This will just basically be a permaprofile sort of thing.
My living space cohabitators are two kitties, both born in the summer of 2011 but *very* different in maturity! The big (probably around 20 pounds) gray kitty acts like he's about eight years old. The small (probably under ten pounds) black kitty seems to think he's ten months old, and he WILL NOT let anyone other than me be in the same room as him or even get within eight feet of the window of him (except the mailman. For some reason, he *loves* having a staredown contest with the mailman!) Because of these two, I have to avoid candles. Wax tarts, incense, and room sprays are awesome, though! Things I collect aside from BPAL:
Film festival catalogs/programs
Things with bats, black cats, and/or skulls (year-round, not just a Halloween thing)
Pens! I love blue/purple/green rollerball/gel pens! And fountain pens!
Hobbies/crafts: Sadly, aside from reading, watching stuff on Netflix, and makeup, I don't really have any. I want to learn how to knit, though!
I'm pretty much obsessed with fandom-based indie stuff, especially if there's a collection! In general, my biggest beauty obsessions are the aforementioned fandom indies, body lotions/butters, mini fancy hand cream, perfume oil (I can't wear alcohol-based stuff!), shower gel (I can't use bar soap), fine sugar scrubs, indie nail polish, bonkers nail wraps, and lip just-about-anything (I don't think I have been more than four feet from a lip balm in years!). I gravitate to limited edition and seasonal stuff.
Body product preferences: Whipped soaps, lotions, creams, oils (body, face, perfume -- just not stuff to be applied in the shower). I love fancy mini hand creams! Not a fan of white notes, though. They give me a piercing headache.
Fragrance preferences: Hippie. I love sandalwood, patchouli, dragon's blood, some amber, red musk. For shower gels, I tend to go for non-tropical tree fruit stuff, like citrus, peach, apple, cherry, pear. And pretty much any fruit blossom except cherry! Cherry blossom turns to hairspray and sneezing on me.
Past BPALs I'm kicking myself for missing (decants are awesome!): Weenies 2016
Honeyed Apple
Spiced Autumn Cider
Apple VIII
Apple X
Four Grave Robbers Awaken a Ghost
Weenies 2015
A Witch Riding on a Dragon
The Witches' Sabbath
Non-BPAL stuff I'm coveting:
Any of the Nag Champa Seahorse variations from Nocturne Alchemy
Possets Halloween Retour: Autumn, Baksheesh, Doped Pumpkin, The Female Souls of the Night, Re-God of the Sun, Redcap. Possets non-Retour: Madame X.
BPAL imps I collect for rollerballs:
Bella Donna della Mia Mente
Tamora
Alice
My big fat fandom list:
Mr. Robot
Westworld
Doctor Who/Torchwood (S1-3 only. Miracle Day does not exist in my world)
Game of Thrones (show only) (I’m not a big fantasy fan, but I’m a *huge* Peter Dinklage fan ever since the original Death at a Funeral!)
comic book movies (any of them, even if they're not superhero movies, but especially Marvel properties and… Well, really, anything not-DC! Except Wonder Woman. They kind of started to redeem themselves with WW. I'm reserving judgment on whether this is an aberration until we see how Justice League turns out.)
CW DC universe
Gotham
Marvel Netflix universe
Twin Peaks (probably my first fandom, although I haven't seen the reboot)
Teen Wolf (yes, very trashy and utterly age-inappropriate. Don’t care. I'm only through S3, though!)
Breaking Bad
American Horror Story (all seasons except Cult!)
Horror in general
Sherlock
X-Men (movies only so far, mainly because I have *no clue* where to start with the books. General request for anyone who might be willing to provide some assistance: If you happen to know the book side of things, I would love some help!)
Supernatural
My Hogwarts house would be Ravenclaw!
I'm ever-so-slowly breaking into comic books and graphic novels, although I don't actually own very many.
Alice in Wonderland. My earliest memory is of being in the middle of reading it!
Once upon a time, I was hardcore into:
Buffy/Angel
Stargate SG-1/Atlantis (I need to watch Universe, but I just never get around to it)
Lost
Heroes
Battlestar Galactica (as a kidlet, I was obsessed with the original series. As an adult, I fell headlong into the reboot)
Fandoms I have a feeling I will be getting sucked into by the end of the year:
Merlin
Orphan Black
Orange Is the New Black
Podcasts: Darkest Night, Rabbits, TANIS. I like horror fiction and mysteries! In general, though, I'm going heavy into true crime. I'm a Murderino! And not just murder. I also love Liar City and Criminal. And True Crime Garage, Based on a True Story, Canadian True Crime, True Crime Japan, Last Podcast on the Left, Casefile, Real Crime Profile, Court Junkie, And That's Why We Drink, and probably half a dozen more!
Items to avoid due to allergies:
Bar soap
Alcohol-based perfume
Fragrance with any notes involving the word "white" in the description or any evergreen tree notes (pine, spruce, fir, etc.)
Anything containing avocado flesh (avocado oil in cuticle oil is okay, but things like avocado masks and guacamole = hives)
Question for the audience! Makeup. Especially eyeshadow and lipstick. What's your stand on it? Color preferences? Formula/finish? (Yes, I have a specific reason for asking this.) I'm a huge makeup fan and will use pretty much anything color and finish wise. Except black, because that's kind of expected of me, and I like to confuse people, especially when it comes to makeup.
This thursday I will go on holiday to two Asian countries. Would you like it when I'd shop (some of) your souvenirs over there? As in: do you like Asian stuff? Or would you prefer souvenirs from The Netherlands only? Souvenirs from anywhere are neat! Asian stuff is awesome!
Ring sizes? Any kinds of metals you don't like? I don't wear any jewelry.
What about general clothing sizes? Unisex shirts? Unisex xxl! I have boobs *and* hips.
Shoe (sock ) size? US women's 10/men's and UK 8.
Do you collect anything, or is there anything like a theme, animal, character etc. that you MUST HAVE when you see it? I've kind of accidentally started a magnet collection! I dream of having a robot magnet army, but I think that I only have two so far. I have lots of other kinds of magnets, though, and I'm always on the lookout for the next one to be added to my collection. The kitschier the better! ETA Black cats! How in the world did I forget them?
New Question: I come from Texas, where we love our spicy food! Do you like hot food? How do you feel about both salsa (like you dip tortilla chips in) and hot sauce (like Tabasco, only better)? Would you like to try a classic hot Texas treat like peach jalapeno jam? Is there any Texan or Southern food you've been interested in trying, like pecan pralines, or pecan brittle, etc? I don't do spicy stuff. Like at all. Nacho Cheese Doritos are about as spicy as I can go. Even Taco Doritos are sometimes too much. Salsa is out of the question due to spice *and* cilantro (I'm allergic to that stuff). No hot sauce, ever. Basically, as far as spice goes, I'm an eighty-year-old man with a chronic ulcer. Anything nut-related is awesome, though (at least as long as it's not spicy)!
Being in DC and working at a semi-tourist attraction with gift shops I have relatively easy access to a wide variety of souvenir goodies, particularly related to the performing arts. Would you be interested in something like a flask with a costume design from the Washington National Opera Ring cycle? Or a mug that says "Diva" or a pretty cherry blossom print tee? (Just to name a few. ;-) Yes! I love touristy trinkety things. Probably not something with "Diva" on it, though, because I have a coworker who will sulk and pout until I give whatever it is to her (she's too old to sulk and pout, but she does it anyway).
Would you say you were in any 'fandoms' or at least what are some of the popular books/tv shows/etc you are into? Fandom-oriented programming is where I spend most of my leisure time, so my list is massive, but I'll try to narrow things down to just a few of the main ones: the Marvel movie/tv/Netflix universe (including Deadpool and the X-Men franchise in this even though Marvel didn't actually make them), Game of Thrones (show only), any tv show or movie based on a comic book or graphic novel (except the Snyder DC Murderverse. Yes, I know I also specified Marvel. That's because it's my biggest obsession!), Doctor Who, Sherlock, and Supernatural. Oh, and horror movies (not any particular one. I just love horror movies in general. The scarier and creepier, the better)
My locale is known for its cheese. Are you interested in receiving some cheese? If so, what kinds do you like? Ugh, I LOVE CHEESE. Except for blue variants (Gorgonzola, Roquefort, etc.). I hate those due to migraine issues. I've been known to just cut off a chunk of cheddar or mozzarella and call that dinner. I'm trying to decide whether I like goat cheese, and I'm not a huge fan of brie, but I'm always up for trying new cheese (as long as it's not spicy or blue).
Another from me (Em) - Would you be interested in books from local authors or music from local bands and if so, any particular genres you particularly love or hate? Those would be fun! For books, I'm a particular fan of thrillers, horror, science fiction, graphic novels, and cookbooks. I'm not big on romance or high fantasy (or whatever you would call things like Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones. I'm intrigued by the idea of urban fantasy, but I'm not sure I've actually read any, so I'm not sure). For music, yeesh, just about anything except contemporary country and opera, although I mostly listen to rock and rock variants (right now, iTunes is playing the Dead Kennedys while I load the Tragically Hip onto my phone before I take off to see Paul Simon). I'm a sucker for catchy tunes you can sing along to (summer jams are a particular weakness for me).
Dark or milk chocolate? Yes! Oh. Wait. That's probably meant as either/or. Hmm. Dark.
My question: pickles? Here in the south everyone does their own pickles. And pickled pole beans! Bread and butter, sweet, and dill! Yes or no? Any you hate or love? Hmm... I like dill pickles. Not sweet (I think bread and butter are sweet for me), not spicy. Garlicky stuff is awesome! And now that I think about it, I don't think I've had anything pickled aside from cucumbers.
Netherlands snacks? Pretty much anything! I had a bag on Johnny Doodle salty fudge one time that tragically emptied far more quickly than I would have liked.
I'm trying to keep caught up on the in-thread questions here because I find roundups less stressful than just keeping everything in-thread.
1. Pumpkin? I'm not a fan of pumpkin edibles. Roasted salted pepitas are okay, and Stash decaf Pumpkin Spice tea (which I have, like, three boxes of), but that's about it. Pumpkin-*colored* things (nail polish, eyeshadow, scarves, socks, etc.) or scented stuff is okay, though. My family is from apple country, so autumn always means apples to me! Caramel apples, candy apples, dehydrated apple slices, apple pie, apple cider -- apple apple apple. And pears. I still remember the time right before my senior year of college (so mid-to-late September since my school started at the end of September) when my family went to visit my grandparents at their new house across the street from an orchard, and my grandfather took my brother and me across the street to steal the neighbors' apples and pears. Family bonding experience!
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). I am slightly gluten intolerant, and my SO is deathly allergic to dairy, so I have good recipes that are both gluten free and vegan. I have a weird phobia about baked goods in the mail, so I would pass on that, but I love pickles (especially sour/dill cucumber varieties! I'm not familiar enough with non-cuke types to know whether I would like them or not) and jams! No salsa, though, please, because I'm not a spicy food person, and cilantro is a migraine trigger.
3. Trading Post wants? I have a wishlist there! http://blackphoenixtradingpost.com/my-lists/view-wishlists/?wlid=2094
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. No Bath & Body Works, please! It sets off a weird hoarding tendency in me like no other company I've encountered. (I'm on a serious etsy/indie etailer kick, though.)
5. How about y'alls coffee and tea preferences? For coffee, whole bean! (We have a Keurig at work, but the office supplies the K-cups, so I don't waste my money on them.) I'm not big on flavored coffee beans (I use sugar-free hazelnut and vanilla Da Vinci syrups, though!). I do pourover (*cough*Portland*cough*), so that means doing Turkish grind at the time of brewing, and I tend to stick with hot coffee. As for tea, copying from my other posts: Ooh, yes! Hot and iced! I used to live in Seattle and developed a severe fondness for Dammann Freres (ugh, SO EXPENSIVE) Jardin Bleu and Earl Grey Gout Russe, and I haven't found anything close to those two flavors. I love berry-scented black and Earl Grey variations! I got an Earl Grey Cream from somewhere that was fantastic, but I can't remember where (Teavana, maybe?). If decaf is an option, I do prefer that so I can drink it later in the day! Tea bags, loose tea, herbal, black, green, white, decaf -- love it. I seem to be going through a serious rooibos phase right now. Not sure where *that* came from. Except I haaate licorice/anise, rose hips, and hibiscus. So... Uh. Yeah. Love tea! (Except Market Spice tea. The way it EATS THROUGH STYROFOAM AND PLASTIC kind of freaks me out.) (And I go to the Stash Tea company stores on a regular basis, so I have plenty of stuff from that brand. I would love to try things from other companies!) At home, I have one of those neat plastic tea brewing things where you put the hot water and tea leaves in the bowl/pitcher/basket/whatever-you-want-to-call-it, let it steep for however long, put the thing on top of your tea mug, and the tea drains out the bottom with the tea leaves getting strained out. Love that thing. At work, I just have a strainer basket that does the job.
6. Do you cook? Would kitchen accessories make you happy? I seem to cook more in the autumn and winter, so while I'm not *currently* cooking very much, I'm looking forward to cool weather and spending Sundays making food for the following week! And I *love* kitchen accessories. This is the time of year I always look at the fun seasonal kitchen things and wait until my next paycheck, and then they get sold out! I have a small-batch baking cookbook that seems to call for smaller pans (cake bans, loaf pans, springform pans) than I have, so I have yet to actually make anything from it. And I just got a small-batch canning cookbook and have zero supplies for that. I am very superstitious about blades, though, so no knives or cutting/shredding/slicing things, please, unless you're giving them to me in person so I can buy them from you! (Even my kid brother who refuses to believe in or follow *any* superstition follows this one. It's hard-coded into our family's DNA.)
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 love them! I'm not an artist (one of my favorite things to do at comic cons is watch artists draw things), though, so I have no use for supplies.
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? Um... I'll have to think about this.
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)? I'm sure I would love one, but I can't think of anything!
10. What do you find yourself doing for fun in your free time? What are your main hobbies and interests? Read, watch tv/movies on Netflix, play with makeup, wander around my town.
11. Table-top gaming? If yes, what kind, edition, etc? Gaming accessories you long for? The cats have yet to develop those opposable thumbs we've discussed, so I'll have to pass.
12. DVD movies or games that you wish would magically appear in your hands? Can they be used, through Amazon? I stream most movies, but I do have some stuff on my amazon wishlist (linked on my Wishlist blog page). I don't really care whether they're used or not as long as they work on my laptop! (Oh, yeah -- I don't have a tv, so everything gets watched on my laptop.
