A Lesson in Patience

Today has definitely been a lesson in patience.  I typically take my pictures in Second Life on my desktop and edit them on my laptop; I do it this way since my desktop, which is a gaming computer, is a lot faster and can take better pictures while my laptop is the only computer I have that has PhotoShop.  I have known that my laptop was having issues for a while, but today it finally just gave out.  Well, not completely out, but I tried to turn it on for three hours very unsuccessfully.  After a bit of research, I think the CMOS battery has went out on my laptop; it is a pretty common problem with the version I have and is a really cheap fix.  The problem... you basically have to dismantle the entire computer just to replace the battery.  I cannot see myself doing that.

I was left trying to figure out how to use GIMP to edit my photos.  There are some aspects of it that I do like better than PhotoShop; for example, I think the healing tool has clearer results and is easier to use in GIMP.  The IWarp tool is not quite as smooth at the liquify feature in PhotoShop, however.  I'm sure that with practice I will be able to use this program as well as I am able to use PhotoShop (which isn't really saying much).  The extra time to look up tutorials really pushed my nerves.  You would have to have the patience of Job to not be irritated by having to take it all in at once.

Now... on to what I'm wearing!  The top I have on is a new item from Auxiliary available at The Dressing Room Fusion.  The design is extremely adorable, and the three colors it comes is are very pretty.  A free demo is available for you to try; it really annoys me when designers don't have demos out for mesh items.  Each piece fits differently... some not well at all depending on your shape; I really hate wasting money and really appreciate the designers who offer free demos (1L demos are a whole different rant lol).  The straps don't really fit my avatar well (they stand up a bit higher than my shoulders), but I knew that I wanted to wear a long hairstyle; so, that really wasn't much of an issue.  Overall, it's a very fabulous piece for only 70L!

The leggings I "matched" up with the top are actually a modifiable pair of textured white leggings a designer friend of mine passed me long ago.  They are a staple of my inventory when I cannot find pants that match well enough with a top.  Perhaps Auxiliary will release some colored pants in the future to match for the people who don't like tinting!

The newest release from LaRoo Shoes are absolutely amazing!  The Sparta Pumps are the first release by the design team to include a foot base.  I know that some people are a little intimidated when it comes to tinting.  I typically don't aim for a "perfect" match because if I did I would be here for days. Close is normally good enough for me since colors can change with windlights and shadows; I think I did pretty well with my first try.  Tinting the skin with the included HUD is a little different than with others; you first choose the skin closest to your skin color and then adjust the RGB values instead of simply inputting the value of your skin.  I really love the window that pops up for you to enter the codes instead of having thirty seconds to type them into local chat.  LaRoo does offer detailed information on how to operate the color change HUD and the RGB values of well know skin designers on their website.  The values for the skin I'm wearing were not listed, but I'm sure the list will grow with time!  The shoes are available in twelve colors, and a free demo is available for your convenience.

Speaking of skins, I'm sporting the newest skin release from Izzie's titled Ginerva.  The skin is available in eight tones and includes a modifiable shape, freckles option, moles option, four brow colors (with the exception of the mocha tone which only contains one), cleavage options, a nail base, twelve lipsticks, eleven eyeshadows, eyeliner, blush and a brow shape.  As with all Izzie's skins, a free demo is available.


Credits
Clothing: [Top] Mullet Top in Cocoa and Turquoise by Auxiliary at The Dressing Room Fusion and [Leggings] White Cotton Leggings by Siss Boom (Not available)
Shoes: Sparta Pumps in Tan by LaRoo Shoes
Jewelry: Uva Necklace by miel Group Gift
Hair: Rebel in Mocha w/Roots by TRUTH
Skin: Ginvera Skin Pale DB by Izzie's
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] Elegant 3 and [2] Elegant 1 by aDORKable Poses
Location: Innsmouth

