caseys

This blend reminds me a bit of Zombi. Rose is definitely the dominant note, but the vetiver provides just enough dark earthiness to smooth those sharp edges. I actually like this one, which is surprising since vetiver is a death note for me, but it's probably not bottle-worthy.

Honey is usually stunning on my skin, so I was very excited to try Amiable and Lovely Creatures. However, the honey note in this blend feels like it never fully blossoms, and I don't get any of the fig, patchouli, or jasmine at all. At drydown, this one smells like generic sugared rose. Pretty, but disappointingly one-dimensional.

The Last Evening of the Year smells like clean clothes. Interestingly, the blend feels very warm despite the snow note. It reminds me of standing in my laundry room while the dryer is running - when the air is full of that warm, floral linen smell. LOVE IT. This is definitely a comfort scent, and I'll probably be picking up a bottle to use at bedtime.

So... someone has gifted you a $20 gift card from Walgreen's to ONLY use on things for yourself. No necessities here. What do you buy? CoverGirl Lash Blast mascara ($8), a Wet'n Wild eyeshadow palette ($3), a Diet Dr. Pepper ($1). I would probably spend the rest on random impulse items. Do you do a Christmas tree? If yes is it themed or specially colored or do you just have all different ornaments and such? I do, and it is. My tree is snowman-themed, with a red, blue, and white color scheme. I would love ornaments! I live near a brick and morter location for a really, really good spice store. would you use cooking spices and if you would, what would you need? (it's penzey's if you want to google it) Yeah! I would love to try the California Seasoned Pepper, any Curry powder, fajita seasoning, Fox Point seasoning, lamb seasoning, Northwoods seasoning, any cinnamon, and shallot-pepper seasoning. Do you like knitted goods? If so, what would you like, what colors, and do you have any sensitivites or preference when it comes to type of yarn (ex: wool: yay or nay? do you prefer machine washable materials? do you not care?)? Yep! I like bold colors (red, teal, yellow, orange) and have no material preference. Could you use a new mug? Sure! Would any Bunny like to receive Holiday serving bowls, trays, platters etc...? Winter/Christmas or Thanksgiving/Fall themed? That would be good. I'd love anything with a snowman theme. I know some people are squicked out at the idea of eating things that other people make, or the thought of deep fried cookies sends them into cardiac arrest. If you were my fox, would you like to receive some homemade goodies, or would you prefer that your goodies came from the store? I'd love to receive homemade nuts or pickled veggies. Just keep in mind that I don't eat carby stuff like baked goods, candy, ect. My lovely fluffy Snow Bunny, would you like a bodyscrub made by me? If so, what scent(s) would you like, if you had to think along the lines of essential oils? And would you prefer sugar or salt? A dryer scrub or one that's more oily/moist? I would love a salt scrub! I like chunky scrubs with lots of oil. Lavender, evergreen, rose geranium, anise, and peppermint are some of my favorite essential oils. Dear snow bunny, do you like candles? if yes, then what kind? scented (what scents), unscented, what colors, do you like them plain/painted on the outside/with decorations attached to the surface/sculpted? Also what do you think of little soaps? I like candles of all sorts. I have way, way too much soap, so I probably don't need more. Socks! Slippers! Do you love them or not really wear them? If you love them, do you also love Sock Dreams? I could truly use a pair of slippers. I would prefer the kind that have an open back, since I would mostly wear them to make trips from the couch to the kitchen or bedroom. Would you wear something like this if your Fox were to knit you one? If so, what color? Yes! Reds, teals, yellows… New question: talk to me of coffee. Whole bean? Ground? Flavored, not flavored? Decaf, whole caff? Favorite roasters? Drip, french press, keurig? BRING ON THE TEA? Tea is my favorite, but I like decaf coffee as well. I use whole bean coffee. Who else here loves or would like to try Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics? If so, what would you like? I haven’t tried them, but I’m a total eyeshadow junkie. I’ll give anything a try, but I don’t like stuff with tons of glitter. Have you tried anything from Cocoa Pink and if so, what products and scents do you like or would like to try? I love Cocoa Pink’s Junket and Soulmate conditioner. Do you have kids (or kid-like pets) who your fox may want to take into account, either in terms of a little extra goody or simple safety? I am happily child-free, but I do have two dog sons. No worries about safety! Will you be away for any part of the round? Not that I know of. If you like Christmas music (or any other holiday music, for that matter), what kind of style do you like? Traditional? Modern and poppy? Indie? Hell yeah! I like all styles, but tend to gravitate toward the classics and anything with a folk influence. I live in the city of the chicken wing. If I were to send you something savory, what's your heat tolerance (or sweet and heat for that matter)? I can tolerate quite a bit of spice. If your fox/bunny were to gift you with a gift card from anywhere, as in any store food-wise, music wise etc., what gift card would you like? iTunes, ThinkGeek, Sockdreams, Paintbox, Shiro Cosmetics (etsy) Interested in anything from the Elements and Artifacts Yule update? I already bought a bracelet and two pair of earrings… What was the best holiday present you ever got? An ass-kicking stereo system from my parents when I was about 13. I wore out that stereo listening to grunge music! Bunny, what scent are you desperately wanting to be resurrected this year with the Anniversary update? My soul for a bottle of Loviatar. I’d also like to see Pinched With Four Aces and Hollyberry and Mistletoe. Groupon for Moxie Nouveau! Dear Bunneh, is this something that would interest you? Nah. Bun-bun, what's your favourite colour? Orange (not safety orange, more like pumpkin orange) Your favourite gemstone? Amethyst, emerald, opal Your favourite animal (real or imaginary)? Dogs! And do you have any intense phobias? I am terrified of heights and June Bugs. Are you Nano-ing this month, bunny? If so, how would you feel about merch/donations to the cause? Nope Do you like/need boxes for perfume/knicknacks? I’m pretty set on boxes. Do you need any holiday recipes? Is there something in particular that you'd like baked or made for you? And for those of you doing the no sugar/low sugar, etc. thing these days, how about savory things? I am always on the lookout for very low carb recipes. Speaking about candles, how much do you look forward to the BPTP candles that will be launched on Etsy? I don't know if there will be other scents than the Samhain and Pumpkin Cookie one, but is there a specific one you are longing for? I’m actually pretty meh about this. Does anyone have issues with gently used things like books, etc.? I’m fine with gently used! Are you a big ol' nerd for any particular subject? Science, math, linguistics, etc? Or particular authors/fandoms? Heh heh… If you have to ask, you obviously haven’t stalked me much! If you found a $50 bill on the ground and were to place a Lab order, what would be in it? (And shipping is free through the magical BPAL unicorn!) Right now I'd probably grab bottles of Rose Red 2011 and The Nymphae Avernales. How do you feel about superheros? Are you a Marvel or DC fan? Do you have a favorite hero? Spiderman! Also, question, dearest bunnies: would you like a Paintbox from Paintbox Soapworks? If so, which scents? Ooooh, yeah! I'm interested in all of the holiday scents. How do you feel about honey/beeswax? Would you like any? Beeswax is possibly my favorite smell on earth and I love trying out new and unusual honeys. (Saw Palmetto honey is A++ guys, take my word for it.) What does one do with beeswax? I know you make candles from it, but other than that... Sounds interesting! Are you a Trader Joe's fan, who either doesn't have a store nearby or just loves their stuff and has a wishlist? I don't have a Trader Joe's nearby, so I don't really know what they carry. I've heard that they have great tea, so that would probably be on my wishlist. If I were to place ONE LAST Weenie order, (uh, which I will) what would you want me to include for you? (presuming that is that the order can get here in time, bites nails) The Nymphae Averales or Sentimental Initiation Do you enjoy things that taste like roses? For example chewing gum, turkish delight, delicious goo that you eat by the spoonful out of a glass jar (and they all taste of rose. Yes, we have all these in Greece.) I would love a rose-flavored tea. If I were to send you chocolate is there anything I should avoid as in nuts, cherries etc.? Also, what are some of your favorite holiday candies? I can only eat 85% dark chocolate, plain. Do you have a strong preference for any sort of bath and body product brands (i.e. etailer/etsy type cos, department store/specialty brands like Lush) or are you cool with anything that doesn't smell like Bunnybane? Yes, I'm pretty devoted to Lathers & Lights for my botdy products. Their body butter and body yogurt are amazing! However, I'm always open to being enabled. A question: reveal, yes or no? I always appreciate a reveal, but I would never force the issue. Any favorite cuddly characters? Anything handmade! Charity gifts? Either fair-trade type stuff, or virtual type gifts, like vaccinations or school supplies being bought on your behalf, or something along those lines? Animal shelter donations would be lovely. Bunny, are you interested in tarts from Two Timing Tart? What scents, if any, are you interested in? Tease, Bombshell, Innocence, Don't Make Baby Jesus Cry Does anyone have issues with gently used things like books, etc.? I'm fine with gently used items. Pink? Hell yes! Pink a perfectly good color, and doesn't get enough respect if you ask me. Fingerless mittens or full mitts? Fingerless please! Do you like artisan oils and vinegars? Any crafty pursuits you’ve been dying to experiment with? Would you like a little kit of something you’ve never tried? Do you need any particular items for your new or existing stash? I am dying to learn to knit, but somehow I can't find the patience to sit down and learn. Bunny, could you use a 2012 calendar, and, if so, do you like big monthly ones or the page-a-day type? That would be great. I actually really need a wall calendar for my office. Do you like coin purses? I like them, but I already have one. I have a ton of soaps and not one soap dish. Would anyone else be interested in a soap dish or something like that? Yes! If your fox were to knit something for you, would it be a lacy shawl or a pair of socks? Inquiring foxes want to know! Probably a shawl. Are you a Harry Potter fan? If so, which house do you identify with, and why? Would you want knitted things/replicas/accessories in your house colours? Pottermore sorted me into Ravenclaw. Are there any Yules from *PAST* years that you're interested in trying? Including past winter inquisitions? I have been trying to get my hands on a bottle of Hollyberry & Mistletoe for SO long... Bunnies! What is your general philosophy about patterns for accessories such as socks, scarves, and tights? Do you like solids? Stripes? Polka dots? Weird patterns like harlequin-type stuff? Any of the above? How about all of the above? I do have an affinity for Argyle. Bunny, are you interested in anything from Geek Chic Cosmetics? Eyeshadow: Captain Tightpants, Kingslayer, Goomba, Archangel (goddamn I love Garrus... ), All the Rage, Eyes of the Werewolf Sooo. Yules. Those just happened. What are you interested in, Bunny? I bought a ton of decants, dear fox. Chilies? Sure! I had a question for everyone else though! A friend and I were recently talking about those Giant Microbe plushies, if you were my bunneh, would you like one? Which would you like? I love those things! I already have Red Blood Cell, White Blood Cell, and Neuron, but I'd love to get Ulcer and Stem Cell.

Samhain 2011 for today!

