Author: Lisa Millar

Berry’s Memes: New Years Meme

Berry’s Memes: New Years Meme

by Lisa Millar ♥ 2 Comments

My Angel Gabriel

New year, new Meme! Yes, time for one of the delectable Strawberry Singh’s Monday Memes.

This is the first one of 2014, so fittingly Berrycakes is asking us about our plans for the new year, but also asking us about how we feel about the one that we have just left behind. It’s got me thinking. Well, it’s actually got me following a train of thought that started with my last post, hence the picture of Jez above. I’ve decided that you’re going to see a lot more of Jezmond this year (whether he likes it or not!) Why? Because Second Life male fashion is just as captivating as female, and if there’s anything that 2013 proved it’s that there are just as many talented menswear designers out there as there are Womenswear designers.  (In fact menswear is almost eclipsing womens in terms of originality and great design, so I really hope to feature more of it on the blog, with Jez’s help, in 2014!)

Anyway, back to the matter at hand.  I present to you my responses to the questions posed by Berry. If you’re tempted to join in you can participate in any of the memes/challenges that Berry has posted at any time. You’ll find them all under the  Blog Challenges category on her website, Strawberry Singh.Com

  • How did you spend New Year’s Eve?

I spent it at home with my pack; that’s my RL partner Phil (Jez), my cats Piu, Pud and Mylo and my dog, Indiana. We watched Hootenanny on BBC2 as is our yearly tradition, and got slowly drunk after a sumptuous beef rib dinner cooked by beloved himself!

  • Did you keep any New Years’ resolutions?

No, because I never made any to break in the first place, clever Kitty!   I haven’t made resolutions  for a long time because I think the problem with them is that people tend to make ones that are going to be incredibly hard to keep. For some reason we believe that setting difficult goals at this time of year is the right way to go about fulfilling them; when in actuality we’ve got it completely backwards. The last thing you want to do on a cold and stormy January night is eat a salad. No, you want a massive bowl of hot soup and crusty bread, washed down with gallons of mulled wine, so setting a dieting goal at this time of year is just a nonsense. If you want to set a goal in 2014, set one when the time is right for you , not just because of tradition!

  • What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year? 

Real life was pretty steady for me this year and trundled along in its mundane way. Second Life’s been interesting in that I’ve achieved a lot with the blog in 2013. I’ve surpassed 165,000 hits on the blog, have over 200 blog-followers and that really does mean a great deal to me. I also blogged more events this year than I ever have before. I blogged Skin Fair 2013 which was a real high-point for me, but I’ve also blogged some other truly amazing events such as Gothmas By Gaslight and The Homes And Gardens Expo For RFL.  The whole point of blogging events is to arouse people’s interest enough to encourage them to visit so that the creators can make sales, and I really hope that I have in some small part contributed to their success this year. I’m an ardent supporter of the content creators we have in-world and nothing pleases me more than seeing hard work get rewarded. If I can publicise someone’s work on the blog and encourage a reader to go and check them out,and buy something then that’s my job done. And nothing makes me happier than that!

  • What was the best thing you bought?

In real life? That’s a tough question. I don’t have that much cash to splash around so I tend to be cautious when making personal purchases (cash goes much farther in Second Life!) so it has tended to be little treats that have given me the most pleasure. For example, with some money I was given for Christmas I bought myself a USB salt-lamp that sits on my desk and changes colour. It wasn’t even that expensive, but I have this weird fascination with things that change colour, or glitter and sparkle, you know like lava lamps and that kind of thing, so I’m pretty chuffed with it. I bought a necklace of the Gayer-Anderson Cat from The British Museum last time I visited (to match the earrings I bought the year before) and I’m rather keen on that too. Oh, and some really geeky tee-shirts have made me very happy this year as well! <chuckle>.

