saintoflimes

Attention! Update: The month of June was CRAZY for me. It started with a wedding cruise in which my cousin for married, then five days after I got home my husband and I moved into our first home (in another state), my sister in law got married (we were in the wedding party), I took the teacher certification test for the state, and my car broke down. If things that I sent a few weeks ago were a little late, I'm sorry! Life happens but I did make sure to send it all when I could. Thanks :)

My name is Emily! My husband and I live in Western South Carolina with our two cats – Molly and William. I am a college graduate with a degree in Middle Grades Education, although I don't have any plans to begin my career this fall. Although I've only been on Swap-Bot for about ten weeks, I am not new to swapping. I've been collecting postcards since I was about 11 years old, and I've been apart of postcard swapping communities on Livejournal.com since I was about 15. I'm currently also sending postcards via Postcrossing.com and WallType.com. I'm mostly here to swap postcards and to meet nice people.

When it comes to music, there isn't a lot that I don't like, as long as it's not insipid pop, country, or rock music. I really like alt rock that came out of the 1960's, 70's, and 80's. I like old music – like stuff that no one remembers. I do like rap and hip hop but mostly the well known stuff from the 80's and 90's. I love 80's pop and rock. I'm starting to like some of the more “hipster” rock that's coming out lately too. If I ever need musical inspiration, I love listening to the World Café on NPR on Saturday nights. Lastly, I like “interesting” music, which ranges from funny to inappropriate to weird. Some of the musicians I like (in no particular order) are as follows:

• Depeche Mode
• Frank Sinatra
• Amy Winehouse
• The Cure
• Leonard Cohen
• Nick Cave
• PJ Harvey
• Louis Armstrong
• The Smiths
• The Velvet Underground
• Portishead
• Roy Orbison
• Queen
• Lou Reed
• Dr.Dre
• Biggie Smalls
• Snoop Dogg
• Fiona Apple
• Feist
• Peaches
• Hall & Oats
• Iggy Pop
• Adele
• Robin Thicke

Ultimately, if I can dance to it, I'll probably like it.

I like a lot of movies, but for some reason I can never think of all of them when I'm asked. It might be because at any given time I'm watching a movie, it's usually a documentary. But here are a few:

• The Great Gatsby
• Everyone Says I Love You
• Slums of Beverly Hills
• Goodfellas
• The Big Lebowski
• Who Framed Roger Rabbit
• Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
• Striptease
• The Truth About Cats and Dogs
• The Color Purple
• An Education
• About anything with Bill Murray in it....

Television shows are a WHOLE other ball game. Since I'm not working, and my husband works long shifts, I've relied on the help of Netflix Instant and Hulu+ to help my television show addiction along. These are the shows I love and/or keep up with:

• Dexter
• Big Love
• Desperate Housewives
• Tosh.0 (saw him perform Oct. 2010)
• The Daily Show
• The Colbert Report
• Californication
• Monk
• Weeds
• Nip/Tuck
• Twin Peaks
• The Office
• Eastbound and Down
• 30 Rock
• Fawlty Towers
• The Rachel Maddow Show
• Must Love Cats
• Entourage
• Glee
• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Seinfield

My senior year in college really took a toll on me in terms of crafting and hobbies. I used to scrapbook but I lost interest in it, but I know I'll get back into it one day. Whenever I have the time, I've been embroidering whimsical pictures on things like tote bags, bibs, hand towels - just simple stuff. I often browse craftgawker and get fantastic ideas but I never have the motivation to start them. Embroidery is fun, and it doesn't take a lot of craft supplies to commit to it. I've also started to learn the art of paper quilling.

Likes:

• I absolutely adore cats. Any cat that will let me pet it, I will pet it. I love cats. I have two, and if I didn't think my cat William would be scared to death of a new addition, I'd adopt more.
• I love animals in general and I'm very concerned for their welfare. If I can absolutely help it, I only use products not tested on animals. Unfortunately I have terrible asthma, so volunteering at an animal shelter isn't possible for me, but I do donate supplies for the workers to help take care of the animals.
• I adore make-up! I have spent so much money at Sephora and Ulta in the last two years it's ridiculous. I have a vanity and big draw set with all sorts of cosmetics. My favorite brands are Urban Decay, Tarte, and Lorac - all of which do not test on animals.
• I love video games, and love the PlayStation 3. This was a big selling point to my 8th graders when I began teaching, too. I love Little Big Planet, Katamari, Lego Harry Potter, and Grand Theft Auto.
• I love shopping/clothes. I began a diet in early March, and I've lost over 30 pounds, so getting to shopping for new clothes that fit, is one of the best feelings.
• I love to travel! Although I don't get to do it often because, well, my husband and I are trying to get our life started by buying a house, and me finishing school, etc. However, I'm going on a cruise on May 29th for my cousin's wedding with my mother, and we're going to Haiti, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Mexico - so I get to travel some!
• sushi
• LUSH products

Dislikes:

• Olives
• Pickles
• Religious items (although eastern symbols and figures are fine)
• Anything GOP related (sorry)
• People who say, "I hate cats!" and then proceed to tell me a story about how they grew up with a really mean cat. I've had cats for YEARS and I've never met one that was mean, unless you were mean to it first.
• Animal cruelty
• Cosmetics/Soaps tested on animals
• Parents who are inattentive to their brats

Since the majority of the swaps I will take place in will be postcard swaps, here are some types of postcards I'd like to receive:

• Postcards of actual places showing city scapes, mountains, beaches, a famous or unique building, the people that live in a particular place, etc. These places could be from absolutely anywhere!
• UNESCO sites are always a joy to receive
• Postcards of animals are great.
• Art postcards are awesome too.
• Home-made postcards are okay....If they're good quality. I can't tell you how many I've received where stuff is falling off of them. Home-made postcards of a photograph you've taken would be great, I'm mostly just referring to the "construction paper" cards.
• Also, unless the swap says that the postcards are suppose to be in an envelope, I prefer mine written on and stamped. The "worn" traveled look of postcards is part of what makes them special to me.

If I take part in a Type 3 swap, and you are feeling generous and want to send me something else, I would love:

• embroidery patterns
• cross stitch patterns
• ATCs
• Toys for my cats
• Postcards not written on, for me to collect or send.
• Book marks
• Tote bags
• Take-out menus from a restaurant near you (I've never gotten an international one, but I'd love to!)

I've been on Swap-Bot for only five weeks now, and have already received two "catty" messaged from different users either accusing me of something or another and giving me "ultimatums". If I signed up for a swap, you better believe that I sent it.

I also understand that life happens, and if you get behind on a swap and you have to send it a few days late, no biggie! If you have time just shoot me a message and let me know. I promise I will not be rude, catty, or condescending to you in my response. I would only expect the same kindness if it were me who needed some extra time.

I will not be posting a list on my profile of people who flake on me, because that just....takes up too much of my time, and it's ultimately futile. I will give 3's and 1's, but only if I haven't heard from you.

I promise I will rate ASAP.