Wishing for a Brighter Tomorrow

http://Wishing for a Brighter Tomorrow

Why is there so much stress and distress in the world?  It saddens my heart, and all of the personal stress my human counterpart has been undergoing (some minor surgeries, end-of-year financial decisions, hosting a major dinner for the first time in her new home) is cascading over onto me.  In one way, I’m happy to share the burden and lighten her load as much as I can, but in the other way!!! I want nothing at all to do with all those human things, and the only stress I want to experience is in dealing with the crowds at major shopping events while I search for the perfect accessory or makeup, or battling evil, or questing, or… well, you get the idea.  If I’m built for escapist fantasy, then what is real life stress doing intruding into my existence? Well, here’s wishing for a brighter tomorrow, where stress is minor, and my Second Life world can remain peaceful, and loving, and fun.  Happy shopping!

  • Dress:  Poet’s Heart – Alice.   Not quite your typical medieval gown, because (horrors!), Alice is cut away in front to show legs.  Being a bit more liberal & a lot more practical, this style is very fashionable among the fae folk at any time, but for humans Alice was originally designed more for the steam punk crowd at the Engine Room Event (it’s now at the mainstore).  Alice comes in three color packs (Vibrant, Muted, Naturals) or a fatpack of all 19 colors.  Each color pack has a HUD to customize the jacket, the jacket strap, the corset, corset strap, corset edge, skirt & pants, frill, inside skirt, frill inside, & metal separately, so the color combinations are almost limitless.  Alice is sized only for Maitreya, & is available in the Casual Fantasy room at the mainstore. Demo available.
  • Jewelry:  Petrichor – Arthriss Jewelry.  Stunning fantasy jewelry, the set includes earrings, 3 necklaces of different lengths, & a bracelet (not worn), all of which can be worn separately.  100% custom mesh & textures, with everything HUD controlled, including a glow which just adds a special touch of magic to this set!  Modify, resizable, low lag LOD.  A perfect fantasy accessory! See the ad below for more detail…
  • Head:  LeLUTKA – Gaia Head (EvoX)
  • Body:  LEGACY – Mesh Body Special Edition, Feminine
  • Eyes:  Gloom – Tirel Collection
  • Skin:  Heaux – Mikaela
  • Hair:  no.match – NO_LIMIT 
  • Horns:  LOGO – Hellion Horns
  • Makeup:  Loa – Nashwa Eyeshadows
  • Beauty Mark:  Unholy – Beauty Mark BOM for EvoX
  • Wings:  Seven’s Selections (now Vaengi Wings) – Irid Dark Wings
  • Pose:  Luane’s World – What the Future May Bring (includes lighted arch)

Black Magic Woman

http://Black Magic Woman

Well, now I’ve done it.  I’ve gone and broken one of my cardinal rules about blogging… all fantasy posts are supposed to fall into Thea’s wheelhouse, while I handle human fashion and home & decor.  But this outfit was just too tempting to follow rules like that, and let’s face it… Halloween is one of those times when everyone gets to dress up and picturize their fantasy, and I have just as much right to exercise my imagination as she does!  That said, I think I make a pretty awesome witchy elf with a bent towards the black side of magic!  I had a blast putting this look together and then exploring some of the highly creative Halloween sims that some truly imaginative minds have put together.  I have to admit, I might get a bit wistful once November rolls around and I have to pack away my elfin ears and my witchy wiles… at least till next time!  Happy shopping, and Happy Halloween!

    • Outfit:  Skindustrial Bodyworks (SKBW) – Rune Witch.  Sexy & just slightly on the dark side, this awesome costume includes the tunic with metallic collar & a magical rune print, arm bands, witch helm, & BOM layers for the face tattoo, the eyeshadow, the body tattoo, & the full body/face, as well as the magic orb (with bento hold). Sized for Slink HG/P, Legacy, Belleza F/I/V,  Maitreya, & Classic M.  EXCLUSIVELY available at the October round of the Swank Event, Oct 7th – 31st.  Demo available.
    • Head:  LeLUTKA – Nova Head (EvoX)
    • Body:  LEGACY – Mesh Body Special Edition, Feminine
    • Eyes:  SAMIA – RIA Eyes
    • Skin:  Amara Beauty – Lorena
    • Hair:  Analog Dog – Glamp
    • Makeup:  Opulein – Harmony Lips
    • Nails:  Stunner Originals – Bento Nails Mesh Ballerina Long
    • Location:  Frogmore

