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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
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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
Lost like Alice...
 

I'm here - promise!

If you're looking me up to make sure I'm still breathing - I am!   I was mopping the floor 2 Sundays ago - and started having trouble breathing and began experiencing chest pains - the next thing I knew, I was in an ambulance - my roommate said I collapsed. I was kept in the hospital for 4 days and was told that my tests were "unremarkable" so I'm hoping that's a good thing (hehe) They are thinking acid reflux induced or exercise induced asthma.   A day after I finally escaped the hospital, my mom inadvertently gave me a virus that she had contracted from one her friends - so I've been in bed since and back in the hospital over the weekend when my fever hit 103 and my eyeballs felt like they were on fire - I'm still fighting a sore throat, chest congestion, fatigue, ear pain, stomach pain, sinus headache, and an uncontrollable cough - I'm all caught up on packages except for one special one to the Netherlands (you know who you are...grin) - but horribly behind on messages - it's going to take me awhile to get caught up on everything!   I just want to update anyone looking for me - if I owe you feedback or anything else - please contact me! My personal e-mail is wendyrhill AT hotmail DOT COM.
pinkgyrl

pinkgyrl

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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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!
Spacekitty

Spacekitty

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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

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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
Apple

Apple

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Beware of Redhead - The BPAL Version
 

For my lovely Switch Witch - answers to questions...

Candy corn? Oh please no. Please please please no.   Bugs? Bugs on things - that's fine. But I'm not eating any. Nope.   What was your favorite ghost/scary/campfire story growing up? The Fall of the House of Usher or the Tell Tell Heart I think.   Do you decorate for Halloween? what sort of decorations? Oh hell yes. Although last year was the first year in our new place and there were hardly any kids to enjoy my cemetery garden. I will decorate never the less. Tombstones, bones, blood, and a hanging skeleton to start with...   Dress up for Halloween? Not as often as I should, but I love to do it. I always have my witch hat for work, but I think this year I might go all out. As what yet, I dunno.   Do you like horror flicks? I like scary, not gruesome. I don't love the Texas Chainsaw or Saw type movie, but I like old Hitchcock, Friday the 13th stuff, anything involving werewolves, vampires etc - monsters I guess. Anything scary supernatural. Just don't try and gross me out, that's not fun or interested from where I sit.   If you have a garden/planter box, what do you grow? I have a tiny garden plot. I have scarlet runner beans, some hostas, some alyssum, a couple of angel's trumpets and a planet I have been unable to id. I'm going to do some bulbs this year. For spring. If you want to send me seeds or stuff, I'd love it Keep in mind my garden gets very little direct sunlight - it's a shadey spot almost all day.   i haz no imp storage. do you? Ammo boxes are lovely things!   What incense scents do you prefer? I like my incense to smell well - inscensey Patchouli, sandalwood, sage, lavender that sort of thing. I don't like scents like "Goddess Rain" or anything. Just straight forward stuff. I usually use it only ritually anyway. For room smellies I burn tarts.   Fluevogs? I love them very much and covet them. I sadly can't afford them. I love beautiful well made shoes     What is one item that you've wanted forever, could have afforded, but have never gotten and why (haven't you gotten it!)? Things on my Etsy list I think. Nothing is too expensive but I haven't had a lot of disposable income of late.   Right or left-handed? Rightie.   Reduce/reuse/recycle? Yep, we're actually required by law here to recycle and compost but I've been doing it for a long time anyway. And I shop second hand and love used stuff like books etc - so if you have something that you think I would love, I'm cool with you passing it on.   Crafting supplies? I did scrapbook. I haven't managed to get to it lately.   Tattoos? I have two. They're small. One is an orca on my left ankle, and the other is a pentagram on my shoulder. I plan on getting something this year to celebrate turning 40, it will have crows in it, maybe in a spiral, and I think it will be on my back or side.   Favorite time periods? I've been really liking the whole steam punk look. I love Victorian stuff too, and the whole steam punk thing is awesome.   Halloweenies? I joined a decant circle for some of the Sleepy Hollow scents - I'm hoping to love Ichabod but we'll see   What is your favorite part about fall? I'm lucky enough to live somewhere where fall happens I guess. I love all about it. The leaves changing, the sense of purpose from back to school, getting to wear sweaters but not have to wear winter coats....I like fall a lot. Much more than bloody winter. I hate winter.   Office supplies? Pretty gel pens in fun colours. I write in black ink, never blue.   Favorite Halloween candy? Chocolate bars or Salt and Vinegar chips   What is your favorite pumpkin goodness? I don't actually love pumpkin. I'm meh about it. I like squash. I like sweet potato but never got into pumpkin. I can eat it, but I don't loooooooooooooove it. And I find the smell to be blah. Thing is I have this weird thing where stuff I smell can sometimes make me taste things completely opposite to what I smell. Pumpkin does this (as does cherry, artificial fruits, licorice and strong flowers. OH and pine sol). So I can't enjoy it.
Aevalin

Aevalin

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Lumina's Blog
 

Switch Witch Questions & my answers: part the first

Whoah, I've got a lot of catch-up posting to do! I'm going to start with the most recent questions:   Where are a few of your favorite places? There’s a little out-of-the-way tea room that I love, which is attached to the battiest plant nursery I have ever seen. The tea room is one of those really quirky places: It has a tiny kitchenette with a counter, a kettle and a tea cupboard containing perhaps four kinds of teabag. All the china is mismatched. You order your tea, go through an aged wooden doorway and take a table in this amazing room. All the walls are covered in brightly-coloured Indian wall-hangings and there are lamps, ornaments, statues of the Buddha, pictures of gods, baskets of pine cones, copper pots, freaky-looking things that might be either a kettle or a distillation device, and just loads of random stuff covering every single surface. (If you look closely, everything in there has a price sticker attached.) There is an old stone fireplace, and if you look up at the ceiling you’ll see the ivy that has crept in through the roof and is curling around the beams. There's a cozy, settle-in-and-make-yourself-comfortable kind of atmosphere. I love sitting at a table in this place and drinking tea and just looking at everything and enjoying the ambience. It’s a totally unique place, weird in the best possible way. Other favourite places are the rose garden of Regent’s park in London; any wooded areas or pine forests; and an area of the Dorset coast where my family used to go on holiday. Out of curiosity, all the fall babies who are celebrating their birthdays during the round - who are you, and when is your bday? Um, I celebrate my name day is on September 29th. But my actual birthday is March 26th, so I doesn't count   What is one (only one) object that you collect, that totally goes against your personality or beliefs? Stuffed toy animals. Totally against my personality, but strokable/soft textures are like my personal catnip or something.   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’m working on developing an addiction icon_wink.gif I'm vegan, so would not use soaps containing animal products e.g. goat’s milk. I’d love to try the Shub-Niggurath soap from BPTP, but it seems not to be around ATM. I’d also like to try some more Arcana and Villainess.   Do you like kilts and would you wear one? I’m English, so I wouldn’t wear one because a) it’s not part of my heritage; b] kilts are for men, right? c) For myself personally I don’t like the style too much. It just wouldn’t look good on me the way it does on some people. On the other hand I do love the wonderful variety of tartan colours and patterns. I think a tartan scarf would be lovely. What's your favorite book? My Latin dictionary, because it has special significance to me for various reasons, and because it is pretty much essential to my studies. Also, I have a 19th century folio-size copy of Paradise Lost with full-page Gustave Dore illustrations, and I love it to bits. It’s a little battered about the cover and has that old book smell, the pages feel beautiful to turn, and there is a fold of tissue paper covering each illustration. For me, those qualities make it feel really special to read. It appeals to my aesthetic sense of what the reading experience ought to be. (Does that sentence work in English? I'm too tired to think properly )   What size socks do you wear? How about hat size? I wear UK size 7 socks. I don’t know how you work out hat size, but my head measures about 56cm circumference. Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand? I’m really picky about which comics I read. I’ve read Sandman and Lucifer, and made a start on Preacher. Nothing else has captured my interest ATM. I’ve dipped into Manga here and there. Little Pet Shop of Horrors is one I like; Fruits basket was okay but a little… 'unexciting' for me. Eerie Queerie was amusing. Right now I’m more interested in illustrated novels rather than comics.   Symbols that are meaningful to me? The ankh, the eyes of Horus, the yin-yang, the Raven, the tree of life, the cross of the crucified, the triskele, the hexagram, the winged hourglass.   By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl? I’m naturally nocturnal   What's your favorite type of music to hear live, rather than recorded? Jazz piano; classical.   What is your favorite autumnal-seasonal drink? Cinnamon spice tea   Might need to edit this post later. Tired brain=dumb tonight. Apologies for any major non-seq's, etc.
Lumina

Lumina

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Kaya's Blog
 

Missed another Switch

I've sadly missed another Switch Witch which makes me really sad because I really wanted to participate in this one. Just didn't realize what day it was. This is what happens when your holed up in a house for several days Halloween is my favorite time of year! How could I mess this up! Arg! I love mailing things out to people and receiving things in return through the mail! This is something I don't do often enough because so few people seem to be into that anymore. I yearn for reasons to be creative and reaching out to someone new in the process! Whatever happen to pen pals? Seriously. This has put me in a bit of dower mood. Not to mention my child is taking this opportune time to be fussy. Thank goodness for men right?
djtatsu

djtatsu

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Hoyden's BPALog
 

Stimulating Sassafrass Strengthener

I'll add my voice to the throng of endorsements for Doc's SSS. It is a thing of wonderment, a divine gift of buttery rootbeery delicousness. I'm all agog.     I get no snaily bits from this.   Disclaimer: The Pharmacopoeia is not responsible for injuries sustained whilst walking around with your nose buried in your own cleavage.
TPOD