13. What kind of snacks or candy from other countries/states would you like to try? Uh, all of them! Every time I go to a new place, I always like to check out the snacks and candy. I especially love crunchy salty carbs (like chips, crackers, popcorn, pretzels, etc.).
14. Do you have a favorite internet meme, character or pop culture fandom? I've got my fannish fixations on my wishlist page. I don't really have a favorite meme. If I had to pick one favorite character, it would probably be Alice, as in Wonderland.
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. I don't really do Facebook. You're really better off checking out my Instagram feed (buriedinboxes). That's where I usually post stuff. Facebook to me is just where I check out indie companies to see what they have going on!
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. Your best bet is my Instagram account: buriedinboxes. I have Facebook but don't really use it other than to keep tabs on my favorite indie makeup companies. (Certain people on there who I can't unfriend get overly invested in anything I post there, so I just... don't.)
16. Anybody interested in something from Rose City Comic Con, whether it's con-exclusive merch or from a particular exhibitor or artist? This was my question, so I'll pass on answering this one since I'll be doing the shopping there! 17. When I do this swap, I really, really do it because I want to connect with another forumite, make friends with them, and communicate with my witchee.[...] So, everyone, how do you personally feel about this? ALL OF THE NEUROSES. Not of the "Oh, no, someone wants to talk to me! WHAT DO I DO?" nature but really of the "no one *really* wants to talk to me. They're just being nice because they feel obligated. I'll let them off the hook and leave them alone so they don't feel bothered" nature.
18. Do you like puzzles/riddles/treasure hunts and that sort of thing? Other than jigsaw puzzles, love them! I was on the Maze of Games Kickstarter because of this! Jigsaw puzzles never end well in my apartment because my kitties are chewers.
19. If you were to receive music, would you want a physical CD or digital versions? *Love* music! As far as the format, probably a digital version, although I do like physical cds, too. A physical cd would just be converted to a digital format, so if it was already digital, I wouldn't have to mess with ripping it or naming the tracks.
20. What’s a current problem/annoyance you have that could be remedied but you haven’t had time to address it? Hmm... Most of my issues are more of the motivational nature, like cleaning my entire apartment, INCLUDING the Room of Doom.
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… That would be really cool.
22. Are YOU superstitious about anything? Any things you can't have in your house for that reason--bad associations? I think my big superstition is the traditional one about knives/scissors/anything with a blade or cutting edge. They CANNOT be given as a present. They *must* be purchased by the recipient. (In my family, it's usually a dead giveaway when someone gets a knife as a present because there's typically a coin taped on top of the package.) Also, when we see a hummingbird, it's my grandmother coming back to visit us! I can't think of anything I can't have in my house for superstitious reasons, though.
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? I'm not a vegetarian, and what I'm about to say actually doesn't address the question, but I do want to elaborate on something on my original questionnaire here since the subject of gelatin is here: I don't eat beef, but gelatin is okay. There's something about the meat that I can't deal with but that doesn't seem to be in gelatin.
24. Ok, so we've covered pumpkin. How do you feel about the other fall classic – apples? Heh. See #1 on this list. *Love* apples! I prefer the crunchy tart kind. Granny Smith was my favorite growing up, and now i seem to go more for Honeycrisp and Pink Lady, although if I'm at a farmer's market and I see an unfamiliar variety that promises to be tart, I'll try that, too. DO NOT LIKE golden or red delicious. They're mealy.
25. Do you have any fabric or skin-contact aversions? Wool. It doesn't even have to touch me in order to make me congested. And itchy/scratchy fabrics. I love soft, silky, fluffy stuff like chenille, polarfleece, and t-shirt material!
26. How do you feel about Christmas/Yule ornaments? I would pass. Christmas and Yule aren't really my thing.
27. How do you feel about Hello Kitty, and Hello Kitty accessories (including mugs, cups, etc)? LOVE THEM! My favorite character as an adult is Badtz-Maru because he's a little crankypants. When I was a kidlet, there were only Hello Kitty herself, My Melody, and Little Twin Stars, so those are the closest to my heart.
28. If you had a week free where you could learn anything, with no financial restrictions, what would you want to study? Horror movie special effects makeup. I've been obsessed with it since I was in high school! My friends were convinced that's what I would end up doing when I got out in the world, but, uh, that didn't happen. If it was something to actually *do* in the future instead of just learning how to do it just to have that knowledge, I would want to learn how to make/blend my own makeup!
29. Do you enjoy poetry? Who are your favorite poets and what type of subject matter do you like? So funny this came up on this particular day! We were *just* discussing whether people were interested in poetry at work this morning. It's not really for me. I wish it was, but it's just kind of *there* for me.
30. Would you enjoy receiving something related to a favorite Disney character? Sure! But my favorite Disney characters are the Avengers. Especially Hulk because rage issues. (While I love _Alice in Wonderland_, I'm not particularly bonkers about the Disney versions. I seem to be enthralled with everything *but* those.)
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 have to say that although I do think that stuff is cute, creepy is more *me*.
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’ve figured this one out! I would hope that my witch is as into horror movies (with actual story lines and not torture porn, please, because if I want to watch endless gore, I’ll watch a special effects reel) as I am and able to send me a nicely curated list of horror stuff to watch on Netflix Instant, free Hulu, and/or YouTube. I *could* go to a video store since there’s an amazing one on my way home from work, but, realistically, not gonna happen. The big catch here is that I watch a lot of horror movies, especially when I’ve had a stressful week, so I feel like I’ve already found all of the good stuff!
Go to your music source of choice - on random or shuffle setting if possible - & share with us the 10 most recent songs/artists. Do You Remember Rock’n’Roll Radio — The Ramones Hypnolude — Fatboy Roberts Eight Miles High — The Byrds Crosseyed and Painless — Talking Heads Pink Pistachio Candy — The Pebbles I Wanna Get High — Cypress Hill Harder They Come — Poison Idea Shouldn’t Be Ashamed — Wilco You Should Be Dancing — Bee Gees Pulled Up — Talking Heads [*So* bizarre. My iTunes usually tosses Motorhead and Suzi Quatro in there at least once every six songs or so.]
Tarot cards, rune stones and/or other divination tools yay or nay? Yay! (I actually won a trivia tournament thanks to my knowledge of the major arcana.) But not the Aquarian deck, please. I got it because I thought I would feel a special connection to it since I am an Aquarian. I ended up tossing it because it really unnerved me out in a way I couldn’t put my finger on. I have the Rider-Waite deck, of course, and the Wonderland deck! Because Alice in Wonderland! I was thrilled to find that the Wonderland deck *does* feel right. I’m not into runes or other stuff, but that’s just because I’ve never had the occasion to be exposed to them. I’m interested in them. I just haven’t done anything more than think about one day working with them and figuring out whether they fit in my life.
Questions: Do you have a Celeb crush? or someone who you just can't get enough of....other than your SO Not particularly, although I think I’m finally considering getting on the Tom Hiddleston train now that the Hank Williams biopic is happening. Maybe. Probably only in the “hmm, let’s see what else he’s done that’s on Netflix” way, though.
Glitter? are you okay with it, or hate it like the plague? It’s fine in makeup, especially if it’s fine/ultrafine/micro. Oh, glittery pens are awesome, too. I’m not particularly fond of it on things, like, say, a glittery skull. Well, let me rephrase that: I love that sort of thing. My cats lick *everything* (Ed is currently licking the envelope some eyeshadow was shipped in, and he will probably be licking a table in about five minutes). I do not want to see glitter in the litter box!
If there was another time period other than now that described your style/aesthetics, what would it be? The ‘60s. Hippie hippie. I love the ‘90s, but I’m not sure whether I miss the ’90s or being in my 20s in Seattle, and I’m not sure I should put that down here because it’s an era I lived through, not one that I look back and wish I could have been part of.
If you had to pick one or two quotes to live by, what would it be and why? “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” — Winston Churchill. It’s on my fridge a magnet that I came across when my mom was dying. It’s my attempt to remind myself that any current hell is just that: Current and temporary.
Do you prefer physical books? CD books? eBooks? If eBooks do you have preferred format, kindle/nook/kobo/PDF/ePub/ect? eAudio? If it’s a good curl-up-and-*read* book, physical, definitely. If it’s a casual read-ten-minutes-at-a-time-on-the-bus book, Kindle (for my iPhone) is fine. I like the idea of cd/audiobooks, but I spend most of my listening time splitting my focus between whatever I’m listening to (music, podcasts) and doing *stuff* (cleaning, driving, working).
What is your favorite Halloween animal or other symbol/decoration? Black cats! And bats! And skulls! And black birds! And I had forgotten how fond I am of witch hats and cauldrons until this evening when I saw some at the store and started smiling.
How do you feel about profanity and off-color humor? I curse like a timber cutter. I call him Dad. Y’know how kids will sing along to songs on car rides? My brother and I would run George Carlin’s most famous bit. As far as humor goes, I guess it depends on what kind of off-color we’re talking about. I love people like Janeane Garofalo, David Cross, Eddie Izzard, Bill Hicks, and Margaret Cho. Racist, sexist, homophobic, etc. stuff is a no-go. Haaate insult comedy.
I make hairsticks...would you like/use them? I’m extremely intrigued by them, and I think my hair is finally long enough to give them a try! I used to use chopsticks as hair sticks back in the ‘90s, but then I chopped all of my hair off in ’97 and didn’t start growing it back out until about a year and a half ago, so I’m still learning what can be done with it now that it’s inching towards my bra band.
Larping? Nope. The closest I’ve ever come is seeing _Monster Camp_ at a film festival and then seeing the main dude at the grocery store pretty much immediately after the screening.
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. Weird food is groovy, but nothing involving bugs/spiders/insects/worms/larvae/etc. in any way, shape, or form, please.
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? I love blackberry and raspberry jam, especially if it’s seedless! Ooh, apple butter is yummy, too. I haven’t had that in ages. It’s *amazing* in a grilled cheese sandwich! I’m not sure if I’ve ever had cherry, but it’s something I would love to try. I hatehate*hate* strawberry and grape. But nothing spicy. Pretty much *ever*.
Nail polish! Meaganola kinda covered this above, but I want to ask a little more in depth. 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 love weird colors and finishes! There’s actually a Rainbow Honey section (I subscribe to their monthly mystery bag) and link to a Llarowe wishlist on my wishlist page! I tend to go for blues, greens, and silvers. And glitters, shimmers, and duochromes are the bestest! Ooh, and crellies. I do not wear red, pink, orange (*hate* orange), coral, brown, nude, or pretty much any “traditional”/office-appropriate colors (despite working in the back office of a bank), and I’m not a fan of creams. Texture: Glitters are awesome (tip: Use school glue as a base coat for easy removal!), and sands are okay, but I don’t like textured creams.
I make little monster plushes, from felt and yarn and buttons. How do you feel about getting a special Halloween plushie? Sounds awesome and adorable! I'm in Japan, anything specific you might want from the land of the rising sun? Hmm… Yogurt candies and neat pens?
Are there any GC scents that you know you love, but for whatever reason, keep putting off buying bottles of? Croquet. I have *no clue* why I don't already have a bottle. I'm not even sure I have more than one imp!
I know not everyone likes Lush products, but if you do, which Lush items would you like to get from your Witch? Ibiza Party Shampoo, if they ever make more. I just noticed it’s out of stock, and I have a really bad feeling it’s gone forever. Smells *so good*! I do love their citrusy shower gels.
Soooooo I seem to have more airline miles than money right now. no idea how that happened. 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. Man, I would love to go to Las Vegas for my birthday (January 21st) or Chinese New Years. Or San Francisco in early-to-mid-November. I desperately want to go somewhere (and, really, anywhere), but I would need to look at the vacation budget at the end of September to figure anything further out. Hotel rooms are a killer!
If you are ok with receiving t-shirts, what size are you, do you prefer tissue tees, normal crew tees, babydoll etc? Men’s XXL over here. Lots of boobs and butt, and they inevitably become pajama tops!
ThinkGeek: Urk, I need to set up a wishlist! Once that’s done, it will go on my wishlist page.
Zombies, yes or no? Yes! I think the original _Night of the Living Dead_ was actually what set off my obsession with makeup.
Would you like arm warmers/fingerless gloves? If so, what length? just beyond the wrist, almost to the elbow, full sleeves? Probably past elbow, although I am chunky, so they need to be very roomy!
Do you feel a particular affinity for a specific animal/s? Monkeys. My very first nickname was in fact Monkey until my mom realized I knew what monkeys were and referred to one as Meggie. She made my aunt come up with another nickname so my self-esteem wouldn’t be hurt, and that's when I became Nutmeg. (And then the real damage came when I got my first “real” haircut at the age of six, and my brother informed me that I was ugly.)
Paintbox: Lots of stuff! Clean Slate facial scrub. Bookkeeper's Butter Intense Hand Salve. Scrubs/creams/lotions only (that is, no bar soap): The Bees' Lament, Punkie Night, Guy Fawkes, Indian Summer, Miss Ada (eee! My girlkitty was named Ada, and I frequently called her Miss Ada! I miss her), Sweet Cheeks, Blackbird, Mandinka. I didn't see any wax tarts that really caught my attention.
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? Um… I would need advance notice to make sure I’m dressed and presentable in real clothes and not just a tie-dyed t-shirt and pj pants with my hair a sweaty disgusting mess from cleaning. And my cats FREAK THE HELL OUT when people come inside. So maybe that’s not optimal. But a drive-by package-leaving? Totally cool.
Do you have a ravelry account? Tell me about your yarn obsessions. Nope. Not a yarn person.
Sock Dreams: Yay or nay? Yay! I actually live in Sock Dreams City, so I go to the store itself on a regular basis and pretty much only buy long socks I've been able to check out in person due to my chunky calves. So many adorable knee and OTK socks! So few actually fit me despite being in the plus size section. I do have a Sock Dreams wishlist linked on my wishlist page, though, and their anklet and crew selections are awesome and an obsession!
Knitted items like scarves, shawls, dishclothes....yay or nay? Favorite fibers? Favorite colors? Love! For scarves and shawls, I love silky-feeling stuff. Not *silk*, but soft, like chenille. For dishcloths, cotton, all the way. No wool, please!
Is your Amazon WL up-to-date? All wishlists are up to date! There are probably some things on my Powell's WL not on my amazon one and vice versa. If you were to receive handmade caramels, would it matter if they were made with raw cream (unpasteurized)? I've never had raw milk or cream, but it sounds awesome because CARAMEL. It is literally practically my middle name.
