Thursday, November 29, 2012

Things I am thankful for.

I've been a bit down lately, so I decided to make a list of all the things I'm thankful that people have made for me.  It's a pretty long list, and I know I must be missing something...


Isilzha made me these fantastic socks that I've been wearing around lately.  They are a perfect fit!

I got Anya inspired stitch markers, scissors and a tape measure from knittinkitten13 that are currently in my project bag.

Nubsmom gave me a sock book that I've been addicted to the last month and chai tea that just vanished.

I still carry MediaPeruana's lunchbox in my car for all my protein shakes ^_^  And I finally got to use the DPN's she got me for those socks!

My TARDIS/Weeping Angels bag from meglw2008 is in regular rotation.

The purse I got from Aranov is THE BEST THING EVAR!!!  I have been using it non stop since I got it ^_^

meredithparker's spats are also fantastic!  They fit perfectly and I've been wearing them every day right now with this cold.  And I absolutely love the DHSAB shirt and stitch markers.

The yarn heathen13 sent me was perfect for a pair of gloves I test knit for GlennaC I swapped out, and I should still have enough to make them for me.

I wore this scarf a whole bunch last winter from Sparkleshan.  It was really good for keeping my shoulders from hunching up with the cold.

The first aid kit I got in my first swap from ladyval75 is in my car and the bag is constantly being used. Too bad the pins don't like staying on :/

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Oh, fantasy novels, how I love thee! Let me count the ways...

I live in a perpetual state of guilt.  Most of it is due to my extreme lack of time.  I'm always in my car driving to derby (which I have been slacking on this last month -_-;;), and have too many options for when scheduling my free time.  Shall I craft?  Shall I cook?  Shall I read?  Shall I catch up on Star Trek? (seriously people!  Why didn't anybody ever tell me how fucking amazing TNG is???)  And then I need to make sure to spend time with the boyfriend and to remind the cat he belongs to me.

I can watch TNG while curled up with Burn and torture Herb between rows while cookies are baking, but reading is the one thing I can't overlap.  Hence the guilt.

I love reading!  I miss reading.  I really need to catch up on waaay too many books.  But there are several that I have read!  And boy have they impacted my life.

NEVER ENDING STORY
I used to read a lot in elementary and was addicted to things like Baby Sitter's Club and Madelein L'Engel.  And then I got to middle school and was forced to read crap, and I completely lost my love for literature.  Until high school, when I was made to read The Never Ending Story.  Damn.  I love this book!  I gave it away to someone I'm pretty sure was special Back In The Day (I can't remember who, though), and have repurchased it another three times since then.  Unfortunately, I keep on giving it away to some poor soul that had never read it before being able to get back to it.  But one day!  I swear I'm going to read it again and I know I'll still be in love with Atreyu and The Multi Color Death.


HARRY POTTER
I jumped on this wagon a bit late.  I just didn't get the draw of some children's book.  Until the fourth one came out and the guy I was dating's little sister convinced me to read them all.  And I was hooked.  Addicted, you might even say.  My entire social circle since I moved to PA is due to me getting up the balls to go to a Harry Potter university club (The Three Broomsticks) when I first moved here.  I love Harry, and I love people that love Harry.  My favorite of the seven books was the fifth (Order Of The Phoenix), probably because I read it while I was in a very similar whiny position about a year from finishing college.  This also presents one of my favorite characters ever: Severus Snape.  Yes, he does follow some trite tropes in characterization, but he is beautifully done.  Lily was blind and the Marauders were assholes, and I really just want to hug Snape until everything is ok.


VAMPIRE CHRONICLES
I read several Anne Rice novels during my College Goth phase while waiting for the next Harry.  I was young, and damn did I love them!  Mnemnoch The Devil is one of my favorite books ever, mostly because I read it while I was still young and naive enough to still be philosophical about religion and I really loved the presentation of the main character.  While I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to read those books again with a straight face, IwtV is still one of those movies that I can watch over and over and over and over again.  }}swoon{{


TERRY PRATCHET
He is so adorable!  I've read all the books involving witches, wizzards and DEATH.  And damn do I love DEATH and DEATH OF RATS!  And the witches.  Granny Weatherwax!  I just love these books and want to hug everybody in them.  I just can't articulate at all right now, but I love them ^_^


JIM BUTCHER
Oh, Dresden...  This is what I'm currently reading and am completely enthralled.  I love the characters, the plots, the tone.  Especially the tone!  I'm currently reading Small Favor and am kicking myself that I am so far behind.  My roommate took off work today to read Cold Days and is grinning from ear to ear.  I've managed to listen to one of the books on tape read by the ever so dreamy James Marsters while I had a knitting deadline, but it really doesn't compare to reading it myself.


JOHN DIES AT THE END
I... have absolutely no clue whether I liked this book or not.  It took me forever to finish it due to the spastic storyline, but I am very eager to watch the movie.


TOLKIEN
I read them early in college.  I absolutely loved The Hobbit.  I struggled through the other three and died about 1/6 from the end of the last one.  Meh?  It was a good series, and it definitely did a great deal to progress the genre, but I very much do not live in such a slow paced world to be able to completely appreciate it.


CHARLAINE HARRIS
I also read all of the Sookie Stackhouse novels a couple of summers ago in one week.  They got very good once she got rid of that horrible Bill.  I haven't read the last two, though, since I've been stuck on Dresden.  I really enjoyed them (yes, you can have vampire stories without it completely devolving into poorly written smut) and I fucking hated the abomination that they made into the show.


I love reading.  I want to read more!  And I am very excited for this next swap.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Keto Links

Every once in a while someone will ask me for info on keto, so I should probably start keeping all the articles I'm constantly asking Dan to re-find for me in one place.

r/Keto FAQ

r/xxketo differences between dudebros and chicks

Bodybuilding.com: In depth look at Ketogenic diets and Ketosis

Long term effects of ketogenic diet in obese subjects with high cholesterol level

Lipid Hypothesis (video)

Duke University lifestyle proposal

Diet Doctor: LCHF
his video

Keto macro nutrient calculator



BOOKS

The Ketogenic Diet

Good Calories, Bad Calories



RECIPES

- General keto/paleo/GF blogs
I breath... I'm hungry
Chocolate Covered Katie

-Baked goods
One Minute Muffin

I'll continue to edit this list as I find decent things.


Sunday, October 21, 2012

[recipe] GF/SF/Wheat Free Cookies


I really love cookies.  They are one of the easiest things to make!  Especially when I can control myself enough to not eat all of the dough before they are baked. Today I am experimenting with reincorporating quinoa back into my diet, hoping it doesn't completely knock me out of keto.  I started with this Chewy Chocolate Chip recipe from Sacred Lightning as inspiration, and substituted some almond meal like from this Elana's Pantry Primal Gluten Free cookie recipe I devoured a few months ago.  So far, the raw dough is So Good! 


SF/GF/Wheat Free COOKIES 

1.5 c quinoa flour (previously toasted) 
0.75 c almond meal 
0.5 tsp baking soda 
--- 
0.5 c butter (salted is preferred) 
0.5 c coconut oil 
1.5 c baking Splenda 
--- 
1 tsp salt 
2 tsps vanilla extract 
2 eggs 

Preheat oven to 350°F and lay parchment on a cookie sheet. 

