NOSTALGIA

Nostalgia is more a styling choice today than an actual mood. I fell in love with Villena's simple Varsity Jacket. It brings up the feelings of a distant idealized past. Many people look back on the past longing for a lost time or place. I'd rather look forward, but I wish I had a clearer idea what to look forward to and what to wish for. I'm not an optimist by nature or experience but I still like to indulge in a little hope. Don't we all?

It isn't just a jacket. It includes several versions, male and female, the jacket alone or with several t-shirts built in underneath. All nicely designed. I managed to combine the mesh top and bottom by wearing the larger jacket with the very skinny version of Maitreya's jeans. I would have paid for jeans but these were a store gift! As it happens the "dirty" version was my favorite color.

Jacket/Shirt: Villena "Varsity" (mesh)
Jeans: Maitreya "Zipper Skinny Jeans" (mesh)
Boots: J's "Sabo Boots" (texture change and with/without knit socks)
Hair: Lamb "Ruby" (mesh)(yup I had to modify my head to wear it!)
Skin: Mynerva "Milena Preview" (other variations available in store)
Eyes: Ikon "Horizon"
Lashes: Glow Studio "Innocent. eyelashes - pure"
Poses: included in Art Dummy bench (tres vieux)
Location: my Place

Love,
Serene

BE GOOD

I will be good to myself. I will take care of myself.

Whether what I need today is time with myself, time with my friend, or time alone with God, I will give myself what I need to keep my body, mind and spirit happy.

Shirt: part of Sakide “Show Your Strength” Dress (Back to Black Event)
Pants: Iren “Comfy Sweatpants” (mesh)(Back to Black Event)
Feet: Coco “BareFeet” (group gift)
Nails and Rings: U&R Dogs “Flaminio Rings” (Back to Black Event)
Hair: Lelutka “Knotted”
Skin: Mynerva “Sara Pure” (group gift)
Eyes: Ikon (fmr Fashism) “Sunrise”
Tattoo: sYs “Maiko” (Back to Black Event)
Bird: by Animania
Poses: by Embody (Back to Black Event) and Lost Angel Poses

Love,
Serene

THE SCOTS AUTUMN

Enjoying a fine day at the sea before the first freeze.

The loverly knits, plaids and argyle made me think of Her Majesty, but I don't have an old Land Rover so I am portraying a lesser member of the nobility. Perhaps a very distant cousin. I started dressing with the Sleepy Eddy sweater and the Gun provided by Don't Freak Out for the Seasons Hunt. Sleepy Eddy also made these leather clogs that I couldn't resist.

The sweet little necklace from Lassitude and Ennui includes a texture change HUD that lets you customise the colours of all its components.

Jacket: Sweetest Goodbye "4 Minute Jacket"
Sweater: Sleepy Eddy "Crew Neck Sweater" (Seasons Hunt)
Weapon: Don't Freak Out "Gone Huntin" (Seasons Hunt)
Necklace: Lassitude and Ennui "Scribble" (w/texture change HUD)
Skirt: Kurotsubaki "Brown Check"
Socks: Riddle "Argyle Socks"
Shoes: Sleepy Eddy "Gacha Sandals" yay I got the animal print!
Hair: Lelutka "Inverted"
Skin: Mynerva "Plain Jane"
Eyes: Fashism "Sunrise"
Poses: by Long Awkward Pose
Location: Raven Hollow

Love,
Serene

BUBBLEGUM!

Just a quickie. Between all the new Hair I "had to have" from Hair Fair, and some new Curio skins, I don't have much money left for the rest of the month. But I picked up many gifts at Hair Fair too, and some of them are perfect for Gogo's Bubblegum Weekend!

I love the messy wisps on top and the crazy color on this LollipopZ hair. It comes in three parts, with two pieces that attach to the shoulders.

Now this cute little bob is by Lamb. It comes in a megapack in all her shop colors and was labeled "Colortesters" but I think they're adorable, and because each one is only four prims I think you're seeing my new Event and Fair hair. Four prims doesn't add that much to sim lag does it?

