Asafoetida

*What are everyone's favorite Halloween-y/Autumn-y/spooky movies? Are there any you don't own but would like to? - I really like my psychological horrors. And my gorefests. Seven or Thirteen Ghosts on DVD would be great... or any of the "classics", because I haven't seen most of them. Like, any of the Hannibal movies, or Children of the Corn, or Nightmare on Elm Street, or the Jason movies, or the... yeah, you get it. *Are roasted pumpkin seeds and home made chex mix the best fall snack foods, or what? - They are delicious, but I wouldn't say the best. *Whats your favorite pie, my dear SW's? - Oh, man, anything but cherry or blueberry. Top of the list is chocolate, apple, and pumpkin, though. *What kinda socks ar you wearing tonight? - My feet are naked. *Do you like socks? Blankets? Wrist warmers? Arm warmers? Headband? Shawl? Or what kind of knitted thing would you love the most? - Any and all, any and all. Well, I probably wouldn't use a headband because my hair's usually in a ponytail... a blanket for the main room would be nice, to sling over the back of the couch... *How do you feel about ghost stories? Do you like to tell the old tales around a campfire? Read true accounts on the web way past your bedtime? Do you like to pick up a good anthology of Poe stories on a blustery day? Or is all that too scary for you? - I love them all, especially ghost stories. *Who here is LOVING Warehouse 13? - Older sis loves it, but I haven't seen it. *Nother question! Coffee or Tea? - Both! But not at the same time. *Interested in locally produced products? Food, skincare or both?Olive oil? Lavender oils or soaps? - Any of that would be great. *Does anyone in here wear a lot of dangly earrings or collect pendants of all kinds?? How about hair clips or pony tail band things? - My earrings can't dangle too much because then the kids would get ticked off and rip them out, but little ones are good, as are pendants... hair things will have to be super strong because I have a lot of hair. *What is your favourite historical period? - Renaissance! *What other hot beverages everyone likes for fall? - Hot chocolate, mmm. *Did you order anything from the most recent update? - Not the most recent, but I'm in a Weenies decant circle. *Vampires or Werewolves? Or some other monster? - Werewolves all the way. *What sort of odd or regional foods do you crave? - Cajun, Indian, Mexican... anything spicy *Any Gamers here? What kind? Board games? RPG? Miniature? MMORPG? - Hell to the yeah. Magic: the Gathering, Munchkin, but mostly World of Warcraft. I have a level 70 draenei healadin who I am working hard to get up to 80. *Is anyone playing this round of SW into ABJ? (asian ball jointed dolls) - Not I. Do not need another expensive hobby. *What is your favorite Halloween icon? - Black cats. *Imagine that you're given a shoebox-sized time capsule, and you are asked to put any number of items in the box that symbolize who you are. The items can be may be anything you can imagine, and money is no object, but they must fit within the box. Which items do you choose? - Oh, hard one. I'd say... a sci-fi/fantasy novel, some sort of autism awareness symbol, a gay pride symbol, the stencils I made of symbols of lots of different religions, a World of Warcraft game card, my least favorite M:tG deck, and one of my decks of Tarot cards. *Are you involved in any long-term, ambitious project? something like decorating your house or saving for a trip to the other end of the world, for example. - Graduating! And getting into grad school. And moving the girl here. *Favorite kind or take out kinda burger? Whats your burger preference? Veggie,meat or ???? - Meat all the way. Backyard Burgers. *Whats your favorite childhood toy? - My childhood best friend and I did a lot of pretend play, so most of our toys were rigged together out of baling twine and sticks. *If you have a pet, what kind of gifts would be good for them? - Her Highness approves of Feline Greenies, catnip, ponytail holders, and crinkly paper. *Do you Tweet? What is your Twitter name? - No Tweets for me. *Are you on Ravelry? What is your Ravelry name? - I have no idea what this is. *Do you like pinup art/images? - I do! They're a classy brand of sexy. *What are your plans for Halloween? Have you made any yet? Do you have any traditions? - I'm between traditions right now. I'll probably go to the pub crawl with whatever friends are planning on attending, and maybe help roomie dress her spawn up for his first Halloween if she wants to. *Who are your BPAL forum buddies? You know, people I could conspire with to Witch you! - The girlfriend is on the forum and actually doing SW... sirensea. My witchee last round was ViolaVanWild, witch was judy28... coffee swap I sent to shackjj and received from dixiehellcat.. I've swapped and bought from a few other people, but those would be the ones that I had the most contact with, really. *What is your favorite color? - Indigo! *Any other steampunk fans/lovers? - I'm a fan, yes, and would like to be more exposed to it. *Describe your ideal picnic lunch. Where would you go? Who (if anyone, and yes there can be multiple people) would accompany you? What sort of food would you take? And, of course, if a picnic lunch sounds like a horrible idea, feel free to say so! - If I had plenty of bugspray... I'd want to go to the really NICE park in Springfield (Nathanael Green for anyone who knows the area), with a bunch of finger foods, the Boy, the Girl, the roommate, and possibly a couple of other friends. *You're in the kitchen at the end of a pay period and groceries are pretty scarce. Do you take the five ingredients you find first and make something fabulous, or do you order take out? - Um. Take out. I can barely make something fabulous when I have the recipe and all my ingredients. *If you could decorate/redecorate any 1 room in your home, what would it be and how would you decorate it? - I choose our porch, because everything else has been decorated to our liking. I'd like to hang some plants, and windchimes, and a few suncatchers, and maybe another little chair out there. *Any rabid sports fans out there? What teams do you root for? - Sports and I tend to avoid each other. *What's your favorite animal? (You can have more than one.) - Wolves! ...and cats, as mine is giving me the evil eye and I shudder to think what she would do if I didn't say she was my favorite. *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!)? - Ragnorak, baby. Bring on the great final war. *In the year 2525... if man is still alive... what sort of future do you imagine? (apologies to anyone who gets that song stuck in their head!) - Oh, we're probably just closer to blowing ourselves up. *Do you believe in magic (or magick, if you prefer)? What does it mean to you? - I do. It's a very personal thing for me. *If you found the puzzle box from Hellraiser, what would you do with it? ( and would you be able to resist playing with it? ) - I would probably pick it up, shake it, try to figure it out, and then lose interest when I failed and leave it for some other poor soul to find. *Any cooks? Could you use anything cooking related? Aprons? Cookbooks? Measuring Cups? Recipes? Herb/Spice containers? Fancy Spices? Dish Towels? Cocktail napkins? Amazing Beaded Pot Holders? (like from our very own Pottersville! ) Something else? - I could really use cookbooks. Or simple recipes. I'm trying to learn my way around the kitchen a little better and something that isn't too intimidating would be nice. Potholders would be great, too, since we're always losing ours. *Are you an avid reader? What's your favorite book/series? - I read all the time. I have a three way tie on favorites... I love anything by Tanya Huff, Lynn Flewelling's Nightrunner series, and Anne Bishop's Black Jewels Trilogy pretty much evenly. *What's your favorite candy to stock up on at Halloween? - Little miniature candy bars. *What are your phobias? - Spiders. And being closed in by people and not able to get to an exit. *What is your favourite flower (or plant)? - Honeysuckle. It used to grow right outside my window growing up, and I could smell it while I was sitting in my room reading. *Duct tape purses and wallets and things are pretty darned cool. Who else thinks so? - They're not really my style. It takes a certain type of person to pull them off and I'm not it. *An anonymous benefactor gives you $500 (or an equivalent amount of money in your currency of choice) with the following stipulations. You must spend all of it within a week: any money left unspent must be returned. You must spend at least half of the money on yourself. You may not use it to pay off debts or bills of any kind. What do you do with the money? - First I would upgrade my graphics card and a couple of other things on my computer. Then I would hire someone to come in and clean the apartment for me. The rest would go to buying things for the classroom, we need more dress up clothes for the kids. *Who likes coloring books? - I used to, but I can't color for very long without my hands hurting now. *Do you have a Good Reads profile? If so, make with the link! If you don't have one, go make one! - I do not, but I find myself intrigued by this. *What was your favouritest job ever, and why? - The one I'm currently working at now is my favorite... I'm a paraprofessional in an early childhood classroom where we work mostly with kids on the autism spectrum. It's something I can relate to very personally, I seem to have a knack for connecting with the kids, and there's no other job in the world where you get so much joy out of such simple things as a kid pointing to make a choice. I feel like I'm making a real difference, and I really love these kids... and I could babble about my job all day, so I'm going to stop now. *Which three albums would you take to your apocalypse bolt hole and how would you power the generator? - Oh, man... going to have to say at least one Iron & Wine album, probably Around the Well since it's longer than Woman King... Skunk Anansie's Paranoid and Sunburnt... and since I can't pick just one Tori Amos album, I'm going to skip on that and say the soundtrack of Spring Awakening. *What GC scent have