tartchef

Sugared pine! I'm not much for pine/evergreen scents on my skin, as a rule, but this is nice & clear & sweet. As it dries, I get a bit more of the sticky, spicy sap, & a brush of yellow pollen. Pretty

Oh. Oh yes. There's that lovely, quiet snow & amber from The Darkling Thrush - cool, watery-sweet, and very still. But instead of deep purple violets, I'm getting just a brush of spicy, leafy mums - it's a much lighter mum note than in, say Death of Autumn or Mum Moon, more akin to Flowering Chrysanthemums. Just perfect.

Oh dear Seems Little Bird & I have similar chemistry - I'm getting a high, tinny hair spray note that's choking out the beeswax. Phoo. I'm tempted to stash my imp for a few months - I have a feeling this sharpness might fade with a bit of age...

Mmmm, oh my. Raven Moon is just... fascinating. Wet, on my skin, it's a dead ringer for Labores Solis & Sol Niger - bitter & herby but with the shadow of something deeper, darker. Left to dry for a bit, the sweetness emerges, as does a lovely effervescent spice - it's ever so slightly masculine, but not so much so that it'd be instant man-fume. I get lots of chili at this stage - hot & spiky. Alas, the black musk muscles to the fore, all powdery & cloying I'll give this another try in a week or two, in hopes that the musk behaves a bit better. The wet stages are so delightfully bitter, spicy, hot & sweet, it'd be a shame if this had to be swapped...

Oooer. I can feel this in my mouth - like biting down gently on a thin sheet of ice-cold silver. So chilly & delicate, with a brush of warmth from the sandalwood. Alas, the ylang ylang turns after a few minutes, thick & cloying & pleh.

Egads, an aquatic that works? How can this be?! It must be the frankincense & lavender - two strong, assertive notes that I wear universally well - that makes this so wearable for me. Wet, there is a smack of rather masculine "fresh musk", but that manly edge fades after a while, letting the more delicate florals peek out. There's a sweet, tangy air to the whole thing, vaguely akin to Visiting the Temple's rain note. Quite nice, all things considered, but I am tempted to put it on DH - I think it'd be fantastic on him...

Oh good heavens. This is lovely. In the most perfect, innocent, girlish way. Daisy chains, candy floss & fresh spring sunshine. If ever I needed a scent that would shake off all the cynicism & analysis that comes with adult life, this would be it - this makes me want to kick off my shoes & go watch the bumblebees & hunt for four-leaf clovers...

Oo. NYOM. I usually avoid the foody scents, but this is delicious - sweet but not cloying at all, very much dark chocolate & bitter mint with a puddle of pistachio anglaise.... Oakmoss likes to smell a bit like coconut on me sometimes, and is a very quiet player here. There's the barest hint of freshly-sharpened pencils, the cedar making itself known... I still don't think I want to smell like this, but it's given me an incredible idea for a plated dessert....

Limeylime, with a side of sugared lime I have a very specific memory of this smell - it's almost a chewy, candy-like smell, and I keep thinking I'm getting the barest touch of melon or cantaloupe in the background... I think it's reminding me of the Asian gummi candies we used to buy in Chicago... The tartness is holding really well, and I can see where some folks are getting the suggestion of bay rum, but I don't think it's a significant note - I'm not getting that foppish manfume feel at all. Glad I got to try it, but really, it just makes me want gummis

Arlith was kind enough to send me a testable driblet of this In the vial, oh yes... sweet hay, bitter leaves, that wonderful airy feel that Beth magically creates. On my skin, the gunpowder comes out - not a strong, Agnes Nutter gunpowder, just a light haze of char & hot metal. The wood is here, too, dry & singed. Honestly, there's a trace of jacket-potatoes-done-in-the-fire here, and it's fantastic Charred tinfoil, scorched tattie skins, wet leaves underfoot, and a snap in the air... the Boys are off playing at target practice with someone's muzzle-loader, and some clever soul hefted hay bales down from the barn so we don't get soggy bums from the damp ground. This is the smell of a grubby, idle autumn afternoon's camping, poking at the fire & scalding lips on enamel cups. I adore this, as I suspected I would, and am both thrilled & heartbroken to have tried it... I hope beyond hope that I can find more some day