TPOD

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djsiberia's Blog
 

switch witch q & a

dear witchie,   please if you plan on purchasing food items for me, try to avoid yellow #5 and red # whatever or any items with fd&c coloring in them..i try to avoid these things like the plague.   i do love dark chocolates...other candy type items are lost on me and end up getting re-gifted.   i also avoid SLS, SLES, and propylene glycol - just think of me as vegan or something     ***10/6*** If you had to chose one BPAL scent and only ONE to have forever what would it be? um....schwarzer mond     ***10/4*** Who here likes Betty Page? sure   How about original Trek Characters? naw. i like the next gen and the borg   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)? i have a deck that i rarely use   What kind of tea (or coffee) puts you in a fall/Halloween mood? And where do you get it? pumpkin spice, chai, gingerbread, apple cider. adagio teas or republic of tea   Favorite Halloweeen song? something on the nightmare before x-mas soundtrack   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     ***9/25*** Speaking of historical fiction, how does everyone feel about Sherlock Holmes? no thanks   Favorite cartoons or animated films? i love anime and tim burton   Your take on the election? In other words, would you enjoy campaign related gifts, or prefer to stay neutral? no thanks   Villians you sympathise with, or are interested in boinking? hm...not sure   Your stance on the all important peanut butter issue: crunchy? creamy? allergic? chocolate? maple? go directly to nuttella, do not pass go? creamy. love chocolate   Who here likes to read historical fiction? If you do, what eras/people/countries intrigue you the most? sometimes     ***9/24*** What sort of colors do you currently wear? Do you want to branch outside that? What would you like to try? black, dark grey, red, purple, chocolate brown. white is bad.   ***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 have cones & sticks. i actually make my own   What's everyone's favorite fairytale and what are your favorite versions of it? hrm. i used to like snow white and some other stuff when i was little   So how many imps/decants is officially 'you have gone overboard and your Witchee is going to expire from scent overload'? not sure   Who needs a recipe box? i need a binder actually   ANYONE ELSE want a home-made cookbook? i have lots of cookbooks and i usually just print things off as i find them     ***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 wouldn't mind. though i suspect my paper towel consuption is going to be drastically lowered because my cat who used them all has been put to sleep.   What craft (or crafts) have you been wanting to try but have no idea where to start? not sure. i try to be crafty, but i fail. i really want to make candles but i haven't found a book that i like   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? um...that's kinda hard. i'm always getting music since i dj and i have a bunch that i just downloaded to preview and my computer is broken so i have no way to access itunes. might be best to skip the music unless its something out of my normal genre. (i'm looking for some really good new trance)   Polish goodies! Who wants them? Baked goods, candies, kielbasa, pirogies, magazines, you name it? um...no meat and we're good     ***9/18*** How do you avoid popping an item for yourself into an order you're placing for your witchie? i don't...i cave in   Underpants? Do you like them? What's your style? Size? yes. i wish i could find some cute ones though. i like bikini's, boy shorts (underoo style)...seriously a girl's 14   What tea would you love to try but haven't because of price or difficulty to get? i love tea. so any!   BPTP Room Sprays...your thoughts? i kinda want to try samhain and sugar skull   Would you like to receive baked goods from your Witch? And if so, are there things you WOULDN'T like? sure..not a fan of coconut though...or meat things     ***9/16*** Your thoughts on the update? meh.   How do you decide what to put in which package for your Witchee or how many packages to send? not sure, i'm having a hard time with that right now.   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? nope   ***9/14-9/16*** Do you often drink take away coffe in paper mugs? sometimes. only when i'm out of coffee and i make a random drive-by. i also lack a mug at work so....i'm terrible   What would a perfume based on you smell like? not sure. i tried loreto's custom blend, but the anise is over-powering everything and i'm not a fan of it. i suppose something sexy like schwarzer mond   Who here likes Wizard of Oz things? not me   ***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? not really   ***9/12*** What will you like from Singapore? Candies? Food? Asian crafts/toys? i'm games as long as there isn't fish or meat in it   What is everyone's "luck" item? i don't think i have one   Do you like art deco/nouveau - style prints? depends on the style   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? anything really. i get easily distracted   How do you feel about Hello Kitty? OMG!!!! LURVE HER!!!!     **** 9/11*** Legwarmers? Armwarmers? yes, please with skulls   What makes everyone stand out from the Switch Witch herd? i dunno?   If you are into the original Nintendo system, what 3 games would you want that you don't have? i don't have one. i think we have a super nes? and i just got a wii   What is your favorite category of the GC? i don't know...i kinda like a few random scents from each category...although i don't think i've found 1 single excolo that has ever worked for me     ***9/10*** Stance on Joss Whedon and his enterprises? i love buffy & angel. can't stand firefly - mostly because it has that chick who was the evil in that season of angel that was WEIRD   Has anyone tried ice wine before? Do/did they enjoy it? what is this???   What other perfume companies (besides bpal) have you been curious about? ? i have tried a few possets, but i think i'm sticking to bpal because then i would never have money.   Does anyone here do anything with grave rubbings? nope   Would you enjoy art based on original Graveyard photography? i have lots...that's what i would do in my free time   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? yes...i have lots. um, i think i'm just under djsiberia or something. please ask if you want to add me, i can always check...though i know i'm on stellans list     ***9/9*** Do you play a musical instrument? not anymore   What do you think of Irrelevant Disturbing and Surreal Crawdad Dream? Love it? Hate it? Kicking yourself for not getting a bottle? not my thing   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? sometimes they are ok   Can melty things be shipped to you, or will they be in puddles by the time you open the package? it's starting to cool off a lot here. if the package is big enough, then they just hold it at the post office. when in doubt just send it to my work address   Who likes pirates? yes!!!   What are your feelings about Dia De Los Muertos? SKULLS!!! YIPPY!!!!   What do you think about the Nightmare Before Christmas? LOVE IT!!! i just don't own the soundtrack - though i should   If candy is sent, would you prefer small amounts to a Halloween sized bag? i like variety and whatever is cool   Do you like notes in your soaps or bath stuff that you don't like in your perfumes? If so which? depends. i like my soaps/etc to be more foody   Do you like floral soaps or bath stuff? If so, what florals work and what don't? depends...i love roses, most florals give me a headache     ***9/8*** How do y'all feel about honey and maple? And different flavored honey, not just the standard kind? bring it on. just no meat flavoring please   What is your favorite thing to do on a cool fall day? have tea or coffee, sit in the sun, and read a book with the cats...take a hot hot hot bath/shower and relax     ***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? they have this cat nip mousey they love, any ball that dispenses catnip, a toy with attachments on the end - one of those fishing rod toys, they like all treats - they especially like the new flavors i bought them   What's your ringtone? the ring tone from the japanese version of one missed call...it's way creepier than the american version and i always say, "well, looks like i'm going to die in a week" whenever someone calls me.   Just to throw a silly question out there...Munsters or Addams Family, y'all? addams family   What think you about receiving tea accessories and/or miscellany (like mugs, cups, saucers, strainers/filters, honey, natural sweeteners [like stevia])? bring it on   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 game   Say, witches, I have a question about birthdays. do you expect/rely on other people to plans birthday outings and activities? depends. i'm lazy when it comes to my birthday...so if the boy wants to do something for it...he can plan it. otherwise i'm happy to wander around the botanical gardens and have a jimmy john's sub and a drink   Tarts? Yes/no? yes   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.)? they do sound delicious! just no bacon or meat please.     ***9/6*** What's your favorite animal? kitties   What one (or two, if you really must) BPAL bottles are you most longing for? more moriarty and another crypt queen   If you could have dinner/drinks/coffee with any 3 living people that are not your family/friends already, who would they be-? jet li, budgie (from siouxsie & the banshees & the creatures), johnny depp     ***9/5*** If you could bring back any TV show from cancellation what would it be? six feet under, buffy when it was good, angel, um...star trek the next generation and maybe a borg spin off series   I wonder if my witchee would like a blanket type thing. Would you? i have fleece throws. my kitties might like a blanket   What's your favorite "I know it's bad for me but I can't help myself" treat? chips? nachos? um, but i eat those healthfood chips and machos are just delicious..are they really bad if you only eat them once every 4 months?   Very important question: Are you planning on buying anything off your BPAL and/or other wishlists during the round? probably. i need more moriarty before she comes down. even if i buy it, doesn't mean i don't wnat duplicates. i'm fine with what ver is sent even if i've already bought a million of it. seriously   Do you wear a watch? If so, what kind/style? i have a kuromi watch braclet thing   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. my boy's parents did that for x-mess. though i don't know where they donated money, but i know it went to a very poor place where they didn't have clean running water, etc.     ***9/4*** What is your favorite art movement and/or style? ie impressionist, surrealist, art nouveau, etc. photography. i don't like anne geddes. please don't send any of anne geddes work.   Do you have a case for your mp3 player/digital camera? If you would want one, what size is your digital device? yes i have a case for everything important For tea drinkers, do you bag it or prefer loose both   Does the weather change where you are, as in, does it get cold in the winter? Anyone need homegrown scarves, hats, mittens, etc? yes it changes. yes, it gets stupid cold in the winter and it snows a lot. last year we had over 100 inches of snow. i wanted to put my space heater outside and hope that it would melt everything. by the time winter was done i was soooooo sick of snow. i also think spent about 2 months in my car just trying to get home and to work. i have scarves...and a hat, i might need mittens though. i also love leg warmers and fingerless gloves, arm warmers etc. i hate being cold.   Who are your forum buddies? People you know well enough online or IRL to help your Witch pick out stuff for you? i don't really have any. i guess i see hackess more than anyone on my list.     ***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? i'm not sure, homemade bath products?   Does your cell phone have a place to attach charms? no. i have a few that i picked up in japan that i can't use so i just attach them to my computer desk   If you drink coffee (and make it yourself) do you use a French Press, regular filter basket coffee maker, Espresso Machine, Percolator? press pot when the coffee maker decides to stop working.   What movie soundtracks (or scores) do you love? um...nightmare before x-mas, except i don't own the soundtrack for some reason   How do you scent yourself? Do you layer soaps, moisturizers, etc. or do you go straight to slathering your bod with BPAL? i slather bpal in the morning, shower at night and use a smooch! i try to avoid scented lotions because i love huffing bpal   Do you/how do you scent your world? Candles, incense, diffusers, potpourri? None of the above? yes. no potpurri though. maybe i should try   BPAL is such a scent-ual experience. What are your other tactile, aural, or olfactory pleasures? taste, sight, hearing, and fizzy water?     ***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'm game. as long as they are vegetarian or vegan, we're good   What are your pet's names, and what are they named for? nihil - orange tabby cat who believes in nothing. no really, he doesn't. um, and he an'nihil'ates things pepper - tortie cat. she's a princess. she has this spot on her paw that reminded me of salt & pepper     ***9/1*** music genres: mostly, goth, industrial, some trance, european pop (like marsheaux, covenant, etc), synthpop   Do you have phobias? YES! spdiers, centipedes, clowns, potato bugs, all bugs except butterflies and dragon flies...we're good as long as they stay away from me.   video games: yes! i loved used games. i have a Wii, a ps2, and a gameboy advance sp. i am currently eyeing up the following wii games: mysims, fit, lego star wars, lego iniana jones, lego batman, and maybe ddr   Bandaids: i love funky ones. i'm actually allergic to the adhesive of a certain kind of band-aid brand strips and i can't remember which. i think it was the waterproof with the clear bandage? i have yet to start breaking out in itches from hello kitty band-aids.   How do you like your mix CDs? Random? Stuff you know you'll like? i try to tailor them to the person. usually thet end up being 30-40 minutes dj mixes   Would you rather get food or jewellery? either or none...whatever, i'm totally cool with anything - except see disclaimer above   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?: no thanks   English candy/tea/marmite or other stuff that you love and can't easily get outside of England? not sure? i love tea, candy and i don't know what marmite is...mostly i love japanese teas and candies a lot! red wine flavored kit kats? blood orange kit kats? chestnut kit kats? YUMMMMMM   Any beaders here? Need beading supplies? no, i haven't tried that   Do you like making up your SW packages around a theme, or prefer to mix it all up? depends on the witch. i really want to do halloween themed packages this round   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 only my second round, so no   What kinds of eye shadows do we all like? i tend to wear browns, red, red-browns   Do you like lip balm? If so, do you like tinted, glossy, sparkly, pearly or just plain lip balm? OMG! bring it on...all of it   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? And, secondly, what is something you've been searching for but just can't find? a cheap bjd and i loved all of my gifts and the gifts i gave     ***8/30*** Do you knit/crochet? Do you need any supplies? nope   Who here has an etsy shop? not me   What are your two favorite etsy shops? none? i have been eyeing those creatures this one girls knits (i can't remember the name)   Are you active on any other boards/forums? If so please specify where and your username there. not really, just bpal. i signed up at the villainess & cocoa pink forum, but heck if i have time to keep track of those plus bpal, plus lj, plus myspace, and goodreads. i'm really active on bpal, myspace, lj, and goodreads under the same name djsiberia or dj_siberia   How do people feel about feet? YUCK!!! KEEP AWAY   If you were to get earrings from your SW, what kind would you prefer? i have stretched ears   Anyone need scent lockets? a triple dagger locket, but i don't expect mah witchie to get that   How adventurous are you when it comes to food/candies? as long as it's vegetarian/vegan we're good...i do love the japanese kit kats! OMG TO DIE FOR - especially red wine flavored kit kats and green tea & red bean YUMMMM   My Space: yes, dj siberia - let me know if you want me to add you - my profile is set to private to avoid creeps   My appearance in general: 4' 11', petite , purple hair, sorta nerdy glasses, gothy/industrial   Dreams I have for the future: becoming an evil overlord or ninja   How important is BPAL in your Switch Witch packages? not important. if mah witch feels the need then by all means   "Used" BPAL? Ugly BPAL? Empties? no problems   If you could take on an existing superhero identity... um. harley from batma   If you could meet anyone living and anyone dead, who would it be? jet li   Webcomics: megatokyo   Fun fact about me: i can probably drink most people under the table?   What if your witch gets you something you've already ordered? no worries! its all good here   Hard Candies: sure!   Other Mailable Food Items: Sure!   If Your Job had no Dress Code: short skirts & stompy boots   Scent diffusers? i could use 1 more tart burner   genetic brushes with celebrity? i met siouxsie sioux, had coffee with budgie, got a kiss on the cheek by daniel ash     ***8/29*** What would you tell yourself 6 months in the past about 2008 so far? it's full of pain   If you had one minute of fame, what would you do/say in the spotlight? please stop buying suv's   Robots versus zombies: who wins? zombies. robots will eventually rust or something   What would zombie say? brains   Where are a few of your favorite places? san francisco, japan, and any where that isn't madison or the midwest   Out of curiosity, all the fall babies who are celebrating their birthdays during the round - who are you, and when is your bday? sorry, mine's in may   What is one (only one) object that you collect, that totally goes against your personality or beliefs? nothing. i only collect stuff i like that fits me   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? yes. i try to avoid dyes. i use villainess soaps and lush too - dying to try more cocoapink stuff - unscented though, her scents scare me   Do you like kilts and would you wear one? if its super short and i can wear neat tights and cool stompy boots   What's your favorite book? i like to think of books in series if i can...i love the dresden files, nana manga series by ai yazawa, and some other stuff   What size socks do you wear? How about hat size? i'm a size 6.5 - 7 in US women's shoes, so the same sock size. i don't do hats - only in winter   Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand? yes. johnny the homocidal maniac, squee, lenore, etc..i've been reading manga (nana)   Symbols that are meaningful to me? kitties, hello kitty, kuromi, gloomy bear?   By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl? mornings - YUCK...i prefer the night time   What's your favorite type of music to hear live, rather than recorded? bands - nick cave, siouxise and the creatures, neubauten, um...yea, people who can actually play instruments and not sit behind a lap top and tweek knobs. i'm so bored with electronic bands   What is your favorite autumnal-seasonal drink? beer, wine, tea     ***8/28*** Crossword puzzles? Other pencil puzzles? no thanks   Favorite artist? um. joyce tennesen & richard avedon   Favorite poet? poe maybe?   Halloween. Do you like it kooky or creepy? both   Reserved or Raunchy? both   Earth, Wind, Fire or Water? i'm an air sign...i like fire and earth   Tea or Coffee in the morning? both   Fruity snacks or chocolate? choco!   Would you accept art? sure   Antiques or Brand New? both   What keywords do you use when searching for items for yourself on Etsy? i'm rarely on there   Are there any of y'all who are allergic/sensitive to having natural fibers on your skin? wool makes me itch   What was your favorite ghost/scary/campfire story growing up? ? i can't remember   Bugs? Do you like 'em or not? nope   i haz no imp storage. do you? sorta, but i keep eyeing up those ammo boxes...so i will probably order one in a week     ***8/27*** If you have a garden/planter box, what do you grow? whatever i won't kill   What incense scents do you prefer? nag champa, frankincense, myrrh, dragon's blood, patchouli, amber   Do you decorate for Halloween? What sort of decorations? Dress up for Halloween? its 365 halloween around here. i try to dress up - depends if i dj or not really. if i don't dj the club night, i am usually not dressed up because i can't figure out what i want to be   Bats, cats, skeletons, monsters, vampires, witches or what other ghoulies do you prefer? bats, kitties, skullies, vampires, witchies hooray!   Do you like horror flicks? OMG yes, i love cheesey vampire flicks   Who here prefers stylus and ink to ballpoint? Anyone invested time and effort into calligraphy or proper Victorian writing? i would love to learn calligraphy and proper victorian writing   What about stationery? Need some? What styles do you like? yes, i have lots...my penpal is MIA because he got married...so i have all this stuff and no one to send it to. i also have envelope templates     ***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!)? BJD (ball jointed doll - lutz or volks or something)   What Halloween scent are you most looking forward to? hrm..i already ordered sugar skull & katrina van tassel. those were the only 2 that i wanted. i do love the sugar skull though - oh yesssh   Tattoos! Do you have em? Do you want em? Whatcha got or getting? no - hate needles and can't decide   Reduce - REUSE - recycle. Do others feel the same? yes   What is your favorite crafting supply? japanese paper or any kind of paper (wrapping etc)   Weigh in...Are you right or left-handed? right   Any period of time that you love? victorian, roaring 20's, 80's (the music, not the fashion)     ***8/25*** What's your favorite part about Fall? halloween! the weather. not sure if its fall or not, but dia de los muertos..um, nightmare before x-mess stuff fo'sure!   Do you like office/school supplies? If so, what is your favorites? no thanks, i just borrow from work   What's your favorite Halloween candy? dark chocolate anything. please do not send candy corn or marshmallow stuffs...i really dislike those 2 things. i do love the fall flavors japan has for their kit kats - oh yes i do!   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? depends on the witch   What is your favorite pumpkin goodness? pumpkin cheesecake bars, pumpkin beer, pumpkin & spice candles, pumpkin chocolates
djsiberia

