Piece by piece.

Pose : Foxcity Flowers-1 (Tweaked with Animare, Facial expression thanks to the Axix hud from Lelutka)

Decor/Props : {moss&mink} Whispers - Naughty (Gacha) (Mug in hand)

Kenvie - Raindeer - Black Red Horns

Peaches - A Raven's Feast Hot Chocolate Bar @ FaMESHed (Note - this is part of a Collaboration between Moss&Mink & Peaches, and I've currently only included the Peaches collection. Keep your eyes peeled for the Moss&Mink part in the future!)

Includes : A Raven's Feast  - Chalk Board

A Raven's Feast  - Chocolate Chips

A Raven's Feast  - Cinnamon Sugar

A Raven's Feast  - Cup Stand

A Raven's Feast  - Side Table (Includes variations with draped blankets)

A Raven's Feast  - Straws

A Raven's Feast  - Syrups

A Raven's Feast  - Whipped Cream

A Raven's Feast - Hot Chocolate Dispenser (Includes colour variations)

A Raven's Feast - Marshmellows

I'm a pretty proud person, and sometimes in the past, my pride has definitely gotten in the way of me making progress both in SL & RL.

Today I questioned myself, and whether my pride was a reason I haven't excelled as far as I would have liked in terms of blogging and/or Photography.

My main reason for beginning this journey was to prove to someone else I could do it MY way. I feel like I've done that, but honestly, it's unlikely that they even notice, let alone care, that I am still blogging three years later.

However, along the way I discovered a passion for photography (still in progress!), and when I finally felt like I could maybe write occasionally in my blog, I discovered it to be a fabulous form of therapy and far better to help me find myself than the professionals I've seen (shh, I'm broken!).

There are a few things I get frustrated at when I speak about "SL Bloggers", and those are assumptions made. I've seen a lot of it, and in certain circles these assumptions are most definitely prevalent, read on for my feelings on the nonsense!

a. Bloggers only want free shit.

* In my world, I love free shit. However, I don't want free shit I feel I am undeserving of, or free shit that I don't absolutely adore. It took me three months of (almost) daily blogging to even consider reaching out to creators for sponsorship, because I wanted to be taken seriously and even now, I only apply to stores that I genuinely love. I have been asked to blog for a couple of stores and events too, and that's always ALWAYS incredibly flattering. I'm lucky enough to feel like I'm at a point where I can decide whether that particular store or event has the quality I want to showcase in my 'work'.

b. Bloggers only make friends with creators they want free shit from.

* I have never made friends with someone purely to become a someone in their life to forward my blog, myself, or for any reason other than friendship. Three years into my blog, and I feel like I'm only genuine friends with maybe three creators. I have respect and admiration for the others, and while I won't throw away a future friendship with anyone, I will never approach someone for personal gain. It IS something I witness often though, but it works both ways, and when you're in any type of community it makes sense that you would hang out more with people that are inside that community with you, and that's cool... but I think sometimes it gets forgotten that there are people outside of these groups that still have a pull or an audience just as important as the 'clique'.

c. All bloggers are snobs.

* Let's be honest, I have my moments! I will however be polite and respectful so long as I feel that is being reciprocated. I am only human and I have no doubt I have a reputation of being a bit stand-offish, but that's not a reflection of anyone else but far more because like almost everyone who has been in SL for an extended period of time, I have been bitten more times than I can count. I am far more introverted than I have ever been, and getting me to open up or to be comfortable in anyone's company is a challenge, especially when I feed off energies and again, people have perceptions of who you should be based on what they have heard.

There's probably many more assumptions I haven't addressed, but this was getting a bit long!

Anyway.

Back to my original point of being prideful... I don't think I am -currently- being proud, if constructive criticism was ever offered, I would most definitely be up for a discussion and I much prefer that to mindlessly blowing smoke up my ass!

