KittyHawk

I'm Commander Shepard and this is my favorite thread on the forum! Nice choices, Beckie. I would seriously die if Beth ever did a Bioware line. I always play paragon FemShep (with a bit of a renegade streak). I see her wearing something crazy sexy and a little bit dangerous, like Loviatar or Mme. Moriarty. Garrus is my preferred love interest too, and I like the idea of him wearing something really rugged and a little cocky, like Brom Bones or Doc Constantine. I see Joker wearing something sweet, but still masculine. Velvet Bandito, maybe. Tali has to wear something metallic and soft, like Torture Queen, or something very "purple," like Prunella. Liara strikes me as a soft lavender gal - Luna Azul for her. Samara is essentially a lawful neutral cleric, so she would layer those three RPGs. Kaidan is such a good guy that he needs a classical masculine perfume like Antony, or something sweet and unisex like Dorian or Tristran. Since EDI's an AI, Kataniya seems appropriate for her. The Illusive Man seems like a Whitechapel or Iago sort of guy - clean and put-together, but with a really malevolent streak. Jack IS the Illustrated Woman, so that one's easy. Saren might be good in Bed of Nails - lots of metal and wood - or Cyborg, because, well, yeah. Legion needs to have something metallic too - No. 93 Engine would be a good choice. Thane would smell like 51, Pollution, or Alien Invasion, I think. He needs something green and musky. I see Ashley wearing Liz or Midnight on the Midway, actually: something girly yet bad-ass. Wrex seems like a Fighter or Ozymandias guy because I imagine Tuchanka would actually smell like blood, metal, and lots of dust. Chakwas is a bit of a lush, so one of the Tiki blends would be good for her. Miranda needs something refined, like Antique or Black Lace, or crisp and clean, like Kumiho. I see Jacob wearing something unisex with a light leather note, like Jareth or Paladin. A Japanese master thief like Kasumi needs some Neo-Tokyo. Zaeed needs something super boozy. The Sailor's Den, then. Hackett needs to smell like Lear - commanding and masculine. Sovereign and Harbinger would smell like Smokestack, and the collectors and reaper minions would smell like death, so that goes to Gore Shock, naturally. I've put way too much thought into this.

Mmm, this is pretty. I have all sorts of problems with violet notes, but I've found that I can wear orris sometimes, and it works for me here. Unveil smells like expensive powder, clean and sweet with a hint of sparkle from the musk. It reminds me of Staged Moon Landing, only it's more subtle and has none of that mineral grit. Lovely.

I can't believe there's only one page of reviews for this! I'm such a sucker for BPAL's brown leather blends, and for a readily available GC, it doesn't get any better than Captain Cully. It's a great substitute for Brom Bones and Western Diamondback, IMO. The tonka lends some sweetness to the leather, and the woods give it a backbone. I don't get a lot of porter per se, but I would consider this a slightly boozy blend, like the ruggedly hot rancher at the end of the bar who's had one too many Guinnesses. I wouldn't even call it a masculine blend, just aggressive and understatedly sexy.

You know that vacant storefront in the rundown strip mall in the shady part of town - the one that used to be a Borders or an electronics store or a California Pizza Kitchen - that gets turned into a Halloween store after Labor Day? THAT'S what Bensiabel smells like. Not the latex masks or the greasepaint or the flimsy polyester costumes - the entirety of the store itself. I get the plum juice - and it's definitely juice, no doubt about it; it's very sweet and thin, not dense and textured like the plum in, say, Prunella - but I also get a lot of the leather and herbs. It's vaguely masculine, I suppose, but I just cannot get over the fact that it smells like a Halloween USA. I don't understand it, and I really don't understand why I like it so much, but I do. I can't see myself ever purchasing a bottle, but damn, I need to keep this on hand for winter, spring, and summer when I'm itching for the feel of autumn.

They aren't being advertised as such, but maybe the blue moons will be available at this month's Will Calls? It might be worth looking for a pick-up just in case. But seriously, it is the most beautiful BPAL lavender ever. I hope you find some!

Have you tried Luna Azul, Gateau? Unlike the other blue moons, there's no musk, and the mango adds a really lovely sweetness to the lavender. I've been wearing TKO to bed exclusively too, but Luna Azul is more complex and better suited to daytime, IMO.

Worst case scenario, you could order a few imps from the Lab, but I bet if you search the sales pages here, someone will have an imp or two up for sale. Good luck; it's a great costume idea!

I think something with chrome or oil would be appropriate for Gosling's character in Drive. The Nameless City Drive-In Theater jumps out at me, as do Steam.Goth and No. 93 Engine. Actually, any of the Steamworks blends would probably work well.