She's Got the Look

My husband is away on a trip with his dad this weekend which left me with a little extra time to play around with some photography effects I had been wanting to try.  I have always loved photos that incorporated the depth of field feature.  Unfortunately, my experiment was full of frustration and left me confused as to what I was doing wrong.  My viewer camera would capture in-world DoF when I took small snapshots, but the effect was completely lost when I switched to high resolution snapshots.  I took my frustration to Plurk where the lovely Harlow Heslop shared that this was very common.  On one hand, the information was a relief since I really hadn't been doing anything wrong with the viewer, but on the other hand, it stressed me a little to think that I would have to use PhotoShop to really get the effect that I wanted.  I panic a little every time I think about learning something new with PhotoShop... I'm not exactly good at it.  I ended up finding a very easy tutorial on how to create a depth of fiend effect in PhotoShop, and trust me... If I think it is easy, anyone can do it!

coldLogic released several new designs this past week, including the adorable skirt I'm wearing.  I have been in love with this brand's designs since their opening this past January.  They have a very classy casual look, and to be such high quality items, you can purchase them for an extremely reasonable price.  The Gemma skirt is available in four colors and includes standard sizes; the same skirt design is also offered under two other names (Glass and Giles) in four colors each.  The Matta shirt was released in early September and is also available in four colors with standard sizes included. All demos are free at coldLogic.

This entire look was inspired by such a simple item... The new tights from Izzie's!  Two packs of fifteen colors each were released this past week with one pack containing colors and the other pack containing the basics.  The tights come on the underpants and socks layers; they are modifiable which really allows you to make them your own and fit any look you are going for.

aDORKable Poses is participating in this month's round of My Second Box.  If you aren't familiar with this 'event,' each month you join the in-world group at a cost of 300L per month.  A selection of designers will send out samples of products via the group starting on the 15th of each month.  You have until the 25th to snag the items from the group's notices section; on the 26th of each month, everyone is ejected from the group and new enrollment will begin on the first of the next month.  If you would like to check out the featured designers and products before joining, check out the My Second Box website and Flickr.


Credits:
Clothing: [Top] Matta in White by coldLogic, [Skirt] Gemma in Charcola by coldLogic, [Undershirt] Intrinsic Top in Red Delicious by JANE (free) and [Stockings] *Sheer Tights in Cherry by Izzie's
Jewelry: Jackie by LaGyo @ The Dressing Room
Shoes: Amina Mesh Platform Booties in Black by Baiastice
Hair: Spark in Brown 08 by [elikatira]
Skin: *Fuyu Skin Pale DB by Izzie's
Makeup: [Eyeshadow] *Fuyu Eyeshadow Silver and [Lips] *Lipstick Cherry by Izzie's
Poses: [1] *Attitude 2m by aDORKable Poses @ My Second Box and [2] *Honey 1 by aDORKable Poses
Location: Izzie's

* Denotes promotional copy.

A Brisk Fall Day

I have always loved watching the leaves change colors each fall... Even if it means the trees will soon be bare for a good five months.  I have never been fond of the extremely hot temperatures that summer brings or the extremely cold temperatures that winter brings; spring and fall hold the wonderful in-between temperatures that I long for most of the year.

I have always preferred fall and winter fashion over spring or summer.  I love coats and sweaters and layers upon layers of warmth!  I'm very excited to see what designers put out this season; the quality of mesh has improved so much over the past year, and I am sure those newly found skills will shine through in their new releases.  I think I have a bit of an obsession with coats in my real life and my second life, but before mesh, I didn't purchase a lot of outerwear in world because the prims and sculpts simply did not look realistic.  Posing for photos with those primitive designs was a nightmare; mesh has most definitely made photography a lot easier.

The coat I'm wearing for this photo is NYU's contribution to the October collection of FaMESHed.  I love the high collar and the large buttons and buckle.  The texture is also amazing and adds a lot of depth and character to the piece.  The coat is available in nine wool colors, three leather colors and includes five sizes and an alpha layer.  As beautiful as the coat is, I do have to say that I would have loved it a little more if the backside had been a bit curvier; a flat behind is something I have never been accused of having... and I like it!

