MelissaLB

Updated October 7, 2026: I’ve switched to my home address and will give up my PO Box on December 1. The cost has gotten out of control! I’ll miss the security and convenience, especially when traveling.

I’m dedicated to Swap-Bot and always mail my swaps on time. If something doesn’t arrive, please let me know, and I’ll happily resend.

“In a world where you can be anything… be kind.”

I’m a paralegal specializing in Intellectual Property, with additional work in employment law and civil litigation.

I practice yoga, Reiki, meditation, and energy healing. I’m drawn to nature, sacred spaces, the Divine Feminine, Pagan traditions, and the Wheel of the Year. Raised Catholic, I still have a deep love for the Blessed Mother and miracles.

I’m an avid tarot and oracle card reader and collector, especially fond of finding interesting “orphaned” cards.

Things I Love

Nature, gardening, flowers, trees, birds, bees, dragonflies, oceans, beaches, lakes, coffee, books, road trips, volunteering, baking, journaling, crystals, shells, candles, pottery painting, chocolate, peanut butter and jelly, and wine.

Purple is my favorite color. I love Star Wars (since the very first movie!), Alice in Wonderland, Pisces and zodiac imagery, Bigfoot, owls, vintage art, and quirky or whimsical designs.

I’m an art lover, especially Monet, Frida Kahlo, Picasso, Degas, Matisse, Gauguin, and Chihuly. I’m also a lifelong IndyCar and Indy 500 fan.

Collections & Swap Favorites

I love washi tape, stickers, postcards, stationery, journals, playing cards, and tarot and oracle decks.

Favorite washi themes include bees, purple flowers, dragonflies, coffee, whales, Star Wars, and people. I especially love Cavallini stationery and items.

I enjoy journaling and creating junk journals.

Other collections include owls, Bigfoot, Pisces items, peanut butter and jelly-themed things, and shells from oceans, Lake Michigan, and local rivers.

Holidays & Seasons

I enjoy receiving holiday items year-round!

• Easter: Bunnies, pastels, flowers, ribbon, colored eggs, and Victorian-style baskets.
• Halloween: Witches, pumpkins, ghosts, haunted houses, cemeteries, and spooky trees. Spooky over gory!
• Thanksgiving: Vintage fall themes, turkeys, pumpkins, leaves, and woodland animals.
• Christmas: Traditional red and green, angels, snowflakes, holly, silver, glitter, and sparkle.

I also celebrate the Wheel of the Year and enjoy seasonal and Pagan themes.

Garden & Scents

I love growing tomatoes, peppers, and herbs, especially basil, rosemary, and lavender.

Favorite scents include basil, rosemary, lavender, berries, lemon, cinnamon, patchouli, and nag champa. I’m not a fan of very strong floral scents, apple, watermelon, or jasmine.

And I LOVE honey, whether in tea, baking, or simply enjoyed on its own!

A Few More Things

I’m a founding board member and president of Madhukara, a charity dedicated to feeding people and helping neighbors in need.

I enjoy used and independent bookstores, nature walks, book clubs, and exploring new places. I’ve visited 38 states and hope to see all 50!

Favorite destinations include Sedona, the Redwoods, Lake Michigan and Northern Michigan, Gulf Shores, New Orleans, Lake Tahoe, Taos, and San Francisco. My dream destination is Nepal, especially its fascinating culture, the Himalayas, and Mt. Everest.

I finally took my dream trip to India in 2026. I'm planning my next trip over Christmas 2027.

Most of all, I love thoughtful, creative, unusual, and happy mail. It doesn’t need to be expensive or fancy; I love seeing someone’s personality shine through.

A Quick Postage Note

Extras are never necessary! I’ve received several swaps with postage due because extras made the envelopes too heavy. I appreciate the thoughtfulness, but please don’t feel obligated to include anything beyond the swap. A simple swap is perfect!

Thank you for swapping with me!

I love reading, collecting, and sharing books of all kinds! I especially enjoy used bookstores, independent bookshops, and PaperbackSwap.

I collect vintage cookbooks, spiritual books (from Catholic saints to yoga), art books, tarot books, and books about the Wheel of the Year.

I read lots of fiction and especially love series that let me spend more time with favorite characters.

Favorite Genres

Fiction: Fantasy, science fiction, mystery, historical fiction, romance, women’s fiction, contemporary and literary fiction, magical realism, and YA.

Nonfiction: Memoir and autobiography, biography, food and drink, history, travel, and religion and spirituality.

THINGS I DO NOT LOVE

I do not eat beef or pork

• Color your own anything • Chocolate covered fruit • Flower flavored tea • Scraps of paper

I’m not a fan of bath bombs or anything bath related.

Extras are not necessary. I will not withhold a heart if you don't send extras

I enjoy paper crafts, journaling, washi crafts, candle making, creating prayer beads and rosaries, painting on different mediums, and painting pottery. I also love baking and decorating holiday sugar cookies, as well as drawing yantras and mandalas.

I’ve collected random tarot cards for years and recently started creating a FrankenDeck. It’s been so much fun, and my unique deck is becoming a powerful tool!

My favorite cards to collect are The High Priestess, Wheel of Fortune, The Moon, and The Sun.

My Card for 2026: The Moon

The Moon reminds us of our dual nature and that things aren’t always as they seem. It can point to unseen challenges, intuition, and voluntary change.

I also enjoy oracle cards for intuitive readings and love drawing a card each day for inspiration and reflection.

I enjoy all kinds of postcards! Here are some of my favorites:

• Star Wars
• Coffeehouses, coffee mugs, and people drinking coffee
• Libraries, bookstores, and people reading
• Alice in Wonderland
• Beaches
• Animals: bears, rhinoceroses, whales, birds, tortoises, owls, and rabbits
• Nature: mountains, rivers, lakes, oceans, forests, and meadows
• City scenes
• Trees and flowers, especially fields of flowers
• State map postcards
• Artwork, especially postcards from museums
• Tourist postcards from your town, city, state, or country
• 1980s musicians, including Duran Duran, David Bowie, Prince, and Michael Jackson
• Elvis
• Recipe postcards (please, no graphic images of meat or animal carcasses)
• Alcoholic beverages
• Pagan imagery
• Frida Kahlo

Handmade postcards that are well-crafted, creative, and unique are always welcome!

I collect unique and artistic playing cards, with my main collection focus being the Queen of Hearts.

I love cards featuring U.S. states, especially:

• Indiana
• Michigan
• Ohio
• Illinois
• Hawaii
• New Mexico

Favorite Themes

• Flowers and birds
• Sun and moon designs
• Food and vegetarian-friendly recipes
• Star Wars
• Zodiac and astrology
• Bigfoot
• UFOs and aliens
• Butterflies, bees, and dragonflies
• Alcohol and cocktail themes
• Alice in Wonderland
• Art-inspired designs, especially Frida Kahlo, Monet, Van Gogh, and similar artists
• Elvis

I especially enjoy colorful, vintage, whimsical, mystical, nature-inspired, and unusual designs.