A Little Different

So earlier tonight, the awesome posemaker Adorkable Peapod offered a challenge to the bloggers. Blog something that is out of your norm! Like if you always blog high editorial fashion, blog yourself in jeans and a tshirt. Or if you do lovely girly looks, go crazy sci-fi or grungy. This sounded like fun to me! But what in the world would I do?? So I ran to the one place I knew would have some fantastic costumes – BARE ROSE!! I could not stop looking at everything because I haven’t been there in so long. I just love what I picked out!!

This is the Brass Armor Lady. I am glad I lift weights because this is some heavy armor!! But it’s SO COOL. I guess this would be considered steampunk maybe? I’m so bad at knowing all the different things. But I’ve got goggles and there are grenades on the back of my belt with little propellors. I think they’re grenades. I’m actually not sure! EVERYTHING is included in this outfit, even the boots, and it’s less than $200L. Oh Bare Rose, how much I love you!

Thank you, Adorkable, for pushing us into something a little different! This was SO MUCH FUN for me! I want more costumes now! I hope all of you choose to take on this challenge!

In This Post:

Skin: Briar in Tokyo by Aura
Hair: Taleen in Lemon Tea by Wasabi Pills [Mesh]
Outfit: Brass Armor Lady by Bare Rose
Eye Makeup: CatEyes Makeup by Damned
Pose by aDORKable Poses
Photo taken at The Mother Road

I ♥ Pink

I’ll admit it. I’m in love. Just the very sight of my love makes me go soft and fuzzy hearted. I want to cuddle up with my love and just sit in bliss. I look forward to Valentine’s Day because it means I’m surrounded in my love. I’m talking about the color pink, of course. What did you think I meant?

If you haven’t been to the I ♥ Originals fair yet, then you really really need to go! You can pick up this oh-so-sweet Twiggy dress from one of my favorite stores, Ingenue. This color is called – what else? – Valentine! But there are other colors as well, if pink isn’t your thing. [Ingenue at the fair]

Also at the fair, I picked up this gorgeous Kennedy necklace in pink by Caroline’s Jewelry. It’s part of a really inexpensive set that includes earrings, brooch, and ring as well. I love Caroline’s so much. [Caroline’s at the fair]

If you head on over to G Field, there’s a little hunt going on! Six items are free, such as this Heart Bag I’m carrying. There’s one in red, too! The Heart Flats are in the hunt, but are $30L, and there are two pairs to find. There are also two items for $50L each in the hunt, and honey, let me tell you. You WANT to find them. But if you’re busy, you can buy all 10 hunt items for $200L at the front of the store. Thank you, Cerberus!!

I have to go roll around in more pink goodness now. God, I love Valentine’s Day.

In this post:

Skin: Vilda 02 by LAQ
Hair: Me in Blonde 07 by Elikatira
Dress: Twiggy in Valentine by Ingenue [For the I ♥ Originals fair]
Shoes: Heart Flats in Pink by G Field [For the Sweetheart Hunt]
Necklace: Kennedy in pink pearl by Caroline’s Jewelry [For the I ♥ Originals fair]
Bag: Heart Bag in pink by G Field [For the Sweetheart Hunt]
Makeup:
* Doe Shimmer Eyeshadow in Ashes by PixelDolls
* Eyelashes – Dramatic by Exodi
* Everyday Blush #2 by cheLLe
Pose by Exposeur
Photo taken in the Lennon skybox by Altitude

Trick or Treat At Hide and Seek!

Oh man, did I ever have the PLAGUE this week. But, it’s passing me by and one of the best ways to get over the plague is by playing gacha! I swear! And one of my favorite sims, the Hide and Seek sim, is having a Trick or Treat Gacha event!

The hoodie and cute ghost t-shirt are both from the BOOM gacha. The hoodie is a “rare” find and the shirt is “uncommon,” which means you might not get them right away. The Pink Lady pumpkin pail I’m holding is from Olive Juice, and is also a “rare” find. I love it because it’s pink! In my mouth is an adorable flower basket from Awesome Blossom. I don’t usually put things in my mouth [that’s what she said] but this was too cute not to. And on my shoulder is devilish Lucikat from ANA_Mations. I love kitties, even devil kitties!

