Cowboy Hats and Bowties

If I think cowboy hats and bow ties are cool, what does that make me? Strawberry Singh made geeks, nerds, and dorks her challenge this week. It ties in nicely to my over the top excitement over the release of the Matt and David outfits from FATEplay introduced at the just opened Geeks'n'Nerds fair.

Clay really liked the David outfit best but since I liked the Karen outfit (also at the FATEplay booth) and his cowboy hat, I got bossy and we took this picture (as an aside, I switched the denim skirt in the Karen outfit with a leather one from Maitreya just for fun). Clay is back in the David outfit and I'll never get him out of it unless I can find a Spider Man costume somewhere.

My computer got overheated and I kept crashing or we'd have a decent picture of the 10th Doctor and Amy fighting zombies His pose and sonic screwdriver is from Hopscotch, the door and my pose is Tea.s  &  elephante poses  Dead Door. Both are available at Geeks'n'Nerds. I'm not sure that makes us nerds or geeks or maybe dorks, but it makes us something weird. OK, here's my not quite perfect Doctor-fights-zombies picture before I crashed.

Meme Instructions: Create an image depicting what you consider to be geeky/nerdy/dorky and/or answer the following questions! Don’t forget to leave a link to your post in Berry's comments and if you do a picture for this meme, feel free to share it in the blog memes flickr group.

1. What do you consider yourself to be? Geek? Nerd? Dork? None of the above? All of the above? –I have a little of all three. I can get my geek on just by logging into Second Life!
2. What was the first computer you ever owned? – The first one I ever owned was a Gateway. Horrid machine.
3. When and how did you first get on the internet? – It was work related. I had to get up to speed very quickly when I was put in charge of my company's investor relations department. The finance people were early adopters because we could check stock prices in (almost) real time.
4. Which geek fandom do you subscribe to? – Harry Potter. Fabulous books. And I recently caught up in Doctor Who. I still can't decide which is my favorite Doctor, but for companion it's Donna. Don't watch the video if you're not past Donna in the Doctor Who series. Spoilers!
5. Star Trek or Star Wars? – Star Trek because it made splitting infinitives cool.
6. How Geeky Are You? – I got 16%. Apparently geeks know another meaning for Ajax than a cleanser for the bathroom or a Trojan War hero in the Iliad.

Credits:

On Clay First Picture

HopScotch It doesn't do wood -Sonic Screwdriver (at Geeks'n'Nerds)
FATEplay - Matt Blazer, Pants - Original (at Geeks'n'Nerds)
TRUTH HAIR Jack - LightBrowns01

Belleza Ashton Medium GG Bald (chest hair)
  

On Clay Second Picture

  

Dura Boy 31(Mocha)
DECO - MESH Classic Sneaks medium (red)
FATEplay - David Blazer, Coat and Pants - Original (at Geeks'n'Nerds)

On Dolly

JANE - lil piggies tights.fuzzy.bk charcoal

Belleza Leila Freckles 2 MED

Yummy Faceted Solitaire Ring - Diamond
::BB:: Mesh Lashes V.01 (Dainty brown)
FATEplay - Karen Jacket, Shirt - Crimson
Maitreya Mini Skirt * Dark Leather Eternity
Mayfly - Luminous - Mesh Eye (Deep Honey Hazel, w3)
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
Slink Vanity Boot Black
[LeLutka]-POCAHONTAS hair - IrishRed
Belleza- Leila Med R 3

Through the Snowy Woods

My first snow picture of the season! I was inspired to take it by the perfect DCNY jacket at the sale event My Attic at the Deck, and the beautiful snowy sim, Lucky Paradise. My home sim is still in the Autumn season but I'm getting excited for snow!

Credits:

 DCNY Warm-Up Jacket BlackRed (at My Attic)

Erratic / basics - racerback / dark black
coldLogic jeggings - seyfried.black
Mayfly - Luminous - Mesh Eye (Deep Honey Hazel, w3)
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
TRUTH HAIR Katya
-Belleza- Leila Med R 3

Walk on Clouds

The other day I went to Shoetopia, a charity event featuring shoes and more shoes. I made the rounds of the first sim, snatching up shoes to drool over until I was sated and my linden balance was pitifully low. So I went back yesterday to make the rounds of the second sim (landing point here). I've been looking for a loafer to work with my SLink feet and I fell in love with this pair from Gang/Cold. It's a 100% donation item to the charity Soles4Soles.

