My Lantern

I need a little more thunder,
a little more lightning,
a little more you.
Be my lantern,
Help me shine on through.

~ The Ready Set

There is nothing more romantic than floating lanterns. Blue Tsuki has rendered them so gloriously beautiful in this piece of art, I am warmed by them. (Reminds me of Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose by John Singer Sargeant.) It is perfect backdrop to this glorious dress from Mami Jewell. With the bright orange colors and lustrous satin textures, this dress will make a woman stand out like a topaz. (I will admit I swapped sashes from the Champagne dress because I preferred the brown—this one comes with a crimson and white sash.)

My glorious skin is one of Aida Ewing’s from her newer Roza collection. Luminous and soft like a lantern’s glow in dusk, the skin comes with beautifully shaped brows, gorgeously colored makeups and Aida’s signature model-perfect body. My hair is a great new mesh from MissAllSunday Lemon. My only regret with this hair is no color change on the headband (unless I am missing it).

Last call for Blaise’s big ol closet for big bad inventories. Applications are due tomorrow. Send him an application that tweaks his imagination, makes him laugh, or gets him riled enough enough he throws it at you (which he has been known to do to me).

The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money. ~ Thomas Jefferson

Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Amelie Mesh Hair – Chocolate by MissAllSunday Lemon for /Wasabi Pills/ *

Skin: Glam Affair – Roza Basic – India04 D by Aida Ewing for Glam Affair *

Eyes: IKON Utopia Eyes – Dark Brown (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Dress: -AZUL- DiamondGem /Mandarin(MissBrasilV2012/Miss Ceara) with sash from -AZUL- DiamondGem /Champagne by Mami Jewell for –AZUL- *

Poses by Rogan Diesel for DieselWorks Animations

Art: “Lantern” by Blue Tsuki

Queen of Everything

“All I ask is that you treat me no differently than you would the Queen.”

The name of the post comes from the banner on the throne, which I chose not to use in full (see credits), as this is, as I have often said, a family blog. (Isn’t it clever how I hid the naughty word?) Nevertheless, sometimes I DO feel like the Queen of Everything, especially when I am surrounded by the Spooky KittyCatS that have come out for Halloween. On sale only through November 1, these darlings were designed to mate and make special kittens—Mommy’s Little Monsters. From the Frankenkitties to the Day of the Dead and Til Death Do Us Part pairings with the Mummy Mias, these are darling little pets and great collectables. Barnesworth Anubis made the coffins and sarcophagi to match.

I would be remiss if did not mention my great Elvira dress from Ivy Burner, who is figuring more and more in my wardrobe lately. She has some great sexy Halloween costumes out so rush over. My stockings are Bax Coen’s newest with spider webs and her special Halloween ankle boots.

My skin is a wonderful pale skin with luscious lipsticks from Izzie Button. I spent quite a while trying to find a good pretty pale skin that was less gory than gorgeous and when I found this one, I knew my search had ended. I will wear this one over and over because of it’s porcelain perfection. Now, I will say I have altered the look around the eyes quite substantially because I wore these terrific eyelashes from Monica Outlander that added quite a bit of the smokiness to the eyes. So if you want to see the straight look, go check out the skins at the Costume Ball—well worth it.

Kavar Cleanslate is still rocking mesh with his gorgeous hair, and this week’s ‘do was ideal for this look with its topknot and then locks falling down in back. It’s an updo and a long ‘do all in one and in this great purple-tinted dark shade, perfect for this look, making this Queen of Everything a Halloween empress.

