Ok, so this is the compilation of stuff answered from Swaps from winter 2012 and the start of the Quick and Dirty Lupercalia swap. Hope this helps. And, yes, I'm making this late. I'll add to this with more swaps as I do them.

 

Describe three things decorating your bed room/living space

1. Horner tin boxes: They are mostly floral (one has scenes from the Canadian side of Niagara Falls) and hold my bpal. Each one is a different color, but all a basic same shape (rounded edge octagonal).

2. Popsicle stick painted orange square container that my littlest one made for me. I have my hair oils in that. But, I think it's so cute.

3. Print of The Morrigan by Jessica Galbraith.

 

How do you feel about nail polish?

I have a few colors. I like it, even though I cannot find, for the life of me, one that lasts without chipping for more than a day. Closest are the Claw polishes in Malediction and Embalming Fluid. And that starts after sixteen hours. I think I'm too rough on my nails somehow.

 

Do you have any crafty hobbies where you might be able to use little related goodies? (beads, yarn, etc.)

I don't bead. Tried to, but it was a complete failure. I do crochet. Currently, my needles have been stolen by my girls since they want to do it from time to time. I really like the rosewood ones since they seem to snag yarn less after I sand them down, but they are something I consider too expensive normally. I also do cross-stitch and would be more than surprised with anything from there. Or any other embroidery, also.

 

Candles! Yea? Nay? Tarts?

Candles are nice to have, but I can't burn them I have officially discovered. The cat finds them way too fascinating. I don't have a tart burner, though I have used them in the past as drawer scents.

 

Who's up for baking?

Baked goods are more than welcome if they can get here safe.

 

Books! Physical or ebook, and anything in particular that you're looking for?

I DO have a nook. I'll read a lot of different things. But, not so much romance novels since there are so many of them here right now.

 

Any small things you could use?

Pens and pencils are welcome (not just for usefulness, but because designs on them are so cool). Hair bands with no metal or elastics would always get used. I break them after a few uses. Or some chopsticks, so I can again annoy people I know by eating EVERYTHING I can with them. I promise to not use them again as hair sticks. Though buying me hair sticks or bobby pins would make me sooooo special. Or even a pretty hair comb.

 

Do any of you also have a fondness for vintage bits and bobs?

Yeah, I like them. It's fun to have something "old" in with more modern stuff that makes me do a double take.

 

I just discovered a new (to me) candle company, Witch City Wicks. Does anything you see there tempt you?

Tobacco & Honey, Midnight Forest, Absinthe and Bondage look cool, and so does the kettlecorn. I have them favorited on my etsy wishlist. But I have more I like from them. I really am curious about the black tea lights.

What about desires (limited edition or not) from Black Phoenix Trading Post?

Would like to try the Patchouli and Amber hair gloss, all bath and massage oils would go to good use. Absinthe candle!!!! Hair gloss that isn't too strong. Mid-Orgies especially lovely.

 

Do you have an eReader?

I have a Nook. Books still are preferred as paperbacks. (I raid library sales too much.)

 

How do you feel about other perfume etailers?

I have a custom coffeehouse blend from Moxie Nouveau and an order of nips waiting to come in. Also have a small order waiting from Conjure Oils. Possets didn't work for me, though some of the other e-tailers have done fine. But, I'm not really a fan of alcohol based perfumes. Mostly, I am a BPAL girl though.

 

Other than fragrance oils/perfumes what is your number one (or a tie between 2-3) favorite type of toiletry or scenty item?

Love hair oils. I've been growing my hair out for a few years, so it's getting long and this keeps it not scratchy to me. Actually, easier would be to say I have no tub, so please no bubble bath. Also, no body lotion since I use only the prescription stuff (that BURNS in winter) I have for it. (Update to: And no bath salts, for the same reasons.)

 

Pirates or ninjas?

Both are cool for different reasons.

 

Zombies – love, hate, obsessed, don't care, think they're coming for us any day now, other immediate/passionate thoughts?

