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Whenever you do a major update to yourself — be it a new head or a new body — it generally takes some time to personalize the new look into YOU. Granted, I’m a bit more obsessive than most, but I’m thrilled to say that Elaine — my new bento mesh head from Tonic — is definitely on her way to being ME. I thought I was almost there before, but my first personalized effort looked great, but felt too young for how I like to be. I’m happy to say that my friend Shae at BentouttaShape came to the rescue with another fully modifiable starter shape for Elaine, and it made all the difference in the world. Add a beautiful new freckled skin (only tried on approximately 50 skins to find it lol), and voila, Elaine morphs into Ceja. And on another note, I’m happy to have found that on a recent visit to Sn@tch, ALL of the new items were available in Tonic sizes. I resisted and only bought two things, though both have so many options in their huds, it’s way more than just two outfits (not even counting their use as separates)! Great shopping week lol!

• Body: Tonic – Curvy Beauty
• Head and Eyes: Tonic – Elaine Bento Mesh Head, Skin Fair exclusive, March 9th – 26th; demo also available at the mainstore
• Shape: Bentoutta Shape – pre-release of K’Elainei (modified); will be featured at the Hashtag Summer 2018 Event starting March 15th
• Skin: Pink Fuel – Morgana
• Eyebrows: DS’Elles – Eyebrow Series 8 for Omega
• Hair: TRUTH – Apple
• Top:  Sn@tch – Halsey Sweater (HUD with 28 different textures/sayings)
• Jeans:  Sn@tch – Millie Denim Leggings (HUD with 20 textures)
• Jewelry: Indulge Temptation (IT!) – Crescent Moon Earrings
• Tattoo: CyberStar BodyArt – Starswirl
• Pose: FoxCity – Selfie V2-1
• Jewelry: Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band

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Tweaking a new head and shape to create the personalized look that is “you” can be a long, frustrating process. I was talking to a friend last night who never once tweaked her body shape, just loved it right out of the box. I wish I was like that, but instead I’m always obsessively striving to recreate my memory of my standard avatar’s look but with the more finished details of mesh.  My Tonic Curvy body is exactly how I want her to be; and thankfully, there are people like my friend Shae from Bentoutta Shape who are experts in modifying head shapes to give incompetents like me a head start (no pun intended!) in achieving the look I want for Elaine, my new Tonic bento head. I’ve taken one of her early efforts with Elaine, added a freckled skin (yay! my freckles are back!), my favorite eyebrows, and then just tweaked a little here and there to achieve a look that is closer to where I want to be. Just baby steps so far (hence the baby doll outfit lol)… more to come!

• Body: Tonic – Curvy Beauty
• Head and Eyes: Tonic – Elaine Bento Mesh Head, Skin Fair exclusive, starts March 9th; demo at the mainstore NOW
• Shape: pre-release from Bentoutta Shape (fully modifiable shapes to be available after Skin Fair opens)
• Skin: Lumae – Eirtae T6 Tawny Bare/Freckles
• Eyebrows: DS’Elles – Eyebrow Series 8 for Omega
• Hair: DeLa – Hannah
• Outfit: MOZ Designs – Tara Baby Doll, exclusively available at the Fitmesh Designer Expose through March 21st
• Tattoo: CyberStar BodyArt – Starswirl
• Pose: Reve Obscura – Shutterbug Bento Pose with Mesh Camera (included)
• Peacock: Tomato Park

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I’d like to introduce you to Elaine, the new bento mesh head from Tonic which will be available at the Skin Fair (which starts on March 9th). I’m wearing Elaine right out of the box, using the skin, eyes, makeup and starter shape provided (with my normal body size). Everything you need to get started is included in the pack — an alpha to block your system head, the mesh head, a fully modifiable starter shape, and a four panel HUD (shown below). As you can see below, Panel 1 lets you easily select from 10 skin tones, 4 eye colors (I’m wearing the green; you can always choose to wear your own), 5 brow colors, 7 eyeshadows, 7 lipsticks, and 2 blush styles. With panel 2, you can manage the intensity of anything (especially useful for lipsticks and eyeshadow). Panel 3 lets you save some of your favorite looks. Panel 4 offers 11 animations plus 11 static poses which are absolutely fabulous for pictures! And since Elaine comes fully omega-enabled, you can customize her with any omega skin and appliers!

