Tag: Avatars

Boom! Pow!

Posted on by cejalaval

http://Boom! Pow!

Sometimes a name really does say it all, and the name of this dress — BoomPow — is exactly what it does… it just knocks them off their feet! I have rarely, and I mean RARELY, had so many comments from my partner throughout an evening about how fantastic a dress was and how I looked in it… when I mentioned how it came in lots of colors, rather than a bored response of “oh” I got an “Oh really? then you should be willing to wear it a lot, good!”.  Is there a higher recommendation for a dress than that????  Seriously though, this long dress/gown brings swank to the absolute topmost level of Hollywood Glam (the theme of the current Swank event).  The way it drapes and clings to your shape without looking tight or overly done… the thinnest of straps at the bodice, tieing off at the back of the neck and then dangling down the back.  Available in a range of 9 textures, the stars (which come in 3 different colors, this is Green Stars) is my personal favorite; it absolutely gleams in the right light… talk about eye-catching!  And of course a dress like this needs the right jewelry to go with it — something that can stand up to it but not overshadow or fight it, and IMHO, this is the perfect set.  Remember:  be safe out there, but in here on the grid? Sometimes you want to play it a little dangerous… and with this dress, you can definitely do it in style!

  • Dress:  Skindustrial Bodyworks LTD (SKBW) – BoomPow Dress.  Stunning, stunning, stunning. I talk about it more above.  Available in 9 GORGEOUS textures; sized for Slink HG/P, Belleza F/I/V, & Maitreya.  Available EXCLUSIVELY at the April round of the Swank Event, April 8th – 31st.  See below for a full-length view where you can really see the drape of the dress & the detail of the texture.
  • Jewelry:  Moondance Boutique – Mila Set.  Delicate, beautifully detailed, able to hold its own.  Hud-controlled to provide 28 textures for two gems plus metals. Includes the necklace, earrings, bracelets, & rings (not shown).  See the closeup below.  Available EXCLUSIVELY at the April round of the Swank Event, April 8th – 31st. Also worn: Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
  • Head, Brows, Skin, Eyes:   LOGO – Willow
  • Makeup:  LOGO – Enhanced Ombre Glosses & Glossy Eyeshadows (I made my own eyeshadow combination!)
  • Body:  Slink – Hourglass Mesh Body Original, Full Version including Hands (Dynamic) & Feet
  • Hair:  D!va – Helen
  • Freckles:  Izzie’s – Heart Mole & Freckles (Omega); DS’Elles – Freckle Body (Omega)
  • Nails:  Plastik – Meore
  • Location:  MMAC for Funk Friday

The New Reality

Posted on by cejalaval

http://The New Reality

The new reality… that’s what they call it.  I prefer the OLD reality or fantasy, but I guess none of us gets to choose.  Considering how much time I have on my hands, it’s amazing how much difficulty I’m having with my blogging.  With so much emptiness and so many hours to fill, I find it hard to concentrate… not to mention that I’ve been busy developing other distractions — videogames, puzzles, home repairs, and of course lots of reading.  The main issue is that there’s just this underlying worry all the time, stress that just can’t be resolved.  Once it warms up a bit and we can at least sit in the backyard and work in the garden, I think things will improve, but I also think I’m kidding myself and that it will just be more of the same.  Of course, EVERYONE feels it, but I do wonder if that makes it better or worse to have an entire world society locked up in their homes, on edge, worrying about tomorrow.  We all need avatars that can go out there in the real world for us and face the dangers, avatars that can transmit all the feelings, not just the visual and audio but ALL of it… now wouldn’t THAT be something?  Hmmm, I’ll have to daydream about that for a while… Meantime it’s a new month, and all the SL designers are also locked up in their homes worldwide, so they’ve been busy designing simply awesome things, which are now hitting their stores and the the monthly events.  Shopping is, as always, the best therapy!!!!  Keep your eye out for stay-at-home specials… I’ve found a free house, a free head, free clothes, and more…. but the most important thing is to STAY SAFE OUT THERE!!!