In Second Life the best purchase I made in 2013 was undoubtedly my Bazar Arizona House. Even though I’m living in a different style of dwelling at the moment, it’s the one that I will continue to hold dearest to my heart. It’s just perfect in so many ways (the only way it could be made any better is if Ria Bazarmade an Arizona 2.0 and made it bigger, or added another floor..*hint* My review post of it was so enthusiastic, and I got a lot of feedback about it that I got to know Ria and have reviewed a lot of her work since, and I have to be honest and say that she has become one of my favourite designers in-world. I’ve also gained a lot of pleasure in 2013 from seeing the development of Sienia Trevellion as a designer too. I’ve known Sienia since for a long-time and she has consistently crafted beautiful builds, clothing and artefacts throughout her SL design career but in 2013 she went stratospheric and made some of the most amazing items I’ve ever seen on the grid.  Her contributions to The Arcade have become legendary, and I can’t wait to see what she releases in 2014. It’s sure to be equally amazing!

  • What do you wish you’d done more of?  

I don’t honestly know. I have a great life ; I live with my fella and our pack of animals. I have a good real life job and friends and family whom I adore. Had I had money to spare I would have been able to accomplish more in the way of going out and travelling, but I’m happy with my lot and satisfied that I did what I could to make 2013 an acceptable year for me. It wasn’t great by a long shot, in fact it only really became fun later in the year, but it’s over and done with now. The past is just that.

  • What do you wish you’d done less of?

Eating probably! I’ve become a little too tubby for my own liking in RL, and it’s time to get that in check. Not because I want to be a size zero or anything ridiculous like that, but for health reasons. I’ve noticed my back gets a wee bit more uncomfortable if I’m carrying a few too many extra pounds, so I need to pay attention to my body more.
In SL? Nothing. I keep away from drama as much as I can and I’m glad that I do because I’ve seen it cause so many issues for people, and so much hurt too. I don’t really have an opinion on what other people think of my SL persona or my blog, because my primary audience is, and always has been myself.  I blog because I enjoy it. The fact that people read my random thoughts and jottings is a fabulous bonus.

  • What was your favorite movie you watched this year?

Hmmm. I normally go to the movies a lot but had to keep an eye on the purse-strings in 2013, so I wasn’t able to see as many films as I liked. I missed ‘Gravity’ and ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug’ on the big-screen which is unheard of for me! But the movies that I did manage to see I really enjoyed, especially ‘Man Of Steel’ and ‘Iron Man 3’. (I do like my comic-book heroes!)

  • What did you do on your birthday in 2013?

It was my 40th this year, so I was treated to a trip to London and tickets to see ‘The Book Of Mormon’, as well as a couple of fantastic meals out in the city and some amazing presents. It was brilliant, I couldn’t have wished for a better birthday!

  • Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned.

I don’t think I learned it but I almost did. My Mum has always said that I am too trusting and that I “..make too much of people..”, and as much as I HATE to admit it she is of course correct. I have experienced a few reminders of that this year and have been let down by a few people. My problem is that I am a tad too trusting, and have 110% faith in people. I’ve thought about this for a long time though, and I confess that even though it causes me hurt on occasion I don’t want to change my personality and be cynical, or feel differently. So perhaps the life lesson is that I’ve learned to accept myself and understand aspects of my personality may leave me vulnerable and perhaps more prone to disappointment than the average Joe, but hey, that’s ok!

  • What does 2014 hold for you?

Who knows where the frog jumps? It’s Phil’s 40th this year, so I am looking forward to that. It’s also my Father’s 70th and my Mother’s 80th birthday too! This is proving to be slightly problematic in that I don’t have an unlimited source of funds with to work with, but I’ll try my best to ensure that they all have a great time on their special days. I am hoping for more fulfilling work challenges and I’d love a pay-rise, and also a ginger kitten!

In Second Life I’m looking forward to the big events like Skin Fair 2014, but I’m also looking forward to seeing fabulous new releases from my favourite designers, as well as discovering exciting newcomers too. I hope my writing and photography skills improve and that the blog continues to grow, after all I have so much fun with it.

But most of all I want to spend the year loved up with my pack and being loved, and giving it back ten-fold, every single day.
Here’s wishing you all a fabulous 2014! Allons-y!

Phil, Lisa and Indy

The Men’s Dept: Jumpers For Goalposts!