Mistress of Ceremonies

http://Mistress of Ceremonies

And now for the really fun part of Halloween… the costumes!  I mean, let’s get honest… more than half of my life in Second Life is spent role-playing as fae, so you might say that being in costume doesn’t seem like such a big deal.  But somehow it is.  Maybe it’s because I do keep my two personalities pretty separate; maybe it’s the type of outfit (I mean, come on, this is more burlesque and Mardi Gras appropriate than a medieval fantasy character would ever ever wear); maybe it’s something else entirely. I really don’t know, and frankly, I really don’t care.  All I know is that does make my heart beat just a tiny bit faster and brings a silly smile to my face.  Creating the scene was just so much fun, so different from what I normally do.  And that I think is the key… different from my norm.  After more than 14 years in SL, just being inworld is no longer something unique in itself, it IS the norm.  It’s getting to play with outfits like these and the inner fantasy worlds to which they lead that creates a new, different kind of excitement.  And I love it!  Happy shopping!

  • Outfit:  FlowerDreams – Agatha Costume.  Includes gorgeous black corset with straps & swirls & a built-in collar (with alpha mask), underskirt, black skirt (swirls fantastically, but not worn for this pic – see the ad below), underpants with garters & stockings, hat with a caged fairy within, & rose decorations.  Sized for Slink HG/P, Belleza F/V, Maitreya, Fitmesh, & Classic S/M/L.  Get this outstanding costume EXCLUSIVELY at the October round of Swank Event, Oct 7th – 31st.  Demo available.
  • Head:  LeLUTKA – Nova Head (EvoX)
  • Body:  LEGACY – Mesh Body Special Edition, Feminine
  • Skin:  Amara Beauty – Lorena
  • Freckles:  WOW Skins – Evo-X Beauty Marks
  • Hair:  eXxEsS – GIN
  • Eyes:  ARTE – Green Eyes
  • Tattoo:  SHANA – Sofi Black
  • Mask:  LEIGH – Masquerade Lace Mask
  • Gloves:  BouBouKi – Erith Gloves
  • Pose:  STUN Poses – Noite
  • Zebra:  Wild Kajaera – Firestorm Zebra (GIFT)
  • Backdrop:  Floyd – Halloween Series, Mad Circus

I Love the Crisp in the Air

http://I Love the Crisp in the Air

So it’s definitely cooled off here in central Florida. I’ve had to start wearing a light jacket in the mornings and evenings or when tooling around in my golf cart.  As much as I hate the cold, I do have a slight yearning for that crisp October air during fall in the northeast, especially when the sun hit the changing leaves at that perfect angle.  It always made the dog so spirited and lively (which is both a good and bad thing lol).  Since I won’t be going up north until Christmas time, I guess I’ll just have to take those crisp walks virtually here on the grid!!! Happy shopping!

  • Outfit:  Sascha’s Designs – Mireile Tux Dress Duo Pack.  That’s right, this sophisticated dress not only comes in 7 different colors, but each & every one comes in two styles (with or without the black trim, see below).  The little details – like the black inner lining that shows when you move – just kick this lovely dress up a notch.  I have to say, if I had an office or a date in the city, or just wanted to look totally put together, I’d totally wear this! Sized for Legacy, Slink HG/P,  Freya, Kupra O/B, & Maitreya, Annabelle is available in 11 different colors, or as a fatpack, EXCLUSIVELY at the October round of Swank Event, Oct 7th – 31st.  Demo available.
  • Head:  LeLUTKA – Nova Head (EvoX)
  • Body:  LEGACY – Mesh Body Special Edition, Feminine
  • Skin:  Amara Beauty – Lorena
  • Freckles:  WOW Skins – Evo-X Beauty Marks
  • Eyes:  ARTE – Green Eyes
  • Hair:  tram – F728
  • Makeup:  Dernier – “Eyeliner Set” Vol.1; CAZIMI – Dusk EvoX Lipstick
  • Jewelry:  IT! (Indulge Temptation) – Season Berries Set
  • Boots:  KC Couture – Gale Boots
  • Bag with Dog:  Rezz Room – Walking Bag Animesh
  • Pose:  Pose Maniacs – Olga Walking Poses
  • Backdrop:  Synnergy – Fall Pathway Backdrop