I think I squeaked a bit when I first read the description of this - so many beautiful soft notes and a slash of that gorgeous leaf note Beth's been using... I hesitated, though, as roses and I have a rocky history at best... Turns out "summer roses" are akin to the rose note in Katrina van Tassel, creamy & pale & well-behaved The carnation & vanilla are thick & sweet, sweeter than Hod but in that vein. Normally I'd shy away from anything quite so sugary thick, but it's a necessary foil, rounding out the edges of the pale musks & lavender & muting any soapiness... As it is, there is a trace of soap, but it's a beautiful, rock-hard, triple-milled luxury bar, so I can forgive that I rather wish I got more leaves, but I'll take what I get - just one or two scarlet leaves, the barest hint of that bitter spicy sappiness. :sigh: Just beautiful A perfect moon scent - not a lunar oil, but a scent that really captures the colors of a full late-summer moon, its light shining radiant through an open window & falling on clean, creamy sheets. ETA: Six hours later, I'm left with the most deliciously scented vanilla amber - it's sweet but not foody, per se, and with none of the powderiness amber often brings. There's a gentle thickness beneath, the lavender, carnation & rose's final throes...

Oh glory. This is proof that The Universe puts things in our hands when we most need them I bought a bottle from the Lab when this was first released, and rather regretted it - October smelled lovely in the bottle, but went all man-fume when it hit my skin. I held onto it for a while, but ultimately swapped it away... Fast forward 2 years, and I see October popping up in the recs threads. Ah, I say, what a shame that one was... might be nice to try it again. And what should fall smiling into my lap via a lovely swap but October, aged to perfection Gone is the man-fume, and instead I am awash in the glorious scarlet leaf note from Blade of Grass. Left to dry, a brush of sweet spiciness comes out, like crushing fallen maple & oak leaves. There's something faintly astringent in here, too, like bark stripped away from a tree trunk... The longer it wears, the more I smell the bitter herby notes I love from Oya, but there's an occasional pop of sweet cherrywood smoke. The scent shifts like trees in the wind, the smell of tramping through the woods on a chilly day. The leaves crunch under foot, but the ground underneath is damp from rain the night before. It is not a showy scent, but rather the smell of solitude & contemplation & a pocket full of acorns. Glorious!

Comics/graphic novels? I don't read many, but favorites that I own are Watchmen, Hopeless Savages (Hm, I seem to be missing Vols 2 & 3...), Blue Monday (missing Vol 4), Geisha, and everything Marjane Satrapi has written Haunt? Not so much from the update (maybe the Verdigris mask...), but I am dying to try her soaps... esp Linden Flower, Beeswax & Buttermilk, Bulgarian Lavender... Home-made goodies? Psh, YEAH! Watch me say no! If you had a machine that could take you to an alternate dimension that you could control or would like, what would be in it, who would be there, and how long would you stay? We'd have 7 acres of rolling farmland near the ocean, with a nice snug house & a flock of sheep for shearing & milking. DH's asthma & allergies would be GONE. Tiny C could run & play in the fields & woods without fear, and DH & I could support ourselves comfortably doing what we love (I'd sell artisan cheese, wool & soap, and freelance bake on the side; DH would collect & sell vinyl & antiquarian books & do some woodworking & be an adjunct at the local college). All our favorite friends (M & J, E & B, J & R, and C & E) would all live nearby, instead of being scattered across the country. DH's mom would find peace; my folks would know how to properly install a car seat

What are your thoughts on Incense? Love it, but we have loads... BUT. I am desperate for some bamboo charcoal to burn a huge bag of frankincense I was gifted ages ago. Not the SwiftLight, the good bamboo kind (low smoke, no lighter fluid).... What about handbags/totes/clutches? I don't carry a purse, but I do have a small bag on my Etsy favorites that would be perfect for the days I do need to carry more than will fit in my pockets Are there any particular movies you want on DVD? Ooooo. Tough one. We are awash in our enormous DVD collection, but I bet I could find a few titles to add to my Amazon list... What about stickers?? I'm not a hoarder, but I do like them. Bonus points for sushi/truck/kawaii themed ones that I can tuck in Tiny C's lunch bag Do you just need anything from the Possets update? I've tried several Possets, and am decidedly meh about them. No thank you. Suppose I have a bottle of something you (my witchee) really wants, and I want to share it with you. Would you like a rollerball bottle made from oil in my own bottle in it? I'd love it in something other than a rollerball - I have such bad luck with them, it seems.... Do you use henna at all (hair or skin)? No, but I'm thinking I need a bit of color in my hair - something to turn my ever-developing grey streak into something fun Do you want anything from the Arcana update? I have a bottle of Holy Terror already, and Guy Fawkes is the only other scent the catches my eye... Alpaca goods? MMMMM. I have a lovely rug beside my bed, woven from alpaca - it is wonderful! Yarn would be lovely... Are there any languages other than English that you love? Would you like any books, music, movies, or other gifts in that language? I took Welsh back in college, and remember so little... maybe some children's books in Welsh? Are you an Formula 1 fan and will you like a F1 lanyard (& the pass)? Nononononono. File this under things I would never want to get... I enjoy taking blank esssay-type notebooks and decorating them for journals. Would my witchee be interested? Or would anyone like one for their own witchee (color/decor suggestions taken gladly) I don't have much time for rumination, but I would certainly never turn down artwork by a fellow forumite!