  • Top:  MOZ Designs –  NEW!  “Camilla” Cowl Neck Top.   This 100% Original fitmesh comes in 2 fatpacks — 16 solids or 8 patterns — or a SuperPack of all 24 textures!  Sized for Tonic, Slink, Belleza, Maitreya, eBody & Legacy + Perky.  Demo available.  EXCLUSIVELY sold at the April Designer Showcase starting tomorrow, April 5th.  Group members remember to wear your tag for a discount!
  • Jeans:  Tonic – NEW!  Influence High Waisted Jeans, made exclusively to fit the Tonic bodies.  Whether you’re a fine beauty or a curvy one like me, these jeans are made to fit YOUR shape & boy, do they flaunt it!  High waisted, button-down, snug-legged with natural looking wrinkles in all the right places.  Available in 16 denims & 16 colors, every pack includes versions for bootcut & “regular” fit.  At the main store now.
  • Swing:   Bloom!– NEW!  Swing Chair Lizzie in Purple, with hanging lights that pool on the ground.  Includes singles, couples, & sex animations.   Also available in blue & in pink. A We Love to Blog designer.
  • Head, Brows, Skin, Makeup:   LOGO – Josie
  • Body:  Tonic – Curvy Beauty + Booty Control… truly the most natural curves on the grid with the ability to add that extra oomph how & if you want it!
  • Eyes:  Avi-Glam – Luminous Eyes in Ivy
  • Hair:  Doux – Bloodline
  • Freckles:  Izzie’s – Heart Mole & Freckles (Omega); DS’Elles – Freckle Body (Omega)
  • Nails:  Encore – Shades of Purple
  • Shoes:  N-Core Design – ISLA “White Floral” (2018 Tres Chic Anniversary Gift)
  • Jewelry:   Heartsdale Jewelry – Rhapsody in Silver Set; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
  • Cat:  Image Essentials Props and Poses – Full Perm Mesh Cats
  • Location:  my home in Blake Passage

Dressed for Dinner

Posted on by cejalaval

http://Dressed for Dinner

So as much as I’m trying to keep the quarantine situation out of Second Life (no masks for me in here, I actually find it a bit disturbing), I just couldn’t resist this.  I haven’t left my house in weeks other than to walk the dog; I don’t get dressed, I haven’t put on makeup, I doubt I’ll be able to tolerate wearing a bra after this lol!   But I’m not quarantined alone… I have my husband, I have my pets, and of course I have my virtual life.  I have single friends who are either going the hermit path (kind of like me) or are trying to follow their “normal” routine of getting up, getting dressed, but then just not going anywhere.  To me, that’s madness, but I can understand the need to occasionally still doll yourself up like you’re going out for the evening, even if it’s just to sit at home and eat take-out.  The world has gone mad… the idea is to hang on to your own little bit of sanity, whatever it takes.  All I can say is to be safe out there!  This too shall pass…

  • Outfit:  !!smesh – NEW! Tyra Outfit.  Exactly what I’d wear if I wanted to dress up a little bit but still be comfortable…   black leggings with a bit of a moire pattern paired with a satiny T-shape cropped top that has a fabulous collar detail & hangs to an asymmetric point. Includes a 6 color-HUD for the top where you can also adjust the sheer.  Sized for Hourglass, Physique, Freya, Altamura, eBody Curvy, & Maitreya. Demo available.
  • Skin:  7 Deadly s[K]ins – Meena, worn in Caramel browless.  Another beautiful Omega skin, two options of 5 tones each (dark or light, including both omega & BOM, with & without brows), though I’ve added a touch of eyeshadow & lipstick because this outfit demanded it, & of course my signature freckles & brows, since I chose a browless version. EXCLUSIVELY available at  the March DUBAI Event, March 20th – April 10th.  Demos & shape also available.
  • Head, Brows, Makeup:   LOGO – Mae
  • Body:  Slink – Hourglass Mesh Body Original, Full Version including Hands (Dynamic) & Feet
  • Eyes:  Avi-Glam – Royalty Eyes in Tropical
  • Hair:  Doux – Selena
  • Freckles:  Izzie’s – Heart Mole & Freckles (Omega); DS’Elles – Freckle Body (Omega)
  • Nails:  Livia – Deep Gel
  • Shoes:  Pure Poison – Amber Sandals
  • Jewelry:  EarthStones – Arron Earrings; IT! (Indulge Temptation) – Farah Bracelet; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
  • Pose:  Secret Poses – Takeout
  • Location:  my home in Blake Passage

