~Autumn Leaves~

In case you don’t yet know, ~ghee~ is having an Autumn Leaves hunt!  I’ve tried on all the pieces and they are rich with the beautiful colors of Fall and perfect for a day out shopping, meeting friends for coffee or a romantic afternoon with your sweetheart.  I’m wearing the Oatmeal Coat, Pumpkin Thermals top and leggings and Oatmeal boots.  You’ll find more details below my photo!

From the  ghee promotional packet:

The ghee Autumn Leaves Hunt is underway! The ghee gals have created an amazing Autumn Leaves Collection and have turned it into a hunt. This hunt contains 27 co-ordinating pieces that you can layer, mix and match in so many ways! All you have to do is look for the 27 Golden Leaves that are 10L each and the whole collection is yours! This fantastic hunt will end on November 30th, 2014.

For hints check out the ghee blog:

http://ghee-sl.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/spruce-up-your-fall-wardrobe-with.html

Items in the Autumn Leaves Hunt:

Life and Fashion are fleeting…stay captivated! ❤ ❤

~X~

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Xiu is also wearing:

Skin:  Glam Affair  – Aria

Hair: Magika – Dots

Poses: Label Motion  – Autumn Leaves prop/pose pack (ONLY 60L!)

Shot on location at  Private Residence

Scarecrows and fencing:  BAZAR

Fallen Leaves:  3D Trees

Haystacks:  Diavolo Creations

***PLEASE NOTE that I am not a mainstream fashion blogger.  My focus is telling a story through a photo…so I DO manipulate my photos.  TRY before you buy. ***

~Sascha’s, Zibska, ZOZ, Chop Zuey, Ikon~

Just a quickie post today to highlight new releases from some of my favorite places in SL.  The truth is, I have a LOT of favorite places in SL.  There are so many truly talented individuals creating content in our virtual world…I love being able to wear and show each person’s amazing work.

This dress Otille, from Sascha’s Designs, is not yet released…but get ready…it won’t be long!  I absolutely love the textures Sascha uses…she’s been designing gorgeous clothing for a long time and she knows what she is doing with textures.  I’m wearing the Bronze and Red colors, but I also saw White, Gold, Blue, Sand, Champagne, Mauve, Pink, Moss, Peach, Hot Oil, Purple and Rose; so plenty of options to choose from!

Zibska just released these fabulous Plelone shoes that come with a color changing HUD for the shoe and the studs; they are Slink high foot compatible.  My fabulous Slink nail appliers are the Romantic Sparks polish from -{ZOZ}-.

The gorgeous eye makeup I am wearing is the Noir 2 Eyeshadows; also from Zibska.  I am also wearing the Shimmer Hair from MAGIKA Hair, the stunning new line of Immortal Eyes (Mesh) from IKON, the Moon Crystals Necklaces (Latest Group Gift) and Kismet Wedding Ring Set from CHOP ZUEY COUTURE JEWELLERY, Tiger Lily Ring from MG – Maxis Gossamer Accessories and [Ey:No] bangles (no longer available/store closed).

Check out all these wonderful items, and so much more from these fantastic creators!

Life and Fashion are fleeting…stay captivated! ❤ ❤

~X~

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Xiu is also wearing:

Eyeliner:  *Les Petits details*– Eyeliner

Skin:  Glam Affair  – Aria

Hands & Feet:  Slink – AVEnhance – Elegant1

Poses: Del May

Shot on location at  My Private Studio

***PLEASE NOTE that I am not a mainstream fashion blogger.  My focus is telling a story through a photo…so I DO manipulate my photos.  TRY before you buy. ***

 

~Noa at Enchanted Photopia~

While checking in on Facebook today, I saw this great youtube video posted for Enchanted Photopia.  I watched the entire video and was so inspired by it, I knew I had to go explore the place further.  What an incredibly magical place, full of vignettes featuring familiar animated movie characters and scenes.  Trust me, that description does not do this wonderful place justice.  At the very least watch the video…but it is very much worth the visit!

Enchanted Photopia was the perfect backdrop to try to capture my fun outfit; featuring the Noa dress from Sascha’s Designs.  The Noa dress is the latest release form Sascha’s…you have the choice of purchasing three separate HUDs and each has a choice of six different dress textures. I will show all three HUDs below.  The dress texture I am wearing in the first photo is from the Noa No.2 HUD…I really love the Sugar Skull feel of the graphic.

The Noa No.1 HUD has stripes, plaids, florals and paisleys…a great mixture with choices suitable for any occasion.

The Noa No. 2 HUD features Candy Skull designs that would be great for creating a very Retro Rocker or Kawaii look.