djsiberia

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Seismogenic's Blog
 

Switch Witch questions from last round

So after making a massive post of questions today, I realized they are not This Round questions. I'll stick the old questions here instead.   Scarves? Southern California does not get cold enough for scarves. Or at least it hasn't since I've lived here.   If you could design your own perfume oil, which notes would it have? Uhh, I dunno. I would loooove to see a set of oils based on Mahler's "Das Lied von der Erde," though, and I've been thinking about what might go into those.   Purses? Nope.   If you were to get earrings from your SW, what kind would you prefer? My ears aren't pierced, and I'm not looking to get extra holes put into my body at any time in the foreseeable future.   Anyone need scent lockets? Not really.   Strange Fondness for: Terrible disaster movies. Like "Volcano" or "The Day after Tomorrow." I keep joking about making my own sometime.   Song on repeat? Lately, it has been Janet Beazley's "Run Away, Sally Ann," which is creepy and awesome. This changes from week to week, though.   Anyone here like pecan brittle? OM NOM NOM NOM MOAR PLZ.   What BPAL didn't work on you? The Coiled Serpent gave me a wheezing and sneezing allergic reaction within 20 minutes. Schrödinger's Cat disappeared in a very short amount of time.   What chat/im capabilities do you have, or would you be able/willing to chat up your witch? I mostly stick to AIM, and I'm on it pretty often. I'm up for chatting, though wouldn't that give the surprise of who is whose witch/witchee away?   What sorts of things--products, foods, household items--do you absolutely love and constantly try to enable people with? There is this frozen yogurt place near where I live. There are all kinds of flavors and toppings, and you get to mix them together yourself. They are priced by weight. It is easy to rack up a $6 sundae, and it is SO tasty. I have been enabling all of my friends to this place.   What is your favorite beverage (adult bev. if you are of age)? Proooobably tea.   Board games? Scrabble! And Apples to Apples, which isn't technically a board game, but is so much fun.   How do people feel about feet? Mine are flat. They are so flat that they screw up my gait, which screws up my knees. I went to a physical therapist for the pain, and he said I had the flattest feet he'd ever seen, except for possibly my dad's feet. Curse you, genetics!   So what's everyone's favorite BPTP nail color? I don't wear nail polish.   How do you feel about leather/leather scraps? No objections.   Do you like spicy/Asian food? YES! Yes, yes.   How adventurous are you when it comes to food/candies? I have to know what's in it (not going to eat bugs or intestines or something), but within that, I am pretty adventurous. When it comes to stuff like ice cream, I will sometimes order a new flavor that I don't have a clue what it is, just to see what it's like.   What websites MUST everyone visit at least daily? I assume we all visit the BPAL forum every day! I personally check the Recent Earthquakes In California page daily. Also LOLcats, and Cake Wrecks.   Tarot Decks? Never had one, nor have I had a reading done.   My Space: Don't have one.   My appearance in general: Short, average weight, short brown hair, brown eyes, glasses, usually wearing jeans and nerdy t-shirts, often carrying some sort of musical instrument.   Dreams I have for the future: Living in the Bay Area, with a job that allowed me to both do research and teach and paid enough that I did not have to stress out over finances all the time (and could occasionally travel), and with music to play in my spare time.   Issues that I will get on my soapbox about: Natural disaster preparedness, how cleaning up after past disasters should be handled, arts and science education, how patriotic bandwagoning scares me...   What are the general patterns in your house / bedroom? Light wood or white furniture (except for the black chairs), white walls, gray carpet. My bedsheets are green, tan, white, and blue.   How important is BPAL in your Switch Witch packages? I'd be surprised if it wasn't involved, considering the venue is the BPAL forum, but it isn't vital at all. Whatever items my Witch thinks would fit will be awesome!   "Used" BPAL? Ugly BPAL? Empties? No problem.   Deadly sin? It has definitely been sloth this summer.   Song that when it comes on the radio, you look around guiltily, roll up the windows, and then sing along to at top volume? I, uh. Sing along to German art songs in the car. Sometimes with the windows open.   What did you sing along to in the shower this morning? I don't generally sing in the shower, though.   TV shows you wish hadn't been canceled: Firefly   If you could take on an existing superhero identity... I dunno! On an online X-Men roleplaying game, I play Rictor, who causes earthquakes. Does that count?   Did you ever attend a midnight showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show? Do you know the callbacks? Did you come dressed as a particular character? It wasn't midnight, but I went to a performance of the RHPS stage play on my 18th birthday. The guy playing Frank was a friend of the person who got me the tickets to the show. I was not dressed up, but the Narrator made me get up and do the Time Warp anyway.   If you could meet anyone living and anyone dead, who would it be? Living: Jeez. Uh. I don't know! Dead: Gustav Mahler, my favorite composer   Webcomics: Ozy and Millie, Zebra Girl, Wapsi Square, Wondermark, Khaos Komix, XKCD   Fun fact about me: I have studied three non-English languages (Spanish, Russian, and German, though I've pretty much forgotten the Spanish. I'm hoping to start on a fourth (Indonesian) soon.   How much personal swapping/purchasing do you plan on doing this round? Enough to make for a good package and complement the stuff that I'm going to make.   What if your witch gets you something you've already ordered? Cool by me!   Hard Candies: Excellent! Unless they're grape flavored, since that reminds me of this allergy medicine I had to take daily when I was little.   Other Mailable Food Items: Food is good.   If Your Job had no Dress Code: The nerdy t-shirts would come to work with me. I will totally be able to get away with nerdy shirts as a TA in the Earth Sciences department, but my retail lackey job has very specific color and style guidelines.   Scent diffusers? I've never owned one. Could be nice for obscuring the litterbox a little better, but also could be something cats could knock over.   Genetic brushes with celebrity? None that I know of.   what is your favorite time waster? TEH INTARWEBZ!!11!!one!   How do you feel about Gaelic Storm and other Irish folk/drinking song bands? Fun!   How do you feel about homemade pet treats? You'd have to ask my cats! (I suspect they'd approve.)   Gifts for SO? I don't have one.   Lush you are lusting after? My only experience with Lush, if you could even call it experience, is walking past the store at the mall on the way to work.   Are you lusting after any of the new limited summer releases from Villainess? I've never looked at their site either. Though in the Summer Switch Witch thread, I think I saw something that said Villainess and Krakatoa. Javanese volcano soap?   Bubble bars or bath bombs? Both? Neither? Never tried either one. Probably wouldn't be helpful either, since I usually shower rather than take a full bath.   How you feel about the single mug tea filters? The kind that have a mesh or ceramic filter that fit right it the mug? I had one. It was great. And then certain cats decided it would look better in several pieces on the floor. (I suppose it could have been certain earthquakes in July, since I noticed it was broken that week, but considering the only other thing the quake knocked down in my apartment were some imps, I think the cats are the more likely culprits.)     Favorite GCs? Tombstone! Coyote! Also Robin Goodfellow, Lightning, and Tenochtitlan. Yeah, my first imp pack was full of winners.   I have a question: What's your most often overlooked scent in your bpals? Hm. Probably Tenochtitlan. It was the first one I tried, and I liked it, but I don't reach for the imp as much as with Tombstone, Coyote, and Robin. When I do reach for it, I remember why I like it.   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? I admit to still enjoying Redwall immensely.   What's hanging on your walls? What do you want hanging on your walls? Many of my walls are bare, but the ones that aren't contain photos I took of various places in California. There are a lot of the Carrizo Plain (So pretty! And Coyote smells like the Carrizo smells. I think this is why I love Coyote.), and also a panorama of the San Bernardino Mountains that spans a good hundred miles or so. I also have a print of a 1904-ish poster advertising Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly.   What are you? CORSET or CAMI??? And....why? Neither! Just t-shirts. Yep.   Maple syrup: Y/N? Yes!   Undies: Briefs, if you must know.   Most Coveted BPAL: Not quite sure! Still too new to narrow in on one.   Anything you really absolutely don't want to get? No makeup, hair stuff, nail polish, earrings - I won't use these things.   How conventional/weird are you comfortable with? Weird is good!   First concert: A community theatre production of Menotti's opera Amahl and the Night Visitors   What sort of crafties do you do and what sort of crafty supplies do you like? I do a lot of drawing and painting. My weapons of choice here are Prismacolor markers, Pitt pens, and watercolors. I also like to design t-shirts.   Are they up to being gifted with anime? I've never been into anime. But if there's a story you think I'd like, I don't object to anime in the least. I guess I just don't get the whole liking it because it's anime thing, rather than liking it for a good story.   For those of you who play video games, what consoles do you own? I've never had a video game console.   Mailbox situation: I have a small mailbox at my building. The box from my first BPAL order, which was a single imp pack, fit in there, but that's not a huge box. If I'm not home when a package is delivered, it goes to the building manager's office, and I can pick it up the next day.   What’s your favorite genre of books to read? Nonfiction (particularly science and history), historical fiction, some classic literature, humorous stuff, real-world-with-fantasy-elements   How much do you still enjoy playing with toys? I don't really have toys anymore. Unless things like my laptop and iPod count!   What practical goals to you have for the upcoming season? Work my butt off in school, to help get caught up on the geophysics/math background for my degree. Try not to let that overcome every second of free time, though. Some non-work time is required for sanity!   How would you describe your sense of humor? Easily amused, punny, geeky.   Phobias? Cancer, heart disease, anaphylactic shock, really narrow and badly-paved roads that are on the edges of cliffs or dropoffs of some sort   Witch remain a secret? This is at the Witch's discretion, but I would eventually like to know who to thank!   Do you play online games? I do a lot of text-based roleplay, though I haven't done as much lately as I used to.   Do you prefer one large package, a couple of medium packages or a handful small ones spaced out? However my Witch wants to approach it!   Favorite Beatle? George   Hair things/sticks/barrettes: Nope.   Floyd or Zeppelin? Uh. Can't decide.   New question....Beatles or Stones? Beatles!   Platforms? No.   Do you have pictures of your art? http://mitya.deviantart.com
Seismogenic

Seismogenic

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Thought bubble
 

A Hundred Great BPALs....

(Of course there are many more - but this is where I will keep the aftermath of an exploded Top Ten list. And a different day or a different mood would probably garner a different list, but for today these are my loves.)   Resiny Woody Incensy Goodness Minotaur Schwarzer Mond Cathedral Midnight Mass Greed Priala the Human Phoenix Tabula Smaragdina The Lurid Library Riding the Goat Valentine of Rome Resurrection of the Flesh Anne Bonny Mr Jacquel Urd   Snuggle in a Little Closer Baby Baghdad Spider Hunter Moon 07 Luperci Dracul Doc Constantine Tristran Dee Hand of Glory A Bachelor's Dog Bien Loin D'ici Coyote The Lion Sheol Love and Pain Frederic Aziraphale Casanova   I Enjoy Being a Girl... His Station and Four Aces Garden Path with Chickens Love in the Asylum The Peacock Queen Pepper Singing Moon Rose Moon Parlement of Foules Sitting Up With a Sick Friend Beltane 08 Ostara Longing Maiden Glowing Vulva at Ryogoku Bridge Nemesis Lucy's Kiss Orpheus Mama-Ji Lune Noir Florence Les Infortunes De La Vertu Whip   The Great Outdoors The Twisted Oak Tree Ahathoor Deep in Earth Stranger in Camp The Clod and the Pebble The Winter of Our Discontent Worm Moon Black Forest Wolf Moon 06 Oborot Hexennacht 08 October Death of a Gravedigger The Phoenix The House   Lurking in the Shadows Clemence Plunder Umbra Cathode Meskhenet the Vulture Maiden   Scents to Fall Asleep To Old Scratch Sleepy Moon Kephra The King of Hearts Death Cap   Special Kinda Clean Krampus Cytherea Omen Melpomene Sylph Dance of Death Les Anges Dechus Ides of March   Special Kinda Dirty Loviatar Nanny Ashtoreth Geek Shrunken Heads Two Monsters Dream of a Fisherman's Wife Crowley Czernobog   Frooty Patootey Aeronwen Lurid Tenochtitlan Twenty-One Kumiho
aine

aine

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LizardQueen's Blog
 

SW questions through 8/27

***8/27*** If you have a garden/planter box, what do you grow? I plant bulbs in the fall, but as a general rule I’m not much of a gardener.   What incense scents do you prefer? Lurve Nag Champa, and that’s all I’ve owned for a while. I’d be interested in branching out, but don’t really know where to start. Not a fan of floral incense. An incense vendor at the SoCal Renn Faire (the one that’s out in Riverside or wherever) had this scent called Dreams that I absolutely adored as a teenager, but I don’t think I’d be able to describe it, so that’s not terribly helpful, I know – except there are enough people on this forum from SoCal that someone out there might know what I’m talking about…   Do you decorate for Halloween? What sort of decorations? Dress up for Halloween? My primary decorations are always carved pumpkins. I LOVE carving pumpkins! It’s kind of a pain to hollow them out and everything, but it’s worth it. I may have to experiment with sugar skulls this year, too…   Bats, cats, skeletons, monsters, vampires, witches or what other ghoulies do you prefer? Probably all of the above.   Do you like horror flicks? Yes. I like thoughtful horror movies, ones that have a larger point than just being scary (e.g. Romero’s zombie movies) – but slasher flicks from the 70s and 80s can be fun, too. Movies that involve rape and/or torture hold no appeal for me.   Who here prefers stylus and ink to ballpoint? Anyone invested time and effort into calligraphy or proper Victorian writing? Oh no. I don’t have the patience for calligraphy, and I get ink all over myself when using ballpoints and other more mass-market utensils, so my experiment with a fountain pen was a bit of a disaster, and I shudder to think of how much ink I could get everywhere when using a dip pen!   What about stationery? Need some? What styles do you like? Yeah, I could probably use some. I bought a couple of boxes of cards when I was working at Borders (2001-03), and I’m nearly out now. I like a variety, nothing cutesy or too girly or anything like that. Cards with art or photos would be good, or stationary with clean lines, or… I dunno. I bet someone who felt moved to buy me stationery might well have a better idea of what would suit me than I would.     ***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!)? Wow. Well, there’s definitely stuff on my Amazon wishlist that fits all of those requirements. Beyond that, I’m not sure.   What Halloween scent are you most looking forward to? Probably Sugar Skull, since it’s so beloved and seems like it would be right up my alley, and yet somehow I’ve gone this long without sniffing it!   Tattoos! Do you have em? Do you want em? Whatcha got or getting? I currently have four: a dove on the back of my left shoulder, a raven on the back of my right, a lotus flower at the small of my back, and the symbol for the Vishuddha chakra on the back of my neck. I want more, but haven’t settled on anything just yet.   Reduce - REUSE - recycle. Do others feel the same? Very much so. I’m pretty good about recycling, but I could definitely be better about the reducing and reusing parts of the triangle.   What is your favorite crafting supply? Yarn! I like to hug it and pet it and name it George… I really enjoy all the different textures and types, though I try not to buy it if I don’t have a particular use in mind for it. If it’s a gift, though…   Weigh in...Are you right or left-handed? Righty-tighty! (Though, oddly enough, I often unscrew things with my left hand…)   Any period of time that you love? The Rennaisance, the 1920s, the 1960s and 70s, today, the future…     ***8/25*** What's your favorite part about Fall? I love everything about it. The cooler temperatures, the leaves changing colors, the smells, the holidays, etc. etc. etc.   Do you like office/school supplies? If so, what is your favorites? Definitely. My favorites are probably gel pens, and while I really like little notebooks (esp. Moleskines) in theory, I really don’t use them often enough to justify buying them or requesting them.   What's your favorite Halloween candy? I love a variety. I also enjoy those Mallo Pumpkins, much more than I like candy corn. I tend to buy a bag, eat them till I’m ill and call it a season, then do the same the next year.   Will you be participating NaNoWriMo? If so, is there anything you'd like to have for that? I think I might well give it a shot this year. I haven’t written at all in a while (being out of the nurturing environment of grad school is difficult in that respect, not to mention the fact that my final semester was traumatic), so I think even if I don’t succeed (and I very much doubt I will), it’ll give me a good amount of raw material to work with. I don’t know if there’s anything physical I’ll need (though maybe caffeine and/or focus-y herbal tea or something like that), but pokes, reminders, motivation, etc. wouldn’t be unwelcome.     ***8/22*** Where does everyone like to shop for witching goodness? I shop at a mix of brick and mortar stores and online stores, from Target to Magical Omaha, from Abe Books to a little British shop in Lawrence.   What is your favorite pumpkin goodness? I love pumpkin! Pumpkin pie with a huge dollop of real whipped cream is probably my favorite. Pumpkin beer is up there, too, though.
lizardqueen

lizardqueen

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Odd Thoughts from an Odd Duck
 