I think I'm getting close to maximum density (ha, that always makes me think of The Breakfast Club. Speaking of which, I love John Hughes movies too!) over in my other post, so all the overflow will go here. Do you do Goodreads or LibraryThing or a site like that? If so, can I see your to-read list, please? I am on Goodreads but I’m horrible about updating it; still, I took a peek at my to-read list and it’s pretty accurate, though not comprehensive. I do own a few of the books on that list, so if you’re thinking of sending me any, best check with me first. http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/6131052-andrea?format=html&shelf=to-read Zombies; Yay or Nay? I have a complicated relationship with zombies. I love The Walking Dead, but it gives me nightmares (even the graphic novels do!). Anything else zombie-related I have to stay far away from, even Sean of the Dead and Zombieland. The things that scare me the most aren’t chainsaw-wielding maniacs or paranormal spirits; it’s the things based in reality but tweaked ever so slightly that give me the creeps. So zombies fit the bill, being human and all, but they move strangely and their eyes are dead and they’re, you know, eating brains and such. J-horror is the worst though, oh my god, with the black eyes and the stringy black hair, the inhuman sounds. The Ring gave me nightmares for months, and still does from time to time even though I only saw it once. If you have cats, do they like catnip toys? If you have doggies, would they like a super-reinforced canvas toy with a squeaker in it? My cats would love catnip toys! They turn into American Catiators whenever they get nipped; it’s turned into a great source of entertainment in our house. If you have kids, what are they into? Arthur and Rita are into catnip, snuggling, lounging in the sun, and tuna. That’s about it. They’re living the sweet life. How do you feel about wearable knitted lace? Shawls, wraps, and the like? That would be nice! Maybe a small scarf that’s more fashion than function? Black or grey would get the most use. Looking at the warehouse, I notice that our lovely Greenwoodtree is able to do chart readings and/or forecasts at a very reasonable rate. Is this something you would want? No, thank you. I live in Japan. Anything you would be interested in from there? ERMAGERD. YES. ANYTHING. Candy Corn: yes, no? YES! I also really love those little candy corn pumpkin dealies. Any fun-sized candy will be happily eaten. For those who like tea, what sorts of tea do you like? Green and herbal! Black tea is a little strong for my liking, as I don’t like to sugar my tea, but I love the way it smells. J As I mentioned before, you can’t go wrong with jasmine tea; rose is harder to find but just as good, and chrysanthemum too. WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH YOUR ASS OFF!!! movies, comedians, black humor, your partner, a comic strip? what? Oh my, so many things. I have a very dry, nerdy sense of humor. According to the 3-variable funny test, I’m The Wit. Here’s the copy for my results: “your humor style: CLEAN | COMPLEX | DARK You like things edgy, subtle, and smart. I guess that means you're probably an intellectual, but don't take that to mean pretentious. You realize 'dumb' can be witty--after all isn't that the Simpsons' philosophy?--but rudeness for its own sake, 'gross-out' humor and most other things found in a fraternity leave you totally flat. I guess you just have a more cerebral approach than most. You have the perfect mindset for a joke writer or staff writer. Your sense of humor takes the most thought to appreciate, but it's also the best, in my opinion. You probably loved the Office. If you don't know what I'm talking about, check it out here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/theoffice/. PEOPLE LIKE YOU: Jon Stewart - Woody Allen - Ricky Gervais” This is very accurate. I love the Simpsons (and Futurama! – If you were to listen to conversations between my husband and I, you’d come to the conclusion that we’re staff writers for Futurama. I wish…) and Woody Allen, and OMG Christopher Guest and Wes Anderson are the best. I also really like George Carlin, Monty Python (and British humor in general), Arrested Development, and I have a fleeting affinity to Judd Apatow movies (sometimes they’re funny, most times not, but I enjoy watching them all the same). I HATE HATE HATE Adam Sandler (except in The Wedding Singer and Spanglish) and Dane Cook makes me want to hurl things at my tv. I love Will Ferrell’s SNL sketches too, and most of Joss Whedon’s humor. My favorite movies in my questionnaire reflect my taste pretty well, I think. You are meeting up with someone on a casual lunch/early afternoon thing. This person is someone you want to impress/look good for (for whatever reason, not necessarily romantic, and not necessarily for business either). What would you look like, given the contents of your wardrobe/etc? I have this Anna Sui dress that I bought from Anthropologie a couple years ago – it’s really thick cotton, with a black spaghetti strap top and a carnival-print cornflower blue bottom and an exposed zipper in the back. I’d pair it with a red belt, red flats, and a blue cardigan (slightly darker than the skirt of the dress). It’s my favorite outfit ever, and I get a lot of use out of it. You are to be let loose in a clothing store of your choice, to pick a full outfit, down to the shoes, the accessories, etc. and things would be altered to fit you if needed. What store would that be, and what would you look like? If I didn’t make it myself (which I’m trying to do these days since it’s fun and I can be really creative with prints and such), any full outfit I’d choose if money were no object would come from Anthropologie. I love that store so intensely, but it’s too expensive for me to shop at on a regular basis. I’m going to peruse their catalog now and see what I can come up with. For the record, I’m terrible at choosing shoes and accessories. I end up wearing the same glittery ballet flats everyday and the same jewelry (except for earrings) day in and day out. OK, I’m loving this dress: http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/25801085.jsp But I’m 5’8” and I have a feeling the factory length would be obscene on me, so I’d probably have to add a couple inches to the hem; otherwise, it’s perfect. I really like this one too: http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/25777814.jsp But I think it would look really boxy on me. Still, the print is beautiful. I would probably pair both of those dresses with nice tall boots, something like these perhaps: http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/25461641.jsp For all I know they’d all look terrible together, but I have a tendency to wear flats or tall boots with all my skirts and dresses, so it would at least be in keeping with my usual style. You open a box from the post office to reveal the 3 things you want most right now. What are they? (caveats: size doesn't matter, but they have to be tangible/buyable). One of the VM clockwork kitty perfumes (OMG I WANT TO SQUEEZE THEM!), a cute Halloween decor item, and this book. What is your holy grail "I'd kill to just have one drop in an imp" bpal scent? Oh gosh. I’ve been incredibly lucky to try most of the BPAL unicorns like Storyville, Crumpet Rebellion, and Gothabilly. I have been dying to try some of the HTF leather blends, though – a drop of Dead Man’s Hand or Brom Bones would slay me. I actually had a bottle of DMH in my cart during the last Etsy update, but of course my BFE internet service was too slow and I missed out on the lone bottle. I wasn’t too devastated because I figured someone else would want to snatch it up too, but it was a nail-biting few minutes; I’ll say that much! If you wear earrings, do you have pierced ears? Yes, I do! All earrings are good earrings! Are there any existing Weenies that you have your eye on, but haven't gotten around to getting? The only thing I wished I had ordered a decant of but didn’t is The Bloody Banister. My new job is at a consignment store where we have all kinds of designer brands for very reasonable prices. Are there designer clothes/purses/sunglasses that you desire/love? (Give some indication as to your "style" as well. For example, do you like bohemian-style frocks in lavender? Crossbody purses in black? Sunglasses that are round and bug-like?) I love retro (anywhere from 1930s-1980s, but especially 40s - early 60s) patterned (floral, abstract, animals, general nostalgia) dresses and skirts. I'm a size 4-6 in modern clothes, which usually translates to a 12 in sewing patterns and usually in vintage stuff (I'm 36-27-36 if that helps!). I have more sunglasses than I know what to do with, and I like structured bags in bright colors. I realize that we had a similar question in the ?aire, but I need you Witchee-s to list at least 5 items, each ranging $20 and under from Amazon.com or Walmart.com. Let's check my trusty wishlist: 1Q84 Couture Sewing Techniques The Rise of Rome Packing for Mars Vogue Sewing In the meantime, let me know what you like to do on the Internet to kill time. Flash games? What are your daily websites/blog visits, or favorite YouTube videos? I have to remind myself to revisit this. I have lots but I don't have the time just now to search for them all. And what are your favourite characters from your fandoms? Oh goodness, I could go on FOREVER about this. Hmmmm.... If you want to know more (or why) dear Witch, let me know and I'll happily go into detail. Breaking Bad, my favorite characters are Saul and Mike. Battlestar Galactica - Gaeta and Romo Lampkin (and Starbuck of course; I have a Starbuck-related tattoo on my arm. If you're familiar with the show you can guess what it is). Arrested Development - Franklin Bluth and Gene Parmesan The Simpsons - Moe and Maggie, also Senor Ding Dong and Troy McClure if we're branching out a bit. I think those are the only movies/shows I'm obsessed with that could be considered to have fandoms. The end of this month I'm going to Scarefest, the big horror and paranormal con in Kentucky. (www.scarefest.com) If I were your witch, is there anything you would like from there (skull jewelry, art prints from an artist that catch your eye, etc), or anyone whose autograph or photo or such you would dig? I want to check out the website and get back to you; I