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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!
    • 5 comments
    • 5,921 views
Sourball Ho!
 

Kicking back with finances, y'all

I joke about filing for bankruptcy, but actually have experienced it almost-first-hand: I worked for a bankruptcy attorney for 2 years. It seemed I saw people at the worst point of their lives, but as I've said after working for attorneys for many years, "If everyone was rich and happy, no one would need an attorney."   We seriously had a Kleenex budget, because many times we had people crying in the office over their decision. There were straight-up dumbos whose logic was, "I have credit cards I can't pay, so to feel better I'll go shopping!" One couple who made really decent money (over $100K/year) had almost $300K in credit cards and loans. But a lot of people were there for normal bad luck -- divorce, where one person gets stuck with a house payment they can't afford on their own; illness; losing their job; people who owned their own businesses mixing their personal finances up with the business.   It drives me crazy, especially with this new "bankruptcy reform," that the general consensus is that people who file for bankruptcy are deadbeats and abuse the system by filing over and over. As I saw it, the system was in fact working fine, with honest judges and attorneys who wanted to be fair to everyone, including the creditors. The attorney I worked for flat-out refused to represent people whom she suspected were lying to her. She was one of the top bankruptcy attorneys in the city, and there was no way she was putting her license and reputation on the line for anyone.   What I learned was to be very diligent with our own finances:   --Pay important bills in full every month. Mortgage/rent, utilities, car payment & insurance. --Everything else like credit cards that can't be paid in full, pay as much as possible. "Minimum amounts" are for suckers. --If you can't pay off something in one month, try to pay it off the next month. Seriously. If that means less going out, less concerts or movies, do it and catch up. --Pay everything early, not late. Creditors luuuuvs when you pay late, even one day, because not only do they get their money but they have the excuse to charge $25-45! Because you're one day late? Nah, man. --If you don't like an interest rate, change it. If the mortgage is too high, you can refinance after a couple years if you've been good with payments. Credit cards, call them and ask for a lower rate. If not, use one of those 0% interest for 6 months offers with someone else. And keep track of the due dates too -- if it's no interest until June, pay it off or transfer by June.   Anyway, I'm going on and on. The point is, take control! Power to the people!
dawndie

dawndie

0
Slave1's Blog
 

I'm going to pull my hair out!

My fur-kids are killing me!!!   OK... I'm getting ready for work... and it's finally time to go. I call the pups to put them in their crates. Iggy comes running right away... Berlin doesn't. Berlin! Berlin! After about 30 seconds of me calling her name, she comes around the corner with a "cigarette" hanging out of her mouth. Yeah, it looked funny as hell and I wish I had my camera at that second... but the fact is, she ate almost an entire pack of bubblegum cigarettes... about 5 or 6 pieces. So, I flip out, call the vet. Chris couldn't find the doctor so I put Berlin in her crate, ran to work, called the vet again and they said to just observe her. It's obviously more scary for her than other dogs because she's only about 10 pounds. I quickly did my morning duties and left to get home around 10. Now I'm sitting her watching her. She seems fine, but cripes... what if this stuff gums up her works, creates a blockage and she needs surgery?!?!??! I'm still in the hole with Iggy and I financially can't handle anymore or mentally either. I'm about to seriously just lose it. Please, please, PLEASE think good thoughts for her. She and I both need them actually...   And speaking of Iggy. He got his last bandage off yesterday. He had a huge scab, which is good, it means he's healing. The doctor said he'd be fine as long as he didn't lick it. Well, he was good all the way home, then we got inside and within 15 seconds, he had ripped his scab off. Blood everywhere. So I rebandaged him and he is conehead again. If it doesn't start to scab again by tomorrow, he has to go back into the vet.   And Spencer might be getting fired today for missing so much work due to his ulcer. His boss says he can't prove it's work related.   I think I'm getting an ulcer of my own from all this. Jebus!!!
slave1

slave1

0
Starfish & Coffee
 

My forum Top Ten-ish entries.

