Rare–KittyCatS & Friends Advent Calendar, Day 1

“I am a rare species, not a stereotype.”~ Ivan E. Coyote

Today opens the first door to the KittyCatS & Friends Advent Calendar, a project I have been working on with my partner, Callie Cline, for my fourth year. Every day from December 1 to December 24, a door on the calendar is opened and an exclusive gift comes out, one per resident, when the door is clicked. Then the door stays open for the rest of the days until the end of the year. So each day, you can run and treat yourself to a little gift from one of these designers:

• Carina Larsen for AMACCI
• Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog
• Sands Leavitt for Azuchi
• Mami Jewell for Azul
• Barnesworth Anubis for BA
• June Dion for Bare Rose
• Mariska Simons for Blacklace
• Belle Roussel for Chop Zuey
• Tommy Fairplay for Damselfly
• Aleida Rhode for Elysium
• Mirja Mills for Emo-tions
• AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers
• Santana Lumiere for La Boheme
• Bastchild Lotus for Lapointe & Bastchild
• Garvie Garzo for MeadowWorks
• Piraiyah Novikov for Nomad
• Reishiprophet for Nivaro
• Rebel Hope for Rebel Hope Designs
• Beloved Ruby for Ruby
• Shai Delacroix for Shai
• Sanura Snowpaw for Somnia
• StellaJane for StellaJane
• Kimmera Madison for Tres Beau
• Sawsan Secretspy for Wow Skins
• zzoiezee for Zanze

Many of the designers are personally KittyCats owners but they were asked to make a gift that anyone could enjoy—not necessarily about KittyCats or cats. So you can be guaranteed the theme will be holiday and the gift will be fantastic. I know I am excited! (Like what kind of great silly gift will Shai make? Will Mariska make something super sexy again? How much glitter will Belle throw at it?) Last year we even won  the “Favorite Holiday Event” for the Avi Choice awards!

You will find the calendar at the KittyCats Wonderland Sim, the KittyCats main store, Amacci, Damselfly, LaBoheme, and Elysium, and I will update on other locations. Go to any of these locations and you can grab your gift for the day. And check back daily on my blog to see what’s coming!

Sands Leavitt made this fabulous suit for women to fit several mesh bodies for the androgynous theme for Uber this month, tapping into the idea of the beautiful rarity of the confidently androgyne. With an optional turtleneck “dickie” you can purchase to wear, the suit can serve as formalwear for humans of any and all genders. As usual, Sands lends his professional experience in modeling and texturing to this suit, which is sexy in the best ways. I paired it with Maxi Gossamer’s gorgeous necklace for Uber and stiletto heels from Claire Messenger and Nura Augapfel to up the fierce in my look. A bag from Harry Hyx takes us out for business. And I picked up some great poses from Di Hoorenbeek at Gen Neutral, where you can find great stuff every month.

What makes my beautiful soul a “rare” as well is my beauty’s green and blue eyes, the set part of the gift by Carina Larsen for the first day of the KittyCatS & Friends Advent Calendar. She gives two sets of eyes—one blue and one green—and since they are mesh, I can mix them up, so I did! My hair is the unisex style Carina has created in a wintery, snowy tint, great for a handsome Arctic warrior or our beautiful androgyne. Shyla Diggs’ beautiful new skin for Uber includes chest layers to make the ‘dehance” the breasts. I wore it with the Belleza Isis body, however, so that option is not available on appliers. I did, however, reduce my breast size with my sliders.

Hair: Amacci Hair – Simon(F) – Black fade 5 by Carina Larsen for Amacci, available December 1 for the KittyCatS and Friends Advent Calendar at the KittyCats Wonderland Sim *

Skin: -Belleza- Jamie Uber SK 3 Blk by Shyla Diggs for –Belleza–, available at Uber *

Eyes: Amacci Mesh Eye – Stargazer Blue – L and Amacci Mesh Eye – Stargazer Green – R by Carina Larsen for Amacci, available December 1 for the KittyCatS and Friends Advent Calendar at the KittyCats Wonderland Sim *

Lashes: .LeLutka.Kornelia lashes.01 by Thora Charron for LeLutka *

Body: -Belleza- Isis by Tricky Boucher for –Belleza– *

Suit: [Azuchi] Clair Blazer Black Isis and [Azuchi] Clair Pants Black Isis by Sands Leavitt for [Azuchi], available at Uber *

