Blogs

Coral Snake

Coral Snake: Snake Oil with blood orange, red apple, lemon peel, plumeria, and gardenia. In the imp: Is there really snake oil in this? And where's the plumeria and gardenia? This smells very apple-y to me. Reminds me a bit of Bath and Body Works apple body splash. On me: Wet was ALL apples. As it dried, the florals peeked out and it was a delicious blend of snake oil with fruits and florals. And then it dried down and the florals went away, leaving apple. After a bit, the plumeria decided to come out to keep the apple company. The snake oil is hanging out faintly underneath the apple and plumeria. This is definitely a complex scent. Verdict: It smells good, I alternate between smelling BBW Plumeria and Apple body splashes, and sometimes get straight up snake oil. It smells good, but it's not really my kind of scent.

May 6, 2008

Cottonmouth

Cottonmouth: Snake Oil with linden blossom, calla lily, passion flower, and narcissus. In the imp: A floral snake oil! But not even close to floral overkill, the snake oil balances out the florals to make this a very well rounded scent. On me: A very sexy slightly floral scent with snake oil undertones just underneath. The perfect blend of vanilla, spices, and mainly passion flower. I couldn't stop smelling myself all night. This is definitely a must buy bottle.

May 6, 2008

Habu

Habu: Snake Oil with ho wood, teak, black musk, and bamboo. In the imp: Sweet snake oil! I think it is the bamboo making it sweet. Something a little woodsy, but no musk to be sniffed. On me: This blended so well onto my skin. It was subtle, but very good smelling. Again, the snake oil is there, but as a bottom layer. On top of it was delicious sweet bamboo, a tiny bit of ho wood, and a bit of musk. This worked really well on me.

May 6, 2008

Western Diamondback

Western Diamondback: Oil with leather, tonka bean, red sandalwood, and sage. In the imp: Snake oil with sweetened leather, a bit of sandalwood and sage peeking out. On me: I was afraid of the leather, as it usually goes wrong on me, but this one went right. I smelled the snake oil underneath, but got a nice blend of leather and sage in there too. No sign of the sandalwood, and maybe a peek at the tonka. This is a great blend. This will be turning into a bottle!