Regular catalog: Baneberry Bengal Dorian Gluttony Imp O Snake Oil Ultraviolet   Limited Editon/other: 13 Gingerbread Poppet Lick It! Lump of Coal Mitzvah Snowblind Spooky Sugar Skull   Aromatherapy/Ritual: Eulegba - ritual High John - ritual Nanshe - aromatherapy (sleep) Sleepy Moon - aromatherapy (sleep)
byrdie

byrdie

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Starfish & Coffee
 

Milk Moon vs. Budding Moon.

After reading reviews of Peony Moon, I decided to layer Milk Moon with Budding Moon. It starts off taffy or ice-cream sweet, as both are sweet oils. The florals of Budding Moon are still obviously there, but they're less shocking with the creaminess of Milk Moon. Similarly, Milk Moon's sour phase seems to get distracted by the florals of Budding Moon.   The combo is just starting to get a little musty now, but then I've had it on for almost three hours without a touch-up.
byrdie

byrdie

0
This Old Snark
 

Home Sweet (Smelling) Home (maybe?)

At the risk of incurring the Wrath of the Gods, Snarky wants y'all to have a peek:   The Possibly Maybe Future Chez Snark   She's already scheming where the yarn, BPAL, and LUSH stashes will go. She's going to have her own bathroom, finally! No more comingling of her "lotions and potions" (The Mister's term) with his manly toilette.   Snarky hastens to add that she decided to wear Clio today. This is another surprise imp in her ammo case that is sorta-kinda spring like (in a deep dark pathouli-ish sort of way). Also, the lavendar is helping her to remain a little more calm and clear-headed given the circumstances.
darkitysnark

darkitysnark

9
LunaDragonGirl's Blog
 

crafty thoughts

Awoke this morning after a night of intense dreams, none of which I can remember, feeling quite moody and as though I could break down sobbing at the drop of a hat. It took me quite a while to actually get myself out of bed; there was a huge part of me wanting to simply stay hidden under my comforter for the rest of my life. (the constant rain is NOT helping my mood, I might add, as much as I love the rain...the smells, the sounds, the way the creek behind my house rushes and gurgles)   Decided that today was a good day to find my way to my favourite coffee spot, for a tiny bit of heaven...cappuchino, biscotti and a bit of knitting work on my second pair of fingerless gloves/wrist warmers. I've discovered that the rhythm of "knit 2, purl 2" puts me into quite a meditative state and calms me down a lot.   My fav coffee spot happens to be a cart inside of a lovely shop that sells magazines from all over, newspapers, and stationary...they also sell cigars and save the empty cigar boxes to sell to people who might want them. Wandered into the store after finishing my coffee moment and asked to see their current empty cigar box collection. They had three left...one of which came home with me as it was the perfect size for a BPAL box. It's a square box as opposed to the usual cigar box shape (short and rectangular)...perfect for 5 and 10mls. Now I have to decide what I'm going to do with it...and after a bit of thought, I think I'm going to go with an Edward Gorey theme. I have a ton of small Gorey pics from two years worth of "daily desk calendars". I think I will colour some of them with coloured pencils and modge podge them on. Maybe paint the box a shade of grey, or possibly purple.   PS: More forumites need to use the chat feature! It's nifty and cool!
LunaDragonGirl

LunaDragonGirl

2
Sourball Ho!
 

Broke? Who, me?

