Live a Little

So go and live a little
Bone turns brittle
And skin withers before your eyes
Make sure you give a little
Before you go to the great unknown in the sky

~ “Brace for Impact (Live a Little)” by Sturgill Simpson

Spring is here! Get out of the house and enjoy the fresh air, the life all around you—live a little! I took a walk today at the MadPea Mainstore sim, a darling little town with a center square park that even includes a playground. Get a tattoo, fried chicken, a little local flavor—it’s a great urban space, which is hard to find in SL it seems. I wore a flirty little slip dress from Apple May that she is featuring at Shiny Shabby, a great fit on my Maitreya body. I paired Senzati0n Domenitzo’s gladiatorish sandals for Fameshed for a walk down the street—no heels for concrete. And a gorgeous necklace that AvaGardner Kungler came out with last month lies perfectly in the decolletage of the dress and I am wearing Mea Carnell’s bangle for Shiny Shabby to dress up the outfit and match my gold nails from Santana Lumiere.

I am wearing one of Lara Hurley’s beautiful appliers for the Logo mesh head, one that fits the head so beautifully and kind of hides that it is that particular head. I think the biggest problem people complain about the mesh heads is that they all “look alike,” but this applier shows that good artistry can make them quite unique. Paired with gorgeous eyes from Umazuma Metaluna and sexy wavy tossed hair from Mina Nakamura for Fameshed, and I am ready for the world, ready to live a little!

Hair: MINA Hair – Kirstin 01 (no materials) by Mina Nakamura for MINA, available at Fameshed *

Skin applier: Lara Hurley-Aria Midtone *Logo Appliers* by Lara Hurley for Lara Hurley

Mesh head: LOGO Alex v3.0 by Maximillion Grant for LOGO *

Eyes: [theSkinnery] Sona eyes (Omega Applier) 5 by Umazuma Metaluna for [theSkinnery] *

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

Dress: Silk Teddy (Maitreya) – Black by Apple May for Apple May Designs, available at Shiny Shabby*

Necklace: (Kunglers) Shani necklace – Obsidian by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers Extra *

Bracelet: Meva Indrya Bangle golden right by Mea Carnell for Meva, available at Shiny Shabby *

Nail appliers: [LB Solids Chrome S4 Metals] *Maitreya* Manicure and Pedicure by Santana Lumiere for La Boheme

Shoes: Essenz – Gambia (Maitreya) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, available at Fameshed *

Poses by Rogan Diesel for DieselWorks Animations *

Taken at MadPea Mainstore

Dearly Beloved

“Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here
To get through this thing called life….”

~ Prince (Super Bowl half time show)

I got teary-eyed like everyone else when I found out Prince had died. I grew up during his ascendancy—he was on my AM radio in my old Nova when I drove to work in high school. His album, 1999, was one of the first I bought when I read an outstanding interview in Rolling Stone (I was 13). When I first saw him in the video for “Little Red Corvette,” I was shocked by how sexy a man could be.

When I went to college in Minnesota, his live shows in the Cities were already reknowned. When he wrote, “Sometimes it snows in April,” I knew just what he was talking about (because it does up here). I am heartbroken that he passed after such a long winter—I am sure he would have greeted the spring with relief and happiness like the rest of us.

Best of all, Prince transcended race and gender and class more than anyone else. He didn’t run to LA but stayed in Minnesota, keeping his wealth there, and turn into a privileged fat cat, rather choosing to fight for the rights of artists to make an income and generously giving his artistry to other musicians. He loved women—sexually but also intellectually, spiritually, and of course, emotionally. He supported so many women artists (writing for them but also employing them) but also respected women. His masculinity was never threatened by women. And race kind of went away with Prince. The people who surrounded him were of all races and mixed, as he was.

By the way, my son was mortified when I blasted “Little Red Corvette” in the car yesterday while we were cruising down Lake Drive on our way home. He was doubly mortified when I explained that the song was full of sexual innuendo. Bahahaha!

