joyfulgirl

this turns to powdered floral soap on me. sadness.

this is a dead-ringer for smut, in my opinion. third charm is a bit more complex, less boozy and less tooth-achingly sweet, but something about the combination of notes registers like the cherry in smut, and the red musks are exactly the same. it's lovely, but i'm not sure i need another red musk-heavy scent. i'll let it settle for a few days before i decide.

oh NUM. strongly boozy and sweet. butter schnapps, anyone?? on my skin it quiets down a bit after a few minutes to a warm, mild, almond-y butterscotch. this is so delightful! i kind of want to eat my hand. very quiet, light scent. like most of the SNs, i'm not sure if this is something i'd wear on its own, but i'm really glad i got to try it!

whoa, this smells yellow to me. intensely yellow. and yes, very stong. it reminds me of a yellow dandelion torn to shreds. bitter and yellow-green and juicy. on my skin the juiciness of it dies down after a few minutes, but the bitter intenseness remains. whew. also glad i got to try it, but not something i'd ever wear on its own.

seconding (or thirding or whatever): raven moon cathedral al azif aged snake oil (new is very sweet, aged mellows out a lot) svadhinaopatika mme. moriarty (although she is more plum and patchouli on me, she is so beautiful i'd really recommend her to anyone) and i'll throw the RPG scents cleric and mage in there. added bonus: you can get imps of those.

in the bottle: wow, for me this was overWHELMINGLY pumpkin. wet: it's ALL pumpkin, ALL the time. a little spice underneath it (is that cinnamon? ). drying down: the pumpkin is fading a bit. what emerges is a spicy, creamy cloud of plum and currant. this definitely feels more cinnamon-y than the description would have me believe, which sucks cause i amp it a bunch. but the fruitiness is keeping it pretty in-check. is this - dare i say it - a spicy, cinnamon-y scent i can actually wear? bottom line: i like it! i'm not sure how it will wear in a day-to-day setting (it is VERY foody) but i am enjoying the smell now that the pumpkin has faded a bit. i think i'll keep my bottle.

i definitely get all the tropical/sunscreen similarities, but i LOVE the coconut/vanilla combination, so i am really excited to have a nice big decant of it. as for the gloss itself: my main concern was that since i have fine, greasy hair, the gloss would weigh it down or make it look greasy. it really didn't at all. i put a big squirt in the palm of each hand and worked it through my hair, starting with the ends and finally smoothing down the top. it looks great...my hair almost shimmers. (if i had more hair, i'd probably use more, but i'm sporting a chin-length bob right now.) regarding the summery nature of the scent...it's mid-october and i decided to give this a little "oomph" by layering it with a darker, heavier scent: mme. moriarty. it. is. gorgeous. the vanillas in both scents intertwine beautifully...the coconut/tiare sit on top while the deeper aspects of ms. moriarty round things out. i highly recommend layering deeper/darker scents with this...just find something with a couple common/complementary notes and run with it!

2012 version bought this on a whim, was very scared of the red chili, but the rest of the notes sounded so amazing, i couldn't say no. in the bottle: dark. spicy. dark. i imagine something sweet and slick and black. it's very well blended. wet on my skin: whew, this bloooooms! patchouli! musk! vanilla! all the lighter/softer notes come out of this and it becomes absolutely gorgeous. as others have noted, the nutmeg + chili combo reads as "clove" to my nose, and i am 100% okay with that. dry on my skin: this actually has some similarity to a darker, insence-ier version of snake oil now that it's dried down a bit...i'm guessing the vanilla/musk/nutmeg combination is doing it? in any case, i am loving this blend. my only wish would be for a bit more throw and lasting power. next time i will prime with lotion first. bottom line: besides luna negra, i'd call this my favorite lunacy so far. i'm really excited to see how it ages, and i'll be looking for a backup bottle.