Mix flour, meal and soda in a dry bowl and set aside. 
Beat butter, oil and Splenda in mixer until fluffy. Add salt, vanilla and eggs until homogeneous. Incorporate dry ingredients a little at a time. I'm making an emphasis on adding them slowly because I always add them all at once and end up having to scrape them off the ceiling. 

Scoop 1" balls onto cookie sheet, 2" appart, and flatten. The amount of fiber in these cookies will not allow them to spread on their own, which is why the lower level looks straight out of the ice cream scooper.  Bake for ten minutes, give or take. They will not change color and look crispy due to the lack of sugar and wheat, but the outside will dry out and give a nice shell. You might want to wait for the molten core to cool down before eating, but who am I kidding.  Makes about three dozen (if you stop eating all the dough!)

In the spirit of ever improving, I plan on substituting some of the Splenda with soluble fiber to decrease the sweetness, without compromising the bulk.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Swap Partnerz

> Fantasy Authors Jan 2013 > dabasque
ChiFiberArtist > Tea Swap November 2012 > Justgotatbeme
robotfactory > Roller Derby Swap October 2012 > scarletampersand
knittinkitten13 > Buffy Swap the Third October 2012 > OeuHyasten
nubsmom > Star Wars June 2012 > loopiedoo
Winter Madness December 2011 - MediaPeruana
meglw2008 > TARDIS September 2011 > Pinksonia

Big Damn Heroes September 2011 - Aranov
JustAKnitWit > Buffy August 2011 > maureenbr
meredithparker > Steampunk June 2011 > Caitinc

henchwench > Hennson April 2011 > Melinda77520
Sparkleshan > DotD September 2010 > JoanC2
Lalsox > zombie 2010 > therowantree
divamaglia > Buffy August 2010 > Saberpirate

Ocean angel July 2010 > lycanthropica
ladyval75 > Firefly May 2010 > drewbird
heathen13 > DHSAB May 2010 > swamps42
Twilight April 2010 - xmasangel69

Neighbors: cephalogal, isilzhaFriends 
IRL: nanonukie, snowpony, scarletampersand

Wish List Post 227

Measurements
Head: 22.5”
Neck: 13”
Shoulders: 44”
Upper arm: 11”?
Sleeve: 25”
Sleevespan: 60”
BOOBS! 38”
“natural waist”: 32.5”
Bellybutton: 36”
Hip bones: 34”
Widest part of ass: 38”
Thigh: 22”
Calf: 15”
Foot: 10”
Floor to knee: 20”
Belt to knee: 21”
Collar to belt: 19”
Wrist: 6.5”
Wrist to tip of middle finger: 7.5”
Palm: 4”
Around knuckles: 7.5”

Tea Swap!

~~Are you willing to ship internationally?
Not particularly, but could in a pinch.

~~What would you absolutely love to receive?
A big ass french press travel mug that can fit ALL OF THE TEA! I’ve also never gotten a duck.

~~What would you absolutely hate to receive?
Knicknacks, dust collectors, and crap that is purely decorative.

~~Do you have any allergies?
Soaps, candles, lotions, and anything “scented”.

~~Do you have any allergens (cats, dogs, smoke, smoking cats or dogs)?
THE CAT

~~Would you be opposed to received baked goods in your package?
If you can make them carb free (there are some beautiful recipes out there!), go right ahead.

~~What is your favourite type of tea?
I’ve been on a huge chai kick since last year. Before that I hated anything even remotely tea-plant based.
~~Do you knit, crochet or spin?
And then some.

~Do you do any “other” crafty things?
Sew and stash.

~~Favourite colours?
Autumn.

~~Least favourite colours?
Pasteles are boring.

~~Favourite fibers?
Anything natural, depending on the use. Maximum of 20% acrylic in sock yarns.

~~Least favourite fibers?
Anything synthetic, novelty yarns, and I’m growing quite irked by Peaches & Cream-like cotton twines.

~~Favourite kind of projects to make?
Challenging.

~~Favourite kind of project to receive?
Thoughtful and that shows proper stalking.

~~Favourite snacks?
SF chocolates and plain almonds.

~~Have you swapped with anyone in this swap before?
Huh, I don’t think so? But let me actually research this.

~~Is there anything that you would like your swap partner to know?
I’m pretty straight forward in my blog and all other swap threads as to what I like.

~~What # is your post in the Wish List thread? (Don’t forget to update it…)
277

~~Have you read and agree to abide by our rules? Do you understand that the quarterly check-ins, thank yous, and delivery confirmation(if you are shipping domestically) are all mandatory?
Yessiree ^_^



~~What’s your favorite type of tea?
Currently, chai. Often, mexican chamomile or cinnamon. Used to be, anything fruity with a hibiscus base. I just recently started enjoying the tea plant because I sucked at steeping.

~~What do you love about tea?
The warmth.

~~Why did you start drinking tea?
I’ve always adored infusions, but only started liking actual tea when my anal retentive roommate finally taught me how to properly steep it.

~~Are there any tea types you aren’t fond of?
I find smoked to be abhorrent. I could do without rooibus and ceremonial green.

~~Caffeine, Decaf, or No-caf?
I’m immune to caffeine, so I don’t care. Less processed is better.

~~Do you have a teapot?
I have a kettle.

~~Do you use drink coasters?
No.

~~What tea-related cultures interest you: China, Japan, tea ceremony, India, the East India Company, Regency or Victorian or more modern England? The homey country cup of tea  ? Others?
Never put any thought into this. None of them turn me off, though. And I do have a great love for the TARDIS.

~~Loose leaf or bag or both?
High preference for loose, but sometimes a bag is just there.

~~Is your kettle cozy, and does it want to be? What about your travel mugs, favorite mug, or electronic devices? (please include model or dimensions)
I have nothing cozy-worthy.

~~Tea snacks: what kind do you favor?
There are tea-specific snacks?

~~Do you enjoy baking? Would you like a tea-themed cookbook or tea sandwich recipe cards?
I absolutely adore baking and cooking, but I am carb-free. Recipes are always welcome, though, especially if they cater to dietary restrictions.

~~How precise are you when brewing tea; do you use a thermometer or timer?
I have recently started using a timer, and a thermometer would be quite a lovely addition.

~~Is the idea of herbal bath tea (herbs in a bag that you steep for one’s bath) relaxing or blasphemy?
Sounds relaxing, if I ever found time for a bath.

~~ Are you on steepster?
Que?

~~Do you have any dietary concerns/ quirks/ allergies that would limit your enjoyment of baking goods/ tea?
Absolutely, positively, carb free.

~~Anything that you especially love?
Cream and bacon.

~~Do you currently own any novelty tea infusers?
I have a ball and a basket you set atop your mug, but it doesn’t seem to get enough contact with the water. My favorite was a french press travel mug I got at Starbucks a decade ago, but it shows its age.

~~Are there any novelty tea infusers you would really love to have? Or would you really hate it if I sent you one?
I can’t really think of what these would be, but I am intrigued.

~~Do you do any costumey things with your tea-related era? (e.g., anime cosplay for Japan, period dancing, steampunkery)?
I love steampunk (smashing watches and putting goggles on your forehead is very much not steampunk), I’m a late period SCAdian, and all around nerd.