It’s exhausting to try to Outshop Cancer, but so worth it!

http://It's exhausting to try to Outshop Cancer, but so worth it!

It may be exhausting, but it’s so very very worthwhile to do whatever you can!  Out Shop Cancer is a main store and Marketplace shopping event – an official Strides Campaign the American Cancer Society in Second Life with proceeds going to support breast cancer research and programs & services for breast cancer survivors. The Out Shop Cancer Shopping event will run the entire month of October.  My meager services as a blogger can only go so far… it’s up to everyone to get out there and shop this event through the month of October and help fight breast cancer, a dread disease that affects us all, one way or another, one time or another.  So whether your brush with cancer is personal or through an acquaintance, is in the past, currently happening, or still waiting out there in the future, it’s important that you do what you can.  That’s what “shopping with a purpose” is all about… buy the things you want, and your lindens go to this all-important charity to help fight this scourge.  So have a cup of the beverage of your choice, and let’s get out there and shop, shop, shop!!!!  Let’s all do our best to Outshop Cancer!

What I’m wearing:

  • Outfit:  Ari-Pari – BCA Sweats.  This OSC EXCLUSIVE includes a HUD offers 10 hoodie & sweatpant color options.  Includes version of the cropped hoodie without the BCA emblem. Sized for Legacy, Slink HG/P, Belleza F/I/V, & Maitreya.  Perfect outfit for resting up & relaxing after an exhausting day of shopping!  100% of proceeds are pledged to the American Cancer Society in SL, through the Outshop Cancer event for the month of October.
  • Head:  LeLUTKA – Nova Head (EvoX)
  • Body:  LEGACY – Mesh Body Special Edition, Feminine
  • Skin:  Amara Beauty – Lorena
  • Freckles:  WOW Skins – Evo-X Beauty Marks
  • Eyes:  ARTE – Green Eyes
  • Hair:  Doux – Peach
  • Glasses:  MULLOY – Josa
  • Pose:  Heart Poses – Cozy Cocoa

The scene:

  • Cupboard (far right):  Korpokkur House – perfect little cupboard for storing your tea, coffee, & sugar… just what you need to replenish your energy!  Two versions available, both of which are 100% donations to Outshop Cancer.  Also shown is the Halloween plant (far left), which is a Hunt gift, courtesy of Outshop Cancer!
  • Hot Chocolate Tray (near right):  Simply Designed. Gives edible items on touch, including eating animations. 
  • Coffee Mugs:  Muniick – Coraline Coffee Mug Stand
  • Spice Shelf:  D-LAB – Spice Shelf Gift
  • Tea Kettle:   Raena Parx Designs – Tea Kettle with Handle in Copper
  • Kitchen Jars:  Salacity – Kitchen Jar Decor

More! We Need More Halloween!

http://More! We Need More Halloween

It seems to me that there’s rarely such a thing as “a little bit of Halloween.”  Yes, people might put up one token decoration, just to acknowledge that they know what season it is.  But generally speaking, either people do nothing (or that one thing, which let’s face it, is virtually the same thing!), or they go wild, where the concept of “too much” just doesn’t exist.  I have to admit that when my kids were young and we were inundated with trick-or-treaters (we sometimes got 100 or more!!!), I was guilty of going completely overboard.  It took several years of post-Halloween clean-up — standing there for hours trying to get all the cobwebs down, multiple trips up all the stairs and the attic ladder to put everything away for the next year —  for me to recognize that this was lunacy.  Ever since then, every year we’ve done less and less.  And now, as it turns out, none of our Halloween decorations made the cut when we were packing for the big move to Florida.  Since there are no trick-or-treaters this year, we are officially non-decorating, other than the pumpkins that my husband will carve when the holiday gets a bit closer.  Perhaps because of that, I’m one of those who is definitely going a bit Halloween-mad here on the grid… though since I gave up a LOT of prims to move to my current lot, I need to be judicious about what’s out…  one thing is for sure though… clean-up is waaaaay easier in SL than it is IRL!!!  The entire round of Swank is dedicated to Goth, so it’s incredibly tempting both for decor AND for clothes!!! Happy shopping!