If you like gacha, go go go and play out there at Hide and Seek! You have from now until the 31st to play. Don’t forget, gacha prizes make great gifts, and it’s always fun to share with friends!

Here are the direct TPs to all the participating stores, just in case of lag or you want to just go to your favorite store!

Awesome Blossom
Olive Juice
BOOM
ANA_Mations
Pididdle
Molto Bene
Muism
Bamalama

Plurky Bloggers – Gone, But Not Forgotten

Time for the Plurky Bloggers challenge – week 2!!

This week’s theme is Gone, But Not Forgotten. That means to post from designers/stores who have either closed or are on an undetermined hiatus. I knew JUST who I wanted to show! Like last week, I don’t think I’ll be giving SLurls, because some of these designers are just not in SL anymore and there isn’t a way that you can purchase their items. [/sob]

Hexed by Kya Eliot was one of those shops that the moment I walked into it, I fell in love with it. Kya had everything from pretty preppy clothes to more gothic attire to costumes to boots. Her textures were top notch and her prices were awesome. This dress, Patches, is the last thing I remember getting from Hexed, and that was well over a year ago. Kya’s profile says that she’s closed and looking for better high speed internet. Let’s hope she finds it and comes back to us one day.

My hair is from the much missed Frangipani. It was always a bit of a mystery to me why Frangipani closed down. For a while there was a huge sale, and man, did I buy buy buy! Hair and clothes…mine mine mine. Then there was a new location, a new build, a few new releases, and then…a quiet goodbye. Heck, it wasn’t even goodbye. It was more like “Where did they GO?” Designer Rach Snookums’s profile holds no clues. If anyone knows why, I’d love to know!

My skin is the first release from Free Speerit, back in 2008. This is Desidelia in Smokey Green. My boyfriend at the time bought me fatpacks for our one month anniversary, and I wore the HECK out of these skins. I miss you, Desi!!

My necklace and ring are from very much missed ~flirt~. I had the joy of having designer Skinkie Winkler living on my island for a few months and I loved to see her little green dot on the map. I just knew she was creating wonderfulness above my head. Skinkie was probably one of the best prim torturers I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting, and I hope the physical world she left us for is bringing her much happiness and love.

The shoes on my feet are the cute Starley pumps by ever so much missed ETD. I’ve heard that Elika has been seen out and about in SL recently, and that she has a new sim, so I’m keeping my fingers triple crossed that she’s embarking on a new project to put goodies on my head and pretties on my feet.

Of course I’m wearing eyes by Miriel. I mean, how could I not? I’m standing in front of a house by O-Magine, which closed a while ago, but you can still find their old homes on XStreet. I wish they’d do new stuff. The builds have all been wonderful. And my pose is by Striking Poses, which I don’t believe updates any more, but is still somewhere hiding in SL.

Wow, sorry this is so long winded!

Vroom vroom!

I’ll admit it. I’m a sucker for anything I can ride on in SL. Don’t get dirty! Cars, horses, pogo balls, bicycles…if I can ride it, I’m happy! I saw last night that Blackberry Jam was having a 50% off sale, and that it included their Kiddy Wheels cars, so I ran right out today and grabbed it!!

Aww, Piper thinks my driving skills need work.

The Kiddy Wheels is a car that you wear, so if it’s just you in the car, then you can vroom vroom anywhere you’d like to go! I always like that because sometimes I want to drive around in a place where I can’t rez something.

Now you CAN, however, buy a separate “saddle” for your car if you want 3 of your friends to ride with you. The saddle you DO have to rez to the ground. Then you sit on the invisible box [ctrl-alt-t to turn on your “Reds” so you can see it!] and your passengers can sit on the poseballs. Then…vroom vroom!

But don’t worry, this isn’t just for girls. In the pack there is a boy car too!