This look has nothing and everything to do with Prince. Prince was, I think, about the future and imagined other lives and ways of being. So my girl here belongs on a space station. Start with the sexy dress from Unitedcolorsteam for ROMP, one that is sexy but even sexier on this otherworldly woman. I accessorized with a stellar necklace from AvaGardner Kungler and bangle from Mea Carnell, both for Shiny Shabby, which just opened. Senzati0n Domenitzo’s sexy gladiator pumps finish the look.

The real story here (besides my meandering about Prince) is the opening of Fantasy Faire. The sims are, as always, gorgeous and the generous content available with 100% donation to Relay for Life is incredible. MissAllSunday Lemon is offering three hairs in the Solar colorway as her donation, including this funky bob that has studs (which I made transparent with her HUD). Aikea Rieko is also at the Faire and debuting two sets of fantasy skins, one of which is inspired by galaxies of stars and comes in many different color combos. She also offers almost any kind of applier you can imagine and I chose to use the Logo Alex head, which shows the skin beautifully. I honestly think a sexy space girl like this would catch Prince’s eye.

 

Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Cleo Mesh Hair by MissAllSunday Lemon for /Wasabi Pills/, available at the Fantasy Faire *

Skin applier: :[P]:- Constella Skin (Femme):// Kiyana by Aikea Rieko for The Plastik, available at the Fantasy Faire *

Mesh head: LOGO Alex v3.0 Omega by Maximillion Grant for LOGO *

Eyes: [theSkinnery] Sona eyes (Omega Applier) 9 by Umazuma Metaluna for [theSkinnery], available at the Chapter Four *

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

Dress: UC_Triangle_dress_all in 1_Maitreya_Lara by Unitedcolorsteam for United Colors, available at ROMP *

Necklace: (Kunglers) Chris necklace – Teal by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers Extra, available at Shiny Shabby *

Bangles: Meva Indrya Bangle golden by Mea Carnell for Meva, available at Shiny Shabby *

Shoes: Essenz – Ankara (Maitreya) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, available at the Black Fashion Fair *

Poses by Valencia Southard for Marukin

Taken at Solaris Space Station

Be Thankful For What You Got

You may not have a car at all
But just remember brothers and sisters
You can still stand tall
Just be thankful for what you’ve got

~ “Be Thankful For What You Got” by Massive Attack

I want to say up front, “Thank you, Syn Beresford, for letting people rez at Elysion.” I keep going back again and again to take photos because Syn, a graphic designer in RL, has such a great eye for spaces, and I want to take photos all over her sim! ROMP has just opened and while some of the stuff there pushes the limits, you will also find some great fashions. Check out this sexy outfit from Aikeo Rieko, which includes a top and skirt. Aikeo is a goddess with colors, combining things to create sexy looks, like this wine complimented with a dark plum. I accessorized with gladiator-style heels from Senzati0n Domenitzo for the Black Fashion Fair. And my cuffs are truly functional cuffs, part of a beautifully elaborate collar set from Titsuki Yuitza for ROMP, scripted to include a leash. I wear just the gorgeous cuffs here.

Nicole Button has made a fabulous skin set for the Logo head and how sexy is it? I am glad she did because her skins are sophisticated and sensuous, with full luscious lips, and honestly, I needed to get this Logo head back on. The expressions are the best of the mesh heads. Not a lot of people realize, but the eyes and mouths are independent of each other so you can click eyes on one set and the mouth on another to combine expressions. I did that with this look. My hair is MissAllSunday Lemon’s beautiful look for Hairology, a very loose almost-braid over one shoulder.

Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Ryleigh Mesh Hair by MissAllSunday Lemon for /Wasabi Pills/, available at Hairology *

Skin applier: Egozy.CindyK (Golden) by Nicole Button for Egozy *

Makeup applier: Egozy.CindyK (Make Up) 1 by Nicole Button for Egozy *

Mesh head: LOGO Alex v3.0 OMEGA by Maximillion Grant for LOGO *

Eyes: [theSkinnery] Sona eyes (Omega Applier) 2 by Umazuma Metaluna for [theSkinnery], available at the Chapter Four *

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

Top: :[P]:- Vore Top [Maitreya EXP]:// Wine by Aikea Rieko for The Plastik, available at ROMP *

Skirt: :[P]:- Freyne Miniskirt [Maitreya]:// Wine by Aikea Rieko for The Plastik, available at ROMP *

Cuffs: titzuki : chain me pretty / rubin cuff / F fit by Titzuki Yuitza for titzuki, available at ROMP *

Shoes: Essenz – Ankara (Maitreya) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, available at the Black Fashion Fair *

Poses: The Lola Series by Katya Valeska for an lar, available at ROMP *

Taken using the LUMIPro 2016 HUD by Stefan Buscaylet *

Taken at Elysion, designed by Syn Beresford

Future Tense

“The Future . . . something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.” ~ C. S. Lewis

A lot of speculation happens in chat groups about who will be doing what and releasing, who is fixing and rereleasing, what LL is doing with SL. People are always anxious for the next thing, the upgrade, or they worrying about the changes and often complain about the now. My attitude is, I can’t do much about it. Best to enjoy what I have now—a great new skin, awesome sims to check out, no more hair up my butt when I tp, and 60 groups! (I need more!)

And today I have a future look, built around a few pieces that are being sold at Collabor88. First there is the great little bodysuit from erratic Rain, a mesh piece fit right to the Maitreya mesh body and available in several colors and translucencies. I love the see-through look and the fit. Then there are earrings from Zaara Kohime, fit to the standard avatar and a couple mesh heads so they can be rigged and move with the avatar body. With her always brilliant textures, they are a beautiful addition to this future look. I accessorized with a bracelet from AvengeStore that she is selling at OMGacha in several different colorways, ombre tights from BigBeautifulDoll, and hot little gogo boots from Maxi Gossamer.

Kavar Cleanslate is offering this funky wild ‘do at Collabor88 this month, and of course I could not resist going to one of his Wild Fusion textures to make my hair look awesome. Audrey Lamede is offering a set of great eyes at the The Men’s Dept this month so I ran over to get the fatpack. Doubtless I will be using them over and over. Lara Hurley has managed to transform the features of the Logo Alex mesh head in a way no one else has managed, reshaping the lips and the nose so they take on a new look altogether. I really love the features of the Logo Alex head like the expressions and now the Omega makeups but it’s very recognizable with some skins. This skin seems to breeze past that constraint. That’s skill! Lara includes some beautiful eye and lip makeups that apply separately (updated Omega). I am really loving this skin.

Hair: Exile::Loose Ends by Kavar Cleanslate for ::Exile::, available at Collabor88 *

Mesh head: LOGO Alex v3.0 Omega by Maximillion Grant for LOGO *

Skin applier: Lara Hurley-Aria Midtone *Logo Appliers* by Lara Hurley for Lara Hurley

Eyes: .ID. Attraction Eyes / Mesh / by Audrey Lamede for Insufferable Dastard, available at The Men’s Dept

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

Bodysuit: erratic / mirari – bodysuit / blue (maitreya) by Erratic Rain for erratic, available at Collabor88 *

Earrings: Zaara : Sarika feather earrings (logo) *azure* by Zaara Kohime for Zaara, available at Collabor88 *

Bracelet: [Avenge] Wires bracelet – all silver by AvengeStore for [Avenge], available at OMGacha *

Nail appliers: [LB Ombre Glossy Set7 Blue] OMNI Set – Slink Omega Maitreya by Santana Lumiere for La Boheme

Stockings: Big Beautiful Doll – Nylon Ombre Stockings – Blue by BigBeautifulDoll for Big Beautiful Doll

Boots: MG – Boots – 60’s GOGO – Colours by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer *

Poses by Dahriel for PosESioN

Taken at Hangars Liquides

With Luck–KittyCatS & Friends Advent Calendar, Day 21

“With luck, it might even snow for us.” ~ Haruki Murakami, After Dark

The is one of those late-in-the-season posts where nothing quite makes sense. A bed in the snow? A KittyCat lounging around? Candles? An igloo? Just chalk it up to SL and some awesome décor from gachas at Shiny Shabby from Serab and Superjaix. Those candles from Superjaix have all sorts of light adjustments for intensity, color, etc. And Serab’s bed has all sorts of yummy romantic poses but I used Luna Jubilee’s reclining poses from Shiny Shabby for this set of photos.

It all centers around those pajamas, Kimmera Madison’s gift today in the KittyCats & Friends Advent Calendar. With cats in glasses, they are the cat item for the holiday, the ones you wear to open your gifts around the tree, the ones you wear all day on those pajama days, your favoritest comfiest ones with the feets. They fit mesh bodies as well as system bodies so just throw ‘em on. Get some festive bows from Aikea Reiko at FROST for your ears, forgo the contacts for your glasses (from Glamistry) and snuggle up with the KittyCat.

Monicuzza Babenco has made another fabulous applier for the Logo Alex head, which I show here. I rarely like a parted mouth but with this gorgeous skin and the expression on this head, it’s sexy and totally believable. I wore Queue Marlowe’s wild and wavy new hair because it’s a day to let my hair down. And Santana Lumiere offers these great nail appliers at her store on sale right now for next to nothing, and if you purchase a special set she has at the front of the store, you are entered into a drawing to receive all 400+ of her nail sets. (Be careful what you wish for, hm?)

Hair: AD – eliza – LIGHT BROWNS by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog *

Mesh head: LOGO Alex v3.0 Omega by Maximillion Grant for LOGO *

Skin applier: *YS&YS* Teresa Tone 02 – Skins Applier for Logo Mesh Head Alex by Monicuzza Babenco for*YS&YS*, available at Shiny Shabby *

Eyes: Weaponized Sugar Eyes – Azure by weaponizedsugar for Weaponized Sugar

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

Pajamas: Tres Beau 2015 KittyCatS! & Friends Advent Onesie MAITREYA by Kimmera Madison for Tres Beau, available December 21 for the KittyCatS and Friends Advent Calendar at the KittyCats Wonderland Sim *

Glasses: Glamistry: Sunglasses PU2001 by Glamistry for Glamistry *

Earrrings: :[P]:- Gifted Earring by Aikea Reiko for The Plastik, available at FROST *

Nail applier: [LB Let It Snow Silver] *Maitreya* Manicure by Santana Lumiere for La Boheme

Poses: !bang – recline poses by Luna Jubilee for !bang, available at Shiny Shabby *

Décor:

• Concept} 03. IceLove – Iglu – RARE by Serab for Concept}, available at Shiny Shabby *
• Concept} 09. IceLove – White SinteticFur Carpet by Serab for Concept}, available at Shiny Shabby *
• Concept} 10. IceLove – White Bed – RARE by Serab for Concept}, available at Shiny Shabby *

• xin + clavv / ice lantern candle by superjaix for xin., available at Shiny Shabby *
• xin + clavv / winter tree + RARE by superjaix for xin., available at Shiny Shabby *
• xin + clavv / side table by superjaix for xin., available at Shiny Shabby *

KittyCats – Janaye by KittyCats for KittyCats *

I Used to Feel Alright–KittyCatS & Friends Advent Calendar, Day 9

As long as you’re groovin
There’s always a chance
Somebody watchin’
Might want to make romance

~ “I Used to Feel Alright” by Elijah Collins

KittyCats are sweet and fine and all that but sometimes a girl has to go out without cute little kittens and have a good time. Thank goodness Beloved Ruby snuck this glittering party dress in the KittyCats & Friends Advent Calendar as today’s gift! With a great star-studded dress for nights out, this is a great gift, suitable year round, not just for the holidays. I paired it with Belle Roussel’s lion-head necklace with a diamond tear drop, a tribute to Cecil the lion, killed needlessly by a hunter in Africa. All proceeds from the sale of this necklace, matching earrings and other jewelry will be donated by Belle to the World Wildlife Foundation.