~~What crafts do you do? Would you like supplies? Anything particular you’d realllllly like to receive?
Organizational items for knitting, crocheting or sewing are always appreciated.

~~What crafts don’t you do that you would either like to try or that you would like to receive a handmade of that craft?
I have more crafts than I can handle, but I am fond of this kind of handmade jewelry:
http://www.facebook.com/SteampunkJewellery

~~Do you prefer subtle/understated or fun/quirky with your purse or laptop bags?
I am bold and proud of my nerdities.

~~Do you use totes for knitting bags or some other style?
All of the above. I love bags of all sizes and purposes.

~~Do you wear jewelry (earrings, necklaces, bracelets, ankle bracelets)? What lengths do you wear?
I poses jewelry that I forget to use.

~~Hairstuff: Do you use barrettes, headbands, clippies, banana clips, wooden sticks, or fascinators? Would you like a thematic one or one with hints of your favorite tea era?
I love hairstuffs, as long as it can survive Cthulhu-like hair. My hair has eaten more than its fair share of ties, sticks and adornments.

~~When do you call tea time? Are you a cup in the morning, cup at night, weekender, only when its cool/cold outside, for ailments, or a “seriously I’m obsessed with tea, ok?!! I have a TEAmergency kit with me wherever I go.”?
I’ll drink tea whenever. Mostly if I have time to ponder the liking of a cup, often when it is cold (which it already is here).

~~Yarn/fiber dyed with tea: heresy or excellence?
Iiiiinteresting.

~~If you had to choose: favorite brand vs. locally mixed tea/tisane?
If I had to choose a favorite, it would be adagio, but that’s just because I jump in on Dan’s bulk orders.

~~Would you use reusable tea sachets? (The empty type that you fill/refill)
yes

~~Sugar cubes? Y/N
If you found some carb-free.

~~Cold brew tea? Y/N
When it is hot out.

~~Dieters tea? Anyone try before? Did/does it work?
I know hibiscus is a good diuretic, but so is any irritant like caffeine.

~~Are you in a craft group or tea group?
Centre County Spinners Guild, and Crafty Bitches

~~Do you have, or would you like, a TEAmergency kit?
This might work.

~~Lemon, lime or neither?
Natural lemon is nice.

~~Do you garden outdoors or have plants indoors? Wanna try?
Nope, I have a cat.

~~Do you like books with tea-related things? Like the mad tea party in Alice in Wonderland?
I love Alice ^_^

~~What do you put in your tea? Honey? Milk? Cream? (& of course, sugar, lime, lemon have already been asked) Just generally, rather than 8 questions about it. What goes in your tea cup at any given time? =)
HEAVY FUCKING CREAM. And splenda.

~~Do you drink a cup of tea  or a mug of tea?
I don’t half ass my beverages. Go big or go home. Even if you are at home.

~~How do you store your tea?
They come in nice ziptop bags, but I do like fancy little cans.

~~Do you use tea towels? Would you like one?
No thank you.

~~What time of teapot cozy do you like? Snuggy or Dome?
I have no teapot.

~~What are some of your favorite online tea shops?
Adagio.

~~Are there any tea related publications that you like or would like to read?
I’m not that well versed. A good, thick manual wouldn’t be bad. Scratch and sniff!

~~Do you need any non-teapot kitchen cozies: toaster, coffeemaker, toaster oven, knifeblock… something else?
Nope.

~~What about teatime-themed spinning wheel covers to keep curious paws and fingers out? Electronics?
My cat is an asshole and should know better by now than to poke at my Hitchhiker.

~~How many tea drinkers are in your home? (and will you share the spoils with them?)
There are two of us, but Dan is very particular as to what he drinks. He’s a purist and often prefers green tea. I like anything I manage to not screw up the steeping for.

Roller Derby Swap

We like our tacos H.A.R.D!


How long have you been involved with derby?
The first proof I have of a bout was feb 2009 HARD vs Canadia, though I loved watching Rollergirls in 2005 and was constantly dreaming of derby. My first practice was August 23, 2010 ^_^

What’s your favorite position?
Girl on top.
Wait, you mean derby, don’t you? 4 (back outer blocker). As an NSO I love being in the penalty crew and tracking or running the box.

Do you have another job with your league?
Trying to not replace the black sheep that have recently defected/quit. Other than that, I am the new webmaster at Harrisburg Area Roller Derby.

Any derby-related crafty projects to show off?
Not yet. I made a denudu hat for our head ref, but nothing yet for me or specifically derby related.
Oh yeah! I sewed some helmet panties for my old league, and I made some bearing in resin necklaces once. And bake sales. Lots of bake sales.

Allergies/Allergens to Cats/Smoke/Anything else? - please list everything
I am allergic to scents (candles, body products, soaks)

Do you have pets? If so, what kind?
Big ass cat!

If you have fluffy pets, can you keep their fluffies out of your handmades/yarn/package?
Mostly. He’s not allowed into the attic where I have my craft room.

If you or anyone in your household smokes inside/outside? Can you keep the smoke out of your work/yarn?
No smoke here.

Anyone here you’ve swapped with (sent to or received from) before?
Nope.

Do you have shipping preferences/additional mailing/delivery instructions that your partner had better know about, or if you may intend to change address?
Nope.

Favs- 
Favorite yarns:
 indie dyed, natural fibers, less than 20% acrylic.
Favorite fibers: anything that isn’t scratchy, and NO SYNTHETICS.
Favorite color (ONE): scarlet
Favorite color in combo with your Favorite color: black or army green
Any other favorite things you wish to divulge: I am a big damn nerd! Details are onmy blog under the swap tag.

Least Favs- 
Least favorite fibers:
 Did I mention acrylic yet? I’m also meh about cotton, but specifically Peaches and Cream.
Other least favorite “things” and/or have enough of: zauberball is splitty and noro is horribly scratchy.

Do you knit/crochet/spin/weave/something else? Knit, crochet, spin and sew.

Coffee: coffee maker, single cup cone, french press, iced, hot? Crappy two cup coffee maker, hot, light roast, flavors allowed.

Tea: pot, cup, loose, bag, iced, hot? Loose, kettle, hot, chai! I could kill for a very large french press travel mug (for both coffee and/or tea).

Snack/Flavor preferences – salty and /or sweet suggestions: I live carb free, so I’m ok without snacks due to logistics.

Fragrance preferences likes/dislikes: I like chamomile and honeysuckle but get saturation headaches easily.

Which post in the Wish List thread is yours (indicate number and link)? 277

Do you have any wishlists at any online stores (link)? Just what I have mentioned on my blog.

Can you think of anything else your partner should know? I’ve been in a lot of swaps, and the one thing that is the worst insult is when a package is generic and steril, and goes specifically against things a swapee has explained.

SWAP RELATED 
What is your position in Derby?
 2 and 4 (outside blocker), multi purpose NSO with a preference for penalty tracking/enforcing

Your favorite team & their colors? Harrisburg Area Roller Derby, nuclear green!

Your team & colors if you play? NSO pink is also appreciated.

What Derby athlete would you most like to meet? already met Joan of Dark, and everybody else already has enough smoke being blown up their ass.

Who is the coolest Derby person you have gotten an autograph from? Not my thing.

