NextUP… Glamping!

http://NextUP... Glamping!

Glamping is one of those words known as a “portmanteau”, in that it “blends the sounds and meanings of two other words.”  I’ve never been glamping, in fact I’ve never been much of a camper at all.  Based on what I’m seeing here though, it’s a far cry from camping has always meant to me!  As a kid, camping meant a sleeping bag on the ground under the stars, not even a tent to help hide some of those terrifying night shadows.  As an adult, my first camping trip used a pup tent so that my head was covered but my body was still outside, which was totally ridiculous; 15 years later, we added a tent for camping with the cub scouts, but it was still mighty rough, with every stone jabbing your back, rolling partway across the uneven ground while asleep, & still having to crawl to the flap to get out!  This amazing set is such a far cry from my past experiences because it’s anything BUT roughing it… AND you can put it together any way you want, with just one or two pieces or the entire set, to create the glamping experience and scene that YOU want.

Dreamland Designs:     Elisa Glamping Tent NextUP.  Remember that this is a NextUP event & not a gacha.  With NextUP, you can see the next upcoming item so that you know what you will be buying, it’s not a gamble. The glamping set includes 14 commons & two rares — the two tents themselves, PG & Adult versions — all material enabled & transfer.  There’s also a fatpack available for 20% off with copy/mod no transfer permissions.   In my pic above, I’ve used every item in the set (though obviously not all the variations!); you can see the individual details in the key below.  Note that both the tent & the cushions contain bento animations.  On sale at the NextUP shopping event only until June 28th. 

A moment in time…

http://A moment in time...

It’s been incredibly hot and humid.  It’s been increasingly rainy.  And I’m still on a soft food diet.  But while I’m no longer walking around starving all day, I was on restricted physical activity for the last week or so (both due to weather and doctor’s orders) so between vacation-eating and post oral surgery-eating I’ve managed to put back on quite a few pounds.  Which — after working so hard last year to take the weight off after COVID — has in turn been making me somewhat depressed, leading to more eating, less activity, etc.  I’m at least recognizing early on that it’s a self-destructive circle, one that I’m starting to kick myself off of starting right NOW.  The sun is shining, not a drop of rain in sight, and within my limited range of food choices, I will be going out for some exercise today and choosing better food (though I have to say, any form of dieting is REALLY hard when you’re not allowed to eat salads or raw vegetables or berries or apples or, well the list goes on and on, which is why pudding and ice cream keep leaping into my hands! Cottage cheese just isn’t that appealing lol, BUT since I don’t have body sliders (oh, if only!!!!) it’s what I’ve got to do…  And of course, the cure to ALL depression, SHOPPING THERAPY!!!!

  • Gown:  Kitty Creations – Gwen.  Sexy silver-trimmed gown sized for Slink HG/P, Belleza F/I/V, Tonic, Maitreya & Classic.  Totally elegant look that includes necklace & earrings.  Available in 8 colors or as a fatpack.  EXCLUSIVELY available at the June round of the Swank Event, open through June 30th.  Demo available.
  • Head:  LeLUTKA – Nova Head (EvoX)
  • Body:  LEGACY – Mesh Body Special Edition, Feminine
  • Skin:  DeeTaleZ – Esra in Sunkiss
  • Freckles/Moles:  DS’ELLES – Charm Moles
  • Hair:  EMO-tions – Roberta
  • Bag:  MAJESTY – Crystal Sphere Bag (white)
  • Pose:  BellePoses – Inna
  • Backdrop:  BellePoses – Black Shades

Goin’ Coastal at Dreamland Designs’ Secret Sale

http://Goin' Coastal at Dreamland Designs' Secret Sale

I’ve been nesting.  I had some major dental work done earlier this week (ugh, I know, believe me), I’ve graduated from a liquid diet to soft foods (still ugh) but the lack of “real” food and the enforced non-activity has turned me into a total homebody (even more than usual lol).  And that translates into nesting.  It’s a much slower, more involved, and way more costly issue IRL, so my SL home has become the focus of this concentrated energy.  Since my move to this lot and the purchase of my house are both relatively recent events, this nesting phase has been greatly needed, considering the house had basically been furnished with items found in the ever deepening inventory bag… sometimes I wish I could set everything up in a great multi-level storage unit and I could just wander and point and say “let’s try that”, but the prims and space involved would be astronomical (like having a Ceja store with all my stuff in it lol).   Sometimes what I find in inventory is perfect, but even when the decor is fabulous, it doesn’t mean that it works best in THIS space.  That’s what makes it so fantastic when the PERFECT set is suddenly ON SALE.  No way, am I keeping this sale a secret!!!

Dreamland Designs:     It’s no secret that the Secret Sale offers fabulous deals; these items are on sale this weekend, June 18th – 20th. 

