browniemommie2005

~~~~ Profile Updated 06/22/09 ~~~~

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 29 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 6 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.

CP3PO is 11 and is very much my girl. When she was younger she was very much a tomboy and only recently became a girly girl ... ... oh the joys of a pre teen. 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) She definitely still has her tomboy moments like farting and burping contests with her daddy and brother but also is a girly girl. She likes to do her nails regularly as well as dye her hair obnoxious shades and carries a purse everywhere. We just got her a prepaid Verizon Cell Phone so a phone card for Verizon is always a pleasant surprise. She enjoys a variety of things from writing (journalling / doodling / writing songs), listening to music (whatever most 11 year old girls are listening to ... ... Jonas Brothers, Camp Rock, Cheetah Girls, Miley Cirus and most current bands / singers - we allow her to listen to anything for she knows that it is self expression and nothing else), playing with barbies and dolls, 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. Her new fascination is Twilight - she is Team Edward and is has such a fascincation thagt we are redoing her bedroom and it will be black / red / white and Twilight accessories.

TDL is 5 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 Batman, Spiderman and other Super Heroes.

I am Wiccan. Although I have not found the specfic path that is right for me I do enjoy being elcentric 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 love animals but we are down to only 1 Beta Fish (Blue) - the only fish that I can actually keep alive. :0) And 4 cats ... ... there is Eeyore, Rebel, Muffin and Devil. They range in age from 5 - 17 and are like my other kids. I would be lost with out my cats just like I would be without my kids. Newest addition: 2 guinea pigs - long story but they are now living with us. Each of the kids is an "owner" but they are residing together in one cage right now - both are tan and white (but thankfully different enough that I can tell them apart) C's is Squeaky and T's is Satan.

Normally I would have no problem listing what I have my home decorated in but at this time I am not. I have been in my home for 5 years and althoug I LOVE my home and most of the styles of decorating I am getting tired and want to revamp what I have. Some of the current things are more of the main stream and I do not feel that they give off the "ME" impression any more.

So ... ... beginning January 1, 2009 I will be going room by room ... ... fixing those little things that need to be done (got to love an old house), repainting and redecorating so that when you walk into my home you know that you are in Tabitha's home and not someone else's.

The first room to get revamped will be the Cat Room ... ... yes they have their own room ... ... I began it about a year ago and it has just been in limbo ... ... but it will be done this year and will shout "ME" in it.

Will keep you posted as I get a room all done and more "ME".

~~~~~ 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 ... ... Girls Next Door ... ... Dog the Bounty Hunter ... ... CSI ... ... NCIS ... ... Law & Order ... ... Cold Case ... ... Clean House ... ... Kate plus 8 ... ... The Duggers - 19 and Counting ... ... Charmed ... ... House ... ... and reality shows like Trading Spouses ... ... Wife Swap ... ... Rock of Love ... ... Dr. Drew ... ... A shot of Love with Tia Tiquilla ... ... 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 leasgt 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. Not only do I enjoy reading these but I also read them so that I can make sure they are OK for Chy to read and it gives us something to share. Every now and then you will even catch me with a self help book. :0)

As far as writers go ... ... my favorite are Nora Roberts / J.D. Robb / Debbie Macomber / Christina Dodd / and almost all the paranormal writers I have read.

Feel free to send me books in swaps ... ... I do enjoy reading and reading new and different writers from my normal ... ... have a favorite writer - tell me about 'em and a few of the books they've written and you may have just added them to my favorites too. :0) ... ... ever in doubt about a book (if I have it or read it) just ask ... ... gently used is GREAT by me ... ... no need for a brand new one.

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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 enjoyed the process of making them but I guess I just still do not "get it".