BEAVER MOON...Y U NO TELL ME YOU HAVE CINNAMON?! no for real, this is a beautiful, buttery apple scent in the bottle. unnnfortunately once it hits my skin the cinnamon makes itself known and since my body chemistry amps cinnamon all to high heaven, it is ALL CINNAMONS ALL THE TIME on me. it basically turns to fall-esque, cinnamon and apple potpourri. boo. it's too bad...if my skin wasn't wonky, i bet this would be great. the scent in the bottle is gorgeous!

whoaaa complexity! smelling/wearing this was an EXPERIENCE. i had never been able to detect vetiver as a note in a blended scent, and NOW i know why. (and this is why i was so excited about SNs!) when i opened the bottle i smelled...bacon. that's it. applewood smoked bacon. as a vegetarian, you can imagine, this was simultaneously kind of appealing and kind of appalling. i sat it down and moved onto sniffing my other newly-arrived bottles, but there was something lurking just beneath that waft of bacon that drew me back in, so a little while later, i decided to skin test it. open the bottle: more bacon. deep whiff...bacon and...something woodsy? green? hard to tell...onto the skin it goes! wet on the skin: heavy. medicinal (oh no, there it goes, that was a quick impression). smoky. dark green. deep and warm to the point that it's almost uncomfortable...clinging, humid. there is just SO MUCH HERE. dry on the skin: wow, does this ever have throw and ongoing complexity. the two strongest impressions i get from it are smoke and greenery. it is absolutely delicious. and i totally agree with beth's description: it is earthy and grounding and has a softly relaxing effect (despite how STRONG it seemed). and uhhh... this may be TMI/coincidence, but i feel compelled to mention it: after skin testing this, i crawled into bed with my sweetie and despite him whining all evening about how tired he was, he seemed to have plenty of energy for some seriously rockin' booty...perhaps this was vetiver-induced booty? verdict: i am SO glad i snagged a bottle of this, and i will certainly be interested to see how it ages. and now that i know what to look for, i will be interested to try blends with vetiver!

death-matching this with woods in winter right now. this is a COLD one. the minty snow note in this one is even colder and more refreshing than woods in winter, but they are quite similar. i'm getting a distinctly air-y note from monastery though (vs. an earthy note in WiW). it's very evocative of a feeling of the thin, crisp, cold air one encounters at altitude. i get a tiny bit of burning incense on the dry down, but it's low key and fleeting underneath the snow and pine-y greens. a beautiful winter scent - although i agree with stellamaris - this would be a fun one to wear in the summer!

in the bottle: CLOVES! on my skin: cloves and cloves and a little vanilla incense and cloves. christmasy, autumny, quiet and warming. this is pretty much exactly what i wanted "the smiling spider" to be. i LOVE it. i got a bottle unsniffed and now i'm glad i did. i may need to snag another before this goes away. it's lovely and quiet and i think it will be perfect for fall and wintertime.

in the bottle, this smells very much like some kind of candy that i can't quite put my finger on. my sweetie and several friends agreed...something cherry or berry or...something? like a cherry gummy or a sour cherry ball? in any case, it's completely mouth watering. when i put it on, i find that i amp the apple a bit, but the berries keep it juicy and it's overall a nice, fruity tart blend without being over the top. i haven't gotten any nuttiness at all, but my bottle only arrived a few days ago, so it could very well develop more nuttiness with age. unfortunately, after only 3 or 4 hours, it's faded to the point that i can barely smell it at all (even in my hair). but i like it enough that it may be worth carrying an imp around with me for touch-ups throughout the day. it's a gorgeous late summer/early autumn scent. we'll see how it ages and how i start feeling about the duration...if it's a slather + reapply often type scent, i may snag another bottle before it goes away.

warning: i am about to wax poetic. sorry, it's a subject i'm passionate about. i make no secret about the fact that i am indeed, a burner. i am also highly involved with organizing the (slowly) growing burner community in my hometown of indianapolis, i do volunteer coordination for the great lakes regional burning man event (lakes of fire), i act as a black rock ranger during big burn, AND i organize a small group of folks (15-20) into a theme camp for the big burn. whew. i think that's my favorite thing about it...it is DEEPLY immersive, and it's not afraid to suck you in like whoa. it's not just a festival i go to. it's not just an amazing way to discover new, interactive art. it's not just an opportunity for me to push myself mentally, physically and emotionally to survive a week in the desert. it's not just a drug and adrenaline fueled week of dancing and debauchery. it is all of those things, to be sure, but it is also a mindset and a challenge to myself in my daily life. it has given me the time and space to learn to be true to myself, and to listen in the quiet moments to discover what that truth is. it has inspired me to create, and to enable others to create. it has provided me a community, a family of crazy fucking people who drive me nuts and fill me with love and wonder at the same time. it has introduced me to new people, new places and new skills that were hiding just beyond what i already knew. since i started going (3 years ago), i've been to dozens of burner events, and each one has engaged me deeply and then left me changed. so i guess that's what it boils down to... the thing i love most about burning man is that it pulls me in and then changes me. and it lets me decide for myself what that change is going to look like. it's empowering and humbling and incredible. thanks, witch, for inspiring me to write about this. it's brightened my day more than you know.