How long is your hair? How do you usually put it up? My hair falls to the bottom of my shoulder blades (about armpit level). I never put it up. It looks like this all the time (although it is a little longer now): (me with Brutus and Oliver ) Incense: sticks or cones? I don't have an incense burner at all, so I would be fine with sticks or cones! Either way, I'm going to need to pick up a burner. If you could design your ideal coin purse, what would it look like? Shape, color, pattern, size? Ideally, I'd love a multipurpose item that would hold coins and paper bills. I usually don't carry cash in the same wallet with my ID and credit cards, and I usually have loose ones and fives floating around in the bottom of my purse. I think I'd prefer a neutral color, since I tend to carry wallets and other purse items for a very long time. I've been using my current wallet for about five years. I like houndstooth, plaid, and argyle too. Describe the perfect tea cup. I love Japanese-style tea cups - the ones without a handle that hold about 4 ounces of tea. I need it to be relatively thick to hold in the heat, since I tend to linger over tea for quite a while after it is poured. What is your favorite tarot deck? Right now, the Robin Wood deck is my favorite workable deck. My first deck was the Rider-Waite, and while I like it, the images in Robin Wood speak to me so much more clearly. I have the Science Tarot deck, and the 8-Bit Tarot deck, which are my favorite novelty decks. What are your dogs' favorite treats (brand/flavor)? Brutus likes plain Milk Bones. He actually won't eat many other kinds of treats. Oliver will literally eat anything you put in front of him. They both like dried chicken jerky. From the Weenie update….what are you most wanting to try? I am purchasing a lot of decants. All of the celestial apple blends make me squee with delight. The others I’m particularly interested in are ~ Ghosts in Love ~ An Incubus Leaving Two Sleeping Women ~ Nightmare ~ Post-Mortem Laureatus ~ The Ta-Ta ~ The Wiley Grasser Who’s into nail polish? What colors/brands? I wouldn’t say that I’m into nail polish. I use it on my toes, but I never polish my fingers. Is there a quote (or lyric or part of a poem) that really resonates with you or is your favorite? I’m going to come back to this question. It will require a little bit of extra thought. However, there are a few that jump out immediately. She's not a girl who misses much... "Happiness is a Warm Gun" - The Beatles Soul Coughing did a song called "True Dreams of Wichita". It has some of my favorite lyrics in all of songdom: And you can stand on the arms of the Williamsburg Bridge crying "Hey man, well this is Babylon" I've seen you fire up the gas in the engine valves I've seen your hand turn saintly on the radio dial I've seen the airwaves pull your eyes toward heaven Dream candle? Scent, color, type (tealight, votive, pillar, jar, ect.), throw… Anything that smells like lavender, mint, or evergreen will be a big hit with me. I’m not picky about the configuration. Social media My FB page is here. It’s friend-locked, but let me know you’re from BPAL and I’ll add you. Do you like knitted goodies? If so, what would you like and what colors? Absolutely! I like scarves and gloves best. Cute hats would also be welcome. I like most colors, but jewel tones look best with my skin. Would you be interested in homemade edibles that are NOT sweets? Any specifics? I would happily gobble up homemade pickles. That includes pickled vegetables like cauliflower or okra. What GC do you live in mortal terror of the lab discontinuing, but never get around to buying? I recently made a big order to stock up on favorite GCs, so this one is a little tough for me. I’d like to pick up Old Demons of the First Class at some point…maybe The Great Sword of War…I could use another bottle of Golden Priapus… Yo, yarnies! Do you Ravelry? If so, who are you over thar? Not a yarnie! Do you have wishlists for non-BPAL e-tailers? And if so, could you provide a link or a list? I will work on this and put in in my blog. Which do you use, a PC or a Mac? PC. I’m typing this from my Alienware netbook. What is your favorite animal? Dogs. I can’t imagine life without them. What are you going to be for Halloween? I very rarely dress up for Halloween, since my friends and acquaintances don’t hold parties. If you could have a piece of oil painting jewelry (pendant, pair of earrings, or ring) with absolutely anything painted on it, what would it be? (If you prefer wall art instead, same question as above.) I always appreciate sciencey things. I also like art based on Tarot cards and astrology. How do you feel about nick-knacks? Only if it is really, really cool. I try not to introduce too much clutter into my house! What traditions (family, holiday, or otherwise) are important to you? OU football and basketball is big tradition in my family. I’ve been going to OU football games with my parents for more years that I can remember. Do you like going to the movies? Nope. I usually only go to the movies when something really special (like Harry Potter) is playing. I don’t spend a lot of time watching movies at home either, so movie-related gifties aren’t a very good match for me. What are your favorite restaurants? There is a great little wine bar/restaurant in my town called Blu. They serve things like fresh fish and steak with very simple preparation – without a lot of sauces or complex side dishes. My favorite dish is the pan-seared scallops served with marinated portabella mushrooms. They also make a killer house salad with blue cheese and bacon. Do you play any video games? I’ve been gaming since I was a wee kidlet. I don’t get into the MMOs like WOW, but I can play the hell out of some console games. My favorite game of all time is Bioware’s Knights of the Old Republic; most of the games I really enjoy follow that same adventure/RPG style (Dragon Age, Tales of Symphonia, Final Fantasy). I always love the Bethesda Elder Scrolls games. Legend of Zelda is my favorite from Nintendo. I’m currently catching up on the backlog of games I didn’t have time for when I was in grad school, which includes finally getting around to Mass Effect 2. Do you like any anime? Not really? I was huge into the original Transformers cartoon as a kid. Did that one count as anime? Do you have an E-reader/iPad/something similar that you need a cover/case for? I don’t have an e-reader or an iPad. How much do you like jewelry? Lots? How would you like to receive some of your Witch's favorite recipes, tailored to your likes/dietary restrictions? And specific wants? Sure! Do you need any boxes to store your smellies in? What would you store in said hypothetical box--imps, bottles, supplies, all of the above? I think I’m set on boxes for my bottles, but I could really use an attractive box to store lots of imps. I prefer those ammo holder style boxes for imps, since it seems to keep them more organized. Muppets: yea or nay? I’m going to have to say nay. They’re cute and funny, but I don’t go out of my way or anything. Do you have an affinity for Calvin and Hobbes, Peanuts, The Far Side, and other comic strips? If so, which is your favorite? The Far Side is excellent. I don’t like Peanuts or Calvin and Hobbes. Yeah, I prefer things that are in the same spirit as The Far Side. Favorite Mythological Creature? *points to sig* I seem to have an affinity for dragons. Do you like hair things barrettes, headbands, flowers? Sure! Do you like to burn incense? If so, what are your favorite kinds...sticks? cones? resins? What are your favorite scents? I don’t, but I’d love to give it a try. Honestly, I don’t know much about incense at all, but I’m very willing to learn. Do they have lavender? If so, then yes please! Harry Potter - a fan? If so, what house are you? Yep. I just got my entrance into Pottermore, but haven’t gone through the sorting yet, so I’ll report back on the house affiliation later! I did get my wand last night – Hawthorne, Unicorn core, 11 inches, unbending! If you were to receive a gift card, what places would you like to get one from? Villainess, SoapBox Co, Urban Decay, and I keep hearing about this fabulous place called Sock Dreams… If you could see anything, what would it be? Can be a person, an event, a landmark or monument, an object, etc. And it doesn't have to be on this planet, or in this time period, or in this reality! The Sistine Chapel. I was assigned to make a diorama of the Sistine Chapel when I was in grade school, and I’ve been fascinated with it ever since. It’s way, way up there on my “to do before I die” list. Is there a particular myth/folktale/legend/fairytale/godstory that you're drawn to? I always liked the Aesop's fable "The Fox and the Grapes". In case you're not familiar, the Fox in the fable covets a bunch of grapes on a vine that he cannot reach. After several unsuccessful attempts to reach the grapes, he finally declares that they must be sour and not worth having anyway. I'm not sure why I'm drawn to that fable - maybe because it's an attitude that I despise, but have to fight within myself quite often. When you are having a really rough day, what do you like to do/have to make it a little brighter? I usually take a nice bath with some BPTP bath oil and drink a pot of comfort tea (like Earl Grey or Lapsong Sauchong) or have a glass of big, hairy chest red wine. Does anyone garden? And if you do, what do you grow? If not, would a starter garden kit be something you'd be interested in? I have an African violet obsession that I inherited from my dad. I have full grown violets, young starter violets, and leaf cuttings for new violets all over my house. Irises also have a very special place in my heart, since they are a flower I associate very strongly with my grandmother. Last year I gave my witchee stellans a set of irises and bought myself a matching set! Do you decorate for Halloween? Is your decorating taste elegant, kitschy and fun, or scary? I haven’t decorated in several years due to various life circumstances, but I’m planning to do it up big this year! I like kitschy and fun. What are your thoughts on comics? Any you like? Any you have been wanting to try? Favorite characters? Spidey all the way! Are you musical? Do you play an instrument, and if so, what? If not, what do you wish you could play or do? I used to be very musical. In fact, I met my husband in the OU marching band (we were both clarinet players). I also took piano lessons for lots of years. I was actually a music major when I first started college, before science lured me away. Sadly, I haven’t picked up a clarinet or sat down at a piano since undergrad. Witchee, do you have any symbols or totems that have special meaning for you? The infinity symbol, the four-leaf clover, and the sugar skull. Is anyone fond of programs like Adopt a Tree/Highway/Library/Manatee/Acre of Rainforest/etc? Sure! What #1 actor, director, author and/or musician are you obsessed with? None that I can think of. Are you interested in anything from the Villainess Bad Apples update? Um, yes, everything please. If you have a pet, would he/she/they like to receive a treat or a toy as a gift? Does your pet have any dietary restrictions or other preferences w.r.t. said treat? The furry monsters would appreciate any and all foodstuffs. Brutus is my old boy, and doesn’t have much interest in toys these days. Oliver likes things that can be thrown around in the yard. Tennis balls, Frisbees, whatever. Are you going away for any part of this round? I just got back from a vacation to Napa Valley. I don’t plan to take another extended vacation for a while, but I will be sure to inform my witch if that changes! Do you like coffee or tea? Would you be interested in trying some different types? Yes, yes I do. I prefer tea to coffee, since I can’t tolerate the caffeine level in regular coffee. I do like fancy decaf. As for tea, I could go on all day! I’m drinking a lot of green tea these days, mostly from Lupicia. My newest tea obsession is 52Teas (love their honeybush blends!). Are there any CDs/Albums you've been wanting but haven't bought yet? What format do you prefer (i.e. mp3, actual cd, record, etc)? Hmmm...I just don’t buy many albums anymore. I honestly can’t think of a single album that I need. All of my music is on mp3 for the iPod. Do you enjoy any outdoor activities? Do you have a favorite form of "exercise"? I used to be a long-distance runner until I screwed up both of my knees. Now I’m a full-fledged couch potato. DH and I walk the dogs, but that’s about as much exercise as I get lately. Witchee, are you a fan of musicals? If so, which ones? Les Miserables, Jekyll and Hyde, Little Shop of Horrors, Phantom, Evita, My Fair Lady, and more that I am probably forgetting right now. Would you like to receive a mix-CD from your Witch? YES! I am fond of the thrift. Do you mind lightly used goods? Please be specific! I’m fine with thrift, although I very rarely go to thrift stores. I’m not really sure what kinds of things are usually found there. Tea or wine service items, cool vintage t-shirts, an original Optimus Prime action figure maybe? If you find me an Optimus, you will officially be the coolest witch of all time. Do you have an Etsy shop? Do you know of any Etsy shops that are Switch Witch friendly? No etsy shop for me. Would a gift or a postcard from Disneyland make you squee with delight or puke into your mail box? A postcard would be nice. No memorabilia please; I’m just not that into Disney. Do you prefer soap or shower gel? Please give examples of your favorite scents or brands. Both! Any scent other than stuff that’s overly citrus or tropical will work for me. Paintbox is probably my favorite soap company, but I like Villainess, MoonaLisa, and Haunt too. Beads! Do you use them? Would you want some? What sorts of beads do you like? Yep! I’m not picky about style. Anyone like anything in particular from Think Geek? Plush microbes are a favorite of mine. I have all of the blood cells and the neuron already. Truthfully, I like pretty much anything from Think Geek. If you are in to beauty and makeup related stuff, what kind of stuff do you like? What is your skintone and hair color? Are there any beauty products you've wanted to try but just never purchase? Just the other day, I ran into an acquaintance on the sidewalk at my place of work. She is a very fair-skinned blonde. She said to me “Wow, I didn’t think it was possible for anyone to be more pale than me!” So there you go. I have incredibly fair skin with red/pink undertones. My hair is darkish auburn. Lots of red here. Blue-based cosmetics look hideous with my complexion, so blue-purples, blue-greens, and silvers don’t work. Gold, taupe, and brown are very good. As for products, I am devoted to MAC Fluidline, Urban Decay Primer Potion, and CoverGirl LashBlast mascara. All other products are open for negotiation. Would you like a hand dyed or hand painted scarf or wrap or other item? If so, what colors/designs/fabrics do you like? Yes please! I prefer bold colors with warm tones (see the skin tone response above). Does anyone here like stones? Just pretty polished stones for use in whatever purposes? I love stones. Sunstone, hematite and amethyst are love. Do you work/study at a desk and enjoy interesting or cute office supplies? I work at a desk and always welcome cute office supplies. Pens are a particular favorite of mine. I LOVE those Sharpie pens. Pinterest, do you have boards you want to share or are you following anyone with great boards you want to share? I have not heard of Pinterest. I’ll check it out if I get a spare minute. Would you like to receive e-books? And if so, in what format? I don’t have an e-reader. If you have kids, would you be interested in getting things for them? And if so, what are they interested and what sizes are the wearing now? I am enthusiastically child-free. Would you be interested in a felted handbag? Do any of these styles appeal to you? Those are cool! Are there are patterns, motifs, etc that you especially like? I like bright colors with swirly patterns. I’m actually quite fond of paisley. Strong geometry is also appealing to me. Witchee, would you be interested in having a special tea cup/coffee mug/glass to drink out of? Yes! How did you dress up for your last party or compulsory-formal-dress occasion? I dress up so infrequently, it’s hard to remember… I went to a wedding a few weeks back, and I wore a classic little black dress with black stilettos. How would you feel about kitchen towels and other similar household objects, if they are pretty or a souvenir? I probably wouldn’t have much use for something like that. Do you enjoy puzzles/riddles? (Cryptograms, Sudoku, Crossword, Jigsaw, etc) Oh yeah, I’m a logic nerd. Got any math puzzles? Can you sum yourself (whether it be personality, life's goals, ethics, whatever) in 10 words or less? No. However, I can choose 10 good words that describe me. 1. Paradoxical 2. Proud 3. Intense 4. Emotional 5. Logical 6. Artistic 7. Charismatic 8. Protective 9. Introverted (INFJ for the Myers-Briggs fans) 10. Weird How about little bottles of booze? When we were in Napa, the guy at the shipping place mentioned that it is apparently a felony to ship any liquor via the USPS. Plus, the distribution laws in Oklahoma have made it almost impossible to ship alcohol here (most wineries and liquor stores won’t touch this state). Witch, I love me some booze, but please don’t do anything you aren’t comfortable with when it comes to shipping. Would you be interested in a sample box (from somewhere like Birchbox or loosebutton)? Sure! What looks interesting in the BPTP update? A hearty “Oh HELL yes” to Honey Pumpkin Stout Bath oil! You have to place a Lab and Trading Post order. Right fuckin' now. No spending limits. What do you buy? 10,000 bottles of Honey Pumpkin Stout bath oil. Paintbox Soapworks - anything you're interested in, in general or from the latest update? Yes. All please. Do you guys have any sports that you follow obsessively? How about favorite teams and/or athletes? Since I have two degrees and a career wrapped up in the University of Oklahoma, I think it’s safe to say I’m a fan. My family has season tickets to OU football and basketball. I am a fan of the Oklahoma City Thunder NBA team. As for the NFL, I cheer for Sam Bradford with the Rams and Adrian Peterson with the Vikings (ex OU players) but I don’t have a single team loyalty. I’m a sports nut. Yes, I play fantasy football… *hangs head* How do you feel about notebooks/journals/stationery? Anything you need or particularly like? I have notebooks and journals coming out of my ears right now. Does confetti/glitter make you angry or fill you with glee? Mostly, glitter fills me with rage. Herpes of craft supplies indeed… Fabulous witches and witchees, perhaps you all could note of you've received MeiLin's goodies? Or if you want? I would love any of MeiLin’s offerings, as I have never read any of her work. Also, cuervosueno mentioned her poetry book, which would totally make my year. How do you feel about stuffed animals/plushies/general soft, cuddly things? If you like them, what kind of animals would you be interested in? I would probably only be interested if they were handmade by my witch. I would absolutely treasure anything handmade! How interested would you be on somewhat personalized bottle cap labels? That sounds fantastic, but dear witch, I have a lot lot lot of BPAL bottles. A LOT. Plus, I don’t have a current inventory. I’m so OCD that it would drive me crazy if some of my bottles had cool labels and some didn’t. When you're miserably sick (*sniffle, cough!*) what are the things that comfort you the most? I almost never get sick (knock on wood, knock on wood, knock on wood…). I actually can’t remember the last time I even had a cold. I do get migraines routinely, and the only thing that comforts me then is a dark room and the scent of peppermint oil. What constitutes ultimate luxury to you? (go crazy!) This is me being crazy: ultimate luxury is good wine and a jacuzzi tub with college football playing in the background. What do you really NOT want? ~ Food or candy ~ Movies Interested in anything from Lush? Nope. I don’t really like Lush. Do you blog? Would you like a header for your blog, a layout, etc? I have a hard enough time trying to think of interesting things to say in the GUSP thread! My life is not even remotely blog-worthy. Would you be interested in a handmade bookmark? Hell yeah! How would you feel about receiving a Groupon deal for something in your local area? If there is anything you WOULDN'T like, mention that also. Sure! Are you more prone to order out or cook at home? Would you be interested in cookbooks, kitchen utensils, and the like? If so, anything specific? We cook at home every night. If you have any nifty kitchen gadgets in mind, that would be great. I don’t really have a lot of specific needs. How do people feel about little pocket shrines, maybe something inspirational/motivational to keep in their purses/backpacks/whatever? Yes, please! Do you like Star Wars? Original Trilogy? Prequels? Spin-offs? Favorite characters? Yes, but my husband likes it more. He’s a Star Wars nut. Do you like beef jerkey, I know some may be vegatarian, but where I live beef is a staple and beef jerkey abounds. If so do you it really thin, hard and crunchy or thicker and softer. (OK that borders on obscene)- Please send me beef jerkey! It’s one of the few snack items that I can eat (well, other than the teriyaki kind that has tons of sugar). Also do you like or racier ecards from time to time and do you need to be warned if something may be not safe to open at work. I like any and all ecards. Yes, I would probably need to be warned if something was NSFW. Doctor Who? Yay or nay? (please don't make me cry by saying nay) Ah, I guess I have to make you cry. I’m not into Doctor Who at all. I have a couple spare Doctor Who stickers. If my witchee is a fan, would they like a couple Doctor Who stickers in their package? See previous question. Anyone love Buffy/Angel? Nope. How would you feel about a totally original Gela-skin for your laptop/iPod/phone? Stickers? Decals? That sounds cool. I have an iPhone 3GS (but I will probably be getting the newest iteration of iPhone released this year, since mine is about to go kaput). Since this is a Halloween round, what's your Creepy threshold? Are you a cartoon bats and smily pumpkins person or a skulls-and-bones the-dead-are-rising kind of person? Are your fairytales dark or Disney? My fairytales are definitely NOT Disney! I wouldn’t say that they are “dead-are-rising” either. Happy medium? Are your ears pierced, Witchee? Do you have any other piercings? Would you like to receive any items of jewelry for these piercings? Yes, I have two normal piercings in each ear. I also have a 14g navel piercing that desperately needs a new barbell. I’ve been wearing my current barbell for about…oh three years now. How do you feel about franken polish? Are you okay with all chemicals, or would you prefer 3 free? Would you want glitter or holographic glitter? What colors would interest you? That sounds cool. I prefer traditional nail colors that have a red/pink base. Gold would be good too. Dear witchee, how do you feel about lip balm? Favorite style (twist up tube, pot, tube with wand, etc.)