#474 Will you grasp the thorn ?

But he who dares not grasp the thorn, should never crave the rose - Anne Bronte

Zsa has been busy building herself a dressing room, but I dragged her aside for a little while to make her pose for these pics.  She has gone back to pulling stuff apart and has left me to write this blog post for her.  I adore this new mix and match set from Entice for Tres Chic.  Each item can be bought separately or you can choose a fatpack (which has my vote) - they all fit my Maitreya Lara mesh body without any issue, and there is a great selection of textures to choose from.  Entice are also offering a set of seriously cute nail appliers - anything with kitties on gets my vote :).  

My hair is one of 3 new hairs from Amacci for Hairology, I love that this one is cute without going overboard.  My shoes from KC Couture seem made for the outfit, and again the texture change hud gives you so much choice. My poses are from Pose Fair 2016 but it finishes tomorrow, so if you have not already been, run!

Credits:

If an item is for sale at an event, I give the slurl to that event, but in case this blog post is read after the event has finished, I also include the slurl to the mainstore.

Body

Maitreya Lara
WoW Skins 2016 Hope Bronze
Amacci Hair - Zip - available at Hairology
Mon Cheri Falsies
IKON Sovereign Eyes

Cosmetics

Entice - What's New Pussycat Nails HUD - available at Tres Chic

Clothing

Entice - Bon, Bon Halter - available at Tres Chic
Entice - Bon, Bon Pants - available at Tres Chic
Entice - Bon, Bon Jacket - available at Tres Chic
KC Couture - Viv Heels

Accessories

Elysium - Partytime earings (R) - ivory
Elysium - Partytime necklace - ivory

Poses

xoxo - Pic 1 Hannah, Pic 2 Skyler - available at The Pose Fair * ends tomorrow, 26th March *

Location
Home

Tools I use in most blog posts
Pose Anywhere 

Lumipro 

Anypose 

Combo Fix

Info

There are often more photos of blogged items on my flickr account here.

SLURLs are current at time of posting.  If you need help with anything I have blogged, feel free to send me an email, inworld IM or nc, or a plurk (all links on contacts page).

#473 Smoke Signals

Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world.  I know because I've done it thousands of times - Mark Twain

Were you aware that you are only able to add 38 attachments to your avvie?  You'll never use all of them, right?  I thought so too, till I realised that while I was putting this outfit together, I was using 36 out of 38 - and this doesn't include the huds I use when taking pics (which are listed below the credits).

Onto the outfit - I love love love these new dresses from Doc Eldritch, which are a Maitreya Lara exclusive.  I particularly the ombre style - ombre isnt the right word but my brain is tired and refuses to offer up the right one right now.  I love all the colours available but continue my love affair with purple, not sure what is going on here but the slightest hint of purple has me rummaging through my inventory for more awesome purple-ness.  Anyway, as it was a bit nippy outside I added one of Doc's leather jackets to the outfit so that Zsa would stop shaking long enough for me to take my pics.  This jacket is compatible with all 3 Belleza bodies, Maiteya Lara and Slink Physique, as well as fitmesh.

By the way, Zsa wants me to tell you that she doesn't really smoke, she just borrowed a pixel ciggie for a short time for the taking of these pics.  She doesn't however want me to tell you that she did take a small drag and coughed so much we almost had to abandon the shoot :).

Credits:

If an item is for sale at an event, I give the slurl to that event, but in case this blog post is read after the event has finished, I also include the slurl to the mainstore.

Body

Maitreya Lara
Amacci Hair - Natia - Crazy hud
WoW Skins Roxana Bronze
Mon Cheri Falsies
IKON Odyssey Eyes

Cosmetics

Alaskametro Angel lipstick - Cyber
Alaskametro Extreme Wing II eyeshadow - black

Clothing
DE Designs - Revolution dress
DE Designs - Sashi jacket 
KC Couture Alivia Heels

Accessories

The Plastik Nohm Bracelet
The Plastik Sahaze Cord Necklace & Earrings

Poses

Infiniti - Blowing Smoke 1 & 2 - available at The Pose Fair
Location
Entropy II

Tools I use in most blog posts

Pose Anywhere 

Lumipro 

Anypose 

Combo Fix

Info

There are often more photos of blogged items on my flickr account here.

SLURLs are current at time of posting.  If you need help with anything I have blogged, feel free to send me an email, inworld IM or nc, or a plurk (all links on contacts page).

#472 A triptych in the hand is as good as.....

....well, maybe not quite as good as a triptych on a blog

This is a first for me, just one pic, and a triptych at that - I have given myself a challenge - to get a post done, start to finish, in 2 hours.  To many bloggers that might be the norm, but I take a lot longer usually, and I want to "streamline" my blogging so I can show more good stuff.

So, my challenge involved putting the outfits together, choosing poses and location (I cheated and used my new home, on pretty much the only piece of furniture I have down right now!), writing credits and adding links, taking pics, tarting them up in Picmonkey (which means cropping, basically, plus triptyching for this one of course), loading pic to flickr, writing these words, and adding triptych.  Previewing and checking everything.  I have 2 minutes left, help!

Read the next two paragraph very fast without pausing for breath so you are sharing in my adrenalin rush.  So, get down to the 10 Fashion for Life sims - you have till the 20th to buy lots of goodies for a fantastic cause.  I have shown you three items from The Vintage Touch because I love them all and couldn't choose just one - there are lots of colours to choose from, I just went with blues because.....well, I just went with blues.  Oh, my nails are also from Fashion for Life and are lovely, though unfortunately you can't see them clearly.

Hang around the FLF sims too, as there is plenty of great entertainment going on too.  30 seconds to go - I will try to get more posts done before FLF closes, wish me luck!  Whoohoo, I did it, I did it!  Ok, adrenalin rush might be slightly hyperbolic, but not entirely :).  I apologise for the proliferation of exclamation marks in this post - please blame the adrenalin!

Credits:

If an item is for sale at an event, I give the slurl to that event, but in case this blog post is read after the event has finished, I also include the slurl to the mainstore.

Body

Maitreya Lara
WoW Skins Yasmine Bronze
Amacci Hair - Kendra, blondes hud

Mon Cheri Falsies

IKON Hope eyes

Cosmetics

Koffin Nails - Maitreya HUD - Winged Hope - available at Fashion for Life

Clothing

Vintage Touch items available at Fashion for Life
1.  Charisma Strapless in midnight
2.  Grable Pinup dress in shadow
3. Chloe Floral Coat in sky
Baby Monkey Milena (come with texture change hud

Accessories
Glint - Multi colored Oval charm necklace & earrings (seen best in first pic - they are texture change) - available at Fashion for Life 

Blissiere two-tone celtic cuff - lapis - available at Luck of the Irish Fair

Poses

Hopscotch  - Friday Night (two packs) - Hopscotch  available at Pose Fair

Tools I use in most blog posts

Pose Anywhere 

Lumipro 

Anypose 

Combo Fix

Info

There are often more photos of blogged items on my flickr account here.

SLURLs are current at time of posting.  If you need help with anything I have blogged, feel free to send me an email, inworld IM or nc, or a plurk (all links on contacts page).

#471 Pride is all very well, but a sausage is a sausage

Terry Pratchett, Men at Arms 

l have not often worn "all in one" outfits but with this, their first original mesh outfit, Entice have done a truly fabulous job on this one.  It makes me feel all grown up and sensible, so I took myself off to a library for this shoot :).  The outfit fits my Maitreya Lara mesh body like a dream and the textures are simply gorgeous.  It is available in two packs, both with a hud giving 3 independent texture options for skirt, jacket, top and lace.    My shoes from KC Couture are compatible with their usual plethora of mesh body/feet, and of course also come with their extensive texture change hud.

Credits:

If an item is for sale at an event, I give the slurl to that event, but in case this blog post is read after the event has finished, I also include the slurl to the mainstore.

Body

Maitreya Lara
WoW Skins 2016 Yasmine Bronze - available at Skin Fair
Amacci Amelie, reds hud
Mon Cheri Falsies
IKON Charm eyes
Entice Proud Mary Nails - Crochet

Clothing

Entice - Proud Mary Outfit - Crochet - Fatpack V1 - available at Mesh Body Addicts Fair

K C Couture - Phoebe

Accessories

Izzies - Pearl Earrings ivory 
Izzies - Pearl Necklace ivory (simple)

Poses

KoKoLoReS - Body Language -  available at Pose Fair

Location
The Readers Nook

Info

There are often more photos of blogged items on my flickr account here.

SLURLs are current at time of posting.  If you need help with anything I have blogged, feel free to send me an email, inworld IM or nc, or a plurk (all links on contacts page).

#469 You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it.....

.....Robin Williams

This stunning gown is from Posh Pixels for Fashion for Life - the chest piece, sleeves, arm pieces, head piece and flexi add-ons are all included with the gown.  The gown itself is a rich deep velvety purple, and for some reason I ran with the purple theme - I have done this in a previous post.  I think I must have a "thing" for purple, because I never get the urge to do so with any other colour!  The gown is spectacular, and what could be better thank buying it, knowing that you were doing your bit to help such a wonderful cause.

It is always hard finding hair that will work with elaborate hats or head pieces, but luckily I had seen this Amacci hair in their mainstore last week - and I was right, it is absolute perfection!   I have deliberately not worn any jewellery to let the headpiece take centre stage.

Credits:

If an item is for sale at an event, I give the slurl to that event, but in case this blog post is read after the event has finished, I also include the slurl to the mainstore.

Body

Maitreya Lara
WoW Skins 2016 Hope Bronze - available at Kinky Monthly
Amacci Hair - Effie - crazy hud
Mon Cheri Falsies
IKON Spectral eyes

Cosmetics

Encore Maitreya Nail Appliers - Set 20

Clothing

Posh Pixels - Speranza Gown for Fashion for Life

Poses
Headshot - Kokolores - Body Language - available at Pose Fair 2016 
Others - Nantra - Oh Joan (comes with a cigarette prop which I haven't used in this instance)

Location

The Golden Wood

Info

There are often more photos of blogged items on my flickr account here.

SLURLs are current at time of posting.  If you need help with anything I have blogged, feel free to send me an email, inworld IM or nc, or a plurk (all links on contacts page).

#445 You cannot find peace by avoiding life..

..Virginia Woolf

I wanted to share a close-up of this stunning skin from 7 Deadly S{K}ins  which is available exclusively for the White Elephant Gacha Fair.  This beauty is one of the commons but I just love those freckles! 

 My super cute nails are from Encore and will be at The Bi-Annual Wash Cart Sale when it opens on the 16th - each pack is just $10L you get appliers for Slink, Maitreya, Belleza, Eve and Omega.  

My dress is Just Because's item for the current round of FaMESHed and is a really sweet, girly dress with an unusual neckline that will work for so many occasions.   There is an array of beautiful colours (or a hud controlled fatpack) to choose from and a hud allowing you to change the belt and metal colours - you can also wear the dress without the belt.  

I had fun playing with these new props from Repose who are participating in the Winter Gacha Festival which runs till Dec 31st.  They have 10 new prop poses available to collect, each gacha prize contains both seasonal and tintable non-seasonal versions of the prop.

If you were wondering what I did that I said I wouldn't do, it is decorating for Christmas.  Well not really, I decorated for this post. I have issues with crashing if I try to take pics in pretty sims, and I am pretty bored with using backdrops, so I thought I would make the effort and make my home the backdrop.  All my Christmas decor comes from my friend Pet's Christmas shop. The tree skirt and rug are texture change, and there are plenty of other goodies to be found there and everything is incredibly reasonably priced - I think the most expensive item cost me only $50L.  The sofa is a still-available Black Friday freebie, so well worth a trip to pick up - I love the combination of pink and grey.

Credits:

If an item is for sale at an event, I give the slurl to that event, but in case this blog post is read this blog after the event, I also include the slurl to the mainstore.

Body

Maitreya Lara

7 Deadly S{K}ins - Izadora Taupe v11 - available at White Elephant Gacha Fair

Dura Girl 54 - Dark Brown

IKON Promise Eyes - Green

Cosmetics

Encore  Maitreya Nail Appliers - Designer 05 (from Dec 16th at The Bi-Annual  Wash Cart Sale)

Clothing

Just Because  Charisma Dress - Maitreya - available at FaMESHed 

Glamistry Begonia Heels

Accessories

Cae Elusive necklace & earrings 

Poses

Repose - Present Day - available at Winter Gacha Festival

Decor

Persnickity Christmas Shoppe

(mainstore is here)

Info

There are often more photos of blogged items on my flickr account here.

SLURLs are current at time of posting.  If you need help with anything I have blogged, feel free to send me an email, inworld IM or nc, or a plurk (all links on contacts page).

#444 Sometimes you have to let go...

 ,,,to see if there was anything worth  holding on to - Unknown

My skin today is an incredibly fresh and pretty new one from 7 Deadly s{K}ins for Rock Factory Winter Fair.  You get 10 skins, including with and without cleavage, plus appliers for Maitreya, Slink, Phatazz and Tango.  My jewellery is another stunning set from Indulge Temptation and is one of six packs available at Designer Circle.  As always you get an extensive hud allowing you to customise to your little heart's content.

My outfit today is from Lavian for Frozzen Fair.  As always with Lavian, they have produced an easy to wear outfit with plenty of options on the hud to create the colour scheme you desire.  The pants and cardigan/top are separate, making the items even more versatile.  The pants come in standard sizes, and the top standard sizes plus Belleza Freya, Venus and Isis, and Slink.  I had no issue wearing either with my Maitreya Lara, just needed a few tweaks of the alpha and voila. My shoes from KC Couture of course come with their amazing hud.  They are compatible with Slink (and compatible ones), Belleza, TMP, Eve and Maitreya.

Credits:

If an item is for sale at an event, I mark clearly the slurl to that event, but in case this blog post is read this blog after the event, I also include the slurl to the mainstore.

Body

Maitreya Lara

 7 Deadly s{K}ins - Danica caramel V2 CL for Rock Factory Winter Fair

Catwa Jolie

IKON  Eyes

Cosmetics

Mon Cheri Falsies Eyelashes

La Boheme Summer Lotus Gold *Maitreya* Manicure Lips:

Clothing

Lavian - AW1516 - Essentials Winter LoveSong Top - available at Frozzen Fair

Lavian - AW1516 - Essentials Winter LoveSong Pants 

(the above two items are bought together but can be worn separately)

KC Couture  Glamour Heels 

Accessories

Indulge Temptation - Crystalline Necklace, earrings and bracelets - available at Designer Circle

Poses

Aushka - Annie

 KaTink Humanoid Backdrop

Info

There are often more photos of blogged items on my flickr account here.

SLURLs are current at time of posting.  If you need help with anything I have blogged, feel free to send me an email, inworld IM or nc, or a plurk (all links on contacts page).

#437 Liberté, égalité, fraternité

I don't usually start a post with shoes, but I wanted to use the colours of the French flag somewhere in this post, so they come first.  My thoughts and prayers continue to be with our French brothers and sisters.  

The shoes are by Baby Monkey, and come with a basics hud but you can also buy a full hud if you want more than the 9 basic textures.  They are very pretty shoes and you can change 3 different shoe parts independently, so even better!  My hair is a new release from Elikatira for Hairology, and Elika has left me in another quandary, because this is yet another "do" I don't want to take off!

My dress is from Leri Miles Designs for The Jackpot Gacha Fair. This is a new kind of gacha event, as it will have 3 bonus levels: 1, 2 or 3 free pulls that will be won randomly, a chance with every pull!. So for example play XY Machine XY times and you will have a chance at winning a bonus, that can be 1, 2 or 3 free pulls. The bonus is totally random and it merely depends on luck.  There will also be a Gacha Jackpot of 50 free pulls to use at the fair and a huge sign in the sim will show the name of the winner.  Good luck!

I am showing above the two rares - the rainbow (my favourite) is rare and the black is ultrarare.  I am showing the other colours below.  Leri has as always textured this gown beautifully. 

Credits:

Body

Maitreya Lara

 WoW Skins Divanity Tan - available at Designer Circle

Elikatira Libby - Redheads available at Hairology

IKON Promise

Cosmetics

Mon Cheri Falsies Eyelashes

La Boheme Hisse Silver *Maitreya* Manicure

Clothing

Leri Miles Designs Gelsey Gown available at The Jackpot Gacha Fair

Baby Monkey Betsy Slink 

Accessories

Maxi Gossamer - Faylinn Flower Charm

Poses
Infiniti Elegant

Info

There are often more photos of blogged items on my flickr account here.

SLURLs are current at time of posting.  If you need help with anything I have blogged, feel free to send me an email, inworld IM or nc, or a plurk (all links on contacts page).