Do you do Goodreads or LibraryThing or a site like that? If so, can I see your to-read list, please? i don't, sorry Who would like to have a postcard with lovely picture of a New Orleans something sent to your witchee by your faithful servant, A. Minion? sure! i love new orleans! i fell in love there once upon a time in 2001... Zombies; Yay or Nay? meh. 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? gawain LOVES catnip. no doggies. If you have kids, what are they into? whew, no kids. How do you feel about wearable knitted lace? Shawls, wraps, and the like? i'm down. big lace shawls are one of the few things i don't have the patience to knit myself (socks are the other). 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? For those who like tea, what sorts of tea do you like? herbal/bedtime/relaxing type teas, green teas (flavored and non), berry flavored black teas Candy Corn: yes, no? ungh, tough one. i can eat probably 10 pieces of candycorn before i start feeling sick, but those 10 pieces are SO GOOD. I live in Japan. Anything you would be interested in from there? i do love japanese papergoods of all kinds. so lovely and delicate. WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH YOUR ASS OFF!!! movies, comedians, black humor, your partner, a comic strip? what? oh, i suppose i like random (and sometimes dark) humor. a softer world is a comic strip i really like. XKCD is often really great as well. i also have penny arcade, sinfest, cyanide and happiness, PvP and least i could do on my comics feed. passive aggressive notes regularly cracks me up. oh and the "haters gonna hate" meme reduces me to a giggling mess. The end of this month I'm going to Scarefest, the big horror and paranormal con in Kentucky. 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? hrm, i really dislike horror and i'm too much of a skeptic to really get into paranormal type stuff, so i'll pass on this one. 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? black slacks, bright teal top with satin trim, black sweater/jacket, black heels and my usual jewelry (teal spiral gauged earrings, silver chakra bracelet, silver serpentine ring). and either snake oil, leather phoenix or pteropus leucopterus, depending on the person i'm meeting and how i want to be perceived (sexy, sophisticated or fun - in that order). 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? oh jeez...this is a tough one. i'd have to go with either the limited or banana republic, i think. and result would be a polished look, without being frumpy or boring - pops of color (plum, teal or emerald), interesting accessories and a little bit of sass. Earrings i mentioned in the questionnaire, but i have stretched ears (4-6 gauge range) and i love twisty, spiral-y, dangly gauges. i refuse to wear normal (wire/post) earrings and always wear gauges to my (professional) job...even with a suit. i love them! You open a box from the post office to reveal the 3 things you want most right now. What are they? (caveats: size doesn't matter, but they have to be tangible/buyable). a new couch (really, my current loveseat is falling apart), a nice string of pearls (maybe black pearls!), an interesting wooden ring What is your holy grail "I'd kill to just have one drop in an imp" bpal scent? wow, i'm not sure i have one of those. i consider luna negra, mme moriarty and pteropus leucopterus to be my holy grail scents, though. coiled serpent, cleric, eat me and snake oil are my GC holy grails - i consider myself lucky to have HGs in the GC! Are there any existing Weenies that you have your eye on, but haven't gotten around to getting? i put in a weenie order (which i'm anxiously awaiting!), but i left out a few with the intention of reading reviews, including: boo, sugar skull and third charm...i'm also waiting to see what the other half of the weenies are (is that still happening?) and the BPTP weenies. 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?) oh hrm...i'm not really into purses or sunglasses. i carry a knitting bag and wear my burning man sunglasses all the time my style? uh...hrm. yogi/burner chic? 