Polar Vortex

“As a newsman, I want to salute whoever came up with the term ‘polar vortex. It is terrifying but still sounds all science-y. A lesser meteorologist could have overreached with ‘arctic coldnado’ or ‘alaskan dick punch,’ but ‘polar vortex’ is restrained but menacing.” ~ Stephen Colbert

The cold has begun in my part of the world, much too soon. Who thought this was a good idea? After last winter, all romance for fall and winter has left my heart. Forget Christmas—I want my summer back! The cold is so pervasive to me that even in SL I feel I have to bundle up so the receipt of this new puffy jacket from Tatyana Ultsch was very welcome. Besides her deft mesh work and absolutely kick ass textures, she includes a HUD to color change this jacket into one of 14 colors. The detailing is astonishing. Leri Miles is offering these sleek pants at the Thrift Shop 7.0, and they also include a texture-change HUD.  I attached Renee Harvy’s darling chunky loafers because I looked silly without feet. And I accessorized with old-school earmuffs from Antonia Marat and a great scarf from Trill Zapatero.

I wore this whole business over the Belleza Venus. I am not sure why but it’s just become more convenient for me to click alphas off than mess around trying to reconstitute myself with alphas and separate body parts and appliers for skin and fingernails and then toenails. I have heard the Maitreya body is just as gorgeous, so I can’t wait to see that one come out. I am wearing Sawsan Secretspy’s newest offer for the Designer Circle and I applied pretty pink lipstick from Constance Daehlie. My hair is a darling bun from MissAllSunday Lemon that she is offering at the Xiasumi School Festival.

Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Suki Mesh Hair – Chocolate by MissAllSunday Lemon for/Wasabi Pills/, available at the Xiasumi School Festival *

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

Eyes: .ID. Shine Eyes / Blue-Green by Audrey Lamede for Insufferable Dastard

Body: -Belleza- Venus V 0.02 by Tricky Boucher for –Belleza– *

Jacket: :::insanya::: Winter Jacket by Tatyana Ultsch for :::insanya:::, available at Sad November *

Pants: LMD Sexy Satin Slacks Addict Pack by Leri Miles for Leri Miles Designs, available at Thrift Shop 7.0 *

Earmuffs: /artilleri/ Knit earmuffs! (NOSE) *red* 1 by Antonia Marat for /artilleri/

Scarf: BoHo HoBo Scarf Ladie’s Large (candystripes) by Trill Zapatero for BoHo HoBo *

Shoes: ::Duh!:: Heeled Croc Loafers Black by Renee Harvy for Duh!, available at Thrift Shop 7.0 *

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

Brrrrrr

“The cold cut like a many bladed knife.” ~ Israel Zangwill

A cold front has blown through my town and the rest of the country and we’re all huddling in for the duration. Paul Lapointe and Bastchild Lotus just released this chic pair of boots in autumn colors that include a color change for the boots, the strap around the boots and the sole. In typical L&B style, the boots are sexy down to the last detail and versatile for many looks.

SamanthaSJones proudly released this trenchcoat recently. I have seen the style in other stores but not with Sam’s unique twist on it. Rather than offering the coat in many colors, you get a coat OF many colors with her special hud that allows 120 different colors. I have to be honest—I was late on this post because I spent so much time clicking all the colors, trying to decide what I liked.

Helyanwe Vindaloo offered this blushing, cold weather skin in the KittyCats Advent Calendar yesterday. Remember that you can get previous days’ gifts in the calendar up until Christmas, so if you missed yesterday, get it today. My sleek hair is Tabata Jewell’s newest style, offering a close-to-the-head style that looks chic and fashionable, perfect for the new menswear haute couture look or for wearing short under hats (or earmuffs—these from Izzie Button).

Finally, under my gloves I sport a secret manicure. Today, Caroline Apollo offered this darling nailpolish set as a gift in the KittyCats Advent Calendar. With four different kitty motifs, you can share your KittyCat love on your Slink hand nails.