May 6, 2008

theal8r's Blog

Switch Witch Help Post

Hi! *cheery wave* Personal/Basic Information Birthday: April 11 Location: Florida Pets: 1 12-year-old cat who LURVES catnip. We lost Scathach, (Lugh's sister) in May 2009. Children: 2: boy 9 (geek) and girl (7) tomboyprettyprincess Religious orientation: disoriented! I'm pagan-ish with Celtic leanings and a serious love of goddesses and witches. I believe in "godness" -- that god is in everything and, ultimately, doesn't matter/shouldn't direct one's morality. Favorite Holiday: Halloween, Christmas and Lughnasadh Occupation/Major in school: 10th grade Reading Teacher. Pity me. I'm also the 10th grade team leader, 10th grade sponsor and drama/poetry club sponsor. Living arrangement (by yourself, with roommates, etc): with hub, 2 kids and 1 cat . And sometimes the neighbor's kids. Livejournal/Blog/Website: http://theal8r.livejournal.com/ (must be friended to view) http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php?ref=h...amp;ref=profile and a myspace I rarely use. Organizations/Causes/Activities (Things you belong to or causes you believe in) ACLU, Amnesty International, NEA, credit unions (heh), International Reading Association (I don't think it really is called the IRA... that would amuse me...), Slam Poetry (interest, I don't belong to anything...) BPAL Favorite BPAL oils: Death Cap, Boomslang, Velvet, Bliss, Doc Con, Strangler Fig, Banded Sea Snake, Mama-Ji, Black Opal, Antique Lace, Mme. Moriarty, Pumpkin Smash, Love's Philosophy, Windward Passage, Depraved, Goblin, Glowing Vulva, Shub. My boy wears Knucklebones, which I lurve. Favorite notes: vanillas, leather, smoke, chocolates, cinnamon (but I have to use this in my locket as it burrrrns oh, it burns!), creams, dirt, ambers Favorite non-BPAL perfumes: Black Chocolate, and Sunkissed Clouds by Cocoa Pink, Quick or Dead, Grundy and Antihero by Villainess, Fireflies by Possetts DYING to try Girls Love Vanilla! Least favorite BPAL oils: Almost anything mint, most aquatics except Hurricane, Banded Sea Snake and Windward Passage, EVERYTHING ROSE Least favorite notes: mint! ozone, aquatics, florals of most sort, metallics ROSE HATES ME! Last favorite non-BPAL perfumes: can't think of anything specific right off hand. Beauty Hair type: growing out of a "Kara Thrace pixie" into a chin-length sassoon bob, fine, thick, dyed, fairly straight. (as in, it gets body in humidity... but not good body and there is a metric ASSLOAD of it. I have to get my hair thinned when I get it cut) Skin Type: finicky combination Allergies (specifically B&B related): tomato, most florals Other things to avoid: alligators? OH! beauty related! silly me! I'm finicky about soap -- most villainess soaps, for example, dry my skin out like mad Tub, shower or both? Yes! I love them! If I had more tub stuff I would luxuriate in my tub more. Even if I had to leave teh interwebs behind. Favorite bath & beauty products: Villainess smooches, cocoa pink Squeaky, shower buttah and body butter, Aromaleigh eyeshadows, mineral powder and blush, Bare Escentuals lip gloss, Fresh lip gloss, Silk Road Trading company soaps. Clothing Style/Fave garments: My work wear is mostly Coldwater Creek/J.Crew on the cheap, with touches of steam punk tossed in -- I like the classic kind of Hepburn-y look. My at-home gear is super floppy casual (think fleecy pants/shorts, camis and t's) or a mish mash of hippy, punky, '20's feel. I'd love to dress steam punk, but I'm lazy. hippy skirts make me smile, but I am starting to worry that maybe I need to start dressing my age... nah! T-shirt size and preference (standard, babydoll, tank, cami, etc): I prefer babydoll medium t's, medium cami's and small standard t's. Unless sizes run to smaller, then go up a size. Type(s) of jewelry worn: I do not change my earrings or my necklaces unless something truly spectacular comes along (it just requires too much thought at 6am). I tend to wear simple jewelry, silver-toned. I like natural-looking things. I am also a big fan of jewelryarte.com. (she's my aunt, fair warning) I am searching for some simple, elegant post celtic knot earrings. I am lusting after silver rings (size 5 - 9) Things on my wrist bug me for the most part. I love ankle jewelry Ring/wrist/collar size: ring: 5 - 9 wrist - no thank you collar -- 11" Jewelry - gold or silver? mainly silver Do you have any allergies to metal? no Favorite gemstones: sapphire, star sapphire, aquamarine, garnet, opal, emerald, carnelian, tiger's eye, hematite, amber, especially green amber, non-pink rubies. Pierced ears, stretched ears, neither? ears (5) and nose Lifestyle Favorite colors: jewel tones for accents, earth tones for the base. Blues, browns, blacks, burgundy, greens Style/home decoration style: Ikea meets thrift shop. i think it can, generously, be called shabby chic. Very generously. I do not like cutsey country unless it is kitchy. I want an Andy Warhol cookie jar (or replica) -- the kind he used to collect. I also am a HUGE Frank Lloyd Wright fan. Things you collect: spirals, goddess imagery (not frou-frou), buddhas, glass, rocks, antique crates, cypress knees (I have a cool one that sort of looks like the Virgin Mary which amuses me to no end), plants, candles, books, music Favorite music: alt country, Ani DiFranco, punk, old country (real old), blues, bluegrass, 80's, grunge, indie, brit pop, 60's, celtic (SUPER picky about this), pagany stuff (ala Loreena McKEnnit), alt rock, some metal, syruppy Christmas music and "swing/hipster" Christmas (y'know Mel Torme and the like)... uhm... eclectic? Least favorite music: pop country (although Trace Adkins amuses me, I don't know why), Christian anything (with very few exceptions, I told, I'm eclectic), rap and most hip hop -- bubble-gummy American Idol stuff. Vegetarian/Vegan?: nopers. I'm an omnivore, although we