In the vial, Mircalla reminds me very much of a sort of Scherezade/Red Phoenix hybrid - that unctuous red musk with a bit of sweet spice... I'm bracing myself for a heady, sticky & voluptuous scent, but as usual, Beth's got something far more interesting up her sleeve... On my skin, the clove pops for just a second, and then the orchid & herbs & balsam of Peru chime in - it's a much cooler scent than I was expecting... As usual, my skin's eaten the tonka & vanilla to the point that they're barely discernible, just a faint breath of sweetness in the background. The patchouli is a deep, earthy, very smokey shadow, faintly bitter, and the red musk is strangely oily - I hate to even mention it, but there's a faint eau de cod liver oil about Mircalla It fades quickly, but leaves a definite oily smudge. Little Bird & I are getting a similar vibe from this, I think - lots of smoke, a faint medicinal air, and the impression that Mircalla is not one to be f*cked with.

It's not just you! Chewing on a stick of JuicyFruit, or maybe peeling up a BandAid, while standing in line at the bakery... I adore the '06 release, and was delighted when DarkAlice sent me a vial of this year's Devil's Night, but wow, this is hardly the same animal It's saltier, more buttery than '06 - a heavier musk, and more sweet bourbon than the piercing white rum I got from '06. The spices are milder, too... I'll hang onto my decant for a while, to see if a bit of aging won't bring out the rowdiness. Right now, I just smell like Cinnabon & BandAids ETA: Oh man, ladyjc's right - it's Smut musk! Double !!!

WOW. I'm trying to figure out why I never tried this Clearly, I am insane, because this is delicious. A dead ringer for 4C's iced green tea mix, which we drink by the buckets during the summer Once it dries down, there's a hint of old fashioned honeysuckle - my gran had bath cubes that smelled like this... Lovely & innocent & just delightful!

WKAP scents? Meh - too much blood, too many foody/icky florals... Though I will say, Leaf-Strewn Couch might be worth a sniff at some point How do you feel about stationary? (pens, notepads, cards, pencils, etc.) Yes please! I don't write many full-on letters, but blank cards & postcards are always appreciated. I am a sucker for a good liquid-ink pen, extra-fine point, and my collection of GellyRoll pens are all giving up the ghost at once - black, deep green/burgundy/purple, grey, weird muddy colors, please! I'm also looking for an "L" wax seal for my folks' bed & breakfast... does no one carry these anymore?! Switch Witches, which shoes do you own that are your favorite? What are your "daily drivers"? I have worn holes in my Harley-Davidson boots - I can't begin to calculate how many miles I've put into those things... This summer, it's been some Lands End sport flats I got on supersale - not inspiring, but way comfy. Just sprung for a pair of SoftSpots, but I long for a pair of Fluevogs... oh hello.... If you could describe yourself in 5 words, what would they be? Deeply rooted, yet endlessly searching. Who collects ACEOs/ATCs? I don't collect them, but a unique bit of art will always be appreciated What tarot card do you most identify with? Hrm. Depends on the day/week/month... In the Major Arcana, The Star was once my go-to card, but I'm feeling The Sun & The Empress more these days. The Swords as a whole are very important to me - they come up very regularly, and invariably have Something Important to say. There was a shop in Evanston that had a glorious mural of the Queen of Swords - it really spoke to me... What are you and your family's feelings on: peanut butter, chocolate and caramel? YES. What are your thoughts on Halloween decorations? I like a little festivity, but Halloween is DH's most hated of holidays... We compromise with lots of mums, pumpkins, gourds, and a token string of jack-o-lantern lights on the porch. Do you like Celtic things? (Clothes, jewelry, pictures ect.) Within reason... I'm the first generation of my family born outside the British Isles, and we have deep roots in Wales & northern England. The usual "bookstore" Celtic stuff doesn't much appeal (Tshirts, pewter dragons, Celtic Thunder DVDs, you get the idea), and most Celtic music leaves me lukewarm (sorry, Wwindy! )... but our son adores bagpipes, so a good chest-thumping CD of pipes & drums would be lovely. Would you like more contact from your witch? (I‘m talking particularly about e-mail) My witch has sent me a few lovely emails... but I confess: I am deeply envious of the string of e-card IGIs Can you receive flowers at your address? Would you prefer food or a plant instead? Oh yes! I never get flowers! Would you mind vintage clothes? It's really, really hard for me to find vintage clothing that fits What about 2010 Wall calenders? Or 2010 journals or appointment diaries? What subject? Ooh, yes! I'll put a few ideas on my Amazon list...

