USAFwife

Updated & current as of January 22, 2021

I would rather not receive 'extras' or tuck ins, unless required by the swap. Thank you.

My family has requested I join some tea swaps - I think they're looking for something new to try. :) Please only send factory sealed tea bags. If you know where it can be bought, it would be much appreciated if you would add that. The tea drinkers in the family have no known allergies, and are willing to try anything.

Please no owls!

I am staring a "Franken-deck" of cards, and would welcome any stray standard sized playing cards, and am willing to do some private swaps for others who are creating Franken-decks of their own. Please PM me! :) (A Franken-deck is a full deck of cards with mixed up designs, styles and brands.) I am willing to do some International swaps for playing cards as well. :)

Likes Garfield!! (Been a fan since I was very little and always love to find anything Garfield themed.) Books (prefer used paper backs to new or ebooks), bookmarks, stationery items (pens, stickers, washi, paper).

images: moon & stars, rainbows, coffee themed, anything book themed. Cats over dogs, hamsters, trees, fall/autumn, sloths, giraffes, llamas, Little Golden Books, Animaniacs, Tiny Toons, and the REAL Scooby Doo (1960's & 1970's era), The Muppets & Sesame Street, Simon's cat & Ziggy. Edward Gorey & Charles Addams/The Addams Family type art work.

Fairy tales and Folklore (such as Grimm Brother's fairy tales), holidays & customs from other countries. Spiritualism, Wicca, fortune telling, Paganism are interesting themes to me, as well as Buddhism. Tarot cards & fortune telling images, (I welcome any stray Tarot cards if you have leftovers that you do not need/want/use.) Salem Witch Trials.

Tuck ins/extras: If a swap calls for extras or tuck ins, I would prefer to receive bookmarks (esp the local library type or the free promotional bookmarks that are sometimes handed out). Magnetic ones are awesome, too! Standard size playing cards, or any tarot cards Otherwise, I'd prefer not to receive extras & tuck ins I have far too many postcards and stickers! ha!

TV/movies: Supernatural, Are You Being Served?, Keeping Up Appearances, Northern Exposure, Murder She Wrote, Sherlock, Dr Who (David Tennant years), Golden Girls, Broadchurch, Poirot, Travel Channel shows with Josh Gates, Ghost Hunters & similar shows (but not Ghost Adventurers). Movies: The Mummy (1999), The Haunting (1999), 10 Things I Hate About You, Clue

Disney: Especially: Aladdin, Emperor's New Groove, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Haunted Mansion

Actors/actresses: Robert Downey Jr, Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, David Tennant, Anne Hathaway, Scarlett Johansson, Nathaniel Parker, Benedict Cumberbatch, Angela Lansbury

Music: The Monkees (since I was about 3 years old),Imagine Dragons, John Mayer, Joan Baez, Soul Asylum, Enigma, Billy Joel, Daft Punk, Bjork, Edwyn Collins, Counting Crows, Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin (yes, really. I was a fan of Menudo when he joined, so that lingers). Also 1980's & 1990's music

Comedians: Jim Gaffigan, Kathleen Madigan, John Mulaney, Mike Birbiglia, Brian Regan, Gabriel Iglesias.

Podcasts: Lore, Cabinet of Curiosities and Unobscured by Aaron Mahnke, Buddhist Boot Camp by Timber Hawkeye, History Goes Bump by Diane Student.

Dislikes

Anything with my name spelled wrong - It's CINDI, not Cindy. (This includes the envelope, please.)

Anything with cigarette smoke smell or other strong smells - it triggers migraines

Religious information - I'm cool w/ my beliefs, not interested in preaching.

Please no food items - if a swap calls for something, only a factory sealed tea bag, please.

Not a fan of 'God Bless America' themed items or flag items. Rather not receive items with scriptures or Christian themed items.

No need for planner items & stickers and would prefer not to receive extra stickers or washi unless it's a part of my likes.