? Favorite flavors? Flavors to avoid? Favorite brand? Do you need more right now or are you set? Are you one of those people who could never have enough lip balm even though you have a bowl on your dresser overflowing with them and 10 in your purse and an order for more on the way? I am drowning in lip balm, so I probably don’t need any more right now. Do you wear t-shirts? Are there particular things you like on them? Would you like one designed by your Witch? And, if you don't mind saying, what size t-shirt do you wear? I wear a lot of t-shirts (size small in traditional t-shirts and medium in shirts that are cut for women). I would love to have a shirt designed by my witch! How do you feel about pumpkin scented things? Not perfume related, but soap, candles, etc.... Yay pumpkin! Has anyone else heard of or does anyone else love Glamourkin? Whut? If you had an international witch, is there anything you would like from the UK? (Or Australia, Belgium, France any other country we have witches from. I can’t think of anything specific, but it would be fantastic to receive any native goodies! Would you like/wear a pair of these? http://www.ravelry.c...rary/yoga-socks If so, what color? I probably wouldn’t wear those much. Is there anyone here who likes toe socks? You know, those socks with a place for each toe? Toe socks make my feet cold. Are you looking for a certain kind of DVDs to spruce up your collection right now? Nope. Does anyone like postcards? Is anyone willing to be a Nacho witch for postcards? I love postcards! Anyone going to see any good concerts this fall? Not at the moment. Do you like Star Trek? Original TV series, films, spinoff series, etc? Favorite characters? My loathing for William Shatner cannot be adequately put into words – therefore I am firmly on Team Picard. Spock was awesome. I was a big fan of Next Gen and DS9, but I just couldn’t get into the original series. Witchee, would you like a framed photograph and of what? I would love a framed photograph. Would you like any ecotools makeup brushes? They're kinda one of my favorite things ever, and they're animal-friendly and the handles are bamboo. And to top it all off, they work really well for applying makeup. I love ecotools! I have a little set that I got at Target, but I’d love an eyeliner or blender brush if they have one. Do you like Legos? Especially mini-fig key chains, Lego block keychains, small Lego sets, etc? Keychains would be cool. Bigger Lego sets probably wouldn’t get much use in my house. Since the previous question about "what would you buy from the Lab if you had unlimited funds, etc" left WAY too much to the imagination with no limitations (my answer was pretty much BUY ALL THE THINGS!), what would you do if you found a $50 bill on the ground and a nagging voice in the back of your mind told you that you HAD to spend it on BPAL or else face Death. Also, say they had free shipping (LOL) so don't factor that in. What would you get? And spend it all! Or as close to $50 as you can get. As much Honey Pumpkin Stout bath oil as I could get for $50. Are there any characters that you love or identify with? I both love and identify with Fox Mulder (X-Files, baby!). He’s just this geek with an all-consuming obsession, and I totally get that. He’s a laser beam, just like me. A question! If you are crafty, what's your personal art style? I'm not talking just about what art you like to look at, but what kind of art do you like creating? Do you have a "process" while you're creating beauty? I’m definitely a big-picture kind of person. I can visualize a final product very easily, and I’m very good at drafting out ideas. My biggest problem is that I lose patience with the details of execution and that causes me to lose interest in the project quickly. I have many, many unfinished craft projects sitting around my house. In fact, I pieced together a gorgeous double wedding ring quilt top that has been languishing in a closet because I just can’t bring myself to finish up the actual quilting. Are there any Arcana Weenies that you MUST HAVE? I’d like to try Serve in Heaven, Hobbedy’s Lantern, and Comfort Me With Apples! So what say you? IS an "unexpected" visit/in-person witching OK? I’d probably prefer to meet somewhere in town. My house is almost always a wreck, and my dogs are not shy about sniffing the crotches of strangers. I’m also famous for skipping both bras and showers on the weekend. That makes me twitchy when people drop by unannounced. Would you be interested in getting fountain pen inks or art supplies via JetPens and or DickBlick? (I know I have a wishlist on JetPens and just love using fountain pens in my artwork) I don’t draw, so I’m not sure how useful these would be for me. How do you feel about getting art supplies in general? (copic markers, watercolor, brushes, paint, sketchbooks etc.) I would love craft supplies! How do you feel about Threadless tshirts? I like! If you were turned loose in a basic drug store (CVS, Walgreens - a pharmacy with attached mini-mart, basically!) with a $20 bill, what would you pick up? CoverGirl Lash Blast mascara and a Diet Coke. Darling Witchee, would you enjoy farmer's market pickled veggies (green beans, garlic, asparagus, etc) or fresh canned peaches or something of that nature? Pickled veggies are good! Do you prefer color or white photographs? Nature or abstract? All of the above. Name your 3 favorite types/flavors of tea 1. Oolong 2. Green 3. Jasmine Name your 3 favorite scents for candles 1. Evergreen 2. Mint 3. Lavender Cthulhu: yay or nay? I have a couple of Lovecraft books that I really need to read! I like the idea of Cthulu, even if I don’t quite know what he’s all about yet. Is there something that you wish you could do, but you keep putting it off? Learn to speak another language and take a real photography class. I promised myself that I would check out some local classes when I finished grad school, but I haven’t been able to muster up the energy just yet. Witchee, have you made (or are you planning to make) any Lab or Trading post orders soon? And if you did (or plan to), you should share what you're getting? A lot of Honey Pumpkin Stout bath oil. Do you have any interest in rocks? Not like, polished colorful stones.. but like... rocks. With geologic significance! YES PLEASE! If your witch were to knit you a scarf/shawl/cowl, which would you prefer, and what features would you want? Would you prefer something light and drape-y or thick and warm? What kind of colors would you prefer? Do you have any fiber allergies or preferences? I would love a warm, thick scarf. I don’t see myself wearing a shawl or cowl. Surprise me on colors! If you have a pet, could you please post a photo of it? I really need to see what your pet, if you have one, looks like. I posted this in the main thread. Do you like/own/wear/want fairy wings or something of the like? No thanks. How do you feel about terrariums? That would be cool. I’d love to have something like that for my office. What's your favorite horror movie? None of them. I dislike movies in general, but horror movies are at the top of my dislike list. If your witch was the practical type and wanted to include one or more of your everyday essentials, what would those include? I'm talking about the bath products, lotions, face lotions, teas, food, etc that you really use every day. I have a list of well-loved teas in the “Things I’m Coveting” section of my blog. I would gladly accept hair conditioner from Cocoa Pink or Lathers & Lights, since I go through those fast. I also go through Villainess Slick really quickly. Jane Austen .. Yay or Nay? Nay, nay, nay. I put up quotes I love in my office and studio to get me going, They range from goofy to sarcastic to inspirational... Are you interested in a hand painted quote? Do you have one in mind, or a topic in mind? That would be lovely. I don’t have one in mind, so feel freel to surprise me! Do you like period or period-styled paraphernalia? Stuff like postcards, notecards, jewelry, office supplies, what-have-you? Sure! If you like manga, comics, and/or graphic novels, what is it about them that you like, in general? The story, the art/style, etc? I don’t read these. If you could choose a Smack, what would it have in it? Some combo of bluegrass, bonfire, honey nut, coconut milk, suede, mint medley, or sugared roses. If you could have a salon scent made, based on any artwork(s) what would it be? The Persistence of Memory by Dali. Are you scientifically curious and/or process-oriented? Would you like a project-type gift that allowed you do do something like make soap from scratch, take and (nontoxic-ly) develop photographs using a pinhole camera, use plant dyes on yarn or fabric, etc.? Oh hell yes. A million times yes. What's 'your' song/your theme song? “Only Happy When it Rains” by Garbage. I’m not exactly happy about it, but I really am an eternal pessimist. What would be your superpower? I want the ability to control time. There are never enough hours in the day for me. Witchee, would you like a gently used BPAL tshirt? Sure! Do you like charm bracelets? If you had a bracelet, what sort of charms would you want on it? Favorite hobbies, symbols, whatever. You know what I’ve been desperate to find? One of those charm bracelets/necklaces that kids wore back in the 80s. Like this: Would you like a photo collage based around your interests/favorite colors/favorite themes? Yeah! If you're crafty, are you interested in spoonfeather? And if so, what things there delight your eyes? I’m a fabric junkie, so I think the concept is really, really cool. But holy schnikes they’re expensive! Sixteen bucks a yard for cotton fabric is highway robbery. What is your favorite word? Scintillating What are the feelings on arm warmers? Color, style, texture, length? I would love arm warmers. Elbow length would be nice. Do you like tarts? tealights? jar candles? votives? Yes to all. What's your favorite flavor? Sour, sweet, bitter, salty? Sour by far. I adore all things pickled. So, are there any online gaming witchees who covet purchasable in-game items or other gamer-y stuff? (yup, geek question) I play Neopets, and I would love a giftcard for Neopoints. I know they sell them at Target – not sure about other purchasing locations. Is there anything you'd like from the Mütter Museum Store? I already have both of the BPAL scents, but I like the little “Heart of Gold” pin. I just noticed that Cocoa Pink has 5 ml Perfume Atomizers. Yay or nay? Scents you would like? Scents you would NOT like? Yay! I like the signature “black” scent from Cocoa Pink (in any form) and I LOVE their watermelon scents. Who are your style/fashion icons? post pics if you want! See, here is where I get boring. I can’t think of a single answer to this question. I’m just a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl; the thought of doing “style” makes something short circuit in my brain. I do wear nice office things to work (classic slacks and sweaters/button-up shirts), and I like a good pair of high-heeled shoes, but other than that…yeah no. What is your favorite coffee blend at Starbucks? If you don't have one, what is your favorite roast of coffee? I honestly don’t like Starbucks coffee. To me, their blends all taste like the dregs at the bottom of a pot that has been sitting out all day. What are you wearing right now? A crimson and white striped fitted t-shirt, jean capris, and black flip-flops. OU football game attire. What about little wee creatures for your desk or mantel, like this? That would be awesome! It's the weekend, and you find yourself without a single chore or responsibility for a few hours. Right this very moment, what's the one thing you would do if you could do anything? Play video games. How do you feel about ethical animal fiber, i.e. wool and the like? I'm fine with all of that. Meanwhile, I am asking all of you (and especially my witchee) what would you think of this (with a matching scarf) ?Kitxchey kerchief Sure! Princess Bride? Yay or nay? Oh my god, nay. Nay nay nay. I think I may be the only person in the universe who would rather clean toilets than watch Princess Bride. What is something totally random (yes, that thing that just popped into your head) that hasn't been covered by any previous questions? Uhhhhh… Not that I can think of. Is there any cheesy/non-cheesy Canadian stuff you'd be interested in? I would appreciate any and all native goodies. I do like cheesy! Is there anything you're wanting from LPMP? I don’t know what LPMP is, and my google-fu failed to produce an answer. Say you stumbled into Camp Half Blood (or whatever the Roman camp ends up being named <bounces in anticipation>), which god claims you? Huh? Do you have any bedtime rituals? Is there any particular product you have to apply or a certain shirt you wear or an act you perform to get you in the "bedtime" mood? I often apply one of the Lick It iterations, TKO, or Olisbos as my bedtime scent. Other than that, I don't need many bedtime rituals, as I have often been accused of having narcolepsy. I've been known to fall asleep mid-sentence. Basically, I sleep like a champ. Are you interested in today's/any recent Tee Fury shirts? I always like cute t-shirts. However, I don’t spend much time on Tee Fury, so I don’t really know much about their past/present shirts. What level of contact were you hoping for? I’m gonna post it straight from my questionnaire: I have had 3 quiet but wonderful witches and one wonderful talkative witch. I’m okay with pretty much any witching style! Dear witch, I am not the type of witchee to complain about witching style. I think it’s rude and inconsiderate to publicly bitch about someone who may be doing wonderful things for you behind the scenes. Is anyone else afraid of or creeped out by dummies/puppets/Muppets/etc? Other things you're squicked/freaked by that's best left by the wayside? Beetles. I freaking HATE beetles. June bugs are the worst… I'm fine with dummies and puppets. Sooooo Witchees, have you ever taken that particular personality test? If so, are you an Analytical, a Driver, an Expressive or an Amiable? I came up with Amiable, which matches up pretty well with my Myers-Briggs type (INFJ). Do you prefer a particular Alice in Wonderland illustrator (Tenniel, Rackham, Disney or others) or do you like them all equally? Interestingly, I prefer the Disney illustrations. Do you like lavender as a flavor as well as a scent? OH MY GAWD YES. Do you have an Amazon wishlist or do you belong to Goodreads or LibraryThing? I don’t. Is there anything you like or would like to try from Bath & Body Works? The only things I like from B&BW these days are the home fragrance oils and candles. I would love to get some autumn-scented oils, since I usually stock up on Christmas ones at the big January sale. So who else watched Babylon 5? I didn’t, but I’ll bet I would have liked it! If you had to decide what your stripper name was, what would it be? Using the pet + street name method, my stripper name is Taffy Cherry. Pretty good, huh? What is something people are always surprised to learn about you? Most people are surprised to learn that I started my college career as a music (clarinet) major. I made a pretty big shift when I decided to pursue science. What kind of bear is best? Good Luck Bear, of course! It's Banned Books Week! Are there any books on the list you'd be interested in checking out? I’ve read The Hunger Games series, Nickel and Dimed, and Twilight (sadly). I would be interested in reading any of the other books on that list. I have a not-so-secret love for The Broship of the Rings. Are there any prints from her store you'd like? I like the “I Hate You So Much” piece. What kind of purse do you prefer? Leather, cloth? over the shoulder or crossbody, or something that can do either? Do you like bold bright prints with fun things, or monochrome, solid colours? I’m really picky about purses. If it doesn’t have pockets in just the right place I probably won’t use it. Having said that, I prefer leather material with a shoulder strap. Do you drink wine? Haha! Witch, I’m sure you’ve figured this out by now! Yes, I am a fan of the wine. Just got back from Napa Valley, actually. JONES SODA CO has LE soda packs for The Guild, Buffy, D&D, So Cute, etc. Would you be interested in these, Witchee? If they have any in diet, sure. Who here likes Stephanie Pui-Min Law's artwork? It’s very beautiful, but not really my style. Umph! I have just been enlightened to THESE. Are these flavors relevant to your interests? Oooh, all of those look wonderful! Your favorite restaurant or type of food to eat out. Would you use a restaurant.com voucher? Groupon? Truthfully, eating out isn’t very much fun for us anymore. Because I eat such a militant diet, I never trust the sauces, salad dressings, marinades, ect that restaurants put on stuff. That equals eating a lot of plain meat and caesar salad when we go out. Don’t get me wrong, I like meat and caesar salad, but we can make it a lot cheaper and faster at home. Barbeque places are usually okay. I can usually tolerate fajitas (without the tortillas) at Mexican places. There are a lot of sports grill type restaurants in Norman, so those are decent to get burgers and caesar salad. Are there any local museums/attractions you keep never getting around to going to? There are a lot of great things about living in Oklahoma. This is one of the downfalls. We don’t have a lot of cool museums and attractions, and I’ve been to the few we have about a million times. Are there any DIY / Crafty / Free / Budget items you'd love to get but haven't noted yet? (Or, maybe you'd just like to emphasize something you may have only noted in passing?) I like cross stitch kits. There are a couple of super cool science ones on my etsy wishlist. I also picked up a book on tatting at Hobby Lobby a while back, and I’d love to get some supplies for that. Do you own a DSLR camera? Are you interested in a minky camera strap like these? What about anything from Photojojo? I do own a DSLR. Yes please to cool camera straps! Is anybody else into film photography? Interested in receiving film, supplies, etc from Lomography? Everything I do is digital these days. Does anyone else like collector Barbies? I really don’t. I had a few Barbies when I was young, but I was much more interested in my chemistry set. What small everyday items would you like, that you keep forgetting to get? I’d like a few more strainer balls for loose tea. Tell me about something you like, and why you like it. I like these African violets. The bigger one is the first violet I ever got, so I’ve had it for probably 5 or 6 years now. I almost killed it once by not watering it. It’s a little ugly by violet standards – the leaf stems are a little too long, and it doesn’t have an ideal shape. However, it flowers like crazy (although it isn’t in this pic) and it has stuck with me for a lot of years. I like the smaller violet because it was the first full plant I ever successfully grew from a leaf cutting. It is the daughter of the larger violet. Who likes silly items from Archie McPhee??? Me! I even started a wishlist there. What are you drooling over from the Sock Dreams Halloween stuff? I didn’t realize they had armwarmers! I like the spiderwebby armwarmers. Luck charms? I don’t really have any. For those of you that like candles, do you like stuff from Yankee Candle? And if you had to choose, tarts or candles? Sure! I would probably choose candles. Is there a song on Itunes that you haven’t downloaded yet? “Outshined" ~ Soundgarden Is there a rare book you’ve always wanted? Wow, I can’t really think of one. Is there anything you want to buy yourself but have been too embarrassed (R rated or pg)? I’ve been meaning to try out some fun lube-type stuff, but I’m not really embarrassed to buy it. I just keep forgetting. If you were my witchee, would you want some of my hot nuts my candied nuts my nuts covered in butter and brown sugar candied walnuts? *Butt-head voice* Uh…huh huh huh…Uh…huh huh huh… Witch, I would love some of your hot nuts or salted nuts (schwetty nuts?). Just nothing with sugar please. Do Paintbox Soapworks' Goat's Milk Hand and Body Creams sound like something you'd like to try? Oh yeah! Who's interested in Halloween: Montreal? I feel pretty meh about this one. You get a package in the mail containing 3 things you have really wanted more than anything else you've mentioned so far in this thread. (they are all reasonably priced of course! ~$20 or less apiece). What are they? 1. Original Optimus Prime figure Oh wait, you said reasonably priced. 2. Cool tarot cards 3. Honey Pumpkin Stout bath oil Is there a magazine that you DON'T read because you can't find it near you, but wish you could? Can’t think of one. How do you feel about hemp? jewelry, soap, etc? Sure! Describe your sense of humour. My personal sense of humor tends to be on the dry, intellectual side. I like comedians like Eddie Izzard and Chris Rock. I appreciate humor that isn’t afraid to be a little raunchy, but doesn’t use raunch as a crutch. Is raunch an actual word? Do you like reusable grocery bags? If so, do you like the kind that fold up (ie Chico Bags?) I would love this! I'm about to make an order from Sephora (nothing off of my wishlist, witch, so don't worry about that). Is there anything for you that you would like to accompany my order, if you're my witchee? I’ve been looking for a good taupe eyeshadow from Urban Decay. I would also love an Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner pencil in “Baked” or “Underground”. How many boxes are you hoping for? Not gonna tell you how to witch me, silly goose! How do you feel about loose leaf tea in baggies? Absolutely! How would you feel about a custom poster with a favorite quote on it and custom graphics? What quotes would you like? I love reading cool, inspirational quotes, but I’m not really big on posters. The best thing I ever ate... There is a candy shop in town that sells these little gummy, sugar-encrusted sugar plum things at Christmas. I used to eat my weight in them every holiday season. *sigh* No more sugar plums for me. Are you interested in anything in the latest round of Lab auctions on eBay? Rivet Goth was the only one that jumped out at me. What favorite song(s) would you think would translate into a cool or unique scent? “Cowgirl in the Sand” – Neil Young Hello cowgirl in the sand Is this place at your command? Can I stay here for a while? Can I see your sweet, sweet smile? Old enough now to change your name When so many love you, is it the same? It’s the woman in you that makes you want to play this game Hello ruby in the dust Has your band begun to rust? After all the sin we’ve had I was hoping that we’d turn bad Old enough now to change your name When so many love you, is it the same? It’s the woman in you that makes you want to play this game Hello woman of my dreams This is not the way it seems Purple words on a grey background, to be a woman and to be turned down Old enough now to change your name When so many love you, is it the same? It’s the woman in you that makes you want to play this game