Elaine is debuting EXCLUSIVELY at the Skin Fair starting on March 8th, where she will be on sale for 50% off. However, you CAN grab a demo now at the Tonic main store.

• Body: Tonic – Curvy Beauty
• Head, Skin, Eyes: Tonic – Elaine Bento Mesh Head, Skin Fair exclusive, starts March 9th; demo at the mainstore NOW
• Hair: MINA – Haley
• Jewelry: Maxi Gossamer – Cabo San Lucas Leather & Shell Earrings (with color change)

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I live way too sedentary a lifestyle; I sincerely hate to exercise in real life where it’s really needed to have the shape you want, but somehow it’s fun to work out when there’s no burn involved! Not to mention, I look so much better working those pounds away in my Tonic Curvy body than in its RL counterpart!

• Body: Tonic – Curvy Beauty
• Head: LAQ – Neve (Bento)
• Skin: LAQ – Valentine Skin Applier
• Eyebrows: DS’Elles – Eyebrow Series 8 for Omega
• Eyes: IKON – Hope Eyes in Emerald
• Hair: TRUTH – Astra (Valentine’s gift from the Shop Your Heart Out Event; now in store on the front desk)
• Outfit: Emberotic’s Fashion Designs – 159, Rose Lace Workout Outfit (available at this Fifty5 Thursday!)
• Shoes: M&M Style – Cheeta Tiptoe Sneakers (Gift)
• Tattoo: CyberStar BodyArt – Starswirl
• Jewelry: Fortuna – Earrings Asteria (small), Marketplace only; Earthstones – Sentiment Necklace, Loved; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band

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I’ve noticed lately how much of life is spent waiting… waiting for people, waiting for a reply, waiting for feedback, waiting for change, even waiting for the water to boil. Personally, I try to always do something else while I’m waiting (it’s how I read so much lol) or at the very least, to look good while waiting! With its amazing fit and cheery butterflies, this relatively simple outfit is a perfect look while waiting for spring to actually arrive!

• Body: Tonic – Curvy Beauty
• Head: LAQ – Neve (Bento)
• Skin: WoW Skins – Mandy
• Eyebrows: DS’Elles – Eyebrow Series 8 for Omega
• Eyes: IKON – Hope Eyes in Emerald
• Hair: MINA – Zahra
• Tattoo: Juna – Branches of Flowers (Omega)
• Top & Jeans: Sweet E’s – Butterfly Jeans and Tank Outfit
• Shoes: Reign – Spring Tassel Wedges (with HUD)
• Jewelry:  EarthStones – Kanza Earrings in Bloodstone;  Earthstones – Sentiment Necklace, Loved; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
• Nails: Encore – Shades of Pink Nail Appliers
• Pose: FoxCity – The Tube 1M

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Nothing makes me feel as elegant and beautiful as a gown. It’s the perfect pick-me-up whenever I’m feeling a bit down. This gorgeous new gown from Allure made me feel spectacular (even with my slightly crossed eyes lol)! I love how so many of the Allure gowns come in Tonic sizes (no, not ALL, but MANY, with a wide range of styles), so they fit my Tonic body absolutely perfectly. And the attention to detail and textures are consistently sensational, like the big flowing bow at the back and the subtle sequins on the bodice (not that overly glittery texturing you so often see), as well as optional touches so that you can customize your look to fit your style or the occasion. I’m wearing everything — the pearl and diamond broach for that eye-catching detail, the optional stole and the flexiprim skirt, which my partner loved “because it swirls like smoke”, but you can choose to go without. Elegance and personalized style indeed! And, of course, matching shoes are always included! Demos (again, as always) are available upon request.

• Body: Tonic – Curvy Beauty
• Head: LAQ – Neve (Bento)
• Skin: WoW Skins – Mandy
• Eyebrows: DS’Elles – Eyebrow Series 8 for Omega
• Eyes: IKON – Hope Eyes in Emerald
• Makeup:  DS’Elles – Eyeshadow Series 10 plus Lipstick Series 8, both for Omega
• Hair: TRUTH – Tinsley (VIP December gift)
• Tattoo: Juna – Branches of Flowers (Omega)
• Gown with Shoes: Allure Couture – Vivian Bow Sash Gown in Emerald (includes Tonic sizes) with optional Flexi Skirt and Stole; includes Vivian Side Bow Slink Heels
• Jewelry: Maxi Gossamer – Maharani Necklace and Earrings; EarthStones – Bacall Pearl Cocktail Ring Emerald (Bento); Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
• Nails: ZOZ – White Lace Polish (gift at the  Shop Your Heart Out Event ends 2/26)
• Pose: BellePoses – Millie 4 (Events and Marketplace Only)
• Location: Atlas Luxury Lounge

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It’s been a rough week dealing with an aging parent lost in technology.  I then escaped into my own world of technology here on the grid, where I spent some more time thinking about how I choose exactly what to blog. I realized that as a blogger, I do a lot of shopping with an eye towards not just what I want to wear, but what I think others might want to know about. And although I’m always looking for new designers who create clothes in Tonic sizes (or which easily fit the Tonic body), I find that certain brands consistently provide the looks I want at a reliable value since yes, my Second Life has a budget. Along that line, I find that S&B Fashion is a great source for Tonic gals to find casual wear. I totally fell in love with the detailing on this lace top — between the cut outs along the neck and the bottom edging, together with the little embellishments and the sheer fabric that’s almost-but-not-quite-too-revealing — for which a Tonic size is an absolute must. (For those who don’t want the sheer lining, the top is also available with a solid lining; both versions come with multi-HUDs offering a choice of 6 colors.) The jeans, while not in a Tonic size, fit me perfectly in Physique with some judicious use of the alpha hud on the legs, and are nicely detailed as well, with embroidered stitching running down the seams and edging at the cuffs. And for some reason, wearing lace always makes me feel better… even when dealing with the frustrations of the real world!

• Body: Tonic – Curvy Beauty
• Head: LAQ – Neve (Bento)
• Skin: LAQ – Valentine Skin Applier
• Eyebrows: DS’Elles – Eyebrow Series 8 for Omega
• Eyes: IKON – Hope Eyes in Emerald
• Hair: Argrace – Shirabe
• Makeup: LIVIA – Amel Lipstick
• Nails: Encore – Shades of Green Nail Appliers
• Outfit: S&B Fashion – Top & Jeans Candance Lace *6 Colours (top in Tonic; pants worn in Physique)
• Shoes: KC Couture – Sevilla Wedges
• Tattoo:  Juna – Lule V2
• Jewelry: EarthStones – Neisha Earrings in Black/Paua/MoP and Stone Donut Bracelet in Green Apatite/Brown; [VO.Z] – Twining Around Tenderness Bento Rings; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
• Location: Luane’s World (Slice of Heaven)

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Blech, another day of seesawing weather here in RL; we’re supposed to have a two-day reprieve from winter’s chill, and here I am, just waiting for the sun. Obviously some outfits are getting lost in my “To Blog” folder (this is an autumn dress lol), but I just fell in love with how this whole rust-colored theme set off my new hair and eyes (both new brands for me!), not to mention the one bare shoulder and Tonic-curvy-enhancing style.  Not only that, it actually fits better with the weather lol!

• Body: Tonic – Curvy Beauty
• Head: LAQ – Neve (Bento)
• Skin: LAQ – Valentine Skin Applier
• Eyebrows: DS’Elles – Eyebrow Series 8 for Omega
• Eyes: IKON – Hope Eyes in Emerald
• Hair: Argrace – Shirabe
• Makeup: LIVIA – Amel Lipstick
• Nails: Go Frock Yourself – Bronze Omega Nail Appliers
• Dress: The 100 – Autumn Dress Duo (in brown and green)
• Boots: KC Couture – Odelia Boots (in Tonic sizes!)
• Tattoo: SHANA (Marketplace Only) – Asha Brown (Omega)
• Jewelry: Kunglers – Milena Earrings in Quartz; RealEvil Industries – Orbit Bracelet & Necklace (Group Gift); [VO.Z] – Twining Around Tenderness Bento Rings; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
• Location: Fairhaven

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It may have taken some true survivalist skills to not only make it through the inworld Valentine’s Day madness, but to score some finds in all the V-Day sales, events and love-themed merchandise.  Getting into the fabulous Shop Your Heart Out Event was an achievement in itself! Several of this week’s finds are part of this preppier-than-usual-for-me look I pulled together, which is simply perfect for this not quite winter/not quite spring weather…

• Body: Tonic – Curvy Beauty
• Head: LAQ – Neve (Bento)
• Skin: LAQ – Valentine Skin Applier — FREE GROUP GIFT thru 2/18
• Eyebrows: DS’Elles – Eyebrow Series 8 for Omega
• Eyes: Dulce Secrets – Glint Jade Eyes
• Hair: Magika – Excuse Me, on sale at the Shop Your Heart Out Event thru 2/26
• Top: MOZ Designs – Rowan Sweater (multiple fat pack options)
• Pants: MOZ Designs – High Waist Leggings (4 fatpacks as well as a superfatpack)
• Shoes: (unseen) G&D Shoes – Cristel Ankle Boots (multi-HUD with ton of options)
• Tattoo: CyberStar BodyArt – StarSwirls V2
• Jewelry:  Earthstones – Sentiment Necklace, Loved; ChicaChica – Ava Earrings (with HUD); AvaWay – Rianna Rings (with HUD) (Bento); Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
• Pose: Fashiowl – Doves, Pose 5; on sale at the Shop Your Heart Out Event thru 2/26
• Location: Yorkshire

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Even after 11 years in SL, I still find that getting all dolled up and going out in a gown creates a certain sense of excitement. Maybe it’s because it’s such a rare occurrence in my RL, but the whole process of putting together that couturish look just makes me happy.  Still, finding gowns for my Tonic curves isn’t always easy.  Yes, any Omega gown will fit, but many of those are so revealing that for me, they lose that sense of elegance. Which is why I’ve been so thrilled since I found Allure. Although she creates a lot of awesome non-formal wear (some of which I’ve featured on these pages), I find her gowns — many of which come in true Tonic sizes — are truly exceptional.

Although this beautiful one-shoulder gown won’t fully release until March (which means seven additional color choices), the dark rose is just so perfect for Valentine’s (without being the red that almost every other avatar will be wearing) that per the designer “it screamed to be released early”! The texture is a romantic mixture of chiffon and satin textures, with materials to pick up the highlights.  I just love the resulting gleam in the texture plus all those little details that make an Allure gown so special, like the half peplum that really sets off my Tonic curves in a truly elegant fashion. The gown includes an optional flexi shoulder scarf (worn) as well as a flexi skirt for those who like that option (not shown). Keep in mind, that if you join the Allure group, you get an automatic discount on the whole store including a 50% discount on the first week of new releases as well. Also, and to me this is HUGE, the designer will provide a DEMO upon request.

• Body: Tonic – Curvy Beauty
• Head: LAQ – Neve (Bento)
• Skin: LAQ – Nellie, with Nellie makeup HUD
• Eyebrows: DS’Elles – Eyebrow Series 8 for Omega
• Eyes: Dulce Secrets – Glint Jade Eyes
• Hair: Amacci – Daphne in Modern Red
• Gown with Shoes: Allure Couture – Sidney Gown in Dark Rose (includes Tonic sizes) with optional Flexi Skirt and Shoulder Scarf; includes Flower Heels in Rose & Silver
• Jewelry: Vintage Jewels – Eternelle Earrings, Bracelet (VERY high complexity) & Ring (extinct vendor)
• Nails: Encore – Glittery Purples
• Pose: Image Essentials – Sultry 10
• Location: The Looking Glass Ballroom