Along with both the male & female cars in the pack, there are different sizes for adult and child sized avatars. Currently during the sale, they’re available for $199L, and you can purchase the saddle for $50L.

Vroom vroom yourself over to Blackberry Jam and get rollin’!

CLICK Photography Contest!!

Hey, have you heard of the store CLICK before? No? Oh my gosh, why not?? Collaborating with some of the best posers on the grid, creator Flix Saiman makes some unbelievable photosets! These things are simply AMAZING. And guess what? CLICK is having a contest!!

Here are some of the important details!

RULES:

1. To be eligible for submission the picture must include a -CLICK- Prop with use of at least one pose from a -CLICK- Product.

2. Photos must be done in high resolution (exception is the Most Natural title. These will be accepted as snapshots ONLY to ensure no post-processing has been done). Photos should be perfectly square sized as a 1024×1024.

3. Only the photographer is eligible for the prize, not the model. Photographers may model in their own photos.

4. You may submit up to 10 pictures but you may only win 1 prize per category.

5. Photos for the Most Popular prize will be sorted and a max of 100 will be displayed for popular vote at The Renaissance Galleria.

6 Winners will be announced in The Best of SL Magazine Readers Group. You MUST be a member of this group to be eligible. [Contact Flix if you want to enter without being part of the group. Group space is of course at a premium these days, as we all well know!]

HOW TO ENTER

1. Please title all photos: -CLICK- Photo Contest (Title of picture, Your Name).

2. Place photo(s) in ONE folder titled: -CLICK- Photo Contest (Your Name)
**Even if you only submit one photo, please place the photo inside a FOLDER.**

3. Photos must be submitted as FULL PERMS. Submitting a photo grants -CLICK-, The Best of SL and all sponsors full rights to the picture. Photos will not be sold or altered (other than possible cropping or resizing, and typeface may be added for ads), but may be used for advertisements in The Best of SL Magazine or at any of the sponsor locations.

4. Failure to title photos properly or failure to submit a full perms photo will disqualify your entry.

5. Submit your folder to Click Memo by Midnight SLT on June 22nd. LATE ENTRIES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

I won’t get into all the prizes, but the first place winner? $10,000L, baby! Plus loads of gift cards, skins and clothes from places like Glitterati, Exposeur, Exodi, and more! In total, it’s worth over $46,000L!!

Head over to CLICK to pick up more information on the contest, and to get your posesets so you can take part in this wonderful contest!

Pose Fair Is Coming! Spring Bazaar Is Here!

Hey, do you know what’s coming up? POSE FAIR!!!! The only way I’d be more excited about a fair is if it was called “Hey Ali, Everything You Ever Needed In SL Is Right Here And Free” Fair.

Today I’m using poses from Amacci, which will be in the Pose Fair this year. I was sent a great folder of poses, plus their “Posh AO.” I really like the AO, and I think whenever I’m called to do a runway show again, this will probably be the AO I end up using for it.

If you didn’t know, the Spring Bazaar is going on right now! Lots of cute designers out there, and everything is $50L or less. I picked up lots of great things, including a ton of stuff in the dollarbie/freebie Easter eggs that are hiding around. I picked up this great t-shirt from Intrigue Co. for $25L, and these shorts from Frop, which were part of a 2 shirts/2 shorts set for $30L. I also picked up my facial piercings from Adore & Abhor for $15L. Heck of a deal!

[I will say, though, for those of you who don’t care for the recolors of the premade template stuff you can buy on XStreet, a lot of these items have been made using templates, and so a lot look the same. But if that doesn’t bug you, especially since it’s all so inexpensive, then you should be totally good!]

The Spring Bazaar is going on now until April 11th, and the Pose Fair starts this Friday, April 2nd, at 4pm SLT. Happy shopping!

Also in this post:

Skin: Alyson [Group Gift] by Belleza
Hair: Marguerite in Strawberry by Truth
Shoes: Hocs Lowtops by HOC Industries

Here fishie, fishie, fishie…

I love the Pocket Gardens by Stormy Aluveaux and Carter Denja. Anytime I need an instant garden [because I’m horrible at landscaping!], I pull mine out and boom! Insta-pretty! I was super happy to see the new Castalia Basin with Koi, because who doesn’t need some cute fish in their life??