I couldn’t help but use Mochi Milena’s great skin on the Logo Alex head for this look because it’s so luscious and sexy. And I wanted to match it with the sexiness of Mirja Mills’ straight hair with bangs for the Cosmopolitan Room. I just found the peekaboo from under the bangs coy and provocative. I also love how Mirja has allowed wisps to slip around the hair, giving an otherwise straight look some motion.

Hair: .:EMO-tions:. * BETHANY * by Mirja Mills for.:EMO-tions:., available at the Cosmopolitan Room *

Mesh head: LOGO Alex v3.0 Omega by Maximillion Grant for LOGO *

Skin applier: [PF] <Java> – Morgana – LOGO ALEX Head Applier (Red) by Mochi Milena for Pink Fuel *

Eyes appliers: :{WS}: Omega Eye Applier – Redrum Medium by weaponizedsugar for Weaponized Sugar

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

Dress: [RUBY] – Holiday Cocktail Dress – Black – [MAITREYA] by Beloved Ruby for Ruby, available December 9 for the KittyCatS and Friends Advent Calendar at the KittyCats Wonderland Sim *

Necklace: The Life of A Lion – Necklace Sm by Belle Roussel for Chop Zuey, 100% of proceeds going to the World Wildlife Fund on behalf of Cecil the Lion *

Nail appliers: Pepe – Nails Maitreya (Glam) RARE by PepeHair for Pepe Hair, available at the Chapter Four

Shoes: Essenz – Sardinia (Maitreya) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, available at Christmas on 34th Street (opens December 9)  *

Poses by Rogan Diesel for DieselWorks Animations *

Taken at the Pitch Skyroom

Chill Out–KittyCatS & Friends Advent Calendar, Day 6

“Life is so much easier when you just chill out.” ~ Anonymous

Ever see those model photos where they haul some poor model out into the freezing cold and make her wear something completely revealing? Once again, SL proves it doesn’t matter! Besides a little frost bite on my toes, it all worked out splendidly at the Frisland sim. I wanted to show this frosty but hot dress from StellaJane, today’s gift for the KittyCats & Friends Advent Calendar, in the kind of pretty setting it deserves. The texture evokes snow without being completely seasonal so you can wear this dress over and over again—and it’s a GIFT! I dressed up my look with Glamistry’s newest slingbacks, absolutely sexy shoes with his great texture change HUD, fitted to all sorts of feet. I found Druunah Esharham’s great necklace at We <3 RP and had to have it to put photos of my KittyCatS in. Where else would I wear them but close to my heart?

By the way, I love this new trend of being able to join a group for a sim for a minimal amount to rez pose stands. It’s a brilliant idea for the sim owners and photographers. I was able to join Frisland’s group, rez my pose stand and my LumiPro projector and go to town!

Shyla Boucher has just released another set of appliers for the Logo Alex heads, and I have to say they are absolutely gorgeous. I never felt quite right in a mesh head, even Max’s sexy Alex, but with Shyla’s skin, I feel wonderfully beautiful. Note the very slight cleft in the chin, the beautifully shaped lips that work so well with the expressions on the head, the perfect brows and pretty eye makeup. Shyla contoured the blush on the head just right. Mina Nakamura’s lovely wind-tossed hair in a set of special shades for the Mix Event (priced half off) is perfect for this chill out.