do tend to eat heavy on fruits and veggies, with meats being a seasoning rather than the main point. Other food restrictions: not so much Favorite flavors: salty, savory, sour Favorite foods/drinks: Foods: salsas, tortilla chips, popcorn, pickles, olives (Kalamata, blue cheese stuffed, green, black), cheese (havarti, cheddars, moz, gorgonzola, bleu, gloucester, feta, port wine stilton BUT NOT GOAT CHEESE!), dark chocolate (especially Dove and Bliss), granola, Ben and Jerry's ice cream & frozen yogurt (Cherry Garcia, Cookie Dough, Phish Food, Everything But The, Chubby Hubby, Whirrled Peace). I like spice, but can’t take much and my family won’t eat it at all, Oreos of all flavors (except coffee, yeach). Crab chips (thanks, coldie), garlicy, wasabi nuts, oniony, nutty tastes (but not thai food -- peanuts = yeach), remoulades and tapanades. I prefer savory flavors to sweet, in general. Drinks: Beer (India Pale Ale, Guinness, Honey Brown, Blue Moon, Newcastle, Beck's Dark, Shock Top and craft or microbrews), hard ciders, Coffee (Ethiopian Yrgecheffe, Nicaraguan, mild "morning" blends, Jamaican Blue Mountain), Tea (Republic of Tea {especially Vanilla Black}, Harney and sons, Tazo Passion flavor, Lipton Quickbrew iced). I’m open to others. Reisling is the only wine I like (and I loves it), but my husband is a big Cabernet Sauv. fan. Huge. Tom Collins, Rum Punch, Kahlua, Irish Cream. I don't drink pop (soda... whatever) except the odd Squirt (does that sound dirty...? icon_redface.gif ) . Mostly I drink water, coffee and beer. A drink treat would be fancy lemonades. I also like to experiment with bartending. I don't get along with tequila -- it gives me heartburn and hangovers. Favorite authors/genres: sci-fi/fantasy, speculative fiction, period romances (that avoid the whole rape-scene bit yeahk), thrillers, steampunk, comic books, Neil Gaiman, George RR Martin, Guy Gavriel Kay, Jacqueline Carey, Margaret Atwood, Carol Berg, CJ Cherryh, Robin Hobb, Greg Iles, Greg Keyes, William Gibson, CS Friedman, John Irving, Sylvia Plath, Ted Hughes, Stephen Dunn, Nikki Giovanni, a whole host of poets... cookbooks, old dead russians Least favorite authors/genres: Harlequin Romance. Bodice Rippers, Westerns, most "action" books, Deepak Choprah or almost anything self-helpy Books/authors you'd like to read, but haven't yet: Ursala LeGuin, Octavia Paz (is that her name?), Tanith Lee... How do you feel about receiveing gently used books as gifts? LOVE IT. Favorite stores (including clothing stores): Used book stores, thrift stores, Pier One, World Market, Target, Beall's, Coldwater Creek, J.Crew, Land's End, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Hot Topic (for the kitch) Favorite online stores (including B&B stores): Cocoa Pink, Bpal (duh!), Villainess, Lush, Flameworks, Silk Road Trading, Savor, does etsy count? Jewelryarte. Magazines you subscribe to: Real Simple, Bust, Reading Teacher Magazines you like, but don't subscribe to: Bitch, Vanity Fair, Mother Jones, Ode, The Nation Favorite movies: Period/Costume Dramas, Superhero movies, ironic comedies, The Long Kiss Goodnight, The Hunger, Serenity, Life is Beautiful, Rent, Iron Man, Juno, Napolean Dynamite, A Christmas Carol, A Christmas Story, Its a Wonderful Life, Bringing up Baby, Dead Poet's Society, Amadeus, Pan's Labyrinth, Wizard of Oz, the Harry Potters, LOTR, Mindwalk, Henry and June, Lady Jane, Go Fish, Elizabeth (and Elizabeth, the Golden Years), Shakespeare in Love, Pirates of the Carribbean, 2008 Hulk, The Dark Knight, Ocean's 11, Oscar. Favorite TV show(s) Dr. Who, Torchwood, Weeds, Firefly, House, Dexter, Heroes (if they ever stop being stupid), Life, Eureka, Burn Notice, NCIS, Moonlight (come back o' vampires of hotness!), Arrested Development, Rachel Maddow Show, Countdown, Hardball, The Ed Show, Monk, Psyche, Scrubs, 6 feet under, Carnival, ER, Rome, 30 Rock Hobbies/crafts done: decoupage, photography, reading Daily Kos, stained glass (but I lack space lately), writing poetry and fiction, gardening (I’m learning to container garden) books, tips, tools would be welcome). I lack the patience and math for stitchery of any kind. I've tried. I am made of fail. Seriously -- fail. Faily doom. Wishlists BPAL Wish List (including SW/SF Help): http://theal8r.livejournal.com/532872.html Other website Wish lists (amazon.com, etc): Kaboodle: http://www.kaboodle.com/coffeegrrl I'm coffeegrrl there Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/favorite_listings.php I'm coffeegrrl there, too SW Help: http://www.bpal.org/index.php?automodule=b...id=283&st=0 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? Uh….. a lighter, a HUGE net and a cast-iron skillet My husband, and someone good at survival things…? I'd also worry incessantly about my kids. - If you could have a superpower, what would it be? Psionics Ala Jean Grey. In fact, could I just *be* Jean Gray. But with Wolverine... or Gambit... or both... It would be cool to be Wonder Woman, too. I want a grown-up wonder woman costume.... Is the wicked witch a superhero? - What things do you consider a necessary part of your "comfort" ritual? soothing beverage of choice, mindless entertainment (book, tv, music, video game, internets), possibly a bath, comfy clothes, rocking in my rocking chair or swinging on my porch swing (pillows, sgwidgy blanket, comfie socks). Cuddling with someone. I'm trying to get away from comforting myself with food, but potato chips/doritos + sour cream, tricuits + avocado + lemon juice or triscuits + havarti or salsa + tortillas are also very soothing to me. (or, even worse, salsa + sour cream + cheese + tortillas.) - If you were a household appliance, what would you be and why? I’d be a convection toaster over with a wonky heating element because I probably was supposed to be pretty useful at one point, but there is definitely