Necklace: MG – Necklace – Angel Arrow – Short – M/T by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at Uber

Bag: ISON – summer striped net bag -right hand- (black) by Harry Hyx for Ison *

Shoes: N-core STILETTO “Black” for Belleza High Feet by Nuria Augapfel and Claire Messenger for N-Core

Poses by Di Hoorenbeek for Di’s Opera, available at Gen Neutral

Harmony

“You are only afraid if you are not in harmony with yourself.” ~ Hermann Hesse

Trying to put a whole look together and make it work from the things I am committed to blog is sometimes a challenge. I want to have some coherency, a look someone could imagine wearing. I have been working on another project lately so I feel a little fragmented but I hope this one comes together for you. It helps that Harry Hyx has made this elegant top and skirt in limited colors—teal, tan, beige, and white—so I have one main color with neutrals. The beautiful drape Harry manages with mesh and great texturing is amazing.

I opted for the teal top to match this new jewelry from Abraxxa Anatine that includes in the set her unique Harmony ball. My friend has one of these in real life. It jingles very softly and sonorously as you move and Abraxxa has included options to allow that in SL. She also includes texture change options on the jewelry so you get an assortment of looks available, though I loved the  Chrysocolla stone that was on the pendant already. The set comes with the shorter pendant, two varieties of bracelets, rings, and earrings.

Sawsan Secretspy has come out with a new set of skins for the Fashion Fair. As always I look elegant and sublime in her skins with their subtle blush, soft lips and beautifully-lined eyes. MissAllSunday Lemon made this darling hair with a braid hairband for Uber. She has taken mesh and run with it, having converted her once-fantasy hair business into an almost-industry with beautiful mesh pieces combined with great textures. I just please wish she would consider using a texture-change HUD so my inventory can be brought into better harmony.

Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Sibel Mesh Hair – Rouge by MissAllSunday Lemon for /Wasabi Pills/, available at Uber *

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. Serena Tan 01 by sawsan Secretspy for .::WoW skins::., available at Fashion Fair *

Eyes: #adored – dawn eyes – light green by Constance Daehlie for #adored *

Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V2.1 by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Top: ISON – celestial bell sleeve top – (teal) by Harry Hyx for Ison, available at Uber *

Skirt: ISON – celestial maxi skirt – (tan) by Harry Hyx for Ison, available at Uber *

Jewelry: EarthStones Krishna Harmony Ball Necklace, EarthStones Krishna Narrow Bracelet (R), EarthStones Krishna Pendant Necklace, EarthStones Krishna Ring (R), EarthStones Krishna Wide Cuff Bracelet (L) by Abraxxa Anatine for EarthStones *

Feet: Slink AvEnhance Feet High by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: Essenz – Rome (Fatpack 1) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz *

Poses by Fanny Willis for Everglow *

Diana

Diana, she loves me
No innocence or compromise
Diana, she loves me
The only way she knows

~ “Diana” by Paolo Nutini

This sexy, sophisticated song seems to match the look I put together for today, so let’s call her “Diana.” First is Harry Hyx’s on spot top, a constructed tunic, sleeveless and belted in front with a graphically appealing open back and asymmetric hemline. This mesh piece is wonderfully rigged and fits very well with a great alpha. Underneath I chose wide-leg slacks from Datrip Blackbart, which he will have at the next Showroom. New boots from Senzati0n Domenitzo, discounted at this month’s Thrift Shop, finish the look.

Umazuma Metaluna’s newest skin as the most arresting eyes, verging on a beautiful maturity that gives the skin a ton of character and reveals a woman of substance, not just a pretty princess. With Uma’s characteristic sensuously full lips (which I adored with her customizable lipstick from another set), the skin includes a beautiful hairbase and her lush skin tones. Truth Hawks just came out with another wavy long style, with curls corkscrewing down beautifully with his lovely textures. And Maxi Gossamer presents this artistic set of jewelry at Collabor88, a fatpack in one with her texture change scripts.

