essences

Just Breathe

Posted on August 21, 2015 Updated on August 31, 2015

It’s amazing how sometimes the simplest realities can become caught in a blind spot in our mind’s eye, and it takes an outside perspective to bring them to light. This happened to me the other day; a new SL friend said: “You’re named after one of my favorite movies!” A bit of a puzzled smile came over my face, and I began asking them to clarify which film, when all at once it dawned on me that Ever After, which has been a guilty pleasure favorite of mine since I saw it in high school, did indeed share my name. The aligning truly never occurred to me! Just goes to show how intricate and fascinating our minds really are, and it also served to highlight the fact that I really need to indulge in watching that film again, if only to swoon over Dougray Scott as Prince Charming. (Sooooo dreamy!)

The conversation also sparked the memory of a bit of dialogue from the film, where Danielle steels her will and quietly tells herself to “just breathe” before a pivotal admission to the prince about her true identity. These words, so simple in their meaning, are sometimes the only ones we can turn to when life gets challenging or overwhelming. With work and stress contributing to my weariness over the last few days, breathing deeply and letting go of tension is often the best balm I can hope for, and I’ve felt the need for the same release in Second Life as well. At times there’s so much going on, so much to do, that it feels like a great relief to just go back to basics and simply exist in the virtual world, without needing to accomplish, experience, or participate. Just be. Just breathe.

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Look

Body / Maitreya | Mesh Body – Lara v3.4
Skin / Essences | Lou-Ann – Medium 01 (Brunette)
* Hair / Phoenix | Stella – Dark Browns HUD | Cosmopolitan Event, through August 30th
Eyes / Inkheart | Essential Eyes – Faithful
Lashes / Izzie’s | Mesh Alpha Lashes
* Lips / Nova Bodyshop | Ella Lipstick – 003 (LeLutka, TMP, Kissers, Loud Mouth, Nyam Nyam & Sweet Lips appliers + tattoo layers) | IDK Event, through September 10th

Style

* Piercing / PUNCH | Starlet Septum Ring (18 colors + 12 metals in HUD) | The Thrift Shop Event, through August 29th
* Bracelets / LUXE | Margi Cuff, Swirl Bangle & Wrapped Bangle – Black | Shiny Shabby Event, through September 15th
* Top / Eyelure | Overlace Top – Black / White (Maitreya, Slink & Omega appliers + system layers)
* Pants / Eyelure | Campus Yoga Pants – Black / Lace Band (Maitreya, Slink & Omega appliers + system layers)
* Shoes / KC Couture | Harlem Sneakers (for Maitreya, Belleza, Eve, TMP & Slink flat feet)

Poses & Destination

Pose / Verocity | Hula Poses (Female) – F4
Location / Free Spirit Farms

I’ve been looking for the right outfit to pair with my fantastic KC Couture Harlem sneaks for some time now, and the wonderfully casual and comfy Overlace Top & Campus Yoga Pants by Eyelure provided the perfect opportunity. Applier clothing is still something that I’m in the early stages of delving into, and I’m thrilled that Eyelure’s options included Maitreya-specific appliers (along with Slink and Omega). Sometimes I’ve found that Omega-applied clothing is a bit glitchy on the Maitreya body, requiring multiple applications (particularly after teleporting), and can sometimes pose issues when layering with tattoos. I’ve not yet noticed that issue with clothing designs that come with Maitreya appliers, so it’s always a gratefully welcomed option!

I also want to mention the wonderful Stella hairstyle by Phoenix, which may be found at the current round of Cosmopolitan through August 30th. Phoenix is one of the first brands whom I’ve found to fully embrace the idea of fitted mesh hair, and their offerings include the standard rigged mesh, a + size for larger breasts, and a fitted mesh version which I’m wearing here. I had forgotten to put on the alpha layer, but I didn’t need it at all and the hairstyle skims my shoulders and bust just perfectly. Another amazing option for mesh body lovers; SL designers truly never fail to dazzle me with their innovation!

Now if I may, I’ll leave you to enjoy your Friday while I continue my stretching and breathing here at the lovely and tranquil Free Spirit Farms. Wishing a calm and blissful weekend to one and all! ♥

This entry was posted in Second Life Fashion and tagged cosmopolitan, essences, eyelure, IDK, inkheart, izzie's, KC couture, LUXE, maitreya, nova bodyshop, phoenix, punch, second life, shiny shabby, SL, the thrift shop, verocity.