Hair: MINA Hair – Grace (no materials) by Mina Nakamura for MINA, available for the Mix Event *

Mesh head: LOGO Alex v3.0 Omega by Maximillion Grant for LOGO *

Skin applier: -Belleza- sophie TLC LOGO Applier SK by Shyla Diggs for –Belleza–, available at The Liaison Collaborative (opens December 7) *

Eye appliers: :{WS}: Omega Eye Applier – Azure by weaponizedsugar for Weaponized Sugar

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

Dress: Stellajane Mini Dress – Ice Blue Velvet Snowflake by StellaJane for StellaJane, available December 6 for the KittyCatS and Friends Advent Calendar at the KittyCats Wonderland Sim *

Necklace: .aisling. Souvenirs Heart by Druunah Esharham for .aisling, available at We <3 RP

Nail applier: [LB O Tannenbaum Silver] *Slink & Omega* Manicure by Santana Lumiere for La Boheme, available in the KittyCatS and Friends Advent Calendar at the KittyCats Wonderland Sim *

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

Poses by Valencia Southard for Marukin

Taken using the LumiPro HUD V3.41 by Stefan Buscaylet *

Taken at Frisland

The End of the Sentence–KittyCatS & Friends Advent Calendar, Day 2

“Nails are the period at the end of the sentence. They complete the look.” ~ Prabal Gurung

I threw down some awesome decorations for the holidays to get in the mood today and then realized that a decorated sim is not quite as good as a decorated Harper, so I sat down to paint my nails. Fortunately, Santana Lumiere is offering today’s gift in the KittyCatS & Friends Advent Calendar—nail appliers that can be used on Slink and Maitreya and any other nails that accept Omega (like Belleza). Of course, I would not be able to paint in these gorgeous designs because I lack artistry and I am shaky. So let Santana do the artistry for you with these absolutely exquisite and FREE nails. I wanted to point out that you can hit the KittyCatS & Friends Advent Calendar at Santana’s store and while you’re there, check out her other wonderful gifts and purchase a special set of nails for 10L, which enters you in a drawing to receive each of her 457 nail sets. (My inventory winced hearing that.)

Grooming requires some comfort so I put on Flutter Memel’s darling long underwear. Shiny and cozy, they are  perfect for hanging around the house or going to a slumber party without being too twee. I paired them with Hilly Haalan’s UGG-style boots, which include optional socks or fur liners/trim and have a great HUD to allow you to color individual parts of the boots.

My décor includes a darling tree from Anaisterpellie that I increased in size and then added color to sections. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to get modify furniture, especially ones without poses. I am able to do all sorts of things with modify furniture to custom color it, fit it to spaces, or rebuild it for my own purposes and this tree is a case in point. It’s darling and would have been wasted if I could not mod it. Tyrek has made a cute holiday-themed daybed with couples poses and sequences and a texture-change menu for several different colorways. And as always, he includes his lovely lights.

Shyla Diggs has perfected the look of the Logo Alex mesh head with her new applier, created from a skin she had already sold. With her sublime lips and blush, groomed brows and beautiful features, she makes the Alex head bloom with beauty. I was able to apply eyeshadow from Alaska Metropolitan to add a little extra color and Weaponizedsugar’s great eye appliers. I am so pleased that Shyla decided to do these appliers, especially for Maximillion’s revised heads.

A full and beautiful style really needs to finish this look and Kuranosuke Kamachi’s look is perfect—full, clean but not overly styled. I am just doing my nails after all.

Hair: =DeLa*= Mesh Hair “Corinna” All colors by Kuranosuke Kamachi for =DeLa*= *

Mesh head: LOGO Alex v3.0 Omega by Maximillion Grant for LOGO *

Makeup:  alaskametro<3 “Matte Smoke” eyeshadows by Alaska Metropolitan for Alaskametro

Skin applier: -Belleza- Amber LOGO Applier Sunkissed by Shyla Diggs for –Belleza–, available at Winter Trend (opening Dec. 4) *

Eyes: :{WS}: Omega Eye Applier – Spring Green Medium by weaponizedsugar for Weaponized Sugar

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

Long johns: flowey / Wool Me Tender – Sleepies Set Honey by Flutter Memel for Flowey *