I know that I am a little late on the Maitreya mesh boots train, but when I saw the jacket, these boots were the only thing that I thought of to put with it!  Shoes are something I have never allowed myself to indulge in since good quality comes at a rather high price in world... and in real life to be honest.  I think I may allow myself to splurge a little more often than I have in the past to build up a nice variety for my inventory.  I have so many clothes... I'm sure I could spend a little less there to get a little more elsewhere.  The boots are available in twenty-five colors; if you would like to grab more than one color, it is more affordable to purchase a pack of three (1250L) than it is to purchase colors separately (750L each).  Of course the downfall to that strategy is that you cannot choose the three colors in a three pair pack.  Maitreya has also set out a pair of these boots in a tan color for only 225L for VIP members; the group is surprisingly absolutely free to join.

The perfect mesh accessory for this outfit came with LaGyo's addition to the latest release at The Dressing Room.  Titiana is a color change piece with three main colors and three metal colors.  I absolutely love texture change jewelry since it allows you to have so much variety for your money.


Credits
Clothing: Trench Coat in Wool Scarlet by NYU @ FaMESHed
Shoes: Radical Boots in Suede Coal by Maitreya
Jewelry: Titiana by LaGyo @ The Dressing Room
Hair: Control in Brown 08 by [elikatira]
Skin: *May Blackbird 2 in Sunset Light by Curio (Currently not available)
Poses: [1] *Go-Go 4 and [2] *Golightly 5 by aDORKable Poses
Location: Water Reserve

* Denotes promotional copy.

Darla

I love mix and match clothing; if all you ever have is pre-made, already put together outfits, life can get a bit boring.  Eclectic Apparel recently released a Mix 'n Match line with pieces that could truly go with just about anything.  The Darla Blazer and Pants do have a dress feel to them, but you could easily pair the blazer with a stunning pair of jeans and get a more casual look.  The Bronte Top is the perfect undershirt; it's both delicate and feminine.  The top also is able to hold its own as a stand alone piece if you want to lose the blazer.  The Darla Blazer and Pants are available in fifteen colors each, and the Bronte Top is available in sixteen colors.  Five sizes and an alpha layer are included with each purchase, and a free demo is available for you to preview the items.

Eclectic Apparel's contribution for CHIC2 is a little more casual and a lot more sexy!  The Cheer outfit is a design that, like the name suggests, is designed after athletic outfits.  The outfit is available in nine versions of white and nine versions of black.  As with all other Eclectic Apparel mesh, five sizes and an alpha layer is included in the purchase, and a free demo is available for you to preview the outfit.


Credits
Photo 1
Clothing: [Coat] *Darla Blazer in Taupe, [Top] *Bronte Top in Vermilion and [Pants] *Darla Pants in Taupe by Eclectic Apparel
Jewelry: Essence Necklace in Gold/White by [ glow ] studio
Hair: Phoebe in Bournville by LeLutka
Pose: *Bag Lady II 8 by aDORKable Poses

Photo 2
Clothing: *Cheer Outfit in Black & Pink by Eclectic Apparel @ CHIC2
Hair: Late at Night in Maple by Exile (Former TDR Item)
Pose: Model 153 by Glitterati

Both
Skin: Pout Silver Spoon 2 (Sundust) by Curio

* Denotes promotional copy.

Week 1 of 52 Weeks of Color - Champagne

I tend to not make resolutions for the new year anymore because I never keep them. I do have a goal for this year, however... even though I'm about a week late getting this up here! My goal for this year is to participate in every week of the second round of Luna Juiblee's 52 Weeks of Color. Hopefully real life won't kick my butt as badly as it has this week for the rest of the year!

Two of the pieces I am wearing are from the current collection at The Dressing Room. The bodysuit and pumps by R.icielli aren't technically champagne (they are beige and creme), but the color was so close to Luna's champagne swatch that I couldn't pass these items up for my photo. You get both pieces plus seven more for a mere L$70! What a great deal!

The skirt I'm wearing is another piece of evidence to support the fact that I am totally addicted to mesh. I have found myself in the past couple of weeks passing up coats, dresses, skirts, etc that aren't mesh. I don't think I have totally given up on prim pieces; I just prefer to not have to deal with them when I don't have to! The Oxford Pencil Skirt by {mon tissu} is so pretty and classy; I think I eventually want to own the entire pack.