  • Coastal Bed Couch Set.  Includes the couch with bento animations, table, rugs, palm planter, & leaf wooden wall art.  Available in both PG & Adult versions; note that the PG version is on sale for L$99, & the Adult version is on a 50% discount for the Secret Sale.
  • White Farmhouse Book Armoire.  Perfect for all the readers out there (like myself!)!  Books not your thing?  Another version — an empty curio cabinet — is also available at the Sale!
  • Mosaic House Planters.  Set of three, two large & one small.  (Shown far left, far right, & on the room dividing ledge on right.)

Also shown:

  • Dreamland Designs – Helen Hanging Lamp
  • Circa – Hanging Plants
  • Evolving Images – Bull Dog
  • Rezz Room – Bulldog Puppy Play

Pretty in Pink

http://Pretty in Pink

I’m not a “pink girl.”   Even as a little girl, when all the other little girls couldn’t get enough pink, I gravitated toward patterns and stronger colors.  And that continues to hold true to this day, both IRL and in SL.  And yet, there are times when pink is just perfect, when it’s just the right touch of feminine without crossing over into the dreaded area of “too much.”   Perhaps it’s because it’s the palest pink, perhaps it’s because it’s polka dots (I DO love my polka dots lol!), perhaps it’s something else entirely, but in this top, pink was just the perfect choice.  Shrugs, I’ll never be able to pinpoint the why exactly, but what I DO know without doubt is that the overall impact of this outfit goes way beyond the color I chose… it has a serious touch of totally sexy disarray, offering more than a hint of wantonness, yet it doesn’t put a single toe over that line into exhibition…  to me, the pink offers a subtle unspoken contrast to the wantonness, taming it with restrained femininity, creating something totally alluring…    

  • Outfit:  YoUnique Couture – Dotty.  Off-shoulder shirt, top button open so that it’s artfully falling off to expose just the barest glimpse of nipple, paired with denim capris & an optional high neck collar (not shown).  Includes a 6-texture HUD for the top (4 polka-dots + black + white), 6 for the capris, & 3 for the collar.  Sized for Legacy, Hourglass, Physique, Freya, Isis, & Maitreya.   EXCLUSIVELY available at the June round of the Swank Event, open through June 30th.  Demo available.
  • Head:  LeLUTKA – Nova Head (EvoX)
  • Body:  LEGACY – Mesh Body Special Edition, Feminine
  • Skin:  DeeTaleZ – Esra in Sunkiss
  • Freckles/Moles:  DS’ELLES – Charm Moles
  • Hair:  Doux – Mecca
  • Jewelry:   Minimal – Chelin Letter Necklace; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
  • Pose:  Secret Poses – Wine & Chat

Fueling up for the dreaded video conference in the home office

http://Fueling up for the dreaded video conference in the home office

Working from home certainly has both its challenges and its rewards, as just about anyone who has ever done it (which is a sizeable portion of the population at this point) can attest.  On the positive side — no commute, easier dress code.  On the negative — lack of adult social interaction, no onsite tech support.  For me, computer issues were always the major issue working from home.  Even now, when blogging is my work, the computer can turn from my friendly companion into my mischievous adversary without notice.  Or if not exactly my computer, “computer-related”, since in my last night’s evening/this morning’s struggle, the villain was SL.  Somehow the scripts had broken on my house (probably all the modifications I was attempting), and in trying to reset them, the house became “stuck” in setup mode.  No big deal, right? Except that for some reason I couldn’t take photos in the house, or more specifically, the lighting wasn’t captured.  Since this shot was all planned using my new kitchen, I was rather shocked to look at my first few shots and see that instead of the windlights I had chosen, there I was standing in the dark.   Testing on other lots showed that it was ONLY in my house.  A puzzle indeed, one that warranted LOTS of coffee and yes, a donut!  After hours of struggling (and consultation with another blogger who asked if anything was in edit mode), I rezzed a replacement house, and proceeded without issue.  What I wouldn’t have done for a little tech support last night!!!!  Oh well…

  • Outfit:  GGVG Fashion (GuguVaga) – Talia Outfit.  An insanely comfortable outfit, Talia pairs a classic cotton slim cut t-shirt with a hip-hugging denim miniskirt & a half-mid-belt.  Available in 9 different color combinations, Talia is sized for Legacy, Slink HG/P,  Belleza F/I/V, eBody, Tonic, Alice, & Maitreya.  EXCLUSIVELY available at the June round of the Swank Event, open through June 30th.  Demo available.
  • Head:  LeLUTKA – Nova Head (EvoX)
  • Body:  LEGACY – Mesh Body Special Edition, Feminine
  • Skin:  DeeTaleZ – Esra in Sunkiss
  • Freckles/Moles:  DS’ELLES – Charm Moles
  • Hair:  Doux – Cece
  • Jewelry:  Maxi Gossamer – Soul Catcher Book of Spells Necklace & Earrings; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
  • Pose:  Sassy Sweet Poses – Lazy Morning

