Tag: Virtual Worlds

A Samhain Celebration

Posted on by cejalaval

http://A Samhain Celebration

You know the expression “variety is the spice of life”?   Well, when it comes to monogamous long-term relationships (especially in SL), variety is not so much the key, as “change”.   After almost 14 years together with my inworld partner, even that can be a bit harder to obtain.  To keep things fresh, I like to “change it up” by creating new scenes in our home.  This gorgeous dining set with a romantic autumn atmosphere is a perfect example.  I welcomed him inworld on “date night”, waiting in the moonlight on our back deck, sitting at the table, using one of its built-in single animations, perusing my ipad.  Upon his arrival, I moved to the delightfully romantic cuddles built into the table.  With the adult version, you can even move on from there if you so choose.  Wherever you choose to set up this set, it looks amazing and sets a lovely mood.  Perfect for Samhain or any other time that calls for fall splendor (and maybe even that perfect touch of romance to spice things up)!

Dreamland Designs:  Samhain Autumn Dining Table.  Available in adult and PG at the mainstore. Single dining animations with props on the chair; adult & cuddles in the table. Bento animations only. The pumpkin decor has a beautiful light sparkling.  Also includes hanging lights, which I didn’t use since I placed this outdoors on the deck.  Rezzes as a complete scene so you don’t have to start moving individual items around to get them in place.

Also shown:

 

More! We Need More Halloween!

Posted on by cejalaval

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

Posted on by cejalaval

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.

Getting Spooky

Posted on by cejalaval

http://Getting Spooky

A pet peeve of mine in both real life and here in SL is that people leap ahead to the next season, the next holiday, waaay too early for me.  This year I took off my summer tanned skin and started turning my SL property over to autumn a few weeks back, but I successfully resisted doing anything for Halloween until October 1st.  Once again, I’m on new land (seems like I do that every other year or so lol), which makes changing for the seasons both challenging and a lot of fun.  I still have the same house as at the last place, but my new property is “split level”, which creates lots of interesting nooks and crannies…  perfect for getting spooky!   So many wonderful Halloween props and decor  out there in all the stores and at all the events… I just love the little scene I was able to put together!!!  Happy shopping!

Dreamland Designs (my newest sponsor!):

  • Welcome to My Grave – materials enabled. Three skeletons in various poses (the stretching skeleton is to die for, & there are unlimited things to have him stretching for), an open coffin, a shovel, & dirt… a perfect piece of Halloween decor! EXCLUSIVE for the SL Shop & Hop Halloween Event through the month of October. 20% OFF all items! Direct TP to the DD booth HERE.
  • The Bloody Evil Reaper – materials enabled, this blood-splattered reaper has a wandering script which can be turned off to keep him in one place if you prefer.  His lantern light blinks on & off.  Can you say “spooky”? Another EXCLUSIVE for the SL Shop & Hop Halloween Event HERE.
  • Skelly Express – NEW STORE RELEASE!  Six skeletons carrying/riding in a coffin with an express delivery of a large glass globe with sparkly turning lights inside (or is it an express of another sort? hmmm…)  Soooo different!

Tylar’s Treasures:

  • Wicked Tree – wonderfully creepy tree, with full bright yellow owl eyes blinking out of a hole in the trunk
  • Reaper Garden Entrance – the reaper’s eyes burn fire as he stands guard on one side of an arch of bare tree trunks with autumn leaves, a mean-looking carved pumpkin with candlelit eyes & mouth on the other; includes flying purple bats

Also shown:

Queen of the Nile

Posted on by cejalaval

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

Posted on by cejalaval

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

Pick Your Poison

Posted on by cejalaval

http://Pick Your Poison

One of the many things I’m discovering that I love about the Renaissance Festival (which is currently running through October 3rd) is how it’s making me really think about what life might have been really like back in medieval times.  I’ve read some historical fiction that’s placed in that era, but the Festival brings it home in a very different and somehow more personal way… shopping the fashions to wear… looking at furnishings for my home… watching jousting and sword fights and archery for entertainment.  Today I’m channeling my inner Lucrezia Borgia, searching through my “medicine” cabinet, selecting my poison with great care, keeping in mind that “back in the day,” the line between medicine and poison was extremely blurry.  It’s how women were often accused of being witches because of their knowledge of herbs and other things, which could often help, but could also cause great damage, intentional or otherwise!  Whether or not you roleplay medieval, the Renaissance Festival is an awesome glimpse into another life, another time… just like it is IRL!!!  Don’t miss it… it only comes once a year!!!!  Details about all the events and activities and entertainment and, of course, shopping directories and slurls, can be found HERE.

  • Cabinet:  Fantavatar & Moonstruck – Antique Poisons Cabinet.  Belladonna, arsenic, it’s all there, in this very special piece of medieval home decor for those with that special taste.  Original mesh with scripted doors that open & close.  And of course, the detail is exquisite! 
  • Candelabra:  Swank & Co. –  Gothic Iron Floor Candelabra.  Incredible detail, incredibly realistic. Perfect for any medieval or gothic setting. Brand new EXCLUSIVE, only available at the SL Renaissance Festival 2021, in Ren Fest IV Shopping, now through Oct 3rd.  Direct TP to market booth HERE.  Available in two versions, both of which are a 100% donation to Strides Against Cancer, benefitting the American Cancer Society.
  • Shield:  Ever Green – Tavern Wall Shield.  Menu driven, choose from 4 different shields & 4 different banner colors, with easy resize built in.  Every medieval home or business needs one!  Another brand new EXCLUSIVE that’s a 100% donation to fight breast cancer at the SL Renaissance Festival!  Direct TP to their market booth  HERE also in Ren Fest IV Shopping. 