“Withstanding the cold develops vigor for the relaxing days of spring and summer. Besides, in this matter as in many others, it is evident that nature abhors a quitter.” ~ Arthur C. Crandall

Hair: Vanity Hair: After Dark-Dark Blondes by Tabata Jewell for Vanity Hair *

Skin: .ploom. Maia [Vanilla] (LB) – Frosty by Helyanwe Vindaloo for .ploom., available at the KittyCats 2013 Advent Calendar at KittyCats Winterland

Eyes: .ID. Portrait Eyes / Blue by Audrey Lamede for Insufferable Dastard

Coat: [LG] Boutique-[ FALL-13] How To Marry A Millionaire Coat by SamanthaSJones for for LIV-Glam *

Tights: {SMS} Braid Knit Tights Pulse by Irie Campese for So Many Styles, available at TDR Fusion

Ear Muffs: Izzie’s – Mesh Earmuffs teal by Izzie Button for Izzie’s

Scarf: BoHo HoBo Scarf Ladie’s Small (rainbowstripes) by Trill Zapatero for BoHo HoBo

Gloves: [VG] – ‘Brody Gloves’ in Crimson – Glove Layer by Chloris Hathor for Viva La Glam

Nail Applier: Caroline’s Kitty Nail Polish Huds for Slink by Caroline Apollo for Caroline’s Jewelry and Accessories, available at the KittyCats 2013 Advent Calendar at KittyCats Winterland

Boots: L&B S’wear “Bianca” (SM) Knee Boots Autumn Neutrals by Paul Lapointe and BastChild Lotus forLapointe and Bastchild *

Poses by Valencia Southard for Marukin

QTπ

Somehow it’s O.K. for people to chuckle about not being good at math. Yet if I said, ‘I never learned to read,’ they’d say I was an illiterate dolt. ~ Neil deGrasse Tyson

I’ve been off a few days, nursing a cold and taking care of RL, and.. well… indulging in math. I know that seems weird. Who likes math? Well I do! The Khan Academy has a great site for working on math skills and it’s the kind of puzzle gaming I love to do—with the added benefit of improving my mind. Look, if Danica McKellar can do it, so can I!

Simple math tells me if I put together a great top with terrific jeans, I’m going to have a fabulous look. Erratic Rain has recently released this mesh top that fits perfectly over any mesh bottoms you can come up with. That’s saying a lot because, if you haven’t noticed, mesh from different creators doesn’t always play well together. But Erratic has designed the ultimate sexy but casual blouse in several colors that does the trick. Shai Delacroix has recently released these bootylicious jeans with a color changing HUD that includes 8 shades. Who needs a separate mesh booty when you already have it going on? Moonbubble Gothly made the darling mesh sneakers I wear with this casual look.

A pale and lovely skin, Aida Ewing’s latest skin line is a knock out. With her finely drawn brows, beautifully defined eyes and gorgeous lips, she has once again given the grid beauty. M4r1lyn Magic offers this sexy mesh hair with one of four color HUDs for your most gorgeous hair-down looks. It all adds up to wonderful!

Doing math is like going to the gym – it’s a workout for your brain and it makes you smarter. ~ Danica McKellar

Hair: ~Tableau Vivant~ Vlodovic Hair by M4r1lyn Magic for Tableau Vivant *

Skin: -Glam Affair – Vera – Europa 01 A by Aida Ewing for Glam Affair *

Eyes: 2moro* Be the light eyes – blue by Reira Islay for 2moro, available at the Halloween Mini Market

Shirt: erratic / keira – shirt / pink by Erratic Rain for erratic *

Jeans: *Shai* Slim Jeans Mesh by Shai Delacroix for Casa del Shai *

Bracelets: BoHo HoBo Three Friendship Bracelets together by Trill Zapatero for BoHo HoBo *

Socks: [Crash Republic] stripey knee socks – blue by Isabelle Requiem for Crash Republic *

Shoes: [ bubble ] Mesh Sneakers – Bloom by Moonbubble Gothly for [bubble] *

Poses by Valencia Southard for Marukin

Welcome Back

Welcome back
your dreams were your ticket out.
Welcome back
to that same old place that you laughed about.

~ “Welcome Back” by John Sebastian

School can’t start early enough in my house—just sayin. The huge bag of supplies has been purchased, registration is paid for. Now all I have to do is lay out my clothes for the first day! (My first day I have to take someone else to school and the mommy looks competition is fierce—who can be casually dressed and look fabulous at the same time?)

If I were going to school in SL, I would definitely choose a more funky look. Start with this darling jacket from Kehl Razor that he is selling at Fi*Fridays for a sinfully low price. It comes with a HUD that allows color change for the stripes on the shirt bottom plus the stripes on the sleeves, and it fits perfectly. If you have been hesitating to get Razorblade’s great content for whatever nutty reason, this is a great chance to get one of his pieces a rock bottom price.

I paired it with some awesome shorts from Ivy Burner and these brilliant socks over shoes from beanster Potato. The set includes socks alone or socks with shoes and has a great HUD for changing the textures, which include argyle, striped and polka dots.

I accessorized with a hipster pork pie hat from JohnFrancis Laville, who is offering a red version in his gacha at The 24 or you can get an entire set without chancing it. My backpack is from Guu Nishi, who is the queen of great and inexpensive accessories in SL. How can you resist that little monster on the side?

My youthful skin comes courtesy of PeachieMuah—her latest release. She combines youthful glow with a touch of Japanese sensibility and I love her stuff for a younger look. My ponytails are Truth Hawks’ latest. I am hearing only good things about his revised store and vendor system. People are really digging the new textures and colors!

Well the names have all changed since you hung around,
But those dreams have remained and they’re turned around.

Hair: TRUTH HAIR Lyma [Roots] – LightBrowns04 by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: Poppy  Olive Bigger Breasts by PeachieMuah for [Fresh Face] *

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

Jacket: =Razorblade Jacket= Ballistic Nylon 1/2 Coat w/ Stripe Shirt by Kehl Razor for Razorblade, available at Fi*Fridays

Shorts: ~Sassy!~ Cuffed denim shorts – black by Ivy Burner for ~Sassy!~ *

Hat: JfL pork pie hat felt_black by Johnfrancis Laville for JfL Men’s Store, to be available at The 24 *

Glasses: [UMEBOSHI] Castor Glasses -Black- by Keiba for UMEBOSHI *

Backpack: HOC – Randoseru – Lime by Guu Nishi for HOC

Bracelets: BoHo HoBo Three Friendship Bracelets together by Trill Zapatero for BoHo HoBo *

Socks and shoes: DN Mesh: Socks with Shoes by beanster Potato for Ducknipple

Purple Haze

Summer is putting me in a haze. The humidity, the heat… for some reason purple seems the antidote.

I conveniently found purple in a new dress from Dolce Blackflag. Now, Dolce’s brand, PixelDolls, is one of the grand dames of SL fashion. It’s the second place Ireland Barrymore took me shopping in my early days of actually spending linden (right after Artilleri and right before RFyre). The colorful little outfits, so cleanly done on system pieces, the flirty skirts, the funky separates—they were delicious and filled my wardrobe. And Dolce is still at it with her great fashion skills in this cute dress with its pretty flowered sculpty skirt and sleeveless top. I top the outfit with a funky fringed sculpty vest from Trill Zapatero, whose bohemian clothes are just my speed. A pretty little anklet from Belle Roussel’s sparkly collection gave me the final touch I needed.

My skin is from the makeup lovers’ fantasy of Maximillion Grant’s Grace set. In Firestorm, I was able to put on lipstick, new eyebrows, blush, dimples and liner! (Optional dimples—c’mon and admit you would do it too.) I love pulling this out when I just want to play and change up my look in a myriad of ways.