you been putting off getting since it'll "always be there"? - ...see my wish list. I'd say Blood, out of all of them, is the one I always think 'I'll get it later'. *Super power? - Telepathy. It would be really useful in my line of work. magtongue.gif *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 can grind. I have the technology! *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? - Any kind of accessories would be welcomed! And I usually drink both with a little milk and sugar. Sometimes honey for the tea. *Restaurants you'd like a gift certificate to on Restaurant.com? - Gem of India is my faaaaavorite restaurant in the whole wide world. *In your perfect world it is chocolate and...? Alcohol. Mmmm Death By Chocolate margaritas. *How do you scent your home: tarts, reed diffusers, BPAL, candles? - Usually candles or incense. Sometimes I break out the oil burner, and I have a reed diffuser that never gets used. *What's your favorite dessert treat? Ice cream? Cake? Pie? Fudge brownie cake with pie flavored ice cream on top? - Chocolate cheesecake. All the way. *Do you believe we control our destiny, or does our destiny control us? - Genetics and the environment make us predisposed to react in certain ways to different stimuli, and thus most of our actions are predictable. However, we do have the free will to go against what we are most inclined to choose if we so wish, so I'd say it's both. (Sorry. We've been discussing this in one of my classes. magtongue.gif) *What one thing that is missing from your life would you like to have above all else? - I could use a few more hours in my day. In lieu of that, some relaxation. *Are you interested in things like home remedies for ailments, cleaning solutions, etc.? - Yes, definitely. Recipes and the actual product both. *If you do any kind of craft, could you use supplies? What kind? knitting needles, yarn, amazing fabric, pinking shears, cool thimbles or pincushins, jewelery making supplies, beads, etc.? - Not really into any crafts, but there are a couple I'm trying to dabble in... so... calligraphy supplies might help me practice my kanji for Japanese class more. And some strong cord to practice knotting. *What's your favorite pain-relief remedy or ritual? - Two extra-strength Tylenol and warm blanket. *Do sounds make you happy? What ambient noises make you smile? - Sounds either make me really happy or really on edge... I have near perfect pitch, and so anything out of tune grates on my nerves. I love the sound of wooden wind chimes, though, and rain on days when I can stay in... and the sound of a cat purring is one of the most soothing things in the world. *When you receive your SW packages...do you like receiving things that are individually wrapped inside? or unwrapped? or both? - I am happy with however you want to do it. However, crinkly paper makes my kitty very happy. *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. - I doubt this will be an issue, but anything overtly Christian-themed. To each their own freedom of religion, but I've had some bad experiences growing up in a very old-fashioned Christian household and anything that talks about the religion too much makes me feel a little uncomfortable. *What BPAL scent have you never tried but always wanted to? What scent have you tried and LOVED, and haven't been able to get more of and why? - My wishlist gives a pretty good account of this, but Blood is the one I always seem to just miss out on trying. And Black Lace is the one I will never get more of, lol. *I know we're all scent sensitive here. What are your favorite non-perfume smells? Day in the life stuff? - Rain on the concrete. Freshly brewed coffee. The kitchen right after it's been thoroughly cleaned. *Coffee drinkers, what types of beans to you like? Kona, Sumatra, Kenya..etc. How do you like them roasted? Do you like flavors, such as hazelnut, vanilla, etc. in your coffee? Any. And. All of the above. *Who has a birthday falling in this round? - Me! September 26th. I'll be 22. *For those of us who like chocolate, do you like anything /in/ your chocolate, like fruit, nuts, or for the more daring among us, chilies? - Yes please, to all of it! *Are there any childhood shows/movies/games/books/etc. that still hold a really special place in your heart? - Old school Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and The Magician as I mentioned above... Beauty and the Beast... Oh, Tamora Pierce books. Those and Robin McKinley's books were my favorite childhood reading that was actual... kids' books. *There has been a lot of talk about chocolate, but none about Candy! What is your favorite Candy? What candy do you hate? - Mmm, I'm a big fan of lollipops. Any kind. They're just so convenient. I'm not big on Jolly Ranchers (I know, I'm unAmerican), as they used to force feed those to us in elementary school whenever we got As on quizzes and such. Extrinsic motivators only work when you don't get them so often that you get burned out on them... *Do you have a Blu-Ray player? - No Blu-Ray here... but as soon as I find a used PS3 for sale somewhere... *Do you have any objections to receiving downloads? Is your internet connection fast enough for you to download large files like music easily? Are there any songs, albums, movies, or TV shows that you can't find/haven't been released that you want? - I have no objections to downloads (I'm of the mindset that if I like it well enough after listening I'll buy it to support the artist, and if not then I haven't wasted money, at least). My connection is fast enough, but the only thing I haven't been able to find is this old kids' series called The Magician that I used to LOVE. *What's something you're really looking forward to in the semi-near future? - I will join whoever else said birthday... my parents always come visit, and while that made going out to drink on my 21st difficult last year, it also means that they treat me to every single meal and buy me things. *Here goes my first attempt at a question: what fictional character do you most identify with and why? - I've been told that I'm a lot like Willow (BtVS). The first person to tell me this stated simply because I'd grown up in a religious household (though Christian, not Jewish) and then discovered I was really adept at witchy things... the girl concurs because (and I quote because I STILL haven't watched Buffy like I keep meaning to) "You just have the same... humor and goodness about that you that Willow has. You're good at puns. And you like blondes. And you're potentially evil." Take that as you will. *Could you use a 'travel' imp case? How many should it hold? - I could use one, yes... I'm using a travel container for soap right now! Usually something big enough for five or six would get me through a vacation. *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'm fine with whichever suits my witch and his/her finances best. *What is your idea of the perfect evening at home? - Cat on my lap, girl on AIM, and guildies on WoW cracking jokes. *Are you on any social networks (MySpace, Twitter, LJ, Facebook, Bebo, etc)? If so, make with the links! Are you open to new friends? - I don't use my MySpace or Facebook a lot, but I'm Asafoetida on LJ as well, and I'm definitely open to some Switch Witchy friends. *How often do you update your wishlist? - Very irregularly. I just updated with the recent stuff, but I probably won't update it again until I have a reason. *May I help you fill out your costuming wardrobe (assuming you costume)? Are there articles you are seeking to enhance your a) Halloween costume, icon_cool.gif Renfest attire, c) Cosplay, d) Steampunk accouterment? - No real costume plans at the moment, but I wouldn't object to jewelry that fit Renfest attire or steampunk. *Who are your favorite artists/illustrators/art periods? - Linda Bergkvist is my all time favorite artist, but I also like pretty much any fantasy art. *Do you mind receiving used (in good condition, of course) CDs or DVDs? (I know this question was on the questionnaire about books, but I didn't see one for DVDs or CDs.) - Used CDs and DVDs are great! *what's your stance on cranberries? - We avoid each other. *Do you have a crush on anyone famous? Do you have a crush on any literary characters? Would you like fanfiction or fan art based on this/these people? - I'll be honest... I've had a crush on Severus Snape since I was a tween reading the first Harry Potter book, even before Alan Rickman was cast. It says a lot about me. I also possibly have a thing for Summer Glau, both as herself and as River and Cameron. If my witch wants to gift me with fanfic or fanart, I wouldn't object! *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? - Whatever's in the kitchen and looks good at the moment. Or right beside me. Basically, I snack at convenience. Chocolate, however, will be sought. *Your one absolute favorite, BPAL: - Blood Kiss. All the notes blend perfectly with my chemistry in a way that leaves people sniffing me and asking what I'm wearing all day. *Do you have a favorite BPAL bottle art? - At the moment, The Illustrated Woman! *if this was for you - what kind of box would you want? - Oh, man, anything really. Triple moons would be good, or something relating to my astrological sign - I'm a Libra sun, Scorpio moon, can't recall my ascendant at the moment... something related to the Tarot card Justice - scales and sword maybe... and om is something that seems to pop up in my life a lot... or if you want to go really geeky, symbols for WoW-ish things, especially paladin class. If you do go the box route, you might want to talk to my girlfriend first as she is making me something that has to do with stains and stuff... not that I couldn't use more than one! *Is there ONE scent that you are just dying for from the Halloween update? - Hellgate of Ireland, OMFG. I am on edge waiting to get my 'Weenie decants. *Are there any decants from the Halloweenies, Literary Vampires, Gris Grimly, or Hellboy that you would be interested in receiving? - Wishlist has been updated to include any that I haven't ordered decants of! And I will update again when I get and test the decants. *If you had the funds to comission an original