They are cool to do the makeup for. Otherwise, I'm like happy scared of them. (My first favorite movie ever was Night of the Living Dead, if that makes sense to the happy scared)

 

Favorite Disney villain?

Maleficent and Cruella de Ville. Not so much a favorite but still loved is the Wicked Stepmother in Cinderella.

 

Is there any BPAL oil that you are dying to get your hands on? It doesn't have to be a rare, just something you really want to try?

Most of it is listed in my wishlist under either decants, imps, or sniffies. But, I keep forgetting to add Jack to it.

 

Do you want to see things in your box for your significant other/spouse/kids/fish/whatever? Or do you want to keep it allll about you?

No spouse, so no worries there. My son is completely disinterested in it. My girls will just ooh and ahh over anything that comes in. They are helping me get the stuff for my swappee and they've had some good thoughts too already. But, I already told them not to expect anything and they are very cool with that. The cat is a catnip-freak, sadistic mouser. Seriously. The poor dog stays outside and is so picky. He likes cheese and catnip!

 

We've had a lot of questions about coffee and tea - how do you feel about other things? Cocoa, spicing for ciders, flavoring to add to water is what I mean?

I was going to ask that very question too. Thanks for getting it in ahead of me. Really, ooooh, the water flavoring packets?!? Those are wonderful. Unless they are the iced tea ones. I just can't get them to mix in the bottle completely. I do drink Hot Chocolate, but with the girls, I know if that showed up, they would be drinking them as soon as they could. And I'm not big on cider spice, since I think a good cider is spiced enough. Too many apple farms around here that make cider every year has made me bad about that stuff.

 

Do you have a general swap-related help post somewhere?

No. I should make one though. (Update to: You are looking at it.)

 

Do you have Etsy/Amazon wishlists linked somewhere?

My amazon one, if it's still up, is so outdated it isn't funny. And my etsy one is kind of, hopefully, segregated correctly.

 

Do you have a Tumblr/Pinterest you'd share with everyone (these can be really informative as to style?)

I'm afraid to join Pinterest simply because then I know I would NEVER leave the computer.

 

Favorite candles, companies and/or candle scents?

I'm starting to really like the ones in jars. For the longest time, I was addicted to tapers. Tea lights too. There's a Yankee Candle outlet store near here, but I don't have a favorite scent. But, I am more than willing to be surprised.

 

Favorite kinds of tea (flavors, companies)

Lady Grey tea, or a green tea, or white tea. Love Teavana's Snow Geisha and Lavender Dreams. Want to try some more companies from online or different areas. Would really like to try Adagio, since I got a $5 gift certificate there.

 

Any of the Villainess autumn or winter soaps appeal? Another soap company you'd like more?

Also am curious about Frostbite. Downside is that most soaps dry my skin out, which doesn't help things. I do like Sweet Olive Works' soaps.

 

Any of the bpal Halloween scents you wished you'd gotten? Any Yule scents you're hoping to see come back?

Kind of waffling on getting Suck It or Fizzy Jack o'Lantern. Really want to see if we get another Rose Red and planning on getting the bottle of this year's Lick it. Even if it makes me smell like a Middle Eastern dinner when I'm at work making the chicken.

 

Do you like knitted items? If so, any fiber sensitivities/allergies? What kinds of items would you like?

Love knitted items. I can crochet a bit, but suck at knitting. No sensitivities that I've known of. Scarves and hats are cool. I honestly miss my grandma making knitted slippers for everyone for Christmas. I'm not really a glove or mitten person, even though my skin gets grumpy if I don't wear them. My hands just get too hot and I can't really do as much with them on. Even with the fingerless ones.

 

Words, Numbers or Spatial manipulation?

I love playing with words. Spatial is fun too. But numbers I suck at. But, I can do math well. Explain that one.

 

I'm in Japan, anything that would interest you from there?

Mochi balls? I'd have to bother a friend of mine who just got back from there, but I think that's what they were. And Kit Kat's from there. Mmmmmm.

