After All, Tomorrow Is Another Day

Click photo to enlarge.

A new round of The Seraphim Social started a few days ago.  This particular event is near and dear to my heart because it was first started by Vixen Thibedeau, Liane Boomhauer and myself last summer.  All three of us share a passion for reading, and we thought it would be fun to have a book club in Second Life where designers create products for each month's chosen theme.  However, we have all went our separate ways from Seraphim since last summer, but that doesn't mean our love of reading and seeing those books come to life has diminished at all!

The selected book for this round is Gone With the Wind (if you couldn't tell from my post title).  I started reading this book when I was in high school or college and never completely finished; I think I may have made it about halfway through.  I have, however, seen the movie multiple times as I am sure many of you have.  To be quite honest, Scarlett O'Hara always got on my nerves.  She seemed very petty and self-righteous.  Not exactly the type of female I would get along with in real life.

The dress I'm wearing is available at The Seraphim Social and is by Coquet.  I really love how the shoulders droop off to the sides; it gives the dress a very casual and laid back look.  I could imagine Scarlett wearing something like this if she had existed in the modern day.  Although you cannot see the back of the dress in my photo, the draped design of the bottom portion of the dress is very interesting.  The drape begins just above the butt and flairs out sort of like a curtain (I wonder if that could be a reference to the dress Scarlett wore made of curtains) to reveal a more plain textured fabric underneath.  If you would like to see the vendor picture which clearly gives a view of both sides, please click here.

The necklace I am wearing is also available at The Seraphim Social, although you cannot see it very well in my photo.  The necklace comes with a color change HUD for the pearls and the stones found on the jewelry.  Matching earrings are also available.  To see the vendor picture please click here.

If you would like to see a gallery of everything available at The Seraphim Social, please check out Seraphim's coverage.


Credits
Clothing: Gone With the Wind Dress in White by Coquet at The Seraphim Social
Jewelry: Melly Necklace by Cae at The Seraphim Social
Shoes: Lola Heels in Cherry by Ingenue at Collabor88
Feet: Mesh Female Feet High by Slink
Hands: Mesh Hands Elegant1 by Slink
Hair: Hope by TRUTH
Skin: Summer II in America 08 with Lipstick 02 by Glam Affair at Collabor88
Skin Applier: Slink Hands and Feet Applier in America by Glam Affair
Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Storm by IKON
Pose: Scarlett #2 by elephante poses at The Seraphim Social
Location: The Pixel Bean Coffee House

My 4th Blogiversaryღ

I cannot believe that it has been four years since I started this blog.  Yes, the consistency has come and gone... and come again, but it most definitely has been something I have enjoyed doing.  It has allowed me to meet so many amazing people and to make friendships that will last a lifetime.

Each year I always think about doing an anniversary post, but I always forget and miss the date.  Luckily, I was thinking about how long I've been blogging last night and looked up the date I made my first post.  Since it is my blogiversary and Thursday, I thought it would be fun to post some photos from around the same time each of the past four years and then do a #ThrowbackThursday redo look.  One thing has definitely remained the same over the years... I love capris and flip flops.  Enjoy!

June 2010 - White and Natural Brown

June 2011 - I ♥ My Flops!

June 2012 - Pieces of My Closet III

May 2013 - Until It Sleeps

June 2014

Credits  (Fifth picture only.  To see others, click the link under each picture.)

Clothing: (Top) Pruitt in Onyx and (Pants) Kendrix in Taffy by coldLogic

Jewelry: Anchor Necklace in Silver by (Yummy) at Collabor88

Shoes: Anchors Away Sandals in Black by Noodles at Collabor88

Feet: Mesh Female Feet Flat by Slink

Hands: Mesh Hands Elegant1 by Slink

Hair: Sudden by Magika

Skin: Summer II in America 05 by Glam Affair at Collabor88

Skin Applier: Slink Hands and Feet Applier in America by Glam Affair

Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Storm by IKON

Pose: Dressed 7 by Glitterati (No longer available)

Location: Private SIM

Spiked

Click photo to enlarge.

Yesterday, I posted a blog about my current obsession with Slink shoes on Lipstick, Lemon Drops & Love.  It is true that I have been snatching up multiple pairs every week and stuffing them into my already bursting inventory, but I couldn't let the outfit I was wearing go without featuring my jeans as well.  I don't really purchase a lot of jeans in Second Life.  What's the point?  It's not like I have to wash my favorite pair so I can wear them again tomorrow.  But, when I saw these on slinventory.net, I had to have them.  I don't see a lot of jeans with designs on the back that I like; these, however, looked very well made and have a cute mixture between a girly design and something a bit rougher.  The jeans are available in multiple colors at Ricielli's main store location.