Hair: TRUTH HAIR Aida by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: [theSkinnery] Meysha – November Moon (toffee) DB+H CL1 with [theSkinnery] Valerie Lip Intensity 1 (new) by Umazuma Metaluna for [theSkinnery], available at November Moon *

Eyes: #adored – dream eyes – black coffee by Constance Daehlie for #adored *

Top: ISON – bandage back top – (plum) by Harry Hyx for Ison, available at Collabor88 *

Slacks: Legal Insanity – autumn flared pants rose by Datrip Blackbart for Legal Insanity, available at the Showroom *

Jewelry: MG – Necklace and Ring – Gypsy Flower Amulet of Antimony by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at Collabor88 *

Hands:Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands – Elegant and Elegant 1 by Siddean Munro for Slink

Nail Appliers: Maai Slink * Fingernails * Darling by Snow Wolfhunter for Maai

Boots: Essenz – Helsinki (Fatpack 1) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, available at Thrift Shop *

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

Wild Women Don’t Get the Blues

You never get nothing by being an angel child
You better change your ways and get real wild
I wanna tell you something, I wouldn’t tell you a lie
Wild women are the only kind that really get by
‘Cause wild women don’t worry, wild women don’t have their blues

~ “Wild Women Don’t Get the Blues,” sung by Francine Reed

A week or so ago I spent a few hours looking for good blues songs by and about women because all the great blues joints and DJs on SL have taught me to love the blues. I have a particularly warm spot in my heart for women blues singers. Finally, I found women who could sing it low and sing it high. Women’s blues embraces women’s sexuality and feelings with passion and humor.

This outfit reminds me of wild women. Start with the mesh clothes from Poulet Koenkamp. Poulet makes no beef about using mesh templates but her texture work and texture-change HUDs are so amazing that she lifts them beyond the run-of-the-mill. For example, you can find this jacket elsewhere but are you going to find it with such awesome zippers, such great suede and tweed textures, and most importantly this gorgeous embroidery on the back? Nope. Her jeans are just as nice with a tweedy texture and a variety of colors available on the HUD.

My necklace and ring are from Crashnoww, who is one of the folks at the Jewelry Fair. I have blogged his work already but can’t say enough about the great texture-change HUDs and the styling of his and his business partners’ work. Make sure you get over to the Jewelry Fair tout suite!

Then step down to my beautiful boots from Paul Lapointe and Bastchild Lotus. As with all their creations, the mesh is made from the pixel up by Paul and Bast and includes their brilliant proprietary texture-change HUD, which includes scads of color and metal choices so when you get this boot and the HUD, you get a very fat fatpack.

Umazuma Metaluna released this skin in full with all the appliers (including the Mesh Project face), add-ons and gorgeousness I just adore with these skins. The eyebrows are exquisite (I am big on eyebrows), the freckled skin is subtle and sublime, the eyes are expressive and the lips are full and drop-dead gorgeous. I love this skin on me! I wore one of Harry Hyx’s hairs from Hair Fair to give our sexy wild woman a sleeker look. Don’t think because her hair isn’t messy, she isn’t willing to get a little dirty.

Hair: ISON – Ruler by Harry Hyx for Ison *

Skin: [theSkinnery] Zuri – Bare face (toffee) DB CL1 by Umazuma Metaluna for [theSkinnery]

Eyes: #adored – siren eyes – kelp by Constance Daehlie for #adored

Jacket: :: PM :: Erica Jacket – All Colors by Poulet Koenkamp for PurpleMoon Creations *

Jeans: :: PM :: Acire Slacks – All 16 Colors by Poulet Koenkamp for PurpleMoon Creations *

Necklace: **RE** LUX Mia Necklace by Crashnoww for RealEvil Industries, available at the Jewelry Fair *

Ring: **RE** LUX Mia Ring by Crashnoww for RealEvil Industries, available at the Jewelry Fair *

Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands – Casual by Siddean Munro for Slink

Nail appliers: Flair – Fingernails Applier Slink A/E – set 227 by Sasy Scarborough for Flair, available at My Attic*

Boots: L&B S’wear “Carissa” Ankle Boot by Paul Lapointe and BastChild Lotus for Lapointe and Bastchild *

Poses by Dove Swanson for Long Awkward Pose (no longer available)

Aubergine

“How can people say they don’t eat eggplant when God loves the color and the French love the name? I don’t understand.” ~ Jeff Smith

Eggplants are about to come into season, and I am prepared. The French word  for eggplant is, of course, “aubergine,” a much more luscious and beautiful word for their deep purple color. This dress made me think of that word. The color is not as blue black purple as aubergine; it’s more a bordeaux but this is not a blog entry about wine. It’s about eggplant.

