browniemommie2005

~~~~ Profile Updated 04/25/12 ~~~~

Member since January 2008

My page is a work in progress ... ... when I joined I just put up the basic stuff but have learned that I really did need MUCH MUCH more detail. So I am updating and will be updating as I think of other things.

Hi, I am Tabitha a 32 year young mom who loves life and all that it has to offer me. I am still struggling to find my place in this world and claim the part that was meant for just ME!!!!!

I am from MD - born and raised although for the last 9 years I have been a transplant on the Eastern Shore. I love being on the Eastern Shore but do miss the season changes of Western MD. I am a half hour away from the beach so if you can not reach me it is a good assumption that I am at the beach with the kids.

I have been happily married to my knight in shining armor since 1998. We met in a bar and although could not have cared less about the other ... ... fate had it's own idea and played a heavy hand. Sure there are days that I would like to do him bodily harm but I love him and know that there is no one else out there for me and me alone.

I am more of a rebel now than when I was a teenager. My mom laughs because as a kid I always was on the straight path and did what was expected of me. Now that I am an adult, wife and mom I like to be my own person and do what I like whether or not it is what is expected of me. I have died my hair funky colors ... ... wear more funky jewlery now (things like Hot Topic would sale) and like to have a uniquess about the way that I dress.

I am a smoker but try my hardest to make sure my swaps do not smell of smoke. I only smoke in one room of my house and rarely craft or assemble swaps in there. Should I suspect that there may even be a trace of smoke and have read your profile and noticed that a) you or a family member are allergic or b) find the smell of smoke offensive I will put in a dryer sheet with the swap to deter the smoke smell.

I am a s@hm to my wonderful children, CP3PO and TDL. There are my life and everything that I do I do to benefit them in one way or another.

I am Wiccan. Although I have not found the specfic path that is right for me I do enjoy being eccentric and fumbling my way through. I was baptised Lutheran when I was an infant but I did not have much of a religous background growing up. As I became an adult I struggled even more with the Church and finally one day stumbled into a New Age shop. I fell in love immeadiately and knew that this was the path I was to be on. I am a firm beleiver that in all lives ... ... past, present and future I will come to Wicca at some point for it truely is in my blood. I have fumbled my way through for the last 5+ years but have recently made the decision that I need to become more focused in my path and am going to get back on track with all of that.

We are an animal loving family. Thankfully hubby is not as keen on them or I probably would own a zoo in the city because I have such a hard time telling the kids no about animals coming in the house. Hubby is definitely the enforcer here.

~~~~~ LISTENING TO ~~~~~

I love most any types of music. I do not listen to only one specific genre. If you pull up the music on my computer (or MP3 player for that matter) you will come across anything from country, hip hop, r&b, rap, 50's & 60's, dance, rock, hard rock, celtic and even kid stuff (Jonas Brothers / Hannah Montana / Miley Cyrus / Cheeta Girls / and young stuff like they put on in elementary school) .

I have always been like this and enjoy a large variety of music ... ... the only music that I absolutely can not stand is Jazz and Blue Grass ... ... other than that the rest is all fair game. It has never mattered what genere the music is - if it has a decent sound / beat then it will be something that I will listen to.

~~~~~ WATCHING ~~~~

Our TV is on almost all day long. Once the kids leave for school I usually leave it on so that I have background noise while I am on the computer, cleaning, and crafting.

Of course we watch an awful lot of Disney / Nickeloden / Cartoon Network having 2 kids. For the most part I do enjoy watching these shows with my children ... ... sometimes enough is enough and I will ban Cartoon & the like for the day, usually when we are watching the SAME Hannah Montana / Suite Life for the 12th time. You can only take so much of that. (Thankfully we now have digital so it is not quite as bad this summer but still)

When I get control of the remote I enjoy watching ... ... Dog the Bounty Hunter ... ... CSI ... ... NCIS ... ... Law & Order ... ... Cold Case ... ... Clean House ... ... The Duggers - 19 and Counting ... ... Charmed ... ... House ... ... and reality shows like Trading Spouses ... ... Wife Swap ... ... also enjoy watching the FOOD network - especially the competitions like the cakes and such.

Movies - I enjoy comedies and chic flicks but because of having kids and putting them first I usually see "my" movies way after they come out as we have to see the kid movies first. :0) If it is really a movie I want to see I will rent it and we will watch a "new" kid movie and then mine. :0)

~~~~~ READING ~~~~~

I LOVE to read. I could not begin to tell you how many books I read in a year ... ... it honestly depends on whether or not I am in a reading mood and am reading a book a day or have too much on my plate and no time to pick up a book for a few weeks. I do try to at least read a few pages every night when I am in bed but some nights I am just too tired.