Purple haze all in my brain
Lately things just don’t seem the same
Actin’ funny, but I don’t know why
‘Scuse me while I kiss the sky (Which I always heard as “kiss this guy…” which I kind of prefer ;))

~ “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix

Hair: fri. – Cassidy – Passionate Red by Parvarti Monday for fri.day

Skin: LOGO Grace Bloom Skin – Amethyst Base (No Brows) with LOGO Grace Bloom – L02 – Blush 4 and LOGO Grace Bloom – L07 – Dimples (For Blush 4) plus LOGO Grace – L03 – Extended Liner Black, LOGO Grace Bloom – L08 – Brows Style 5 Light Brown and LOGO Grace Bloom – L01 – Lips – Dazzle (Matte) by Maximillion Grant for LOGO *

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Celtic Green (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Vest: BoHo HoBo purple fringey vest by Trill Zapatero for BoHo HoBo *

Dress: (PixelDolls) Vigne/Tart . Violet  by Dolce Blackflag for (PixelDolls)

Earrings: *Primagine* Gypsy Hoops Silver Amethyst by Trixie Bumbo for *Primagine* *

Bangles: ::eLDee:: Line bangles (plum) by Lilyane Dryke for ::eLDee:: (no longer available)

Anklet: The Lass of Richmond Hill Slv Ankle by Belle Roussel for Chop Zuey

Shoes: *GF* Knot Wedge Sanal –purple by Cerberus Noel for G Field

Make New Friends…

 

So this is what happens when some upstart blogger IMs you and gets all sweet and nice and funny. She lets you steal witty things from her profile. She dishes with you about her partner. Then, she sneaks up and asks to take your photo because of a blogger challenge. She asks you to look like yourself (whatever that is anymore, I am not sure). And then she takes your photo and you look like a billion bucks (see below).

Rainey Manx, authoress of No Rainey Days, IM’d me and flattered me with her request to take my photo to answer Harlow Heslop’s question about what blogger inspires her. I was thrilled because Rainey’s work is incredible—she puts beauty into every piece she does (and I am incredibly envious because my PS and art skills stink). I was putty in her hands.

Did we intend to dress to match? Nope. But that’s how similar we are in aesthetic–it all seemed to work. I can only talk about what I threw on; Rainey’s babeitude speaks for itself (and she has more at her blog). I started with a minidress and scarf from Trill Zapatero, who tempted me with several things at her store. I love the funky look of her things, their casual sexy hippy dippy coolness. All proceeds from sales at her store go to help Afghan women, so it appeals to my charitable side as well.

My hair is my namesake from my someday partner Queue Marlowe (whenever Callie dumps me). Queue made the hair and then I sent a photo of RL Harper and we agreed—it matches. My skin, like Rainey’s, comes from Nena Janus’ beautiful mind.

Most importantly, our eyes come from a man we both hold dear to our heart—Ikon Innovia. I would like to think I am the reason they are together but I am guessing it’s more because of his devastating charm and her incredible wit and spirit. It seems Ikon lucked out. So did I in making a new friend :)

… but keep the old. One is silver and the other’s gold.

On Rainey:

Hair: Magika – Luna Roots Edition by Sabina Gully for Magika

Skin: League – Sia by Nena Janus for *League* *

Eyes: Fashism – Custom by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Sweater & Tank Top: Sn@tch – Church Sweater & Butch Tank Sheer by Ivey Deschanel for Sn@tch

Jeans: L.inc – Tyra Jeans by CK Winx for Luck Inc *

Belt: Coco – Calf Leather by cocoro Lemon for *COCO*

Necklace: Dark Mouse -  I’ve Lost My Way by Mouse Mimistrobell for Dark Mouse*

Bracelet: Sigma – Siren by Sofi Trenkins for ~SIGMA~Jewels

Pose: !Bang – Promises by Triest Minuet for Bang Poses

 