I know we already had a question about needed kitchen accessories, but what about spices? I'll pass. I keep buying spices and then never even cracking the seal!
Would you enjoy getting a sampling of quality incense taken from various sources? Are there types of incense you know you don't like? 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? All of the above. Any form, any scent (my headache trigger notes don't seem to appear in incense very often), and occult underpinnings are very much welcome. I am always interested in trying new forms of it as long as I have the correct burner and instructions. I can't have open flames due to kitties, so candles are banned, but they don't seem interested in bothering burning incense. I do have a couple of coffin-style stick burners, so I'm set as far as those are concerned.
Would you like handmade stationary or cards? How about a quill pen? I don't send letters, so it would be a waste to send lovely things to me because I would just use it for, like, grocery lists and my weekend agenda. But a quill pen? I love fountain pens and would love to give a quill pen a try!
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? Probably a 2 at the very most. I always order the mildest Indian food, but I *do* eat Indian food. And there's not really any such thing as "too garlicky" to me.
What is your favorite type of Halloween candy? The kind on my possession! Seriously, this is the *worst* candy season for me because I can never make up my mind. Caramel, Sweetarts, Skittles, gummies, chocolate, chewy cinnamon stuff (like bears), the whole candy corn/pumpkin/etc. family, peanut butter taffy -- you name it, I want it. Except marshmallow-based stuff. I think I had too many Peeps as a kidlet, and now I tend to avoid marshmallows. Individually-wrapped stuff is probably best because then I can put together little goody bags for myself when I go to movies. (And I love Gobstoppers and jawbreakers, but I need to *not* have any of those because those are just tempting tooth breakage, and I can't afford the dental work!)
Do you need or want any cosy footwear, like fluffy slippers, or slipper socks etc? I love slipper socks and slippers! Slipper socks with traction things on the bottom are the *best*. Mis Klutzikins over here has been known to slip on *carpet* when she wear slipper socks without the traction things. As far as slippers go, I tend to go for slip-ons like these: http://www.amazon.com/Womens-Ladies-Fluffy-Slip-On-Slippers/dp/B00FOAU08I I'm not sure why. Maybe because Target usually has them for cheap when I'm in the mood for a new pair. I would be very interested in other styles, too!
New Question!! Are there any beauty accessories you need or would like? For example make-up brushes, facial brushes or eyelash curlers. I love eyeshadow brushes with short, dense bristles! They're *wonderful* for my beloved loose pigments. I have a couple, but I always want MOAR (it's easier to switch colors if you have a stash of clean brushes handy). Even the $1 e.l.f. cheapies are fantastic for my purposes.
Wax melts: Love them! The Dark Candles website is a nightmare to figure out good scents, though. The scent description page is a dead link! So just in general wax tart terms, since we’re moving into cooler weather (fingers crossed! OH, HOT DAMN, IT LOOKS LIKE IT’S GOING TO RAIN THE SECOND HALF OF MY VACATION NEXT WEEK! You know you’re a native Portlander when you actively look forward to cool weather and rain during your vacation), the fruit punch-y stuff I was using in the summer is too sweet. I’ll just say that I would like my living room to smell like a cross between a hippie import store, a headshop, and a fortune teller’s tent.
PJs and undies: If they’re men’s knit pj/lounge pants, yes! Love those! I tend to wear XL or XXL in those. No undies, though, please. M&Ms? I love the peanut butter ones! And the almond ones. And… Well, most of them. But I tend to have a bag or two stashed away that I’ve picked up and not broken into yet. (And never the dark chocolate ones! I had a migraine Incident after eating some shortly after they were introduced, and I have avoided them ever since.) Streaming playlist sub: Not my thing.
Liliths: Hmm… I’m leaving towards Hearts for Ghost Friends and Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha,
New Question! Would you be interested in receiving a box of sugar cube skulls? Aargh! Those are adorable! And I love sugar skulls! But I don't use sugar cubes, and I fear the return of an ant problem. I'll have to pass due to the fact that they're actual sugar.
Skin care routine? Fave cleanser? Toner? Moisturizer? What about body lotions? Any particular brand or scent? Lip balms? Yay or nay? Cleanser: philosophy purity all-in-one. I have a huge (32-ounce, I think) bottle from last year's Nordstrom anniversary sale, though! I don't use toner. I don't really understand its purpose. Moisturizer: Typically facial oils. It seems like I'm constantly getting these in subscription boxes. I can't remember the last time I bought moisturizer aside from the time two Christmases ago when I had to buy some special moisturizer due to a nasty allergic eczema reaction. My skin leans dry and *hates* anti-aging stuff! I feel like I should use fancier stuff, and especially eye cream, but I don't, even when I get good eye cream in one of my sub boxes! Body lotions: I've recently gone bonkers over Haus of Gloi's pumpkin butters, and I'm intrigued by their body emulsions (and I have specific scents in my wishlist!). Lip balms: LOVE THEM. I keep them in every bag, purse, jacket, you name it. I don't think I've been more than four feet from one in about ten years. Maybe even longer.
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? Yes. Anything. Touristy stuff, historical stuff, magickal stuff -- I'm fascinated by all of it (except that tv show starring Ron Howard's son-in-law. I *almost* got through one episode and abandoned it in disgust). Even the Arthur Miller allegory about the Red Scare. (If it wasn't a family name, I would name a cat Arthur after him, but I don't want to deal with the discussions about my childfree status that would generate. My dad's side of the family has zero use for you unless you procreate.)
If you happen to be my witchee, would you be interested in any of the items in my etsy shop? You can favorite them on etsy or mention the specifics in your blog https://www.etsy.com...f=hdr_shop_menu Ooh! Scarves! Alas, it looks like everything has wool in it. Even if it doesn't touch my skin, I have problems with it.
Jamberry: I don't have a hair dryer, and I understand you need to use one to apply these wraps, so I would have to pass. I love nail wraps in general, though!
Spiders (as in cute knit kind) yes or no? Please no!
Pillows (the mostly decorative type)? Ooh, yes! They would need to be kitty-proof, but I am seriously lacking in the throw pillow department.
Any kind of bags - big, small, medium, purse, grocery, etc? Grocery/tote bags are cool. This is going to sound weird and very gimme/picky, but... Coin purses/wallets/purses/etc. need to have at least a coin of some sort in it if they're a gift. This is my family's other gift superstition (see: knives).
Is there anything special coming up in your life? I don't recall the exact date, but about a week after Halloween marks the third anniversary of the day I adopted my kitties! On a sadder note, October 6th would have been my mom's 54th birthday. Other than that, nada mucho.
I pass this shop every day, If you were my witchee would you like a custom chocolate bar? What would you choose? http://www.chocolatc...e-your-own-bar/ Man... This is hard! Dark chocolate with any of the buttons? Any of the nuts except coconut? I love crunchy bits in chocolate. Ooh, white chocolate with freeze-dried strawberries/raspberries (this is probably the only time I like fruit with chocolate) and popping candy. That sounds *fun*.
Fatherhood update: Hmm... Playing Tag in a Garden Full of Gods and A Moment in Time, although I'm thinking decants would be better for me than bottles. (I wish they would all work for me and be bottle-worthy because I just absolutely adore the text. Especially for A Stroll Through the Quarter. I wish that one didn't have banana in it!)
Street art: *cough* I have a tattoo that's a mashup of this: http://www.amazon.co...g/dp/B00634ROMO and this: http://www.amazon.co...duct/B004E7MJYK So the moral of the story is: *Love* street art.
One note: Argh, this is hard! My body chemistry is in the middle of a shift, so I don't know any more! It would probably be something sticky (for lack of a better way to put it) and/or resiny, like red musk or red sandalwood.
Which one scent would you want from each of the following updates: Metamorphosis, Lilith and GC??? (I'm going to ask this about weenies once they launch too!) Metamorphosis — Question Mark. Lilith — Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha GC — I said Croquet earlier somewhere, but I’m thinking I want to change this to Crossroads! I always forget how much I like it until I come across either my imp or the description. (And I'm mainly interested in decants, although I kind of want a bottle -- or at least several imps so I can collect them in a rollerball -- of Crossroads since I do know it agrees with me.) NYCC — Anything from Fandom Cosmetics related to one of my (many) fandoms! Or if they have an event exclusive shade, that would be fantastic, too! (Eyeshadow gets prioritized higher than nail polish, in case that was a question. I have a spectacular weakness for duochromes, microsparkles, shimmer, and shift.) (But, eep, they have Teen Wolf polish!) (I’ve been wanting to order from them, but I have heard horror stories about TAT, so they’re on my only-in-person list. But they’ve never been anywhere I’ve been, so I don't have anything from them!) There will probably be a BPAL exclusive I will want, but I naturally don’t know what it is at the moment.
QUESTION! On a whim I have decided to go to the Tokyo Game Show this weekend. There will presumably be lots of silly free swag like postcards and stupid fans. Would something like that possibly interest you, witchee mine? Fun free swag is a major weakness of mine!
If you have a significant other (or even a close friend that will laugh at the implications), would you enjoy of these couple rings? How about anything from the Halloween collection? I would have to pass. I love most of this stuff, but I just don’t wear jewelry.
So - 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 can't think of any craft distillery that makes minis.. at least not around here). Glassware would be my first choice! Then barware, then books, then gadgetry. I don’t drink beer or wine (I have a few bottles of wine, but I think it’s all Chuck from TJ’s that I purchased to make specific recipes that I never made). My personal weakness is fruity rum-based stuff. Think rum punch. But very rarely. I’m not a huge drinker (it’s been months since I had *any* booze), but I like to read recipes and pretend I live a much more interesting life than I actually do. (It’s actually very similar to my stance on cookbooks.) Glassware and barware things are cool because you don’t *have* to use them for alcohol! (But nothing with a long stem, please, because SO CLUMSY. It *might* last fifteen minutes. If I was lucky.)
NYCC: So much! I think my biggest wants (decants are good on these as well) are:
The Gas Lamp’s Flare
Lips of Flame and Heart of Stone
Mrs. Emma Marsh
Tammany Free and Easy atmos spray
both hair glosses!
Honeyed Apple bath oil
2014 Weenies: Gah, I'm curious about SO MANY of these! (And again, Team Decant!)
All Souls (because tradition!)
Autumn Cider (because apples and booze)
Autumn Overlooked My Knitting (because curious, although I have great misgivings about the leaves)
Feeding the Dead (because it’s actually a cozy scent to me!)
Samhain (see All Souls)
Suck It (because red wine)
Sugar Skull (see All Souls and Samhain)
The White Witch (even though it looks like it has *way* too many notes for me, because red musk)
Visions of Autumn III (just because)
Visions of Autumn IV (because orange blossom and champaca)
All of the single notes! (Well, except Pile of Fallen Leaves)
Pumpkin I (because it sounds like a nice, creamy, cozy scent)
Pumpkin IV (because champaca resin)
So it has come to my attention that I don't have one of these lists! Time to fix that. This post is a mishmash of questions pulled from various places and questionnaires.
Describe three things decorating your bed room/living space
Bookcases, cat toys, and IKEA Helmers. Decorating is more than a little beyond me.
How do you feel about nail polish?
Funny you should mention nail polish. The aforementioned Helmers? Are specifically for nail polish! Love it as long as it's a non-traditional color/finish like blue, green, glitter, holo, duochrome, etc. I don't wear pinks, reds, corals, nudes, or pretty much any other traditional, safe colors, and I'm not big on creams. I *loved* Urban Decay's early stuff!
Do you have any crafty hobbies where you might be able to use little related goodies? (beads, yarn, etc.)
I occasionally (like once every two or three years) crochet scarves. I would love to learn how to knit, but other than that, I stopped doing my crafty hobbies a few years ago when my wrists were having problems even though they're doing better nowadays.
Collections?
Black cats, bats, skulls, and rats. These are all year-round and everything (notepads, coffee mugs, stickers, whatever) loves. I'm also starting to collect robot magnets so I can have a ROBOT MAGNET ARMY on my fridge. So far, I have one.
Candles! Yea? Nay? Tarts?
Neither. Open flames + my monsters = SINGED KITTY FACES. And smelling like burning.
Who's up for baking?
No, thank you. I have a weird Thing with baked goods: Whether they're homemade or store-bought, they just sit there and never get eaten unless I take them to work and give them to coworkers. I have unopened Girl Scout cookies from last year.
Books! Physical or ebook, and anything in particular that you're looking for?
Either! I don't have a Nook/Kindle, but I have an iPhone with a Kindle reader. I love left-leaning political books (Matt Taiibi! *swoon*), mysteries (I keep meaning to pick up some Chelsea Cain), and cookbooks. Oh, and Neal Stephenson (I only have _Snowcrash_ and _Zodiac_) and Neil Gaiman. And I would love to get more into graphic novels and comics that aren't Marvel or DC (current favorites: Irredeemable, Incorruptible, Chew, and A Voice in the Dark. I loved _Red Son_ because of the alternate take on the Superman mythos, but I'm really tired of the big universes in comics, so I'm looking more towards indies nowadays).
Any small things you could use?
Hair claws. I have a *lot* of hair and have plenty of hair *ties*, but I'm now working on claws. I have *one*. Also office supplies: Things like fun pens, Post-Its, binder clips. I have a weird obsession with office supplies in general and pens in particular.
Do any of you also have a fondness for vintage bits and bobs?
I like them, but they almost inevitably end up in storage.
Do you have an eReader?
I have an iPhone with a Kindle app. Is that close enough?
How do you feel about other perfume etailers?
As long as it's oil-based and not alcohol-based, it's fantastic! I have some stay-away notes, though: Vetiver, anything with the word "white," banana, aquatics, anything described as "airy" or "ethereal," civet, opium, anything evergreen-y, wood, benzoin, honey. Things I love: Red musk, black musk, citrus, violet, carnation, dragon's blood, fruit blossoms of pretty much every variety (but especially orange blossom and neroli!), non-white sandalwood, champaca, resiny stuff. I'm starting to love gardenia and jasmine, but it's slow going.
Other than fragrance oils/perfumes what is your number one (or a tie between 2-3) favorite type of toiletry or scenty item?
Lotion (body butter and hand cream also get lumped into this) and bath oils that can be used in place of lotion. Dry skin like whoa over here. I can't use bar soap, though. So itchy!
Pirates or ninjas?
Both! I live in an area with a rather legendary piratical past.
Zombies – love, hate, obsessed, don't care, think they're coming for us any day now, other immediate/passionate thoughts?