something not right about me! - What are the last 3 CDs you've had in your CD player, or played all the way through on your MP3 player? I really don't listen to whole cd's -- I like shuffle on my ipod/itunes. - What are the last 2 movies you watched all the way through? Star Trek (the new one), Ocean's 13 Notes (Here's where you can add additional information you'd like your Switch Witch to know!): Random Questions (Just a sample snagged from Scotchgrrl's round-up. Feel free to add more or make up your own!) I like handmade goodies, incense and tarts -- especially Alternative Breeding Tarts. I like silly and frivolous things: duckies, pirates, hippy shit… Second hand things are great by me, although pre-used cosmetics are a bit squick-worthy (and underwear… just sayin’). I’m “on a diet” which really just means keeping track of my calories and nutrients while consciously trying to change my eating patterns on DailyPlate.com. I don't like the idea of "diet", but I want to be healthy, increase my metabolism and immune system. My secret goal is to be able to arm wrestle my students into submission.... *heh* Little indulgences: colored pilot G-2 pens (especially purple), Sharpie markers in all colors, moleskine notepads, Dove dark chocolate or Bliss dark chocolate. Funny buttons (pins) and stickers, rocks and wood pieces (especially interesting ones from interesting places). Incense, candles, note cards, poetry chapbooks. Temporary tattos are fun, too. If you have children, would you want something included for them? as my witch may wish. I know shopping for kids can be fun. They especially like Legos, puzzles and crafty things. The girl adores smellies, soaps and lotions (current faves of hers are Milk Moon and Snow White, so think along those lines.) What are your travel imps? Miskatonic U, Hurricane, Bliss, Shub, Goblin, Depraved, Banded Sea Snake and Baku. What is the most unexpected but thoroughly loved SW gift you've received? Handmade bottle/imp box with 20's inspired and bellydance inspired images. If you have a pet, do they like to play with toys? He doesn't really -- unless they sneak up on him... Do you like audio books? Probably not -- it could be really dangerous for me to drive and try to listen. How do you feel about bands you may not have heard before? Or, how do you feel about mixed cds of classic stuff that you probably have heard? YUS! Most obscure interest:have a hard time thinking of anything I do as obscure. I just don't see myself as that un-normal, but people tell me I am not normal. *shrug* Poetry...? Russian Literature and history? OLD books? rustic furniture (not oak logs -- beat to hell old shit)... croquet? hillbilly horseshoes? What goodies do you love that you can't usually get? crab chips! Bell's Beer (from Michigan, but available in various places), ginger apple chews (Canada?) Bubulaars (Netherlands) What was your favorite childhood toy? my bike and swing sets, the dollhouse my great-grandfather made (that is now renovated and in my daughter's possession). How would you describe yourself--do you feel that you're shy or outgoing, laidback, high-strung... and in what ways? I pass pretty well for normal unless I talk to you for an extended time. I'm given to rambling off into space and mumbling when I realize I'm babbling. People are surprised to learn that I suffer from depression, but not from ADHD *heh* I'm shyly outgoing, lazily high-strung, an optimistic pessimist and contrary. I'm pretty easy-going, but I think I come off as pretty uptight and reserved. I guess I *am* reserved (sez hub). Oh, and I talk too much. Did I mention that? I probably should... What’s a talent you are most proud of? My writing and my teaching. Religious preferences and patron saints/goddesses/spiritual mentors: I have an affinity for Celtic-y goddesses and Uma/Parvati/Kali. I like triple goddesses most of all. I am fascinated by mother mary, but don't collect anything that is about her. I love Tree of Life things. What's your favorite flower? Tree? Willow trees, scrubby, gnarled-looking trees. Flower -- I like daisies, lilacs, violets, and unusual-looking flowers. Do you like homemade gifts? Like foodstuffs or crafts? YUS! What's your guilty pleasure? Long nights of drinking and playing darts or "sailing the porch", potato chips and sour cream, Doritos and sour cream, Moonlight (or other blatantly value-less tv), stupid humor, "cleaning" shows, Girly magazines, pin up art, SHOES! If handmade stuff is okay, and it all goes horribly wrong, would you want it anyway? YUS! Are you an indoor person or outdoor person? I like the outdoors as long as it doesn't fight back! What's your favorite color? ---For wearing? blues, greens, purples, browns, reds ---For decorating? pretty much the same How would you describe your sense of humor?Goofy, silly, playful, sarcastic, esoteric... I like wordplay a lot. Geeky-dork? 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? Well, used undies would be a bad idea -- most christian artifacts... pink things... fat jokes? Lip balm, yay or nay? sure I have an impressive lipshit collection! 