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help for Witches & other circular swappers

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12 Days of Delight Swap Questions

Tell me how you really feel about fruitcake. Cautiously interested in a quality, home-made fruitcake. Standard commercial ones, no, thank you.   I live near a Lush store. Is there anything you want/need/want to try? I was just in a Lush store last week and wasn't tempted by anything.   Would you be interested in recipes? Either hand written or photo-copied in a binder? Yes, I would be interested.   Homemade candy and baked goods...list some that you like, and also kinds of flavors. FUDGE! Probably most types of candy bark. Seven-layer cookies. Classic Toll House cookies (real butter, real vanilla, real chocolate). The caveat on baked goods (more so than for candy) would be the lag time between shipping and when the package will be opened. Flavors: fruits, chocolate, caramel, brown sugar, molasses.   Also list homemade goodies youwould secretly give away or toss in the trash if you received... I already mentioned my loathing of licorice or anything like it on my questionnaire (so no springerle, please). If worse came to worst, there's always the "take it to work & set it out for my co-workers" stratagem.   Do you (or your Delightee) like little homemade dolls? I make little monsters (and non monsters). Yes, I would probably be interested.   How do you feel about mini handmadeart projects? Yes, I would like that, as long as they're no assembly required.   Cat toys? No, thank you – no cats.   If you expressed an openness to candles and/or room scent thingies, would you be okay with something that smells like winter holiday spices, baked goods, and greenery-- even if it says 'Autumn'? Certainly!   On the slightly off chance that I manage to make a Sinterklaas run before the mailing deadline, are there any Dutch/Indonesian food items you might be interested in? I'd probably be interested in anything short of a full-up rijsttafel (that would be a bit overwhelming).   Are there any books you've been meaning to read but just never get the chance to? I'm sure there are some classics that I keep meaning to get to someday but never do – Wuthering Heights, The Wind in the Willows, Moll Flanders, The Diary of Lady Murasaki (and I'll keep thinking)   Anything you're particularlywanting from the Lab/Post at the moment? Not in particular – at least not until I've tested my Weenie decants. How about GCs you keep meaning to get but never get around to? First, I have to get around to testing them . . . . .   Cookbooks! Would you want any? I have kept myself all too well-supplied with cookbooks. But if you know of a really good local specialties cookbook from your area (one I won't find on amazon.com or wouldn't think of for myself), I might be interested.   Do you have any fandoms? No.   Are you interested in any other etailers? If so, name one item from each that you're dying to try. I don't have anything that springs to mind right now.   Does anything from Sock Dreams interest you? Perhaps those rainbow stripe over-the-knee sox that are big enough to accommodate my calves.   Any movies (holiday or otherwise) that you want to see but never get around to? Rocky Horror Picture Show   Do you need any smartphone accessories (case, skin, etc)? No.   Tea, cocoa, other wintery drinks -interested? Yes, especially teas.   Small samples of homemade booze? Probably not.   Are there any other swaps you're involved in that may overlap with this one? The current Switch Witch round. QUICK QUESTION: How would everyone feel about a slightly odd holiday specialty, Rosemary Pinenut Brittle? It's a blend of salty/sweet/savory and crunchy and I love it...but it's a bit expensive and labor intensive to make if it won't be met with enthusiasm. You can also opt for a "sample" size with the recipe, since I'll likely make one batch for home eating anyway. That sounds very interesting. I'm a little bit leery of brittles, though, with my somewhat brittle teeth (I hate it when chunks of tooth fall off).   Are there any subscriptions/gift cards you would be interested in? An amazon.com gift card would certainly get used. Subscriptions, perhaps House Beautiful, Elle Decor, or Town & Country magazines.   Would you like anything from Cocoa Pink? I haven't looked at their web site, so I have to say that no, there isn't anything I would like from there.   Let's talk about stationery. How do *you* feel about paper, envelopes, notecards, pens/pencils, stickers, etc? Do you have a favorite symbol or characters you like to have writing implements of? What about journals??? Since I never write letters, stationery in the sense of letter paper and envelopes would probably go unused. (Although I do adore those very stiff correspondence cards and envelopes produced by Crane Stationery in all those pretty color combinations.) I do use notepads and Post-It notes quite a bit. I think I already mentioned my weakness for fancy pens along the lines of colored gel pens, metallic ink pens, etc. (Then there's my fondness for really fancy, expensive pens, but that's definitely out of range for this swap!)   Boxes: do you like to keep pretty gift boxes, or are they just clutter? Yes and yes. As in, I like pretty gift boxes, but please don't go to expense or effort with them. Any small things you need? I think I mentioned some on the questionnaire. I'll keep thinking.   Do you like knitwear? Yes! Just about anything except hats (I don't like getting hat hair and they generally aren't necessary in Florida, anyway). For colors, see my questionnaire.   Nail polish, yay or nay? What colors if yay? I love looking at all the pretty colors, but I never seem to get around to actually applying nail polish to my nails.   Would you like hand dyed things, particularly scarves? What colors are you most interested in? YES!!! Jewel tones and other colors as listed on my questionnaire. Nothing too harsh in the way of colors; I'd describe the ones I like as either "clear" or "muted". If you like card games (ones that use things other than regular playing cards), what kinds do you want/need? I don't really have any "wants" in this area. Now a question from me: As most of you know, I am the forum dealer for wild rice, maple syrup and red sauce, would you like to receive any and or all of these in your package? Yes! Send me twelve days' worth of wild rice and maple syrup and I'd be quite happy. A little red sauce for variety might be nice. Is there anything you might like from Bath & Body Works? Candles, lotions, shower gels and the like? No, not really. Do any of these mead kits interest anyone? No, thank you. I don't think I'd get around to actually making the mead.   Also, cookie cutters! One of the stores near me has eclectic cutters - would this be something that interests you? Probably not. It's once again something that I probably wouldn't get around to doing. (Although I do like the idea on general principles.)   Would you like local honey or other localish products available via my local farmer's market? For that matter, how about infused salts (there's an amazing basalmic salt that a local place does) or vinegars or spice/seasoning packets? All of those examples sound delightful.   What are five of your favorite fruits? Not in any particular order: strawberry, raspberry, mango, passionfruit, guava. At least those are the first to come to mind. Maybe I should have included blueberry? Really, almost any fruit except grapefruit would stand a chance of making the list.   What are five of your favorite herbs/spices? In no particular order: cilantro, oregano, cumin, cinnamon, ginger (more gingerroot than the dried, powdered ginger spice). Is there room to add Italian basil and rosemary, too?
MerriAnneStowe

MerriAnneStowe

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Q&A Switch Witch Fall 2012

Do you like s'mores and s'mores-flavored things? I like s'mores, as long as they involve a campfire. Or at least a real fire, preferably outdoors. So probably "no" to s'more-flavored things.   Would you enjoy receiving cute but useful items like colorful kitchen utensils/gadgets, or bento supplies? (boxes, chopsticks, accessories, etc?) What about things like spice mixes (homemade, or Penzey's for example)? Any of those would be welcome, even though I probably don't need any! Kitchen supply stores are always fun, and my Witch will find that Penzey's is listed under "favorite stores" on my questionnaire.   What's the neatest freebie you've gotten? It can be cool or thoughtful or just totally unexpected, and not limited to BPALdom. One time I received an order of hand-dyed silk scarves and bellydance veils from a vendor, and there was an extra pair of of half-circle veils in the package. I e-mailed her about the veils that had managed to sneak into my order, and was told that they were a freebie. A very generous freebie, I might add. Do you like cute, seasonal or fluffy PJ bottoms? Like they sell at Target, Old Navy (they have had cute Halloween ones!) If so, what size do you wear? No. Part of the reason is generational, and part of it is that I'm plus-size so the vast majority of those wouldn't fit me, anyway. What kind of chocolate do you like? Nuts, no nuts, white, dark, etc? Dark chocolate! I will also consume milk chocolate and white chocolate (as long as said white chocolate is the real thing & high quality). I generally don't like nuts in chocolates, except peanuts or macadamia nuts. Almonds are OK, but I don't care for walnuts, except in See's Mincemeat Creams. I live near a Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Penzeys! What does your little heart desire from any or all of these places? From Whole Foods, Bequet Caramels' Green Apple or Celtic Sea Salt flavors. They have some cheeses that I like, but I doubt the cheese would survive being shipped (especially to Florida with the current temperatures). From Penzey's, just about anything. I'd like to try their chili mixes, and some of the other unusual spices such as Aleppo pepper might also be interesting. I don't have any particular wishes for Trader Joe's stuff since I don't get there often enough to know their stock well (and it is always changing, anyway) - just no wasabi peas, please. Wasabi tastes like horseradish, which I loathe. Are home made foods acceptable or does the idea of eating strange mailed food disturb you? This is a "maybe". I might be a little picky about such things. Again, it would have to be fairly sturdy stuff to survive the temperatures here during shipping. I just gave you $20 and sent you into a "has everything" store ala Walmart and told you that you have to come out having spent it all, and none of it on anything you need. What would you buy? Be as specific as possible! Probably some magazines and a couple of candy bars. Or as someone else suggested, I might fall for some gel pens or other stuff from the office/school supply aisle. What kind of cuisines do you like? (I mentioned this in my ?aire but curious what my witch may like) My favorite cuisines are Thai, Chinese, French, Mexican, and barbeque. And, what are your favorite restaurants? La Coupole in Paris; Wild Ginger in Seattle; Jaleo in Washington, DC (or pretty much any restaurant by Jose Andres); Tomasita's in Santa Fe; The Fort in Morrison, CO; Hitching Post II in Buellton, CA; Slow-n-Low Barbeque in Cocoa Beach, FL; Vita's in Lopez, WA. For chain restaurants: California Pizza Kitchen, Chipotle, Qdoba.   I'm from Canada - is there anything specifically a witchee might like that is only available here? Perhaps a bar of Mackintosh's Creamy Toffee, but I'm sort of afraid of what it might do to my teeth!   What are your "fandoms" and would you like a t-shirt from TeeFury if an appropriate one came up? None, so no, thank you.   Do you have an eReader and if so which one? I have the Kindle app on my iPad, but I save it for things that are only available in e-book form, or very much cheaper in e-book than printed form. I generally don't like trying to read things on a screen.   Do you like candles, or tart burners, or something? If so, what's your favorite scent to burn? I like them, but already have a large stash of candles and tarts that I'm not using up. I usually like fruity scents the best, if I have to generalize (but that doesn't mean that floral or foody are out of the question).   If you get me (or a fellow Aussie, if there are any playing this round) as a witch or witch's minion, would you like to try some Australian specialties, such as TimTams (delicious chocolately cookies), Caramello Koalas (koala shaped chocolates filled with gloopy caramel), Australian native spices or anything like that? The Caramello Koalas sound interesting, and I might be interested in the Australian native spices (based on Arlith's recommendation) if they came with directions for how they're used. I've had the Pepperidge Farm TimTams and didn't like them. The original Aussie version would have to be a significant improvement to make the shipping worthwhile.   If your witch is a knitter, crocheter or sewer, is there a particular type of garment you would love to receive (hat, scarf, wrap, cowl, socks, fingerless gloves, arm warmers etc)? Above all, not scratchy! I would prefer not to receive socks (a little bit choosy about them, and my large calves usually rule out knee-hi socks), or hats (I hate getting hat hair). However, a knitted headband to keep my ears warm would be nice (not all my hair ends up flattened!). A scarf, wrap, arm warmers, or fingerless gloves would also be nice.   Is there anyone else in your house (kids, pets, partner) that would really appreciate a small gift being included for them in the switchwitchy haul so they don't feel left out? No kids, pets, partner, or roommates, and the resident geckos and anoles in the garage are quite happy with what they already have. So no, thank you. Marzipan? Yes, in moderate amounts. I do like the See's marzipan; after all, it is covered in dark chocolate!   Would you be interested in washable/reusable muslin "paper" towels (basically muslin squares hemmed around the edge)? Maybe in some sort of box to put on your kitchen or bathroom counter? Probably not.   Do you drink alcohol and if so, would you be OK with your witch sending you homemade infused vodka? Also, does your state allow alcohol to be shipped through the mail (for example, PA doesn't). I doubt I'd drink the infused vodka, and I think it's illegal to get it shipped to me here, anyway.   Since it's been mentioned several times, and I've also offered to nacho witch some, would you you like to receive wild rice and or maple syrup? I promise to include recipe ideas with the wild rice. Absolutely, positively, YES!!! (to either or both) I have 5 bushels of tomatoes sitting in the kitchen right now that are supposed to turn into red sauce tomorrow, so would anyone like a basic red sauce (spaghetti sauce) to make its way to them? Yes.   How would you feel about a taste of (insert witch location here) box? Intrigued (that's a "yes, please").   Last year, my wonderful witch Alethia adopted a bat for me from batworld.org, a bat rescue and sanctuary. Bat's World. Would you be interested in having a bat adopted in your name? Yes, of course!   Some of your favorite artists? Classic and modern? I usually like Impressionists, especially Monet and Renior from the "founding fathers". I have a couple of paintings by Deborah Gold, a contemporary painter who does a lot of Impressionist paintings (my two are both Impressionist landscapes). I like Mark Rothko's "color field" paintings. I have to admit a weakness for Lawrence Alma-Tadema's paintings. Plus I am fascinated by Salvador Dali's painting of The Last Supper that is in the National Gallery in Washington, DC, although I don't necessarily like all of his work. I like early Renaissance paintings (think Giotto & similar) plus a fair number of Pre-Raphaelite works.   If you could have an image or certain subject painted for you on any type of "canvas" (on a box, on paper, on a canvas, and so on) - could you point your witch to some of these images? There are applicable links and information in some of the other questions about art & paintings. I also like "mythic" landscapes, seascapes, castles, and so on. Also some space pictures - some of the ones from the Hubble space telescope are really cool. And I almost forgot the aurora borealis (northern lights)! Aurora australis is also good, there just aren't nearly as many pictures out there of the southern lights. I also forgot Celtic knots and the Newgrange triple spiral!   Is there a GC scent that's been on your list for ages but keeps falling off the bottom of your order because of the LEs? I can't think of any offhand. Which is not to say that there aren't any, I just don't remember which ones they are.   I've been getting into indie nail polish brands recently. What's your favorite indie brand of nail polish? Or what's your favorite mainstream brand of nail polish? Or are you not big on polish? I like nail polish colors, but I never get around to wearing it because I'm such a klutz at applying it and tend to chip it right away. That said, Zoya has some intriguing colors and I always check out the OPI rack when I go to Sephora.   Stuffed things: yea or nay? Probably nay. I've reached the point where I mostly consider them clutter.   mix-in-a-jar? How to you feel about cookie or cake or soup mixes that come in jars and you just add, like, an egg or water or what have you? This is a "maybe yes", but I almost never cook, so the chances are good that they wouldn't get used in a timely manner.   I live near this very cool Retro store (you can order online too) - are there things from it that would make you squee if your witch sent them? I haven't had a chance to look at the website yet, but the answer for now is "probably not" since Retro generally doesn't appeal to me.   Would you be interested in beer, wine, or other specialty beverages from your Witch's area? Beer, no (unless I were to use it in cooking, which would be a waste). I don't like to drink beer. Wine probably. Other specialty beverages, perhaps. I like the idea of mead, but I don't seem to like it when I actually meet some. And then there's the problems with trying to ship alcoholic beverages, which I wouldn't want to wish upon my Witch.   Are there any crafts/skills you've wanted to learn but haven't gotten around to? And if so, would you be interested in supplies and tutorials? Yes, there are some, but I usually prefer to take classes rather than go it alone.   Who here would be happy to get a lil' sumthin sumthin from Adagio Teas? --> http://www.adagio.com I've been meaning to place an order with Adagio. The ones that have caught my eye are primarily the fruit-flavored ones such as mango, guanabana, passionfruit, currant, etc. White teas would also be interesting; black and green teas are fine, too.   Do you Ravelry? And if so, what's your handle over there? Would you be interested in gift patterns from your queue? I don't Ravel, since I don't knit or crochet.   Who likes Pumpkin Spice Hershey Kisses? I think I do, but I'd have to locate some and doublecheck!   What does your kitchen look like? Colors/style? Looks like a disaster zone. Colors: forest green with some sunflower yellow and true red. I've allowed a few decorative French-country-style roosters to take up residence.   Witchee, what are your favorite quotes? Be carefule what you ask for, you might get it.   All shall be well, and All manner of thing shall be well. (Dame Julian of Norwich, but also used by T. S. Eliot in The Four Quartets)   We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. (T. S. Eliot, The Four Quartets)   Put your iPod/MP3 player/what-have-you on random and list the first 10 songs it plays! 1) Montsegur: La Tragedie Cathare; Lonc Tems Ai – Lo Ferm Vole, (La Nef) 2) Carmen, Act 1; Mon Officiere , C'etait Une Querelle (Bizet, Maria Callas) 3) La Gloire de Byzance, Trois Sticheresdes Grandes Vepres de l'Annonciation de la Mere de Dieu (Choeur Byzantin de Grece) 4) The Album I;, Choukrane (Alabina) 5) The Album II, Baile Maria (Alabina) 6) Xou Da Xusa 3, Bombom (Xuxa) 7) Musique de la Grece Antique, Anonymi Bellermann (Atrium Musica de Madrid) 8) Cantus Buranus: Das Orgelwerk; Fuga Super: "Ingordin et Ingordan" (Corvus Corax) 9) Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K.467: III Allegro Vivace (Mozart) 10) Wagner: An introduction to Der Ring des Nibelungen by Deryck Cooke (with musical examples), 30. One last central symbol (Ex. 150-7) [this last one was immediately followed by a track from Act II of the Solti/Vienna Philharmonic version of Gotterdammerung, but we'll quit here] What's one random thing you really like and one random thing you really dislike? Random really like: cool, crisp fall mornings. Random really dislike: Having my motives misconstrued. Doing something intended to be kind, helpful, considerate, etc., and then getting reamed by someone for my supposed bad motive, disregard for others, lack of caring, or generally hatefulness for doing or saying whatever it was.   Are there any herbs that you haven't been able to lay hands on that I could send you? There's an herbal shop I really like here in NYC called Flower Power that has quite a wide selection. Can't think of any off-hand..   If there are no "witchy" shops near you, is there anything I can pick up for you from Enchantments? Again, can't think of anything off-hand.   Hey Witchee! I want to send you a delivery. It could be cupcakes from a local bakery, it could be a singing hugging bear-a-gram, it could be a bouquet of flowers. But it will be something that you need to be there to receive. a) Are you OK with "special deliveries"? *waggles eyebrows* No, absolutely not. I'm not home much, and when I am I don't appreciate having my privacy invaded. Sometimes it would be an outright imposition, say if I was trying to get to sleep at noon because I have to go in to work at 8:00 pm to work a rocket launch scheduled for 3:00 am.   What are some things you are OK with receiving gently used or homemade, and some things you absolutely do not want if they are gently used or homemade? That depends very much on the item. Homemade art or craft items are fine. See my answers to some of the other questions for more cases.   I live near a Mast General Store. It has lots of vintage-y toys, southern foods (jams, jellies, spices) and vintage candy. Is there anything I can get for you? Not familiar with it, so I can't really say.   Do you have any Fall or Halloween traditions? No, not really.   Ninjas or Pirates? Either, neither, no preference.   I have an extra room spray and 2 extra bath oils (one Cephalopod, one Exhibit Hall Fatigue) from Dragon*Con - would anybody like a decant? That might be interesting.   Witchee, would you like it if I made you a "mix tape" of songs that I think you might like? And if so, would you prefer mp3 or CD format? Probably not.   I know it is totally the wrong season (for most of us), but do you like/have space to garden? If so, what do you like to grow? I haven't been gardening. Fortunately,.the rosemary bushes and birds of paradise in my yard seem to thrive on neglect.   Tell me of your taste preferences. Dry/sweet? Red/white? Lager/ale/porter/stout? Fruit? Spice? Hops? Sour (brettanomyces, etc)? Not mouth-puckeringly dry, but not too sweet, either (unless it's flat-out intended to be a dessert wine), although I do like vintage port. I usually choose red wine, although I also drink white wine occasionally. I had an excellent glass of Chateau St Michelle's Eroica recently. I don't like beer.   are there any if MeiLin's books (e-book or print) you'd be interested in? Between past swaps and her Kickstarter, I think I already have most of them.   I'm about to be near a Lush store next week, is there anything you might like from there? None of the Lush products has ever grabbed my interest.   Songs that you keep meaning to buy but never get round to it? I have some CDs on my amazon.com wishlist - may list some of those here later. Individual songs, no.   Movies that you love but forgot to put in your questionaire? None.   Name one movie you keep meaning to buy, but just never get around to getting? 2001: A Space Odyssey. Queen Kelly. Duck Soup. Rocky Horror Picture Show. OK, so that's more than one.   Any favorite Bath & Body Works scents/products? No, not really..   Haus of Gloi is offering custom perfumes - would you like one? What would your ideal blend be? Not really, I haven't had a hankering for a particular type of custom perfume, and I have enough perfume on hand to last me several lifetimes.   Any Bath, Body or nutritional type items you would love to try from a Natural and Organic food store (similar to Whole Foods) that you don't buy because they are a bit too pricey? I'm usually not afraid to treat myself if I really want it, so no, thank you.   Witchee, will you be gone from your normal mailing address at any point during the round? Yes, October 8-12. But packages are held at my post office box if they're coming USPS.   Are you a Disney fan or does even thinking about Disney make your head hurt? If you're into Disney, would you like something from the Happiest Place on Earth ? I live an hour and a half from Disneyworld and still have one day left on a pass from earlier this year. Plus I'm not that big a fan of Disney stuff.   dear witchee, would you, could you use an electric candle warmer? i'm talking something like this. I already have one, thank you.   Do you lust after some new socks/tights? No, not really. I have the same issue that some others have mentioned - I'm plus-size, so most knee socks don't fit me and plus-size tights aren't all that common. I tend to be rather picky about my socks and tights.        
MerriAnneStowe