And I think I'll finish off with this truly bubblegum hair from BC322. I love candy!

Red: LollipopZ “Dolce” Gift ... with American Bazaar Lipgloss and Hairbase by booN
Purple: Lamb “Bob” Colortester Gift ... with Curio Lipstick (old gift)
Pink: BC322 “Dee-Dolly” Gift ... with Mynerva Lipstick

Also wearing Skin by Curio, Eyes by Fashism, and Shirt by Whippet and Buck

Love,
Serene

AIRY FAIRY

A light comfortable outfit for the first really warm day I've had.

So comfy I ran around in it to do errands. And shopping.

Jacket: love me “girlie cape jacket”
Undershirt: Whippet and Buck “Hykova Buttoned Tank”
Leggings: choramimi “leggings lace”
Bag: rcbg “bohindian bag”
Shoes: Duh! “Floral Linen Flats”
Hair: Lamb “Isolation”
Hairbase: booN “gathered raised hairbase”
Skin: Mynerva “Bianca Latte” (at the Chic Birthday Event)
Eyebrows: Mynerva “Bianca Eyebrows Black”
Eyes: Fashism “Sunrise”
Poses: by Animazoo (and included in Handbag)

Love,
Serene

EYES THAT FOLLOW YOU

Two pairs of eyes really. I finally decided to try some loverly new eyes from Fashism, but the title is inspired by the necklace. The little painted portrait is beautiful but if you stare a while you realize that it is watching you. Her eyes blink. Spooky.

I wanted something suitably ornate so I put together several pieces from Pixel Dolls.

... and sacrificed the photo of the full length skirt and bustle. I love bustles but I am showing these GField shoes instead. Yummy. Why yes, I am a shoe whore. Thank you for noticing. I love you too. :D

Jewels: Donna Flora “Dreamer” (the portrait is animated!!)
Gown: Pixel Dolls “Timepiece” outfits (mixed pieces)
Shoes: G Field “Vilda” (slightly tinted - from Shoe Fair)
Skin: Glam Affair “Layla Grey” (the Dressing Room)
Lipstick: Mynerva “Lipstick Style 2 – Deep Plum”
Hairbase 1: Tiny Bird “Blacks Pack Hairbase” (I wear this for the lower hairline)
Hairbase 2: booN “gathered raised hairbase”
Hairpiece: booN “DARE82 black”
Eyes: Fashism “Sunrise Eyes – Deep Grey”
Eyelashes: by Exodi
Poses: by Long Awkward Pose

Love,
Serene

GIMME SUGAR

Digging around my bloggitybloggage closet I ran across a neglected bag of things from the Albero Gacha Festival. (Yes, I should be more organized.) My favorite schtuffs were these sweets. The Ring Pop took me way back but I restrained myself from popping more and more coins in the vendor to get all the flavors. And who doesn't like fruity popsicles? You know you love them. All calories hand-removed by elves.

It isn't too late for you to go to the Gacha Festival for a bit of cheap fun. If any of you haven't tried one of these events before, these inexpensive little vending machines randomly choose an item for you. Almost all of these things are transferrable so you can give any duplicates to your friends, or maybe trade to get the items you want.

Each popsicle comes with a matching tattoo layer that colors your lips and tongue. *grins*

Popsicle and Liptint: TOSL "Juicy Lips Tattoo" and Popsicle (Albero Gacha Festival)
Ring: Yummy "Candy Ring - Green" (Albero Gacha Festival)
Jacket: Emery "Jacket Sheena"
Shirt: Fishy Strawberry "Jewelled Cashmere"
Pants: Ibizarre "Leather Pants (silver)"
Glasses: Gos "Custom Eyeware v.3.0"
Shoes: Gos "Dare Bootie - Platinum"
Hair: Dernier Cri "Taylor"
Skin: Mynerva "Platinum Blue Lips" (this was a hunt version, unavailable)
Eyes: Poetic Color "Night Rain"
Eyelashes: Glow Studio "Innocent.eyelashes - pure"
Fingernails: Tres Blah "Nail Colour" (multipack)

Love,
Serene

END OF SHIFT

All night guarding the ship. Dull, dull, dull.

