SJ1

If for any reason you are ever unhappy with your swap from me, or an item is not received, please message me before rating, and we will always find a solution.

Hello, I am so glad you stumbled across my humble little abode here on swap-bot. My name is Serena. I am a 32 year old American expat living in Germany since 2008. I am married and have 2 little boys ages 4 and 6.

I guess if you made it thus far you probably want to know a bit more about me. Well lets see, I am originally from Portland, Oregon. So by nature I am a bit eclectic. I enjoy nature, history, arts, journaling, planning in my erin condren, crochet, reading, watching films and documentaries.

In general I am very kind, open minded, playful, like to think I have a good sense of humor. I am pretty easy to get along with and pretty hard to offend.

All of my swaps and penpals are prepared with lots of love and mindfulness put into them, I expect the same in return and place a very high value on follow through, people who don't ruin the fun for everyone.

If there is anything else you would like to know about me, do not hesitate to ask.

Please note mail coming from me ships from Germany. International mail can take longer.

Please note on anything larger than an envelope from outside the European Union you will need to fill out a customs form. Please be sure and mark gift, as swaps are a gift and not a purchase.

The following items cannot be shipped to Germany:

• Anything containing meat in any form

• fresh dairy products such as cheese items

• fresh plant products or mushroom

• consumable dietary supplements

• Any medications

• Copyrighted materials like burned cds or dvds

• Adult content, alcohol, cigarettes, weapons, drugs, anything illegal or endangered please do not send

Finished food items containing dairy are fine, as are commercial spices for cooking, body care, essential oils, cosmetics, etc.

Direct Shipping If you would like to save time or postage you are welcome to use either of my linked wish lists. You can log into Amazon.de with your normal American log in it is all connected, and there is an English option as well.

• Colors: So lets talk color, really I like everything except neon colors and super duper pastel girlie patterns.

• Tea: Thus far my only dislikes have been strongly vanilla, licorice, or sage flavors.

• Smells: floral (exception lavender), Rose, vanilla (ok in mixes but no stand alone), patchouli, musks. I prefer natural scents strong synthetics especially cheap ones give me migraines. Drug store is usually totally fine, I mean like cheapo gift sets.

• Books: Not a fan of harlequin style romance, now I will read a good love story but if the text includes the word bosoms, probably not for me. Additionally I am not a fan of political or heavily religious themes. I welcome historical but preferably not war history. Please reference my goodreads for ideas.

• Craft supplies: I have bad experience with self inking stamps.

• Food and treats: No bitter chocolate please. For safety reasons please only send food sealed and within usage dates.

Makeup and personal care: Nothing too bold, no red or brights, I am more neutral. Please no nail polish or files, I cannot wear it in my profession. Please only new on any cosmetic items.

I enjoy a wide range of music. At the moment I am really enjoying hozeir, sorley, blutengel, faun.

I tend to be very fond of classics from patsy klein and elvis, to motown, joplin/frampton/floyd/king, 80's. As far as modern music I do like a lot of gothic synthipop (vnv nation, cruxshadows etc), as well as folk rock. Remember I told you eclectic. I also like some mainstream music as mentioned above, not so much modern pop and rap, its really hit or miss but I will listen to anything once.

I am always open to suggestions.

I love reading it is one of my main hobbies.

I really enjoy dystopian series I have read hunger games, life as we know it, divergent. I also enjoy horror.

I also like to read nonfiction, especially about history .I enjoyed the call the midwife series.

I tend to also like self help topics especially pertaining to wellness, mindfulness.

I like to get my hand on bestsellers.

I will add a link to my goodreads which shows books read as well as wishlist. When in doubt I can always use American amazon giftcards my kindle is linked to my american amazon :)

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/41049754-serena

I really enjoy watching documentary like tv series on netflix like mystery at the museum, walking dead, the last ship, jane the virgin, The mentalist, call the midwife, american pickers, ancient aliens, storage wars, etc.

I have also watched the series breaking bad, bates motel, x files. I have been recently watching american horror story, pretty little liars, call the midwife.

As far as movies I generally do not watch movies multiple times unless my kids want to torture me with Baymax. I enjoy horror, thriller, comedy, historical fiction.

I am starting to find my creative self right now I am enjoying the following:

• Planning in my erin condren

• Collaging

• Creative journaling and listing

• Crochet

• Pocket letters/ happy mail

Here are some various things I like

• Dia de los Muertos / sugar skulls

• Lotus flowers

• South American and native american items, especially colorful items

• Owls

• matryoshka dolls

• Japanese/ zen imagery, buddhism

• Nature themes

• Butterflies

• Purple, teal, colorful mixes of color

I enjoy surprises, but here are a few ideas to get you started.

• Amazon gift cards for the US for kindle books, I welcome freebie codes from swagbucks :)

• I really love interactive mail like filled out journals, flipbooks, pocket letters

• tea (including loose leaf)

• Stationary

• Decorative paper die cuts, or euphemera

• Washi tapes, rolls or samples

• Handmade items- see my pinterest wish list for ideas I have some patterns of items I soo badly wish someone could make for me

• Birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, or Stocking stuffers for me or my boys

• Stamps and stencils, especially happy mail or planner themed

• Stickers store bought or handmade

• Snacks from around the world- I like sweet, salty savory, spicy.

• Erin condren/ bullet /Travelors journal accessories

• Cds from musicians I like

• Items from my wishlists

• Books from my good reads or related

• Chocolate (favorites- chocri bars, Tonys chocolonly, reeces pieces and peanut butter cups especially holiday shapes)

1. Hoodie pull on size xl with design
2. Breath be free washi set from Michaels
3. Planner stamps or Stickers
4. Book what I ate in 80 days by Peter metzel
5. Van Gogh starry night washi
6. Bullet Journal stencil
7. Ancient Aliens Season 2 Region europe
8. Tim holz oddities rubber stamp set
9. Cloth pads
10. Colored sharpies