Winners

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it–always.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

I have been thinking a lot more about serious issues lately because of the elections in the US and the tension with the police. I can only heed Gandhi’s words and face things with hope. SL provides a little joy and beauty and good distraction from all that, especially when you have great creations to show like this zigzag dress from ValentinaEvangelista for Shiny Shabby. Valentina always follows her own style and seems to find a joy in creating original new pieces with great colors (check out these zigzags) and sexy features. This top drops down so I wore an applier from one of Mariska Simons’ lingerie sets. Funky platform shoes from TomClaney include a great color-change HUD for different elements of the shoes. Aikea Reiko has created a lovely set of jewelry for Epiphany.

Ele Brandi has made this gorgeous applier for the Catwa mesh heads for Shiny Shabby. I tinted up the lips with the handy makeup HUD and found a great look to go with Mirja Mills’ beautiful hair for Hair Fair 2016. Mirja is unfailingly generous in her talents and time for events like Hair Fair. She is offering five beautiful styles for this year’s Hair Fair and a set of jewelry as a gift for any comers.

Hats seem to be Mirja’s theme this year and each hair comes with a beautifully-styled hat with additional colors offered via the hair tinting HUDs. You can color the hat, flowers, and band separately to create a beautiful look. The long hair with a straw hat is a perfect look for summer while the gorgeous curly ‘do (which looks an awful lot like my RL hair when it dries right I realized), is a great throwback look to the 70s but wonderful for today too.

Mirja tried her hand at a great looking mesh in two hats. This hat has a pretty hydrangea covering a low-tied bun.

And this mesh hat includes a cheerful striped hair band with pretty blousy flowers and is tied in the back with another ribbon (see my close up).

Finally, Mirja could not keep out her braided hair for Hair Fair, and this is a darling, side-tied look below a pretty wavy hat.

Hair:

• .:EMO-tions:. * VIOLA * by Mirja Mills for.:EMO-tions:., available at Hair Fair 2016 *
• .:EMO-tions:. * MAXI * by Mirja Mills for.:EMO-tions:., available at Hair Fair 2016 *
• .:EMO-tions:. * MARTINA * by Mirja Mills for.:EMO-tions:., available at Hair Fair 2016 *
• .:EMO-tions:. * HEIKE * by Mirja Mills for.:EMO-tions:., available at Hair Fair 2016 *
• .:EMO-tions:. * BIANKA * by Mirja Mills for.:EMO-tions:., available at Hair Fair 2016 *

Skin applier: ::Modish::[Catwa] Nata (T01)Face Applier HUD by Ele Brandi for Modish, available at Shiny Shabby *

Mesh head: CATWA HEAD Candy V4.9 by Catwa Clip for CATWA

Eyes: [theSkinnery] Sona eyes – 3 by Umazuma Metaluna for [theSkinnery] *

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

Dress: :V.e. Zigzag Dress MAITREYA Teal by ValentinaEvangelista for Valentina E. Couture, available at Shiny Shabby *

Lingerie applier: ~Blacklace~ Lydia: Cyan Lace Omega by Mariska Simons for Blacklace *

Necklaces: :[P]:- Lune Necklaces:// Goldenesque and :[P]:- Spire Quartz Pendant [Long]:// Goldenesque by Aikea Rieko for The Plastik, available at The Epiphany *

Rings: :[P]:- Bea Ringset [Maitreya-Right]:// Goldenesque by Aikea Rieko for The Plastik, available at The Epiphany *

Nail appliers: Hello Dave – Nail Appliers – Licky Moo by Maia Gasparini for Hello Dave!

Shoes: >VeNuS<>ShOeS< SANDALS SOPHIA FOR  MAITREYA by tomclaney for >VeNuS<>ShOeS<

Poses: (HUD)SLC SS Pose – watch me by manmoth Nishi for Body Language Sweet Lovely Cute, available at ROMP *

Sweetness

“It’s so hard to forget pain, but it’s even harder to remember sweetness. We have no scar to show for happiness. We learn so little from peace.” ~ Chuck Palahniuk

I liked this quote because it reminded me that carrying a grudge is easy. Forgiving and remembering goodness isn’t as easy. I try hard to remember the creators who send me items to review without expectation–their gifts of talent are one of the sweetnesses in my SL.

Something’s so sweet about a easy dress in the middle of the summer, something stylish and fashionable but not too tight or fussy and this dress from Marcopol Oh from Shiny Shabby fits the bill. Fit to the Maitreya body, It includes a little sexiness on the side. I paired it with a great necklace from Ors Quan for Shiny Shabby and high heels from Senzati0n Domenitzo.

