds of soaps do YOU like? Arcana? BPTP? Lush? Super Bad? When it comes to personal care and home cleaning, I’m something of a hippie. Wearing BPAL is actually a bit of a concession for me; I’m pretty militant about all my stuff being vegetarian and all-natural: no animal-derived products, synthetic fragrances, petroleum derivatives, sodium lauryl sulfate, artificial colors or preservatives, parabens, or phthalates. I use the “Sea Buckthorn with Sandalwood” skin care bar by Aubrey Organics on my body and the “Natural Beauty” cleansing bar by Nature’s Plus on my face. And that’s pretty much it. I won’t use Villainess or Lush soap because they contain synthetics, and I’m not familiar with Arcana (and they won't respond to my inquiries - grrr!) or Super Bad. I’d be willing to try BPTP soap.   What's hanging on your walls? What do you want hanging on your walls? Our walls are more barren than I would like. I tend to buy unframed art and then utterly fail at purchasing frames… so the lovely images end up hidden away in the back of my closet, awaiting their time in the sun… which never comes. I like wrought iron work and Expressionist art.   Phobias: Eyeballs. Scenes in movies like A Clockwork Orange just about kill me. What are you? CORSET or CAMI??? And....why? I have "matronly" upper arms, so it's got to be blazing hot before you'll catch me in a cami. Or bedtime. I wear camis to bed sometimes. But corsets make me swoon. I figure my heaving bosoms provide ample distraction from the upper arm issue. 00000288.gif I love 18th century/Elizabethan ones, and the top to my wedding dress was a Baroque corset from Dark Garden... in a gorgeous iridescent blue (although mine didn't cost that much - yikes)! I've managed to find numerous excuses to wear it since the wedding. Maple syrup? Yes!   As for what CD/song/music group I am dying to get my hands on: well, the Monkees, of course! Seriously, I would totally dig some Monkees action (not to be confused with monkey action). Other than that, I would like to be exposed to new and different music... I am terrible about exploring/experimenting on my own, and I love to be exposed to new stuff via other people. ETA: I keep hearing good things about Regina Spektor. Question: receiving (NEW AND UNUSED/non-crunchy) cute undies in a SW package: awesome or creepy? Maybe creepy. Unless they were super-cute.   How conventional/weird are you comfortable with? I'm all over the board. I have plenty of mainstream-type stuff, but I prefer more unconventional/weird/unique things. Are you a good witch or a bad witch? YES! Who are your favorite Disney characters? I like the Winnie the Pooh pantheon. Like Wren08, I have The Tao of Pooh and The Te of Piglet... which I first read and enjoyed back in high school and which resulted in a Winnie the Pooh tattoo in college. What's your idea of a great weekend? Not one that takes lots of planning, or that is a special occaision? But your achievable nifty weekend. Sleeping as much as I want. A lack of demands/obligations from and to others. A hearty, delicious brunch with friends featuring French toast adorned with ridiculously gourmet toppings. A hot bath. A good book. A walk with cool, crisp breezes. Hot tea and snuggling with dogs. A good movie and snuggling with my husband.   Most obscure travel? Way, way back in 1996 my then-boyfriend now-husband and I took a 5-week roadtrip around the U.S. We lived out of our teeny Hyundai Excel hatchback, alternating sleeping in the car at rest stops and truck stops and camping out in a little tent. We put 11,000 miles on the car and really came face-to-face with America at its best, worst, and weirdest. I particularly enjoyed meeting Reverend Kirby (founder of the Universal Life Church) in Modesto, CA, and visiting the grave of Emperor Norton in the necropolis of Colma, CA. Do you play online games? I do a little bit of developing/content creation on IMVU, but I mostly just play virtual dress-up over there. What kind of coffee/tea/hot beverages do you like? I love black tea, don't care for herbal or fruity ones. I drink Twinings Irish Breakfast or Prince of Wales tea every day. For evenings/weekends/special treats, I really love the Stash Tea's dessert teas (my favorites include the chocolate hazelnut and tiramisu flavors). I also love chai tea and Thai tea. I've had very little luck