Author: Lisa Millar

A few quick thoughts on SL10B (Avatar Blogger Crossfit Challenge(Entry 17 of 30))

A few quick thoughts on SL10B (Avatar Blogger Crossfit Challenge(Entry 17 of 30))

by Lisa Millar ♥ 1 Comment

ImageBeing entertained at SL10b by Jahman Ochs.

There’s only ever going to be one tenth birthday for Second Life., and whatever happens to our virtual universein the future, we’ve reached an impressive milestone and it deserves to be celebrated.  Rest assured there are lots to see and do at the official celebration location, but most of all I suggest you use it as an opportunity to make new friends and MINGLE! Because that’s what SL is all about after all, being social.

But even in Second Life it’s not always easy to speak up, as ironic as that may seem. I spend most of my time alone, mooching around sims and just enjoying the metaverse. Yet social gatherings in the virtual world can be just as valid as the real one, if not more so. Let me tell you a story..

I was introduced to Second Life in late 2006 by a real life friend, and the first place I ever visited became my regular haunt, the ‘Three Lions’ pub, which I’ve spoken about lots on these pages.  I could have just lived out my virtual existence right there, hanging around with the chums I’d made, but as my confidence in my virtual environment grew I started to relish exploring the grid and seeking out new places and experiences.

In 2007 I went to an event in Second Life called ‘Secondfest’. It was a huge occasion, dressed up as a Glastonbury-style festival, but boasted backing from real life daily news publication ‘The Guardian’. They went the whole hog; covered it extensively in print and had a full itinery of live and recorded performances for people to enjoy, held in various arenas and on stages dotted around the Secondfest Island.

Looking back it was great fun. I spent the entire virtual weekend there, hanging out in the tent area, playing around in the portaloos, and dancing like a buffoon at the live music gigs. It was a fantastic opportunity to hear DJ’s dropping their beats in real life without the expense of travel or the risk of being caked in mud for an entire weekend ( I was wearing virtual wellies though!)

At one of the gigs I encountered a DJ, DJ Jenns. He was a brash, rowdy, opinionated Scot who really knew how to mix and basically played the greatest set I had ever heard in my life (up until that point of course, it was 5 years ago!) Not only that, whilst I was moshing around like a buffoon (Funny how I can’t dance elegantly in either the virtual or the real world!) I bumped into Amanda Shinji. And I bumped into her more than once over the weekend..and you know what? She’s been my bestie ever since. It’s hard to believe that I’ve been friends with her for 5 years now and we’ve never spoken a word in real life to each other, but it doesn’t matter. Our friendship is as valid in both worlds, and I love her to bits. 

We live as our avatars in a unique, dynamic environment  that is too often seen as a curse, rather than a blessing. Media vilification has made Second Life seem like a seedy dwelling place when that isn’t the case at all (unless that’s what you want it to be, of course!) Leave all that virtual baggage behind you and have FUN.

I want you to have the time of your Second Life at SL10b and revel in the nostalgia and the bonkers madness that’s on display, but most of all cultivate new friendships that will carry the spirit of Second Life with you well beyond this week of celebration.

In fact, I  challenge you to do it!  Check the schedule, for there are countless activities happening every single day, and go out there and go and enjoy yourself. Dance around like a loon, take in a lecture or just strike up a conversation as you wander around.   We’re a community, and we have strength in numbers, but on a personal level  you can find so much love, help and support from just a few pixels on a computer screen, connected by networks and wires to someone on the other side of the world.  It’s almost bonkers really.

I’m still friends with Amanda of course, but also DJ Jenns and some of the wonderful people that I met at the Three Lions pub. Not only that, many of them I now know in real life too (where would we be without Facebook, huh?)

What will your memories of SL10 be? I hope they’re happy ones that you will discuss for years to come with the friends that you make there…

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Here’s a list of destinations to get you started. ENJOY! 

Show Us yer Linden Bears! (Avatar Blogger Crossfit Challenge (Entry 16 of 30))

Show Us yer Linden Bears! (Avatar Blogger Crossfit Challenge (Entry 16 of 30))

by Lisa Millar ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

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No prizes for guessing who created the Linden ‘Bear’ above with its watermelon colour scheme. Yes, that’s right, the great Torley Linden created the bear above, and you can visit his bear, as well as all the other bears that have been produced, at a special exhibit as part of the SL10 birthday celebrations. 

Here’s a thing, I don’t own a single Linden Bear! Well, I didn’t, until I visited this exhibit, and discovered that you could click each one for a copy. I was going to click myself into oblivion when I realised that they are, of course, exceptionally prim heavy, seeing as the majority of them date from a time when mesh was a mere twinkle in the eye of its creator. 

But the exhibit sure brings back memories. There are so many Linden bears here left behind by Lindens who have long since left the metaverse. It was kind of sad to see them in a way, but also a real trip down memory lane, making it an absolute must-see for the true Second Life afficionado. 

Click HERE to visit, and tell me what’s your favourite Linden Bear? 

Cosmetic Fair Summer Edition (Avatar Blogger Crossfit Challenge (Entry 15 of 30))

Cosmetic Fair Summer Edition (Avatar Blogger Crossfit Challenge (Entry 15 of 30))

by Lisa Millar ♥ 1 Comment

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(I’m still playing catch-up on the blog, but I have to be honest, I’m not surprised. See, I’m not the kind of girl to write a few lines about something, attach a quick-snap and leave it at that. I like to waffle and write a bit more than you’ll perhaps see on some other Second Life blogs, so I’m not going to give myself a hard time about being behind)

I really enjoyed the last Cosmetics Fair, so I’m stoked that there is a Summer Edition running until June 30th.  I LOVE cosmetics in SL, something I’ve mentioned countless times so I won’t rant on again and again about how awesome they are. But they are.

