caseys

I love the snake pit! Honestly, they're all so great that it's tough to chose favorites. Top 5 1. Habu 2. Green Tree Viper 3. Temple Viper 4. Banded Sea Snake 5. Death Adder The only ones I don't like are King Cobra (mildew!) and Australian Copperhead. I've never had a chance to try Anaconda, but I just don't know if I could justify buying the whole pit. Snake Oil is so strong on me that most of the snakes only require about an imp wand swipe per application. I doubt I'll ever be able to use up my partial bottles!

Glowing Vulva at Ryogoku Bridge Snap Judgements: I was gifted a partial decant of this by my very generous switch witch. I put it on my wishlist because of its popularity, but I never really actively tried to find it, mostly because the lotus note is a little scary and teak often goes horribly wrong on me. I’m excited to get to try such a sought-after blend though! In the Bottle: Rich, thick cream. I can detect a little bit of sharpness coming from the teak. Wet: Initially, this threatens to go the way of Love’s Philosophy on me – fakey plastic. It also has very little throw in the wet stage. However, as it dries down it smooths out and intensifies in throw, with the teak really warming up and deepening the cream. Dry: The cream adds smoothness, the teak adds depth, the amber adds warmth, and the lotus adds a touch of sweetness. The end result is a perfect, harmonious balance between the four listed notes. It has good throw, but isn't overpowering at all. Final Thoughts: Oh wow. This is completely amazing on me! It is a very very sexy in a down-to-earth sort of way, and if I had a whole bottle, it would probably become a staple work scent. It actually brings up a childhood memory of the bedroom set my grandmother used to keep for me at her house. It was made of polished blonde wood, and I loved the feel of the smooth surface as I ran my hands over it. This scent reminds me of that wood – creamy and glowing, but sturdy. Now I just have to figure out how to get more…

Yeah, The Light of Men's Lives is probably as close to single note beeswax as it gets. Serious love.

I wore Samhain 2009! I like it better than the 2008 version, which I wore yesterday.

Mlle. Lilith, Fortune Teller Snap Judgements: I’ve never been able to get on board with the Mme. Moriarty craze. I want to love it, and I have an aged bottle of it, but it’s so incredibly overpowering on me that I just never feel very comfortable wearing it. I’m hoping that Mlle. Lilith will be a wearable version of Mme. Moriarty. In the Bottle: Red musk and coconut. Wet: Red musk and coconut. Red musk has a really bad tendency to go corn chips on me, and that is exactly what it’s doing right now. This actually smells like corn chips fried in coconut oil – not the sweet fake coconut, but more like how fresh coconut meat smells. Dry: Okay, the musk has calmed down a little. No more corn chips, which is a good thing. The orange blossom emerges during the drydown, and the pomegranate adds just a tiny touch of sweetness. In the end, this is predominantly red musk and orange blossom, with a little bit of sweet fruit. Final Thoughts: Mlle. Lilith is certainly a derivative of Mme. Moriarty. It is lighter and easier to wear, but I guess I’m just not a fan of red musk. It always seems to dominate every other note on my skin. I’ll keep this for a while to see how it ages, but right now I’m not getting horribly excited about it.

Falling Leaf Moon 2009 Snap Judgements: It seems like every time I only order a decant of the lunacy, it ends up being amazing (lookin' at you Strawberry Moon ). I think I've decided that I should go ahead and get the bottle every month just to be safe, knowing full well that this will probably fail on me. Aquatics just never seem to work, although I like opononax and oakmoss. In the Bottle: Very interesting. I can definitely smell leaves and ozone. There is a spicy component way off in the background that I’m tempted to attribute to cinnamon. However, I agree with Gwydion that it’s probably patchouli in bizarre combination with the ozone. Wet: Not much morph during the wet phase. The sourness of that labdanum emerges a little, but it’s not unpleasant. The distinct leaf smell does fade into the background quite a bit toward the end of the drydown. Dry: The ozone has mostly burned off, and the labdanum really starts to shine. Together with the agarwood, it gives a smoky, distant campfire feel to the blend. There is still a spicy, earthy undertone from the patchouli. I can’t detect the oakmoss specifically, but I think it’s also contributing to the earthiness. Final Thoughts: Falling Leaf Moon is actually much nicer than I expected, and is an intriguingly complex scent. It feels very feminine and sexy, whereas most aquatic/ozone blends always go “sporty masculine” on me. This scent is ALL fall, and in my opinion, very evocative of October specifically. In the end I don’t get a lot of rain imagery from it, but it definitely makes me think of a crisp fall night in the woods, with some distant smoke carried on the wind. I'm so glad I ordered a bottle!

The Torture Queen Snap Judgements: I’ve been very leary of this scent. I want it to work so badly, because I love the imagery, but I worry about all of the white and metallic notes. I grabbed this in a decant circle so that I could try it without committing to a bottle. In the Bottle: This smells very clean and bright. White tea and ambergris are the predominant notes that I get on sniffing. Once again, the ambergris gives this a traditional “perfumey” feel. Wet: Wow, this is just like sniffing a mug of white tea. Actually, like sniffing white tea out of a stainless steel mug, since the chrome is coming around a little. Ambergris is still doing its thing. Dry: I’ve still got the tea, chrome, and ambergris, plus the vanilla musk is adding just the tiniest hint of sweetness. The gardenia seems to be a minor player here. I can tell that it’s making a contribution, but it’s not in-your-face white floral. Final Thoughts: The Torture Queen is a light, airy, gleaming scent. Of all the Carnaval blends I’ve tried, I think it does the absolute best job of matching its artwork. While wearing this, I can completely picture the woman with translucent skin and white-blond hair, and the metal hooks that suspend her. This blend is a fantastic example of Beth’s artistry in capturing a concept with scent. It’s totally not a traditional “me” scent, but it’s so impressive that I’ll probably get a bottle anyway.