5 things that get you through the day: coffee, music, hugs, laughter, my rocking chair/porch swing Favorite Halloween Costume? I don't really have one. Checkout eye-catchers: chocolate covered altoids, orbit gum (especially sweet mint and pomegranate), itunes gift cards, cottage/home/cooking magazines, things in tins, hickory-smoked beef jerky, temporary tatoos, dove chocolate. BPAL storage: no, as I have a beautiful one handmade by strangemodegirl! but I need a cute storage space for my make up and beauty care products. They've eaten my bathroom counter! Theme/Characters: Not really? I have a lot of circles and spirals... Maybe a kind of gothy/modern/earthgoddess.... oh nevermind *lol* I am mightily amused by pop images of witches and LOVE pinup art/1950's ads. Flavors: Vanilla, salty, coffee, CHEESE, non-spicy cinnamon, dark chocolate, cherry (but not sweet, syrupy cherry), raspberry, savory, garlicy, oniony, nutty... Puppy chow or Chex mix: PUPPY CHOW! I hates chex mix! Except the nuts. I pick all the nuts out. and eats them. Flowers: Uhm... they're nice... I guess...mostly? Daisies, lilac, violet (but not to smell in perfume, apparently), I prefer impressionism or highly stylized flowers. Trees: weeping willow, pussy willow, big, trunky, branchy gnarled monstrosities Mailbox situation: Stuff sits in the box until about 5pm unless it is big enough the mail person has to take it up to the porch. usually it is left under the roof... How much do you still enjoy playing with toys?Do coloring books and crayons count? I like funny little "desk" toys, but usually get frustrated with the clutter. I do LOVE my Eddie Poe bobblehead doll and want other author bobbleheads. Are those toys? Things I find offensive? Attempted Forced Conversion, racism, non-ironic sexism (of any flavor)... I guess it depends on the context a lot of times. phobias I ... am afriad of heights... and the dark... I'm not thrilled with bugs and snakes and spiders in real life, but we have a "pet" spider who spins on our front porch (he's cool!) and don't mind them in non-living, not-in-my-house form.... I can't deal with being spit on.... What is the hottest and coldest it gets where you live? They tell us the range is 100 - 32 F. I have experienced 110(heat index) - 25 F. (the coldest when the sun was up was 45F). Priates or Ninjas? Yes, please! Can I haz pinjas? Nirates? I do love the pirate thing, but ninjas are soooo freakin' cool! Indoor or outdoor person? It's all about context. I do not like to be too hot or too cold. I do not like being attacked by nature (bugs, itchy things... etc). I do so love to walk in the woods and stare at lakes. I long to see Mountains... Is any witchee opposed to "naughty" gifts? Warn me first so I can chase my very curious children out of the room. Witch remain a secret? I would feel like I had been a terrible witchee if my witch didn't reveal. Just sayin' I like to play with my witch, clues are fun. Anime? The huge eyes creep me out a little, but I do love Howl's Moving Castle. Game Geek: I do video game some: computer and Wii. Also terribly addicted to Mayfair Games (especially Catan). I tend to prefer computer games like the Civ games and simple time-wasters. I don't tend to have the patience or coordination for the Epic Story Games. Undies: I wouldn't mind, so long as they were not pre-used *ew*. I prefer boy-short varieties that have soft, non-itchy lace on them. I am on the quest for the perfect bra. Socks: I love socks! But Florida is really hot, except maybe 3 weeks out of the year. I would love thin knee-highs, stripey socks, and any of the varieties from the sock dreams I have Kaboodled. I think cuban heels and back seams are super sexy, too (and mah boy would love you forever). Most Coveted BPAL: Pumpkin Smash. *whoa* Top 10 BPAL: LE Love's Philo Mme. Moriarty Doc Constantine Pumpkin Smash Banded Sea Snake Glowing Vulva Alone Boomslang Samhain GC Bliss Strangler Fig Hurricane Death Cap Mama-Ji Black Opal Anne Bonny Brimstone Windward Passage Vixen What kinds of eye shadows? I use white, natural shades (browns, grays) and dark, dark blue for eyeliner. Do you like lip balm? I am uber picky. I like Fresh (in pin up) and BE. Most other things are too waxy/sticky. Tinted rox my sox. 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 was pleased with my vegan cooking endeavors, once I realized what the hell vegan margarine was... (and now we eat it all the time!) Do you knit/crochet? Do you need any supplies? No. I'm teh dumb. What are your two favorite etsy shops? Only 2?! Savor, jewelryarte.... there are more than 2. Are you active on any other boards/forums? If so please specify where and your username there. just here really =) LJ = theal8r, myspace, too. If you had one minute of fame, what would you do/say in the spotlight? I'd probably fall over something and embarrass myself... Robots versus zombies: who wins? 'Bots! Cybermen, specifically. Unless they are the Clockwork Zombie Robot things. Where are a few of your favorite places? My front porch, my bed, my bath tub, the porch of the Plantation CoffeeHouse in Key West, the dock in Bear Lake, Fourth Coast Cafe. What is one (only one) object that you collect, that totally goes against your personality or beliefs? Odd bits of mythology, pin up art? 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? SILK ROAD TRADING COMPANY! and I ADORE villainess' Antihero. Do you like kilts and would you wear one? I can haz utility kilt? What's your favorite book? The Handmaid's Tale What size socks do you wear? How about hat size? socks have size? I have size 7 (US) feets, but NARROW heels. I haz a head. I don't do hats much -- Florida is hot, but i do headbands and scarves. Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand? I don't really, but am interested in Gaiman's Sandman, and I used to LOVE X-men and Poison Elves and Death. Symbols that are meaningful to me? spirals, trees, ankhs... apples (but not stupid oh-i-iz-teeechar apples). By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl? night owl by preference, morning bird by necessity (and to be contrary). What's your favorite type of music to hear live, rather than recorded? my kids' singing. I prefer small venues in terms of concerts. What is your favorite autumnal-seasonal drink? Cider! Crossword puzzles? Other pencil puzzles? I do, but sporadically. Sudoku is fun, although I have been known to chuck pencils. Favorite artist? Mucha, Van Gogh, Monet, Klimt, Munsch (I don't spell...), the impressionists. Favorite poet? Eliot, Dickenson, Stephen Dunn, Ted Hughes, Plath, Sexton, Phillip