Peanut Blossoms

“We wanted our Peanut Blossom Cookies recipe to have a smooth texture with a roasted flavor, so we used creamy peanut butter and replaced a portion of the flour with ground roasted peanuts.” ~ Cook’s Country

I have officially run out of titles and quotes today so you are being subjected to my topic of interest at the moment: Christmas cookies. Yes, I am starting now but this will be a banner year for cookie baking and I have made room in my freezer and purchased many pounds of butter and chocolate for the festivities. Then I give the cookies as gifts to teachers, relatives and friends here and afar. For example, Barely Texan nearly got down on his knobby knees earlier this year to beg me to send him a batch again. And Callie hinted around several times. For the Celebrity Auction for MadPea, benefitting Live & Learn in Kenya, I offered to send Christmas cookies as part of the prize, if the winner takes me up on it, he will receive a few of the said peanut blossoms as well several other cookies (which will title blogs in the future).

I also want to point out that this blog has been nominated as “Favorite Fashion Blog” in the Avi-Choice awards, which is quite an honor to me and my fellow bloggers who sometimes contribute to this blog. There are SO MANY fashion blogs for SL, so this is truly an honor, especially to be in a group of such distinguished bloggers. I would sure appreciate a vote from you and if I win, I will send you cookies. Click this link and scroll down to the bottom and up a bit to find my listing and thanks!

That being said, a quick trip to the grocery store to get hazelnuts, raspberry jam, dulce de leche, and several pounds of chocolate was in order, so I put on this hot little dress from Spooky Mistwallow (that includes a great texture change HUD with ten choices), struggled into tights from Alaska Metropolitan, threw on my scarf from Izzie Button from Gen Neutral, and grabbed my purse from Snow Martiel and ran out the door in my highly practical and sexy high heeled boots from Senzati0n Domenitzo. Yes, I always dress like this when I go cookie ingredient shopping—don’t you?

Umazuma Metaluma is offering a seasonal blush for cheeks and nose at Tres Chic, so I employed the blush layer over Nicole Button’s latest conversion to the Catwa head. I also used Nicole’s great eye makeups though I struggled with the lipsticks—they just didn’t conform to the lips the way I had hoped, even when I dialed them down. I also had to keep reapplying the blush as the lips overrode that. Not sure if it was a problem with the head’s HUD, the head or the makeup HUD.

Last, I want to give a big plus to the hair I am wearing which includes ANIMATION just like my face. Other people have tried this in the past but Thora Charron has finally made it work with mesh that seems to move in the breeze. I tried to capture an animation (and will attempt again on a future blog), but the side tendrils and the ponytail sway as if a gentle breeze is blowing on me. It’s pretty fabulous!

Hair: .LeLutka.Brittany hair.FIT.Swish by Thora Charron for LeLutka *

Mesh head: CATWA HEAD Jessica V4.2 by Catwa Clip for CATWA *

Skin Applier: Egozy.FACE.Faiza(Fair)Catwa with Egozy.EYESHADOWS.Faiza.Catwa by Nicole Button for Egozy *

Blush: [theSkinnery] Winter Blush (Catwa Applier Hud) by Umazuma Metaluna for [theSkinnery], available at Tres Chic *

Eyes: AMITOMO.Eye Collection 2 – 10 by Woomi Latte for AMITOMO, available at Kustom9

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

Dress: :KR: Giana Sweaterdress by Spooky Mistwallow for Kastle Rock Couture *

Scarf: Izzie’s – Winter Scarf Stripes by Izzie Button for Izzie’s, available at Gen Neutral

Handbag: Bens Boutique – Fiona Tote Bag by Snow Martiel for Ben’s Boutique

Earrings: (Kunglers) Ciri earring – Copper by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers Extra *

Tights: alaskametro<3 “Kat” tights – Olive – Omega Classic HUD by Alaska Metropolitan for AlaskaMetro

Boots: Essenz – Oklahoma (Maitreya) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz *

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

Glad

“Stay close to anything that makes you glad you are alive.” ~ Hafiz

There’s something to be said for the life of SL, the shopping. So many great events are open right now, especially the spectacular Fantasy Faire (which I haven’t gotten a chance to see), the Black Fashion Fair, Shiny Shabby, 100 Block and many other events. I admit, sometimes it’s just about the shopping for me. I am glad to have SL.

Mixing it all up is even more fun. Start with this top from Spooky Mistwallow that includes a texture-change HUD with different combinations that allow for top and belt looks. Then find this great balloon skirt from Moonbubble Gothly that she has at the Black Fashion Fair that includes several different black-based textures like plaid, polka dots, hearts, baroque. I just love this skirt and the choices. Senzati0n Domenitzo’s great heels for 100 Block have a HUD that allows several color choices. Zig-zag straps make these shoes sexy and fun.

Monicuzza Babenco recently released the Yvonne applier set for the LeLutka mesh heads. Monicuzza offers a HUD as you see below, and she gives you great instructions right on the HUD about how to use the makeups. I definitely toyed with the saturation of the makeups and the glosses on the LeLutka HUD to achieve this look. For example, my lips are the deep dark purple lips on the lower right hand corner of the lipsticks.

My great waves come from MissAllSunday Lemon for Uber. With extravagant corkscrew curls and a side part, the hair is bodacious and beautiful.

Don’t you love the furniture I have arranged in the photo? FadeArcade is offering these pieces and several others in a gacha at Shiny Shabby. FadeArcade has fabulous textures on these pieces, which are charming singularly or together.

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

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

Head applier: *YS&YS* Yvonne Tone03 Skin Applier – Lelutka Mesh Head by Monicuzza Babenco for *YS&YS* *

Eyes: #adored – dawn eyes – blue steel by Constance Daehlie for #adored *

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

Top: :KR: Asymmetrical Top by Spooky Mistwallow for Kastle Rock Couture *

Skirt: [ bubble ] Tulip Skirt by Moonbubble Gothly for [ bubble ], available at the Black Fashion Fair *

Nail applier: Nailed It – Maitreya – Gemstones Set HUD by Giela Delpaso for Nailed It *

Shoes: Essenz – Naples (Maitreya) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, available at 100 Block *

Furnishings: Apt B // Douze Roses GACHA by FadeArcade for Apt B, available at Shiny Shabby *

• Apt B // Douze Roses – Recycled Basket
• Apt B // Douze Roses – Chair
• Apt B // Douze Roses – Step Stool
• Apt B // Douze Roses – Cabinet RARE

Poses by Valencia Southard for Marukin

Love in the Time of Cholera

“To him she seemed so beautiful, so seductive, so different from ordinary people, that he could not understand why no one was as disturbed as he by the clicking of her heels on the paving stones, why no one else’s heart was wild with the breeze stirred by the sighs of her veils, why everyone did not go mad with the movements of her braid, the flight of her hands, the gold of her laughter. He had not missed a single one of her gestures, not one of the indications of her character, but he did not dare approach her for fear of destroying the spell.”  ~ Gabriel Garcí­a Márquez, Love in the Time of Cholera

I’ve been holding on to this quote for a bit for a look that makes me fall in love, and this one did. It’s the colors of the dress from Spooky Mistwallow, and the style. Spooky includes a HUD that allows switches between 6 colors on the dress and 6 on the skirt, all complimentary for the palette you choose, and I loe this brown set. The style of the dress is flirty and soft and sophisticated, especially belted at the waist.

Well maybe it’s the shoes really that I really love. Strappy and sexy, they are one of two pairs that Eku Zhong is selling for 21 Shoe, and they are ONLY ON SALE TODAY, the 21st, so do not delay in getting them. Eku is a quiet one, making her sexy shoes and softly putting them out for shoe warriors to snatch up and sex up the grid.

It’s the skin. That is key here. Umazuma Metaluna has outdone herself on this one. The tone of the skin, the freckles, the features, the beautiful full lips, groomed eyebrows, gentle blush. I gasped when I saw myself. This may not be a look for everyone. It’s certainly not your typical dolly face. Uma has imbued this face with character and beauty.

It might be the eyes. I have been showing a lot of Constance Daehlie’s eyes and makeup and I am completely in love with these dark brown peepers. It’s hard to do a brown eye right, and she pulls it off by giving light to the eyes.

Then perhaps it’s the hair. I loved this short cut from Miu Edman when it premiered at Hair Fair and ran to get the brown for this ensemble. I personally LOVE short hair on women and wish I could pull it off myself. It’s a great style to show off these ginormous earrings from Donatela Couturier.

Hair: +elua+ Ursula_Darkbrown by Miu Edman for +elua+

Skin: [theSkinnery] Zuri – Bare face (toffee) DB CL1 with [theSkinnery] Zuri – waterline eyeliner by Umazuma Metaluna for[theSkinnery],available at the Fantasy Collective *

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

Dress: :KR: Sardinia Dress  – Browns by Spooky Mistwallow for Kastle Rock Couture *

Earrings: [Modern.Couture] Jewelry – Cigana Earring by Donatela Couturier for [Modern.Couture]

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

Nail appliers: Ma Vie Les Vernis Metals by Mavi Beck of Ma Vie, available at District 5

Feet: Slink AvEnhance Feet High by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: KoiKoi Little Black Shoe by eku Zhong for KoiKoi for 21 Shoe (get ‘em NOW) *

Poses by Valencia Southard for Marukin

A Case of You

Oh I could drink a case of you darling
Still I’d be on my feet
oh I would still be on my feet
~ “A Case of You” by Joni Mitchell

Been having a few of those days lately where I just want to go home, sink into a chair, and have a glass of wine while I listen to my favorite music and relax. I feel like I am behind on a few tasks, least of which is showing this fabulous furniture, which I set up a while ago to photo. First there is this fabulous retro living room set from Froukje Hoorenbeek that includes all her fabulous animations, from purely sitting and enjoy a glass of wine to actually enjoying some time with a favorite sweetheart, smooching or more. Who knew such innocuous furniture could hold such hot thoughts?

Of course if I flop down on this great massage table from Tya Fallingbridge, someone may come along and give me a massage. Or not. But it sure looks beautiful and tempting in the corner of my bedroom with separate tables of towels and massage oils. This is still at Fameshed for a few more seconds so grab it while you can.

Tya has also made this absolutely stunning bed that includes singles and couples poses and some adult surprises. With carved tropical wood and a sheer curtain across the top, it’s a gorgeous bedroom set that she had at Liaison Collaborative and now has in her store. I put wall hangings from Trace Osterham on each side and hung a darling little mobile/lamp from Plethora in the corner.

My lovely dress, which I also wore for my video with Phobos, is one of Spooky Mistwallow’s lovely interpretations for this mesh dress. I particularly have loved her patterns, which are proportioned nicely on the dress. My new peeptoe pumps are Eudora3D’s newest and come with matching bracelets, sold separately.

Finally I have to brag about this gorgeous skin from Mochi Milena, which she has set up as a free piece for newbies and a very low price for the rest of us mortals. If anyone worries that newbies can’t get good content, they should pull them over to Mochi’s shop to grab this skin. It’s absolutely gorgeous (and ridiculously generous). My hair is lovely braided updo from Mariru Catnap that I grabbed from Fi*Friday before Hair Fair and promptly forgot about, which was a shame because it’s absolutely lovely.

I remember that time you told me
you said “Love is touching souls”
Surely you touched mine ‘
Cause part of you pours out of me
In these lines from time to time
Oh, you’re in my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet

Hair: .:CHEVEUX:.F057 Browns01 by Mariru Catnap for .:CHEVEUX:.

Skin: [PF] Renee <Hazel> – Pure (dkbrow) by Mochi Milena for Pink Fuel

Eyes: #adored – siren eyes – coconut by Constance Daehlie for #adored, available at theCosmetic Fair Beach Party

Dress: :KR: Fabiana Dress – Memory by Spooky Mistwallow for Kastle Rock Couture *

Bracelets: Eudora 3D Karnamal Bracelet Copper by Eudora3D for Eudora 3D *

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

Nail appliers: :[P]:- Slink Applier [NAILS-Feet]:// Concord by Aikea Rieko for Plastik *

Feet: Slink AvEnhance Feet High by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: Eudora 3D Karnamak Pumps Copper by Eudora3D for Eudora 3D *

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

Furnishings:

• Dutchie art deco chair left by Froukje Hoorenbeek for Dutchie *
• Dutchie art deco sofa adult by Froukje Hoorenbeek for Dutchie *
• Dutchie art deco chair right by Froukje Hoorenbeek for Dutchie *
• Dutchie art deco brown and blue rug by Froukje Hoorenbeek for Dutchie *
• Dutchie art deco coffee table by Froukje Hoorenbeek for Dutchie *
• Dutchie lilies by Froukje Hoorenbeek for Dutchie *
• Dutchie Ein Windstoss by Emil Orlik by Froukje Hoorenbeek for Dutchie *
• +CONVAIR+ Airplanes! for FFL by Tobias Convair (no longer available)

 

• Trompe Loeil – Roanna Sleigh Seat Brown With Blanket by Cory Edo for Trompe Loieil *

 

• [PM]Pixel Mode – Bali Bed White – Adult by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode*
• [PM]Pixel Mode – Bali End Table – Right by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode*
• [PM]Pixel Mode – Bali End Table – Left by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode*
• [PM]Pixel Mode – Throw Rug by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode*
• [PM]Pixel Mode – Bali Dresser by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode*
• Plethora – Paper Butterflies Light by PlethoraSL for Plethora
• {theosophy} Palmerston Wall Hanging (Tuscan) by Trace Osterham for {theosophy} *

 

• [PM]Pixel Mode – Insouciance Massage Bed – Adult by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode, available at FaMESHed *
• [PM]Pixel Mode – Insouciance Towels Table by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode, available at FaMESHed *
• [PM]Pixel Mode – Insouciance Oils Table by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode, available at FaMESHed *
• Melilla Drapes by Jolie.Applemoor (no longer available)

 

• {theosophy} Nicholaston Skybox by Trace Osterham for {theosophy} *

Walk on Air Hair

I call this “Walk on Air” hair because I always find Wasabi Pills’ mesh hair so delightful. MissAllSunday Lemon was one of the first hair makers to work with mesh, and it shows. Her pieces are well-developed with gorgeous textures and she can jump genres from fantasy to casual in a snap.

MissAllSunday’s specialty is the braid, and she uses it liberally in her pieces for Hair Fair. Braided bangs in a winsome face-framing curly ‘do, pigtail braids, and a thick braid pulled to the front, MissAllSunday shows off her mesh skills, even throwing in a windblown look.

Her textures and hair colors are lush and shadowed well in her mesh. (It’s not just texture—shadow and highlighting play a part in her hair). And the best part? A part of the sale of each of these pieces goes to Wigs for Kids, which will leave you walking on air.

Hair (top to bottom):

• /Wasabi Pills/ Midori Mesh Hair by MissAllSunday Lemon for Wasabi Pills, available at Hair Fair 2014 *
• /Wasabi Pills/ Nana Mesh Hair by MissAllSunday Lemon for Wasabi Pills, available at Hair Fair 2014*
• /Wasabi Pills/ Breeze Mesh Hair by MissAllSunday Lemon for Wasabi Pills, available at Hair Fair 2014 *
• /Wasabi Pills/ Barbara Mesh Hair by MissAllSunday Lemon for Wasabi Pills, available at Hair Fair 2014 *

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. Melodia Tan 02 A by sawsan Secretspy for .::WoW skins::. *

Eyes: #adored – dream eyes –  glacier by Constance Daehlie for #adored

Dress: =Mirage= Afrika Dress – Colors by Spooky Mistwallow for Kastle Rock Couture *