Extra Questions

***8/22*** Where does everyone like to shop for witching goodness? Etsy is a big favorite of mine because the sellers are so sweet and will send things anonymously. Most offer to include a card or note when they find out it's a gift, and one seller even gift wrapped for me.   What is your favorite pumpkin goodness? Enable me?   ***8/25*** What's your favorite part about Fall? cooler weather finally, Halloween, all the cute new school supplies that aren't necessarily easily available at other times, colors I like back in stores after months of pastels and brights   Do you like office/school supplies? If so, what is your favorites? Cool pens, post it notes, paper clips. Life is too short for boring office supplies!   What's your favorite Halloween candy? Ok, forgive the boring answer here, but the itty bitty candy bars. I'm not a fan of candy corn, or Halloween Peeps, or mallo anything. If my future witchy lives in a place where these are available, I would love to try mango-chili lollipops. Please nothing really sticky -- crowns don'tcha know.   Will you be participating NaNoWriMo? If so, is there anything you'd like to have for that? No. My course load is going to keep me too busy. Story of a 5/4 contract.     ***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!)? This list could be a mile long for me. I'm not good at buying things for myself. One thing I still regret not getting was this fabulous pair of earrings. They were tiny silk roses on french hooks with some sort of finding at the top to hide the connection.   What Halloween scent are you most looking forward to? Ooo....hard choice. I way excited about the Sleepy Hollow scents. And I may cry if Samhain 08 doesn't work on me.   Tattoos! Do you have em? Do you want em? Whatcha got or getting? Getting my first for my big four oh in January. Four stars scattered on my right shoulder, one for roughly each decade -- pink for the daughter my mom tried to turn me into, turquoise/teal for my first steps into my own identity, purple for the time when my inner Me was gathering strength, and black for now.   Reduce - REUSE - recycle. Do others feel the same? Absolutely. None of my future witches should ever hesitate to do thrift store shopping for me.   What is your favorite crafting supply? Um, spray paint and glue? Oh, I bet this means "what would you squee to receive?" doesn't it! I'm mostly a cut and glue kinda girl, so decoupage images, cool paper, ATC blanks, that sort of thing.   Weigh in...Are you right or left-handed? right   Any period of time that you love? ancient Greece, 19th C England, medieval Europe, the late 60s
odd_duck71

