breathingoxygen

I am currently an inactive swapper. I've unenrolled from groups and am taking a break. If/when I return, I will join back up. Thanks to my previous partners for some really excellent swaps!

I am a mother, to a little bundle of 5 year old joy named Nora. I am married to Aaron, a fellow writer and educator, and we've been together 19 years (11 married). Funny note - DH made me an awesome pocket letter to celebrate our 10 year anniversary last year. Great minds think alike - I made him one too. :)

I am a poet, writer, art journaler/photographer and all around creative, when I have the time. And I make time, every morning at 5 AM, 365 days/year.

In my professional life, I am an educator who works in higher education. I try to blend my creative side with my work side, by using my poet's eye to create and sustain programming for college students.

I currently live in Southern Wisconsin, but I have lived (in order): Los Angeles, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Southern Wisconsin, suburban Chicago, IL; Minneapolis, MN (again), and now a small town south of Madison (again). My heart belongs in Minneapolis, where I've lived for the majority of my life.

I enjoy art journaling, mixed media, and collaging. I enjoy painting with watercolors, acrylic (craft paints), collaging my poems into my pages, using some ephermera, using watercolor pencils, and doodling with ink pens. I also completed the Index Card a Day Challenge two years in a row - 61 index cards in 61 days! (I'm currently doing year 3!)

Since joining Swapbot, I've discovered creating ATCs, Chunky Pages, handmade PCs and greeting cards, pocket letters, and other handmade paper crafts. These are my primary swapping choices.

I am a very novice photographer, but I only use my (pretty decent) cell phone camera for pictures. I love taking selfies and documenting the day-to-day of my life on Instagram. Please note that my Instagram does contain spoilers of works in progress, including swaps.

My first love is poetry and I love writing form poems, found poems, and experimental poetry forms...when I have the time and mental space.

I love folk music, women vocalists, and some punk. My current favorites are: Ani DiFranco (always), Amanda Palmer, Mason Jennings, Greg Brown, Mumford & Sons, Regina Spektor, Glen Hansard, Bob Dylan, The White Stripes, Jason Webley, and Le Tigre. I am also obsessed with Lin-Manuel Miranda, so I have been playing Hamilton, Hamilton Mixtape, and Moana soundtracks non-stop.

I am an avid reader and I read everything, both high & low. For poetry, I love: Matthea Harvey, Rita Dove, Patricia Smith, Elizabeth Bishop, Emily Dickinson, the Beat poets, Kevin Young, and Gertrude Stein.

For popular fiction, I am a huge nerd. I mostly read urban fantasy/young adult fantasy (think Dresden Files or Hunger Games) and I spent over 2 years finishing the Song of Ice and Fire series. But I also like literary fiction and nonfiction. My favorite non-nerd novel of last year was The Circle by Dave Eggers and I'm a sucker for memoirs of artists, like Memoirs of a Beatnik by Diane DiPrima or Patti Smith's memoir.

I barely have the time for TV anymore, but I like some nerdy shows and a lot of HBO/Showtime/AMC/Netflix originals. Current favorites are: Game of Thrones (but I'm a season behind), Breaking Bad (RIP), Parks & Rec, Castle, Scandal, How to Get Away With Murder, House of Cards, and Orange is the New Black.

• Ephemera (book pages, postcards, instruction manuals, maps, diagrams, illustrations)
• Collaged magazine art, especially ones that deconstruct media and/or political messages.
• Political art from all eras, but especially propaganda style.
• Watercolors
• Doodles/drawings/line art, including zentagle style and mandalas
• Indie comics, like autobiography in panels
• Colors: Blues, greens, white, black, silver, deep reds - anything dramatic
• Foods/recipes: Most foods, especially healthy "real food" (organic, unprocessed) recipes and ideas. But I also have a sweet tooth. :)
• Favorite quotes, personal messages.

I am not very sentimental, even though some of my interests and roles (poets & poetry, motherhood) would seem otherwise. For example, I prefer hard hitting poetry rather than flowery language. I prefer real stories about the joys and struggles of motherhood.

I am not into super feminine design - more clean lines than lace, if that makes sense.

I am spiritual, but not religious, so I would prefer no quotes/materials that are Judeo-Christian in nature (respectfully). I am totally with fine with ecumenical inspirational quotes and materials, materials that promote mindfulness or kindness, and pagan/nature-honoring themes.

On the political side, I am a strong liberal feminist. So, I appreciate quotes and materials that promote equal rights, feminist theory, intersectionality, LGBTQIA issues, etc. Respectfully, please do not send Republican or right-wing materials. I've never had this happen, but I thought I'd just put it out there. :)

Finally, I am not a sticker collector. If I do receive them, I pass them along to my daughter. However, she has lots of stickers.

I promise to rate the day I receive your swap, unless I am out of town. If I am out of town, I put a message at the top of my profile. If I haven't rated your swap, it's because I haven't received it.

I also promise to contact you before rating down. I understand that things get lost in the mail and I do my best to be understanding. However, I appreciate hearing from you before the swap deadline if issues arise.

I would appreciate it if you would do me the honor of rating my swap when you receive it. If I haven't received a rating from you for a swap I've sent, I'll contact you for a friendly reminder. :)