Credits
Clothing: (Top) Basic Tank in Floral and (Pants) Spiked Jeans in Light Blue by Ricielli
Shoes: Lisa Sandals by Pure Poison
Feet: Mesh Feet Female Flat by Slink
Hair: Brenna by [elikatira]
Skin: Coral 02 in America by Glam Affair at Collabor88
Skin Applier: Slink Feet Applier in America by Glam Affair
Location: Twilight's Edge

Lipstick, Lemon Drops & Love

Hello, Loves♥  I've started a new blog with a few of my friends called Lipstick, Lemon Drops & Love.  Don't worry, I will still be blogging here as usual; this is just something extra and fun to do with three women I have grown to love and adore in Second Life (and real life to be honest).  If you would like to check out their personal blogs, please click the following links: Vixen Thibedeau, Danica Saerwen and Liane Boomhauer.

To see the styling information for the photo above, please head on over and check out my post Out of My Comfort Zone.  

#ThrowbackThursday

I thought it would be fun to do a #ThrowbackThursday post where I take a picture from the early days of my blog and recreate the look I was trying to achieve.  I took so many photos back then and sometimes did multiple posts in one day.  Now, I'm much more concerned about the quality of my photos rather than the quantity of items featured.

Click Here to See Original Post

The original picture is almost embarrassing.  I had not clue how to take a high resolution snapshot and I was still wearing a newbie shape.  At least I had upgraded to a nice skin by this point and knew about windlights; I suppose that is a positive.

I really love jackets, sweaters and pullovers in my real life, so naturally I would also want to bring that to my Second Life.  Who cares that my ava can never really get cold!  Layers are so much prettier with mesh than they were with system layers; they can, however, be more difficult to accomplish if the two pieces were not made for each other.  Thankfully, there are several Second Life who creators do make these types of outfits with pieces that can be worn together or separately.  The outfit I'm wearing in the top photo is Stiles in plum by coldLogic; sixteen total colors and patterns are available in this style.

The original post that inspired my #ThrowbackThursday photo wasn't about clothing at all, however, but was all about the new hair releases from TRUTH.  He is, as everyone knows, still putting out amazing hair.  As long as we are talking about the 'old days', I suppose I could share my first trip to TRUTH.  When I teleported in, everything was taking forever to rezz.  I haven't always been the most patient person and didn't feel like waiting for what felt like an eternity for everything to load.  I'm pretty sure that one of the large sales was going on at the time, and if you have ever visited during a sale, you know how packed and chaotic it can be.  I decided that the hair probably wasn't good enough to wait around for anyway and promptly teleported out.  Obviously, I've changed my tune.  Truth Hawks is most definitely one of the most talented hair creators on the grid, and even though I would not recommend teleporting in during the first few days of his sales, his products are definitely well worth the wait!


Credits
Clothing: Stiles in Plum by coldLogic
Jewelry: Vintage Bow Charm Necklace by Yummy Accessories
Hands: Mesh Hands Elegant by Slink
Nail Applier: Pearl Nails by Izzie's
Hair: Elyse by TRUTH
Skin: Mokatana by Glam Affair
Skin Applier: Slink Hands Applier America by Glam Affair
Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Glass by IKON
Pose: sweet.sour pose 5 by fri.day

Not Quite Monday

I love Strawberry Singh's Monday meme challenges and have previously participated in a few.  This week's challenge of blogging about your favorite poses and pose makers isn't really that challenging to me since I have had a bit of an obsession with poses since I first discovered them in my early days of Second Life.

I've always felt that poses are one of the most important parts to any picture; they convey so much emotion and contribute such depth to the overall impression and perception of the photographer.  Without good pose makers, Second Life photography most certainly would not be what it is today.

The pose featured in the above photo (click to enlarge) is from a new to me designer, Axix, recently discovered at Pose Fare 2014.  The crow prop is what initially caught my attention; if you ever browsed my shop before I closed, it should be no surprise that I would be drawn to a pose with props.  They are extremely fun to use and make for very interesting photos.  The pack, which was only 100L, included eight static poses and pre-positioned crow props for each pose.  They only thing that I did not like about this pose pack was that the poses do not have smooth transitions; however, that is a very minor detail.

Unfortunately, my two favorite pose makers no longer make poses.  I have hundreds of poses from aDORKable Poses and Glitterati; I probably could never purchase another pose in Second Life and still be set for the duration of my blog just by using what is already in my inventory from these two designers.  We all know that will never happen though!  Both Adokable Peapod and Katey Coppola created graceful, elegant poses that can work in almost any photo.  Thankfully, you can still purchase poses from both designers on the Second Life Marketplace (linked above).


Credits
Clothing: Bohemian Maxi in Aqua by Croquet at FaMESHed
Feet: Mesh Female Feet Flat by Slink
Hands: Mesh Hands Elegant1 and Bag by Slink
Nail Applier: Peary Nails by Izzie's at The Dressing Room Fusion
Hair: April by TRUTH at Collabor88
Skin: Mokatana The Diva by Glam Affair
Skin Applier: Slink Hands and Feet Skin Applier America by Glam Affair
Eyes: Summer Storm by Poetic Colors
Pose: LadyCrow 7 by Axix at Pose Fair 2014
Location: Templemore Hesperia

Helpless

I seem to never be able to stay away.  I can go for months without thinking about Second Life, and then somewhere out of the blue I'm wondering about what kind of new shoes may be available.  I'm helpless.

