Category: Metaverse

Bunnylicious!

Bunnylicious!

by Lisa Millar ♥ 2 Comments

And it all started with a couple of nests from my good friend Altair Orellana. I’ve been intrigued by the passion and enthusiasm that owning a virtual pet in Second Life arouses, but I hadn’t gotten around to owning one myself.  Although they appealed, I worried about lag; and our home sim seems to suffer dreadfully from it as is, so conscientious sort that I am I decided against having any. But then Altair showed me her home and her bunnies, and well I got bunny broody. She also assured me that they weren’t as mega laggy as I feared, and teh deal was thus sealed!
Altair gave me the pick of her nests.  I was flabbergasted and totally honoured, but I didn’t have a clue!! I mean what do you do with them, how hard are they to look after, and ultimately, is there any point? There seems to be a massive trade in bunnies and bunny-related items, leading to (some would say) over-breeding and a complete saturation of the market.  But I’m not interested in being a breeder, I’d just like a couple of bunnies to call my own -so I gratefully accepted her gift and got myself all set up for the trials and tribulations of bunny ownership.
I got myself kitted out ready for the inevitable arrival of my fur-babies.  I needed a nice wee hutch, and of course some nommage for my wee charges too, after all being born is an arduous task and they would surely be hungry?  I placed the nests nervously in the hutch, rezzed a bean-bag and sat and waited.  It takes about an hour ( you have a constant countdown hovering above the nest) and I must say it was a very tense hour indeed. I was constantly updating my plurk-feed and getting very, very excited. It never once struck me as being ridiculous or silly, I was just dead excited about the imminent arrival of my very own wee bunnies. Mad isn’t it? The countdown progressed, and then the moment was upon me..who would appear first?
The nest on the left hatched first, and a gorgeous little black boy lop appeared. As you can see from the ears sticking out of the straw it wasn’t long before he was joined by….
..a beautiful female with gorgeous upright ears. YAY! I was beyond myself with pride at this point, and at the same time completely amazed as to how immersed I had become in the whole process.
They immediately started hopping around and I was really struck by how well they were (are) animated. Their eyes blink, they hop around within a set-range and not only that but they dream wee baby bunny dreams when they sleep (of carrots and green fields, naturally)
It’s actually quite easy once you’re read up on the process of keeping bunnies.  I found the official  OZIMALS blog  to be a straightforward resource and it is home to an active  forum with many members updating daily, but I must confess that I found the information at Jolly Farm Online to be much more accessible.  There’s a fabulous in-world store associated with the blog from where I purchased my beautiful hutch for a mere L$100.  The owner, Sookie Slafford, breeds bunnies and has an amazing stock available to buy.  Her breeding cabin is an awesome sight to behold too; she has all her bunnies displayed beautifully and should you decide to purchase from her store all the nests are arranged by breed so you can be certain of getting just the right bunny for you.  Not only that she is amazingly helpful to boot.  It’s so worth visiting even if you aren’t looking to own your own virtual pet because it’s just so elegantly constructed.  You can also purchase some great accessories, such as baskets and backpacks and really gorgeous cushions and chairs, I highly recommend it.
A couple of days in and the bunnies are thriving!  They now have names, Sookie and Dexter ( beloved named them after characters from our fave shows)and I’m totally enthralled by them.  I can see how easy it would be to buy loads and become completely overwhelmed but I’m being sensible and just sticking to these two for now, although I’m sure they’d make wonderful parents..ahem. I’m learning lots (getting my head around the stats isn’t easy for me seeing as I am completely number illiterate but I am persevering) I’m also on the look-out for the perfect bunny accessory, so if you have any suggestions to make please feel free to update the comments section below, and any tips you have are very welcome too.
To sum up then, my bunny loving experience has been an overwhelmingly positive and surprisingly joyous one.  My only criticism? No bunny pooh.  I was expecting little brown pebbles everywhere, and I’m disappointed that hasn’t been the case..perhaps Ozimals are planning that function for a future update? I await with baited-bunneh breath…;P
Kitty gets her holiday on!