“It is no accident that the queen is the deadliest of pieces; the manly pawn: the weakest.” ~ Luis Camara Silvera

Hair: ::Exile:: Almost Had You:Mystery by Kavar Cleanslate for ::Exile:: *

Skin: Izzie’s – Fuyu Skin (Costume Ball Ed.) DB with Izzie’s – Lipstick plum by Izzie Button for Izzie’s, available at The Costume Ball *

Eyes: IKON ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – White ML by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Lashes: Miamai_Catwalk Lashes_Toxic_Black by Monica Outlander for Miamai *

Dress: ~Sassy!~ Elvira dress – black by Ivy Burner for ~Sassy!~

Stockings: BAX Ornament Leggings Spiderweb long 1 by Bax Coen for BAX *

Necklace: + Divinity + Essence Necklace by Noah Bodenhall for + Divinity + *

Shoes: BAX Booties Halloween Acetic Plum by Bax Coen for BAX *

Throne: Queen of Fucking Everythin Throne by Precious Restless for **Boudoir**

Kittycats: Spooky Collection, available only through November 1 by KittyCatS for KittyCatS *

The Slave Girl of Bor

“Being a woman is a terribly difficult task, since it consists principally in dealing with men.” ~ Joseph Conrad

I am wearing silks today, which is not a normal for me. I agreed to blog the 25L Tuesdays Fall Fete, which goes from October 23 (today) to October 31. It’s is a pretty good deal for people looking for fantasy or role playing wear or people just looking for all sorts of great stuff, from cushions to clothing to rustic furniture. The sim has been constructed by Grace Loudon, who is an expert at shopping event sim construction, and it’s magnificent.

That being said, I tried Gor within my first few weeks here, and I am the self-proclaimed “Slave Girl of Bor.” I make a really crappy slave girl. I am just not very attentive or prone to taking the RP seriously, which is not a good thing for fellow RPers. I learned that the best Gor is the Gor without me involved.

Nevertheless I look freakin’ fantastic in silks, and these silks from Leire Writer are a gorgeous deal for 25L! She offers both long and short silks and she placed a chain of little bells across the decolletage, which is a perfect adornment for a slave girl like me—along the lines of putting a bell on a cat so you are warned it’s coming. Best just clear the area.

The cushion I am propped on does include the above sticking-out-the-tongue animation, which delighted me because there was more than once when that particular expression would have served me well in Gor. Searlait Nitschke seems to understand with all the postures one takes in Gor, a little humor is needed. I am also kneeling in some of Rogan Diesel’s newest kneeling animations without the cushion. Rogan really makes some of the sexiest poses in SL.

Finally, this lovely skin from Carina Larsen is on sale now. I really like the difference her skins give in look and feel—they are elegant and fresh all at once. I wear a hair from Carina as well, a blonde that matches this skin tone perfectly.

“Here’s all you have to know about men and women: women are crazy, men are stupid. And the main reason women are crazy is that men are stupid.” ~ George Carlin

Hair: Amacci Hair Maddie ~ Honey Blond by Carina Larsen for Amacci *

Skin: Amacci Skin – Hazel (Fair) – 03 Candy by Carina Larsen for Amacci *

Eyes: IKON ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Light Aspen (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Silks: Jezabel Mauve by Leire Writer for **Delicious**, available for the 25L Tuesdays Fall Fete *

Cushion: {RW} Quilted Slave Perch by Searlait Nitschke for Roawenwood, available for the 25L Tuesdays Fall Fete *

Feet: N-core FEET by Claire Messenger and Nuria Augapfel for N-core

Poses by Diesel Rogan for DieselWorks Animations *

Door in My Soul

I have a door in my soul
that needs no key,
and I always leave it open.
No one can close it on me.

~ Bulerias/Traditional flamenco song

Nothing pithy today. Just a nice purple and black outfit, perhaps perfect for Halloween clubbing. This dress, from Ivy Burner, shows of her best skills—great textures. I can’t speak enough to how Ivy gets things down pay with seams, textures, details and layers. This outfit comes with pieces so you can wear this corset as a corset or as a body suit or as this darling dress, and all for a low price—quite a deal.

I am showing Hart Larsson’s newest skin, Faith, which he has for sale this week until October 27 for all VIP members. (Join the group and get the discount AND pick up a little giftie skin he sent out a few days ago.) My eyes are new big bold eyes from Rosemary Galbraith, which she will be setting out soon. Check em out!

No one can close it on me.

