What is everyone's take on Valentine's Day?

I love hearing these stories about family V-Day, because I have a very similar experience! My dad has bought me flowers every single Valentine's Day since I was born, and since I'm a hopeless daddy's girl, that's what I look forward to most on February 14th. It makes me choke up a little just thinking about it. So for me, V-Day has never really been about romantic relationships, and my husband and I don't really do much in the way of celebrating. In fact, we got married in February, but I was adamant that we would not have the wedding on V-Day. We had it on Groundhog Day instead.

 

Do you like traditional Valentine's Day colors (red, white, pink, more?)?

I love all of those colors! Crimson red is one of my favorite colors, and I like most shades of pink. White is always good. I'm not a major fan of bluish-purples (which is another color I associate with Valentine's Day), but I do like reddish-purples.

 

Favorite Love Poem? Pablo Neruda is my favorite poet. I had this one read at my wedding, and it's probably my favorite love poem. I truly wish that I knew Spanish, because I'm sure that Neruda's work is even more beautiful in its pure form.

 

Sonnet LXIX

Maybe nothingness is to be without your presence,

without you moving, slicing the noon

like a blue flower, without you walking

later through the fog and the cobbles,

 

without the light you carry in your hand,

golden, which maybe others will not see,

which maybe no one knew was growing

like the red beginnings of a rose.

 

In short, without your presence: without your coming

suddenly, incitingly, to know my life,

gust of a rosebush, wheat of wind:

 

since then I am because you are,

since then you are, I am, we are,

and through love I will be, you will be, we'll be.

 

What is your favorite sign that spring is coming?

Honestly, I'm a winter lovin' girl. I'm always sad when winter draws to a close. I do like Spring Break from school though, so I'll go with that as my answer.

 

What's everyone's favorite semi-obscure (or underappreciated!) animal?

Another bat fan here! I think they are really cool and useful, and most of them actually don't have rabies.

 

Would something hand knit be nice for you?

Yes, yes! I'd love to get something handmade, as most of my scarves and gloves are store-bought.

 

Would anyone like receiving naughty/sexy things?

Sure! But I probably wouldn't use any of that flavored lube stuff, because it always seems kinda gross to me.

 

Who on the thread likes attending Ren Faires, SciFi/Comic Cons & the like? And do you dress up for them?

I'm not really big on Ren Faires, but the husband and I have been kicking around the idea of going to Comic Con this year. I'm definitely not into the dressing up aspect of these things though.

 

Do you need any accessories for your phone, computer, mp3 player, &c.?

I have an iPhone 3GS that desperately needs some kind of protective case. I've dropped it a few times and I do not want to have to get it replaced. We also have one of those mini laptops that could use a cute case.

 

WoW?

I've never played WoW, but I do like other video games.

 

What about handmade sewn gifts? Any fabrics you wish to/need to avoid due to allergies, etc?

I'd love anything handmade! I don't have any allergies that I know of.

 

What's your favorite candy?

Alas, I can't eat candy.

 

Kitchen Gadgets?

I always love wine related stuff, and we never have enough measuring spoons!

 

Do you like incense and/or scented candles, and are you able to burn them in your home?

I don't have anything to burn incense, but I do have an oil burner. Love candles too!

 

Would you like new nail polish?

If so, what colors are you craving? Ooooh, yes please! I picked up a bottle of China Glaze polish from a clearance table at Ulta a few weeks ago that was a deep cranberry red, and it is really nice. I'm open to most colors, except I don't really like black for my nails. Maybe something with lots of fun sparklies?

 

Think Geek plush microbes?

Any of them are awesome for me, but I especially like the neuron and the blood cells.

 

Are you a big Mardi Gras fan?

One of my life goals is to make it to Mardi Gras someday. I went to NO over St. Patrick's Day when I was in college, and it was an amazing time. I have some of those big, gaudy beads with green clovers on them that I absolutely love.

 

Boxes? For Bpal (bottles and/or imps) or otherwise.

That would be great, because I'm not so good at the destashing. My need for places to store BPAL just keeps increasing.

 

Would you use a natural sea sponge?

Yeah, that sounds like something I'd use.

 

Coffee, hot chocolate, or tea?

I have an unholy love for tea, and I like it loose or bagged. I also like decaf coffee in fancy-pants flavors.

 

Would you like some of my favorite recipes?

If they are low-carb, sure!

 

Would you like posters, pictures, art?

Absolutely!

 

Would you like Paintbox soaps?

Yes, yes! I have fallen in love with them, and have some on my etsy wishlist.