  • Outfit:  GuGuVaGa Fashion  (GGVG) – Gilda Gown in Orange.  Personally, I don’t know that I’d actually call this a gown… to me, the word “gown” conjures up “formal”.  Yes, Gilda is long, but its unique style makes it so much more wearable than “normal” formalwear.   Includes two versions — Wide Open Dress (shows the butt) & the Open Dress (worn), which has a long slit on the back of the left thigh, making that front part into more of a panel for a fantastic sexy look – plus optional “pants” (think thong), a garter, & stockings for mid-heel.  To me, this dress cried out for a leg tattoo and thigh-high boots, so that’s what I did! There’s also a teeny bit of alternating bling to the buttons, making it look like the light just happened to catch the metal.  Between that & the two slits, Gilda is just awesome to watch! Sized for Legacy, Slink HG/P, Belleza F/I, Kupra O/B/L, & Maitreya, Gilda comes in 11 colors, EXCLUSIVELY at the October round of the Swank Event, open Oct 7th – 31st.  Demo available.
  • Head:  LeLUTKA – Nova Head (EvoX)
  • Body:  LEGACY – Mesh Body Special Edition, Feminine
  • Skin:  Amara Beauty – Lorena
  • Freckles:  WOW Skins – Evo-X Beauty Marks
  • Eyes:  ARTE – Green Eyes
  • Hair:  Doux – Bloodline
  • Makeup:  LeLUTKA – EvoX Eyeliner & Eyeshadow; Opulein – Harmony Collection Lips
  • Tattoo:  Vezzo Ink – Rozi
  • Boots:  REIGN – Mishi Thigh High Boots
  • Jewelry:  Maxi Gossamer – Katerina Necklace & Earrings; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
  • Pose:  STUN Poses – Bianca
  • Decor:  The Looking Glass – The Witching Hour

Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and caldron bubble

http://Double, double toil and trouble

OK, so now the Halloween bug has bitten me and I’m all into pumpkins and fog and creepy things (NOTE: I LOVE creepy but NOT horror… there IS a most definite difference)!  But even amid all the creepiness, I want to look my best while keeping with the season.  So although I’m sure some if not many posts will depart from this theme (I mean, Halloween ALL the time is just not as much fun, now is it), plan on seeing lots of holiday spirit through All Hallow’s Eve…  I’m loving it, and hoping you are too! Happy shopping!!!!

What I’m wearing:

  • Outfit:  LUXE Paris Fashion House – SIOUXSEE Bodice, Skirt, & Tattoo.  Low cut, off the shoulders, cinched & laced black bodice with semi-sheer pattern sleeves with a bright red lace cuff.  The skirt has matching pattern on its deep ruffle, & red/black trim between the bodice & the skirt.  A rose chest tatto in red & black is included in both BOM & Omega versions. A be-witch-ing little outfit, not just for the Halloween season! Sized for Slink HG/P, Belleza F/I/V, & Maitreya, EXCLUSIVELY available at the October round of the Swank Event, open Oct 7th – 31st.  Demo available.
  • Head:  LeLUTKA – Nova Head (EvoX)
  • Body:  LEGACY – Mesh Body Special Edition, Feminine (I have to say that I LOVE having the included deformers that let me easily wear outfits like this that don’t include a Legacy version!)
  • Skin:  Amara Beauty – Lorena
  • Boots:  WellMade – Demi Boots
  • Pose:  Sassy Sweet Poses – Witchyness (includes wand)

The scene:

  • Tylar’s Treasures:  Attack of the Man-Eating Spiders.  A must-have for anyone who does Halloween landscaping! The scene features a bare tree covered in a spiderweb. The ground beneath  the tree is covered in skulls and two whole skeletons.  But what really makes this item come alive is that it has 3 animated spiders — one of the giant ones wanders around the scene (yes, you can set his range!); another giant is attacking a skeleton in the foreground; and a smaller cousin is moving up and down on a web from the tree.  This can be seriously creepy stuff in the right windlight, especially if you get tangled up with the big animated spider… Want even more creepiness?  The giant animated spider is copy, so you can have as many of his family & friends as you can handle.  Available at the SL Shop & Hop Halloween Event through the month of October; TP direct to the TT booth HERE.
  • CIRCA:  Moonlight Applebob Cauldron.

Queen of the Nile

http://Queen of the Nile

Even a role-playing fae likes to dress up sometimes and try something a little different.  This opportunity to go Egyptian and dress for the age of the Pharoahs was one I couldn’t pass by!  I was tempted to look for the “King Tut dance” (think Steve Martin on classic Saturday Night Live), but to my mind, Queens Nefertiti and Cleopatra were way too elegant for that!  The look was really fun to put together, and even more fun to wear about the grid.  Both Egyptian items are available at the Fallen Gods Anniversary Market, which also has a hunt going on as part of the celebration.  I highly recommend taking a trip to the Land of the Pharoahs,  checking out all the fun items and events, and exploring this unique and creative sim!!!  Happy shopping!

  • Dress:  Poet’s Heart – Nefer.   A very simple & elegant sleeveless gown, perfect for role-play but also suitable for any formal affair! Priss comes in two color packs of 7 colors each or a fatpack of all 14.  Each has a HUD to customize the color of the dress, the belt, the dress edge, & the belt edge separately.  Nefer is sized only for Maitreya, & is available EXCLUSIVELY at the Fallen Gods 14th Anniversary Market Festival, which opened October 1st.  Demo available, as is an optional accessory to complete the Nefer look! (See below)
  • Hair:  Fantavatar & Moonstruck Oblivion – Nefertiti. Black hair in that classically ancient Egyptian style.  Serpent headpiece clicks to visible or hidden.  Absolutely exceptional for Egyptian role-play!!!  See the closeup below for this wig available EXCLUSIVELY at the Fallen Gods 14th Anniversary Market Festival, which opened October 1st.  
  • Horn:  Petrichor – Farys Horns.  These stunning horns can be worn bare as shown here or with a full set of add-ons; they also include optional forehead deco, 3 types of earrings (to be worn together or separately), & necklaces. 100% custom mesh & textures, with everything HUD controlled. I couldn’t even count how many texture options there are!
  • Head, Makeup & Ears:  LOGO  – Bella bento head with Ilvanya Elf Ears.
  • Body:  LEGACY – Mesh Body Special Edition (absolutely no issue wearing this gown, even without a specific Legacy size!)
  • Skin:  7 Deadly s[K]ins – Mabeline
  • Eyes:  {Demicorn} – Meringue Eyes, Set 1
  • Brows: [N O R U S H] – Bento Salma Eyebrows
  • Beauty Mark:  Izzie’s – Beauty Mole dark
  • Jewelry:  Grasshopper St Studio – Egyptian Plate Collar Gold; [DB] & [LaZe] – Skrida Armlets
  • Wings:  Seven’s Selections (now Vaengi Wings) – Blood, Ink, Splash Wings
  • Pose:  an lar – The Paulette Series
  • Location:  Fallen Gods Inc & Libertine

A Moment of Reflection

http://A Moment of Reflection

Cancer.  The word just sends a chill right through me.  I don’t know anyone, anyone at all, whose life hasn’t been affected in one way or another.  And although I myself have been fortunate enough not to be impacted in my immediate family, it has hit that next ring of in-laws and cousins, as well as the rings of close friends and of neighbors.  That’s why it was so important to me to join forces with Strides Against Cancer and lend my small blogging efforts (not to mention my personal lindens) to the SL Renaissance Festival in its efforts to raise $10,000 USD for the cause…  after the first 2 days, more than $1,000,000L — that’s $4,000 USD — had already been raised.  Won’t you join me at the festival and lend your support? Nothing, and I mean NOTHING beats shopping for a cause!  Full details on special events and all that shopping with a cause can be found at SL Renaissance Festival.  Hope to see you there!  (I’ll be the happy fae on my knight’s arm, taking in all the delights!)

