Everywhere Hair

I called this “everywhere” hair because Thora Charron from LeLutka has managed to hit every demographic in SL for her Hair Fair offerings: RP, high fashion, romantic and dressy. In Thora’s typical style, the textures are detailed and beautiful with all the exacting touches typical of a LeLutka hair.

The styles, of course, vary in vision. Using mesh in interesting and exciting ways, Thora has managed to make a collection for Hair Fair that is certain to donate lots to Wigs for Kids, especially with the lush hair colors and great hair textures.

The hair comes in packs by color and do not include a HUD. This may or may not be a winner for some. Certainly, wearing non scripted hair IS a winner to most people, and there are abundant color choices. I love this lush red—Harvard—and think it’s stunning for all these hair styles.

Hair (top to bottom):

[LeLutka]-CHRISTINE hair/Dark Red by Thora Charron for LeLutka, available at Hair Fair 2014 *

[LeLutka]-FRANCINE hair – Harvard by Thora Charron for LeLutka, available at Hair Fair 2014 *

[LeLutka]-COLLEEN hair – Harvard by Thora Charron for LeLutka, available at Hair Fair 2014 *

[LeLutka]-CHARLENE hair – Harvard by Thora Charron for LeLutka, available at Hair Fair 2014 *

Skin: .:JUMO:. Mariah Skin Cocoa Red Brows with .:JUMO:. Mariah Eyeliners 002 by JuneMonteiro for .:JUMO:. *

Eyes: pearl – clear pond – medium dark by Lano Ling for Poetic Eyes *

Dress: Bon Bon Longdress <mesh,rigged,materials> /cream by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu! *

Poses: KaTink – Chanel Runway Fat Pack 1-15 by Annemarit Jarvinen for KaTink *

The Nap

“I count it as a certainty that in paradise, everyone naps.” ~ Tom Hodgkinson

Paradise sounds good to me if it includes lazy afternoons on a sun-dappled lanai on a beach. Sway Dench has created the lovely hut and Balinese parasol I show here with the sitting cushions for a lovely beach scene, now available at Liaison Collective.

With Zlyskritek’s ruffled bikini, I am enjoying the sun (including sunscreen) and taking a much needed rest from all the hustle and bustle of June in SL. I took a trip over to the Thrift Shop, where I found this bikini and the cute purple watch I wear, though really, on vacation, should I be wearing a watch at all? Senzati0n Domenitzo’s darling sandals, which she has at Fashion for Life, are an almost naked alternative to common flip flops and show off my pedicure from Zozicon nicely (which is another exclusive at Fashion for Life).

My skin is Aida Ewing’s fresh face for Collabor88, which I am loving with a blue shadow I accidentally left on from Chandra Masala (a beautiful serendipity). My hair is Mina Nakamura’s newest for Chapter Four, a casually pulled back feminine look with her special textures and texture-change HUD, perfect for a relaxing summer… and a nap.

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, look to tomorrow, rest this afternoon.” ~ Charles M. Schulz

Hair: MINA Hair – Ilse (no materials) by Mina Nakamura for MINA, available at Chapter Four *

Skin: -Glam Affair – Summer skin – America 02 F by Aida Ewing for –Glam Affair-, available at Collabor88 *

Makeup: Jalwa – Meenakshi Makeup – Blue by Chandra Masala for Jalwa *

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

Bikini: Kaithleen’s Beach Ruffled Mini Skirt – Purple and Kaithleen’s Beach Ruffled Top – Purple by Zlyskritek for Kaithleen’s, available at The Thrift Shop *

Watch: AURORA – Mesh Ladies Gold Watch – Lilac and Tribal by X for AURORA, available at The Thrift Shop *

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

Nail appliers: -{ZOZ}- Love Polish – (Slink) Fingernail and Toenail Huds by Zozicon for ZOZ, sponsor for FFL Promenade at Fashion for Life *

Feet: Slink Mesh Feet (Av) Flat by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: Essenz – Tampa (Fatpack) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, sponsor of FFL Trek  at Fashion for Life *

Beachy stuff: Sway’s [Pantai] Beach Hut – detailed, Sway’s [Pantai] balinese parasol . blue, Sway’s [Pantai] floor cushion B, and Sway’s [Pantai] floor cushion A by Sway Dench for Sway’s, available at the Liaison Collaborative *

Thank you, Mikalis, for lending me some sand.