Credits
Clothing: [Bodysuit] Pietra by R.icielli @ The Dressing Room and The Oxford Pencil Skirt in Dark Brown by {mon tissu}
Shoes: Carmeelia Pumps by R.icielle @ The Dressing Room
Hair: Adora Hair in Brown Cocoa by Raspberry Aristocrat (50% Off)
Skin: *May [Sundust] Blackbird 2 by Curio
Pose: Stand 158 by !Bang

* Denotes promotional copy.

Truth is Beauty

Is there such a thing as photographer's block? If so, I most certainly have had it the past few days. I couldn't tell you how many snapshots I've taken and trashed. Uuuggghhhhh. What do you do for inspiration when you are having a block of some sort?

On a more positive note, Truth released two new beautiful styles last week titled Bree and Lacey. Bree is a loose, wavy side pony with gently slopped bangs. Bree is so casual and summery; it has a very comfortable feel to it. Lacey is what I would personally love my real life hair to look like! No one does great, realistic curl in Second Life like Truth! Lacey is a long, curly style full of volume and beauty. I so love the little color change headband that pushes the hair back from the face while leaving a small amount of bangs swooped to the side. Both these styles are available in store and on the Marketplace for L$250 per color pack or L$1,500 per fatpack.

On a side note, while Truth does not include resize scripts in his styles, they all have modify capabilities. This means that you can manually fit or add your own resize scripts. Always make sure that you make a copy of your hair before making any modifications, just in case of boo-boos. A great feature of having modify privileges is having the ability to 'edit linked parts' which allows you to easily push pieces of hair around (i.e., no more hair in your ears!).


Credits
Clothing: Bon Bon Dress in Beige by Magic Nook @ The Dressing Room
Hair: [1] *Bree and [2] *Lacey in Mocha by TRUTH
Skin: *Sundust [Dark] Airhead-Pure 1 by Curio
Lashes: 2011 lashes/curl by LeLutka
Poses: [1] *Wake Me Up 8 and [2] *Just Shut Up 5 by BANG
Location: Atomic Island

* Denotes item provided by designer for review.

Week 35 of 52 Weeks of Color - Electric Blue

I know that I am a lot of weeks behind on Luna’s 52 Weeks of Color Challenge, but I have really been missing it and decided to do a post for this week. Don’t worry, I do plan on making up the weeks that I was absent, but I just loved the color choice for this week!

When I saw the skirt from Emery at The Dressing Room Blue last weekend, I knew that it would be perfect for electric blue! The textures are absolutely beautiful; I have always thought that blue and orange go wonderfully together, but I may be a bit biased toward that color combination since they were my high school’s colors. The cream speckles add an extra touch of softness to the already soft blue. The only thing that was not my favorite about the skirt is that like most other non poofy sculpted skirts, it really is not AO friendly. Emery has compensated for that, however, by adding an absolute amazing pair of glitch pants for underneath. They honestly blend beautifully with the skirt, and it is hard to tell where one begins and the other ends. I have paired the skirt with a simple system tank from fri.day. I bought the orange version of the VNeck Capsleeve Tee, but it wasn’t quite the right shade of orange. Lucky for me, the shirts are tintable, and it was a very easy fix.

There is so much goodness coming out of the new Truth District sim this weekend, and I will have full reviews on both the new Truth hair styles and new Curio skins very soon (tomorrow perhaps?). In the meantime, I will leave you with these two pictures to keep your mouth watering at all the pretties. The hair style I am wearing is titled Pandora, and it is one of my favorite Truth updos to date. The wavy, loosely hung hair is so very feminine; the sculpts are so amazingly realistic; it looks as though you could just reach out and touch them. As with most other Truth hair, there are some flexi pieces attached to give it realistic movement. If you cannot get into the new sim, this hair is available both in his main store location and via the marketplace.

