Love

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear. ~ Martin Luther King

Valentine’s Day is about romantic love mostly, but it’s a great reminder of all sorts of love—the love for our family, love for friends, and even love for our fellow humans. I love my friends in SL and in RL. I dearly love my family. And I have found by filling my heart with love, it’s displaced the anger and fear and allowed me to give love in abundance.

Erratic Rain has come out with a shift that is absolutely gorgeous, done from her own mesh and featured in several colors. The multicolored dresses being shown on other blogs are absolutely stunning but the singular color dresses are equally as beautiful with their architectural inspiration and great fit. If you want to look sophisticated and elegant, this is the dress for you. I pair with shoes from Darling Monday, featured at Collabor88. Somehow she managed to straddle the line between cosmic and good taste with these stacked heels, fitting perfectly with the Slink feet. I couldn’t resist wearing Maxi Gossamer’s heart-shaped ring and necklace—it’s Valentine’s Day after all.

My hair is one of Truth’s new ‘dos with wild waves flowing down and a winsome side-swept bang. I loved wearing blonde with Aida Ewing’s Sylvia skin, once again piling on the makeups to experiment with looks. You really get a fat FAT pack with this set considering all the options with nose, eye makeup, lipstick and blush. And of course, she gives you many brows. Love!

The one thing we can never get enough of is love. And the one thing we never give enough of is love. ~ Henry Miller

Hair: TRUTH HAIR Tyr  – Blondes by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: Glam Affair – Sylvia  America – Base A with Glam Affair – Sylvia – Lipstick  02 A, Glam Affair – Sylvia – Eyes Makeup 06 and Glam Affair – Sylvia – Cheeks 04 by Aida Ewing for Glam Affair, available at Collabor88 *

Eyes: {S0NG} :: Inka~ Lost Eye by Funeral Plutonian for S0ng

Dress: erratic / estelle – panel dress / red by Erratic Rain for erratic *

Necklace: MG – Necklace – Sugar Heart – Short by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at Love Is In the Air *

Ring: MG – Rings – Sugar Heart – Small by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at Love Is In the Air *

Nail applier: Nailed It – Slink – The Style Icon Set HUD by Giela Delpaso for Nailed It, available at The Style Icon *

Shoes: fri. – Jet.Heels (Scarlet) by Darling Monday for fri.day, available at Collabor88 *

Trompe Loeil – Nova Chair Mercury {A}  by Cory Edo for Trompe Loeil, available at Collabor88 *

St. Valentine’s day-Gateau swan-Table by Quark Fallen for Arbres Obscurs

Momentary Bliss

“One instant, you’re just a regular Joe, schlepping through your mundane life, and then suddenly – what is this? – nothing has changed, yet you feel stirred by a grace, swollen with wonder, overflowing with bliss. Everything – for no reason whatsoever – is perfect.” ~ Elizabeth Gilbert

I woke up this morning to fresh snow and bright sunshine, and I made muffins, ate a bowl of perfectly sweet cantaloupe, found a most beautiful piece of music from the KCRW song of the day in my podcasts, a chat with a dear new friend, and received a lovely skin to blog. What more bliss can one have?

I ran off to Leroy to take photos of this beautiful mesh dress by Cocoro Lemon, which she is featuring at the Season’s Story. I tried for white but the vendors were not working well that evening, and I ended up with beige, and with this look, it’s about as aetherial as mesh can get. I decided to keep my accessories to a minimum—a flower ring in my hair from Wisp Jinn and anklet from Caelan Hancroft.

I have to admit one good reason for my bliss was this new skin from Umazuma Petaluna. The face is sublime with depth and a natural beauty which appealed to my mood today. Uma has clearly put a lot of work into this skin, from the beautifully drawn brows to the expressive eyes to the smattering of freckles and gentle blush and the full bee-stung lips. She includes appliers for hands and feet (which is why I could wear my Slink hands and feet and run through the grass barefoot), breasts and butt.

I am wearing Queue Marlowe’s newest hair, which falls on my shoulders in gentle waves and looks beautifully natural with its deep textures and attractive silhouette. Deep eyes from Keiba finish this gorgeous look.