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

Listening

“The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.”

~ Ralph Nichols

I think my next goal is to develop my listening better, to really hear what people say when they talk. I think with all the input and stimulus we get nowadays, it’s become increasingly hard for people to listen and I am among those. So chalk this up as my promise today: I am going to work on listening.

Poulet Koenkamp recently came out with this lovely mesh dress with wrap-around bodice. The brilliant part is her fatpack comes with a texture change HUD that allows you to wear several variations of the dress. Poulet, who was once known for her amazing clothing, flexis and sculpties, has been a little behind the ball producing things in mesh, mostly because she has been tossing a ball with a new little one at home. (And seriously, mesh vs. baby—baby is *always* gonna win.) Her textures are glorious and her personal style elegant, so when Poulet does come out with something, it’s always a cut above. The HUD for this outfit is simple to use.

Abraxxa Anatine has been using mesh too with great results. This jewelry set comes with a texture change menu, allowing several different variations on the stones. She has been transferring her exquisite jewelry making style to mesh with such creations, breaking out of the constraints of prims and sculpties. This necklace can be worn with both pieces—the choker and the dangling necklace—or each piece separately.

The whole “listening” trope came up because of these new mesh ears from Hasuko Kuramoto, who has made other bodily appendages (*cough*) with great success in the past. My pretty ears come with a handy HUD that allows for skin matching and adjustment. This is the clever part: If I arrange one ear in place in a manner I like simply by increasing the size with the HUD and then rotating it into place, I can tell the HUD to sync the other ear in a mirror image. So if I want both ears upside down and tipped out, I can rotate one into place, click, and they will look symmetrical. The other awesome part is these ears DO accept appliers and tattoos.

My skin is one of the gorgeous skins Shyla Boucher has made for the Arcade. With a number of skin tones and makeups, Shyla is offering a gorgeous assortment of skins that will allow you to match to many different looks. And with skins rarely being no copy/transfer, the chance to get them at the Arcade is a boon for friends and alts and newbies, if you have extras and are feeling generous. My darling side swept ‘do is Mina Nakamur’a’s piece for My Attic, a sassy and sleek look with Mina’s great texture-change HUD.

“Being heard
is so close to being loved
that for the average person,
they are almost indistinguishable.”

~ David Augsburger

Hair: MINA Hair – Eva (no materials) by Mina Nakamura for MINA, available at My Attic*

Skin: -Belleza- Suki Makeup 6 Dk by Shyla Diggs and Tricky Boucher for -Belleza-, available at The Arcade *

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

Ears: Auricle Mesh Ear 1.0 by Hasuko Kuramoto for Midnight Lotus *

Dress: :: PM :: Leia Dress *Fatpack 10 Colors* by Poulet Koenkamp for PurpleMoon Creations *

Jewelry: EarthStones Chianna Pendant Necklace, Short Necklace and Earrings – Fatpack by Abraxxa Anatine for EarthStones *

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

Nail appliers: Flair – Fingernails and Toenails Applier Slink A/E – set 214 by Sasy Scarborough for Flair, available at My Attic*

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

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

Poses by Olaenka Chesnokov for oOo *

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

Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered

Men are not a new sensation
I’ve done pretty well I think
But this half-pint imitation
Put me on the blink

I’m wild again, beguiled again
A simpering, whimpering child again
Bewitched, bothered, and bewildered am I