painting for yourself, what would it be of? What would it be like- colors, size, style? - As I'm a dork, I'd probably have one done of one of my characters. Most likely the one who can change into a hyena, mid-shift. There'd be lots of browns and blacks, sand... and I'm not sure what to call the actual style, but something realistic. Something that looks like the cover of a fantasy novel. *What's autumn like in your neck of the woods? What do you love and/or hate about it? - Humid. Lots of deciduous trees, so there are a lot of leaves on the ground.Very rainy. And... I hate the humidity. *What's your favorite product(s) at Trader Joe's? - I have never been to Trader Joe's, but I wouldn't object to sampling some of the wares. *If you're caught in front of the tv, what are you watching? - Dollhouse. Or Eureka. *Any Amy Brown art fans? - Her stuff's pretty, but not really my style. *How do you feel about Halloween music? (mix CDs, what have you) - Yes please to any and all Halloween music. I have a spooky music playlist with things like Re: Your Brains on it, I love that kind of stuff. *Who else is reeeeeally looking forward to Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland? - Oo, oo, me, me! *Is there a store that you love which does not have a location near you (but that has a physical presence somewhere, not just online? Why do you love it so much? - I love the little stores on the beach near where the Girl's aunt lives... just all sorts of neat stuff that I've never seen anywhere else. I can spend hours in those stores, especially the pagany ones. This probably doesn't help my witch much unless s/he lives in an area with a lot of stores like that, but! *Lolcats....yeah or nay? - Yay lolcats! They're a good mood booster. *What is your favorite creepy folk story or legend? - Mine is Tailypo, which no one else I've ever talked to has heard of so I think it's mostly told around the Southeast Missouri area. I won't tell what it's about here, but trust me when I say it is creepy as heck when told right... and I lived in a folksy enough area that there were people who were near professional storytellers. *If your witch were to either write something for you or put together a collection of ghost stories, would you rather have it in writing, recorded as an oral telling, or both? - If my witch is a writer/storyteller, I would be happy with any of the above, really. I do love having things to read, but nothing beats having a ghost story or a folk tale told aloud by someone who has a talent for it. *For the crafty people out there: would you prefer something crafted or crafting supplies? - I am not crafty, but I always love hand-crafted things if my witch is! (P.S. - dixiehellcat, my gloves were put to good use today in helping supply heat to my poor, aching, abused fingers!!!) *Can you use pill boxes, a hard ID case, coin purse, etc? - Okay, so, I have an ID case that I've been using for years and is now falling apart... so I could definitely use a hard one! Especially one that perhaps has a keyring attached... *Any songs you are desperately into at the moment? - I've been listening to Regina Spektor's "Poor Little Rich Boy" and a few of the songs from Spring Awakening - "My Junk", "The Dark I Know Well", and "The Bitch of Living". I would be listening to the whole Spring Awakening soundtrack if it had all made it onto my mp3 player. *Does anyone have any symbols they consider to be personally significant or talismanic? - I think I mentioned earlier that om/aum is one that seems to be popping up in my life a lot. The pentacle tattoo that I share with sirensea. The triple moon. Basically anything I mentioned for the box. *Are there any Gods, Goddess, or other mythological figures of whom you're particularly fond? - Shiva. Big time Shiva, a friend did a reading on me once that resulted in Shiva being very important to me. Kali. And after conversations with an old professor, I've fallen into not quite worship but more like belief in a more primative, prehistoric goddess, especially in her cthonian aspect. *Super villain or vigilante? Which would you like to be? Which would you like to receive? - I'm more like a vigilante, really... I tend toward idealism, but at the same time I can't stand seeing something wrong but not trying to fix it. As for what I'd rather have... can I add a third option? I've always had a weakness for antiheroes. :swoon: *What mythical or fantastic race of creatures (dragons, unicorns, griffins, elves, dwarves, faeries, etc.) do you most identify with, and why? - I don't know if I'd say I IDENTIFY with them, but I've always been really drawn to dragons. I love the combination of intelligence and ability to step on you and crush you like a bug. And I've always really enjoyed the myths of dragons who transformed into humans, like Melusine - I'll admit, as a very strange little kid who never fit in at all, I had the occasional flight of fantasy that maybe I was a dragon and I just hadn't figured out how to change back. That actually has shown up in some of my writing, now that I think of it... *How do you feel about Dia de los Muertos? Are you interested in sugar skulls? Catrina (or other) skeleton figurines? - I don't feel that into Dia de los Muertos (not part of my cultural heritage so far as we know, though we wonder about my mom's dad sometimes...), but anything that includes sugar interests me. *Do you have a favorite poem or poet? - I've always liked Roethke, and my creative writing teacher for my poetry class introduced us to Kim Addonizio's "First Poem for You"... that one made a pretty deep impact on me. Oh, and there's one that I can't remember the poet's name, but I know the whole thing... "They say the Bible teaches fear of women, snakes,/And God, who killed his manchild for our sakes/and puts a mark beside our least mistakes/and beats us until our spirit breaks.//Must we believe his godly finger shakes/at Eve for every apple pie she bakes?/I'd rather take my chances with the snakes." Yeah. I wrote a huge paper on that poem, I love it so much. But I can't remember the poet. The poem is called Pro-Snake, I believe. *Are there any musicals you love? - What musicals don't I love? If I have to pick favorites, it'd be Repo!, Rent, Hairspray, Spring Awakening (just for the music and what I've read of the plot), and Cats. I just love musicals of all sorts, I blame it on the woman who gave me voice lessons being a Broadway nut and my mom for exposing me early. *Pirate or Ninja? - How can I chooooooose??? My Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster loyalties pull me toward pirates, but my love for the teenage mutant turtles says ninja. *Would you like to receive a Diva Box? - That or the Black Box thing would be good, I do like samples. *how broad is your musical taste? - Oh, boy... I like everything but country (classic or modern), rap, r&b, and most pop. I love hard rock/heavy metal, adult alternative, folk, some bluegrass, opera, Broadway, emo, indie, art songs, kids' music, Celtic, medieval, the occasional old gospel (Samson and Delilah, especially Shirley Manson's cover)... Witch, if you want to know more, let me know and I can try to put together some kind of playlist (or, heck, a Pandora station if you want to make an account with some anonymous email address) that's pretty representative. *Would a "gift" donation to one of the organizations/causes you support be a great gift, or a lame gift? - In a way... I'm not sure if this is possible, but I'd like a donation directly to Springfield Public Schools Early Childhood Special Education more than one to a bigger foundation, for sure, because some of the places that claim to be 'treating' autism are just bogus and it's kind of hard to know what's good unless you're kind of more aware of what's what. *I have seen a lot of Yankee Candles haters..... Personally I like Yankee Candle (some of them, anyway). Do you or don't you, and if not, what candles do you like? This assumes you like candles. Otherwise, what specific home fragrance do you use? - I am totally okay with Yankee Candles. No hate from me. I do like candles, and I'm not picky on scents at all. Fall scents would be nice for right now, though, pumpkin spice or something. Something orange and Halloweeny, or if they're already starting to put out the Christmassy scents... there will be First Halloween and First Christmas going on for my roommate's sprog. *Which of the seven deadly sins is most likely to be your undoing? - I'm going to have to say wrath. I tend to bottle things up, and then when it gets to be too much I explode. Someday I'm going to hit the big explosion and say and do things I can't take back. *Who is musically inclined? What instruments (voice counts) do you play? Would you enjoy sheet music? - I play piano and flute well, and sing better. I'm currently (still) learning mountain dulcimer and guitar. I would definitely enjoy sheet music of any sort, flute most of all as I have a beautiful open hole flute with a gold lip plate and a low b footkey that doesn't get nearly enough use... Celtic or Renaissance music is my favorite now that I can play for fun, but anything would be great! *Would you want candles from this site, and if so, which scents interest you? http://www.darkcandles.com - The whole Halloween LE set looks gooood. Especially Chocolate bat. Of non-LEs, I like the looks of Leather, Bonfire, Clove, Forbidden Fruit, Dracula... it all looks good. *Are you into 80s movies (like i am ) if so, which are your favorites and who are your favorite characters? - I'm pretty fond of 80s horror, and some of the 'classics'... but as I was born in '87, I wasn't around for most of them, and I've been exposed to more 80s music than 80s movies. Do you like Villainess soaps? What are your favorite scents? - I am interested in Villainess soaps... haven't tried much Villainess, but as to what looks good? Byzantium, Embargo, Ennui (no fragrance? Perfect for when I want to make my perfume the center of attention.), Pyromania, Scintillating, Silk & Cyanide, and Villainess. *Do you mind artificial colors in your food? - I am a college student. Most of what I eat is made of grease. A little artificial coloring? Not an issue. *Who wants hair pretties?