Tag: Virtual Worlds

Always Time for Wine

Posted on by cejalaval

http://Always Time for Wine

I often find myself wondering how much time other bloggers spend editing their photos.  I actually lack the skills to do more than cropping, basic enhancing (adding clarity & contrast), & then maybe blurring the background a bit to make the subject stand out more.  Where I struggle at times is with white balance and with brightness… not enough brightness overall or in the highlights and the pic is dull; too much and all you notice is the light.  I know that I often see pix on FlickR that I think are fabulous EXCEPT that they’re too washed out, or too dark, or too bright, and I don’t want mine to suffer from any of those issues.  I wish there was an easy tutorial, and in fact there may well be one… I THINK that what I need to learn how to use are masks, but I’m not sure, and what I’ve seen has confused me and made my head spin.  And I don’t use PhotoShop, which probably doesn’t help matters.  That said, I’m trying very very hard to get away from hours in post-editing since I spend a ridiculous amount of time DOING each photo shoot, between setting up a shot, playing with angles, and then experimenting with a gazillion windlights with/without body lights.  Bottom line though, if I’m not happy with the final result, I very very rarely will publish, but will instead throw it in the trash and start all over (one reason why I’ve had to cut back on sponsors… I’m too much of a perfectionist and simply refuse to put out a blog just to meet numbers.)  And on that note, I think I’ll finish my glass of wine and then get back to some holiday shopping! Happy shopping!!!

  • Outfit:  GuGuVaGa Fashion  (GGVG) – Aki Pants & Tops.  Sold separately, this is one of those outfits that fits both my SL & my real life style (if only it came in my size lol).  One of the things I love about GGVG is that each piece doesn’t just come with a color HUD but you also get to choose what fabric texture you prefer… I’m wearing the sleeveless tank in Knit & the pants in Twill, & of course chose autumnal colors.  Sized for Legacy, Slink HG/P, Belleza F/I/V, Altamura, Classic TMP, & Maitreya, both the pants & the tops are EXCLUSIVELY at the November Swank Event, open Nov 7th – 30th.  Demos available.
  • Jewelry:  IT! (Indulge Temptation) – Flor Set 2.  Wonderful way to incorporate a tiny bit of floral into your look, this set is HUD driven with 10 metal versions & 2×8 gem options (choose separate textures for the center gem & for those on the rim!), 100% resizable mesh.  Available in 6 different color sets (see one example below) or as a fatpack. EXCLUSIVELY available at the November Swank Event, open Nov 7th – 30th.
  • Head:  LeLUTKA – Nova Head (EvoX)
  • Body:  LEGACY – Mesh Body Special Edition, Feminine
  • Skin:  Amara Beauty – Lorena
  • Freckles:  WOW Skins – Evo-X Beauty Marks
  • Hair:  Tram – F919
  • Eyes:  ARTE – Green Eyes
  • Pose:  Diversion – Wine O’Clock Poses

Blowing Off the Party

Posted on by cejalaval

http://Blowing Off the Party

Have you ever gotten all ready to go out, with every detail just the way you want it, and then you just get distracted by something or someone and end up preferring just to spend your time alone, enjoying the moonlight or the sun or the breeze or some music or a book or just breathing in the quiet?  I know for me, it’s a relatively common occurrence, one that I sometimes feel a need to talk myself out of, but more often I just tend to go with the mood.  It happens both IRL but also here in SL quite a bit, where I’ll be all ready to go out dancing or to hear music, and will opt for a quiet night at home instead, listening to music, cuddling and talking with my partner, or just going through inventory…  ahh, domestic life lol! I guess I’m just a home-body.  But then I’ll admit that at least in the virtual world, half the fun for me is putting the look together, I don’t actually need to take it “on the road” as it were lol… and wow, is this a look to use when I want to look really goooood!  Happy shopping!

  • Outfit:  JUMO – DOJA Outfit.  I can’t even come up with enough superlatives for this incredible jumpsuit with bolero jacket…  stunning, gorgeous, sensational… none of them suffice!  The details are just amazing… a gentle sweetheart neckline, narrow contrasting belt, crossed straps in back in the same contrast dipping above the butt but at an elegant height (no butt slits!!!), the leather sheen of the bolero which has slightly padded shoulders, a high neckline & just the right amount of “wrinkling” to look completely natural.  DOJA  comes with 3 textures in each of the 10 color HUDs to change the outfit (I just love the slightly sparkly black openwork on the left side of this texture!); the fatpack includes an Extra Pack with 3 totally different textures, & is sized for Legacy, Hourglass, Freya, Isis, Maitreya & Maitreya Petite.  EXCLUSIVELY available at the November Swank Event, open Nov 7th – 30th.
  • Head:  LeLUTKA – Nova Head (EvoX)
  • Body:  LEGACY – Mesh Body Special Edition, Feminine
  • Skin:  Amara Beauty – Lorena
  • Freckles:  WOW Skins – Evo-X Beauty Marks
  • Hair:  Stealthic – Vigil
  • Jewelry:  Kunglers – Zayra Necklace & Earrings; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
  • Backdrop & Pose:  FOXCITY – City Life

Fabulous Fall!