Half empty, half full
Cup runneth over
Horns of plenty, coffers full

~ Andrew Bird, “Pulaski at Night”

Hair: AD – bree – light browns by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog*

Skin: [theSkinnery] Bella – Bare face (toffee) BB CL1 with [theSkinnery] Bella Lip Intensity 4 by Umazuma Metaluna for the Skinnery, available at the Cosmetic Fair *

Eyes: [UMEBOSHI] Ren eyes -Lolly- by Keiba for UMEBOSHI

Dress: *COCO*_LaceDress(Beige) by cocoro Lemon for COCO, available at The Season’s Story

Crown: [Wishbox] Rose Crown (Champagne) by Wisp Jinn for [Wishbox]

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

Nail Appliers: Nailed It –  French Manicure by Giela Delpaso for Nailed It *

Anklet: Cae :: Bali Anklet :: Rose Quartz by Caelan Hancroft for Cae *

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

Poses by Rogan Diesel for DieselWorks Animations *

Photos taken at Leroy, built by Quark Fallen

Go find the “I Want to See Pulaski at Night” EP from Andrew Bird if you want to share in my bliss. “Ethio Invention No. 1” was the source of my euphoria today.

A Christmas Carol

“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” ~ Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

I am so PLEASED to congratulate Fabfree for winning the Avi Choice awards for best blog. I sincerely think there was no better blog for the title. (I am not being gracious here—I mean it.) I was good friends with Renee Lowenhart when she was running the blog, and I know how much work she put into building Fabfree. Love Trill and the other ladies have taken the baton and run with it, keeping up the fine standards Renee set and making it even better. They work DAMN hard on that blog, bringing people news of great items, keeping the free area at the Wash going, and running a ginormous group of freebie hunters. And they put slurls on EVERYTHING (and I know how much work that is). I know I refer new people to the blog at least three times a week. I am so pleased they got the award.

That being said, I am also pleased that I ranked in the top 5. Of course it’s not scientific and of course it’s all about some crazy poll on a website but dang, let me gloat just a little here for being in the top 5. I was thrilled to be nominated, so of course for this I am so honored. Thank you for voting for me! And congratulations to the other blogs!

That being said, I will now take you back in time to the Victorian era when Christmases were festooned with holly and velvet and delight galore! Actually, I’ll take you over to Genre, whose theme this month is “Victorian Christmas,” and a ton of creators are participating. I am actually amazed at some of the work because I can tell it’s original mesh, not templates, and it’s been done with the event in mind.

Take for example the skirt I wear from Kaliope Karas in plaid with a green hem, which I separated from a whole outfit she is offering so I could show Kerryth Tarantal’s gorgeous jacket with her distinctive complex textures. Kerryth has grown by leaps and bounds, looking at this, having drawn in all the fine detail—buttons, shadows, piping. She’s not just laying a fractal on a prim anymore. It’s gorgeous. And you can barely see but Tiffy Vella has made the most darling mesh shoes with a Victorian brocade print and a ruffled vamp.

The accessories at the event are exquisite. The gorgeous choker and earrings from Ellantha Larsson are simply a taste of what is being offered and Synjari Myriam’s top hat is one of many toppers up for sale. Chandra Masala offers this porcelain and pristine skin with a hark back to bygone days and I wore one of Helena Stringer’s makeup tattoos to get a deeper lip.

You will also find a variety of Victorian creations to furnish your house including this curio desk from Morgana Brid, which includes texture change features to change the wood and upholstery. And Lashae Karsin used her posing talent to make a stately Victorian chair that also has a few standing poses. Abathyr is generously offering the Christmas stocking I show with a texture change script to allow different names to be embroidered on the stocking for a mere 10L. In fact, almost every creator offers one 10L item so being Victorian this holiday won’t break the bank.

“And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!” ~ Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Hair: TRUTH HAIR Fernanda by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: Jalwa- Zahida – Victorian – Eyebrows by Chandra Masala for Jalwa, available at Genre *

Makeup: *TSM* Mistress Lips -Last Kiss by Helena Stringer for The Stringer Mausoleum, available at Genre *

Eyes: PC Eyes – Christmas Tale – medium medium by Lano Ling for Poetic Eyes

Jacket: Spyralle  Snowflake Lace Jacket Red by Kerryth Tarantal for Spyralle, available at Genre *

Skirt: KaliKo – Joanie Christmas Caroling Skirt by  Kaliope Karas for KaliKo, available at Genre *

Choker and earrings: .:ellabella:. Bygone Medusa – Yule by  Ellantha Larsson for .:ellabella:., available at Genre *

Top hat: .:SF:. “Memento Mori” Mini Top Hat – Thulian by Synjari Myriam for Senzafine, available at Genre *

Shoes: Eclectica Victoriana Shoe for Genre-red by Tiffy Vella for Eclectica, available at Genre *

Décor:

• Christmas Horn w Foliage COPY MOD by Pamela Galli for La Galleria
• C&F Burg Xmas Stocking w/ Texture Switcher by Abathyr for Cog & Fleur, available at Genre *
• Flash Friendly Poses – Victorian Salon Chair by Lashae Karsin for Flash Friendly Poses, available at Genre *
• {A} Curio Desk Set by MorganaBrid for Arcana Antiques & Oddities, available at Genre *
• .jamais201XXmas.Snowy fruitcake & Swan biscuit by Quark Fallen for Arbres Obscurs