The hair clip I am wearing is not included with the Pandora hair; it was, however, designed by EarthStones to go with this hair but can be worn with any other hair you may want to wear it with! The clip comes in three designs and is color change; each clip is available for L$299 or L$599 for the fatpack which is like getting one free. Whether you purchase the hair or not, I believe this tiny accessory is a definite must have; with all the flexibility you have with colors, it can go with almost anything casual or dressy! The clip can be purchased at Truth or at EarthStones.

The skin… Oh, the skin! Every time Curio has a new release I get all giddy. Ever since trying my very first Curio skin earlier this year, I just have not been able to get enough of them. Total, Gala released three new skins today; this particular skin is from the Summer line and is titled Lake 1. Ms. Gala truly must have known that I would be putting this outfit together this weekend because the makeup matches so perfectly. Like other Curio skins, this design is amazingly realistic. The amount of time the creator has put into this skin is overly evident; no part is left unfinished or looks like it was completed in a hurry. There is also a gift from Gala in the new Truth District Updates group which is free to join! Grab it while it is still there.


Credits
Clothing: [Shirt] VNeck Capsleeve Tee in Orange (Tinted) by fri.day and [Skirt] Highwaisted Miy by Emery at The Dressing Room Blue
Jewelry: Athena Crystals by (luc)
Accessories: Butterflies Gem Clip by EarthStones
Hair: *Pandora in Mocha by TRUTH
Skin: *Summer [Dark] Lake 1 (Sundust) by Curio
Poses: [1] model.pose 15 and [2] model.pose 18 by fri.day

* Denotes item provided by designer for review.

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

Week 13 of 52 Weeks of Color - Emerald

When I think of emerald, I think of a deep, rich green and not so much the mild green proposed on Luna Jubilee’s 52 Weeks of Color. But, like so many other colors in this challenge, I suppose emerald has its various shades as well.

Although I have never blogged The Secret Store before, I have most definitely admired the designs of Maylee Oh since I first noticed her on the fashion feeds a month or so ago. Her sculpts are beautiful and the textures are breathtaking. The skirt I am wearing, titled Chiffon in Silk Kerchief, is a special currently available at The Dressing Room Blue where The Secret Store is appearing as the guest. Personally, I believe Maylee should be a permanent fixture at TDR! Who doesn’t love getting fabulous clothing at a discount?!

My shirt is actually part of a dress by Siss Boom who is now placing out designs each week to correspond to the theme for 52 Weeks of Color. Writing on the Wall was Lestat Reuven’s contribution to taupe, and honestly, I feel that this taupe is more ‘taupish’ than the color swatch on Luna’s blog. Once again, so many shades are available! I’m too OCD for this… Why can’t there just be one shade of each color?! ROFL But, then I suppose all we would be left with are primary and secondary colors; that seems a bit boring.

The pose I am rocking is by Luna Jubilee herself! Through January 31st, all six pose packs have been marked down to L$100. Luna is running out of wall space and having a major sale before she sends all her smaller packs to the Marketplace. All future packs sold in store will contain ten poses each. I used Wake Me Up 7 (Extra Curvy) in the photo above which is included in one of Luna’s new pose packs. Luna’s poses are so versatile and can be used with so many different outfit types. If you have never visited !bang, you should definitely stop by! … And especially since there is a sale!! Hehe ;-)


Credits:
Clothing: [Shirt] *Writing on the Wall by Siss Boom and [Skirt] Chiffon in Silk Kerchief by The Secret Store @ The Dressing Room Blue
Jewelry: Adele Bangles by Indy & Co
Shoes: Move Pumps in Clover by [elikatira] – VIP Exclusive Color
Hair: Suzy in Brown Mix by Exile @ Previous TDR Special
Skin: *Nala Breeze (Pale) by Filthy Skins
Pose: *Wake Me Up 7 by !bang
Scene by Modd.G
Window View by Angelia61 Stock

* Denotes item provided by designer for review.