Relief due any minute.

Glad you're here, man! I'm hungry, what're they serving in the canteen?

Catsuit: PixelDolls “(Elipse).Scarab”
Belt: Blitzed “Plugged Belt” (with texture change HUD)
Mask: DV8 “BioTox Mask”
Boots: MEB “Stiletto Boots”
Lasgun: Operations “Chimera”
Hair: Waka and Yuki “Hair 145”
Skin: Mynerva “Summer Nights”
Eyes: Poetic Color “Night Rain”
Poses: by Animazoo and included in Gun
Location: Insilico Ground Level

Love,
Serene

GEARING UP

I've been running around on the Steam Hunt, and I thought, heck, why not photo this outfit in the meantime? Yes it's what I'm wearing to hunt. Unless it's like, Skin Fair, I don't take off my wig and shoes. I just trade them in for ones that are reasonably low prim. In honor of the steampunk theme, I put on this pretty little necklace I picked up at Mynerva a while ago.

One of the things I love about the Mynerva skins is their flexibility. These days she is working a kind of a-la-carte system, which includes lipsticks and eyebrows and rouge and freckles. Layer the options you like over a base skin. I had this skin already, and then recently I picked up some more packs of her lipstick at Skin Fair.


Sweater: Mr. Poet “Turtleneck_Sepia” (part of outfit)
Necklace: Mynerva “Victorian Cog Necklace”
Pants: Pink Outfitters “The Editor Pant”
Boots: Lassitude and Ennui “Miss Highlands”
Hair: Maitreya “Natalie”
Skin: Mynerva “Fudge Plain Jane” (wearing the No Brows version)
Eyes: Poetic Color “fairy eyes – witch bright gr” (with gold ring)
Eyelashes: Glow Studio “Innocent.eyelashes – pure”
Eyebrows: Curio “:GP: Sweetheart Brows-Black” (part of skin pack)
Lipstick: Mynerva “Lipstick Style 1-Bronze” (from Skin Fair)
Alpha: Imabee “System eyelashes – begone!”
Poses: by Don’t Freak Out
Photostudio: by N30

Love,
Serene

THE MECHANIC

I held on to this Miel dress for a while, because I wasn't sure how I wanted to use it. Finally the other day, I received a group gift from Deco, which included these grungy goggles by Gutterblood Spoonhammer. (Love em! They remind me of Dad's welding goggles.) Before Mr. Spoonhammer started selling wares upstairs at Deco, I used to visit his shop at ROT dev (gone dammit). The rough goggles inspired me to grunge up the Miel dress. I toughened her look combining the booN topknot with a buzzcut hairbase, and the gauged and pierced ears. The gauges are actually timepieces. I love that kind of details!

In case you still had any doubts whether this chick is someone you want to mess with, she is sporting a garter with a rusty old pistol tucked in.

Dress: Miel “Raider Dress” (group gift in several lovely colors)
Undershirt: Pieces from the Pink Outfitters “Rocket Girl Jacket” (VERY modified collar)
Leggings: Ducknipple “Zwaffel 03: Majo (black)”
Goggles: Decompose “Roughneck Goggles – red” (from Deco group gift)
Garter: LouLou & Co. “Garter Pistolero”
Arm warmers: DeLa “Arm warmers Black” (old gift) … I tinted the metal studs
Leg warmers: DeLa “Leg warmers Black” (old gift)
Shoes: Gos “Docs 8 Hole” (with optional old finish)
Hairpiece: booN “MKT012” (love love love!)
Tattoo with Hairbase: Aitui “Biomech Web w/Hair Base” (old gift)
Skin: dekade “Claire”
Ears: Mynerva “Chrono-plug II Elven Ears”
Eyes: Poetic Color “Night Rain”
Poses: by Long Awkward Pose
Photostudio: by N30

Love,
Serene

SOFTLY

The last couple of weeks, I've been sick. It got me thinking. Along parallel tracks of thought:

a. I need warmer clothes;
b. it was stupid of me to take my daughter trick or treating in the rain, even with that big ol' golf umbrella;
c. It was fantastic going trick or treating in the rain; even if I got sick it was not to be missed.