The Summer Edition is full of vibrant juicy colours and this time also includes LOADS of nail appliers for the Slink hands. It’s incredibly hard to visit on a budget, so don’t even try, but I do recommend looking out for freebies and dollarbies that are available.  I think the prices are more reasonable this round in general actually.

I had a bijou gander and really struggled to rez everything on display, but once I had I was really impressed by the selection of cosmetics on offer this round.  If I’m honest, I preferred it to the last selection.  I hope it’s going to become a seasonal event because it’s really great to see what the creators come up with each time.

As you know I’m all about the eyeliner, and this time I wasn’t disappointed at all.  I fell in love with two brands  in particular at this event.

First of all ‘Pekka’, and for L$180 you can purchase a rather fab Dark make-up pack which I absolutely love. Black lipstick and eyeliner is bold and brash and doesn’t always work , but this set sure does. The shape of the lips and the eyeliner are just perfect, and the make-up can be worn as a complete face or as separate eyeliner/lip.

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Another new brand that I discovered at Cosmetics Fair are cStar Limited. I absolutely drooled when I saw the imaginative Cat Liner make-ups, and it was bloody hard to pick just one, so I settled for the aptly titled ‘Hardcore Cat’ liner, at a very reasonable L$75.  I paired it with some very hot lips, in fact this gloss that I’m wearing, no. 68, is part of a pack called ‘OMG Hot Lips’ which includes matte and gloss versions of ten fresh and funky shades, including purples, blues, oranges and reds. An absolute must have if you ask me, and again cheap at the price at just L$80.

Had I the moolah I would’ve bought everything on display, but alas I don’t. But the fair is open until the end of the month so I’ve plenty of time to pop back if any extra lindens float my way. Well done to Ekilem Melodie for bringing this very welcome event to the grid, I hope we see many more Cosmetics Fairs in the future!

(Note: When wearing make-up layers always try demos first, and always make sure you are wearing the best base skin that you have in your inventory for best effect.  In these shots I’m wearing Belleza skin)

Wanna go and see all the gorgeous colours and make-ups for yourself?

Click HERE to visit!

 

 

Berry’s Weird Question Meme (Avatar Blogger Crossfit Challenge (Entry 14 of 30))

Berry’s Weird Question Meme (Avatar Blogger Crossfit Challenge (Entry 14 of 30))

by Lisa Millar ♥ 4 Comments

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Time for yet another meme challenge from Strawberry Singh! I enjoyed this one, VERY much:)

  1. What was the last sim you visited? (Other than your home)Truth (for the hairstyle above)
  2. Does your avatar look like the real you? No. In real life (click and be scarred forever!) I have really long hair that is in dire need of a trim, but I hate having my hair cut. Kitty has her hair in a bob/variations on a bob theme, which is how I would wear my hair if I ever had it cut, but seeing as I’m developing multiple chins it really won’t be flattering to do that. The only similarities between  the real me and Kitty are that we’re both quite pale. She’s a lovely looking thing actually. Cow.
  3. Do you wear underwear/panties underneath your clothing when out and about on the grid? Actually, I’ve recently started doing this, usually because Amanda Shinji will point out that she can see my clunge when we’re sat talking on the sofa. She’s not getting any cheap thrills off me, so pants from now on are the way forward!
  4. If you won a million linden dollars, what would be the first thing you buy inworld? A sim, or a couple of sims.  I’d buy a sim for Amanda, and pay rent on it forever, so she could do whatever the heck she wanted (I’m thinking race track here, natch!) My sim would just be my dream come true; I would have it designed and landscaped by the best people on the grid and my house would be furnished top to bottom in furniture from all my favourite designers. In fact, there’d probably be more than one house on the sim decorated in different styles. I’d have a place for Dad too, decorated in his favourite way.  I’d have a dock and a sailing area, and a space for parties, and quite frankly it would be smegging awesome. I’d open it up for parties and heck, I may even have a pub on the corner of the sim! Look, I’ve thought about this often (can you tell?) and my own sim and limitless prims would be a dream come true for me. Oh if only! <Chuckle>
  5. Have you ever bought something in SL and then realized afterwards that you had already owned it from before? Yes, sadly many times. I have a bit of a troll brain and I forget so quickly that I have things. Also my inventory is a mess, and it’s always a bit sticky-I’ve often bought things and checked beforehand, only to find that actually I did have them already. My inventory really does hate me to be honest. I think the items I’ve bought duplicates of most of all are hair and poses, but hey, more money for the maker right?
  6. Have you ever done anything in Second Life that would be considered illegal in real life? I doubt it very much, but if I did it was unintentional…and that’s my excuse and I stand by it M’lud!
  7. If you could go out on a date with any other avatar, who would it be? Hmmm, interesting question. I’ve always wanted to see Prad Pravithi naked, so..
  8. Who, in your opinion, was the greatest avatar to ever slive? Deedee Fadoodle.
  9. What is the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done inworld? I rezzed into someone’s house once when they were having really dirty avatar sex. I noped very quickly out of there, let me tell you!
  10. If your avatar had a mind of its own, what do you think it would say to you? “I am NOT WEARING THAT! Are you mad?!”