Nail applier: [LB O Tannenbaum Silver] OMNI Set – Slink Omega Maitreya and [LB O Tannenbaum Gold] OMNI Set – Slink Omega Maitreya by Santana Lumiere for La Boheme, available December 2 for the KittyCatS and Friends Advent Calendar at the KittyCats Wonderland Sim *

Boots: [hh] Cosmos UGG Boots by Hilly Haalan for Hilly Haalan *

Décor:

• GOOSE – Winter Home Daybed by Tyrek for GOOSE, available at Winter Trend (opening Dec. 4) *
• GOOSE – cozy pile of christmas pillows by Tyrek for GOOSE (group gift!) *
• Trompe Loeil – Holiday Pillow Basket Décor by Cory Edo for Trompe Loieil, available at the Arcade *
• {what next}  ‘Cosy Christmas’ Rug 2 by Winter Thorn for {what next}
• [ zerkalo ] Winter Cozy – Christmas Tree by DanielEstro and Anaisterpellie for [ zerkalo ] *
• Soy. Window [Here I am] white – blightness on by Soyoy for Soy.
• {what next}’Cosy Christmas’ Drapes by Winter Thorn for {what next}
• -tres blah- Jolie – Nail Polishes by Julliette Westerburg for -tres blah-

Poses assisted by Avimote PoseMaker PE 1.02 by Avimote Dreamscape for Avimote *

Alfajores

At first glance, the alfajor is entirely unassuming. One might even pass it up for something with chocolate chips or frosting. This would be a grave mistake. There’s a reason this simple cookie defines the cafe scene in Buenos Aires and has entire cafes devoted to it all across Latin America. It’s maybe the best cookie that ever was. ~ Julie R. Thomson, Huffington Post

Today’s cookies are alfajores, an Argentinian specialty, tender and flavorful, filled with dulce de leche. And today’s look comes courtesy of June Dion, who has made this darling Chanel-inspired outfit with mesh pieces. She includes dark and light pieces with textures that are absolutely gorgeous, even close up. I looked at the buttons over and over because they are so exquisitely done. And out and about, my ensemble got noticed—several asked me where I got it. (You will find it in th new releases section.) The outfit also comes with some system layers which are unnecessary and boots that you can take or leave. I left them for these great boots Senzati0n Domenitzo made for Shiny Shabby. They fit my calves perfectly and include all of Senz’s great colors. With Polyester Partridge’s darling little case for N21, it’s a chic look.

I am wearing the Logo mesh head again, testing more makeup applications. I used AtomicSparkle Skytower’s beautiful applier for the head and then applied one of Alaska Metropolitan’s great (and economical!) lipsticks. Omega applier eyes from Weaponized Sugar complete my look. I popped Glamistry’s awesome sunglasses on my head (even though it’s overcast) and the newest hair from Chiaki Xue, a wavy lush look that creates a darling wrap up for an entire look. Could my girl be Argentinian? She certainly is chic enough.

Hair: *Dura-B&G*62 HAIR – LIGHT COLOR -B- by Chiaki Xue for Dura *

Mesh head: LOGO Alex v3.0 Omega by Maximillion Grant for LOGO *

Skin applier: *VERVE* Coco Skin – Logo Alex Head Applier Omega (Sun) by Atomicsparkle Skytower for *VERVE* *

Makeup: alaskametro<3 “Creme Red” lipstick – Omega HUD by Alaska Metropolitan for Alaskametro

Eyes: :{WS}: Omega Eye Applier – Spring Green Medium by weaponizedsugar for Weaponized Sugar

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

Dress: ::: B@R ::: Chidoria by June Dion for Bare Rose *

Sunglasses: Glamistry: Sunglasses PU2002 by Glamistry for Glamistry *

Necklace: Meva Skull Necklace women 1 by Mea Carnell for Meva, available at Shiny Shabby *

Handbag: (Yummy) Valena Box Purse by Polyester Partridge for Yummy, available at N21