OK, so I mentioned bankruptcy before. I have several temptations other than BPAL that are dying to make me broke:   Villainess soaps (Brooke) -- currently I have One-Eyed Willy soap with Sugar Buzz Smooch in the shower. I'm not a bubble bath person feMaledictions (sCara) -- her perfumes are OK, but I really like her soaps, incense, sprays, etc. Goth Rosary (AntiSally) -- her conditioner is great, with interesting scents Dark Candles (Helena) -- strongest candles and simmering oils in gothy scents. I'm an armchair goth; I don't dress like one, but like the themes (and the music). My Lady's Chamber -- I find myself hoarding the incense instead of burning, which I shouldn't do. Really stinky incense, great themes and prices Instant Living -- I love retro culture. Cocktail lounges, '50s decor. I'm not in any "scene" but I like the shopping. Really cute jewelry and home stuff Reprodepot Fabrics -- I have a sewing machine but should really use it more. I still buy fabric though, especially if it's on sale. I'll get inspired every so often Candles and incense -- Pier 1 and Illuminations have good candles in interesting scents. I'm always up for some good headshop incense, wherever I find it   General collecting and admiring:   Souvenirs -- matchbooks, charms for my bracelet, tablecloths, plates and ashtrays, light-up signs; anything that reminds me of trips or where I've lived before Disneyland -- I'm in love/obsessed with the Haunted Mansion. I grew up 15 minutes from Disneyland and have been there more times than I can count, so the "golden age" of Disneyland is especially nostalgic Old Hollywood, through 1950s -- again, where I grew up in Southern California it seemd obvious that you watched old movies and knew all the big names Old Vegas -- like Hollywood, seedy and glitzy at the same time   Are they collections or hobbies? They seem like hobbies, in that the pursuit of them are as interesting as actually possessing them. DH grew up in Cincinnati during the Reds' World Series runs ('75 and '80) so we like Cincinnati and Reds stuff. I love hearing about what others collect too, as I live vicariously.
dawndie

dawndie

2
Forum Updates and News
 

"Are you stupid and naive?" they asked

I think my end of the code mods for the swap feedback is really, truly done. For realz this time - I think I've said that four or five times, but the lastest one hasn't seen any more comments of changes by the beta testers (aka, the mods).     Entry title: Idiot Express
ipb

ipb

0
Fishnets and Frankincense
 

The WOW of NOW

I was so busy this morning that I couldn't write in my blog. Horrors!   But let's talk about the ebb and flow of energy, or kundalini, or chi, or prana, or the life force. Holy crap, Batman, this time of year is astonishing to me. The vernal equinox is the equivalent of putting me on speed. Literally. I can't sleep, I don't want to eat, I vibrate. I'm not complaining. It makes me feel so fucking alive, I can't tell you how much I love it.   I'm just happy that I don't repress this.   It's gotten more pronounced since I've been meditating every night, which is something that's gone on for 7 years or so, but it really kicked into drive last year. Somehow, I've become more attuned to the cycles of nature, and there's nothing to complain about there. I may not be very enlightened, but I can feel the cycles of gaia, and that's fine with me.   So, you say, how does the above reconcile with the lingerie-obsessed, BPAL-addicted jabbering in prior posts? Maybe I'm whack, but like I told someone last week, this is what it's all about -- we need to enjoy our senses as much as we're able to. We're in this human incarnation and we have the ability to truly understand and appreciate our embodiment. Isn't that fabulous? Why do we try to shut ourselves down, why do we deny our senses, deny our emotions? Why do we avoid connecting with each other?   So I'll stop rhapsodizing and end with a couple of quotes from one of my favorite movies (minilux, are you out there??), "Waking Life:"   Hey. Could we do that again? I know we haven't met, but I don't want to be an ant. You know? I mean, it's like we go through life with our antennas bouncing off one another, continously on ant autopilot, with nothing really human required of us. Stop. Go. Walk here. Drive there. All action basically for survival. All communication simply to keep this ant colony buzzing along in an efficient, polite manner. "Here's your change." "Paper or plastic?' "Credit or debit?" "You want ketchup with that?" I don't want a straw. I want real human moments. I want to see you. I want you to see me. I don't want to give that up. I don't want to be ant, you know?   and....   The ongoing WOW is happening right NOW.
valentina

valentina

1
this machine
 

being blinded by love of bpal

I find that sometimes i have a hard time determining if i actually like a scent and want to wear it, or if i just think it's really cool, unique, unusual, etc. I also find that sometimes i smell a scent and think oh yea, i like that, cool, and then i keep it around and sniff it now and then and maybe wear it once or twice and then realize i actually don't like it all, that if i had picked up a bottle off a perfume counter at the mall and smelled something like that i'd be grossed out. But i'm so blinded by excitement about these scents that sometimes i think that i like scents that i actually don't like at all. It's absurd.   Hasn't happened with any rose scents yet though. No siree. The one other note i need to confirm that i hate is white musk, but i haven't gotten a white musk blend yet because it's much more fun to get ones i'm pretty sure i'll like.
this machine