Hi Synthetika! Have you tried this thread? There is lots of good information about turning oils into alcohol sprays.

Pumpkin III 2009 Snap Judgements: I initially didn’t include this on my ‘weenie decant wishlist because tomato = eeeeewwww. I can’t stand the smell, taste or texture of tomatoes. But I love pumpkin, fir, and rosemary, so I threw it in my order at the last minute. In the Bottle: Not bad, not bad… The pumpkin is very prominent, and I can also pick up the rosemary very well. The best news? No tomato to be found. Wet: Mmmm… The pumpkin is definitely the star here, with fir and rosemary darkening it up. I’ve been disappointed in some of the other Patch blends that didn’t have enough pumpkin, so this is a very good thing. I can’t pick out any tomato so far. Throw is a tiny bit weak in this stage. Dry: Wow. There isn’t a lot of morphing from the wet stage, except for the fir becoming a little more dominant and the throw increasing a lot. The pumpkin is buttery, warm, and not-too-sweet. The fir and rosemary really ground the blend and give the pumpkin a deep green and spicy feeling. Maybe the tomato here is actually tomato leaf, because I have yet to detect any vile red tomato scent. Pumpkin III is not an overly complex blend, but it captures the essence of fall perfectly for me. It feels very natural, as if you are picking pumpkins in the garden rather than eating them in a pie. Final Thoughts: OMG I love this! I am so surprised by Pumpkin III, and can’t believe that I almost left it out of my decant order. This is going to get worn a LOT this fall, so I need to track down a bottle immediately!

Black Butterfly Moon Snap Judgements: Florals are always a gamble. If they aren’t mixed with the right things, they often become harsh, powdery unpleasantness on me. I have had much better luck with gardenia and lily than some other florals, so hopefully that trend will continue here. My wish is that the oppononax, moss, and current can hold the flowers in check. In the Bottle: Ambergris, moss, and a hint of white floral. Ambergris has a tendency to give blends that “classic” perfumey vibe, and that’s what is going on here. Wet: In the wet stages this smells very dusky. It’s like the deep blue color of the sky right before sunrise. It really smells like there is moonflower in this blend, but maybe that’s the Lady of the Night orchid? Anyway, there is a smooth white floral that I can pick out separately from the Gardenia, and together with the moss they give this blend a soft and earthy feel. Dry:In the initial dry down, the white floral threatens to overwhelm everything. There is a bitter sharpness rising up that has me worried for a while. But never fear! Just in the nick of time, the black currant swoops in and saves the day by adding just a hint of sweetness. It actually tempers the floral quite nicely. I still get a predominantly white-floral dry down, but there is enough moss and currant to keep it from getting out of control. Final Thoughts: In the wet stages, this is a very nocturnal blend that reminds me a lot of Night Thoughts from the 2008 Lupercalia series. It actually feels more like deep blue than black. I’m a little disappointed with the dry stage, as it seems to lose that lovely darkness. Be careful, because this is some strong stuff! I applied my standard two imp wand swipes, and I actually felt a little self-conscious (am I wearing too much?) all day. Overall, Black Butterfly Moon isn’t entirely what I had hoped it would be, but it’s intriguing enough for me to retry a few more times.

