pandabee

I'm a wife and new mom. My son was born in April of 2012 and I can hardly imagine anything more fun.

I work full-time in the children's department of a library. I love books and movies, and have lately spent too much time on Pinterest.

I have two cats, boys who love each other like brothers though they aren't.

I love paper art and earth works. I try to wrap things beautifully. I'm interested in meditation and Buddhism, though I don't belong to a sangha.

I live in the rainy northwest and love fall, sweaters, moss and lichen, pumpkin(s), warm drinks like coffee, hot chocolate, cider, and green tea.

I love the ocean. I love grey, blues ranging from aqua to royal, mustard/gold, and reddish oranges like coral. I love elephants, owls, penguins, whales, and especially birds.

I'm a fan of old photos and postcards. I like typography and poetry. I enjoy botanical illustrations, as well as scientific illustrations of eggs, shells and coral.

The work of illustrator Steve Jenkins. I love Neil Gaiman and Phillip Pullman, as well as YA authors John Green and M.T. Anderson. I loved the book My Antonia and Kent Haruf's Plainsong.

I enjoy pop psychology and non-fiction that reads like fiction. I like to read cookbooks.

I love quirky picture books by people like Oliver Jeffers, Polly Dunbar and Jon Klassen.

I enjoy comics such as Bone, Chew, American Vampire, Sweet Tooth, Hellboy, Castle Waiting, Buffy (season 8 & 9 only), and the stand-alone title Set to Sea.

Some favorites are Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Veronica Mars, Community, The X-Files, and Arrested Development. Lately I've enjoyed True Blood, The Walking Dead, Portlandia & The Mindy Project. I can't wait for the new season of Game of Thrones. I'll admit to watching Biggest Loser, Project Runway, and The Batchelorette, as well.

I listen to alternative rock, some folk, jazz, classical, and oldies. I love Bjork and Sigur Ros. I grew up listening to Sting, James Taylor, Carol King, the Beatles, and Simon & Garfunkel. I have all of Tori Amos's CDs until the last couple and have seen Muse a couple times.

A sampling: Bladerunner, Nightmare Before Christmas, The Secret Garden, Fur, Secretary, Away We Go, Pride and Prejudice, Lost in Translation, the Professional, Eagle vs Shark, Modern Times.

I recently enjoyed Argo and The Silver Linings Playbook.

I used to love seeing movies alone but haven't had the time lately. I try to see as many Oscar nominees as I can every year.

I dabble in a few things - greeting cards, photography, cut paper, cross stitch, ATCs.

I try to make gifts during the holiday season every year and end up experimenting. For example, last year I dyed wooden beads, etched glass and made salt scrub and candles.

I do a lot of kid-friendly, cheap or recycled crafts at work.

I'm interested in decos, but am a true newbie.

I love love love cool unusual paper, vintage ephemera, wrapping paper, and ribbon.

• Handmade items

• Scent-free or lightly scented items (although who can resist the smell of coffee?) I prefer natural scents like mint, citrus, and vanilla.

• Items free of religion, though I appreciate positivity and sincerity in all forms

• Not so into kawaii, pink, glitter, Disney or other very cutesy girly things

• No loose glitter or sequins, please. (With a little one at home, that stuff ends up on the floor and therefor in his mouth!)

• Regarding recipes and food: I have no food allergies and am not a picky eater. I eat meat but don't cook it often. I enjoy comfort foods, as well as ethnic cuisines ranging from Indian and Ethiopian to Italian and Mexican. I'm a fan of sweets, especially cinnamon (the spice, not candy flavors), Nutella, and pumpkin.

[I plan to update this section regularly]