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

The Wrong Side of Town

I can’t be hangin’ around
Love on the wrong side of town
~ “Love on the Wrong Side of Town” by Southside Johnny and Asbury Jukes

I went over to MadPea’s game on the Firestorm sims, the Ghost Town, where you can use the SL
“experience” to enjoy a game with ghosts. I didn’t play the game (yet) because I was too busy admiring the scene set up. MadPea always seems to excel in making the best of SL by pulling out all the tricks in the bag without beating you over the head with it. Make sure on a night when you’re looking for something to do, you get over there.

I thought it would be a perfect backdrop for this casual outfit from Beanster Potato that she is selling at the Hipster Fair. It comes with the sweater and tank, jeans and shoes and she includes jewelry but I wore Plurabelle Laszlo’s awesome necklace for the Jewelry & Accessory expo. A fringed purse from Plurabelle Laszlo for the same Expo echoes the fringes.

Skin Fair is coming!

Sachi Vixen, the grand dame of SL skins, is offering this and another skin at Skin Fair this year. She includes appliers for Slink and Maitreya bodies, eye makeup, lipsticks, blush, freckles, liner, and lots of love. If you are a woman who has not converted to mesh heads or you like to take a breather, these skins are bound to make you look great! Bubbles Clawtooth is offering this wonderful style at the Arcade. It includes a separate mesh piece with HUD that allows you to have the scalp-revealing part. I might be the prettiest girl on the wrong side of town!

Hair: Clawtooth: Fleur by Bubbles Clawtooth for Clawtooth, available at The Arcade *

Skin: AE Julia TC Red Brows with AE Blush (tintable), AE Eyeshadow PS 1, and AE Lipstick Red Tones 2 Gloss by Sachi Vixen for Adam n Eve, available at Skin Fair 2016 (opens March 11) *

Eyes: {S0NG} :: Venus~ Dark Brown Eye by Funeral Plutonian for {S0NG}

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

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

Outfit (with shoes): Ducknipple – HipsterF by beanster Potato for Ducknipple, available at The Hipster Fair *

Necklace: Bliensen + MaiTai – Sally – Necklace by Plurabelle Laszlo for.Bliensen + MaiTai, available at the Jewelry & Accessory Expo 2016 *

Handbag: Bliensen + MaiTai – Chicago – Bag by Plurabelle Laszlo for.Bliensen + MaiTai, available at the Jewelry & Accessory Expo 2016 *

Taken using the LUMIPro 2016 HUD by Stefan Buscaylet *

Poses by Tutys for Tutys

Taken at MadPea’s Ghost Town

Crazy Christmas–KittyCatS & Friends Advent Calendar, Day 17

Are you going to let all this beauty go to waste? – Lucy on “A Charlie Brown Christmas”

Christmas just isn’t Christmas without something being over the top and the 2015 Christmas Town fulfills that requirement. At first you land to a generic Christmas village (which actually has some nice shopping if you look around) but if you go to the big blue ice castle and click on one of the skating balls, you’re in for a crazy treat. You end up skating through a number of “scenes” from the holidays, including holiday movies like a Charlie Brown Christmas (as seen at the bottom) and When the Grinch Stole Christmas (below) and then some just crazy bright wild and wonderful spaces. While we don’t condone using trademarked figures in this blog (cough), we really loved the ride.

So it was an ideal place to wear today’s gift for the KittyCats & Friends Advent Calendar, a mix of mesh and system pieces from June Dion. June has piled on the feathers and stars and ornaments, giving us some great materials in the mesh as well. I topped it with one of the nutty hats MadPea Creations is offering at the Tannenbaum Holiday Market. It includes, of course, snow and music. Red boots from Senzati0n Domenitzo for Winter Trend complete my look.

Toxxic Rhiannyr makes some very luscious skins, one of which I received as a nominee for the Avi Choice awards. With its pale complexion, I thought it would be ideal for this holiday look, especially with bright green eyes and red red lips from Constance Daehlie. Bella Earst has made some crazy cool ponytails for Hairology. They include a variety of regular and also fantastic (as in fantasy) texture choices and optional petals or as I show here, jingle bells.