IMPORTANT 
Have you read the rules page and the rules thread?
 Yes ma’am!
Do you understand that check in is mandatory on the required dates listed at the top of this thread? Yeppers.
Do you understand that posting a “Thank You” (in the thank you thread) is mandatory upon receipt of your package (pictures can be added at a later date)?Very much so.
Do you understand that it is mandatory to PM to me your Delivery Confirmation # or Customs Form number upon shipping? Mhm.
Do you know what you will need to do if you are unable to complete this swap and what will happen to your ability to swap with us in the future if you do not follow some/any/all of the rules? Yes.

How long have you been involved with derby?
The first proof I have of a bout was feb 2009 HARD vs Canadia, though I loved watching Rollergirls in 2005 and was constantly dreaming of derby. My first practice was August 23, 2010 ^_^

What’s your favorite position?
Girl on top.
Wait, you mean derby, don’t you? 4 (back outer blocker). As an NSO I love being in the penalty crew and tracking or running the box.

Do you have another job with your league?
Trying to not replace the black sheep that have recently defected/quit. Other than that, I am the new webmaster at Harrisburg Area Roller Derby.

Any derby-related crafty projects to show off?
Not yet. I made a denudu hat for our head ref, but nothing yet for me or specifically derby related.
Oh yeah! I sewed some helmet panties for my old league, and I made some bearing in resin necklaces once. And bake sales. Lots of bake sales.

What notions do you like/need/want?
I love project bags of all sizes! I normally end up using them as a purse until they fall appart. I like anything cute, like a pretty needle gauge or tape measure, and I can always use counters/rosaries and stitch markers. I wouldn’t mind an organizing case for my knitpicks interchangeables and the 20 cables I have for them.

What notions do you hate/have too many of/just don’t need?
I keep getting dropped stitch hook keychains.

What’s your derby name/number, if you have one?
Anya Arson, 0

Do you like/wear jewelry? If so, what?
I like it, but I forget to put it on because I don’t like taking it off at the rink.

What are your fave patterns from Knockdown Knits?
I love Joan and appreciate the book, but the patterns are not my cup of tea . The felted skate bag is nice if it actually fits my whole gear. If not, it’s still a nice project bag.

Do you want local league merch? If so, what kinds of things do you like (shirts, buttons, stickers, etc)?
I don’t collect swag, but I might start pinning up a hat I was gifted.

Do you like purses/bags/totes?
YES. I can never have enough bags of any size!

How do you feel about hats?
I lurves hattts!

Have you ever gone by another Ravelry name and if so what was it?
Nope. I’m choperena everywhere (other than derby and SCA).

What’s the story behind your derby name (if you have one)?
When I first started watching derby, I wanted to be Mexi Cans (I was a 38G back then), until Madhouse Mexi joined the league I watched and now play for. My second choice was Moctezuma’s Revenge, but the girl I co-founded a different league with vetoed it vehemently. I finally came up with Anya Arson because I am a complete Buffy fanatic, I relate way too much with Anyanka’s character and past, I love fire, and I love the “on your arse” pun. I also went out of my way to not choose something sexual because at the time I was getting a teaching cert and didn’t want anything… compromising.

Skulls? Love ‘em, they’re okay, or not really a fan?
I love morbid art, including sculls.

How do you like to accessorize for bouts? (Colors, themes,etc.)
Nuclear Green uniform top, black flame capri DerbySkinz (which I absolutely hate because the girl can’t measure herself out of a paper bag), and a red-yellow gradient bandana. I’ve tried doing makeup, but I haven’t found anything intense enough to show up on my face. My skin is just a chameleon when it comes to color.

How do you feel about leg warmers?
I like them for everyday wear, but I overheat on the track. My calves are 15” around.

Derby Wife
I kind of had a derby wife when I started, until she pushed me out of the league. I got a proposal when I moved to my current league, but she stopped coming to practice before I could give her an answer. Now I’m dating her ex boyfriend.

What is your favourite yarn weight to work with?
Anything in the “sock” range. I also double up on lace to achieve adequate thicknesses.

Talk to me about wheels. Are you a wheel junky? Do you need a way to keep all your wheels in order? Would you prefer a cube bag, or a sausage bag, or an infinite screw, or an idea that I have that reminds me ofmeccanos, or a briefcase, or something completely different? How many sets of wheels do you need to keep? 
I only have four sets of wheels, and any system would work.

How would you feel about a bag that can serve as skate bag and double as a large project bag? Would you want a messenger bag, backpack or dufflebag? Pockets? While I have a skate bag, I wouldn’t mind one that’s purdy. I’d only need a main compartment, a smaller one for a change of clothes, and another small one for a couple of tools/bandaids.

How did you first get into roller derby?
Roller derby was always something I knew my much older sister wanted to do when I was little. When I moved to the US in 2005, I became addicted to the A&E Rollergirls show, and thought it would be an awesome thing to do. Late 2008, my roommate found out about a league 90 miles away in Harrisburg that we decided to go watch (I have pictures of a merby bout february 2009). It was a blast! I made every effort to go down every month, and vowed that one day, I was going to have a Big Girl Job, with a Big Girl Paycheck, in a Big Girl Town, with a Big Girl League, and I was going to join derby!
Fastforward to august 2010. It was my 30th birthday, I’d gone down to watch an intraleague bout, and I realized I wasn’t getting any younger (and I still don’t have that Big Girl Job). So on my ride back, I facebooked that I was joining HARD! Of course, that one person that you barely know and never responds, mentioned Williamsport had just started a league the previous month. Well, that’s only 60 miles away! So with two acquaintances (that tagged along after reading my fb) in tow, I drove over to Williamsport that wednesday and joined derby.
A couple of practices later, one of the girls was horribly intimidated by the skills of a couple of girls, and decided she wanted to start “our own” league in State College. We agreed to help her, and put in duty with both leagues for the first couple of months, until the intimidated girl decided that she didn’t want to put effort into training people that are just going to skate for another league. So when she asked us to sign an exclusivity contract (to skate with a league where nobody knew anything that wasn’t on youtube), we decided to only skate with Williamsport.
Fastforward to the spring, where yet again there were too many people with too many interests, that nothing was getting done, and I got accused of “usurping” other people’s jobs. So I got sick of the bullshit and went with my initial gut decision (of a year prior) and transfered down to Harrisburg that fall.
Of course, this league isn’t perfect either. We have had a severe turnover this year, but I have hope that the people that are left want it to succeed. So I’m running for a board position this week, and hopefully by the end of the month I’ll be able to be loud and obnoxious and influential and usurping and shit all over again. Because I want this league to grow, or die trying.


Measurements
I should have done this ages ago.
Head: 22.5”
Neck: 13”
Shoulders: 44”
Upper arm: 11”?
Sleeve: 25”
Sleevespan: 60”
BOOBS! 38”
“natural waist”: 32.5”
Bellybutton: 36”
Hip bones: 34”
Widest part of ass: 38”
Thigh: 22”
Calf: 15”
Foot: 10”
Floor to knee: 20”
Belt to knee: 21”
Collar to belt: 19”
Wrist: 6.5”
Wrist to tip of middle finger: 7.5”
Palm: 4”
Around knuckles: 7.5”
Did I miss anything?

Tee shirts: 
Large/xl in a ladies shirt, small (or medium) in unisex (though I prefer the lower neckline of a babydoll).