I mostly enjoy reading romances, especially paranormal romances. I have also read the Harry Potter Books (LOVED them all), The Twilight Saga (AWESOME), House of Night Series (WOW), Sookie Stackhouse Series (FABULOUS), Amish themed books, and anything Wiccan / Pagan related that I can get my hands on. I also will read teen books. Every now and then you will even catch me with a self help book. :0)

Of course there are a few writers that I tend to lean towards but it is because I enjoy their writing and pulling a story together. With that said, I am always open to suggestions of new authors.

CP3PO is 13 and is very much my girl. We have only one bathroom and if you are not in there before she gets in there you are out of luck for at least a half hour. :0) Oh the joys of raising a teenager. She definitely still has her tomboy moments like farting and burping contests with her daddy and brother. She likes to do her nails regularly as well as dye her hair obnoxious shades and carries a purse everywhere. She enjoys a variety of things from writing (journalling / doodling / writing songs), listening to music (we allow her to listen to anything for she knows that it is self expression and nothing else), and even crafts (perler beads / knitting / crocheting / sewing / making bookmarks / jewlery / any sort of craft kit). She is a very happy child and enjoys life and what it has to offer as well. She is also on an All Star Cheerleading Squad (Competitive Cheering) and loves that. Being a teenager she has a cell phone and an iPod touch but as any decent parent knows there are rules to their usage and I am a strict enforcer.

TDL is 8 and is ALL boy. He keeps me on my toes 24/7 with his antics. When he is quiet that is the most worrisome because you know that he is into something that he should not be. Being ALL boy he enjoys trucks, cars, tools, anything to do with police, firetrucks and ambulances as well as the normal Super Heroes. He has a number of allergies (including foods and seasonal) and was diagnosed with ADHD last year. He is not medicated as I hate when medications take away the innocence of the child so we are trying different things before we consider medications. If you have any ideas please share them. I am always willing to try something new to see if it will not only help him but also the family. He is also on an All Star Cheer Squad - he has done well but has not had a coach that knows or is willing to work with him and his disabilities. I honestly do not know if we will continue with cheer next year or will be trying out Hip Hop Dance.

Crafts ... well I grew up surrounded by crafts and try to craft something on a regular basis. I do a lot of sewing ... making my own purses ... morse bags ... and even crafts ... make ornaments ... some jewlery ... bookmarks ... journals ... envelopes ... ... and so much more.

If I see something and it interests me I will give it a try at least once. That may be the only time but I will give it a try at least once. Sometimes I will not do it again because a) I did not like the process of the craft or b) I did not like the results of the craft.

I am wanting to learn knitting and crocheting but have not had the oppurtunity (more like time) to teach myself the fundamentals.

Dotees ... ... I have just recently gotten on the Dotee ban wagon and I LOVE making these little deligths. I am still a novice and am learning so any pointers are greatly appreciated. I have tried some of the online resources given here and most of the time I either can not view the page because it is gone or it takes to long to load on my computer and I close it down.

ATC's - I have just begun making these ... ... I have not quite yet decided if they are something for me or not ... ... I do enjoy the process of making them

Yes, please send me any of the following items ... ... ...

• journals (blank / filled with your stuff / whatever - I LOVE journals)

• gel pens - any colors - I love writing with gel pens over the boring ole' black pens

• anything handmade (I am a crafter and love seeing someone else's work)

• stationary - any and all - I am a stationary freak - I have received some great "dark" stationary and have to say that by far that is some of my favorite but for the most part I love stationary

• ANYTHING Wiccan / Pagan related (includes but is not limited to ... ... crystals / stones ... handmade BOS pages {8x8 scrapbook size preferably} ... Goddess Dolls ... Alter Items ... Incense ... Cauldrons ...

• Prayer Beads - these are a new fascination of my and I am loving the different ones and collecting them

• Stickers - any and all for I use them in decorating my journaling (prefer no teacher types)

• Notecards / Memo Sheets (having 2 kids in school these are great to send notes in to the teachers with)

• Recipes (prefer tried and true but send me anything that you find interesting - NO NUTS please) - ecspecailly Crock Pot Recipes or "cool" recipes for summer cooking

• anything Fairies - I love fairies and am actually going to be using my collection in the redecorating

• gargoyles - love these creatures

• dotee dolls - I would love to give your creation a home :0)

• dotee making supplies (ribbon / buttons / yarn / fabric)

• candles - prefer scents like vanilla, cinnamon, melons, ocean, clean cotton, pumpkin spice

• crayons / colored pencils / markers ( I am a Crayola snob)

• sharpies / BIC mark it's - all colors loved I am always using these and am in need of new ones

• fabric (any and all - I am NOT a fabric snob and will find something to use it for)

• any and all craft supplies are welcome

• reuseable shopping bags / morsebags

• "green tips"

• Twix Bars / Reese Cups / Reese Pieces / Whatamacalit bars / Skittles / Starbursts