Week 11 of 52 Weeks of Color - Indigo

Indigo is the perfect color for how I have been feeling lately. Well, sort of anyway. Indigo is a purplish blue that, of course, exists in several shades. I have definitely been feeling a little blue. Maybe not so much purple, though. Lol ;-)

The outfit I am wearing is actually not that new, and it has been blogged many times before in this color challenge I’m sure. But, I couldn’t help myself. Since I first saw the Love Me Skirt by BOOM, I was in love! It is so sweet and elegant. I like elegance and modesty in both my real life and my second life. After all, my second life truly is a reflection of my real life. There isn’t much difference. The Love Me skirt features a main skirt and two smaller prim pieces attached to each leg to give an underskirt type look. It’s so adorable, and at L$75, you really cannot go wrong.

The top I am wearing is also from BOOM. I love the texture on the 4 Warmth Thermal; the shading and highlighting are beautiful and give a nice depth to your ava. This shirt is very versatile; I couldn’t tell you how many outfits I have paired it with. Even better, it comes in a lot of fantastic colors!

My fab-u-lous boots are from Azoury. If you have never heard of them, please check out my post from yesterday. I’m still in utter shock that these boots, and all shoes at Azoury, are only L$99. They are most definitely worth a lot more, but I’m not complaining about the Lindens saved!! More boots for me!

My earrings are the newest addition to The Dressing Room from Glow Studio. A new collection was placed out today; I didn’t have a lot of time to look through everything, but I saw these adorable earrings for only L$45 and knew I had to have them for this outfit. I will most likely be going back later and blogging more items from the collection.

My skin is a mixture of Isabel 01 by LAQ and Windchill Ocean Makeup by Siss Boom. The Isabel skin is honestly a very nice base for all those tattoos that have been popping up everywhere. I’m sure that most, if not all, of you have checked out LAQ skins, but how many of you have been to Siss Boom? Owner and designer Lestat Reuven is an extremely talented artist with an extremely kind heart. She is also very versatile, designing everything from clothing and skin to furniture and landscaping items. You really must check out her store! You won’t leave empty handed.


Credits:
Clothing: [Shirt] *4 Warmth in Sand and [Skirt] *Love Me Skirt in Indigo by BOOM
Jewelry: Folk Forest by [ glow ] studio @ The Dressing Room
Shoes: Les Bottines Lilium by Azoury
Hair: Soma in Snickers by !lamb.
Skin: Isabel 01 (Peach) by LAQ
Tattoo: *Windchill Ocean Makeup by Siss Boom
Pose: *Pencil 8 Mirror by aDORKable Poses
Background by Smoko Stock

* Denotes item provided by designer for review.

Fussy Finery

After a long Monday at work, it was nice to come home and see a new design that is so sweet and still very chic. Fussy Finery is the newest creation from Lestat Reuven, owner and designer of Siss Boom. This adorable dress features a sculpted skirt, sculpted sleeve cuffs and a sculpted scarf. I love the texture found on this dress! It’s such a soft pink; it speaks comfort to me. For a limited time, Fussy Finery will be available for L$100.

It seems as though I am constantly discovering new (to me) skin designers via The Dressing Room, and I absolutely love it! Natural Beauty, formerly Tik Tok, is the guest this week at The Dressing Room Blue and has including the Olga skin (tan) as a special for only L$60. This skin is absolutely stunning! I love the coloring on the eyes; the designer has added just enough darkening to make it pretty without completely over doing it. The color of the lips is perfect for me! It reminds me of my lips in real life; the color looks very natural with just a hint of gloss added.

Amacci is having a Winter Hair Sale through January 16th. All color packs (6 – 7 colors) have been reduced to L$85 per pack and all fatpacks have been reduced to L$295. Amacci has many styles including short, medium, long, braids, ponies, updos and even male styles. I am wearing Jessica in Mocha, an adorable updo featuring folds in the back and cute, swooshing bangs in the front. You don’t want to miss this sale!

Credits:
Clothing: *Fussy Finery by Siss Boom @ L$100
Shoes: Move Pumps in Petal (VIP Exclusive Color) by [elikatira]
Hair: Jessica in Mocha by Amacci @ Winter Hair Sale
Skin: Olga (Tan) - Evening by Natural Beauty @ The Dressing Room Blue
Pose: [1] *Poofy 4 and [2] *Poofy 5 Mirror by aDORKable Poses
Photographed at Siss Boom

* Denotes item provided by designer for review.