Candy Corn

Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker. ~ Ogden Nash

Candy corn is like crack for me. I eat it without stop if it is available, so I make sure it’s not available. I really hate that fuzzy feeling on my teeth from the sugar, though. I chose this outfit for one of the photos I submitted to LL for the front page. They didn’t choose it because another photographer also chose the outfit, so I show it here because I think it’s cute as heck. Precious Restless has put together mesh and system pieces to make this charming look. She includes two different brooms with poses and big bat wings that I chose not to wear. The pumpkins are darling and she has decorated this look with spider webs and bats that flutter around.

The perfect skin for this look was Aida Ewing’s orange eye-lined skin from last month’s Collabor88. (Yes I realize I am past due on this in the blog but the original photos were taken a bit ago.) Blonde mesh braids from MissAllSunday Lemon and intense black eyes from Ikon Innovia made my witch cute but still wicked. Finally, boots from Syntella Rhapsody, with the buttons set to copper, complete this look.

All the candy corn that was ever made was made in 1911. ~ Lewis Black

Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Akiko Mesh Hair – Golden by MissAllSunday Lemon for Wasabi Pills *

Skin: Glam Affair – Shanna ( Europa ) 11 ( Blonde ) by Aida Ewing for Glam Affair *

Eyes: IKON Perspective Eyes – Black (M) by Ikon Innovia for IKON

Outfit (with hat): Gwendolyn by Precious Restless for **Boudoir**

Boots: 7E Virgo Boot by Syntella Rhapsody for Seven Exits *

Prop: Halloween & Thanksgiving-pumpkin stump- by Quark Fallen for Arbres Obscurs

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

A Ray of Beauty

Flowers… are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world.  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

School has started, which means a time of quiet and solitude for me. I have been enjoying the first few quiet days of freedom. Though I feared I was going to be lonely, I am not. It gives me time to think, putter, and smell the flowers. In this case, I get to smell the flowers in Kiddo Oh’s romantic mesh dress. In a lovely pale blush, the dress is all mesh skrit with beautifully defined shadows and floral embroidery across the bottom half of the skirt. She has combined a system piece corset for the bodice (a smart move when getting mesh pieces to fit can be a hassle) with a frilled bolero jacket. I accessorized with Maxi Gossamer’s romantic heart-shaped jewelry—simple and heartfelt for this charming look.

My skin is one of Aida Ewing’s gacha prizes at the Arcade. This piece has a lot of new elements—I can tell because it just doesn’t look the same on me as other Glam Affair skins. I am noticing it particularly in the eyes. They are beautifully shaded but without lining or heavy makeup. Remember, these are transferable, so get a few and send them to your friends or alts. My short curly ‘do from Tabata Jewell has a certain joie de vivre with curls tumbling about. Tabata’s hair comes with a color-changing HUD, as so many hair makers are using now, so your inventory won’t be as cluttered.

Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful flowers where I can walk undisturbed.  ~ Walt Whitman

Hair: Vanity Hair:Nana—Light Reds by Tabata Jewell for Vanity Hair *

Skin: -Glam Affair – Candy – America – 01 C by Aida Ewing for Glam Affair, available at The Arcade *

Eyes: [Crash Republic] Rebel Eyes – blue 2 by Isabelle Requiem for Crash Republic, available at SL Fashion Week *

Dress: .::DD::. Dead Dollz – Cosette Gown – Blush by Kiddo Oh for Dead Dollz *

Jewelry: MG – Necklace – Window to My Heart – Short – SILVER and MG – Bracelets and Ring – Hand Made Heart by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer

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

Skin Appliers: Glam Affair – Slink Hands Skin Appliers ( America ) by Aida Ewing for Glam Affair

Nail Appliers: Nailed It – Pastel Set by Giela Delpaso for Nailed It *

Flowers: Cosmos A 3color change by Quark Fallen for Arbres Obscurs

Poses by Valencia Southard for Marukin

The Agent

“Ninety percent of all millionaires become so through owning real estate.” ~ Andrew Carnegie

Seven years of being a real estate agent in a very tough market told her all she needed to know. This wasn’t one of those click-the-box-and-rent 50 different views. This was a place on one of the hottest sims in the grid. You couldn’t just show up in your newbie, furry costume, still dancing because you tp’d in the middle of ‘80s night at your favorite club. No, you had to dress the part of the fashionable estate manager. The client (not “customer,” not “renter,” not even “resident”) had to feel like the sim would always be up, always be lag free, and always be fabulous.