Credits:

[Gang/Cold] Walk on Clouds Loafers
coldLogic pants - wharton.khaki
Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance)

Introspection

This week for her meme, Strawberry Singh has challenged us to look inward. I'm kind of pouty about it because with Shoetopia going on right now I really want to look at my feet not my soul. Nevertheless, it's a good challenge and I'll give it a go.

Meme instructions: Answer the following questions and don’t forget to leave a link to your post in (Berry's) comments.

1. Regardless of your current number, how old do you actually feel? – Without telling my actual age, I'd say I feel mid-thirties. I don't think we truly hit our strides until then.
2. Which is worse, failing or never trying? – Never trying, definitely. Unless it's parachuting out of an airplane.
3. If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently? – I'd sing more.
4. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things? – I guess I try to do the right thing though sometimes it's difficult to know what that is.
5. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton? – I can't imagine being joyful as a simpleton, so I guess I'll stick with worried slightly above average.
6. Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend? –You'd have to ask my friends about that. I try to be.
7. Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now? – Uh...yeah.
8. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive? – Anytime I laugh with a friend.
9. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job? – I never thought I would, but if you give me the money we'll test that theory.
10. If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today? – I'd gather my family together and feed them all their favorite foods.
11. What do you feel is the difference between being alive and truly living? – Being alive is getting through the tough times by putting one foot in front of another. Truly living is jumping off the cliff and trusting yourself to find your footing.
12. If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake? – I don't think I'm afraid to make small mistakes. But mistakes aren't all equal. Some are damn hard to come back from.
13. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you? – I'd sing and dance a lot more.
14. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be? – A newborn? That seems to be a little soon to start offering advice. Maybe "Sleeping through the night is a GOOD thing."

Credits:

22769 ~ [femme] Forest Elves Queensdress Green (at The Fantasy Collective)

Clawtooth: Windswept - Strawberry cream

Mayfly - Luminous - Mesh Eye (Deep Honey Hazel, w3)

Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands

-Belleza- Leila Med R 3

In Heaven There Are Shoes Galore

All I can think of today is SHOES! Well, I may be able to stretch that to include BOOTS! Shoetopia is a shoe fair consisting of two sims full of the latest shoes and boots supporting the charity Soles4Souls. It has been packed with fashionistas from the moment it opened on November 15th and runs through the 30th. I managed to get into the first sim last night and the lag was not bad at all!

I'm showing new releases from SLink. She has introduced a new mesh foot especially for those high HIGH heels. Our appliers work just fine on the new feet. Siddean Munro, SLink's brilliant creator, also released new shoes and boots for our highest arched tootsies. The pink boots in the top photo is a 100% donation item to the worthy charity. I'm sure other creators are busy making sexy new releases to fit these feet, so invest and support a cause to boot! (see what I did there?)

Credits:

top

Slink AvEnhance Feet High (at Shoetopia)
Slink Demi Boots Blush (at Shoetopia)
Fashionably Dead Swept Away Dress - Cream
Fashionably Dead Swept Away Hair - Roots 4
Mayfly - Luminous - Mesh Eye (Deep Honey Hazel, w3)
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands 

Belleza Leila Med R 3
Pose and props: !bang - tossed boxes (Gacha item at Shoetopia)
Cheeky Pea Cobblers Room Shine Chair RARE (Gacha item at Shoetopia)
Cheeky Pea Cobblers Room Foot Measure (Gacha item at Shoetopia)

bottom

Slink AvEnhance Feet High (at Shoetopia)
Slink Priscilla Plateau Heels Black (at Shoetopia)
coldLogic dress - jones.crimson
Exile Hair Falling For You Natural Fusion 2
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
Pose by oOo Studio

 

BoHo HoBo

I ran into a friend while I was making the rounds of an event. She liked the scarf I was wearing (the Fatewear one from my last post) and looked all over the store trying to find it. That's when I realized it was a gacha item from last winter's Arcade and not in the store. Luckily it came in several sizes and I was able to pass her one. In return, she introduced me to a new store. I lucked out!