I would rather progress frustratingly slow, than throw myself at people to be a fake version of myself simply for a broader audience and "better" content. The current sponsors I have are fantastic - and trust me, there's been a couple of nightmares, but mostly I feel like I have been extremely lucky!

I hope that I have found my moral compass in regards to the way I want to behave, be seen, and the presence I want to have in other people's lives.

xoxo

All of the things : 

Body Hands & Feet: -Belleza- Freya

Head & Eyeliner : GENUS Project (babyface)

Skin : . MILA . Neave Skin [Honey] GENUS @ Vanity Event

Eyes :   LOTUS. Sparkle Eyes (mesh)  @ Vanity Event

Hairbase : Just Magnetized - Essential Hairbase - set 05 for OMEGA

Hair : #Foxy - Ari. 

Choker : Messy. Saint Choker Monster

Tattoo : DAPPA - Babygirl Tattoo. @ Equal10

Outfit : .miss chelsea. Oria @ Equal10

Shoes : #EMPIRE - Aquamarine (previously at N21)

Patience.

Pose : FOXCITY. Glitz-3m (Edited v. slightly)

I know, I know, I ran away and didn't tell you!

I'm sorry!

Sometimes, mental health just creeps up on you and finally, for the first time in almost 10 years, I decided to distance myself from SL for a while.

Some of you will know that this is incredibly difficult for me. For a long time, SL has been somewhat of a crutch, but in recent months it's also become more of a beast in need of caging.

I can't help but see how SL is a boiling pot of people, all coming together to suit their own agendas, and in theory, that idea is beautiful. In reality, what seems we have discovered is that when our masks come off, humanity doesn't seem to care too much about others. We don't have the time to find ourselves, and we're all so hurt that hurting others is an easy alternative to focusing on our issues and building ourselves up. The society of validation has become ridiculous.. no one is responsible for your happiness other than yourself. I can't compete with social media likes, and I refuse to be one of the sheeples that incessantly kisses ass in order to become a someone.

This isn't linked JUST to SL and the internet, but the whole world is in a really crazy state of turmoil, and if you can't see it - I pity you the most.

I am tired.

We are ALL tired.

Plans for the future? Well, I'm going to continue to work on myself. I really do have everything I could possibly need in terms of material items and emotional support. I have a good group of friends that understand me and can kick my ass if needed, but will also lift me up and be legitimately proud of my accomplishments.

The whole idea of someone blowing smoke up my arse in order to make themselves feel better fills me with horror, and I can no longer be a party to allowing those people in my life.

I hope to continue to take a step back away from SL. I think it's going to be a very slow process, but I can see what a negative distraction it can become, and while I'm involved, I'd like my experiences to be filled with positivity, beauty and creativity.

Have a fantastic Wednesday, guys... and rest assured, although this may have been a bit of a downer to read, this is positive for me, and I hope it stirs something within you, too.

xoxo

All of the things : 

Body Hands & Feet: -Belleza- Freya

Head : GENUS Project (Babyface)

Skin : [theSkinnery] Nadine (Genus Applier)

Eyes : [theSkinnery] Autumn Eerie Eyes 4

Glasses : VCO . Zion glasses [Gold]

Hairbase : Just Magnetized - Essential Hairbase - set 05 

Hair : DOUX - Ryan hairstyle @ Dubai

Earrings : Messy. Hoop Earrings Bear 

Bear ears & Tail : +Half-Deer+ Little Lights - Bear Ears + Tail 

Outfit : .miss chelsea. Nola Set  @ N21

Bear Bag : =Zenith= Babo Bear Bag 

Boots : #EMPIRE - Moonstone @ Tannenbaum

Fall back together.

I used my AO and a tweak with the Lelutka Axis hud to make this pose work.. plus windlights on my platform, so there's no fancy info today!

I am having a very "monster" day today. A day where I woke up feeling pretty darn good, and then progressively started to internalize a bunch of insecurities until I end up blurting at some of my friends. Luckily, I have the BEST friends in the history of friends, and they soon turned my frown upside down.

