I am a forty-something mom of two tween/teens and two rescue pups. I am coming back to swap-bot after some time away, remembering how much I love the creativity and joy that I found here in the past. When I'm not doing my day job or tending to my family, I'm practicing my kitchen witchery, playing in my garden, reading a good book or on the yoga mat. I dabble in art journaling, though it's mostly aspirational.

I'm very easy-going and excited to be swapping! I aspire to creating beautiful and/or fun mail art. I am practicing doing a little bit each time and risking total goofiness as I learn.

I also love to write letters and came to swapbot mainly by searching for penpal opportunities. I'm open to penpals if you're interested!

My kitchen and garden are some of my favorite crafts. I love seasonal projects and home remedies as well as delicious food that I can share with others.

I keep an art journal that I play in when I can with ephemera, paints, washi tape and other supplies. I'm expanding into smash-style scrapbooking to just get more memories on to paper and do something with all the bits of paper I keep.

What I truly do most is doodle. I'd love to learn hand lettering, so play with that a very little bit when I can. To that end, I am obsessed with pens and paper and notebooks.

I read pretty much everything I can get my hands on. Fiction, from light to intense, young adult, literary, fantasy, chick-lit, mystery (suspense or cozy). Non-fiction, inspirational or historical or personal development or creativity/productivity-oriented.

Recent favorite reads include Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid and the All Souls series by Deborah Harkness.

Most favorite authors/series include Margaret Atwood, Jasper Fforde (especially Thursday Next series), Brene Brown, Harry Potter series, Practical Magic series, Fourth Wing series

I'm a tea drinker (but not coffee at all, for some reason). Also a wine drinker, when I drink.

I love chocolate. My favorite foods are cucumbers and avocados. I'm like a kid about peanut butter and jelly.

(I'm allergic to almonds and sensitive to gluten.)

My favorite colors are purple, green and gray, though my house is mostly blue and white. I love the ocean and lighthouses. My not-so-secret dream is to live in one someday.

I have a thing for turtles. And elephants. And stars.

Other interests:

• yoga

• anything rose gold or other metallics

• most spirituality-related anything including buddhism, meditation, goddesses, angels, magic, oracle cards, gemstones

• painted toenails

• coloring books

• notebooks of any kind

• postcards

• recipes

• ephemera or junk journal items

My planner and journal is currently a Hobonichi Cousin. I also keep a bullet journal for work - I'm working through my notebook stash, so whatever notebook is next. For 2027, I'm leaning into Makse planners with a daily notebook on the side.

I love washi tape and beautiful pens (currently American Craft writers, Papermate Flair and sharpies, but I try anything).

I also love stickers and embellishments of all kinds.