The Noa No. 3 HUD has a mixture of florals, plaid, a plain white and a celestial looking black pattern; a great mix to suit any style mood.

I styled my look a little more on the Kawaii side and chose the Sunday Hair (Rainbows) from+Spellbound+,  MARYJANE Wedges (Romance) from Reign, the {Turquoise} necklace and bangles from Ariskea (previously available for purchase at the 21 event), the Tiger lily ring from MG-Maxis Gossamer, and my fabulous nail appliers are from the new Romantic Sparks polish collection by ZOZ!  My incredible Immortal Eyes are the latest mesh eye release from Ikon…these eyes are just amazing!

Check out Enchanted Photopia or stop by the fabulous stores featured here and shop til you drop!
http://youtu.be/k3eTaG4Wbs4

Life and fashion are fleeting…buy now and stay captivated!

~X~

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Xiu is also wearing:

Fawn:  Alchemy  – Dreams-Spirit Fawn Familiar-RARE (past event gacha/gift from a cherished friend))

Dog:   Alchemy – Doge-French Bull Dog-Snow (past gacha item from The Chapter Four Event)

Socks:  Mimikri– -Maxine-Overknee Socks

Hair:  [elikatira] – Looking (retired style)

Skin:  Glam Affair  – Aria

Hands:  Slink – AVEnhance – Elegant1

Wedding Ring Set:  CHOP ZUEY COUTURE JEWELLRY– Kismet

Pose: {Sugar Heart} -Cotton Candy~5 Static Model Poses (available on the Market Place) *includes cotton candy prop shown.  Pose edited using Animare

Shot on location at  Enchanted Photopia 

***PLEASE NOTE that I am not a mainstream fashion blogger.  My focus is telling a story through a photo…so I DO manipulate my photos.  TRY before you buy. ***

~A Beguiling Tango~

Second Life is rich with creative people…each one expressing their genius in his or her own inimitable way.  Each time I set out to explore this amazing virtual world, I am awestruck with the depth of skill and attention to detail that goes into creating beauty, form and function out of pixels.  Pouring your heart and soul into producing something from your imagination is tough enough in First Life…add the challenges of translating that same work into pixels, on a computer, and you start to appreciate the dedication and perseverance required to do so.

I always feel honored and blessed that I have had the good fortune of becoming friends with truly artistic people in Second Life and one of those friends is someone I particularly cherish.  Jillar Lamar is not only an incredibly talented digital artist, in SL, she also has the ability to translate that eye for beauty into the landscape of her Second Life world.

The Beguiled; Art Gallery and Studio is where you will find the collective works from Jilla and where you will also find yourself immersed in a lush, whimsical landscape that invites you to slow down, wander the grounds and take in all the enchanting details.  Jilla has managed to build an artistic, three dimensional masterpiece worthy of Monet.

When I saw the Kara Little Black Dress and the Poppy Dot Chemise, from ~ghee~, I wanted to grab my husband and head to The Beguiled to tango the afternoon away; amongst the flowers.  We found the perfect spot, for dancing, right next to this wonderful Garden Piano from Boudoir.

You can find the Poppy Dot Chemise and the Kara Little Black Dress, and many more fabulous black themed dresses from ~ghee~, at the Black Fashion Fair.

Life is fleeting in any world…take time to explore and stay captivated! ❤ ❤

~X~

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Xiu is also wearing:

In Photo #1

Dress:  ~ghee~  – Kara Little Black Dress (available at the Black Fashion Fair)

Foot Ribbons:  ~ghee~ – Black Ribbon Wraps with optional Poppy Accents (available at the Black Fashion Fair)

Hair:  [elikatira]– Looking (retired style)

Skin:  Glam Affair  Aria – Asia (previous gacha item)

Hands:  Slink – AVEnhance – Elegant1

Necklaces:  MG-Maxis Gossamer Accessories – Jewelled Owl, Wild Honey Bee & Jewelled Peacock

Bangles:  [EY:NO] (store closed)

Pose: BODY / shots – Tango d’Amore 03

Shot on location at Beguiled; Art Gallery and Studio  

Photo #2

Dress:  ~ghee~  – Poppy Dot Chemise (available at the Black Fashion Fair)

Shoes:  ~ghee~ – Sequin Heels Ruby

Hair:  TUTY’S MOCAP ANIMATIONS, SKIN & SHAPE, HAIR– LIMBO

Skin:  Glam Affair  Aria – Asia (previous gacha item)

Hands:  Slink – AVEnhance – Elegant1

Necklace: Created by my husband and not yet available

Bangles:  [EY:NO] (store closed)

Pose: ::Focus Poses:: – The Tango  *Please note that the left side of the female avatar, in this pose, gets burried into the right side of the male avatar…I had to do a lot of repositioning of the “female” pose ball to extract her body out of his and get a decent shot (that is why my foot is off the ground).  I also had to heavily edit the arms in this pose, using Animare, in order for them to meet up with his body and arms.

