February 2021 – Ceja's Curvy Chic

If only…

Posted on February 28, 2021February 28, 2021 by cejalaval

Ugh, there are times I can really hate February. It’s just so short… you’d be amazed how those 2 or 3 days really impact you in a month of blogging when most events don’t start until the 2nd week. Think of it this way… that 2 or 3 days is at least one and possibly two blogs the way I shoot/post (I’m on the slower side because I take a zillion shots for every post, with very rare exceptions). This year February has been even harder because I’m still settling into my new, much more active life, and I’m finding that my blogging hours are severely shorted and my energy severely diminished as well. I also received my first COVID 19 shot, and unlike most people, I did get a killer migraine as a reaction to shot #1 that lasted for a few days… nothing serious, thankfully, but enough that I couldn’t sit at a computer and concentrate, let alone be creative. That said I know in the scheme of things this is all minor bs; I’m incredibly lucky to have this new active lifestyle, to have received my shot, and to have a fabulous bunch of sponsors who generally understand that when Second Life and real life conflict, well, real life just has to win out. (And believe me, that is something I have fought time and again in the 14 years I’ve been here!) But I am human (sadly sometimes, lol), and I do spend quite a bit of time in “If Only” mode. At the moment, it’s “if only I had a few more days”… but alas, life doesn’t work that way as we all know. The best thing in Second Life that I know for this ailment is shopping therapy!!!! May you be as happy in your shopping as I am in mine lol!

Gown: Allure Couture – Heloise. A stunning mermaid gown that is made even more fabulous by the 100% original textures & how artfully they’re used on this gown… I just love the use of the solid satin in the bodice area, as piping along the top, for the laces in the back (yes! it dips in the back & laces up!), & the bottom pool of fabric & how it sets off the subtle swirls of the sheath. Heloise is sized for Slink H/P, Belleza F/I, Legacy, & Maitreya, & is available in 5 separate colors, in a 5-texture Slimpack, or a Fatback of 10. Includes matching heels. Heloise is EXCLUSIVELY at the February Twe12ve event, an Evil Bunny Production, through TODAY Feb 28th (after that, Heloise will be at the main store). Demo available.
Head, Eyes, Eyeshadow: LeLUTKA – Nova Head
Body: Slink – Hourglass Mesh Body Original, Full Version including Hands (Dynamic) & Feet
Skin: theSkinnery – Monica
Freckles: Izzie’s – Heart Mole; Finer Threads – Sel Beauty Marks
Hair: Exile – Countess
Lipstick: Tutti Belli – Lollipop Lipstick Collection
Jewelry: Accolade – Japanese Tensha Bead Necklace & Earrings; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
Pose: STUN Poses – Manu
Backdrop: irrISIStible – Extraordinary Garden Backdrop

Happy Rez Day to Me!

Posted on February 26, 2021February 26, 2021 by cejalaval

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I can’t believe it, but I just had my 14th rez day… that’s right, 14… and I wouldn’t even have known it had a friend not wished me a Happy Rez Day. It’s funny how that happens… I remember having a huge party for my 1st rez day, and more intimate celebrations on my 2nd and 3rd. Every year after that, they just became less and less important, until they generally passed without notice. The fact that I did become aware this year caused me to step back and reflect a bit on all the changes I’ve experienced here inworld… not just in the interface and the world itself, but for me myself. I’ve been with the same wonderful man here for 13 of those 14 years, so you might think how many changes could there have been, but in looking back over our photo album (and yes, you can definitely see us age and mature!) and searching my memories, I realize how much I’ve changed and grown, just as in real life. Second Life doesn’t represent the same things to me any more as it did in the beginning. I still shop and go dancing and spend a lot of time decorating and landscaping, but I’ve been blogging for several years now as well as being a blogger-manager, and having work inworld does change the experience. I would have to say that most of my friends are now bloggers, blogger-managers, and designers, as opposed to those I used to hang out with for music and dancing. A more recent change is that I’m now splitting a lot of my time between fae and human, trying on different “attitudes” when creating my look of the day… creating even more of a split personality than I had when I was blogging a lot of heads lol! I’ve also noticed how special it feels when I run across someone else who has been in here as long or even longer than I have… it’s true, there aren’t that many of us, and I think the key to being a long-term resident is that very change and growth… you need to evolve, or else SL (and life itself, for that matter) stagnates and becomes stale, boring, and deadly. And on that note, I’m off to explore and shop my little heart out. After all, it IS my rez day week! Happy shopping to you as well…