 

Your Witch is perusing the wares at a local yard sale. S/he looks down and sees [insert impossibly rare item that you've always wanted but could never afford] with a $5-10 sticker on it. Sheepishly s/he takes it to the guy behind the folding table. "Do you know what this is?" s/he inquires. The gentleman states that it belonged to his mother/sister/grandmother/Great Aunt Beulah and he thinks it's for, like, hair or something. With a trembling hand, s/hes pays the man and heads home with the inconceivable riches.

So, what is this unobtainable miracle your Witch found?

A mint-condition Optimus Prime action figure from the 80s. I loved the Transformers as a kid, but never actually owned my own Prime. Have I mentioned that I'm a nerd?

 

Imagine that someone hands you their wallet and sends you into a really good bakery. They have everything, from breads to brownies, cookies to croissants, anything you could imagine, and you're allowed to pick out five things for yourself. What do you pick?

I wait until my benefactor isn't looking and then sneak around the corner to the meat store!

 

It gets asked every round but sockdreams?

Sure!

 

Do you like alcoholic beverages? If so, what is your preference (beer, wine, liquor...)?

Awwww yeeeeah! I am a huge wine lover.

 

Are you into Steampunk?

Definitely. The mad science aspect of Steampunk really appeals to me, and I've seen some super cool anatomical steampunk stuff.

 

Would you like or accept an energetically-charged item or gift? Something that had power poured into it? If so, do you have a particular purpose that you'd prefer? (Love, protection, money, etc.)

That would be really nice. Although I'm not much of a believer in things of a spiritual nature, I would really treasure something that reflected the beliefs of my witch. I could really use something that reflects health or peace. I have a lot of stress in my life right now!

 

Do you have any significant upcoming events in your life you'd like something for? A child/yourself graduating from high school/college? Are you buying a new home or car soon? Moving in with someone/getting married? Taking a new job? Moving to a new part of the country/world?

Hmmmm... I can't really think of anything.

 

Ooooh! BPAL's beloved alicia_stardust is having a contest! If you're my Witchee, would you like a chance to win these earrings?

Those are beautiful! I'd love to have a chance to win those.

 

How are we feeling about burlesque?

I enjoy burlesque shows, but only really get to see them when I'm in Las Vegas.

 

Is there anything you're lusting after in the Villainess update?

I'd love more Torchsong stuff!

 

I custom mix nail polish, a process called 'frankening'. If you were my witch, would you enjoy a custom 'franken', based on whatever colors/theme you chose?

Oooh, yeah! Got anything "radiation" themed?

 

Since everyone is spending the same amount of money on this swap, would you be interested in seeing the cost breakdown of each item in your package?

If my witch found any amazing bargains, or did some really creative spending, I'd love to see it!

 

Do you like guessing who your witch is, or would you prefer to know? Do you mind knowing?

I actually like not knowing. I think it makes things more fun to find out at the very end, so I usually don't try to do a lot of detective work during the swap period.

 

If it's going to be obvious who your witch is, would you rather she played the ninja and sent one big box at the end, or smaller packages along the way?

I completely defer to my witch's judgement. One of the best things about this swap is getting to experience lots of different witching styles. Last round, my witchee was talkative and my witch was quiet. I them both!

 

Are you opposed to vegan baked goods? Or baked goods in general?

Yeah, vegan and baked goods are both bad for me. I can't do carbs.

 

Does EVERYONE here sleep in the nude???

Not a chance. I like to feel all fuzzy wrapped in PJs.

 

What's your favourite flower?

Stargazer lily, iris, orchid

 

Lip balm: Yay or nay? If yay, what are your favorite kinds (brands, consistency, whatever)?

I have a ridiculous amount of lip balm, but I'll always take more. Isn't that the way it goes with lip balm? I have gotten pretty spoiled to the really good stuff though, so the only non-etailer stuff I tend to like is Burt's Bees. Actually, I've been eyeing some of those colored lip balms from Burt's Bees for a while now.

 

For those that have dogs, if I were to knit them a sweater, what colour would you like it to be?

Oh, that would be amazing! I do have big dogs though, so it would probably be a bigger project. Brutus is the serious one, so I'd say browns or blues. Oliver is my clown, so crazy green or yellow for him.

 

What is your eye color?

They're really weird. Like, a dark green-blue with more emphasis on the green. Gold eyeshadow looks really good on my eyes, but I'm finding that most greens and blues make them look kinda muddled. Pinky-browns look pretty good too. Oh wait, this wasn't an eyeshadow question!

 

Hair stuff? Clips and things, do you need any?

I can always use hair stuff. I use claw clips, ponytail holders, and bobby pins a lot.

 

OPI Alice in Wonderland set?

