Ok, so this vid is a little weird and I think in an attempt to be edgy they might have cut corners.. but I actually kinda like the song, and the vid was just kinda.. unironically ironic and almost cool. *blinks*.
I think I've expressed before that I have trouble just letting things go, and I'm not entirely sure why it's so troublesome for me. The smallest interactions can leave me examining every little thing I said, and even when I have the best intentions my message often ends up becoming quite mixed.
That being said, I want to make something clear.
I blog because I love it. When it comes to expressing an opinion about blogging, it is always that - my opinion. I don't think I'm any more 'right' than anyone else, nor do I believe that I am above anyone else. Blogging is 100% an art form, and when given the correct equipment for your art, you can excel beyond even your own expectations. If you're not given the equipment, it's your responsibility to find the items you'd like to blog. It's no-one's responsibility to provide you with the tools, but should you decide you'd like to apply for a blogger position, it's entirely my belief that you should grab that opportunity with both hands, remembering during the course of your blogger career with that brand how extremely lucky you are to be granted the creativity of the brand in question.
It's my belief that not only do you have a responsibility to that brand, but also to the applicants to that brand that weren't lucky enough to have access to the products you're now blogging. Suggesting that you'd like to skip over certain items because they don't fit your style is -in my opinion- insulting, because you APPLIED for that position (If you didn't apply and the creators are friends, where the fudge is your loyalty to your friends? Are you still a blogger, or are you always a friend, regardless of your photography talent? Are you taking up a blogger spot as well, or are you just lucky enough to be passed items from your friend? This makes my brain sore.). Other people applied that would wholeheartedly grasp at those products and happily, excitedly show off the amazingly talented creators we're lucky enough to see all over secondlife. If you blog, and find yourself in a position where the product no longer brings you happiness, GIVE UP YOUR SPOT for that blogger team, as there are probably a bunch of people waiting for it.
It saddens me daily that there seems to be such entitlement when it comes to blogging.
Although without a doubt I am extremely lucky, I am by no means one of the best bloggers in SL, despite my passion, despite my attempts at continuing to improve, but I don't have to be the best to enjoy every minute of what I do. I am however, blessed with some exceptionally talented people who are generous enough to grant me their items to attempt to make some pretties with, and damned if i'll sit here while bloggers belittle the beauty and generosity creators show on a regular basis.
Okay I feel better now! Have a beautiful day, Spoonies and never take anything for granted, because there is always someone wishing they had what you have.
Hands : Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara (This was so I could wear the nails from #Shook, I selected the "Slink Fit" option on the Belleza Hud, and then added the Maitreya hands. It's worth noting, there may be the occasional clothing clipping moment with this, as the belleza arms and Maitreya arms are shaped differently)
I had a conversation with someone recently that made me think again about who I want to be and where I want to go, and although I feel like without a doubt there have been some positive changes, I do feel like I need to address something that has niggled me for the longest time.
Life isn't fair.
I get that certain people are capable of "playing the game", and therefore they'll be the ones who seemingly succeed, which kinda makes their lives enviable to some... but I can't ever be that person again, if I ever was. The only way I have ever been able to achieve anything is to work my ass off, and as my friend mentioned to me in our conversation, I've worn many hats, especially within SL and whenever I felt like I was heading in a direction that didn't suit me, I think I may have intentionally shot myself in the butt to prevent it from happening. Still, in terms of blogging and photography, no matter how hard I try, how much I think I have improved, my not playing the game hurts me in terms of exposure.
Now, this may seem like I'm sitting here whining that I'm incredibly unpopular, but I'm not. I'm just using this platform as an example of what is changing for me, and how I'm viewing things... and in terms of blogging and many, many other things in my life that I'm not 'there' yet with, I fucking LOVE doing it. Because I love doing this, I will continue to do this. I will not circle jerk and I will stay the eff away from drama surrounding any activity I enjoy. I'm more than happy to work at my own pace now and although that jealousy monster might occasionally rear it's ugly head, it's power is fading daily, and I feel as though each "Congratulations" I pass on to someone else is more genuine than the last.
If others decide to play games, I'll no doubt see it, but it's not my life... it's theirs, and they have every right to live the way they see fit.
If you love what I do, that's a bonus... but I want to hold my head high and walk with integrity.
So, yeah, life isn't fair, but it does give us a chance to show our worth and I'm finally figuring out what mine is. I'm priceless. And so are you.