odd_duck71

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CordeliaSeduced's Blog
 

Switch Witch Halloween Random Questions

Do you decorate for Halloween? What sort of decorations? Dress up for Halloween? My family decorates for Halloween, very varied things. My mother prefers the country look, I prefer darker, less cutesy and more refined things. I do dress up, this year I'm going as Tuberculosis. Bats, cats, skeletons, monsters, vampires, witches or what other ghoulies do you prefer? I'll admit it, I have a vampire fetish. I have a long-time love affair with bats and monsters, though...and the more monstrous the better. I love bizarre monsters. Do you like horror flicks? Of course. I'm a huge fan of the classics, and older horror films. I've been a bit disappointed by the modern movies, but there are always exceptions. Who here prefers stylus and ink to ballpoint? Anyone invested time and effort into calligraphy or proper Victorian writing? I'm left handed, so writing with real ink is always messy. I love the look, but I need to literally go one word at a time in order to keep it legible. What about stationery? Need some? What styles do you like? I'm always in need of stationary. Cards, notepaper, handmade paper, I love it all. What is one item that you've wanted forever, could have afforded, but have never gotten and why (haven't you gotten it!)? Half of everything on Etsy. I end up favouriting things thinking, "Oh, I'll come back to it when I get paid," and then see the money come and go and never end up getting to it. What Halloween scent are you most looking forward to? Sugar Skull and Sticky Pillowcase. I ordered a bottle of each in my last, but I may end up needing to stock up before they leave for the winter. I can't get enough of sugary, candy scents. Tattoos! Do you have em? Do you want em? Whatcha got or getting? None as of yet, but I can't afford any right now. Also, I think if I get any during my grandmother's lifetime, she'll probably throw me out of her will. But. I want these wings on my back. Reduce - REUSE - recycle. Do others feel the same? I'm all for reusing. But honestly, my family has a hard time with the recycling. Because our township requires us to privately contract recycling companies and it's a pain in the ass. What is your favorite crafting supply? I love paints and pigments. Regardless of what I'm doing, I usually end up using acrylics or pigments. Weigh in...Are you right or left-handed? Left handed. Very, very left-handed. Any period of time that you love? I'm big into Victoriana and the roaring 20s. I'm hard-pressed to find a period that I don't love, but those are my top two. What's your favorite part about Fall? I can get away with wearing spicy scents and cooking spicy foods and no one can complain. X3 Do you like office/school supplies? If so, what is your favorites? Of course. I'm all for pens and note pads and all other variety of things. Me in an office supply store is like a kid in a candy store. What's your favorite Halloween candy? I love Twix. We got triple chocolate Twix at work and now I hate my boss for buying it. Because I actually find myself eying the candy jar every once in a while. Will you be participating NaNoWriMo? If so, is there anything you'd like to have for that? I torture myself with it every year. I usually end up writing horror, so I love to look up creepy, ambient music (like Cinema Strange and the sort) to inspire me. Where does everyone like shop for witching goodness? It depends on what I'm looking for. I tend to brainstorm and then hunt things down. What is your favorite pumpkin goodness? Pumpkin bread. The kind you bake in a can and then fight out afterwards. I've been craving it lately, but can't seem to find the recipe any longer. I wanted to look it over and see what low-fat alternatives I can substitute, but at this point, I'll settle for the full-fat version. Who are your forum buddies? People you know well enough online or IRL to help your Witch pick out stuff for you? I don't really talk to tons of people, but I do write to some people in the mail thread--tarotbydiana, AleciaR, Antimony, Scotchgrrl...I can always answer questions, though, if anyone has questions. 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? I love homemade things. Artwork. Stories. Any talent you might possess--whether it's cooking, crafting, painting, sketching, writing, composing, you name it, I'll love it. Does your cell phone have a place to attach charms? It does! If you drink coffee (and make it yourself) do you use a French Press, regular filter basket coffee maker, Espresso Machine, Percolator? I have a typical filter basket. What movie soundtracks (or scores) do you love? I think I have Labyrinth and the Nightmare Before Christmas in my car, but I have a few others elsewhere. Rocky Horror, Interview with the Vampire (did I mention I love the harpsichord?), and I'm desperately seeking the soundtrack from Cabaret. How do you scent yourself? Do you layer soaps, moisturizers, etc. or do you go straight to slathering your bod with BPAL? Depends on the day. I usually bathe in the evening, but my hair is always scented with sprays and leave-ins, so I pick a coordinating moisturizer and then usually slather myself in BPAL before I leave the house (since my skin sucks down the moisturizer almost instantaneously). Do you/how do you scent your world? Candles, incense, diffusers, potpourri? None of the above? Candles, incense, oils, etc. I need to get my hands on a tart burner, but I can never find one that fits me, or when I do, someone else bought it all ready. BPAL is such a scent-ual experience. What are your other tactile, aural, or olfactory pleasures? All of them? I'm a completely aesthetic person, so chances are if something looks nice, feels nice, smells nice, sounds nice, I'm all over it. I'm a sucker for shiny things, soft things, sweet-smelling things...if in doubt, ask. 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? Yes, yes, yes, and yes. I love interesting foods, spices, flavours, and new things to try. Cookies made with carnation petals? Why not? What are your pet's names, and what are they named for? Okay, let's see. Dogs: Rambo, named for my teacher's dog when I was in kindergarten. I thought all little dogs were named Rambo (he's a poodle). Honey, Muffy, Maisy, Tink, all named by my mother, or came with their names. Paco was going to be "El Nino" but no one else liked it very much...he wasn't supposed to be my dog, so I didn't have final say. Cats: Tabithia was named after Tabitha Twitchet from Beatrix Potter's "Tom Kitten," and she's registered with papers, so we screwed with the spelling to make it more unique. Bonnie and Madison were named by my mother. Birds: Cyrano was named for the character, as he talks beautifully and has a big ol' honker, though I wanted to name him Igor because he looked like a vulture when we got him. Winston came with his name, and since he constantly reminds us that his name is in fact Winston, it can't change. Pee-Wee and Victor were both named by other people when we thought they were boys, turns out they're both girls. Only Victor has changed her name, since she's a parakeet and can't tell the difference. And Jesus is the canary, named unofficially when we kept yelling at him, "Jesus! Shut up!" as his song often interferes with the television. We do harbor other animals, but none of them are really "ours" or I can't remember their names. Who here is a complete, over the top, Alice In Wonderland fanatic? I do love Alice in Wonderland. I read a little too far into it, but I do love it. Are you a Trekkie? If so, which series do you prefer? Do you have a favorite character? Not me. I'm not really a sci-fi fan. :/ Do you have phobias? Spiders. Feet. Mainly those two. I always have terrible delusions that spiders are crawling on me, and I'll run out of the room screaming if someone takes off their socks. I don't know how either started, but it gets a little ridiculous sometimes. How do you like your mix CDs? Random? Stuff you know you'll like? I organize my mixed CDs by artist so I can flip them in my car if I don't feel like listening to one specific part or another, or if they're for my computer I'll arrange them by best flow--like, nothing too loud after a quiet song so it doesn't scare the crap out of me, etc. Would you rather get food or jewellery? I appreciate a tasty low-fat food, but I'm a sucker for jewelry. 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'm a sucker for monsters. My boyfriend once came home with a pocket full of quarter-machine eggs containing little monsters which was utterly adorable. Not that I know what to do with them now, but it was awfully cute for the time. English candy/tea/marmite or other stuff that you love and can't easily get outside of England? I've never been to England, so I really wouldn't know. I work in a tea store, though, and I'm not entirely fond of English teas, so that's not really something I'm into, but I'm not well versed in candy or other treats. Fanfic as a gift* - yay or nay? Your fandom? Slash preferences?*well, a virtual gift obviously. You know what I mean. By all means, if you think I'll enjoy something, send it my way. Any beaders here? Need beading supplies? I've dabbled, but it's not really my bag. Do you like making up your SW packages around a theme, or prefer to mix it all up? I think themes are fun, but sometimes I get carried away and dump in everything at once. Band-aids: do you like the fun and funky ones? Who doesn't? What's the scariest thing that's ever happened to you? I had something follow me home from a cemetery. It sounds far-fetched, but I'd swear my firstborn on it. A friend and I were being stupid goth children and hanging out in the local cemetery when I suddenly smelled something weird. I couldn't place it, but the best comparison I can give is like an open, uncooked steak that's sat in the back of the fridge for too long. My friend noticed something was wrong and asked why I suddenly started shivering and when I couldn't give him a straight answer he put me in the car and started to drive me home. When I composed myself, I told him about the smell and he called his mom who was a nurse and a shaman to ask if she had ever had a similar experience, but when I got on the line to describe the smell, to service started to cut out. She was trying to explain something to me when the line cut completely. I had the same phone service and my phone was charged and had four bars--and so did his. The call was just lost. She eventually got back through and told me that she had the impression that something didn't want her to talk to me, and no sooner did she say this when the smell came back. When we got home, I made my mother run sea salt and sage to the car so I could clean myself down before going into the house, but I don't know whether it helped. I just know that something was pissed at me that night, probably because I was sitting on some mausoleums I oughtn't have been. We also had a poltergeist in my house, but that's a tale for another time. What is everyone's favorite Halloween song?! The entire Rocky Horror Picture Show. It's a year-round love, but everyone else seems to join in around Halloween. How many of mah fellow witchies play video games? Platform? Do you like used games? I have a PS2, but I haven't purchased any games in years since I've vowed not to until I actually finish the ones I've started. I also have a DS, which I admittedly use more frequently. I do love horror games (I'm in the middle of Fatal Frame II and III and Clocktower III), and I'm looking forward to the DS release of Spore, but any suggestions are welcome! What kind of music (genres, please) do you like? Goth, darkwave, glam, neo-Classical--if in doubt, ask. 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? My last Witch sent me a copy of Michel Foucalt's "Birth of the Clinic," which is utterly fabulous, but I'm not sure if any of my subsequent witchees will share my penchant for medical history. What kinds of eye shadows do we all like? All of them. Usually the darker the better. I love jewel tones, smoky colours (greys, pewters, blacks, chocolates), metallics, etc. My favourite brands are MAC, Urban Decay, Nars, Stila, and Makeup Forever. But I'm totally willing to try new ones. Do you like lip balm? If so, do you like tinted, glossy, sparkly, pearly or just plain lip balm? I really only wear balm at night, or under my lipstick, so it really doesn't matter. I love lip glosses, since I can layer them, in which case I love dark, shiny gloss. I do have a penchant for minty, cooling balms because I do get very sore, very dry lips sometimes and they're the only things that seem to help. Anything else is like putting butter on a burn. 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'm not sure. I've only had one previous round. And, secondly, what is something you've been searching for but just can't find? Lately, I've been searching for band patches. Like Sisters of Mercy, Bauhaus, the Cure, etc. I know I've seen them in those ridiculous t-shirt shops that double as head shops in NYC, but outside of there, I have no idea where to even look. Do you knit/crochet? Do you need any supplies? I always end up getting two lines in and then unraveling it by mistake. Who here has an etsy shop? Eventually, I'd like to set one up. What are your two favorite etsy shops? I've purchased quite a bit from Littleflowers, but there are so many shops I want to buy from. I can't think of one other one specifically. Are you active on any other boards/forums? If so please specify where and your username there. Cocoapink forums I'm antimonyinblue, Tower of Time I'm DeathLotus (and a mod)...I think that's it. What would you tell yourself 6 months in the past about 2008 so far? It gets better, and it gets worse. Everything in moderation and everything evens out. If you had one minute of fame, what would you do/say in the spotlight? Only one minute? It takes me longer to think out sentences. I'd probably smile awkwardly and relinquish it to someone else. Robots versus zombies: who wins? Logistically, robots. They could tear zombies' dead flesh apart and shred them like chopmeat. But I'd be rooting for the zombies. What would zombie say? Uhhhh. I'm old-school--I don't think zombies have the capacity for speech. Where are a few of your favorite places? The East Village in Manhattan, the Jersey Shore (yes, I'm a dork), cheesy local carnivals Out of curiosity, all the fall babies who are celebrating their birthdays during the round - who are you, and when is your bday? Not me. I'm winter. What is one (only one) object that you collect, that totally goes against your personality or beliefs? Not necessarily a collection, but I do own several leather pieces. As a vegetarian and animal lover, it's really uncharacteristic, and my family can't believe I'll wear a leather coat, but I do. 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 am a soap addict. Anything too scrubby can be irritating, but otherwise, I can't think of anything else to avoid. I love Villainess, Cocoapink, LUSH, but I'm willing to try any and everything. My taste in scents is like my taste in BPAL--foody, sweet, etc. Do you like kilts and would you wear one? If I was a boy, sure. BoiWitches? Question for you both.....Hath any of thou own a Kilt? I don't own pants. And that's perfectly acceptable for my gender, so this is probably n/a. What's your favorite book? I just re-read Poppy Z Brite's Lost Souls which I adore, but I can't really pin down a favourite. What size socks do you wear? How about hat size? I don't know. If I wear socks, they're usually knee-high or thigh-high to line my boots, but I wear mainly stockings and tights. As for hats, I don't know. I like them fairly large, so I usually buy anything sub-labeled "large" but it's hit or miss. (I can't find my tape measure.) Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand? I like horror comics of most varieties. Whether they're American, European, Asian, old, new, independent, published, you name it, I'll read it. My favourites have been Japanese, but I've read some really awesome American ones, too. Symbols that are meaningful to me? The seven-pointed star. By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl? Neither. I'm half-dead when I wake up and crash by midnight. I'm more of a noon-time critter. What's your favorite type of music to hear live, rather than recorded? Just about everything. Even things I normally wouldn't like (death metal/black metal/doom) I actually enjoy live. I love seeing live shows, and not only because its an excuse to dress up. What is your favorite autumnal-seasonal drink? Mulled cider. Crossword puzzles? Other pencil puzzles? None, really. I used to love logic puzzles and word games, but they really don't require pencils. I like mad libbs. We do them at work sometimes. Favorite artist? Mitsukaz Mihara, Senno Naiff, Salvador Dali, Aubrey Beardsley Favorite poet? Oscar Wilde, Baudelaire, Poe, Byron, Shelley Halloween. Do you like it kooky or creepy? Either/or, but I often use it as an excuse to be as disturbing and eerie as possible. Reserved or Raunchy? A decent mix of both. I won't speak up unless I know it won't offend everyone in the entire room, but I can be off-colour with the best of them. Earth, Wind, Fire or Water? Water. Tea or Coffee in the morning? Coffee, but I'm trying to swtich to maté. It's just more convenient to drink the coffee that's all ready been made than to boil water and wait for maté to steep. Fruity snacks or chocolate? I eat tons of fruit and fruity things. But I get the occasional chocolate craving. Would you accept art? Of course! Art is one of my favourites. :3 Antiques or Brand New? I like both, but I love things with a history. Even if I don't know it. What keywords do you use when searching for items for yourself on Etsy? "octopus," "squid," "flapper," "Victorian," depends on what I'm looking for, really. Are there any of y'all who are allergic/sensitive to having natural fibers on your skin? I can get itchy with things like wool, but not desperately, and no more itchy than wearing rayon or synthetics. What was your favorite ghost/scary/campfire story growing up? My imagination was WAY too active, so I made most of mine up. But actual favourite scary stories included the Phantom of the Opera, Faust, and Dracula. Not necessarily traditional childhood favourites, but I loved 'em. Bugs? Do you like 'em or not? Actual bugs, sure. Not arachnids. I hate spiders, and most of their relatives. I've got a scorpion fascination, but real insects are a-o-k. i haz no imp storage. do you? I store my imps in a tea chest I purchased with the intention of decorating, but I haven't quite gotten around to it yet. I tend to travel with them in my wallet, but I'm in need of a new one since I spilled half an imp in it and now it's too smelly to bring to work. What is your favorite art movement and/or style? ie impressionist, surrealist, art nouveau, etc. I'm a nut for art nouveau. Alphonse Mucha is my all-time favourite artist, and I love the flowing lines and complexity characteristic of so many artists of the time. I also enjoy surrealism, but I need to be in a certain mood for it. Do you have a case for your mp3 player/digital camera? If you would want one, what size is your digital device? My iPod came with a simple black slip cover, but I've been looking for something with more personality. It's a generation 3, 30 gig model I think. My camera usually just gets shoved in my purse, but it's probably not good for the screen and messes with the settings. It's a Canon Powershot A620. Fairly large for a newer camera. :/ Which may not be case-conducive. For tea drinkers, do you bag it or prefer loose? We only sell loose-leaf teas at work, so I'm slowly making the switch, but there are some bagged brands I do enjoy. Like the Republic of Tea. Does the weather change where you are, as in, does it get cold in the winter? Anyone need homegrown scarves, hats, mittens, etc? It gets downright frigid in the winter, here. I've been eying some long, fingerless gloves, since the cold bothers me less on my actual fingers as it does traveling up my coatsleeves. Something like this or this (lovin' the Carnivale and Fire Rose colours!), and some dramatic, long scarf like this. My coat is black, so I love colourful accents. And I love, love, love homemade things. How do you feel about Hello Kitty? Apathetic. I don't hate her, I don't love her. I think she's cute, in many of her incarnations, and I have some stationary with her on it, but that's about it. Legwarmers? Armwarmers? Can be useful, but I rarely wear them as a fashion statement. I like armwarmers under coats or long-sleeved shirts, and legwarmers under boots in extra-cold weather. What makes everyone stand out from the Switch Witch herd? Yeek. I don't know. Not very much. I'm a pretty average human being. If you are into the original Nintendo system, what 3 games would you want that you don't have? I don't have it. :/ What is your favorite category of the GC? Most of my favourite GCs seem to come from the Bewitching Brews category, but I also like Diabolous, Sin&Salvation, and Ars Amatoria a good deal. Stance on Joss Whedon and his enterprises? From everyone else's answers, I gather he's the Buffy/Angel guy. And as much as I love vampires, I wasn't a huge fan of his. Admittedly, though, I know little about him. Has anyone tried ice wine before? Do/did they enjoy it? No, but it sounds intriguing. I do love a good wine. What other perfume companies (besides bpal) have you been curious about? Cobalt, Arcana, Possets...I haven't tried any of them. Does anyone here do anything with grave rubbings? I've always wanted to. Would you enjoy art based on original Graveyard photography? Absolutely. 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 either. Do you play a musical instrument? Name it, I've played it: piano, violin, harp, guitar, bass, etc.etc.etc. I really want to pick up the cello, but I can't find anyone to teach it to me. What do you think of Irrelevant Disturbing and Surreal Crawdad Dream? Love it? Hate it? Kicking yourself for not getting a bottle? I got it. I liked it. The first time I tried it, the tea went a little dusty on me, but it's lovely and I adore it in a locket. I almost bought a backup, but I figured I'd be better reserving backup monies for the Weenies. 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 do like them, but I've got so many of them and so little storage that it makes me sad. Can melty things be shipped to you, or will they be in puddles by the time you open the package? Melty things are a-o-k. Might want to check the weather ahead of time, but it seems hot weather is gone for good, so it shouldn't be a problem. Who likes pirates? I like pirates. I don't obsess over them, but I do like them. What are your feelings about Dia De Los Muertos? Love it! I love the concept, I love the art, I love the sugar skulls, I love the theme...I'd love to do more with it--if/when I move out, I think I'll probably end up using it as a theme for my apartment. Including ancestral ofrendas and the like. Because some of my relatives are awesome. What do you think about the Nightmare Before Christmas? It was my favourite childhood movie. I still love it. If candy is sent, would you prefer small amounts to a Halloween sized bag? Probably? I'll yell at myself if I eat too many candy and end up pawning it off to coworkers. I enjoy a good candy (and if it's fruity or gummy, size is no issue) but chocolates and creamy, fatty things usually end up tasted and horded for special occasions, so little bits go long ways. Do you like notes in your soaps or bath stuff that you don't like in your perfumes? If so which? I do, actually. Things like patchouli, which turns terribly sour on me, I like in moderate doses in my soaps. Do you like floral soaps or bath stuff? If so, what florals work and what don't? Lilies work, lavender works, jasmine works, but not much else works... How do y'all feel about honey and maple? And different flavored honey, not just the standard kind? LOVE both. What is your favorite thing to do on a cool fall day? Go for a walk, make a fire and sit in front of it an read horror stories, bake. 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 oversized pillow-animals. He's had a reindeer since Christmas, but it's starting to get a little saggy. He's got a very sensitive system, though, so treats are always debatable. But he loves rawhides. What's your ringtone? the Fratellis' "Henrietta," but I have others. My family plays David Bowie's "Changes," my boyfriend plays AFI's "Silver and Cold," and my best friend plays Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus"... Just to throw a silly question out there...Munsters or Addams Family, y'all? Adam's Family. What think you about receiving tea accessories and/or miscellany (like mugs, cups, saucers, strainers/filters, honey, natural sweeteners [like stevia])? By all means. I work in a tea store, so I can get a lot of tea miscellany myself, but I'm always in search of new and interesting 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, why not? Say, witches, I have a question about birthdays. do you expect/rely on other people to plans birthday outings and activities? Not really. Every year I can think of, I've planned whatever I've wanted to do for my birthday. It might be nice, eventually, to have someone else plan it, but I probably know best what I want to do. Tarts? Yes/no? I'm just getting into tarts. 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.)? Anything without meats, I'm game for. What's your favorite animal? Octopus, squid, bats, iguanas, armadillos... What one (or two, if you really must) BPAL bottles are you most longing for? GC? Gluttony. Limited? Ichabod Crane. Or any of the Weenies I didn't all ready try. If you could have dinner/drinks/coffee with any 3 living people that are not your family/friends already, who would they be-? Living? yeek. Probably John Waters, because nothing I could say over food or beverage could be found distasteful in comparison, Peter Murphy, because I find him charming, and Bill Schultz, because I've always had the bizarre notions that we simply MUST have appletinis together some day. --and if Peter Murphy isn't available, as I'm sure he's a busy man, I'd love to see Lucas Lanthier join us, because he's full of so many fascinating tales. If you could bring back any TV show from cancellation what would it be? I don't know if it was canceled or just never announced a second season, but John Waters did a show on CourtTV about couples that killed each other. "'Til Death Do Us Part"...if it's been canceled, it's a shame. I wonder if my witchee would like a blanket type thing. Would you? Sure. Blankets are great for watching TV at night. What's your favorite "I know it's bad for me but I can't help myself" treat? Crumb cake. Apparently. I hadn't been near the stuff in years, and the minute it comes into my house I start circling it like a vulture. Very important question: Are you planning on buying anything off your BPAL and/or other wishlists during the round? Possibly. I don't want to assume my Witch is going to be avidly following my wishlist, so if there's something limited that I want, I'll probably get it myself. But I always appreciate backups, and anything GC will probably remain untouched since I always forget while I'm making orders. Do you wear a watch? If so, what kind/style? I bought myself a pocket watch, but I'm in need of a new chain. 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! I'm all for charitable causes. I'm a sucker for animal charities...the last one I donated to was the Thai Turtle Preservation Fund. Their ad was just too sad-looking for me not to. What will you like from Singapore? Candies? Food? Asian crafts/toys? Anything and everything. I have an unhealthy obsession with foreign goods. What is everyone's "luck" item? I don't think I really have one. I can name you things that are ridiculously UNlucky for me, but not necessarily the other way around. Do you like art deco/nouveau - style prints? Art nouveau is my favourite style ever. 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? Almost anything that would let me know someone was thinking of me or wishing me well. Really, I'm fairly easy to please. 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? My exposure is limited. I'm more of a horror person than a sci-fi gal, though. Do you often drink take away coffe in paper mugs? Well, seeing as that's all they give me, yes. I almost bought myself a spiffy travel tea mug from work today, but decided it's best saved for a different time. I've also been eying the most recent NaNoWriMo mug. What would a perfume based on you smell like? Buttery spice cake frosted with vanilla buttercream and paired with a black tea with almonds, ginger, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, and honey. Who here likes Wizard of Oz things? I've never been a fan, really. Your thoughts on the update? The Blood Moon update wasn't really my thing, but I NEED those new Pancake oils from the Post How do you decide what to put in which package for your Witchee or how many packages to send? I try to lump things together by theme. 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? Never! I love experiments and brainstorming. <3
CordeliaSeduced