MerriAnneStowe

0
 

Q&A Part 2 Switch Witch Fall 2012

Are you a gamer (of any sort - video, casual, tabletop) and are there any games you want? Nope.   Would you be interested in BPTP CANDY? Perhaps, although I haven't seen enough information on the upcoming candy to have a real opinion.   Do you like coffee? If so, what kinds? Flavored, fancy, basic? Beans or ground? Yes. I'd be willing to give just about any kind a try (though I rather hope that civet coffee is too pricy for this swap). Either beans or ground - beans might be better because they're more storeable.   Would a Starbucks gift card make you happy or do you prefer your local place? Starbucks, since I'm not even sure where most of the local places are (and Starbucks is not that common around here, either). But I'd probably use a Starbucks card eventually since I travel a lot.   CUSTOM-Made Pottery?? yea or nay? coffee mugs, rustic or more elegant? a set of bowls? soap dish? bird feeder? something alltogether different? and lastly, good colors for glazes...? Yes, yes, YES! Either rustic or elegant. Probably not coffee mugs since I'm already overrun with them. Bowls or a soap dish might get used, and a bird feeder might be fun. Just a general container might be useful, too - the kind of thing that can hold kitchen tools, or letters, or general odds-n-ends. Colors probably in the blue-green-purple/lavender range, fairly subdued and "naturalistic".   Do you have a forum buddy? Someone who knows you and/or your tastes well enough to answer questions on your behalf? No.   If you are on Livejournal, would you appreciate LJ stuff like paid time, custom userheads, stuff like that? If you are NOT on LJ but are on other sites that have similar paid-for services (Flickr, for example?) would you, and what are those sites/etc? Not applicable.   If you are into tarot, what is your favorite card? Perhaps the Six of Water from the Gaian Tarot. Or just about any card from the Gaian Tarot.   Would you like your own set of handmade rune stones or worry stones? That sounds interesting. I haven't used runestones, although I've looked at them in stores. I'm not familiar with worry stones.   Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cider, or none of the above? All of the above! Except perhaps hard cider.   Gum, hard candy, soft candy, or none of the above? Soft candy. Hard candy isn't out of the question, but given the option I go for the instant gratification. I don't chew gum.   Loose tea or tea bags? Do you need anything for your loose tea? (Filters, presses, etc.) Either. A nice tea ball would be good (I saw one recently on Think Geek that's a little Death Star). Maybe some other accessories such as a tea strainer (for when you're pouring) or a tea bag holder. (Perhaps that last would be a good custom pottery item!)   Do you do Goodreads or LibraryThing or a site like that? If so, can I see your to-read list, please? No, not on any of those sites.   Zombies; Yay or Nay? Nay. Nay, nay, NAY!!!   If you have cats, do they like catnip toys? If you have doggies, would they like a super-reinforced canvas toy with a squeaker in it? No cats, no dogs. If you have kids, what are they into? No kids, either human or fur. How do you feel about wearable knitted lace? Shawls, wraps, and the like? Sort of in favor of them, but I strongly suspect I wouldn't ever actually use them. Looking at the warehouse, I notice that our lovely Greenwoodtree is able to do chart readings and/or forecasts at a very reasonable rate. Is this something you would want? That would be lovely.   Candy Corn: yes, no? I'm debating attempting to make some. >.> Yes, but I'm not really "in to" candy corn nearly as much as a lot of other candies - especially ones that involve chocolate!   Hey, while answering, I thought of a question. The end of this month I'm going to Scarefest, the big horror and paranormal con in Kentucky. Here's the link to the site. If I were your witch, is there anything you would like from there (skull jewelry, art prints from an artist that catch your eye, etc), or anyone whose autograph or photo or such you would dig? This isn't really my thing, so no, thank you.   I live in Japan. Anything you would be interested in from there? The unique KitKat flavors that others have mentioned sound interesting. I also have a small collection of Japanese obis, but an obi would probably be too extravagant.   What makes you laugh your ass off? movies, comedians, black humor, your partner, a comic strip? what? Lucyboo21's stories (the Naked Guy Fire, CeeCee and the doggy bag, you name it)! I also have a weakness for good puns and wordplay. Example, from the latest Think Geek e-mail: "Red Rover, Red Rover" My cat lived on Mars Curiosity killed it Flattened on impact Or this visual pun:   You open a box from the post office to reveal the 3 things you want most right now. What are they? 1) A nice, big (about 30 x 40 inches) painting by Javier Lopez Barbosa 2) An art glass piece by Preston Singletary - preferably one of his versions of Raven Stealing the Sun 3) This item from Tiffany As you can see, it would be a fairly large box.   You are meeting up with someone on a casual lunch/early afternoon thing. This person is someone you want to impress/look good for (for whatever reason, not necessarily romantic, and not necessarily for business either). What would you look like, given the contents of your wardrobe/etc? Probably a polo shirt, denim skirt, and my funky Trippen ankle boots in dark silver metallic leather.   You are to be let loose in a clothing store of your choice, to pick a full outfit, down to the shoes, the accessories, etc. and things would be altered to fit you if needed. What store would that be, and what would you look like? I just recently found the perfect store to answer this question: Santa Fe Dry Goods. The clothing would be Rundholz, Ann Demeulemeester, or Eskandar (or perhaps Issey Miyake, Oska, or Dries Van Noten); I'd add a necklace from one of the store's lines, perhaps this one by Holly Masterson; and finish it off with Trippen shoes. Maybe I'd add an Etro scarf if they had one in stock that caught my eye. (This was an ideal world / fantasy question, wasn't it?)   if you wear earrings, do you have pierced ears? My ears are not pierced and I don't wear earrings.   What is your holy grail "I'd kill to just have one drop in an imp" bpal scent? I don't have a Holy Grail BPAL scent.   Are there any existing Weenies that you have your eye on, but haven't gotten around to getting? I already placed a massive decant order for the first Weenie round, in addition to ordering a few bottles. Check back after the next round of Weenies goes live.   My new job is at a consignment store where we have all kinds of designer brands for very reasonable prices. Are there designer clothes/purses/sunglasses that you desire/love? (Give some indication as to your "style" as well. For example, do you like bohemian-style frocks in lavender? Crossbody purses in black? Sunglasses that are round and bug-like?) No, not really.   I realize that we had a similar question in the ?aire, but I need you Witchee-s to list at least 5 items, each ranging $20 and under from Amazon.com or Walmart.com. Bimbos of the Death Sun Nicholas and Alexandra (to replace my copy of the 1969 paperback, which has finally fallen apart) Ethiopiques 20: Live in Addis (or any of the other Ethiopiques recordings; I don't have any of them) Boom Shinga Ling by Oojami and some Devil Duckies   In the meantime, let me know what you like to do on the Internet to kill time. Flash games? What are your daily websites/blog visits, or favorite YouTube videos? The BPAL forum, Facebook, checking e-mail, checking the news, shopping.   And what are your favourite characters from your fandoms? No fandoms, so N/A.   My Little Pony... Cute or meh? Worse than meh, more like "Aaaagghhhh, get it off me!!!" **arm flail**   Lip balm - tube or tin? Tube.   Would you like to receive a journal or sketchbook? How about other pretty paper goods like post-its, notepads, bookmarks, letter paper/envelopes? I have a weakness for journals, which means that I already have a stack of pristine, unused journals. I'd probably use post-its or notepads; in theory I should use bookmarks but I don't have them handy when I need them, so my bookmarks tend to be restaurant receipts, airline boarding passes, and the like.   Are you interested in audiobooks? If so, any specific titles? No, I don't use audiobooks.   Bar soaps with some scrubby bits, yes or no? Yes, keeping in mind the previous caveats about how my backstock of soap is already trying to take over the bathroom.   Do you need any small electronic gadgets like flash drives and the like? Need, no. But I keep getting tempted by the USB gadgets that Think Geek has, such as the one-can refrigerator and the USB Pet Rock. (The latter does everything that the 1970's original did - i.e., nothing. And yes, I'm old enough to remember the original.)   Would you like a pair of knitted socks? Probably not. As previously stated, I have large calves & tend to be picky about my socks.   Do you have any use for knitted dishcloths, facecloths, etc, especially if they were fandom related? Dishcloths, probably. But not fandom-related, because I don't have any fandoms.   Do you subscribe to any sample boxes, and if so, which ones? Would you like to receive some samples? No and no, thank you. I tend not to use samples.   Do you have a problem with nudes??? If not, do you prefer male or female? No, not really, as long as they aren't overtly sexual. I own several Bodyscapes works. I'd say that I prefer female nudes, but that's just cultural conditioning (they're far more prevalent). Really, either is fine.   People ask a lot of questions about dogs and cats, but I know a lot of forumites have rodent pets. How would you feel about hammocks or toys for your rats/hamsters/gerbils/etc.? If I am providing housing for any rodents right now, it's purely unintentional. So no, thank you.   Paintbox Soapworks: Interested in anything from her? I like Tarty's glycerine soaps, but I still have some unused ones from my last order. Plus the only scent among the ones that are up on Etsy right now that looks interesting is Lady Linden (although I might go for another bar of Snoggin' if the Yule scents go up before this SW round is over).   ThinkGeek: anything interesting to you on there? I already mentioned the Star Wars Death Star Tea Infuser. It looks like they no longer have the USB Pet Rock, and the USB beverage cooler is out of stock at the moment. But there is a USB Aromatherapy Oil Diffuser that looks interesting. I'm sure there are plenty of other possibilities, I just don't allow myself to make wishlists there!   What's one thing you want, right now, that you're having difficulty finding? Aside from money and/or a winning lottery ticket? Can't think of anything offhand. Are there any e-tailers you're desperately wanting to try? if so, any specific items/scents/etc? Not desperately wanting to try, no.   Owls? Probably. There are quite a few out there that I like.   What do you do to take care of yourself when you're having a rough day (sick, life not going your way, whatever)? Well, that rather depends on the nature & severity of the problem, plus whatever "must do" things that I have (assuming a sufficiently high level of functionality). But let to my own devices, probably stay in bed with a stack of books and magazines, plus chocolates & junk food. Or maybe just stay in bed and sleep.   Who here is going to be picking up JK Rowling's new book on Thursday? I've had it on order for weeks. But, being cheap, the order was placed with Amazon's free shipping, so my gratification will be somewhat delayed. I haven't seen a shipping notice yet.   Favorite and least favorite baked goods? Favorite: classic Toll House chocolate chip cookies (with real chocolate chips, real vanilla extract, real butter, etc.), orange bread from Holly B's Bakery in Lopez, WA, cinnamon rolls with buttercream frosting, nice dense chocolate tortes (or Sachertorte). Least favorite: most anything bland & boring. For some reason, cannoli seems to fall into this category.   What size T-Shirt do you wear (standard AND babydoll)? In men's or unisex t-shirt, a Large or X-Large, depending on how generously they're cut. In most women's t-shirts (apparently), about a XXL or XXXL. That's why I usually purchase the men's version if both are offered. I don't wear babydolls.   I found a fantastic little shop while traveling that had unusual jellies and jams. Would you be interested in trying something like Georgia Moonshine Jelly or TOE Jam (each letter stands for some kind of fruit, I don't remember which ones) or something similar? How about homemade jam in general? Fruit jams or jellies, yes. Probably not a moonshine jelly. Homemade jam, probably. I just got a jar of homemade blackberry jam from a co-worker.   Would you be interested in homemade herbal remedies and tinctures? Probably not the finished products, but I might be interested in recipes.   Witchee, do you want anything from the Haunt update coming up on 10/3? I know it might be too early to say, but if you could look at the preview on the night of 10/2 and let me know if you want anything... It hasn't been very long since I received the stuff I ordered from her last update. However, that said, I might like to get something in the Witch Wife scent other than the skin glossing oil. I have more than enough skin glossing oil already on hand. And I'm not sure I'll ever have enough vanilla pear lip lust.   Do any of Villainness' Soap Box exclusive scents interest you, especially any of the Smooches/Whippeds? No, thank you.   Puddin' just put a shitton of old Lunacy shirts on the BPTP Etsy! Any ones interest you? This batch seems to have been mostly v-necks, which I don't wear. Plus even the XXL size in the Bellas and tissue tees are too small for me.   Is there something(s) that you consider too spendy or too frivolous for you to buy for yourself, but that you actually want? Too spendy means it's definitely too much for Switch Witch (see my answer to the fantasy package question for samples of my "too spendy"). I'll have to think about the "too frivolous" part. Gardening? I would like to, but my yard & schedule do not lend themselves to it.   Do you use or would like to try loose eyeshadow pigments? I already have a ton of eyeshadow pigments that I don't wear, primarily because of the sweaty, humid Florida climate.   Is there anything you might want from the latest weenie update (Lab or TP)? I'm afraid I already took care of myself with a Lab order & a couple of decant circle orders.   What's a new company to you that you most want to try a product from or what would be a new product to you that you most want to try (make-up, perfume, or bath/body)? I don't really have any "want to tries" at the moment.   If you like necklaces, what are some symbols or images that you would love to have a necklace depict? (ex. spiders, skulls, hearts...?) Probably a butterfly. Unless you want to get me a theobromine molecule from Molecular Muse on Etsy.   If you had a fairy for NYCC, what exclusive scent would you kill to own? None of them really jumped out at me. (And it's sort of OBE now.)   What do you think of Shiro Cosmetics Halloween Collection? (www.shirocosmetics.com) I admit I haven't even looked at the link.   The Godiva Halloween Collection: link? None of their Halloween collection really attracts me.   Would you be interested in comic books and if so what ones do you read or what genre of comics are you interested in? Not a comics person, thank you.   WITCHEE, DO YOU WANT ANYTHING FROM CALIFORNIA? I live fairly close to the Florida editions of the theme parks, plus I get out to California occasionally on my own. But if you come across any See's Butterscotch Chews or Dark Butterchews or [Holy Grail] Mincemeat Creams . . . . .   IngenuiTEAs? Perhaps.   Honeycrisp "Apple Crips" (Dried honeycrisp apples, nothing added.) DO YOU WANT SOME WITCHEE????? I might like some.   Design a tea? Some of the possibilities are very intriguing.   FusionSweets? (etsy) Yes! Bacon Sea Salt caramels, and really most of the caramels.   Poe Day? Dark Del merch in general? The Haunted Palace sounded interesting. The Dark Delicacies merchandise in general, no, thank you.   Kombucha? No, thank you.   Are you dressing up for Halloween, Witchee? If so, is there anything you're looking for to complete your costume? Not dressing up, so no, thank you.   Do you need any accessories for your smartphone (case, skin, etc)? No, thank you.   Mustaches? Uhhhhhh, no. No, thank you. Mead? I keep thinking that I ought to like mead, but every time I do try it, it's sort of "meh". But I'm willing to give it more chances! Warm, fuzzy socks? If they're ankle-high. I really don't need them too much in Florida.
MerriAnneStowe