Oooh, I really like all of those, but especially Mad As a Hatter.

 

How do you feel about home-canned goods, like pickles, jelly, preserves, stuff like that.

I would love home-canned pickles or pickled okra, as long as there isn't any sugar in them.

 

Is there anything you've had to give up that you really miss or want back? Maybe something a witch could help out with?

BPAL-wise, I don't think I've swapped away anything that I was sorry about. Hmmmm... Yeah, I can't really think of anything for this question right now.

 

What are your favorite animals?

Dogs!!!! I also like bats and frogs. Honestly, I love all animals, so feel free to send me anything animal-related.

 

Are there any accessories you'd really like? (Keychains, little purses, etc.)

I always love little boxes. I could also really use a pair of tiny scissors.

 

How do you feel about handmade stuffed animals?

I would love to get something like that from my witch!

 

I am a total Star Trek geek. Anyone else?

I was a big fan of Next Generation and DS9. I despise William Shatner, so the original series never really appealed to me. The new movie was fantastic. Truthfully, I'm more of a Star Wars geek than a Star Trek geek.

 

Astronomy?

I love anything science-related.

 

If you were a student at Hogwarts, what house would you be in?

I have to say Gryffindor. I'm tempted to say Ravenclaw because of the academic thing, but when I think about the things that I value most, it's got to be loyalty, courage, and being a little rebellious.

 

Do you have any personal heroes / heroines and why?

I generally reject the whole hero concept, because I think that it implies a standard that no human can live up to. Just look at all the so called “heroes” in sports, media, government, ect. They’re all people, and they screw up just like the rest of us. I just don’t think calling someone a hero is fair to them, or to the people who look up to them.

 

Are there any languages or countries that you’re really interested in?

I went to St. Petersburg, Russia last summer, and was so captivated by that country. It’s really sad though, because it’s so incredibly difficult to travel there. I’d love to learn Cyrillic, so that I could see Moscow without having to worry about hiring a guide. Scandinavia in general is wonderful too.

 

If you could be in any fictional universe, what would it be? (Harry Potter, Firefly, Lord of the Rings, Silent Hill, wtv.)

Probably Harry Potter (post-Voldemort, of course).

 

 

If you like tea, what are your favorite kinds? Fruity, sweet, chai, plain, black, green, red, white?

I adore tea of all kinds. I’d say that my least favorite is anything fruity, and my favorite is anything minty.

 

What's your Patronus? Non-Potter fans, what's your Spirit Animal?

I think my patronus would be a dog. Dogs just embody everything that is good about the world.

 

Are there any soundtracks you'd be interested in getting a copy of?

I love the Moulin Rouge soundtrack, but I've already got it. Hmmm...I've been meaning to get the Elizabethtown soundtrack for a while now.

 

[/b]Are there any books you particularly want to read that you don't mind being 2nd hand (or 3rd or 4th )?[/b]

Unfortunately I don't even have time to think about reading for pleasure right now. School sucks up most of my time, and when I'm finished reading my wordy textbooks I'm usually not in the mood to read anything else. If you've got something that you think I would love, I would be happy to get it though.

 

Loose tea or bagged tea? Or both?

Both!

 

If you could have 5mL of ANY ONE BPAL scent, what would it be?

I'd have to say Hollyberry and Mistletoe. I've been kicking myself for a year for not getting that one. I'll be kicking myself this year over not getting Playing With a Loaded Gun.

 

If you had to choose SHOES or PURSES?

Probably shoes, but I'm honestly not really big into either one.

 

If you could have one "unselfish" wish (but personal) what would it be?

I wish that my husband could find the confidence to apply for grad school. He's so smart, but spent a couple of bad undergrad semesters in a major he didn't want to be in, so his GPA isn't the greatest. The GPA thing is a really sensitive issue with him, and he's afraid to face the potential rejection.

 

I love to decoupage/collage boxes and notebooks. If you were my witchee, would you like one? What colors/themes would you want it to have? Find cute pictures--inspire me (and other crafty witches)!

Sure! There aren't a lot of colors that I don't like, and I love anything science related.

 

These are a few of my favorite things...?

My boys (dogs and DH), doggie kisses, mint tea, my couch blanket, diet Dr. Pepper, listening to music in the car, finding an unexpectedly great wine, anything that smells like lavender, beautiful colors, Friday nights, great stand-up comedy, Las Vegas

 

Are you following the Olympics? What's your favorite sport to watch? Would you be interested in merch?

Yes! I love the Olympics! My favorite winter sport is speed skating, but I've also really been enjoying the ski and snowboard events. I'd never say no to Olympic mechandise!