I'm awake too early this morning, it's officially my "day off"but due to recent circumstances it feels just like an ordinary day.... I didn't sleep much last night, there is a meeting being held at the office today which I am forcing myself to go to, but heck I feel terrible - sick to the pit of my stomach and butterflies dancing the conga!!!
So I get up, after sleeping badly and find myself following the usual routine... Drinking Coffee, turning on the PC and giving myself a quiet "half hour" - that's what I tell myself but it's always more LOL - to take a picture and relax, if I can...
Writing this took me a little longer than planned, I was side tracked and had to leave, but then now I am back I can settle down again with a cup of coffee and unwind.
I grabbed my coffee and a laptop - which by the way is a new pose from Come Soon that is available at The Chapter Four in a gacha machine! - and found myself sitting in the garden - in SL because in RL it's freakin' snowing - and talking to the ducks. The Ducklings were taking their "First Swim", some were at least, the rest were too busy walking all over my new sleeping Pug Puppy!
IT's so cute to watch them swimming or Puppy walking... Almost makes me forget that it's cold and bleh here in RL lol...
What is she wearing;
Hair: Truth - Verinne in Reds
Skin: Glam Affair - Seya in Europa 2
Outfit: Blueberry - Cutieberry Cardigan and Dress in Grey (Fatpack Colour)
Pose & Prop: Come Soon - Laptop Gacha in Pose 4 (Available until February 28th at The Chapter Four)
Ducks: 8f8 - New Beginnings in First Swim
Dog: JIAN - Love Pugs in 6 Duckling Cuddles (Available until February 28th at The Gacha Garden)
It got very cold again in Holland yesterday - as it did in many parts of Europe - but this morning we wake up to a layer of thin, but still most definitely there, SNOW!
I don't mind snow on RL on days like today, when I don't need to leave the house but I get so scared of slipping over when it's icy that it becomes a bit of a problem if I ever have to leave the house in it... LOL thank goodness I don't like somewhere that's prone to snow and lots of it, right?!
In SL it's completely different... You cannot fall over unless you really want to LOL... Plus walking around wearing hardly anything isn't going to give you frostbitten bits!!
Sometimes the snow scenes in SL even seem to have a magical effect, and I find myself dragged into the fairytale corners of my imagination!
As with any good fairy story, It all starts with a Smile, and the donning of a magical crown of Thorns and Grace - flower hair accessories from LODE - on the head of a lost and lonely damsel...
More thorns wrapped around her neck, silvering as they grew to form a perfect Nature Collar - from Tabou - while the snowflakes kissed her cheeks and eyelashes.
I don't know the fairytale, I don't know where it ends but on this day, when the fresh snow covered the ground, as our maiden walked through the dappled light she felt a change in herself. A Bonding to the Goddess of Nature, a freezing of time and space... Not a sound was made as she drifted through the forest... Worshipping the beauty of the snow...
What is she wearing;
Thorns: *LODE* - Head Accessory in Thorns and Grace Big Crown in Green (Available until February 15th at Shiny Shabby)
Flowers: *LODE* - Head Accessory in Thorns and Grace Crown in White (Available until February 15th at Shiny Shabby)
Hair: Doe - Saki in Essentials RARE
Skin: Glam Affair - Seya in Europa 2
Snow: Izzie's - Face Snow
Choker: TABOU - The Nature Collar
Pose: Signature Pose - Worship, Pose Set 23
Today I want to do a review of sorts, something that I've been thinking about a lot as of late... BENTO! Everyone, everywhere seems to be hopping on the bento band wagon. As well as the expected Heads and Hands, everything now seems to be available in BENTO, just recently I've seen wings, jewellery and even poses, yet I wondered how does that affect me and my use of these things, since at the moment I am not Bento anything - except my SL Viewer I mean. I'm not able to afford a Head or Hands, and am waiting until just the right thing comes my way - remember how long it took me to finally get a mesh head and body?! - but how does the use of Bento in other things affect my personal use of these things?!!
One of the stores I blog for is Image Essentials, and they have wholeheartedly jumped onto the Bento Train, so I was concerned I'd find myself in trouble for not blogging, but there are things that everyone should know...
I will admit that I was a little concerned, I couldn't carry on blogging for the store if I'd be unable to blog the Bento releases and therefore not meet the monthly quota, but once again the amazing owner of Image Essentials - Kay Weston - and her new but equally friendly and approachable Blogger Manager - Danni Ironfist - really helped to calm my worries. I over worry, I know but it's a bad habit of mine!
I wanted to see how much the Bento would affect things... Basically for those of you that don't know, Bento is a new project release from Linden Labs, which has created more "bones" in the avatar structural make-up, meaning that movement is possible in ways that were never possible before. So when it comes to poses, the designers are able to use the Bento body parts to move an avatar in ways that before would have been very difficult to achieve.