So I've done another vlog type whatsit today about the Shook Baddie Claws I mentioned a couple of blogs back. I'm going to try and do one vlog a week, hopefully in conjunction with a blog, but we'll see how that actually goes, because it's far more stressful than I want to admit!
For today, that means I've done the picture above, but I'm referencing items involved in the vlog too, so you get tons of information instead of just some!
The Dreamy skin from Revoul will be available at 3pm today (4th March) at The Galleria. She's available in 4 tones, two shown above (my favourite for this one is RE 25!).
It's worth noting that on the RE 05 picture, I've worn eyeliner found in the genus head hud. For some reason, my eyelashes seem to be far away from my eyes... I'm not sure how to fix this, but I'll keep you posted. On paler skins, it tends to look worse, and the RE 25 tone made that slight ick unnoticeable, and no eyeliner was used there.
I am so amazingly thrilled with the way this picture came out I may have done a happy dance.
Sometimes, I can take a picture and love it and it's done in 4 minutes.
Other days, it takes me a while.
If it's not the pose, it's the lighting. If it's not the lighting, it's the background. Sometimes my hair will stick through my clothing, or my finger will dig into my body, and i'll have to spend up to an hour editing all those little pieces to make the picture fit together the way it does in my head.
Today was one of those days, and I had to step away for a while, and come back and carry on.
There was a questionnaire that went out for bloggers to voluntarily fill out at some point... and I remember reading the questions and wondering whether i'm the only person in the world who experiences moments like I mentioned above. When it asked "How long does it take you to do a blog post from concept to completion?" I really didn't know how to answer. Some days, I can do it all in maybe two hours. Other days, it literally takes me ALL DAY... and the chances are before I've even started to take the photograph, I have had a conceptual idea in my head for at least half a day previous, sometimes a week or more, depending on deadlines.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining! I freakin' LOVE doing what I do, and I suppose in a way I am lucky that I can currently devote the time to it that I do.
I guess what I'm saying is that you really can't judge effort, or growth by looking at one picture... and that's true of people as much as it art.
xoxo
Soooo.. Shook has come out with some pretty effin' awesome nail addons. They come for Slink & Maitreya, and you can change two layers. I've enclosed a couple of gifs, and hopefully that'll be enough to set you on your way to understanding how these nails work. You can choose to have an ombre effect with two colours of your choice using the hud, or if you select both colours to be the same, you have some stunningly gorgeous single colour adornments for the tips of your fingers.
I'm wearing the Square version of the nails, and I'm using the metallics hud for varnish.
I'm super sleepy in the face today, I think maybe the weekend is catching up with me.. so maybe it's early nights for Pickle for a while? I mean, probably not, but I'll lay it out there and pretend like I'm sensible.
I did a mix of green screen and inworld stuff, so the inworld sunflowers are from Little Branch.
I need to do a massive shout-out to Hayyz Resident today. We were discussing her recent headshots she'd taken using the pose above, and I expressed my absolute love of Sunflowers and she was so freakin' adorable and gifted me the poses to use myself... so thank you, sweetheart!
Check out Hayyz's blog >Here< and her flickr >Here< to see her gorgeous versions!
I am so grateful for Hayyz. I got her pegged entirely wrong when we met and the poor girl now has to listen to me apologizing constantly for my mistake. She's become someone who, despite my shortcomings, will reach out and poke me every now and then to make sure things are going well. Her devotion to her friends makes me want to be better to others too. Thank you for being such an inspiring woman with your actions, beautiful. You mean the world to me. ♥
I have a bunch of info for you again today, so my dear Spoonies (i'm still gonna make that a thing!), read on to find out all the fabulous I'm sporting today!
xoxo
The Xiao Catwa Skin is available at the Revoul Mainstore, and I kinda feel like I'm channeling a bit of Nikita Dragun (I might be slightly delusional here, let me have that one). I've shown the tones available above. My personal favourite for this skin is RE20 shown in the top right, but as you can see, all of the tones are stunniiiinnnnngg (more Mama Dragun?). I'm using the Magy Catwa head, but don't be afraid to give it a go on ANY of your catwa heads, just bear in mind that different heads have different shadings, and as always, your shape may need to be tweaked... be sure to demo first!