The remains of the day (beach style)…

 

http://The remains of the day (beach style)One of my favorite times of day is late in the day.  If I’m at a public beach (as I normally am, since I don’t have beach where I live), it’s after the crowds have all gone home or back to their hotel rooms or whatever, and I’m just wanting to read “just one more chapter”, many times in a row.  The shadows are lengthening, the waves have subsided as the tide goes out, it’s quiet and peaceful…  There’s the memory of the day softly fading, and the promise of tomorrow… perfect for some quiet moments of reflection… Now there are no crowds at my little personal stretch of sand here in SL, but somehow the feeling at the end of the day is still the same… and now I have the perfect little spot from which to sit, relax, enjoy and reflect…

!Tylar’s (formerly Tylar’s Treasures):  I often blog Tylar’s fantasy line so you may not realize that this amazing lady also creates fabulous beach decor!  Now that beach season is most definitely here, you might find that some of your old beachy items look a little too weather-worn and outdated (maybe with that horrid musty smell!), and that means one thing…  Time to do a beach makeover!!!!  And Tylar’s has soooo many fabulous items on sale at THE event for beach lovers, the Under the Sea Event, an Evil Bunny production, open June 4th – 14th.  I’m featuring just a few of what’s available; these items and more are specially priced at 50% OFF for the event, so it’s definitely a DO NOT MISS opportunity!  See the ads below for more detail.

  • Starfish Cove Beach Chair.  Simple wooden beach chairs, a bit faded with seaspray.  I just love the way there’s left & right chairs, with the umbrellas angled for just the right amount of intimacy.  Chairs are bento for male & female.  Touch change the texture for the umbrellas & the wood.
  • Starfish Cove Palm Decor.  A beautiful addition to any tropical setting, includes a lit palm tree with a small palm & starfish at the base.

Also shown:

  • Crate w/ drinks – Xantes – Mojito Drinks
  • Shells – Sway’s – beach shells
  • Drinks – Sway’s – summer drinking jars
  • Paddles – Dust Bunny – dreamy outing, beach paddles
  • Beach bag – Focus Poses – beach bag

Wildly sedate or sedately wild?

http://When the music beckons...

There’s just something about this dress… its attitude… it has this tropical island vintage vibe that immediately made me think of cocktails in a classy outdoor bar that had live music under the stars for dancing to those kinds of tunes that make you sway and move to a Latin beat… maybe in Havana or Puerto Vallarta or somewhere hot during the day and delicious in the evening.  I chose a rather sedate color combo; some are much more wild and colorful, ready to take on the world! Wow, a lot to get from a dress but that’s what clothing SHOULD do IMHO… as a blogger I love it when clothing tells me how it wants to be worn, and what it’s meant to be doing…  I can’t always capture it as well as I’d like (it can be a lot to show in a photo when you’re on a deadline lol), but I definitely know where my feet are taking me when I put on this dress!  Now to just find a dance partner!!!!

  • Outfit:  WILD Fashion – Rosa Dress.  Includes a HUD with 18 different textures, from sedate to wild!  (See the ad below.) Sized for Legacy, Hourglass, Physique, Freya, Isis & Maitreya.  EXCLUSIVELY available at the June round of the Swank Event, open through June 30th.  Demo available.
  • Head:  LeLUTKA – Nova Head (EvoX)
  • Body:  LEGACY – Mesh Body Special Edition, Feminine
  • Skin:  DeeTaleZ – Esra in Sunkiss
  • Hair:  EMO-tions – Jaily
  • Freckles/Moles:  DS’ELLES – Charm Moles
  • Makeup:  theMars – Organic Lips
  • Jewelry:  Beloved Jewelry – Grace Necklace & Earrings; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band

Can you wish upon a Starfish?

http://Can you wish upon a starfish?

It’s definitely summertime, and I’m getting the beach blues.  I may live in Florida, but I’m right in the middle of the state, no beach bum life for me!  Yes, I’ve got the sun, but right now I’m craving some sand and surf to go with it…  I’ll definitely have to create at least a day trip in the very near future (more is always a bit more difficult when you have a house full of pets lol), but for now I guess I’ll be taking my avatar off for some needed beach time… the problem I keep running into is that the beaches I keep finding tend to be more of the nude beach variety… not my style, I’m a fashion blogger after all!  Oh well, there’s a downside to everything, even on  the grid! Happy shopping!