GenesisLab has created this gorgeous mesh head for Shiny Shabby this month. I love that I am able to wear system eyes and don’t have to mess around with mesh eyes to wear it, I was also able edit my shape with the head stretch to change the look of the face. It did require some editing in the eye depth, and I had to mess with the lashes.

Especially sweet as well is when a creator donates a portion of their income from the creation of an item for a charity or someone’s need. Carina Larsen is donating a portion of her sales from the sale of her gorgeous hair at Hair Fair 2016 to Wigs for Kids. She includes this full, pulled back look with optional bangs.

She also offers an elegant updo with optional bang styles.

A very full-bodied, long style with a side part makes me look a little Jackie O. And she is offering duo-colored pigtails as a gift for those attending Hair Fair.

Hair:

• Amacci Hair – Zip Duo by Carina Larsen for Amacci, available at Hair Fair 2016 (gift!) *
• Amacci Hair – Nora by Carina Larsen for Amacci, available at Hair Fair 2016 *
• Amacci Hair – Malva (Shorter Bang) by Carina Larsen for Amacci, available at Hair Fair 2016 *
• Amacci Hair – Galia (No Bang) by Carina Larsen for Amacci, available at Hair Fair 2016 *

Head with skin applier: Genesis_Head_Amelie_2.0 Cappuccino by GenesisLab for Genesis, available at Shiny Shabby *

Eyes: [theSkinnery] Flirtacious  eye collection – 9 by Umazuma Metaluna for [theSkinnery] *

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

Dress: Clef de Peau Outlet.Natasha Dress (Maitreya) Army by marcopol Oh for Clef de Peau, available at Shiny Shabby *

Necklace: MINIMAL – Aimee Necklace -Gold- by Ors Quan for MINIMAL, available at Shiny Shabby *

Nail appliers: Hello Dave – Nail Appliers – A 99 Please! by Maia Gasparini for Hello Dave!

Shoes: Essenz – Belgrade (Maitreya) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz *

Poses: The Daria Series by Katya Valeska for an lar, available at Shiny Shabby *

Now

“Remember, remember, this is now, and now, and now. Live it, feel it, cling to it. I want to become acutely aware of all I’ve taken for granted.” ~ Sylvia Plath

Poulet Koenkamp has come up with a darling look for this month’s On9, an East Asian-influenced minidress with a cut up the side of the thighs and an asymmetrical top. Fit to the body, either a mesh body or system body, it’s a hot look, especially paired with the lace up heels from Skyler Lebed that she is featuring at Romp and the cute earrings AvaGardner Kungler has done for On9.

MissAllSunday Lemon has generously made three fantastic ‘dos for Hair Fair 2016, a portion of each sale benefitting Wigs for Kids. This mix of high bangs and high ponytail with locks framing the decolletage is a sexy fun look.

MissAllSunday also offers a whimsical side ponytail with a braided front. I saw a girl wearing this style at Summerfest (the RL one, not the SL one) this year and it was darling on her.

Finally, a braid frames the face for this long style, perfect for RP or everyday wear. As always, MissAllSunday rocks the Hair Fair!

Hair:

• /Wasabi Pills/ Fionna Mesh Hair by MissAllSunday Lemon for /Wasabi Pills/, available at Hair Fair 2016 *
• /Wasabi Pills/ Bubblegum Mesh Hair – Review copies by MissAllSunday Lemon for /Wasabi Pills/, available at Hair Fair 2016 *
• /Wasabi Pills/ Marceline Mesh Hair – Review copies by MissAllSunday Lemon for /Wasabi Pills/, available at Hair Fair 2016 *

Skin applier: *YS&YS* Bambi Tone02 Skin Applier – Catwa Mesh Head by Monicuzza Babenco for *YS&YS*, available at Shiny Shabby *

Mesh head: CATWA HEAD Sarah V4.9 by Catwa Clip for CATWA

Eyes: [theSkinnery] Sona eyes – 1 by Umazuma Metaluna for [theSkinnery]

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

Dress: :: PM :: MeiMei Dress MAITREYA -all colors- by Poulet Koenkamp for PurpleMoon Creations available at On9 *

Earrings: (Kunglers) Sampaguita earrings – Candy by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers Extra, available at On9 *

Shoes: **Dirty Princess** Erotic Princess Heel Maitreya by Skyler Lebed for **Dirty Princess**, available at ROMP *

Poses by Fanny Willis for Everglow *

Orange You Glad

… I didn’t say banana?