I love this new dress from Harry Hyx because it’s sleek and structured and beautifully tailored to fit. The design lines in the texture add high style and the criss-crossed straps that don’t quite lay flat and have a believable dimensionality. I accessorized with high heels from Eku Zhong, made to fit the SLink feet, that have a gorgeous gold texture, and earrings from AvaGardner Kungler.

I ran over to the Cosmetic Fair Beach Party (which is indoors, so don’t worry about wearing sunscreen), and I found that Stasey Oller has put out this lovely skin for blondes. I have not always picked up on her work because bright pink glossy lipstick is not my thing, but this skin is a great palette for such or for more subtle looks. I chose one of her glossy lips to wear with it, sheer and without teeth. I know people like parted lips but they are very hard to pull off right. My hair is Truth Hawks’ newest for men but also fitted for women. His textures are, as always, luscious and this style really looks great on women who can pull off short hair.

Hair: TRUTH HAIR Tom [Female] by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: Pink Acid Annette (Bare) – Butterscotch <3 by Stasey Oller for Pink Acid, available at the Cosmetic Fair Beach Party

Makeup: Pink Acid Overly Transparent Lip Gloss – Berry by Stasey Oller for Pink Acid, available at the Cosmetic Fair Beach Party

Eyes: #adored – dream eyes –  glacier by Constance Daehlie for #adored, available at the Cosmetic Fair Beach Party

Dress: ISON – leather trim dress  (plum) by Harry Hyx for Ison *

Earrings: (Kunglers Extra) Luna earring – Lavender by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers Extra, available at L’Accessoires *

Bangles: Boho Bangles – Laquered Gold and Diamonds by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer *

Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands – Casual by Siddean Munro for Slink

Feet: Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance)  – Mid by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: KoiKoi Perfetti GOLD by eku Zhong for KoiKoi

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

I Declare, It’s Hair!

Are you surprised? More hair. This set comes from Harry Hyx, who does his own mesh and textures for other items and has ventured into the hair arena for Hair Fair. Like many designers, Harry is offering a full feature texture-change HUD with great textures.

I love the styles he has offered: two curly and one wavy, close-to-the-head. They don’t seem outre but there are no others quite like them at Hair Fair. If you’re a fan of curly or wavy and want mesh rather than drawn textures, these may be just the ticket, especially with the subtle roots. Glad to see Harry has leapt into the hair fray!

Hair (top to bottom):

• ISON – Diamond by Harry Hyx for Ison, available at Hair Fair 2014 *
• ISON – Ruler by Harry Hyx for Ison, available at Hair Fair 2014 *
• ISON – Bee by Harry Hyx for Ison, available at Hair Fair 2014 *

Skin: Essences {Alex09} *medium01* brown by Inka Mexicola for Essences, available at Kustom 9 *

Eyes: #adored – dream eyes – black coffee by Constance Daehlie for #adored, available at The Big Show

Dress: :::insanya:::  KaiKai Dress – Flowers by Tatyana Ultsch for :::insanya:::, available at Project Limited

Necklace: [whatever] Letter Necklace – H [Silver] by annagrey for [whatever], available at Project Limited

Fierce Female

“I’ve often thought it unfair that women are expected to stay at home when there’s a fight to be won. If a woman has the strength to bear a child, she can swing a sword as well as any man.” ~ Karen Hawkins

Fierce women do exist. In fact, they outnumber the fierce men! Spooky Mistwallow just came out with this dress for her RP line, Mirage, and I put it on and felt my woman warrior emerge. Yeah, I know a warrior needs to be shielded and covered but this one is so lithe and fast she can fly through the air and get out without damage. The textures on the dress are so lush, especially the gold embroidery at the hem and bodice and the shape is sexy and my girl can be sexy and strong all at once.

Knee-high tie-up gladiator heels from Harry Hyx make the look even fiercer and sexier especially with serpent arm bracelets from Sissy Pessoa. I ran to the I Love Role Play gachas get gorgeous eyes from Filomena Quinnell and a raid horn from Thord Karu. I lucked out on my first try with both! And yes, fierce women can wear nail polish on their fingernails and toes—this one of Zozicon’s latest with beautiful spring textures and colors from the Pre-Release Gacha Garden.