(Gads, I don't log in for a few days & looks what happens! I'm going to hit the highlights, dearest Witchy, but do let me know if there's a specific question you'd like me to answer...) Are there any musicals you love? I loathe musicals with nearly every fiber in my body. I am English. We do not burst into song willynilly. Notable exceptions: Tommy, Dancer in the Dark. How broad are your musical tastes? How deep is the ocean? How high is the sky? The only genres I avoid as a rule are the ones you're likely to hear on mainstream radio (candy pop, over-produced R&B, scream-O, New Country). Our extensive collection of vinyl & CDs ranges from hard-bop jazz to cello concertos to alt country to Brit rap to triphop to indie rock of all shapes & sizes... Talismans/familiars? Birds, of all shapes & sizes! Would a "gift" donation to one of the organizations/causes you support be a great gift, or a lame gift? It would be lovely - anything that supports sustainable agriculture, especially... (Heifer Project) Yankee Candle? Dark Candles? Big Dipper Wax Works? Honestly, I really like the smell of plain beeswax candles, and real bayberry candles. Scented ones don't get much action around here... Which of the seven deadly sins is most likely to be your undoing? Gluttony & sloth are neck & neck... Who is musically inclined? What instruments (voice counts) do you play? Would you enjoy sheet music? I barely play, but I adore the cello. I played the violin in school, because they said my hands were too small for the cello. When I grew up & moved to Chicago, I treated myself to a rental cello for 6 months, and taught myself a bit. I miss it, and hope to get back to it someday... How do you feel about clothing/accessories made from animals? Anti-fur, leather, shells, etc.? Does even faux wig you out? Leather, wool & shells are fine, but furry stuff squicks me out slightly... 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? Oh crap. Too many to choose! I'm going to go with sheep dairying & shearing - something I really hope to do someday. We had sheep when I was little, and I did some husbandry in college, but it would be wonderful to apprentice with a farm up in Vermont/Maine/upstate NY & learn it fully... How do you deal with stress? What's your favorite way to unwind? When I'm completely fried, I go over to my folks' place & indulge in a stinking hot bath in their huge clawfoot. Holiday Stress Relief bath oil is requisite, as is a huge cup of tea & a new issue of Saveur/Donna Hay or a Bradbury book... Do you like Villainess soaps? What are your favorite scents? I loooove Pyromania soap, but I have 6 bars of it No more, please! are you into 80s movies (like i am icon_biggrin.gif) if so, which are your favorites and who are your favorite characters? Oh John Hughes! We named our son after Ferris Bueller's best friend. What are your favorite fruits? Raspberries, mangoes, litchees, blackberries, black currants, gooseberries... nyom! What is one thing you constantly keep with you that you constantly loose? Not mine, per se, but our son's water bottles are constantly wandering off. I want one of those cup holders for him that you stick in the window groove... 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? YES! I don't do much anime, but Miyazaki gets me every time... My Neighbor Totoro is on heavy rotation, as is Ponyo. I am a sucker for the soot sprites from Spirited Away & Jiji, Kiki's cat... Do you wear lip gloss/lip balm? If so, what flavors/scents? I'm a plain Burt's Bees girl - no funny flavors, please! Just herby/minty... What is your favorite cookie type? Plain digestives! I rarely get them, but could eat them by the case... 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? Both are fabulous - if it's a big, important package, a DC number would be nice... Do you drink alcohol? Wine, beer or liquor? What is your favorite wine/beer/mixed drink? Yes - not often or in large amounts, but I know what I like: Maker's Mark bourbon, Hendrick's gin, Sauvignon/Fume Blanc, Viognier, New Glarus beers, London Pride, Red Stripe. Not much for mixed drinks - I like to taste the base liquor. Beets? Roasted? Oh yes. Pickled? Meh. 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? Something akin to Beth's Absolution bag (TAL) would be wonderful - I still fret over things I did & said when I was twelve! Something for business success or to help me stay a grounded & compassionate mother would be lovely, too. Would you object to annonomous postcards (real ones) from your witch before the big reveal??? This would MAKE MY DAY. I love intrigue & subterfuge! Do you collect new/used stamps? Will you like to get stamps on your mails? We've ended up with J's childhood collection, and are adding to it for our son - new, used, as longs as they're cool, we'll happily add them to the collection