MerriAnneStowe

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Switch Witch Summer 2013 Help, Part 1

Dr Who? Probably not. I last watched Dr. Who in the late 80's, so my Doctor is Tom Baker. There are a few things I might like, such as a Dr. Who scarf or the TARDIS cookie jar, but for the most part I do not consider myself part of the fandom.   How much do you like lipbalm? I rely on it. Flavored or unflavored? Flavored. What are your favorite brands and flavors? Mostly I use Haunt lip lust, in a number of flavors. I have quite a stock on hand already, though. But if you come across some vanilla mint Chapstick, hmmmmm.   Do you like and wear lipgloss? No, I don't use lipgloss. If yes, what colours? n/a   For those of you whose wishlists contain only BPALs, are there any other perfume companies you like or would like to try out? Well, first of all, I haven't created a BPAL wishlist. I have a fair amount of Nocturne Alchemy perfumes; most of the other ones I have are "commercial", alcohol-based perfumes. I don't really have any other perfume companies that I want to try out.   Your feelings on Adagio teas: If you've never had anything from them, would you be open to trying them? If you HAVE had them and like them, name some favorites blends. And if you had them and dislike them, can you name a few *other* tea companies you're into? I'm open to getting some Adagio teas. I don't really have any favorite blends, although I dislike teas that are too sweet. (I really don't like Market Spice tea from the Pike Place Market in Seattle – I find it unbearably cloying.)   What about coffee? Would you like to get coffee send to you? Whole bean or ground? What are some varieties and/or flavors you enjoy. Tea is probably a better choice than coffee, since I don't brew coffee at home.   Who is your favourite female of all time? Historical, literary, ANYTHING, and why? The first one that came to mind was Zenobia of Palmyra. Like Cleopatra VII of Egypt, she managed to hold off the Romans for a while before being conquered. There's also Hypatia of Alexandria, the neo-Platonist philosopher and mathematician (although her end was horrific). In the Middle Ages, Christine de Pisan comes to mind (supported herself and her children with her writing, and defended women's capabilities), and I have a fondness for Julian of Norwich. Then there's my eleven-times-great-grandmother, Mary Dyer. She ended up as a religious martyr in 17th-century Boston for refusing to "repent" her Quaker faith – or, if you prefer, for being an uppity female who twice returned to Boston after being exiled and told never to return.   If you were a Disney princess you would be? I don't want to be a Disney princess. I want to be Mary Poppins!   Would you like a seashell from Florida? If you have a nice specimen that you're willing to part with, sure. But I also live in Florida.   What craft project do you currently have on your docket or that you want to start? And that craft goodies would be welcome? I haven't had time to do any crafting in a long time, and I don't have any projects pending. I probably wouldn't have a use for craft goodies.   If you could have one rare BPAL, what would you choose? I don't really have any rare BPALs that I want to acquire. I might want to sniff some of the legendary ones (Storyville, etc.) just to see what the fuss is about, but I don't crave any of them.   Are you kinky? Nope. Really, quite boring.   Do you enjoy scented candles? Certain sizes that you like? What kind of scents or brands? Yes, I like scented candles, and I'm not particular about the size/shape. My very favorite ones are Diptyque's Baies scent and Rigaud's Tournesol scent, but those are a little pricey for Switch Witch. And anyway, I have far too many candles on hand already, waiting to be burned.   Thoughts about South Africa? Have you been here, would you like to go? Would you like to receive anything South African? I have not been to South Africa and it isn't high on my list of places to go. However, there is one shop that whenever I go in there, I spend a noticeable amount of time looking at the Zulu telephone wire baskets.   Do you like Sockdreams? If so, what styles would you prefer? (You can also link your wishlist.) My main concern with socks is the circumference of my calves (about 16.25 inches). I would need the "suitable for large calves" styles from Sockdreams if they were knee socks. That explains why most of my socks are ankle socks.   Do you need hair accessories? Nope. As I said on my questionnaire, my hair spits out hair ornaments & accessories. If so, what kind or color? n/a What is your favorite shade of blue? I like most shades of blue. Sky, Caribbean, teal, peacock, electric, royal, sapphire, aqua, turquoise. I like gray-blues. Navy blue is OK, too. The ones I don't like are the ones "on the border". Periwinkle drives me crazy trying to decide if it's blue or lavender. I also don't like blue-green shades that remind me of my parents' 1963 Pontiac station wagon (which make picking out a peacock or teal shade a little tricky – stay towards the blue side).   Do you have any kitchen gadgets (a SodaStream, a Kuerig/Tassimo) that you want mix things for? No.   If you were to start learning something new (intellectual or craft or hobby), what would it be? Craft, probably spinning, hand-dyeing, and weaving. Maybe metalworking (as in jewelry making) and enameling. Intellectually, there are some languages I'd like to tackle. Perhaps taking on Japanese or Old Icelandic again, or Irish, ancient Greek, classical Chinese, French, Lushootseed, or a host of others. Or brushing up on my German. What about candy? Do you have a sweet tooth? My sweet tooth seems to be diminishing a little, but yes, I like candy. Dark chocolates are best; I also love caramels, so dark chocolate-covered caramels are usually made of win.   Do you have an e-reader? What kind? Would you like to get ebooks? I have the Kindle app on my iPad. I generally use it only for things that are not available in print editions, or for things like free downloads of classic books or ones that are out-of-print and difficult to acquire (The Three Musketeers, The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries, etc.)   If your witch is an extremely crafty sort, and she were to send all kinds of homemade foody goodies and handmade crafty stuff - what are items you would NOT LOVE to receive. Please dont hedge on this one...some of us are serious crafters and will be making most of what we send! Homemade foody goodies could be problematic this time of year. I'd hate for a package of goodies to "go bad" in the summer heat. Other crafty stuff that won't melt down or spoil – sure!   Witchee dear, do you like video games? Are there any you want to play? Do you have a large library? I quit doing video games about the era of Donkey Kong. I am not into gaming.   Do you have something you do, without fail, as a personal daily habit/ritual? (Examples: pen-and-paper journal keeping, tea/coffee drinking, morning yoga, nightly bedtime reading. I'm kind of thinking on things that would be dear to you and might need small supplies or could use certain extras. ) No, not really.   Do you wear nailpolish? What colors do you tend to go for? What are your favorite brands? Are you open to trying indie brands? I never get around to using the nail polish that I already have.   Name three BPAL scents you have tried, but are dying to get more of. Well, there's Monastery in the Mountains. My decant of that smelled good when I accidentally stepped on it and smashed it. I might like more King Mandarin, also.   Do you still write real letters on nice stationary to people you like/love? I don't write letters, but sometimes I do use those correspondence cards made of thick pasteboard for short notes. Crane Stationery usually has some nice color combinations.   Have you ever tried anything from Paintbox Soapworks? Which products or scents would you prefer? I like Tartchef's products. However, I already have a large stash of soap that I'm trying to use up, including some Paintbox Soapworks bars. I don't particularly care for sugar scrubs (as in, somehow they don't get used) and there are other lotions that I like better than the slips.   Do you like/have space to garden? If so, what do you grow? The closest I come to gardening is the two neglected rosemary bushes next to the front door. And the neglected birds of paradise in the flower beds. (Fortunately, these all seem to thrive on neglect.)   Do you like sample sized things? Think lipgloss, mascara, bodylotion, scrubs, mini candles, and so forth. I tend not to use cosmetic and toiletry samples. I have my routine with my usual brands. The one exception might be sample sizes of shower gels and scrubs – those I sometimes use for travel.   Have you tried Fortune Cookie Soap? What products or scents would you like? I am not at all familiar with that company.   Do you use solid soaps at all? Yes, all the time. If so, what kind do or don't you like? My favorites are by Pre de Provence, especially the linden, sage, and lavender scents. But I have quite a stash of soap on hand already that I'm trying to use up.   Have you ever tried Cocoa Pink? If you are curious about it, what looks interesting to you? I haven't tried Cocoa Pink and I'm not particularly interested in them.   Do you like Lush? If so, what is your favorite product that is currently available, also, what is a product that you love but has been discontinued? Lush is one company that has never "grabbed" me. I walked into a Lush store recently, walked around and sniffed some of the soaps, and walked back out again without any twinges of regret.   Do witches prefer the answers posted here, but a more cherry-picked number of questions answered, or a more exhaustive list posted in the blog, which means posting here much less? I would find it easier to use a single location such as a blog (although I'm pretty sure I'll end up with at least two blog posts for this round, simply because of the number of questions!). The main thing is that my witchee answer at least some of the questions, somewhere.   Anyone a fan of Shiro Cosmetics? Any particular products? Eye shadow pigments in general? Another company that I'm not familiar with. Plus I don't use color cosmetics such as eye shadow and blush.   Are there any companies, products, or items you boycott? (For example: some folks boycott Nestle, MicroSoft, cashews, Kraft, and so on.) Walmart. Chik-fil-a (but that's not difficult, since I'm usually near their locations only on Sundays!). Also Hobby Lobby, Papa John's, and Domino's. Applebee's, even though I think that problem was only with their New York City franchisee. My other problem with them is that I think their menu is boring. I wish I was disciplined enough to boycott Monsanto and their products – but there are so darn many of them!   As I am in Japan, what sort of things would you like from there? Those exotic flavors of Kit Kat bars that have popped up in previous swaps look intriguing. And if you happen to find a really pretty obi . . . . . (Most of the ones I've bought are fukuru obis from about the 1970s. But there are some nice maru obis out there, too.)   Since FB and the FB Gusp group (and the BPAL Sorority which is quiet) have become gathering places...what are some of your favorite Facebook pages you like? Most of the Facebook pages I like are for business such as restaurants or small companies/stores. For cultural/political/humor, I mostly rely on my friends like share the stuff they like.   Do you read literature/culture blogs or websites of any kind? I'm thinking about anything that would help a putative witch to get a sense of what your current tastes in books, movies, games, genres, approaches to culture and literature and so forth are. No, I'm not a regular reader of blogs.   How do you feel about traditional picnics (namely the intimate table for two variety)? Old-fashioned basket or something more utilitarian (cooler/insulated bag)? Both. The cooler or insulated bag is needed in order to keep the cold stuff cold – no food poisoning here! A traditional hamper is cute for things like dishes, cutlery, tablecloths, and room temperature food such as the crackers to go with the cheese in the cooler! (See the Picnic at Ascot company for examples.)   If you were put in a room with 100 random other people the same age and sex as you, from your country, in what way do you think you would be different from the average? Shorter. Fatter. Childless (and therefore grandchildless, too). Higher IQ and have read a lot more. More liberal politically. Let's not go into religious beliefs & opinions. I probably wouldn't find more than one other engineer in the room, either.   Haus of Gloi did a Reverie update! Do any of them interest you? (Or anything else up currently?) I have not looked at the update.   Witchee, do you cook? I'm not doing any cooking now. I need to get back to doing that. Do you do all the cooking? I would if any cooking got done in this household. Is it a chore or a pleasure? I'd probably classify it as a pleasure if I got around to doing any cooking.   Which reading level do you prefer to read in YA or Adult? Or even both? The real question would be "is it well-written and interesting?" I read both, depending on whether it's a book that I want to read. I read something not too long ago about how the most interesting and challenging topics were showing up in YA literature rather than so-called "adult" literature.   What colors/style is your kitchen decor? Emerald/forest green with some yellow and burnt orange. Kind of French country – there are a few roosters decorating the room. And do you entertain in your home? No.   Are your ears pierced? No, and I have no plans to get them pierced.   Do you like stuffies/stuffed animals/art doll type thingies? No, thank you. I've reached the age where I consider them clutter more than anything. (Unless hand-crafted stuffed animals or dolls are my Witch's specialty, in which case I would be honored to received one.)  
MerriAnneStowe

MerriAnneStowe

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Switch Witch Help Summer 2013, Part 2

