How Do I Look?

Here's another Pose Fair find, this time from Savoir Faire - The Dressing Room Prop. I dressed it up a bit with the Apple Fall coat and palm tree, and the Standby Inc birdcage. The prop has ten darling built in poses. This pose is just calling out, "How do I look?"

Credits:

Tee*fy Vanishing Clouds Skirt Sky
Tee*fy Vanishing Clouds Top Sky
Glam Affair - Vera - America 02 F
Argrace Hair - HARUKA - Cinnamon

Leverocci - Satin Wrap Heels Lavender
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance) - Mid
Mon Cheri "Falsies" Eyelash - Upper+Lower
IKON Spectral Eyes - Amber

Flat Ebbe and Me

I've been waiting for Strawberry Singh to do this meme ever since she plurked about stalking meeting Linden Lab's new CEO a week or so ago. I had such fun with Flat Rodvik and I figured Flat Ebbe Linden would be a fun date. However, Berry thinks we should just lecture poor Ebbe about how to be a good CEO. Sorry, Ebbe, our date will have to wait.

Meme instructions: Pick up a copy of Flat Ebbe Linden from Berry's marketplace store for free and take him to one of your favorite places on the grid. Also, share at least three things that you’d like to tell Ebbe. Please remember to leave a link to your post in Berry's comments and share your Flat Ebbe picture in the Blog memes flickr group.

So Ebbe, as we pose for a pretty picture standing in the courtyard of Cory Edo's beautiful creation newly released at Collabor88, the Cortona Villas, here are my thoughts:

1. I really like what you have said about Second Life so far. You have inherited a passionate and creative user base who created everything interesting to see and do in SL, so we don't really see ourselves as customers of a product. We are creators and supporters of a surreal visionary world. We built it, we feel connected to it. I think you get that and I really appreciate that you do.
2. You're in a honeymoon phase, but eventually you will tick off one group or another in SL. While this ire will probably be a by-product of some benefit you want to introduce, it will happen and you will be tempted to withdraw from your current accessibility so you don't have to listen to a lot of - well - let's call it counterproductive trash talk. As a communications professional in another life, I can tell you that once you have opened the conversation with your customers as you have done, closing that conversation when things get challenging is a mistake that leads to bad feelings and loss of trust for the entire community - not just the ones who were ticked off in the first place. Have a communications strategy to deal with these issues as they arise. Appoint other Lindens to speak on the issues and keep the messages consistent and honest.
3. Advice for retaining new users - here's one little thing that seems to have been overlooked for years - the waddle-walk of a newbie. I'm not suggesting you need to fix the dorky stands (you're using one of them in the picture), but couldn't that waddle-walk be turned into something more graceful? A script in the shoe with a nice smooth female or male walk? Anything? The new starter avatars with mesh outfits and hair are a good beginning, but give a poor newbie a decent walk.

Credits:

Argrace Hair HARUKA - Cinnamon (Unrigged / resize)
Mutresse Guzla Shorts (at FaMeshed)
Tee*fy Sophie Cut-Out Ruffle Top Bloom (at Collabor88)
Ingenue Pandora Flats (Slink Feet Add-On) Sepia (Gacha item)
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance) - Flat

Glam Affair - Vera - America 02 F
IKON Spectral Eyes - Amber

Bicycle and pose from What Next

 Trompe Loeil - Cortona Villas (at Collabor88)

Potted plants from Apple Fall and XED Designs

The Bedroom

I love home decor in Second Life. I can be awfully fickle and redo a home from the ground up more than once a month. Digs just released a lovely new bedroom set called Ainsley that I'm currently enjoying. The bed comes in PG or Adult versions for all our bedroom activities. Color change bedding and furniture gives plenty of versatility to the look.