My latest absence had to do more with feeling overwhelmed than anything else.  Second Life has always been a hobby for me, but trying to keep up with my blog, Seraphim and my pose shop felt more like a job than something I did for leisure.  I had to leave... I needed to breath.  I definitely have a new found respect for creators who are able to hold down a real life job and still design in Second Life.


Credits
Clothing: Blooming Moment Dress by ::{u.f.o}:: at Collabor88
Jewelry: Butterfly Neckalce by Izzie's VIP Group Gift
Shoes: Lily Flats in Prussian by Ingenue at Collabor88
Feet: Mesh Female Feet Flat by Slink
Hands: Mesh Hands Elegant1 and Bag by Slink
Nail Applier: Pearl Nails by Izzie's at The Dressing Room Fusion
Hair: Fleur by TRUTH at The Seasons Story
Skin: Mokatana The Diva by Glam Affair
Skin Applier: Slink Hands Skin Applier America by Glam Affair
Eyes: Summer Storm by Poetic Colors
Pose: Model 272 by Glitterati No Longer Available
Location: Frisland

Sweet Nothing

Things I enjoy about summer... being able to sleep until noon and managing to actually make two blog posts in one week!  If only the summer could last forever.

My photos today were completely inspired by the new release by LaRoo Shoes at FaMESHed.  I always think schoolgirl whenever I see socks worn with shoes that are typically worn without socks... like heels.  The Ellie Sock Pumps are extremely adorable and very well made.  They are available in ten solid colors and four floral patterns.  A HUD containing twelve colors is also included for the socks.  FaMESHed closes at the end of the month, but I'm sure these will also be offered at LaRoo's main store afterwards.

Credits
Clothing: Montgomery in Sea by coldLogic
Shoes: Ellie Sock Pumps in Peach Floral by LaRoo Shoes @ FaMESHed New
Hands: Mesh Hands Relaxed R and Elegant L by Slink
Nail Applier: French Nails by Izzie's
Hair: Daffodil in Brown 08 by [elikatira]
Skin: Lulu 07 BR by Glam Affair @ The Arcade
Skin Applier: Slink Hands Skin Applier America by Glam Affair
Makeup: Black Eyeliner in Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Ardent Eyes in Skyfall by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
Poses: [1] Shy 3 and [2] Pencil II 6 by aDORKable Poses
Location: Pretty Island

Weird Questions Meme

Last week's meme challenge by Strawberry Singh was so much fun and wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be; this week's is a little more mellow.  Before I get into answering Berry's "weird" questions for us, I have to say that I was really inspired last week.  With the closing of my two favorite pose stores (aDORKable Poses and Glitterati) within such a short time span, I have been quite saddened.  The discovery of photography was something that happen very early in my slife, and as any Second Life photographer knows, you need poses!  Berry's challenge last week prompted me to attempt to create my own.  I didn't expect to be very successful (I do well to "build" a box in world), but it was a lot funner than I imagined.  I had so much fun that I made a few more poses and got this crazy idea to open my own pose shop!  I'm sure mine aren't the best on the grid at the moment, but I'm having so much fun practicing and hope to have a small store up and running by July 1st!  In the meantime, SeraphimSL.com is celebrating its second birthday, and I have made a small pack of three poses plus mirror as a gift.  They are free at Seraphim's headquarters through July 19th.  You do have to be a member of the in-world -Seraphim- group with an active group tag to receive the gift.

Now, on to Berry's questions...

1. Which was the last sim you visited?  (Other than your home) The Slums

2. Does your avatar look like the real you?  I do have brown hair, blue eyes and very pale skin, but that's about where the similarities end.

3. Do you wear underwear/panties underneath your clothing when out and about on the grid?  Since I wear mesh clothing the majority of the time, I really don't see the need of wearing underwear since I'm wearing an alpha layer to cover those bits and pieces anyway.

4. If you won a million linden dollars, what would be the first thing you buy in world?  I would probably cash out and pay a few real life bills.  Lol  I do think I would eventually like to own a few sims and have rental units.

5. Have you ever bought something in SL and then realized afterwards that you had already owned it from before?  I've done this more often than I would like to admit.  It's usually happened with poses during sales.

6. Have you ever done anything in Second Life that would be considered illegal in real life?  When I was a newbie, I didn't realize you could double click clothing layers to remove one and add another.  I thought it was like real life and you had to get completely undressed first.  I would try to find trees or other objects to hide behind in public so I could change my clothes.  I was actually banned from a sim once (I was less than a week old) for public nudity.  LOL

7. If you could go on a date with any other avatar, who would it be?  My husband, Dryden Macbain.

8. Who, in your opinion, was the greatest avatar to ever slive?  I don't think I've known enough avatars to make a valid decision.

9. What is the most embarrassing thing you've ever done in world?  I went to a shop when I was a newbie to pick up a Christmas present.  You had to sit on Santa's lap to get the gift.  Let's just say that Santa would have been put on the naughty list.