Paradise Lost

Posted on by cejalaval

http://Paradise Lost

I’m definitely not a Biblical nut, but I do have to admit that home confinement feels quite a bit like being sent to my room for misbehavior (though I’m certainly not without my supper!).  But did I misbehave?  Well, I personally have my faults and failures, and I do have to say that as a society, we certainly have not been taking care of our planet.  Perhaps, just perhaps, mother nature is starting to try to teach us our manners.  Yes, I definitely have too much time on my hands to think of far-fetched things, but is it any accident that certain environmental factors have improved during this global pandemic?  It’s logical of course… a lot of production is shut down, there’s no commuting, etc., but perhaps there’s a bigger lesson in all of this, beyond the need to be prepared and to care for our neighbors and our fellow man.  Who knows?  Again, too much time to play mind games and watch scifi movies…  and of course my daily shopping on the grid!  (My shopping IRL has really nose-dived now that Amazon Prime is taking up to a month to deliver!)  Whatever you are up to, especially if you are one of those out there on the front lines fighting for the rest of us, be safe out there!

  • Dress:  [WellMade] – Catalina Dress.  A beautiful long beach dress, with one side slit all the way up to the top of the thigh.  With a 10 texture HUD of the most beautiful tropical pattern, 5 in the pastel range & 5 in the darker tones.  Sized for Tonic, Slink HG/P, Belleza F/I/V, eBody Curvy, Jomo F/W, & Maitreya. EXCLUSIVELY at the Girls Heaven event, open March 8th – 31st.
  • Head, Eyes, Makeup:  Tonic – Tempest, the newest bento head from Tonic, which is debuting as an EXCLUSIVE at the North Sim of the Skin Fair from March 13th – 29th.  I’m not going to go into a lot of details here, because I did a closeup on March 7th which you can see HERE.  I WILL say that Tempest is beautifully amazing, presents a strong confident look, Omega is built in, several fully modifiable shapes are included, & IMHO is absolutely the best head yet by Tonic. A demo is available.
  • Skin:  7 Deadly s[K]ins – Muryel, worn in Oak browless.  Another beauty of an Omega skin, two options of 5 tones each (dark or light, including both omega & BOM, with & without brows).  I’ve added no makeup to this beauty, just my signature freckles & of course brows, since I chose a browless version. EXCLUSIVELY available at  the Whore Couture Fair by Flair For Events, through March 31st.  Demos & shape also available.
  • Body: Tonic – Curvy Beauty + Booty Control… truly the most natural curves on the grid with the ability to add that extra oomph how & if you want it!
  • Hair:  Doux – Pink
  • Brows:  Avada – Anja Eyebrows
  • Freckles:  Izzie’s – Heart Mole & Freckles (Omega); DS’Elles – Freckle Body (Omega)
  • Nails:  Cazimi – Paradise Nail Appliers
  • Jewelry:  EarthStones – Chianna Jewelry Set in Burning Embers; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
  • Pose:  Lyrium – Blogger Series Set 2, pose 3
  • Location:  The new hideaway (private)

Wild & Free

Posted on by cejalaval

http://Wild & Free

OK, I’m a bit of a homebody.  My husband doesn’t understand how I can be happy not leaving the house for a few days at a time, how I used to like working from home.  But this? This is way too much, even for me.  The way things are now, it’s not like there’s even anywhere to go or anything to do because it’s all shut down, but there’s definitely a sense of being trapped.  The fact that it’s getting colder outside — we’re supposed to get snow in a few days! — doesn’t help either.  And on top of it all my seasonal allergies have kicked in, so it’s just a mix of things that are working together to make me depressed.  I know it’s not just me… everyone is feeling it to some degree.  I’m not sure though if that makes it better or worse.  And the fact that there’s no near end in sight doesn’t help either.  Thankfully there’s the grid and my life and activities there (though to be honest, most of it IS blogging at this point), but I was definitely drawn to doing something exuberant and free, as opposed to the trapped feeling so many of us are experiencing.  Stay safe out there in the real world… chin up (advice for myself as well!)… I don’t know about you, but I’m still shopping… IRL I’m waiting for a sea sponge to arrive so that I can do some painting touchup; here in SL, there are so many events there’s never enough time…  oh wait! Now there is!!!  Happy shopping! and stay safe out there!

