Tilted

I’m actually good
Can’t help it if we’re tilted

~ “Tilted” by Christine and the Queens

Coachella is coming up, and I am pretty excited because they have a pretty good website with live performances on it. My partner in SL lives kind of close to the event so some day I hope I can actually go and mingle among the kids. (We’ll likely be the very oldest people there.) My weekly music dude, Clark at Noon Pacific, has a little page up with recommendations with a guide to Coachella, which includes Christine and the Queens and one of their songs I particularly like.

I remixed my Coachella look with some recent event items, including a darling top from Kinu Mayako for 100 Block that holds particular interest for me because I have been crocheting a lot of granny squares lately. It’s sexy and bohemian and matched Paul Lapointe’s and Bastchild Lotus’ recently redone capris, fitted to several mesh bodies. I accessorized with a darling necklace from Ors Quan and Sigifaust’s great ring gacha set that includes a texture change HUD for any and all of the rings as a rare, both available at Shiny Shabby. Glamistry recently came out with these higher than high heel boots that include a stiletto heel (which in retrospect would be impossible to wear at Coachella but look cute with this outfit).

I chose Oytebis’ skin for Shiny Shabby because I thought the smudged eye makeup under the eyes was idea for a girl who is wandering Coachella at all hours. It’s a few long days and nights outside and who has time to attend to her makeup? The great thing about Oytebis’ skins is that she includes appliers for nearly every kind of mesh head with them as well as system skins, all in one HUD (except TMP, which you can request from the HUD). A floppy hat to keep out the sun from Rucy Byron comes with a texture change HUD and fits on Mina Nakamura’s hair perfectly. The two designers hooked up to offer this great look at Epiphany, and I am glad they did because it’s almost impossible to get a hat to fit hair—this time they did it for us!

Hair with hat: MINA / !APHORISM! – Kate hair 02 by Mina Nakamura for MINA and Rucy Byron for !APHORISM!, available at The Epiphany *

Mesh head: CATWA HEAD Annie V4.5 by Catwa Clip for CATWA

Skin applier:  .:[PUMEC] :. – .:ALICE:. –  /  March \  – SKIN by Otyebis for PumeC, available at Shiny Shabby *

Eyes: {S0NG} :: Ange~ Green Eye by Funeral Plutonian for {S0NG}

Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V3.5 by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Top: [ SAKIDE ] Hailey Top by Kinu Mayako for [ SAKIDE ], available at the 100 Block *

Capris: L&B (*Fitted* LARA) Swear – Capri Jeans by BastChild Lotus and Paul Lapointe for Lapointe and Bastchild *

Necklace: MINIMAL – Dream Necklace by Ors Quan for MINIMAL, available at Shiny Shabby *

Rings: ieQED lisette.rings by Sigifaust for ieQED, available at Shiny Shabby *

Shoes: Glamistry : EDELWEISS Heels – maitreya by Glamistry for Glamistry *

Poses by Valencia Southard for Marukin

Taken using the LUMIPro 2016 HUD by Stefan Buscaylet *

Taken at Elysion

Mexican Chocolate Butter Cookies

To cram big chocolate flavor into a tender, crisp chocolate butter cookie recipe, we found that cocoa powder—with a much higher percentage of cocoa solids than other forms of chocolate—was clearly the best candidate. ~ Cooks Illustrated

Today’s cookie (which turned out excellently) is the Mexican Chocolate Sugar Cookie. Forget the sugar—it’s all chocolate, dark dark chocolate (thanks to Dutch process cocoa and instant espresso), with an eensy touch of cayenne pepper to give it a little afterbite. This is not your Grandma’s Christmas cookie. I thought the idea of the cayenne pepper touched cookie went well with this outfit, which includes a darling integrated shawl and top from AscendSL and a great set of leggings from Rucy Byron with feet shaped to fit Slink or Maitreya shoes and a texture-change HUD for three different neutral shades. I picked up a pair of boots made by InfinityStore that includes a texture-change HUD for the socks and the hardware and a scarf from xMike Deed from Thrift Shop at half off to complete my look.

Avenge is a new skin line made by AvengeStore, and she includes appliers for Slink hands and feet and Maitreya and Belleza bodies and tells me she will be working on Catwa and Logo head appliers very soon. The body is nicely detailed and the face is quite pretty with several makeup options available. She’s still getting things together but for a unique look that many won’t have, you might check her store. Bubbles Clawtooth features this wavy and wild hair at N21 with some great ombre textures she has made. The barrette includes its own color change HUD.