For that reason, have some credits without some waffle! My poor Pickled brain cannot function beyond the very basics haha. Have a wonderful Friday!

xoxo

All of the things : 

Body : Slink Physique Hourglass Mesh Body  

Skin : ! Lumae Fantasy : All Heads - Elentari // Neutral 

Head : CATWA Catya

Eyes : LOTUS. Balance Eyes @ Vanity Event

Eyeliner : Veechi - Boss Liner @ Collabor88

Freckles : Veechi - Foiled Freckles

Lips : On the catwa hud - black lipstick faded out!

Hair : Stealthic - Fleeting @ Kustom9

Headband : .random.Matter. - Lorac Halo (Not sure if this is still available!)

Horns : Lovely Disarray - Sketched Hellion Horns (Seems these are currently unavailable too, sorry!)

Collar : Messy. Saint Choker Monster @ RLD

Tattoo : Izzie's - Metallic Arrow Tattoo

Coming around.

Pose : <K&S> Just to be together. Bento pose

Props : DRD - The Bakers Fail - Cake Counter

dust bunny . at home baking

So i'm officially introducing you all to Durex, my partner. Now, don't get too excited, he's not some brand new loverboy - but he is definitely going to get some Pickle action! He's another alt of mine. I'm sure some of you who do photographs have the same issue that I do, in finding partners who don't want to jump all over your naked pixel bits as soon as you suggest a picture, or who are available when you need them... so I figured it was about time Durex got a make over so that I could abuse his presence.

Yes yes, there's still a Man-Pickle... and he will still make appearances - but Man-Pickle is on my Girl-Pickle avatar, so taking photo's with him was almost impossible. Am I making sense? *flails*

Anywho, having the option of a delicious Man-Dolly running around in nothing but a pair of undies is never a bad thing, is it?

So I want to do a shout out to K&S poses again. They're not a "sponsor" of mine - this is legitimately from a customer standpoint.

A while back I had an issue with a couples pose. I IM'd the owner (KatyaSessions) and explained my problem, and she literally went above and beyond trying to help me, even tp'ing me to view the issue herself. Unfortunately neither of us could work out why I was struggling with said pose - and everyone else who had tried it out and used it didn't suffer the same effect I was getting, so I still firmly believe there was something I was wearing that was causing the weirdness that happened.

Anywho.. it basically renders that one pose useless to me, and as I left, thanking her profusely for her time, she was extremely kind and sent me the above pose as a gift - "To cheer me up".

I love her poses, always have... and to know that I am supporting a creator who is genuine, who will go the extra mile for their customers fills my little heart with happy, and she will always have a fan in me.

xoxo

All of the things, Durex : 

Body, Hands & Feet : [SIGNATURE] Gianni - Mesh Body

Skin (Head): Not Found - Robert Skin 

Skin (Body) : Clef de Peau.Body Tight 

Head :  CATWA HEAD Skrell

Eye Bruises : Izzie's - Bruised Eyes 

Beard & Scar : IDTTY Faces - Sharp Beard [CUT]

Piercings : -SU!- Piercing Set 06 

Ears : [MANDALA]STRETCHED_Ears_Season2 HUMAN

Nails in ear : [CX] Heavily Nailed (Group Gift)

Hair : taketomi - Kris 

Tattoo : DAPPA - Sick Tattoo @ Men Only Monthly

Undies : RIOT / Richard Boxer Briefs 

All of the things, Pickle : 

Body Hands & Feet: -Belleza- Freya

Skin : Essences - Allison Pale 01 @ Kustom9

Head :  CATWA HEAD Magy

Eyes : CATWA Mesh Eyes 

Eye Appliers : Go&See * Sparkle * Catwa Eyes @ Anybody

Septum, Bindi & Earrings : :: SAGA :: Venus Jewel Set @ ULTRA

Hair :  *barberyumyum*93

Top : Pixel Geek - Vanilla Shirt * Plastic @ RLD

Nipple Applier : :BP: Belleza Nipnops Light 

Nipple chain : Messy. Gem Barbells Nipplechain 

Nails :~GD~J Star's Ringed(Baddie Claws)

Rings : (Yummy) Free Spirit Rings @ Collabor88

Shorts & Stars :  Eliavah ~ Twinsilk Shorts [METALLIC&HOLO PACK] @ Equal10

Sneakers : [VALE KOER] HEATUP SNEAKERS 

Close up in natural lighting of the Essences Skin, Go&See Eyes & Saga Jewelry on Firestorm Viewer. (No Edit)

Tell me how you feel.