Would you be interested in someone writing out for you a favourite recipe, or finding or devising one which they think you'd like? If so, please provide your favourite ingredients, info on how you like to cook/store and use food, and any intolerances - unless all of these are in your questionnaire, or you don't like the idea. That sounds like a cool idea.   If you knew you were going to live comfortably for say 800 years, what profession, calling or project might you pursue with some of your extra years, which you imagine you may not do in the life that you have? Like a lot of others on the forum, I was attracted to Egyptology at one time. That might be fun to circle back to. There are a lot of things in the arts (or crafts) that I would want to take up, also. Or learn how to do sustainable farming, or get into gardening or even landscape architecture. Or if I have that long, maybe take a decade out to sit and meditate in a cave in the mountains somewhere.   Is there any thing - an object, a donation on your behalf, some research done for you, whatever - that your witch could do about this that you would like? And if you can't think of a present, would you rather she/he (I!) didn't either and confined themselves to things you are already involved in? There are some wildlife rescue organizations out there which allow you to "adopt" an animal – one of those adoptions might be nice. (I think it was in the last Switch Witch round where girasol's witch adopted an elephant for her. That was cool.) Or perhaps a donation to a cultural organization such as an opera company or art museum.   Switch Witch is, of course, all about you.....but if your Witch was so inclined, are there wee little ones in your home that will get jealous and are just too young to understand why you won't share the love, who maybe need a touch of Witchee love all their own, to distract them while you hide all your lovelies?!? No kids, no pets, no need to worry about such things.   Do you like bags? If so, what type (rucksack, clutch, shopping bag) colour and would you like/need a new one? I am overly fond of bags, especially tote bags. I definitely don't need a purses now, and I don't need any tote bags. But I would be totally happy to get a pretty/striking/creative/etc. tote bag or market tote. (Yes, I do have a tote bag problem.)   What's your favourite comfort food (snack or candy etc) and/or drink? I consider massaman curry to be my comfort food. I have yet to find a decent massaman curry anywhere in this county. I tried making it at home once – it was edible but far short of my ideal.   Would you like anything from an European country? Any particular food or goodies, magazines, books, whatever would be available to your witch in his/her country. Magazines in German or French might be fun. A French or German Vogue is interesting, even though I don't bother reading the American edition. I also have a weakness for French shelter magazines (Maisons Cote Ouest, Marie Claire Maison, Elle Decoration, etc.). A copy of Der Spiegel would also be interesting. Local foods, candies, etc. would be interesting as long as they fit within my likes as described elsewhere (nothing licorice flavored, please!).   What fandoms do you belong to? None. What cheers you up? The beach. Who or where would you most want to haunt? Well, if there was someone I wanted to haunt, it would probably be someone I dislike whom I'd want to make miserable or freak them out or suchlike. But that would mean that I'd have to hang around someone I dislike. So I think I'll skip haunting a person. But a place I would want to haunt . . . . . probably my family's beach house. I love the place, and I'd get to hang out with family. Who would you least want to be haunted by? There have been one or two bosses along the way . . . . . . What question do you hate to answer? "Do you really expect me to believe that?" "What makes you think I'd believe that?" "What in the world were you thinking?" And others of that ilk. What is the best compliment you have/could receive? "I admire (or appreciate) the way you handled that."   Do you like tarot cards, pendulums and rune stones etc? If so, what type? I don't use pendulums. I might be interested in a set of rune stones, although I think of them as associated more with Asatru or Heathenry and my leanings are not in that direction. I already have far too many decks of tarot and oracle cards.   Witchee, I know that SW isn't about what you get... but could you name one thing you would be heartbroken not to get and one thing you would be a-ok if it didn't make it in your box? (i.e. do you REALLY want perfume oil of some sort, or would you be totally heartbroken if there was no Lush in your box, etc) I would be disappointed (but short of heartbroken) to get nothing at all. Really, I'm interested in seeing what my Witch comes up with after trying to decode my questionnaire and the answers to these questions.   Is there anything small you try to collect from everywhere you visit? Not anymore. I usually try to get something, but it's not one particular type of item. For instance, in Venice I'd probably try to get some Murano glass. In Bruges I'd definitely go looking for some lace. Generally local specialty items, or shopping in cute local boutiques and gift shops, or just shopping in stores that aren't available where I live (they may be on line, but that isn't the same).   Would you like something from Empire Edibles? Their stuff looks interesting (especially the caramels), but I'd think that shipping from England to Florida would be extravagant, not to mention risky in high summer.   What are the three books you most want to read right now, and which you don't already have? Shaman, Healer, Heretic: Olivia Lawson Techno-Shaman, by M. Terry Green; His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, Book 1), by Naomi Novik; Taste, Memory: Forgotten Foods, Lost Flavors, and Why They Matter, by David Buchanan; The Dragon's Harp (Era of Dragon's: The Lost Takes of Gwynhwyfar) (Volume 1), by Rachael Pruitt, Through Wolf's Eyes (Wolf, Book 1), by Jane Lindskold. OK, so that's five.   Is there a literary character you identify with? Even if it's not spot-on, just someone you found yourself having that "I identify with this" feeling? This is a bit obscure, but the main character's Aunt Julian in Sanders Anne Laubenthal's Excalibur.   What would you like from the most recent BPAL update? What are you planning on buying for yourself and what would you like to try? I've signed up for a decant circle.   Opinions on table top games, from cards and board games, to dice and rpgs. What do you like? What don't you like? Favorites? Any classics you like? Do you collect any? I never have anyone to play table top games with except when I visit my family. We pretty much stick to cribbage and pinochle these days (well, my parents play Five Crowns, but I've never learned). And there's always solitaire. So if you find a really cool deck of cards, or an excellent cribbage board, that would be about the extent of my interest.   Do you have problems with swearing or particularly off-color humor? That's OK if it supports the joke – but if the whole point of the joke is that it's off-color, that's uninteresting. Would you like to receive subversive crochet/cross stitch/ etc., or would this not get much love in your household? A subversive cross-stitch or crochet would be cool. I might not display it, but it's cool.   What is your style of humor? Wordplay and good puns. I very much dislike practical jokes.   Is there anything from Australia you would like? eg: snacks (yes, you can ask for Tim Tams!), books, magazines, memorabilia? No TimTams needed, unless the Australian version are far better than the Pepperidge Farm version (I didn't like those). Some of the spice mixes might be interesting. And I always like opals! (joke – I know how expensive good-quality Coober Pedy and Lightning Ridge opals are.)   Gift cards/vouchers – yay or nay? If you like them – which stores would you like one for? Mostly nay. But if I received an amazon.com gift card, it would get used.   How big of too big…for somethings to hang on your walls? If I'm painting you a pretty picture, are there maximum dimensions that you have/prefer? If you can afford to ship it, I can probably find a place to hang it. I'm more worried about weight. I've never figured out these metal studs in the walls (instead of wood 2x4s) and I don't want to tear out a chunk of overstressed drywall.   What is your favourite object, that you own, ignoring sentimental reasons for attachment? So I guess something you find beautiful, or fun, or incredibly useful. This isn't my favorite (as in, grab one thing as you run out of a burning building), but my air compressor for pumping up the car tires is definitely one of the most useful gadgets that I own. I'm on my third one now, having worn out the previous two. (And the tire pressure gauge that lives at the bottom of my purse gets a surprising amount of use, too.)   Put your mp3 player/online music/itunes/etc on random and list the next 10 songs here: 1) Concerto in A Major for Violin, Three Echo Violins, and Orchestra, RV552: III. Allegro (Vivaldi) 2) Choukrane (Alabina) 3) Fiach dubh (Corvus Corax) 4) Concerto in A Minor for Bassoon and Orchestra, RV497: I. Allegro molto (Vivaldi) 5) Venus Vina Musica (Corvus Corax) 6) Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto #2 in C Minor, Op. 18 – 1. Moderato (Van Cliburn; Fritz Reiner: Chicago Symphony Orchestra) 7) Nightblossom (Woodland) 8) The Dance of Ogrin (Celtic Legend) 9) Deuxieme Hymne Delphique a Apollon (Atrium Musica de Madrid, Gregorio Paniagua) 10) Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467: III Allegro vivace (Mozart)   I have a feeling I will struggle with keeping my identity secret from my witchee. If you happen to find out who yours is, how much would it bother you? No. But I don't think much during the round about who my Witch might be. But I really do prefer to have a reveal at the end.   Is there someone on the forums (within SW or not) who knows you really well and might be able to help with stalking? Sorry, no.   Do you use waxmelts or tarts? If so, which ones do you prefer? I have a tart burner, but I don't use it. So I already have a backlog of tarts that I need to use up.   Do you enjoy drinking hot chocolate, and would you like stuff to make it with, or to add to it? Good hot chocolate is fine, but I don't prepare it for myself, so I probably don't need anything to make it with or add to it.   Have you ever tried Spoonfudge? No. Would you enjoy it if your Witch would send you some? Which of the flavors would you like? I have no idea. I'm not at all familiar with it.   What's your opinion on Moonalisa? Meh. Any favorites or products you'd like to try? No, not really.   Are there any BPALs that you loved the idea of, the imagery – whether artwork or description – but which didn't work out for you? There are some whose imagery intrigues me (Tintagel, Crossroads), but I haven't tried them yet.   Also, STARBUCKS, Yay or Nay? Anything you particularly like? Yay, although this seems to be one of the few areas of the country without a Starbucks on every corner. I could use a gift card for when I'm traveling.   Ninjas or Pirates? Neither one, really. Werewolves or Vampires? Definitely neither one. Zombie or Cthulhu? Cthulhu.   Do you want to receive one big package or a bunch of small ones? Digital stuff all at the end when the box should arrive or as we go? I have no preference, so whatever works best for my Witch is fine with me.   Do you welcome knitted items? Yes. If so, what would you like most? (amigurumi, washcloth, socks, shawl, shawlette, scarf, wrist warmers, hat, etc.) Probably not socks or a hat (I hate hat hair and anyway, I live in Florida). Most anything else would be fine. Do you have any favorite fibers? Natural fibers that aren't scratchy. (I tend to avoid acrylic, just because.) How about any fiber allergies? Nope. Favorite color for knitted items? See my favorite colors listed elsewhere (questionnaire & the "favorite shades of blue" question.   Is there a Quote that resonates with you, or that you particularly like a lot. Would this be something you would like artwork made of for your walls or a shirt/bag/scarf? Not exactly a quote, but "Be careful what you ask for. You might get it." There is also a quote from T. S. Eliot in The Four Quartets: "All shall be well, and All manner of thing shall be well." (Of course, he borrowed that from Julian of Norwich.)  
MerriAnneStowe

MerriAnneStowe

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Switch Witch Summer 2013 Help, Part 3

Do you have any symbols or totems that are meaningful to you? The triple (Newgrange) spiral.   When you are having a really rough day, what do you like to do/have to make it a little brighter? Chocolate. A nice meal out if I have the time.   Would you like if your witch sent a regional pop/soda? If so, what type (Root beer, creme soda, cola, citrus-flavored, chocolate-flavored, etc...)? I can't think of any that I want so much as to justify the expense of shipping.   If you knit/crochet, what sizes of needles do you need? I don't knit or crochet.   What styles of artwork do you like? Usually Impressionist or abstract.   If you cook, would you be interested in-hand made spice mixes/rubs? Maybe (but I'd have to start cooking again).   Would you like mexican vanilla or silver rings/necklaces? I'm really leery of Mexican vanilla's history of adulteration, and I don't really need any more jewelry (I fear I wouldn't wear any of these).   Is there anything from the [Conjure Oils] Oddment Emporium you would like? I already placed my order with Conjure Oils, thanks.   What are the three BPALs you would most like to receive - one GC, one not-hard to find LE, and one HTF LE from your dreams? The only one that comes immediately to mind is the recent King Mandarin single note LE.   What is your favorite color? Yellow. Nice, bright, sunflower yellow.   What is your favorite season? Autumn   If you could live anywhere in the world and money was no object, where would it be? Central Paris, probably the 1re or 6me arrondissement. Or Vancouver, BC.   Do you have any long trips coming up? If so, could you use things to occupy yourself? Yes, but that is such a common occurrence that I have my routine. So no, thank you. I'm going to Jungle Jim's next week (it's basically a massive international food gasm in Ohio, look it up); would anything interest you? Since I haven't looked it up, I have no idea if there's anything that would interest me. Name three things that you could use, but might not necessarily think to get for yourself? A car bra for my brand new car. (Of course, the front end had a thorough coating of bugs by the time I got it home from the dealer, so it's already a little late for that.)   Would any witchee be interested in this comic? or any of her three comics? Sorry, I'm not into comics or manga or graphic novels.   Does anything from the TP Etsy update interest you? No, not really.   I just found out Oreo is launching ones with watermelon flavor in the USA only. Is it something you would enjoy? Maybe, but I can check the grocery stores myself.   What do you love about summer (even if it's your least-favorite season)? Fresh fruits & produce.   For those of you who are big readers: Are there any books that just came out (like within the last two months) or are about to come out during this round that you're really looking forward to? Not necessarily "really looking forward to", but the new Gaiman sounds like it might be interesting.   I know there's been a question about favorite quotes but this is specific: Do you have a quote that's not more than, say, a dozen words long that you would like in a cross-stitch? Both of the quotes I provided earlier would fit.   Dear Witchee: If you don't consider yourself in a "fandom" (and I get that ... I don't really go overboard on my liking of any TV show/Movie/etc), are there any TV shows or Movies that you really like and/or watch regularly or any actors/actresses you wouldn't leave standing in the rain (unless you like looking at them sopping wet, in which case ... well, nevermind)? No.   So, dear witchee, would you like some Tw*twaffle soap or scent or lotion? Maybe a bar of the soap.   Has anyone asked about tattoos? Do you love them? Hate them? Have any? Want any? I don't have any, and I wouldn't say that I love them. Most of them I just don't care for the subject matter.   TAL update on etsy. Is there anything you want/need? I took very good care of myself already, thank you.   I live near the Brown and Haley outlet - makers of Almond Roca and Mountain Bars - would you want anything from the outlet? ALL THE DARK ROCA ARE BELONG TO ME!!!!!   I also have an Oberto jerky outlet local to me - any wants there? I'm not that fond of Oberto products.   How do you feel about home-canned goods? A bit leery, although pickles might be OK.   Do you like BPTP clothing? Not that fond of it. What size do you wear of: Baby-doll T's I don't wear them; they don't come in large-enough sizes. Regular T's size XL in the Trading Post crewneck t-shirts yoga pants again, I don't wear these because they don't come in large-enough sizes   Also, what is your favorite lunacy (or non-lunacy) T-shirt that you don't already own? I usually don't wear the BPTP t-shirts that I do have. The only one that I come close to regretting that I didn't buy is this year's Moon of the Terrible t-shirt (crewneck, size XL). Or other clothes from BPTP? none   What else do you love from the Trading Post site, and need to have? nothing, really (unless you come across a Goldfish Pool or Forbidden Brides scent locket, but again, I probably wouldn't get around to actually wearing it)   Is there a particular movie genre that you like (Fantasy? Drama? Romantic Comedy? Musicals? TV-Series, etc), and what format would you prefer: DVD, Blu-Ray, or something in the cloud (like Amazon, iTunes, Flixster, etc)? I almost never watch movies. I definitely am not interested in horror, action movies, or anything that might induce nightmares or even raise my pulse rate. Preferred format would be DVD.   Following up on the Adagio question from earlier, what are you top five wishes, for teas and blends? I don't have a tea wishlist, and I'm too lazy to come up with one.   Do you have anything that you do ritually, every summer? Not really, unless making every attempt to stay in air-conditioned environments counts.   What are your top five wishes from ThinkGeek? Again, I don't have a Think Geek wishlist. I haven't even really dared to look at their website since I caved and bought myself the Death Star tea infuser.   Seen anything lately that makes you go OH HOLY FUCK THAT'S AWESOME!! ? Himalayan monastery Do you like audiobooks? If so, do you have/would you like to try Audible? (I'm an addict, myself.) No. I cannot concentrate on them. My attention wanders.   Chocolate: Love? Hate? Allergic? If love, what are your faves? Love! Primarily dark chocolate. Also like chocolate and fruit(-flavor) combinations, although I'm wary of items that have little fruit seeds in them – there's a story behind that about a Godiva dark chocolate and raspberry bar, and years of follow-up dental work.   Does the idea of wearing a plant as jewelery give you the warm fuzzies or the heebie jeebies? Neither one. But I probably wouldn't wear it & it would die of neglect.   Gourmet popcorn, yes/no? What do you like: glazed, savory, candied? Nuts or not? Any flavors you wouldn't like (like Bacon Cheeseburger, Pizza, Watermelon, Root Beer Float, Hot Chili Dark Chocolate)? Or if any of those sounded interesting, how weird is weird enough? Those all sound interesting, but I often regret eating popcorn as I struggle to get the hulls out from between my teeth and under my gums (not to mention the risks of biting down hard on unpopped kernels).   Would you like some detangling and very shiny hair gloss made by me? This is a 'cone rich blend, not the least bit natural. No, thank you. I don't use hair glosses or detanglers.   I know the question about personal style was included in the questionnaire, but is there anything that could give your witch a better sense of your style/fashion or decoration preferences? Like tumblrs, pictures you like, websites, stores (or brands) you like or would like to be able to shop at and so forth? Sorry, I don't have any tumblrs or Pinterest boards or suchlike. I tried to provide enough help in my questionnaire; that includes some websites that I like.   Do you like/wear makeup? If so what brands/colors/types? I don't really wear make-up (thank you, Florida heat & humidity!). So I don't really need any more.   Is there anything special I could get you from New York City? The Morgan Library. Oh, you say it isn't available?   Do you want/need/like/collect journals? If so, do you prefer lined or unlined? I like journals so much that I already have quite a collection of unused journals just waiting for their chance (all unlined, by the way).   Festival this week -- includes an "encampment" and an art faire. Any interest in trinkety things from the encampment or cards/prints from local artists? Something along those lines might be cute. I have a weakness for Renaissance Faires, and I've already mentioned my liking for local crafts & such. How do you feel about glitter? Does loose glitter make your skin crawl or would you bathe in it? My skin is crawling just thinking of the clean-up effort, and the pain of stepping on missed, pointy glitter stars, and getting glitter on the bottom of my feet inside my pantyhose, and so on and so forth.   Do you like Kickstarter? I am far too fond of Kickstarter. It's addictive. Are there any projects up that you really like? I have backed projects in all but one category, although a lot of them seem to be food. Right now I'm backing two projects that are still underway: Wood & Wine, and Hot Winter: an all Organic, Heirloom Chile Sauce.   If you have an Etsy wishlist, what are your top 5 favorite things on there? The price is unimportant, not because I'm rich, but because I'd like some inspiration.   1) handmade moccasin boots 2) lacy leather mask 3) fairy tale print 4) I already bought this bead 5) ring with raw diamonds and, standing in for a multitude of similar items, candle If you were getting a custom Haus of Gloi blend, what four notes would you choose? Summer notes listed here and you can click through to the whole list from there. I do not even dare to look.   Dear witchee, I know Canadian chips can be different than others, how does "dill pickle" or "ketchup" sound? Probably yes. Ketchup does not sound terribly interesting, and I know that I do not care for salt & vinegar, but I am fond of jalapeno flavored chips and of Kettle Chips' Thai Spice.   Do you like puzzles? What kind? Jigsaw, word, etc? For the most part, yet, although I don't really take the time to do such things now (and I would have to clear enough space to assemble a jigsaw puzzle). I don't do Sudoku, though.   Every package has to have something blue in it. Blue can also be used to describe more risque humor...how would you rate your general sense of humor? Are you strictly PG-13, R-rated, NC-17? Not against blue, per se, but would prefer that it be kept fairly mild, somewhere between PG-13 and R-rated. As I've said before, I don't like humor where the entire point of the joke is that it's dirty. I adore the humor in Bodyscapes. The problem is that although I own four of them, I don't have the courage to display them!   DEAR FIBER AND YARN PEOPLE: I am going back to Paradise Fibers today. They have like almost every type of fiber roving and dye and stuff available. If you're a spinner and have any fiber wishes, what would you like? Dyed or natural? Do you need dye? colors? brand? Right now, I have no use for such things, although taking a spinning class is on my list of things to do. I already have a lovely Gotland fleece from New Zealand waiting for me to take that class!   Do you have anything that you use on a daily basis that you would always welcome more of? Nothing in particular comes to mind (that I haven't already stocked up on, or that wouldn't keep).   Sooo, the Blooddrop update (Aviary and Summer Simplicities). Anything you'd like from there? Another "I don't dare to look!"   What about recycled sari silk yarn, witches and witchees? I don't think I would have a use for it right now.        
MerriAnneStowe