Longstanding fascination but not anywhere near as obsessed as my brother. My favorite movie during the early '80s (until I saw _A Nightmare on Elm Street_ in high school) was _Night of the Living Dead_ (and yes, I'm still a horror fan!).
Favorite Disney villain?
I'm not sure I have one. Maybe the Red Queen? I'm actually not a huge Disney fan in general, but I'm obsessed with all things _Alice in Wonderland_. Original book, tarot cards, coffee mugs, BPAL, SyFy adaptation -- you name it, if it's AiW, I love it! (Exception: The Tim Burton version. I don't *hate* it. I just don't *love* it.)
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?
Not really. I have a bit of a take-it-as-it-comes stance on BPAL nowadays: I'll try whatever comes my way, but I've tried so many that I think I've tried all of the GC stuff I desperately wanted to try, and I haven't really been paying attention to the new stuff lately because I have tons of stuff I love already! (And then there's the part where the last several times there was a BPAL oil I wanted, it turned out I already had it in my collection.)
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 and no kids. Two kitties, though. Edgar is happy if something is sent in a box regardless of what it is or whether it's for him. He loves biting -- but not chewing -- the edges of boxes. Oscar loves mesh bags of stuff that he can flip around. He's currently playing with a random mesh drawstring bag with dried rose petals that he dug out of a box somewhere. He's been at it for about an hour. I will clearly be vacuuming once he finishes disemboweling it!
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?
Yes! All of it!
Do you have a general swap-related help post somewhere?
This is it.
Do you have Etsy/Amazon wishlists linked somewhere?
Amazon: http://amzn.com/w/ZM7VETPCE38L
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/people/meaganola/favorites/items-i-love
Do you have a Tumblr/Pinterest you'd share with everyone (these can be really informative as to style?)
Not really. I have both, but they're pretty much abandoned at this point. I don't think I've even *looked* at Pinterest in at least six months, and I have no clue how to use Tumblr.
Favorite candles, companies and/or candle scents?
Candles are a no-go. I tend to go for BPAL Atmos sprays and incense when I want to scent my living space.
Favorite kinds of tea (flavors, companies)
Pretty much all kinds, especially herbal, berry, and Earl Grey variations. Loose or bags, doesn't matter. Decaf preferred just so I can drink it ALL DAY. I'm not sure I have favorite brands because I tend to be able to find something I like from every brand! I drink a ton of Stash mainly because I have easy access to their company stores and can get every flavor they make year-round.
Any of the Villainess autumn or winter soaps appeal? Another soap company you'd like more?
Bar soap and I do not get along. Shower gels are my thing. I would love to try pretty much any indie shower gel because that's where I want to start sending my bath products money!
Do you like knitted items? If so, any fiber sensitivities/allergies? What kinds of items would you like?
Yes! And I seem to have outgrown my wool allergy! Hats, gloves, scarves, whatever!
Words, Numbers or Spatial manipulation?
Words. I *love* crossword puzzles!
Anything you do NOT want?
Banana anything. Scent, flavor, color -- hate it all.
What are some of your favorite Holiday symbols?
Valentine's Day: I just like the color hot hot pink/fuchsia. I'm not sure there's a symbol for it that I gravitate towards. St. Patrick's Day: Everything. I make an exception for my hatred of the color orange once a year for this day. Easter: Bunnies! Halloween: Black cats, bats, rats, and skulls (I love Halloween!). Winter holidays: Snowflakes. It seems like things get glittery in the winter, and I love glittery stuff, too.
Bulk-Foods Section Goodies: Yea or Nay? Let's assume they're all individually packaged, and clearly labeled with what they are.
Yay! I love the bulk section.
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?
Yes! I'm very much removed from the current music scene, although that's not for any particular reason. I've been listening to a lot of Billy Bragg, Thermals, Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, and Against Me! lately. I'm looking forward to March because that's when I break out ALL OF THE POGUES. I will listen to any style -- punk, rock, mid-20th century jazz (Charlie Parker! Dizzy Gillespie! Chet Baker! Dave Brubeck!), country (I tend to go for older stuff, like Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, and Willie Nelson), rap (especially lefty political stuff like Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions, and The Coup), folk music (my kind of punk owes its soul to Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie)... I'll listen to just about everything once. I'm not big on soft, romantic music. Or reggae.
Do you like incense?
Yes! I currently use stick and cone. Resin kind of confuses me, although I would love to give it a shot if I had good instructions. I used to have a really neat powder incense burner -- Sweet Rock? Something like that -- and it would be neat to have one again, although I have no idea where I got it in the first place.
if I were to find a small bottle of alcohol, would you be interested, and if yes, of what?
Sure! I'm not really particular on type of alcohol because I love to try new things, but local anything is fantstic (not just alcohol! Tea, incense, paper, magnets -- you name it, I'm interested!).
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?
A meet up! I'm already here!
A roundup of the in-thread questions with answers!
Fandoms. I have many. A partial list:
I'm constantly looking for another universe to fall into, especially if the entire series is on Netflix Instant. Caveat: I feel like the only person in the world utterly uninterested in Sailor Moon, Lord of the Rings, or My Little Pony. ETA: Or Nightmare Before Christmas. I *knew* I was forgetting something crucial for this swap. It's *okay*, and I feel like I *should* like it because the director lives here (or at least he did around the time he made Coraline because this is where Laika lives), but it just doesn't grab me as a must-see Halloween movie like Donnie Darko does.
Wax/oil burner — Yes! I have one! It’s *adorable*! A mama turtle with a baby turtle on her back! The baby turtle is a LID so I can COVER THE MELTED WAX so curious kitties don't dip their paws in it!
Loose fancy tea: Ooh, yes! I used to live in Seattle and developed a severe fondness for Dammann Freres (ugh, SO EXPENSIVE) Jardin Bleu and Earl Grey Gout Russe, and I haven't found anything close to those two flavors. I love berry-scented black and Earl Grey variations! And Adagio! I used to get their Forest Berries and Cream teas and mix them together for iced tea. I haven't thought about that in ages! I got an Earl Grey Cream from somewhere that was fantastic, but I can't remember where. If decaf is an option, I do prefer that so I can drink it later in the day! So... Uh. Yeah. Love tea!
Incense: Love it. Always forget how much I love it until I stumble across the remains of a long-forgotten pack that has lost its scent! I think my only limit is no resin incense, only because I don't have a resin burner.
Autumn activities: Um... Cleaning my apartment because it's finally not a steambox and changing my makeup rotation box to earthier colors? Does that count? I love holing up for the weekend with tea and books. Month-of-October festivities always mean even more horror movies than usual. I used to go to San Francisco for a long weekend at the beginning of November to rest up for the rest of the year when I had a job with a nasty year-end crunchtime, but I don't work there anymore, so I haven't gone to SF since, like, 2007. It's funny how much I love autumn but don't really have any rituals to celebrate the season other than breaking out the Weenies (once that year's update hits) and Yules (after Dia de los Muertos)!
New Question! I'm in Japan, anything specifically Japanese-y you want? Hmm... I love yogurt-flavored candy!
New Question: Please briefly describe (color, style, preferred type of beads) or provide a picture of (if it is suitable), the type of necklace (if any) you would be interested in getting. If you do not like necklaces, what kinds of jewelry (if any) would you want to wear? Not a jewelry person, alas. At all. I bought a bunch of long necklaces last year because I thought I would wear them ALL OF THE TIME. And... Not so much.
New question: What about hot chocolate/malted drinks like ovaltine? Love hot chocolate! I haven't had Ovaltine in probably thirty years, but i remember loving that stuff as well!
If you said that you are interested in books (or DVDs or any relatively big standalone sort of item), would you be okay with having multiples of such items spread over a couple of days, or would you prefer 13 distinct themish packages? I don't really have a preference!
How into the day themeing mentioned in the first post are you? All themed? A few maybe if they are fun? Not at all? I love themes, but I love *fun* themes! If it's boring, don't do it!
Speaking of DVDs - are you interested in receiving movies and if so, what sort? Love movies. There are several on my amazon wishlist, but if it's a recent movie (released in the past five years or so), I probably don't have it, whether it's on my list or not (I think the only movies I've bought that have come out in the past five years are Veronica Mars and Inception). I'm a hardcore horror fan. This is not restricted to Halloween! Dark, black, psychologically twisted, disturbing stuff -- love it. I'm also realizing I'm a huge science fiction fan but never quite realized it until recently. Not sure how I missed *that* all these years! I also love good mysteries and thrillers. I'm *not* a romcom fan *at all*. Comedies are okay, but they're not my go-to like horror (honestly, I think the reason I like Halloween so much is because it gives me a reason to binge on horror flicks). (I do prefer plot in my horror movie, though. A splatterfest with no story is just a boring special effects reel as far as I'm concerned.)
Back to the books - if you said you would like books, would you prefer I send you, say, my favorite Halloween anthology or something else spooky/scary, or something off your wishlist/want-to-read on goodreads? When it comes to big-name authors (Chuck Palahniuk, Neil Gaiman, Neal Stephenson, Chelsea Cain, Stephen King, Joe Hill, Philip K. Dick, probably more I can't think of off the top of my head, but, basically, the heavy hitters), please stick to my wishlist because I do have some of their work (in some cases, more than others!). For less-known authors, the most likely reason they're not on my list is because I don't know about them, so if you have a favorite, I would love to curl up with it! I love scary, disturbing stuff!
Process question: Do you want to know who is sending to you right away, or would you prefer to be surprised on the last day, to the extent possible? Likewise, do you have a preference for specifically numbered packages or for reach in and grab according to your fancy? Hmm... Good question. I want to know *eventually*, but I don't have a preference whether it's right away or at the end. I don't have a preference for sequentially or not, either. Whatever is more fun for you!
Would you be interested in solid perfume? What about lip balm? Solid perfume: Not particularly. I always *think* I want some, and then I get some, and then I don't wear it. I have three of them that I never wear in my bag right now! Lip balm, on the other hand, is *always* within four feet of me. I'm always on the lookout for more no matter how much I already have!
There was a lot of mention of not wearing costumes/not being allowed to at workplaces. Would you be interested in goth style or Halloween-themed(pumpkins, ghosts,etc.) normal clothes to wear instead, and what would be suitable? Scarves/shawls/wraps and ankle-length socks, sure. Goth/Halloween-themed tops/skirts/vests/etc. aren't my style.
I'm going to Rose City Comic Con during the shopping window. Any exhibitors/vendors/comics/etc. you're particularly interested in? OMG THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A GOONIES "NEVER SAY DIE" T-SHIRT! I AM TOTALLY GETTING THAT! Ahem. Yes. I mean... There are things! Are any of them particularly appealing to you and/or your inner twelve-year-old (mine is calling dibs on the Goonies stuff)?
[This was a question I asked. I'm leaving it in here for people who might be checking this entry out to grab all of the questions!]
Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos stuff: Yes! Love it! (Really, I think it boils down to this for me: If there's a skull involved, I dig it. _Hamlet_, pirates, Halloween, Dia de los Muertos, Dan Aykroyd's vodka: All fantabulous. I draw the line at _Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull_, though.)
Does anything from this shop catch your eye?
Body/perfume stuff: Rockabilly, Black Cat, Beguiling Violette, The Red Queens Rage Corpse Bride, Dead Corsage, Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland, Cheshire's Grin, Sweet Jezebel, Zombie Girl, Mad Hatter Tea Cakes, Beware of the Kraken, Stanko. Lip balm: Lemon Drop, Pin Up Babe, Blossom, Sweet Nectar, Blackberry Honey, Cherry Limeade, Yasmin.
Dear Pumpkin: Do you have aversions to any animals or insects?
I'm pretty sure I covered this in my survey, but NO SPIDERS. Or bugs. Or anything with more appendages than your average mammal. I'm not a huge fan of snakes or worms, but that's more like "eh, they exist" than anything else. Bugs, spiders, cockroaches, insects, etc.: No no no no no. And no.
(Bats to me are just flying rats. I say this as someone who has had pet rats in the past and doesn't really understand _Willard_ because it's like watching a horde of rampaging kittens. All of that is to say that bats are awesome. Also: Fruit bats and flying foxes belong to a family of bat called megabat. I cannot dislike anything with the prefix "mega.")
(And owls fall in somewhere in between. My tendency to avoid them is more because owl stuff is omnipresent, like like deer stuff was a few years ago.)
How do you feel about canned foods like jams and things along those lines?
They're lovely!
Do you have a favourite colour scheme?
Not particularly. I tend to go for browns and greens for my living room since the carpet and walls are brown (brown + green = trees!), but when it comes to everything else, I think my preferred color schemes are Bollywood combinations. Aqua and purple, tangerine and fuchsia (I normally hate orange, but in combination with something like fuchsia, it's great), tangerine and aqua, purple and green, etc. I also tend to gravitate towards hot pink and fuchsia for some reason.
How do you feel about stickers (and stationery in general)?
I tend to lose those sorts of things, although if it was a neat waterproof sticker, I could put it on my waterbottle!
How do we feel about fibercrafting (knit, crochet, etc.)? wearables? crafted critters? If you would like a scarf or something similar, would you like it to be themed, like fall colors, or have a skull or other halloweenie motif/border?
As long as it's not wool (allergies) or itchy, it's great! Skulls, bats, and cats, oh my! Ahem. Yeah. I love Halloween motif-y things. When it comes to clothes and accessories, I tend to not wear many autumnal colors except dark greens and purples.
What makes you feel pampered?
A clean apartment coupled with supplies to hide from the world for the weekend. A book, some tea, snacks -- that sort of thing. I'm not big on at-home spa days, but I love being a hermit every once in a while.
New Question! We've covered what critters you don't like, but what about the critters that you DO like? What are your favorite animals/creatures, real or imagined?
In a word, mammals! Otters, monkeys, wolves, pandas, giraffes, squirrels, beavers, bats, dogs, deer, cats, IT'S TOO EARLY AND I CAN'T THINK OF ANY MORE. Ahem. Yes. I'm a sucker for mammals of pretty much all varieties. Also hummingbirds (my grandmother *loved* them, and we like to say that anytime we see a hummingbird, it's her coming back to visit us).
I have a dumb question! I know it's a big joke that we get everything five years later than everyone else in the world, but is there anything specifically Canadian you'd like? Maple things, chocolate bars, or any of our creepy chip flavours?