  • Outfit:  Allure Couture – Misha Bikini.  You know summer is officially here when bikinis are suddenly everywhere!  Me, I like them sexy enough to show off my curves but not so teeny that my assets are showing more than I’m comfortable with!  And of course, it’s all about texture, texture, texture.  Misha is available in 5 individual colors, a 6-bikini/2 metal Slimpack, or a Fatback of 12 bikinis that includes four metal options, all with 100% Original Textures.  She’s sized for Legacy, Hourglass, Freya, Kupra & Maitreya, & is EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE at the current round of the Under the Sea Event, an Evil Bunny production, open June 4th – 14th.  Demo available.
  • Head:  LeLUTKA – Nova Head (EvoX)
  • Body:  LEGACY – Mesh Body Special Edition, Feminine
  • Skin:  DeeTaleZ – Esra in Sunkiss
  • Hair:  TRUTH – Lullaby
  • Freckles/Moles:  DS’ELLES – Charm Moles
  • Jewelry:  EarthStones – Sentiments Necklace, LOVED; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
  • Pose:  Secret Poses – Summer

She dances in the flames…

http://She dances in the flames...

Color, color, color!!! Is there ever enough color in the world?  Don’t get me wrong, neutrals have their place in the world, but they’re just so, well, neutral!  I love being surrounded by color, wearing color, creating color… color creates a vibrance in the air and just makes me feel so alive!  I even prefer having the blues to having the blahs… Tosses some fairy dust into the flames and sends energy out into the world… May color fill your day and chase any drabs away!!

  • Gown:  Viki – Colette.   Fabric (or here in SL, texture) & cut are always what make clothing stand out.  This dress just begged me to wear it (or was that me doing the begging to wear it?) because it simply excels in both categories! Add the tiny details, like the simple draping & shading, the gown is amazingly realistic. In 12 incredibly rich textures or a fatpack, Colette is sized for Maitreya & Legacy (with deformer), Material Enabled, 100% Original,  Brand NEW & EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE with a 25% discount only at the June round of The Narrative Event.  Demo available.
  • Head & Ears:  LeLUTKA – Gaia Head (EvoX)
  • Body:  LEGACY – Mesh Body Special Edition, Feminine
  • Skin:  Arcana – Cirice, worn in Freesia
  • Hair:  monso – Meiga
  • Horns:  Eclectica – Crystal Satyr Horns
  • Makeup:  Venge – Ear Blushing EvoX; Rubedo – Olive EvoX; Amis – Elfie Lips
  • Tattoo:  Juna – Naimi
  • Wings:  FAS– Butterfly Fae Wings (Animesh); I never got a chance to blog these when they were introduced at the recent Fantasy Faire since I left before the faire ended for my travels… AMAZING wings!
  • Pose:  west end poses – Hartje

Just Feeling Beachy

http://Just Feeling Beachy

Wow, re-entry after a long vacation is tough! This was the longest vacation I’ve ever taken in my adult life (it was actually a teeny bit too long to be honest), and it was exhausting.  It totally took me almost a full week to recover and get back into my “normal” routine.  As for blogging, I’ve been a bit shocked as to how hard it’s been to retake up the reins, from not remembering favorite windlights for types of shots to doing really stupid things (like accidentally leaving on a demo body skin,  wondering why there was cross-hatching everywhere & not figuring out until after spending hours post-editing… the real kicker was that it was still the best shot by far BUT totally unusable lol).   The fact remains is that you really can’t go back and redo a shot… you can never quite recapture that same angle, especially when a shoot involves continual minute adjustments to both angle & windlight.  But now here we are in June, it’s hot here IRL & the “full” beachwear is out, so I’ve made the switch here in SL too to tanned skin and beach time.  Happy summer, and happy shopping!

  • Outfit:  Allure Couture – Circe.  Although designed with fantasy in mind, this fabulous little wrap dress with long fringe & a low LOW back just screamed “sarong” to me, which immediately made me think “beach”.  Definitely not your standard beachwear, Circe is available in 5 individual colors, a 6-color Slimpack with three options for the panties w/leg wraps, or a Fatback of 12 that includes six options for panties w/leg wraps, all with 100% Original Textures.  She’s sized for Legacy, Hourglass, Freya, Tonic & Maitreya, & is EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE at the current round of the Pandora Fair, open through May 30th.  Demo available.
  • Head:  LeLUTKA – Nova Head (EvoX)
  • Body:  LEGACY – Mesh Body Special Edition, Feminine
  • Skin:  DeeTaleZ – Esra in Sunkiss
  • Hair:  eXxEsS – Champagne (includes hat)
  • Freckles/Moles:  DS’ELLES – Charm Moles
  • Makeup:  Celestial – Softness Lip Applier
  • Pose:  Nantra – Beach Illustrated 2020