I wore The Host of the Air today. I thought about wearing Dublin, but I only have one more application left in my imp, and I just couldn't bring myself to use it all up.

If someone were attending Disney on Ice (Toy Story 3) with a bunch of Girl Scouts, would you want a patch/souvenir? I’m not a huge fan of Disney stuff. Baked Goods? Yea Nay? If not Baked goods and you are changing eating habits..a book of recipes perhaps that will help the new eating lifestyle? Nay to baked goods, but I would gladly welcome any low-carb cookbooks. If you were to make an order RIGHT NOW, what would you order (from lab, forum, DD, TradingPost, etc)? Trading post: More Ninon bath salts! , a Carnaval Diabolique locket, Aquae massage oil Lab: Sleeping Nymph and Satyrs, The Ring, Dancing Koi What level of nudity are you fine with on items? I’m fine with nudity. Would you like other kinds of gently used items that may have come from a garage sale? Sure! Do you like cooking seasonings, like the kind you can get in ounces sizes? If so, things you'd love to try out? Yes! My favorite seasonings are cinnamon, dill, and rosemary. I LOVE mustard. Do you like any particular kinds of green or black teas or coffees that could also be gotten in bulk? I love tea of all kinds, but I have such a short attention span that I get bored with bulk stuff pretty easily. Favorite snack foods (and can they be from bulk section as well?) Nuts (especially Brazil nuts and walnuts), beef jerky, cheese. How about mix CDs? Love them! Hey, how do folks feel about little e-goodies, like links to stuff your witchee likes? (articles online, pix, fic, etc) That would be great! I don’t have a lot of time to find fun internet things these days. I love funny videos, pics, and interesting blogs. Is there any "classic" literature (Hemingway, Dickens, Elliot, Bronte, Hugo, Wilde, etc.) that you would like to add to your collection? I don’t really like most of the ‘classics’. It always makes me feel uncultured to say that, but they’re just not my style. When I have time to read, I gravitate toward nonfiction and science fiction. Candles and/or aroma melts: yay or nay? Sure! Get your music player, what are the first 13 songs on Random? 1.Misery – Soul Asylum 2.Money For Nothing – Dire Straits 3. Jumper – Third Eye Blind 4.Don’t Worry Baby – The Beach Boys 5. So Far I Have Not Found the Science – Soul Coughing 6.Satan is My Motor – Cake 7.Suffragette City – David Bowie 8. Baby Don’t You Do It – The Who 9. Tomorrow Never Knows – The Beatles 10.Just What I Needed – The Cars 11. Forever In Blue Jeans – Neil Diamond 12.Talk Dirty to Me – Poison 13.Wonderwall - Oasis Astrological charts and interpretation/ reports? Oh yes please! This would be so wonderful. So how does everyone feel about receiving ebooks? I actually don’t have an ebook reader right now, since I have no time to read anything but stuffy textbooks and journals. Would you rather have HUGE list of things your witchee wants to try or just a highlight list? Huge please! It’s always easier to have lots of options. Do you need another bpal box? If so what would your fantasy one look like? I always need a new BPAL box, as mine are constantly overflowing. I’d love something science, tarot, or astrology-inspired. Do you have any blogs you regularly read? Not really. I seem to have a hard time finding blogs that I like enough to follow. Surprise! the world has given you the day off. You hear that, no chores, responsibilities, or budget you have to follow. What would you do in those 24 hours? I’d play video games all day. I haven’t been able to do that in so long… Minion things I would want… I would be honored to receive any of MeiLin’s books! I also love collecting jewelry from BPAL etsy peeps, and I would treasure anything made by a fellow BPALer. An astrological reading would be amazing. Interesting tea is always appreciated. Booze? Yay or Nay? what kinds? Yay! I love wine, especially Shiraz, Viognier, Norton, and Malbec. Steampunk inspired items? Yay or nay? Yay! I especially like steampunk stuff that incorporates anatomical hearts and anything involving physics stuff (electromagnetism, radiation, ect). Do you like amurigami dolls? I have no idea what these are... Pirates vs Ninjas vs Zombies - who wins? Which do you love most? Ninjas. No question. Do you enjoy gardening? If so, what kind of stuff do you grow? Vegetables, flowers? I usually have a terrible black thumb, but for some odd reason I can grow the hell out of African violets. I love them, and have a collection that is rapidly getting out of control. DVDs, Blu-Ray, both, neither? I have a Blu-Ray player. If you were able to get a vintage or prototype bottle from the upcoming West Coast Will Call, which one would you want? I don’t know what it smells like, but Phyllocrania Paradoxa v1 sounds fun! What's your favorite animal? Or is there one that's particularly significant to you? Dogs! I don’t know what life would be like without them. Sock Dreams? What kind? (anklets, footies, etc.?) Sure! Anklets or regular crew length are good. Since this is a price capped round, would you rather get one "big" thing or lots of "little" things or don't care? I always defer to my witch on these matters. Do you like pirate-related things? Kinda? I think pirates are entertaining, but I don’t really have any pirate-related stuff. I’m definitely open to any funny and/or kitschy pirate items. Pillows? What size/designs/colors would most interest you? Dear witch, decorative pillows would become nothing more than dog hair catchers at my house. My dogs are allowed on the furniture, and they muck up pretty much anything else that might be on the furniture. Purses? bags? What style/colors? I’m pretty picky about purses. I actually hate carrying them, so if I’m going to be forced to have one, it needs all of the correct features. I’d probably be more open to tote bags and that sort of thing. Decorative scarves for hair and/or creative accessorizing? What colors? I’ve never been successful making hair scarves work for me. Soaps? Be specific: if there are BPAL soaps you want to try or are dying for more of, tell all here! Also, any other companies people like or love? Villainess, maybe? Or Lush? What flavors?? I kinda have a weakness for soap… I have way, way, way too much, but somehow I keep buying more. My two favorite soaps are Moona Lisa and Paintbox, and I’m really jonesing to try The Olive Tree and Blackbird from Paintbox. Would you like anything from Starring Fragrances. They make awesome hair stuff, natural deoderant, and home fragrance (and a ton of other stuff, those are just my favs)? Sure! I’ve never tried Starring, but I’m always open to getting enabled. For those who like lipgloss, lipstick, tinted balms, etc, what colors do you wear (and warm? cool?) and do you prefer something sheer or more opaque? How do you feel about shimmer? I have a warm but pale skintone with pink undertones. Anything with a blue base looks terrible on me, and I don’t look all that fabulous in peachy tones either. I would prefer lippies that are sheer (shimmer is fine), since I put a lot of focus on my eye makeup. What periods of art do you love most? Like, if someone was going to get you a tapestry or a box or some other item, what period would you want it to most resonate with? the pinks and golds of Rococo? the clean geometry of Art Deco? The romanticism of Art Nouveux? The strange lines of Cubism? Hmmm… I don’t know that I’ve ever thought about my favorite periods of art, but I definitely have a preference for geometry and bold color. My favorite artists are Picasso, Dali, Klimt, Munch, and I adore mosaic art (especially the mosaics I saw in Russia). Let's say I have a pair of something you collect, would you like one of them and we have matching things? Yes, that would be really cool! If your Witch lived near you, would you be happy or creeped out to get a "coupon" for a service like cleaning help or babysitting or dogwalking or coffee out with your Witch or something like that? Would you be creeped out if a local minion personally delivered a package to your house from a far-away Witch? Oh, I would be horrified for someone to see my messy house! Okay, it’s not that messy, but I still get embarrassed by all of the dog hair and empty soda cans that seem to accumulate everywhere. I would also be horrified for someone to try and walk my hard-headed dogs who are both horrible on a leash… Do you like poetry? Oh yes! My favorite poets are Pablo Neruda, Robert Frost and Edna St. Vincent Millay. What types of scents do you like to scent your home? Which do you totally avoid? Anything with lavender or mint! I generally dislike citrus (especially overly-tropical citrus) and mega-fruity scents. What are your thoughts on comics? Any you like? Any you have been wanting to try? Favorite characters? I have loved Spider-Man since I was a kid, but I don’t really keep up with comics in general. How do you feel about nail polish? What colors do you like? Sparkles? I never polish my fingernails, but I do keep my toenails polished. I prefer traditional reds, pinks, and purples, but I have been looking for a nice gold polish. I don’t like polish with those big glitter pieces that make it almost impossible to remove. Household/kitchen goods/gadgets? I will always happily accept any wine-related kitchen gadget. I like interesting corkscrews and bottle stoppers. Ok geek check - what sort of geeky things do you do? Do you read comics/graphic novels? Are you obsessed with something (a TV show maybe?) Do you work in a geeky field? Do you play rpgs like Dungeons and Dragons? Would you like gifts related to any of these? Now THIS is my kind of question! In my former life (pre-grad school) I was a hopeless video game junkie. My favorite games are big, open-ended, rpg-style games like the Elder Scroll series, Fallout, the Tales series (Tales of Symphonia,ect), Bioware games… I also LOVE the Legend of Zelda series. I would be so excited to receive anything video game related! As for work, I am in the radiation industry and there’s plenty of geekdom there. Yes, I am a complete geek. Bring on the science and math! Do you have a favorite fabric? If someone were to make you a fabric item, would you prefer it be out of any fabric? e.g. velvet, satin, silk, cotton, bamboo??? Would this change if it were an article of clothing vs. a bag/pillow/blanket/somethingelse? This is probably really boring, but I like plain ol’ cotton blends for crafty stuff. I’m way more into color and pattern than the type of material. Although, a silk pillow or blanket might be very nice… Anything with the Worm Moon update that you're already lusting after? Yeah, pretty much everything. All of the ‘Holding Back the Night’ scents sound divine except for Lord Teishin – I just don’t like citrus. What scent(s) are you petrified of getting DC'd? Queen of Hearts, 51, New Orleans, Bow & Crown of Conquest Violette Market Update is up. Do you covet anything from it? Banshee sounds really interesting! What is your favorite type of wine? Would you be interested in trying something new? In that case, is there anything you really DONT like? Ooooo how about dessert wines? Oh I could go on all day… My favorite white wine is Viognier in a landslide, while reds are harder to pin down (I generally prefer red over white). I’m loving Norton right now, but it’s pretty hard to find, so I guess I’ll go with Malbec, Shiraz, and Carmanere for my favorite reds. I also love a good Pinot Noir, but it seems like it’s hard to find a good quality Pinot these days. I am very, very interested in trying new varietals, and unusual blends of traditional varietals. Overall, it’s very hard to go wrong with wine. The only wine I really dislike is Chenin Blanc, and I can’t do dessert wines due to the high sugar content. Witch, although I love wine and love to ramble on and on about it, I live in a state with ridiculous liquor laws. It’s illegal to ship alcohol into Oklahoma without going through a distributor, so you can only send it to me on the sly. Wineries won’t ship stuff here. What three things are you craving right now? A day off, a day off, and a day off. Yeah, all I really want right now is just one day off. Paper goods, anyone need? including resume paper, and formal stationery as well as casual cards. I could probably use some stationary. I like pretty cards to send with packages too! What is a scent that you've been trying to find even a sample of for a very long time to no avail? (What bottle would you die to get your hands on - even a partial?) I have two: Hollyberry & Mistletoe. I would trade just about anything in my collection for a bottle. I have an imp (that’s dwindling rapidly), but I stupidly talked myself out of getting it from the Post when it was live. I’ve been kicking myself ever since. Bottles seem to be pretty scarce, since I don’t think I’ve ever seen one up for trade. Loviatar. I got a frimp of this from the lab several years ago, and thought that it was nice but not bottle-worthy. After it was discontinued (and my imp had aged a year or so), I dug it out of my imp box and promptly cried. Aged Loviatar is a thing of beauty on my skin. Is there anything in your life that you'd like advice or a "selfhelp" book for?: (ie finances, eating healthier, meal planning) Ummm…are there any books with advice for making it through your last semester of grad school? Oh nevermind, I wouldn’t have time to read it anyway. Are you interested in trying Super Villainess (from Villainess - the birthday scent that was just released tonight!) and if so, which item do you like the most? (Soap, Whipped, Smooch, Extrait, Smack...) Oh yes! I would probably prefer a Smooch or Whipped, since Villainess soap isn’t my favorite these days. If I were to order you a Smack, which four notes would you like? Suede, Bonfire, Vanilla Bean, and Sugared Roses. Would you enjoy receiving a knitted gift from your witch? If so what would you be interested in (scarf, hat, wrist / handwarmers, socks, etc.) and in what colors? Absolutely! A scarf or gloves would probably get more love, since I don’t wear hats very often. I’m not picky about color – I love them all! What scent "got away"? Anything you liked but swapped for something else and once in a while get all "I wish I hadn't done that" about it? I can’t think of any blends I regret swapping away, but then again, I don’t do much swapping. I’m kinda into hoarding. Do you enjoy pre-1970 movies? If so, who are your favorite actors/actresses? I don't really watch a lot of movies, and I tend to like classic movies even less than modern movies. However, I think that Vivian Leigh was one of the most beautiful women in the universe. I like Gone With the Wind a lot, and she was just so stunning... I love My Fair Lady with Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison. Elizabeth Taylor's National Velvet is a sentimental favorite, since I watched it a lot as a kid Would you be squicked if I made you something with a kiss print that was made with my actual lips? I’m cool with that. What is the coolest thing you have recently bought or been given that wouldn't exceed the price cap? porcelina gave me an awesome cross stitch of an anatomical heart for the Be My Valentine swap. Journals? You know what would be much better for me than journals? College-ruled spiral notebooks. I truly use a lot of those, while nice journals just sit around looking pretty and collecting dust. Rocks? I would love to receive rocks that are native to my witchee’s area! Do people like Roller Derby? If so, would you want anything from that sport? Like memorabilia or anything? Eh, not really. Clowns - boooo or yay (love em or hate em?)? I’ll admit, I totally don’t get clown phobia. To me, they’re just people dressed in funky clothes and wigs. I don’t love them either. Overall, I’m incredibly neutral on clowns. As for the scents, Knockout Drops looks pretty good, but the rest don’t really appeal. Which animals do you hate/are you creeped out by? June Bugs. I’m generally not squeamish about anything, but I will freak right out if a June Bug comes anywhere near me. Actually, I don’t like beetles or beetle-like creatures of any kind.

