I have a busy day today! I'm quite excited, actually.
Back in around May, I shaved my head. It was something I had considered for about 6 months.Thankfully, it wasn't because I have suffered any kind of physical sickness, but more because my waist length hair had been left uncared for, and the only way I could think of to make everything better and actually begin some kind of self care routine in terms of my hair was to start over. It was around a number 5 when I shaved it, so no, not all the way down to the scalp but pretty darn close!
I have never had hair shorter than my shoulders before, and my hair had definitely become a way for me to hide. I would pull it forward and use it almost like a curtain. If I can't see you, you can't see me... kind of like how I imagine Peek-a-boo works with babies!
Shaving my head was incredibly scary, but also strangely liberating. If you haven't already watched "Nappily ever after" on Netflix, I thoroughly recommend you do, whether you have afro-style hair or otherwise, her journey is inspiring.
Anywho, today my hair has gotten long enough for me to actually get it cut into some kind of style.
I'm hoping for a Pixie-like cut, kind of like Emma Watson from "The perks of being a wallflower", but I'm not a Hollywood actress, nor am I in my early 20's, so we'll have to see exactly how that works out!
The location for today's shoot is a mystery, and will be revealed upon it's completion. I know, you can barely see a barred window, but who doesn't love a little mystery in their life??
I'm sorta kinda loving this picture! Durex and Pickle make the most adorable couple!
I wanted to talk quickly about the use of animare on poses.
If you don't know what animare is, you can find it listed on MP >HERE< and though I'm sure there's many things you can do with the version linked, all I use it for is to modify poses slightly.
For example, in the above picture, Durex's hand was pushed into Pickle's head far too much, but with a couple of animare tweaks, it popped out and the pose was saved.
Please note, this doesn't mean that the pose is broken, or doesn't work... each pose is made with the specific body-type of the pose maker & advertiser in mind and you as a consumer are expected to modify your shape to fit or not buy the pose at all. Demoing poses IS important if you are unprepared to do this! Being that in SL we are all now capable of having a variety of shapes and a myriad of bodies are used, tools such as Animare come in very handy for photography and modelling purposes, and on investigating marketplace it seems like there's a new option that will allow you to modify a models pose too... so I might look into that for the future!
Anywho, go explore the things!
xoxo
I forgot to save the pose for this, but it's been edited with animare anyway so don't kill me, k? ♥
Location : Consent (Adult) - Trailer Park temporary build.
I had a bunch of fun setting up this scene for Consent, and we had a riotous time on Friday with our DJ's and friends! Having a place like Consent is difficult, it's become very dear to me, not just because it's my place, but because I feel like it's a place SL has been missing for a long time. So now I am attempting to take more of a pride in it. Every Friday (almost), we're going to have a theme party. I'm going to design a new area specifically for that party and it'll remain up until at least the Wednesday of the following week.
The regular Consent area will still run as usual, so people can chill & hangout there, too.
The theory behind Consent is pretty simple. Respect. That is the foundation that I want to build a community on. It's a slow process, but gradually I am seeing an interest build, but like any new place, it's taking time. Luckily, I'm pretty darn stubborn and I'm not about to give up yet!
The group is free to join, and always will be. I have turned 'chatter' off in the group, because I believe if you want to talk to people, you should attempt to be around them, and with that in mind I have set up little areas around the build to be able to do just that. A cosy camp-fire, some couples cuddle spots and some naughtier do-hickies if you wanna get nasty. Voice is active (but not necessary), unless there's a scheduled DJ event (Friday nights at the moment), and there are plenty of games around if they tickle your fancy (Speedbump, greedy, cheesy, skippo, cards against humanity and maybe a couple i've forgotten).
I want to encourage people to talk openly here. SL for many of us has become a place where we isolate ourselves further from society, perhaps occasionally opening up to new people, only to close down when we get burned and pushing people away. I hope Consent will remain a safe-place with good people and chilled vibes for a long time, and I also hope that you'll visit, check out the information package and read up on how you can be a part of it, too.
Refuge - Selene Ottoman Pink/S @ The Coven (Notes : The Selene Ottoman comes in a selection of colours, with the option of gold or silver accents. It's also available as a PG or Adult item, definitely worth checking out!)
ZOMG! So today's post is running a little later than planned, because photoshop decided to crash on me when I was about 20 minutes away from clicking 'Save'.
