AlyssaYFTM

5/10/2018- This is the busy season for the non-profit I help run, so I am taking a little break from Swap-bot to be sure I don't miss a swap in the mix of everything. Please email me if you didn't get a swap from me. I'll try to check my messages here, but email will be a faster way to let me know.

I am mom of a fun two-year old little boy. I stay at home with him and love seeing all of the new things he learns each day. I was an orchestra director and percussion teacher, and sometimes I miss teaching in the classroom, but teaching my kiddo at home is pretty great. I still get to teach percussion at a local high school for an extra curricular activity (WGI), so that keeps my teaching chops up.

I also help run a non-profit youth performing arts organization with my husband. We are band nerds for life.

I am newer to swap-bot, but I have no intention of flaking. My post office lost 3 of my first 9 packages, so please let me know if you didn't receive my swap and I will resend asap. Also, I sit a rate my mail at the end of each day. If I haven't given a rating, it means I haven't received anything, yet. I appreciate being rated on my swaps when you receive it (especially packages) just so I know you got it.

John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Jamie Cullum, Justin Timberlake, Glenn Miller, Claude Debussy, Franz Liszt, Shostakovich. I tend to find an album I like and listen to it until I don't want to listen to it for a very long time. I'll typically give everything a listen at least once.

I love to craft. Crochet is my medium of choice most of the time, but I dabble in most of the craft world. One of my favorite crochet activities is yarnbombing. I use acrylic yarn most often because it holds up well, comes in a million colors, and I don't trust myself to make something that fits or looks good with more expensive yarn. haha

I have quite a collection of fat quarters that I have grand schemes of doing colorful quilts of, but they currently sit in a bookshelf.

I am just starting to do watercolor, and I find it really relaxing.

I also like adult coloring books.

To be honest, I don't sit down to read all that much. I probably should, but if I am sitting, I am either crocheting or cuddling with my husband or kiddo. However, I am a fan of all of Emily Giffin's books. "Something Borrowed" is a nice, easy read.

This is Us, Big Bang Theory, Gilmore Girls, Chicago Med, 9-1-1, Parks and Rec, New Girl As far as Netflix shows go, I loved The OA and can't wait for season 2. I hop around quite a bit on genre, but I recently finished and enjoyed Nurse Jackie, Parenthood, Hart of Dixie, Rita, and The Great British Bake-Off.

I love blue, more specifically the color as the sun goes down and there is a tinge of green in the blue. The closest color I can think of is Cerulean in a crayola box. When I craft, I tend to use colors on the cool side of the spectrum. I'll throw in some warm colors for a quick contrast. I really like greys mixed with any color. I also like neon colors, pinks, and any fun variegated colors.

-I really would enjoy most anything. Handmade or colored instead of store-bought postcards are okay with me (even if it goes against the swap rules). Send something that makes you smile while you send it, And I bet I will like it. Below are a list of favorites, but don't feel like you have to send only things related to this to get hearts. I appreciate anything.

-Buttons- vintage, fun colors/patterns, or textured are great.

-Ric-rac, lace, fat quarters, felt, or other fun fabric items

-Yarn- I can put to use any kind

-Adult coloring books, pages, postcards

-Postcards- anything really. But I enjoy postcards with a recipe from the area, flag or maps, pictures of sunsets/sunrises, the ocean, mountains. Touristy is just fine too. :)

-Chocolate- I have yet to find a kind I won't eat, but the super dark (60% plus) aren't my favorite. I tell myself the antioxidants are worth it.

-stickers- any kind- My kiddo loves stickers and we use them almost everyday.

-Cats- I have 2, and stuff with cats in it is fun

-Dinosaurs, flamingos, cactus, they just make me smile

-Music related anything-I teach music, so things with music notes and clefs are always fun to see.

-Flowers- I love daisies and peonies.

-Squished pennies

-Fun socks- especially with funny animals on them.

Dislikes- I don't drink coffee or tea (I do like hot chocolate). Black liquorice. Cinnamon (it gives me headaches). Spiders. (Other bugs are okay)