Credits:

DIGS - Aisling Bed - Pastel

DIGS - Aisling Bedside Table

DIGS - Aisling Bedside Lamp

DIGS - Aisling Tallboy

DIGS - Aisling Dresser

DIGS - Aisling Reading Pile

DIGS - Aisling Mirror

DIGS - Aisling Wicker Storage

DIGS - Aisling Skincare

DIGS - Suspension Lamp - Pewter

DIGs - Closet Doors

DIGS - Weather Embroidery trio

What Next - Norwegian Wood  Guitar

The Loft - Alderan Planter White

Trompe Loeil - Hanging Tri-Planter Blue 

Dutchie Plants

Cheeky Pea - Kaleidoscope Dreamcatcher

Tres Blah - Bon Voyage Clock Radio (Pink) (Gacha Item)

Apple Fall - Lustful Lilacs

Resolution

I'm not a big one for New Year's resolutions. I'd rather resolve to do things on my own inner clock. Sometimes, however, I ignore the inner clock's alarm and hit the snooze button. There are a lot of things I should resolve to do as a blogger. Check out more events, keep up with new stores, credit poses more often (the one in this photo is from Diesel Works), among a million other things.

But number one on my resolution list is to reduce and/or better organize my inventory. I wrote about my inventory about a month ago and I'm ashamed to admit that the limited success I had made has completely evaporated as I grab more new releases by the fatpack! I'm at over 39,000 now! I hit 40K and panicked, deleting a bunch more duplicate landmarks.

So this is why I'm leaning against the closet doors (a great item from Digs - fake doors!) to hold my inventory at bay.

Happy New Year, everyone. Don't drink and drive!

Credits:

 

Maitreya Stagioni Boots Sand
Maitreya Wool Cardigan Beige (New Release)
Maitreya Zipper-Skinny Jeans - Dirty

Cracked Mirror Layered Tank (blue/red)

Yummy Chunky Scarf - Cranberry (at Collabor88)
DECO - MESH Her Warrior Watch
MANDALA SIMPLE EARS HUTUU
Maxi Gossamer - Earring - Hampton Boho
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands 

LeLutka - SATO hair - AuburnHaze

Glam Affair - Vera skin - America - FLF E

Cheeky Pea Beresford Vanity - Dazzle

Tres Blah Vanity Accessories (Gacha Items)

Color.Me.H.O.F Mesh Luggage Set (Gacha Items)

Color.Me.H.O.F Mesh Fashion Rack (Gacha Item)

Apple Fall Vanity Flair Magazines

Apple Fall Empire Table Lamp

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

I'll Have a Double

Oh yes, people. I love my espresso machine so much that if the house were on fire and the kids and dog were safe, my espresso machine would be the first thing I would save. The Arcade Gacha Event is in full swing and I've made a few purchases already. As you can see by my loving look, the coffeemaker from Standby is my favorite so far. Also from Standby is the package of French roast.

The eye chart poster and hanging willow plates are from Apple Fall - I want that whole set if I get lucky. The jams and cute table are some of Vespertine's Arcade items. Even my Glam Affair skin is available at the Arcade!

Credits:

-Glam Affair - Candy - America - 02 B (at The Arcade Gacha)

-Glam Affair - Candy -  Freckles

(fd) Scallop Shorts - Light Denim

erratic / cary - double tank / lime-turquoise

EarthStones Johanna Ring - Amber

Slink Mesh Hands (av)

Donna Flora VIOLETTA earrings

LeLutka - SATO hair - AuburnHaze (New Release)

At Home with Dolly

When I go to events I don't just buy new release clothes, I buy furniture and houses, too. The Modern Villa is the new release by Trompe Loeil at Collabor88. I'm slowly decorating it and the great room is shaping up nicely with Dig's new Douglas sofa, table and wall art at Liaison Collaborative's Garden. The rug and floor cushion are from Pilot, the floor lamp is from Trompe Loeil's Oceana group at this month's FaMeshed. Other assorted accessories are from Dutchie, Post, and Mud Honey.

Part of the fun of decorating a home in Second Life is the pleasure of mixing the work of different designers into a cohesive look. For my fireplace grouping I used the Trompe Loeil Oceana sofa, chairs, trunk and coffee table. I mixed in a floor lamp from the Digs Douglas grouping, a table lamp, mirror, wall art, and some accessories from The Loft's Alders grouping at Collabor88. The Mission style dresser and the books on the trunk are from Apple Fall at Collabor88. The only items NOT from a new event are the Pilot rugs, the hydrangas in a glass vase from Apple Fall and touch of greenery in the right corner from Rustica.

I think I'm going to be happy at this new house for awhile. Did I tell you it has a pool?