The Men’s Dept: Jumpers For Goalposts!

by Lisa Millar ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

ImageWell actually, no.  Not even once. This lovely woolly number should never be used as a goalpost, nor should it be tied around the waist in a hap-hazard fashion. Instead, it should be lovingly caressed and fondled. Better still, caress it and fondle it on your beloved..or even better than that, BOTH of you wear one of these fabulous ‘Crew-Neck Sweaters’ from APHORISM at THE MENS DEPT, then you can caress and fondle each other lovingly whilst safely ensconced in the snuggly warmth. 

Granted, you may find that you don’t actually wear it for long, but be sure not to throw it upon the floor in a fit of gay abandon, no, please fold it before you carry on with your naughtiness.

Because this is a sweater that deserves more than being thrown around, turned into a dog-bed or used as an emergency tea-towel. This, dear readers,  is sweater heaven, and demands respect. So listen up while I tell you a little more about this glorious crew-neck sweater that has made me feel all amorous in a way that normally only happens in February each year. It’s from one of my favourite labels, Aphorism, and by gum it is a corker. Even better than that, ladies aren’t left out so that we can enjoy some sweater-happy too! YAY! But first of all cast your eyes over my man-piece looking resplendent in his..

jez_003

Doesn’t he look simply astonishing? There’s a very high-class feel to this sweater, don’t you think?  I’ve also been wearing it for a couple of days now, and I can vouch that it’s really well made. We’ve both commented upon how well it fits both of our avatar shapes well, and it has smashing  detail too,  which I hope these pictures amply demonstrate. The collar and cuffs are finished beautifully with just the right amount of shadow added to the contrast weave to add definition and the torso of the sweater itself, no matter which option you choose, is extremely well shaded making it look authentic. Oh, it also makes your norks really stand out too…ahem.

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I’m wearing a large in the picture above because I like my jumpers to be a bit on the sloppy side, and I’m really liking the way that my curves are highlighted in this.  Look at the picture above and check out that lovely crease by my left hand; just a little thing I know, but it looks perfect. I love little details like that. I really like the colour options for this sweater too. The selection of plain colours is good, but for me the striped variations are just fabulous, in particular the red/black and the brown/cream.  For such a  humble item it can lend itself to a legion of looks successfully too; the purple and black in particular is very Emo/Goth, but can be worn with a pair of slacks or jeans and look super casual, yet elegant too.

But you see that’s the thing; in my experience it’s often the case that the items that can be styled the most effectively are the simplest, but what makes them stand out from the crowd is the way that they are made.

Even a simple vest top can take you to another dimension of oomph if it is carefully sized, textured and detailed. The Aphorism Crew Neck Sweaters are an excellent example of  this principle, and the fact that they look so good on girls as well as boys is a reason indeed to be cheerful, ESPECIALLY when you learn that they are a mere $150 each.  So cheap that they’re almost criminal, but there’s nothing dodgy about these at all.

Snapshot_006

 

You’ll find the Crew Neck Sweaters just to the right as you walk into The Men’s Dept. Be sure to try the demos first and make sure you hit the subscribo too, and then buy yourself a sweater. And treat your beloved as well; after all the best thing about wearing a sexy sweater is getting all sweaty and..I’ll leave it there!

CLICK HERE to go and grab yourself one of these beauties! 

APHORISM SWEATERS

 

Aphorism on the Marketplace: https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/63251

Aphorism Mainstore: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Legione/162/172/21

Note:  The jeans Jez is wearing are also from Aphorism.  They’re called the ‘Men’s Regular Jeans’ and he says that they are the best jeans that he has ever had in Second Life, and he refuses to take them off. This is all well and good BUT they’re starting to smell a  bit now, and Febreze only goes so far.  Whilst I know Raw Denim is a thing, I don’t think it applies to people who parp out new elements for the periodic table on a regular occurrence, so if you see him in-world, have a word would you? Thanks! 

FAMESHED: Bugger it, I’m off to the Pub..

FAMESHED: Bugger it, I’m off to the Pub..

by Lisa Millar ♥ 2 Comments

ImageFAMESHED has hit the grid in a new year’s frenzy of fabulous fashion and striking furnishings and accessories. There is a great selection of items to lust after, including some stunning VALENTINA E fashions and the fantastic ‘Starry Starry Night Bangles’ from MAXI GOSSAMER, but my big favourites this month aren’t wearables.