So here I am in the cuddliest softest oufit I could get together. Just looking at the knitty sweaters and corduroy is making me smile.

Okay okay, so only in Second Life can I tuck cords inside my socks :) don't be a critic.

Cardigan: Ducknipple “Cardigan – Pink”
Sweater: Ducknipple “Le Sweatere - Pink”
Pants: Doppleganger “Cuffed Cords – Brown” (includes rolled cuffs not shown)
Scarf: Miel “Lia Scarf – flor” (texture change)
Glasses: Miel “Genius Peepers” (texture change)
Socks: Miel “Jane Socks – Plaid Dark – brown brumble” (texture change cuffs)
Boots: Miel “Far Boots – Plaid” (texture change)
Hair: Maitreya “Natalie – Crayon”
Skin: Mynerva “Fudge Plain Jane v2 w/eyeliner”
Eyes: Poetic Color “Night Rain”
Eyelashes: Glow Studio “Innocent.eyelashes – pure”
Teeth: Glam Affair “Tattoo makeup TDR 13 – 2”
Poses: by Dismorph and Gesticulate
Photostudio: by N30

Love,
Serene

HAPPY MOMENT

I was poking around feeling blah, clickety clack, ho hum, whatever ... when I wandered into this shop and saw this sweater jacket. Don't get me wrong, I don't believe in shopping therapy, but I stood there for a minute and there was this odd blend of nostalgia and whimsy. I bought it and ran off to find something fun.


Sweater Jacket: love.me “girlie cape jacket”
Skirt: 5th and Oxford “Seaside Sweetie”
Shoes: Gos “Posh Booties”
Stockings: Twosome “Cozy Tights”
Ring: Lazy Places “Fortunate in Love” (gacha)
Hat: Tesla “Averly” (gift)
Hair: Maitreya “Zoe”
Skin: Mynerva “Fudge PJV2 w/eyeliner~Black Brows” (includes light and red brows)
Eyes: Poetic Color “Night Rain”
Lashes: Glow Studio “Innocent.eyelashes – pure”
Location: Drowsy

Love,
Serene

CLOVEN

This woodmaid does not run when someone sees her in the underbrush.

She is curious about what you are, and knows how to take care of herself.

Jewels: Lassitude and Ennui “Leaf Jewelry” (this color at Call For Couture)
Outfit: Bare Rose “Forest Elf”
Belt: Winkl “Belt Chain”
Hair: booN “VNS660” (also includes an ankle-length hair attachment!)
Horns: Illusions “Cerwyn Horns”
Legs: Visavi “Der’An” (set includes Legs, Tail and Horns not shown here)
Eyelashes: MiaSnow “Fantasy Curls”
Skin: Mynerva “Cynthia Pearls B4 The Swine”
Eyes: Poetic Color “Fairy Eyes – Witch Dark”
Poses: by Gesticulate (gift in the Copley Square Store)
Location: Wildewood

Love,
Serene

DOUBLE RAINBOW!

I got a good giggle the other day when I picked up Violet Voltaire's tribute to Double Rainbows. So why wouldn't I share?

If you would like to giggle at the Double Rainbow video some more, watch it here ...