BoHo HoBo is the name of the store. There aren't many mesh items there, but what's there is GREAT! I picked up several versions of this scarf. The colors were just too tempting to pass up. The handbag is to die for, a realistic depiction of Afghan folk art. Even the sweater and jeans were available in unusual color combinations, but I went for a slightly understated color scheme to make the scarf and purse pop.

If everyone knows about this store, please pardon my gushing. If not, I urge you to go pick up some casually fun items for your wardrobe.

Credits:

BoHo HoBo  Black w/ plain T CARDIGAN
BoHo HoBo  mesh Afghanistani shoulder bag 1
BoHo HoBo Mesh Skinny Jeans Patched
BoHo HoBo Scarf Ladie's Large (candystripes)
[LeLutka]-SEIKO hair - IrishRed
Mayfly - Luminous - Mesh Eye (Deep Honey Hazel, w3) R
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
-Belleza- Leila Med R 3
-Belleza- Leila Freckles 2 MED

For the Chill - New Coats from coldLogic

I dress Dolly pretty much for the real life seasons. In the middle of a hot summer I can't bear to see her in a cozy sweater, for instance. And when the temperature drops I like to bundle up my virtual self as well. Luckily for me, coldLogic feels the same way and released two new styles of winter coats for the chilly days ahead. The Tilton coat I'm wearing has optional skirt and shirt layers to fit under the coat for the fashionista in me, but I could just as easily wear it over leggings or jeans.

Credits:

coldLogic coat and optional skirt - tilton.garnet (New Release)
FATEwear Scarf - Granger - Houndstooth (K)(M)
fri. - Allison.Boots (Regular) - Sock.tops
fri. - Allison.Boots (Regular) - Soot
Maitreya Calgary Clutch (Alt) * Coal

League Merino Leggings -Long -Black

Belleza- Leila Freckles 2 MED

Mayfly - Luminous - Mesh Eye (Deep Honey Hazel, w3)
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands 

Belleza - Leila Med R 3

The Best and the Worst of My Second Life

I discovered a new skin - Lena by Elysium. I'm a fan of many skins. Belleza, Glam Affair, Adam N Eve, Pixel Creations and Mirror's Enigma are recent favorites. And now I get to add Elysium to that group. It comes with three eyebrow colors and a no eyebrow option, frecked, non-freckled and cleavage versions. It also comes with appliers for our SLink hands and feet, an essential for me. Eye makeup and lipstick tattoo layers are sold separately. I discovered this skin by perusing MokaTana Boa's blog, Moka's Way. I love her blog posts, and her skin blogs are extensive and well done.

It's time to meme again, and Strawberry Singh has challenged us to reveal what we find to be the best and worst things about our Second Lives.
Meme Instructions: Copy and paste the questions and answers below, delete my answers and input your own. The twist is, the final question you need to change and make up your own best & worst that you want to share. Don’t forget to leave a link to your post in Berry's (and my) comments.

1. Best thing about Second Life: I adore Second Life. To try to pin down what I like best about it is kind of hard. I think the best thing is how I get to admire in a very new way people's artistic expression. Whether it be a sim installation, role play, live music, photos, fashion, or home design - I am blown away by the everyday creativity.
   Worst thing about Second Life: There are plenty of downsides, but I'll try to focus on what is the worst thing I have to deal with on a daily basis. Right now it's the blur - rez - blur cycle. I really don't want to have to buy a new computer!
2. Best thing in your inventory: My hair folder.
   Worst thing in your inventory: The number of hairs in my hair folder.
3. Best earliest SL memory: It's a tie. Going to a sim called October Country and listening to old radio plays, or going dancing and enjoying the company of my date.
   Worst earliest SL memory: Wearing a folder full of freebie furniture and having no idea how to remove any of it. Thank goodness for Mentors and how sad that newbies don't get that kind of help! 
4. Best thing you learned because of SL: I was reminded how stimulating it is to surround yourself with creative people.
   Worst thing you learned because of SL: I learned more about weird sexual fantasies than I really want to know. Some of those fantasies were even mine!
5. Best thing about blogging: It's an excuse to play dress up in things that I normally wouldn't wear day to day in my Second Life. I love taking pictures and sharing them. I hope I entertain my readers with humor and fashion.
   Worst thing about blogging: Entitlement. Entitled bloggers, entitled designers. So you don't get picked to be an official blogger of an event or designer? Cover them anyway if it's something you love. On the designer end, I am occasionally blown away by an attitude that bloggers work for them. We don't. We love you for what you do, but we're not your employees.
6. Best thing about my day: That first cup of coffee.
   Worst thing about my day: Falling asleep before Jon Stewart.