Hair: [taketomi]_Yukihime_Fatpack by Bella Earst for [taketomi], available at Hairology *

Skin: ((=alterego=)) kensi – almond [darkbrow_clv_blushed] by Toxxic Rhiannyr for .alterego *

Lipstick: #adored – cherub lips – cherry bomb by Constance Daehlie for #adored *

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

Lashes: .LeLutka.Kornelia lashes.02 by Thora Charron for LeLutka *

Dress: ::: B@R ::: White FeatherTree C2 by June Dion for Bare Rose, available December 17 for the KittyCatS and Friends Advent Calendar at the KittyCats Wonderland Sim *

Hat: MadPea Frosty Flurry Flake Hat by Garvie Garzo for MadPea, available at Tannenbaum Holiday Market *

Boots: Essenz – Minnesota by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, available at Winter Trend *

Poses by Valencia Southard for Marukin

Taken at 2015 Christmas Town

And the Band Played On, Part 2

I need to get new headphones. In my previous post, I stated that the MadPea Cursed Collection did not play music. It does indeed! When the instruments are set on the platform, they play the music from this video, composed by Harter Fall.

Each instrument plays individually as well! So add to the animations, the beautiful mesh construction, the gorgeous textures and the scripting, and you get quite a bang for your Linden at the Arcade . Find out more about Harter’s work on the collection on their website.

Band set: MadPea Cursed Collection by Harter Fall for MadPea, available at the Arcade*

• MadPea Cursed Collection Suitcase – The Stage
• 1. MadPea Cursed Collection – Harmonica Box
• 2. MadPea Cursed Collection – Trumpet Box
• 3. MadPea Cursed Collection – Violin Box
• 4. MadPea Cursed Collection – Lyra Box
• 5. MadPea Cursed Collection – Snare Drum Box
• 6. MadPea Cursed Collection – Tambourine Box
• 7. MadPea Cursed Collection – Hunting Horn Box
• 8. MadPea Cursed Collection – Recorder Box
• 9. MadPea Cursed Collection – Cymbals Box
• 10. MadPea Cursed Collection – Glockenspiel Box
• 11. MadPea Cursed Collection – Trombone Box
• 12. MadPea Cursed Collection – Tuba  Box
• 13. MadPea Cursed Collection – Bass Drum Box

 

And the Band Played On

No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it. ~ Halford Luccock

When I received the Mad Pea Cursed Collection gacha set for this month’s Arcade, I wasn’t quite sure what to think. A mysterious message came with it directing me to open the packages with the enclosed tools and then rez all the instruments on the stage platform. As I opened each crate and box (which come with clever animations to replicate unscrewing or crowbarring or loosening bolts), I saw each beautiful instrument emerge and magically move to its spot on the platform, regardless of where I rezzed it on the platform. Very spooky.

I had to try each instrument, of course, and they are all scripted to be played as instruments with darling animations. I erroneously stated originally that they don’t play music but they do, which you can find out about here. Since I anticipated wearing the baton and stepping to the podium as instructed, I wore the tuxedo dress Fhara Acacia has at Shiny Shabby and accompanied it with Zuri Rayna’s drop dead gorgeous new jewelry set. I ran to Steffi Villota’s store to get her new Paige applier for the Lelutka mesh head because it was just so gorgeous and topped my look with Chiaki Xue’s messy but elegant ‘do.

Ready to go, I stepped up to the podium, baton in hand, and raised my arms. Rather than being “cursed,” the entire set is blessed with whimsy and joy because as the animation started, the instruments raised up on their own and began dancing around the podium with musical notes. I did a little animated gif below to show because a photo just couldn’t explain how awesome this set is. The whole set of gacha pieces, singularly and as a collection, has been constructed with such care and skill and whimsy that I would recommend you run out and jam that machine with your linden. It’s just so fun!

Hair: *DG*63 HAIR – MIX COLOR FAT(+Bangs) by Chiaki Xue for Dura *

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

Skin applier: DeeTaleZ *Appliers* for LeLutka Heads *Face Paige* MIXED by Steffi Villota

Eyes: IKON Triumph Eyes (left) – Loam by Ikon Innovia for IKON, available at Shiny Shabby *

Lashes: .LeLutka.Kyra lashes.02 by Thora Charron for LeLutka *

Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V3.3 by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Dress: Ricielli – Tuxedo Minidress /Black by Fhara Acacia for R.icielli, available at Shiny Shabby