Do you like socks? Blankets? Wrist warmers? Arm warmers? Headband? Shawl? Or what kind of knitted thing would you love the most? Yes, yes, yes! The one thing I cannot live without is my couch blanket! Literally, I sit on the couch with a blanket year-round. I'm also a big fan of socks, gloves, and scarves. How do you feel about ghost stories? Does anyone remember that grade school book fair staple Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark? Man I loved that book. The scary axe murderer in the backseat, the babysitter getting phone calls from inside the house, dying of fright in a graveyard.... That's good stuff. Coffee or Tea? I drink my weight in tea every day. I'm a huge fan. I like coffee too, but I only drink decaf. Olive Oil? I use a lot of olive oil Lavender? Oh yes please. Does anyone in here wear a lot of dangly earrings of collect pendants of all kinds?? How about hair clips or ponytail band things? I like earrings, dangly included. I also use a lot of hair things like clips and bands. I have a lot of hair! What is your favorite historical period? I'm drawn to the Civil War period, mostly because I am fascinated by the history. I read Shelby Foote's massive set of Civil War history books, and loved every minute. Once I tagged along on my husband's business trip to DC, and drove myself to almost every battlesite on the East Coast. This is impressive because I suck something fierce at navigation! Vampires or Werewolves? Hmmm. Werewolves kinda scare me. Seems like you could reason with a vampire. Therefore, vampires. Any gamers here? Absolutely. I am a video game junkie. I love RPG style games with a great story. Some of my favorites are the Tales Series (Symphonia, Vesperia, ect) and anything by BioWare (KOTOR, Jade Empire, Mass Effect). I also love the Legend of Zelda games!!! My husband and I (no exaggerating) own every single Nintendo console ever made. Favorite Color? Orange. This is troublesome since both of my biggest college football rivals wear orange. If you wear orange in my town, you can absolutely expect to get heckled. Do you like pinup art/images? I guess I'm kind of indifferent. I do like them, but don't necessarily seek them out. Who are your BPAL forum buddies? I haven't been posting long enough to cultivate any yet. I'm trying to get more involved by doing things like this. What are your plans for Halloween? Have you made any yet? Do you have any traditions? We used to dress up and go to Rocky Horror every year at a cool little theater here, but they stopped showing it a couple of years ago. So now I just stay home and hand out candy. Describe your ideal picnic lunch. Man, I'm such a spoilsport, but have this weird aversion to eating outside. I just don't like to do it, and my husband says I'm terribly unromantic. My ideal picnic is getting a window table at a restaurant! Steampunk? Yes! I really like the idea and style of steampunk. I actually never knew what steampunk was until I got into BPAL, and I liked the Steamworks art so much that the first imp I ever ordered was Violet Ray. You're in the kitchen at the end of a pay period and groceries are scarce. Do you take the five ingredients you find first and make something fabulous, or do you order take out? Truth? I'm probably gonna run to Sonic and grab a hamburger. I'm just lazy like that. What is your favorite Halloween icon? I like spiders/spiderwebs. Also ghosts. What's your burger preference? I like a good mushroom and swiss burger. Actually, my favorite fast food sandwich ever was the Hardee's Hot Ham and Cheese, but we don't have any Hardee's restaurants here anymore. Favorite childhood toy? Transformers! My first crush ever was on Optimus Prime, and the modern movies just break my heart because they changed a lot of my favorite things. I was also a huge fan of She-Ra. If you have a pet, what kind of gifts would be good for them? I have two dog-sons, Brutus J and Oliver. Cool collars are always good, and those really tough Kong toys. Oliver can skeletonize a regular toy in 3 minutes flat. Also, we are forever having to get their name tags remade, because the cheapo ones just get scratched up so easily. If you could redecorate one room in your home? Actually, we are currently converting a spare bedroom into a swanky little wine room/den. The walls are plum-colored, we have two cool camel-colored recliners, and we just found a killer deal on two wine refrigerators. We're looking for all types of wine-themed stuff to finish it off. Any rabid sports fans out there? What teams do you root for? YES! I am a huge college football fan. I just watched my beloved Sooners lose their opening game. I'm also huge into college basketball. Favorite animal? Dogs! Favorite flower? Stargazer lilies, orchids, irises Phobias? I don't know if this counts as a phobia, but I HATE misty water in my face. Like when it's just barely spitting rain and you have to walk somewhere outside. I'm also pretty claustrophobic. This is how the world ends... zombie apocalypse, robot uprising, alien invasion, return of the elder gods... which doomsday scenario do you prefer (or make your own!)? Well, I'm not sure about the whole world, but I'm pretty sure one of these days the US is going to get wiped off the map when that Yellowstone volcano erupts. In the year 2525... if man is still alive... what sort of future do you imagine? Hmmm. I tend to believe that old cliché the more things change, the more they stay the same. In 500 years time, there will no doubt be a million fantastic new advances in medicine, technology, transportation, ect. I think there's a good chance that humans will be living longer, and perhaps looking much more bionic. Buildings will keep getting bigger and taller. Maybe some of us will even be living in space. And could someone please invent the flying car already? But it's also inevitable that big leaps forward will bring new challenges and troubles that we can't even fathom yet. Maybe the longer lifespan of humans will make planet overcrowding a major problem, or will introduce new late manifesting diseases (like heart disease to us, for instance). On the outside it will be different, but I think the struggles of humanity will always follow a recognizable pattern. Do you believe in magic (or magick, if you prefer)? What does it mean to you? I think the fact that we exist on this planet is magic. I think the fact that this planet exists in our universe is magic. On a smaller scale, I feel like being in the exact right place at the exact right time to meet my husband was magic. Yes, I definitely think it's all around us. If you found the puzzle box from Hellraiser, what would you do with it? (and would you be able to resist playing with it?) As much as I like puzzles, I'm leaving that bad boy alone. How would you spend $500? I'd buy the Snake Pit. Then I'd give the rest to my husband to buy video games. Are you an avid reader? What's your favorite book/series? Unfortunately, I don't get to read as much as I'd like right now due to school. I really love the Dark Tower series by Stephen King, and the Harry Potter series of course. I actually read more non-fiction than anything. Superpower? I wish I could control time. I always feel like it's slipping away. If I send you whole spices or coffee beans, would you be able to grind them or would you prefer them preground for your convenience? I use preground coffee. I wish I had a grinder though... Do sounds make you happy? What ambient noises make you smile? Skates on an ice rink, my dog snoring, the garage door opening (hubby's home!), chalk writing on a chalkboard How do you scent your home Tarts, reed diffusers, BPAL, candles? I like oil burners and tarts For the tea and coffee drinkers: Opinion on tea- and/or coffee-related accessories/etc? (Teaware, sugar crystals, infusers, tea chests, etc)How do you take your coffee (or tea)? Black or with cream and/or sugar? I'm dying for one of those little asian-style teapots - the cast iron ones. Do they have a specific name? I could also use a bigger tea chest, as mine is bursting at the seams. I drink coffee with full cream and Stevia, tea with Stevia and sometimes cream (depending on the tea). In your perfect world it is chocolate and...? Sorry, but I can't beat the Alan Rickman answer. What can I say? The man is like buttah. Of course, we're all going to be grateful no matter what our witches give us, but for the record, what is your anti-present? Tell us something that you think your future witch might give you that you absolutely, unequivocally DO. NOT. WANT. Candy or sweets of any kind. My body, it does not like. Actually, I take that back. I eat 85% dark chocolate. here is a question.....when you receive your sw packages...do you like receiving things that are individually wrapped inside? or unwrapped? or both? Wrapping is cool, but I'd never begrudge anyone for not doing it! What fictional character do you identify most with and why? Although not incredibly original, mine is probably Hermione Granger. I love learning, and I have a tendency to look at every situation from an academic standpoint. I also have a tendency to be an ego-trip know-it-all sometimes. But I'm fiercely loyal to those I love, and I would probably do just about anything for anyone, regardless of what it cost me personally. Could you use a 'travel' imp case? How many should it hold? Yes, that would be great! I usually have around 5-6 imps in my purse at any given time. Do you have a blu-ray player? No What's something you're really looking forward to in the semi-near future? We're going to Las Vegas in December, and I'm bursting at the seams to get back there. We used to go multiple times a year, but it's been over a year since our last trip. What was your favoritest job ever, and why? I actually haven't had a lot of jobs in my life. I worked in my mom's accounting firm in high school (HATED that), at a mall shoe store during college (lot of bad memories from that), as a nuclear medicine technologist out of college, and now in radiation safety. I guess in a pure sense, I liked the nuc med job best, but couldn't deal with all the hospital bureaucracy garbage. I don't have a lot of ancillary junk with the radiation safety job, but I really miss working with patients. *Shrugs* Are there any childhood shows/movies/games/books/ect. that still hold a really special place in your heart? The Pokey Little Puppy! I wore that book down to a nub. What BPAL scent have you never tried but always wanted to? GC: Yvaine!! Also O. I just keep not trying it for some reason. LE: I'd love to try Ice Queen or Skadi, but I don't pursue them because of the rarity. What scent have you tried and LOVED, and haven't been able to get more of and why? Winter Holiday Stress Relief. I adore the bath oil, but the perfume is rare and tough to find. As a witchee, would you prefer to have many little packages sent to you throughout the round with a not-so-big final package or fewer things throughout the round with one huge final package to seal the sweetness? I like the idea of little gifts along the way, but I'll honestly be happy with whatever my Witch wants to do! Who are your favorite artists/illustrators/art periods? I'm a big fan of Munch, Klimt, Picasso, and DaVinci's journal sketches (Vitruvian Man, ect.). Also, we visited St. Petersburg, Russia this summer, and I was completely blown away by the art there. Not so much the traditional art in the Hermitage (although standing in front of so many Rembrants was pretty amazing), but the mosaic art in the churches. The Church on Spilled Blood just sucked the breath right out of my lungs when we walked in. My house is full of art by one of my high school friends who is a pretty prominent local artist here. I love supporting local artists! Do you believe that we control our destiny, or does destiny control us? Both. I think that we make tons of decisions each day – from as trivial as what to eat for lunch to as important as whether to ask someone on a date - that represent us controlling our own destiny. Those decisions then branch out over and over (the food that you ate gave you food poisoning which caused you to miss work which caused you to get fired), which is destiny controlling us. What one thing that is missing from your life would you like to have above all else? I'm actually pretty lucky in that I don't feel like there is a lot missing in my life. I guess I'd like to have a better relationship with my sister. We were so close as kids, and for some reason grew worlds apart as adults. What GC scent have you been putting off since it'll “always be there”? I've been meaning to buy bottles of Snake Oil and Golden Priapus for ages. What is your idea of a perfect evening at home? My husband and I have a ritual on Friday nights. We get a nice wine, cook a nice dinner, and spend the evening watching something fun on TV with a warm little buzz going on, knowing that we don't have to go to work for two days. I look forward to it all week. How often do you update your wishlist? I've been trying to update it pretty regularly (once or twice a week). May I help you fill out your costuming wardrobe (assuming you costume)? I don't really have any opportunities to do costume stuff. Are you on any social networks? I caved a few weeks ago and got on facebook. Feel free to friend me up! Do you have any objections to receiving downloads? I'm kind of a purist about downloads. I use iTunes exclusively for music, and I don't watch a lot of movies. *Hint for my witch – I iTunes gifties!