Please no alcohol related items such as 'wine time' stickers or alcoholic drink recipes, martini glass stickers, etc. (I'm an Adult Child of Alcoholics, and these things are actually offensive to me.)

I've been a letter writer and a snail mailer for all of my life! I started swapping by snail mail in the late 1980's, but I wrote to family members before that. Snail mail is one of the few constants in my life. And as much as I love snail mail & swapping, - swap-bot isn't my life. It adds to my life, but my world does not revolve around it. I don't immediately reply to a PM or comment. I'd love to hear from you, feel free to send me a PM or comment on my profile. But give me a chance to reply - it might take a few days.

I'm 45 years old , married 26 years this year, a mom to 3 teens (18 & older now! - and they are finally all graduated from high school Though, they all still currently live at home.) and really am a USAF wife. (USAF = United States Air Force)

I love to hear from people in other countries or with other customs or beliefs than mine, other lifestyles. I'm LGBTQ+ friendly, and am one of the 'you're safe with me' people who still wears a safety pin.

I'm not Christian, but am 'Faithfully Religionless'. :) I have read about and participated in Wiccan celebrations, and enjoy reading about Buddhism. I sometimes miss the old traditions of the Lutheran services I used to attend, but that's not where my beliefs are.

I deal with anxiety, migraines and depression, and it sucks. I'm also an Adult Child of Alcoholics. My children have varying levels of "special needs", including anxiety, Autism spectrum, and TBI. I'm a 'caregiver' for those who need it, and it is exhausting most days. I'm not looking for drama, I have enough of it in my daily life, thanks.

We have 3 pets, all rescues that have traveled the country with us. 2 cats and a dog.

I've participated in the Write On Challenge since 2016, and have done the InCoWriMo challenge since 2019! I LOVE the USPS - yeah, they have issues, but how else can you meet the world, one little postage stamp at a time?! :) Support the USPS!!

I hate Facebook. I do have an account, and I remember to check it about once a year. I'm fully anti-social media.

Favorite Book themes: haunted houses, ghosts, mysteries. Historical fiction (esp American & Czech, pioneer America era, Salem Witch Trials, ancient Egypt), memoirs, Audiobooks, mythology and folklore.

Authors: Stephen King, Shirley Jackson, JL Bryan, Simone St James, Agatha Christie, Rick Riordan, Grimm Brother's fairy tales, mythology & folklore.

I'm a member of Good Reads, I have done the Unread Shelf Project since 2019 and am founder of 2 SB groups related to books & writing, Reading & Writing and TBR Bookshelf. I did the Popsugar Challenge in 2020 & again in 2021, and am doing the ReadChristie2021 challenge.

I rate as soon as I open the swap. If I can't rate right away, I hold off opening the mail until I can rate. I do believe in giving hearts, even for e-mail swaps. The amount of time you put in is what earns a heart, and am a believer that email swaps can earn hearts as well. All swaps are welcome for me.

If you're going to be late, just tell me. It's ok. I am more annoyed with a lack of communication than I am about being a few days late (or whatever) in sending a swap.

Holiday card swaps Prefer seasonal images to holiday related ones Peanuts/Snoopy or Dr Seuss themed holiday cards are perfectly acceptable. Anything that represents the holiday that is non-traditional is very welcomed! Example: Krampus in December, any & all Pagan/Wiccan traditions, local legends.
I'm not Christian and do not care for that type of card, but will not rate down if that's what you send.
If you hand-make cards, I am very happy to receive those in place for a store bought card. I especially love tree-free cards (Leanin' Tree makes these) or 100% recycled cards. Or any type of small-scale, independent artist, or handmade. I will always happily accept a handmade card for a swap!

I buy cards from Egg Press, Constellation & Co and also really like cards from UNICEF Hallmark & American Greetings are great, but it's nice to have a bit of variety and get some new artists some attention. :)