10. If your avatar had a mind of its own, what do you think it would say to you?  Please clean my closet!!

Credits

• Clothing: [Top] Cary Double Tank in Stripes-Mint and [Shorts] Briony Shorts in White by erratic New
• Shoes: Ilena Sandals in White by Slink
• Feet: Women's Natural Barefeet by Slink
• Hands: Mesh Hands Relaxed R and Elegant L by Slink
• Nail Applier: French Nails by Izzie's
• Hair: Enjoy in Brown 08 by [elikatira]
• Skin: Lulu 07 BR by Glam Affair @ The Arcade
• Skin Applier: Slink Hands and Feet Skin Applier America by Glam Affair
• Makeup: Black Eyeliner in Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
• Eyes: Ardent Eyes in Skyfall by IKON
• Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
• Pose: Seraphim Turns Two 2 by Flash Friendly Poses @ Seraphim HQ Free
• Location: Seraphim HQ

Lashae or Someone Like Her

This past Monday Strawberry Singh posted her latest "Monday Meme Challenge" which was a bit more challenging than her normal.  Berry challenged her readers to recreate a movie poster inspired by the original.  I had to do a small Google search for movies beginning with the letter "L" and came across Life or Something Like It staring Angelina Jolie and Ed Burns.  I've never actually watching the movie, but I will definitely be adding it to my Netflix queue.

This blog post was honestly the most fun I've had blogging in a long time.  I didn't really want to search through thousands of poses to try and find one to match the pose in the original movie photo; that would have taken a lot of precious time that I don't have to give up at the moment.  So I instead did something that I have been wanting to do for a long time... I made my own pose!  I always thought that it would be extremely stressful and agitating, but I ended up having such a good time that I plan on doing it more often.  Who knows, perhaps some day I will gain the courage to open my own pose store.


Credits (Lashae)

• Hands: Mesh Hands Relaxed Right by Slink
• Nail Applier: French Nails by Izzie's
• Hair: Teddy in LightBlondes01 by TRUTH
• Skin: Lulu 07 BL by Glam Affair @ The Arcade
• Skin Applier: Slink Hands Skin Applier America by Glam Affair
• Makeup: Black Eyeliner in Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
• Eyes: Ardent Eyes in Skyfall by IKON
• Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
• Pose made by Lashae Karsin

Credits (Dryden)

• Clothing: Shaw in Void by FATEwear
• Hair: Aiden in Sable by Exile
• Skin: April Group Gift M in Tan by Filthy Skins (No longer available)
• Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Olive by IKON
• Pose: Pencil 1 by aDORKable Poses

Enjoy the Silence

A new round of FaMESHed started this past week which is where I found almost all of the items in the outfit I'm wearing.  I really like this "sales" event because there are a lot of good quality designers who participate.  It's not really a sales event, however, since all the items are priced as they normally would be.  That of course is completely fine since designers do deserve to be compensated for the amount of time and effort they put into their products.

The top I'm wearing is from Tee*fy, and you really do get a lot of value for your Lindens with this item.  There are twelve total color options available with nine out of the twelve including three different designs in the purchase: a striped version, a polka dot version and a solid version.  It will be difficult for me to not add a few more colors to my inventory... especially the pastels.  Five sizes of each shirt and a modifiable alpha layer are included in your purchase.  A free demo is available.

I picked the pants I'm wearing up from FANATIK, and I had a really difficult time deciding between black and pink.  The girl in me always wants to buy pink, but I went with my husband's suggestion and snagged the black.  They do, after all, go with more things.  The leather texture on these pants is very pretty.  Eight total colors are available and each contains five modifiable sizes with a modifiable alpha layer.  A free demo is available.

The skin I'm wearing is one of the three skin available by Glam Affair at the current round of Collabor88 which only has a few days left.  I was really disappointed when the designer decided to leave The Dressing Room; I probably own almost every skin that was included in the TDR collections.  When Aida popped up at Collabor88 I was, needless to say, ecstatic.  Glam Affair truly does produce some of the highest quality skins in all of Second Life.  If you have ever purchased a high quality skin, you know what an amazing deal 188L for a single skin is.  Three brow colors are included in your purchase, and a free demo is available.

I am deeply in love with the eyes I'm wearing from IKON, and the best thing about them is that they are completely free.  Each month IKON sets out a pair of never before released eyes for one week free to the stores VIP group members (free to join).  Theses Lucid eyes are the first pair in a new line coming from IKON.  The eyes are only available through February 7th; so, don't put off visiting too long!

The shoes by LaRoo at FaMESHed may just be my favorite design by the team yet.  The Lizzy T-Strap Pumps are very feminine and girly.  Ten colors are available; each color features a solid black sole and heel with the body of the shoe featuring the various colors.  A skin and nail color HUD are included with your purchase; instructions for the HUD and the RGB values for popular skins are available on LaRoo's website.  A free demo is available.