For example, Image Essentials have released - in conjunction with 1313 I should add - a range of poses called "Shush Now" for this year's Fetish Fair. As soon as I saw the poses I LOVED them... The kinky stuff always makes me a little happy, don't ask me to explain why lol, but there are two variations to this series, and it seems that where one didn't really work, the other was pretty close and usable! Let me share with you the Image Essentials Ad created for this pose...
As you can see, yes there is a difference in the way the hands look, the model is Bento Handed whereas I am not, and OK I have not created a fist with my Slink Casual Hands however there are Slink hands that could do that, yet I still feel that the position of my hands can be counted as a viable position and therefore a good use of the prop and pose... I happen to like the picture that I have created, I will admit - and this is nothing against Kay or the pose - that I think I prefer my upper hand being a little more relaxed looking than is shown in the ad! It's a personal preference, I was so happy that I could use the pose and make it look good!
The other set of poses in this series, with the Ball Gag, I could not...
But you see the hands play a much bigger key role in making the pose speak!
I was happy to see that even without Bento things, the poses that Image Essentials are making can still be used. Yes it takes a little more tweakage sometimes, but my advice to anyone is don't be afraid to try it... You never know how long it will be until Bento is the norm, it's time for a Bento Adventure. I think for now - if they will have me - I'm going to be sticking around with Image Essentials and letting them drag me on that adventure, I just hope they bring the riding crop!!!
What is she wearing;
Hair: Truth - Ari in Reds
Skin: Glam Affair - Seya in Europa 2
Collar: GABRIEL - Slave Chain Necklace in Black - Silver
Dress: Kaithleen's - Lace Mini Dress in Black (Available until February 12th at Cosmopolitan)
Pose: Image Essentials & 1313 - Shush Now V6 Bento Pose (Available until February 17th at Fetish Fair)
OK I mentioned it a few times in passing but as it's Monday morning and I am supposed to be at work, I think now is the time to talk a bit... I'm not going to go into all the boring and gory details but there is a possibility that in the next few weeks I could be losing my job and although I've always complained about it, when you think it may not be there anymore it's a real shock to the system!
With that having been said I know that I have a bit of a fight on my hands, to prove that I am able to adapt, to strive and to keep my chin up.
Hell made a suggestion that would help...
He suggested a bit of a work out - so unlike him I know - but I don't really think he anticipated the Right Hook that came his way, and although I may say different later, accidentally hit him on the chin! I will say, he was right, it was fun to beat him up LOL...
The pose I forced him into is actually one of the new Come Soon "Corner" Prop and Pose sets which has been released within the February Swag Bag. If you have no idea what the Swag Bag is, then in short it's like buying a mystery box that is, in this case, designed for Men. For more information you can check the Swag Bag Blog, or find the information point located at Come Soon's Mainstore!
One punch and that sucker was out like a light, so I looked to my top's slogan - "Life isn't about finding yourself, it's about finding Pizza", and I guess that sums up my mood right now... Fighting, Waiting and Finding Pizza!
What are they wearing;
Rudh:
Hair: BESOM - ScreamQueen Hair in Red Heads
Skin: Glam Affair - Seya in Europa 2
Top: epoch - Aunna Tank in Pizza
Gloves: Kharg Design - Boxing Gloves
Pants: Blueberry - Minerva Joggers in Black
HellBone:
Hair: Damselfly - Zale
Skin: 7 Deadly s{K}ins - Judas
Necklace: TonkTastic - Dogtags
Pants: PFC - Pan Pants
Pose & Prop: Come Soon - Corner Pose 1 (Available in the February SWAG BAG)
It's early February and as the days begin to get lighter for longer I am hoping that this year will be more successful than the last. So far things aren't looking so bright, but you never know there is plenty of time for it to all change right?
You may remember last month, I started a challenge called Second Life Calendar (Challenge) and so today I bring to you my February instalment of my Second Life Calendar!
February is a month that is dedicated to LOVE - although I personally feel love should be celebrated all year by anyone and everyone. Valentines hearts and romance seem to dominate the month, with Anti-Valentines being sent and shared too, and you're always left guessing will I or will I not be someone's sweetheart!
So let's have a few non-Valentine's facts about February, shall we?
As the shortest month of the year, February in the Welsh language is often called "y mis bach", which translates to little month, although the Saxons referred to it as "Solmonath"- the month of mud or wet sand, which seems fairly appropriate - whilst in the 8th century it was referred to as the "month of cakes" due to all the sweet treats being offered to the Gods. The month of cakes sounds so much better than the more realistic Solmonath name I feel?! With an amethyst birthstone and the flower of the month being the violet, this purple month is the only one that could pass without a full moon!!!
Now let's talk about this month's calendar picture, I've decided to share a larger version of the picture that I used so you can see things a bit more clearly!