The look:

Outfit: Jumo Originals – Marjorie Dress. Four fabulous textures in 8 different color HUDS plus another HUD with 4 unique patterns, or a fatpack that includes it all…. & all for a truly luscious dress! I love the way this cut enhances my curves, & the pattern enhances it even more! Sized for Hourglass, Isis, Legacy, & Maitreya; EXCLUSIVELY available at the February round of the Swank Event, open until the 28th.
Head, Eyes, Eyeshadow: LeLUTKA – Nova Head
Body: Slink – Hourglass Mesh Body Original, Full Version including Hands (Dynamic) & Feet
Skin: theSkinnery – Monica
Freckles: Izzie’s – Heart Mole; Finer Threads – Sel Beauty Marks
Hair: Exile – Class Act
Lipstick: theMARS – Classy Night Lip
Nails: Go Frock Yourself – Bronze Nail Appliers
Jewelry: Heartsdale Jewellery – Boho Celebration Mardi Gras; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
Shoes: KC Couture – Zara Heels
Pose: STUN Poses – Jade, combined with ChicChica – Raspberry Chammey

The scene:

Tylar’s Treasures – Elegant Whimsy Collection. It’s such a beautifully large collection, with each element sold individual, it enables you to create exactly what you want without having to purchase items you don’t. See the pic below to see a broader range of what’s included than in the pic above:

Elegant Whimsy Veranda, with scripted doors
Elegant Whimsy Piano with Chandelier, animated in both Cuddles & Adult versions
Elegant Whimsy Sofa, with texture change for pillows; Bento Animated, also available in both Cuddles & Adult versions
Elegant Whimsy Champagne Table, with texture changer for the bows; bottle gives a glass of champagne!
Elegant Whimsy Dessert Table (not shown), also with texture changer for the bows; 3 different dessert options to display
Elegant Whimsy Potted Wisteria Tree
Elegant Whimsy Potted Dwarf Palms (set of 3; small, medium, & large)
Elegant Whimsy Potted Orchids
Elegant Whimsy Potted Fern

All items are EXCLUSIVELY available at the current round of Uber Hometown, February 19th – March 18th. (NOTE: Only cuddles versions are on display at the event; adult versions are on display only at the store)

Ruins & Roses, Blossoming into Romance

Posted on February 22, 2021 by cejalaval

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IMHO, the whole key to being a successful designer in Second Life (or for that matter, IRL) is having an artistic eye. And no that doesn’t mean that every item of clothing and every object has to look like an objet d’art, but the style, the form, the colors & patterns, the textures, it all takes that certain something. Most brands here in SL are for clothing, or for decor, or for whatever; it’s unusual to find one that excels in multiple fields. But when they do (as in this case), they can work together in amazing ways. I have to wonder if these gorgeous formal clothes were designed with the setting of the rose-covered ruins in mind, or did the idea for the ruins come after the clothes were already created… or is it all just some happy accident that they work so perfectly together to create a romantic scene? The fact is that it doesn’t matter in the slightest, just some mental meanderings; both the clothes and the scene are fabulous each on their own, or together. Happy shopping!