Kitty gets her holiday on!

by Lisa Millar ♥ 0 Leave a Comment
The chances of me going on my holidays in real life are slim to none following my RL op, so it’s nice to know that in at least one of my nine lives I can get away on vacation. As the sun blazes somewhat fiercely outside in real life, I can get my bikini on and enjoy the surf in my Second Life without fear of sun burn, mosquito bites, harassment from beach vendors or embarrassing holiday snaps.

Kind of fabulous really, don’t you think?

My adventure started this morning, when I logged in-world and received this rather lovely sun frock from PINK OUTFITTERS. It’s ideal for a virtual summer and features a lovely, bubbly skirt shape complimented by a snazzy white prim belt. How could I not embrace the holiday mood in such a pretty frock? After some minor tweaking of the belt and some serious rummaging in my inventory I was all set to go, adding my aptly titled TRES BLAH ‘Neato’ bag, ‘Arizona’ jewellery from GANKED and TRUTH ‘Iris’ hair to complete the look.

Look out sunshine, here comes Kitty!

But where to go? I don’t really know of any holiday resorts in-world, so how would I find a decent one? Lots of beaches are actually pervtastic nudie affairs and that was the last thing I need at the moment! Freenis on a Tuesday morning? I think not!Fortunately Cajsa Lilliehook , esteemed SL photographer and blogger for ‘It’s Only Fashion’ along with Gidge Uriza, came to my rescue. She’d recently kindly distributed a listing of locations she uses for her fashion photography, and the list covered a vast array of locations.

Sure enough, a few looked promising, so I took a leap of faith and I plumped for The HEART REEF RESORT

Trust Cajsa to have found such a stunning location! This is a true holiday paradise, primarily aimed at couples , but with it’s Mediterranean hues and stunning, rocky backdrop replete with romantic crashing waves it’s perfect for taking holiday snaps that will be the envy of your Second Life peers. But don’t stop at snaps, oh no..there’s LOTS to see and do here, as I soon discovered! First up when you rez on the beach you can collect FREE scuba gear, which really looks and sounds the part and before I knew it I was soon scuba diving courtesy of the Scuba Scooter Tour! One of the things I LOVE about Second Life is that you can ‘sort of’ experience things that you wouldn’t do in real life..of course it’s just fantasy but it’s fabulous fun all the same. I can tell you that scuba diving has never been on my ‘Do Want!’ list. I’m a firm believer in neither going up or under and staying firmly fixed to the ground. Call me a fuddy duddy, call me a wimp, I care not, I just know that it’s not for me, but here in-world I can virtually experience this kind of thing and have a ton of fun just the same! Seriously, it’s AGES since I had this much fun in Second Life, and I LOVE the fact that the owners of this sim have put so much effort in to make it look so beautiful, authentic, romantic and one of the best beach resorts upon the grid! Incidentally, when you embark upon the Scuba tour it takes you underwater into a mermaid’s retreat, and if you’re lucky you’ll see a mermaid or two. I was indeed blessed to see a beautiful vision dancing among the waves, although because of the tour I didn’t have the chance to stop and talk to her, it certainly seemed like she was having a whale of a time. Oh, speaking of whales (see what I did there?) listen out for the wonderful whale song as you paddle underwater and swim through shoals of Dory and assorted tropical fish. You may not find Nemo, but you will find a few sea monsters! The tour takes about ten minutes to complete, and if scuba isn’t your thing you can enjoy a swimming tour or even a a boat ride..there are loads to choose from via a board upon the beach.

After my watery adventures it was time for a sauna (yes, a sauna!) in the rather beautifully equipped beach side steam room. After you’ve cleansed your pores you can lie back in one of the hammocks or massage tables that are placed nearby.