Shot on location at Beguiled; Art Gallery and Studio 

***I used three point body lighting and projector key and fill lighting from the LUMIPro lighting system.

**My Husband is wearing his FATEwear suit, AKEYO Black Wool Fedora and I do not know which shoes he is wearing lol.

***PLEASE NOTE that I am not a mainstream fashion blogger.  My focus is telling a story through a photo…so I DO manipulate my photos.  TRY before you buy. ***

~Catching fireflies in Wisteria Starlite~

One of my few cherished childhood memories is catching fireflies, at twilight, in the field across from my grandparents farm in Maine.  I recall using a mason jar, that we’d poked holes in the lid, and leaping through the tall grass trying to capture what we called lightning bugs and  tinkerbells.  It was heartbreaking to see them die so we always made sure to release them shortly after capture; ensuring they’d grant our wishes and return another night.

I had not thought about the magic of catching firelfies in many years…then I saw the Moonlite and Starlite gowns from ~ghee~…and those enchanting evenings came flooding back.  The ~ghee~ Moonlite and Starlite gowns are actually a two piece ensemble…the Moonlite gowns come in deep rich jewel tones with an off-the-shoulder top and the Starlite gowns feature a racer back top and muted tones.  The moment I slipped into the Starlite Wisteria gown, I knew I had to capture its shimmering beauty surrounded by the quiet elegance of  the Angel Manor Gardens; while chasing firelflies at dusk.  I spent several wonderful hours in the Angel Manor Gardens…shooting the photos for this piece…and reveling in the childhood memories of evenings filled with moonlite, starlite and fireflies.

It’s a great big crazy world out there and life is fleeting…stay captivated! ❤

~X~

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Xiu is also wearing:

Hair:  Analog Dog – b – honey (Coral)

Skin:  Glam Affair  Aria – Asia (previous gacha item)

Hands:  Slink – AVEnhance – Elegant1

Ring:  Lazuri – Celseste Heirloom

Poses:  I used a Manifeste the Art of Posing (on hiatus) pose as my base and altered it using my Animare Hud…so that I could “hold” the firefly jar, from Outdoor Store & Osmosis; which is meant as a table top decor item.

Shot on location at Angel Manor Gardens  

**I used DOF and Phototools Hospital Light windlight….using the sun position slider I was able to capture the shimmer of the materials “satin” feel of the skirt and to pick up the highlights in the hair.  I also used a wearable projector and three point light from the LUMIPro system and adjusted them to create a soft key and fill lighting on the avatar…to prevent loss of detail from uneven windlight shadowing.

***PLEASE NOTE that I am not a mainstream fashion blogger.  My focus is telling a story through a photo…so I DO manipulate my photos.  TRY before you buy. ***

~Summer in Sailors Cove~

Reason 99999 why I LOVE Second Life…I can live anywhere I want to and the move is a snap!

A lot of people in SL just don’t think that having a “home” is important…but I have always had a home in SL; for me it is part of the immersive experience.  I’ve lived in skyboxes, spaceships, apartment buildings, tropical islands, showy mountains and currently a house boat.  My husband and I love to sail around the collective sims that connect to the Blake Sea…so it was an easy decision to rent a boat slip at Sailors Cove; which is part of the collective.  Sailors Cove is a charming New England themed port with quaint shops, a concert area and dozens of little places to discover. After our first visit to the village, we decided to rent a boat slip…one slip led to another and now we have three boat slips and a lovely shop on the waterfront.

It was a gorgeous summer day with warm coastal breezes, clanging bells on buoys, the high pitched chatter of gulls and terns and wispy white clouds drifting high in cerulean skies.  I love to explore the little village I call home…there are so many things to discover and enjoy.  Today I spent the afternoon bicycling around the docks and side streets; peering in shop windows and chatting with visitors.  As the sun started to slip over the western horizon, I finished my day of wandering with a triple scoop and my favorite pooch.

My outfit today is the July VIP Group Gift, Blossom Contrast shorts and Bikini Cover-Up Top from ~ghee~, Pure Poison Aurore Sandals (available at We ❤ Role Play event) and Berry Juice hair from LoQ Hair (75L Fat Pack Promo on the Marketplace!).  My Silver Chain Hoop Earrings are from Ecco and my bangles were from [EY:NO], which is now closed.