Levine, Niki Giovanni, Tupac, Patricia Smith, most slammers, especially Dawn Saylor, Gabrielle Boulaine, Sou MacMillan, Buddy Wakefield, Tony Brown, karrie Waarla (whose name I can't spell to save my life) Halloween. Do you like it kooky or creepy? the creepy side of kooky Reserved or Raunchy? Secretly, I'm raunchy, but I put up a reserved front. Earth, Wind, Fire or Water? Earth, Water, Fire then wind. Tea or Coffee in the morning? COFFEE! Coffee coffee coffee coffee! Fruity snacks or chocolate? Kashi chewy Trail Mix bars, Cascadia Farms chewy dark chocolate almond granola bars. Would you accept art? Abso-frickin-lutely! Original art is the whipshit. Antiques or Brand New? Antiques or antique-looking. What keywords do you use when searching for items for yourself on Etsy? Steampunk, retro, earthy Are there any of y'all who are allergic/sensitive to having natural fibers on your skin? I like wool, but tend to not get along with it for long. What was your favorite ghost/scary/campfire story growing up? Monkey Paw Bugs? Do you like 'em or not? Meh. They stay outside. They don't bite. Then we get along. If you have a garden/planter box, what do you grow? container gardening. tomatoes, green peppers, basil, succulents (flowers), aloe, rosemary, geranium I'd also like insstructions because I think I'm doing it rong. What incense scents do you prefer? sandalwood, patchouli, vanilla Do you decorate for Halloween? What sort of decorations? Dress up for Halloween? Pumpkins, the kids dress up. Bats, cats, skeletons, monsters, vampires, witches or what other ghoulies do you prefer? Ghosts, cats, witches Do you like horror flicks? I want to, but I tend to hold visual memory very strongly and then can't sleep. For DAYS. What about stationery? Need some? What styles do you like? I adore stationary. I like retro-y images, simple and clean lines. Or straight up humor. What is one item that you've wanted forever, could have afforded, but have never gotten and why (haven't you gotten it!)? a purple ring from jewelryarte.com I haven't gotten it because I keep putting it off. Tattoos! Do you have em? Do you want em? Whatcha got or getting? I want a small star or spiral on my right ankle (inside), a whimsical, stylized (but small) tree of life just to the left of my spine at my collar-line, and a swirly pattern across my chest at the top of my breasts but low enough to be covered by a modest neck-line. I'd also love a pattern of 9 dots in 3 cirlces on my left wrist. Reduce - REUSE - recycle. Do others feel the same? Yes. I carry canvas bags to the store and re-use glass containers whenever possible. I try to limit the plastic we use in general.\ What is your favorite crafting supply? I like painting on bits of wood -- and decoupaging things. Weigh in...Are you right or left-handed? right Any period of time that you love? I love early, foggy morning (although i rarely get up that early willingly) and deep, dead of night (but not if I'm the only person awake). What's your favorite part about Fall? In the Midwest: colors, smells, slant of light. In Florida, the light. Do you like office/school supplies? If so, what is your favorites? l am an office supply junky. What's your favorite Halloween candy? Those grody taffy-like things wrapped in black and orange paper. Where does everyone like shop for witching goodness? Target, etsy, jumble shops What is your favorite pumpkin goodness? pumpkin and cider doughnuts, pumpkin muffins. ***9/5*** If you could bring back any TV show from cancellation what would it be? Firefly, Dead Like Me, Carnival, Moonlight I wonder if my witchee would like a blanket type thing. Would you? I lurves blankets. What's your favorite "I know it's bad for me but I can't help myself" treat? potato chips and sour creamw/garlic Do you wear a watch? If so, what kind/style? No, they stop working usually within a month or less. 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 would be super cool! Southern Poverty Law Center, Amnesty International, NOW For tea drinkers, do you bag it or prefer loose? Bags, because I'm too lazy to futz around with it. Does the weather change where you are, as in, does it get cold in the winter? Anyone need homegrown scarves, hats, mittens, etc? It goes from unbearably hot and humid to pleasant summer weather. Although it does get DAMN cold at night. I love scarves and shawl-y-type things. Who are your forum buddies? People you know well enough online or IRL to help your Witch pick out stuff for you? kakiphony and juniperus know me in the really real world. I'm not sure I've gotten close close to other forumites, although I do have a lot of folks that I think of as "online friends" ***9/3*** Does your cell phone have a place to attach charms? nopers. 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 filter basket at home and at school, but lust for a french press. What movie soundtracks (or scores) do you love? Rent (we listen to it a lot), Chicago (it is on heavy rotation), Moulin Rouge (disc 2 seems to be missing) How do you scent yourself? Do you layer soaps, moisturizers, etc. or do you go straight to slathering your bod with BPAL? Smooch/soap, lotion, BPAL, scent locket. Do you/how do you scent your world? Candles, incense, diffusers, potpourri? None of the above? tarts, room sprays (dungeon and down the rabbit hole, omg) and candles. BPAL is such a scent-ual experience. What are your other tactile, aural, or olfactory pleasures? I am a music junky -- there is always music. Even in my classroom, I have an ambient/classical pandora station set up so I don't go mad. I love "feelie" things -- soft, fuzzy, silky... I can't handle skritchy fabrics or that material some kids' pj's are made out of that sort of snags your skin. *shudders* ***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 adore cookbooks and cooking.