~ “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” by Ella Fitzgerald

Genre opens tomorrow with a theme I just love: 40s Swing. The creators have invaded the big band hall that Voshie Paine has built with beautiful creations for your big band reveries. (I personally spent the evening listening to 40s chanteuses singing the old standard love songs, like Ella Fitzgerald.) Voshie has created, under the auspices of TheAnnex, this wonderful dress with jeweled embroidered cap sleeves and an elegant draped back. I styled it with lysa Helendale’s darling spectator pumps to be work with Slink feet and her great duo-tone nails. With Krystal Jenkin’s lovely necklace, I am ready for my solo while we wait for the soldiers to come home.

My go-to skin-makers for elegance and beauty are always Shyla Diggs and Tricky Boucher. Shyla always creates the most tasteful and beautiful make up combinations on Tricky’s sexy skin base. A trip over to Tutys got me this great wavy period ‘do with hairbase.

I’ve sinned a lot; I’m mean a lot
But I’m like sweet seventeen a lot
Bewitched, bothered, and bewildered am I

Hair: TuTy’s – Romantic – 40’s vintage hairstyle – mahogany by Tutys for Tutys

Skin: -Belleza- Ria SK 11 Br by Shyla Diggs and Tricky Boucher for -Belleza- *

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

Dress: The Annex – Satin Evening Gown – Champagne by TheAnnex for The Annex, available at Genre * (opens April 15)

Jewelry: Behira – Necklace and Earrings – Platinum (MultiJewel) by Krystal Jenkins for ::: Krystal :::, available at Genre *  (opens April 15)

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

Nail appliers: *S-A F* 40’s Hollywood Mani (Nail Salon) by lysa Helendale for Sense-able Fashions, available at Genre *  (opens April 15)

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

Shoes: *S-A F* Blitz Pumps Patriotic Red by lysa Helendale for Sense-able Fashions, available at Genre *  (opens April 15)

Photos taken at Genre

The Seven Year Itch

All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one [wo]man in [her] time plays many parts, [her] acts being seven ages. ~ William Shakespeare

My seventh rez day crept up on me today. I didn’t realize it until Stephen pointed it out to me, and then I blushed, realizing it was true. I have done the math and realize I am in my prime! (If there are four sunrises and sunsets per 24 hours, then it would be four days per 365 days, 365 days per year would make me 28 years old. I’ll take it!) I have enjoyed some celebrations already. Jaynine Scarborough, the wondrous amazing voice from Berlin, sang me an over-the-top Happy Rezday at her show that brought tears to my eyes. I reminisced with IronGut McAllister about when he DJ’d my first rez day. I got an amazing poem written for me. As Jaynine would sing, “It’s wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!” And despite the title, I don’t seem to be going anywhere.

In my seven years in SL, one of the most wonderful things that has emerged is the explosion of content available to consumers. No, folks, businesses don’t fail in SL because of content theft or because of lack of support from LL; they fail because the competition has become fierce and you have to provide great content with a tight business model. My look today includes some of the best designers in SL who created pieces for the 100 Block and a hungry shopping community.

First start with Cynthia Ultsch’s short jean jacket. I was so thrilled when I saw this come out. She has made it short to work with many different mesh outfits, open to show a little decolletage and open enough to accommodate different sizes in front. I fit it over Datrip Blackbart’s little rock n roll bustier (this can be found at his shop) and then wore that with Moonbubble Gothly’s high-waisted mini, where the material in the skirt goes up rather than down. I have to say I wore bustier and skirt out and got a lot of compliments. Of course the compliments may have come from wearing Gospel Voom’s high heeled Mary Janes from FaMESHed with their frilly ankle socks. In fact, I think for my compliment-givers, these were a delectable deciding factor.