* You're at home, or out, and you want a snack. Something that will get you through to the next meal, or through to the end of school or what ever. What do you grab? Probably some nuts or sugar-free jello. I don’t really snack much. Your one absolute favorite, BPAL: For now it’s Sunbird. I have a hunch about Under the Harvest Moon though… Do you have a favorite BPAL bottle art? I really love the Sleepy Hollow series from Halloween '07. Are there any decants from the Halloweenies, Literary Vampires, Gris Grimly, or Hellboy that you would be interested in receiving? I would like to try some of the Hellboy scents. I think I’ve got everything else that I want coming in decants. What's autumn like in your neck of the woods? What do you love and/or hate about it? Autumn, what's that? Hah! Seriously, in Oklahoma spring and fall just wave hi on their way to another state. Although I don't know where they go, because it seems like a lot of people here are in a similar situation. We are having some unseasonably fall-ish weather right now though, which is nice. It's usually still miserably hot in September. If you're caught in front of the TV, what are you watching? Family Guy, Futurama, The Daily Show, Southpark. I love irreverent, raunchy humor! I have also really gotten into Fringe, as I have been mourning the X-Files for about 7 years now. How do you feel about Halloween music? Mmmmm... Not really a huge fan. Who else is reeeeeally looking forward to Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland? I'm not a movie person, but this actually looks pretty good! I will pretty much see any movie with Johnny Depp, because I think he's scrumtrulescent. Lolcats....yeah or nay? I hate to admit it, but I find some of these to be quite hilarious. For the crafty people out there: would you prefer something crafted or crafting supplies? I love handcrafted things! I used to be really into quilting, but I just don’t have a lot of time to do it anymore due to school commitments. So sadly, craft supplies would be wasted on me right now. Do you have a favorite poem or poet? I’m a huge fan of poetry, with Pablo Neruda being my favorite. In lieu of songs, I had two of his poems read at my wedding: Sonnet XVII (I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz…) and Sonnet LXIX (Maybe nothingness is to be without your presence…). Oh how I love him. My other favorites include George Gordon Byron, Edna St. Vincent Millay and e e cummings. One of my very favorite poems is The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes. I read it in high school, and have been captivated by it ever since. Can you use pill boxes, a hard ID case, coin purse, etc? Yes, coins are forever rattling around in the bottom of my purse! Any songs you are desperately into at the moment? I just discovered Regina Spektor (not sure why it took me so long), and I am really into Sampson right now. Would you like to receive something of this nature (sweet diva boxes) from your witch? Sure! Super villain or vigilante? Probably vigilante. I just don't have any desire for world domination, but I could probably get behind handing out some justice. Pirate or Ninja? Definitely ninja! I mean, I did skulk around here for a year and a half without posting... I like to be stealthy. Does anyone have any symbols they consider to be personally significant or talismanic? Math symbols (infinity, pi, phi, ect.) are a huge part of my life. I particularly love the infinity symbol, because, to me, it represents endless possibilities. Are there any Gods, Goddess, or other mythological figures of whom you're particularly fond? I like mythology, but I don't suppose I ever really got overly attached to any of the figures. Are there any musicals you love? Les Miserables, Phantom, Jekyll and Hyde, South Pacific, Little Shop of Horrors, Evita, My Fair Lady, Man of LeMancha, Chicago, and I could go on all day. Yes, I am a fan of the musical! How broad are your musical tastes? Very, very broad. My father is a music junkie, so I actually grew up listening to both my generation's music and his generation's music. I would probably kick some major butt on one of those music lyric game shows (except for the singing part, which would be epic fail... ). Music is a major escape for me, and one of my greatest pleasures in life. Would a “gift” donation to one of the organizations/causes you support be a great gift, or a lame gift? Great gift! Which of the seven deadly sins is most likely to be your undoing? I ask this because I have a weird fascination with the seven deadly sins, and I sort of unofficially collect anything I find that is related to them. My sin is absolutely, unequivocally pride (which is luckily the mother of them all ). I put myself in sticky situations all the time because I'm usually to proud to ask for help, and I often take on too many responsibilities because I don't want people to think that I can't handle everything that is thrown at me. I have a tendency to define myself by my accomplishments before anything else, and I'm self-critical to the point of insanity. Just about everyone in my life tells me that pride is going to kill me one of these days! Who is musically inclined? What instruments (voice counts) do you play? I really wish I could sing. I have this fantasy of being able to actually pull off karaoke, but alas, the genetics were not in my favor. I am on an origami crane kick recently, so I wonder if anyone will be interested in origami crane earrings, origami crane in a glass vial (~1.2cm wide) phone charm/pendant or just a container filled with cranes of different sizes. Cool! I like stuff like that. How do you feel about clothing/accessories made from animals? Anti-fur, leather, shells, etc.? Does even faux wig you out? The only thing that I would probably dislike is real fur. How do you deal with stress? What's your favorite way to unwind? A bottle of wine and something good on TV. I also like baths with fun smellies in them. You're given the opportunity to apprentice at any trade (or craft) of your choosing for the period of one year. Your mentor may be any currently living person. Which field of study would you choose, and who would be your mentor? I have to agree with cam on this one. I’d love to learn how to make wine. As far as a mentor? Well, some of the best wines I’ve ever tasted came from the Glaetzer Winery in the Barossa region of Australia, so I’d probably choose them. Anyone want a nickname and embroidered headband from PandaBite? Okay, I had never heard of this, so I googled it. Yes, definitely! This is too much fun! Do you wear lip gloss/lip balm? If so, what flavors/scents? Yes, I can’t live without it! I actually really like Cocoa Pink’s lip balm, but I don’t even think they make it anymore (plus I’m kinda done with the company in general). I also ordered some Moona lip balm in lavender/chocolate that was amazing. I like flavors that are off the beaten path, as it is tough find non-fruity lip balm. Lusting over anything from the Trading Post lately? Pumpkin Pie bath oil, the Lucy bath oil, any of the GC bath oils, the Phoenix Steamworks tshirt, and I keep waffling about whether to buy a Boadicea set. I have lots of BPTP wants! Do you like Villainess soaps? What are your favorite scents? Yes, oh yes. Canaan, Pyromania, Gingersnapped, and Antihero are my GC faves. I will try pretty much every Black Label soap that Villainess releases! Anyone ready for the new carnaval update? Yes! Are you into 80s movies (like i am ) if so, which are your favorites and who are your favorite characters? Ferris Bueller’s Day Off = best 80s movie ever!! The Breakfast Club is a classic. Dirty Dancing was the defining chick flick of my generation (how many girls my age used to wear rolled-up jean shorts and Keds with no socks?). Back to the Future, Gremlins, Adventures in Babysitting! I could go on and on. I love 80s movies. What are your favorite fruits? Unfortunately I don’t get to eat fruit anymore. What is one thing you constantly keep with you that you constantly lose? Pens. I have a million pens and I lose them all. Therefore I always need more pens. sock dreams? Sure, that website looks cool! I mostly like the short socks. Who wants hair pretties?(headbands, barrettes, pony-o's, scrunchies, bobby pins, hair clips, etc) I can always use bobby pins and ponytail holders (the plain black kind). I also use small claw clips a lot. Do you drink alcohol? Wine, beer, or liquor? What is your favorite wine/beer/mixed drink? I love wine. I go through phases, but I'm loving Malbec right now, and I've got some nice '05 Bordeaux bottles that I'm trying very hard to age and not drink. I really don't drink beer or other liquor very often. I do like a good Gin. Do you like to find out there's a package on the way or to receive a tracking number to stalk, or do you prefer surprise packages? I do like surprises, but I will defer to my witch's judgment on this one. If Beth made a perfume called “switch witch” what notes would be in it? Predominantly black musk, opopponax, and licorice mixed with bright citrus and ozone. I see it as an eclectic mix of dark and sneaky mixed with cheer and energy. if i were your witch, and i wanted to make you a spell or mojo bag, would you be into that? and, if you were, would you want it for something like love, prosperity or luck? or would you want it for a certain element? or would you want it for something more personal- and what might that be? This sounds very nice! I don't know much about this sort of thing, but I like the idea. My current needs? I could really use something relating to patience and perserverance (for school-related stuff), and prosperity is always a good thing. As far as elements, am a Taurus, but have always been much more connected to the fire element. I have never felt like I represent Taurus well. Maybe I should have a full chart done sometime... Would you object to anonymous postcards (real ones) from your witch before the big reveal? Sure! I wasn't sure how this would work, since it's my first SW round, but I'm starting to think that more contact makes it more fun. For you tea drinkers, are you partial to tea bags or loose tea? How about tea paraphernalia? I like and use both tea bags and loose tea. I take tea bags to work with me, and drink loose at home. I am always up for tea paraphernalia! I like teapots and cool little teacups and stuff like that. Which shoes do you own that are your favorite? What are your “daily drivers”? I wear heels or dressy flats to work, but any other time you will find me in flip flops. I've been known to wear flip flops and a coat in the winter! Sometimes, when I'm feeling adventurous, I'll wear a pair of tennis shoes. I'm not exactly a fashionista. WKAP Scents? I ordered BBJ&S and Joyeaux Noel last night. I'm very curious about Occurance at the Diner and Unexpected Gold Hazard. Describe yourself in 5 words Eccentric, Proud, Analytical, Emotional, Generous Are there any languages other than English that you love? When I was in Russia this summer, I fell in love with the language. I also took some French in high school, and would really like to expand on what I already know (which is like, 5 words). I really feel like only speaking one language is a great deficiency in my life, so when I'm finished with grad school I've promised myself that I will take some language classes. I enjoy taking blank esssay-type notebooks and decorating them for journals. Would my witchee be interested? Or would anyone like one for their own witchee (color/decor suggestions taken gladly) I love the idea, but sadly this would be wasted on me. I just don't use journals. Are you an Formula 1 fan and will you like a F1 lanyard (& the pass)? Nope Is there anything you want from the Arcana update? I love Arcana soap, and all of the new ones look fantastic! Perfume-wise, I already purchased Holy Terror but Haint looks interesting. I would also love to try any of the sugar scrubs. What tarot card do you most identify with? At this point in my life, probably the Hermit. What are your thoughts on Halloween decorations? I'm for them! Do you like Celtic things? (Clothes, jewelry, pictures, ect) I think Celtic knotwork is very cool. I probably wouldn't use pictures or clothes though. Would you like more contact from your witch? (I'm talking particularly about email) I put on my questionnaire that I would probably like a medium contact witch, because I was unsure about the whole switch witch process. I've realized now that contact makes this whole thing much more fun. I don't necessarily need emails every day, but an e-card every now and again just to know that my witch is thinking about me would make me smile. I did receive a very cute e-card at the beginning of the round, and it was much appreciated! Can you receive flowers at your address? Not at the address listed in my questionnaire. My husband and I both work during the day, so no one is home! What about 2010 wall calendars? Or 2010 journals or appointment diaries? What subject? I always need a wall calendar for work. I don't really use journals or schedule books. As far as subjects, I try to find funny stuff like cartoons. Do you use henna at all (hair or skin)? Nope Suppose I have a bottle of something you (my witchee) really wants, and I want to share it with you. Would you like a rollerball bottle made from oil in my own bottle in it? Sure! How many people dress up for Halloween? And, what are you going to be this year? Do you need anything for it? Sadly, no one that I know ever throws any Halloween parties. I have no place to wear costumes. Do you need anything from the Possets update? Oh god, yes. I need waaaaay to much from the Possets update! Let's see....Cootie, @!%&, Choc-O-Lantern, Ghost Fart, Pumpkin in Rehab, Smellbutrin, The Awakening Conscience, ect., ect, … Give us 5 blogs/websites you check every day!(besides BPAL.org/Facebook/LJ) 1. fail blog 2. cracked.com 3. espn 4. cnn 5. my banking websites (I'm a bit obsessive about keeping tabs om my accounts). Do you have a celebrity look a like? I’ve never been told that I look like anyone else, and I can’t really think of anyone myself, so I guess not. What DVD or CD are you embarrassed to admit that you want badly? I have absolutely no shame when it comes to music. Would you like some homemade food from your witch? I eat such a restrictive diet, I’m actually really nervous about food that I don’t make myself. Please don't take offense, witch! I'm just really, really obsessive about what I eat. Plus most of the stuff I eat would probably be difficult to ship! Do you want anything from the Haunt update? I’ve never used anything from Haunt, but it all looks fantastic! I’m always, always interested in being enabled! Comic books/graphic novels? I’ve loved Spiderman since childhood, so I love Spidey anything. What are your feelings towards the Batman Begins or Quantum of Solace movies? Batman was good. I am not a James Bond fan. If you had a machine that could take you to an alternate dimension that you could control or would like, what would be in it, who would be there, and how long would you stay? My alternate reality takes place in a world where I don’t have diabetes, I actually get along with my husband’s family, and I have the time and space to own about 500 dogs. Oh yeah, and I also won the lottery so I can afford to travel the world, or just goof around all day playing video games or doing artsy projects. New BPAL update? I went ahead and ordered Raven Moon and Pa-Pow, but I did add a bunch of Marchen imps to my wishlist. What are your thoughts on masks? They are cool in concept, but I don't really know what I'd do with one. Would you wear a name necklace (like carrie has from sex and the city?) A thousand times no! Do you like/collect any toys? In general, no, but I used to LOVE the Transformers as a kid. I'd actually love to get my hands on an original Optimus Prime, because I totally had a cartoon crush on him. are you going to reveal yourself or do you want your witchee to let you know that they know if they do?? I'm absolutely going to reveal! That seems like a big part of the fun. I'd also love to know who my witch is! When are you planning to send your final/reveal package? I'm trying to decide whether to time my reveal package to arrive on Halloween, or if I should send a little Halloween package and do the reveal at the very end. It's a tough decision. Ever worried my witch won't like her stuff? Yes! I'm always paranoid about that kind of thing. It's the perfectionist in me. Do you all like board games (like Scrabble, Yahtzee, etc)? I do like board games, and I don't have very many at all. I'm a big fan of Trivial Pursuit and Clue.