Buffy swap, the Third


Jewellery, do you wear any? What would you like/hate to receive? Do you have pierced ears?
I have jewelry and my ears pierced, and I like it, I just forget to wear it. I’m too bulky for very fine things, and I tend to prefer bracelets and things that can serve a function other than decoration.

metal tones, which ones do you prefer?
All, depending on the piece.

I’m from Germany, any special treats you’d like to receive from here?
Nothing with sugar or carbs, please.

What is your greatest fan love apart from Buffy or any Whedon show?
WHEDON CAN DO NO WRONG!
Oh wait, other than Buffy or Whedon… I derby. It has taken over my life. I also love Doctor Who and way too many nerdities that I can’t currently congeal into words.

Anyone have any favorite Japanese candies/goodies??
Not particularly. We have several great oriental markets in town. Again, anything without sugar or carbs. I love trying random things!

Besides stitch markers, what small tools are lacking in your knitting/crochet bag?? Or maybe are you in need of a new project bag, even?
Project bags of all sizes are always appreciated (and normally used instead of a purse). I can’t find my needle gauge, and a pattern keeper could be nice.

Which character in the BTVS series do you most identify with?
Anya, by far. I’ve always been the outsider (and token foreigner) that just doesn’t get the fine nuances to human interaction. I’m far from anti-social, but I always respond -oddly-.

How would you describe your personal style? (not limited to fashion)
Odd works. I don’t really have one style. I’m a tremendous geek, a tree hugging dirty hippy, scientist, compulsive crafter, and I have my gothy moments.

When knitting you an item for your present, is it ok to take something off your favorites or queue? (I know some people use the differently than I do.) Also is there anything (keeping in mind the deadlines for this swap) that you wouldn’t knit for yourself but would love someone else to knit for you? Or something you don’t want others to knit for you?
Faves are just stuff I’ve liked that others have made. Queue is stuff I intend on making Some Day. I try to keep good notes on them, and whether I already have yarn for anything. I don’t currently have any plans to knit anything during the rest of the year, other than two baby presents, the two swaps, and a form fitting sweater with 2” stripes that I’ve had to frog twice already -_-;;
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/short-sleeved-swe...

What’s your favorite knitted item to be gifted? Which ones do you have no use for? (For example you live scarves and socks but never ever wear hats or cowls… Something like that)
Hmmm, the only thing I’ve gotten that I don’t really wear is a pair of wool socks. They are a bit big and very warm, so they make my feet swampy. I always get around eventually to using all the scarves and shawls and mitts. I have no use for washcloths. It snows seven months out of the year here, so I love any and all knitwear. I’ve never gotten anything with sleeves! (or arm holes)

What sort of things do you love receiving but maybe don’t often get in swaps?
I love quirky things that show I’ve been properly stalked. Something that is personal and shows my swapper cared enough to do their research. I really hate getting things I specifically (in many locations!) have said I don’t want/can’t use/don’t need, like dust catchers and body products. At least I can force feed candy to guests. Have you read I don’t like baby melting acrylic? Yeah, I’ve mentioned it here or there just a couple of times…

Would you accept a gently used book if it’s on your wishlist?
I would love a gently or less-than-gently used book, even not on my list! I’m a huge dirty hippie/compulsive data collector, so anything that helps me learn something while saving the planet is awesome. This also goes for electronic versions over printouts.

What’s your preferred form of footwear (socks, no socks, flip flops, heels, flats, etc)?
I am barefoot whenever possible, but in the lab I always wear my old, beat up adidas or one of my many pairs of Docs normally with thin cotton socks (again because of the swamping)

What is your absolute favorite part of Halloween?
That it exists! I effin LOVE halloween. I love the autumn chill, and fantastic colors, and the warm snacks/beverages, and cuddling up, and that it is acceptable to think about death without people freaking out I might be suicidal. I also love the imagery of death and (being Mexican) the veneration, celebration and remembrance of those who have past.


Any Buffy related DVDs you’d like to receive?
I have the movie, the Buffy Box and the individual Angel seasons, but I think my Angel season 2 is scratched.

Since this is a Halloween swap, would you prefer something for everyday wear or a more costume like item?
I have dressed up as An Angel Of The Charlie Variety, but would prefer a better pair of striped shorts, and one day I’ll dress up as an easter bunny! But I would also rock anything, from freak to mundane.

Do you have any internet wish lists (knit picks, WEBS, Amazon, etc) that may be helpful for your giver???
My blog is very detailed.

Is there a tiny someone else in your house that would like to get something special?
Nope, I’m greedy.

What are your favorite yarn brands?
I’m a yarn snob. I absolutely HATEHATEHATE acrylic, Noro, and zauberball. I do love, though, indie dyers and home dyed stuff, and have yet to have issues with Knitpicks.

Are you a Disney fan? I’m going to Disneyland this month and might be able to pick up something smallish for a swap (all the halloween stuff should be out)
Yes! I was at Disneyworld for the first halloween parade two years ago and wanted EVERYTHING. Alice In Wonderland, Nightmare Before Christmas, Star Wars, Muppets… yeah, a bunch of stuff.

Would you rather have candy or a nice piece or arm candy?
Ooo! Arm candy ^_^
Or Band Candy ^_~

Is there a brand or type of yarn you have not tried but would love to? Even if it’s just a little bit…like 20-30 yards?
The yarn with a wire in it?

I might dye some character yarn for you, which is your favourite character and why? Do you identify a specific colour or combination with that character? Or a certain outfit?
Very much Anya. I can’t think of any specific color combination, but anything you can reference or justify works. I love hand dyed yarn! As long as it is mostly solid or has very long repeats -_-;;

Let’s talk about socks… What’s your shoe size, do you have wide or narrow feet? How long do you like the leg of your socks to be? 
UK 42, nothing standard in american. 10” long, normal around, any height, but my calves are monstrously big! (15” around)

How do you feel about candles and homebaked items? 
No candles, please. Baked goods only if they are carb and sugar free.


Do you want or have any Buffy books or comics?
I would not mind finding this in my swap package, at all :D
Or any other books, for that matter. I finally found I have the first 3 books of S8!

When you are saying you have the 1st season 8 book or the 2nd etc. do you mean the actual comic or the collected trade paper back?
I have the first three TPB.

Also for those interested in receiving comics, would you prefer a TPB or a single issue? oh! And if I happen to be able to get an artist or writer to sign it at the con (I’ll have to check who will be there-- not Whedon for sure) would you want that even if it wasn’t in the particular story arc or a TPB.
TPBs are better, since they are less flimsy, and autographs would be pretty cool.
would you want that even if it wasn’t in the particular story arc or a TPB.
Yup.

Do you have favorite Halloween non-candy items?
ALL OF THEM. I really love halloween. I love dressing up, but I also just love morbid thematics in everything.

Is anyone else trying something new for halloween or would like something you would like to try but can’t get or don’t have the time to do?
Not that I can think of.

If you were to be gifted a project bag, what’s the best size for your average project?
Most of my bags are about 8x8x10 and I end up adopting them as full fledged purses. This works well for me, but I love all kinds of bags! I just got a HUGE project bag in the Star Wars swap that I can’t wait to have a huge project to stick in it ^_^

What’s your favorite fall flavor?
Caramel Apple Everything!




Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Am I in crisis?


I'm not sure.  I have been putting a lot of thought into many of the choices I live my life by as of late.  It's been three years since I cut off my hair and started doing the dirty hippie thing, two years since I started derby, and a whole year of keto, and three months since I finally started dating a fantastic guy.  Are these choices still right for me?

Well, I'm not dropping out of derby, that's for sure.  And I'm not switching leagues again!  But I am very far from content with the current state of things, so I plan on running for an executive board position this week.  I'm going to make this league better if it kills them!  It is driving me into poverty, though.  I have an interview for a barista position at Sheetz tomorrow at 7:30 am  -_-;;

Keto?  I just did a full blood panel two weeks ago.  My cholesterol is stupidly healthy.  It is the best I have ever had in the seven years I've been testing.  I love my diet, and I love bacon, and cream, and eggs.  But I can't stop fantasizing about pancakes and Chunky Monkey.  I went to Grange Faire for my birthday and ate myself into a coma.  I enjoyed every single bite, but was in so much pain for the next two days purging the sugar from my system.  I keep going back and forth.  Do I really care what I look like or not?  Is all the bacon in the world really worth not eating 95% of the menu?  Will popcorn really kill me?  It's a thing of willpower, which I have significantly less of on some days.

Dirty Hippie.  This is something I have always classified myself as, and always will, but sometimes I wonder how much the "dirty" part matters.  I finally managed to bleach my Rogue streak again after five or so years, but decided to Manic Panic it red temporarily since I wasn't able to bleach it white all at once and didn't want it to look like piss.  I'm enjoying the red streak (though I liked it better when it was darker), but it seems to have sparked a bit of vanity in me.  I caught the nail polish bug from Cephalogal and did that for a couple of weeks, and even started wearing eye liner.  And then I freaked out Burn.

Burn is a fantastic guy, he treats me very well (unlike my previous relationship), and feels eerily perfect.  Is it wrong for me to be paranoid?  I mean, I thought the last dude was decent, and then I realized the hard way just how much of a scumbag he really is.  And to make matters worse, I didn't realize this until a couple of months after I broke up with him (though I did decide to because i realized he was less than fresh).  Is my douchegauge broken?  How was I able to put up with shit for so long?  Is there anything said broken gauge is missing in my new relationship?  I highly doubt it.  Burn is a bit distracted, but I feel he honestly means well.  So why am I having such a hard time getting past the deception when I have no reason to interact with it again?  I don't know.  It's that Lack Of Self Esteem thing again.  At least this is a decision I have no intention of changing any time soon.

But I digressed.  I've been having attacks of vanity.  Since I visited my mother in August and Had to look good, I've been considering washing my hair, using real lotions instead of coconut oil, and pretending to be an adult.  I don't know why.  The idea of using prefabricated body products terrifies the ever-loving crap out of me.  I hate how they feel on my skin and how they irritate it, but now that my hair goes down my back, I'd like to be able to pass my fingers through it.  And the only way I know how to achieve that is by using a shitload of paraffins and chemical products.  I mean, my hair is very healthy, but that kind of "silky" is always artificial.  The idea just feels so… wrong.  Like I'm cheating myself out of my values.  Would I be?  Is there any way to manage that level of chemical pleasure with natural, home made products?

Yeah.  My head hates sitting still.

Oh!  And I am currently in two swaps (which I should remember to make posts for -_-;;) and am going to a wedding in December for which I need to have two sets of baby gifts.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Wagon wheels keep turning.

Last week was my birthday, and I decided I was going to take the weekend off to put myself into a food coma and eat ALL OF THE CARBS!  How many, you ask?

Friday dinner at Ottos:
Fried calamari, artesian mac n' cheese, (really crappy) chocolate chip cookies with Peachy Paterno sandwich, apricot wheat beer.

Saturday breakfast Grange Fair:
Sticky bun, iced coffee, deep fried oreos, cookie dough, kool aid, and twinky, cactus taters, "real fruit" slushy, local root beer, chicken on a stick, and kettle corn.

Saturday mid day Herwig's:
Banana cheese cake on Nutter Butter crust, topped with caramel and bacon.

Saturday night Hublersburg Inn:
Crab nacho chips, Bailey's in coffee, bacon cheese chips, chocolate cake with peanut butter icing a la mode, and sprite.

Sunday breakfast:
Cap'n Crunch in almond milk.

Sunday lunch:
Movie pop corn and cherries.

Sunday dinner:
Roticiery chicken, cheddar pop corn, B&J greek yoghurt with peanut butter and bananas, and ricotta with chocolate sauce.


So yeah, now I'm trying to get back on the wagon and am feeling the pain.  I've had since early yesterday pains in my left wrist, knee and ankle, and an overall tightness around my ribs, as well as trouble focusing on far away signs (I have really good vision, normally!) and a cloudy feeling in my head.  I haven't eaten anything yet today and plan on only drinking non caloric beverages for a while in order to detox. I'll fry up some eggs before leaving for practice so I have time to digest them on the drive, but today is going to suuuuuuuck.

I'm also very surprised that I only went up to 152.2!  I was at 150 saturday morning and ~148 earlier last week.  I should be back on the other side by the end of the week.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

[recipe] Adventures in Cauliflower Baking

Man, this stuff is amazing!  Cauliflower is a wonderful filler and substitute for flour, potato, and even cream.  The first thing I ever did with cauliflower was to boil it in broth and blend it, making a perfect chicken "cream" soup (the same is good if you use stuff like carrots or zucchini instead).

Today I tried two new recipes:  "pizza" and "brownies".

The pizza was pretty simple.  First you need to "rice" a cup of cauliflower, which means you chop, grate or process the cauliflower into a mince, and stick it in a pan until it cooks through.  About ten minutes.  I did this along with a tbsp of minced garlic and a bit of italian seasonings.  Then you mix it with a cup of grated mozzarella cheese and and egg, spread it on a cookie sheet, and bake at 450F for 15 minutes.  A dry, orange sharp cheddar gives the crunchiest results.

The sauce was even simpler.  I took a small can of V8 and simmered it with some red pepper flakes and black pepper, and then incorporated twice as much grated cheese until well disolved.  Spread this on the crunchy crust, top as desired, and broil for a couple of minutes right under the heat source.

Eat your little heart out!

It really tastes like pizza.  The texture, though, is a bit off.  You don't have the bread or gluten to chew through, but it tastes so good that it doesn't really matter. 


As for the brownies, I love I Breathe... I'm Hungry.  In this installment, she blends a cup of cauliflower pure with a cup of almond flour (we halved it with blended pecans because we ran out), half a cup of coconut flour, half of cacao powder, a cup of almond milk, three eggs, two oz of cream cheese, a stick of butter, two squared of bakers chocolate, and a half tsp of baking powder (with splenda and extracts to taste).  Melt stuff, blend stuff, and mix stuff together, then stick in a 9x9 buttered pan and bake for 35 minutes at 375F.  We wedged some SF chocolate chips and SF peanut butter cups in between

The texture is a bit powderier than your average brownie, but they are still absolutely amazing!  Now, I skipped the syrup and used bakers chocolate instead of Lindt 90%, both of which are not sweetened.  Make sure you compensate the splenda as necessary.  Another cool thing would have been if I used chopped pecans instead of powdered, but I really like my nuts.


Now, these two recipes are probably keto, if not very close to it.  They might be a tad high on the net carbs, but you can always sub in a bit more protein where need be.

I need to stop devouring food before getting pictures of everything.

PS:  These Primal Chocolate Chip Cookies are DA BOMB!  I'm just too lazy to give them their own entry because they didn't even make it through the afternoon.  Almond meal, egg, shortening, baking soda, sweetener, vanilla and chips.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

[recipe] Not-Enough-Meat Meatloaf Cupcakes


One might think that meat is a critical part of meatloaf.  One might also think you only need one pound of ground beef for a one pound loaf pan.  Welp, this one was wrong.

I was so excited today when I went to the butchers and got ALL OF THE MEATS, that I didn't notice that one pound of ground beef is only about the size of two small apples.  The pan is about four times that size...  Well, cupcakes are small!  I can use a cupcake pan and stop filling it when I run out of meat!

You can use a lot of things as fillers in meatloaf.  I almost ran out of cupcake pan.  This is what I added, approximately and in this order.


0)  Preheat oven at 400 F.
1)  Hard boil three eggs; peel and quarter.
2)  Fry up a sliced onion with red pepper flakes, a tbsp of minced garlic, Worcestershire, Maggie and soy sauces.
3)  Line cupcake tin with a slice of thick cut bacon in each cup; bake for 10 minutes or so. Crispier is better, but make sure they don't collapse in on themselves.
4)  Toss onions in mixer with the pound of meat (half chuck, half baconburger) and start mixing in crap, like 1/4 lb sliced onion cheese in pieces, 1/4c hemp seeds, 1/2c almond meal, 1/4c wheat bran, 1/4c flax seeds, and about a tbsp of sundried tomatoes in oil I had left.
5)  Once the meat is all mixed and seasonings are adjusted, pull the bacon cups out of the oven and place tray on a trivet.  Using two spoons, put about a tbsp of meat inside each bacon-wrapped cup, add 1/4 hard egg, and fill to the top with the rest of the meat.
6)  Bake for 25 minutes, or until desired cookedness.
7)  Let cool on trivet.
8)  Omnomnom!



They came out very nice and moist, but the texture was a bit creamier than your standard loaf.  Once they were baking, I thought of other things I could have added that I have used successfully in meatballs, like rice (quinoa would also work), chipotle, green olives, chicken shreds, cream cheese, cocktail onions, panko or toast crumbs...

Friday, May 11, 2012

[recipe] Vegan Jelly Donut Cupcakes


One of the wonderful things about roller derby is that we constantly have bake sales, so I get to try out new recipes and force them on people ^_^  And because I'm sick of every bake sale being your typical box mix, full flour and sugar crap, I'm always the weirdo that makes alternative faire.  This week, vegan cupcakes!

Someone shared this wonderful recipe with me from Alicia Silverstone's blog "The Kind Life".  Now, I am violently opposed to PETA and its practices, and was really heartbroken when she decided to be a spokes person for them, but I will give her credit for living consistently and true to her values.

So.  Vegan Jelly Donut Cupcakes.  I could not stop eating the batter!  I mixed up two batches, adding 1/2 C cocoa powder to the second one.  I don't know if this is what made them fluff up so much, or that since I mixed them up second, the vinegar and baking soda hadn't gone flat by the time I stuck them in the oven.  Or it could also be that I used coconut oil in the vanilla batch and crisco in the chocolate...


DRY INGREDIENTS:  Sift together in mixer bowl

  • 1 1/2 C of flour
  • 3/4 tsp. of baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. of baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. of salt
  • 1/2 C cocoa powder (optional)



  • WET INGREDIENTS:  Mix in measuring cup

  • 1 C of soymilk (I used almond milk)
  • 1 tsp. of apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp. of cornstarch
  • 3/4 C of plus 2 tbsp sugar (light brown is nice)
  • 2 tsp. of vanilla

  • 1/3 C of canola oil (I used coconut oil for one, crisco for the other)



  • 1) Preheat the oven to 350F.  Line cupcake tin with paper liners.
    2) Start the mixer with the paddle attachment, slowly pouring in the wet ingredients and oils.
    3) Once everything is incorporated, scoop batter into paper cups and add fillings.
    4) Bake 21-23 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.

    I got a great 1 tbsp ice cream scoop the other day.  It is wonderful for not spilling the batter EVERYWHERE!  Two scoops per cupcake, and significantly better portioning!


    FILLINGS: 1/2 tbsp per cupcake

    1) Candied ginger:  Fill liner with batter, press ginger into the center.
    2) Cinnamon apples:  Chop up an apple (Granny Smith here) and place in a small pot with a bit of water and a lot of cinnamon.  Heat until the apples start to dry out so they don't make the cupcakes soggy.  Press into the center of the batter.
    3) Strawberry:  Pit and chop up strawberries and stew in small pot with a little bit of water until they dry out and have a jam-like consistency.  Spoon into center of battered cups.
    4) Bananananana:  Slice banana into 1/2" chunks and lightly cook in a dry pan.  Add one scoop of batter to tin, place banana slice in center, add second scoop of batter.  Top with another slice of banana.
    5) Peanut butter:  Add one scoop of batter to tin, place small scoop of peanut butter in center, add second scoop of batter.  Top with a couple of peanuts.
    6) Cry You American Pansies:  Between the two scoops of batter, add small chunks of Chocolate Abuelita (vegan!) and red pepper flakes.  Top with pepper flakes.

    Wednesday, May 2, 2012

    Star Wars Swap Questionnaire

    1) Are you willing to ship internationally?
    2) Fill in the blank: My heart would go pitter-patter if I received ____.
    3) Sith or Jedi?
    4) Imperial or Rebel?
    5) Who Shot First?
    6) Which of the six Star Wars movie is your favourite? Why?
    7) Allergies (fibers, animals, food, etc)?
    8) Allergens (do you have pets-what kind, do you smoke-in or outside, etc)?
    9) Do you knit, crochet or spin?
    10) Favourite colours?
    11) Least favourite colours?
    12) Favourite fibers?
    13) Least favourite fibers?
    14) Favourite kind of projects to make?
    15) Favourite kind of project to receive?
    16) Favourite snacks?
    17) Favourite beverages?
    18) Items/colours you would rather not receive?
    19) Have you swapped with anyone in this swap before?
    20) Is there anything that you would like your swap partner to know?
    21) What # is your post in the Wish List thread? (Don’t forget to update it…)
    22) Have you read and agree to abide by our rules? Do you understand that bi-weekly check-ins, thank yous, and delivery confirmation are all mandatory?

    23) Who’s your favourite character? Any particular reason why?
    24) What’s your favourite planet in the SW universe?
    25) What would be your dream Star Wars item to receive in this swap? (i.e. Yoda hat, blaster holster, amigurumi Anakin…)
    26) Favorite quote:
    27) Are you a die hard Original Trilogy fan, or do you enjoy the Expanded Universe?