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

• 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

• teas - prefer black or red ... ... cannot quite get the appearance of green tea down ... ... favorite flavors are by lipton, especially the red tea

• flavored hot chocolates

• Wii games (used is GREAT - maybe something that you got but do not like or are tired of) (Santa brought us a Wii for Christmas)

• DS games for CP3PO (again used is GREAT - maybe something that you are tired of or did not like)

• Leapster Cartridges - (used is GREAT) (geared for Pre K / Kindergarten and 4th / 5th grade is perfect)

• 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

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

• DIY Craft kits

• snowman anything

• Christmas Ornanments (anytime of the year these are a welcome - I put up 8 trees in our house each year)

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

• anything that is Girl Scout related ( I am a junior leader)

• 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

• items from Hot Topic / Spencers

• books - especially paranormal romances

• board games / card games ... ... any are welcome - even if we already have it, I will put it in a tub for school. My GS Troop is in hopes to start hosting game nigths at our school as a community service project to thank the school for allowing us to meet there. I have learned my lesson before in "lending" out my personal games for things like this, so am looking to start a stash of games just for this purpose. Also, beginning this fall my GS troop will be hosting a game night at the school where we met at least a few times a year as a community service project to the school for allowing us to meet there. So I will gladly accept ANY game that is appropriate for kids aged 5 - 11 (K - 5th).

• 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

• Nestle Pure Life Labels - same as Box Tops - these labels actually give us "points" that we are able to redeem for gym equipment

• empty CAPRI SUN juice pouches - we collect these for the school as well. Plus I make bags from them

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 29 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.

• candy unless it is swap specific or something that you know I will like (like the items listed in the likes - my son has peanut and tree nut allergies so we have to be very careful of what he consumes)

• 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) - I do not use make up and do not allow CP3PO to experiment with it yet

• 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 recently ... ... there are 2 reasons for that ... ...

1) I enjoy learning about others ... ...

2) I greatly enjoy swapping but do not always have the extra money to swap so by participating in Eswaps I am able to continue swapping when the funds are not there.

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.

Although I have participated in a large number of Eswaps, I also have quite a few mailing swaps under my belt. If you ever have any questions or concerns about my swapping habits please do not hesitate to ask me. I can refer you to a number of swappers that can give you a point of view on my swapping.

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 - heck yeah but only if the extras are things that I would like to receive and not things that you know were just thrown in the package to get hearts. But I also give hearts for just the swap and no extras what so ever ... ... I give hearts for swaps that you can tell the sender spent a lot of time on either to make it personal or just the quality of their work.

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. This is especially true on letters and journal swaps as well as dotees.

To Rate or Not to Rate ... ...

I try to rate my partners as soon as I receive a package. There are times that I may put it in a pile to do later but this is because I am in the middle of a project or am trying to get something done other than being online. If I have not rated you and it has been quite awhile - please pm me and jog my memory and I will rate right away. I like to be rated as I know my partners who send to me like to be rated as well.

I will not give a "1" to a partner with out exhausting communication first. I usually pm quite a few times and if I have not received the item or an answer to pms then I will rate a "1" but then and only then.

I will not give a "3" unless the swap absolutely did not meet the swap quidelines. I understand that things come up and from time to time we all may be late in sending a package. Just keep in touch with me about it and you will be rewarded the appropriate rating.

I expect the same courtesy from my partners .. ... I always send my swaps out and they usually go out far before the deadline of the swap. So please pm me if you have not received the item. Actually you will probably receive a pm from me checking on the status if I have not been rated for I like to keep up to date on my swaps.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~ TWILIGHT ~~~~~~

Well, since I am currently obsessed with Twilight and seem to be joining Twilight Themed Swaps I figured I would put this on my profile for my partners. I am Team Switzerland because I have read all the books and know that Bella is too be with Edward. With that being said you can send me anything with Edward or Jacob. I love them both. My all time favorite character is Alice - I want to be her when I finally grow up. LOL I do not really have a favorite book or movie - LOVE them all. Feel free to send me anything that you can find or craft for not only am I collecting but I am in the process of redoing my daughter's room and what else would it be but Twilight. If you have any questions - feel free to ask.

Blessed Be )O(