Updated 09/15/2011 My etsy wishlist: here This (size medium, color dark red) This (size medium, color yellow) Lathers & Lights stuff Olive & Honey Shampoo Brilliantine Cream Honey & Jojoba Conditioner Body Smoothie* Cocoa Pink stuff Shine+ condtioner Junket solid conditioner* Any of the hair or body sets Villainess Smack! Slick! (I go through this stuff like you wouldn't believe) Tea Golden Moon Lupicia 52Teas Teavana I love MAC Fluidline eyeliner (Macroviolet is my fave) and eyeshadow brushes! Vivani or Lindt 85% dark chocolate (plain, not the kind with the fancy flavors or nuts or anything) Fun-flavored decaf coffee beans. Neil Gaiman books. I've read American Gods, Good Omens, and Anansi Boys BPTP bath oils and bath salts Cute PJ sets (but I don't like anything made of flannel) New low-carb recipes Any interesting tarot decks or books on tarot A professional astrology birth chart

Hideous Heart Snap Judgements: I’m a big Poe fan, and although Tell-Tale Heart isn’t my favorite Poe story, it’s the first one I ever read. Add that to the fact that the note list reads like a dream, and Hideous Heart sounds right up my alley. In the Bottle: Cherry Jolly Rancher! Jolly Ranchers have a very distinct scent to my nose – they smell *clear*, kind of like how I imagine flavored glass would smell. That’s what I’m getting here. Wet: The cherry is still here, but the licorice is starting to darken the scent now. Instead of Jolly Rancher, now it’s Twizzler. It’s beautiful, but there is very little throw, and I literally have to get my nose right up on my skin to smell it. Dry: I’m picking up all of the notes now: cherry, licorice, and tiny hint of cinnamon. It smells exactly like a Twizzler with a light dusting of cinnamon! If you’re worried about the cinnamon, don’t be, because it’s very subtle in this blend. Final Thoughts: This breaks my heart! Hideous Heart is gorgeous, especially in its simplicity, but it just disappears on my skin. I’m going to have to think about whether I want to keep it.