Hair: Clawtooth: Magnolia – Dark Ombre Pack by Bubbles Clawtooth for Clawtooth, available at N21 *

Skin: [Avenge] Athena (bronze) – brown eyebrow with [Avenge] Athena skin makeup (eyes) – sun by AvengeStore for [Avenge] *

Eyes: .ID. September Eyes / Brown by Audrey Lamede for Insufferable Dastard

Lashes: .LeLutka.Kyra lashes.02 by Thora Charron for LeLutka *

Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V3.4 by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Top: Ascend – Fringed Out Cardigan RED by ascendsl for Ascend, available at Shiny Shabby *

Leggings: !APHORISM! Knitted Tights – Maitreya Flat Monochrome by Rucy Byron for !APHORISM!, available at Shiny Shabby *

Scarf: Kenvie. Wool Scarf—Sienna  by xmike Deed for Kenvie, available at the Thrift Shop *

Boots: !NFINITY Winterboots Back Lace -Grey – Isis  by InfinityOwner for !nfinity, available at the Thrift Shop

Poses by Rogan Diesel for DieselWorks Animations *

Taken at Flux Sur Mer

Fell in Love with a Girl

Red hair with a curl
Mellow roll for the flavour
And the eyes were peeping
Can’t keep away from the girl
These two sides of my brain

~ “Fell in Love with a Girl” by White Stripes

There’s always something special about a redhead. And if you think a redhead can’t wear pink, you’re decidedly wrong, especially if it’s this soft pink romper, one of several Poulet Koenkamp has made for On9. With a texture-change HUD offering three different colorways, each romper has its own individual flavor, this one having a romantic theme. I have accessorized with jewelry featuring an antique key and turquoise beads that Rucy Byron has made for Shiny Shabby, which will be opening May 20. I even wore the waist chain as a belt with this darling romper. And Bax Coen has come out with shiny new booties with materials, available in three fabulous metallic shades and sized for Slink AND Maitreya feet.

Monicuzza Babenco is also participating in Shiny Shabby this month with a gorgeous set of appliers for the LeLutka mesh heads. I wear them on the Aria head with the subtle shading and beautiful red brows she offers as an option. Once again, I had to adjust my eyes and lengthened my head for what I felt was the best aesthetic. Kavar Cleanslate recently came out with some lovely long hair he is offering in his mainstore including this gorgeous style with fringed bangs and his beautiful textures.

Hair:  ::Exile::Downtown by Kavar Cleanslate for ::Exile:: *

Head applier: *YS&YS* Ginny Tone03 Skin Applier – Lelutka Mesh Head by Monicuzza Babenco for *YS&YS*, available at Shiny Shabby (opening May 20) *

Mesh head: .LeLutka.Mesh Head-ARIA v1.1 by JadenArt for LeLutka *

Eyes: {D.A} – Marble – Deep by Soleil Reid for Dead Apples

Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V3.3 by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Romper: :: PM :: Who Romper Romantica by Poulet Koenkamp for PurpleMoon Creations, available at On9 *

Jewelry: !APHORISM! Bijou Collection – Necklace, Bracelet and Waist Chain – Turqoise by Rucy Byron for !APHORISM!, available at Shiny Shabby (opening May 20) *

Handbag: ::C’est la vie !:: Manon Bag Gacha(blue) by Larcoco Mathy for C’est la vie ! , available at Chapter Four

Nail appliers: Nailed It – Maitreya – Ombre Set HUD by Giela Delpaso for Nailed It *

Boots: BAX Poppy Booties Metallic Rose (f. Maitreya) by Bax Coen for Bax Coen Designs *

Poses by Olivia LaLonde for Le Poppycock, available at Chapter Four

Sasha

“But Sasha was from Russia, where the sunsets are longer, the dawns less sudden and sentences are often left unfinished from doubt as how to best end them.” ~ Virginia Woolf

Shiny Shabby opened yesterday with a Russian theme. There are matryoshka dolls, Soviet propaganda posters, folk art designs and costumes, and a lot of vodka (thanks, Kunst). I made me think about what Russia means to me, and all I could think of were the White Nights and the persistence of the KGB that my grad school friend Alexei told me about when we would stay up eating potato pancakes he made and talking about his life in St. Petersburg. And then I thought about Oleg, the very loud Russian Jew who worked a few cubicles down from me, talking in Hebrew and Russian with the elderly people we were interviewing at our job, nearly yelling as they nearly yelled in return. Or I might think of Loreen Aldrin’s (RL Olga Zee—you must click it!) absolutely gorgeous voice and her songs when she performs in SL (join her group here where she gives away a free song every month).

The creators have outdone themselves with the Shiny and the Shabby. Pieces from Monlmanl’s gacha, a folksy dress with embroidery, kerchief and rose (and an apron with a texture-change HUD. Cari McKeenan made this lovely headpiece that has a menu with several colors for the flowers. SigiFaust made a set of rings that she has fashioned to fit several popular mesh hands with beautiful Russian-inspired textures. And Rucy Byron’s amazing boots with their incredible textures and mesh-work complete my Sasha’s look.

