BrandiAM

Originally from Arizona, I recently moved to southwest Virginia. I like traveling, watching movies, roller derby, reading, cooking and baking, and knitting. I tried to learn how to crochet, but it didn't quite work out. :)

I'm shocked that my daughter is turning two very soon. I heard about this site from a friend who has been participating for awhile.

I like a lot of stuff, but I love 80s stuff. My favorite bands, unlikely as it seems that I may like them both, are New Kids on the Block and the Cure. :D I also love Depeche Mode.

Really, though, I love discovering new music. Generally speaking, I don't like country. I like a bit of everything else, though, including J-Pop.

As for newer stuff, I like the Killers, Coldplay, Metro Station, Bruno Mars, Pink's newer stuff....

Among my top 20 (in no particular order):

(the original) Willy Wonka, Father Goose, Father of the Bride, Gone With the Wind, Labyrinth, Atonement, Wanted, Ironman, Enchanted, Clueless (blush), Penelope, Clash of the Titans (original), The Princess Bride, The Last Unicorn, A Life Less Ordinary, Donnie Darko

Recent likes, even if not in my Top 20: Twilight series, Sex & the City 2, Ironman 2, Despicable Me...

The Office (both UK and U.S.A), Fraggle Rock, Arrested Development, Queer As Folk (UK), The Biggest Loser (I know, I know...), Smallville, almost anything on the Food Network, but especially Throwdown w/Bobby Flay, Good Eats, & Iron Chef

I love all handmade things, but as for those I do myself, I knit (although I've been knitting off and on for about six years now, I'm still not great and still have to follow a pattern), and I am learning to crochet, and that's about it. I wish I knew how to sew, but alas, I'll learn at some point, but don't have time now.

I love glass, as in blown glass beads or glasses.

I also like bags. I'm currently trying to knit my first bag, so wish me luck with that!

Colors: Burgandy, purple, pink... black combined with any of the former

Weather: sunny and warm!

Number: 6

Blogs: food-related blogs

Animals: sharks, whales, dolphins, koalas

Flower: cherry blossom (sakura)

Drinks: hot chocolate or hot cocoa (but not any with fruit flavors, such as "orange chocolate," or the like), teas (esp. different varieties of chai & other black teas)

I lived in Japan for 3 years, so I love Japanese or Japan-inspired things.

Japanese characters: Hello Kitty and Domo-kun. Doraemon and Anpanman are cute, too.

I also lived in Britain for a while, so I love British things, esp. British chocolates and teas.

Scents: vanilla, honey, honeysuckle, cherry blossom, lavender, cotton blossom, fresh linen... and many more

Mythological creatures: fairies, unicorns...

Comic book: Sandman, but also like Spiderman & Daredevil a lot, too

Snacks: dark chocolate, sunflower seeds, dark chocolate, cookies, dark chocolate, chips, dark chocolate, fruit, chocolate & caramel, etc.

Socks: all, but especially funky knee socks, fluffy/soft socks, and toe socks. :)

Coupons: groceries, cleaning products, or anything baby-related. Just to note: I generally don't buy a lot of processed foods, like boxed foods, store-bought cookies (except Oreos are one exception because I just can't resist), canned food (except for tomato sauce and stuff), etc. I do, however, occasionally buy frozen pizza.

Band: New Kids on the Block --> over the past few years, I've enjoyed (re)going to many of their concerts, including Joe McIntyre's solo (w/Eman) shows. There's a certain kind of happiness that comes from reliving the joys brought back from my teen years...

I read a lot, from Spenser's Faerie Queene to current trash pop novels.

On the fun side, I love the Twilight series, Harry Potter series, any book by Neil Gaiman (well, not American Gods), and almost any book by Nick Hornby. I used to like Irvine Welsh, until I realized how disturbing some of the (unnecessary) violence in his novels is.

Generally speaking, I like fantasy, young adult, quirky (and admittedly cheesy) books written for women, but not romance novels

Do NOT like:

Coffee,

artificial sweeteners,

cats,

smoke,

almost any type of nut,

orange/chocolate combos,

pretzels,

peanut butter...