The Sluggard Snap Judgements: I very rarely purchase imps directly from the lab. I usually just like to be surprised by whatever frimps I get with my LE orders, but I made an exception and ordered an imp of this when the new Mad Tea Party update went live. I love the ho wood in Habu, gardenia is a floral that I can usually wear, and pear is good on me as well. Anything with lavender will always get my attention. In the Bottle: Pear and frankincense. I'm sad that I can't detect any lavender. Wet: Frankincense has a tendency to smell mildewy on me, and it's really skirting the edge right now. However, I'm getting some nice gardenia and pear, so hopefully the frankincense will behave. Still no lavender. Dry: The lavender has finally emerged! This is incredibly well-balanced and creamy when dry, and the frankincense loses that musty vibe. The sweet pear takes some sharpness out of the lavender, and the frankincense spices it up a bit. Gardenia lingers in the background, giving The Sluggard a creamy and feminine undertone. I actually get a mental image of pouring purple and green paint into a can of white paint and then feeling the thick, slow texture as it is stirred. Final Thoughts: This is beautiful. It definitely has a lazy feel – like something you would wear on a summer weekend with jeans and a t-shirt. To echo previous reviewers, the creaminess of this blend is really what makes it shine, and what ties it in perfectly to the concept of a sluggard. It fades a little faster than I'd like though (about 3-4 hours), so I'll let it age a little and then test my imp a few more times before I commit to a bottle.