attempting to make Thai tea at home, however. What about makeup? With the exception of my mascara and lipstick, I wear Aromaleigh products pretty exclusively. I wear concealer/foundation and blush almost every day because I'm self-conscious about my skin. If I have extra time in the morning (ha!) I'll add a light coat of mascara. For evening, I like a bit of grey or black eyeliner and a raisin-y shade of lipstick. I've been trying to experiment more with eyeshadow recently, using silver, purple, and green shades. Homebaked goodies? Yay or nay? Yay. I am a piggy and love teh foodz. Lip balm, yay or nay? If it's all-natural and vegetarian (beeswax is okay), then yay. I'm especially fond of mint-flavored balms. Do you like hair things? Hair sticks? Clips? Ties? What kind? Yes! For boring daily wear, I use a claw clip, ponytail holder or wide barrette to pull all my hair back. But I also like fancy smaller barrettes. I like hair sticks in theory, but I haven't quite figured out how to make them work for me. I don't wear headbands. For all the vegetarian types: How do you feel about leather/leather scraps? Are you politically veggie or just in it for the food? I'm more of a politico-pseudo-veggie, and I avoid leather when I can. That said, I would not be horrified if my witch sent me something made with leftover leather scraps, as long as the leather item wasn't purchased specifically for me. I hope that made sense. Do you prefer one large package, a couple of medium packages or a handful small ones spaced out? Ooo... I confess that I would prefer a couple of smaller packages... I like getting surprises in the mail! But I will be totally happy with whatever my witch decides to do, and I do understand that shipping costs can be prohibitive. What are your favorite scents for bath and body stuff? Ones you don't like? Similar to your BPAL tastes? In general I prefer unscented bath products because: 1.) all too often the fragrances contain nasty synthetics, phthalates, parabens, etc., and 2.) I don't like my bath products to clash with my BPAL. I do like soaps scented with cedar and sandalwood essential oils, and I love almond-scented bath products, though. Would any of you like to receive plants? If so what do you like? (herbals, florals, houseplants, tree seedlings...) Also if the answer is yes, what zone are you in? No, thank you.   What insects do you delight in where you come from? I don't know that I enjoy engaging with many (if any) insects. I sort of like bumble bees and honey bees. Fireflies are nice. Ladybugs are acceptable. Butterflies and dragonflies are pretty. But I'd still like them all to keep their distance! Decorative representations of these bugs would be okay, though (like on a card or something).   Do you wear nail varnish? If so, what colours? I hardly ever do anymore, but I used to be a big fan of very dark red/maroon/burgundy shades with high-gloss finishes. I just broke the bottle of nail polish from my wedding last year, which made me really sad. The color was "It's Now or Never" by OPI (couldn't have been more aptly named), and I would dearly love to replace it. What are five simple things that you just can't get through the day without? Whenever I'm packing to travel somewhere, I always start to freak out thinking I've forgotten something (and usually I have). When that happens, I just ask myself, "Do you have a toothbrush, clean underwear, and deodorant? Okay then. You're set."   In terms regular daily use/support I'd say:   1. A nice mug of tea with milk and sugar. 2. My doggies and their sweet snuffles. 3. A hug and a kiss from my husband. 4. The Internets. My name is Apple and I'm an addict. 5. Chocolate. 5.5. Lip balm/Q-Tips/hand lotion... How do people feel about feet? I'm ambivalent about feet. I love foot scrubs and foot massages, and if I had the money I'd get pedicures all the time. As it stands, my own feet are usually in sad shape. I inherited my father's tendency toward dry skin and massive calluses, and I'm not diligent enough with the callus remover and lotion. I'm active in martial arts, too, and I spend a lot of my time barefoot and with other folks who are barefoot... sometimes with our feet very close to each other's faces. magtongue.gif So I've learned to cope.   