A random thing that I used to get *every single time* I went to BC: There was this popcorn place called, uh, Kernels, maybe, in Eaton Centre (I think), and they had this butter toffee popcorn that was *amazing*. Double Double, maybe? I'm not a fan of caramel corn because I don't like molasses, but I love butter toffee popcorn! Also, Maynard's candy. Swedish berries, Juicy Squirts, wine gums. Potato chips: Fries'n'gravy, maybe? (I used to go to BC and buy ten different flavors of chips just to try them all, but I think fries'n'gravy came around after the passport laws changed, so I missed out on those.) And I have to toss a fondness for Tylenol 1s in there as well. Sometimes I just need codeine to fully stomp out those headaches. And is Dentyne Ice gum in Midnight Mint still around? That's another thing I used to buy in bulk, which is weird because I normally *hate* the taste of licorice, but there was something about that gum that I loved. Yeesh, I miss being able to get up at 6am, drive up to Canada, and get back home by midnight!
A new question from me: While I am stalking the restock of the Rice Pudding hot process soap, does anything from Paintbox Soapworks catch your eye?
Lots of stuff! Clean Slate facial scrub. Bookkeeper's Butter Intense Hand Salve. Scrubs/creams/lotions only (that is, no bar soap): The Bees' Lament, Punkie Night, Guy Fawkes, Indian Summer, Miss Ada (eee! My girlkitty was named Ada, and I frequently called her Miss Ada! I miss her), Sweet Cheeks, Blackbird, Mandinka. I didn't see any wax tarts that really caught my attention.
Is there is any TAZO tea you have a hankering for? Zen, Awake, Passion, China Green Tips, Vanilla Roibois, Calm, Refresh? (tea bags in a tin) Anything without licorice or rose hips (I used to work in a place where I drank my way through a *lot* of Tazo, and I realized that I loved everything without those two things)! I’m also curious about the Oprah Chai (love chai!).
How about any Teavana tea? (loose leaf) Earl Grey Creme, Sevenberry Sangria Rooibos, Opus Rouge Rooibos, any of the rooibos chais, Javavana mate, Pumpkin Spice Brûlée Oolong, Earl Grey White.
How about Starbucks coffee beans? If so, ground (and for what kind of filter) or whole bean? Yes! Whole bean, please. I do pourover, so I have to do Turkish grind, and that’s not something you want to do even a day in advance.
How about Starbucks coffee via (italian, columbia, anniversary, vanilla latte?) or Iced coffee via (caramel or regular?) Fruit flavored via (berry hisbiscus, cool lime, strawberry lemonade?) Pumpkin Spice Latte via? Nothing with sugar. Aside from that, not really picky.
Starbucks K-cups or Verismo pods? K-cups would be awesome! We have a Keurig at work and occasionally run out of decent K-cups, so I like to have my secret emergency stash for such tragedies.
Coffee/tea travel mugs or ceramic home mugs? I love mugs, whether ceramic home or travel! (In fact, I recall TwilightEyes sending me a travel mug ages ago for fairying Snow Glass Apples. Yes, I can remember the specific reason she sent it. I lost it at some point and still mourn its absence from my life!) (And I am particularly coveting anything from the Siren collection!
Coffee maker (french press) or tea steeper? Tea steeper! Even though I have one, it's one of those things that it would be awesome to have a spare of.
Anything else from Starbucks/Teavana? Syrups, honey, whatever? Sugar-free syrups are awesome! I use SF hazelnut and vanilla in my coffee already, and I'm curious about the SF caramel and cinnamon dolce syrups!
How would you feel about a gently-used card game? For example, something I may have purchased several years ago and maybe played with my daughter *twice* before she became a moody teenager, and too cool for card and/or board games? No, thank you. It’s not the gently-used thing. It’s the I’m-a-hermit-who-doesn’t-play-games-with-other-people thing! The cats swear they will play games just as soon as they develop opposable thumbs. They are seriously falling down on the job.
Alcoholic beverages in your goodies-- yay or nay (mostly I'm thinking minis, tho I did get a full bottle of liqueur in a Switch Witch years ago!)-- if yay, what kind? Yay! Halloween-time is when I remember that I love stuff that will go nicely in hot cocoa. I’m also curious about apple liqueurs (maybe pear or cherry as well) because it seems like they would be wonderful in apple cider.
CANDY CORN--- YAY OR NAY? Yay! And all of the variations, and those pumpkin things, too, and that mix with candy corn/pumpkins/etc. I always forget how much I love this stuff until I get a bag and discover it mysteriously empty a short time later! (Weird candy corn product I found last year that I’m going to have to recreate on my own if I can’t find it pre-mixed: Salted peanuts and candy corn. I love that salt-and-sweet combination.) And candy corn scented/flavored stuff, like shower gel/lotion or lip balm? LOVE.
New Question! Name at least one thing that you really wouldn't like to receive in your package.
Hmm... Wool or scratchy fibers! I'm allergic to wool, and I just DO NOT LIKE scratchy! Also itty bitty decorative confetti-type or glitter things as part of the packaging. My kitties tend to "help" me unwrap my packages, and they have been known to chew on the packing materials. I love glitter in my makeup. I do not like it in my kitties!
does anyone especially like or want anything from cost plus/world market?
Cost Plus is one of my big danger stores, so I haven't gone there in a while just because I'm scared of how much money I will spend there. After a quick glance through their website EEE! SO MUCH COOL STUFF! Skull stuff, bat stuff, Dia de los Muertos stuff, so much awesome! Ooh, they even have cat luminaries that use LED tealights instead of real candles with flames! Those look cool, although I'm not sure how long they would last in my apartment with the monsters since they're made out of paper. (And aside from Halloween stuff, I'm always a sucker for Buddha iconography.
does anyone need any small kitchen items or utensils?
Define "need"! I love those things, especially if they're holiday- or seasonally-oriented. I have no *need* for, say, a or leaf-shaped pancake turner or a spatula with ghosts on it. I have a huge *want*, though!
Hey, Pumpkin! How do you feel about lounge pants/pajama pants?
I could have sworn I already answered this one. Love them! Target used to put some out in the men's section every Halloween, and I would buy them in pretty much every design, but they haven't had any in several years. If I'm at home, I'm usually wearing them (even though they're, like, ten years old!). Knit ones are best, in men's XL.
Another question! Do you have long, medium, or short hair? What kids of hair accessories do you like to use?
Medium-long? It's down past my shoulders and almost to my bra band, and it's getting longer due to my apathy towards haircuts. I tend to put it up in an elastic ribbon hairtie that I make (one part twistbands are ridiculously expensive for what they are, one part they're too small for my mass of hair anyway, but I would love other accessories for putting it up, like hair sticks/forks or something to cover a knot/bun.
If you could have a lotion/soap scented just for you, what are some notes you'd like to see? Autumn themed? or tried and true loves?
I tend to go for fruity hand soaps, preferably apple or pear when it comes to autumnal scents. I sleep with my hands next to my face, and I get strangely weirded out if my hands don't smell like fruit! (I'm not a big fan of pomegranate, but OTOH, it's more of a winter fruit than autumn anyway, and I hate banana, full stop.)
If you have an Etsy favorites list, are all of the things on the list things you'd be happy to get, or are some of them gift ideas for other people, or stuff that you've already bought and loved but don't need more of, or for any reason not something you'd want to get in this swap?
They're all things I've been eying for myself! It's basically one of my "I'm bored and killing time until the bus gets here/my lunch is ready/it's my turn at the cash register/etc." things: Pull out the phone, fire up the etsy app, and window shop.
what are your favorite animals/any aversion to animals or insects?
Monkeys. Absolute favorite. Also: Black cats, bats, otters. Really, mammals in general. Aversion: Spiders, worms, bugs, centipedes, etc. Hate hate hate.
are there any scents from the Lilith update you would like ? Any other you are looking for ?
As far as Liliths go, Hearts for Ghost Friends and Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha. Others are in my wishlist. Last night, I realized that I missed pretty much an entire year of updates!
Wishlists?
All of my wishlist links are on my wishlist blog post in my signature!
Do you use Goodreads or any other book tracking system that would give your librarian a good idea of what you have read/are reading?
Nope. I probably should, though.
Are you particularly interested or disinterested in receiving Halloween themed books/treats/goodies?
YES. Love love *love* that stuff!
How about this anthology?
Oooh, yes!
Do you have an e-reader? If so, do you prefer books in e-format or physical copies?
I have an iPhone, which means I have a Kindle, although I prefer physical copies.
I am planning a Paintbox order in the next few days. Anything look interesting?
Copying-and-pasting my 13 Nights of Halloween answer here! Lots of stuff! Clean Slate facial scrub. Bookkeeper's Butter Intense Hand Salve. Scrubs/creams/lotions only (that is, no bar soap): The Bees' Lament, Punkie Night, Guy Fawkes, Indian Summer, Miss Ada (eee! My girlkitty was named Ada, and I frequently called her Miss Ada! I miss her), Sweet Cheeks, Blackbird, Mandinka. I didn't see any wax tarts that really caught my attention.
How spooky do you like your Halloween reads?
As spooky/creepy/scary/terrifying as possible! (I've been asked how scary something is, and I say it's kind of scary, and it turns out that most people think it's pee-your-pants-terrifying, so I have some problems judging what's scary or not.) Just... light on bugs/spiders/worms/etc., please. I spent five minutes last night freaking out about spider webs and bugs on my arm. It turned out to be my hair and a mole. Uh.
Any interest in Dia De Los Muertos?
Extreme fascination!
Would my bookworm appreciate a painted, sugar skull wall art?
Yes! I actually have nothing on my walls, but that just means I have plenty of open space for it!
Would you like being sent tea or something tea-related? Are you a big tea drinker?
Love tea. Tea bags, loose tea, herbal, black, green, white, decaf -- love it. Except I haaate licorice/anise, rose hips, and hibiscus. I think I've rambled extensively about tea (I distinctly recall babble about Adagio and Dammam Freres) in another one of my blog posts, so I'll just leave it at that!
Any favorite colors?
Glitter! It's the new black! As far as rainbow-type colors go, the G.Biv side is for me. My favorite Halloween-appropriate color combination is purple and green.
Would you like a handmade bookmark/s to go with your package?
That would be lovely! I typically use a business card of a current favorite etailer or (if the book is big enough) a Lab postcard, mainly because I don’t actually have many "real" bookmarks, but I always have a bunch of indie eyeshadow company business cards floating around. I think I have *one* bookmark. It’s from Uprise Book Project. For some reason, official bookmarks don’t come into my life very often!
This is currently really just a placeholder waiting for all of the in-thread questions. I will try to update it each evening as questions are posted since I can't easily edit things during the day.
Wishlists: Amazon etsy Sock Dreams
10/17/18
I have a new question! I'll be headed to the PA RenFaire the end of this month. Is there anything you'd be interested in? http://www.parenfaire.com/faire.html(if you scroll down a bunch there's a list of merchants) I have a horrible feeling the stuff I want would be too fragile for my life! But I see there are candle merchants listed, and if they have wax tarts, I would be interested in those. (I can't have candles in my apartment because monsters = no open flame.) And sturdy housewares would be neat. And I keep meaning to look for a shawl/cloak pin (one that would work for a crocheted shawl) and just keep forgetting.
10/16/18
Are you a board game nerd like me? Is there a game you want right now? No, not into games.
10/15/18
There are some really awesome spice shops in NYC. Would you like/need any herbs or spices? I'm on a big spice/herb mix kick right now! I'm not into spicy stuff, but I love to sprinkle some sort of herb/spice mix over potatoes and chicken in my Instant Pot and just letting everything cook while I wind down from the day. Super easy dinner with plenty left over for lunch the next day!
Anything from this curiosity shop the type of thing that interests you? Dreadful Curiosities: https://www.facebook.com/pg/dreadfulcuriosities/photos/ I love that print of the black kitty and the owl! Because black kitty! And murderbird! The taxidermy stuff is a hard no, though, because my monsters would knock them off shelves and/or break them into many, many pieces. 10/14/18
For those of us Switch Witches who ARE witches....if you have a Book of Spells would you like a page for it from your witch? Not a witch, and I'm not even sure what this is, so I don't think this would be for me.
What house were you sorted into? Ravenclaw to the core!
10/13/18
Practical Magic or Hocus Pocus? Copying a few other people here: The Craft! (I've only seen Practical Magic once, and meh. I've never seen Hocus Pocus and have no desire to do so.)
Does anything from either of these shops interest you? The Stitchety Witch stitch creations and patterns -- Ooh, cool designs! But I'm not doing cross stitich right now. Black Abbey Studios art w/ a gothic tendency -- The Reader, Triggers.
Is there something (either a specific item, or type of item, like bath/body, perfume, candy etc) you're really looking forward to or hoping to get?
What's something you want or look at, but always talk yourself out of buying (or for whatever reason never purchase)? I don't know how many times I've looked at ColourPop or Juvia's Place eyeshadow palettes and then not bought one. They're gorgeous, and I hear nothing but good things about them, and I just... don't click that purchase button.
Are there any subscription/subscription style boxes you have an interest in? (This could be a very specific sub like sihaya or lootcrate or an idea/concept you're interested in without a specific company in mind, like "book related candles"). This is going to sound really weird, but I've been eyeing the Quip toothbrush and Cocofloss subs lately!
Coffee or Tea? Usually coffee, and lots of it! My blood type is French roast. For home, I prefer whole bean because I do pourover. For work, we use K-cups. I do like tea, but I'm kind of picky. Anything from David's Tea(esp the new Halloween) that catches your eye? Monster Mash, Witch's Brew
What are your DISO BPAL dreams? AE Egypti, March Hare
10/12/18
Spooky stuff! D'ya like... ghosts? Skeletons? Aliens? Bigfoot? Unsolved mysteries? Yes! All of it! I'm not super into unsolved mysteries just because I'm into the solutions to mysteries, but there are some I'm fascinated with, like DB Cooper.
Is there anything from the Lush christmas line that was just released that you're interested in? Shower gels (not Naked versions): Cinders, Sleepy, Rose Jam Lip scrube: Sugar Plum Fairy, Cranberry Fizz Body conditioners (not Naked versions): Snow Fairy, Buck's Fizz Festive Friends Fun
Is there any scents from the more current releases you have been wanting to try (Weenies, Motherhood/Fatherhood)? Weenies: It Was Folly to Grieve or to Think, Pom Alice/Dorian/Morocco/Snake Oil, The Night is Waning Away Motherhood: Dignified. Elegant. Sophisticated. Fatherhood: Lilith Poundcake, Three-Fingered Dad, No DNA Test Required
How do you feel about buttons, pins, and badges? Not really into them. I do have a few (mostly fandom-related) buttons pinned up on my cube wall at work, but I don't wear them on my jacket/bag/etc.
