phoebezoro

UPDATE: 4/26 - Today I received an envelope with 5 photographed scenic postcards, and no note, swap name, or sender name. The envelope had no return address but did have UK postage. If this was you please let me know, and lmk which swap it was for so I can give you your rating :)

Hi! I’m new to SwapBot, coming from Postcrossing and similar websites. I’ve been using those for a few months and just want to send more postcards! Right now, I don’t make any of my own postcards. I am from Chicago, and I mainly purchase from local shops, museums, and Etsy sellers. I like to do different things with the postcards, stamps, and stickers I receive. I'll collage them, use them as wall art, or frame my favorites. I’m so excited to join this community!

I'm born and raised Chicago with roots on the southside but currently living on the far northside with my partner. We both love working in the restaurant industry and currently work at a couple popular restaurants closer downtown. In my free time I read a lot. I also loveeeee cats. I have 2 of my own that I spent most of the rest of my free time hanging out with. Our cats definitely take over our lives, they are very pampered, you can see them in my profile picture. I also like sports, my favorites being baseball and softball. I played both for a while, softball at a higher competition level until I stopped during college a couple years ago. I watch a lot of softball, mostly NCAA games during the school season and I love the Athletes Unlimited season in the summer. I don't watch quite as much baseball but I'll definitely put on an MLB game when it's on and I'm a big White Sox fan. I don't care much for the Cubs but I do work like half a mile from Wrigley Field.

I like to read in my spare time but I tend to get it in short bursts so I love books I can read quickly. My go to genre in psychological thriller. I love the short chapters and unrealistic twists. I spent January reading through as many of Freida McFadden's books as I could find. Some of my favorites have been Never Lie, One by One, the Crash, and the Boyfriend. Other books I have read recently that I enjoyed were Verity, the Female of the Species, and the Silent Patient. (I totally get the hate for this book but it's quintessential to the genre.) I would love to hear any book recommendations you have. I'm trying to read at least 52 books this year and start to build up my bookshelves as well, so I need some ideas! 2/18/25 - I'm trying to broaden my genres so I'm slowly reading through the non-thrillers I have but it's a lot of classics and essay work (like David Sedaris). Somehow I've acquired zero romance books over time so I would love any recommendations romance and even fantasy lovers may have. (I would also prefer LGBTQ romances but I'm open to all the good ones.)

I really enjoy scrapbooking/collaging bookmarks. I have a lot of magazines, stickers, and other craft items I've collected that I use to make them. I initially joined SwapBot for another way to send out postcards, but I am so excited to send bookmarks as well. I'd love to eventually join book swaps too, but I don't quite have the shipping materials for it at the moment. Eventually, of course! When it comes to bookmarks for me my main preference is anything on the flatter side. I greatly prefer to read paperbacks and I always keep a book on me in my tote bag so when I use bulkier bookmarks they tend to fall out. Other than that I love pink and flowers and cats, but honestly I'd love anything! You can absolutely check my Favorite Postcards section for more ideas if you need them!

For all postcard swappers, I love them all. Since I do use them for wall art, my most loved interests are: - Art or anything artsy (I’d love something purchased or handmade, as long as you’re proud of it!) - Anything cat!! - Animals in unusual settings, I have a collection of painted rabbits at tea parties and clothed cats in vintage settings - Novel covers (my favorite genres are thriller and mystery) - Botanical and flowers - Cartoons my favorite currently is Bob's Burgers but growing up I loved Hello Kitty and Friends, Busytown, Arthur, and honestly anything on PBS kids - Animal crossing - Artistic postcards from where you are from - Fun colors! I’d really love any postcard. If you don’t know what to send, find your postcard with the most color and I’m sure I’ll love it.

2/18/25 - While I am never expecting extras my short time on SwapBot has taught me that people like to send them, and I do love to receive them. I don't particularly have too big of a collection of anything so there's nothing I don't want but some of my favorite extras have been: - Postcards - Stickers - Washi Tape - Bookmarks (all the handmade ones I've received are impressively beautiful) - Tea (I like all tea, but black teas are my favorite) - Unused stamps