The look:

Gown: Swank & Co. – Blossoming Couples Gown. A truly exceptional gown, combining a stunning black sequin sheath with what I can only describe as water colors for the bodice & bottom of the gown. Includes 6 different colors/flower patterns. Sized for Tonic, Slink HG/P, Belleza F/I/V, eBody, Altamura, & Maitreya, this is called the Blossoming Couples Gown because there’s also a coordinated men’s tuxedo. Both the men’s & women’s versions are EXCLUSIVELY available at the February round of the Swank Event, open until the 28th.
Body: Tonic – Curvy Beauty (worn with Booty Control). Still the most natural curves on the grid with options to add that extra oomph how & if you want it, as well as others to minimize the bust &/or the butt, perfect for a slinky gown like this! With Tonic, you can truly customize the look of your body & not only look fantastic, but also look the way YOU want to!
Head, Eyes, Eyeshadow: LeLUTKA – Nova Head
Skin: theSkinnery – Monica
Freckles: Izzie’s – Heart Mole; Finer Threads – Sel Beauty Marks
Hair: Exile – Full of Grace
Lipstick: theMARS – Classy Night Lip
Jewelry: J&W Jewelers (extinct vendor?) – Arturo Black Diamonds Collection; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band

The scene:

Swank & Co. – Romantic Rose Covered Ruins w/Light Effects. It’s really hard to describe the magic of these 4-sided ruins (with each side being somewhat different). They include controllable light effects; there’s swirling mist rising from the floor; shafts of light; faerie lights, & so much more. Although best viewed at midnight, it’s not the easiest to show these details when photographed in that light, so you’ll just have to see the how incredible these ruins are for yourself. EXCLUSIVELY available only at the February round of the Swank Event, open until the 28th. See the full shot below.

Celebrate Love

Posted on February 17, 2021February 17, 2021 by cejalaval

http://Yes, Valentine’s Day is over, but I wanted to make the point that love isn’t about a single day… Love is something that we should celebrate every day. It’s a nice thought, right, but of course the rest of life gets in the way and we get buried under all that minutiae and aggravation of daily living. Not to mention that love is messy… to use a well-known saying, love isn’t all lollipops and roses (or hearts!!!), it takes a lot of work and commitment and can easily be pushed into the background while other more immediate feelings take dominance. All it takes, though, is something big — like getting ill — to bring love back into focus. I often wonder how many people do a big hoopla for Valentine’s Day only to go back to what I’ll call “less loving behavior” the very next day. It’s sad, it’s frustrating, and it’s just the way life is. That said, I wanted to at least draw attention to the fact that we must all make an effort in our daily lives (and yes, I’m including myself in that!!) to show the ones that we love that we truly do care. It’s really not that hard… it can be just a touch, a look, a few words, whatever, but it’s definitely worth it when you see/feel the reaction from your loved one. That’s what strong, long-term relationships are all about, and it makes that hard work just a little bit easier. So on that note, let’s all celebrate love and have some fun going shopping lol!

The Look:

Outfit: Essence – Metropolitan Girl. Adorably sexy outfit, with a cute, striped off-shoulder tube top, banded in one color with bright stripes of another down the arms, with a laced back; a high-waist tulip denim skirt; & the cutest sneakers for “high” feet. Includes a 12-color HUD for the crop top, 16-color HUD for the denim skirt, & 4-color HUD for the sneakers. Sized for Slink HG/P, Belleza F/I/V, & Maitreya, the outfit is available EXCLUSIVELY at the February Swank event open Feb 7th – 28th.
Head & Eyes: LeLUTKA – Nova Head
Body: Slink – Hourglass Mesh Body Original, Full Version including Hands (Dynamic) & Feet
Skin: theSkinnery – Monica
Freckles: Izzie’s – Heart Mole; Finer Threads – Sel Beauty Marks
Hair: Doux – Peach @ Equal10
Makeup: theSkinnery – Aurora EyeShadow (Group Gift); Top1Salon – HD Rebellious Lipstick
Tattoo: Juna Artistic Tattoo – Lory
Jewelry: Eclectica – Boho Earrings; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band

The Scene:

Heart Decor – (AZ) Studio – Celebrate Love. A collection inspired by vintage florals, this party set includes a backdrop (shown), 3 different resizable topiaries (shown; sold as a set in either red or blush), ground floor coverings (shown; includes both red & blush options), art object (shown), garlands, balloons, strings, & a wreath. All items are sold individually, & are EXCLUSIVE at the February Swank event open Feb 7th – 28th.
Pose: FOXCITY – Bike Ride

A Queen’s Work is Never Done

Posted on February 14, 2021February 14, 2021 by cejalaval

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What a weekend! After what seems like forever of trying to get my COVID vaccination scheduled while everyone around me was receiving theirs, we got the email telling us that we could now schedule our appointments. As someone who has an auto-immune condition, my relief was palpable, and we immediately scheduled for the next day (yesterday). We were lucky in that the site that came through (we were registered at 4 sites, and had been trying to get through to Publix scheduling and had traveled down to a first come-first serve site three times without success) was in a field 5 minutes from our house. Everything we’d heard and read was about the efficiency of this site, how it would be a maximum of 45 minutes from leaving our home to getting back. Unfortunately, that was NOT our experience, due to torrential rains in the morning which flooded the field and turned it into a mud bog. We arrived on time for our scheduled 1:30P appointments to be told that the field was closed and that we were to go to the high school that was basically across the street. No easy task. No one was there directing traffic or where to go for almost an hour, a major thoroughfare was blocked, resulting in a bit of mass insanity. Eventually, things were sorted and we ended up on a long, long, extremely long line filled with people who had appointments ranging from 8:30A (it turned out that morning appointments had been canceled and everyone was told to come back at 1P), through the afternoon. We had made sure to bring water and books to read, but other folks had not; lack of bathroom facilities was a huge problem since the line was filled with senior citizens, and the biggest issue was NO COMMUNICATION. An email was finally sent out at 3:30P (why nothing until then????). We DID receive our shots at made it home at 4:30P… not that long when you consider what other people are going through, but WAAAAAY longer than anticipated, we were VERY hungry since we had planned for lunch afterwards, and I personally was ready to burst. Yes, the weather had handed them a curve ball, and they were very efficient once you got up to the site personnel, but IMHO they should have (A) had a backup rain plan rather than first start scrambling to get one, and (B) they should have alerted everyone BEFORE heading over to wait on one line to then have to make it across to another. Still, we are lucky enough to have received our first dose, and we will certainly be prepared for contingencies like this when we go back in a month to get our 2nd shot. Not a very romantic note, but still a positive one… so I wish you all a Happy Valentine’s Day and Happy Shopping!

Outfit: Poet’s Heart – Eirwen. I may be a bit biased, but IMHO no one pays more attention to design detail & customization than fantasy designers. This lovely medieval-style gown — with an optional lace bolero — offers color customization of every detail, from the skirt (which is not only color-changeable but also with/without fade!) to the corset to the laces on the back of the dress & the buttons on the front & more… all with fabulously rich textures. Eirwen is sized for both Hourglass & Maitreya, & is EXCLUSIVELY at the February We Love Role Play event, open through the end of the month. Demo available.
Headpiece: Poet’s Heart – Eirwen Crown. Another EXCLUSIVE at the February We Love Role Play event, dare I say it’s the crowning achievement of the look (I know, I know, but how could i resist?) Once again, the customization options for the crown are amazing, with every element — the front “points”, the jewels on them, the back “points”, the decorative points, the beads, the forehead jewel, the hanging chains… all customizable with the incredibly easy color-coded HUD. See the closeup below… it’s a fae’s dream!
Makeup (Eyes): LOGO – Twilight Eyeshadow. The deep colors of twilight in 8 smoky shades. Install one or all, with/without crease, into your LOGO customization HUD. What a stunning way to set off the color of your eyes (whatever they may be)! See the closeup below.
Makeup (Lips): The Little Bat – Aria Lips. 12 luscious & fabulously different shades in both BOM & Omega. EXCLUSIVELY available at Sinners and Saints 2 Valentine Edition, an Evil Bunny Production, from February 6th – 28th. See the closeup below (& note that I added the stripe).
Chair: Petrichor – Lynuen Moonchair. A wearable, animated chair with 2 animation sets (rezzable AVsitter chair also included). Includes two HUDs with 45 colors each for shading all the elements of the chair (the base, the swirls, the floating pearls). Modifiable size/position for avatars. EXCLUSIVELY available at Midnight Order, through February 20th.
Horns: Petrichor – Arenvie Horns, worn Baph Style using the Fades HUD). I’ve blogged these multiple times because with 5 wear styles & 6 HUD color packs, they work with just about every style!
Head & Ears: LOGO – Chelsea bento head with Ilvanya Elf Ears
Body: Slink – Hourglass Mesh Body Original, Full Version including Hands (Dynamic) & Feet
Skin: Petrichor/Plastik – Styliste + Lip Stripe
Eyes: {Demicorn} Cosmetics – Meringue Eyes (Omega Appliers)
Hair: monso – Meiga
Wings: Seven’s Selections (now Vaengi Wings) – Luna Moth Wings
Location: Finian’s Dream