 

Your package must contain "-A 'Sugar Plum' (ie a sweet treat)." With that in mind, what are some of your favorite sweet treats? Is there anything you really don't like?

Chocolate, lemon stuff, sour sweets, candy canes in peppermint, pocky (I consider that a treat in itself), cookies, brownies. I must admit I have a sweet tooth. Ooooh, horehound! Just no black licorice. Or some pineapple thing I had. It was ewww. (Update of: Please also no banana.)

 

Anything from Paintbox Soaps?

Their stuff looks interesting. Haven't tried anything there yet. (Update of: I have a sample of poinsettia in my possession, but I still haven't tried it since I have a bar left to use up.)

 

Does anyone have a strict way that they decorate their trees (like a color scheme)? Or, are you a just put everything random on your tree person?

I have two trees actually. The main tree is the "Put everything up and make sure all ornaments can be seen", which is the one that I put the presents and such around. But, it's random and cutesy. I tried to do a color scheme, but well, kids bringing stuff from school totally ended that.

 

Anything you do NOT want?

No Santas. Everything else would be really cool.

 

if you are my swappee, would you be pleased if I included ALL THE TIMTAMS with your swap package?

I've never had timtams. Would be cool to try. (updated to: I'll eat them if you send them, but you don't have to go out of the way for some. They seem to remind me a lot of what we have locally as Malley-o's)

 

What are some of your favorite Holiday/winter symbols?

snowmen, candy canes(I don't know if that's an actual symbol, but it always makes me think of the holidays), red stockings, big bows (and I mean BIG).

 

Do you have a favorite ornament? What's its story?

Actually, I have two, for different reasons. The first one is a green glass ball. It was the first present that my littlest girl picked out for me with her brother's help. He told her I liked green and she found the biggest ball she could! Every time I see it, I remember her face when I unwrapped it and how proud she was of it. The other is a glass loon. I got it two years after my grandmother died. I just remember every time we visited seeing this stuffed loon on the ledge going down to the basement where my grandfather kept his trains. It just reminds me of going to Christmas there and how my grandmother loved every year decorating her tree. But, that glass loon looks exactly like the stuffed one he had.

 

Bulk-Foods Section Goodies: Yea or Nay? Let's assume they're all individually packaged, and clearly labeled with what they are.

That would be super cool. It could be sweets, or teas, or coffees, or nuts, or... I think you get the picture. I have NO qualms and would enjoy getting them.

 

Would a mixed CD be something you would enjoy? If so, who are some favorite artists, what style of music do you enjoy, and/or would you prefer a valentine/romantic theme or general mix?

Mixed cd's are great. You could do either version and I would bounce all over. My tastes are all over. The boy teases me over the fact that the 250gb external is almost completely filled with music. But, a sampling of groups I like are: Emilie Autumn, Vanessa Mae, Alabama, Megadeth, Eric Church, Def Leppard, Rammstein, Carole King, Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Brian McKnight, Lords of Acid, Flogging Molly, Paul Simon, Vivaldi. I'm stopping now. I promise. But, other stuff is greatly appreciated as long as it isn't Justin Beiber. Sorry, but I have tried to listen to him and he just makes me think too much of early Justin Timberlake and so I shut it out as "ehhh, been there and wasn't impressed back then".

 

Do you like incense?

Yeah.

 

if I were to find a small bottle of alcohol, would you be interested, and if yes, of what?

Sure, I like the little bottles for themselves. Plus, I can use them as flavorings for morning coffee. So, Chambord has a super cool bottle or a bailey's. But, any with a fun bottle would be cool.

 

Dear Valentine, I will hopefully be going to Portland this weekend for the Rose Garden Arena Monster Jam (I'm having to work 7 days in a row at 14 hours each in order to get the weekend off specifically to go there) -- is there anything Portland related that you desire?

Coffee, if you get a chance. A souvenir pen or mug would be loved. (I think I should just add pens and mugs to collections on future questionnaires since I always enjoy getting them.)