If any of you have every wondered where I find the locations I use in my photos, it isn't from me endlessly searching the entire grid before I find the perfect location.  I actually browse the Beautiful Landscapes of Second Life flick group for interesting looking SIMs.  Most people who post their pictures there include slurls to the location.  The blogger that led me to the beautiful Kalki SIM is the very talented Danni Ravinelli.  I always appreciate fellow bloggers who don't mind posting their secrets for others to find and use.


Credits
Clothing: [Top] Olga Sweatshirt in Stripe Grey by Tee*fy @ FaMESHed and [Pants] Leather Leggings in Black by FANATIK @ FaMESHed
Shoes: Lizzy T-Strap Pumps in Pink by LaRoo Shoes @ FaMESHed
Jewelry: Uva Earrings by miel Group Gift
Hair: Josie w/Roots in Mocha by TRUTH
Skin: Renee - Trending 02 D by Glam Affair @ Collabor88
Makeup: Black Eyeliner in Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Lucid Eyes in Optimism by IKON Group Gift
Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
Hands: Mesh Hands Gesture L and Mouse R by Slink
Poses: [1] Model 252, [2] Model 228 and [3] Model 285 by Glitterati
Location: Kalki

Helix

The idea for this outfit was completely inspired by the new shoes from LaRoo that are currently being offered at FaMESHed.  They reminded me of the combat boots my sister used to wear when we were teenagers.  Of course she never wore them with anything resembling what someone in the military would wear; she definitely dressed them up.

I found the undershit I'm wearing while shopping at House of Fox for the shorts that I am also wearing.  I love the illusion of modest sexiness that it gives with the high neckline and semi-see through texture.  Everything is technically covered, but you can see just enough to want to see more.

The jacket that I paired up with the outfit is a newish piece by DIRAM.  The dramatic shape really caught my attention as well as the nine flamboyant textures it is offered in.  The only thing that I don't really like about the this particular texture for the jacket is that the stripes do not line up down the sides under the armpit.  It's a pet peeve I've had for years even with real life clothing.  Perhaps that is why I no longer wear stripes in my real life.  A free demo is available, and your purchase includes five mesh sizes and an alpha layer.

As mentioned previously, the Liberty Boots are part of the current collection available at FaMESHed.  I continue to be increasingly impressed with each new release from LaRoo.  The detail that is obtainable with mesh designs make a three-dimensional world presented on a two-dimensional screen appear so much more real.  LaRoo also had a new release this past week with their first skin and foot shoe; I hope to get a post up with those in the coming week!  The Liberty Boots are offered in ten colors, include three mesh sizes and an alpha layer; a free demo is available.


Credits
Clothing: [Jacket] Blake Blazer in Rayure by DIRAM, [Undershirt] Vintage Sheer Top by House of Fox, [Shorts] Tailored Shorts in Black by House of Fox and [Tights] Sheer Tights in Black Less Sheer by Izzie's
Shoes: Liberty Boots in Black by LaRoo Shoes @ FaMESHed
Jewelry: Ebru Earrings by Bens Beauty
Hair: Escape in Brown 08 by [elikatira]
Skin: Jadis Natural A TRD #24 by Glam Affair (This makeup is no longer available)
Makeup: Black Eyeliner in Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Glass by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
Hands: Mesh Hands Elegant 1 by Slink
Poses: [1] Odyssey 5 and [2] SidePony 3 by aDORKable Poses
Location: DangerInEvolution LEA27

Sparkle

I had planned to publish these pictures as a special New Year's post, but as it often happens, real life simply got in the way!  Going back to work after a week and a half off was overly tiring.  I absolutely love my job, but it can really take a lot of me sometimes.

The dress I'm wearing is from a store that has been around for about a year, titled One Store by Ju Sands, but the store is completely new to me which is always a fun experience.  The dress does show a little more skin than what I am used to; let's just say that I was feeling a bit festive when I was getting dressed.  I really love the texture of the dress; the sequins are more elongated than typical which gives the dress a reptilian feel.  One Store currently exists solely on the SL Marketplace.  Six colors of the 2013 Dress are available and each includes four sizes and an alpha layer.  There is no demo specifically for the 2013 Dress, but there is a demo for the Rock Dress which is the same style.

I picked up the jewelry I paired with this dress at Donna Flora.  I have always loved how dramatic her pieces are.  They really add a little bit of flair to any outfit.  Both the necklace and the earrings are included in the purchase, and the flower is color change with eight preset colors.  The only thing that I have never liked about Donna Flora jewelry is that the permissions are no copy/transfer.  I would much rather prefer it to be the other way around since I do have a tendency to lose things.  Nonetheless, her designs are amazing!


Credits
Clothing: 2013 Dress in Green by One Store
Jewelry: Fabiola Set by Donna Flora
Hair: Escape in Brown 08 by [elikatira]
Skin: Jadis Natural A TDR #24 by Glam Affair (This makeup is no longer available)
Makeup: Black Eyeliner Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Glass by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
Hands: Mesh Hands Elegant 1 by Slink
Poses: [1] Model 21 and [2] Model 90 by Glitterati
Background texture by JoesSistah

Tweed

-siss boom- reopened recently with an adorable new mesh release titled Afternoon.  The one thing that I have always loved about the products from this designer are the textures; they are very soft and feminine... very much like something I would wear in my real life.  Nine colors and textures are available, and your purchase includes five mesh sizes and an alpha layer.  Demos are always free at -siss boom-.