doubt any of my fandoms would be represented there, but you never know! I would love any sort of kitschy Halloween item - I like monsters, witches, ghosts and the like. Just no scary zombies or dead Japanese girls, please! Stuffed things? I LOVE stuffed animals (and I have recently started a collection of bears in Halloween costumes, inspired by Parker Posey's meltdown in Best in Show)! I love those giant Squishables dealies - OMG, they are so cute. I love the kitties, the bears, the pink poodle, the walrus, the pegasus, and the manatee! Witchee, would you like it if I made you a "mix tape" of songs that I think you might like? And if so, would you prefer mp3 or CD format? That would be so much fun! Format isn't an issue; I can play either, so whichever is easier for you if you want to go that route. My Little Pony... Cute or meh? Love them! I'm a child of the 80s and MLP were my toys of choice from age 3 to about 8. I still proverbially kick myself for allowing my mom to sell my entire collection at a garage sale when I got "too old" for them. It was my decision, for crying out loud! What was I thinking? I like Friendship is Magic too, but the new ponies creep me out. I REALLY love personalized ponies, though. My sister (not really my sister, but my best friend of 21 years) made me a pair of ponies for xmas one year - Adama and Starbuck ponies! (My relationship with BSG is a bit... unhealthy... if you haven't gleaned that already. ) Lip balm - tube or tin? Tube! I hate when my fingers get all goopy and I never bother to grab a brush to apply, so tins are never a good option. The only exception is if the scent is to-die-for and only available in tin form, e.g. Blooddrop's apple cider doughnut. Would you like to receive a journal or sketchbook? How about other pretty paper goods like post-its, notepads, bookmarks, letter paper/envelopes? I would love a journal, notepads, or bookmarks! I also go through a lot of blank notecards, as I throw them into my sales/swaps packages. Are you interested in audiobooks? If so, any specific titles? I can't say I've ever listening to an audio book before. I'm really a traditionalist when it comes to books, though - I need pages! Bar soaps with some scrubby bits, yes or no? Sure! I don't do scrubs on my face, and sugar scrubs would just bring ants (one of the myriad problems with living in Florida), but I don't mind if my soap has scrubbers. Do you need any small electronic gadgets like flash drives and the like? I think we're set; I keep a flash drive in my purse at all times and I'm pretty sure we have a box full of them somewhere. Would you like a pair of knitted socks? YES! Any color, pattern, whatever. I can never say no to socks, homemade or store bought! Do you have any use for knitted dishcloths, facecloths, etc, especially if they were fandom related? YES, YES, and OMG YES! Do you subscribe to any sample boxes, and if so, which ones? Would you like to receive some samples? (perfume, eco/"green," skin care, hair, music downloads, cosmetics, soap...) I do not; a soap box might be nice, but I have a very particular skin care regimen and I don't wear much makeup, so the others would be lost on me. Do you have a problem with nudes? Nope! Tasteful nudes in art are welcome, and I wouldn't turn down a silly nudie pen as a gag gift. Are there any other e-tailers you're desperately wanting to try? if so, any specific items/scents/etc? The wishlist in my signature is pretty extensive and includes a lot of etailers. I'm most looking forward to trying some of the VM clockwork kitties if I can find them. ThinkGeek: anything interesting to you on there? I love ThinkGeek! I have a few of their mugs on my Amazon wishlist. What's one thing you want, right now, that you're having difficulty finding? Ugh, a good soap dish! All the decorative ones I can find don't drain at all, and I want to keep my nice smellies in good condition so they last as long as possible. I had thought of something else last night, but I can't recall it now. Who here is going to be picking up JK Rowling's new book on Thursday? Not me. What do you do to take care of yourself when you're having a rough day (sick, life not going your way, whatever)? It invariably involves some from-scratch macaroni and cheese, one of my favorite comedies (see the appropriate questionnaire ?), and lots of coffee. Favorite and Least Favorite Baked Goods Chocolate anything (except brownies with nuts - nutted baked goods are my only caveat), cookies, breads, anything is fine by me, honestly. I love me some baked goods. T Shirt sizes: I prefer babydoll or women's fit shirts and I'm generally a small in those unless they run snug, in which case a medium would work. FWIW I am DEFINITELY a women's small in TeeFury and Threadless boatnecks; I'm a girly medium in regular Threadless tees. In standard unisex sizing I'm a small since they don't normally run any smaller than that. I can fit into a boys' XL too, if the design isn't available in adult sizing. Note: I'm stealing VioletChaos' responses for the following two questions: I found a fantastic little shop while traveling that had unusual jellies and jams. Would you be interested in trying something like Georgia Moonshine Jelly or TOE Jam (each letter stands for some kind of fruit, I don't remember which ones) or something similar? How about homemade jam in general? I will not be interested in any jams containing booze flavors, mint or meat (like bacon jam. No, please! ) However, any mix of any kind of fruit will be welcome with open arms, as will Fruit Jam's sophisticated cousin, the Butter. As in, Pumpkin Butter, Apple Butter and the like. Would you be interested in homemade herbal remedies and tinctures? I don't think I'd be comfortable with a tincture, but if you wanted to make a salve for me, I would be open to that. Witchee, do you want anything from the Haunt update coming up on 10/3? I know it might be too early to say, but if you could look at the preview on the night of 10/2 and let me know if you want anything... I certainly might! I plan to stalk that update; I haven't found anything from Haunt worth keeping yet, but I'm sure I will soon. Owls? I think they're neat, but I don't have any particular affinity to them. Do any of Villainness' Soap Box exclusive scents interest you, especially any of the Smooches/Whippeds? I don't think the Smooches are my kind of thing, with the sugar and all. It's a shame too because I would love to use a scrub, but the sugar would surely cause an infestation. As far as the Whippeds go, Autumn Gala, Candy Floss Cupcake, Ginger Snapped, and especially Quick or Dead (which seems to be on the Villainess site only) sound really nice. Puddin' just put a shitton of old Lunacy shirts on the BPTP Etsy! Any ones interest you? I like the looks of the Sugar Moon and the 2011 Bony Moon. And OMG, the 2012 Beaver Moon... I love it. Gardening? I try! It's very difficult to grow things here because the ground is all sand, no soil at all. We've had success growing asparagus and tomatoes, but nothing else. I'd love some heirloom seeds to try my hand at growing in pots, though. Do you use or would like to try loose eyeshadow pigments? As I mentioned in one of my posts in the thread, I find them messy. I prefer the traditional panned shadows. Is there anything you might want from the latest update (Lab or TP)? I ordered a few decants and half bottles from my decantress and still waiting on my first Weenies. I'm really looking forward to Mischief and Third Charm - those are the only two that seem like possible bottle upgrades. And OMG, have you read the Will Call threads yet, Witch? There's an Autumn Lace proto! *dies* Red Lace is my favorite red musk scent, so I'm really looking forward to that one. What's a new company to you that you most want to try a product from or what would be a new product to you that you most want to try (make-up, perfume, or bath/body)? Hmmmm. I've tried a little bit from most companies, but I have yet to try anything from Moxie Nouveau (and some of their permanent scents sound really nice!) and I'd like to. I'd also like to try some of Paintbox's lotions and the Post's candles and massage oils. If you like necklaces, what are some symbols or images that you would love to have a necklace depict? (ex. spiders, skulls, hearts...?) Despite what I put in my questionnaire, I would love a fun necklace or pendant! No spiders, please, but anything retro Halloweeny (like the classic Universal monsters, witches, pumpkins, black cats, etc.) would be awesome! I have a few things favorited on Etsy too, like Edgar Allan Poe and Hunter S. Thompson pendants. They might give you a better idea of my taste. I don't really wear bracelets or anklets, and earrings would get the most wear, but I'm a sucker for a fun necklaces too. Arcana update - interested? I shouldn't have looked, but I did. Little Ghoulie sounds good, but Spirit and Shadow sounds PERFECT. If you had a fairy for NYCC, what exclusive scent would you kill to own? I have a fairy for Badgers and Nymphes, but the Hattie's atmo sounds AMAZING! What do you think of Shiro Cosmetics Halloween Collection? (www.shirocosmetics.com) ZOIDBERG!!! Woop woop woop woop! The Godiva Halloween Collection: Everything sounds fantastic! Would you be interested in comic books and if so what ones do you read or what genre of comics are you interested in? I would love some old comics (or Calvin and Hobbes strips)! WITCHEE, DO YOU WANT ANYTHING FROM CALIFORNIA? Sure, but I don't have any specific requests. IngenuiTEAs? One of those would be so useful. I am the laziest of the lazy when it comes to tea-brewing. Honeycrisp "Apple Crips" (Dried honeycrisp apples, nothing added.) DO YOU WANT SOME WITCHEE????? OMG YES! I miss good, plentiful apples. Design a tea? Hmmm, I missed the link for this, but I would love to design my own tea - anything rose, jasmine, or green tea-based would be lovely. FusionSweets? (etsy) Ugh, anything! It all looks so good! But holy shipping charges, Batman! I'd rather have something you made yourself. Poe Day? Dark Del merch in general? Kombucha? Are you dressing up for Halloween, Witchee? If so, is there anything you're looking for to complete your costume? I'm having a heck of a time finding a pipe (a snorfblat, if you want to get technical!), but everything else has already been procured. Do you need any accessories for your smartphone (case, skin, etc)?