(headbands, barrettes, pony-o's, scrunchies, bobby pins, hair clips, etc) - They will have to be very strong. My hair is sort of insane. *If you were my witchee, would you like any of the scents/sizes that are available on clearance? - All of that looks good. idk I just like candles. *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. - Something like that would be wonderful. Phone charm is intriguing. *How do you feel about clothing/accessories made from animals? Anti-fur, leather, shells, etc.? Does even faux wig you out? - I'm fine with any of that. I guess I'm what PETA would call the bad guy, idk. *How do you deal with stress? What's your favorite way to unwind? - I play World of Warcraft. Or rant to a room, empty or not. When that fails, I'll drink. *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'm sort of doing that with my job at the moment since after hearing I want to be a behavior tech, the current techs are leaving tasks for me to practice with... but if I have to choose something else... I'd like to be a much better cook than I am, so I'm going to say cooking with Gordon Ramsey as my mentor because by god, if he was then I would come out of it the best cook ever. Not to mention he's a pleasure to listen to even when he's cussing up a storm. *If Beth made a perfume called "switch witch" what notes would be in it? - A cacaphony of perfumes, the scent of fresh baked goods, chocolate, and wool. *What is your favorite cookie type? - Anything that doesn't include oatmeal or raisins is good by me. I love chocolate chip, peanut butter, and snickerdoodles. *Anyone ready for the new Carnivale update? - I'll join the 'I'm ready but my wallet isn't' movement. *What are your favorite fruits? - I like pears, strawberries, and pomegranates. *so whats your totem/fetish? - This got me started looking at Celtic animal fetishes... from that tradition, I'd say that I could use the Adder, the Bear, and the Cat. If we're talking Native American totems, Coyote... and Wolf. Wolf has been a constant one for me. *What is one thing you constantly keep with you that you constantly lose? - My phone. It's always in my purse, but sometimes even when I hear it ringing I can't find it. Also my flash drive. *Lusting over anything from the Trading Post lately? - Not so much lusting. A BPAL notepad might be nice. Or a pouch. *Are you a Miyazaki fan? Do you have all the films you like, or is your collection missing one? Is there any merchandise you want? - I don't have any Miyazaki, but I do enjoy the films. So owning any of them would be good. *Do you wear lip gloss/lip balm? If so, what flavors/scents? - I do wear lip balm all the time. Right now I'm carrying Super Bad's vanilla peppermint lip balm with me... I like minty things that make my lips tingle, as well as dessert-flavored ones even if I do lick them off. I'd be happy with any kind of lip balm, as I honestly don't think I could get through the day without it. *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'm pleased either way... though considering that my schedule is crazy it might be better to at least know that it's being sent so that I'll get around to checking the mail more often - sometimes I'm just too tired unless I know there's going to be more than bills. *Do you drink alcohol? Wine, beer or liquor? What is your favorite wine/beer/mixed drink? - As I said above, I will definitely drink alcohol. I used to hate wine, but now I like it IF it is sweet, not dry. I love dark beers... Guinness, Hobgoblin, Xingu... and as far as liquor goes, I'm currently making my way through a bottle of Black Velvet whiskey and some cheap vodka that I got when low on cash. Oh, and some Irish cream. My favorite mixed drinks, aside from chocolate flavored martinis and Fishbowls from my local watering hole... I like sours. Midori, amaretto, whiskey... if you can make it a sour I'll drink it. I will not, however, drink tequila. Ever. And I don't like the way gin affects me, I'll get clumsy and tipsy but my head's still clear enough to REALIZE it. *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? - I wouldn't object to a spell/mojo bag... right now I could use one for good health and possibly stress relief. *Anonymous postcards? - Sure! I would love it. My witch from last round sent me letters, and I really enjoyed it. *For you tea drinkers, are you partial to tea bags or loose tea? How about tea paraphernalia (and what exactly IS tea paraphernalia, cause I don't drink much tea, but my witchee may or may not be a tea fan)? - I am good with either, honestly, though I could definitely use some suppllies for loose tea - strainers, bags, what have you. *I was wondering how you feel about burned DVDs. And do you have/want Repo? - Totally okay with burned DVDs - again, my philosophy is that if I like it I will buy it and if not I'd be getting rid of it anyway. I already have Repo! *Do you collect new/used stamps? Will you like to get stamps on your mails? - I'm not too big on stamps. I never had the desire to collect them, though I did have a coin collection when I was younger... *Who collects ACEOs/ATCs? - Considering that I had to Google those to identify them... not a collector. *Switch Witches, which shoes do you own that are your favorite? What are your "daily drivers"? - Right now, I'm wearing these Roman style sandals quite a bit... cool and comfy, but stay on relatively well. When it gets colder, I have stompy boots that I wear all the time. *If you could describe yourself in 5 words, what would they be? - Sleep-deprived, overworked, caffeine addict student. *Any WKAP you're excited about? - Nope, none of it really looks like my style. *How do you feel about stationary? (pens, notepads, cards, pencils, etc.) - Pens and pencils are good, I'm always losing mine. I wouldn't mind having some nice stationery to write notes to witchees and swap partners on! *Do you use henna at all (hair or skin)? - Nope, had a sun henna'd on me once, but it didn't last long and it was because someone was doing it for free at the college. *What about 2010 Wall calenders? Or 2010 journals or appointment diaries? What subject? - I could actually use a nice 2010 calender. Preferably something with big spaces so we can write our appointments on it. Nature scenes would be great, as it'd go out in the kitchen. *What are your thoughts on Halloween decorations? - *bounce bounce squeeee* I get to carve my first pumpkin ever this year! We are going to decorate as much as we can on a budget for baby Trent's first Halloween. *What tarot card do you most identify with? - As I mentioned before, Justice is the big one, as that's the aspect of my sun sign I most identify with. As far as minor arcana, I'm caught somewhere between the Queen of Cups and the Queen of Swords. *Do you like Celtic things? (Clothes, jewelry, pictures, ect) - I love all things Celtic. And I would use all things Celtic. *Would you like more contact from your witch? (I'm talking particularly about email) - I do like contact, I put medium to close on my questionnaire, but however much my witch wants to give is fine. *Can you receive flowers at your address? - Most likely. Who is home kind of alternates around, but even if no one was there it would probably get delivered to my apartment manager's office, where I can guarantee it would be totally safe because my apartment manager is awesome.

This smells SO MUCH like Snow White in the imp, soft and floral and pretty. On, it still smells like that... but something is lurking underneath, playing peekaboo, something sharp as a knife. As it starts to dry that subtle hint gets less and less subtle, first matching the sweet, pretty floral and then starting to overwhelm it. I can't see myself wearing this one much, but damned if it doesn't exactly capture my idea of a psychological horror film. My psychology major brain approves of this muchly, and I plan on hoarding it and using it as inspiration for important tests.

In imp: Bitter, bitter clove. On me, wet... still mostly clove, but the incense is creeping in. Drying down, there's still a lot of clove... but also the hint of incense and droolworthy myrrh. Very dark and beautiful, I'm in love. I don't get ANY rose from this, and if there is rose my skin usually finds it. Just something sharp and dark and yum.

In the imp, hints of vetiver, fig, and leather. On my skin, wet, strongly vetiver (DELICIOUS vetiver) with some dragon's blood. Vanilla flower and neroli peeking out. Drying down, the vetiver fades to a back note but is still fantastic. Dragon's blood and (I think) vanilla flower at the forefront, but everything blends together so well that it's hard to distinguish. This is a beautiful scent. I can't stop sniffing myself. It seems to be staying close to my skin, subtle but strangely powerful.

I could 'smell' this from the moment that I read the description, and after scrambling around failing to get hold of it for a while, when I finally got to sniff it and try it on it was exactly like I'd imagined... possibly even better. It doesn't change much at all, from container to wet to dry, on me. It's a beautiful marriage of aquatic and metallic and yet it worked on me even though I typically don't wear either. Cool, refreshing water, with sunlight catching on flecks of gold swept away by the flow. Beautiful, exotic and refreshing, like an oasis in the middle of a desert. I purchased a bottle as soon as I smelled the decant.

In the imp I get lovely, musky amber that I would love to wrap myself in because it's so soft and wonderful. ...of course, on and wet it turns SOUR. Biting into a lemon sour, except without the lemon. Then, during the drydown, it morphs to a powdery rose. Fortunately I did not amp the rose to headache-inducing levels as I usually do, but it does turn into the kind of rose scent that I could get in a spray at the Dollar Store. This one is a pass for sure. Though it is interesting to note that I got hit on while returning a movie to a Redbox, which I've got to say is a first. He seemed disappointed when I answered his 'so what did YOU get' question with a nerdy movie... so perhaps this makes me come off as more demure and ladylike than I actually am, lol.