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. uh...hrm. a garlic press. hot chocolate (specifically this kind: http://www.amazon.com/Cocoa-Amore-French-Vanilla-10-Ounce/dp/B0058M8SD6/). uh...washi (paper) tape in a cute, colorful pattern. uhh...uhhh, shit that's only 3, i'm in trouble. um. a bottle of nailtiques 2 plus nail protein. VEGETARIAN gummy vitamins (the vegetarian part is hard to find, but they're out there). My Little Pony... Cute or meh? you know, i have a feeling that FIM is probably amazing. unfortunately, i haven't found the time or motivation to actually watch it. i loved MLP when i was little, but i would feel kind of weird sporting any MLP stuff now that i'm out of the loop. so i'd go with "cute, but not for me". 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? LJ, BPAL, google+, burning man forums, pinterest, ravelry...god, ravelry is a huge time sink for me. thankfully i've forcefully extracted facebook from my life, otherwise i might still be spending a bunch of my time on there. ugh. Lip balm - tube or tin? TUBE. DEATH TO THE TIN CARRIERS! (j/k...but seriously, i like tubes better) Would you like to receive a journal or sketchbook? How about other pretty paper goods like post-its, notepads, bookmarks, letter paper/envelopes? journals and sketchbooks = awesome. stationery sets or packs of blank cards = totally awesome. post-its and bookmarks probably won't get much use from me. Are you interested in audiobooks? If so, any specific titles? no thanks...i don't spend enough time in the car to make them worthwhile. Bar soaps with some scrubby bits, yes or no? no, please. my skin is kind of sensitive to scrubby bits...my little poof works just fine! Do you need any small electronic gadgets like flash drives and the like? hrm...nope, i don't think so! Would you like a pair of knitted socks? i just bought myself a ton of cute socks from sockdreams (courtesy of *you*, my wonderful witch!), so i think i'm set for now. Do you have any use for knitted dishcloths, facecloths, etc, especially if they were fandom related? nope, i'm all set. Do you subscribe to any sample boxes, and if so, which ones? Would you like to receive some samples? (perfume, eco/"green," skin care, hair, music downloads, cosmetics, soap...) nope, not really my thing. i try to keep my skin, makeup and hair routine *very* minimal, so samples just tempt me to buy stuff i don't really need. do you have a problem with nudes??? not at all, nudes are great. Male or Female? either/both! Paintbox Soapworks: Interested in anything from her? oh! i'd never seen this! avast & indian summer both look lovely...i could use body scrubs or lotions. (no soaps please, i already have too many!) What's one thing you want, right now, that you're having difficulty finding? good, cheap, felt-able wool roving. i need like POUNDS of it (i make hand felted dreads) and for some reason i just can't find any for a reasonable price right now. BLARGH. also, energy + motivation to go work out. i have no trouble doing a regular yoga practice, but for some reason getting my ass in gear and going to the workout center has really difficult for me the past month or so. are there any e-tailers you're desperately wanting to try? if so, any specific items/scents/etc? i'm trying to stick with BPAL for now. i'm open to trying other things, but there's nothing i'm seeking out. Owls? yah man, owls are pretty great. in college, my sister had one of those owls you put on your roof to scare things away. for some reason we named it anal paul and it was our mascot for drinking nights. i do not remember how either of those things came to be. but yeah. anal paul the owl. think geek: oh, here is my star trek nerdiness... http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/d255/?srp=12 http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/cc96/?srp=22 (!!!!) http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/e584/?srp=27 omg lots more other things, but nothing i should have. it's all shiny, but it'll just collect dust. What do you do to take care of yourself when you're having a rough day (sick, life not going your way, whatever)? knitting, yoga, tea or hot chocolate, sex, star trek, a china mieville novel, some sigur ros, ani difranco or imogen heap, maybe a shopping trip or a massage if i've got cash laying around. Who here is going to be picking up JK Rowling's new book on Thursday? not me. i dig