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

Poses by by Flutter Memel for Flowey

Taken at St. Pete’s City

Raspberry-Filled Almond Torte Cookies

These cookies get a double-dose of almond flavor with a crunchy almond topping and almond extract in the frosting. ~ Cook’s Country

True to my word, another cookie recipe, and these are a bit of work but so good and beautiful! I may be sending a batch this year to Max and Polly in thanks because they just released the update for the Alex mesh head at LOGO with makeup and so much more. Yes, now you can apply Omega makeups AND Omega eyes! (I have more to say about that in a moment.) You can also tint the skin, inner eye (more important than you think), lashes, hair base and Omega makeups.

And now you can also fiddle around with expressions, using a typed command to evoke certain expressions (even one you have made yourself—so if you hate saying “lol” but prefer “laugh” it will go off at your command), set the timing on those expressions (for example if the smile seems insincerely short), and set a series of expressions animating in order (imagine doing a machinima where you could just have it go off in a sequence *wink*wink*). Max includes a very thorough explanation on the LOGO site (that I have linked through).

Omega makeups are included now, which is remarkable. However, makeup creators need to make sure they make makeups using the most up-to-date Omega scirpts—ones that find the zone of the eye versus the lip. (Older Omega scripts just lay over the whole surface layer.) That’s why I am able to show you Alaska Metropolitan’s great eye shadow but I can’t use her lipstick as well (though she has promised to update her Omega makeups soon). I encountered this same problem with a Catwa head when I tried to combine lipstick with blush. Contact your Omega makeup creator and ask them to upgrade!

I was also able to use one of the few Omega eye appliers to change the color of my eyes. I was so very very happy to be able to do this rather than fit in mesh eyes. The eyes that come with the head are already fit perfectly. I really hope eye creators start making Omega eyes for just this kind of application (thanks WeaponizedSugar for offering them on MP).

Max has also made it easier to include add-ons. Now they are boxed in an HUD, you click and it automagically adds the required scripts to your HUD. I was able to add the expressions expansion packs to my HUD that easily! He offers all his makeup add-ons this way too.

You see here Monicuzza Babenco’s beautifully freckled Beatrix for My Attic, which she has made for several mesh heads but which fits the Alex head so wonderfully. The freckles are gorgeous on the face (and also on her body applier, which is sold separately). Elikapeka Tiramisu’s gorgeous style for Shiny Shabby complements the look I assembled with other pieces from Shiny Shabby including Giz Seorn’s brilliant sheepskin coat over a knit cardigan (a wonderful combination of great textures and mesh with a trendy silhouette) and Thetra Blackheart’s multi-textured jeans. Aleida Rhode’s beautifully-made 100% original mesh (I know because I saw the models) include a great texture change hud for parts of the boot and can be worn without mesh feet so you don’t have to worry about fitting.

Hair: [e] Becca by Elikapeka Tiramisu for Elikatira, available at Shiny Shabby *

Mesh head: LOGO Alex v3.0 Omega by Maximillion Grant for LOGO *

Skin applier: *YS&YS* Beatrix Tone02 Skin Applier for Logo Mesh Head Alex by Monicuzza Babenco for *YS&YS*, available at My Attic *

Makeup: alaskametro<3 “Matte Smoke” eyeshadow – Omega HUD by Alaska Metropolitan for Alaskametro

Eye applier: :{WS}: Omega Eye Applier – Redrum Medium by weaponizedsugar for Weaponized Sugar

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

Jacket: GizzA – Norsk Jacket with Cardigan – Women [Blue] by Giz Seorn for GizzA, available at Shiny Shabby *

Pants: E-Clipse LuceJeans Grey (Maitreya Compatible) by Thetra Blackheart for E-Clipse, available at Shiny Shabby *

Boots: Elysium – London ankle boots – charcoal by Aleida Rhode for Elysium, available at Shiny Shabby *

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

Photos taken at Furillen, created by Serene Footman