I have to admit, after seeing a couple of the reviews on this I was hoping for something a little more like MB: Tokyo Stomp (which I missed thanks to not knowing what BPAL was when it was available, and fell in love with later)... but on me, this started out as pure chocolate and ended up as cedar and oakmoss with chocolate that you can only find if you sniff hard enough. No vanilla, no mint... a wonderful scent in its own right, but the notes I hoped for the most were the ones that I didn't get even a whiff of. I think I'll keep my imp, but not going after a bottle.

Received as a frimp, and I'm glad as I never would have gotten it for myself. In the imp, I smell the ginger and tiger-lily - it comes off very nicely as lily with a bite. On, wet, it's the same as in the imp, but as it dries down the fruits come out more, and the lily takes on a hint of a soapy note (though not bad enough to make me change my mind about liking it). The ginger and neroli sneak around, disappearing and then popping back up when I think they're all gone. This is a very interesting 'girly but sassy' scent, and I predict that I will get some good use out of it.

Q: Clearly, vegans are not into soaps with honey or milk, etc. But, if you're NOT a vegan how would you feel about soaps made with emu oil? Squicked out/concerned about animal cruelty, or willing to try them? A: Definitely willing to try! I have mild arthritis, so probably anything including emu oil would be good for me. Q: What kinds of crafts does everyone either enjoy making or enjoy getting? Do you have a certain type of handmade item that you love to collect? Socks, boxes, jewelry, dolls etc? A: Pretty much the only thing practical (aside from writing) I can do/enjoy doing is flower arrangements. Or wreaths. I haven't done one in a while, though... And I collect jewelry. I might not get to wear it much but I love having pretties to hoard. I'm a magpie. Q: Are there any of the BPTP bath oils you adore (particularly ones that you cannot get anymore). What about the room sprays? A: I've never actually tried any of the BPTP bath oils/room sprays, but I wouldn't object. Q: How would you feel about an ultra-girlie shawl or wrap in summer-weight (lace)? A: I would love something like that! It would be perfect for wearing out for Art Walk nights this summer. Q: What would you think of hand-dyed items? A: Again, would love it. Q: So, I hear you don't like lacy wraps! How do you feel about hand-knit socks? A: Hand-knit socks would be made of awesome. Q: For non-US witches: is there anything from the US you'd love that you can't get where you live now? A: Am in the US, and can't think of anything in particular from other countries I'd want, but if you want to throw in random 'signature' things from wherever you are I would love it. Q: How many potential witchees have an iPod, or download MP3s? A: No mp3 player currently. Last one went MIA and haven't gotten around to getting a new one. Q: Any non NZ or Aus witchee that I get gets Tim Tams, OK? A: Hell to the yeah. Q: Is there anyone here that likes Hello Kitty or any other Sanrio Characters? A: Not really my style, no. Q: Would you like homemade cinnamon buns or sticky buns? A: I would possibly exchange my nonexistant firstborn for homemade baked goods. Q: Would anyone like bath bombs or bath melts scented with one of their favorite Bpal scents? I do these for myself sometimes and find them to be quite enjoyable. A: It might possibly tempt me to actually take baths instead of showers occasionally. Q: Do you play any online games, like World of Warcraft? If so, what server do you play on, what's your character's name, etc.? A: I do play WoW... Couple of toons on Blade's Edge (main one I'm working on now is my nelf rogue, Blaythe), and a troll shaman (Jasna) and a belf DK (Fionnbharr) on Fenris. Q: Is there a program you might have missed or show you love which is gone from the airwaves which might be found (or burned) for you by a Witch? A: There was this cartoon I watched when I was younger, The Magician... never been able to find it anywhere, though, so I wouldn't hold out much hope. Q: Would you like any recycle/upcycle supplies for your crafting? A: Not many crafts, but I wouldn't object to anything you could come up with. Pinecones would be good, or something like that. Q: If you were to make a seasonal mix CD for this summer, what would you name it? A: Something ironically cool and refreshing sounding. And I would put happy, upbeat songs on it to make me forget how unbearably hot it is. Q: Do you collect dolls or miniatures? What kind? Do you like to get new clothes or items for them? A: No dolls, no miniatures, no room to put them... Q: My fiance sent me an early dvd rip of Coraline that he was given (pretty sure it's not been released yet, but I sometimes have a hard time keeping up) and I was wondering if anyone would like a copy of it? A: Saw it in theaters, will possibly get a used DVD in the future but not really concerned with it. Q: Adorable Japanese characters? A: Only if we're talking Death Note. But I guess Ryuk and L probably don't actually count as adorable. Q: net flick or the likes gift subscriptions? A month of Netflicks vs a DvD? A: Roomie has Netflix, and the TV is usually being used for Xbox 360-ing anyway. Q: Are there any single notes (likely non bpal) that anyone is dying to have/try? A: Musk, vanilla, or myrrh. Yummmmm. Q: Based on Prior Carnivale act prototypes...which one are you truly excited about? A: ...gotta say, I'm looking forward to Sword Swallower just based on the art... Q: Would it bother you if you are not the first person to receive the same gift? Imagine a Witch who always sends her favourite book, for example. A: Wouldn't bother me at all! If someone loves it enough to repeat send, it's worth looking into. Q: Pets: What do you have, and do they need/want anything? A: Just one kitty, and she plays with stray ponytail holders more than she plays with the toys we buy for her. >.< I guess a Witch could get some ponytail holders for kitty so she'll stop stealing mine, but I have a feeling she'd keep doing it anyway. Q: Does anyone play video games? What platform(s)? Are there any new or vintage games you would like? A: I have a PS2 and my roomie is generous with her Xbox. I love basic hack-and-slash (Champions of Norath is my fave) and been browsing casually for Katamari Damacy for months... but the chances are that if there are any used games that you just want to get rid of, someone in this household will play them. Q: Twilight fans, would you be interested in any products from this Etsy seller? If so, add the items you like to your Etsy favorites and make sure your wishlist is posted somewhere for your witch. A: No thanks! Q: Are you in need of decanting supplies, wand caps, or other scent-related paraphernalia? A: No thanks! Just got some in today and trying to figure the whole thing out, will not need more for quite a while. Q: Does your feline like catnip? A: It's like kitty pot for her. She would love some. And I would love to get her mellowed out on it. Q: Salt soap bars (soap made with a large quantity of salt, like salt-scrub-in-a-bar)? A: Yes plz. That is all. Q: How would you feel about homemade jelly/jam from home-grown berries? A: That sounds fantastic. Q: Homemade dill pickles? Made from cukes, beans, snap peas, baby zucchini? A: ...not so much. I'll only eat sweet pickles or sometimes bread and butter. Q: would my future witchee like to receive steampunk style jewelry? A: Hell to the yeah! It's a growing obsession, I must admit. Q: Ok, for all you shower people, would you like Bpal scented soap? I'm out of soap stuff right now, but if I can get any anytime soon, would that be something that you'd like? Or how about Bpal scented massage bars or solid scrub bars? A: BPAL scented soap would be lovely. So would massage bars/scrub bars. Q: Tea. How do you feel about it? A: I love it in all forms. I get sick a lot and hot tea is great, especially anything minty... and my roommate has been sighing wistfully about wanting to make sun tea since we moved into an apartment with a sunny porch, so tea that's meant to be cold would also be awesome and would make a very pregnant lady very happy. Q: What is your favorite anime, or if you don't like that what is your favorite animated series? A: Um, favorite anime is Death Note. But I don't acknowledge anything past episode 25. Maybe 26. Favorite character from that is L. Q: What socially respsonsible site would you recommend to ALL Witches? A: Don't really have one... I guess I'm not very socially responsible? >.> Q: Anyone reading an amazing book right now? A: Perdido Street Station by China Mieville. I need to return it to the friend I borrowed it from but I really want to finish it first, it's just one I have to absorb slowly... I love it, though! Q: What scent are you wearing right now, if any? A: Right now? I am wearing Dance of Death. It is most likely going to be another reserved for after roomie has her baby and goes back to regular chemistry as it was all patchouli on me. Q: What, if anything, are you earwormed with right now? A: Serpent Charmer by Iron & Wine. Pandora showed me the way and then I hit Grooveshark because I can't stop listening to it. Damn the scarcity of I&W CDs in stores around here. Q: Are there any historical figures you are particularly interested in - say, that you'd enjoy reading about, or movies, etc.? A: In junior high I had this insane obsession with Joan of Arc. Now, I'm pretty crazy about Ada Lovelace. And anything about serial killers is a safe bet, I used to think I wanted to be a criminal profiler and it was my big dream to talk to Charles Manson (I was a strange high schooler, okay?). My copy of Helter Skelter is well loved. Q: What are your favorite animals? Or, what animals resonate strongly with you? A: Wolves. Wolves like mad. Cats. Bears, to a lesser extent. Birds, especially larks, nightingales, and linnets (one letter away from my middle name). Wife thinks I am secretly a magpie. Q: Posters, yes or no? A: Posters good, as are prints. Anything to cover up the walls. Q: Chips? A: Sometimes I'll get to craving them, but... I have long, really sharp canines which I refuse to get ground down like they did to my baby teeth, which leads to me biting my lips. A lot. Eating crispy things that break into sharp edges like chips is usually really painful. Q: Beer? A: Yeah, I'm a beer girl. Mostly dark. Guinness was my first love, but I've found that Moose Drool Brown Ale is pretty tasty and more in my budget. Chocolate stout is also love. Q: So... favorite kinds of woods (as used in wood art ect.)