You can rez a bicycle like this from the vendors outside the rental office at Sailors Cove. My pose and ice cream cone are part of the My Summer Ice Cream pose pack from Label Motion…which I modified to fit the bike; using Animare.

My pooch was a gacha, from Alchemy, for the June round of The Chapter Four event.

Life is fleeting…take time to enjoy something from each day you are here and stay captivated! ❤ ❤

~X~

 

~Ms. Scarlet’s Position~

It was Ms. Scarlet in the drawing room with the revolver…game over…I win!

Clue is one of my all time favorite board games.In fact, I liked it so much, I once recreated the game from scratch!  The very first time I played was at a friend’s house…she had received the game as a birthday gift and invited a bunch of us over to play the game with her.  I was HOOKED!  I begged and begged, to keep going, and we played all afternoon.  I memorized everything about the game, pieces and board and rushed home to start making my own.  We were a large family with zero “extra” money to buy a game…so I got creative and started cutting up cardboard, left over school project poster board and the various playing pieces came from broken Barbie and Ken dolls; or whatever other flotsam and jetsam I could conjure.  I never did finally end up with a “real” Clue game, but the one I made was pure magic and brought many happy hours of playtime.

This dress Position, from Lyrical B!zarre Templates, is the third game inspired creation for the Month of Games event; sponsored by Siren Productions.  It is truly a stunning work of art and I knew immediately that the only location I wanted to use for the photo shoot was Angel Manor Estate; a place on par with the beauty of the gown.  If you’ve never been to Angel Manor Estate, do take the time to visit…it is the exquisitely built home of the Angel family; which they so generously open to the public.  After wandering from one sumptuous room to another, I finally found a drawing room with beautiful hues of green and gold…perfect for Ms. Scarlet’s nefarious plans!

The Lyrical B!zarre Templates Position gown comes with the necklace, earrings, arm pieces, mesh sheath dress, additional flexi skirts and flexi train (not worn).  The chain I am wearing around my waist is the “chest piece” from the Lyrical B!zarre Templates Regina gown; featured HERE.  You will find the Position and Regina gowns at the Month of Games event until July 31st.

Also, be sure to visit the Angel Manor Estate, their sublime gardens, and if you are able, attend one of the dazzling functions the Angel family hosts to support the worthy charities they sponsor.  You may just have the pleasure of receiving a warm greeting from one of the Angel family members…thank you so much for your gracious hospitality Ms. Kylie Angel-Skyborne.  I hope to return time and again. ❤ ❤

Life is fleeting…stay captivated!

~X~

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Xiu is also wearing:

Hair:  .:EMO-tions:. – *PRIA*

Hands:  Slink – AVEnhance – Elegant1

Eyes:  Ikon – Immortal Eyes Sage (mesh) (Current VIP Group gift)

Cigarette Holder:  Bloody Mess – Cigarette Holder (old promo item…no longer available)

Gun:  Breach – Redemption MK4  (no longer available)

Shot on location at Angel Manor Estate

Poses:  aDORKable Poses

***PLEASE NOTE that I am not a mainstream fashion blogger.  My focus is telling a story through a photo…so I DO manipulate my photos.  TRY before you buy. ***

~Whiteout in Candy Land~

Do you remember playing that fun board game Candy Land, where you follow the winding track through the Candy Cane Forrest and Gum Drop mountain in search of King Kandy?  I remember playing it with my niece and nephew and the little buggers tried to cheat!  Despite the cheating, we still had a blast and it whiled away the endless hours of being stuck inside on a school snow day.

Yesterday I mentioned the Month of Games event, hosted by Siren Productions, was in full swing.; with tons of fabulous designs geared toward three game themes.  One of the themes is Candy Land and the amazingly talented creator behind Lyrical B!zarre Templates came up with this oh-so-sweet candy dress named Whiteout. This dress is loads of fun and perfect for a costume party, a day exploring or just because you LOVE candy!

You can really get creative with the different components of this dress…I used a copy of the bodice candy piece as a wreath for my hair and I wore it on my *DOLLCOCO* avatar!  I accessorized the dress with the Fairytail Hair and Spring Fairy Parasol from Boudoir and my lovely little snow colored French Bulldog; a past The Chapter Four gacha from Alchemy.  The fabulous Wonderland Teacup Party is the latest VIP group gift from Boudoir and ONLY AVAILABLE FOR 48 HOURS…so HURRY!

I shot this on location at a really adorable little parcel named A&R haven & relax place.  This enchanting little place is full of wonderful spots to relax, take photos or enjoy the dances created by the owner Ryeeee.  A fantastic little hidden secret garden that is well worth the visit and don’t forget to check out her lucky boards, filled with her unique dances, that turn over quickly!