I'm wearing The Clock Strikes Midnight today. Tomorrow will be Vampire Tarot: The Fool, which I also wore last year on New Year's Day, and always seems appropriate for new beginnings.

I'm almost finished testing my decants, so I'll chime in! Which one embodies Christmas/Yule the most? The Second of the Three Spirits. I really wanted the answer to be Whoop, but it smelled absolutely vile on me. Best foody scent from this year's Yules? A World of Fools Best snowy/wintry scent? Waltz of the Snowflakes Best scent that you'll enjoy wearing in warmer weather? A Cold, Clear Winter Day What is this year's sleeper scent? Waltz of the Snowflakes or The Nutcraker. I think Arabian Dance is going to be the runaway hit. Overall favorite? The Arabian Dance

I wore a dab from my precious 1/2 decant of original Black Lace today. I wore Antique Lace last Thanksgiving, and I wanted to continue the tradition!

Baked goods:I'm a huge SW buzzkill in the baked goods department. DH and I eat very low carb, so all of those lovely goodies would just be wasted on us. Stuff for other members of the household: I'm sure my husband would be flattered if my witch were to remember him in a package, and my furry monsters love all things that can be eaten. However, I would never want my witch to feel obligated to include things like that unless he/she wanted to. Are you someone who'd rather have lots of small testers of different things on your wishlist, or would you rather have one or two "big" things? I honestly don't have much preference here. I love getting a chance to try things out, and some of my previous witches have sent me small testers of rare things that made me squee to have even a sniffy. *huggles my precious Glowing Vulva halfsie* Social networking/names on other sites: I have Facebook, which I use sporadically. It's friends-locked, but feel free to friend-request me. I only use my LJ account to buy stuff and join decant circles, but I'm millicurie there as well. T-Shirt/PJ size: I love PJ pants for lounging around the house! I usually wear small in everything (including shirts), but I often have to get a medium or large in women's babydolls because I can't stand for my shirts to be too short. So for those of you who are into Harry Potter at all, which house do you think you'd be sorted into? I'm definitely a Gryffindor. I have a lot of Ravenclaw tendencies, but most of the time I feel like I have more brawn than brains. I often rush into situations with completely noble (and in my mind, heroic) intentions, and then stand around going "uh... how do I fix this now?". What, if anything, is your guilty TV watching pleasure? I have plenty of guilty TV pleasures. My biggest are probably Tool Academy, Dancing with the Stars, Wife Swap, and Hoarders. If you cosplay or need a costume for your bellydance/burlesque hobby (or any other hobby which needs dressup/different from your normal wear), is there anything you need/want for it? I'm not really into cosplay or costumes in general. Celebrity crush?: Since seeing Inception, my newest celebrity crush is Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Mmmmm... My pretty consistent crush list includes Ewan McGreggor, Robert Downey Jr., and Daniel Radcliffe. I had a massive crush on David Duchovny for about 10 years (X-Files fanatic here - loves me some Fox Mulder), but the whole sex rehab thing really bummed me out quite a bit. Oh, and I think Joel McHale from "The Soup" is just adorable. Knitted things? Yes please! For the longest time I've been wanting a good scarf, some gloves, or a cute hat in crimson and cream to wear to OU football games when it gets cold. What about [mixed or otherwise] DVDs? If you're talking about movies, the hub and I just aren't really movie people. Most of our DVD collection sits around gathering dust. Now, if my witch wanted to make a DVD of 90s grunge music videos, that would be a totally different story... DVDs: Do you prefer widescreen or formatted? Either is fine. Music: Any preference towards MP3 or CD? If the MP3s are iPod compatible, that would be great. I use my iPod all the time, and have actually worn three of them right down to a nub. Which reminds me, I need to go out looking for a new one soon. Do you like scented tarts? Sure! I don't actually have a tart burner, but I'm sure I could pick one up easily enough. I do have an oil burner, and we use that very regularly, so scented oils are great too. Lip balms? I do like lip balm, but I'm pretty saturated at the moment. Pretty lip glosses are always welcome, though! Do you have any body mods? If so, do you need any new jewelry, o-rings, plugs, etc (and if so, what size, length, etc)? Do you like pro-body mod stickers? I have a navel ring that is 14 gauge. I could really use a new ring for it, since I think I've had the same barbell in there for like, three years or something. Booze. Do you drink it, would you like some? I am a big-time wine lover. Unfortunately, it is pretty much impossible to ship wine (or any other booze) into Oklahoma. I will always be appreciative of wine accessories like glasses, corkscrews, stoppers, coolers, ect., or even recommendations for good wines that you've tried. What is your favorite artist or art style? (including if you have links to favorite pictures/paintings/photographs) The art that I'm drawn to tends to be strongly geometric. I prefer things with bold colors, well defined shapes, repeating patterns. I'm a big fan of abstract art, and I love artists like Klimt, Munch, Picasso, and Dali. What is your favorite snack food, something you could grab any time? I don't snack much, but I would have to say nuts or beef jerky (but even that can have too much sugar). Brazil nuts are my absolute favorite! I sometimes snack on pepperoni or cheese. Ebooks? I don't have an ebook reader. Nail Polish I keep my toenails polished most of the time, and I've been looking for some gold polish, or maybe an nice dark mauve. Soft/plushie things Former witches/witchees have given me a few of the plush microbes from Think Geek, and I'd love to have a bigger collection of those! I already have the red and white blood cells, but I'm seriously coveting the neuron. When you go to an etsy wishlist, it will tell you what things are sold. If you click on the sold item, sometimes it will give options that are similar to what was sold, but not identical, would you like the similar item or prefer not to get it at all unless it's the same item? How picky are you? Sure, I would love any similar items, especially from shops that I've added to my favorites list. Do you wear make up? Yep, I love eye make-up. I am a huge fan of mineral eyeshadow and MAC Fluidline eyeliner, plus I'm always on the lookout for good mascara. I also emjoy good eyeshadow/liner brushes, and I couldn't live without my Shu Uemura eyelash curler. Disney movies, Yay or Nay, and favourites if you do like them? I'm not really big on Disney, although the soundtracks from Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Little Mermaid are really fantastic. Do you have A VCR, DVD Player or Blue Ray or a combo of the three? We have both Blu Ray and DVD. Socks? Anyone? Sure! I've always been intrigued by Sock Dreams, and the Trading Post socks are super cute. What is something you use to comfort yourself when feeling yucky, depressed, or in pain? Tea, baths, or listening to my iPod Would you like custom icons as a gift? Maaaaaybe... I am kind of partial to my avatar, but if someone could come up with something fun that still looked like "me", that would be open to it. What hobby/craft would you like to learn how to do? I really want to learn how to knit or crochet. I'm hoping that I'll have more time for that in a year or so. For those who decorate for Halloween, do you prefer cute decorations or creepy ones? I prefer cute for Halloween. Anything with spiders or bats is welcome in my house! How do you feel about mortars and pestles? That would be great! Do you have a special symbol or totem that is meaningful to you? The infinity symbol and the four-leaf clover Do you need a box for your bpal bottles? Your imps? Your something else to put in a box stuff? Oh yes! I am overflowing at the moment, and could really use another big box for all my BPALs. If you could go back to any point in time, where, when, why? This will probably sound boring and unimaginative, but I don’t think that I would go back to any other time. I’m pretty fond of the technology and creature comforts available in the 21st century. Favorite Halloween Candy/Treat? Sadly, I can’t eat candy. Roasted pumpkin seeds and nuts are tasty, though! Favorite Halloween/Scary movies/books Does Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein count? I’ve always loved that movie! COMIC BOOKS. Do you read them? Are there any series you like, or some you would like to try? I love Spidey! Warm drinks? I drink a lot of hot tea, and would be appreciative of either bagged or loose-leaf varieties. I also like decaf coffee, and I finally bought a fancy schmancy grinder, so now I can grind my own beans. Favorite comfort re-reads The Harry Potter series. I’ve read those books so many times, I’ve lost track of the count. If you could be any person, being, or animal from Fantasy what or who would you be? I've pretty much always wanted to be She-Ra. What are your favorite baked goods/homemade treats? I can’t eat any baked stuff, but if my witch has access to goodies like home-canned pickles, pickled okra, ect, I would be a very happy witchee indeed. If you are in school now, what classes are you taking? Does anything you are currently studying really interest you? (if you are not in school, is there anything you are trying to learn?) I’m in grad school right now, working toward a degree in Medical Physics, and this semester I’m taking Radiobiology and Physics of Diagnostic Radiology. What movie scared the bejeezus out of you as a child? Cujo scared the pants off me as a kid, and the concept still freaks me out as an adult. Name a couple of sites you frequent other than this one. I’m ridiculously addicted to little online games like Dragon Cave and Unicreatures, so I spend quite a bit of time on those sites. I also like fail blog , Cracked, and Wine Spectator. I don’t really have a ton of time to spend on the internet these days, so I spend most of it here. If you could have any creature (real or imaginary) as a pet, what would it be? I want an owl, Harry Potter-style. Do you like the Muppets? Which is your favorite? Rizzo the rat! He is so cute and goofy. Will you be going out of town during the round, or is there any other time during the round when it would not be ideal for you to receive a package from your witch? Not that I know of. If anything comes up, I’ll be sure to mention it here so that my witch knows. Would you be interested in an astrology birth chart? Yes, definitely! What animal would your daemon be? Alternately, your patronus. Most likely a dog – fiercely loyal, fun-loving, hard-working and tenacious. What's YOUR favorite word? Scintillating. Steampunk, yay or nay? If yay, what part appeals most? I really like all things steampunk. Naturally, the science aspect appeals to me the most, especially anything that involves electromagnetism. If you were to receive a knitted item (such as a scarf, hat, etc), what colors would you like? And do you have any sensitivies/allergies to any materials? Deep red, orange, yellow, and brown are probably my favorites, but I truly love all colors. I don’t have any allergies. Gift Certificate: physical or email? Either is fine with me! Favorite Yankee Candles? Or other brands scents? I’ve always liked Midsummer’s Night and Harvest, plus anything seasonal with apples, pumpkin, and/or spice. I also took a look at their website, and Lemon Lavender sounds amazing! would you like a zuni animal fetish? And if so, what animal? Oh, those are awesome! I really like the ant and the owl. And how does everyone feel about glow in the dark radishes? Cute! I like them. What places to do you visit that you'd like a gift card to? Starbucks, Target, Wal-Mart, B&N, a favorite restaurant or clothing shop? I like Target, iTunes, Ulta, and MAC Cosmetics, plus any online B&B place like Soapbox Co, Lathers & Lights, Villainess, ect. would be great. Do you hate any food things with a passion?? Tomatoes. I've despised them since I was a kid. Would you be opposed to receiving a digital version (via email) of a magazine you like but don't subscribe to...you know, in the interest of saving a tree? I'd be totally fine with that. How do you feel about stationery, like nice pens or notepaper? I always need pens. I could also really use some mechanical pencils. What kind of make-up do you wear? What colors? Is there anything you'd like to try but haven't yet? I am a big fan of mineral eyeshadow, and most of what I have is from SheSpace/Heatheresque. I really love the Archetype stuff that I managed to get, but I refuse to order from them any more due to all the shenanigans associated with the company. I can't live without MAC fluidline, and I can always use more Urban Decay Primer Potion in any shade. What would I like to try? I'm curious about some of Urban Decay's other products, and I've also never used MAC eyeshadows. As for colors, I'm a warm skintone, so I look best in gold, brown, taupe, red-based pinks and purples, and greens that don't have a strong blue tone. I look hideous in grey, silver, blue-based purple, peachy orange, and that seafoamy-type green. Do you crave many Ecards and contact or are you okay with little contact from your Witch? I want my witch to do whatever works for him/her. I did really appreciate the ecard I got on the first day of the round! However, I can be a very patient witchee if my witch prefers to ninja. Go to your spice cabinet, what are the three most used spices? Cinnamon, freshly ground pepper, Cavender's Greek seasoning Do you have a place where you list all the BPAL you have or have tried? I don't. It's hard enough for me to remember to update my wishlist. Microsoft or Apple? Eh, I'm a Microsoft girl. Ain't ashamed to admit it either. I do have an iPod, but all of our computers are PCs. What is your position on the chocolate bacon flavor combination? Probably can't do the chocolate, but please to be sending me any and all bacon related things. Where was your last vacation? What did you like most? I went on a nerd vacation to New Mexico this summer, in which I hit up all the atomic bomb testing and alien crash sites. Would you appreciate receiving handwritten letters and/or postcards (anonymous or not)? How about sending them? That would be fun! With regards to your gifts, would you prefer your presents' awesomeness evenly spread out (several packages of pretty terrific things) over the round or a slow build-up of awesomeness (going up from pretty cool things to something super-duper cool at the end) to go out with a bang? Do you have a preference? I will completely defer to my witch's judgement on this one. If you are a tea-drinker do you need a tea-cozie for your pot? Yes! For tea drinkers, do you prefer loose leaf or tea bags? I can find a use for either kind! If you would enjoy something of a knitted persuasion, do you have a preference on type of thing? Since making a scarf for someone who has 10 might be a smidge excessive? Also, how do people feel about shawls? I can’t see myself ever wearing a shawl, but I’m jonesing for a handmade scarf. Is there anything you need for your kitchen, ie measuring cups, spoons, grater, ect? I can always use more measuring utensils. Music, DO you prefer Live or Studio? Edited or explicit? I much prefer studio recordings, and am totally against censoring music in any way. Explicit doesn’t bother me in the slightest. If you are an animal lover, is there a specific type/breed that you love most? I’m a dog person all the way, and I have a major soft spot for the hunting breeds. They’re hell-on-wheels to live with most of the time, but they have a personality spark that sucks me in like a black hole. Also flowers and plants- If you like flowers/plants, do you have a favorite(s)? My favorite flowers are Stargazer Lilies, Orchids, Irises, and African Violets Do you have a favorite quotation? Song lyric? Book passage? There is a semi-new song by Train that has a great verse: “If it’s love, and we’re two birds of a feather, then the rest is just whatever.” I love the simplicity of that idea, and it reminds me of my relationship with Mr. millicurie. I could fill a page with favorite quotes from Futurama. My top two: “I can’t wait until I’m old enough to feel ways about stuff” ~ Philip J. Fry Lucy Liu Robot: “You’re cute!” Fry: “No, you are!” Lucy Liu Robot: “No, you!” Fry: “No, you!” Professor Farnsworth: “Oh dear, she’s stuck in an infinite loop and he’s an idiot!” My favorite book passage is the epilogue to Stephen