  • Dress:  in.SANITY Designs – NEW! Animal Instinct.  I’d love to say something cute about how this really brought out the animal in me or something, but all I can say is that I really did go wild for this outfit!  It’s just such fun & so stylish & sexy, all at the same time.  My biggest problem is that there are 12 colors available, several of which I absolutely adore which makes decisions very very difficult, but luckily they also come all together in a Fat pack with a HUD where you can change the color for the jacket, cuffs, corset, & skirt separately, so you can even mix ‘n match if you want. Sized for Slink, Belleza, Legacy, & Maitreya.  Demo available.  Also on Marketplace!
  • Head, Eyes, Skin, Shape (modified):  LOGO – Josie.  Brand-new, absolutely stunning bento head, EXCLUSIVELY available at the Skin Fair, at the introductory price of 999L including both the customization & animation HUDs (normally sold separately), March 13th – 29th.  More details — & a closeup head shot — can be seen in my post from March 17th HERE.   A demo is available.
  • Body:  Slink – Hourglass Mesh Body Original, Full Version including Hands (Dynamic) & Feet
  • Hair:  no.match – NO_WATER
  • Freckles:  Izzie’s – Heart Mole & Freckles (Omega); DS’Elles – Freckle Body (Omega)
  • Nails:  Encore – Shades of Blue
  • Pose:  HopScotch – Balance (Pose Fair gift)
  • Jewelry:  Pure Poison – Cat Jewelry Set; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
  • Location:  Luane’s World, Romantic Sim

I’ll Drink to That

Posted on by cejalaval

http://I'll Drink to That

So the world has gone crazy, and many of us are forced to spend all of our time at home.  Coughing and sneezing and headaches from seasonal allergies are always annoying but now they’re somewhat alarming, causing a full self-examination of symptoms and temperature taking.  The magnolia tree next door has started to bud, which has ALWAYS caused me to have severe allergic reactions, but this year, worry is among them.  On top of all the health issues, my workplace has closed, so I have more time to sit and watch my savings disappear… which is just a delightful exercise in itself especially considering that we were planning on retiring in just a few months.  But what can you do but try to keep yourself and your loved ones safe and roll with the punches?  I will say one thing… it’s a wonderful time to be in Second Life. I’m actually a bit surprised that there hasn’t been a big ad campaign to boost virtual worlds, with so many people worldwide locked in their homes, going stir crazy.  I for one will not be surprised to see a huge influx of newbies running around the grid, doing what we all did as newbies.  As for me, well, in addition to blogging, I’m doing more exploring, more music venues, & definitely more shopping.  LOTS of great events out there, with tons of goodies!  Here are just a few…  Maybe I’ll even finally learn to sail that boat I bought months and months ago! I’ll drink to that!  In the meantime, happy shopping!

  • Outfit:  WILD Fashion & Beauty – Daphne Outfit.  This brand describes itself as “the image of femininity, more realistic but still fantasized, tasteful and modern…It expresses forms of elegance and luxury with the Mediterranean flavour.”  I think this outfit epitomizes that statement.  Combining denim, lace, & sequins (yes, sequins!) could be either a dream or a nightmare… I’m thrilled to say I’m living the dream!  Includes a HUD with 10 options for the top — 5 with lace, 5 with just sequins — & 10 for the skirt — 5 with lace trim, 5 solid denim with 4 off-center buttons.  Sized for Slink HG/P, Belleza F/I/V, & Maitreya, this stunning little outfit is available EXCLUSIVELY at the March round of the Swank Event, March 7th – 29th.
  • Head:  LOGO – Josie.  Brand-new, absolutely stunning bento head, EXCLUSIVELY available at the Skin Fair, at the introductory price of 999L including both the customization & animation HUDs (normally sold separately), March 13th – 29th.  More details — & a closeup head shot — can be seen in my post from March 17th HERE.   A demo is available.
  • Body:  Slink – Hourglass Mesh Body Original, Full Version including Hands (Dynamic) & Feet
  • Hair:  Lamb – Baddie
  • Freckles:  Izzie’s – Heart Mole & Freckles (Omega); DS’Elles – Freckle Body (Omega)
  • Pose:  Reve Obscura (R!O!) – Just One Drink