Credits:

tram -Collar for gathered shoulder blouse
tram -gathered shoulder blouse[navy]
TRUTH HAIR Rocky
Elysium - Lena (freck/red eyebr.) - fair (New Release)
BeetleBones Mesh Lashes V.01 (Dainty brown)
Mayfly - Luminous - Mesh Eye (Deep Honey Hazel, w3) (New Release)

 

I Think This Is the Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

This isn't exactly what Humphrey Bogart meant when he uttered those words in "Casablanca" but I couldn't help myself. Collabor88 has an industrial chic theme this month. I think the theme translates well in furniture, but in clothing the style isn't exactly my thing - until I saw how Toast Bard of Fashionably Dead translates it. I'm laughing out loud at her brilliant whimsy. Everything else in the picture is from Apple Fall's Collabor88 offering.

Credits:

Fashionably Dead Retro Robot - Silver (at Collabor88)
BeetleBones Mesh Lashes V.01 (Dainty brown)
Mayfly - Luminous - Mesh Eye (Twilight Sea Shadow, w3)
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
-Belleza- Leila Med R 0

Apple Fall Designer Mannequin (Black) (at Collabor88)

Apple Fall Trellis Circular Rug (Black) (at Collabor88)

Apple Fall Fusion Dining Chair (at Collabor88)

 Apple Fall Mother of Pearl Inlaid Chest (at Collabor88)

Apple Fall Apple Blossom Branches (at Collabor88)

Inventory Woes and Temptations

I'm going to blog about my Second Life inventory folder. It's a mess and the number keeps creeping up. As I began to write this, my inventory was showing 38,861 items. Oh wait! There's something in the trash! DELETE. Oh. 38,860. I know by many bloggers' standards my inventory is a good size. But it's going to creep ever higher, so I'm trying to do something about it.

I am always ready to talk about inventory management, I really am. I love to talk about it. I love to hear about other people's strategies for coping, for organization. But my problem is this - I hate doing anything about my inventory. It's BORING! That's why I'm blogging it. It's either that or shopping and you know what that does to a girl's inventory.

Goals

I'm setting a number goal. I want to reduce my inventory by 10,000 items. That's pretty ambitious, so let's call it a stretch goal. I'd probably settle for 5,000.

I also want to put away all those folders I have left out (relatively easy) and perhaps make a new folder or two for better organization. For instance, my life got easier when I had the bright idea of putting all of my shoes for my SLink feet in one folder. So much better!

Strategies

After some random deleting of boxed items I have already opened in my object folder I decided I needed a strategy. So I started with low-hanging fruit.

• First, the old deleting note cards strategy. I opened my inventory filter and checked only note cards then went through each folder happily highlighting note cards I know I don't need and hitting the delete button. Whew! Done, and my new inventory number is 38,021. I've done the deleting note cards bit before. It was a more dramatic change the first time, but still, a relatively painless way of getting rid of 840 items!
•  Second, the deleting extra landmarks strategy. It's just like the note cards strategy - boring, but effective and painless. Less than halfway through the landmarks I logged, so I'm not done but my inventory was down to 37,594.

Then I went to Collabor88 and bought stuff. Face palm. I always do this! Clearly this is a long term project. I'll keep you updated about my progress. I'm still down by more than a thousand items!

Credits

Apple Fall Ornate Mirror (at Collabor88)

Apple Fall Chrysler Armchair (at Collabor88)

ISON - leather shape corset (sand) (at Collabor88)
ISON - side ruffle skirt (sand) (at Collabor88)
 ISON - lace-up gladiator sandals  (tan)

Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance) - Mid
LeLutka - HELEN - AuburnHaze

Belleza - Leila Med R 0

Cowboy Hats Are Cool

Bowties are cool, too. But I can't resist a man in a 10 gallon hat. I had a few ideas for a title for this blog post. My other top two were "How Do You Like My New Shoes?" and "But You Forgot the Pickles." I went with my first impulse since Clay's a Doctor Who fan and I'm working my way through the series. The sexy and fun pose is from Del May. The gorgeous Ingenue shoes (SLink feet add-ons) are a new release.