Posted on by cejalaval

http://Fabulous Fall!

So yes, now that I live in Florida (one year yesterday!!!), this kind of scene can only take place in my memory or here on the grid.  And yes, I DO miss that beauty, all the colors in a “good” autumn (some years the colors are brilliant, some years not so much, all depending on what the rainfall had been); I miss that crispness & the richness (is that a word?) of the colors, the energy that seems to build up as the world around is dying and shutting down for winter.  But it got downright chilly here in central Florida for a few days this past week, into the low 50s with a wind, and it reminded me that I definitely do NOT miss the cold.  I much prefer being able to take a long meandering walk with the dog, enjoying it not being hot, not being cold, but being just perfectly temperate with a light breeze.  Delightful!  But here in SL, I am definitely celebrating all the beauty of the autumnal colors, both in my landscaping and in my clothing (lots of greens, browns, oranges, and deep reds)… I’ve been shopping up a storm!!!  May your autumn be full of fabulous finds as well… happy shopping!

  • Outfit:  Allure Couture – Larke Pantsuit Outfit.   What a fabulous fall outfit, perfect for the fabulousness of the season!  Larke includes the off-the-shoulder long-sleeved cropped lace shirt, mini-skirt with its enticing zipper & fold-over edging at the top, c-string (yay! so helpful), & sexy thigh high boots… all of which you customize color for separately.  Be sure to note the matching edging on the boots & the skirt edge, as well as the decorative detail running up the boots. Sized for Legacy,  Freya, Kupra, & Maitreya.  She’s available in 5 individual colors, in a 5-texture Slimpack, or a Fatback of 10, all with 100% Original Textures.  EXCLUSIVELY at the November 2Much event, Oct 29th – Nov 16th.  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:  Doux – Dana
  • Jewelry:  EarthStones – Dragonfly Necklace & Earrings; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
  • Pose:  Luane’s World – Good Thing (modified head turn)

Next Up, Sienna Style

Posted on by cejalaval

http://Next Up, Sienna Style

So unless you’ve been living under a rock somewhere in SL, you know that gachas have been banned.  But in their stead, there is now a new system called Next Up that is absolutely legal.  This new system is essentially still gacha BUT shoppers know what the current item available is before purchasing it. There will however be no indication of future items beyond that, so you can still be excited to play multiple times to try get the items you want.  Want ALL the items?  Then, if you prefer, you have the option to purchase the complete set as a fatpack.  It’s a perfect system, in that it works fabulously for big sets where you only want a few pieces but it also works when you want the entire set but don’t want to keep feeding those lindens until you actually get it all.  Now it’s the best of both!!!!   Ooooh, Next Up… Happy Shopping! 

Dreamland Designs:  Sienna Living Room.  New & EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE at Secret Garden for the month of November.  Play for the pieces you want on the NextUp system (see the chart below), or buy the fatpack in Adult or PG versions.  In my pic above, I’ve used everything in the set except for the wall lamps, & I have to say, it totally makes that whole side of my room!  Also, both the couch (which is curved!!!) & the rocking chair are just loaded with singles & couples bento animations, while the chaise has some just for singles.  So much fun, in so many ways!!!!  

Wishing for a Brighter Tomorrow

Posted on by cejalaval

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)

Last Chance to Outshop Cancer!

Posted on by cejalaval

http://Last Chance to Outshop Cancer!

That’s right, this chance to help fight bright cancer and support  research and programs & services for breast cancer survivors just by shopping here in SL is almost over.  The Out Shop Cancer Shopping event  main store and Marketplace shopping event – an official Strides Campaign the American Cancer Society in Second Life ends on October 31st.   Don’t miss out on this opportunity to do something really worthwhile with those lindens you’re spending.  Every linden adds up!!! Happy shopping!!!

Wythburn Fine Furniture – Garden Bench.  This seemingly ordinary garden bench is so much more than it looks.  First off, you can easily texture just the seat, the legs, or both to any of 4 different materials (Goldleaf, Granite, Limestone, or Marble), each with 9 color choices.  Once you have it customized to the look you want, you can play with all of the animations (Gentleman, Lady, or Two of Us), both with two more levels of submenus.  Easily resized, all of which makes it perfect for any garden or patio, be it fantasy or human.   Even better, proceeds of all purchases through the end of October are pledged to the American Cancer Society in SL, through the Outshop Cancer event. What a fabulous way to spruce up your SL home while shopping with a purpose!!! Don’t just sit around and wait… even on such a fabulous bench as this!

Also shown:

Black Magic Woman

Posted on by cejalaval

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

Posted on by cejalaval

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

Posted on by cejalaval

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!

Posted on by cejalaval

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