I have been wanting to visit Amorous jewelry for a while and finally decided to do so with this post.  The designs offered at this store are very interesting, and the amount of product you get for you money is wonderful.  I'm wearing the Cathartik set; both the necklace and earrings are included in your purchase.  The gems are color change and include ten different choices.


Credits
Clothing: Afternoon in Tweed by -siss boom-
Shoes: Ruffled Flats in Brown by Cracked Mirror
Jewelry: Cathartik by Amorous
Hair: Fight in Brown 08 by [elikatira]
Skin: Mary Natural 29 by Glam Affair (No longer available - Previous TDR item)
Makeup: Black Eyeliner Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Glass by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
Hands: Mesh Hands Elegant by Slink
Poses: [1] Just Shut Up 8 and [2] Freestylin' 1 by !bang 30% Off Sale Main Store
Location: Whispering Wind

Pieces of My Closet V

Click here for larger photo.

I first started the Pieces of My Closet series over a year ago to encourage myself to clean out my inventory on a regular basis.  As you can see, I've only made it to the fifth post in the series, and my inventory has grown much larger and much more unorganized.  Since I've been able to post consistently each Sunday for the past month without feeling overwhelmed, I've decided to start posting a new Pieces of My Closet installment every Wednesday to encourage myself, once again, to get my unruly inventory of 80K under control.  Every item I am wearing in these posts will be solely from my existing inventory... No new purchases!  Unfortunately, that does mean that some items may no longer be available.  If I am able to locate the products in the store, I will indicate that bit of information in the credits which are located at the bottom of each post.

The dress I'm wearing is by the very talented Lestat Reuven.  I came across this designer's store very early in Second Life and have always loved her pieces.  There is a very modern yet elegant feel to her designs.  If you appreciate designers who are willing and able to change, you will definitely love visiting her store.  Since I have known her, she has changed her store name from The French Farm to Wondrous Strange to Siss Boom... and not to mention how often she loves to change her building!  Her designs have also changed from formal ballgowns (which I totally used to rock on a daily basis) to a more classy casual feel (which I obviously love).  Lestat just recently returned to designing in Second Life and hasn't completely finished setting Siss Boom back up.  She does create mesh items that have very wonderful, soft textures.  If you are interested in wanting a heads up on new items, drop into her store and join the in world group.

I seriously doubt that I need to introduce Glam Affair to anyone who knows anything about fashion in Second Life.  The specific skin I'm wearing is a former Dressing Room item; to my knowledge, TDR skins from Glam Affair are event exclusives and are not available for purchase after their two week feature period at the venue.  There are, however, other tones and makeups for the Roza skin available at Glam Affair.  I really love this skin because it has such a mature and elegant look.  If you would like to try Roza, a free demo is available for purchase.

I fondly remember purchasing the Dream Booties by fri.day when I was very, very young in Second Life.  These shoes were the first good quality shoes I had ever purchased in world, and fri.day was having their annual sale... So, I got a good product at a great price.  I was so excited that I ended up buying every single color.  If you they are as gorgeous as I did... and still do... the shoes can still be purchased at fri.day for 100L each or 1,400L for the fatpack.


Credits
Clothing: *Devil May Care by Siss Boom (Currently unavailable)
Jewelry: Butterfly Collector Necklace by Yummy (Avaialble)
Shoes: Dream Booties in Copper by fri.day (Available)
Hair: Girlfriend in a Coma in Kit-Kat by !lamb. (Avaialble)
Skin: Roza in Natural Summer 01 D by Glam Affair (Currently unavailable)
Pose: *Poofy 9 by aDORKable Poses (Available)
Location: The Looking Glass

* Denotes promotional copy.

The Magic of Windlights

Since I began blogging, I have been completely awestruck by the pure talent of so many photographers in Second Life. I have always thought that in order to get my photos to look as fantastic as those I see on the feeds, I would need to learn PhotoShop. I discovered today that isn’t the case at all.

While reading Ms. Strawberry Singh’s blog this morning, I stumbled across her tutorial for windlight settings. When I first started taking photos in Second Life, I had downloaded a few extra presets from the Second Life Wiki, but not knowing how to bump graphics at the time, the presets make me look absolutely horrible. I reverted back to using the amazing Redgrave setting and have never really thought much of it since. I always assumed that photos with amazing skies and the foggy colored look had been PhotoShopped to look that amazing. **Smacks self on the forehead** It really isn’t that difficult! No PhotoShopping at all is required. Thank God because a year after purchasing the software, I still don’t know how to use it! :-/ I’m sure that my mouth dropped open after I downloaded the presets on Berry’s blog and bumped my graphics to ultra. I completely didn’t expect to see what was on my screen. I am so excited to now be able to do this! The cherry on top will be when I am able to upgrade my graphics card and finally be able to use shadows! Thank you so much, Berry, for generously sharing your wealth of knowledge!