    28)  What kind/size project bag do you want?
    29)  What about cosies? Does your phone need a new sock?
    30)  Have you watched the Family Guy versions of Star Wars? Whats your thoughts on them…if you don’t have them on DVD would you like them?
    31)  Also…do you play video games? If so what system do you have and would you be interested in the Lego Star War games or any other Star War games?
    32)  What about comic books? Yes or no?
    33)  What about jewelry..would you be interested in star wars themed bling?
    34)  How about nail polish? I just saw some aptly named polish and thought it would fit in nicely!!
    35)  What color is your light saber?
    36)  What are your thoughts on Bobble Heads or Lego collectibles?
    37)  You say you like Star Wars Jewelry, do you have a particular style of Jewelry you prefer or anything you cannot wear?
    38)  Sweater?
    39)  Measurements
    40)  How do you like your knits? Cold or warm weather?
    41)  Do you spin? Would you rather receive roving or yarn?
    42)  How would you feel about roving/yarn dyed in lightsaber themed bright blue/green?
    43)  What weight of yarn do you prefer? Worsted, fingering, lace?
    44)  I recently came across a Star Wars Cookbook. Is this something you’d be interested in?
    45)  action figures (from the 70's and 80's)

    -------


    Are you willing to ship internationally? Sorry, I’m about to move and can’t afford the big shipping this time.

    Fill in the blank: My heart would go pitter-patter if I received a package that actually followed my wishlist instructions.

    Sith or Jedi? Wankers the lot of them.

    Imperial or Rebel? Rebel to the core.

    Who Shot First? Han. The guy knows better.

    Which of the six Star Wars movie is your favourite? Why? Empire Strikes Back. I love the whole Han/Leia/Chewie dynamic. And you have less of the whiny characters.

    Allergies (fibers, animals, food, etc)?  I don’t eat any carbs or sugar, I have sensitive skin and don’t use commercial body products (this includes soaps, lotions and chapsticks), and scented things make me sneeze (candles, soaps and perfumes).

    Allergens (do you have pets-what kind, do you smoke-in or outside, etc)? I have a Big Double-coated Cat.

    Do you knit, crochet or spin? All three, but I’m in more of a knitting/crocheting mood at the moment.

    Favourite colours? Anything vivid! I love fiery/autumn colors.

    Least favourite colours? Pastels.

    Favourite fibers? Anything at least 80% (preferably more) natural.

    Least favourite fibers? I hate synthetics. I cannot stress this enough. If there is more than 20% polyester/acrylic/nylon, I will not use it! I can’t stand how it squeaks and splits, and then the final product is scratchy.

    Favourite kind of projects to make? I’ll make anything, depending on the recipient. I especially love to make for others things I don’t want for myself but find cool, like amis or decorative things I can’t use.

    Favourite kind of project to receive? Wearables. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it is useful.

    Favourite snacks? Bacon.

    Favourite beverages? I’m on a chai kick.

    Items/colours you would rather not receive? Strict no-nos are dust catchers, toys, figurines, that knitpicks keychain with a hook to pick up dropped stitches (I’ve gotten three!), soaps, lotions, chapsticks, candles and washcloths. If I can use it for something, it is ok. As far as colors, I’m not that picky.

    Have you swapped with anyone in this swap before? Steampunk June 2011 > Caitinc

    Hennson April 2011 > Melinda77520
    Ocean angel July 2010 > lycanthropica
    ladyval75 > Firefly May 2010

    Is there anything that you would like your swap partner to know? I am faithful to the original trilogy. I can’t stand the prequels, and I find the Clone Wars to just not cut it. Ok, I can accept that this all happened within the same universe, but it feels more like bad fanfiction than canon.

    What # is your post in the Wish List thread? (Don’t forget to update it…) Uuuu… 277!

    Have you read and agree to abide by our rules? Do you understand that bi-weekly check-ins, thank yous, and delivery confirmation are all mandatory? Absolutelytuty!


    Who’s your favourite character? Any particular reason why? Han. He is gorgeous. Also, I love how he doesn’t take shit, and just gets things done.

    What’s your favourite planet in the SW universe? Meh. The swamp in Dagobah was pretty cool.

    What would be your dream Star Wars item to receive in this swap? (i.e. Yoda hat, blaster holster, amigurumi Anakin…) Something useful. I am about to move and can’t afford to keep decorative items. Also, Han.

    Favorite quote:
    I was thinking this before I even read McMurder’s post.
    “YOU’RE NOTHING BUT A STUCK UP, HALF WITTED SCRUFFY LOOKING NERFHERDER!”
    “Who’s Scruffy looking?”
    and
    “I love you”
    “I know…”

    Are you a die hard Original Trilogy fan, or do you enjoy the Expanded Universe? I only acknowledge the original trilogy. I have no patience for the prequels (other than their gorgeous visuals), and I especially have no desire for Clone Wars et al.

    What kind/size project bag do you want? I love bags of all sizes, and end up using them as every day purses. Anything from a wallet for notions to a backpack would be lovely ^_^

    What about cosies? Does your phone need a new sock?
    No thank you.

    Have you watched the Family Guy versions of Star Wars? Whats your thoughts on them…if you don’t have them on DVD would you like them?
    Seth Macfarlane and I just don't see eye to eye.

    Also…do you play video games? If so what system do you have and would you be interested in the Lego Star War games or any other Star War games?
    No video games for me. (though my bf has and plays them all)

    What about comic books? Yes or no?
    Meh? I'm a bit of a purist.

    What about jewelry..would you be interested in star wars themed bling?
    Ok, this would be awesome.  Just no necklaces.

    How about nail polish? I just saw some aptly named polish and thought it would fit in nicely!!Yes, please and thank you ^_^

    What color is your light saber?
    Screw light sabers. Someone get me a blaster!

    What are your thoughts on Bobble Heads or Lego collectibles?I hate them. I've had a very bad experience with a boyfriend that compulsively collects both of them. Especially Star Wars themed.

    You say you like Star Wars Jewelry, do you have a particular style of Jewelry you prefer or anything you cannot wear?
    I don’t wear necklaces, but I love anything else. I shy away from dainty things, but wouldn’t mind “statement pieces”.

    Sweater? I WOULD LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!! Nothing is too nerdy for me to wear, especially when it comes to knit goods!

    Measurements I took them last year and they are up on my blog. I have lost some weight since then, so I’ve gone from a unisex M to a busty S, and can now comfortably fit into a teen L, but everything else should be about right. I’m meaning to update my measurements one of these days, but I keep on forgetting.

    How do you like your knits? Cold or warm weather? All of the above. I live in PA and wear shawlets most year round, sometimes I’ll wear hats and I absolutely love fingerless mitts/gloves. I have items of all warmths, depending on the climate. Sox, though, need to be on the fresher side, since my feet get easily swamped.

    Do you spin? Would you rather receive roving or yarn? I wouldn’t mind either, but I’m going more through a yarn phase.

    How would you feel about roving/yarn dyed in lightsaber themed bright blue/green? I love those colors, as long as they aren’t too splotchy or the color changes too drastic. I focus on the stitches more with my knitting than the yarn.

    What weight of yarn do you prefer? Worsted, fingering, lace? “I use fingering and lace the most, but will also use worsted on occasion for winter weather knits.” This! I also tend to double up my yarn if I need anything thicker or in between, but most of my yarn is “sock”.

    I recently came across a Star Wars Cookbook. Is this something you’d be interested in?

    Sweet Han in tight pants yes! I am passionate about cooking.


    action figures (from the 70's and 80's)
    No thank you. I have no use for collectibles.