MerriAnneStowe

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Switch O'Ween Questions

Hey, Witchee, it's getting cold. Socks, scarves, hats or arm warmers? Scarves, perhaps. Not socks or hats (I hate hat hair, and most hats are too small for me, anyway). Arm warmers, maybe. The main catch is that I live in a warm climate.   Halloween Candy, Decorations, and Costume supplies - What kind are your idea of FUN and which ones would you thoroughly dislike? Fun ones that I already bought from Pottery Barn (just to give you a sense of what I like): stuffed crow, mercury glass pumpkins. I've also seen some Jim Shore witch figurines in past years that I've liked. Dislike: anything bloody, macabre, just plain scary, skeletons – i.e., the dark side of Halloween.   WHAT traditions to you partake in for Halloween? Knowing what you do our how you decorate or how you celebrate? I really don't do anything for Halloween.   Are you a fan of anything that you would like a t-shirt of? If so, what size would you wear? No, not really, and I already have more t-shirts than I can reasonably wear. But if you come across something absolutely perfect, it needs to have about a 48- to 50-inch chest. That generally translates to a Men's L or XL, or a Ladies' XXL (or higher).   Do you love, hate, or are indifferent to.....pumpkin flavored things? Mostly indifferent. But if you come across some of the Pumpkin Spice M&Ms I'd be interested in trying them. My local Target only had a shelf tag left by the time I looked for them there.   Dear Witchee, did you get anything from the Beaver Moon or Weenie updates that I need to know about, so I don't accidentally repeat anything? I took care of myself pretty well – any of the ones that I really want have been ordered.   Name some DVDs you wouldn't mind receiving, or are they on an Amazon list? Every so often I contemplate buying a copy of Queen Kelly (the movie is from the early 1930s). Most of the ones I mentioned on question lists from earlier swaps have been acquired, so do not rely on those blog posts.   Do you want anything from Starbucks or Teavana? Tea, tea makers, rock sugar, tea tins, coffee, via, via refreshers, mugs, Tazo tea...? I don't have any particular wants, but would be open to teas and tea accessories. I'm more likely to make tea than coffee, not that I don't like coffee.   If you were my witchee, would you be interested in anything from my store or something similar? (Nut-made by LisaNut on etsy.) Not particularly.   Say your witch works at a used bookstore. What kinds of things might you like from there? Cool old pulp fiction paperbacks? Tarot cards? (we have those.) A Dr Who pen? Books about haunted cemeteries in Seattle? You may have all of these things:) oh, and also movies. And CDs. Yes, I might be interested in such things (maybe not the Tarot cards since I already have so many decks). The only caveat is that I'm really picky about the physical condition of my books.   Witchee, the Haunt Halloween update goes live tomorrow! When it does, please post right away and let me know your dreams and wishes! I placed my Haunt order very soon after the update went up (and she's sold out of virtually everything now).   I've got some canned goods put up -- mostly jams/jellies, some apple butter, some applesauce. Want some? If so, what kind(s)? Maybe – mostly if it's something I don't have to eat all of it right away once I open the jar. Jams or jellies might be good. No canned string beans, please.   How feel you about lip balms, glosses, and lipsticks? Any particular favourite scents/flavours? Any favourite makers/sellers? I use lip balms all the time, but I have a good stash already – and they don't keep forever and ever. Mostly I use Haunt lip lusts, but also some of the other indie houses.   Since wishlist links never seem to work in forum mail, won't you please re-post your wishlist links here, so they're readable? Since I'm so bad about having public wishlists (or even a BPAL wishlist on the forum), this doesn't apply to me.   Table Games - do you play them? Nope, no-one to play with. If so, which ones, and which versions, and are there any goodies you might like related to them? Witchee, are you in need of any particular spices? I kinda took care of my immediate needs when I made a trip to Penzey's to get stuff for my witchee last SW round. But I might be interested in regional spice mixes or similar.   Are there any craft project/s you are working on now that you need supplies for? Or rather, is there a craft project you've been wanting to do but need stuff to start? No, thank you, I don't have any projects in progress at the moment, and no time to do crafting now anyway.   What do you think of hair sticks? Would you like a set? I think hair sticks look wonderful in other people's hair. My hair is short and fine, so it wouldn't hold hair sticks even if it didn't seem to spit out all hair ornaments on general principles.   Is there anything you'd really like to have/try from Trader Joe's, or any other popular-but-not-available-everywhere store? I always like to shop at Trader Joe's when I'm near one, but that's a rare enough occasion that I don't have a list of things that I'm craving.   Would you rather have something fun or practical? Either one could be very nice.   Witchee, would you like a set of Cards Against Humanity? No, thank you.   Are you okay with semi-spicy foods right now? I'm thinking like curry or chipotle? If you were to choose a chili powder would you go Hot, Medium, or Mild? Yes! I mostly like things in the Medium range, but a mild but very flavorful spice might be nice. I can sometimes tolerate really spicy-hot foods, but it has to have some flavor to it. I don't like things that are hot just for the sake of being hot (I feel no compulsion to prove how macho I am).   If you were this mystery witch's witchee, would you be interested in Spoonfudge (http://www.spoonfudge.com/) or any other such "ordered online" sweet? The Spoonfudge site looked interesting. And I'm usually interested in caramels.   Also - Double checking everyone's baked goods status. Home-made baked goods or other food stuffs OK? Yes, as long as it travels well – it's still pretty warm here.   Speak to me of jewelry! If you like earrings, what kind? Dangly earrings, hoops, studs - what kind do you like? How long do you like your necklaces? Or would you prefer to just get a pendent, so you can size the chain yourself? Details, they make me happy. I don't wear earrings. I usually wear my necklaces about 18 inches long. If it's on a chain (as opposed to ribbon or leather), I would probably prefer just a pendant. I sometimes react to sterling silver chains (never mind base metal chains with nickel!), so I put sterling pendants on white gold chains. Copper or bronze might work OK, though.   If I were your witch and were to paint you something, what would you absolutely love, what would you feel ambivalent toward, and what would you not like to see or receive? I like abstracts, as long as they aren't too angular/pointy. I also like landscapes & seascapes. Figural paintings could be problematic, and too cutesy (darling puppies & kittens, etc.) might not be what I'd want for long-term display. And of course nothing gory, scary, macabre, overtly sexual, etc. I'm afraid my tastes are not that adventurous.   Is there anything you'd like from Lush, witchee? I've never really found anything at Lush that I have to have.   Travel/Not-at-Home? I don't have any travel planned during this round. And if something does come up, I usually have a neighbor keep an eye out for any deliveries to my front porch (and deliveries to my post office box will be held there).   Is there anything in the Miskatonic Valley Philharmonic update that you're interested in? I haven't had a chance to really study the listings, but nothing jumped out at me on my first skim-through.   Is there anything the Prancing Pony etsy shop that you're interested in? No, thank you.
MerriAnneStowe

MerriAnneStowe

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Switch Witch Help - Halloween 2014