theal8r

May 5, 2008

Forspecial Plate's Blog

bitch, bitch, bitch.....

I usually keep this about scent but I have to rant and rave for a minute. I am so annoyed by people who write useless reviews on this forum! I realize their review might be useful to someone else. But it makes me feel like I wasted time clicking on the post to read it. I'm talking about when someone floods the reviews forum with very short reviews which basically reiterate the description of the scent (the Lab's description), and nothing more. And the very worst are when the person says "Oh, I couldn't even try this on my skin!". In my opinion, if you haven't tested it on your skin, you shouldn't review it! If you're reading this and you have written this type of review, don't take it personally. I am just in a ranting mood and it's a small pet peeve I have. I totally understand the value of writing a review as a form of 'note to self', which is actually one of the reasons I write reviews. Otherwise I can forget that I've already tried a scent and don't need to try it again. So in other words, don't change your writing habits just because of me! : ) /rant

forspecial_plate

May 4, 2008

shinkirou's heart

2 ~5/02/08~

*sigh* What a nice day. I'm sitting, listening to music, sipping a green Monster ( which I'm kind'a living off of. I hope i don't have a heart attack ) , and sifting through the variuos BPAL scents for sale. Hmmm...The scents i'm tempted to eventually buy are: The Ifrit, Blood Kiss The Coiled Serpent, Namaste, Phantasm, Veil, Black Cat, Wolf's Heart, Rose Cross, Hell Cat, Loup Garou, War, Lady Una, Nyx, Dream Formula V: Somnus, and Faiza, Tha Black Mamba. Awwwwwww...sorry for those of you who don't like naruto, but this is adorable: I wish i had a mate that cute and sensitive. (I'm talking about Sasuke.) The description of The Ifrit is so...i dun't know how to describe it...mysterious. ~The taxi driver comes out of the shower, wet, with a towel wrapped around his midsection. He is not wearing his sunglasses, and in the dim room his eyes burn with scarlet flames.Salim blinks back tears. "I wish you could see what I see," he says. "I do not grant wishes," whispers the ifrit, dropping his towel and pushing Salim gently, but irresistibly, down onto the bed.~ Adorable, but heart-achingly so... Someday, that would sound nice. (No, not Salim or the ifrit, a mate.) ...but not now... Shinkirou, The Wanderer

shinkirou

May 3, 2008

Abstract Associations

The Atomic Luau Lounge, The Bar: Blue Fire

Papaya, blueberry, lemongrass, and gin. Reviewed 05/02/2008 In the bottle: Sugary sweet fruit, lots of gin. Wet: A hint of sharpness from the gin, but mostly this is syrupy, over-sweet blueberries. Drydown: I'm all about the sweet foody scents, but this was overkill while it was wet. Thankfully it calmed down as it dried, becoming lighter and less cloying. It's like a blue raspberry slushy, with a dash of gin, some fizzy club soda, and a twist of lemon. This scent is very summery and so much fun, and I got more compliments wearing it today than any other I've tried. It's got great throw, and it lasted all day long without needing to be reapplied.

Rovylern

May 3, 2008

Thoughts from Yuggoth

Hexennacht 2008: Not sweaty at all!

The Night of the Witches. In the Teutonic calendar, April 30, not October 31, was the night that the witches congregated to celebrate their Work through ecstatic dance, wild music and revelry. The witches fêted with spirits, fairies, and a bevy of otherworldy creatures atop Brockenberg peak in the Harz region of Germany, where they lit an enormous bonfire and cavorted naked until midnight... at which point they donned their robes, boarded their brooms, flying rams and sacred goats, scooped up their cat familiars, and sped off into the night. In later days, it was believed that on this night the witches conjured the devil, who would then select one of them for his bride. This perfume is the scent of the witches' revel: German fir and forest herbs, incense and bonfire smoke, infernal flora, glowing amber, and the wet, glimmering scent of skin warmed by dance.

I definitely get the fir from this when I first put it on. It's a sharp, bright, "clean" scent when wet.
The fir mellows after a few minutes to be much warmer, and less artificial. It's a very pleasant "green" scent at this point.
It stays like this for a half-hour or so and then... disappears. All that's left is a light, slightly musky scent which is hard to place.

Odd behaviour, but very nice!

Jenesis

May 2, 2008

Thoughts from Yuggoth

Three Witches: Nom Nom Nom

Warm cinnamon, husky clove and white pepper.

I was lucky enough to acquire a bottle of the Resurrected incarnation.

In the vial and wet, this is all CINNAMON. Spicy spicy spice with no sign of the clove or pepper - it's like I upended a pot of cinnamon onto my wrist. As nice as cinnamon is, it's very strong.

On the drydown, the overwhelming cinnamon thankfully fades a little. I can detect a whiff of the clove, and the smooth pepper is coming out to play.

Dry, this is a stunning scent. The cinnamon and clove are still there, over the smooth sweetness of white pepper. So glad I managed to get a bottle!

Jenesis

May 2, 2008

Fae

Category: Bewitching Brews Oddly enough, the main scent I got from this was...licorice. Weird! I'm trying to think what would make that strange combination to my nose...perhaps the bergamot mixed with the heliotrope, or the oakmoss. All things considered, however, I did enjoy it; it was soft and delicate on me and had a beguiling femininity to it. It evokes an impish fae quite well in that regard. It helped that I like bergamot, I think.

May 2, 2008

Erato

Category: Discontinued Scents Straight out from the imp, it smelled like soap. So, at least I smelled clean, albeit with a sharp touch of lye. And that's the way it stayed, the first few days that I wore it. Today, though, it smelled differently...it actually smelled *good*, and of flowers. (Yes, I tend to persist with scents, even if they don't work right away.) I couldn't really detect any myrrh; I think in the imp I'm mostly smelling ylang ylang and sweet pea. As I put it on, the flowery notes gained a bit of strength, but weren't overpowering in soapiness as they had been before. Dry, I smell sweet pea, and perhaps rose. There *is* a faint bit of soapiness and powder to it, which keeps it from being perfect...but it's definitely an improvement. So, hm, something's definitely going on with my body chemistry. The only notes I've previously experienced have been sweet pea and myrrh, so I'm not sure who the culprit is for the strange, intriguing acrobatics that I'm noticing here. In the end, unfortunately, there was just too much soapiness present to make this one a keeper.

May 2, 2008

Azathoth

Category: Picnic In Arkham At the very beginning, as I first drew breath to sniff it fresh from the imp, I could detect a faintly-sweet, fruity note. And then...the cedarwood came. The cedar completely dominates this one for me; I cannot smell anything else. And, oddly enough, the sweetly-earthy note that usually defines cedar for me takes on a sharp, high pitch early on in this blend; it reminds me more of pine trees. So, nope...this one just didn't work. (Just between you and me...I found myself thinking, 'This is what Azathoth uses to spray the bathroom with after he uses it'. It's *that* pine-like.)

May 2, 2008

Ave Maria Gratia Plena

Category: Ars Amatoria In the imp I could smell musk and a hint of lemon. It was a very elegant mix. As it joined with my body chemistry, the lemon grew a little bit stronger. Unfortunately, it grew faint and wore off really quickly. Just not for me.

May 2, 2008

Aureus

Category: Bewitching Brews I smelled mostly cedar and patchouli in this one, with some other vague incense smokiness going on around the edges. Aureus is golden in the way that a chunk of amber is golden; you get that lovely deep aura of radiant wood and patchouli, dark red-gold and bright orange-gold; and then there are those dark swirls and flecks of smoke and leftover incense embers caught up within it. If you are blessed with skin chemistry that highlights incense and smokiness, I suspect that your senses would be going over and over it, like polishing a smooth stone in your palm. I, alas, am not one of those people. As seems to be the norm with incense, this faded quickly on me, though the cedar stuck around for a bit.