Angel of the Morning

Posted on by cejalaval

http://Angel of the Morning

I’m not particularly into angels.  Yes I love wings, but even in my fae days (yes, once upon a time many years ago, I played as an elvish-fae hybrid) when I wore wings every day, I never wore angel wings. In fact, when given a choice between being an angel or a devil, I’d have to say I just about always go for the dark side.  But not this time.  Somehow this angel outfit just didn’t hit me as all that angelic, if you get my drift… in fact, it almost seems a bit devilish in that it just exudes temptation.  I found it to be rather inspiring, so much so that rather than just do it the easy way and shoot myself flying or hovering against a cloudy background, I decided to make it much harder, and build a small cloud “set”.   It reminded me of a lesson I’d forgotten of late… I have so much more fun when I do it the hard way, going a bit overboard and doing much more than is necessary in order to approximate the image that’s in my brain…  Well, time to hang up my wings and leave my seat in the clouds…  Happy shopping! (and to quote a show from a long, long time ago, “Be safe out there!”)

  • Outfit:  Giulia Design – URIEL.  Includes dress, open-work boots, Charu Tikka, crystal halo, hair decoration, body piercing, gold deco, & animated wings, which you can see in the pic below together with a close-up look at the Tikka & halo.  Sized for Slink HG/P, Freya, & Maitreya, & EXCLUSIVELY available at the Girls Heaven event, open March 8th – 31st.
  • Fountain:  Tylar’s Treasures – Heaven’s Gate Angelic Fountain, with animated water.  Lovely addition to your decor, whether you live in the clouds or on land like most of us. EXCLUSIVELY available at the Girls Heaven event, open March 8th – 31st. 
  • Clouds:  Tylar’s Treasures – Cloud Blue Box.  A beautiful blue cloud generator to create clouds for your fantasy, RP, photography, landscaping, home, or any place you want a bit of special romance or mystery.  Also available in pink.  Available only on Marketplace.
  • Mesh Cloud (in bottom pic only):  Tylar’s Treasures – Heaven’s Gate Cloud Bento Adult.  A mesh cloud for when you need something solid among the clouds.  Animated with 4 male & 4 female single sits + sequence, 2 slow dances, 6 bento cuddles + sequence, 8 bento multi-speed adult + sequence.  Adult & cuddle versions available.  25% OFF at the Girls Heaven event, open March 8th – 31st. 
  • Head, Skin, Eyes & Makeup:   LOGO – Willow, worn in Alabaster
  • Body:  Slink – Hourglass Mesh Body Original, Full Version including Hands (Dynamic) & Feet
  • Hair:  Doux – Mecca
  • Pose:  CNZ (extinct vendor) – Beach Game Poses Set

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Posted on by cejalaval

http://Something Wicked This Way Comes

This was a fun outfit for me to blog, but a tough one at the same time.  I know that it was inspired by something on the darker side for an event with a dark theme, but I just don’t do dark real well unless it’s Halloween, and even then it doesn’t feel comfortable.  And one thing I want to do when I really love an outfit is feel good about what I’m doing with it.  So although I considered the whole zombie hunting thing, I just couldn’t get it to a level that feel acceptable to my harshest critic (me).  So although I still went dark for me, it certainly is no horror show… but then again, this is a gorgeous leather outfit suitable for all sorts of moods, so maybe where I ended up is where I needed to be after all. Either way, I had fun exploring a few dark corners looking for the right shot… I highly recommend exploring outside your normal venues… followed up by some shopping therapy!!!! Happy shopping!