Hair: >TRUTH< Dawson w/Roots – sand by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: [PXL] FAITH SK NE LEB C3 with [PXL] FAITH SK Day&Night Eyes by Hart Larsson for [PXL]

Makeup: [mock] Black Currant Lip Jelle [lip only] (1) by Mocksoup Graves for M.O.C.K. cosmetics *

Eyes: *Cupcakes – Wide Eyes – Violet by Rosemary Galbraith for Cupcakes *

Dress: ~Sassy!~ Wisp dress – purple by Ivy Burner for ~Sassy!~ *

Earrings: FuLo “Estelle” Earring – Amethyst  by Dita Tran for FuLo *

Nails: Leverocci – Round Nails_1FA_PurplePlain by Jin Elfan for Leverocci

Shoes: N-core POISON “Noir Intense” by Claire Messenger and Nuria Augapfel for N-core

Poses by Luth Brodie for Reel Expression (no longer available)

Enthralled

“For I
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.”

~ John Donne

“Gianni,” she whispered. “You hold the key to my heart.” His eyes were closed, so enthralled was he to hear these words, he didn’t notice her glance wandering down to the diamond in his hand.

“My darling, I have always wanted to hear you say that.” He bent her back to ravish her, suckling at her neck, breathing in her fragrance, which always intoxicated him. He swooned and the drug she had dropped in his wine prevailed. She triumphantly seized the diamond.

She laughed. It was so easy. Finally the diamond was hers! She wiggled out of his grasp and fled but not without a reluctant look back at her prone lover, snoring peacefully. He was so delicious! But nevertheless, this was her mission—to obtain the jewel and in so doing, find her immortality.

She flew down the steps, emboldened, the layers of her dress flying up behind her in the breeze made by her parting. The diamond would be delivered without haste and she would be freed from the chains that bound her, physically and mortally. As she worked her way among the unfamiliar paths around his castle, she dreamt of her immortality. Now she would have plenty of time for everything—playing Greedy, adjusting her ankle RGBs to perfection, sorting her inventory.

And then…

She got to the gate. No fly zone. Crap.

She forced a crashed and rezzed at home, the diamond still attached to her hand. Heh heh.

Hair: [e] Leah – Black 03[e] Leah – Black 03by Elikapeka Tiramisu for Elikatira

Skin: AKERUKA Nora Vampire Skin by Agony Helse for Akeruka, available at the Dressing Room Blue *

Eyes: IKON ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – White ML by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Dress: CHAINS by maizon Rayna for Terra d’ombrA, available exclusively at Tolerance is the Only Way *

Sexy Beast: BossyMan

Poses by Di Hoorenbeek for Di’s Opera

Taken at Titanium City

High Wire Act

I was privileged to be asked by Linden Lab again to provide a splash page photo. The theme was “Carnival,” as in circus. This is one of the looks I put together. Linden Lab did a marvelous job featuring my avatar. Thank you!

“Something about the circus stirs their souls, and they ache for it when it is absent.” ― Erin Morgenstern

Hair: [LeLutka]-BRIGITTE hair – BlueNight by Thora Charron for LeLutka

Skin: [PXL] KATE SK NE MEB C3 with [PXL] KATE SK Cat Eyes (Tattoo) and [PXL] KATE SK Cherry Lips Glossy (Tattoo) by Hart Larsson for [PXL] *

Eyes: IKON Horizon Eyes – Dark Brown (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Jacket: Ringmaster Jacket Red by Luciano Enoch for [LazyBum]

Bodysuit: Bunny bodysuit by Isabel Silversmith for Delish

Boots: BAX Prestige Boots Black Latex by Bax Coen for BAX *

Hat: Top Hat Red by Pandora Wrigglesworth for Curio Obscura

Whip: Bullwhip v1.1 by Lillani Lowell for Dictatorshop

Kitten: KittyCat by KittyCats

Light My Fire

You know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
Girl, we couldn’t get much higher

Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire

~ “Light My Fire” by the Doors

I looked up lyrics to “Light My Fire” and pondered “my love become a funeral pyre” for a few minutes. They couldn’t come up with a better rhyme? “My love is round like a bicycle tire” or “My love is hot like a hair dryer” or “My love sings like a church choir”? How about “My rhyming dictionary is a little dire”?