Finally I think I may have discovered the secret of showing off eyes & eyelashes! Not sure why it took me quite this long to figure out how to get them all in line, but huzzah for this small hurdle I have jumped over! Above I'm showing the Revoul "Revoulutionized Beauty" Lash styles at Shiny Shabby, and the Go&See Mystery Eyes. also at Shiny Shabby.
In case you want a closer look, click over the image and it'll poof up bigger on your screen! ♥
Hair : DOUX - Audrey hairstyle [Deluxe Pack] - (Note : It seems Doux has changed the way they sell their hair, now you can buy a 'basic pack' which will allow you all the colours in the fatpack hud. If you purchase the DELUXE hud as a add-on, you'll get extra style options along with a tint hud, which i've used here to get the blue tone and the hanging jewels from the cute lil buns.)
Taken in the Apple Fall Country Hall @ my homestead.
Ok so my brain has well and truly been up my backside today, and I've neglected to think of a subject to write about, also, tomorrow I will be going out with family for my first 'public' meal since I've been feeling better... so that's possibly weighing on my mind a little. I mean, who wants to sit a freakin' restaurant with a bunch of people they don't know, feeling super self conscious while celebrating a 40th Wedding Anniversary?
I actually asked my Dad how he felt about being married to my mum for that long, and I was hoping/expecting for some beautiful sentiment or maybe at a push, something flattering about his children (eg, me.) but no. The response I got was "To be honest, I'm kinda numb to it now."
Now I'm remembering and giggling to myself like a plonker!
In other news, TMD is open, Lads! Go grab your new things!
Taken on my platform with a random-faffed-with windlight, so no other info!
I may have had a slight rant on facebook yesterday because my brain just wouldn't compute as I was constructing the blog.
If you missed it.. here it is!
"I was gonna post this on my blog, but I just couldn't find the words earlier, but I'm struggling pretty hard today, and not in the regular "Omg my anxiety is ridiculous and I want to sleep 5ever" kinda way (although that too).
Today I'm struggling to keep my fucking mouth shut. It's never been a thing I've been good at honestly, and I'm more likely to shout from the rooftops about how shitty a situation is than shut my trap and let people see it for themselves, but that has never done me any good, and although I'd love to keep keeping shtum I am TIRED. I am tired of watching these people who constantly take and take and take, and then take credit being shown as people worthy of some kind of SL fame, or infamy. I'm tired of being one of those people who have given more than my due, and have been left by the wayside or being painted as the villain in removing these vile people from my SL and my life in general. I know more than people know I know, and although I may say a lot to a select few, it's never the entire story. For fucks sake, be good to each other. I can't keep making excuses for my silence if you're continually being a fucktard."
See, I think it might have gotten a bit of a reaction, not because anyone actually knows what I was talking about (it wasn't one person, nor was it a collective of peoples. There were multiple reasons for me feeling like I needed to rant and most of them are selfish), but because so many of us humans feel so completely taken advantage of by others.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm well aware that everyone has toxic traits, myself included. I'm not perfect, I don't claim to be, but I do try extremely hard every day to remain a pleasant person to be around, but situations like the ones I have been forced into recently make that extremely difficult to maintain, as that stubborn angry bitch in me just wants to rear it's ugly head and snap at the stupid.
Continually I have to remind myself that my idea of a terrible person isn't my next door neighbours idea of a terrible person, and everyone is entitled to their opinions. However, when I see the same people pulling the same stunts over and over again, the angry in me bubbles over, and you get a Pickle Rant.
Today's mission is to calm the fuck down. I'm going to attempt (again) to accept the fact I cannot change people to suit MY agenda. Control isn't love, and more than anything I really DO want to shower kindness over people, no matter how successful I am in this. If I fail today, I'll get up and try and be a better version of myself tomorrow... yet, in being what I consider to be a decent person, I will also be taking care of myself and that means putting me first. I'm a very loud, very opinionated introvert, and sometimes people miss the introversion because of the noise I am capable of making, but I need to take care of myself and ensure my energy is good so I'll be collecting my spoons and distributing them far more wisely.
xoxo
Essences - Luisa for Genus in tones Pale 01 & Pale 02
Essences - Luisa for Genus in tones Medium 01 and Medium 02
Essences - Luisa for Genus in tones Dark 01 and Dark 02
As usual, the Essences skin comes with 6 eyebrow options (actually i think the "no brow" option might be new, but yay! New!), black, brown, ginger, blonde, red and no brows, not shown here today because I derped out!