There are  even bottles of massage lotion for you to treat your partner to a relaxing rub down; of course I was on my own so lucked out, but I did find a stunning spot for a cup of tea and some meditation as the sun set…


Because this is a virtual world you can enjoy your sunset and flip back to midday at the click of a button, and that’s just what I did as I slipped on my sandals and went into the town centre. The atmosphere here is fabulous. No, I’m not joking, turn up your speakers and listen! Careful use of sound effects really make the difference here; there’s the sound of the ferries engines and horns blasting out across the sea, as well as hungry seagulls by the dock and as you travel into the town itself (which is based upon Mykonos and Santorini ) you hear the chatter of crowded streets, the braying of donkeys and even lunchtime clatter as you progress. The buildings are very pretty and the winding streets just beg to be explored, and again just like upon the beach you can opt to take one of many tours to enable you to enjoy all of the sim, and take some great photos too.

This time there are walking tours and bike rides geared towards both singles and couples, and it’s nice to see that tinies are accommodated too..but really this is somewhere to enjoy with a loved one, and I strongly suggest you do. Once I’d finished a surprisingly long walking tour of the resort I decided to quickly change and relax with a beer on the terrace as the strains of ‘Zorba’s Dance’ filled the air…blissful. I wish I’d a bowl of olives and a beer beside me in real life, that would have made my experience absolutely perfect!

Now that I’ve found this amazing virtual holiday destination I know that I will keep returning to enjoy it because it has so much to offer, and is so beautifully done. I don’t have many criticisms either; for starters you don’t get blasted with notecards when you rez in which makes a really refreshing change, although on this occasion I actually would have appreciated some tips on the best windlight settings to use at locations in the town and on the beach. There are tip jars (deposit freely, this place is so worth it!) and voting booths which aren’t really a major distraction either and it’s certainly worth your time to vote for this place so that hopefully more people can find out about it and enjoy all the wonderful experiences that it has to offer.

Alas, it can be laggy at times, and when you’re touring you can find your movements become a tad hesitant on occasion but that is the nature of the game unfortunately.

It’s a wonderful way to spend a few hours in world and a place that I know I will be recommending to all of my friends, and I am sure once you’ve visited you will be doing the same:)

Yay Yay It’s Caturday!!

Yay Yay It’s Caturday!!

by Lisa Millar ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Ok, it’s Saturday, so that means that it’s ‘Super Bargain Saturday‘ whereby a number of retailers offer some happy wee items for just 60L. I completely missed Fifty Linden Friday this week, doh!, so I was determined to not miss Saturday. As usual with this kind of event it’s a mixed bag, but I recommend checking out this great ‘Celestial’ tattoo from PARA DESIGNS. There are some nifty freebies there too that you should indulge yourself with; they really do produce excellent tattoos, and I especially like the fact that they retail sets that cater especially for viewer 2.0 I have no idea how we’ve managed without a tattoo layer, and when the option to layer the layers comes in a future 2.0 update I can imagine everyone’s ARC soaring into the millions! I care not a jot, it’s going to completely revolutionise the way we wear outfits in SL.
Also featured is a dress I picked up from a completely new store to me ( That isn’t featured in Super Bargain Saturday, but I found it whilst doing the rounds) called MY PINKIE SKULL. Where *do* people find their store names? It sells a great range of streetwear in bright colours as well as hair and accessories. I spotted lots of cool items, in particular a really funky catsuit and this rather sweet ‘Unzzip Me’ dress. Why did I buy it? Simple, the creasing and the shading really work, as does the zip detail and the prim cuffs upon the arms. You get two options, one with the stars detail and one without, which makes it super versatile. I also really like the arm wraps, which are a new release in store and you can *just* make them out in this picture. They come in 8 different combinations and make a great addition to an outfit..I love items like that. Also worth a mention is the pose, which IS part of the Super Bargain Saturday event. It’s called ‘Your Turn’, and it’s part of the ‘Model Poses 2’ pack, from BUBBLE (which is next to ‘My Pinkie Skull’) and you get 10 poses for L$60, and they’re pretty nifty too. Finally I MUST mention the hair that I am wearing, yes it’s another TRUTH spectacular and it’s featuring colour-change streaks again…I am *loving* the hair that he is creating at the moment, and these streak options are really making his styles go that extra mile. This one is called ‘Peyton’ and if you want to avoid the usual lag-fest at the Truth mainstore you’ll find it available on X-street.
Now, please excuse me- I need to go and change my skin from this lovely CURIO beauty to a skin that cost just L$60 and is rather spesh….BRB!