10/11/18
Are you witchy or like witchy things like incense, sage, palo santo, crystals, tarot, altar supplies, candles, etc.? Whatcha like/need? I'm not really witchy, but I love incense and tarot decks!
Do you need decanting supplies? Sample vials? Pipettes? Standard labels? Nah, I'm set.
Can you link to your non forum wishlists/goodreads if you haven't already done so? Wishlists are above! I don't have a goodreads list.
If you're a yarn user, what kinds of yarn do you like best? Pretty much anything soft. Fingering, DK, worsted, wool, cotton, acrylic -- I don't really have much of a preference as long as it's pretty! I have a yarn winder, so if it's a hank instead of a skein or cake, I can fix that.
10/10/18
Let's get specific about this knitting thing! Do any of these items/styles appeal? I've numbered these so you can just reference numbers if you like! I'll have to circle back to this one. My computer is a fussy thing right now that doesn't want to open lots of images. If your witch was able to obtain digital media that you could not access (TV, movies, books, etc.), is there anything you have been in search of for quite a while? If yes, what devices do you use to play such (i.e. Windows, Mac, etc.)? There's this absolutely bonkers horror movie from about twenty years ago called Real Killers (or sometimes just Killers. For some reason, it seems to have been released under both titles) directed by Mike Mendez that I would *love* to get in some sort of digital form! I don't think it was released on dvd. I have it on VHS, but I don't have a way of playing tapes any more. I have a Macbook with a USB port as well as a dvd drive.
Is there anything you want from Japan? Some kind of food, cute stationary, fandom merch, maybe you collect lucky cats, anything! AGGRETSUKO ANYTHING! Lucky cats are cool, too, as are pens.
10/9/18 Are you interested in anything from Nerdlacquer? http://www.nerdlacquer.com/ Ooh, indie/fannish nail polish! Where Eagles Dare, The Cat Will Knock This Over at 3AM, Thirteen, Carrie.
10/8/18 Speaking of OOS/Discontinued - Are there any old favorites from no longer operating companies that you would like if either anyone had a stash OR could find a reasonable dupe? The company is still operating, but it's a discontinued product: Lush Skinny Dip. I would love shower gel, lotion, or perfume with that scent!
Booze, yea or nay? Favorite kinds? Nay. I'm not opposed to it. I just keep not drinking it.
Feelings re: Lewis Carroll/Alice in Wonderland? Love it, hate it, meh it? Love it! Obsessed! It's actually how I ended up placing my first BPAL order, int fact.
Are you thinking of participating in NaNoWriMo this year? Any merch or pre-Nano supplies you might want? Not this time around. Maybe next year.
I just recently discovered MoonMagic -jewelry with a focus on moonstones but also opals and labradorite. They currently have a sale. Anything that stands out to you? (moonmagic.com) I don't wear jewelry.
Do you like quirky socks? Any preferred styles (ankle, thigh-high..)? Yes! Pretty much all lengths, although I have chunky calves! I've got some saved to my Sock Dreams wishlist. Sock It to Me's Stretch-It socks are my favorite when it comes to knee-highs.
07 Oct Would you like a postcard from the fancy schmantsy St Pancras Renaissance hotel that I'm about to stay in several times over the next month? Sure!
Does anything catch your eye from Future Primitive, including oos things? Bar soaps are out for me, but I would love to try some of their whipped soap or body cream! Scent-wise, really, anything that matches my scent preferences.
My goal is to update this every evening! If I miss a day, I'll just double back as soon as I get a chance. I seem to have hit the character limit, so part two is right over here!
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 don't wear jewelry, so I would have to pass. Everything looks gorgeous, though!
Would you like something hand sewn by your Witch? A dress, shirt, skirt, infinity scarf, something else? Scarves are always awesome! Also arm warmers, since my desk at work is directly under HVAC vents and can be extremely variable as far as temperature goes.
Anyone want any kind of costuming accessories or makeup or odds and ends? I don't really do costumes, so pass on that. Question! I'm in Japan, is there anything specific from here you would want? Oh, man, all sorts of things. I love Sanrio, and I especially love Aggretsuko but don't know if she's made it to the US yet. Bento boxes and supplies are awesome. Oh! I used to live near a Daiso and really, really miss it. It was a great place to buy neat little household goodies. I would specifically love to get some more of those little 3"-ish shallow porcelain dishes I know they have super cheap! They make fantastic cat food dishes, but I'm not willing to pay $4 a pop for them like they are in non-Daiso stores here. Are there any hobbies or crafts you've been thinking of trying, but haven't had the chance yet? I think I answered this is the questionnaire! Knitting is probably the biggest one. I always think I will buy supplies and start, and then I just look blankly at the needles and end up not getting anything because I don't know what would be good for beginners. I can't do stuff that takes up lots of space because cats. They want to supervise *everything* up close and personally.
Would you want to receive a custom spell kit or magical tea? If so, what purpose would you want it to be for? Motivation, probably. To get off the couch and *do* all of the things I say I'll do one day. And the determination to finish those things, not just start. Does that count? Do you like poetry? Not really.
Anyone like handmade critters, stuffed animals, or custom repaints? Yes, but they need to be things that would be okay to be knocked off a shelf by a kitty throwing a hissy fit.
Would you enjoy any designer/specialty yarn for your own craftyness? Sure!
Would anyone like a donation made in their name to a cause or charity? That would be nice! Please provide wishes from the last two updates? I'm working on this one! ILNP? Who would love one of their awesome holos like MEGA or one of their amazing chromes? Oof, yes. I'm not big on jellies, but I'm contantly eyeing pretty much everything else. I'm not too keen on reds, pinks, or so-called worksafe colors in general, regardless of brand or finish (I have and love Sirene, and I have a deep love for blues, greens, silvers, and just overall vampy colors in the fall and winter. I also love fugly nail colors most people cringe at like olive and mustard!).
Are you into podcasts? If so, what are your favorites? Would you like any merch related to any of them? Heh. I answered this one in my questionnaire as well as further down this Q&A in the new stuff I've gotten into this year section. But I forgot to mention Darkest Night. I would love related merch! If you happen to listen to the same kinds of podcasts I do, I would also love suggestions for other podcasts along the same lines. I'm always looking for new shows to devour!
New question: Would you like something from Nui Cobalt Designs? I'm not really seeing anything that is really calling to me right now.
Or maybe some of Christina's lovely Halloween candles at Sihaya & Co.? Unfortunately, I can't have candles because my kitties are ridiculous and like to singe their faces off. I wish she did wax tarts, though! I would love all of them in tart form.
Would you be interested in things from Future Primitive? Body whip, whipped soap, hair rinse, perfume oil, body butter, or body polish. All of the scents look great!
Are there any UK things you'd like to get? I'm sure there are, but I'm drawing a blank right now!
Sooo... have you seen this!? And what would you like? Ooh, I have now! Lord of Misrule shower gel, any of the lip items, or Goth Fairy shimmer bar.
Would you be interested in a Halloween wreath? No, thank you. I like the idea, but I don't really have anywhere to put it where it wouldn't get immediately destroyed.
Are you interested in anything from Cocoa Pink? Any body product (except deodorant), perfume oil, Argan Therapy Replenishing Serum, Ends with Benefits, Ends with Argan Benefits. Scents: Black Cats in the Pumpkin Patch, Black Kittens, Cherry Cola Float, Demogorgon, Eleven, Halloween 1984, Holiday Lights, Jean's Ghost, Monster in the Walls, Netherworld, Run for Your Life, Sensory Deprivation Tank, Stanley Hotel, The Upside-Down, Winchester House Kitchen, Zombie Apocalypse.
Or Haus of Gloi (note: HoG has only released half of their autumn/Halloween stuff because it's been too warm in Portland for them to make whipped soaps, so there will be more in probably a week or two)? Products: Whipped soap (once it comes out. My favorite HoG product!), pumpkin butter, either scrub, perfume. Scents: Hex, Olde Cider Haus, Pumpkin Eater, Black Musk & Violet, Black Musk & Nag Champa.
Do you enjoy stationery? I'm thinking cute/quality notebooks, washi tape, stickers, fun pens etc. I always love fun pens! I would love some Halloween-y washi, but I'm otherwise set for washi. I always *think* I'll use stickers and never do. I bujo, so a cute/quality notebook would be fun and right up my alley!
What are your coffee and/or tea preferences? - Coffee: whole beans or ground? Whole preferred, but if it's a neat variety only available ground, that's fine, too! Also, I do have a Keurig at work, so K-Cups are great, too. - Flavor and roast preferences? Dark. I'm not really into stuff with pepper, like that one Trader Joe's seasonal coffee with a bunch of peppercorn I can't remember the name of. And fruit and coffee is an unacceptable combinations (I mean, seriously, blueberry coffee? HARD PASS). - Tea: black, green, herbal, flavors? I love tea! Black, green, white, and herbal all have their uses in my life. I especially love things like pumpkin spice (I don't like pumpkin spice *coffee*, but I love pumpkin spice *tea*), Earl Grey variants, rooibos blends, fruity black teas (like peach, blackcurrant, etc.). - Loose leaf or tea bags? Doesn't matter. I am equally prepared for both. - Anything specific you don't like? Rose hips and hibiscus. They make tea taste weird to me. I'm not big on spicy stuff. Cinnamon is about as hardcore as I get! And plain black/green tea. I need a little something flavory to make it interesting. - Are you in need of any gadgetry? Need? Not really (well, okay, heat-resistant spatulas. I'm forever trying to find one in my utensil drawer. I swear there's a gateway to another dimension in there that just sucks them all away when I need one). Want? I'm constantly looking at kitchen and coffee gadgets and wishing I could justify buying them.
Are you interested in anything from the Moonalisa Halloween update? Ooh, products: 4-in-1 shower gel (this is the only Moonlisa product I've actually tried, but i would love to try more!), hand/body creams/lotions, anything leave-in-hair-conditioner, perfume oil, room spray, lip butter, scrub. Scents:Apperscotch, Blood Orange & Cotton Candy, Caramel Apple, Carnival Cakes, Conjuring Room (I have no clue what it actually smells like, but it sounds intriguing!), Evil Garden, Faustine, Forever and Ever and Ever Come Play With Us, Full Moon, Haunted Mansion, Maniacal Mamie, Pocket Full of Posies.
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... The two biggest things are probably bullet journaling and true crime/mystery (and I'm starting to get into paranormal) podcasts. As far as bujo goes, I don't go fancy layouts with stickers, although I love colorful fine (as opposed to medium or bold) pens since I like to colorcode things. True crime podcasts: I'm a huge fan of My Favorite Murder, And That's Why We Drink, True Crime Garage, Court Junkie, Canadian True Crime, True Crime Japan, Liar City -- my list is long and always looking for more suggestions! I'm just inching into paranormal podcasts thanks to Last Podcast of the Left, which is mainly true crime with some paranormal stuff sprinkled around, so I am very much interested in finding more good shows dedicated to the creepy and the weird!
Who is into K-Beauty (Korean beauty products like sheet masks) - What are your faves if you are? The only foundation-type thing I can/will wear is Missha Perfect Cover bb cream #21. Holy grail status for me. And those foot peel bootie things. I'm not sure if those are Korean or Japanese, though. I get them at a pan-Asian beauty store and don't pay attention to country of origin. - If you aren't would you like to try something? I would love to try other things! I have no idea where to even start, though. So many options and cool things! That's probably the biggest reason I haven't gotten into it.
How would you feel about receiving a hand-painted container for your bpal and/or other treasures? - would you want a big wood box (~50 bottles), a small wood box (~20 bottles) or a tin for carrying imps around? I love boxes, big or small!
I drink this stuff almost everyday would anyone else be interested in trying it out? https://www.criobru.com/ WHAT IS THIS MAGIC? I would love to try it! I'm not a huge fan of spicy stuff, so one of the plain ones would probably be for the best.
Would you like one of the Halloween Teeturtle shirts? https://www.teeturtl...alloween?page=1 Um. Yeah. Pretty much all of them. I love anything Dia de los xxx, black cats (well, cats in general, but black cats are the best cats) (please don't tell my blue I said that), bats, skulls, horror movie motifs... Basically, anything except the Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice one. Because that would be false advertising. As far as size goes, I like oversized shirts for lounging, so unisex 2x or 3x? It depends on how small they run. Larger is safer.
How do you feel about indie makeup (read: loose eyeshadow, blush, highlighter)? One of my biggest obsessions.
What are your feelings about Scooby Doo? Love it! Well, the pre-Scrappy years. I'm fairly certain this show is why I love mysteries and ghost stories. I was watching it before I was old enough for Nancy Drew books!
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? Usable stuff is always neat! Like a towel or a travel mug. does anybody like anything from Solstice Scents? I LOVE their Jack and the Devil. http://www.solsticescents.com/ I've never tried any of their stuff! I would be very much interested in trying something. Gehenna looks especially intriguing (dragon's blood!).
Witchee, would you like anything from the Trading Post Halloween update? https://blackphoenix...y/weenies-2017/ Hair glosses! Absinthe-laced Candied Apple, Autumn Cider, I Foamed! I Raved! I Swore! And Pomegranate Clove bath oil. Also, any of the atmos sprays look interesting.
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 ny of this appeal? Would you like anything from my local farmer's market? Sure! Just nothing spicy. And no candles. Wax tarts are okay, but I can't have open flames because my cats don't understand fire.
Smolder Cosmetics. Do any of their products (glitter, eye dusts etc) appeal to you? https://smoldercosmetics.com Lip stuff! Especially Bonbon, Desire, or Cincinnati.
Anything from Strobe Cosmetics (http://strobecosmetics.com)? I think I'm set for eyeshadow right now!
How would you feel about getting Hello Kitty stuff? Very positively! Especially Badtz-Maru, Aggrestuko, or Little Twin Stars.
Would you like to get some favorite recipes? Sure! Especially if they're things that you can make on Sunday and reheat or freeze to eat later. It's just going to be me eating it, so it has to store and reheat well!
Would you like anything from my shop? https://www.etsy.com/shop/LisaNut? I think I'll pass. The cowls are neat, but I already have one from you that I love! Haus of Gloi? Anything but bathing dust in Apple Milk, Blood Orange Marshmallow, Red Roan, Persephone's Descent. Any of the whipped soaps. Lip balm.