CordeliaSeduced

0
The Misadventures Of Miss Adventure
 

Autumn Switch Witch Questions O' Random

Because I'm such a joiner! And wish lists:   - Amazon - BPAL - General stuff   If you had to chose one BPAL scent and only ONE to have forever what would it be? That's a hard one because I don't have a ton of experience with what notes work on me v. what notes I adore. Right now I'm inclined to say Dorian, though Western Diamondback and Intrigue are up there for me as well. I turn a lot of the BPAL scents I like into vanilla once we hit extended drydown, and unfortunately Dorian is susceptible to that. Western Diamondback may be too, once I've had the chance to test it more.   Who here likes Betty Page? In a passing way, yep. Pin-up ladies are lovely, but I don't have a specific fondness for Bettie.   How about original Trek Characters? I will always have a preference for select TNG or DS9 characters, but Mr. Spock is the epitome of awesome. I have a copy of Leonard Nimoy's I Am Spock floating around somehwere (I hope), and it was a great insight on the actor and character alike.   If you were my witchee, would you like a jar of home made apple butter? This is assuming it turns out good... Home-made anything sounds awesome! I just learned the joys of fruit butters a month or two ago when I picked up a pear-vanilla butter from my farmer's market. Awesome glaze ingredient, and I'd love to try other kinds. Food = love, IMO.   Are you interested in Tarot cards? And if so, are there particular decks you like (or don't or already have or whatever)? Very interested, and dying to learn how to read 'em. I've been coveting the DC Vertigo deck for about a decade now, so the re-release has me all a-squee, though I'm also scared that I won't be able to pick a set up.   What kind of tea (or coffee) puts you in a fall/Halloween mood? And where do you get it? Apple cider, without a doubt. I like the concept of pumpkin-related beverages, but can never find any.   Favorite Halloweeen song? Er, I actually don't have one. Halloween hasn't really featured heavily in my life for a dozen-plus years now. Boring, I know.   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.) All the SW talk of honeycrisp apples prompted me to try my first one over the weekend. ZOMG, indeed. I can't imagine how lovely they'd be dried, but I'm definitely gonna have to stock up on the fresh ones.   Speaking of historical fiction, how does everyone feel about Sherlock Holmes? I like the character premise a lot though I've yet to get around to reading the original stories. Someday... I would also like to watch some of the TV programs about Holmes. Right now my favorite mystery series are the Mary Russell novels, where Holmes is a primary cast member. A bit of Mary Suedom, but fun!   Favorite cartoons or animated films? ReBoot! OMG, ReBoot = love. I cry on the inside occasionally because you cannot get the whole series on DVD, and I only have one of what is available. If you haven't seen it, then you're breaking this lady's heart. Nothing else compares to ReBoot for me.   Your take on the election? In other words, would you enjoy campaign related gifts, or prefer to stay neutral? I'd rather avoid them, but it's a very kind thought. That said, I am going to be voting for Obama.   Villians you sympathise with, or are interested in boinking? Boinking. I have wanted to schtup John Constantine and Pete Wisdom since I was 16, though I dunno if Pete is really a villain (John's just a bastard). My chosen crushes tend to live more in the grey area of morality rather than having teeny little black hearts. Tony Stark has become pretty awful recently, but I'd still do him. I've grown past my Spike fixation -- thank god -- and would jump Methos' bones so fast he wouldn't have much of a skeleton left.   Your stance on the all important peanut butter issue: crunchy? creamy? allergic? chocolate? maple? go directly to nuttella, do not pass go? Creamy, because I always used to stab myself with crunchy peanut butter. (Don't ask.) No allergies at all, and I find that chocolate peanut butter + green apples = something oddly reminiscent of caramel apples. Tasty, but hard to find. Maple anything is just plain sexay and ranks up there with honey for me. Nutella, though, I have no prior experience with.   Who here likes to read historical fiction? If you do, what eras/people/countries intrigue you the most? One of my favorite genres! I love reading about any point in time, though I will admit to having only the smallest interest in American history. My bias about American historical fiction lifts for the very rare western, anything featuring Native Americans or if it features New York City in any stage at all, but particularly around WWII or prior. I feel very strongly for New York Jews -- where my family comes from -- and my grandparents (who were like my surrogate parents) lived in the city back in the 1930s and 1940s, so that era rings home for me. I love medieval and pre-history anything, though, as well as Europe during any Tudor's reign. The Victorian era has quickly become a favorite, but I'll read just about anything happening just about anywhere and when.   What sort of colors do you currently wear? Do you want to branch outside that? What would you like to try? I kind of became a makeup fiend starting last year. I live and die by Clinique's Buttermilk shade, but alas, can't find it anymore. I wear a lot of purples to offset the brown hair/eyes combo, but Urban Decay's array of blues just sent me into a fascination there. Browns aren't uncommon nor neutral or sagey greens. I like the idea of copper and bronze, and just recently started a foray into pink for emphasis. Occasionally I wear shades of reds, though not often. Outside of just plain Buttermilk, my favorite combination is that shade of cream below my brows, and an aqua color on one half of my lid blended with a fuschia on the other half. As Pope has said, it makes me look like a summer popsicle and is fun besides. Truthfully, the only colors I don't wear are orange and yellow, and that's just because I haven't thought about purchasing them before (though with a yellow skin undertone, it's probably best that way). Me being me (subdued about my in-your-face urges), I tend to lean towards matte shades but shimmery ones are also wicked fun. I have a palette of Urban Decay eyeshadows with a crapload of glitter, and they're nice sometimes but drive me bonkers most of the time.   Eyeliner is my BFF, though I only have it in black -- Stila's gel eyeliner rocks my world. (And if anyone can recommend a good mascara, that'd be awesome!) I'm weird about my mouth and always feel that reds look ridiculous on me. Er, probably because I'm piss-poor at application. I broke out of my comfort zone and bought a Bare Escentuals lip kit in what I think is rose. I'd kill to find a nice neutral, natural shade which doesn't look stupid.   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 have no incense supplies anymore -- it's been years since I've been prepared that way. I did like cones back in the day, but at this point I'm poorly prepared for incense. Which doesn't mean I wouldn't enjoy it, natch.   What's everyone's favorite fairytale and what are your favorite versions of it? That's a hard one. I don't have an especial favorite, but the ones I enjoy are inevitably the older, darker ones that have more of a warning to them than a happy ending. I like most fairy tales, provided they're that way.   So how many imps/decants is officially 'you have gone overboard and your Witchee is going to expire from scent overload'? I... Actually, I don't know. I'm easily overwhelmed just because I'm such a newb. Honestly, I'm still hyperventilating in panic over cracking into my savings to spoil myself with the Snake Pit.   Who needs a recipe box? Last X-Mas a co-worker gave me a recipe book where I can fill in empty card slots, so I've sloooowly been working on that. They cater to my need for organization and cleanliness a bit more.   ANYONE ELSE want a home-made cookbook? I would love home-made anything. <3   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? My roomie and I already use washcloths in place of paper towels for cleaning (and now we use paper towels for napkins, which really doesn't improve the situation that much), so I'd appreciate any help I can get.   What craft (or crafts) have you been wanting to try but have no idea where to start? Knitting, always knitting. I gave it another shot last week and bombed.   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 would appreciate anything and everything. CDs are more convenient for car tunes, whereas MP3s work better for my PC. I could possibly list what I have if my witch was curious -- ask away if you are! -- and a general idea of my musical interests can be found on Pandora if my witch would like to see them.   Polish goodies! Who wants them? Baked goods, candies, kielbasa, pirogies, magazines, you name it? I like savory foods rather than sweet ones, but I'd be curious about candies sheerly for the sake of knowing. Kielbasa is like heaven when fried up and clogging one's arteries.   How do you avoid popping an item for yourself into an order you're placing for your witchie? So far, yes. It's hard work!   Underpants? Do you like them? What's your style? Size? I love this question. Yes, I like them. Last Thanksgiving break I became enabled to Aerie, which is an offshoot of American Eagle. I like their briefs with the faux pee-flap in particular, but their boyshorts are fairly comfortable as well. I finally started buying myself cute and fun undies... so of course now I'm eyeballing the "professional" and sexay ones again. <sigh> I run a medium at Aerie, which I guess means I'm around a 8 normally..?   What is your favorite? What tea would you love to try but haven't because of price or difficulty to get? I love Sleepytime but don't buy it often because I'm trying to focus more on loose-leaf or more natural bagged teas nowadays. Right now I don't have a favorite other than naturally gravitating towards anything with fruit or the word "chai". I'm a big pansy who hasn't made proper chai yet -- the closest I've come is my mint chai green tea mix, which is chai fixings with mint and green tea plus some hot water. Very lovely. Otherwise I'm still exploring my tea love.   BPTP Room Sprays...your thoughts? I'd like to try them very much. They're a bit pricey, though, and so I haven't been able to justify the cost.   Would you like to receive baked goods from your Witch? And if so, are there things you WOULDN'T like? Baked goods! <3 Pope is my household's baker, and I love bakers so since I am more of the chef mentality. While patience and methodical instructions are things I'd probably enjoy otherwise, cooking is the one place where I like to get spontaneous and so I'm a piss-poor baker. (Also, I prefer meals to desserts as a general rule.) With that in mind, I am a huge fan of rugelach and rainbow cookies. The latter are my most favorite cookies in the world and make me fall back into my childhood in NYC, but are a bear to find elsewhere. I'll try anything, really, but I especially love cookies. Yay gluttony!   Your thoughts on the update? Meh. Blood accords don't typically work for me, and while I love food, I'm not typically thrilled with foody scents. It's a no-go for me.   How do you decide what to put in which package for your Witchee or how many packages to send? During my next round (inevitable), I've already decided that I will be more methodical about planning ahead and how I'd like to organize my witch's packages. I've broken from character completely, because I do love organization so, but right now I'm just flailing about and sending things willy-nilly whilst I collect the larger stuff for a reveal package.   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? As my artistic skills consist of looking at pretty things and exclaiming "pretty!", I would appreciate any artsy stuff that anyone is willing to share. I live vicariously through you folks!   Do you often drink take away coffee in paper mugs? I don't drink coffee at all, though occasionally I may get tea from somewhere like Barnes & Noble, Starbuck's or one of the local cafes. At work I have a Pirates of the Caribbean travel mug that I use for tea. It's a bit of a bitch to clean, though.   What would a perfume based on you smell like? I actually couldn't answer this question off the top of my head, because the notes were so conflicting. I thought of snow/ozone because I am oftentimes described as cold (and am also constantly freezing, even in much of the summer). But then I thought some more and went "well, there'd have to be some resins, too, but those won't go together..." Pope told me that a perfume based off of me would smell like "Tea leaves, wool, a splash of rum and the dry wind of summer."   Who here likes Wizard of Oz things? Me! Except it's like, not love.   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 love MST3K, especially when Mike Nelson was hosting. I tend to be up and impatient and moving around a lot when I watch movies at home, though, and as a result I don't watch movies at home particularly often. So RiffTrax, probably not until I can calm down a bit!   What will you like from Singapore? Candies? Food? Asian crafts/toys? Yes, please? I like anything that will trigger my curiosity, which is about all of that. On the flip side, I also have little room in my life for trinkets that are meant to sit on your desk, etc. (I think statues are the lone exception.) It's the down side of the minimalist I'm turning into.   What is everyone's "luck" item? I don't have one, actually. Honestly, sometimes I feel as though I make my own luck. That and every luck item I own tends to mysteriously disappear. The last one was a rough silver plate with the pisces symbol on it tied to some leather cords. It was a lovely, simple little bracelet from a dear friend of mine and the damn thing fell off my wrist and into the ether a few years ago.   Do you like art deco/nouveau - style prints? Yes, yes, a hundred times yes! I have a big crush on Mucha most especially, but art nouveau in general makes me happy and I have a fondness for art deco colors and patterns.   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? How do you feel about Hello Kitty? Meh. When I was a kid in SoCal, we'd hit the Sanrio store regularly and I really enjoyed that. I'm not one for overly cutesy things nowadays, though, and so while I like Hello Kitty, I'm comfortable with not owning anything of hers.   Legwarmers? Armwarmers? I feel a little weird about legwarmers -- too 1980s fabulous for me. Armwarmers are something I've never owned, but really covet. I, er, kind of made a list of the Sock Dreams ones I want on my LiveJournal (droa).   What makes everyone stand out from the Switch Witch herd? Er. Well, unfortunately my crafting skills are about nil. The older I get, the less creative I seem to become. Maybe my undying love for virii, particularly Ebola?   If you are into the original Nintendo system, what 3 games would you want that you don't have? I am, but I don't have my console anymore. So I guess I'm exempt!   What is your favorite category of the GC? I'm still a bit too much of a newb to have one just yet. Off the top of my head, I've enjoyed Bewitching Brews rather a lot so far.   Stance on Joss Whedon and his enterprises? General irritation. I dislike the way Joss gets worshipped as a tiny godling, as I've found that he only really does good work with his own creations and the longer any of his work runs, the worse it gets. He's very talented and I enjoy his shows, but he is not my end-all. Also, I loved Willow and Oz, dammit.   Has anyone tried ice wine before? Do/did they enjoy it? Yay, my question! I love chilled ice wine in a small glass. It's beautiful and syrupy and the color always kills me with how pretty it is. I rarely buy it, though, 'cause even in ice wine country the stuff don't come cheap.   What other perfume companies (besides bpal) have you been curious about? Happy Housewife. They're about it.   Does anyone here do anything with grave rubbings? The most I've ever done are some tourist-y grave rubbings back when I lived just outside Salem, Massachusetts.   Would you enjoy art based on original Graveyard photography? LOVE. I think cemeteries are beautiful places, provided they're older and less modern -- cemeteries today seem too... hygienic, I guess. Too impersonal and streamlined. Some of my best memories are walking through a graveyard with any number of my friends. They're wonderful, meaningful places, and I adore photos of them.   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 either, but Pope does!   Do you play a musical instrument? Does hanging out with the band geeks in school count? I never learned how to play a single instrument. Makes me sad, because I would have liked a crack at the piano growing up.   What do you think of Irrelevant Disturbing and Surreal Crawdad Dream? Love it? Hate it? Kicking yourself for not getting a bottle? It sounded interesting, but I've yet to buy a bottle of anything and D&SCD probably wouldn't be at the top of my to-buy list. I try to avoid LEs as a general rule (says the girl who's dying for Halloweenies and Carnaval scents) because I am scared of finding something that will practical change my life but is not readily available. I'm also, quite frankly, scared of hoarding.   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'll pass, but thank you! I can't deal with clutter and my mind is ruled by practicality, so unless it's artwork of some kind, I'm more likely to wind up frustrated by it than anything.   Can melty things be shipped to you, or will they be in puddles by the time you open the package? I think they'd probably wind up okay. We're quickly descending into autumn weather out here in the great white north.   Who likes pirates? I AM A PIRATE REPRESENT. Have yet to successfully commandeer a ship, though. (But I'm going to keep trying!) I'm a bit of a history freak, so I enjoy the whole kit an' kaboodle when it comes to pirates. They were typically mean, dirty, awful men, but I can understand the things they did very easily. Not so keen on modern-day pirates, probably because the romance of the idea is long gone. Piracy = filthy, unhygienic love to me otherwise, though.   What are your feelings about Dia De Los Muertos? Awesome! Love, love, love. I love the meaning, the significance and everything about it. The designs and imagery involved always wows me in particular.   