? A: I've always had a thing for cherry. I know, typical furniture wood, but that's also what my dulcimer's made out of and it's just... really pretty. Q: Any part of art history/ style of art that you can't get enough of? (eg: Baroque, ancient Egyptian, Victorian, steam punk, modern?) A: Celtic. Gothic. Native American. Q: Are there any kinds of books you collect? A: Songbooks. I love songbooks of any kind. Also books about monsters and demons and stuff... folklore, witchy books, anything. I love monsters. Q: So you have enough socks and wraps... (shush, VCW!) Are there any other knitted goods you might like? Lap blanket? Fingerless gloves? Arm warmers? Little knitted animals? Silk scarf? Head band? Wrist cuff? Dish clothes? A: Fingerless gloves are love. I've love a pair of the kind that go up your forearms a little ways... the only pair I have that fits cuts off at the wrist and doesn't aid my attempt to imitate some of Cameron's (from T:tSCC, I am a sad, sad fangirl) outfits. Q: Do you like coffee? Whole bean or ground? Bold/Medium/Mild roast? A: Oh, man, my body would not remember how to run without coffee. I have no coffee grinder (I keep meaning to buy one but I never get around to it), so ground it is... and I prefer dark roast for taste, but light roast seems to give me more of a kick when it magically appears in my coffee pot every morning. Q: Who knits? Do you also spin and dye? What supplies, that you wouldn't buy for yourself, would you just love to have for that activity? A: I don't knit, and I think I might destroy the world if I tried to learn. >.> I broke a sewing machine in 8th grade and have stayed away from anything conceivably used to make clothing since. Q: Are you interested in Tarot or Tarot art? A: I love Tarot... I have a Hanson-Roberts deck, Goddess Tarot, Secret Tarot, and Fairy Tarot. I'm always up for more... but warning for my witch, I have midget hands (no, seriously, I went to get a ring sized once and the lady at the counter squeed about my 'itty bitty baby hands') and I can't even shuffle most standard-sized decks without them flying everywhere. Mini decks are far more comfortable. Q: What would you think of soap samples/shampoo bar samples? (I believe the latter can be used as soap if you are not shampoo bar inclined). Or other sample sized bath/beauty products, for that matter? A: Soap I'd love. Shampoo might be problematic since most of the sample sized stuff isn't even enough for me to wash all my hair. Epically long and thick means I buy shampoo a lot. Q: What about burnables as in candles, tarts and/or incense? A: Tarts are a no go, don't have anything to heat them with. Candles and incense, however, are love. Q: do you like old, old, OLD books? I'm talking the kind of books you see on the shelves at your grandparents house. Spines cracked, a few loose pages here and there... A: Oh man, yeah, those'd be fantastic. There's nothing like the smell of books. Q: Do you want to know when you have something coming in the mail, or would you rather it be a complete surprise? A: Would probably be best, as it is hotter than Hell. I try to check my mail every day, but some days I just say screw it and go inside and collapse under a fan unless I know there's something coming. Q: What's your mailbox situation? A: Standard issue for apartments. Bubblemailers fit, as do small boxes, but anything larger and they'd be knocking or just slipping me a card telling me to come pick it up at the Post Office, I suspect. Q: What kind of a car do you drive and would you want something you could use in your car? Rear view mirror charms, steering wheel covers, car blessing medicine bags.... A: Early 2000s Ford Taurus, in maroon. My parents picked it, not me. My rear view mirror is mostly dedicated to my college parking pass, but I could probably fit a charm there... steering wheel cover would make my hands happy, and I wouldn't mind a blessing medicine bag either, if my Witchy happens to be... well... witchy. Q: Are you a good witch or a bad witch? A: Let's not be picky with labels here, there's nothing wrong with a little moral ambiguity... and also trying to blunder along and do a good job my first time witching. Q: Are there any phobias you have that you absolutely, positively, do NOT want anything from your witch referencing? A: FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THE GODS PLEASE DO NOT GIVE ME ANYTHING INVOLVING SPIDERS I WILL HAVE A HEART ATTACK AND DIE. I have screamed at pictures of them before. Seriously. Q: What one item would you just love to have that is made by a Switch Witch? A: Gotta admit, I am totally in love with syrenemysts's jewelry, but I would be thrilled with anything made by anyone here, pretty much. lol, I also haven't explored etsy much because I know I'd spend all my money there, so I haven't seen everything that everyone makes! Q: Is your abode a palace covered in fur, a disaster area ,or a neat freaks delight? A: ...it manages to be a combination of all three. Cat fur is everywhere because Millie is shedding her winter coat and we can't seem to brush her enough no matter how hard we try, there's stuff that we still don't have storage for sitting around... but Cari cannot rest until all the dishes are washed and things are put away, so the kitchen at least is spotless! Q: How are you doing for BPAL storage? Need any boxes? A: Yes. I can always find room for more boxes. Divided ones would be nifty. Especially ones that can hold bottles too. Q: Is there any place you've visited where you feel like you left your heart there? A: The ocean. I'm totally Legolas. Book Legolas, not movie Legolas, because I don't recall that rhyme in the movie... anyway. Yeah. Specifically the NC Crystal Coast region, as it is the first ocean (and so far only ocean) I've seen. Q: What is your favorite latin or faux latiny phrase? A: Deus Ex Machina. Used it as a story title just because my creative writing teacher spent so much time bitching about it, so gave it my own spin! Fond memory, as it was my first college-level short story class submission. Q: Are you a candles person, incense person, or just a BPTP spritzer for room scents? A: I use incense most... mostly because I didn't get too much while living with my parents and am making up for lost time. Never tried any BPTP spritzer though. Q: Who is your favorite artist? What are some of your favorite pieces of their work? A: Ciruelo Cabral is one of my favorites... especially his dragon art. Oh! And can't forget about Linda Bergkvist, I love Spoiled (as well as everything else). Don't know if she has prints available, though. Q: If you have music or DVD's on your wishlist, do you mind getting a burned copy? How about if it is original packaging but previously used? Or do you only want it new? A: Are you kidding? I love used CDs/DVDs. Burned is fine too, but in that case I'll end up going out and buying it if I really like it, just to support it. Q: What is the color scheme you use most when you decorate? A: Blues. Lots and lots of blues. It's calming. Q: What do you like to snack on? A: Anything that doesn't snack on me first. Seriously, though, I like chocolate... and more heat friendly things like sunflower seeds (in the shells) and nuts (almonds/hazelnuts/pecans mostly). Q: Is there something that would offend you if you received it in your mail/gift/email)? (as in profanity, a bad words in an email/card/music ... or a card or something with a scantily dressed man/woman pictured on it, crude/immature humor tshirts, etc ...) A: Cruel humor. Immature humor isn't something I find funny, but it doesn't offend me... I cuss like a sailor when I'm not at work, and scantily clad doesn't offend me at all. Your best bet for amusing me is sarcasm and dark/gallows humor, though. Q: List things you DO NOT need any more of: A: Bills. Um, pretty good on kitchen stuff... and no need for socks unless they are the thick, pretty kind that serve as alternate houseshoes. Really, though, I forced myself to do a huge pre-moving clean out and am ready to start cluttering again. Q: So I have a question for the witchees, and hopefully mine will answer as well...In trying to decide what to fix for dinner, I thought that I've received some great recipes from friends (particularly the culinary mastermind that is scotchgrrl). I also have a few great recipes of my own. So would anyone like to receive some original, or very much loved recipes from his/her witch? A: I am exiled from the kitchen unless it's something I can do in the microwave, but I can always pass recipes on to someone who will cook them for me! Q: If you could make your perfect scent (or at least most desired at the moment!) what would be in it? A: For the moment? Tokyo Stomp + musk. Honestly, though, my all-time perfect scent has already been made, and it is Blood Kiss. Q: What are your favorite websites (besides this one, and the online shops you listed in your questionnaire)? A: Livejournal (same name there as here), icanhascheezburger.com, behindthename.com, and Wikipedia. I love Wikipedia. Q: Is there any infomercial product you're dying to try even though you know it probably sucks? A: >.