My skin is PeachieMuah’s latest for her doll series. I can imagine this skin could be a perfect doll-like skin on a different shape but on mine it turns out to be a little more sophisticated, despite the dimples. I love the liner around the eyes and their shape with well-groomed brows and a slight blush. My hair is a two-piece mesh beauty from Morphine Janick. I love the blonde texture and having it in two pieces allows the option to not wear the braid and just have the wind blown look.

“I do not believe in using women in combat, because females are too fierce.” ~ Margaret Mead

Hair: [monso] My Hair – Elsa/ Light Blonde by Morphine Janick for [monso]

Skin: (FreshFace) Belle Natural _ Smaller breasts by PeachieMuah for Fresh Face *

Eyes: !Musa! Agate Eyes Wheat by Filomena Quinnell for Musa, available at We Love Roleplay

Dress: =Mirage= Ashwari Dress – Dark – Passion by Spooky Mistwallow for =Mirage= Arabian Treasure Company *

Sword: [HOT] Medieval Sword (In Right Hand) by Reynevan3

Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Bag Right and Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual Left by Siddean Munro for Slink

Nail appliers: -{ZOZ}- Magenta Purple – Fingernail Hud Single by Zozicon for ZOZ, available at the Pre-Release Gacha Garden *

Bracelets: Baiastice_Snake Bracelet-red gold by Sissy Pessoa for Baiastice

Horn: Primus.X Raid Horn 1.2 (female) (silver) by Thord Karu for Primus Weapons, available at We Love Roleplay

Feet: Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance)  – Mid by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: ISON – lace-up gladiator sandals (plum) by Harry Hyx for Ison

Poses by Rogan Diesel for DieselWorks Animations *

The Weekender

“The only reason why we ask other people how their weekend was is so we can tell them about our own weekend.”  ~ Chuck Palahniuk

When I was a young woman, I would read fashion magazines that often had fashion spreads for “The Weekend.” The outfits were often for running off to the Hamptons or seeing your sorority sisters at “the club.” Seeing that, I thought I would grow up to have a weekday and a weekend wardrobe, but now I’m an adult it’s all kind of run together into jeans and yoga pants and t-shirts and sneakers or boots. Occasionally I dress up on the weekends for a cocktail party or going out but mostly, it’s all one and the same.

I can still dream that I go away for the weekend—perhaps to the Hamptons or Napa or to Taos. Yeah, that’s it. A quick flight down to Taos, and this is what I’d wear. First this sweater and shorts set from Thetra Blackheart that she was selling at Limited Bazaar. (I will admit, it’s limited and I picked it up over a week ago but I just had to show it!) With a decidedly Southwestern flavor, this outfit would take me to Taos in style (and no, the locals would not roll their eyes because they would be hoping I’d spend money). And I would because isn’t that what ladies who dress for the weekend do—shop? A necklace at Jon Ree’s Mustang Trading Post and these fabulous designer boots from Harry Hyx would be ideal purchases.

Of course a pale freckled girl can’t go to Taos without sunscreen so imagine there is a fine layer of Lancome protecting my delicate face from Shyla Diggs and Tricky Boucher. I would let my hair down for the weekend, this from Alice Demonia, and enjoy the sunshine, the shopping and the relaxation, forgetting all about my weekend laundry and cleaning at home.

“The rhythm of the weekend, with its birth, its planned gaieties, and its announced end, followed the rhythm of life and was a substitute for it.”  ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

Hair: *Alice Project* Steph II by Alice Demonia for Alice Project

Skin: -Belleza- Delaney Skin by Shyla Diggs and Tricky Boucher for -Belleza-

Eyes: IKON Spectral Eyes – Leonine (ML) by Ikon Innovia for  IKON

Jacket: E-Clipse ThessSweater by Thetra Blackheart for E-Clipse, available at Limited Bazaar

Shorts: E-Clipse Shorts Mare by Thetra Blackheart for E-Clipse, available at Limited Bazaar

Necklace: MTP Ladies Telluride Turquoise Necklace by Jon Ree for Mustang Trading Post

Boots: ISON – cult riding boots – (tan) by Harry Hyx for Ison

Poses by Tutys for Tutys