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 They're adorable, but they're not really my style.
Witchees, do you want anything specifically from this page? Mitts, hat, shawls, unicorn... http://iceweasel.net/switchwitch/ Mitts! Especially the owl mitts. Those would be awesome for my commute.
What are your top three most wanted DC'd or previous LE BPALs? Golden Champaca Attar, Sampaguita, Apple X.
What are some things you do NOT want to receive? Candles! My cats are assholes who do not understand fire = DANGER. Also baked goods that need to be consumed within a few days. I'm *horrible* about this. Shelf-stable stuff or things that can go in the freezer are okay.
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 Ooh, The Reader, Hail to the Freaks, Starman, Spell of Ravensong, Danse Macabre. I'm not so sure about a print unless it was already framed (ask me about my to-frame print collection!), but on something like a pillow/makeup bag/tote bag/etc. would be lovely. 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? The style, yes. Decorative items sturdy enough that they wouldn't get wrecked if dropped from a height of three feet (because cats!), sure. Wearable items like earrings, collars, masks, not so much.
Would you be interested in anything from Orange Thyme? https://shoporangethyme.com/ If so, which products/scents/flavors? Aw, man, some of the sold out lip balms (cherry ginger ale, Earl Grey Tea, blood orange) would have been awesome. Of the not-sold-out ones: Lemon creme, Meyer lemon cupcake, orange clove, strawberry lime margarita. Lemon creme body butter would be nice, too.
Weenies 2017! (Decants are perfect!) All Souls Apple Butter Rum Cardamom Cream Pumpkin Cake Cinnamon Chai Cupcake Day of Skulls Feeding the Dead La Calavera Catrina Samhain Sugar Skull Pumpkin Spice Cathedral Pumpkin Spice Harlot Pumpkin Spice Opium Poppy Pumpkin Spice Snake Oil Bobbing for Apples Pumpkin Spice Everything Suspicion of Foul Play
Anyone like/want calendars or dayplanners? I use a wall calendar at work, but it needs to be work-appropriate. I usually end up with a kaleidoscope calendar because those are completely noncontroversial.
If you like stationery, do you like plain, colors, images, or specific DON'T LIKES? I don't really use stationery. What about general desk stuff like cool colored paperclips and post it pads? OH HELLO THIS IS MY WEAKNESS. I don't like paperclips with a thick coat of plastic, but if it's just colored metal, that would be awesome. I agonize for *ages* over which neat post-it pads I want to get because I love them all so much.
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 Holy bats, YES. A travel mug, tote bag, pillow, or carry-all bag would be amazing. Anything but the stripes. Also any of the stickers (except The Goat. He's not really calling to me) on a white background so they really pop against my journal cover. Any of the all-over print t-shirts in xxl. Lined notebook. Gah, the more I look at her stuff, the more I want! Does anything catch your eye from Ten Thousand Villages? http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/ Holy wow. I think I want everything. Would you be into receiving hand made (crocheted, sewn, felted, chain maille, scale, or duct tape, in my case, depending on the item) dishclothes? Scarf/shawl? Hat? Bag? Anything? Colors? (Duct tape, chain maille, and scales come in colors.) All of the above! Except chain maille if we're talking jewelry. And I don't really wear enough hats to warrant getting another one. Colors: Green, purple, blue, hot pink.
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 collect anything, but it would be nice to have a dishwasher-safe travel mug that fits in a car cupholder.
anybody want homemade fudge? I can do chocolate with or without nuts, peanut butter, and butterscotch. Ooh, *yum*. It might just be because it's time for me to have dinner, but those all sound wonderful. I'm very pro-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) Hard pass on anything spicy.
do you collect the art cards that BPAL sends out? Any in particular that you are looking for or definitely don't need? I don't collect them, although if there is one with a black cat on it, I would love it. I collect black cat things!
Do you like this beautiful art, and she makes stickers and prints...SOOOO gorgeous: https://www.shannatr...om/paperprints/ These are super pretty (especially Nostalgia)m but I'm super behind on getting prints I already own framed and hung! Favorite animals or wild creatures or mythological creatures? Man, this is actually a hard question for me because I love animals. Just to name a few: Black cats, otters, seals, bears, sloths, Sasquatch. For starters.
would you like any swag from the Depeche Mode concert? (pins, posters, shirts, program, dunno what they'll have!) No, thank you.
Is anyone interested in the new Resistance scents that the Lab just released (Take a Knee and SN: Flor de Maga)? I would like decants! I want to support the Lab's Activism line, but I'm on the fence about wanting a full bottle of either of these.
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? Pass on this.
Are you interested in anything from Bath & Bodyworks? Which products and scents do you like? www.bathandbodyworks.com/ The Halloween foaming hand soaps! Especially Better Have My Candy, Ghoul Friend, or Vampire Blood.
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? I'm not really into crystals.
Pumpkin or Zucchini bread?
What kind of homemade cookies are your favorite? Hmm... I love cookies. It might be easier to say I hate raisins and bananas, I don't like fruit with chocolate, and NOM NOM NOM COOKIE!
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.) This sounds like it would be really nice for winter leg cramps!
Interested in trying some of our rose petal (rose petals, sugar, everclear) or lavender vanilla bean (lavender, vanilla bean, vodka) liqueur? I'll pass. I'm not really a drinker.
Want some honey from the bees on our property? Yes!
Would you like some homemade jam? I have blackberry, rose petal, strawberry rhubarb, peach, and cherry. Ooh, blackberry is my favorite! Cherry might be good, too.
How about some homemade candied jalapenos with garlic cloves? I have regular and with habanero. Hard pass on anything spicy.
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. I like apples (and I love Honeycrisps!), but I'm not really a fan of dehydrated apples unless they're the crunchy-like-a-potato-chip freeze-dried style.
Do you need any kind of dice bag, tote, project bag, cosmetic bag, pencil bag, or whatever? I have lots of bag patterns and fabric. We make bags under the name Twinkle N Twilight. Or how about a couple of pillowcases? I love bags! Something that would encourage me to pack a lunch for work would be especially neat. Pillowcases would be neat, too.
Would my witchee like this to warm up the fall coffee cup?? https://www.truelemo...gory-s/1871.htm Ooh, yes! Those look delicious!
do you like to take baths? if so, do you like oils, salts, things that fizz, all of the above, none of the above? No, unfortunately, I'm in a shower-only household.
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? iPad mini, iPhone 7, 13" Macbook. I'll pass on things for the iPad and iPhone (I love the cases/covers I already have for them!), but something for my laptop would be cool.
See's Candy. My absolute favorite. They have special Halloween candy..any of these pique your interest?? Cinnamon Apple Scotch Mallows, Pumpkin spice truffles, pumpkinspice lollypops, caramel apple lollypops, or any other of their chocolates, etc? See's was my family's Fancy Chocolate growing up! I love pretty much everything they make except chocolate with orange or berry flavors.
Are any witchees into coloring books? Huh. I just realized I've never bothered even trying to dabble in coloring books as an adult. I would probably love them if I tried them!
Witchees, is there anything that catches your eye at Animi Causa (https://www.animicausa.com/shop/)? Uhoh. This is the part where I get lost on a website for three days. I love this sort of thing. So pretty much everything? Especially the Nessie kitchen stuff.
If I were to find an adorable autumnal/Halloween-y dish/flatware/etc. design, how many settings would be needed in your household? Just one! It's a one-human household.
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? My favorite musical is Avenue Q! Or maybe Hamilton. Or maybe Hedwig and the Angry Inch (is that Broadway?). I also listen to the soundtracks for The Book of Mormon and Chicago a lot. Scanning over the list of current Broadway plays, in an ideal world, I would go see 1984, Kinky Boots, and/or Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Or A Clockwork Orange, if off-Broadway was allowed. I would love merch from a show! I think I have cds of everything there are cds for already except Kinky Boots.
I'm heading to NYCC in October! Is there anything I can get my Witchee while I'm there? A NYCC shopping bag! One of those nice heavy-duty reusable ones. I'm a bring-my-own-bags-to-the-store shopper. I don't know if they have them, though. I would love to have a collection of those bags from different comic cons all over the country/world, so this answer would apply to all cons, but the only ones I definitely know that have them are Rose City and Emerald City. One of those con-exclusive Moleskines would be neat, too. As far as Lab/Post NYCC exclusives go, any of the hair glosses (but especially Honeyed Apple), the bath oil, Broadway, II, III, IV, VI, or VII. It all looks amazing!
I'm going to Edmonton Expo this weekend (It's Edmonton's version of comic con). Would a witchee like anything from there? Sure! I love cons!
Anything catch your eye from this site (globalgirlfriend.com)? The healing oils, coffee cup warmer, pretty much any of the scarves/wraps or sling bags
Do you have any favorite, lesser-known stores? Especially ones that sell hand-crafted or independently made items. Pretty much all of my bath products and makeup come from indie shops, and that list is probably too long for this post!
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! Wax tarts, incense, oven mitts/potholders (especially if they were fannish), and kitty toys (especially local catnip). And then I would double back for a second round through the show to see what else there is!
Are you interested in anything from Think Geek? http://www.thinkgeek.com I made a wishlist! http://www.thinkgeek.com/brain/gimme.cgi?wid=823c68eb7&icpg=wishlist_share_823c68eb7
Do you have something you wish you put on your original questionnaire/forgot to put/would like to add on to? I haven't bought any Weenies from either the Lab or the Post in a few years! The past couple of Halloweens have sucked for me for various reasons, so I'm super excited to get back into things this year.
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...) I've noticed a lot of people make sure to state their level-of-horror/style-of-Halloween preferences, so I might as well mention: I like pretty much all styles of Halloween, and I'm a huge fan of horror of all types. Slow burn, goofy slapstick, full-tilt terror you name it. I have a very high threshold for scariness in horror, and I'm not a fan of jump scares and torture porn because I feel like those are shortcuts for very lazy storytellers, but there is not any such thing as too scary in my book.
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. Secret lair/workshop of a billionaire superhero. Or art nouveau bordello. One or the other.
Aprons: Do you wear them, do you want one? Utility, decorative, cooking or crafting? I don't wear them, primarily because I don't have one! I would want one for cooking.
BTW, would my witchee be interested in something like this? (photo of black and white striped knitted doll) I'll have to pass. This looks like it would immediately become a cat toy no matter how hard I tried to protect it from my monsters. 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? I have chunky calves, so if we're talking socks from a place like Target, I go for ankle or crew socks. Sock Dreams has a great selection of plus-size socks, so I also love over-the-knees and knee-highs from those sections as well as Sock It to Me's Stretch-It line! Basically, I wear all lengths, depending on how stretchy they are. I'm not really particular about fiber, although if they're fuzzy slipper socks, I desperately need tread on them. I'm *really* klutzy!
Would you be open to previously-loved books? Definitely. How else am I supposed to know if a book is good if someone else hasn't loved it first?
What about partial-full bottles of BPAL or BPTP? Absolutely awesome. Decants, too.
So what are your favorite fandoms? I feel like I might have listed those on my questionnaire. If not, right now, those would probably be Mr. Robot, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter (it's my Halloween-through-Christmas tradition!), Westworld, Marvel movies/Netflix shows (my favorite from the Netflix shows: Jessica Jones), Supernatural (although I won't be watching the new season until it hits Netflix), and Gotham (IT IS A TRASHY FANFIC ACID TRIP, AND I HEART IT). And, of course, horror. It wouldn't be Halloween season without a horror movie a day.
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! Lavender is lovely!
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'm interested in it, but I don't personally do it, mainly because I don't have a clue where to start. I own a few tarot decks (Rider-Waite, Alice in Wonderland, and gummy bears), but I have no idea how to use them. I would definitely be open to trying pretty much anything (book, tool, whatever) if you had a beginner's sort of thing in mind.
Would my Witchee be interested in a Tarot or Astrology reading done personally? That would be super cool.
Does my Witchee need any magical supplies? I can't think of any. I'm not particularly magickal. I'm not opposed to it. I have just never explored it.
Would you be interested in any of the seasonal (or regular) soaps from Cellar Door Soap (https://cellardoorbathsupply.com)? Pass. I can't use bar soap.
Favorite gemstones? Amethyst! I'm supposed to like garnet since I'm a January baby, and it's okay, but I'm also an Aquarian, and amethyst has my heart. (Amethyst and green garnet make a great combination, though, because I love purple and green together!)
If you enjoy jewelry do you like discrete and elegant, flashy and gaudy, small and light, or large and chunky? No jewelry, please.
Any love of pirates or SCA? I love pirates! I just realized that my answer to the next question might be interpreted as being related to this. It's actually not.
Is there anything you would like from Disney World? Something Pirates of the Caribbean (I have a personal family story behind this one) or Haunted Mansion!
Are you a Potterhead? If so, to which house do you belong? A bit! I have all of the movies (except Fantastic Beasts, which I don't care about as much as I care about the original series) and watch them leading up to Christmas every year. Ravenclaw to the core. Except that one weird time that I took a Game of Thrones/Hogwarts hybrid quiz and got Hufflepuff for some strange reason. I retook it and got Ravenclaw!
How do you feel about chokers? Pass. I don't wear jewelry, and on the very rare occasions when I do, it's long dangly necklaces.
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? Those are really cute! But banners in general are not really my style.
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? Trader Joe's is my main grocery store! I'm not a pumpkin fan, though. I think the only pumpkin thing I like is their pumpkin spice rooibos tea.
Do you like to cook and/or bake? Could you use any specific ingredients (spices, oils, salts, extracts, etc.) or kitchen utensils/gadgets? Not much of a cook. I can always use more spatulas or spoons/slotted spoons for cooking things like soups and pasta sauces since I do like to make big batches of various things to stock my freezer with single servings that I can just microwave for quick meals. I do like to do bento boxes, but i haven't done those for years because I moved and tossed all of my supplies, and I haven't bought new stuff beyond one bento box I keep forgetting I own.
I'm at Ocean City MD for bike week......would a witches want anything from here? Bike or beach related?? Something pirate-y? I'm not really a beach person.
What is 1 thing you would love to see in your final box? Can be ANYTHING - your choice. Beyond something that could be used year-round, I don't really know. And by "used year-round," I just mean something that will hold up to regular use, like a houseware, versus something intended to be used/consumed just this year and then tossed. Halloween isn't just for October!
Who would love some USPS eclipse stamps? Funny you should ask that. I would actually love some.