Pose : *CNZ* Kinky Santa 01 (Mirror) @ Ebento

Held Decorations : {moss&mink} Baubleicious! (Gacha) @ Tannenbaum

Christmas Tree : {moss&mink} All that Glitters - Christmas Tree (pastel) RARE (Gacha) @ The Arcade

Chair : {moss&mink} Daydream Chair @ District20

Rug : _CandyDoll_Fancy Rug Rose

"Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive."

Appearances can be deceptive.

I've learned that you really can't judge a book by it's cover. As much as I love to see a fully put together avatar, I'm far more open to finding a fully put together heart now. 

For me, outside appearances are now a bonus.

I would rather meet a new player with a pure heart than an old player with a twisted mind and some pretty pixels.

Trusting is no longer easy, for many of us. We have been burned. We have been mislabelled by reactions we've had to situations caused by the malice of others. We're pigeon holed by those labels and fight to free ourselves daily. While I believe we are many things to many people, the only person who ever has a chance of really understanding us, is ourselves. Unless, we open up.

I want nothing more than to continue being brave, opening up to people and allowing them in. Encountering all their pain, and molding it with mine in a bitter sweet reminiscence that brings us close. Not sheltering each other, but leaning against each other and saying "I understand." Because with most situations you have encountered, another would have been there too.

I'm incredibly grateful to the people I have met lately.

You have all taught me to be strong, and have unintentionally assured me that yes, there IS still good. Yes, there ARE still people who believe in the basic morality of humanity and consideration to others and their lives.

Live your way, but do it respectfully.

All of the things :

Body & Feet : -Belleza- Freya 

Head : LAQ Bento - Motion Capture - Scarlet 

Skin : Insol: face Vera, ST03 'Peach' 

Ears :  ^^Swallow^^ Rox Ears 

Birthmark : [okkbye] bold birthmarks

Eyes :  -SU!-Delora Eyes Fatpack /ULTRARARE/ (Gacha) 

Headpiece : *LODE* Head Accessory - Hibiscus [white] @ The Chapter Four

Hair : TRUTH HAIR Olympia

Glasses : .tsg. Shy Megane 

Nipple Chain : Messy. Gem Barbells Nipplechain 

Hands : Slink Hands - Dynamic

Nails : Astralia - Compatible mesh nails system

Nail Polish : Hello Dave - Nail Appliers - Astralia - The French One

Fishnets :Bossie. diamond fishnet tights 

Panties : Blueberry - Tinker Panties 

Shoes : #EMPIRE - Sundrop 

Shining like fireworks.

Pose : - terra design -- terra design - U_15 @ GEN-Neutral

Photo taken @ Beaumont Grove

All of the things :

Body : Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara 

Skin : Egozy Katniss 

Head : CATWA HEAD Linda

Eyelashes : [theSkinnery] Charmed Lashes Palette (Catwa Applier)

Eyes :  [JOE SL] RIHANNA MESH EYES, [SUMii] Eye Depth Prim(Vintage)

Face Appliers : Just Magnetized - Beauty Marks - set 03 for CATWA, Veechi -Winged Liners, Egozy Katniss lipstick.

Hair : (Chemistry) Hair - Sirena 

Hat : Toro. Miriam's baseball cap (Burger) (Exclusive Item for Mix, grab it quick!)