1. I wonder what a potential witchee would think about being bombarded with PUMPKINS in various formats. Because my current obsession just may last long enough to be of use in spoiling.....but I know wouldn't be appreciated by everyone. Would you appreciate it?!? Yes, I like pumpkins. Probably more as an unaltered vegetable shape rather than as a jack-o-lantern or such. I bought myself a blown-glass pumpkin last year, orange with a green stem, although other, less natural colors might also be interesting. And when I was in a Neiman Marcus store recently I was eyeing the velvet, beanbag pumpkins with natural pumpkin stems. Pumpkin-flavored stuff, perhaps. I don’t dislike pumpkin or pumpkin spice, but I’m not a huge fan, either.   2. I currently have a CSA and my significant other is perpetually out of town for work, so I've been doing a lot of canning and baking with my vegetables. How do people feel about canned good (pickles, salsa, etc.) and vegetal baked goods (squash bread, zucchini bread). Generally favorable. Cucumber pickles or salsa would be a definite yes, pickled green beans probably less so. Breads & baked goods probably yes, provided it didn’t taste overwhelmingly of vegetable.   3. Trading Post wants? None to speak of, although I haven’t really studied the website recently. The tissue tees and yoga pants are too small for me.   4. What direct sellers do you not like and would prefer not to get things from? And also feel free to list any retail brands you really don't like. I think I’ll flip this question around. Probably the only direct seller stuff that I’m interested in at the moment would be Tupperware. I could use some nice, basic storage bowls for leftovers in sizes for about one to four servings (not teensy-tiny and not huge).   5. How about y'alls coffee and tea preferences? Tea is fine – black, oolong, green, or white. Flavored ones, especially fruity, are fine. I’m not so sure about rooibos or herbal teas. This summer I rediscovered the joys of plain black or oolong tea with milk. I’ll drink coffee, but I don’t brew it for myself at home.   6. Do you cook? Would kitchen accessories make you happy? I keep meaning to start *really* cooking again. There are a few kitchen gadgets I’d be glad to get, such as a strawberry huller, cherry pitter, or apple corer. (Believe it or not, I do already have a mango pitter. And a mandoline.)   7. How do people feel about creative endeavours? Would you like to receive one? Or supplies to make your own? What do you like? Drawings, stories, poems? I’d be delighted to get something creative/handcrafted from my witch. I don’t really need any supplies for my own endeavors.   8. What culture or country (doesn’t have to be modern) do you feel an innate connection with? What about it makes it special to you? I’m not sure I’d describe it as an “innate connection”, but I do have a liking for traditional Japanese culture, especially from the Heian period up to about Momoyama. The aesthetic tends to be so spare and elegant – although some of the textiles can be highly patterned. I’m also fond of classic French culture (no bande dessinee, please). Again, the elegance.   9. Is there any sort of art commission you would like: cartoony, pin-up, fantasy, realistic, etc? If so, what subject would you like drawn (a picture of you, a character, a loved one or pet)? No, not really.   10. What do you find yourself doing for fun in your free time? What are your main hobbies and interests? I do a lot of reading. Most of my reading is non-fiction, especially history. I keep meaning to try my hand more at crafting, and occasionally I’ll take a class – I’ve done glassblowing and inkle weaving, for example. I also like to travel (as in visiting other places) but the actual travel (i.e., flying) is such a hassle anymore that I don’t do as much as I used to – plus I have a job that requires me to travel fairly frequently.   11. Table-top gaming? If yes, what kind, edition, etc? Gaming accessories you long for? None. I’m not into gaming, either tabletop or on-line.   12. DVD movies or games that you wish would magically appear in your hands? Can they be used, through Amazon? I tend not to watch movies. I have a large backlog of DVDs that I’ve purchased and never watched.   13. What kind of snacks or candy from other countries/states would you like to try? If available, I’d like some more real Australian Tim-Tams. (I don’t like the Pepperidge Farm version.) Also some of the unusual flavors of Kit Kats that are available in Japan (passion fruit!).   14. Do you have a favorite internet meme, character or pop culture fandom? No, not really. I don’t belong to any fandoms, although I like LOTR, GoT, and other literary-based things. I also appreciate classic Star Trek and Star Wars stuff. There are internet memes that I enjoy seeing when they cross my newsfeed, such as Doge, Moon Moon, and the like, but I don’t seek them out.   15. Do you have a Facebook profile (or other social media) that you are comfortable linking to aid your witch in stalking? Please note whether you are willing to add BPALers as friends. If my Witch ends up being someone I’m already Facebook friends with, then of course she’s welcome to check my “Likes” to see what interests me. But I keep my Facebook profile locked down pretty tightly and tend not to post very much.   16. Anybody interested in something from RCCC, whether it's con-exclusive merch or from a particular exhibitor or artist? I’m not into cons or comic fandoms in general. Exceptions might be made for BPAL and BPTP con exclusives, of course.   17. How important to you is regular contact / chatter with your witch? Not very. I like to get something near the beginning of the round so I at least know that I have a Witch, but I think that a high level of contact would be a bit overwhelming. Occasional e-cards, etc. are nice, but I’m not looking for high levels of contact.   18. Do you like puzzles/riddles/treasure hunts and that sort of thing? Not particularly.   19. If you were to receive music, would you want a physical CD or digital versions? Physical CDs, please.   20. What’s a current problem/annoyance you have that could be remedied but you haven’t had time to address it? My messy, messy, messy, cluttered house.   21. How do you feel about having some sort of trinket to carry around for good luck/wishes? i.e. a small figurine, symbol, card, coin… As long as it was small and sturdy, fine. Something that survive pockets & my purse.   22. Are you superstitious about anything? Any things you can't have in your house for that reason--bad associations? No, not really, although I wouldn’t want really sad-themed artwork, depictions of violence, etc. – bad feng shui, if nothing else.   23. For the vegetarians and vegans: How do you feel about things (say, marshmallows or gummy candy) made with vegan gelatin or other typically-animal-derived-but-not-in-this-instance products? N/A   24. OK, so we’ve covered pumpkin. How do you feel about the other fall classic – apples? Very favorable.   25. Do you have any fabric or skin-contact aversions? I prefer natural, non-scratchy fibers. And while I like good silks and satins, I tend to avoid other slinky, slippery fabrics (I think of them as “sleazy”).   26. How do you feel about Christmas/Yule ornaments? Those would be fine!   27. How do you feel about Hello Kitty, and Hello Kitty accessories (including mugs, cups, etc)? To be perfectly honest: No. No! NOOOOOOO! Get it out of here!   28. If you had a week free where you could learn anything, with no financial restrictions, what would you want to study? Let’s go to Egypt and study hieroglyphics! Or more realistically, there are quite a few week-long courses at the John C. Campbell Folk School that I’m eyeing.   29. Do you enjoy poetry? Who are your favorite poets and what type of subject matter do you like? I don’t read a lot of poetry, but I’m more inclined to do so now that I used to be. I tend to prefer narrative poems, although my very favorite is The Four Quartets by T. S. Eliot. I don’t particularly like poems that leave me feeling sad or upset.   30. Would you enjoy receiving something related to a favorite Disney character? Not really; I don’t have a favorite Disney character. Anyway, I live only about 60 miles from Disney World.   31. How do you feel about cute things as decorations or accessories? (Example: Would you enjoy this stationery - or do you prefer elegant/creepy/neutral stuff?) I prefer elegant stationery – classic Crane correspondence cards are about my speed. I tend to steer clear of cutesy anything.   32. What is something you'd really like to receive from your witch? Please be as specific as possible - no, "Oh whatever she thinks is fine!" I’d love to get something that my Witch has made, if she’s the crafty type.   33. Go to your music source of choice - on random or shuffle setting if possible - & share with us the 10 most recent songs/artists. 1) L’homme armee (Suspicious Cheese Lords) 2) Mein Voglein Schebte Mir Fort! from Siegfried by Richard Wagner (Solti & the Vienna Philharmonic) 3) O Heilige Gott! from Die Goetterdaemmerung by Richard Wagner (Solti & the Vienna Philharmonic) 4) La Douce Mille (Corvus Corax) 5) Anakrousis – Orestes Stasimo (from Musique de la Grece Antique) 6) Part 1/ IBM 1401 Processing Unit (Johann Johannson) 7) Symphony No. 3, Op. 55, “Eroica”, in E-flat/ Marche funebre: Adagio assai by Beethoven (Arturo Toscanini and the NBC Symphony Orchestra) 8) A Praga E Uma Praga (Xuxa) 9) Double Drums (Laura Chandler, Sacred Drums) 10) El Amor Brujo: II. Danze Ritual Del Fuego by De Falla (Angele Dubeau & La Pieta)   34. Tarot cards, rune stones, and/or other divination tools: yay or nay? I already have a large collection of tarot decks, so probably nay on that one (because of the risk of duplicating one I already have, if nothing else). The same probably applies to oracle decks. I would be open to getting a set on rune stones since I don’t have one now. I might also be interested in a scrying mirror, but I’m not interested in pendulums.   35. Do you have a Celeb crush? or someone who you just can't get enough of....other than your SO. Nope!   36. Glitter? are you okay with it, or hate it like the plague? Glitter is OK if it is very firmly attached. I’d say that I prefer “sparkly”. Loose glitter is anathema since it can never, ever be firmly corralled again.   37. If there was another time period other than now that described your style/aesthetics, what would it be? Traditional Japanese culture, especially from the Heian period up to about Momoyama. The aesthetic tends to be so spare and elegant – although some of the textiles can be highly patterned. Of course, in real life, I tend to have more clutter and padding – the traditional Japanese didn’t have much in the way of upholstered sofas, fluffy pillows, and the like.   38. If you had to pick one or two quotes to live by, what would it be and why? First and foremost: be careful what you ask for; you might get it. Second: what goes around, comes around.   39. Do you prefer physical books? CD books? eBooks? If eBooks do you have preferred format, kindle/nook/kobo/PDF/ePub/etc? eAudio? Physical books, please. I never listen to audiobooks; my attention wanders too easily. I have the Kindle reader on my iPad, but I’ve noticed that the e-books I have tend to go unread.   40. Smut! Yes or no? If yes, what kink, er, kind? No, thank you.   41. Ebooks! Yes or no? I prefer physical books. The stuff in the Kindle app on my iPad tends to go unread. I really don’t like reading books on a screen.   42. If you were to get a custom bottle from House of Gloi made for you what notes would create your perfect blend? I’m not at all sure, and I haven’t looked at their site recently to see what’s available. I suppose that it should have at least one each of the classic bottom, middle, and top notes. I like citrus and linden blossom. Tuberose tends to come on too strong for my tastes.   43. If your witch were to take a photograph (or paint or whatever) of something just for you, what would it be? Landscape? Flower? Critter? Something to illustrate a favorite quote? Landscapes, especially seascapes or shorelines. Wild animals, probably yes.   44. What is your favorite Halloween animal or other symbol/decoration? Pumpkins (not jack-o-lanterns). Cats, owls, and crows/ravens. Bare trees.   45. Makeup, especially of the indie variety. Nail polish, nail wraps, eyeshadow, lipstick/gloss, etc. Y/N? Specific preferences (color, finish, product, brand, etc.)? I tend not to wear make-up and am especially bad about using the large amounts of nail polish that I already have on hand. I don’t use nail wraps, I don’t wear eye shadow because of the high humidity in Florida (it would all end up in my eyelid crease in about 3 minutes flat), and I seldom wear lipstick. Some of the smaller companies I’ve purchased from include butterLondon and Portland Black Lipstick.   46. How do you feel about profanity and off-color humor? Profanity, not really. I also don’t really care for off-color humor, although if it’s a good joke that just happens to be off-color (usually some type of word play) I’ve been known to laugh. But I dislike “humor” where the only joke is that it’s obscene.   47. I make hairsticks...would you like/use them? Nope. I think hairsticks are pretty, but I have short, fine hair that spits out any kind of ornament I try to wear.   48. Does anyone here LARP? If so, what kind of LARP? And what kind of character do you play? Not a LARP’er.   49. Would you completely freak out if I sent you a chocolate covered scorpion or some other food oddity? This includes things like 'bacon powder' from thinkgeek.com. No insects, please. That doesn’t rule out everything – Lilliebelle Farms has some awesome chocolate-covered bacon that I adore (it’s just a little pricey, though).   50. This has kind of been covered, but, are you ok with receiving canned jam (from a veteran jammer!) and if so, what flavors would you like and not like? Probably. I would be concerned not so much about the flavors as about seeds. I’m slightly paranoid since shattering a molar on a raspberry seed years ago. But I like strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry flavors. I also like guava jam/jelly.   51. Let's talk nail polish. What colors do you love? Hate? Which brands are you dying to try? Have you ever used indies? Do you like glitter? Any textures to avoid (glitter, sand, etc)? I already have a ton of nail polish that I never use. I think I don’t really like any textures other than smooth and glossy.   52. How do you feel about getting a special Halloween plushie? Kind of meh.   53. I'm in Japan, anything specific you might want from the land of the rising sun? I have a small collection of kimonos (mostly Uchikake, some Furisode, Tomesode, and Iro Muji, and a few haori) and obis (mostly fukuro obi and a couple of maru obi). Furoshiki. Netsuke. Woodblock prints, especially Shin-hanga – I have a small collection of Kawase Hasui prints and one by Hajime Namiki. More realistically, some of the unusual Kit Kat flavors available in Japan – I loved the passion fruit flavor.   54. Are there any GC scents that you know you love, but for whatever reason, keep putting off buying bottles of? No, not really. There are some I think I’d like to try, but I’m terrible about testing the imps that I already have and I almost never buy GC bottles.   55. I know not everyone likes Lush products, but if you do, which Lush items would you like to get from your Witch? I don’t care that much for Lush products. It’s not that I definitely dislike them, but whenever I go into a Lush store I wander around, sniffing the products, perhaps sampling a lotion or cream, and then leave without buying anything. Their products just don’t grab me.   56. Is there anywhere (in the US) that you are dying to get away to? Also when would you be able to get away. Would this even be something you were interested in? If so, go look at the Southwest sale for routes and dates and times. I’d like to go back to the Oregon coast. I’m trying to figure out when I can fit in another trip or two before the end of the year so I can hang on to my United Airlines Premier status. I don’t really need a Southwest ticket at the moment.   57. If you are ok with receiving t-shirts, what size are you, do you prefer tissue tees, normal crew tees, babydoll etc? I already have so many t-shirts on hand that I fear I could wear a different t-shirt every day for a month without repeating or having to do laundry. I normally get a men’s/unisex L or XL (whichever is 24 inches across [48 inch bust]). I women’s I can sometimes wear a 2XL. I don’t like my t-shirts to fit tightly, and most women’s t-shirts are just flat-out too small for me. I prefer crewneck, sleeved shirts, not tissue tees or babydolls (or v-necks).   58. THINKGEEK! Who loves it - do you have a wishlist on there?? What are some things you are jonesing for on there for under $20? I like Think Geek’s products, but I do not have a wishlist there. I haven’t allowed myself to browse the site recently.   59. Zombies, yes or no? I’ll go with MeiLin on this one: not only no, but HELL NO!   60. Would you like arm warmers/fingerless gloves? If so, what length? just beyond the wrist, almost to the elbow, full sleeves? I like arm warmers, but am wary of the being too tight on my fairly large-circumference arms. For that reason, just above the write is probably safest, although I would also like almost to the elbow if they are large enough / have sufficient stretch.   61. Do you feel a particular affinity for a specific animal/s? Orcas! (Killer whales.) Also tigers and the smaller wild cats, e.g. bobcats, lynxes, Scottish wild cats, Pallas cats, and cougars/mountain lions – yeah, that last one is not too small.   62. Anyone have any Paintbox Soapworks loves? I like Tarty’s soaps, but already have a large soap stash on hand.   63. How would you feel if your witch or a minion of your witch showed up in person at your house with goodies? Thrilled? Annoyed? Completely creeped out? Probably completely creeped out with some annoyance. I’m not home that much anyway, between some long work days and a fair amount of work travel taking me out of town. And I’d be very embarrassed if someone came by at 4:00 pm on Saturday and caught me still in my nightgown (although I probably would just not answer the door in that case!).   64. Do you have a Ravelry account? Tell me about your yarn obsessions. No Ravelry account. I have a weakness for things like hand-spun alpaca yarn hand-dyed with botanical dyes, but since I don’t crochet or knit I don’t use it for anything.   65. Sock Dreams, yay or nay? Yes. I buy from Sock Dreams occasionally, but usually stick to crew socks because of my large calves (although they do have some knee socks that can supposedly accommodate my 16.5-inch calves. I also prefer natural blends – I realize that some nylon is usually necessary in socks, but don’t much like 100% acrylic. Also, non-scratchy/itchy. And the Uma arm warmers! (But I have to be careful there that they’re large enough – some of them work, some don’t.)   66. Knitted items like scarves, shawls, dishclothes....yay or nay? Favorite fibers? Favorite colors? Yes. For stuff that I wear, natural fibers & non-scratchy (no acrylic, please). I’m not sure what fibers are appropriate for dishcloths.   67. If you have an Amazon list, please make sure it's updated!!! My Amazon wishlist is not up-to-date, and I’ve made it private, anyway. I don’t like Google bots scoping out my wishlists.   68. If you were to receive handmade caramels, would it matter if they were made with raw cream (unpasteurized)? I love caramels! (Provided the consistency is not such as to pull out my numerous fillings.) As long as the cow, goat, or other dairy critter is healthy and the milk handled in a hygienic manner, I wouldn’t have a problem with raw milk.   69. Would you enjoy getting a sampling of quality incense taken from various sources? Would you want a burner for loose incense and a few charcoals to get you started with that, or would you rather stick to simpler types? That might be nice. I already have an incense burner and some charcoal tablets somewhere . . . . .   70. I know we already had a question about needed kitchen accessories, but what about spices? Sure! High-quality spices would be good. I think it’s about time to throw out some of my older spices, so even some common ones would be useful.   71. Would you like handmade stationary or cards? How about a quill pen? Perhaps. See my comments elsewhere about stationery. I’m not sure I’d ever use a quill pen. I sort of like the *idea* of quill pens, but the poor thing would probably end up sadly neglected. 72. Heat tolerance! (as in spicy food): On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being "gimme that ghost pepper!" and 1 being "oh, that's a bit too much black pepper for me" Where is your heat tolerance? About a 6 or 7. I have actually nibbled on a ghost pepper and survived, but I don’t feel a need to prove how macho I am by consuming capsaicin just because. But if it’s hot and also tasty, great! (And Theo’s ghost chile salted caramels were very good. The ghost peppers weren’t overly strong; I could tell they were ghost peppers mainly because of the delayed reaction.)   73. What is your favorite type of Halloween candy? I don’t really have a favorite Halloween candy.   74. Do you need or want any cozy footwear, like fluffy slippers, or slipper socks etc? I already have a sufficient supply for Florida – I almost never use them here.   75. What do you most look forward to each Fall? Lower temperatures. Although I sometimes have to wait until Thanksgiving for that.   76. What gadgets do you use in your everyday life and would you like a cool case for them - with your favourite fandom or artwork or saying? My iPad already has an extensive wardrobe. My laptop has a sufficient set of cases for the rare occasions I take it out of the house. My BlackBerry is employer-supplied and just about due for a refresh, anyway. So no, I don’t think I need any cases or carrying bags.   77. Are there any beauty accessories you need or would like? For example make-up brushes, facial brushes or eyelash curlers. Although I almost never wear make-up, I like to have an assortment of eyeshadow brushes on hand so I can use a fresh brush for each color. Plus there are different sizes & shapes of eyeshadow brushes!   78. Would you be disappointed to get one big box, or would you prefer a bunch of little ones? And would you be disappointed if your witch actually had it together early and sent it to you sooner than later? Whatever works best for my Witch. I do not have a preference one way or the other (early vs end of round, single vs multiple).   79. Stores are putting out their Halloween PJs and undies! Would you be happy to get any in a package? And if so, what size? For PJ pants, do you like cotton or flannel? I’m very particular about my nightclothes and underwear, and have a sufficient supply of both. So no, thank you. 80. Do you like M&Ms? Yes, pretty much all the flavors.   81. I know your feelings about scented candles, but how about wax melts? I’m in favor of either one, but I almost never get around to using them.   82. I'm not sure if they gift streaming subscriptions, but would you like one? Would it even be useful for you or do you prefer having real music in your hands? I don’t do streaming anything. I’m an old-fashioned, hard copy, CD type and rarely even do downloads.   83. What scents from the Lilith update would you like to try? Nearly all of them look good, but I plan on placing an order.   84. Would you be interested in receiving a box of sugar cube skulls? They’re kind of cute, but I’m not terribly fond of the skull motif and I don’t use sugar cubes, anyway.   85. Skin care routine? Fave cleanser? Toner? Moisturizer? What about body lotions? Any particular brand or scent? Lip balms? Yay or nay? I’m pretty well set for the stuff that’s part of my skin care routine (cleanser, toner, moisturizer). I do seem to be running low on body lotions. I like the formula base that Conjure Oils uses & I tend to like fruity scents. I am also adequately supplied with lip balms at the moment.   86. Has anyone mentioned Jamberry nail wraps yet? This is something I would not use.   87. If your witch was going to Salem Massachusetts, would you want anything from there? I was thinking mugs, keychains, postcards, etc. But what about witchy supplies like incense, candles, books, etc? I might be interested in something in the way of a souvenir. I don’t really need any witchy supplies.   88. If you happen to be my witchee, would you be interested in any of the items in my etsy shop? The mini witch hat might be cute: https://www.etsy.com/listing/203833930/witch-hat-mini-hand-knit?ref=shop_home_active_4   89. Spiders (as in cute knit kind) yes or no? Nooooooooo!!!!! (It would have to be truly adorable, but even then, probably not.)   90. Pillows (the mostly decorative type)? I have a weakness for pillows. So even though I don’t need any, yes.   91. Any kind of bags - big, small, medium, purse, grocery, etc? I have too many purses already, But totes and shopping bag types are another weakness of mine.   92. Is there anything special coming up in your life? Just my birthday.  
MerriAnneStowe

MerriAnneStowe

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Switch Witch Help Pt 2 - Halloween 2014