The Boho Culture Fair is on and Trill Zapatero reminded me she will be there with a patchwork horse and several beautiful items, all proceeds going to women and girls in Afghanistan. (Do not forget about the circumstances of Malala Yousufzai from neighboring Pakistan, who was shot by the Taliban for speaking for education for girls. The lives of girls and women in both countries is dangerous and oftentimes oppressive. Every penny helps.) She sent over this brilliant ensemble with patchwork hippie jacket, bellbottom jeans (expertly rendered) and stylish top hat complete with feather. I complement the outfit with long mesh beads from Tyr Rosenblum and brilliant suede boots from Pixieplumb Flanagan, who has really hit it out of the ballpark with her suede ankle and knee boots—high quality without high price.

My skin is the newest from Aida Ewing in the Jamaica shade. Once again, Aida stuns with impressive makeups and skin shades that are richer and more beautiful than most. My eyes from Ikon Innovia, are ones I keep returning to. Typically this “fantasy” look (of having fractals or other images in side an iris and pupil) doesn’t move me but I keep coming back to these. I think it’s because of the light reflections and the colors, which Ikon has rendered so well. Miss Queue Marlowe has come out with a bunch of mesh hair recently, combining the flow and movement of flexis with mesh underneath. This one is mesh only but works perfectly for this look.

My photo partner, while I would love to claim as Jim Morrison, risen from the dead, is BlaiseJoshua, my handy man about SL. I gave him a photo of Jim, he popped a hair and some glasses on and I gasped. Needless to say, he lit my fire and blew my tire and shorted my wire. (Wanna know what he wore? Check his blog here.)

Come on, baby, light my fire….

Hair: .b – druid paprika by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog *

Skin: Glam Affair – Roza Basic – Jamaica04 D by Aida Ewing for Glam Affair *

Eyes: IKON Kaleido Eyes – Ancient (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Outfit: BoHo HoBo  Bohemian Victorian coat and hat by Trill Zapatero for BoHo HoBo, available at the Boho Culture Fair *

Beads: [Aura] Beaded Boho (Rigged) Necklace – Royal by Tyr Rosenblum for [Aura]

Boots: BM Lainie Suede Ankle Boots All Colour Pack by Pixieplumb Flanagan for Baby Monkey *

Boy: BlaiseJoshua of everysecondman.com

Intolerable Fashion: Top Five Worst Female Trends in SL Today

Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months. ~ Oscar Wilde

Blaise and Harper are damn sexy!

BlaiseJoshua and I were chatting the other day and he wanted to do a blog together about five fashion trends we do not like in SL. I was a bit hesitant. I try to keep this a nice family blog with cheerful proclamations and positivity, but he and a photo from my friend Boyd convinced me.

So Blaise and I went in search of the five things we really don’t like. Mine are listed below; Blaise is doing his own list at Everysecondman.com. We dressed up in our respective most-disliked elements so we could really live in our dislike.

Therefore, please find, five things in SL fashion I really don’t like:

1. Unicode name. The unicode name fad—it really has to go. When someone’s name is Ħʘ̊ŋƐɏ Б๏๏ Б๏๏, I would just prefer to call them “The Avatar Formerly Known as Prince.” He thought it was cutting edge when he did it in the 90s. Now even HE thinks it’s stupid.

2. Fish face. The eyes set too widely apart, the beady little eye openings, the nose too narrow, the mouth set in a permanent scowl, the buck teeth—it’s a recipe for looking like a mutant. (And yes, I did make a sort of IPR (“invisible pony rider”) shape because it seems to always accompany this face style.)