The Stars Are Projectors

Posted on August 1, 2015 Updated on August 1, 2015

Welcome to August! We just had our first major rainstorm of the season last night and it was oh, so nice! It made this post even more perfectly timed, as it’s a predominantly cool color palette with rich grays and stone influences, all things that make me think of a rain-soaked city and rolling, rumbling thunder. Featuring items from Cosmopolitan, Illusion Point, Shiny Shabby and Manga Fair!

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Style
* Headpiece / ERSCH | Samurai Head Piece
* Necklace / Secret Love | Goddess Necklace (4 metals in HUD) | Manga Fair, through August 9th
* Dress / Figment | Nemesis Dress – Silver/Black | Illusion Point Event, through August 18th
* Shoes / KC Couture | Onyx Platforms (Maitreya, Belleza, Eve, TMP & Slink High Feet)

Pose
* Kirin / Maki Poses – Pose 1

Decor
* Skybox / cinphul | Pluto II Skybox | Cosmopolitan Event, through August 2nd
* Bed / Little Llama | Bed Under the Stairs – White
* Candlesticks / Paper Moon / Ornate Candlesticks & Candles | Illusion Point Event, through August 18th
* Chair (Right) / 22769 – Bauwerk / Demon Chair – Stone/White Leather | Illusion Point Event, through August 18th
* Quilts / cinphul / Memaw’s Quilts – Dingy 3 (x2), Summer 4 | Shiny Shabby Event, through August 15th
Chair (Left) / floorplan | Lazy Chair for Seraphim | Past Event Gift
Star Machine / Ex Machina | Kopernikus Star Machine | Past Event Gift
Stringlights / Half-Deer / Flower Stringlights – Curved

I’ve spoken before about the uncanny trickery that designers have displayed, seemingly reading my mind and releasing something fabulous right when I was looking for it. It happened once more with this wonderful skybox by cinphul, available at the current round of Cosmopolitan. I had been using a rather bare-bones skybox I’d snagged as a freebie from the SL Marketplace, so I was thrilled to find that the Pluto II model has a really clever design that allows it to fit my tiny, rectangular 512 sqm plot perfectly. (I think it’s called a parallelogram, if my memory of grade school geometry is accurate? But I just think of it as a “slanty diamond”!) Two walls are frosted glass, whilst the others have cool-toned, rustic textures. Check it out at Cosmopolitan, but be sure to get over there by August 2nd!

For a perfect pop of color, cinphul also came through with the Memaw’s Quilts collection on offer at Shiny Shabby. There are seven unique colors/prints to choose from, and you get six varieties in each pack – from perfectly draped options to quilts specifically meant for wall-hanging. My other wonderful, event-exclusive decor items may be found at Illusion Point, and they include the striking modern-fantasy design of the Demon Chairs by 22769 – Bauwerk (available in 3 different material options – carbon, metal and stone – and the colors black and white), as well as the perfectly sleek Ornate Candlesticks & Candles by Paper Moon (6 metal colors and 7 candle colors).

My uniquely charming bed was originally showcased at the Wizarding Faire, but it should now be available for purchase at Little Llama‘s mainstore, and it’s absolutely lovely! I really wanted some pops of pure white in this room, and I think it worked out beautifully. And I was rapt to find a truly unusual item in my inventory: the Kopernikus Star Machine by Ex Machina, which I believe was an event gift from the last round of We Love Roleplay. I didn’t see it in creator Hattie Panacek’s Marketplace store, but perhaps if you sweet-talk her nicely, she’ll offer it up for sale. Really is a beautiful piece that projects a bevy of soft, rotating stars on the walls, ceiling and floor of my skybox whenever I fancy!