What is your favorite creepy folk story or legend? 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? For the crafty people out there: would you prefer something crafted or crafting supplies? At the moment, supplies - esp soap-making (I have a wishlist at Bramble Berry). The only exception would be a knitted slouch hat like so - I have yet to get my knitting to the point where I'd even attempt this, but one in a muddy brown/green/burgundy/grey wool blend would be so nice for fall! Any songs you are desperately into at the moment? REM's Cuyahoga Sigur Ros's Gobbledigook Feist's Sea Lion White Rabbits' We Done Wrong/They Done Wrong Can you use pill boxes, a hard ID case, coin purse, etc? A tin pillbox would be great - big enough for a pair of earplugs & a few ibuprofen... two things I often find myself wishing for when I'm far from home Would you like to receive something of this nature (sweet diva boxes) from your witch? I'm such a fussypants about what's in my bath & body products, and I don't have pierced ears, so no, thank you. What mythical or fantastic race of creatures (dragons, unicorns, griffins, elves, dwarves, faeries, etc.) do you most identify with, and why? Ents! Shepherds of the forest, slow to move, but if you finally do succeed in making me mad, watch out! How do you feel about Dia de los Muertos? Are you interested in sugar skulls? Catrina (or other) skeleton figurines? Not a big touch point for me, really. Do you have a favorite poem or poet? The Owl & the Pussycat Also a Pablo Neruda fan. Super villain or vigilante? Vigilante. I like to think I'm a badass, but I'm really a goodygoody at heart...

Oh yes. This was entertainingly difficult to track down, but was sooo worth the wait On me, Sagittarius is a lovely hybrid of Litha '09 & Tzadikim Nistarim - sweet & herby with a trace of something faintly coconutty & a slash of fresh green. The clove & fig add a gorgeous roundness, and once it dries I can almost feel the nubbly centers of the chamomile flowers. Beautiful.