Inspiration

The work week is nearly here again, but since I still have a few hours before I must return to my real life, I thought I could have at least a little more fun! I have never been to Asia nor have I ever done an Asian themed post, but the skin from MonS in The Dressing Room Blue inspired me to do something a bit different.

Since its opening, The Dressing Room has introduced me and many, many others to some of the best designers Second Life has to offer. The stunning dress I am wearing is from Baiastice. Well, if I wanted to be technical, the dress is actually a collaboration of the Alisha Top in black and the Balloon Silk Skirt in black, but they pieces go so well together that it could be mistaken for a dress. The top features a beautiful texture with outstanding highlighting and shading; I love the glittery, beaded texture included on the top of the shirt. The skirt features translucent prims ‘ballooning’ out from the base. This ensemble is available at The Dressing Room Blue for L$70.

I’m not entirely sure that the Enna Skin from MonS is indeed an Asian skin; actually, I’m almost positive that it isn’t since the eyebrows have a reddish tint. However, the slanting of the eyes and the swooshed out eyeliner made me think Asian. I love the lips on this skin! They are so vibrant and full of color. The lack of eye shadow on the eyelids makes this skin a perfect base for all of those shadow tattoos I am sure you are collecting by now. This skin is available at The Dressing Room Blue for L$70.

I absolutely love discovering new (to me) jewelry stores; what makes the experience even better is when the designer obviously has a lot of talent! The Stoned Set collection from Aglaia is a three stone necklace set on golden rings with smaller, purple gems on both the stones and the necklace portion. The set also includes large, gold earrings with the same purple stones, a wire type bracelet with a stone and gems attached and rings (not pictured) which feature each of the three stones on different fingers. For one week only, the entire set is available for L$150.

The Brownie hair from LoQ confused me a bit when I first put it on. This piece is another item that I picked up while vising The Dressing Room Blue. The poof, adorable pony and stray hairs sticking out rezzed on my head when I attached the hair but nothing rezzed on the sides. I waited a few minutes, suspecting lag to be the culprit, but still nothing rezzed. I then had a ‘DUH!!’ moment and looked back into the file. The hair included a tattoo hair base which makes up the sides of the hair instead of prims. I am not normally a fan of hair base tattoos, but this one blends so nicely; I am definitely impressed with it. This hair is available in a pack of four colors at The Dressing Room Blue for L$70.

Finally, but most certainly not least, are my amazing boots! Although Dilly Dolls specializes in doll clothing, the shoes offered by designer and owner Oriana Kuhr are extremely versatile and will go with many different styles of clothing. The Sonata Boots feature beautifully sculpted prims layered over each other. The metallic texture is beautiful and offers just enough highlighting and shading. These boots are Viewer 2 compatible only. The Sonata Boots are available in twenty-one colors of darks, lights and metallics for L$75 per pair or L$500 for the dark fatpack, L$500 for the light fatpack and L$300 for the metallic fatpack.


Credits:
Clothing: [Shirt] Alisha Top in Black and [Skirt] Balloon Silk Skirt in Black by Baiastice @ The Dressing Room Blue
Jewelry: *Stoned Set by Aglaia @ 25% Off
Shoes: *Sonata Boots in Metallic Gold by Dilly Dolls
Hair: Brownie in Black by LoQ Hairs @ The Dressing Room Blue
Skin: Enna by MonS @ The Dressing Room Blue
Pose: [1 and 4] If the Apocalypse Comes, Beep Me by Don’t Freak Out!, [2] The Wall 2 by DeePosed and [3] Jewlery 2 by Glitterati
Scene by Garden of Dreams

* Denotes item provided by designer for review.

Frou Frou You You

It has been a blah kind of day; there’s been too much snow outside for too long. Thankfully, I can teleport to warm locations in Second Life. It’s just too bad that I can’t actually feel the warmth from the pixel sun on my skin! With absolutely no where to go, I decided to go shopping (like I needed an excuse!).