The basins go really well with the Castalia prefab gardens. Both basins come with color change scripts for the basin itself, and for the roses attached. The fish are so cute and swim in circles. There are even sits on each basin [as shown in the top picture] and one of the best parts? Low prim! The small basin is 7 prims and the large is 10 prims. These are GREAT if you’re in one of the new Linden homes!

These are very affordable, too! The small basin is $125L and the large is $175L. Or get a little discount and get both for $250L! They are copyable, so you can put fish out everywhere!

Go pick up your new koi at Pocket Gardens today!

FilterCam Contest!!

You guys have heard me rave about FilterCam by MechanizedLife before, but I’m giving you all the best reason in the world to buy one now or pull yours out! There’s a contest!!

What do you have to do? Take pictures using FilterCam! I snapped this one earlier tonight using the Keyhole filter and a windlight setting. The only post-processing I did was crop it and put a thin black frame around it.

Using FilterCam allows you to take some great photos without the need for a lot of Photoshop/Gimp work afterwards. I love love love mine!

Oh, the contest? Well, check out all the details! I snagged it from the gorgeous Gabby’s blog.

What: FilterCam Photo Contest

When: 6 February through 28 February 2010, Winners announced 1 March 2010

Prizes

1st Prize – L$5000 + Avimote PoseMaker Personal Edition (L$2450 value)

2nd Prize – L$2500 + Avimote PoseMaker Personal Edition (L$2450 value)

3rd Prize – L$1000 + Avimote PoseMaker Personal Edition (L$2450 value)

Rules

All entries must originate in Second Life and must be created using the FilterCam HUD by MechanizedLife

Entries must be submitted to the FilterCam Flickr Group

Entries must include the tag “FILTERCAM CONTEST”

Post-processing is permitted, but should be used sparingly as the idea behind the FilterCam HUD is to create beautiful in-world snapshots that do not require extensive post work.

A descripton of the filter/mask used and any post-processing applied should be included in the photo description.

You may use any of the filters/masks included with the FilterCam HUD or you may create and use filters/masks of your own design.

You may submit up to 3 entries.

Entries can be submitted through 12:00am SLT on Sunday, 28 February 2010, at which time judging will begin. Late entries will not be considered.

Winners will be announced on Monday, 1 March 2010 at 5pm SLT and prizes will be distributed at that time.

Judges

The following individuals have agreed to participate as judges for this competition.

CodeBastard Redgrave – Owner, MechanizedLife and Creator of the FilterCam HUD

Gabby Panacek – PR Manager, MechanizedLife

Ryker Beck – Second Life artist and designer, creator of many of the filters/masks included with the FilterCam HUD

Stephen Venkman – Second Life Artist and Photographer

Tillie Ariantho – Second Life Photographer and Creator of Tillie’s Posing Stand with HUD

Jori Watler – Second Life Photographer and Jewelry Designer

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m going to try to be a winner! If you haven’t bought your own FilterCam yet – hurry over to MechanizedLife and do it now!

FilterCam available as the SL Daily Deal!

As most people know, I absolutely ADORE FilterCam from MechanizedLife, the wonderful CodeBastard Redgrave’s awesome store. I use mine quite often for in world photos and if you’ve never heard of it before, you can read up on my review of it here in this blog.

Today for SL Daily Deals, you can get your own FilterCam for the AWESOME price of just $399L!! Incredible!! If you take a lot of photos in world and maybe your Photoshop/Gimp skills aren’t completely wonderful, I highly highly suggest you pick this up. But go quickly! There are only 100 available. Watch the Daily Deals website to see when it’s available, but it should be up at 12am SLT.

And yeah, I’ve used this frame from FilterCam in here before, but I love it. 🙂 The only thing done to this photo was cropping, everything else is exactly as I took it in world. Don’t miss out on getting your own FilterCam at MechanizedLife!!