SweetClementine

(September 20) To those who have been kind enough to check on me in Texas to see if Hurricane Ike affected us, THANK YOU! We're inland and even the rain and winds missed us this time. We were actually scheduled for a big family vacation to Galveston (where the hurricane hit) for the weekend it hit, so the hurricane ruined our vacation. :-( But we're very thankful that we weren't there and all is safe and well with us.

To tell you a little about myself, I am a 33-year-old mom of 2 young children, married for 11 years to my best friend from high school. We met in a karate class...but that's another story! I was formerly a junior high foreign language teacher and an elementary gifted & talented specialist with a Master's Degree in Special Ed./Gifted Education. I am now enjoying staying home with my 2 kiddos (girl 3, boy 1 year). I am continuing in a volunteer position that I've held for last 7 years as an advocate for gifted children.

My home is non-smoking, but we do love animals! We have a 13-year-old Cockatiel bird, an 11-year-old kitty cat named Gypsy that I found as a stray, and we've just rescued a 2-year-old Labradoodle (Labrador Retriever/Standard Poodle). We just love him to pieces! He came with the name Tofu, but my husband wants to rename him Loki--so I'm calling him TofuLoki. :-) We really believe in giving animals another chance for a happy home; if you're looking to add a pet to your family, please consider adopting a homeless animal from a rescue group, humane society, etc. There are some great animals out there needing loving homes!

I am very intrigued by other cultures and adore swapping internationally. I hold bachelor's degrees in Spanish Language and Sociology, and I began my teaching career as a Spanish teacher; so, if you are Spanish-speaking, I am "Spanish reading"! ;-) Just go easy on me; my Spanish is getting very rusty!

I enjoy magazines, candy & snacks, fabric, children's books, and traditional crafts from ANY country outside the US. I LOVE to travel, but don't get to do nearly enough of it!

I have a very eclectic style, and there's very little that I don't like. My favorites range from 1930's reproduction fabrics to Japanese imports to shabby chic and funky & punky. The only dislikes that come to mind are overly-prissy/formal and 1980's country (apples/geese) styles.

I am quite crafty and have that internal drive to create. I'm always thinking about how something could be repurposed to make some cool new thing. I am NOT a turbo, light-speed crafter, and I'm fine with that. Creating things makes my heart sing, and I love to savor every minute of it.

The first craft I learned was cross-stitching, which I picked up in elementary school from a friend's mom. I now love sewing SIMPLE children's clothing and accessories, bags, and quilts. I also hand-felt soap and am learning how to needle-felt. I truly enjoy learning new things.

The list of what I won't listen to is shorter than the list of what I do like. I'm not a fan of rap or contemporary religious music. Other than that, it's pretty much all good! I grew up on classic country (Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, George Strait, Willy Nelson, etc.), and I love oldies like Patsy Cline (all-time favorite) and Janice Joplin. I'm just as likely, though, to be listening to opera or classical as anything else. Living near Austin, TX, the Live Music Capital of the World, I'm also a fan of some local underdogs and up-and-comings.

Prior to having children, I was an avid reader. Now it's difficult to find time to fit in anything of length. I'm still always in the middle of a book; I'm just super slow getting through one!

I most enjoy crime, mystery, and suspense novels, like Jeffery Deaver and Patricia Cornwell.

I also read cookbooks, crafty books, and magazines for a quick fix. My favorite magazines are Country Living, Cooking Light, Psychology Today,and Discover.

I also collect:

• children's books in other languages with simple words and pictures
• books of quotes and sayings (including bilingual books and Spanish-only books of proverbs)
• cool vintage classics
• copies of Shakespeare's THE TEMPEST (sentimental reasons!) in any language.

As the founder of the Edibles Group, I'm sure you'll believe that I adore receiving international foods. I will love:

• Something typical of where you live

• Something locally made

• Something edible that you have good
  memories of. Tell me a little about it!