Click here for larger picture.

Since this is a fashion blog, I suppose I should mention what I’m wearing! This cute little outfit is not by any means new; it is simply one of my favorite casual outfits. Anytime I need to throw something on in a hurry, I grab this! Unfortunately, I didn’t see Orange Peel when I visited Siss Boom today, but keep an eye out… You never know when Lestat is going to pull something back out of her inventory! If you are looking for a beautiful casual outfit, definitely drop by this store. It is most definitely one of my favorite.

On a side note, if the store hasn’t already closed up shop, TeaSoup is having a closing sale. With how much I love poses, I’m not sure why I didn’t discover this store until it was closing! I guess that was better for my wallet though; all poses have been marked L$25 – L$75. Although I am a brand new customer, I’m kind’a sad to see this pose designer go. I really loved all of the poses I found there and purchased almost every pose pack available. The poses are interesting and the transitions are smooth. Perhaps someday there will be a comeback!


Credits
Clothing: Orange Peel by Siss Boom
Hair: End of Summer in Brown 3 by Head Mistress
Skin: Mary Natural (B) by Glam Affair
Pose: Funk by TeaSoup

Week 15 of 52 Weeks of Color - Red

It has been a surreal week to say the least. It was so difficult to say a final goodbye to an amazing young woman today who touched every single person who had the honor of knowing her.

Although I have a lot of red in my Second Life inventory, I just couldn’t seem to find the right outfit to fit my mood this evening for Week Red in Luna Jubilee’s 52 Weeks of Color. I wanted a true, bright red, but unfortunately I was finding mostly maroons among my outfits. I remember a few weeks ago reading on someone’s blog how they found their outfit for that week by searching on the Marketplace; so, I decided to give it a try. It really didn’t take me long to find the amazing dress from Elegant Fashion. As I’ve said before, dresses made from system skirts typically are not my thing, but when the textures line up correctly, they are absolutely stunning! The textures couldn’t be more perfectly aligned in this dress. I love the frills around the bottom of the dress; it adds a beautiful extra touch of femininity. Frill straps are also included for the upper portion of the dress, but even without them, the dress is stunning. This dress is on sale for a limited time for only L$99; this is a definite must have!

The beautiful skin I am wearing is the new special from Glam Affair at The Dressing Room. Let’s be honest, you really can never go wrong with a Glam Affair skin, and this L$70 addition to your inventory is no exception. The blood red lips and gorgeous eyes make Nina V-Day 02 a staple skin. The skin will be available for the next two weeks.

Have I mentioned how much I love all of the sale stores that are popping up? Just in case you missed it… I love sales!!! Fashion House is another great discount shop offering designs from some of the best creators on the grid. All items featured at Fashion House are L$50; you definitely can’t beat that! While I was there, one of the items I picked up was the Forget Me Knot hair from Shag; I first discovered this adorable hair creator during The Seasons Hunt, and I was so excited to see their contribution to the Fashion House. The style is very classy and elegant. Two colors are included in your purchase.


Credits:
Clothing: Madison Classic Cocktail Dress by Elegant Fashion @ L$99 Marketplace Special
Shoes: Saffron Pumps in Electric Red by LeLutka
Jewelry: Monia Set by Donna Flora
Hair: Forget Me Knot in Cashmere by Shag @ Fashion House
Skin: Nina V-Day 02 by Glam Affair @ The Dressing Room
Pose: *Pencil 9 by aDORKable Poses
Background by RubyBlossom

* Denotes item provided by designer for review.

Week 14 of 52 Weeks of Color - Black

I was so excited last weekend when I saw that the color for the coming week in 52 Weeks of Color would be black. Finally a color that I wouldn’t have to go to the far ends of Second Life to find! Finally a color I could easily pull straight out of my inventory!

Unfortunately, the dress I am wearing is no longer available as it is by the now closed Phoenix Rising. The dress was designed as a tribute to Coco Chanel. Many Chanel designs are created through the combination of many small, intricate pieces. That concept is most definitely displayed in this breathtaking gown. The many individual roses come together to make a stunning upper skirt which is an impressive 202 prims; an underskirt is beautifully decorated with the rose pieces as well. Phoenix Rising does have items available on the marketplace; however, this dress is not currently being offered.

If you have visited my blog more than once, you are more than likely aware that EarthStones is one of my favorite virtual jewelry designers. I picked up the piece I am wearing now many months ago when I was modeling; it just went so perfectly with the outfit I was wearing for the day, I just had to have it! Of course, I could say that about almost every piece at EarthStones and go broke within a matter of minutes! The necklace shown in the picture is titled Knotted Elegance III in Tahitian Black Pearl. It is so elegant and matches perfectly with both formal and casual designs.

The skin I am wearing is most definitely different from what you would typically see me in. Jadis DAMA in Natural was the offering at The Dressing Room last weekend by Glam Affair. Although I would normally not purchase a skin this dramatic, you just cannot pass up a skin that would otherwise be L$999 that is currently marked at L$70. You just can’t! Or, I can’t rather. I have a horrible habit of purchasing things just because they are on sale even if I do not see an immediate use for them. Thankfully, this one worked out for me!