TKO Snap Judgements: I have an obsessive love of lavender. There's no way this could go wrong. In the Bottle: Sugared lavender. Awww yeeeah! Wet: This scent doesn't morph at all on me. Sweet lavender vanilla goodness. Dry: See above. Final Thoughts: You know that blissful moment when you wake up early on your day off, all warm and snuggly under the covers, and then realize that you get to go back to sleep? In my mind, that moment smells like TKO. It doesn't get much more perfect than this. :love!:

Sacrifice Snap Judgements: I have to be honest. I kinda jumped on this scent because of all the forum buzz, not necessarily because I have a huge fondness for western scents. I do really like sweetgrass, sage is usually good, and the right kind of leather can be very nice. Still, I expect it to smell better on DH than on me. In the Bottle: I get sharp, metallic blood tang immediately. It really reaches out and smacks you in the face. There is a whiff of leather in the background. Wet: The blood doesn't seem to carry over to my skin, which is a good thing. Instead, I get a leather that is very reminiscent of the leather in Doc Constantine. Sweetgrass and sage show up to smooth out the blend after about 5 minutes. Man, this kind of amazing! It is very, very mellow and surprisingly unisex. Dry: Woodsmoke becomes much more prominent in the drydown, and I'd swear there is vanilla or some kind of dark amber in here. Whatever it is, there is a sweetness that keeps the woodsmoke from becoming too bitter. It also seems to hold the cedar in check, giving the blend a nice spiciness instead of that hamster cage vibe. So I've got soft leather, dry grass, sage, and woodsmoke underscored by a spicy sweetness. Very, very nice. Final Thoughts: I feel very lucky to have gotten my hands on this one! It reminds me a lot of Doc Constantine, only sweeter and softer. I usually can't pull off the supposedly masculine blends very well, but I find this to be very wearable. In fact, I think it smells better on me than on the DH! This bottle will be cherished.