What do you think about the Nightmare Before Christmas? I enjoy the movie a lot, but it's not the end-all, be-all for me.   If candy is sent, would you prefer small amounts to a Halloween sized bag? Smaller would be lovely. I'm dying to try out those 1 lb. bags of caramels, but I know me -- I have candy left from last Passover, some from last Thanksgiving. Unless it's magical candy, smaller quantities are more lovingly appreciated. Plus my witch could keep as much as she likes.   Do you like floral bath soaps, shower gels, etc? If so, what florals work on you and what don't? I've never bought too many florals, actually. I like jasmine based off of past experience -- Lush's Alkmaar and Flying Fox. Outside of that... uh, I really don't know. Jasmine's definitely a winner, and while I really enjoy rose, I would prefer to avoid that kind of "cloying" smell when it comes to bathing.   How do y'all feel about honey and maple? And different flavored honey, not just the standard kind? NOM NOM NOM is about how I feel. I am part of the honey swap and eagerly awaiting my share of the swag while simultaneously trying to not buy anymore... it's hard! My tea is lonely as a result. I also love maple. Maple candies are neat, but my favorite thing ever in that neck of the woods is maple cotton candy. Burnt sugar heaven, I tell you!   What is your favorite thing to do on a cool fall day? Go for walks, preferably in wooded areas, with some comfortable boots and a comfortable sweater.   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? The cats love chicken-flavored Greenies, but Weiss doesn't have a toy preference.   What's your ringtone? I don't have one. I keep my phone on vibrate instead, as rings annoy me.   Just to throw a silly question out there...Munsters or Addams Family, y'all? Addams Family, all the way. I got a lot of Wednesday comparisons, growing up. What think you about receiving tea accessories and/or miscellany (like mugs, cups, saucers, strainers/filters, honey, natural sweeteners [like stevia])? I would love any of the above. I love, love, love tea but have very little in supplies.   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? Sounds fun!   Say, witches, I have a question about birthdays. do you expect/rely on other people to plans birthday outings and activities? Not at all. My birthday expectations are nil -- I don't mean to sound cynical, but I expect nothing on my birthdays because I usually get nothing (and I do not necessarily mean gifts, but those are included in expectations). I'm lucky enough that my best friend is willing to plan for me on occasion. This year she gave me a very lovely birthday jaunt, which was a treat.   Tarts? Yes/no? Maybe? I have not ventured into the world of tarts yet. (Well, not those kinds of tarts... ) I'd like to, but have no tart warmer and am a little intimidated by the whole thing.   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.)? Hells, yes! Sea salt caramel sounds like sex, and I know that chocolate + chili is love. I'd be willing to try bacon. Bacon makes the world go round. Vegans, please don't hurt me for saying the awful truth.   What's your favorite animal? It's a toss-up between wolves and dogs. I find them both immensely comforting. I'm also very partial to ravens and sparrows.   What one (or two, if you really must) BPAL bottles are you most longing for? Just bottles? I'm aching to try out Mme. Moriarty -- it's one of the only remaining Carnaval scents I'm interested in. Lacking that, any of the Snake Pit or Halloween scents I have listed on my wishlist, for sure. My BPAL note-specific desires are weak since I don't 100% know what works on/for me.   If you could have dinner/drinks/coffee with any 3 living people that are not your family/friends already, who would they be-? That's... really difficult, actually. I think Eddie Izzard, Neil Gaiman and... Actually, I think that's it.   If you could bring back any TV show from cancellation what would it be? Highlander: The Series. I miss that show SO BAD. If not that, then Earth 2, which never got the chance it deserved.   I wonder if my witchee would like a blanket type thing. Would you? I love blankets. Very much so, especially since I am always cold. (My circulation is bad enough where I usually wear a coat to work in July because of the A/C.) However, I have to admit that I literally received nothing but blankets for Christmakkuh last year from everyone I knew but my two best friends. It was kind of ridiculous, and I'm burned out on blankets now as a result.   What's your favorite "I know it's bad for me but I can't help myself" treat? Um... gosh, most food. I have a fairly easy time saying no to most temptations, so probably maple sugar candy or my favorite cookies in the world, neopolitan cookies. I feel like I can't get those anywhere other than NYC.   Very important question: Are you planning on buying anything off your BPAL and/or other wishlists during the round? I've purchased some Halloween/Sleepy Hollow decants that I'm waiting on. I'm nervous about not getting bottles of any of those I may like before they're gone, as I have no idea when to expect my decants to arrive. So I'm on the fence there. I'd be happy to warn my witch if necessary. I've also been contemplating gifting myself, for a change, and taking some money to buy myself the Snake Pit before the Carnaval is gone. They're the only CD scents I've enjoyed thus far barring The Illustrated Woman (still hoping to find someone kind enough to offer up CD decants of the only other scents I'd like to try -- my last contact seems to have fallen through. As I don't own any bottles, I feel like I might as well try and take advantage of these opportunities while they're around.   Do you wear a watch? If so, what kind/style? I haven't worn a watch since I was a teenager. I burn through the things too quickly, so nowadays I rely on my cellphone to tell the time.   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 sounds lovely. Animal rescue groups and shelters are my preferences. At the moment I don't have specific organizations I'm supporting, for a variety of reasons.   What is your favorite art movement and/or style? ie impressionist, surrealist, art nouveau, etc. I prefer realism more often than not, but art noveau hits me in all the good places. Mucha is amazing.   Do you have a case for your mp3 player/digital camera? If you would want one, what size is your digital device? iPod, yes. Camera, no. Hopefully my camera will be replaced during the holidays, though, and so that may become a moot point. <fingers crossed>   For tea drinkers, do you bag it or prefer loose? Right now, I buy bagged and am buying loose more frequently, but I still bag that. Mostly because I do not have an adequate teapot with an infuser. I've found one at my local market I rather like a lot, but can't seem to find a price for the damn thing. And so it lives in my fantasies...   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 literally right next door to Canada, so it gets coooooold out here. As someone who wishes that they knew how to knit, I <3 homemade anything. Especially scarves! <3 scarves! I'm kind of a dork about mittens -- I have "glittens" which are getting a bit rough around the edges, but they're the only kind of gloves/mittens I can wear without incident, as I can free up my fingers when needed. Hats are also awesome, but I am equally weird about them. I can pull of a lumberjack's hat quite well (fedoras and newsboy caps in the winter not so much), but your standard beanie not so much. Stupid hair. Stupid head.   Who are your forum buddies? People you know well enough online or IRL to help your Witch pick out stuff for you? Oh, Pope, without a doubt. She's my best friend and roommate, and is one of only two close friends I have who can shop for me without instructions. Knowing her, she'd be happy to help out.   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? Oh, I <3 Pandora. I've signed up with Last.fm but never did anything with it, so maybe this is my opportunity. Otherwise... er, I'm kind of flailing helplessly here, having not done this before and being a total, uninitiated newb.   Does your cell phone have a place to attach charms? Alas, no charms for me!   If you drink coffee (and make it yourself) do you use a French Press, regular filter basket coffee maker, Espresso Machine, Percolator? Bleh. Not a coffee drinker unless it's heavily iced and sweetened, i.e., a frozen drink.   What movie soundtracks (or scores) do you love? I own a couple of Spider-Man soundtracks, the CSI soundtrack, Forrest Gump and the like. I think Romeo + Juliet is my favorite movie soundtrack for pop music's sake, whereas the first two Pirates of the Caribbean soundtracks are my favorite for, you know, piracy's sake. I also <3 The Producers (I have to check and see if I bought that one or not), and one of these days I'll get The Music Man soundtrack.   How do you scent yourself? Do you layer soaps, moisturizers, etc. or do you go straight to slathering your bod with BPAL? BPAL has been my first foray into perfumes since I was a teenager. In the past ten years or so I've relied mostly on lotions and soaps for scent. I'm very fond of Lush's Silky Underwear dusting powder, but the price hikes Lush is constantly enforcing are very frustrating for my wallet and I. Nowadays I still like scented soaps/scrubs and moisturizers, but I seem to be buying lighter versions there (ex: Villainess) and focusing more on the BPAL.   Do you/how do you scent your world? Candles, incense, diffusers, potpourri? None of the above? Not really. Scented candles and potpourri drive me batty for reasons unknown. I like incense, but only non-offensive scents -- the foodie ones make me want to stick pipe cleaners up my nose. I've never actually used a diffuser before, but am very curious about them. And also a little intimidated, because I know nothing of 'em.   BPAL is such a scent-ual experience. What are your other tactile, aural, or olfactory pleasures? I am a texture whore. As a result, I love knitted products and desperately wish I could learn how to knit without botching it up horribly. Whenever I am shopping, anywhere, anytime, I have my hands all over the products to touch and feel and, as my roomie and I say, "texturize". Sight is important from a mildly OCD perspective -- I need order and organization, and so I spend a lot of time (re)arranging things so provide a more visually pleasing experience. Brightly colored fabrics with basic patterns (think stencils, or the art you see in vinyl wall decals), or patterns reminiscent of, say, saris also make me happy. Music is important, but I could probably live in a fair amount of silence. Scent is also very, very important. It boosts my mood, hence the BPAL <3. I love the smell of good food cooking, the smell of plants and gardens, herb and fruit gardens in particular. The smell of tomato plants is awesome stuff.   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? Cookies with carnation petals sound awesome. I love food, love experiencing new kinds of food, so I'd be very interested in anything there is to offer!   What are your pet's names, and what are they named for? I'm down to a cat and two rats right now. Weiss is my 4 year-old tuxedo cat, the big baby. Four years in and he's sloooooowly coming to be more comfortable around us. He was found in a garbage dump as a kitten, and I think that helped to shape his perpetual nervousness. My rats are Ridley and Jack -- I just lost Tobias last month, the old man of the house. I also had to give away the cat I've adored the most, Sarit, for a variety of cat-conflict reasons. That was two years ago, but I still miss her dearly. Definitely no more cats after Weiss, though. Weiss is named for a character in the TV show Alias, who I have a big old crush on. Since he is mostly black, most people think his name is a funny ha-ha joke about his color, but nope!   Jack is just Jack. I like the name and have been drawn to a multitude of characters by that name. Ridley was named by my roommate. Sarit was named as a Hebrew petname for Sarah. I met an Israeli girl named Sarit quite a few years ago and fell head over heels for her name. Tobias was another roommate name, after the character from Oz.   Who here is a complete, over the top, Alice In Wonderland fanatic? I'm hardly a fanatic, but I enjoy the stories and imagery. I have a crush on the White Rabbit BPTP locket, and I own the Alice video game.   Are you a Trekkie? If so, which series do you prefer? Do you have a favorite character? My favorite series are tied between TNG and DS9 (of which I figure I'm one of about six fans). TOS is wonderful, but for story purposes I prefer my two more modern series. Favorite characters are Picard (<3), Riker on general principle since he and Picard are constantly having a "who is sexier" contest amongst themselves in every episode (seriously, watch again with that thought in mind and you'll be very amused!), and... well, I had a crush on Dr. Bashir growing up, but Dax -- proper Dax, not replacement!Dax -- was my absolute favorite for DS9. She was brilliant.   Do you have phobias? I wouldn't say phobias so much as dislike. I don't like interacting with insects if they are not spiders (eat the pesky bugs), ladybugs (limited likability after seeing them descend en masse at a relative's) or butterflies. I particularly loathe centipedes, roaches, earwigs, maggots and silverfish. Clowns, as a general rule, do not thrill me unless they are very artsy indeed. And while it's neither phobia nor really a dislike, I'm really kind of worn out on cats. I've had some bad cat experiences over the past three years, and once the two which are currently in my life have had their time on this earth, I am done with cats forever.   How do you like your mix CDs? Random? Stuff you know you'll like? Anything! Finding new music used to be a hobby of mine that fell to the wayside. I used to work at Barnes & Noble running the newsstand department, and the best part of the job was going through the music mags we didn't sell, where I got to keep all of the sample CDs. I discovered a lot of great bands that way.   Would you rather get food or jewellery? Er, either? I love food and like jewelry and am just grateful for anything.   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?: Occasionally, but I'm now at the old and boring point in my life where my attention span just doesn't jive with many childrens' toys, assuming they don't come out of the "educational toys" aisle.   English candy/tea/marmite or other stuff that you love and can't easily get outside of England? Proper fruit & nut bars. Outside of that I have little knowledge of British candy and wouldn't know where to begin, because most all of it sounds lovely. I feel a little safer avoiding marmite without someone to hold my hand, and tea = <3 regardless of its origin.   Fanfic as a gift* - yay or nay? Your fandom? Slash preferences?*well, a virtual gift obviously. You know what I mean. I love fanfic and miss writing it as well as reading it. A lot of the 'fic I was involved with was actually RPG-related, and for ego-related reasons those are always my favorite. I do like Marvel 'fic, though, as well as Highlander. Good Alias 'fic is hard to find. House 'fic might be nice. (My favorite characters are actually listed in my profile here on BPAL.org.)   Any beaders here? Need beading supplies? I'd love to get back into beading, but I'm unsure where to even start! I don't know what to thread the beads on at this point, or how to attach clasps to jewelry. Again, a newb.   Do you like making up your SW packages around a theme, or prefer to mix it all up? Oh, my. I don't know yet!   Band-aids: do you like the fun and funky ones? I do! But they're usually cheaper, quality-wise, than the practical ones, so I buy practical instead.   What's the scariest thing that's ever happened to you? It's stuck firmly between an evening my mother and I brought my very drunk stepfather home and fell into a dramatic scene of domestic violence, or the night I ran away from home to escape to the other end of the country. I will always remember sitting on my suitcase on a street corner beneath the street lamp, waiting for my ride. It was a lot of anxiety.   What is everyone's favorite Halloween song?! Er, I don't have one..?   How many of mah fellow witchies play video games? Platform? Do you like used games? I stopped back when the Sega Genesis was in vogue, though with the right game I'd be willing to go back to console gaming. I'm actually saving up to buy my roommate a PS3 right now as a group gift, as she's the gamer of the household. (Effing expensive!) I like console games like Primal or Rule Of Rose (which I was given, kindly, and just haven't played yet), but I'm a newb when it comes to RPGs in that regard and get a little intimidated. PC games, in contrast, comfort me. I used to play Witchhaven constantly, and am dying for Sims 3 to come out. I wish I had the skills to play Portal. <sigh>   What kind of music (genres, please) do you like? I'm rather all over the board in that regard, and some genres are ones I don't necessarily know a name for. I like classical (Mozart!), blues and jazz. I also like toytronica (Psapp), and whatever you could call That One Guy. Electronica can go either way for me. Classic rock (Jerry Lee Lewis to Queen to The Who to The Beatles to The Doors, etc.) is great. Contemporary rock (Muse, Queens Of The Stone Age, Louis XIV, Metric, The Gossip, Amy Winehouse) is also nice, though I'm much more picky-choosy about that. Occasional "goth rock" (Rasputina) makes me smile.   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? I'm kind of exempt from this question since it's my first Switch Witch, but no, I've never had that situation. Usually I find a book, then foist it upon the multitudes.   What kinds of eye shadows do we all like? Bare Escentuals, Clinique and Urban Decay are my go-tos. I like bright colors as well as neutrals. Someday I figure I'll try MAC.   Do you like lip balm? If so, do you like tinted, glossy, sparkly, pearly or just plain lip balm? I like lip balm, although I don't go as crazy with it as I tend to do soaps and the like. Right now I am using up a Lush Whipstick that I bought a couple of years ago -- chocolate lip balm is not my forte, sadly, though I do love the Lip Service desperately (and am on the last dregs of one I bought in December of '05, but can't justify the cost of another with the new designs). Moisturizing lip balm s first and foremost to me, though tinting isn't a hassle provided it's not brown. I'm not big on sparkles, but I do like glossy or matte ones -- I like the glassy look rather a lot, but Lip Service's matte-ness is rather nice, too.   