If you could try ANY BPAL scents at this very moment, what would they be (can be rare, GC, any type)? I would like some Monastery in the Mountains. I had a decant. It smelled good when I accidentally stepped on it, before I had a chance to test it.   Also, if there was one item you could have for your upcoming birthday - what would you wish for? Most of the things I would like are well out of Switch Witch league. Perhaps a Lucky color glassybaby: http://glassybaby.com/shop/glassybaby/filter/color#lucky . I'm also looking for a copy of the We'moon 2015 datebook, spiral bound.   93. Which one scent would you want from each of the following updates: Metamorphosis, Lilith, and GC? I haven't had a chance to even look at the Lilith scents yet, and I don't really have answers for the other two. Addendum/jumping the gun: In the 'Weenies, Magificent Autumn looks interesting. Also Visions of Autumn VI & Pile of Fallen Leaves.   94. Are you interested in anything from NYCC? No, not really.   95. Would something from the Tokyo Game Show (e.g. postcards, fans) possibly interest you? No, thank you.   96. Would you enjoy any of these couple rings? Or anything from the same stores Halloween collection? I have no use for couples rings, and the Halloween stuff doesnt really interest me.   97. If you imbibe at all preference between: wine/beer/cocktails and then glassware and/or bar-ware? Cocktail gadgetry? Books on the subject/recipes? Would you want sample bottles of local/regional/small batch craft spirits if they were home decanted and labeled? I usually drink wine. I dont like beer. Ill indulge in a cocktail occasionally, but Im not really into them. Books might be interesting; a couple that caught my eye are http://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Spirits-Forgotten-Cocktails-Alamagoozlum/dp/1592535615/ref=pd_sim_b_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=016N2C71K6NKT4NQFRD7 and http://www.amazon.com/Apothecary-Cocktails-Restorative-Drinks-Yesterday/dp/1592335845/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1411781148&sr=1-4&keywords=vintage+spirits+and+forgotten+cocktails. A small/sample size bottle of a truly local craft spirit might be interesting. I was eyeing some of the local ones available at the Portland (OR) airport this summer. As for cocktail gadgetry, what does a muddler look like? Another related item, not mentioned in the question, is bitters. There are some really interesting, local/regional bitters out there in very interesting flavors. (I already have a copy of Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All, with Cocktails, Recipes, and Formulas by Parsons.)   98. Would you like some chai, lemon, rose water or other flavored sugar cubes? I would not be averse to receiving some, but sugar cubes are not really something that I use.   99. If you had to choose one currently available book (used-but-obtainable counts if you do used) costing $20 or under for your Witch to buy for you, what would it be? Probably one of Carl Hiaasens books Skinny Dip andTourist Season come to mind.   100. Are there five things under $25 at Birchbox you would like? Oh, heavens, I dont have time to look at all of them now. May update this answer later, when I have more time.   101. Do you want anything from the Fatherhood update at the Post? I havent had a chance to look at them yet, but they sound interesting from all the chatter.   102. Street art! Into it? Not into it? Meh? Not into it.   103. If you could only pick one note that you love (e.g. Vanilla, Orange, Lavender, Rose) & you could only wear/have perfume, etc in that note, what would it be? Linden blossom (also known as lime - not the citrus fruit).   104. What are you interested in from the NYCC exclusive list? I haven't studied the BPAL exclusives list, but anything with apple would probably be interesting.   105. Most anticipated "Weenie blends? I listed a few under Question 93.   106. Caffeine or no? And is this a health or preference? No problems with caffeine per se.   107. Are you interested in anything from the MAC Rocky Horror or the e.l.f. Disney Princess make up collections? I haven't looked at the Disney Princess line. Nothing in the MAC Rocky Horror line really grabbed me.   108. I pass this shop every day, If you were my witchee would you like a custom chocolate bar? What would you choose? Plain, white or milk and with what? Dark chocolate; I haven't had a chance to look at the inclusions yet.   109. Would you like to try chocolate covered Turkish Delight or flower flavoured things (Rose and Violet chocolates)? I rather like chocolate covered Turkish Delight. If you're in the Pacific Northwest, I haven't had any Cotlets in a while (I'll eat Aplets, but prefer Cotlets or just about any of the other fruits that Liberty Orchards does). I'll consume rose- and violet-flavored chocolates, but those aren't my favorite flavors.    
MerriAnneStowe

MerriAnneStowe

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Switch Witch Help, Halloween 2017

10/5/17

Would any witchees be interested in NASA swag? I'm now super-close to Marshall Space Flight Center and will be visiting the space center with my kiddo pretty regularly. If so, what would you like? Clothes, a mug, magnets, a plush Snoopy wearing a flight suit? Thanks, but I already have plenty of NASA swag.

Does anybody like anything from Solstice Scents? I LOVE their Jack and the Devil. http://www.solsticescents.com/ Perhaps a Whipped Soap in Wail of the Banshee, Jack and the Devil, or Witch’s Cottage.

10/3/17

Witchee, would you like anything from the Trading Post Halloween update? https://blackphoenix...y/weenies-2017/ Perhaps the Crimson Pumpkin Floss or Purple Pumpkin Floss perfumes. I don’t use hair glosses, atmo sprays, or bath oils.
10/1/17

Awesome farmer's market by my house. They have a local honey stand (which also sells things made from local honey like Propolis tincture!); there's a small apothecary and she additionally makes soaps and hand-made, hand-poured scented candles; plus a guy that makes an array of BBQ and Hot Sauces. Does any of this appeal? Would you like anything from my local farmer's market? They all sound interesting.

Smolder Cosmetics. Do any of their products (glitter, eye dusts etc) appeal to you? https://smoldercosmetics.com Probably not, since I virtually never wear cosmetics (thank you heat & humidity). Plus these look like I’d have to do some work mixing and assembling.

Anything from Strobe Cosmetics (http://strobecosmetics.com)? Not the glittery stuff, but the Bay of Dragons collection looks interesting. The problem is that I don’t wear eyeshadow because of the Florida humidity.

How would you feel about getting Hello Kitty stuff? Unmoved. ‘Way back in 1979 my college roommate was into Hello Kitty, and I thought I was too old for it then.

Would you like to get some favorite recipes? Perhaps. As I’ve mentioned, I’m doing essentially no cooking at the moment, but if I ever get started cooking again, it might be nice to have some favorite, tested recipes.

Would you like anything from my shop? https://www.etsy.com/shop/LisaNut? Not really my style, I’m afraid.

9/30/17

Would you like anything from the Haus of Gloi Fall Part II update? https://www.hausofgl...ween-scent-list The scents all sound at least a little bit interesting. I use Haus of Gloi’s Whipped Soap once in a while. The Bathing Dust looks interesting. And hey!, there’s a tote bag!

9/27/17

How do you feel about

these little guys? I think they're adorable and kind of want them all, but especially the ghost and pirate ones. https://lovemomiji.c...imited-editions Cute, but not something I would want.

9/26/17

Witchees, do you want anything specifically from this page? Mitts, hat, shawls, unicorn... http://iceweasel.net/switchwitch/



None of those specifically, although I like Twilight’s work and have bought a cowl from her.

What are your top three most wanted DC'd or previous LE BPALs? The only one I am sort of looking for is Monastery in the Mountains. (There’s a sad tale there of the imp I stepped on before I had a chance to try it.)

What are some things you do NOT want to receive? A live puppy, kitten, cockatiel, bearded lizard, or other pet.

is there anything from here that you might be interested in getting a print (or pillow/make-up case/etc) of?
http://www.blackabbeystudios.com/store They’re nice, but the only one that appeals to me is The Reader.

Claire's has some super cute Halloween stuff. In the style of Haunted Mansion - black lace collars, lace and sparkle masques and the like. A few items in Dias de los Muertos style. Would you be interested in such things? No, thank you, I'm highly unlikely to wear them.

Would you be interested in anything from Orange Thyme? https://shoporangethyme.com/ If so, which products/scents/flavors? The ones with orange flavors/scents might interest me. Fortunately, they seem to be sold out of pretty much everything that appeals to me. I’m still looking for a good lip balm now that Haunt is on indefinite hiatus. I like that these do not have beeswax in them.

9/25/17

Anyone like/want calendars or dayplanners? I seem to have already loaded up on 2018 calendars and planners.
If you like stationery, do you like plain, colors, images, or specific DON'T LIKES? I’m a sucker for stationery, but I don’t care for the cute (kawaii) type. I like Crane & Co.’s correspondence cards and similar items.
What about general desk stuff like cool colored paperclips and post it pads? Office supplies are another weakness of mine. I might use Post-It note pads, but I already have enough cubes to last me a lifetime (as opposed to the standard pads that I could keep in a desk drawer at work).

Would anyone be interested in having any of Abigail Larson's artwork (either as a print or on something, like a pillow, blanket, or t-shirt)? https://society6.com/abigaillarson Nothing particularly catches my eye, although I don’t dislike her work.

Does anything catch your eye from Ten Thousand Villages? http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/ Not particularly, although I know it’s for a good cause.

Would you be into receiving hand made (crocheted, sewn, felted, chain maille, scale, or duct tape, in my case, depending on the item) Probably all of these materials except for the duct tape. dishcloths? Knitted or crocheted. Scarf/shawl? Yes. Hat? Probably not. They tend to cause bad hair days for me. Bag? Yes. Anything? Colors? (Duct tape, chain maille, and scales come in colors.) See my questionnaire for color preferences.

Do you collect anything from SBUX like City Mugs, City Mug ornaments, City Cards, or Bearistas? If so, which do you need/want? Or would you like a City Mug or an ornament for fun? I don’t really collect Starbucks gear. But if you come across one of their Chinese Year of the Rooster Bearistas from earlier this year . . . . .

anybody want homemade fudge? I can do chocolate with or without nuts, peanut butter, and butterscotch. That would be good. I like chocolate and butterscotch. I don’t much care for nuts in fudge.

Do you like spicy foods? I am currently addicted to these suckers and want to send you some buffalo ridged kettle potato goodness (https://www.billygoa...shop/1lb-kicker) I like a lot of spicy foods as long as they have some flavor other than just the heat, and aren’t so spicy that they wipe out all other flavors and make my mouth go numb.

What would you like from the Weenies updatus giganticus??? I haven’t taken the time to study (or even glance at) the Weenies.

9/24/17

do you collect the art cards that BPAL sends out? Any in particular that you are looking for or definitely don't need? It’s more like I allow them to accumulate. I wouldn’t claim to collect them.

Do you like this beautiful art, and she makes stickers and prints...SOOOO gorgeous: https://www.shannatr...om/paperprints/ Nice enough, but mostly not my thing.

Favorite animals or wild creatures or mythological creatures? Orcas, cats (domestic, most wild species, especially Scottish wildcats, Pallas cats, snow leopards, tigers), dragons

Would you like any swag from the Depeche Mode concert? (pins, posters, shirts, program, dunno what they'll have!) No, thank you, not my thing.

Is anyone interested in the new Resistance scents that the Lab just released (Take a Knee and SN: Flor de Maga)? So interested that I think I’ll just place an order. (Sorry . . . . .)

Is anyone here into zero waste, plastic free living, urban homesteading, or any simplicity/minimalism-esque lifestyles? If so, could you use any tools or equipment? Now I feel guilty for not doing any of this.

9/23/17

Are you interested in anything from Bath & Bodyworks? Which products and scents do you like? www.bathandbodyworks.com/ I generally don’t use Bath & Body Works products.

I am possibly going to a crystal / gem show tomorrow. I can't afford expensive gem stones, but...
What kind of crystals would you like? Probably more in the form of specimens than tumbled stones. Arfvedsonite, larvikite, or any of the Greenland stones (nuummite, thulite, tugtupite). See also my answer to the favorite gemstones question on the questionnaire.

Pumpkin or Zucchini bread? Perhaps, and I’d probably prefer Pumpkin to Zucchini.

What kind of homemade cookies are your favorite? Classic Toll House cookies (chocolate chip), with real butter, real vanilla extract, and real chocolate chips. Also seven-layer cookies.

Could you use a muscle rub? (We make ours on the lunar cycle and it has menthol, wintergreen, habanero, cayenne, olive oil, st. john's wort, arnica, beeswax, calendula, and ginger. It tingles. We call it "Thunder Butter". If you have really really super sensitive skin, I would recommend against it. And don't take a hot shower or open all of your pores before using it.) I might be able to use some. I do use Badger Balm’s muscle rub regularly. But I recall reacting to Tiger Balm (skin quickly started turning red).

Interested in trying some of our rose petal (rose petals, sugar, everclear) or lavender vanilla bean (lavender, vanilla bean, vodka) liqueur? Not particularly, or only a small amount.

Want some honey from the bees on our property? Sure local, known-not-to-be counterfeit honey is fine. Just not a whole lot because of the sugar.

Would you like some homemade jam? I have blackberry, rose petal, strawberry rhubarb, peach, and cherry. A small amount. (Again, concerned about the sugar.)

How about some homemade candied jalapenos with garlic cloves? I have regular and with habanero. Perhaps in small quantities. I usually don’t eat chilies straight (as opposed to disguised in a salsa or other dish), and I’m leery of garlic because it really sticks with me after eating.

I didn't dry any apples this year but I was thinking of heading over to Green Bluff and seeing if any honeycrisps are left. I have a commercial dehydrator so let me know if you are interested in any "Apple Crips" (as voodoocatwoman calls them!) I wash, peel, core, and slice before dehydrating. That would probably be good, although I have to be cautious of dried fruits because of the concentrated sugars.

Do you need any kind of dice bag, tote, project bag, cosmetic bag, pencil bag, or whatever? I might use a pen/pencil bag or tote bag. I have lots of bag patterns and fabric. We make bags under the name Twinkle N Twilight.
Or how about a couple of pillowcases? No, thank you.
9/22/17

Would my witchee like this to warm up the fall coffee cup?? https://www.truelemo...gory-s/1871.htm Probably not.
Do you like to take baths? Yes, although I usually take showers. if so, do you like oils, salts, things that fizz, all of the above, none of the above? Usually salts or foamy things. Not oils; I hate cleaning up the tub afterwards.

What style/make/etc of phone do you have? What about size of tablet? Laptop? Would you like decals, skins, or cases for any of these? I don’t need any phone or laptop sleeves, decals, cases, etc.


9/21/17

See's Candy. My absolute favorite. They have special Halloween candy..any of these pique your interest?? Cinnamon Apple Scotch Mallows, Pumpkin spice truffles, pumpkin spice lollypops, caramel apple lollypops, or any other of their chocolates, etc? See’s is also my favorite, but I did not care for last year’s Caramel Apple Scotchmallow – the regular Scotchmallow is better, in my opinion. Pumpkin spice truffles might be OK. No lollypops, please, I usually don’t get around to eating them. My regular favorites are Dark Butterchew, Butterscotch Square, Raspberry Cream, Orange Cream, Apricot Delight, Dark Cocoanut, Butterscotch Chew, Scotchmallow, and Tipperary.

Are any witchees into coloring books? I have not gotten into them, no.

Witchees, is there anything that catches your eye at Animi Causa (https://www.animicausa.com/shop/)? Not really.

If I were to find an adorable autumnal/Halloween-y dish/flatware/etc. design, how many settings would be needed in your household? One, for me.

9/20/17

Do you like Broadway shows/music? If so what are some of your favorites and/or ones that you hope to see or listen to eventually? Would you like merch from your favorite shows or CDs from shows you want to listen to? When it comes to Broadway musicals, I tend to be somewhat of a traditionalist. Give me some Rodgers & Hammerstein (The King and I, The Sound of Music, South Pacific, Oklahoma!, etc.) or Andrew Lloyd Webber (Evita, Cats, Starlight Express, The Phantom of the Opera, etc.). There are also other classic musicals that I like, such as Lerner & Loewe’s Brigadoon, My Fair Lady, and Camelot; and Annie Get Your Gun. CDs or merch would be OK; I do admit to buying a t-shirt when I saw Wicked last December.

I'm heading to NYCC in October! Is there anything I can get my Witchee while I'm there? I haven’t checked out the BPAL/BPTP items yet, and I can’t think of anything else I’d like from NYCC.

I'm going to Edmonton Expo this weekend (It's Edmonton's version of comic con). Would a witchee like anything from there? Nothing that I’m aware of.

Anything catch your eye from this site (globalgirlfriend.com)? Not really.

Do you have any favorite, lesser-known stores? Especially ones that sell hand-crafted or independently made items. Pelindaba Lavender (listed on my questionnaire). Lola Frocks (too pricy for this exchange). If you’re in northwest Washington state, Earthenworks Gallery and The Wood Merchant in La Conner are good.

Imagine you're going to the most gigantic art & craft show imaginable, and money is no object - what kind of things would you gravitate towards and probably spend money on? Include as specific as you want to get! Handcrafted jewelry with unusual stones or enamelwork, or perhaps beadwork. Kinetic sculpture, the kind with ball bearings that fall down through a variety of different paths. Wooden boxes made from exotic woods. Or maybe handcrafted wood furniture, since money is no object. Handcrafted, leather-bound journals (http://ionahandcraftedbooks.com/ , http://www.mindseyejournals.com/ ).
9/19/17

Are you interested in anything from Think Geek? http://www.thinkgeek.com I generally like Think Geek’s stuff, although there’s a fair amount of it I wouldn’t use. I have bought from them before. I don’t have this one yet: http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/hugl/?rrec=true&pfm=Recs_NoSearchResults_hugl_1 .

Do you have something you wish you put on your original questionnaire/forgot to put/would like to add on to? Nothing comes to mind right off.

Any additional misc. information about yourself you want your Witch to know? (I think this was on the survey, but again if there's something that you forgot...) Nothing comes to mind.