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? I think I answered this in my questionnaire, but if not: I have (or do they have me? It could go either way) six-year-old indoor kitties. One is a seventeen-pound hunk of British blue-looking burning love named Oscar, and the other is a much smaller clearly-from-a-feral-bloodline ball of cuddly skittishness name Edgar. They like crunchy treats (and they're not picky about type or flavor beyond "crunchy") but seem to be very oddly scared of soft treats. Their favorite toys are dangly things like Cat Dancers, and they like strong locally-grown catnip for they are Portland stoners (I think the stuff you can get in places like Target sits on the shelves for a long time and loses its potency).
Is there any interest in any of the fragrance oils from the Nocturne Alchemy Weenies update? Potion n. 113, Blood Bond, Boogieman, Number 29.
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) Decants for oils/sprays are awesome!
Fatherhood: My Little Themysciran Princess, Spinning on Graves, Wednesday's Child Is Full of Woe
Doggies: Granite, Pa-Pow
GCs: Humanitas bath oil; Snake Oil, La Roue de Malheur, Mischief, Red Incense, Who Is Nibbling at my House? hair gloss; Cathouse, Down the Rabbit Hole, Erebos atmos sprays; Allure, Lullaby, Temple of Dreams, America's New Gods, Becoming Thunder, Coin Trick, Czernobog, Laura, Mad Sweeney, Mister Wednesday, Mr. Nancy's Gloves, Zorya Polunochnaya claw polish.
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?- If you are a gamer do you have a steam/gamestop/amazon wishlist? Nope. I think Gummy Drop on my phone is the extent of my gaming. I don't even play board or card games.
How do you feel about the following scarf options (assuming you're into scarves)? They're all so pretty! Especially the leaf one. Basically, I love really long scarves that I can wrap around my neck a bunch of times.
Like beer? What styles most appeal to you? Like booze? What kinds? Like Wine? What kinds? I'm going to group these all together: I'm not much of a drinker. I'm not opposed to it. I just don't.
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! I'll pass. I have very short hair not conducive to hair accessories. Plus these look like something that would just end up being stolen by my cats!
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? It's not Halloween without Donnie Darko, Trick R Treat, and The Lost Boys. Some I try to watch every year but don't always manage to get to: A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Scream, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Ginger Snaps, The Evil Dead/Army of Darkness, and probably a few more I'm blanking on (but not Nightmare Before Christmas. That's a Christmas movie for me). Fan merch is fun!
Here's a great local soapmaker I love--y'all see anything you would like? https://littleseedfarm.com/ Any of the liquid soaps, body oils, hand creams, butters -- pretty much anything but the bar soap. What are your favorite/preferred Halloween/autumn icons/images? Any to specifically stay away from? Love black cats, bats, skulls, rats, haunted houses... Really, anything but spiders. I *hate* spiders! As far as non-Halloween autumnal things, um, *everything*. Autumn is my favorite season! And Dia de los Muertos.
Do you eat candy, and if so would Halloween candy be welcome? Specialty candy from local or unusual sources? Chocolate? Sweet tooth! I have one! I love pretty much any Halloween candy (except black licorice or circus peanuts), and specialty/local candy is extra-awesome. 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? I love frivolous things! Except I'll pass on a fidget spinner. Those specifically make me agitated for some reason.
Any zentangle lovers, people who would like to try it, or would you want a piece of someone else's zentangle art? Ooh, these look intriguing and relaxing. I have no experience with them, but I would love to try them.
Any love of hair toys, clips, ribbons, fascinators, mini hats, etc? No, I don't really have enough hair or the right type for this sort of thing. I have a pixie, and it's too fine and silky to hold accessories!
What local goodies may be of interest? Local Honey, jams,candy? Yes. I love local goodies. When I go on vacation, I try to go into grocery stores and find their local stuff. Chips, candy, jam -- it doesn't matter as long as it's yummy!
Are you interested in any prescription services like serial magazines, Birch box, ipsy? I love them! I'm fairly set as far as the big beauty names go, although I've seen some Asian beauty ones that are intriguing that I haven't tried yet. I don't subscribe to any magazines at all. Would you like funky Halloweenie costume makeup like Gothic eyelashes, nail effects, black lipstick, etc.? Hmm... Nail effects. I'm not really an eyelash person, and dark lipstick isn't really my style. I wear funky eyeshadow colors, but I don't really do costume makeup.
How do you like to listen to music? CD, 8 track tape, mix tape, Pandora or Spotify, I-tunes? Mainly iTunes and amazon! Wait. Not mainly. Exclusively, now that I think about it.
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? Format doesn't really matter. I just love reading!
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? Anything but candles! Open flames + my very inquisitive kitties = BAD THINGS. They don't seem to have this problem with incense or wax tarts/burners. As far as brands go, I don't have favorites. As far as scents go, I don't really have favorites there, although "white" notes are not for me.
Witchee: are you interested in crafting materials? I think I already answered this somewhere! I don't really craft, but I'm interested in learning how to knit. How do you feel about nail wraps? I love them! Especially Espionage Cosmetics (I have worn EC wraps steadily for two or three years now). Not so much Jamberry because I don't own a hairdryer, and that's a step I'm not willing to do anyway since Espionage wraps are so much easier.
if you were to receive something hand knit, what type of item would you like? hat, cowl, handwarmers, etc. and what color(s)? I'm set for hats, but a cowl or sleeves (the tube kind without thumbholes) would be nice. My desk at work is directly under an HVAC vent that will randomly start blowing cold air on me even on the coldest day of the year! Hot hot pink or pretty much any shade of green or purple (or green *and* purple) are my kinds of colors. - would you use knitted washcloths? a scarf? Are you allergic or sensitive to any fibers? Yes, yes, and yes! I'm allergic to wool. I love soft, silky stuff like chenille (and washable, because I *will* spill hot cocoa on it) for wearables, but I prefer cotton for washcloths.
If you could be ANY character from a film, TV show or book, who would it be and why? I'm going to have to think about this one. If you could hop into a time machine and travel anywhere/anytime, where would it be and why? This is another gotta-mull-over-it question. If you could invite 3 famous people to a BPAL meet and sniff, who would invite? Another ponder. (The three-famous-people question always gives me problems regardless of context!)
Wishlists:
Amazon
etsy
BPAL wishlist (I love decants and imps!) (and this is going behind a spoiler due to length):
10/4/19
How would you describe your crafting style? Whimsical & Cute? Elegantly modern? Totally Traditional?
This is a super interesting question! Quirky, maybe?
10/3/19
I am infamous for baking (shortbreads savory and sweet, poundcake, various cookies and bars), butter caramels (flavored or plain), and catnip. Are any of these relevant to you or your household?
Catnip treats for the monsters would be lovely!
Do you like to cook and do you need/want any spices for such pursuits?
Yes! I tend to get really into cooking during cooler months, and I'm always interested in trying new spice/herb blends, especially if they're Instant Pot-friendly.
Would you wear any of these?
Fern , Nuada, Manannan, Duleek Abbey or an infinity scarf or tube cowl tall enough for a hood (like this scarf or this cowl for shape example)?
Do you have any utilitarian needs for everyday life? Things that would help or that you've been needing or wanting for work or whatever?
What kind of vegan snacks do you like? And vegan chocolate...favorites?
The snack section of my local vegan grocery stores is my food danger zone! Gummies, basic chips (corn or potato doesn't matter. I'm just not super into flavored chips), chocolate, caramel, crackers... Yeesh, what don't I like? Seaweed, edamame, and fake meats. That's what I steer away from!
10/2/19
Nail Polish: Do you need or want some? If so, what colors and brands are you interested in?
Indie nail polish is my current obsession! I'm particularly drawn to flakies right now, but I also love multichromes and holos. Oh! And magnetics. Thermals are neat, too, although I'm trying to limit my acquisition of those to one a month since they will stop transitioning after a certain too-short amount of time. Color-wise, I wear just about anything other than pinks and nudes, and I'm especially drawn to non-traditional colors, like olive and mustard. Think '70s Tupperware or grunge. As far as specific brands/shades, I'm coveting anything from the Bee's Knees or Don Deeva AHS collections, anything form the Lemming Lacquer Chilling Adventures of Sabrina collection, the Night Owl Marauder's Map duo, or Nine Zero's Singer Auto Salvage.
Does anyone else do nail wraps?
I have *cough* dozen wraps from Espionage Cosmetics. I'm set for a good long while!
What about postcards?
Is anyone interested in anything from the Nocturne Alchemy Halloween release (or, presumably, anything else from the site)?
How do you feel about salt? I don’t mean, like, salted nuts or potato chips. I mean straight-up salt, like alder-smoked finishing salt or Hana Flake sea salt.
I like salt a little too much! One of my favorite swap goodies was salt from the salt mine on Avery Island, aka the place where they make Tabasco. Finally, a Tabasco-related product that isn't too spicy for me!
10/1/19
A few questions have been asked about knitted items--are crocheted equivalents acceptable? (crocheted fingerless gloves, shawls, etc.)
Any fiber issues?
Just that it needs to be soft and not itchy against my skin.
About the Weenies: please list what you've bought or are definitely purchasing for yourself *as well as* what you would like to possibly receive from someone else!
Answered in the BPAL spoiler section above.
Dear Witchee, are you at all boozy? Anywhere between hard cider to straight whisk(e)y? And any interest in the "unusual" stuff? (unusual as in non-mainstream, local craft ciders or meads, regional fruit wines, experiments from local distilleries, etc)
I'm not super boozy, but when I do go in that direction, it's hard cider or something that involves rum! I don't drink beer, and I'm not into wine aside from this one particular pasta sauce I make. Local/indie stuff is always my jam whether we're talking about yarn, makeup, beverages, or pretty much anything else.
9/30/19
do you have a favourite saying or quote?
If you're going through hell, keep going. (Winston Churchill)
Measure once, cut twice. (My grandfather was a carpenter, and that was his motto.)
How do you feel about spicy foods, and where on the Scoville scale do you hit your limit?
Uh, can we go negative? I'm *not* a spice person. At all. I love savory, but spicy is a whole different story.
How do you feel about coloring books, especially those pertaining to a personal interest or fandom?
I like the idea of them, and then I get one, and it just sits on my shelf untouched.
9/29/19
Rituel de Fille archive sale?
Missed this question earlier, but it would have been a pass anyway.
Tarot or oracle decks?
I collect tarot decks! I've never had a used one, but either would be okay. (I've preordered the Golden Art Nouveau deck set to be released on Amazon in early October, but that will be the last one I will be buying for a while.) I don't have any experience with oracle decks, but I would be interested in them.
Pigment samples
I really, really don't need any. But I *want* them! I collect Notoriously Morbid multichromes and am currently in gimme mode for mini sizes of Autumnal, Unshriven Dead, Yesferatu, Harbinger of Doom, Heralds of Death, Death (from the Endless collection), Delirium, Dream, and Despair.
9/28/19
Do you have an Etsy/Goodreads/Amazon or anything else wishlist you’d like to share?
Listed above.
And what’s your preferred wrist/necklace size?
Wrist: I don't wear bracelets. Necklace: I love long dangly stuff! Not navel-long, though. Bosom-long, I guess.
Does anything from Bird & Blend take your fancy?
Earl's Paradise, Vicky's Sponge Cake, Peach Cobbler
Knitting questions have have been asked, but how about wash cloths, anyone need any? What colors??
I think I'm set right now!
is there anything from World Market that tickles your fancy?
Dancing Skeleton travel mug, Halloween pasta
9/26/19
Is there anything kind of weird and niche about which you feel this way, fellow witchees?
Kickstarter (and similar): Any thoughts, witches?
9/23/19
Did anything catch your eye from the Liliths?
Social Justice Paladin, Storge.
Would you like anything from Lush?
Comfort Zone shower bomb, Happy Hippy or Olive Branch shower gel, Glow Worm Fun.
9/22/19
Thinking about really good natural food stores like Natural Grocers or Whole Foods, if you could have ANY bath and beauty or body care items, what would you love?
If I'm wandering through the aisles just browsing, my eye is immediately drawn to shower gel.
Also what kind of treats, snacks, foods, condiments, bulk items, teas, housewares from the same natural food stores would you love?
Incense! And local honey.
Also, are there any particular sustainable kitchen or household items you would love to receive?
9/20/19
I may have bought several full size Rituel de Fille makeup items in a frenzy over their whole vibe. If I tested something once or twice (and it can be sanitized), would you be interested?
Sure! I'm really curious about them, but I can't bring myself to spend that much money on something I haven't tried before.
Are you interested in trying different skincare products from higher end, clean brands?
Sure! But nothing with non-physical exfoliants. I had a Bad Experience with glycolic acid a few years ago and am now very, very afraid.
Any interest in anything from Torrid, noting their "fangirl" and Halloween collections are updated?
I *love* their leggings! They're my default option when I'm just hanging out at home. Anything not-slashed and not-cropped involving skulls or bats in a size 2 are my particular jam. If they were to add new Harry Potter, Marvel, or Doctor Who options, those would be great, too.
What on the following list would you like to receive something related to (or have something donated to in your and Joni's honor?)
· animal rescue
· pie
· dogs
· bears
· turtles
· inappropriate candies (either in shape or in contents—ex., boozy candies, creatively shaped peanut brittle…)
This is quite possibly the hardest question on here! These are all awesome.
I'll be going to Seattle, London and Paris during this round- anything you'd love to have from any of these locations?
I'm set for Seattle. London or Paris: Nothing in particular, although that's mainly because I just don't know what awesome goodies they have that I might covet if I knew about them.
Is there anything you would particularly like from Japan? Stationary, bento supplies, a particular snack, etc. The fall flavors for kitkats this year are Chestnut, Sweet Potato and Apple Pie.
9/18/19
Would you like anything from Future Primitive? (It's fine to mention OOS things) https://futureprimitivesoap.co.uk/
I would love to try their whipped soap, bubbling sugar scrub, or body cream! Scent-wise: Four & Twenty Blackbirds, Bell Book & Candle, Clotted Peach Cream, Dust Witch, or Shadow Show.
Does anyone have a favorite horror movie that they love? Need a copy/DVD of?
Not really. I get my fill from streaming sources nowadays.
Do you like smallish knitted stuff (hats, fingerless mittens, scarves, toys, etc. -- be specific!)?
I crochet, so I'm set for scarves and hats, but little bitty kitty toys seem to be out of my skill set!
Do any of these knitted items appeal to you?
Easy Fingerless Mittens
How do you feel about thrift store finds (assuming they're in good condition and have been thoroughly cleaned before shipping)?
Very positive.