On Harper:

Hair: AD – harper brown sugar by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog *

Skin: *League* Amber Br Sunkiss -Smoky- by Nena Janus for *League* *

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Steel Blue (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Top: BoHo HoBo minidress (tealquarks) by Trill Zapatero for BoHo Hobo

Jeans: Maitreya Skinny Jeans by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Scarf: BoHo HoBo skinny scarf (blue) by Trill Zapatero for BoHo Hobo

Ring: ::je suis::Gacha::tente::sky::ring by Julia Merosi for je suis

Boots: BAX Prestige Boots Blue Suede by Bax Coen for Bax Coen Designs *

Alma

Alma, she’s a waitress in her parent’s restaurant in Jamaica, Iowa. Called “Nacho’s,” it would seem it advertised what it sells but it was truly named after her father, Ignacio, whom they called “Nacho” for short. Her parents opened the restaurant after they moved to Iowa, and she was born in Des Moines and raised in Jamaica.

This is what Alma wants you to know: yes, she is a US Citizen and no, she doesn’t speak a lick of Spanish. She says “warsh” instead of “wash” just like every other person in Guthrie County. The tacos her dad makes for the farmers? He uses Taco Bell seasoning he buys in bulk. The tortillas are made in a factory in Des Moines from true blue Iowan wheat and corn. Her parents—Ignacio and Rosita Flores—moved here from Texas, where they were both born.

When she was a little girl, Alma wanted straight thick blonde hair and blue eyes just like her friend, Justine, which much closer to being a real princess than she was with her kinky brown hair and brown skin. Until she went away to school at the University of Iowa, she didn’t even put a name to her difference but now she knows what she is—Chicana. And her dream is to leave Iowa someday and find out what that really means. For now she helps Rosita and Ignacio with Nacho’s, serving up tacos and burritos to hungry farmers and laughing with them when they ask for her green card.

This was Alma’s Cinco de Mayo outfit this year—a short top and colorful skirt, which was perfect on unusually warm May evening. (By the way.. Cinco de Mayo? Totally American. Sells a lot of tacos.) Her top, from Mala Oh, features and orange bodice and sleeves with ties, making it look very light and comfortable. Her skirt is a colorful ethnic piece she got in Iowa City, made by Trill Zapatero to benefit Afghan women. (Visit Trill’s store in world to find out more and see a virtual Afghanistan. All proceeds from sales go to the “Revolutionary Association of the Woman of Afghanistan” (RAWA).) Her shoes are also from Trill, however I was able to fit them OVER Siddean Munro’s bare feet by using the “add” feature available in V2 and Firestorm. No longer do you need to wear system feet because of multiple attachment.

Alma is made possible by the artistry of Anzhela Karsin. I have been fascinated with this set of skins and their opportunity for making beautiful women of color in world. This time I wore the skin over my own shape and Alma was born. My hair is a beautiful kinky masterpiece from Keri Clip.

“No Statue of Liberty ever greeted our arrival in this country…we did not, in fact, come to the United States at all. The United States came to us.” ~ Luis Valdez

Hair: [Detour] Torrid – Brown – Hair by Keri Clip for [Detour]

Skin: Rhianna with eyes ultra smokey by Anzhela Karsin for Angel Rock Skins *

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Deep Bronze (M) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Top: .:A&M:. Boho Chic Mini Top – Orange-Red – Culture Shock’11 by Mala Oh for .:A&M:. *

Skirt: BoHo HoBo-Banjara long skirt 2 by Trill Zapatero for BoHo HoBo

Belt: *::UM::* Stone change_Belt by Umeko Shan for *::Ume Mode::* (no longer available)

Earrings: [ glow ] Studio – Folk Green Drop Earrings by Jocelyn Anatine for [ glow ]

Feet: SLink Jolie Pied Barefeet Low by Siddean Munro for SLink

Shoes: BoHo HoBo Sandals by Trill Zapatero for BoHo HoBo