Cruella Pennell often amazes me with her other-vision hair styles and her style and hairbases for 100 Block are no exception. With an intricately shaved texture, the hair base’s swirls correspond with my skirt while my long locks on top, tossed to the side, give my look height and movement. Limited edition earrings from Ganymede Galaxy from Limited Bazaar give me a touch of Wastelands with filament inside the glass bulb hanging off a gear. And the luscious skin Sawsan Secretspy is selling at 100 Block, is pretty and soft but has enough grit with the darkly lined eyes to make the look work.

Thank you, my dear treasured friends in SL. You know who you are, many of you who have been with me throughout this second life. Here’s to many more!

Hair: a: anaxilea: pitch black by Cruella Pennell for Adoness, available at the 100 Block *

Hairbase: a: shaved damask: grey shades by Cruella Pennell for Adoness, available at the 100 Block *

Skin: .::WoW skins::. Nawra Darktan 04 by sawsan Secretspy for .::WoW skins::., available at the 100 Block *

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

Jacket: [Cynful] Cropped Denim Jacket by Cynthia Ultsch for Cynful, available at the 100 Block *

Top: Legal Insanity – tori rocker top leather zebra by Datrip Blackbart for Legal Insanity *

Skirt: [ bubble ] Highwaisted Skirt  by Moonbubble Gothly for [bubble], available at the 100 Block *

Earrings: Aesthetica Filament Earing by Ganymede Galaxy for Aesthetica, available at the Limited Bazaar

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

Nail appliers: Nailed It – Metals Set by Giela Delpaso for Nailed It *

Shoes: [Gos] Charlotte Mary Jane Pumps – Patent by Gospel Voom for Gos Boutique, available at FaMESHed *

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

Spring is like a perhaps hand

Spring is like a perhaps hand
(which comes carefully
out of Nowhere) arranging
a window, into which people look (while
people stare
arranging and changing placing
carefully there a strange
thing and a known thing here) and

changing everything carefully

spring is like a perhaps
Hand in a window
(carefully to
and from moving New and
Old things,while
people stare carefully
moving a perhaps
fraction of flower here placing
an inch of air there) and

without breaking anything.

~ E.E. Cummings

It’s still National Poetry Month, and I am once again plying you with poetry. I can’t help it. Poetry is good for you, and this poem by E.E. Cummings was one of my favorites when I was younger. I pulled out this poem to greet spring and to show you Zaara Kohime’s latest collection, a set of bustier, jacket and pants, mesh to texture all created by Zaara herself.

The collection is full of mix and match pieces with delightful colors and patterns, so I indulged this time and am showing you several different variations. Zaara, who is often known for her gorgeous Indian prints and beautiful patterns, once again incorporates pattern into the jackets, complimenting them with both solid and patterned bustiers. The bottoms, with a sort of loosely tied wrap look, feature Zaara’s lush shadowed textures and sheened material, evoking a rich and luxurious feel.

It’s always exciting when Zaara comes out with new content, especially separates that can be mixed with other outfits. I tried to vary the looks here by mixing up the colors on Maxi Gossamer’s sandals, exploiting the “fatpack” she gives in her built-in texture change scripts on most of her jewelry and now her sandals.

I also varied up the hair colors. Minami Susanowa includes several shades in her red pack, this a low and loosely tied ponytail that she is selling at The Seasons Story. Aikea Rieko’s gorgeous skin shows beautifully with the bustier, featuring the great collarbone, of course, but also a beautiful face. I swapped her various and gorgeous eye makeups for each look to compliment the colors.

changing everything carefully…

without breaking anything.