She dressed stylishly in an ensemble from SamanthaSJones, a set that showed her daringness with print and color and her stylishness with a silhouette that was womanly and sexy. Of course, in SL, a low cut, decolletage-revealing top is standard to show cleavage, so this top suits the look. Black pearls from Maxi Gossamer give a touch of class to the ensemble as do matching nails from Giela Delpaso. Gospel Voom’s latest slingbacks with their high heel and sexy ankles were a must.

The house is Barnesworth Anubis’ latest with sliding doors surrounding a private courtyard. For a lived-in feel, furniture from Cherelle Capra (the elegant tea house set) and Cory Edo (the gray upholstered chairs) fill the space, giving the client some feeling of how it may look.

Tricky Boucher’s skin has a polished appearance (and terrific cleavage). She found that men always buy when she has short hair—they find it sexy and appealing. So this cut from Dura makes her look stylish and sexy.

Hair: *Dura-Boys&Girls*42(Black) by Chiaki Xue for Dura *

Skin: -Belleza- Mya SK WCF by Tricky Boucher for -Belleza- *

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

Dress: [LG] Boutique-[Summer 13] Lets Get Loud by SamanthaSJones for LIV-Glam, available at Pure Sales Room *

Necklace and earrings: MG – Necklace and Earrings – Alexa Black Choker Pearls by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer *

Handbag: {{BSD Design Studio}}milano handbag-pink by BabyChampagne Sass for {{BSD Design studio}} *

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

Hand appliers: -Belleza- Slink Hands – SK by Tricky Boucher for -Belleza-

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

Shoes: [Gos] Paris Peeptoe – Patent Collection by Gospel Voom for Gos Boutique *

House: [ba] atherwood home by Barnesworth Anubis for barnesworth anubis, available at The Liaison Collective Garden

Furniture: [CIRCA] Pkg – AYUMU – Teahouse Sitting Set – in Sunset (Blog) by Cherelle Capra for [CIRCA], available at Genre *

Chairs: Trompe Loeil – Thrift Shop Accent Chairs Gray Exclusives [mesh] by Cory Edo for Trompe Loeil, available at the Thrift Shop *

Table: -Table-Happy Labor Day2013 by Quark Fallen for ISOVII (group gift)

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

Hydrangeas

The flower is the poetry of reproduction. It is an example of the eternal seductiveness of life. ~ Jean Giraudoux

The heat this past week has made the hydrangeas burst with bloom, nodding their cumbersome blossoms in the weak hot breeze and making everything glorious. Quark Fallen has made some beautiful oversized hydrangeas on display at his sim Leroy, and so I shot photos among them.

I am pleased with this 20s-influenced look I put together. I donned the long gown from Ariadna Garrigus that includes a beautiful back strap  and a glittering beaded Art Deco-influenced pattern. I added beads from M4r1lyn Magic and used Siddean Munro’s mesh hands to show off Giela Delpaso’s great new manicure set. I love being able to paint my nails in SL. It’s like going to my local manicurist and seeing the shelves of hundreds of colors and being able to pick and choose.

What makes the look, of course, is this 20s hair cut from Plurabelle Laszlo. The hair includes a HUD to let you change the color of the flower and the hair tie. I absolutely love how she brought Louise Brooks back to life with this cut.

Of course the icing on the cake is Aida Ewing’s gorgeous Katya skin, being offered now at the Liaison Collective. With Aida’s characteristic style, the skin is elegant with gorgeously lined eyes, deep ruby lips and beautifully defined brows.

“I must have flowers, always, and always.” ~ Claude Monet

Hair: Bliensen + MaiTai – Come to the City – Hazel by Plurabelle Laszlo for Bliensen + MaiTai, available at Hair Fair 2013

Skin: -Glam Affair – Katya – America 04 B by Aida Ewing for Glam Affair, available at Liaison Collective *

Eyes: pearl – warm onyx – medium medium by Lano Ling for Poetic Eyes *

Dress: ***ArisAris Igs81-C Diva gown by Ariadna Garrigus for ArisAris *

Necklace: ~Tableau Vivant~  Mina necklace by M4r1lyn Magic for Tableau Vivant, available at the Gallery Gift Shop

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

Skin applier: Glam Affair – Slink Hands Skin Appliers ( America) by Aida Ewing for Glam Affair

Nails appliers: Nailed It – Dark Set by Giela Delpaso for Nailed It *

Shoes: {{BSD Design studio}}Posh(L)black by BabyChampagne Sass for {{BSD Design studio}}, available at The Shoes Fair *

Poses by Trieste Minuet for !bang

Taken at Leroy