First up we have TROMPE LOEIL (or Trumpy LOL in kitty-speak) raising the bar (geddit?) with the absolutely stunning ‘The Dragon And Orchid Home Pub’, and now that this exists I simply won’t tolerate shitty bars anymore, so can we get rid of them please? Sure, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting some beauties, but they’re few and far-between. Sadly, Second Life bars tend towards a textured backdrop (usually an appalling out-of-focus photograph of bottles and beers) and a simple rectangular bar. Bonus points if it’s textured in the crappiest woodgrain ever…urgh. Well no more! Begone to the depths of hell with your sticky bars and even stickier carpets!

ImageCast your eyes over this beauty. This, my friends, is ‘The Dragon And Orchid Home Pub’ and it’s probably one of the nicest places you’ll find on the grid where you can eat your dry-roasted peanuts and indulge in a lovely pint or two in absolute comfort.

It’s available in three glorious shades; Amaretto, Dark (with Adult animations) and Redwood. Each one of the wood textures is gorgeous and incredibly expensive looking, but it’s the build that really tells the tale. It really does evoke a proper bar, with a perfect shape and enhanced by beams and beading with ample room for leaning and chatting up the barmaid of an evening. You’ll also receive a beer pump and there is ample storage space behind the bar so that you can accessorise and decorate to truly make this bar your own.

To make this even more special there are a selection of stained glass window sets to choose from so that you can choose the most fitting design for your space. But that’s not all; Cory and Makaio have of course proved time and time again that thoughtful design is their modus operandi and this is demonstrated by their including a template enabling you to craft your own stained glass inserts for your bar. What a great touch!

There are 24 animated poses to enjoy too (plus ten Adult poses in the A-rated version) and there are eleven more poses in the included bar stools meaning you can have lots of fun drinking and getting up to all sorts of pub-style shenanigans. There are a number of particularly amusing poses that hint at your being ever-so-slightly drunk; my own personal favourite being ‘Numb’ (alas, I’ve been there too many times!) but the stool-poses are just as worthwhile. (I really like ‘Observe’, for those moments when you’re happy to people-watch by the bar.) Of course, all these poses make this a great environment for taking photos with friends, and this is a build that really does have a great ambience to it. Add a Juke Box, a dartboard and you’ve got your very own home pub and will be the envy of all your buddies!  It’s a corking investment and worthy of belonging in every home on the grid-go and get one!
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As for me? I’m the one with the funny expression leaning in an awkward manner against a bar-stool. The room’s spinning a wee bit. No, I’m OK..don’t move. No, I’ll be fine. Yes, actually  a bucket might be a good idea…

The Dragon & Orchid Home Pub is exclusive to FAMESHED January 2014 and available in these options: 

  • Standard (Amaretto & Redwood) includes 24 animated poses.  Stool has 11 poses. 4 standard stained glass window sets included via menu plus template for your own glass inserts. Unscripted props such as bottles also included. Mesh.  Materials enabled. L$550.
  • Adult (Dark ‘A’) as above but also includes an additional 10 animated adult poses. L$1100

Click HERE to visit the Trompe Loeil blog for more details and click HERE to see it in action at FAMESHED

(I’ll blog more Fameshed goodness later this week!)

KUSTOM 9 KITTY AHOY!

KUSTOM 9 KITTY AHOY!

by Lisa Millar ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Happy New Year

Hey There Kitty Readers!  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 I hope you had an amazing Yuletide season! I know I did; I was absolutely blooming ruined and it was marvellous:)

 I am still wading my way through tons of calorific treats and drinkies and yes, I have grown to the size of a small planet, but I care not, a fabulously festive time was had by one and all. Well, until I acquired yet another stinking cold. Regular readers will recall that back in November I was really ill and alas I managed to acquire some more germs yet again after Christmas! I mean how totally ridiculous is that? It’s just not on, it really isn’t. So basically I didn’t log in world over Xmas much due to RL-work and then being ill, so I missed out on a heck of a lot of Yuletide festivities, which is pretty unfortunate. But now I’m back online and playing catch-up. (Let’s not talk about the fact that I’ve missed out on a L$500 Gos Boutique credit shall we? I mean no, let’s NOT TALK ABOUT THAT!)