  • Dress:  Dreaming Thicket – Carnation Gown.  Beautiful medieval gown perfect for all those Renaissance ladies out there! A new release for the SL Renaissance Festival 2021, this gorgeous materials-enabled gown is available in 6 colors/textures (I’m wearing Bluebell); the gold thread really pops in different windlights!  Sized for a whole range of bodies — Slink HG/P, Maitreya, Tonic, Belleza F/I/V, Voluptuous, Ocacin, Classic & Classic Fitmesh — with every color a 100% donation to Strides Against Cancer, benefitting the American Cancer Society.  Direct TP to the market booth in Ren Fest IV Shopping HERE, open through October 3rd. Demo available.
  • Horn:  Petrichor – Farys Horns.  These stunning horns can be worn bare as shown here or with a full set of add-ons; they also include optional forehead deco (worn), 3 types of earrings (to be worn together or separately), & necklaces. 100% custom mesh & textures, with everything HUD controlled. I couldn’t even count how many texture options there are!
  • Location:  SL Ren Fest III Shopping Area
  • Head & Ears:  LOGO  – Chelsea bento head with Ilvanya Elf Ears.
  • Body:  LEGACY – Mesh Body Special Edition (absolutely no issue wearing this gown, even without a specific Legacy size!)
  • Skin:  7 Deadly s[K]ins – Everlasting
  • Hair:  Fantavatar & Moonstruck – Giuliana Farnese
  • Eyes:  Gloom – Tirel Collection
  • Beauty Mark:  Izzie’s – Beauty Mole dark
  • Makeup:  Rubedo – pandora; Petrichor – Lip Stripe
  • Wings:  FAS– – Bento Faery Wings
  • Pose:  FOXCITY – Celestial

Simply Autumnal

http://Simply Autumn

OK, so I’m finding myself under the gun again.  I lost a lot of time the first half of the month (again), and took on some new assignments.  As much as I absolutely love everything I said yes to, the calendar is shaking its finger at me.  So, rather than do my very time-consuming location shots or scene set-ups with a somewhat natural action as I prefer to do, I’ve decided to take a page out of other blogger playbooks, and try something simpler, faster, obviously posed, but hopefully as beautiful in the result as what has inspired me.  I’m still not very good at adding effects (translated as I’m pretty useless lol, & in this particular case I threw it all in the trash), and I don’t even have Photoshop, but it is what it is, and I can do what I can do, and the bottom line is that I personally think the simplicity of this autumnal setting really sets off the beautifully textured detail of this outfit.  Here’s hoping so do the critics out there!!! Additionally, I’m not going to be able to wait till my preferred posting time, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.  And I’m doing it lol! In any case, happy shopping as the month nears its end!!!

  • Outfit:  Sascha’s Designs – Annabelle.  I feel very sophisticated & a true fashionista in this elegantly sexy low-cut, tied evening blouse with its optional collar, paired with subtly textured linen pants. Sized for Legacy, Slink HG/P,  Freya, & Maitreya, Annabelle is available in 11 different colors, or as a fatpack, EXCLUSIVELY at the September round of Swank Event, Sept 7th – 30th.  Demo available.
  • Head:  LeLUTKA – Nova Head (EvoX)
  • Body:  LEGACY – Mesh Body Special Edition, Feminine
  • Skin:  Amara Beauty – Lorena, currently available at UniK
  • Freckles:  Magnetic – Beauty Moles EvoX
  • Eyes:  ARTE – Green Eyes
  • Hair:  eXxEsS – GIN
  • Makeup:  Dernier – Eyeliner Set Vol1; Voodoo – Autumn Spice Set
  • Jewelry:  Moondance Boutique – Paris Necklace & Earrings; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band