Strawberry Fair Forever!

Strawberry Fair Forever!

by Lisa Millar ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

NOM!, originally uploaded by =^..^=Kitty O’Toole =^..^=.

I’m sure that those who know me best, in Second Life (or real for that matter) would happily confirm that I have a tendency towards being my very best when I have a mug of tea in my hand, and something very large and yummy in my mouth…(insert your own rudeness here)
Fortunately for me both of these cravings have been satisfied by the Lark Strawberry Festival, which runs from June 5th-June 19th.
It’s beautifully described as a small celebration of warm weather and yummy strawberries, and seeing as I scoffed my first punnet this weekend (and very nice it was too) I thought I’d take a wander down to the Annamaria Bushido sim and see if the event really was as sweet as described.
Like the best things in life, this fair is small yet perfectly formed with a select band of creators such as Split Pea, Duh and Scribble participating. It’s neatly laid out, with pretty market stalls enticing you in to view the wares on offer. You’ll found new release items at discount prices, as well as a few freebies to boot, and there are some lovely items here from Lark, as you would expect seeing as this event is being held on the Lark/Agent Orange sim, right next to the store. If you’re a fan of Sienia Trevellion’s work you’ll delight in the clothing and furnishings that are available here; from a delightful patchwork salvage table and stools, to the beautiful white china tea service, embellished with a single strawberry motif.

Clothing wise Sienia has created some gorgeous open lace sweaters in a sweetshop of colours to choose from at L$100 apiece. I’m wearing the hazelnut flavour in this picture, and you must also look out for the ‘I’m A Good Girl’ and ‘Hattie’ dresses if you’re a fan of pretty frocks. They would look perfect with a pair of flats from ‘Duh’, available in strawberry and parchment at L$25 per pair. Split Pea have two slightly more outragous strawberry dresses in the fair, but I opted for the massively gob-filling mouth strawberry, a bargain at just L$1 but it looks great and it’s smothered in chocolate to boot..yummy! La’licious have provided some fabulously summery outdoor furniture items, including a pergola, a texture change patio table set, a family fun pool and a rather fabulous ‘Ticky Tacky Trailer’ that really looks the part and is a mere 59 prims, perfect for living on a small parcel of land! Out of all the La’licious items I’m especially fond of the ‘Adirondack Chair’ that’s available for just L$150 and is perfect for Second Life summer relaxation, featuring multiple poses and a gorgeous pink strawberry print parasol.
My second favourite item from the fair has to be this huge mug from Scribble. As you would expect from Radio Signals( the best named avatar in the sluniverse) this mug has a few hidden quirks. It features built in poses and you can change the wording on the mug to suit. You can also change the colour of the lettering too..a very sweet and nifty item that I know I will get a lot of use from when I’m sat nattering to Amanda and Sable.
But my absolute fave item is this huge strawberry hot air balloon! Isn’t it lovely? It’s a wearable item that attaches to your chest and once you wear it you’re airborne! I love the wee sandbags that are fixed onto the sides of the basket and the comfy poses within…it’s really well textured and so much fun to wear-it’s an absolute steal for L$75 and a real conversation piece.
So, has all this talk of delicious strawberries got your juices flowing? I do hope so, because although as Second Life fairs go this is a small event, it’s certainly one that you shouldn’t miss, even if you’re allergic.

Stock up on the Piriton and CLICK HERE to visit!