My god, this smells like seventh grade me, circa 1996 - 1997: a crisp Oxford shirt fresh out of the dryer, pressed uniform skirt, green apple lotion, and pen ink smeared all down the side of my hand (lefties, you know what I'm talkin' 'bout!). Salma is the cleanest BPAL I've encountered to date, and it's really perfect if you want something unobtrusive that stays close to the skin. It dries a little sweeter than it applies, which I attribute to the linen note. I like it - it keeps the shampoo note from going, well... soapy! An unexpected winner!

Howdy, Witch o' mine! Here are a few links that may help you better stalk me. Everything is completely updated, though I may continue to add to them throughout the round, as I send my wishlists to my parents for gift ideas too. But PLEASE do not feel obligated to purchase anything from any of these lists; I only hope they might give you a glimpse into my eclectic tastes. I'll keep a log of all my in-thread answers here too in case you don't have time to read dozens of pages each day. Thank you for being my Witch; I hope I get the opportunity to thank you properly at the end of the round! Etsy Pinterest Amazon Q and A: Do you like s'mores and s'mores-flavored things? Yes! I love chocolate, marshmallow, and graham in any combination you could imagine. Would you enjoy receiving cute but useful items like colorful kitchen utensils/gadgets, or bento supplies? (boxes, chopsticks, accessories, etc?) What about things like spice mixes (homemade, or Penzey's for example)? Yes, anything like that would get a great deal of use, especially spice mixes and any kind of baking mix. I'm in the kitchen all the time. What's the neatest freebie you've gotten? It can be cool or thoughtful or just totally unexpected, and not limited to BPALdom. Every experience I've had on the forum has exceeded my expectations a million times over; I'm just proud to be part of such a generous group of wonderful people. Do you like cute, seasonal or fluffy PJ bottoms? Like they sell at Target, Old Navy (they have had cute Halloween ones!) If so, what size do you wear? I love them, the seasonal ones especially!!! I'm generally a small or medium in juniors'/women's pj pants. What kind of chocolate do you like? All kinds, but milk chocolate especially, though I do like dark chocolate in small quantities (or with sea salt and caramel, yum!). No nuts, though, please. Hazelnuts are good, though. I live near a Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Penzeys! What does your little heart desire from any or all of these places? I don't have any of those nearby, and to be honest, it's been so long since I've been to a WF or TJ's that I wouldn't even know what's worth getting. But if you have any favorites from these stores, Witch, I would love to try them! Are home made foods acceptable or does the idea of eating strange mailed food disturb you? As long as they don't have bites taken out of them, sure! It's still in the low 90s here, though, so anything that might melt will. Packaged chocolates and candies can be popped into the fridge, but anything that can't is best avoided. I just gave you $20 and sent you into a "has everything" store ala Walmart and told you that you have to come out having spent it all, and none of it on anything you need. What would you buy? Be as specific as possible! I also avoid Walmart, but at a Target-like store I'd get a Cadbury Milk bar, a Diet Coke, Freeman Avocado and Oatmeal clay mask, some Swedish fish (red ones only), a candle (the little soy ones at Target now are fantastic!), and orange or purple string lights (we decorate the interior and exterior of our house with them each Halloween). What kind of cuisines do you like? And, what are your favorite restaurants? I try to avoid chain restaurants as much as possible, but I like all sorts of cuisine: Chinese, Lebanese, Thai, Japanese/sushi, Ethiopian, Mexican, Korean, greasy dive American, Italian, organic/vegetarian places, Greek... need I go on? I'm from Canada - is there anything specifically a witchee might like that is only available here? I used to buy these maple leaf-shaped cookies with maple-flavored filling that were TO DIE FOR when I lived across the border. I'd LOVE more if my Witch is local. Do you have an eReader and if so which one? Nope, tangible books for me, please! What are your "fandoms" and would you like a t-shirt from TeeFury if an appropriate one came up? OMG, YES! And FYI - TeeMagnet compiles the daily shirts of several sites, so that's worth looking at too. Hmm... let's see... I'm trying to think of franchises I've seen through TeeFury recently: Breaking Bad, Battlestar Galactica, Back to the Future, Dr. Horrible, Calvin and Hobbes, Mass Effect, Walking Dead, Arrested Development, and Buffy are the big ones, but I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting at the moment. I'm a women's small in their shirts. Do you like candles, or tart burners, or something? If so, what's your favorite scent to burn? Yes to both! I love vanilla-based and foodie scents (like buttercream and cupcakes) and autumn scents as well - apples, woods, leaves, spices, and the like. Yankee's Autumn Wreath and Soft Blanket, Woodwick's Applewood, Bakery Cupcake, and Harvest Blessings are some of my favorites, but I never turn down a good candle or tart, regardless of brand. I just bought candles from Target (no brand name IIRC) in Autumn Harvest, Exotic Woods, and Silver Birch; those are beautiful too. In short - candles and wax tarts = win. Would you be interested in washable/reusable muslin “paper” towels (basically muslin squares hemmed around the edge)? Maybe in some sort of box to put on your kitchen or bathroom counter? Oh, that would be perfect! I'm slowly making the transition to paperless in the kitchen, so this would be right up my alley and greatly appreciated! Marzipan? Not a fan, sorry. Do you drink alcohol and if so, would you be OK with your witch sending you homemade infused vodka? Also, does your state allow alcohol to be shipped through the mail? I love craft beer, but I'm afraid I can no longer handle hard liquor. My college days beat that right out of me. I really don't know whether it's legal or not to ship alcohol to Florida, but it's not worth the trouble IMO. If you get me (or a fellow Aussie, if there are any playing this round) as a witch or witch's minion, would you like to try some Australian specialties, such as TimTams (delicious chocolately cookies), Caramello Koalas (koala shaped chocolates filled with gloopy caramel), Australian native spices or anything like that? Yes to all the Aussie things!!! I LOVE TimTams and Koalas, and I remember this chicken-flavored snack that I ate a lot when I was visiting back in 2001, but I can't recall what they were, exactly. Not chips, maybe more like crunchy stick-like things? But anyway, anything Australian or insert your nationality here!) would be fantastic. If your witch is a knitter, crocheter or sewer, is there a particular type of garment you would love to receive (hat, scarf, wrap, cowl, socks, fingerless gloves, arm warmers etc)? It's never cold enough to receive hats and gloves, but I would cherish some homemade socks or arm/leg warmers! I am a sewer myself, so if you have any patterns (current or vintage) that are gathering dust, send 'em my way! Is