King's Dark Tower series. I must have read those few pages 500 times, because I thought it was so awesome. What is a bpal scent that you've been dying to try for awhile but just can't find? (A scent where even a tester would do) I’d love to sniff Skadi on the really rare side, or Planting Moon on the not-so-rare side. Is there anything you would like that can be delivered over the internet? Things like fanfic recs, cat macros, mp3s you are looking for, how-to or amusing videos, things like that I’d love to get music or wine recs. NaNoWriMo? Nope. Sadly, my career/school choices have killed the writing-for-fun side of my brain. Every time I try to write something creative, it ends up sounding like a lab report or a procedure manual. How do you feel about silly, funny knick-knack, dollar store stuff, stickers, magnets etc? Would you like receiving that kind of stuff or rather not? Sure. Is there a specific book you've been wanting to get but haven't found the time or the opportunity to? I don’t have much time to read these days, but I’d really like to get Beth’s vampire book at some point. Do you read mangas/watch animes? Which ones? Do you have a particular favourite? Ummm…I have no idea what mangas are. A lot of my favorite video games are anime-style, so I like anime in small doses. Are you open to receiving things that are not on your wishlist, maybe something your Witch thinks you might like? Oh definitely! If you have something on a wishlist that we could craft INSTEAD of buying, though it might not end up identical to the wishlist thing, would it be okay to craft it instead? Sure. OK, I know that lots of folks love socks. Do you have a preference of length? Materials? Patterns? I don’t like overly long socks, although I think the BPTP socks are very cute. Any other length is fine. I’m also not too picky about patterns or materials. Socks are good in all forms! How do people feel about word magnets? My refrigerator is crying for mercy at the moment. I honestly don’t know where I would put more magnets. If I were to knit a scarf, would you prefer a skinny one, or a wide one? A short one, that when wrapped once around your neck will just tuck under your jacket, or a long one, at least to your waist? Long, please! How do you feel about recipes? I am always on the lookout for new low-carb recipes, so if my witch knows any, that would be amazing. What kind of a cook/baker are you? I’m actually a pretty darn good cook, but I hate to do it. Therefore, my husband is the main cook in our house. He’s also a very good cook. Are you happiest calling for delivery or microwaving a lean cuisine, Or will Food Network be asking you to host their new program? Boy, I miss being able to call out for delivery. There isn’t much we can order out these days, so we cook at home every night. If you are someone who doesn't want baked goods sent, would you like a collection of some of my favorite recipes? Sure, if they’re low-carb! If you are a tea lover, what are your flavor preferences? Green? Black? Herbal (I know, technically those are NOT teas, but tisanes)? I adore a good Earl Grey, heavy on the bergamot. One of my previous swappers sent me a wonderful lavender Earl Grey that I’ve been hoarding like crazy. I also like white tea a lot, and Tazo makes a great Berry Blossom white that is a staple of mine. Oh, and please to be sending me any tea with mint, because mint is one of my favorite flavors. Are there any particular movies, tv shows or cd’s that you’ve been meaning to buy for years but just never got round to getting? Would you mind a gently used dvd/cd if your witch had it or could get it?? I’d love to get any of the Fringe seasons on dvd, and I definitely wouldn’t mind something gently used. Is there anything from the Possets' Hallowe'en update you're lusting after? Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and The Girls Love Ginger are calling my name. Would you like a custom/altered toy either from a seller or from your witch (like My Little Pony, or a Barbie or any particular toy that can be changed?) My Little Pony would be cool. I’ve never been into Barbie. Anne Taintor, anyone? I didn’t know who this was, so I had to go look it up. Pretty cute! I like the one that says “I love not camping”. LOL! So I have a question for y'all in the hope my witchee will answer - is there anything you would like from Conjure Oils general catalogue or the new updates that isn't already on your wishlist? I’ve never tried Conjure Oils (or at least, I don’t think that I have), so feel free to enable me. I just went and checked out the website, and I like the sound of Ol’ Scratch, Pazuzu, and Succubus (oooh, African Violet note!). What is your favourite habitat and climate to live in? How about to visit? (ie. forest, canyons, mountains, by the beach; temperate, tropical...) Although I love Key West, and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Cancun, I’m really not all that keen on beach living. My biggest lottery fantasy involves DH and I buying a condo on the Vegas strip. When we go on vacation, we very rarely choose ‘chill’ types of locations. I’m much more drawn to places where I can either learn something, or never run out of things to do : Vegas, historical sites, museums, ect. What do you wish you could make/craft if you had the know-how and supplies? Specifically, which particular items? I’d love to learn to crochet and/or knit. I think wood or metal working would be really fun too. Who likes hair toys, and if so what kind? I will appreciate any and all ponytail holders. They’re one of those items that I perpetually lose. I’ve also been eyeing some of the cute headbands that people are wearing these days – the ones with little flowers and stuff attached to them. Does any art we may send need to be child safe, either in the actually safe sense or the non X rated sense? Nope! I like to live on the wild side. In the knitted/crocheted things area, would you want wrist warmers, 1/2 gloves, a neck warmer(the kind that pretty much just goes around your neck and maybe fastens instead of being long and loose like a scarf), slippers, or hats Any of these sound great. Is there anything you want from the Violette Market update? This is another company that I’ve never tried. From the Halloween 2010 section, Witch’s Apple looks amazing (clary sage and lavender = very happy millicurie), and Glowing Jack O’Lantern and Golden Autumn look great too. How do you feel about altered/recycled/upcycled items of clothing or accessories? Sure. Which web comics do you enjoy? XKCD is so me it’s not even funny (except that it is really funny)! You could probably gain a lot of insight into my personality by reading XKCD, because that writer and I have a really similar sense of humor. Anyone need address/phone type books? I think I’m pretty set on this sort of thing. Soaps : do you like them? What brands? What scents? Anything you're dying to try? Yes, I am fond of the soaps. Paintbox is my favorite, with Arcana a close second. I’d put Moona Lisa soaps higher on the list, but they’re just so darn hard to get. Did someone ask about incense yet? Would you like some? Sure. Any oddball free things you collect or would want saved for you? Hmmm…I actually can’t think of anything If you happened to be my Witchee, is there something you'd like from the Arcana Halloween update? Yes please! I will happily take any Arcana soap, and I’m very tempted by the Ruby Crow oil. How many bottles of BPAL do you have? *cough*over 200*cough Is there any exercise program that you're interesting in learning? Meditation, Yoga, Pilates, Belly Dancing, Zumba etc? Or if you do any of these (or anything else sport related) are there any things you need/want? Candles, music, mats, water bottles etc Sadly, I’m just too darn busy to do anything resembling a sport these days. Maybe for next year’s Halloween round! What's on your walls? Please show us up to three paintings/posters/whatever. If you love a painting so much that you would steal (to watch it with your greedy eyes) one, please share. All of the art on my walls was painted by a high school buddy of mine. His site is weird, so I can’t link directly to the piece that I own, but I have the one called ‘Bird Tracks’ and two others that aren’t listed. How do you feel about zombies? I actually find zombies to be incredibly funny, and I usually like my zombies kitschy, not serious. Do you like garlic? Do you REALLY like garlic? Would you want to try some really unusual garlic stuff, like garlic cheese or garlic fudge or garlic chocolate, etc., etc., etc.? I can’t stand garlic in massive quantities. I like it added to dishes in moderation, but there is nothing worse than tasting garlic in your mouth and the back of your throat all day. Ugh. Do you like weird scary things as traditionally girly fashion items like heels and handbags? Probably not, doesn’t seem like my kind of thing. What song is on heavy rotation for you right now? “Here’s to the Night” – Eve 6 Are you coveting any of the NYCC atmospheric sprays? British Blondes sounds amazing! If you could get any one thing hand-painted from your witch, what would it be and what would be on it? Let’s see…I could use a new box for my overflowing BPAL collection…a hand-painted coffee or tea mug would be cool…but truthfully, I’d love anything painted by my witch! Would you (assumin' you're a yarnie) be interested in a naturally-dyed yarn that's designed to very gradually fade with washing? I’m interested in learning crochet/knitting, so any type of yarn would be appreciated. If you have played before, what are some of the most memorable things you've gotten? What really made you go WOW? If you haven't played, same thing, but not limited to SW. This is my third SW, and I’ve had a couple of amazing and thoughtful witches. For my first round, the wonderful mountainwitch gave me the sweetest celtic pendant with two dogs entwined. The dogs looked just like my Oliver, and that’s what inspired her to pick it up for me. For the Valentine’s round, my lovely witch rayvn1 gave me a mix CD that made me suspect she and I might have a telepathic music connection. I’ve gotten other really fun gifties from non-switch witch swappers too. I got the coolest little voodoo doll from ralenth for the no-baby shower swap, who now rides around on my school backpack, and gets stabbed on a regular basis! Oh, and gypsiejolie gave me a pencil case with the word “geek” hand-embroidered on it for the Dollar Store Swap that I love and that also found a home in my school bag. Do you have a deviantart print wishlist or favourites list? Nope Do you collect stones/rocks? I'm talking like "semi" precious stones, ie moonstone, bloodstone, quartz ect. I don’t currently have any stones, but I’d definitely be interested in some. What kind of shoes do you need/want? What size shoes do you wear? Would you mind gently used shoes? I can always use more flip flops. I think I’m all set on everything else. MAC Venomous Villains? Oh hell yes! I’ve got my eye on some eyeshadows: Vainglorious, Her Alter Image, She Who Dares, and especially Melon. Melon looks amazing! I'd also like to try the Devilishly Stylish lipgloss. Would you want a local/tourist item from your witch? Like a t-shirt, mug or shot glass? Absolutely. I’d love a mug or t-shirt. Do you love the Last Unicorn and/or how badly do you want to try the new scents? I’ve never even seen the Last Unicorn. Who is your fav Disney Villian/villianess? How about hero/herione? (doesn't have to be specifically Disney though) Honestly, I’ve never really loved Disney, but it’s hard to deny that Maleficent was a pretty great baddie. Is there one scent that is your goto for comfort on a bad stressful day? Like the perfume equivilent of a security blankie? My BPAL comfort scents are Olisbos and White Light (from TAL), but my biggest overall comfort scent is Titanium White from Possets. It's so pure and bright and it makes me feel like I'm buried under a bunch of clean white sheets. I love, love, love it. Villainess has an update. Anyone wanting anything from it? Cobwebs sounds interesting, and my husband adores Killer Treez. What are you going to be for Halloween? Probably just myself. I haven’t dressed up for Halloween in years, mostly because there aren’t any good parties to go to. Would you like a sugar skull decorated by your witch? Or do you like sugar skull stuff in general? I don’t know much about sugar skulls. Are they decorative, or do you eat them? If they’re decorative, that would be really cool, but if you eat them I’ll have to pass. how are all the witchees fixed for purses--lunchbags, etc? I take my lunch to work every day, so I can always use those insulated lunchboxes. I’m kinda picky about purses, and I’ve already got one lined up for fall (yeah, I only use one purse at a time because I actually really hate carrying purses at all). Are you in need of Roller bottles or anything of the like? Yeah, that would be great! I got a roller bottle for my TKO, but I’d like to have one for some of the other sleep/comfort scents that I slather at night. If you were my witchee, would you mind a gift certificate where you'd have to do it old school style and mail it in with your order form? Sure! If there was one bottle you could have from the NYCC exclusives, what would it be? Mount Misery and Sweet Hollow Roads Would you like to receive international magazines, even if you don't speak the language it's written in, just to ogle the pictures or for the novelty of it? If yes, what kind of magazines, or what magazines in particular? Sure, that sounds fun! Would you have interest in any of the new Christmas stuff from Lush? Call me crazy, but I don’t like Lush stuff. I bought a bunch of things from the store at Mandalay Bay last time we were in Vegas, and most of it is sitting in my closet unused. Anyone like little seasonal decorative wreaths? Like gravevine wreaths embellished with silk flora, etc.? That would be great! So, who here loves pomegranates? Are the good as a fruit, a flavoring or just a scent? I really, really like the scent, but can’t eat the fruit. Haunt update? Oh witch, I bought WAY, WAY too much stuff from the update. If you managed to get some things from the update, please enjoy them for yourself, because I already feel like a Haunt hog. Heh. Now, I have a question for you. About notes. Which are your favourite ones? Do you have a kind of "note top ten?" Anything that works particularly well on you? Do you have a perfume category (foody, floral, aquatic, musky) that you favour? And are there any notes you have never tried, but think would work well on you? Favorite notes: 1. Lavender 2. Beeswax 3. Dandelion 4. Honey 5. Mint 6. Clary Sage 7. Skin Musk 8. Cinnamon 9. Vanilla 10. Pine/Fir I find that rich, heavy scents tend to work better with my skin chemistry than lighter scents. I almost never miss with honey, vanilla, and beeswax. What are you most interested in from the Yule update? I ordered decants of everything that sounded good, so I think I’m probably set for the Yule update. If you were my witchee, would you want to receive Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, or wouldn't that be your cup of classics? I just don’t have a lot of love for most classic books. I’ve never actually read anything by Jane Austen. Knitterly Witchees, would you like a yarn bowl? I’m not a knitter yet, but hopefully someday I’ll have time to learn! Right now, this would probably be wasted on me. Have you had a chance to try Halloweenies? If so, which ones are you really really in love with this year? I adore Halloween: New Orleans, Calaveras, and Pomegranate IV. I’d like to get bottles, but I’ll probably wait until mid-November. Pocket shrines! Would you like one, made for a particular obsession of yours? Those look very cool! Do you prefer scented or unscented lotions/moisturizers? Scented, please! I especially like lavender-scented lotions to use at bedtime. Today I got one of the Starbucks Halloween Bearista Bears - it's dressed like a werewolf! Is this something witchees might like? Sure! Are you interested in Halloween costumes for your pet(s)? I think this would be a riot, and would provide fantastic photo opportunities. My boys probably wouldn’t agree, but hey, they don’t pay the bills around here. LOL! Do you prefer lip balm in a tube or tin? Tube, please! Did you know BPAL is on etsy with leftover trunk show bottles? Would you like any of them? Yeah, how cool is that? I think the only one that interests me right now is Pluto. Darling Witchee, are you in on this NaNoWriMo craziness? Would you like motivational pings/writing instruments/lovely blank books in which to pen your masterpiece? I think I answered this earlier, but I don’t have much success with creative writing these days. Would you like a box filled with Christmas/Yule treats? Sure, as long as it’s not candy!