Somehow, I calmed myself down and didn't throw my computer out of the window... and then started over, hitting save sporadically in case the same thing happened again!
I'm not sure what's with me today, but I got about 20 minutes towards clicking 'Save' again, and CLOSED THE FUDGING FILE. Yes. That's right. "Close all" does JUST that.
Anyway! Let's talk about this dress for a minute, k? See them thar sparkles? They're not added fancy effects. The dress is most definitely materials enabled and when you wiggle around, be that with an AO or a dance, or yanno, pose, the dress LEGIT FREAKIN SPARKLES. Not only that, but there's an array of colours, it caters to Maitreya, Belleza Freya & Isis(with push up & perky options), AND Hourglass, so everyone can get into this slinky number and parade about feeling like BAJILLIONS of Lindens! Check out the gif below!
Today, things just wouldn't do what I wanted them to do.
For some reason, I slept forever last night. I mean, it was obviously needed, and when I woke up I had ALL the ideas for a completely different post. However, sometimes things don't go quite as planned. Instead of doing what I've been doing normally, I tried far too hard to push myself outside of my comfort zone, and because of the amazing capacity I have to overthink, I somehow managed to completely spin myself in circles and thus NUFFIN' was happening the way I'd envisioned it.
I ended up scrapping that first idea I'd spent 4 hours on, and hurrumphing around like a sad puppy for about 30 minutes, ran around a few stores with half-an-idea and bought some things I'm never going to wear, and then really started over. For real.
I guess that's sort of how I feel about this picture.
Unintentionally, it became a piece i'm actually really stinkin' proud of.
I hope it speaks to you, just a little. I hope you see that even when it's raining, when there seems no way out, there's still a light. There's always something positive to focus on, and there's always another way to look at any situation we're forced into. Things will get tough - likely, they'll always be tough, whether that's actual life, or secondlife. I just hope you find the strength to continue doing what you love, because the results can lift you more than you thought possible. ♥
Location : Orchard Heights (Family Community please dress accordingly!)
I've never been particularly attached to my phone, but I AM exceedingly attached to my PC, so I kind of understand how easy it is to get distracted by something shiny and all of a sudden you've beavered into your best friends neighbours boyfriends fathers business-partners facebook profile, and you're wondering how you got there, slightly bemused with cheerios dripping down your chin.
I've also never really been one to share much on social media. I guess to me that equates to telling people about my life, and honestly, if you're not involved in my life, why do you care? What good is telling my third cousin that I just ate a bowl of porridge and quite fancy a nap now?
I don't do anything particularly exciting, RL or SL, and I guess the closest I get to over-sharing is probably to do with Consent, which'll happen at the moment once or twice a week.
However, I do often wonder what the world is coming to.
I believe we've all become somehow desensitized to 'real life'. We see something violent online, and it can become amusing rather than disturbing. We are no longer rooting for people to make it, but celebrating their losses. We don't interact as humans, but as robots, liking and hearting all of the posts instead of commenting to the person themselves.
Introversion is becoming far more prominent, mental health is in decline.
Is this because of technology & social media, or is this just what the world is morphing into?
The above picture pretty much describes how I see it. We're trapped in a little bubble of our own colourful world, and the outskirts of it are grey and bleak. We might be scared to put down that phone, or step away from the computer for fear of missing out - but the reality is there's probably far more going on in the grey that we're missing, and it's right in front of us.
Maudlin? Not necessarily. I do think a healthy balance of RL & Social Media can be beneficial, and I'm really the last person to be preaching about spending less time attached to that little screen waiting for Veronica to post her latest snapchat photo of her having "Such a good time with the girls in the club"... ultimately, whatever you're doing, however you're using your time online, remember, hiding in the grey, is life. Grab it.
I've been thinking today about how lovely compliments are.
I don't mean those generic "Nice Ass!" compliments, although it's nice to get told you have a good butt!
I mean, when you've worked really really hard at getting something better, and you yourself see an improvement, it's nice to have some sort of outside reinforcement that you're making headway.
Today, I am going to give everyone a compliment when they talk to me, until I run out of spoons. I am going to make sure it is genuine and deserved. I am going to attempt to spread a little positivity, and hope that I can make someone smile and who knows, maybe make their day a little brighter. I think in the process of this, I might also have a greater appreciation for those people in my life.