Credits:
Clothing: Coco Chanel Tribute by Phoenix Rising (No Longer Available)
Shoes: Move Pumps in Onyx by [elikatira]
Hair: Details in Black 04 by [elikatira]
Skin: Jadis DAMA (Natural) by Glam Affair @ The Dressing Room
Pose: Hula Hoop 1 by !bang

Feelin' a Little Sassy

Sometimes I feel like being a little sassy. After all, that is what my nephew nicknamed me when he first began speaking. ;-) Hehe...  I have really been loving grayscale outfits lately…

I have a mixture of brands for you today. =)

Le Fashions has two new releases out this week. The Argyle Sweater is a shorter type sweater that looks fantastic with an undershirt (or as is if that is your thing). As its name suggests, the sweater features an argyle pattern on the front with solid colored sleeves. Six color combinations with gray are available for purchase including black and plum, cocoa, deep red, electric blue, gray (featured above) and hunter green for L$75 each. To accompany the Argyle Sweater, Le Fashions has also released an adorable pair of corduroy pants; honestly, who ever has enough corduroy pants in their inventory? I know I don’t. Colors available include cocoa, deep red, dove gray (featured above), electric blue, hunter green and plum at L$75 each.

Although no longer available at The Dressing Room, the undershirt and eye makeup (Tattoo Layer 05) I am wearing were the New Year’s Special by Glam Affair. The shirt is part of a dress type outfit titled Marta that looks beautiful even on its own. I’m not certain if these items are available at Glam Affair’s main store location; but if you love the texturing of the shirt as I do, it is definitely worth a shot to look around!

I always love discovering new jewelry stores!! Jewelry is as important in my second life as it is in my real life. Accessories most definitely add that extra special touch to the perfect outfit. The Ynez set is a new design by ByKay. The chunky design and straight lining give this set an independent yet very feminine feel. Although only the earrings are featured above, you also receive a necklace, a bracelet, a ring without nails and three rings with nails (nails color change via hud). All pieces include a size change script which I personally love. I am not the greatest at manual resizing and always appreciate when designers include those scripts in their designs so that I don’t have to! All pieces are copy, no modify and no transfer. ByKay does have a shop set up in world; however, you cannot purchase the pieces there. The set is available on the marketplace for L$1,150.

I only recently began purchasing hair from booN. Before I began blogging, the style was a little too dramatic for what I was looking for. Now, I am all about drama! Well, in hair at least. The QPT129 (What a name, huh?) style is actually a design I may have also worn prior to blogging had it been out then. This updo features a very bold, yet elegant, front design with a simple pull up look in the back. It is definitely not too over the top to be wearing around as your everyday style in world. Three color packs are available at L$280 and fatpacks are available at L$980.

Finally, my boots (Oh, how I love them!!!) are by Mon Tissu, the love child by the designers of Surf Co. and Tres Blah. The Provence Riding boots feature an amazing texture, as I would expect from these amazing creators! Colors available include balck, caramel, chestnut, dark brown, gray and vintage red at L$350 per pair or L$1,785 for the fatpack. If you are a Mon Tissu VIP group member (L$1,000 joining cost), you can receive 25% off of the fatpack price by wearing your nametag which makes each pair of shoes approximately L$223 per pair! If you purchase a ridiculous amount of shoes like I do, the $1,000 joining fee for the VIP group will quickly pay for itself in savings.


Credits:
Clothing: [Sweater] *Argyle Sweater in Gray by Le Fashions, [Undershirt] Marta by Glam Affair and [Pants] *Corduroy Pants in Dove Gray by Le Fashions
Jewelry: *Ynez by ByKay
Shoes: Providence Riding Boots in Black by Mon Tissu
Hair: QPT129 in Black by booN
Skin: Isabel 01 (Peach) by LAQ
Tattoo: Tattoo Layer 05 TDR Special by Glam Affair
Pose: Centerfold 1 by DeePosed

* Denotes item provided by designer for review.

These are Hot Pants!

After a long break, *LP* Design has returned to the to the fashion world in Second Life! Several new pairs of pants have been put out as the designer's first new releases. If you are looking for your perfect pair of flashy holiday pants, you will definitely be able to find them at *LP* Design. The Moonlight pants are slim fitting and very shiny! These pants are available in five fantastic colors including black, blue, green, pink and red. Single colors are available for L$170 while the entire fatpack is available for L$500.

Clothing: [Top] *Danni Top in Green by Total Knockout (No Longer Available) and [Pants] *Moonlight Pants in Black by *LP* Design
Shoes: Aura Ankle Boot in Nickle by Cherry

Hair: *Enix in Cocoa by TRUTH
Skin: Nina by -Glam Affair- @ L$10 With Love Hunt
Pose: Glitz 5 by !BANG
Background by RubyBlossom




* Denotes item provided by designer for review.