I spent a lot of time trying on different hair colors from VivienMarli’s long locks for Shiny Shabby and finally struck upon this apricot-blond as a perfect color, reminiscent of a dream of a spring in the steppes maybe. And Monicuzza has fashioned a beguiling skin for the event that includes several brow tones, which is what made the look complete. I found the blonde was just perfect with this skin tone and the lips are beautifully rendered with a sprinkling of freckles across the nose.

 

Hair: [Entwined] Lana by VivienMarli for [Entwined], available at Shiny Shabby *

Skin: *YS & YS* Irina Tone 02 – 04 Vintage with *YS&YS* – Irina Tone02  Eyebrows Light by Monicuzza Babenco for *YS&YS*, available at Shiny Shabby *

Eyes: {D.A} – Marble – Deep by Soleil Reid for Dead Apples

Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V3.2 by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Dress: *_M.birdie Story_* Matryoshka look clothing4 by monlmanl for *M.birdie, available at Shiny Shabby *

Headband: LB_LotusHeadband{WithMenu} by Cari McKeenan for Little Branch, available at Shiny Shabby *

Neckerchief: *_M.birdie Story_* Matryoshka look handkerchief 1-6 by monlmanl for *M.birdie, available at Shiny Shabby *

Rings: ieQED irina.ring.set.all.left [MAITREYA 20 – relaxed] by Sigifaust for ieQED, available at Shiny Shabby *

Boots: !APHORISM! Glastonbury Boots – Chestnut by Rucy Byron for !APHORISM!, available at Shiny Shabby *

Poses by Olaenka Chesnokov for oOo Studio *

Gypsy Soul

“I have always considered myself a free spirit with a Gypsy soul surrendering gratefully to wherever life takes me.” – Melanie Moushigian Koulouris

Shiny Shabby’s next round opens today and it’s, as you can see, chock full of Boho goodness. If you are a fan of a gypsy soul, then you will score at this event as I did. First you have the wonderfully textured and meshed jacket from Rucy Byron, a piece that comes in several neutral tones that all look like fine suede so you can mix it with other pieces. It also includes an undershirt, but I chose to go with a tank from LacunaInc, carefully fitting it under the jacket and over my mesh body (which is mostly alpha’d out—go figure). I matched it to one of Sissy Pessoa’s fabulous maxi skirts, the entire set in many colors but also with great leathery/suede textures and a lace inset. I matched up the look with a handbag from the UnitedColorsTeam which is rigged mesh, so grab a demo before buying to see if it fits you as you like. I accessorized with a great necklace from Maxi Gossamer for Fameshed.

 

Skin Fair is still going strong, and Inka Mexicola is one of the sponsors of the Fair, so it’s a double treat because you get several of Inka’s newest skins exclusively. I like Inka’s line because she includes appliers for everything, including the Belleza mesh body, which many creators have forgone because of the different UV maps on the hands and feet. Inka, with true skill, managed to create the applier for this body as well as others like the Maitreya, and she includes a great choice of brows and a set of beautiful lipsticks.

Mina Nakamura is also participating in Shiny Shabby this round with a great hair with a bandana that also includes your choice of textures on her handy HUD. And I had to show Kunst Himmel’s rugs again because I am totally hooked on them (no pun intended). Rugs always seem to be my final choice to pull an interior look all together, and I will be using this set of rugs over and over in my decorating. It’s worth a few pulls of the gacha!

Hair: MINA HUD – Jacky – Fatpack by Mina Nakamura for MINA, available at Shiny Shabby *

Skin: Essences [Fortuna] medium01 *blonde* with Essences {Lucky Charm: Lipstick04} by Inka Mexicola for Essences, available at Skin Fair *

Eyes: {D.A} – Marble – Jeans by Soleil Reid for Dead Apples, available at The Men’s Dept.

Body: -Belleza- Venus V 0.02 *SlinkFit H&F by Tricky Boucher for –Belleza– *

Jacket: !APHORISM! Vintage Leather Jacket – Pale Brown by Rucy Byron for Aphorism, available at Shiny Shabby *

Top: *LACUNA* Tetroz Tank – Rouge by LacunaInc for Lacuna *

Skirt: Baiastice_Joan-Long Suede skirt-Rose by Sissy Pessoa for Baiastice, available at Shiny Shabby *

Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands V2.1 – Casual by Siddean Munro for Slink

Necklace: MG – Necklace – Malina Stone – Group 5 by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at Fameshed *

Handbag: UC_Boho_bag_women_L_Brown_red by Unitedcolorsteam for United Colors, available at Shiny Shabby *

Rugs: [ kunst ] – Boho carpets by Kunst Himmel for [kunst], available at Shiny Shabby *

Poses by Valencia Southard for Marukin