  • Head, Eyes, Skin, Shape, Makeup:  Tonic – Tempest, a preview of the newest bento head from Tonic, which will debut as an EXCLUSIVE at the Skin Fair on March 13th.  I’m not going to go into a lot of details here, because I did a closeup on Saturday’s blog.  You can see it HERE, & pick up a free demo at the main store.  I WILL say that Tempest is beautifully amazing, & IMHO is absolutely the best head yet by Tonic.
  • Outfit:  Allure Couture – Lisha Leather Outfit.  Inspired by Selene, the vampire in “Underworld” who kills Lycans, Lisha is a bit darker than most of Allure’s designs, but then the theme for the event is “darkness.”  Darkness is certainly done in style with a leather outfit that can be interpreted in lots of ways, depending on your mood & how you style it.  The details are fabulous — the “tooling” on the jacket, then the lace & the darker contrast on the cuff of the shoes, the hip belt with a big open ring right on the butt cheek? Just awesome!  Lisha is a complete outfit of jacket, pants, & boots, which comes in 6 separate color/texture choices or as a 10 option Fatpack.  If all you crave are the boots, they are available as a separate fatpack. All textures are ORIGINAL.  The outfit is sized for Tonic, Slink H/P, Belleza F/I/V, & Maitreya.  EXCLUSIVE new release for the 7Event, March 5th – 20th.  A We Love to Blog Designer.
  • Body:  Tonic – Curvy Beauty + Booty Control… truly the most natural curves on the grid with the ability to add that extra oomph how & if you want it!
  • Hair:  no.match – NO_BLING
  • Nails:  Cazimi – Callan Nails
  • Jewelry:  IT! (Indulge Temptation) – Samsara Set; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
  • Location:  Arranmore

Tempest

Posted on by cejalaval

http://Tempest

So when I first started as a blogger, my very first sponsor was Tonic, the maker of my favorite mesh body.  As I say repeatedly in my blogs whenever I wear my Tonic Curvy body (though I should mention that they do also make a Tonic Fine body, it’s just not ME, I’m definitely a curvy gal), in my opinion it has the most natural curves anywhere. I love it!  Then a while back, Tonic also started making bento heads, with every new head bringing a totally different look and new modifications.  Now I’m previewing Tempest, the newest bento head from Tonic, and all I can say is YAY, she is awesome, totally rivaling the major brands out there.  I’ll admit that in the past, I’ve tweaked quite a bit to get a look that I felt was me; this time, I’m using Tempest straight out of the box and feeling really REALLY good about it.  I’m sure I’ll do some minor tweaks over time, because that’s just what I do… I always like to put my own little stamp on every look, but the truth of the matter is that this head really doesn’t need it, especially since it already comes with several shape options, as described below.  Here are the details of “the look”:

  • Head, Eyes, Skin, Shape, Makeup: Tonic – Tempest, a preview of the newest bento head from Tonic, which will debut as an EXCLUSIVE at the Skin Fair on March 13th. Tempest is strong, confident, powerful, & trouble!  In addition to the customization/animation HUD — which among other things includes eyes in 7 colors, 7 eyeshadows by AlaskaMetro,  face skin from Pink Fuel, with/without freckles, in 12 tones, plus 3 ear shapes (flat, human, & pixie) — it comes with 6 sample shapes (3 for curvy, 3 for a finer shape, all of course are mod!), 3 brow shapes, two versions of the head (one “lite” for BOM), & BOM extras.  And Omega is built in! (Note: you do need to buy the matching skin tone for your body).  I’m using green eyes, biscuit skin with freckles, & curvy shape #3. Makeup & lipstick are straight from the HUD.  In other words, this beautiful look is STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX; all I did was change the body measurements to match my body. I can’t even begin to tell you how rare that is for me! The free demo is available for you to play with right now at the main store; no need to wait!
  • Body: Tonic – Curvy Beauty + Booty Control… truly the most natural curves on the grid with the ability to add that extra oomph how & if you want it!
  • Hair:  no.match – NO_BLING
  • Jewelry:  IT! (Indulge Temptation) – Samsara Set; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band

See you on the grid! Happy shopping!