Baby, it’s hot outside so I am inside but still feeling the heat. This minidress from Mami Jewell raises the temperature, especially in this hot color. (And what has happened to color in SL and photos? I am sick of all the gray, washed out stuff lately.) So yeah, orange makes me glad, especially with matching shoes from Ashleey Andrew from Romp and the darling jewelry Maxi Gossamer has at Collabor88.

As usual, Thora Charron has outdone herself with hair she is selling at Hair Fair with a portion of each going for Wigs for Kids. How can you resist this sexy wavy look, so nicely done it outclasses the other looks like this on the grid by miles.

Or try a classic wavy look….

Get disco with this wild and amazing look….

Or buck the status quo with a jeweled snood. Get them all at Hair Fair and help kids who want to live a normal life.

Hair:

• .Lelutka.HF01 hair by Thora Charron for LeLutka, available at Hair Fair 2016 *
• .Lelutka.HF03 hair by Thora Charron for LeLutka, available at Hair Fair 2016 *
• .Lelutka.HF04 hair by Thora Charron for LeLutka, available at Hair Fair 2016 *
• .Lelutka.HF05 hair by Thora Charron for LeLutka, available at Hair Fair 2016 *
• .Lelutka.HF06 hair by Thora Charron for LeLutka, available at Hair Fair 2016 *

Skin applier: #09 Essences [ArwenD01] by Inka Mexicola for Essences, available at Kustom9 *

Mesh head: LeLutka Karin HUD  1.6 by JadenArt for LeLutka *

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

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

Dress: -AZUL- Yves Dress MAITREYA /Mandarin by Mami Jewell for –AZUL- *

Necklace: MG – Necklace – Barcelona Boho – Short by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at Collabor88 *

Earrings: MG – Earring – Barcelona Boho by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at Collabor88 *

Shoes: Garbaggio // Laila Sandals (Maitreya) – Orange by Ashleey Andrew for Garbaggio, available at ROMP *

Poses by Valencia Southard for Marukin

Crème Brulee

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” ~ Mary Oliver

Summer has come, and it’s been spectacular. My son and I have a bucket list which includes lots of cooking (strawberry rhubarb pie, strawberry jam, peach cobbler, bumbleberry pie), biking, walking, festivaling (see the crème brulee below from Bastille Days), swimming at the high school, and huddling in the air during this heat wave. Tonight we took my cousin out for sushi after the big heat-clearing storms. I am exhausted.

Another wonderful feature every summer is Hair Fair, which benefits Wigs for Kids, and it opened on the 16th. As always, Sasy and Whimsy and Mel have put together an amazing line up again with a portion of every single sale helping a kid somewhere  by giving them a wig so they can enjoy their childhood and not worry about their hair loss.

Tommy and Shylah at Damselfly have always generously given for this event and I am showing three of Shylah’s gorgeous styles for the event. My updo is non-rigged, which allows me to resize it to fit the Stella mesh head from LeLutka. With a lovely skin from Inka Mexicola for Kustom9, I think it’s a high fashion look.

If you want to go fuller, this style has the look you crave and frames my face and other parts of me nicely (to show off the necklace AvaGardner Kungler is featuring at We <3 RP, of course).

And Shylah made this sleek longer style with a lock in front. I think the whole look is great with Zlyskritek’s darling dress for Mesh Body Addicts and Senzati0n Domenitzo’s cute shoes for Shiny Shabby.

I will try to squeeze in more Hair Fair looks as time and summer allow. Best to just get over there and give the kids some love!

Hair:

• *~*Damselfly*~*Sunny Rigged Mesh by Shylah Honey for*~*Damselfly*~*, available at Hair Fair 2016 *
• *~*Damselfly*~*Adetted Big Pack by Shylah Honey for*~*Damselfly*~*, available at Hair Fair 2016 *
• *~*Damselfly*~*Yarrow Rigged Mesh by Shylah Honey for*~*Damselfly*~*, available at Hair Fair 2016 *

Skin applier: #08 Essences [ArwenM02] by Inka Mexicola for Essences, available at Kustom9 *

Mesh head: .LeLutka.Mesh Head-STELLA v1.6 by JadenArt for LeLutka *

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

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

Dress: Kaithleen’s Tied Dress – Fatpack Maitreya by Zlyskritek for Kaithleen’s, available at Mesh Body Addicts *

Necklace: (Kunglers) Tita necklace – Green by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers Extra, available at We <3 RP *

Shoes: Essenz – Bahamas (Maitreya) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, available at Shiny Shabby *

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