HP, but i have a ton of other authors i'm nutty about. favorite and least favorite baked goods? faves: chocolate chip cookies, macaroons AND macarons, white or yellow cake with buttercream frosting, lemon bars, cream cake, banana bread (NO NUTS!), whoopie pies, oreo anything, cheesecake least faves: anything with nuts (nut flours like almond flour are ok, i just don't like big chunks of nuts in my baked goods) with the notable exception of pecan pie, anything flavored with anise what size T-Shirt do you wear (standard AND babydoll)? standard - small or x-small babydoll - small or medium if its a particularly shrink-y brand 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? i like jams on my toasts. i approve of this idea. Would you be interested in homemade herbal remedies and tinctures? sure, i'd give it a whirl! gardening? sadly, no. i live in a 2nd story apartment, so i have no ground space to do any gardening. 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... oh hrm...not familiar with haunt. empire skin gloss looks pretty nice. nothing else is really catching my eye... Do any of Villainness' Soap Box exclusive scents interest you, especially any of the Smooches/Whippeds? oh these look nice...i'll have to pass on the soaps, but i'd definitely try whipped or smooches in autumn gala, jack o, kill switch, proserpina or xia! although wow, the non-exclusive ones look great too...candy floss, cocoa berry cream cheese, crushed, decadence and jai mahal all look delightful! Puddin' just put a shitton of old Lunacy shirts on the BPTP Etsy! Any ones interest you? i'm not much into t-shirts (more tank top + a drapey sweater or hoodie type gal), so i'll pass on those. the designs are lovely though! Is there something(s) that you consider too spendy or too frivolous for you to buy for yourself, but that you actually want? ungh, yeah. a lovesac couch. i inherited a brown chenille loveseat from my sister after i lost all my furniture in my divorce. it is falling apart and is massively uncomfortable. i sat on a lovesac couch at the mall last year and fell. in. love. but they're like $3-4k. UNGH. cannot. justify. Do you use or would like to try loose eyeshadow pigments? sure sure! i like dark, smoky colors, silvers, plums, aquamarines, etc. cool colors = good for this blue-eyed, pink-skinned gal. Lab/TP update? i already got myself bottles of beaver moon, vetiver, monastery and boo. so don't duplicate my efforts, witch! but...BUT...i'd love to try any and all of the pumpkins...they all look amazing. and from BPTP: any of the pumpkin flosses would likely get play too (i got a bottle of red, but i have a feeling i would use a second...). also any of the atmos or candles...they all look totally incredible! also...i've had bad luck with bath oils before (they cause my chest to break out)...buuuut...i think i would be willing to be careful and/or sit up in the tub for red velvet truffle...for reals. Haunt? wow, palmist, winchester, cloak all look lovely! oh hrm, looking at the new stuff too...fates indeed looks amazing, as does cask! If you had a fairy for NYCC, what exclusive scent would you kill to own? well, i'm a happy peaceful hippie, so i don't think i'd *kill* anyone...but badgers looks awfully nice. so does con cramp massage oil! What do you think of Shiro Cosmetics Halloween Collection? oh, i dig all of this - i also dig the NMBC theme AND the fact that this stuff is vegan & cruelty free...excellent! Godiva? chocolate good. /grunt Apple Crisps? sounds delish! California: nope, i think i'm set. IngenuiTEA? it's a good idea, but i'm not sure i'd use it and i have limited storage space in my kitchen. Comics: i'd love anything from the sandman series or v for vendetta. i know those are more graphic novels, but there it is. Fusion Sweets? looks like most of these either have gelatin or would hurt my teeth (caramel and hard candies = ow. ) Do you want anything from Dark Delicacies or any of the Poe scents? i didn't see anything i *must* have. kombucha? i have not had good experiences with kombucha thus far, so i will pass. Are you dressing up for Halloween, Witchee? If so, is there anything you're looking for to complete your costume? newp! Do you need any accessories for your smartphone (case, skin, etc)? newp!