Credits:

FIR & MNA The Solas Shoes Brown Suede Mens
BlankLIne 014 Cardie and Shirt MENS Blue
FATEwear Pants - John - London
TRUTH HAIR Jack - LightBrowns01

Belleza Ashton Medium GG Bald (chest hair)

Cracked Mirror Bounty Jean Skirt (Faded)
Ingenue Claire Heels (Slink Feet Add-On) :: Pool (New Release)
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance) - Mid
TRUTH HAIR Anita (ginger shades)
tulip. V-Neck Sweater (Sky)
Belleza- Leila Med R 0

Cheeky Pea Quinn Sofa (at FaMeshed)
Apple Fall Mission Dresser (Antique)
PILOT - Burger Meal
PILOT - Homework
Apple Fall Empire Table Lamp

Guess Who I Look Like!

I didn't consciously design my avatar shape to look like anyone in particular. So when I saw Strawberry Singh's blog challenge for the week I didn't know how I was going to answer. I uploaded a picture to the Celebrity Look Alike Generator and was surprised but very pleased with my top result. According to that website, I most resemble Katherine Heigl! I lightened my hair for the picture in honor of that gorgeous blonde. I just wish Second Life allowed me to make that luminous smile of hers.

Credits:

One Bad Pixel Tee Dress Soft Pink
LeLutka HELEN Hair - SummerTime (New Release)

Belleza - Leila Med 4 R

BeetleBones Mesh Lashes V.01 (Dainty brown)
Mayfly - Luminous - Mesh Eye (Deep Honey Hazel, w3) (New Release)

MANDLA Haramita  earring/silver

Dance to the Music In Your Head

I promised to blog more goodies from FaMeshed and here they are! Mutresse released a new sweater and shorts for the November round of FaMeshed. Like earlier releases both are expertly crafted and come with a color-change HUD for customization.  This is definitely a store to watch for every new release.

The oh-so-comfy distressed leather chair, matching sofa and intriguing art-as-coffee-table are Cheeky Pea releases for FaMeshed. It's not that I needed the furniture, but I couldn't resist.

Credits:

Mutresse... Lana Shorts (at FaMeshed)

Mutresse... Piki Sweater (at FaMeshed)
Maitreya Stagioni Boots Sand
TRUTH HAIR Harley
22769 ~ Headphones Vintage Blooming
-Belleza- Leila Med 4 R
BeetleBones Mesh Lashes V.01 (Dainty brown)
Mayfly - Deep Sky Mesh Eye (Deep Honey Hazel, w3)
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands

Cheeky Pea Quinn Chair Emerald (at FaMeshed)
Cheeky Pea Voronoi Table (at FaMeshed)
Cheeky Pea Quinn Sofa (at FaMeshed)

I Think I'll Go Shopping

When the first of the month comes around all the bloggers get busy with new releases. Monthly events begin, new items are released, and I go shopping. One of my favorite shops, coldLogic, closed down for about a week and reopened with a rebuild. It looks absolutely gorgeous. And they released two new dresses for the occasion! Yay!

My hair is from Exile and available through November at FaMeshed, the monthly showcase for new original mesh creations. The Loft floor planter, the stack of books and cactus from Aria are also at FaMeshed this month. Look for more FaMeshed goodies in my next post.

I'm also loving the color change dresser from Digs. It was available for Fifty Linden Friday and I apologize that I didn't get my blog picture done in time for the savings, but it's a great piece at any price.

Credits:

coldLogic dress - omara.hunter (New Release)
Exile Hair - Daydream - Fusion 2 pack (at FaMeshed)
Maitreya Calgary Clutch * Coal
Maxi Gossamer - Necklace - Baroque Peacock Flower - Long
Slink Classic Pointed Pumps Black
Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance) - Mid

Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
-Belleza- Leila Med 4 R

Mayfly - Deep Sky Mesh Eye (Deep Honey Hazel, w3)