Clothing: [Shirt] Zipper Tank in Dusk and [Skirt] Frou Frou You You Skirt (TDRB Exclusive) by Royal Blue @ The Dressing Room Blue
Shoes: Dandy Boots Solid by Miel
Hair: Ramona in Mocha by TRUTH
Skin: Pearl 6 (Peach) by LAQ
Pose: Long Hair 10 by Glitterati

The Dressing Room Blue updated its collection yesterday, and, as usual, there are a lot of nice items being offered all at L$70 or under. My favorite item from the new collection is from the featured guest, Royal Blue. The Frou Frou You You skirt may have an extremely odd name, but it is absolutely beautiful! The sculpted skirt features three different layers in multiple shades of blue. This color trio is exclusive to The Dressing Room Blue and is available for L$69. The shirt I am wearing to match is also by Royal Blue and can be purchased at their flagship store location.

The Dressing Room Blue

The Dressing Room Blue has been restocked with a new collection of clothing, jewelry and hair from fabulous Second Life designers at discount prices. I chose two adorable summer dresses, Sweet Alba in Olive by Baiastice and Calypso in Black by Mimikri, along with a great pair of earrings by [ glow ] Studio.

Clothing: Sweet Alba in Olive by Baiastice @ L$70
Hair: Quinn in Timid Brown by fri.day
Skin: Ania 8 (Peach) by LAQ
Pose: model.pose 1 by fri.day

Clothing: Calypso in Black by Mimikri @ L$70
Jewelry: Round Me by [ glow ] Studio @ L$45
Hair: Model Hair 20 by W&Y
Skin: Ania 8 (Peach) by LAQ
Pose: model.pose 3 by fri.day

Only one more...

Ok.... So, I told myself that I absolutely was not going to be on Second Life or post any new blogs while I was on vacation with my ever so amazing boyfriend (♥). But, I wasn't able to get these pictures out before we left, and as long as they are sitting here on my laptop completely unpublished it is going to annoy me. So, one last post, and you won't see me again until Friday!

A very good friend of mine, I won't mention names just incase, introduced me to Donna Flora last week, and I absolutely fell in love with her designs. Most of her styles are very vintage, which I absoultely LOVE. If I could have chosen an era to grow up in, it most likely would have been somewhere between the 20s and 40s. Yes, I realize that was a time of great hardship in the United States, but sometimes that can humble people and make them stronger. It would have been nice to have been able to teach a classroom (I'm a teacher in RL ;) ) and not have students who were rude and didn't care about anyone but themselves. Anyway... Donna Flora's designs are full of texture and color, and I highly recommend visiting her store! The outfit I am wearing, titled Brooke, was released late last week and comes in both gold and sky. You get both a flexi babydoll skirt with the outfit along with a 'normal' skirt and flexi top with beads!

Clothing: Brooke in Gold by Donna Flora
Hair: Allison in Timid Brown by fri.day
Skin: Ania (Peach) 2 by LAQ
Pose: Like A Rolling Stone by Don't Freak Out

The Dressing Room has a new collection! It's always amazing when great designers come together on Second Life to bring you AMAZING prices for their clothing. Among the designers you can find there are Tuli, R.icielli, Glam Affair, Exile, So Many Styles, and Kunglers (Blue Room). Here are a few outfits, with their prices, that I threw together from the collection!

Clothing: (Top) Carol by Glam Affair 50L$, (Bottom) Anita by R.icielli 60L$
Hair: Leslie in Caramel by Exile 50L$
Skin: Gina 2 by Tuli 65L$
Pose: Shirtless - Knees by Posies
Background by JoesSistah

Clothing: (Top) Sporty Grey Jacket by So Many Styles 50L$, (Bottom) Leggings by Kunglers 50L$
Shoes: Open Stilettos Pink by YS&YS 60L$
Hair: Leslie in Caramel by Exile 50L$
Skin: Gina 2 by Tuli 65L$
Poses: (Top) Wanna be Jump, (Middle) Want You, (Bottom) AE-F5 by Posies
Background by JoesSistah