there anyone else in your house (kids, pets, partner) that would really appreciate a small gift being included for them in the switchwitchy haul so they don't feel left out? The kitties would appreciate treats or toys, but please don't go out of your way! My husband is one of those people that buys whatever he wants and has expensive hobbies, but he always eats any food that comes through the mail. Since it's been mentioned several times, and I've also offered to nacho witch some, would you you like to receive wild rice and or maple syrup? I promise to include recipe ideas with the wild rice. That would be pretty fantastic. I have 5 bushels of tomatoes sitting in the kitchen right now that are supposed to turn into red sauce tomorrow, so would anyone like a basic red sauce (spaghetti sauce) to make its way to them? Yes, please! Some of your favorite artists? Classic and modern? I wish I knew more about art history than I do; I like art nouveau, art deco, impressionism, romanticism... most other things too. Art speaks to me, I just don't know the language. I love Frida Kahlo and Bruegel's "Fall of Icarus," more specifically. I really like Lichtenstein and Edward Gorey too. If you're an art buff, Witch, I'd love to see what some of your favorites are! If you could have an image or certain subject painted for you on any type of "canvas" (on a box, on paper, on a canvas, and so on) - could you point your witch to some of these images? I can't tell you how great something like this would be! Anything referencing my favorites movies, tv shows, books, BPAL, or even something Halloween-related would be fantastic. Is there a GC scent that's been on your list for ages but keeps falling off the bottom of your order because of the LEs? Ouija, The Apothecary, Carnal, and Snake Oil - I still don't have a bottle of SO for aging! Mouse Circus and Norman are on the short list too, but since those are special issue I should probably leave them off. Nail Polishes? Oh yes! Brights, metallics, glitters - you name it! I'm also looking for a black glittery/holographic solid base color. Any suggestions would be awesome if you're a connoisseur, Witch! Are there any crafts/skills you've wanted to learn but haven't gotten around to? And if so, would you be interested in supplies and tutorials? I can always use more craft stuff! I do cross stitch and I'm an intermediate seamstress, so Aida fabric (size 14 or 16), fabric, acrylic paint, picture frames (5x7 especially!), fabric, and sewing patterns would be most welcome! Seriously, Goodwill and the Salvation Army is a fantastic place to find cheap dress patterns from the 20s - 80s; I don't think I could ever have too many of those! I'd LOVE to learn to crochet; I've always been afraid to since I'm left-handed and I'm terrible at understanding patterns (spatial reasoning: I don't has it). If you're a pro, Witch, and have some tips or tricks, I would be SO appreciative. Who here would be happy to get a lil' sumthin sumthin from Adagio Teas? --> http://www.adagio.com Sure! I love their jasmine pearls and I like most herbal teas too. My favorite go-to tea is Stash Tea's Jasmine Blossom Green Tea because I can buy it through Amazon - quick and easy! Do you Ravelry? And if so, what's your handle over there? Would you be interested in gift patterns from your queue? I don't; knitting and crochet are not my forte, though I'd love to learn to crochet. However, my southpawness and terrible sense of spatial relationships make it difficult to learn. Wah. Who likes Pumpkin Spice Hershey Kisses? Not me. I love regular Hershey Kisses, though! I live near this very cool retro store (you can order online too) - are there things from it that would make you squee if your witch sent them? Yay, retro stuff! What a great store! Let's see... these are all things that fit with my taste: Ride 'Em Cowboy Towel set Sew Retro Kit Kat Clock ASTRONAUT BARBIE KEYCHAIN (OMG, I LOVE THIS!) Hot Rod Pin-Up Girl necklace How would you feel about a taste of (insert witch location here) box? I would love something like that! Last year, my wonderful witch Alethia adopted a bat for me from batworld.org, a bat rescue and sanctuary. Bat's World Would you be interested in having a bat adopted in your name? Absolutely. I spent a good portion of my evening reading their bios. I wish I could adopt all of them! Check with me on any other charities though; I'd like to read up on them first. What does your kitchen look like? Colors/style? Big kitchen is big. We have lots of space in the kitchen and it's my favorite room in the house. Our house is pretty new (built in 2006) so everything is very modern - stainless appliances, cherry finish on the cupboards, and the same taupe-ish color that's in the rest of the house. Put your iPod/MP3 player/what-have-you on random and list the first 10 songs it plays! Learning to Fly - Pink Floyd Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses Gentle Execution - Bear McCreary (Battlestar Galactica Season 3 OST) I Believe in You - Frank Sinatra Super Freak - Rick James You Don't Fool Me - Queen Hip to be Square - Huey Lewis and the News My Boyfriend's Back - The Angels Creep - Stone Temple Pilots I've Just Seen a Face - Jim Sturgess (Across the Universe OST) What's one random thing you really like and one random thing you really dislike? Like: pigs Dislike: lotus clusters Are there any herbs that you haven't been able to lay hands on that I could send you? I grow what I need, for the most part. To echo a few other people, freshly dried herbs would be most welcome! And lavender or rose to make sachets. If there are no "witchy" shops near you, is there anything I can pick up for you from Enchantments? Neat place! Nothing really jumps out at me though. Are you OK with "special deliveries"? *waggles eyebrows* I am not okay with strange delivery persons hugging be, but anything else would be fine! I work from home, so I'm usually at the house, but it'd be best to check with me through a ringleader or an ecard if you're planning something for a specific day. What are some things you are OK with receiving gently used or homemade, and some things you absolutely do not want if they are gently used or homemade? I'm fine with most things being used; socks, shoes, and undergarments are an exception - yuck! As I mentioned in my questionnaire, I don't care if books are falling apart at the seams. Ninja vs Pirates? I'm about to be near a Lush store next week, is there anything you might like from there? I've never tried ANYTHING from Lush, but I'd like to! I have no use for bath bombs or anything else that must be used in a tub, but if you have any favorites that you think I'd enjoy, send 'em along! Songs that you keep meaning to buy but never get round to it? Not really; I haven't purchased music in years. I just listen to internet radio. Movies that you love but forgot to put in your questionaire? Alien! American Beauty! Two of my absolute favorites and I'm pretty sure I forgot to mention them. The Dark Knight, Clue, and Fear and Loathing, too. Take Me Home Tonight and Cabin in the Woods are recent favorites. Name one movie you keep meaning to buy, but just never get around to getting? Hmmm. I can't think of anything right now, so I must be pretty well stocked! Any favorite Bath & Body Works scents/products? I haven't used anything but their candles and hand soap in years. Haus of Gloi is offering custom perfumes - would you like one? What would your ideal blend be? I've had my eye on a leather, leaf pile, white oak, and tonka blend, but I haven't ordered it yet (planning to, though). Also thinking about lavender, marshmallow, vanilla bean, and vanilla sugar. I Any Bath, Body or nutritional type items you would love to try from a Natural and Organic food store (similar to Whole Foods) that you don't buy because they are a bit too pricey? Oh gosh, I really don't know. Nothing specific right now, I'm afraid. Witchee, will you be gone from your normal mailing address at any point during the round? Nope - I'll be home! Are you a Disney fan or does even thinking about Disney make your head hurt? If you're into Disney, would you like something from the Happiest Place on Earth ? I am a HUGE Disney fan! I was Ursula for Halloween last year, and am currently making two Ariel costumes for this year (a mermaid tail and purple shells and her blue town dress). I would love something from Disney. Despite living in Florida, Disney is far enough away from us to be an enormous hassle to get to. I haven't been in years, and my husband never has, even though he's lived in Florida for more than 10 years. Isn't that terrible? have an extra room spray and 2 extra bath oils (one Cephalopod, one Exhibit Hall Fatigue) from Dragon*Con - would anybody like a decant? No thank you; I had a lovely and very generous fairy for D*Con. I live near a Mast General Store. It has lots of vintage-y toys, southern foods (jams, jellies, spices) and vintage candy. Is there anything I can get for you? I'm not familiar with the company, but anything like that would be great! I'm not a fan of pepper jelly, but anything else would be nice! Do you have any Fall or Halloween traditions? Do we?!! We have a party every year and I decorate to the hilt! Lots of colored lights and garlands; light-up pumpkins and silly Halloween stuff - we don't really do scary. Zombies and the girl from The Ring terrify me to the core, so I like to keep it pretty light, but there isn't a corner of the house that doesn't get decorated. We dress up and make our own costumes, too, and spend all day of Devil's Night (the 30th) carving pumpkins and preparing goodies for our party. BTW (you know, in case you care, heh) - the best way I've found to carve intricate jack-o-lanterns is to use a seam ripper to transfer the pattern and use an X-acto knife to carve. Oh, and be sure to rub Vaseline over the carved areas when you're done so the design stays moist and intact as long as possible. We watch our favorite scary/seasonal movies every year too - Hocus Pocus; Halloween; The Lost Boys; The Shining; The Nightmare Before Christmas; It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown; Carrie; Christine; Creepshow; Something Wicked This Way Comes; all of the Simpsons' Treehouses of Horror; Beetlejuice, Corpse Bride, Scream; Psycho; Sleepy Hollow... you get the idea. I really like the Halloween episodes of Roseanne, even though I've never watched a regular episode of the show. Dear witchee, would you, could you use an electric candle warmer? i'm talking something like this. That thing is so neat! I really enjoy lighting my candles, and the cats stay far away from them, so I wouldn't really need it. Still, a fantastic idea! Do you lust after some new socks/tights? I can never have enough socks! I love the cheapies from Target; they don't last very long, but for a dollar, who cares? I used to love wearing tights, but I don't have much use for them anymore since it's always hot here. I like legwarmers too, but socks would never go unappreciated. Are you a gamer (of any sort - video, casual, tabletop) and are there any games you want? I'm really into card games and board games, and I'm a Mass Effect fangirl too. We've been playing a lot of Munchkin and Cards Against Humanity lately, and I'd love one of the CAH expansion packs (available on Amazon). I also collect playing cards from Vegas casinos; if you have any lying around that aren't getting any use, I'd love them! Would you be interested in BPTP CANDY? I'm not foaming at the mouth for them, but if they were a freebie in an order I'd probably eat them. The tin is adorable! Do you like coffee? If so, what kinds? Flavored, fancy, basic? Beans or ground? ALL YOUR COFFEE BELONG TO ME! Coffee is always appreciated in our house; I generally prefer the taste of whole bean, but I buy ground sometimes too because I've found that flavored coffees often aren't available in some of the more obscure flavors. I don't like fruit-flavored coffee, but hazelnut-, vanilla-, and chocolate-based flavors are good. I run the gamut on regular coffee too - I like lighter breakfast blends and super dark roasts too. Would a Starbucks gift card make you happy or do you prefer your local place? The only Starbucks nearby is inside our local Target, and to be honest, I hate the way they brew their coffee. I buy their whole beans occasionally, but I'm always disappointed. So no, please no Starbucks coffee. If you do have a card you're not using though, I do love their mugs and biscotti, so it would not go wasted. On the subject of pottery: YES, PLEASE!!! We never have enough coffee mugs (and I love those oversized ones). Any colors you have on hand would be fine, but I'm partial to blues, yellows, purples, and black. I can't overemphasize how awesome it would be to receive a mug made by my Witch! Do you have a forum buddy? Someone who knows you and/or your tastes well enough to answer questions on your behalf? I do! Honey is my bestest forum buddy and I trust her to answer anything you're able to throw at her. If you are on Livejournal, would you appreciate LJ stuff like paid time, custom userheads, stuff like that? If you are NOT on LJ but are on other sites that have similar paid-for services (Flickr, for example?) would you, and what are those sites/etc? That's such a generous offer, but I'm not on LJ enough to warrant something like that. Would you like your own set of handmade rune stones or worry stones? No, thank you; I wouldn't even know what to do with them! If you are into tarot, what is your favorite card? I think tarot art is beautiful, but again, it's something I know nothing about. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cider, or none of the above? All of the above! I'm easy to please. I've already mentioned my preferences for coffee and tea, and any hot chocolate and apple cider is fine by me. Gum, hard candy, soft candy, or none of the above? I don't care much for gum or hard candy (though I love butterscotch candies), but I like soft candy, like soft caramel chews, Starburst, Twizzlers (not black licorice, just the cherry/strawberry/generic red!), and the like. Generally, though, I always go for chocolate, and Cadbury Dairy Milk is always my first choice. I like my share of salty snacks too. Loose tea or tea bags? Do you need anything for your loose tea? (Filters, presses, etc.) I use tea bags, but only because I have nothing to put loose tea in. I much prefer loose tea, but I have never bothered to get an infuser. Whenever I do buy loose tea, I just drink around it. I would love an infuser or whatnot to put my loose tea in, however, if you know of a good, reasonably priced one!