A Red, Red Rose

Posted on February 9, 2021 by cejalaval

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It is definitely getter harder and harder for me to get a blog done and posted. I always try to get it done in the morning, somewhere between 8:30A and 11A my time, which as worked relatively well for me in the past. But now that I’m in Florida, no longer working, and the weather is improving, I’m out doing things in the morning. This morning I had a tee off time for golf at 9:44A, which meant I left my house right around 9A; I just got back after playing golf and having lunch. I’m not as concerned as I would have been a few months ago when I had tested and found that views/faves declined if posted after 11A, but I’ve been finding in recent weeks that all of that has declined anyway, so why bother worrying about it and twisting myself around trying to meet some arbitrary self-imposed timetable. Enough stress in the world and in life without adding on more, right? In any case, it’s all about the fun of blogging, not about the amount of acclaim (or lack thereof as the case may be lol), though I think we’d all agree it’s better to be liked than not! That said, I had fun putting this one together, where I wanted to do something Valentines-y without crossing over into overly sappy or romantic. I’m happy where I landed, and hope that at least some people viewing it “after hours” will think so too! Happy shopping!!!!

Outfit: Anny’s Fashion – Hailey Pantaloons & Corset Denim. Pantaloons!!! Who would have thought pantaloons could be so cute & sassy!?! These are just so adorable, & paired with the perfect corset top to turn sassy into sexy! I just love this totally different look, which includes a HUD of 8 colors for the corset (one of which has the pattern worn) & 8 for the pantaloons. Hailey is sized for Slink HG/P, Belleza F/I/V, eBody Curvy, Alice, Altamura, Legacy/Legacy Perky, & Maitreya, & is an EXCLUSIVE at the February Swank event open Feb 7th – 28th.
Head: LeLUTKA – Nova Head
Body: Slink – Hourglass Mesh Body Original, Full Version including Hands (Dynamic) & Feet
Skin: theSkinnery – Monica
Freckles: Izzie’s – Heart Mole; Finer Threads – Sel Beauty Marks
Hair: TRUTH – Lady
Makeup: GOREGLAM – Cherry Rush Lipgloss
Tattoo: Juna Artistic Tattoo – Sara
Shoes: Chic & Shoes – Monna
Jewelry: Maxi Gossamer – Parisienne Love Heart Earrings; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
Pose: EMOZIONE – The Feeling of Forever (modified)
Backdrop: Heart Poses – The Florist

Morning Glory

Posted on February 7, 2021February 7, 2021 by cejalaval

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Sinners or Saints is an interesting question, is it not? One described quite clearly by Billy Joel when he said “he’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints” (a song I’m sure I’ll use in another blog for this event lol). Which you’d rather be probably depends on your definition of each, the circumstances, and so much more, but I know that at least here on the grid, I tend to be more on the sinners side, at least when it comes to dress (although as anyone who has ever looked at my blog or FlickR knows, I am definitely PG in my pix ). To my thinking, very few of us are one or the other; we’re all a blend, with some leaning more to one extreme to the other. One of the beautiful things about Second Life is that you can experiment with all kinds of “sin” and do so safely because let’s face it: none of it is real. What you do in your real life is, of course, something else entirely. That said, go out, shop, and have fun!!! It’s a game after all!