The outfit is made up of older bits and pieces, things that I've had stashed away including this adorable Faux Fur Stole and Dress set from Foxes, which seemed to work perfectly with the simply gorgeous Anais Necklace from Kunglers, and seemed to be a great look for exploring the Winter Moon location.
I just hope that it doesn't snow anymore, and hope that I can keep myself from getting too excited about March... March is one of the best months of the year!!!
What is she wearing
Hair: Truth - Miriam in Reds
Skin: Glam Affair - Seya in Europa 2
Shawl: Foxes - Faux Fur Stole in Autumn Hues
Necklace: (Kunglers) - Anais Necklace in Moss
Dress: Foxes - Sweater Dress in Autumn Hues
Pose: Signature Pose - Sensation, Pose Set 23
I need something of a distraction today, life took a very strange and not so nice turn yesterday - although it should have been a happy day as it was HellBone's RL Birthday - but such is life and "Sod's Law" that I got some news which threw the mood into a different direction. I really don't know what to do with myself today, so the perfect distraction and entertainment of PHOTOGRAPHY and BLOGGING comes to mind...
Then like a kid at Christmas, or someone that's never seen the sights before, I get overly excited and my mind is at ease...
Of course because I say about never having seen the sights before my mind goes into over drive.
This time I am playing around in my gorgeous new Angel Outfit that comes in separate parts from the Angelberry Gacha machine by Blueberry at the current round of The Epiphany. These gorgeous wings look amazing and they move so prettily because they are Bento enabled!
This pretty little angel gazes in wonder, a smile on her face, as she sees a merry-go-round for the first time ever... The StoryBrooke Gardens opened to the Angels one day a year, and for the first time ever this angel was shocked by something new!
What is she wearing;
Hair: TRUTH - Kingdoms Gacha Item in Ice Reds
Skin: Glam Affair - Seya in Europa 2
Outfit (Including Wings): Blueberry - Angelberry Gacha Items (Available until February 15th at The Epiphany)
Halo: Blueberry - Angelberry Gacha Items in Common Halo Shine (Available until February 15th at The Epiphany)
Pose: Signature Poses - Jewellery 005
February 1st, the month that is supposed to be all about romance, but I am so not into that. Hell and I have for the last few years given each other a card but no really big gestures as he shows he loves me every day. Sometimes it's hard to see but I know it's there, usually!
So Valentines Stuff aside - as I know I'm likely to do something about it later - I am more excited for something that is coming later in the month... FINALLY I am going to be able to take some time off and go to visit my family in the UK. My countdown is running and 23 days from now I will be in bonny ol' England!
I miss being in the UK a lot, and homesickness is a very big problem for me. It's not that I'm patriotic, and I do talk to my family all the time, but I just miss the little things - wandering through the British shopping malls, curling up under a blanket and watching crappy TV with mum, or even going to the supermarket, I miss hearing British voices on the streets and although it sounds lame I get excited any time I see a British number plate on a car in Holland LOL...
So today, as I start my countdown I am going to overload you with a little Britishness and a bit of the Brit Punk nature too - maybe that's just my outfit?!
I love this Sofa - it's a London Gacha Item from Boudoir, but I wanted it as soon as I saw it not really giving a monkies that this was the rare and going to be harder to get. It's perfect for you and a friend, although in my case that friend is a Poindexter from BoOgErs, but he and I are still going to bask in the glow of the neon lights - from GOOSE - and watch the London City Skyline - decor from free bird!
My London Look - as Maybelline says "get the London Look" - is actually an adorable pair of separates from JACKALOPE, which is becoming a new addiction store of mine I feel. The Spice Tank and Sugar Skirts are available at the latest round of Suicide Dollz - which actually finishes tomorrow, February 2nd, so get your butts moving if you want to get this outfit - comes in a range of different slogans and colours! Perfect for Mixing and Matching! It's great for wearing with a variety of styles too, so you can accessorise to your hearts content!
Day 1 of 23... Not long to go now peoples!!!
What is she wearing;
Hair: TRUTH - May in Reds
Skin: Glam Affair - Seya in Europa 2
Collar: AsteroidBox - Leather Spike Collar in Black
Necklace: random.Matter - Tegrin Necklace in Crybaby Silver
Top: JACKALOPE - Spice Tank in RedPlaid (Available until February 2nd at Suicide Dollz)
Skirt: JACKALOPE - Sugar Skirt in Cute& (Available until February 2nd at Suicide Dollz)
Boots: Reign - All Star Thigh Heels
Sofa: Boudoir - London Gacha in Telephone Booth Couch
Bear: BoOgErS - Poindexter
Case: {what next} - Mayfair Trunk in London
Skyline: [ free bird ] - City Skylines in London
Light: GOOSE - Lagare London Underground Neon Sign