Septum : (Yummy) Eclipse Septum @ N21

Choker : Messy. Clear Plastic Choker Cute (Gacha item)

Shirt : *Tentacio* Spring bomber pink mix @ SaNaRae 

Hands : Slink Mesh Hand Casual  

Rings : Kibitz  - Maya ring set 

Jeans : KITJA - Athena Jeans

Feet : Slink AvEnhance Feet Female Deluxe Pack (Medium) 

Shoes : [VALE KOER] FAIRYTALE PLATFORMS PINK

You don't know me.

Pose : RM - 7 - Pose

Props : L'Etre - The dressing room. (Gacha item) @ Tres Chic

Soy. Covered with vinyl SET @ Shiny Shabby

*ionic* INVISIBLE Sign (Gacha item)

Toronto-Industrial clock from the ~BAZAR~ Toronto Study 

*ionic* Where? Here. Sign  (Gacha item)

Balderdash - Green Stardrop Wall Creepers

Alouette - Metal Floor Clock

All of the things : 

Body : Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara

Skin : VCO SKIN ~ benny

Eyes :  {ud} Expression Eyes

Eyelashes : .: Mai Bilavio :. Celebrity Boudoir Lashes

Face Tattoo's : Just Magnetized - Perfect Eyebrows - set 01, [theSkinnery] Freckles! (Omega Appliers and Tattoo Layers), (Chemistry) Natural blush, [PF] Glossy Pout  Lipsticks - <Deep> (red), Veechi - Winged Liners

Hair : little bones. Mint (Formerly at Uber, allow a couple of days)

Hat : NS::  MesH Chain Cap

Septum : .random.Matter. - Sanza Nose Chain 

Teeth : DeeTaleZ Teeth & Tongue Piercing

Collar : Messy. Clear Plastic Choker Evil (Gacha item)

Necklace : Kibitz - Multiple necklace - gold - RARE (Gacha item) @ Epiphany

Tattoo : -7P-Snowdon Tattoo  

Shirt : ED. Asia Top White @ Shiny Shabby 

Bracelets & Armlets : Kibitz - Zaris bracelet - gold

Hands : Slink Mesh Hand Casual  

Nails : ~GD~Simple Pleasures(Flared) 

Rings : Kibitz - Catherine Ring set - gold 

Pants : //Ascend// Inga Harem Pants @ Shiny Shabby 

Feet : Slink AvEnhance Feet Female Deluxe Pack (high)

Shoes : Phedora. Odette Platforms @ Cosmopolitan (Opens Monday) 

Pose : Laila Pose 6 - Label Motion

Old memories.

Pose : Bossie

Photo taken @ Warm Springs

All of the things :

ody : Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara 

Skin : L'Etre Skin Shop - Ari Skin [Sandy Tone] @ The Skin Fair

Eyes : [JOE SL] CAULIFLOWER MESH EYES]

Lashes : [LF] 7 Sins Mesh Eyelashes (Lust)

Face Tattoos : Bossie. lena painted eyebrows (natural), DeeTaleZ Makeup High Gloss Lips night @ Tres Chic, Just Magnetized - Diva Brows, Just Magnetized - Visage Beauty Marks set 06, .random.Matter. - Perfectly Flawed - Freckles

Hairbase : Just Magnetized - Natural Hairbase - set 03

Hair : .Entwined. Alison @ Shiny Shabby

Hat : Bamboo. Summer Hat @ GEN-Neutral
Earrings : :::ChicChica::: Unisex earrings gacha @ GEN-Neutral
Choker : Messy. Clear Plastic Choker Bye (Gacha item) @ Whore Couture 
Dress : [Pumpkin] Tee dress @ Tres Chic
Hands : Slink Mesh Hand Casual
Bag : [sYs] CHARLEY bag
Tattoo : .Things.- Aigneis & Airell Tattoo (Airell)
Feet : Slink AvEnhance Feet Female Flat
Shoes : Mikunch / Sloppy Shoes

Pose : .label motion.- Wiza Pose 6