Simply Autumnal

Posted on by cejalaval

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

Don’t fret, the Renaissance Festival will be open soon!

Posted on by cejalaval

http://Don't fret, the Renaissance Festival will be open soon

Hear ye, hear ye!!! I’m all a-flutter!  I’ve officially joined the blogging team for the SL Renaissance Festival 2021, which opens today Sept 24th.  That means I’ve been thinking medieval and waiting for what seems like forever!!!!  This is only the second year for this now annual event, which has at its heart raising much needed support and funds for the fight against breast cancer.  Anyone who follows this blog knows that both my human counterpart and I do whatever we can, whenever we can, to help support this worthy cause.  I mean, come on, what’s better than shopping with a purpose?  And the Ren Fest combines that most worthy of causes with anything and everything medieval!!!!  For a fae like myself, that’s way WAY up there on the list of favorite things!  Hoozah!!! The festival is open from Sept 24th through Oct 3rd, and is filled with fabulous shopping, entertainment, special events, and yes, tournaments!!!  Read all about it @ https://slrenaissancefestival.com/ …  the pic above was taken at one of the Travelers Camps where they are already preparing to welcome festival guests once the gates have opened, and soon it will be filled with the hubbub of merchants, royalty, peasants, warriors, horses, and more.  I’m impatiently stalking the gates waiting for the official opening…  Hope to see you there!

  • Outfit:  Hawker’s House – Crann Bethadh Armor.  Includes the Neck Guard Top, Corset, Glove Sleeves, Leather Pants with Belt Knife, & Boots.  Sized for Slink HG/P, Belleza F/I/V, Voluptuous, Maitreya, Fitmesh, & Classic.  EXCLUSIVELY available at the SL Renaissance Festival 2021, in Ren Fest III Shopping, now through Oct 3rd.  Direct TP to market booth HERE. This outfit is a 100% donation to Strides Against Cancer, benefitting the American Cancer Society.
  • Horns:  Petrichor – Stranded Swyrl Horns.  NEW RELEASE, bringing another totally different look for unisex horns!  100% custom mesh with all new textures, which are as always in a HUGE HUD with what seems like unlimited options.  As always, the detail is amazing (see below). Modify, resize, toggle the strands on & off (NOTE: these can be construed as hair strands or decorative, as I did).  EXCLUSIVELY available at Solstice: The Fellowship, open until Oct 14th.
  • Location:  Travelers Camp 1 in Unity Maxim at the SL Renaissance Festival 2021
  • Head & Ears:  LOGO  – Chelsea bento head with Ilvanya Elf Ears.
  • Body:  LEGACY – Mesh Body Special Edition (NOTE: absolutely no issues wearing the outfit, even without a special Legacy size)
  • Skin:  7 Deadly s[K]ins – Everlasting
  • Hair:  no.match – NO_SILVER
  • Eyes:  SAMIA – MIA Eyes
  • Beauty Mark:  Izzie’s – Beauty Mole dark
  • Makeup:  Zibska – Olek Makeup Eyes; Petrichor – Lip Stripe
  • Wings:  Seven’s Selections (now Vaengi Wings) – Irid Dark Wings
  • Pose:   Empowered – Nature Connection #3

In Search of the Perfect Title

Posted on by cejalaval

http://In Search of the Perfect Title

And my blog is fixed!  I do want to take a moment to give special thanks to the anonymous customer service person at Flickr… I had gone to my hosting service first, who after two days told me everything was fixed, when it was most definitely not.  Further email inquiries from me fell on deaf ears.  Thankfully I had gone to Flickr in the interim, and after answering one or two pointed questions, I was provided with the reason why my site suddenly wouldn’t show embedded pix, as well as a solution.  Their quick resolution to my seemingly unfixable issues made my paying for Pro completely worthwhile.  (In case you’re wondering, somewhere between the latest WordPress update and my changing from jpg formats in my pix to pngs, my images were just too large for the service to handle.  So rather than embed at the original size — which is generally quite a high resolution — I’m now embedding at a smaller size.  Additionally, any “post-only images” will now be jpg format since they’re less “weighty.:)  The fix took me several hours, but the bottom line is that my blog is now working as it should, and I am back to being able to concentrate on the pix and the posts themselves!  I immediately created an absolutely perfect spot in which to blog this fall, and set to work.  Now, if I could only think of the perfect title (the hardest part for me lol)!!!   A happy blogger once again, wishing you Happy Shopping!

Park Place Home Decor — Autumn Serenity Deck Furniture.   I’ve used the Autumn Serenity Sofa, the Oak Serenity Coffee Table, & the Autumn Pink Daisies in Container.  (Autumn White Daisies in Container, Squirrel Candle Lantern, & Apple Basket also available.)  The sofa includes a HUD for individually changing the texture of the cushions, the blanket, & each of the two pillows.   Includes animations for 3 avatars (one of which I’m using), available in 3 versions (G, PG, & A), EXCLUSIVELY at the September round of Swank Event, Sept 7th – 30th.

Swank & Co. –  Autumn Lanterns.  Beautifully detailed,  there are 10 different design sets for this exceptional decor that adds just the perfect touch to any outdoor autumn (& dare I say winter?) scene.   I’ve shown a sampling of the different options below.  In my pic above, I used the Autumn Decorative Leaf Lantern in Tan on the side wall (shown in the middle in the pic below), & the Autumn Decorative Swirls Lantern in White hanging in the back corner (shown far right below).  Each set includes 4 colors & 4 sizes (& they’re easily resized as well).  EXCLUSIVELY available at the September round of the Swank Event, open until the 30th.

Also shown: