Divine Pleasures–KittyCatS & Friends Advent Calendar, Day 19

“Surely everyone is aware of the divine pleasures which attend a wintry fireside; candles at four o’clock, warm hearthrugs, tea, a fair tea-maker, shutters closed, curtains flowing in ample draperies to the floor, whilst the wind and rain are raging audibly without.” ~ Thomas de Quincey

There is something so cozy about a fireplace with a fire, even if the fire is coming from candles. Cory Edo has made this cozy fireplace set for Collabor88 and these stylish chairs for Fameshed. They created the perfect scene for Barnesworth Anubis’ gift for the KittyCatS & Friends Advent Calendar gift for today, the Kitty Campaign Stool. Now, while this was made for KittyCats, the truth is that you could use this stool for a coffee table or other décor (though my Calliekins rather likes it for herself). It’s mod so you can even put poses in it. Grab yours from the calendar!

Shiny Shabby is opening tomorrow, so I am showing a few wonderful pieces from the event. First, this knit dress from Ainaraluas comes in several colors and is a very versatile look for accessorizing. I wore Tatyana Ultsch’s fur stole for Winter Trend, a piece that fit quite nicely and includes a ton of fur variations so you can wear it with many looks. My boots are Senzati0n Domenitzo’s Winter Gacha pieces. For a small amount, you can grab a pair of one of 10 awesome colors, and they fit several mesh bodies and feet. That’s a great deal for her wonderful work.

I finally got the Annie head from Catwa Clip and took some time getting used to it. JourdanMcMillan is offering appliers at Shiny Shabby for the Catwa heads and I was able to mix and match lipstick and eye makeups and come up with a look that pleased me greatly. She has a sophisticated, very blushed look with a nice choice of makeups. My hair is one of Thora Charron’s newest ‘dos with the “Swish” animation included. While I was photographing this look, I could feel the breeze caress my face because of the moving lock of hair.

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

Mesh head: CATWA HEAD Annie V4.4 by Catwa Clip for CATWA

Skin applier: Bold & Beauty :: Scarlet (Catwa Applier). Fatpack by JourdanMcMillan for Bold & Beauty, available at Shiny Shabby *

Eyes: #adored – nova eyes – thunderstorm by Constance Daehlie for #adored, available at Winter Trend *

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

Dress: Luas Fall Dress Blue by Ainaraluas for Luas, available at Shiny Shabby *

Stole: :::insanya::: Synthetic Fur Stole by Tatyana Ultsch for :::insanya:::, available at Winter Trend *

Boots: Essenz – Warsaw (Maitreya) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, available at Winter Gacha Festival *

Décor:

Trompe Loeil – Haldis Fireplace Empty by Cory Edo for Trompe Loieil, available at Collabor88 *

Trompe Loeil – Haldis Candleholder Scripted by Cory Edo for Trompe Loieil, available at Collabor88 *

Trompe Loeil – Haldis Holiday Tapestry by Cory Edo for Trompe Loieil, available at Collabor88 *

Trompe Loeil – Xeni Armchair + Blanket PG for Fameshed by Cory Edo for Trompe Loieil, available at Fameshed *

Trompe Loeil – Xeni Armchair PG by Cory Edo for Trompe Loieil, available at Fameshed *

LISP – Mesh – Jewel Summer Rug – Sunset Red by Lainy Voom for LISP

kitty campagin stool by Barnesworth Anubis for Barnesworth Anubis, available December 19 for the KittyCatS and Friends Advent Calendar at the KittyCats Wonderland Sim *

Serenity Style- Winter Picnic Brownie Plate by Hanstrid Inshan for Serenity Style, available at Shiny Shabby *

[Toiz] 7. x-mas tree deco by marinestella for [Toiz], available at Shiny Shabby *

KittyCats – Calliekins by KittyCats for KittyCats *

My Perfect Vacation

“So many books, so little time.” ~ Frank Zappa

My perfect vacation would involve a few things: a cozy spot, solitude, and a collection of books. (I might throw in a fridge with water and a fresh supply of cantaloupe, spinach and heirloom tomatoes too plus a good music collection.) Sway Dench made my favorite kind of spot with her little boho wagon for The Liaison Collaborative—a cozy spot for one or two. With a variety of poses built into the seat and the porch and stairs outside, it’s a fun prop or playhouse, and it makes a perfect set for a cozy reading getaway.

Imagine being curled up in this cute little wagon with your favorite book (today’s being Alison Lurie’s Foreign Affairs), some great music on the turntable (Andrew Bird’s “Pulaski at Night”), and a cute comfy outfit. My dress is part of a full ensemble from Moonbubble Gothly that she is selling at District 5. I stole the artsy cute dress with top and skirt and abstract texture for the look. My shoes are Lindsey Warwick’s darling heels that she sold for 21 Shoe (which is available in other colors). Piled around me, of course, are Murakami books, made by MiaSnow Myriam, who is also a fan!

Sometimes fresh air and quiet contemplation is needed, and then I sit out on this chair from Sway Dench that she made for the Australian theme for The Dreaming Tree. With several single AND couples poses and texture change on the pillows, it’s a decorator’s dream. The modern angles of the chair are offset by the cushions so this can mix in with a very modern or eclectic décor easily.

I know Shylah Honey made this hair for Fantasy Gacha Carnival but it’s good for every day wear, especially with its pulled back prettiness. Once this gacha is done at the Carnival, it will be in the regular store, so you haven’t missed it. My pretty skin is Sawsan Secretspy’s special for Designer Circle, sold at a discount for the event. And psst, but Krystal Jenkins put her jewelry on sale a couple days ago and I think the sale is still on. I snagged these brainy girl earrings for a steal.

Hair: *~*Damselfly*~*Sunhild Rigged Mesh Big Pack by Shylah Honey for Damselfly, available at the Fantasy Gacha Carnival *

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. Eshe Darktan by sawsan Secretspy for .::WoW skins::., available at Designer Circle *

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

Dress: [ bubble ] Camden Dress by Moonbubble Gothly for [ bubble ], available at District 5 *

Earrings: Helix – Earring – Platinum by Krystal Jenkins for Krystal

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

Feet: Slink AvEnhance Feet High by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: [L.Warwick] Miranda -High Platform Wedge- Modest Mahogany by Lindsey Warwick for L.Warwick

Wagon: Sway’s [Willow] Living Wagon . boho / Adult by Sway Dench for Sway’s, available at The Liaison Collaborative *

Furnishings and décor:

• Sway’s [Willow] hanging candle glass . boho by Sway Dench for Sway’s, available at The Liaison Collaborative *
• Sway’s [Willow] Plant by Sway Dench for Sway’s, available at The Liaison Collaborative *
• Sway’s [Willow] stack of books . boho by Sway Dench for Sway’s, available at The Liaison Collaborative *
• ::GUDU::  RugRug_L by Bersten for GUDU
• *Joke Factory* Refrigerator monster blue by Missileman Adzebills for *Joke Factory*
• Sway’s [Boomerang] Chair . Melbourne / PG by Sway Dench for Sway’s, for The Dreaming Tree *
• Sway’s [Willow] Table . boho by Sway Dench for Sway’s, available at The Liaison Collaborative *
• Zigana . Branch light . sun by Nalena Fairey for Zigana
• LISP – Funky Lispette Record Unit by Lainy Voom for LISP
• LISP – Victoire Lamp Left – Noir by Lainy Voom for LISP
• LISP – Tearose Lantern String by Lainy Voom for LISP
• BOOKS ~Murakami Collection by MiaSnow Myriam for MiaSnow

Across the Universe

Limitless undying love which
shines around me like a million suns
It calls me on and on across the universe

~ “Across the Universe” by the Beatles

For the past few weeks the only TV show we have talked about in our house is Cosmos, the remake of the Carl Sagan show from my childhood. Neil deGrasse Tyson hosts this version, and it’s a restating of what Carl Sagan revealed to us many years ago with some added information and a strong argument for science and the belief in objectivity and Truth.

To say that it has great cultural impact right at this moment would be stretching it. Not enough people watch it, and that’s truly a shame, because the rhetorical and metaphorical means by which very complex and amazing truths are shared is astonishing and beautiful. It pulls us back from the nihilistic postmodern navel-gazing that has been going on for so long in academics to a beautiful world of absolutely concrete proof, logic, and deep wonder. The argument for evolution alone is so deft and tight, it makes me cheer. I do think that in the long run it will have a profound impact, however.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Neil deGrasse Tyson is sexy as hell, and he has the intellectual cojones to back up his narrative. He’s taking us on a star ride for which he knows every single millimeter. I have had the guy on my personal radar for some time, and all I can say is he is the real deal and gosh, there is almost nothing hotter than a physicist.

I put on this dress from Aikea Reiko, one of the many gorgeous patterns on this set of mini dresses, and I was starstruck immediately. With a hand-drawn belt that binds the dress, it’s a simple outfit that allows for many ways to accessorize. And I accessorized in theme with Caelan Hancroft’s darling mesh necklace with prim change and texture change HUD. It’s offered at the Seraphim Social with these darling star-speckled wedges from LacunaInc. I also included one of Random Calliope’s hand-made, fully prim earrings, made as the Taurus constellation, still a marvel of SL building—no scripts, no textures, just prims. Absolutely gorgeous.

My luminous skin is Inka Mexicola’s newest beauty, which can be found at Secret Story. I have loved how Inka has put a unique spin on the skins with a beautiful blush and fine lovely features. The heavy, defined brow works for this skin, especially offset by the gorgeous lined eyes. I am smitten with her skins. My hair is a lanky lovely look from MissAllSunday Lemon, available at Secret Story in her array of lovely textures.

By the way, a serious group of RL astrophysicists keeps things going at Explorer Island, home since forever of the Jet Propulsion Lab. They meet in SL, present in SL and socialize in SL. Seriously.

“After all, what nobler thought can one cherish than that the universe lives within us all?”
― Neil deGrasse Tyson

Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Hanako Mesh Hair – Night shadow by MissAllSunday Lemon for Wasabi Pills, available at The Seasons Story *

Skin: Essences – Amaranth TSS04 *light rose* brunette by Inka Mexicola for Essences, available at The Seasons Story *

Eyes: pearl – columbia – medium bright by Lano Ling for Poetic Eyes *

Dress: :[P]:- Courtesan Reloaded [S]://Nebulon by Aikea Rieko for Plastik *

Necklace: Cae :: Galaxy :: Necklace by Caelan Hancroft for Cae, available at The Seraphim Social

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

Nail appliers: Flair – Fingernails Applier Slink A/E – set 207 by Sasy Scarborough for Flair, available at Cosmetic Fair *

Stockings: {W&R} Starlight Socks – Blue by Almarea Firehawk for {W&R}

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

Shoes: *LACUNA* Milliways Platforms – Royal Blue by LacunaInc for Lacuna, available at The Seraphim Social *

Telescope by LISP – Mesh – Kepler Telescope – tex change touch middle –Large by Pandora Popstar for LISP