When It Rains

Sometimes I get tired of dressing Dolly up in the latest fashions and still want to mess around in Second Life. Shocking, I know. I've had this new Tee*fy release on for two or three days and HAVE NOT EVEN BOTHERED TO MATCH MY SHOES TO IT!

Whew, with that upsetting confession out of the way, I'll tell you what I've been doing instead - dressing up my homes. Dolly's got several you know. She's quite the jet/teleport setter. I seem to fall in love with all of the latest Barnesworth Anubis releases, and the rainy Parisian skybox at Collabor88 is my new love.

Mixing and matching furniture designers is as much fun as mixing clothing designers. My credits may seem kind of vague, so feel free to leave a comment below if you can't tell where I got something. Also, if the pics seem a little dark, well - I was feeling artsy fartsy and it was raining outside my skybox!

Credits:

From LISP: sofa and chair, chest with lamp and bird dodads, clock, lamp on the table under the clock, telescope for spying on the Frenchman across the street, oo la la!

From The Loft: console table, jute rug, mirror in the bedroom, basket of pillows

From Cheeky Pea: coffee table

From Culprit: framed pictures on console table

From Apple Fall: hydrangeas in vase

From Dutchie: potted plants

From Pilot: bed and stool in the bedroom

Hucci Cutie

Now this is an outfit I would wear forever! The dress is from Hucci at the months FaMeshed and comes in a number of patterns/colours. It makes me feel so sexy. To add a little cute to the sexy (always a good idea), I wore this new style from Truth. It makes me squeeeeee with happiness!

::HH:: Hucci Xai Dress - Python @ FaMeshed

LaGyo_Lost crystal ring Silver @ The Dressing Room Fusion

>TRUTH< Zuzka w/Roots - toast

*League* Jen Suntan Natural

Slink Mesh Rigged Hands 

[AF] FOREST Screen

Adorkable Pose - 25 days of Poses 2012 - No.20

FaMeshed Times Two

Yes, there are so many cute things at the monthly FaMeshed event that I'm posting two pictures and I'm letting you know with my SLink hands.  I have been loving The Secret Store since I discovered it.  The ladylike blouse in the top photo is a real winner.  The Wasabi Pill hair and the Maxi Gossamer jewelry are other winners that I snatched up at FaMeshed for this shoot. I rummaged through my inventory and came up with an older high waist coldLogic skirt that paired nicely with the blouse.

Blouses are on my mind and that's why I simply had to snap a pic of the Cracked Mirror tunic sized shirt (or shirtwaist dress), complete with a short sweater vest to show off.  I threw on leggings and boots to complete the look.  The furniture, laptop and skybox are all from Apple Fall, the poster is from Post.

Credits:

    

Top pic

Slink Mesh Hands

 

Wasabi Pills/ Amelie Mesh Hair - Gingerbread (at FaMeshed)

Maxi Gossamer - Bracelet - Santa Fe - Small (at FaMeshed)

  

The Secret Store - Sweet sheer - Chalk (at FaMeshed)

coldLogic skirt - buckley.coal

 

Mayfly - Liquid Light Mesh Eye (Desert Dawn Shadow, w3)

 

Glam Affair - Lilith - America 05 Red

 

Beetlebones Mesh Lashes V.01 (Dainty brown)

   

Bottom pic

 

Cracked Mirror Woolsworth Dress MESH (okra/black) (at FaMeshed)
 
Maitreya Stagioni Boots * Non-Rigged Coal
   

League Merino Leggings -MidCalf -Black

  

Wistful

It's been a while since I did a risqué blog post and the urge took me today, so here it is.  I LOVED the skybox from this months Fameshed and it was the perfect backdrop for this simple white chair from Cluttered Flowey. Keeping with the simple theme I just wore a pair of white panties from Insolence along with a little ornate bracelet from League.

[AF] PARIS Apartment @ Fameshed

cluttered. attic chair (snowflake)

Insolence - Jade Blush Panties

*League* Pearls & Lace Bracelet 

>TRUTH< Guinevere -  dark browns

Glam Affair - Lilith - Jamaica - Clean
Slink Womens Natural Barefeet (Mesh Rigged)