> Do not watch TV enough to be up on my infomercials. Though the Pedi Paws thing sound interesting, the kitty needs her claws trimmed. Yowch. But in that case I'd be happy with just normal clippers. Q: Hair adornments? A: Have to be sturdy to last in my hair. I like those scarf-ish headbands, it's the only way I can stand wearing my hair down for long. Q: Do you like shiney hanging porch decorations like windchimes or those things that spin and swirl in the wind? A: I would love those. For sure. I have a porch that has no decoration except for a little patio furniture loveseat! Q: Do you wear makeup or nail polish? Need brushes, containers, storage, mani/pedi supplies? What colors and brands do you like? A: Containers would be good, it's all in freezer bags right now. I wear nail polish more than I do a full face of makeup... neutral colors are good for eyeshadow and things like that, and for nail polish I'll usually do something silvery (so it matches at least my jewelry no matter what) or black, though I'm getting a little old to be able to pull THAT off. Brands I'm not picky on at all. Q: Which flavors are you interested to try from the Chocolate Research Facility? A: ...oh, man, you really want me to pick? Cardamom with Almond, any of the dark chocolates but especially the 76% Equateur, Peanut Butter, Hazelnut Gianduja, Cinnamon, French Vanilla, Mango with Dried Mango, Strawberry with Dried Strawberry, Almond dark, Hazelnut dark, Pecan dark, Strawberry, Sweetened Plum, Wild Berries, ANY of the teas, Cognac, Irish Cream, and any of the coffees. Now I want chocolate. Q: What kind of mythology are you interested in? A: I love Celtic, Jewish (Lilith is love), and Norse mythos pretty intensely, with Egyptian trailing behind that, and the traditional Greco-Roman that I've been hearing about since I was a kid at the end of the pack just because I have heard it way too much. Q: Do you like coconut? A: Only the scent, not to eat at all. Q: Puddin' posts ebay sales of older stuff every now and then - what of the current lot are you dying for? A: Smut, but I already have a bottle. Q: Do you tweet? A: Nope! I'm resisting the peer pressure. Q: Have you any desire to read Hannibal? A: No burning desire to, no. Q: If your witch goes to Convergence (or is bestest friends with someone, same thing), is there anything you'd love to have? A: No idea what'll be there, but if it's on my WL or has my loved notes it would most likely make me happy. Q: Are you freaking out over any of the discontinued scents, dear fellow Witches? A: Well, I wanted to try Tannin'iver but it's not really something I'm dying for... an imp might be nice, just to try. Q: For those candy loving witchees. Are there any 3 that u love and would like more of? A: ...Reese's, Hershey's with almonds, and Whatchamacallits, for more 'mainstream' brands. And any kind of organic chocolate. Especially with dried fruits and nuts in it. Q: And, are there any 3 that u just cannot stand and would not like any of? A: Anything with coconut, honestly. Q: Do you have an electric stove, and would you like a bowl and tarts to use the residual heat (and for extra safety)? A: Yes to electric stove, but I don't think I'd really use the bowl and tarts. Q: What is your favorite classic fairy tale or children's story ? A: Donkeyskin... and Beauty and the Beast. Both fairytales and the Robin McKinley versions. Robin McKinley was the only kids' author I actually liked as a kid... Q: What of the summer update (Egyptian, Lawn Ornaments, etc.) appeals most to you? A: None of my decants have arrived yet... but I'm hoping against all hope that Festival of Anuket will be fantastic on me. I can dream. Q: With all this talk of chocolate, do you prefer milk or dark? A: Dark. All the way. Q: What's that one thing you keep meaning to get but keep forgetting or passing over? A: Can't think of anything right now... but I'm sure I will find something next time I am in a store somewhere, lol. Q: Do you mind receiving partials, imps, full bottles, sniffies of oils from BPAL and other companies? A: No, not at all. Any of the above would be welcome, and from any company. Q: What's your favorite summer activity? A: Splashing around in a pool. And eating a fresh, dripping piece of sweet red watermelon. Q: Would you like a recipe booklet (homemade) for homemade smoothies and shakes? A: Smoothie recipes would be good, Cari and I keep meaning to use the blender more... and I probably need more fruits in my diet. Q: What's your favorite vacation spot? A: Aside from the girl's place in NC? I love Mountain View, AR. It's ridiculously hickish and filled with bluegrass and hillbillies, but that place is fantastic. There's nothing like walking around the town square and seeing all the musicians setting up to play, then going back to a rented log cabin in the woods. Q: Would you like anything nostalgic? Things you loved from their childhood or maybe things you've always loved that were from a time before your own? A: The only material thing I'd really be nostalgic for would be books of old fairytales from different countries... used to check them out of the school library, they were the only things there I wanted to read since I had a college-aged reading level and thus thought all kid books were 'stupid'. Of course, now I love kids' books... Q: What are your thoughts on J.R.R. Tolkein? A: My mom read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings to me as bedtime stories before I even started school. I've at least read part of everything of his we have. It is safe to say, J.R.R. Tolkein is a fond childhood memory. Q: If you answered that you would like recipes, are there any national or ethnic cuisines you prefer or don't prefer? A: Nothing I absolutely loathe the thought of, but I do love Indian... already have a cookbook, though, and a Chinese cookbook. Oo, recipes for German foods would be fantastic, my mom's family lived there for a while and thus German cuisine is kind of a family 'thing'. Q: Do you like musicals? What have you seen? What do you want to see? Any you'd like to own? A: Me, I love musicals. Anything that's come out on VHS or DVD, it's a pretty sure bet that I've seen it... most recent favorites are Hairspray (of course), Rent (also of course), Mamma Mia, and Repo! the Genetic Opera. I doubt it will ever be on video, but I'm dying to see Spring Awakening, seriously. And I own all the musicals I listed except Mamma Mia. I really am an addict. Q: Do you play any musical instruments? Which ones? If not, are there any you'd like to learn? What styles of music do you play, and are you interested in learning any different styles? A: Oh, ye gods... I mentioned this in my questionnaire, but... I took piano lessons from first grade until the time I graduated (and also had one student of my own that last year), and still play fairly regularly for my parents' church when I visit, which works out to having played piano for 15 years at this point. My favorite composer to play on piano is Grieg, but I also like playing show tunes and contemporary music. I'd love to have some Tori Amos sheet music, honestly. I also played flute in band for six years, also playing piccolo part for two of them, and tenor sax for a couple of years in pep band. For flute, I pretty much only play folk music, but I should probably get back into the more complicated flute solo pieces since I still have that very expensive flute sitting around... been singing my whole life, but did four years of formal voice lessons that included a theory and composition class...and I will sing pretty much anything. I just love singing (mostly alto now, but used to have about a three octave range). Oh, and I am trying to pick up dulcimer and guitar because I thought it was a shame I didn't have any instruments I could sing along with, so I got two at about the same time. Um, sorry for length. I really should have just been a music major. Q: Partial to any kind of comedy? A: Dark. Sarcastic. Irreverent. Sometimes crude. R.I.P. George Carlin. Q: There is another Ebay update from Puddin. What appeals to you there? A: Nothing that I don't already have a bottle of. Except MB: Underpants, but I haven't even sniffed that yet. Q: What new scents from the update are calling your name? A: Neither the Lunacy nor the new LE looks particularly like a 'me' scent, but from the new GCs... Aperotos Eros sounds interesting, and How Doth the Little Crocodile. That's it, really. Q: I have easy access to Asian candies, tropical fruits(mangosteen, mango, durian, jackfruit) flavored biscuits/chips/snacks, dried tropical fruits, Japanese/korean/taiwanese cosmetics brands and music/CDs. Is there anything you will like from Singapore or Asia in general? A: Well, candy's always good, but I have a semi-friend who's kind of burned me out on the love of most things Asian by yapping senselessly about jrock bands that I've already told her I don't like and basically by being obsessed with all things related to Japan. Now everything Asian reminds me of her. It's tragic. Q: I've recently been listening to Rasputina's 'O Perilous World' album and am particularly enamored by '1816: the Year Without a Summer'. So I'd like to know if my witchee likes Rasputina, and would like any music by them? A: his witchee has only heard one Rasputina song, and that's Transylvanian Concubine. I did enjoy it, though, and keep having this vague thought that I should check out more songs sometime. Q: Do you try to figure out who your witch is? Do you want your witch to give you clues? A: I haven't seriously tried to figure it out... I'll admit to looking at the writing style in the emails I get and comparing to different posts on the SW thread, but I'd really rather be surprised! Q: Who has a Kindle? If you do, would you like a Kindle gift card, Kindle accessories, etc. as a gift? Whadda you need? A: Ah, um, Kindles are another thing I have an unreasonable grudge about. I have a couple of former roommates that were pretty much living off of college loans, and instead of saving that extra money to pay off those loans or even, ya know, spending it to pay for food that wasn't a thrown together mash of cheap things, they decided to buy Macbooks (they both already had working computers) and Kindles. Considering that guess-who ended up buying shit that we needed around the apartment because they were always broke... sorry, I have enough bad roommate stories from that experience to last a lifetime. Q: What about other electronics (Blackberries, iPhone, etc.)