Jewelry: Zuri Rayna- Serenity Bracelet- Fall Mocha/Garnet/Onyx by Zuri Rayna for Zuri Jewelry *

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

Poses: an lar [poses] The Rochester Series by Katya Valeska for an lar poses, available at Shiny Shabby*

Band set: MadPea Cursed Collection by Harter Fall for MadPea, available at the Arcade*

• MadPea Cursed Collection Suitcase – The Stage
• 1. MadPea Cursed Collection – Harmonica Box
• 2. MadPea Cursed Collection – Trumpet Box
• 3. MadPea Cursed Collection – Violin Box
• 4. MadPea Cursed Collection – Lyra Box
• 5. MadPea Cursed Collection – Snare Drum Box
• 6. MadPea Cursed Collection – Tambourine Box
• 7. MadPea Cursed Collection – Hunting Horn Box
• 8. MadPea Cursed Collection – Recorder Box
• 9. MadPea Cursed Collection – Cymbals Box
• 10. MadPea Cursed Collection – Glockenspiel Box
• 11. MadPea Cursed Collection – Trombone Box
• 12. MadPea Cursed Collection – Tuba  Box
• 13. MadPea Cursed Collection – Bass Drum Box

The Feminine Mystique

“Each suburban wife struggles with it alone. As she made the beds, shopped for groceries, matched slipcover material, ate peanut butter sandwiches with her children, chauffeured Cub Scouts and Brownies, lay beside her husband at night- she was afraid to ask even of herself the silent question– ‘Is this all?” ~ Betty Friedan, The Feminine Mystique

When I was in college, I did a paper about the watershed that World War II brought  to women’s liberation. After working in the factories and offices of America while the men were away fighting, women were once again relegated to the homes when the soldiers came home. And they discovered it wasn’t enough. Past the beautiful lawns, the lovely houses, the equipped kitchens, middle-class women were slowly realizing their dissatisfaction with the suburban life.

It’s an irony that women seemed to have it so good but rebelled in the 60s and 70s. I was inspired by a few pieces that have recently come out. This look reminiscent of a 50s housewife made me think of June Cleaver or Harriet Nelson. An easy dress from monlmanl, which she made for Shiny Shabby, is a perfect outfit for our ideal housewife, especially with flats that Senzati0n Domenitzo will be featuring at the Luck of the Irish Gacha (opening on the 10th). A great big handbag from Gianna Brody carries her wallet, head scarf, gloves and tube of lipstick for touchup plus the keys to the big Buick her husband bought her to drive to the grocery store.

Maybe it was because their lives were unfulfilling. With this full array of cleaning items from MadPea’s gacha at the Arcade, a 50s housewife could carry on the task of her womanly duties. The vacuuming and rug-cleaning, the mopping, the window washing, the ironing and the sauna are all covered with these darling pieces, perfect for scattering around your SL house to show you keep clean in your other life. (Remember that the MadPea crew’s top dog comes from a Scandinavian country so sauna supplies are not that odd.)

Bubbles Clawtooth’s hair was also the inspiration for this look. This drop-dead darling cut, reminiscent of the prettiest of 50s ladies, made my look perfect. I can see this hairstyle easily being used for contemporary looks as well, it’s so versatile and cute. I vamped up Umazuma Metaluna’s skin with firey red lips from Constance Daehlie that she is featuring at Anybody. My pearls are oldies but goodies, hand assembled from prims (!) by Polly Pavlova.

I am floating on a cloud because who wouldn’t dream of this? The dress, the housework, the cleaning. Oh yay.

 

Hair: Clawtooth: Audrey H. by Bubbles Clawtooth for Clawtooth, available at Collabor88 *

Skin: [theSkinnery] Cristy 1 (toffee) RARE by Umazuma Metaluna for[theSkinnery], available at the Arcade *

Lipstick: #adored – cherub lips – firebrand by Constance Daehlie for #adored, available at AnyBody *

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

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

Dress: *_M.birdie Story_* kara dress long 5 by monlmanl for birdie, available at Shiny Shabby*

Jewelry: LOGO Everyday Pearls Necklace by Polly Pavlova for LOGO (probably no longer available) *

Handbag: -David Heather-Dolce Purse/A1/Navy by Gianni Broda for David Heather, available at Shiny Shabby*

Shoes: Essenz – Auckland Maitreya by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, available at The Luck of the Irish *