3. A proliferation of piercings and other silly accessories.  I do remember when I first started SL, I had a nose piercing, and I thought that was so cool. But this profusion of piercings is positively painful. A friend calls it “metallic herpes.” I call it “facial shrapnel.” You’re not edgy–you’re just a few thousand up in ARC.

4. Related to that: “fierce” tattoos and provocatively slutty clothes. I bundle this all as one because it’s a “style.” I am guessing it’s a backlash against the sort of twee charming cover-me-up clothes we see walking around the grid or the elegance of ballroom dancers, but come on, this Jersey Shore look is hardly au courant. You do realize they put Snooki on TV for us to laugh at her, right?

5. Fidgety AO (see video). These AOs make me think either I need to be passing out valium or carrying a tranquilizer gun. Moving for the sake of moving is not what an AO should be. It should look like a natural person standing in place, not a girl trying to get smacked in the ass or a fairy princess twinkling her toes. For safety’s sake, bend from the knees not from the waist. If your AO is picking something up or showing something off, make it less overt.

No credits today. Just a thanks to BlaiseJoshua from Everysecondman.com for making me do this and for being my partner in crime.

Cold Catching

I shall not die of a cold. I shall die of having lived. ~ Willa Cather

I got another cold. I can’t even get a flu shot because I keep getting sick! I have been catching up on “Boardwalk Empire,” the New Yorker, and sleep. Gosh I have been sleeping a lot. And frankly, I don’t care about dressing up. So I pulled on this new hoodie from Diarmiud Miklos. With its mesh softness and velvety texture, it’s the kind of warmth I need. And I don mesh jeans with patches from Trill Zapatero, who gives all proceeds from these cute comfy jeans to women in Afghanistan.

My skin should look sallowed and pasty considering how icky I feel, but Carina Larsen saves the day with this pretty makeup and bronze skin. I wear a hair MissAllSunday Lemon is selling at the new Cinema event, which starts October 13. Thank goodness it’s such a nice cut because I could be bothered doing my hair today.

I crawled into the sanctuary of Cory Edo’s genie’s bottle, which she is selling at Collabor88 for a rock-bottom price. It’s really quite cozy in there and she offers what seems a bazillion (ok I exaggerate) poses–adult, couples’ snuggle and single. It’s quite a deal for what you get!

“A family is a unit composed not only of children but of men, women, an occasional animal, and the common cold.” ~ Ogden Nash

Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Nikki Mesh Hair – Chocolate by MissAllSunday Lemon for /Wasabi Pills/, available at Cinema *

Skin: Amacci Skin – Liane (Bronze) – 04 Candy by Carina Larsen for Amacci *

Eyes: IKON ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Light Aspen (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Top: ISPACHI Mesh [Freitas Hoodie] ~ Pink by Diarmuid Miklos for ISPACHI *

Jeans: BoHo HoBo Mesh Skinny Jeans S Patched by Trill Zapatero for BoHo HoBo *

Socks: : ) BCC. Rainbow Socks Secret 01 by Ooyuki Mint for BCC

Environment: Trompe Loeil – Dreamy Genie Bottle Purple by Cory Edo for Trompe Loeil, available at Collabor88 *

Shake Shake Shake, Senora

If you can’t get rid of the skeleton in your closet, you’d best teach it to dance. ~ George Bernard Shaw

Shake Shake Shake, Senora

Why yes, thank you, I *have* lost a little weight. And I have gained an advantage in the Skin Addiction group—no more SKIN!

AnaLee Balut has given us a great Halloween surprise with her male and female skeletons, complete with wardrobes. I have indulged in hi-jinks in this great look for two days now and can’t get enough. The skeleton is built so well, the poses look perfect. And her mesh clothing now gives me new appreciation for the avatar bones.

Take yourself out dancing in this look. You’ll never seen SL the same way.

The world dies over and over again, but the skeleton always gets up and walks. ~ Henry Miller

Ensemble: ALB Skeleton Avatar Female + Clothes—halloween by AnaLee Balut for AnaLee Balut

Hair: Uma by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Filmed at The Case of Praying Mary Halloween Hunt at Hoshi Island