Oh hai Witchy! You are a saint for wading through all this self-indulgent prattle... Who are your favorite artists/illustrators/art periods? I am a sucker for Japanese block prints, ukiyo-e - Hiroshige and Hokusai, anything involving the sea, snow or rain... I love botanical prints, and old advertising posters - especially Chicago/Columbian Exposition & railway travel posters like this. My favorite painting, I think, is Breton's The Song of the Lark. When we lived in Chicago & had an Institute membership, I would go to the museum just to visit it. It's much bigger than the link really captures - big enough to get lost in. I love the light, the colors, that look of rapt attention, how the girl is completely transported, however briefly, away from work & hardship by the liquid twitter of the lark... I also adore the book, for what it's worth Cranberries? Oh yes. In all shapes, sizes & formats! Do you mind receiving used (in good condition, of course) CDs or DVDs? As long as it's playable, I actually prefer used - the bulk of our extensive collection of music & movies is second-hand. 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? Not a big fan fic/art person, thanks. But, since you asked, a Christian Bale/Clive Owen sandwich with a kilted Ewan McGregor on the side, plz. 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? Home: cheese, grapes, bread/crackers, or a bowl of pretzels & whatever dried fruit I have floating around... Out & about: drinkable yoghurts, Clif bars... Road tripping: Pizza-flavored Combos, peanut-butter M&Ms Do you have a favorite BPAL bottle art? Chrysanthemum Moon has always been one of my favorites, and Tamamo-no-mae. I like the simplicity of the 2006 Yules, as well. Is there ONE scent that you are just dying for from the Halloween update? TATTIE BOGLE. It may well smell like utter fail on me, but the association with my childhood is too strong to not at least try to find it... Are there any decants from the Halloweenies, Literary Vampires, Gris Grimly, or Hellboy that you would be interested in receiving? I have a few Weenies on my wishlist, yes... What's autumn like in your neck of the woods? What do you love and/or hate about it? Autumn in PA is actually pretty nice - it's a long, slow slide into winter, unlike Chicago (2 weeks between tropical heat & bone-chilling cold). We live in a part of the state that does a lot of harvest festivals, corn mazes, pick-your-own apples, and the like. We're just on the edge of the Appalachian foothills, so there are lots of nice rolling hills that showcase the changing leaves - if we get a sudden cold snap, the colors really pop. The weather fluctuates a lot, so I'll have both my wooly socks and my floaty summer skirts in rotation for a while. I love when the nights get chilly - lots of folks have backyard firepits/chimenias around here, and there's nothing like the smell of maple wood smoke Trader Joe's? I'm more of a Treasure Island kind of girl... anyone? Any Amy Brown art fans? Cute, but ultimately not quite my style... How do you feel about Halloween music? (mix CDs, what have you) Gads, no. I worked FAR too long in retail to enjoy seasonal music, as a whole. Who else is reeeeeally looking forward to Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland? I am conflicted. The promo pictures look freakishly over-processed - I hope it's not that garishly CG... Now, Where the Wild Things Are, on the other hand... 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? Cost Plus/World Market! Imported goodies, pick-your-own 6-packs, really interesting Christmas decorations, no-brainer last-minute gifts... Mitsuwa, Patel Brothers, all the great ethnic stores in Chicago... If you're caught in front of the tv, what are you watching? Very unlikely, but on the rare chance I get the TV to myself, it's very likely LotR - either the movie or the Making Of documentaries. Yeah. Dork Alert! Lolcats....yeah or nay? Yay! Not a rabid fan, but they are a welcome laugh during the workday... What is your favorite creepy folk story or legend? 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?

Could you use a 'travel' imp case? How many should it hold? What, people use something besides old film canisters? We don't travel much, but sure, something to hold 8-10 imps would be nice.... What fictional character do you most identify with and why? Count me in the hobbit brigade More Frodo than any of the rest - he always was considered a bit queer... Restaurants you'd like a gift certificate to on Restaurant.com? We are utter FAIL at using GCs before they expire, so no, thank you. What kind of socks? Oh yes. Long (to the knee or longer), natural fibers, deep jewel/earth tones. I fantasy shop at SockDreams all the time - I have a few pairs (incl 2 Dreamies) but covet more. Wish they had a wishlist feature... Pairs that routinely make it into my cart but never get purchased: Leg Warmers w/Brass Snaps in Black E.G. Smith Leg Therapy Solids tights in Moss & Burgundy Woolissimo Tights in Tall - Charcoal Uma Striped Over the Knee Diamond Rib Knee Highs in Charcoal, Black Currant 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 love delayed gratification, but a small something out of the blue would make my day - so, a bit of both What is your idea of the perfect evening at home? I really miss the long cozy nights we had before C was born - we'd cook dinner together, DH & I, and settle in afterwards to watch a long movie or play RISK or read together or just putz. Now it's me in the kitchen while DH entertains C, we eat & spend some time with him before the bedtime routine begins. By the time he's asleep, I'm beat & not good or more than 20 minutes of hanging out with DH 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'm on facebook, and if you friend me, I'll respond in kind. Cute/kawaii? I'm kinda with yewberry on this - I love to look at it, and send it to friends, but really have limited use for it in my own life. A token sheet of stickers or a badge would be fine, but a whole box of Hello Kitty would make me How often do you update your wishlist? Fairly faithfully - once a week, or when I have a swap/sale arranged... 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? Not much for dress-up anymore, thanks. I used to do costuming back in high school, so anything I need, I usually cobble together myself.

Who has a birthday falling in this round?just out of curiosity Not me, but my wedding anniversary's the 21st 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? I'll take my chocolate just about any way you can make it, as long as it's real (no waxy crap). I am not, however, fond of whole peanuts - peanut butter is WIN, whole peanut chunks are feh. I freely admit to wanting to try chocolate-covered bacon Are there any childhood shows/movies/games/books/etc. that still hold a really special place in your heart? Who remembers the Wonderworks series on PBS? I watched it every week without fail... same with Reading Rainbow. In terms of books, I still have my childhood Flower Fairie books, my Famous Fives, Wrinkle in Time/Wind in the Door/Swiftly Tilting Planet & my LotR box set They are hideously out of print, but I pine for the Barbapapa books - esp the New House one... Barbaplastique! 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? We have NetFlix, and DH is a music junkie, so there's not much out there that we can't find I don't download much of anything, and wouldn't want to do it illegally. Blue Ray? Nope - we're limping along on a cheap DVD player, and mourning the demise of our VHS player. Our TV is so old (How old is it?!) we can't have everything plugged in the back at once - we have a converter box & have to swap out the plugs if we want regular reception (all 3 channels), DVD or Wii. Claaaaaassy. What's something you're really looking forward to in the semi-near future? Oh baby. Three days & two nights at a swank B&B outside of Ithaca. Just me, the DH & an enormous bath tub. No endless toddler bed time shenanigans, no reading Thomas the Tank Engine ad nauseum, no tiny person squirming his ice cold feet into my crotch at 6 in the morning Good food, hiking the gorges, mooching around the Commons... I love my son, but we are in desperate need of a recharge.

What's your favorite pain-relief remedy or ritual? Depends on the kind of pain.... I don't mess around with headaches - left alone they blossom into migraines - so it's 2 ibuprofen & a huge glass of water at the first hint. If I'm going to bed, I slather Grr or Pain on my hands, too. I've had deep leg aches since I was wee, and my DH has the most fabulous treatment. I lie on my back on the bed, and he takes the feather duvet & mummifies me He wraps each leg up nice & tight, & wedges the rest of the duvet tight around my hips & torso. Within 2 minutes, the heat build-up is amazing, like a good dry sauna. I stay like that for about 20 minutes, and the pain just melts away. DH, he is the genius Do sounds make you happy? What ambient noises make you smile? I am reminded of Amelie's friend who likes the sound of her cat's bowl on the tile floor... I adore sounds, and briefly used my mP3 player to record snippets of ambient sounds when I lived in Chicago. My favorites: the rain on the roof outside my bedroom window, the slap of Swiss buttercream coming together in the mixer, my bench scraper scraping across my butcher block counter, the blurp of a good sponge fermenting, the tiny chip-chips of the baby cardinals, the raspy rattle of the wrens, the wind in the huge maple tree next door, the bass thump of ocean waves... When you receive your SW packages...do you like receiving things that are individually wrapped inside? or unwrapped? or both? In general, I like prolonging the excitement, so individual wrapping is awesome That said, there's something to be said for minimizing packaging - I think ideally, a few wrapped things & just some reusable fabric/tissue tucked around the rest... 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. A big, showy, gaudy, glue-gunned, totally impractical thing that in no way takes into account the likes & dislikes I've so carefully documented here For me, personally, there are few things worse than getting a gift that looks like it was meant for someone else. I received so many of these as an adolescent, when friends & family were obviously trying to nudge me back into the realm of conventional young-woman-hood. I would happily go without a gift completely rather than relive that heartache. Oh Witchy, I sound like such a bitch. 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? Actually, I've been really, really lucky in terms of BPAL rares. The few I've tried & fallen in love with have been reasonably easy to come by or have been lavishly gifted to me by some truly amazing forumites The only one I'm really wibbling for more of is Hermes Trimegistus. I've been wanting to try Sagittarius '07 for ages, and it keeps evading me... a sniffie would do it, really! Found it! I know we're all scent sensitive here. What are your favorite non-perfume smells? Day in the life stuff? The cool morning air this time of year, fresh-cut grass, wet sidewalks, the top of my son's head (it smells like hay in the sunshine - how does he DO that?!), baking bread, coffee brewing, clean cotton sheets, my wool jumpers that I keep packed in a cabinet scented with Templum Victoriae, the ocean... 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? Nonononono flavored beans, please! I'm partial to medium-dark roasts - deep but the beans should still be oily brown, not burned black. Recent favorites: Kenya, Ethiopia, SE Asia blends... We get Peace Coffee at the farmer's market every week (usually Yeti Cold Press or Blue Ox, but the Mexican Bird Mountain was surprisingly good), and treat ourselves to a Metropolis order once or twice a year (their Kenya is incredible, even for a light roast, and we stalk the site for Samba & Dulce blends...). I've always wanted to try roasting our own, Ethiopian style, so good green beans would be welcome, too! There has been a lot of talk about chocolate, but none about Candy! What is your favorite Candy? What candy do you hate? Caramels & toffee top the list - any kind, anywhere, esp Goetze's bulls eyes!