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

MadPea Squeeky Clean! by Wavie Haller and Harter Fall for MadPea, available at the Arcade*

• MadPea Dust Free
• MadPea Stainless Toilet
• MadPea Wrinkle Free
• Sauna Freshness
• MadPea Spotless Floors
• MadPea Sparkling Windows Harter Fall

The Simple Life

“The best way to find out what we really need is to get rid of what we don’t.” ~ Marie Kondō

I have a bit of cabin fever. I need to just get out, hit the road, do something. So I suggested to Mr. Beresford that we take to the road. I imagined a life of leisure, of thoughtful moments and quiet repose. A life where we could enjoy the fresh air and the flowers and the springtime. Where I could wear flowers in my hair (Bubbles Clawtooth’s fabulous look from the Arcade) and flirty ruffled dresses (ValentinaEvangelista’s specifically, from Shiny Shabby) and lounge around.

He was amenable but when he saw our proposed living space (a great camper from Wavie Haller from the Arcade), he snorted and said, “Your *shoes* will not fit in there.”

“But honey,” I said, “We can go through our things and sort out what we don’t need to take. It’s time to simplify our lives.”

Of course, we went back and forth. His programming books, of course, had to go along and well, all my fiction (see the huge pile of books from DanielEstro and Anaisterpellie from Shiny Shabby). He wanted to take all his computers along but I said no, we have other things to occupy our time. (See the checkers from DanielEstro and Anaisterpellie, the trivia game and cornhole from Wavie Haller from the Arcade, and the candles and incense from MadPea next to the very cozy bed in the camper from Wavie). (And yes, two fit cozily in that bed.)

Of course, I had just gotten the new collections from the Arcade of the Cupcake Bunnies from Sway Dench and the Cats Out of the Bag from Trace Osterham, so I wanted to bring them along because they were so cute, which caused quite a fuss between us, but I managed to shrink them up and put them on a shelf or two. He grumbled and tried to sneak in an extra monitor (or two or three) but I put the kibosh on that.

We sorted, we argued, we hemmed, we hawed. After all our negotiations, we realized we would have to pull an additional trailer behind us for everything we simply couldn’t do without (including, yes, my shoes). But we did manage to pack up a couple boxes of things to discard….

Hair: Clawtooth: La Bella Donna (with flowers) by Bubbles by Bubbles Clawtooth for Clawtooth, available at the Arcade *

Skin: [theSkinnery] Leigh 4 (honey) with [theSkinnery] Leigh 4 (honey) by Umazuma Metaluna for [theSkinnery], available at the Arcade *

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

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

Dress: :V.e. Stevie Lace Dress Lilac by ValentinaEvangelista for Valentina E. Couture, available at Shiny Shabby *

Shoes: Essenz – Lisbon (Fatpack 1) Maitreya by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, available at Whore Couture *

 

Furnishings:

[Con.] Open Road Collection by Wavie Haller for Consignment, available at the Arcade *

• [Con.] Open Road Collection – Americana poster
• [Con.] Open Road Collection – Cornhole
• [Con.] Open Road Collection – Flamingo
• [Con.] Open Road Collection – Lawn Chair – purple
• [Con.] Open Road Collection – Lawn Chair – Yellow
• [Con.] Open Road Collection – Paper Map
• [Con.] Open Road Collection – Postcards
• [Con.] Open Road Collection – Radio
• [Con.] Open Road Collection – Route 66
• [Con.] Open Road Collection – Trailer – RARE
• [Con.] Open Road Collection – Trivia – Blue

 

HEART – WILDFLOWERS – Daisies and Buttercups by Lilith Heart for Heart Garden Centre, available at FaMESHed

 

My Father’s Shiny Shabby Treasures by DanielEstro and Anaisterpellie for
[ zerkalo ], available at Shiny Shabby*

• [ zerkalo ] Globe
• [ zerkalo ] Draughts
• [ zerkalo ] Huge pile of books RARE

 

Sway’s [Cupcake Bunny] Arcade Gacha by Sway Dench for Sway’s, available at the
Arcade *