OMG, perfection! The lavender and white mango are the most prominent notes, and the herbal coolness of the lavender mixes so beautifully with the juicy bite of the mango. It's both calming and uplifting - this is really something special. I tacked this onto my decant order at the last second just because, never thinking it would be such a surprise success. I wish I had more of this! Ted's lunar blends are nothing short of incredible and Luna Azul is no exception.

Oh, this is so good in the bottle and so bad on my skin. :sob: In the bottle, it's beautifully complex: cold, wet, mossy rocks with a hint of floral (maybe?) off in the rafters somewhere. There's a definite aquatic vibe to it; it's androgynous too - it seems perfect for a blustery, rainy November day when your pant legs are perpetually soaked from inadvertently stepping in puddles. It's not my kind of scent at all, but it's so true-to-life that I'm enamored with it anyway. Even wet, I get this amazing stone note, with the water and moss clinging to it. And then I see it, lurking in the shadows. I turn and run toward a busy street, but it apprehends me and punches me in the gut, sending me flying into a wall. Vetiver, my arch-nemesis. And that's all, folks. The vetiver takes over and paints the town black. I'll keep this for a couple weeks and try it again, as I did apply this straight out of the mail and it may need some time to settle.

Wet, this is insanely intense spicy apples, very similar to the apple note in Autumn Cider and Punkie Night. That's it - spicy apples. Lots of them. Dry, this gets much better. The apple recedes a bit and allows the Snake Oil to come to the forefront. I get some creamy floral note, which must be the gardenia, but it doesn't really smell like the BPAL gardenia I'm accustomed to. Throughout the day, it remains a fruity cousin of Snake Oil. Very nice, if that's what you're looking for, but it's not my favorite of the snake blends. All in all, I'm happy I have a bottle of this for the transition from summer into fall, but it's not as great as I'd hoped.