If you could decorate your house (or one room) in any one theme, what would it be? Your answer can be as simple ("Star Wars" or "Baroque" or "Modern"), or complicated or a combination (e.g. Victorian Gothic) as you feel best fits. English Gentleman’s Library: floor-to-ceiling, built-in, wooden bookcases (full, of course), leather Chesterfield sofa and chairs, a scattering of tables & a desk, lots of lamps, probably a fireplace, and a few paintings, or at least one over the fireplace.

Aprons: Do you wear them, do you want one? Utility, decorative, cooking or crafting? I already have a fair number of aprons and tend not to use them, but a cool new apron would be nice. I don’t have a crafting apron and might be able to use one.

BTW, would my witchee be interested in something like this? (photo of black and white striped knitted doll) Not really.

9/18/17

It seems like there's a question about socks on the questionnaire, but I don't think it got down to this level: Do you wear them? Any particular style (crew length, knee high, anklet, boot, etc.) or fiber (wool, cotton, bamboo anything but wool, etc.) preference? Yes, I wear socks, mainly crew to mid-calf length. As I put on my questionnaire, I have large calves so a lot of knee-high and higher socks won’t go over them. I mostly stick to cotton with just a little stretchy stuff mixed in. I avoid acrylic, just because. Non-scratchy wool (merino, etc.) is fine. I’m sure that bamboo would be OK, I just haven’t had any socks made with that material.

Would you be open to previously-loved books? As I said on my questionnaire, I’m really picky about the physical condition of my books. I’d prefer them in like-new condition.

What about partial-full bottles of BPAL or BPTP? That would be OK.

So what are your favorite fandoms? I don’t really have any fandoms, although Harry Potter stuff would not be taken amiss.

9/17/17

I'm in France at the moment, is there anything here you might like? I'm in Provence, the land of lavender, so if you like that flower in particular just say so! Lots of things from Provence that I’d like, starting with lavender. I also like Provencal-print textiles.

Are you into divination? What kind(s) do you currently do? Do you want more books and/or tools for that type (e.g. new tarot cards, new runes)? Is there a new type of #divination you've been meaning to try, and if so, are you looking for the tool, a book on the subject, or both? I already have way more Tarot and Oracle decks than I need. I received a set of runes in a past swap, but if you find another futhark set in a neat material other than amethyst (which is what my current set is), I don’t thing that two sets of runes is too much. I also already have a scrying mirror, which I’ve never gotten around to trying.

World my Witchee be interested in a Tarot or Astrology reading done personally? Perhaps.

Does my Witchee need any magical supplies? Yes, if you come across some nice crystals, or a nifty hand-crafted wand, or something from Nui Cobalt Designs.

Would you be interested in any of the seasonal (or regular) soaps from Cellar Door Soap (https://cellardoorbathsupply.com)? Perhaps. Some of the fruity-scented ones sound interesting.

9/16/17

Favorite gemstones? Just so I don’t contradict myself, here’s what I put on my questionnaire: High-quality tanzanite, amethyst, ametrine, smoky quartz, garnet, fire agate, opal (white, black, fire), pearls, morganite, chrome diopside, sapphire (all colors), moldavite, pink or blue or black (or watermelon) tourmaline, andalusite, spessartite, pietersite, kunzite, apatite. Or in other words, nearly all of them!

If you enjoy jewelry do you like discrete and elegant, flashy and gaudy, small and light, or large and chunky? I love jewelry, mostly mid-range in size. I tend not to wear very tiny pieces or extremely large ones. And although my inner magpie is drawn to flashy and gaudy, I tend not to actually wear those pieces.

Any love of pirates or SCA? Pirates, no, not really. SCA, perhaps, although I haven’t been around them since my college days. That was a very long time ago.

Is there anything you would like from Disney World? Not off the top of my head – plus, I live only an hour and a half away from Disney World.

Are you a Potterhead? If so, to which house do you belong? Not a Potterhead, although I love the books. I’d probably fit best in Ravenclaw; I haven’t done any of the sorting quizzes.

How do you feel about chokers? Not for me, not to wear. I would feel too literally like I was choking. (Yes, I have experience with past rounds of choker fashionability.)

9/15/17

Here's a few questions from me: Would you like some Halloween or other themed decor in the form of a banner, something like this http://www.etsy.com/...n-decor-vintage? If so, would you prefer a traditional style or a vertical door type? Perhaps. Probably moreso for the vertical type.

Do you live near a Trader Joe's? If not, are you interested in trying any of the numerous Pumpkin goodies they come out with this time every year? The closest Trader Joes’s is about an hour and a half away, so not really close. I might be interested in the seasonal pumpkin goodies.

Do you like to cook and/or bake? Could you use any specific ingredients (spices, oils, salts, extracts, etc.) or kitchen utensils/gadgets? I don’t really do any cooking or baking at the moment. I’d like to, but it just doesn’t happen. I don’t really have anything on my kitchen wishlist at the moment.

I'm at Ocean City MD for bike week......would a witches want anything from here? Bike or beach related?? Nothing in particular that I can think of, unless Ocean City has good salt water taffy.

What is 1 thing you would love to see in your final box? Can be ANYTHING - your choice. I honestly don’t have anything to suggest.

Who would love some USPS eclipse stamps? Yes!!!


9/14/17

Do any of you potential Witchees have any kitties, puppers, or youngling humans you want spoiled in your packages? What treats or toys do they like? No kids or pets.

Is there any interest in any of the fragrance oils from the Nocturne Alchemy Weenies update? Probably, although I haven’t looked at the update yet. I placed my last order the day before the Halloween scents went up, primarily to avoid even more temptation.

Is there anything you want from the trading post (or trading post etsy) that is available to order right now? (Fatherhood, Puppers, normal GC things) I haven’t looked at the Trading Post site in a while, so I can’t say.

9/13/17

Are you a gamer? If so, what games are you currently playing and is there any merch for that game you'd love to have? Not a gamer, so nothing to suggest here.
If you are a gamer do you have a steam/gamestop/amazon wishlist? n/a

How do you feel about the following scarf options (assuming you're into scarves)?
Simple eyelet scarf OK Chevron scarf Meh Lacy and fuzzy No. I’d snag the heck out of it. Skinny rib knit (extra long for lots of wrapping) Perhaps Leafy! Nice, but still at risk of snagging.

Like beer? No. What styles most appeal to you? Gose/Gueze is about the only type I can drink. I just flat-out dislike other styles.

Like booze? Somewhat What kinds? Got any good craft distilleries nearby? (And maybe some of their merchandise would be the best bet – mailing/shipping booze is so problematic.)

Like Wine? Yes! What kinds? Mostly red – Pinot Noir, Syrah, Meritage blends. Does vintage port count?

Would you be interested in a set of hand-made hair falls? It's something I do for fun and I can make any length and do an array of colors! Not really something I’d use, but they sound intriguing. Plus my hair is short, so if they fell any distance at all they’d be much longer than my hair!

For those who watch certain movies every year for Halloween, what are those movies, whether horror or not? Any favorite horror movies that aren't necessarily on the annual-viewing list? How do you feel about fan-made merch for these movies? I don’t have any Halloween movie favorites, although I’ve heard so much love for Practical Magic that I wouldn’t mind getting a DVD of it to check it out.

9/12/17

Here's a great local soapmaker I love--y'all see anything you would like? https://littleseedfarm.com/ Perhaps. I tend not to use sugar scrubs or liquid soap.

What are your favorite/preferred Halloween/autumn icons/images? Any to specifically stay away from? I like pumpkins, ravens, leaves/branches, etc. – nature-type things. Definitely not anything gory, and I don’t like a lot of the hag-stereotype-witch things.

Do you eat candy, and if so would Halloween candy be welcome? Specialty candy from local or unusual sources? Chocolate? Dark chocolate is my favorite. I am diabetic now, so quality over quantity is the way I should go. (And no, don’t go the sugar-free route. In my opinion, those tend to be inferior quality and I’ve heard horrid things about the side effects of a particular non-sugar sweetener. Look up the reviews for the sugar-free gummi bears on Amazon.) And specialty chocolate definitely intrigues me.

Do you want Fidget spinners, desk toys, or other frivolous things that you look at and decide you don't need enough to spend $ on but would make you happy to have? Desk toys interest me, although I’m not interested in fidget spinners.

Any zentangle lovers, people who would like to try it, or would you want a piece of someone else's zentangle art? I haven’t got into zentangle as a practice, but if someone were to do a nice art piece, I would probably like it.

Any love of hair toys, clips, ribbons, fascinators, mini hats, etc? As I put on my questionnaire, if anything my hair spits out hairclips and ornaments. I’m not sure I could get a fascinator or mini hat to stay in place, although I love the idea.

What local goodies may be of interest? Local Honey, jams,candy? Yes, all of the above.

Are you interested in any prescription services like serial magazines, Birch box, ipsy? I already have several subscription boxes coming. And asking for a renewal on my Crone’s Crate would be a bit much.

Would you like funky Halloweenie costume makeup like Gothic eyelashes, nail effects, black lipstick, etc.? Black lipstick, perhaps. I think my Portland Black Lipstick Co. one has dried up and died of old age. I probably wouldn’t use any of the other things.

How do you like to listen to music? CD, 8 track tape, mix tape, Pandora or Spotify, I-tunes? Generally on CD, although I think I still have my old 8-track player around here somewhere. I almost never use streaming services, and I don’t trust electronic downloads (iTunes, etc.) to stay accessible.

Do you prefer reading on Kindle or actual book? What kind of books do you like? Would you like to be surprised with a scary, classic, horror book? Physical books, definitely. Kindle format only if the book is not otherwise available. And please, no scary horror books (or true crime, either).

Candles, Incense, or wax tarts? Do you have favorite brands or Weenies scents for the home? Would you like to receive a wax tarts burner, incense burner, essential oils diffuser, or Halloweenie themed candle holders? Probably candles first choice, then wax tarts. I tend not to get around to burning incense. I don’t have a favorite brand or scent. The wax tarts burner, incense burner, or essential oils diffuser might be useful. I’m not really into Halloween décor and suspect that a Halloween-themed candle holder would not get much use and would devolve into clutter.

Witchee: are you interested in crafting materials? Probably not, since I tend not to find the time to use them. The exception might be a watercolor set and some good watercolor brushes.



9/11/17

I'm in Japan, is there anything specific from here you would want? I adore fukuro obis and Hasui woodblock prints. (OK, those are a bit extravagant.) Some of the unusual flavor Kit Kat bars might be interesting.

How do you feel about nail wraps? I wouldn’t use them.

if you were to receive something hand knit, what type of item would you like? hat, cowl, handwarmers, etc. and what color(s)? Probably a cowl or scarf. Maybe handwarmers. I almost never wear knit hats (they lead directly to a bad hair day for the rest of the day). Jewel tones would probably be the best choice, although black might not be bad.
- would you use knitted washcloths? Maybe. a scarf? Perhaps. Are you allergic or sensitive to any fibers? No allergies or sensitivities, although I wouldn’t wear scratchy wool and I avoid acrylic.

If you could be ANY character from a film, TV show or book, who would it be and why? Perhaps Minerva McGonagall, since she’s very good at what she does and is well-respected, not to mention that she has a good moral compass.

If you could hop into a time machine and travel anywhere/anytime, where would it be and why? Perhaps Fifth Dynasty Egypt, to see the pyramids while they’re still relatively new and before the Old Kingdom collapses. Or maybe Minoan Crete, to see what their civilization was really like (Knossos or maybe Thera before the eruption). Or (long shot) the cities of the Silk Road at the height of their power and wealth – e.g. Kashgar, Khotan, Merv, Samarkand, Balkh, Bukhara, etc. And of course to see Stonehenge in use by its builders.

If you could invite 3 famous people to a BPAL meet and sniff, who would [you] invite? I’ll have to keep thinking about this. One of them would probably be Coco Chanel.

Do you like and/or want anything from Elements and Artifacts? You can be vague like "yes" or "no" or name specific past pieces you coveted or current ones you love, whatever works best. I’ve bought a fair amount of E&A items, but don’t have anything in particular on my wishlist at the moment.

Would you like something hand sewn by your Witch? A dress, shirt, skirt, infinity scarf, something else? An infinity scarf would probably be the safest – more likely to fit!

Anyone want any kind of costuming accessories or makeup or odds and ends? Not really, since I don’t do cosplay.

9/10/17

Are there any hobbies or crafts you've been thinking of trying, but haven't had the chance yet? Watercolors.

Would you want to receive a custom spell kit or magical tea? Maybe. If so, what purpose would you want it to be for? Protection, prosperity, and health are possibilities.

Do you like poetry? I like the idea of poetry, although I seldom read it. There’s some more on this topic on my questionnaire.

Anyone like handmade critters, stuffed animals, or custom repaints? Handmade critters or stuffed animals, perhaps. Not custom repaints.

Would you enjoy any designer/specialty yarn for your own craftyness? I probably wouldn’t have a use for it since I don’t knit or crochet.

Would anyone like a donation made in their name to a cause or charity? Sure. I support Planned Parenthood and the ACLU. I also support Children of the Night and Doctors Without Borders. A wildlife or conservation group might be good (but not Greenpeace or Earth First). And no animal rights activist organizations like PETA.

Please provide wishes from the last two updates? I haven’t really looked at the last two updates.

9/9/17

Would you be interested in things from Future Primitive? (http://futureprimitivesoap.co.uk/) The bar soap, bath grains, body whip/butter, In The Buff Body Polish, or whipped soap might be interesting.

Are there any UK things you'd like to get? Some goodies from Hotel Chocolat.

Are you into podcasts? If so, what are your favorites? Would you like any merch related to any of them? I haven’t found the time to get into podcasts.

Would you like something from Nui Cobalt Designs (https://nuicobaltdesigns.com/)? I like pretty much everything that Forest does.

Or maybe some of Christina's lovely Halloween candles at Sihaya & Co. (https://www.sihayaan...lection-candles)? Those look moderately interesting.

ILNP? Who would love one of their awesome holos like MEGA or one of their amazing chromes? http://www.ilnp.com/ They look fascinating, but I never get around to putting nail polish on.

9/8/17

Do you enjoy stationery? I'm thinking cute/quality notebooks, washi tape, stickers, fun pens etc. I’m a sucker for stationery, but not the cute stuff. I don’t like kawaii. I do like Crane & Co. bordered correspondence cards.

Are you interested in anything from Cocoa Pink? Not really.
- Or Haus of Gloi? Yes, I use their stuff occasionally (not the perfumes or hair oils).

Would you be interested in a Halloween wreath? Yes.

Have you seen this: https://www.bustle.c...llection-80733? (Lush Halloween collection.) And what would you like? I hadn’t seen it, but I don’t use Lush products. I go in the stores occasionally, but nothing ever persuades me to actually spend money on it.

9/7/17

Are you interested in anything from the Moonalisa Halloween update? Yes, and I already placed an order soon after the update was posted.

What are your coffee and/or tea preferences?
- Coffee: whole beans or ground? Either.
- Flavor and roast preferences? Probably straight-up coffee, not flavored. Not too dark a roast, don’t want it to taste burnt.
- Tea: black, green, herbal, flavors? Oolong, black, white, or green are all good. Probably not herbal. I usually like fruit flavors.
- Loose leaf or tea bags? Either
- Anything specific you don't like? I’m not sure about rooibos.
- Are you in need of any gadgetry? Maybe another tea ball. A tea bag holder to set used tea bags on.

9/6/17

How would you feel about receiving a hand-painted container for your bpal and/or other treasures? That would be nice.
- would you want a big wood box (~50 bottles), a small wood box (~20 bottles) or a tin for carrying imps around? Probably something that holds bottles.

Who is into K-Beauty (Korean beauty products like sheet masks) I’m not really into using K-beauty products, although I’m in the group on Facebook (I may yet take the plunge).
- What are your faves if you are?
- If you aren't would you like to try something? I seem to be pretty set in my ways with regard to the products I use.

What are some NEW things you've gotten interested in this year? Could be anything, from a new hobby, new genre of book, new healthy way of living, new fav brand of whatever... I seem to be falling down the traveler’s notebook rabbit hole. I have plenty of notebooks, but haven’t bought many inserts. Some quality watercolor paper inserts in size A5 or A6 would be nice.

9/5/17

What are your feelings about Scooby Doo? After my time. Doesn’t mean anything to me.

How do you feel about indie makeup (read: loose eyeshadow, blush, highlighter)? I don’t mind indie make-up, it’s just that I don’t wear make-up on a regular basis.

I drink this stuff almost everyday would anyone else be interested in trying it out? https://www.criobru.com/ Perhaps. It depends on how much effort (and equipment) is required to brew it.

9/4/17

Would you like one of the Halloween Teeturtle shirts?
https://www.teeturtl...alloween?page=1 Not really.









MerriAnneStowe

MerriAnneStowe

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