I am married to a man who can play the Star Wars soundtrack and quote the movie along with it. I've seen Star Wars waaaaay to many times... The Emperor Malediction - Evil incarnate. Revel in your dark side with this romantically cruel scent. Red patchouli and vetivert. Darth Vader Oblivion – Salvation found in darkness beyond darkness, the blessed sleep of nothingness. Dark musk, wood spice, labdanum, patchouli, dark African woods and saffron. C-3PO Phoenix Steamworks – Burnished gold and oiled bronze notes with Abramelin incense and sage. Mos Eisley Cantina Juke Joint – A bawdy, gleefully wicked and unruly scent: Kentucky Bourbon, sugar, and a sprig of mint. Luke Skywalker Scarecrow – The scent of a hot wind blowing through desolate, scorched, barren fields. The Lightsaber Ultraviolet – Electrifying, mechanized and chilly – the scent of crushed blooms strewn on cold metal. Lush violet and neroli spiked hard with eucalyptus and a sliver of mint. Lando Calrissian Velvet – envelop yourself in the soft, sensual embrace of gentle sandalwood warmed by cocoa vanilla and a veil of deep myrrh Yoda Bayou – A lazy, warm deep green scent with a thick aquatic undertone: Spanish moss, evergreen and cypress with watery blue-green notes and an eddy of hothouse flowers and swamp blooms. Leia The Lady of Shallot – The scent of calm waters just before a raging storm, limned with achingly-beautiful blooms, and icy scent, but somehow warm, and mirror-bright: bold gardenia, crystalline musk, muget, water blossoms, clear, slightly tart aquatic notes and a crush of white ginger. Han I agree, it's Casanova all the way! Wow. My nerd is totally showing tonight!

Illustrated Woman Snap Judgements: Disclaimer: this is a review based on Illustrated Woman that has been aged. I actually purchased a bottle of this unsniffed about a year ago because I love love love pine, vanilla, and skin musk. When I first tested it, I really didn't like it. It smelled horribly acrid and weird on my skin, almost like bug spray or oven cleaner mixed with playdough. However, I figured that I might as well let it age and then give it another shot, since it seems to be a crowd favorite. In the Bottle: This is very dry in the bottle, with the pine and patchouli being most prominent. It smells like a forest with a covering of old leaves on the ground. Wet: Promising. The pine is a little sharp during this stage, but the patchouli and tobacco work really hard to add some grounding. The vanilla also starts to make an appearance, which lends a hint of smoky sweetness. Dry: The final touch here is skin musk doing that skin musk magic. I've seen scents with this note described as "smells like me only better." Yeah. Totally this. There is a very natural, earthy quality about Illustrated Woman that makes me think of running on my favorite trail: the deep scents of a slightly damp forest mixed with the musky-sweet scent of skin after a good workout. Pine still sits above all the other notes on me, and that's perfectly okay. Everything else - the vanilla, patchouli, musk, and tobacco - flow together beautifully in a supporting role. This stays close to the skin, as a me-but-better scent should, and it has a moderate (4-5 hours) wearlength. Final Thoughts: Wow. Just Wow. I am amazed at how a year of aging could transform a scent from bug spray playdough into amazing sexy perfection. I think that time really mellows the pine and pulls the rest of the notes together - like they are comfortable old friends now rather than awkward new acquaintances. I am so thrilled that I gave Illustrated Woman another chance, because it has just rocketed into my top ten. I rarely buy backup bottles, but I will need at least one (or two...) more of this before the Carnaval packs up.

Dionysa Snap Judgements: Mahogany sounds absolutely yummy, although woods can be hit-or-miss for me. Plum and pomegranate almost always work. Overall, I’m expecting good things from Dionysa. In the Bottle: Patchouli and mahogany with a tiny plum blossom whisper in the background. Wet: This scent feels slick and smooth - like running your hand over a piece of lacquered wood. The dark fruit notes become slightly more prominent about 15 minutes after application, and there is a nice spicy quality that is probably contributed by the frankincense. I’m fascinated by the way the mahogany and patchouli are entwined in this blend. I can distinctly smell each one as an individual note, but at the same time they appear to merge into each other seamlessly. Crazy. Dry: I still get the wood and patchouli at drydown, and the fruit comes forward a little more. I am disappointed that the spiciness doesn’t seem to last, and the throw really backs off a lot within the first hour. Sadly, at about 3 hours Dionysa completely morphs into grape Bubble Yum. Maybe raspberry doesn’t agree with me? Final Thoughts: I had high hopes for Dionysa, and she actually smells pretty sexy on my skin for several hours, but I'm afraid I have to amend my previous analogy. This scent is like running your hand over a beautiful lacquered wood table, and then finding a big wad of grape gum stuck to the underside. I’m sure it is absolutely stunning on the right body chemistry, and it would probably work well in a scent locket. I’m not really a scent locket kind of girl, so I doubt I’ll be needing a bottle of this.

Eisheth Zenunim Snap Judgements: Peach is almost always an epic disaster on me. Even in the smallest quantities, it usually morphs into syrupy sweet cough medicine – plastic bottle and all. I almost didn’t try Eisheth simply for this reason, but the white peach was intriguing. Honey, neroli, cocoa and patchouli are all iffy notes for me. Overall, this blend wasn’t screaming my name, but I threw it in a decant order because I’m working my way through all the Grindhouse ladies. In the Bottle: The peach, ambergris and neroli really stand out here. Interestingly, white peach smells much more subdued than regular peach. It isn’t so sweet and in-your-face. I don’t get any cocoa or patchouli at all. Wet: The notes in Eisheth might lead you to believe that it is a foody scent, but the ambergris and neroli really keep this from venturing into too-sweet territory. There is a very classic “perfumy” quality here that I’m guessing has a lot to do with the ambergris. This is not a bad thing. Peach seems to be staying in check. Cocoa is starting to become noticeable. Dry: The light floral topnotes burn away pretty quickly. At about 1 hour, the cocoa has deepened and the peach is still lingering subtly. There is very faint earthy aspect emerging that is probably contributed by the patchouli. Wearlength and Throw: This easily lasts 12 hours on me. The throw is strong but not overpowering. Final Thoughts: Well whaddya know? This ended up being one of my top favorites from the whole Carnaval so far. Not only does the peach behave, it actually contributes a subtle richness and beauty to the drydown. Eisheth is a very pretty, warm and earthy blend. For me it’s a summery daytime scent, and it would be great to wear to work, or when you don’t want to scream “I’m wearing perfume”.