this machine

0
This Old Snark
 

Pollination

Spring is finally making footholds in the landscape. The sun lingers until well after dinnertime. That she is making a showing at all is a cause for verdant frolicking.   Snarky reached for Nefertiti this morning. To her logical mind this is because the imp happens by trick of alphabetical organization to fall smack in the middle-front of her ammo box.   But her superstitious hindbrain suspects that her hand was guided there to bring her delicate flowers and sweet-skin confidence in order to make it through this day of waiting.   She, in some small way, wanted to smell like spring. And Nefertiti is one of the few scents that approximates this effect. The rest of her collection speaks of winter's dead hibernations, autumn's angsty decay. But this? This is hope and joy and faith that life is returning.   The air is thick with love making. Sap rises, tender buds unfurl. She waits.
darkitysnark

darkitysnark

2
Whiskers and Whispers
 

Twenty-one!

It's my 21st today, and I've found the PERFECT BPAL for the occasion! Namely, Twenty One! And what's better than smelling of booze on a birthday!   I am getting a digital camera. I am going to have so much fun with that little toy.   I also got £100-and I may get more. A part of me says 'put it in the savings account' and another part says 'SPEND IT ON SMELLIES DAMMIT!!!' I know which of my head-voices I'll obey this time   I'm getting my hair done and then I'm off to the bar for a celebratory piss-up little drink. I still can't believe I'm 21 though. I certainly don't feel it! I don't think your spirit ages though-just the body. Inside, I can be whatever age I want to be!
PurringPulsar

PurringPulsar

3
Court's Vices and Musings
 

TAL Wantlist

I finally have a place to keep track of my list of wanted TALs, yay!   Wanted:   Perpetuum Bonuum (in decant form) Master (in decant form) Astral Travel (in decant form) Clarity (in decant form) Determination (in decant form) Fiery Command (in imp form) Power (in imp form) Horus (in imp form) Attuning (in imp form) Servare (in imp form) Lionheart (in imp form) Mnemosyne (in imp form) Enochian (5ml) Fiery Wall of Protection (5ml)   --------   On Order as Decants:   Anthelion Temple: Egyptian White Light Fiery Wall of Protection Lord of the Forest Foundation of Fortune Bastet's Laughter   -------
cuervosueno's blog
 

unfortunate dinners and The Alchemist's Assistant

I guess I need to get used to the whole blog thing. Right now it still feels self-indulgent--who would want to read this? I suppose I should get over that, seeing as I'm a writer, and its a question I've often asked myself before (and discounted as unimportant).   (Dog break: Toby and Bel are playing tug of war with one of my favorite shoes. When I called out Toby, NO! he looked quite surprised.)   Anyway, not a day I can report anything of interest on. Its spring here in NM which is lovely--in the 70's today, and I had a good dinner at a new Japanese restaurant. But the place was more expensive than I expected, and I stressed about the cost, then my BF (who makes twice as much money as me) made a big deal out of the price (though we split the bill), and then went on to say how he was sick of paying for everything. which is a reflection on his previous women, not me, and I was in the odd position of both thinking, well, I've never asked you to pay my way, asshole, and then at the same time thinking: so why'd you pay for all of them and not me?   Ugh. I hate arguing about money, so I just left. Ruined my quite good dinner, I must say. But I did take some very good sushi home and feed it to my fox-dogs--since they're Japanese and all--and they liked it. And Kai, my german shepherd, had a piece too.   Well, I don't know if I'll always put a poem up with each entry, but here's another--this one from book #2 (In an Angry Season). I wrote this long before I ever dreamed of BPAL....   The Alchemist's Assistant   Lovely as the native birds that fly overhead unseen, the alchemist’s assistant feeds him corn gruel and chilies, sweeps the pitiful grate. Sings in her primitive way. Gathers the base stones, silent as severed tongues, which the alchemist cannot force into gold. In the windowless tower, the workshop is frigid with his frustration, dumb with his dogged desire. He has grown old here and still the stones refuse to yield. He mutters incantations and spells, pale eyes unfocused, while around him the world is littered with substances precious and rare: the assistant’s skin--copper ore, her black pearl eyes, and outside the lapis sky and cinnamon hills. The myrrh-thick garden between her thighs. He caresses the stones as another man would her breasts. In his dreams, she rides him like a nightmare, a vortex his secrets are sucked into. Her hands roam over his parchment skin and she plucks at his power like a string. And laughs. She treats him like an arrogant child-- with his foreign formulas, his old world computations, his numerical desires. He’s stubborn and inert as stone.   Tucked away in his tower of useless words, he withers. But the alchemist’s assistant leaves the workshop every day. She gathers the stones by calling their names--clicks of her tongue, syllables of silver, turquoise and jade. They flock to her and sing their stories. For her, the stones unlock their shy mysteries and shine. For her, mistress of the new world.
cuervosueno