Decants from a circle run by the lovely Edens Sixth Day! Eris' Tilt-A-Whirl #20 - This is a very light scent in the vial and wet on the skin, and it's a little tough to pick anything out at all. A little bit of wildflower and some kind of light musk, perhaps? As it dries down, I actually recognize this as High John the Conqueror root, and it reminds me a lot of Hellhound on My Trail without the bourbon vanilla. Yep, this smells like a non-sweet version of Hellhound. It's nice, but not overly remarkable on my skin. Eris' Tilt-A-Whirl #136 - Wet and dry, this is all dark, honeyed fruit. I suspect that the fruitiness comes from one of the BPAL wine notes, based on the way it behaves on my skin (I amp wine to a crazy extreme). There is also a little bit of peppery spice on the drydown. It's intriguing, and I'm looking forward to retesting it again in a few months.

CT Amber #128 - In the bottle this is Myrrh! with a tiny bit of amber lurking in the background. Wet on my skin, I get myrrh, amber, and some emerging patchouli. It is smoky and delicious for a while, and then it goes through a worrisome BO stage for about 30 minutes (which is how patchouli usually behaves on my skin). The final drydown is amazing though! I think there might be some sandalwood in here too, because I can detect a hint of sweet woodiness after an hour or so. Thankfully, the BO phase is relatively short-lived. Overall, this isn't incredibly amber-heavy. It's mostly myrrh and patchouli with just a little warmth added by the amber and sandalwood. I'm going to hang on to this for a while, because I'll bet it's going to age really, really well!

Eris' Tilt-a-Whirl #134 - In the bottle and wet, this smells like Prosperity of a Country in a candy store. Initially there is a strong herbal (orris?) note mixed with sweet watermelon jolly ranchers. As it dries, the herbal scent fades and is replaced by some type of lily. Weird. In the end, this smells like candied lilies on my skin. I actually really like it, but sadly it only lasts about an hour before it fades away completely.

The Girl Wet: Initially this blend is very faint on my skin. I get a little of the florals and amber, but The Girl is definitely shy at first. Dry: As this warms up, a lovely honey-vanilla musk emerges, with the floral and amber still lingering in the background. Honestly, I would never have been able to identify the smell of birch, but somehow I know it when I smell it in this oil. It contributes just a touch of darkness to the blend without adding any heaviness. Overall: I often associate scent with color, and The Girl is definitely silver. It also has a very ethereal quality, and actually makes me think of mercury vapor. Like liquid mercury, it feels slinky, slippery, dangerous - but in vapor form it has an elusive, misty quality as well. Absolutely beautiful! It makes me feel very feminine, and more than a bit mysterious...

CT Vanilla #106 - Lots of vanilla with clove and vetiver. In the bottle it smells just like Snickerdoodles, and then the vetiver emerges on the drydown. Normally, clove and vetiver are notes of doom for me, but this actually dries down to an amazing spicy-smoky vanilla. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I really love this one. CT Vanilla #164 - Cucumber, white musk, and maybe a hint of tea. In the bottle this actually smells like honeydew melon with a hint of vanilla, but the vanilla completely disappears on the drydown. I was pretty disappointed with this one, but I'll probably retest it tomorrow after it's had a little more time out of the mailbox.

A Blade of Grass Wet: Wow, this really does smell like freshly-cut grass! It's not overly complex, just grass all day long. Dry: The leaves definitely emerge as this blend dries down, and add an earthiness and distinct 'crunchiness' to the grass. It actually smells a little peppery to my nose at this point. Overall: This blend is really quite beautiful in its simplicity. It is completely true to the concept, and makes me think of the scent of the breeze on a sunny day in early fall, when the chill is just starting to creep into the air. Sadly, it is just a little too bitter for my tastes, so I don't see myself wearing it a lot.