? Do you need any accessories, etc. for those? A: Well, I have a rather nice camera (Sony Cyber-shot) that would benefit from a case more protective than a pocket in my purse. I am but a poor college student/ECSE paraprofessional, I don't have much outside my computer and cell phone! Don't even have an mp3 player. Q: Question...do you fret or take it personally when your witch or witchee gets too quiet? Like they figured you out and don't like you? A: Well, this is my first round so I don't have much experience. My witch is very big on communication, and I love getting the emails. <3 My witchee is a little quiet, but I know from her questionnaire that she is a busy, busy person, and she always responds to emails eventually and her squees in the IGI thread have made me blush. I just assume that when things get quiet on either side, it means that they're really busy, which I totally understand! Q: What are your favorite types of baked goods? How would you feel about candied citrus peel, chocolate-covered or not? Would you be interested in the mix version of the baked goods or perhaps a spice mix, something along those lines? A: Oh, man, I am a brownies girl at heart. I love cookies, but there's something about biting into an ooey, gooey brownie. Candied citrus peels sound pretty tasty, especially chocolate-covered... baking goods mix/spice mix would be great, especially since I promised my roommate baked goods if she remembered to check the mail every day while I was gone! Q: Have you found any new loves since the beginning of the round that you wished you'd known to include on your questionnaire? A: I have been listening to Skunk Anansie nonstop the last few days - I knew who they were because of the song the lead singer, Skin, did with Sevendust, but I decided to start looking some of their stuff up online and I have to say, now they are probably one of my favorite bands. "Selling Jesus" and "Little Baby Swastikkka" are my favorites... not to mention that Skin is HOT. That, and I'm pretty sure I didn't remember to include ANYWHERE that I'm interested in Appalachian history/folklore, a side of my family that we don't know much about came from that region and as one of them was a folk healer I have a vested interest in finding out more about it. Q: So tell me my darling Switch Witches (whom I adore)...what puts you in a Sassy I am woman/man hear me roar mood? is it a scent? piece of Jewelry? Article of Clothing? Song? IS there something that just makes you feel...ON!? A: There are a couple of songs... "Evening on the Ground" by Iron & Wine and the Shirley Manson version of "Samson and Delilah". And stompy boots, but I don't have a pair of those right now since the last ones fell apart and I decided to get some that would work for my T:tSCC costume instead. Oh! And the combo of perfectly fitting jeans, a bra that actually supports me, and a shirt that shows off some cleavage. Q: "If I could be I would be ____________ for a day." Fill in the blank. A: Super speedy, maybe then I'd have time to get everything done! Q: Anything from the newest ebay listing? A: I wouldn't want my fantastic Witch to bankrupt herself on auctions at all, but just looking at the scents listed... Love's Philosophy sounds interesting, as does Bakeneko. Oh, and I wouldn't object to more Red Queen. Q: Anything from the trunk show? A: Again, no bankrupting yourself, my Witch, but at some point I would like to sniff: Binah, Chanukkiya, Gamaliel, Kether (yes, yes I am curious about all the Sephiroth oils, is it obvious?), Tarot: Justice (that'd be 'my' card), and Thagirion, maybe. Q: How did you get your forum name? A: I came up with it as an LJ handle back when I was getting really interested in herbal magic... Asafoetida, in different traditions, has the power to either bind demons or curse. That kind of duality has always been a 'thing' for me. And (all you LJers probably know what I mean, right?) it was available. So it kind of stuck. Q: Would you be interested in receiving some pasties from your witch? A: ...well. I'm sure my girlfriend would appreciate it. As for size, I'd say about... 3". Q: Do you like Sugar Ray (the band not the boxer)? A: Not really a fan, but my mom likes them. Q: What's the wallpaper/screensaver on your computer? A: Wallpaper's a montage of the three Winchester men (SPN) that the girl made for me. I have my screen set to turn off rather than start up a screensaver. Q: Who knows about wizard rock and wants more? Who doesn't know but wants to? A: I... haven't heard of it before, but it sounds interesting.

In the imp: almonds and myrrh. Sweet and dark. On, wet: Myrrh, musk, where are you? I smell exactly like an amaretto sour. And I do mean exactly. I mean, I love amaretto sours, but it might not be such a good idea to go to work smelling like my favorite drink. Drydown: Well, the amaretto sour impression did fade and the butteriness came out a little more, but it was still pretty much straight almonds. I never got any myrrh and I especially never got any musk. It smelled delicious, though. Warm and almondy, mm-mm. It faded more quickly than I'd have liked, though, barely any trace of it left by lunchtime. Verdict: I'll give it another shot, but I doubt I will love it enough to buy a bottle... which is disappointing because the notes sounded fantastic. I hope my skin doesn't make EVERY almond scent boozey like this!

This one surprised me enough to inspire me to review. Why? I did not purchase this one for myself because I know that I cannot wear florals. The girlier and more flowery something smells the worse it is on me. And when you combine lavender, jasmine, and honeysuckle, that is bound to be girly and flowery. However, my girlfriend forgot it at my apartment and, since it smelled like chlorine on her, told me to go ahead and try it and if I liked it I could keep it. Okay, I thought, this will be ugly, but why not? So I dabbed it on this morning before work. In the vial: Holy crap that's a floral. That's possibly the most florally floral to ever floral. Well. Bottoms up. Wet: Ugh. It sort of smells like rotting flowers at first. I would have washed it off immediately, but I was already late leaving so I resigned myself to smelling bad all day. It could be worse, and it might discourage snotty children from wiping their noses on my wrist for once... Dry: ...well. Not even completely dry, and I was hit by this overwhelmingly gorgeous scent. It's not any of the notes separately, so far as I can tell... I know it doesn't smell like lavender or honeysuckle, and unless I am very badly mistaken on what jasmine smells like (which I don't think I am) it doesn't smell like that either. The notes just... blend to create something entirely different. Maybe I'm just reacting to the name, but it makes me think of a garden full of some kind of flower my grandmother used to grow that only blooms at dusk... I can't think of the name of it. It's a dark, wet floral that actually smells like... a flower. On me. What the hell? It doesn't change much during the further drying and wearing down. At this point it's just a faded ghost of that same flower, a hint of something sweet and I definitely get the mysterious, ethereal feeling. It's just starting to really fade (so far as I can tell) after five hours of wear. I'm still not hugely a floral person, but this one? This one is good for those occasions where a floral is more appropriate than my typical scents. ...I must thank my girlfriend profusely for forgetting this.

A yellow-bright and smoky brown-black scent, horned, pronged and strange. I got this as a frimp with my first big order from the Lab. Since I'm a sucker for scents that are categorized as being dark, I decided to go ahead and try it on immediately... In the imp: Holy hell that's dark. Strong. Very earthy... I suck at recognizing notes, but I'm thinkin' vetiver? On, wet: Hello, patchouli. This smells like the incense in every Boho store I've ever been in. It's a good thing that I love those stores. Hm, is that a hint of sweetness? It's very well hidden, if it is! On, drydown: Oo, there's something smoky and sweet coming out. Still dark as hell. And strong, it's going to my head a little. Probably because I can't stop sniffing myself. Starts to go medicinal after a bit... from various people I've gotten 'Mountain Ice chest rub', 'hospital', and 'masculine talcum powder'. There's still something dark and dirty in the background, but it's predominated by a sort of sharp note. And yes, medicinal. It's making my nose feel really clear. Eucalyptus? Strangely, I still find myself fond of it. I'll leave it alone for a bit and check back in with it later. Dry: I shouldn't like the way this smells. It isn't pleasant. It has a sort of medicinal sharpness to it, but at the same time it manages to smell dirty. It's roots fresh out of the ground, before they've been washed and made into some kind of poultice. It's weird and not at all pretty and completely unapologetic about that fact. ...I LOVE IT. Conclusion: I probably won't buy a 5 ml of this, but I'll be keeping the imp to wear when I'm in the mood for something dark, secretive, and unapologetically strange (and also when I'm not in the mood to get hit on). Once that runs out? I'll see how I feel about it.