Thanks for all those crossed fingers!

 I got the job I wanted!  I start Monday morning (which is about 5 days later than I'd like, but whatever).  And the wages will be substantially higher than I was expecting when I applied, even though of course they'll start out lower than I was making before.  

I'll be working for Half-Price Books, so I'll still be working with books (and music and movies and video games), with the added bonus of working with USED books -- I love used books.  I love the way older books smell, I love finding all the different cover art styles from different countries, i love the dog eared pages and the yellowed paper and the creased spines.  

As a bonus, HPB is one of the few retail spaces I know of in this country that primarily hires full-time employees -- this was my major complaint working at B&N, as we ONLY hired part time.  It's hard to get good people to stay at part time hours, and its hard to get them trained properly if they do.

The danger (which is very real!) will be me using up my paychecks right away -- the employee discount is 50%.  Off of the already discounted prices.

After I get a sense of what sort of schedule I'll be having I may keep looking for part time work, or some other supplemental income.  I've decided to move to Seattle when my lease is up (end of February), and I'll need to save up.  But for now?  I have a job!  I have a GOOD JOB.  And that?  Is a real relief.

Fun and profit? Or just fun at least.

 I am thinking of learning to make soap, and candles, both for fun and for a little supplemental income.  Nothing elaborate, just selling to friends and family, maybe on Etsy?  Or some other crafty website.  You know, if I don't set fire to my kitchen or whatever.  

I'm looking at tips and guides, and checking out books and such.  Getting ideas and making plans.  I'm pretty excited -- even the planning is fun.  To start with, I probably will just do the melt-and-pour sort of soap -- buying ready made bases and adding my own scents and additives.  I don't have the set up to deal with lye, or with curing the soap for weeks at a time (there's no way I could keep the cats away from it).  So I'll have to pay attention to the ingredients when I order the bases, since I won't be controlling all of that myself.  I'll probably make some sort of stamp to carve with a logo I design (that'll be really fun!), and I'm already thinking about packaging options.  

For candles, I'll probably keep it pretty simple -- they seem easier than soaps on average, and I'll probably use a bunch myself.  I love candles.  

Of course,  I won't be able to start until I get an actual paycheck, which won't be for . . . two weeks? At least?  So that I can buy supplies.

But I'd thought I'd ask -- what sort of scents do you like?  What kind of shapes? 

Personally, I like citrusy scents, or wintery ones (like cinnamon apple and pumpkin spice) for candles, and things like peach and vanilla for soap.  I like pillar candles, and spheres, as well as the sort that come in a simple glass jar.  I like rounded rectangles for soap, ovals and such, shapes that fit well in your hand.  

What do you like?  And would you like some?  Once I get a chance to actually make things, I'll probably give a bunch away while I'm learning the ropes.