Jewelry: Violet Voltaire “Double Rainbow”
Shirt: Whippet and Buck “Hykova Buttoned Tank”
Pants: Sassy Kitty Designs “Hippie Velvet Pants”
Shoes: No way, not today!
Hair: booN “LOK255”
Skin: Mynerva “Sophie” (Think Pink Hunt Prize)
Eyes: Poetic Color “Night Rain”
Poses: by Don’t Freak Out! From “The Twiggy Series”
Photostudio: by N30

Love,
Serene

GASEOUS DIHYDROGEN MONOXIDE

I don't have time to go on hunts anymore, but I make a few exceptions.

My new home is beautifully crafted by Parajen Designs for the Steam Hunt.
I don't really need this much space, which makes it feel like a luxury.

So there I stood, trying to decide what to put where.

Good thing I'm wearing my Cogitator.

This desk came with more accessories, but I shunted some
of them aside to make room for some lab equipment.

And I brought the mech arm to make it easy
to hang lights and put stuff on the top shelves.

Hat: Hatpins “Steamy Victorian Cogitator” (Steam Hunt)
Magnifying Glasses: Amaranthus “Lacy Rust Steampunk Spectacles” (Steam Hunt)
Pin: Beloved “Keyhole Cravat Pin” (repurposed as a brooch)(Steam Hunt)
Armband Toolbelt: Mire “Pathfinder Utility Arm Belt” (Steam Hunt)
Mechanical Arm: Sculptify “Female Arm Extender” (male version included)(Steam Hunt)
Waistcoat: BlakOpal “Steampunk Waistcoat” (ladies corset also included) (Steam Hunt)
Pants: Silentsparrow “(copper) Severin Suit Pants” (from the newest group gift)
Skin: Mynerva “OMG That’s Adorable”
Hair: Bryce “Traveler Whitewash Alloy” (gift at Hair Fair)
Eyes: Poetic Color “Night Rain”
Home: Parajen “Steam House” (you MUST have this!)(Steam Hunt)
Desk: The Epic Toy Factory "Rich Burled Desk Set” (more pieces not shown)(Steam Hunt)
Glassware/Lab Equipment: Hudson’s Illuminations “Lab Set” (Steam Hunt)
Poses: Animazoo and Long Awkward Pose

So many things to see! I can’t show it all, but you really should also have the Belle Belle Aether Headphones. The Spunkish Tophat from Camellia’s. Sometime you will need a boat just like the one from Cogoo, and a Steam Carriage like the one at Twisted Metal SteamWorks, and a Cepahlapod Vehicle from Lucy Rusts’ Boondoggle, and The Jetpack from Sparkworks, and the Davinci Ornithopter from NS6, and E. Bergamesco’s Hot Air Balloon ... The fabulous big clock from the Julia Collection and the fabulous little clock from Stainless Steam ... Scientific Equipment! Oh the scientific equipment! Kusshon’s Steampunk Workshop! The MURbot! The depictions of the solar system by the Golden Oriole and Ky’s Kreationz, the beakers and microscope and magnifying glass stand … just go! Go!

Love,
Serene

p.s. You may also visit the Steam Hunt Flickr Group to see more.

SEPTEMBER

September is here and fall is so close I can hardly stand it. I am looking forward to soups and cooshy sweaters. The first pumpkin pie and hot chocolate.

I'm trying not to get ahead of myself. I'm going to slow down and enjoy the fall leaves, and the aromatic smells of the lavender and catmint and russian sage in my flower bed. I'm going to take my daughter on that hayride, to the pumpkin patch, and the petting zoo and fall pony rides. We are going to make sugar cookies and harvest fennel seeds and the last tomatoes.

Shirt: Ducknipple “Mole”
Pants: Callie Cline “jeans – floral wash”
Earrings: Mandala “Monica Earrings / inca gold”
Boots: J’s “Western Boots”
Hair: Truth “Paige” silver
Skin: Mynerva “Summer Nights”
Eyes: Poetic Color “Night Rain”
Eyelashes: Glow Studio “Innocent.eyelashes – pure”
Poses: by Long Awkward Pose
Photostudio: by N30

Love,
Serene