Swimsuit: LOoLOo & The Platypus – Strapped. Wow, just wow! I guess common thought is that itty bitty bikinis are the sexiest, but I have to say that I find one-piece suits with this kind of sensational style & cut are way sexier, not just in how they look but also in how they make me feel (& that’s a large part of how you look, isn’t it?) Curves just really stand out in a cut like this! Strapped comes in 4 individual colors or in a fatpack, sized for Slink HG/P, Freya, Legacy, & Maitreya/Maitreya Petite. EXCLUSIVELY available at Sinners and Saints 2 Valentine Edition, an Evil Bunny Production, from February 6th – 28th. Coordinated men’s swimsuits also available.
Head: LeLUTKA – Nova Head
Body: Slink – Hourglass Mesh Body Original, Full Version including Hands (Dynamic) & Feet
Skin: theSkinnery – Monica
Freckles: Izzie’s – Heart Mole; Finer Threads – Sel Beauty Marks
Hair: Exile – Talia
Makeup: GOREGLAM – Cherry Rush Lipgloss
Tattoo: Juna Artistic Tattoo – Dela
Jewelry: Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
Pose: WetCat – Shades

Lover Come Back

Posted on February 2, 2021February 2, 2021 by cejalaval

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I’m not a big one for Valentine’s Day. To me, it’s always been a somewhat painful holiday. When I was young, the pain of not having my soulmate was devastating (as all things are, when you’re young lol!); when I got older and in a long-term committed relationship, it just seemed almost like a mockery of what love really is, creating expectations that could rarely (if ever) be met. In real life, we barely acknowledge it… maybe my husband and I exchange cards, maybe we don’t, maybe I get flowers, maybe not. It’s all good. On the other hand, it’s been a bigger deal here in Second Life, where I’ve been with my partner for more than 13 years now and in this relatively small intersection of our lives, the annual acknowledgement and a formal date night are most welcome. The grid just seems to get a bit frantic about it all (as does real life!); I prefer things simpler, more heartfelt. Which doesn’t mean that it can go unacknowledged, but I’d be perfectly happy snuggling somewhere watching a beautiful sunset or the way the moon shines on the water, with just a few words to acknowledge what it means to be in each other’s lives. To me, THAT’s a perfect Valentine’s!

Outfit: GiuliaDesign – Lover. Beautifully simple & simply beautiful, this sexy jumpsuit just yearns to be touched, the texture is that inviting. It just makes me feel all slinky lol! Spaghetti straps, delicate attached “harness”, with bells starting below the knees, double optional bells on the shoulderless sleeves (I opted to wear the upper bell but not the lower). Available in 10 colors or in a fatback, Lover is sized for Slink HG/P, Freya, Legacy, Kupra, & Maitreya. EXCLUSIVELY at the February Vanity Event, open Feb 4th – 28th. Demo available. Matching high heels (gorgeous shoes with “diamonds” on the strap!!!) sold separately, in any of 6 colors or as a fatpack (demo available).
Head & Eye Makeup: LeLUTKA – Nova Head
Body: Slink – Hourglass Mesh Body Original, Full Version including Hands (Dynamic) & Feet
Skin: theSkinnery – Monica
Freckles: Izzie’s – Heart Mole; Finer Threads – Sel Beauty Marks
Hair: Sintiklia – Alma
Makeup: GOREGLAM – Cherry Rush Lipgloss
Tattoo: Juna Artistic Tattoo – Zhoe
Nails: Encore – Shades of Pink
Jewelry: Caithlin Carter Designs (CCD) – Pure – Butterfly Set; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
Pose: LW Luane’s World Bento Poses – Get Free
Location: Backdrop Central