Now I’m off to gather clues for the next game theme!

Life is fleeting…stay captivated!

❤ ❤

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Xiu is also wearing:

Ballet Shoes:  Slink – Ashia Ballet Pointe Pewter

Pose:  Diesel Works Poses & Animations

***PLEASE NOTE that I am not a mainstream fashion blogger.  My focus is telling a story through a photo…so I DO manipulate my photos.  TRY before you buy. ***

 

~Exclusive Blue~

As promised…I have a sneak peek, for the Sascha’s Designs Hunger Gown, that will be sold exclusively at the Opium Evolution Hunger Games Event from August 1-10!

This exquisite Cobalt Blue Hunger Gown is as breathtaking in person as it is in the photo.  All of the Sascha’s Designs Hunger gowns will come with the wings, a mask and several different skirt options.

Enjoy this sneak preview and get ready for the Hunger Games!

Stay captivated! ❤ ❤

~X~

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Hair:  .:EMO-tions:.  – *PRIA* (intensivered)

Jewelry:  LAZURI Jewelry – Celeste Heirloom – Color Change- Dark Gems

Shot on location at*StoryBrooke Gardens*…This gorgeous destination is one of three amazing builds from the creator of Baja Norte…thank you for such a beautiful and inspiring place Lauren Bentham ❤ ❤

***NOTE that I am not a mainstream fashion blogger.  My focus is telling a story through a photo…so I DO manipulate my photos.  TRY before you buy. ***

~LIV-Glam everyday!!~

I honestly wasn’t planning on doing a post today…I am already backlogged with things that need to be accomplished… yesterday. However, all these commitments are exciting…I have my first fashion editorial client and I am muddling through all the details of starting a new business; more information on that coming up in about a week.

So to blow off a little steam, and to reward myself for learning how to create 3D text in CS6, I stopped by LIV-Glam to check out her fabulous weekly sale items.

Not only did I find this gorgeous Anikin Bodycon Dress for an absolute steal at 99L, but I also scored the furniture, pictures and accessories displayed behind me; also for the amazing price of only 99L for the whole set!  Wait!!  It doesn’t stop there…part of the LIV-Glam genius is that her items are sold as HUDs.  What that means is when you purchase an item it is delivered as a HUD…you wear/add the HUD and choose the size you will wear…then the item is delivered to your inventory for you to use.

NO MORE cluttering up your inventory with a gazillion different sizes of the same item, no more tediously deleting ALL the other sizes that usually come with your clothing purchase…you simply wear the HUD, select your size and wear the item once it is delivered to you.  Once you are finished wearing the outfit, you can simply delete it…and choose a new one from the HUD next time you want to wear the outfit.

Don’t detach that HUD just yet…because most of the LIV-Glam clothing comes with a plethora of pattern or color choices that you change via the HUD.  Once you are wearing the clothing items you can simply click on the pattern/color choice you want, on the HUD, and your clothing will recolor/re-pattern itself!  Brilliant!

Now, let’s do the math…I purchased this dress for 99L, a HUGE bargain for all this sexy in just one color, BUT the HUD comes loaded with 6 dress color presets and six belt color presets….hmmmm I think I just walked away with a few free dresses!

EVERY week LIV-Glam puts out several new designs priced between 55L-99L.  Her textures and designs are fun and fabulous and the customer service is off the charts.  I had a small vendor delivery issue and it was resolved in under 5 min…not to mention I was treated incredibly well by Aisha and Maven; thank you ladies <3<3.  It just doesn’t get better than this….or does it?

Notice the chair now has new fabric on it…well the Air De Paris set also is delivered as a HUD…where you can either choose to have items delivered to your inventory piece by piece or as a set.  So, if you choose to have it delivered as a set…it rezzes as a linked set.  You will need to choose the chair to be delivered individually, because they come with 10 fabric pattern presets which also gives you the added versatility of mixing and matching the chair back and seat pattern.

Other Ephemera

Skin:  Belleza

Eyes:      Ikon

Eyeliner:     LpD

Prim Eyelashes:  *REDGRAVE* 

Mesh Eyelashes:  ::BB::

Beauty Marks:  [:T:]

Hands:     Slink

Hair:  .:EMO-tions:.

Shoes:    [Diktator]

Wedding Ring Set:  CHOP ZUEY COUTURE JEWELLRY

Agam Ring:     *TWISHEE*

Necklace and Earrings:     Indyra Originals

Shot at my personal studio using LUMIPro lighting and aDORKable Poses tweaked with Animare.

*Please also note that I am NOT a mainstream fashion blogger and I DO edit my pictures…please try demos before purchasing items.