wishlists: amazon: http://amzn.com/w/1IXHS1IHZR3CI etsy: http://www.etsy.com/people/joyfulgirl26/favorites?ref=si_fav Do you like s'mores and s'mores-flavored things? uh, so yes: i love s'mores, as long as they are gelatin free. 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)? yes yes and yes. my kitchen rug and towels are lime green with black accents. and i LOVE any and all spice - EXCEPT carraway/rye/fennel flavors. they will ruin anything for me. What's the neatest freebie you've gotten? It can be cool or thoughtful or just totally unexpected, and not limited to BPALdom. i've been to burning man 3 times, so this question is VERY hard for me to answer (BM is a gift economy). i got a really neat scrabble tile pendant from burning man this year that i really love. it has a picture of the man on one side and the letter L on the other side (my first name is liz). 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? i love PJ bottoms, but i like the more scrubs-fabric type ones than the fluffy ones. i wear either a small or a medium, depending on the brand and store. What kind of chocolate do you like? Nuts, no nuts, white,dark, etc? dark! no nuts! fruit and other flavorings (sea salt!) are fine, but nuts weird me out in my chocolate. Are home made foods acceptable or does the idea of eating strange mailed food disturb you? totally love home made foods...just no meat, poultry, fish or gelatin (including, unfortunately, real lard for pie crusts). plz and thx. 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! eyeliner, eyeshadow, maybe a cute necklace. oh and a brownie. cause i love brownies. What kind of cuisines do you like? (I mentioned this in my ?aire but curious what my witch may like)And, what are your favorite restaurants? greek, thai, indian, japanese, creative vegetarian comfort food. chain restaurants i like: carrabba's, cheesecake factory, red robin (mmm, veggie burgers), PF changs, noodles and co. I'm from Canada - is there anything specifically a witchee might like that is only available here? maple flavored things are good! What are your "fandoms" and would you like a t-shirt from TeeFury if an appropriate one came up? i am obsessed with star trek, all flavors, but i have a deep and abiding love and respect for katherine janeway from voyager. my captain! also, sailor moon, anything and everything neil gaiman, Do you have an eReader and if so which one? i have an old school kindle. love it. Do you like candles, or tart burners, or something? If so, what's your favorite scent to burn? i love candles and i have two oil burners. i love berry, citrus, greenery and vanilla-y scents, although i will burn pretty candles of any scent (or unscented). Marzipan? yah, def 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? i dig that idea. reusable is good. 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? i love me some vodka. i do not know if indiana has specific laws on this. i will have to investigate. 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? um, i am 100% on board with anything and everything aussie! 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)? oh, i am quite a knitter myself...i have quite a knack for knitting myself whatever goodies i want, so i'll pass on this one. 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? my sweetie loves dark chocolate and botan rice candy. my kitty loves anything catnip. 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. yes and yes! 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? absolutely! How would you feel about a taste of (insert witch location here) box? love this idea! 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? aww, sure! i'm a huge animal lover...what a sweet idea. Some of your favorite artists? Classic and modern? i love monet, escher, picasso, klimt, alex grey (LOVE his work on tool albums)...doing a swap with empresspixie got me interested in mucha as well...so pretty! 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? i love pictures of trees. branches, leaves, birds in them...all trees basically. also anything star trek (see above) or BPAL related (my oil storage box has the BPAL double cross/infinity symbol on it) 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? anne bonny, goblin and bordello spring to mind. also i can always use backups of nocnitsa, white rabbit, cleric and snake oil! Nail Polishes? i have the nice ladies at the salon shellac my nails for me every few weeks, so i'm good on nail polish. Stuffed things: yea or nay? gonna go with nay. i start feeling obligated to them and they just take up space. 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? oh yes...all about it! Would you be interested in beer, wine, or other specialty beverages from your Witch's area? i lurve red wine...cab sav = 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? i need to get better at crochet. all i've done is edging on sweaters. i'd also be interested in beading and resin work. and yes, supplies and tutorials are welcome! Who here would be happy to get a lil' sumthin sumthin from Adagio Teas? i like tea. berry flavors, greens and decaf blends especially. Do you Ravelry? And if so, what's your handle over there? Would you be interested in gift patterns from your queue? yes/joyfulgirl26/hell yah! 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? not super into retro - although i do like candy! Who likes Pumpkin Spice Hershey Kisses? wow, i can't say as i've tried them! i like pumpkin and chocolate though. What does your kitchen look like? Colors/style? dark wood cabinets with brushed aluminum handles. black appliances. dark wood floors. granite-look countertops (black/brown/pink/tan). dark wood pub table. bright/lime green towels and rug. bright green/red/blue rug under the table. silver placemats. black candle holders and white taper candles on the table. kind of a mish-mash, but also bright and modern looking. Witchee, what are your favorite quotes? "Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who has said it, not even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense." – Buddha "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did so. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." – Mark Twain Put your iPod/MP3 player/what-have-you on random and list the first 10 songs it plays! (disclaimer: my music library is a mess, so i disliked this exercise, lol) gratitude - ani difranco sexy boy - air policy of truth - depeche mode julie with - brian eno when the world is running down - the police pushit - tool america - simon and garfunkel life in technicolor - coldplay better off dead - ice cube untitled 1 - sigur ros What's one random thing you really like and one random thing you really dislike? like: sex (...hey, it was the first thing i thought of!) dislike: breaking a nail 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. nope, thank you! If there are no "witchy" shops near you, is there anything I can pick up for you from Enchantments? oh wow, they're expensive, but the carved candles are amazing! i love the descriptions for house blessing, solar blast and bast. Are you OK with "special deliveries"?