In the bottle, this is all red velvet cake and frosting. YUM. Freshly applied, I get a hint of pine from the Doc Constantine and some spices from the Snake Oil, but the cake note is still the star of the show. This isn't even foodie, exactly, despite the strong cake note; the BPAL trifecta brings a really nice resinous quality to the party, which makes it a little sultry, a little tongue-in-cheek, and really, really confident. I'm pleasantly surprised that the frosting note stays true and doesn't turn to plastic, as it so often does on my skin. As it dries, it stays quite sweet, with a vaguely resinous background. Sexy stuff, this. I wish it stuck around longer, but that's my skin's problem, not Cake Smash's. In short, love me some Cake Smash, but I don't think it eclipses the Halloween: Las Vegas. Still, the red velvet cake note is to die for.

Sugary jelly! Depending on where and what time of the month I wear this, it's either a delicious red jam or a plastic disaster. I keep testing this because I so desperately want it to be a success, even if I can only wear it on rare occasions. The label art is fantastic, though, and perfect for display. I'm so glad I got to try this, even if I don't end up keeping my bottle.

I was really looking forward to this - how could a pumpkin and marshmallow blend be anything but sweet autumnal perfection? Well, if you amp the spices in this blend to high heaven like I do, it's anything but. Spice is all I can smell, in fact. No pumpkin, no marshmallow. Just cinnamon plastic Red Hots. After 8 hours or so, a little bit of marshmallow starts to peek through, but it's not worth the wait. Drat.

I've been on a bit of a red musk bender lately, so when I saw a bottle of Red Lace up for sale on LJ, I pounced. I was a bit worried about the raspberry and pomegranate, but the rest of the notes really balance them out nicely. Upon application, this is really resinous and spicy, but it quickly dries into a really creamy and surprisingly foodie red musk/vanilla/raspberry. I wish I got more patch and frankincense in the drydown, but the lightness I get from this is perfect for spring and summer. Very pretty and a definite keeper!

Yep, there's definitely glue in this blend. I don't doubt that this could be gloriously interesting on the right skin chemistry, but the chocolate here has a plastic edge, just like Bliss. Bummer.

Banshee Beat has officially made me a patchouli convert! It's really deep, a little gritty, and OH SO SMOOTH! Mixed with the black vanilla it's the sexiest, most decadent BPAL I've tried, yet it retains this casual, nonchalant "I naturally smell this good" quality. This is another one of those blends that everyone must try at least once, regardless of one's preconceptions. It's perfectly crafted and appropriate for any situation. If this were more readily available, I would hoard; however, since it's not, I will cherish my bottle and use it wisely.

Hmmm. I find The Night-Raven hard to describe. I enjoy it on some level, but it also bothers my nose. The indigo musk is really pretty; while it is vaguely reminiscent of violets, it doesn't have the sharp, awful quality that violet notes do. It is certainly a nighttime scent and has a disturbing, old-world quality to it, which I attribute to the rose geranium. It's a bit unsettling to me, actually, but I don't really know why. It's not something I want to have on my skin, but might make for a good carpet refresher scent around Halloween time.

My very first of the apiary scents! Hmmm, this is much closer to a single note honey than I expected; there's a very slight herbal undertone in the imp and wet, but once it's been on my skin for a few minutes, it disappears. The honey actually gets a little powdery, which is a first for me, so all in all Hemlock Honey is just pleasant, not spectacular. With a bit more complexity, I could see this being amazing (I assume Cleopatra Testing Poisons is likely similar in feel to this, only more interesting). I'll hold onto my imp to see if it morphs any with a little age.

Quince is one of my least favorite notes, but Uncle Travelling Matt is my FAVORITE of all the Fraggles, so I had to give him a whirl anyway. In the imp: I can catch a faint whiff of deep, delicious dark chocolate for about... two seconds? Then it's overtaken by the dreaded QUINCE HI I'M QUINCE AND I SMELL LIKE COUGH SYRUP AND I HATE YOU. Rancid cough syrup. Wet: There's the pear, but again, the quince is overpowering it. This makes me sick to my stomach, actually. No figgy vanilla (PLEASE Beth, put some figgy vanilla in another blend; it sounds so delectable! ), no chocolate. Just QUINCE. Dry: It does get marginally better - the quince recedes a bit after about an hour, but I can't abide the interim. So bummed. I'm so jealous of everyone who can wear quince; I can imagine how rich and decadent (and silly!) this blend would be on the right skin chemistry. Unfortunately, it's not mine. Still, I have an empty bottle to love, at least, and I will proudly display Uncle Matt in my own little section of outer space.

For anyone who is interested in Sunrise with Sea-Monsters but wary of aquatics, don't be. My bottle (purchased on the forum) arrived yesterday, and even straight out of the mail, it's a well-behaved, beautiful sea scent with just a hint of sweetness from the pear and the freesia. I CANNOT wear most aquatics, but Sunrise melds perfectly with my skin chemistry and never gets sharp. I can still catch whiffs of it this morning, too, so the longevity is fantastic. It's a surprise hit for me; in fact, I'm even mulling a backup as I can't imagine another aquatic ever working this well on me again.

Yvaine is heartbreaking for me. It's so damned beautiful, yet so terribly hard to find. This is the lavender that dreams are made of. It's cool, soft, and not the least bit medicinal. I thought TKO was the best lavender scent in the BPAL catalog but oh was I WRONG! THIS is the stuff. And the magnolia is heady, but not soapy; creamy, but not brash. It's a work of art and so worthy of its many admirers. If this were ever to be made available again, I would HOARD (and I rarely buy backups). Of all the super rares I've had the great fortune to try, Yvaine is easily the best. And it's so simple - just two little notes. Amazing. Lightning in a jar, this one. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.