cuervosueno

0
attar shanas's blog
 

Wishlist: Somnium

Oneroi - Created to invoke the ancient Greek deities of dreams. On the shores of the ocean, somewhere in the West, they dwell behind their gates of horn and ivory. Soporific, dark, and unfathomable.   Nanshe - The Babylonian Goddess of Dreams, who bestows the power of Oneiromancy onto her priests. This blend opens up psychic sensitivity during sleep and aids in the understanding and correct interpretation of portents and symbols.
sissa125

sissa125

0
attar shanas's blog
 

Wishlist: Excolo

Elegba - He opens all paths of communication, both mundane and Heavenly. His ofrenda contains coconut, tobacco and sweet, sugared rum.   * Gaueko - Blackened sandalwood and misty lavender, with curling wisps of smoky tobacco, nag champa, and labdanum.   Ochosi - He is the protector of children, the weak, the helpless, and the aged. His ofrenda is the soft shea he shares with Obatala, forest herbs, and sprucewood arrow shafts.   Olokun - Though decaying matter settles in His home, the Kingdom itself does not decay or erode. He is represented by the mudfish and his favor is shown through red coral and shark spines. His ofrenda is the scent of the lightless deep: the glorious, unknowable gloom of the ocean floor.   Pele - This perfume embodies her gentler, benign aspect as the capricious Goddess of Dance: muguet and Hawaiian white ginger enveloped by warm, damp tropical blooms.
sissa125

sissa125

0
attar shanas's blog
 

Wishlist: Diabolus

Kumiho - Nine-tailed fox demon of Korean lore who transforms into the visage of an irresistible beauty in order to seduce men and lead them to their doom. A sharp, biting blend of crisp white tea and ginger.
sissa125

sissa125

0
Court's Vices and Musings
 

BPAL Bottle Inventory

I have many more bottles than I actually use, so I'm going to break down what I do use on a regular basis and what I don't into two seperate inventory lists. This is mostly to remind myself to get off my ass and actually sell/swap/decant from the bottles I don't use sometime soon.   Bottles I Love Or Like (divided into two rows of those I regularly use and love and those I like but use less often):   (Love) Fenris Wolf (10ml) The Cracked Bell Luperci Thanatos   (Like) Buck Moon Sed Non Satiata The Pit and the Pendulum Berenice Bloodlust Fallen Jacob's Ladder Blood Moon Temple of the Horned God (TAL) War (TAL)   -----------   Those I Don't Use (for whatever reason, usually because they don't work on me or aren't to my tastes):   Salamander (TAL) Mars The Masque The Rat King Harvest Moon 2005 (Never even opened! What's wrong with me? I think I originally purchased this solely for swapping purposes) Fruit Moon 2005 Dreamland The Haunted Palace Red Lantern Red Phoenix Khajuraho Chaos Theory CDIV The Scales of Deprivation   ----------   I think that's all of them...(not including those I have on order)
attar shanas's blog
 

Wishlist: Sin and Salvation

Bow and Crown of Conquest - Nobility and haughtiness befitting the Antichrist: sage, carnation and cedar with lavender, vanilla, white musk and leather.   * Death on a Pale Horse - The End of All Things: empty white musk and mint seeped with solemn lavender, doleful patchouli and vetiver, scythe-sharp yuzu and lime, with geranium bourbon, white sandalwood and calla lily.
sissa125

sissa125

0
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