What is everyone's take on Valentine's Day? I love hearing these stories about family V-Day, because I have a very similar experience! My dad has bought me flowers every single Valentine's Day since I was born, and since I'm a hopeless daddy's girl, that's what I look forward to most on February 14th. It makes me choke up a little just thinking about it. So for me, V-Day has never really been about romantic relationships, and my husband and I don't really do much in the way of celebrating. In fact, we got married in February, but I was adamant that we would not have the wedding on V-Day. We had it on Groundhog Day instead. Do you like traditional Valentine's Day colors (red, white, pink, more?)? I love all of those colors! Crimson red is one of my favorite colors, and I like most shades of pink. White is always good. I'm not a major fan of bluish-purples (which is another color I associate with Valentine's Day), but I do like reddish-purples. Favorite Love Poem? Pablo Neruda is my favorite poet. I had this one read at my wedding, and it's probably my favorite love poem. I truly wish that I knew Spanish, because I'm sure that Neruda's work is even more beautiful in its pure form. Sonnet LXIX Maybe nothingness is to be without your presence, without you moving, slicing the noon like a blue flower, without you walking later through the fog and the cobbles, without the light you carry in your hand, golden, which maybe others will not see, which maybe no one knew was growing like the red beginnings of a rose. In short, without your presence: without your coming suddenly, incitingly, to know my life, gust of a rosebush, wheat of wind: since then I am because you are, since then you are, I am, we are, and through love I will be, you will be, we'll be. What is your favorite sign that spring is coming? Honestly, I'm a winter lovin' girl. I'm always sad when winter draws to a close. I do like Spring Break from school though, so I'll go with that as my answer. What's everyone's favorite semi-obscure (or underappreciated!) animal? Another bat fan here! I think they are really cool and useful, and most of them actually don't have rabies. Would something hand knit be nice for you? Yes, yes! I'd love to get something handmade, as most of my scarves and gloves are store-bought. Would anyone like receiving naughty/sexy things? Sure! But I probably wouldn't use any of that flavored lube stuff, because it always seems kinda gross to me. Who on the thread likes attending Ren Faires, SciFi/Comic Cons & the like? And do you dress up for them? I'm not really big on Ren Faires, but the husband and I have been kicking around the idea of going to Comic Con this year. I'm definitely not into the dressing up aspect of these things though. Do you need any accessories for your phone, computer, mp3 player, &c.? I have an iPhone 3GS that desperately needs some kind of protective case. I've dropped it a few times and I do not want to have to get it replaced. We also have one of those mini laptops that could use a cute case. WoW? I've never played WoW, but I do like other video games. What about handmade sewn gifts? Any fabrics you wish to/need to avoid due to allergies, etc? I'd love anything handmade! I don't have any allergies that I know of. What's your favorite candy? Alas, I can't eat candy. Kitchen Gadgets? I always love wine related stuff, and we never have enough measuring spoons! Do you like incense and/or scented candles, and are you able to burn them in your home? I don't have anything to burn incense, but I do have an oil burner. Love candles too! Would you like new nail polish? If so, what colors are you craving? Ooooh, yes please! I picked up a bottle of China Glaze polish from a clearance table at Ulta a few weeks ago that was a deep cranberry red, and it is really nice. I'm open to most colors, except I don't really like black for my nails. Maybe something with lots of fun sparklies? Think Geek plush microbes? Any of them are awesome for me, but I especially like the neuron and the blood cells. Are you a big Mardi Gras fan? One of my life goals is to make it to Mardi Gras someday. I went to NO over St. Patrick's Day when I was in college, and it was an amazing time. I have some of those big, gaudy beads with green clovers on them that I absolutely love. Boxes? For Bpal (bottles and/or imps) or otherwise. That would be great, because I'm not so good at the destashing. My need for places to store BPAL just keeps increasing. Would you use a natural sea sponge? Yeah, that sounds like something I'd use. Coffee, hot chocolate, or tea? I have an unholy love for tea, and I like it loose or bagged. I also like decaf coffee in fancy-pants flavors. Would you like some of my favorite recipes? If they are low-carb, sure! Would you like posters, pictures, art? Absolutely! Would you like Paintbox soaps? Yes, yes! I have fallen in love with them, and have some on my etsy wishlist. Your Witch is perusing the wares at a local yard sale. S/he looks down and sees [insert impossibly rare item that you've always wanted but could never afford] with a $5-10 sticker on it. Sheepishly s/he takes it to the guy behind the folding table. "Do you know what this is?" s/he inquires. The gentleman states that it belonged to his mother/sister/grandmother/Great Aunt Beulah and he thinks it's for, like, hair or something. With a trembling hand, s/hes pays the man and heads home with the inconceivable riches. So, what is this unobtainable miracle your Witch found? A mint-condition Optimus Prime action figure from the 80s. I loved the Transformers as a kid, but never actually owned my own Prime. Have I mentioned that I'm a nerd? Imagine that someone hands you their wallet and sends you into a really good bakery. They have everything, from breads to brownies, cookies to croissants, anything you could imagine, and you're allowed to pick out five things for yourself. What do you pick? I wait until my benefactor isn't looking and then sneak around the corner to the meat store! It gets asked every round but sockdreams? Sure! Do you like alcoholic beverages? If so, what is your preference (beer, wine, liquor...)? Awwww yeeeeah! I am a huge wine lover. Are you into Steampunk? Definitely. The mad science aspect of Steampunk really appeals to me, and I've seen some super cool anatomical steampunk stuff. Would you like or accept an energetically-charged item or gift? Something that had power poured into it? If so, do you have a particular purpose that you'd prefer? (Love, protection, money, etc.) That would be really nice. Although I'm not much of a believer in things of a spiritual nature, I would really treasure something that reflected the beliefs of my witch. I could really use something that reflects health or peace. I have a lot of stress in my life right now! Do you have any significant upcoming events in your life you'd like something for? A child/yourself graduating from high school/college? Are you buying a new home or car soon? Moving in with someone/getting married? Taking a new job? Moving to a new part of the country/world? Hmmmm... I can't really think of anything. Ooooh! BPAL's beloved alicia_stardust is having a contest! If you're my Witchee, would you like a chance to win these earrings? Those are beautiful! I'd love to have a chance to win those. How are we feeling about burlesque? I enjoy burlesque shows, but only really get to see them when I'm in Las Vegas. Is there anything you're lusting after in the Villainess update? I'd love more Torchsong stuff! I custom mix nail polish, a process called 'frankening'. If you were my witch, would you enjoy a custom 'franken', based on whatever colors/theme you chose? Oooh, yeah! Got anything "radiation" themed? Since everyone is spending the same amount of money on this swap, would you be interested in seeing the cost breakdown of each item in your package? If my witch found any amazing bargains, or did some really creative spending, I'd love to see it! Do you like guessing who your witch is, or would you prefer to know? Do you mind knowing? I actually like not knowing. I think it makes things more fun to find out at the very end, so I usually don't try to do a lot of detective work during the swap period. If it's going to be obvious who your witch is, would you rather she played the ninja and sent one big box at the end, or smaller packages along the way? I completely defer to my witch's judgement. One of the best things about this swap is getting to experience lots of different witching styles. Last round, my witchee was talkative and my witch was quiet. I them both! Are you opposed to vegan baked goods? Or baked goods in general? Yeah, vegan and baked goods are both bad for me. I can't do carbs. Does EVERYONE here sleep in the nude??? Not a chance. I like to feel all fuzzy wrapped in PJs. What's your favourite flower? Stargazer lily, iris, orchid Lip balm: Yay or nay? If yay, what are your favorite kinds (brands, consistency, whatever)? I have a ridiculous amount of lip balm, but I'll always take more. Isn't that the way it goes with lip balm? I have gotten pretty spoiled to the really good stuff though, so the only non-etailer stuff I tend to like is Burt's Bees. Actually, I've been eyeing some of those colored lip balms from Burt's Bees for a while now. For those that have dogs, if I were to knit them a sweater, what colour would you like it to be? Oh, that would be amazing! I do have big dogs though, so it would probably be a bigger project. Brutus is the serious one, so I'd say browns or blues. Oliver is my clown, so crazy green or yellow for him. What is your eye color? They're really weird. Like, a dark green-blue with more emphasis on the green. Gold eyeshadow looks really good on my eyes, but I'm finding that most greens and blues make them look kinda muddled. Pinky-browns look pretty good too. Oh wait, this wasn't an eyeshadow question! Hair stuff? Clips and things, do you need any? I can always use hair stuff. I use claw clips, ponytail holders, and bobby pins a lot. OPI Alice in Wonderland set? Oooh, I really like all of those, but especially Mad As a Hatter. How do you feel about home-canned goods, like pickles, jelly, preserves, stuff like that. I would love home-canned pickles or pickled okra, as long as there isn't any sugar in them. Is there anything you've had to give up that you really miss or want back? Maybe something a witch could help out with? BPAL-wise, I don't think I've swapped away anything that I was sorry about. Hmmmm... Yeah, I can't really think of anything for this question right now. What are your favorite animals? Dogs!!!! I also like bats and frogs. Honestly, I love all animals, so feel free to send me anything animal-related. Are there any accessories you'd really like? (Keychains, little purses, etc.) I always love little boxes. I could also really use a pair of tiny scissors. How do you feel about handmade stuffed animals? I would love to get something like that from my witch! I am a total Star Trek geek. Anyone else? I was a big fan of Next Generation and DS9. I despise William Shatner, so the original series never really appealed to me. The new movie was fantastic. Truthfully, I'm more of a Star Wars geek than a Star Trek geek. Astronomy? I love anything science-related. If you were a student at Hogwarts, what house would you be in? I have to say Gryffindor. I'm tempted to say Ravenclaw because of the academic thing, but when I think about the things that I value most, it's got to be loyalty, courage, and being a little rebellious. Do you have any personal heroes / heroines and why? I generally reject the whole hero concept, because I think that it implies a standard that no human can live up to. Just look at all the so called “heroes” in sports, media, government, ect. They’re all people, and they screw up just like the rest of us. I just don’t think calling someone a hero is fair to them, or to the people who look up to them. Are there any languages or countries that you’re really interested in? I went to St. Petersburg, Russia last summer, and was so captivated by that country. It’s really sad though, because it’s so incredibly difficult to travel there. I’d love to learn Cyrillic, so that I could see Moscow without having to worry about hiring a guide. Scandinavia in general is wonderful too. If you could be in any fictional universe, what would it be? (Harry Potter, Firefly, Lord of the Rings, Silent Hill, wtv.) Probably Harry Potter (post-Voldemort, of course). If you like tea, what are your favorite kinds? Fruity, sweet, chai, plain, black, green, red, white? I adore tea of all kinds. I’d say that my least favorite is anything fruity, and my favorite is anything minty. What's your Patronus? Non-Potter fans, what's your Spirit Animal? I think my patronus would be a dog. Dogs just embody everything that is good about the world. Are there any soundtracks you'd be interested in getting a copy of? I love the Moulin Rouge soundtrack, but I've already got it. Hmmm...I've been meaning to get the Elizabethtown soundtrack for a while now. [/b]Are there any books you particularly want to read that you don't mind being 2nd hand (or 3rd or 4th )?[/b] Unfortunately I don't even have time to think about reading for pleasure right now. School sucks up most of my time, and when I'm finished reading my wordy textbooks I'm usually not in the mood to read anything else. If you've got something that you think I would love, I would be happy to get it though. Loose tea or bagged tea? Or both? Both! If you could have 5mL of ANY ONE BPAL scent, what would it be? I'd have to say Hollyberry and Mistletoe. I've been kicking myself for a year for not getting that one. I'll be kicking myself this year over not getting Playing With a Loaded Gun. If you had to choose SHOES or PURSES? Probably shoes, but I'm honestly not really big into either one. If you could have one "unselfish" wish (but personal) what would it be? I wish that my husband could find the confidence to apply for grad school. He's so smart, but spent a couple of bad undergrad semesters in a major he didn't want to be in, so his GPA isn't the greatest. The GPA thing is a really sensitive issue with him, and he's afraid to face the potential rejection. I love to decoupage/collage boxes and notebooks. If you were my witchee, would you like one? What colors/themes would you want it to have? Find cute pictures--inspire me (and other crafty witches)! Sure! There aren't a lot of colors that I don't like, and I love anything science related. These are a few of my favorite things...? My boys (dogs and DH), doggie kisses, mint tea, my couch blanket, diet Dr. Pepper, listening to music in the car, finding an unexpectedly great wine, anything that smells like lavender, beautiful colors, Friday nights, great stand-up comedy, Las Vegas Are you following the Olympics? What's your favorite sport to watch? Would you be interested in merch? Yes! I love the Olympics! My favorite winter sport is speed skating, but I've also really been enjoying the ski and snowboard events. I'd never say no to Olympic mechandise!

For New Year's Eve I wore Blue Moon 2009 during the day and Champagne, Chocolate, and Cheap Sex in the evening. For New Year's Day I'm going to wear The Fool. Seems like a good choice on a day of beginnings!

Noisome Clockwork Tin Locomotive Snap Judgements: I love peppermint scents. I love star anise and vanilla and smoke. This contains so many of my notes-of-win, I couldn't pass it up. In the Bottle: Vanilla mint. It seems similar to the Lick It collection, but maybe a tiny bit sweeter. I don't get a lot of the other notes yet. Wet: This smells very much the same as it did in the bottle. There is a lot of really sweet peppermint with maybe just a hint of the star anise. Dry: Now the green tea pushes forward, lending a slight citrusy undertone to the blend. I can also detect a faint whisper of smoke and what I assume is the lubricant note (it smells oily-metallic), but it's all very subtle. The vanilla and mint are still the dominant notes here. I would like to have gotten a little more of the star anise, but overall I really like it! The throw is very close to the skin on me, but it does get a little stronger as it warms up. Final Thoughts: What an intriguing scent! I love this for the same reason that I love the newest version of The Fool - mint used in combination with weird notes is apparently the way to my heart. I'm hoping that some of the shy notes darken a little with age, because I do think that this would be really outstanding with a little more depth.

Wow, those labels are amazing! I love how the alchemical symbol for each metal is incorporated. Well, that pretty much guarantees that I'm going to have to track down some partial bottles of these!

For Thanksgiving I wore Antique Lace. It's not particularly foody, but I only have an imp and it makes me think of a fancy tablecloth or nice china. I wore Hollyberry & Mistletoe on Black Friday to kick off the holiday season!

Screaming Mandragora Snap Judgements: I got a testable sniffie of this from a decant circle, which is cool because I wasn't sure if I'd ever get to try it! I have no initial judgements, since the notes are a complete mystery. In the Bottle: Okay yeah, this blend does its name proud. Yikes, it nearly knocked me over when I opened it! It's intense, slap-you-in-the-face fruit. Very, very sharp. Wet: I get mostly coconut here. It smells really tropical to me, like a very rich pina colada. It's also wafting a little BO-ish, which is usually what happens with my chemistry when a scent has a cedar in it. Dry: This blend becomes very warm and creamy on the drydown, and I can finally appreciate the earthiness. I agree with previous reviewers: it now smells like some coconut husk has been mixed in with the fruit. Final Thoughts: This one takes you on a wild ride! It makes me laugh, because it really feels like the imp is screaming and screaming at first, and then runs out of steam and settles down. Screaming Mandragora isn't overly complex, but it captures the intended concept very well. I won't be seeking this one out, as I'm not a fan of tropical scents or cedar, but I'm glad I got the opportunity to try it!

You know, sometimes you don't need a complicated review... Candy cane in a bottle. Yum. That is all.