I've never quite gotten over the popularity of flip-flops, though. I find them ugly and hate being forced to be exposed to other people's mostly bare feet in professional settings. It's gross and distracting.   New question! Anyone need scent lockets? Definitely. I haven't gotten one yet (BPTP or otherwise), and I'd like to try one eventually. If you were to get earrings from your SW, what kind would you prefer? Studs? Pull through? Hoops? Dangles? I prefer hoops and dangles, and I have a preference for hoops with posts. Medium-size... not teeny, but not giganto, either. BEVERAGES Favorite non-alcoholic drinks: I usually drink water or tea, but when I'm indulging I also like Dr. Pepper, ginger beer, and cream soda. Favorite alcoholic drinks: red wine (I prefer shiraz/syrah and red zinfandel), dark beer (homebrewed is the best!), lambic, hard cider. For mixed drinks I like MOJITOS, gin and tonics (with Tanqueray), and extra-dirty vodka martinis.   If I were to receive a liquor-soaked cake, I'd like for it to be doused in Frangelico, amaretto, or Bailey's Irish Cream. I'm sure I could choke down something drenched in Kahlua, too. I have never cared for rum cake (tastes too boozy), but I'm willing to be persuaded to try it again if my witch has an awesome recipe.   Do you like spicy/asian food? Asian food seasoning, anyone? I love spicy food and love Asian food. I probably don't need any Asian food seasoning, however. Unless it's Thai massaman curry mix. Yum!   How adventurous are you when it comes to food/candies? Moderately adventurous. No insects or bugs, please... or gelatin. And definitely no maggots. What websites MUST everyone visit at least daily? This goes in cycles for me and is directly related to my levels of anxiety and/or boredom. Right now I'm checking BPAL.org every day. Other frequently checked sites include:   GMail Facebook Diaryland (a bunch of my friends have online journals there) IMVU   Hats? Not so much.   How important is BPAL in your Switch Witch packages? I would looooove some BPAL, but I won't be in the least disappointed if my witch doesn't include any. "Used" BPAL? Ugly BPAL? Empties? Oh yes, this is all fine. I would take drops/sniffies of lots of the things on my wish list, just to be able to try them. Any fix is a good fix!   what flavored hard candies do you or don't like? and are you willing to try different things like green tea or some other strange flavors? I also hate artificial fruit flavors, and artificial watermelon and artificial banana are two of the worst. I'm not much of a hard candy person, but I'm intrigued by the idea of the "tea-and-milk" flavored ones mentioned by CordeliaSeduced. I like ginger candies (actually, I like ginger anything). I'd be willing to try some weird flavors. A scent that you adore but have decided that it's impossible to find? Well, I like Graveyard Dirt and it can be really hard to find, but certainly not impossible. I got a sniffie of Voodoo Queen from a lovely forumite and enjoyed it... I'd like to find more of that to give it an actual test. I really enjoyed Spanked and would like more, but I'm not pining away for it. One of these days I would love to test Formula 54 and Egg'd Mailbox, both of which have eluded me thus far. ETA: I've now tried Egg'd Mailbox and gotten a back-up supply of Graveyard Dirt. Hod (from the discontinued Sephiroth series) is probably my most wanted semi-rare, and Voodoo Queen and Gypsy Queen are high on my to-hunt-down list. I'd still love to try Formula 54, but I'm not holding my breath. Is there a perfume company that you've never tried that you are curious about? Oh yes, too many to recall at the moment. I was interested in trying some CB: I Hate Perfume scents, but they have been total bastards about replying to my inquiries. I've contacted them TWICE to ask if their fragrances contained any petrochemicals, phthalates, parabens, or animal-derived ingredients, and got NO response to either inquiry. Ditto for The Body Perfumery and Arcana. When a company won't respond to a potential customer's politely worded request for additional information, it makes me think they either have something to hide or they have terrible customer service, and neither of those options is appealing to me as a customer.   Uh, well then. I guess I had a mini-rant built up inside. Please forgive. Back on track: I would like to try some Aftelier p
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