And you know I couldn’t go long without chattin’ about fashion! My dress was just perfect for this picture – another stroke of wonderful luck! – and it’s the Nemesis by Figment. A beautifully dipped neckline, flirty hem and a stone-like cinch at the waist and I feel like an exotic, modern goddess of thunder! I was also dazzled by the gorgeous Samurai Head Piece by ERSCH, which comes in two separate attachments so you can get a perfect alignment and fit. I wasn’t sure if perhaps it was more of a bold, editorial piece than something practical, but I wore it around as I visited several Fifty Linden Fridays stores, and I really loved watching it bob along with my walk and how striking it looked. I’ve heard that every girl needs a great piece of statement jewelry, and I suppose you could say an accessory like this one will really turn some heads! ;)

I’m off to snatch some rest before a whirlwind of Mesh Body Addicts Fair coverage begins! The event kicked off today, and will be another one that’s may be very difficult to access in the early days, but your patience will certainly pay off once you get there, believe me. Hope you saved up for this month’s events, because in the words of my lovely Aussie friends, there are some real crackers! ♥

This entry was posted in Second Life Fashion and tagged avi-glam, bauwerk, cinphul, cosmopolitan, ERSCH, essences, ex machina, figment, floorplan, glam affair, half-deer, illusion point, KC couture, kirin, little bones, little llama, maitreya, manga fair, mon cheri, paper moon, pink fuel, secret love, shiny shabby, what 2 wear.

The Arrow Points to Fifty Linden Fridays!

Posted on July 24, 2015 Updated on July 25, 2015

Hey sweetpeas! I’m typing like mad to get this published as soon as possible, as I’ve just learned that one of my wonderful designers has two fabulous Fifty Linden Fridays deals that you won’t want to miss! I’m also showing off one of my favorite free gifts from Hair Fair 2015, which ends this Sunday, as well as my latest foot fetish (you’ll see what I mean!) that’s available at a special launch price for a short time only. All the fancy details are below! ♥

Please click for full size.

Please click for full size.

Style
* Piercing / PUNCH | Antares Clip-On Septum – True Gold | Gacha Item at Oh My Gacha, through July 31st
* Jewelry / Secret Love | Geometric Necklace & Bangle (5 gem colors & 3 metals in HUD) | Group Gift
* Top / Paper Arrow | Cozy Tee – Pineapple | N21 Event, through August 10th
* Shorts / Paper Arrow | Beach Khakis – Dots with Bikini Add-On | Fifty Linden Fridays
* Feet / KC Couture | Diana Jewels (for Maitreya Mid & High, Belleza Mid & High, and Slink Mid & High)

Poses & Destination
* Pic 1 / Zomy Poses | Casual Poses – Casual #3 (Mirrored)
Location / The Vineyard at Checkmate

First up: get your buns over to Paper Arrow and snag these fabulous Beach Khaki shorts in the “Dots” print, which are available as a wonderful Fifty Linden Fridays deal, today only. And while you’re there, be sure to look for the gorgeous Chevron Necklace, which is available for L$50 today as well, in the gold tone. The necklace includes versions that are specially fitted for Maitreya and Belleza mesh bodies, and I can confirm that it fits absolutely beautifully. I’ll be showing it off in an upcoming post for sure, but I wanted to be sure to give the FLF heads-up!

Speaking of Paper Arrow, my sweet and summery Cozy Tee is their offering at the current round of N21, as well as my lovely, lustrous eyeshadow by Nova Bodyshop. And I’m wearing three different, absolutely marvelous free gifts in these pics: the gorgeous Kendra skin by Essences (free in-store, no group needed); the Geometric Jewelry Set by Secret Love, which includes a matching necklace, bangle and ring (free group join required); and the wonderful Jill hairstyle by Exile, found as a free gift in their booth at Hair Fair 2015, which closes on Sunday evening. Virtually every brand at the fair has gifts on offer, so if you haven’t gone yet, this is your very last chance!

Finally, I think I’ve been beset by some form of witchcraft or voodoo, because the other day I noticed a really lovely set of foot jewels on Flickr, and found myself lamenting that they were for Slink feet only. And then as if by magic, Klari of KC Couture released her gorgeous Diana Jewels just a day or two later. Witchcraft, I tell you! But whether it’s clever mind-reading or just wonderful happenstance, I’m in love with these jewels which are available for both mid and high versions of Maitreya, Belleza and Slink feet. And of course there are oodles of color options in the HUD to play with, so you can create any summery color combination that your heart (or toes) desire!