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? My best friend and I are very hooked on Neil Gaiman's Sandman series. Years ago while setting up a gift package for her, I was eBaying and found a piece of black leather. It was big, probably over a foot long alone, and the seller had painted a rendition of Delirium from the Endless on it. I snatched that bitch up fast, and as I recall it was pretty cheap. I am still proud of that thing, as it's one of a kind -- I've never seen anything like it ever again.   And, secondly, what is something you've been searching for but just can't find? Tall, sturdy bookcases that aren't made from pressed wood. A way to hang two of these (the transparent, curved plate beneath the bowl) on my wall without using shelving or having hardware show behind the plates. Steampunk attire I can afford and wear. The Promethea and Brian Bolland Wonder Woman statues.   Do you knit/crochet? Do you need any supplies? I wish. I'd love to learn how to knit. Learning from book diagrams is very difficult for me, though, and videos only provide limited instruction. I'm left-handed besides, so my attempts have been weak sauce. I reeeeeally want to learn how to knit, though; I love yarn, as color and texture are both joys for me.   Who here has an etsy shop? Not me! My crafting skills are non-existent.   What are your two favorite etsy shops? I don't really have any favorites, as I've only recently started buying on Etsy for X-Mas gifts rather than anything really for myself. That said, ArtisticDetour is lovely to work with and makes beautiful jewelry besides. I also purchased a seashell mobile from sarahkiser for the living room my roommate and I are redesigning, and she and her two sons were kind enough to include notes with the package. Awesome folks.   Are you active on any other boards/forums? If so please specify where and your username there. I'm active on a message board RPG I co-run and quasi-active on RPG-D, which is about online role-playing. Otherwise that's pretty much it.   What would you tell yourself 6 months in the past about 2008 so far? Quit dicking around and start putting all your money away immediately. You're going to need it soon, so stop buying makeup, clothes and bath products.   If you had one minute of fame, what would you do/say in the spotlight? Fumble. Extravagantly.   Robots versus zombies: who wins? Pirates. Oh, okay. Robots.   Where are a few of your favorite places? New York City. Beverly, Salem and Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Sterling, New York. Toronto. Kitty O'Shea's in Beverly will always hold a place in my heart.   What is one (only one) object that you collect, that totally goes against your personality or beliefs? Nothing, actually.   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 am a huge addict, and I love goat's milk especially. What I'd like to find is a more moisturizing soap, as they tend to be on the drying side. As a result, I'm willing to try just about anything! I'd prefer if it's more natural-oriented, however. My soap collection is actually fairly small right now -- a few from a soapmaker at my renn faire, one QoD? from Villainess and that's pretty much it. Mostly because I'm struggling to get through a crapload of shower gels, which are also not moisturizing. Argh.   So long as the scents aren't overly foodie I will try it all! I like food scents mixed with other ingredients, like chocolate and sandalwood or coconut and vetiver. Resins, leather and tobacco are nice, as are deep, dark scents.   Do you like kilts and would you wear one? Er, yes and no.   What's your favorite book? The Amazing Adventures Of Kavalier & Clay, by Michael Chabon. Someday I'll pick up a hardcover version of the book -- it's one that I pimp out to everybody. It's a beautiful story that mixes my interests, my hobbies, my loves and my family all together.   What size socks do you wear? How about hat size? Er... one size fits all? I tend to wear men's socks out of practicality -- I like women's socks, but will rip right through the thinner ones with a combination of just plain walking and my awful feet, which are huge since I wear a U.S. woman's 8.5 - 9.5. I love stripes a lot, and argyle more. Hats have to be a little on the big size just because my hair is so thick. I actually can't wear some hoods normally -- my hair's so thick that the hood may rest halfway back on my head rather than sit at my forehead. Deep hoods are awesome.   Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand? Comics are my life. I buy trades more often than individual issues nowadays, though. (And don't tell me that graphic novels aren't comics. That's a load of B.S.) I grew up on the X-Men and though I can't read them anymore -- too different from what I loved -- I still keep up in a roundabout way, and will always love Warren Ellis's Excalibur. Kitty Pryde, Pete Wisdom and Nightcrawler are the best. Superhero comics are my weak spot. I collect She-Hulk, the Authority (when Ellis was writing), Runaways, Iron Man in a roundabout way (I want to schtup Tony Stark), Tom Strong, Top Ten, Promethea, The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Watchmen... well, basically anything by Alan Moore. Fables and Ex Machina are up there -- Ex Machina rocks -- and I just learned that I love Starman. Sandman, anything by Neil Gaiman (someday I'll read his Inhumans stories), Preacher and Transmetropolitan are part of my collection as well as numerous one-shot stories. I would like to read more about Wonder Woman because I love her so, but am only interested in reading Gail Simone's current run, which is not yet out in trade. Argh, frustrating.   I do not, incidentally, like manga. Or anime. I've seen/read half a dozen of both combined which I've actively enjoyed, and when I do watch anime I like to do so with a group of friends who are willing to put up with me mocking it ceaselessly. It's just not my style, and no offense to anyone who loves it -- my ex constantly tried to win me over to the otaku side, but between me being stubborn and having a bizarre pet peeve towards people who wish they were Japanese so they can mangle the culture... well, no. I've got little patience for that stuff, though if someone feels that it's genuinely good and can tell me why in an intelligent way (something other than "but it's Japanese/anime/manga/hentai/the most perverted pornography on the face of the planet"), then I am willing to give it a chance.   Symbols that are meaningful to me? The symbols I have as tattoos, of course. Mandalas and the tree of life resonate quite a lot with me, and the Star of David has some quiet personal meaning. Ravens and wolves are, symbolically, the creatures I relate to the most.   By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl? As a teenager I was so nocturnal that it hurt, and when I was dating my last boyfriend I matched his night owl schedule. Not anymore, though. My body clock insists that I wake up ridiculously early, and I like not only sleep, but feeling well-rested. So I actually go to bed ridiculously early in order to wind down and pass out at a decent hour. Then I'm up by 5. Frustrating sometimes, but I do love the sunrise and those morning hours by myself.   What's your favorite type of music to hear live, rather than recorded? It's a toss-up between jazz and blues. They are love.   What is your favorite autumnal-seasonal drink? Hot, spiced cider.   Crossword puzzles? Other pencil puzzles? Haven't done 'em for years upon years, but my brain could use the exercise!   Favorite artist? My grandfather. <3 Seconded by Alfons Mucha. Most of my remaining favorite artists are actually comic books artists, including Dave McKean.   Favorite poet? Allen Ginsberg. The first time I read America was the first time I truly enjoyed poetry.   Halloween. Do you like it kooky or creepy? Either/or. My Halloween exposure over the past decade + has been nil, so I'll take what I can get.   Reserved or Raunchy? Raunchy. Because I'm a lech.   Earth, Wind, Fire or Water? Water, seconded by earth. I'm a water sign who loves the forest as much as she does the sea.   Tea or Coffee in the morning? Always tea. As I've mentioned elsewhere, I cannot handle coffee if it is not heavily sugared, iced and blended like a mofo. I love herbal teas and think strong, sweet black tea is not unlike ambrosia. I'm teaching myself to enjoy green tea (mint chai green tea is awesome), but will ultimately try any tea. I prefer sweeter ones which don't necessarily need sweetening, but am a little cautious about fruitier ones since the sweetness oftentimes comes off as cloying.   Fruity snacks or chocolate? Both! A combination! Cadbury's Fruit & Nut Bars are king. I try to avoid candy more often than not nowadays, but fruit + chocolate is a weakness of mine. I like gourmet chocolate with things like salt, curry, or other "weird" spices.   Would you accept art? I love art. Love, love, love. I'm actually in the process of trying to add more art -- wall art, photos, paintings, sculpture, anything -- to my home and my life right now. My greatest ambition is to have framed artwork by my grandfather (Mort Leav) all over my house, but unfortunately I just have one framed drawing and a sketchbook. (Long story.) Art noveau Is My Thing as a general rule, particularly if it's by Mucha. I'll admire just about anything, however.   Antiques or Brand New? I love antiques. I also love brand-new things that I can break in as my own. It really depends. For example, I love new clothes as much as retro ones. I love antique wooden furniture, but my style tends to be more contemporary so rarely do the two jive.   What keywords do you use when searching for items for yourself on Etsy? Oooh, there's a lot of 'em. I usually search, look, and then buy for someone else. Etsy being massively addicting, it's hard work! Usually I look for tea, bath products (usually hair and facial care -- finding decent shampoo/conditioner is my holy grail!) including soap, bags, clothes I'm too cheap to ever buy, steampunk anything, art noveau-esque jewelry or paintings (I worship Alphons Mucha), and most recently things for redecorating my house. Four years of living here and I'm finally making it a home, dammit. That's included ocean-themed bits and bobs for the living room (ocean wall decals that aren't cutesy? hard to find!) and my never-ending search for a table runner for our coffee table. Who knew it'd be so hard!   Are there any of y'all who are allergic/sensitive to having natural fibers on your skin? Nope! No allergies for me, and I'll wear practically any natural fiber.   What was your favorite ghost/scary/campfire story growing up? I never had a favorite -- few scary stories in my childhood -- but I always enjoyed stories where women played a key part. Bloody Mary rocked.   Bugs? Do you like 'em or not? Depends. I will freak out around silverfish and I greatly dislike roaches and maggots. Flies, mosquitoes and fruit flies are evil. Spiders, while an inconvenience, at least eat the other bugs and I'm rather fond of them. My general rule of thumb with insects is that I will stay away from them if they stay away from me. And no, I will not eat them, so no scary candy!   i haz no imp storage. do you? Kinda-sorta. I keep my favorite imps in the bag my Clocket came in, which probably isn't good for them at all. I have a small wooden box which used to house tea, and that is home to my to-test imps. And there's a larger, unfinished wooden box a friend gave me along with her imp cast-offs. Good housing, bad storage -- everything is rolling around in Ziploc bags.   If you have a garden/planter box, what do you grow? I would like to, desperately, but don't. Right now I'm trying lamely with a small pot of basil. Someday I'll have a garden, but at the moment it's where to put it (particularly in the winter).   What incense scents do you prefer? Sage. My favorite incense growing up was sage, second favorite was a brand I can't recall the name of which had some amber to it. "Russian Amber". I like anything spicy or resin-y.   Do you decorate for Halloween? What sort of decorations? Dress up for Halloween? I don't! Lame, I know, but my family stopped Halloween when I was about 12 or so and for whatever reason I never started back up. I think I'd like a grown-up's Halloween, with gatherings and stories and cider and a group that is about more than getting drunk.   Bats, cats, skeletons, monsters, vampires, witches or what other ghoulies do you prefer? Bats charm me. <3 And zombies are fascinating, though I love me the were-creatures the most.   Do you like horror flicks? To watch and be amused by? Yes, and then I'll watch monster or slasher movies. If I really want to get scared, though, then I'll watch psychological horror. The Ring messed me up for days, and I will never watch that sucker again!   Who here prefers stylus and ink to ballpoint? Anyone invested time and effort into calligraphy or proper Victorian writing? I'm left-handed. It would end very poorly. That said, I'd like to try my hand at it (ha) someday. With a professional looking over my shoulder, maybe.   What about stationery? Need some? What styles do you like? Always! For some reason, I'm really struggling with finding stationary where I am. I like simpler patterns and designs, kind of reminiscent of BPAL.org's "summer" skin. I gravitate towards neutral or vivid colors more than pastels or bright neon ones that pop.   What is one item that you've wanted forever, could have afforded, but have never gotten and why (haven't you gotten it!)? Probably the Promethea statue. I collect comic book statues, and I love Promethea. I had the opportunity to buy one on eBay which had a very low number -- 4 out of 500 or something ridiculous like that -- but balked at what was, in the long run, a reasonable price. It's my modus operandi, unfortunately. I do that with everything.   What Halloween scent are you most looking forward to? It's a tie because I'm so new to all of the Lab's notes and can't really imagine them. I think it's between Fearful Pleasure and -- I'm embarrassed to admit this, actually -- all of the Pumpkins. I reeeeeally would like all of the Pumpkins.   Tattoos! Do you have em? Do you want em? Whatcha got or getting? Oh, tattoos. <sighs> I'm working on #6 right now, but am short on funds to finish it. They are, in order:   - Jack Sparrow's tattoo, on the small of my back. (Yes, a "tramp stamp". Imagine my surprise after first hearing that phrase.) My first tattoo. I got ripped off like crazy by the tattoo artist, but it's lovely and meaningful to me. It's different from Jack's in the sense that mine has a lot more shading to it.   - The Watcher's symbol from Highlander: The Series. Because I am a dorky fangirl. It's in black on the inside of my left wrist; I thought about it for about 10+ years before getting it, and it's been my lone concession to Dora's Tattoo Rules: No ink anywhere that wrinkles, stretches or sags. The concept behind the Watchers has always struck a chord with me.   - Yelena's tattoo from the end of Transmetropolitan, on the outside of my left leg between ankle and calf. Transmet had a big effect on a lot of my viewpoints, and I am part of a trio that has been often compared to Spider Jerusalem, Channon and Yelena. I'm Yelena, supposedly.   - A series of ravens in flight from the sun at the top of my back from the comic book series Kabuki. It looks like a beautiful ink drawing. I'd like to add on to it and make it a part of a back piece, but am really struggling since I'm a piss-poor artist.   - A wolf drawn in tribal-esque style I found on Deviant Art. After getting the artist's permission, up she went! She represents both solitude and togetherness to me, as well as the protective mother wolf concept. Right beneath her is:   - The current work-in-progress ('til I get more $$), Promethea from trade #2. Right now I just have linework of Promethea and her caduceus on my right arm. It's one of my favorite comic series and is heartbreakingly beautiful. When it's done, it'll be in full color and have the three decorative background bands around my arm. I'm working on how to incorporate that moon/shield above her as a part of my pre-existing wolf.   When Promethea is done I am looking forward to getting Wonder Woman done on my other arm as the beginning of a sleeve -- partially because I love Wonder Woman, but also because she represents one of my surrogate mothers to me. After that I'd like to build in the comics character The Heap, a character which my grandfather co-created back in the early days of comics. Anyone who says tattoos aren't addictive is crazy.   Reduce - REUSE - recycle. Do others feel the same? I do, and I enjoy it very much, though I admit to being a little weird about recycling certain kinds of clothing (not just undies).   What is your favorite crafting supply? I am horrible -- horrible at crafting, as the older I get, the less creative my brain seems to be. With that in mind, I'm a very tactile person and am obsessed with textures. I desperately want to learn how to knit so that I look a little less ridiculous when I'm groping yarn at craft stores.   Weigh in...Are you right or left-handed? Lefty! My right hand is good for holding a knife and using a computer mouse. That's about it.   Any period of time that you love? Victorian and Elizabethan Europe. I'm enamored with the Tudors and Sherlock Holmes alike. The Middle Ages do fascinate me as well as the renaissance period. I like history in general, although I have to admit to finding my own country's history a little on the dry side. I love it, but we as a country have a lot less of it than oth
tapestry

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Freya's Blog
 

My Little Pony wistlist

A My Little Pony wishlist is available upon request. I collect both old ponies from the 80's and new ponies you can find in the store. Just send an e-card or a SW-y PM and I will fill this spot with cheap ponies available at most local stores.
Freya

Freya

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Douglas Stuffed Toys wislist

Douglas Stuffed Dragons: Gold Red Olive Green Ruby Red Topaz "Snuffle"   Douglas Stuffed Horses: Black Hills Natches Grace Autumn Atlas Sunset   Douglas Stuffed Unicorns: "Moon Dream" "Abracadabra" 14" laying unicorn
Freya

Freya

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