• Sway’s [Cupcake Bunny]
• Sway’s [Cupcake Bunny] art
• Sway’s [Cupcake Bunny] balloon RARE
• Sway’s [Cupcake Bunny] book
• Sway’s [Cupcake Bunny] butterfly RARE
• Sway’s [Cupcake Bunny] crown RARE
• Sway’s [Cupcake Bunny] flower
• Sway’s [Cupcake Bunny] heart
• Sway’s [Cupcake Bunny] pinwheel
• Sway’s [Cupcake Bunny] present

 

{theosophy} Well, Cat’s Out Of The Bag by Trace Osterham for {theosophy}, available at the
Arcade *

• {theosophy} Cat in a Bag (Bikini Bod)
• {theosophy} Cat in a Bag (Birthday)
• {theosophy} Cat in a Bag (Coffee Break)
• {theosophy} Cat in a Bag (Emotional)
• {theosophy} Cat in a Bag (False Advertising)
• {theosophy} Cat in a Bag (Hot Bod)
• {theosophy} Cat in a Bag (Nature)
• {theosophy} Cat in a Bag (Pizza Party)
• {theosophy} Cat in a Bag (Recycle)
• {theosophy} Cat in a Bag (Spooky)
• {theosophy} Cat in a Bag (Suit And Tie)
• {theosophy} Cat in a Bag (Thank You)

 

MadPea Squeeky Clean! by Wavie Haller for MadPea, available at the Arcade*

• MadPea Ex-girlfriend’s Junk
• MadPea Ex-boyfriend’s Junk
• MadPea Pure Mind

P.S. Yes, doing these slurls and the formatting is a bitch. Thank you for noticing.

Bonsai

A bonsai can never be a finished work of art…because it will always be a
living piece of nature, continuing to live and grow. ~ John Naka, master bonsai cultivator

I like to think each one of us is our own bonsai, grown and pruned with patience and care, shaped by our environment. My beautiful geisha look was carefully developed and grown, starting with this sexy kimono from Iki Akiri, which comes in fitted mesh only. I am still trying to love fitted mesh with mixed feelings. It means I have to use the fitted mesh viewer, which doesn’t always love my computer (performance varies depending on the time of day for whatever reason) and because I still have to tweak my shape somewhat. For this kimono, my butt and hips still had to be tweaked. *sigh* The textures are lovely, especially with a cascade of roses flowing over the skirt and it’s so much fun to wear a kimono in SL that is not made up of 100 different prims.

The Arcade, the bastion of legalized gambling in SL, will be opening on June 1. Take your chances at a number of amazing things including the great prizes I show here! First off, this amazing ‘do from Truth Hawks that includes *squee* sushi as decoration. I went for the traditional cherry blossoms but I know I will be wearing this with the sushi décor in the future. Then Umazuma Metaluna amazed me with a set of gorgeous evocative skins with smokey eyes and gorgeous full lips.

And of course, the bonsai in question are from Arduenn Schwartzman for MadPea and come in 14 variations, but this is the kicker: when you pair the right ones up, they play a piece of music for you upon click. (Yes, thank you, not over and over until you go bonkers). The two tall ones are rares and are a pair and I clicked and listened to a cut from a ponderous symphony. I also noticed they have subtle sparkles that glimmer ever-so-subtly. Buy one, buy ‘em all!

Leave room for the birds to fly through. ~ John Naka

Hair: TRUTH HAIR Sakura Hair with TRUTH HAIR Flowers by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH<, available at The Arcade *

Skin: [theSkinnery] Chloe 3 (honey) DB CL1 by Umazuma Metaluna for the Skinnery, available at The Arcade *

Eyes: pearl – bog wood – medium dark by Lano Ling for Poetic Eyes *

Kimono: Violent Seduction – Rozuhime (Mint) by Iki Akiri for Violent Seduction, available at Kustom 9

Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Elegant Left and Slink Mesh Hands (av) Elegant1 Right by Siddean Munro for Slink

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

Shoes: erratic / ira – platform pumps / cyan by Erratic Rain for erratic *

Bonsai by Arduenn Schwartzman for MadPea, available at The Arcade *

• MadPea Bonsai Hizashi RARE
  MadPea Bonsai Kaidan
  MadPea Bonsai Kasa
  MadPea Bonsai Kojiki
  MadPea Bonsai Majo
  MadPea Bonsai Ryu
  MadPea Bonsai Shihosu
  MadPea Bonsai Tsukikage RARE

Poses by Tutys for Tutys