Juuuuust as I finished typing, another mad scramble of work dropped on my shoulders, so I’m off to the real world to finish up my Friday. Have a lovely weekend everyone, snag all the wonderful deals you can, and don’t forget that several major events are ending today through Sunday. Be sure to check my SL Fashion & Shopping Events Tracker for all the details! Mwah! 💋

This entry was posted in Second Life Fashion, Second Life Freebies and tagged alaska metro, essences, exile, fifty linden fridays, hair fair 2015, inkheart, KC couture, maitreya, mon cheri, n21, nova bodyshop, oh my gacha, paper arrow, pink fuel, punch, second life, secret love, SL, zomy poses.

Welcome to the Jungle: Second Life’s 12th Anniversary Premium Regions

Posted on June 15, 2015 Updated on June 24, 2015

Some of the loveliest people I’ve met in my 2nd Second Life journeys are from Australia, and I frequently marvel at how adept they and residents from around the world are at figuring out the time zone disparities when it comes to SL events. Second Life server time is the equivalent of Pacific Daylight Time in the United States, and many in-world events are timed to correspond with typical US work and leisure schedules so they can attract the biggest audience possible. Now you would think that someone such as myself, who happens to live in a place that syncs up with SLT, would be killin’ it with all my event attendance and time-sensitive deals, but that would be a logical and rational assumption, silly!

After reading all about the surreal experience of the LL gathering at Basilique, I really wanted to attend the next one, but y’know, life and stuff. /me sighs. I’ve also been sleeping really poorly lately, snatching cat naps here and there and working altogether too much for anyone’s good. So if someone would kindly clone themselves to my likeness and take care of all the day-to-day drudgery for me so I can enjoy my 2nd Second Life, I would be tremendously grateful! At this point, I’ll even take a trio of kitty cats standing atop each-other’s shoulders, draped in a trench coat and ginger wig. Hey, beggers can’t be choosers! ;)

Since I couldn’t make it to the LL Premium Member meet-up on Thursday, here are some excellent blog posts about the event and the special event area: Tymmerie Thorne, Inara Pey, Ziggy Starsmith, Markham Weatherwax. Interestingly, the SL Premium Coast regions are still open to the public (presumably they’ll be closed after the SL12B Celebration), so I sneaked over this weekend to take a look around.

My first stop was the crocodile wrasslin’ pit, because of course it would be. What else does one do at a deserted SL jungle-beach? I gave it a valiant effort, but after amassing approximately 17 pairs of prim crutches, I determined that victory was not to be mine. I’ll get you next time, Crocky McNibbles!

I’ve made a huge mistake.

The SL Premium Coast areas are split across two regions, which Inara notes was a very smart move on the Lab’s part to help ease lag during the meet-up. There’s are beach and bar areas, and various scenic spots for relaxing if you cam up into the jungle. Flying is disabled on both regions, but you may either use the Fly Override setting (found in the Advanced menu of the Firestorm viewer), or you can port around quickly by locating cushions and seating areas and choosing the “Sit Here” option from the right-click menu. As long as you’re clicking on a seat-enabled item within the same region, it should get you from place to place very quickly. That’s how I found myself on a lovely sunbeam-lit jungle pathway, climbing upward toward the curiously crumbling ruins.

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While I had an enjoyable time peeking and poking around the SL Premium Coasts, the builds felt rather primitive, both literally and figuratively. There was mesh to be found here and there, but many of the items and objects were old-school prims and sculpties, and the animals had very rudimentary animations. Still, I found this to be charming and authentic in a way; it reminded me of Learning Island and the sort of vintage SL style that I associate with the in-world building and modeling tools. These aren’t slick regions by any stretch, but they still offer some pretty vistas for photography and general sight-seeing.

Linden Lab also sent out an email recently offering an incentive on Premium Memberships: 50% off for new subscribers, limited to the first billing period of the quarterly membership plan. As I wrote in my recent post, Second Life Premium Membership and Value in the Virtual World, I genuinely feel that the annual billing option is the preferred way to go, as it really is an exceptional value when you factor in the price break for yearly memberships and the amount of in-world currency that’s rewarded over 52 weeks. Still, this incentive would be a great way for new residents to try out the SL Premium benefits and determine if springing for a longer membership is worthwhile. The promo runs through Monday, June 29th!