• skulls (this is a new fascination of mine - I have fallen in love with skulls and pink skulls)

• DIY Craft kits

• anything that is in honor of Breast Cancer - LOVE the pink ribbon items and it is in honor of my grandmother

• organization tips and tricks (always looking for ways to get better organized)

• purses / totes / etc ( I am the BAG LADY - the bigger and more unique the better - you know something that no one else will have anything like it)

• fingerless gloves

• Play Boy Bunny Items

• books - especially paranormal romances

• ANYTHING Halloween related ~ and I do mean ANYTHING!!!!! I absolutely love halloween and enjoy decorating my home for the month of October (heck most of the time it stays up until I am ready to decorate for Christmas. LOL) Recipes, crafts, decorations ~ I will take ANYTHING you want to part with.

• Pagan / Wiccan themed rubber stamps ~ would LOVE a pentacle / pentagram rubber stamp

• Candy Molds (especailly Pagan / Wiccan themed or anything unusual - I make paper ornaments with these)

• 12x12 scrapbooking paper - I use to make my envies

• BOX TOP LABELS - if you are not collecting for a school near you, please collect and send them to me for my kids school - we spend the money raised to help the teachers with any projects they need

Please do not send me any of the following ... ... ...

• ANYTHING religious unless it is of the Wiccan / Pagan path

• COFFEE - I detest the stuff

• fb's / slams / decos / and the likes - used to do them but no more

• anything of a childish demeanor unless it is specifically for my kids (I am 32 and find it offensive)

• anything that grows - ya know the stuff that you put in water and it grows ... ... the kids may find them "neat" but I find them disgusting

• anything torn or dirty

• anything consisting of nudity unless it is specifically for a swap ~ I do not find nudity or adult theme offensive persay but I do open my swaps in front of my children ~ so with that said PLEASE mark the outside somehow to let me know not to open the swap in front of my kids ~ the group name or even swap name in red ~ just something so that I know to wait and open when they are in bed or at school.

• useless kitchen gadgets ... ... I am not someone that enjoys these things - to me I would rather have one item of excellent quality that does alot of different jobs in the kitchen than a tool for each job

• make up of any sort (unless swap specific)

• earrings - I have allergies to some of the metals and have to be very selective when purchasing earrings

• any jewlery really unless you know me or it is swap specific ... ... I do not wear many necklaces because I rarely take off my pentagram ... ... earrings I have already stated the issues ... ... brooches - they just are not me

• ANYTHING lavendar scented - I cannot stand the smell

• hair clips / barrettes / scunchies - basically anything that you would use in your hair ... ... most of the year my hair is short and spikey and when it is not (when I am too cheap or too busy to get it cut) I only use certain things

You may notice that I have participated in a number of Eswaps ... ... there is 1 main reason for that ... ...

1) I enjoy learning about others ... ... I feel that usually esawps can get a bit more personal because they consist of goofy questions that usually no one would even consider putting in a letter, etc.

Also, if you check out my ratings you will see that I have received hearts for a number of my eswaps. I am as proud of those hearts as I am of my hearts for other swaps ... ... even though it is an eswap I always try and go above and beyond the requirements so I received those hearts becasue the givers agreeed that my swap went above and beyond.

My CURRENT "1"s & "3"s ... ... Approximately 2 years ago I left Swap-Bot urgently... my grandmother had passed away the year before and I had allowed the pain and all that came afterwards to just pile up inside and then finally broke. It was not a pretty time for me while I was questioning myself and my reason for existence - to say that I was suffering from depression is an understatement. I hit the bottom of the black hole and have just recently risen to the top again. Needless to say my abrupt leaving left me with "1"s piling up. When I returned in March 2012 I began to make contact with all those partners that I had so rudely left with out a proper swap from me. Some of those partners have been very nice about letting me correct my wrong doings - some feel that I am only after a rating change (which is not so - I just want to make right what I had done) and unfortunately some have taken a hiatus from Swap-Bot and I am not able to reach them to get their address and make it right. This is why I have quite a few "1"s and am getting "3"s recently. I am not a flaker - just a human that life got in the way for during a time being. I do understand my ratings and hope that Hostesses take in to account my previous swapping history before life took over.

I am a huge heart giver ... ... but I do not just give hearts for extras, especially what I consider senceless extras.

You will get a heart from me if when I open the package I go WOW - what an awesome swap. Does this include extras sent - NO it doesn't. I do not rate on extras that were included in the package. I only rate on the swap its self - I will give a hear when you can tell that the sender spent a little extra time on it and did not just do the minimum required of the swap.

When I am preparing a swap I take a great deal of time to put it together. There are times that I send extras but I try to make those extras something my partners would like to receive. I also put myself into a swap ... ... this means that even if I have not sent any extras I have spent a good bit of time on the swap it's self and have not just thrown it together but have put my heart and soul into it.

Blessed Be )0(