It’s funny, but I really do miss my time in-world when I’m not able to log-in so it was with mucho Kitty Gusto that I burst into Second Life earlier with a pressing need to go shopping. I knew exactly where I wanted to go too; FAMESHED and KUSTOM 9.   Let’s start with Kustom 9. I don’t really know much about this event at all but meandered over in an excited manner to check out the goodies on sale and the Gachas that are available to play. I’ve seen a number of lovely items on various blogs from this event, most noticeably the glorious  AMITOMO coat combo that Heidi Volare recently blogged, but my Lindens are somewhat limited so alas, I couldn’t splash the cash around as much as I would like. (In Second Life, just like real life, I am a skint Kitty, but then again who isn’t in January?)  But I have been very poorly so therefore deserved a treat, obviously. And what a glorious treat I found!

Feast your eyes on the splendidness of this epic jacket that I found at Kustom 9. It’s from MARSHMALLOWS,  a brand that I am familiar with but I’m now even more keen to learn more about.  This jacket is called ‘Lisa’, so I had to have it really. *blushes* (Kitty insider tip: that will be because that’s my real name..shush!) It’s a fabulous leather jacket that is reminiscent of the classic Aviator style, but with a modern twist. Instead of a bulging sheepskin collar this piece features a more refined edge to the collar, cuffs and bottom, and rather than being festooned with buckles it has one simple buckle at the collar teamed with a zip to the front.  There’s a feminine twist courtesy of a built-in bow belt (try to say that after a few too many cheeky Vimtos!), and the dramatic, bold and super-stylised shape of the shoulders make for a shapely silhouette.  I knew as soon as I saw this that I HAD TO HAVE IT.

Kustom 9 'Lisa' Jacket From Marshmallows

It’s not just the shape that appealed to me about this jacket either, the leather texture is one of the best I’ve seen yet  in Second Life, and it’s been applied beautifully. The lighting and shading and creasing all look spot on too; zooming in for a close-up look  is very satisfying indeed. The jacket is chunky and ‘feels’ substantial,  and detail such as belt-loops and even the tortoiseshell buttons on the cuff-straps look excellent. Nothing has been neglected.  To top it all off it fits like a dream; I opted for the medium jacket and have had no issues with it suiting my shape. I opted to team this with a skirt available at the event from the same designer. I’m a sucker for a short, denim skirt and MARSHMALLOWS has three at the event in blue and dark-blue denim, as well as black. I opted for the darker shade and again, this is a great piece of mesh.  There are no added studs or stitching elements here, instead texture is used to suggest those elements and on the whole it works really well. The bum-pockets stick out to add a 3D feel, and the skirt looks authentic.  It will wear really well with tees and other mesh items in my inventory, I’ve no doubt about that.  The skirt when worn with the medium jacket presented me with no fitting issues, which is a blessing when wearing multiple mesh pieces,  and I couldn’t be happier with my outfit. Congratulations to RoMy Dash on her sensational work, and I’m looking forward to more of the same in 2014!

  • Marshmallows ‘Lisa’ Jacket – Available in Beige, Brown, Black and Tan -L$199 (Kitty wears Brown)
  • Marshmallows ‘Rozy’ Skirt – Available in Blue, Dark Blue and Black -L$99 (Kitty wears Dark Blue)

Second Life pricing can be a minefield and it must be difficult to know what to charge, especially after you have spent hours working on a piece and shed blood, sweat and tears whilst crafting your creation. I expected to pay at least L$350 for the jacket alone , and believe me it is worth it, so I almost died when I realised I could buy this beauty for L$199! Even better, the skirt is a measly L$99 too, so that means that if you’re a Second Life premium subscriber when you receive your L$300 stipend  on Tuesday you can go and get this entire outfit and still have change!  OOF!

Click HERE to TP to Marshmallows at Kustom 9. Happy shopping!