 

Version 1:

Hair: tulip. Charlie (Reds) by Minami Susanowa for tulip, available at The Seasons Story

Skin: :[P]:- Astrali Skin[Basic]:// Hylala by Aikea Rieko for Plastik *

Makeup: :[P]:-Fauxe Makeup:// Depth by Aikea Rieko for Plastik *

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

Jacket: Zaara : Sana chintz jacket *blush* by Zaara Kohime for Zaara *

Top: Zaara : Natasha bustier *pink floral* by Zaara Kohime for Zaara *

Pants: Zaara : Mita tie-up pants *peach* by Zaara Kohime for Zaara *

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

Feet: Slink Mesh Feet (Av) Flat by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: MG – Sandals – Lotus Flower Blossom 1 by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at Collabor88 *

 

Version 2:

Makeup: :[P]:-Fauxe Makeup:// Candi by Aikea Rieko for Plastik *

Jacket: Zaara : Sana chintz jacket *purple* by Zaara Kohime for Zaara *

Top: Zaara : Natasha bustier *plum* by Zaara Kohime for Zaara *

Pants: Zaara : Mita tie-up pants *khaki* by Zaara Kohime for Zaara *

Version 3:

Makeup: :[P]:-Fauxe Makeup:// Peacock by Aikea Rieko for Plastik *

Jacket: Zaara : Sana chintz jacket *ivory sky* by Zaara Kohime for Zaara *

Top: Zaara : Natasha bustier *aqua* by Zaara Kohime for Zaara *

Pants: Zaara : Mita tie-up pants *frost* by Zaara Kohime for Zaara *

Version 4:

Makeup: :[P]:-Fauxe Makeup:// Molten by Aikea Rieko for Plastik *

Jacket: Zaara : Sana chintz jacket *coal* by Zaara Kohime for Zaara *

Top: Zaara : Natasha bustier *kohl* by Zaara Kohime for Zaara *

Pants: Zaara : Mita tie-up pants *scarlet* by Zaara Kohime for Zaara *

 

Version 5:

Makeup: :[P]:-Fauxe Makeup:// Seasiren by Aikea Rieko for Plastik *

Jacket: Zaara : Sana chintz jacket *indigo* by Zaara Kohime for Zaara *

Top: Zaara : Natasha bustier *navy* by Zaara Kohime for Zaara *

Pants: Zaara : Mita tie-up pants *royal blue* by Zaara Kohime for Zaara *

 

Version 6:

Makeup: :[P]:-Fauxe Makeup:// Peacock by Aikea Rieko for Plastik *

Top: Zaara : Natasha bustier *blue batik* by Zaara Kohime for Zaara *

 

Poses by Rogan Diesel for DieselWorks Animations *

Branches: 8f8 – Double Young Sakura PINK (No shadow) by 8f8 for iBi, available at The Seasons Story

Today

If ever there were a spring day so perfect,
so uplifted by a warm intermittent breeze

that it made you want to throw
open all the windows in the house

and unlatch the door to the canary’s cage,
indeed, rip the little door from its jamb,

a day when the cool brick paths
and the garden bursting with peonies

seemed so etched in sunlight
that you felt like taking

a hammer to the glass paperweight
on the living room end table,

releasing the inhabitants
from their snow-covered cottage

so they could walk out,
holding hands and squinting

into this larger dome of blue and white,
well, today is just that kind of day.

~ “Today” by Billy Collins

It’s still National Poetry Month in the U.S., and since I have a moment here to share another poem, I will from one of my very favorite poets, Billy Collins. I keep two of his books in my Kindle at all times and read a poem every day the way my grandmother read daily devotionals. I can’t say enough about his work. Read the poem again. Enjoy it, please.

And today is the day when I want to unlatch the door to the canary’s cage and celebrate the sunlight with flowers in my hair. CrystalDoll Lemon is offering this darling dress in several colors at the 100 Block, and I was mightily impressed. She does her own mesh—this is not a template—and her textures are light and pretty. I love the evocative drapiness, the well-fit alpha and the lovely shadowing. I am definitely going to be checking out more of her work!

I paired it with Maxi Gossamer’s newest sandals, also mesh and also made by the creator without a template. I think I take for granted that Maxi does amazing work in mesh—she puts out so many great designs. I was absolutely delighted to see she is offering sandals for Slink feet now. My pretty necklace is from Ellantha Larsson, who is offering this as part of a set that includes face and belly piercings at the 100 Block.