• Edibles that I can't find in the USA

• Sweets~I just can't help myself with sweets. I love all kinds of candies, especially fruit-flavored candies, gummy candies, toffees, malted candies, white chocolate, and marzipan. But I'm NOT picky! ;-)

• I love See's peanut brittle & Awesome Peanut Brittle Candy Bars and Fannie May Trinidads. Unfortunately we don't have See's and Fanny May candies in Texas!

• Mixes (dessert, dry soup, beverages, etc.)

• Snacks appropriate for children~salty/savory or sweet

• I especially adore citrus flavors (orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit).

• We like spicy foods and spices in general.

• Things I REALLY LIKE that many people don't: coconut, nuts, peanuts, white chocolate, marzipan, dates, figs

• I cherish receiving tried and true family recipes. I have two recipe boxes, one for 3 x 5 inches/76 x 127 mm cards and one for 4 x 6 inches/102 by 152 mm.

• Local cookbooks are adored. I read them as if reading a "regular" book. :-)

Sending me a food item that I probably can't get here in Texas, USA will surely put a smile on my face!

• Reusable cloth shopping bags that I wouldn't find here in Texas, especially international ones. I most appreciate ones with wording in other languages--just something different to spice up a trip to the grocery store! ;-)

• International candy & snacks

• Children's books in foreign languages from any country (simple with pictures!)

• Locally-made items

• Anything "cultural" really~I love stuff from other places, in other languages, etc.

• Handmade things

• Fruit (especially citrus), vanilla, & coconut scents & tastes (if it's an "edible" scent, I generally like it)

• Old black & white photos--my favorites have old cars, dogs, candid children, bicycles, or holiday themes, but I like any old photos, really! I make copies for artwork and never destroy the original.

• Dragons (my son's name means "dragon")

• Copies of Shakespeare's THE TEMPEST (my daughter's middle name)in ANY language :-). We have English, German, and Greek.

• Fabric~cotton fabric, especially vintage or ethnic fabrics, 1930s/40s reproduction prints, Japanese juvenile prints, fabric from where you live (cotton preferred)

• Colors~ I'm very eclectic about color choices and there's very little I don't like. I usually choose bold, vivid colors over pastels, but yet I like the faded, vintage, shabby chic colors and style too. I probably gravitate slightly more towards blues, purples, and greens. My 3-year-old daughter, on the other hand, is NOT color eclectic. She will choose blue every time!

• Vintage embroidery/applique/quilting books & iron on transfers for embroidery

• Vintage or antique buttons

• New dishtowels representative of where you live

• Crocheted or knit dishcloths

• Making Morsbags (www.morsbags.com) reusable shopping bags~and can always use fun fabric to make more.

• Recipe cards

• Even better are recipe cards with your handwritten recipes on them!

• Squished pennies from non-USA locations

• Private swaps~Is there something you want from the US or from Texas in particular? Send me a note~I'd be glad to swap with you!

• Used (torn, stained) or out-dated items (with the exception of "vintage" stuff, which I love!)

• ATCs & matchboxes--I LOVE handmade things, but I haven't figured out what to do with these yet!

• Smoky, perfumey, or floral scents or tastes (migraines)

• Jewelry made with metals other than sterling silver or gold (metal allergies-boo!)

• Commercial characters (Disney, Winnie the Pooh, Barbie, and other cartoony characters...but I have a 3 year old that enjoys them!)

• Old-fashioned, country-styled things (apples, geese/ducks, roosters...)

• Religious propaganda (stickers, music, and other items meant to promote a particular religion), though I do like religious items if they have cultural significance. I am respectful of others' religious choices, and I hope for the same in return.

• Chocolate doesn't do too well in the Texas heat from about April-October. If you do send something chocolate during this time, please wrap it separately. White "chocolate" withstands warm temperatures better.

• Red meat...but I can't imagine you'd be thinking of sending me that! :-)

I am completely reliable with a good moral compass, and I ALWAYS send out my swaps. If you are expecting something from me and it doesn't arrive, please PM me and we'll get it worked out! Thanks!

I also always give my partners a rating no matter how small the swap--sometimes it takes a few days, but I WILL rate or send a PM/profile post. If I've missed rating you, please send me a PM so I can hop to it! I appreciate those who remember to rate me as well.