Background : Fireplace, Build & Table : DRD - Series 01
Plants & Bar : Apple Fall
Hold on to your knickers, today's post is full of information about the products shown!
Back in September, DRD started a series called "Light and Dark" running on the concept of a subscription box. Over a period of six months, they released one mystery box per month, which you had to sign up for every month and pay for every month. At the end of the six month period, if you had managed to grab each of the boxes you were promised a light and dark building to match with the furniture as a bonus.
Not only have I been absolutely wowed by the furniture on a monthly basis, but I am also stunned by the buildings now too. When I logged in today and received the final box, I almost literally ran to DRD as fast as my pixel-legs could carry me, wearing my Subscription hud, I made huge grabby hands at the vendor, receiving my bonus houses. I. Freaking. Love. Them.
I know I'm only showing you a small portion of the latest box, in the light version, but this set is undoubtedly worth every single penny I paid for it. I'm never upset by the quality of DRD, and this is no exception. With the ability to rez the builds inclusive of furniture, or to create your own scene using the subscription boxes you've received previously, this is a fantastic end to a 6 month journey I took on an off-chance. Love.
Now let me just squee over this dress by Bueno. I say dress loosely, because as you can see by the main photograph, I've removed the shirt to add my own. Automatically this becomes a staple in your inventory, because it's now capable of being glammed up for a night out, or worn to visit your friends who don't like seeing your tits at every opportunity. (Although, who doesn't like tits?)
The skirt comes in several colour options available separately or in a fatpack and with it, you get a hud for the shirt (shown in pictures above) with a bunch MORE colour options for that (Yes, there's even more than those shown in the picture!). It's literally the mixiest and matchiest thing ever! You can even change the zippers through different metal textures too!
Finally, there's the pose from Go&See. I love how creative Go&See is, and the store reflects the different interests extremely well. Whether it's poses, eyes, skins, or add-ons, the quality is always there. These poses are from the *cool* range, and will be available at Chapter Four from the 4th February.
Bodyfy opens today. For those who aren't aware of the event, it's a tattoo/body modification/scarification event, and it's been running for over a year now.
I'm always trying to find new ways to blog and photograph full tattoos. I feel like it's important to keep the creativity while showing as much of the body-art as possible. I'm not a fan of throwing my nips&bits out there willy nilly in photography, so hopefully what I've done here has managed to keep an element of class.
I'm really proud of my last few pictures. I'm not naturally talented, and often they take a lot of effort and a bit of wiggling. Today I added the ripples in the bathwater, and I got so ridiculously happy about it that I MAY have squee'd to myself!!
Eyelids : Slink Mesh eyelids (No longer available in store, but if you ask really nicely in a note, you MIGHT get them from slink customer service like I did on an alt *coughs*)
Music, and the poetry of words hits you right in the feels.
The song I'm using today is "Satellite" by Gabbie Hanna. Apparently, she's a semi-well known youtube vlogger, but honestly, I'm not entirely aware of her presence there.
Her song, however, hit me hard.
I've already described myself as slightly anxious, but I often have issues with social settings too. I'm convinced that as we start to rely more on the internet to socialize this is going to become a common problem. However, online I tend to be slightly more outgoing than that of the real me. Whether that's because i'm subconsciously masking the parts of me I don't like, or I have more confidence behind an avatar, I'm not entirely sure. What I do know, is that sometimes, I just CAN'T people.
I say the wrong things from the beginning. I forget new people don't know me, and don't understand my humor, so I backtrack and confuse myself and them.
Listen to the lyrics of this one, please. She might not be Beyonce, but give it a chance. Maybe you'll relate too.
Sometimes when I put an outfit together I get an "Oh no bb, what is you doing?" moment. Not gonna lie, I sorta had that with this one, but incorporating a story behind the outfit really helps for me.
See, in this picture I've been out all night. I've half undressed in a semi-drunken stupor, pulling on a comfortable pair of shorts and fallen into bed, exhausted from a night of dancing and drinking.
At some point in the early morning, I've woken up with cotton-mouth, and reached over for a glass of water. After sating my thirst, I've decided to sneak out of the window and hop up to the roof for a cheeky smoke, adorning my feet with the shoes I wore the night before in order to watch the sun rise and the stars dissipate before my eyes.