Truth Hawks has come out with this lovely hair that comes with several flower add-ons that he will be offering at The Seasons Story just in time for spring, but I chose to wear Jaycee Dover’s flower hair band from the 100 Block. My gorgeous skin is one of Shantia Soulstar’s lovely creations, beautiful without makeup but I felt that I needed to make it bloom with her add-on eyeshadow and lipstick. Today is a beautiful day!

“Today is just that kind of day.”

Hair: TRUTH HAIR Fleur – Browns by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH<, available at The Seasons Story *

Skin: Zoul Creations – Robyn – Tone 6 – Dk Brows with Zoul Creations – Robyn – Tone 6 – Lips 07 and Zoul Creations – Robyn – Tone 6 – Eyeshadow 06 by Shantia Soulstar for Zoul Creations *

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

Dress: {dollle*} 082 Long Sleeve Off Shoulder – Pink by CrystalDoll Lemon for {dollle*},

Hair flowers: luxe. – Fleur Branch (cherry blossom) by Jaycee Dover for luxe., available at the 100 Block *

Necklace: .:ellabella:. Empress Crow – Necklace by Ellantha Larsson for.:ellabella:., avaavailable at the 100 Block *

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

Nail appliers: [ bubble ] Fishnet Nails – Light Set by Moonbubble Gothly for [bubble], available at the 100 Block *

Feet: Slink Mesh Feet (Av) Flat by Siddean Munro for Slink

Sandals: MG – Sandals – Lotus Flower Blossom 1 by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at Collabor88 *

Poses: .[ pose+ivity ]. 100 Block Blog Pack by Meccaa for Pose+ivity, available at the 100 Block *

P.S. Come back tomorrow for hints for Miamai!!

#WithSyria

“It’s the children the world almost breaks who grow up to save it.” ~ Frank Warren

It saddens me to say that the people of Syria continue to be at war with themselves with thousands of women and children, no part of the political sphere, dying each day as a result. The situation is complicated; there is no easy solution or intervention.

Today is my son’s 11th birthday. He has a life of unusual comfort and privilege, especially compared to the boys of Syria. Where he has food, they may not. Where he has a superior education, they may not be able to read yet. Where he can feel safe going to bed at night, they may fear death. His drinking water is safe and clean. His mother can cuddle him and assure him all will be all right as I know it will. I have been so fortunate to be able to give my son a wonderful life.

As a mother, my heart aches for the mothers who have to move their children to save them from violence, to feed them, to find shelter for them, sometimes without the assistance of their families or spouses. I feel helpless in the face of this. So all I can do is send my heartfelt wishes to these mothers and children that the crisis in their country will soon end, a wish sent out on my sons’s 11th birthday—from both of us.

That doesn’t mean we can not care about the people of Syria, particularly the children. An international movement, #WithSyria, has gotten attention, and the artist Banksy has made a simple statement by redoing a piece of his/her artwork to reflect this:

It is a revision of this piece of work Banksy created:

A statement on the website reads as follows:

On the 6th March 2011 in the Syrian town of Daraa, fifteen children
were arrested and tortured for painting anti-authoritarian graffiti.
The protests that followed their detention led to an outbreak of violence
across the country that would see a domestic uprising transform into a
civil war displacing 9.3 million people from their homes.

If you want to learn more, check out this Upworthy link, which inspired me.

Skin: Jalwa – Meenakshi – Cardamom – Black Eyebrows by Chandra Masala for Jalwa, available at Skin Fair 2014 (Sim 1) *

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

Outfit: ::Sakinah:: Blue and Grey Abaya by Syngen Sohmers for Sakinah

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

Shoes: *COCO*_Thong Sandal by cocoro Lemon for COCO

Pose by Olaenka Chesnokov for oOo Studio (custom)