/Is the address in your questionnaire the best place to reach you for said deliveries?/If the delivery requires a phone number (as say, some florists do) would you be OK with that information being tracked down by your Witch or asked of you anonymously? sure/yes/yes Do you have any Fall or Halloween traditions? nope. i start knitting for christmas presents. that's about it. Ninjas or Pirates? pirates. arrr. 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? yah, def! 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? i am totally a-ok with things like craft supplies, home goods, etc. that are gently used (yay goodwill!). homemade...the sky is the limit! i love any and all homemade/handmade stuff. 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? anything edible is good. toys - in my experience - just collect dust. 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? yeah def! just no violent rap music or country, plz and thx! 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 do not have space to garden. i wish i did. I'm about to be near a Lush store next week, is there anything you might like from there? omg omg omg. handy gurugu is my most favorite hand cream of all time, and i am nowhere NEAR a lush store, so i would LOVE to get some of this. i am also generally a lover of bath bombs, body scrubs, massage bars, body butters, lotions...all things lush really! (i will add that i got a jar of "charity pot" and really disliked the smell, but other than that i've never smelled anything i didn't love from lush.) Songs that you keep meaning to buy but never get round to it? i think ani difranco has a new album that i haven't picked up yet... Movies that you love but forgot to put in your questionaire?/Name one movie you keep meaning to buy, but just never get around to getting? v for vendetta Any favorite Bath & Body Works scents/products? not a big b&bw fan. Haus of Gloi is offering custom perfumes - would you like one? What would your ideal blend be? i have no experience with this company. i'd give it a shot though. woodsmoke, mahogany and clove sounds delightful. i'm apparently in an autumn mood today. 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? flax seed oil/vegetarian omega 3 oil. i like to put it in my smoothies but i never remember to get any. 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'm a fan of jasmine from aladdin, but i have a soft spot for ariel too. my sweetie is OBSESSED with tinkerbell (which is hilarious, cause he's 6'3" and 250lbs, bald head, tattoos, nose ring, etc....then he loves fairies, rofl). we went to disneyworld last year and had a grand time. Do you lust after some new socks/tights? oh yes, oh yes! but i am kind of specific and picky. i like knit knee highs, over the knees, legwarmers and tights. but i REALLY dislike traditional nylons (even incute colors or interesting patterns) and sheer tights. fishnets (and interesting variations on the fishnet theme) are freaking awesome and i can never have enough. and i love neutrals (grey, black and brown) and jewel tones (specifically blues and greens). Are you a gamer (of any sort - video, casual, tabletop) and are there any games you want? i used to be a huge playstation/xbox person (mostly RPGs, FF7, FF9, chrono cross, fable, etc.)...then i was a huge WoW person. now i don't really do much computer gaming. i play scrabble sometimes, and the occasional board or card game with friends. i recently played cards against humanity and LOVED it. it's on my amazon wishlist. Would you be interested in BPTP CANDY? omg. duh. Do you like coffee? If so, what kinds? Flavored, fancy, basic? Beans or ground? i do love coffee of all shapes and sizes, but i really love well done dark roasts a few select flavors (vanilla and caramel both come to mind) . i dislike starbucks (it tastes burnt to me, boo), but i love seattles best, dunkin donuts, even mcdonalds is pretty yummy. i do have a keurig at home, so if you're wanting to send me coffee, k-cups are the way to go. i love green mountain's k-cups. Would a Starbucks gift card make you happy or do you prefer your local place? starbucks is cool with me. even though i'm not a huge fan of their coffee, i love their chai and hot chocolate-y drinks in the fall and winter and they have good snacks. 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...? oh man, i LOVE this idea but i am swimming in more mugs than i know what to do with. and i'm pretty set on all the dishes and bowls i need...so no, unfortunately, not right now. Do you have a forum buddy? Someone who knows you and/or your tastes well enough to answer questions on your behalf? hrm...not sure. i feel like glambie is a pretty good buddy of mine (she's so freaking awesome). reallyzeb is a friend of mine on LJ, so she knows the inner workings of my sick brain a bit. also my childfree swap buddy earlier this year was empresspixie, so she knows a bit about me from that. 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? yeah, paid LJ time would be wonderful! A question, witchees: if you are into tarot, what is your favorite card? i do not know anything about tarot, although i'd be interested to learn someday. And another question: would you like your own set of handmade rune stones or worry stones? sure! Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cider, or none of the above? wow, that's a tough call. i only drink coffee in the morning. in the evening, i could be torn between tea, hot choc, cider and decaf...depending on the type of day i'm having/time of year/what i've been eating, etc. i keep a large stash of green and herbal teas, as well as hot chocolate at home. Gum, hard candy, soft candy, or none of the above? i like ice breakers lemon cube gum. it is my absolute favorite. i also love soft candies (airheads freaking rule) but i have to be careful cause lots of them have gelatin. i like hard candy but i have sensitive teeth so sometimes that gets painful. Loose tea or tea bags? Do you need anything for your loose tea? (Filters, presses, etc. i prefer bags for the sake of clean-up, but i do have the means to make loose leaf tea if you come across something really spectacular. i don't think i have need for any tea accessories right now.

DEFINITELY check out the witch's garden...i know it lists morning glory vines, but i got literally NO floral at all from this...it was all green and herbal. "Morning glory vines twisting around a patch of rampion, carrot, and parsley, with monkshood, hemlock, elfwort, sage, wormwood, and mandrake." http://www.bpal.org/topic/50716-the-witchs-garden/ also maybe karme, if you can hunt down an imp..."Sun-warmed squashes, peppers, salad greens, snap peas, radishes, green onions, and silphium." http://www.bpal.org/topic/75407-karme/ good luck!

wow, this really feels to me like snake oil and mme. moriarty had a love child. and it is quite a sexy, delicious, amazing love child. beth's incredible plum note just absolutely hits a home run in this one...dark, sensual and blending oh-so-well with the other notes. i was lucky enough to get a little decant of the original and it is unbelievably beautiful...i will totally cherish this tiny vial.

holy MOLY, this smells EXACTLY like the incense used at catholic church when i was young, as it was being burned...charcoal, harsh smoke and all. wow, very evocative. i am going to see if it smells good on my sweetie...definitely not a scent for me, but it might smell amazing on him. if i can get past the weird catholic association...

i'll throw cleric into the ring. beautiful frankincense with a nice blend of spices along for the ride. just be ready for a dose of rose...but i promise it works with the rest of the notes!

oddly enough, i find TKO to be SUGARY on me. literally it smells to me like i am wearing lavender scented sugar...it's kind of overpowering for me and does not at all make me sleepy (as i was hoping), but you might give it a shot. also, skytyping with chemtrails (if you can find it) went all sugar on me.

have you tried eat me? it's got an almond punch to it, but it is very sweet!

not a pure RPG combo but uh...i tried rogue and snake oil together today. most sexy, spicy, delicious leather EVER. i HIGHLY recommend this combo.

in the bottle: chocolate! dusty dark chocolate with a little bite of something spicy. not quite snake oil (yet). wet on my skin: gods, i want to eat my arm. delicious rich, dark chocolate with smears of snake oil over the top. sexy, foody, warm, inviting and distinctively BPAL. dry on my skin: mostly snake oil, as others have mentioned. there is definitely another dimension to it though. i can smell the wood more now, which is adding a dark depth to it...and although neither the chocolate or rice milk are perceptible individually, there is definitely a sweetness to the scent that can only be these foody elements. bottom line: i am SO glad i was able to snag a few bottles of this, even though i found BPAL after CD had gone dark. i will absolutely treasure them and cross my fingers for a reincarnation! notes: i tried this a few weeks ago and didn't really like it...i am currently ovulating, so i am wondering if skin chemistry and hormones didn't throw me for a loop earlier. i'll have to make a note that this may be one of those "certain time in the cycle" scents.

in the bottle: uh...dusty...something? musk and berries. smells nice, but not very complex. on my skin: sandalwood, sandalwood, sandalwood! somehow, this smells like nanny ashtoreth on me. i'm guessing the berries + wood combination? the wood smells "polished" like it does in nanny ash. and really dude, where is the patchouli? I WAS PROMISED PATCHOULI!! *pout* bottom line: gonna give it a few days, maybe try it again. i'm putting it in the "maybe" pile. thankfully, based on this thread, if it needs to be re-homed, it won't be a problem!