[#615] We’ll Carry On!

 

Do or die, you’ll never make me
Because the world will never take my heart
Go and try, you’ll never break me
We want it all, we wanna play this part
I won’t explain or say I’m sorry
I’m unashamed, I’m gonna show my scar
Give a cheer for all the broken
Listen here, because it’s who we are
I’m just a man, I’m not a hero
Just a boy, who had to sing this song
I’m just a man, I’m not a hero
I
Don’t
Care!

My Chemical Romance, ♫Welcome To The Black Parade♫

 

It’s the end of March and coincidentally it is also the anniversary of when I posted “When The Saints Come Marching In” on “The Saints Of Fashion{ation}” blog 5 years ago. After 100 posts I felt that my creativity and identity began to mold and change into something else and in turn spawned the site that you are viewing now. It was a branding change I thought would best be done early because once I really took off (though I still feel that I haven’t) that it would be harder to do.

Befitting as it is, to choose a song that has so many different meanings to me…it could easily be said that like My Chemical Romance, this site could be considered emo. It’s not a term I’m in love with as it almost feels derogatory in context to describe music and musicians that express what they feel in a much deeper manner. As a blogger sometimes my scenes can be deeply personal or come from a source close to me (of which I’d never disclose). “The Black Parade” album definitely had an impact on not only me as a young adult but many in their mid to late teens.

It’s relatable in an unconventional way.

For longer than I can remember I’ve wanted to do a scene inspired by “Welcome To The Black Parade” as it’s a song I feel evokes a lot of emotion. The thing that was holding me back was that the style of clothing I wanted to make this work had not been available. My vision was to make this as accurate as possible but deep down I knew that I wouldn’t find clothing that was accurate to the band’s. The closest thing at the time was the dress by CUREMORE and this almost became a blog entry that was done as a female feature but ultimately I wanted to be myself in it as well in the worst way.

Then surprisingly the other day I was browsing Flickr and saw the “Military Tailcoat” by HotDog, which had not been released at the time but was coming to latest round of NEO Japan. The event opened yesterday and I didn’t walk, I ran to the event (metaphorically speaking) and it was the first thing I bought. The event has a lot of great items but this was the one thing I truly needed to finally put my look together and be able to create a visual for it.

My brother Lucky had a set on his land that he put together for anyone to use, so I jumped at the opportunity. I’m going to say that at first when I started taking pictures I was not happy with the results I was getting and sadly almost gave up on the idea. I’m not a big fan of doing re-shoots but I was determined not to let this go so to make this work I added the hearse and changed up the poses from what I had originally; I also tweaked the lighting and some settings in Black Dragon to get where I wanted to be.

Also you’ll notice there are two people in this blog but there actually aren’t, both of them are me and to preserve the magic of the photo I’m not going to divulge the way in which I was able to get this to work. Working this how I did really made the photo special and possibly one of my favorites of my most recent work. There are other things that I probably could have done with it but I’m satisfied with these results so I am not going to give any further thought to it.

If you like the look of HotDog’s “Military Tailcoat” I would definitely implore you to visit NEO Japan and see all the outstanding stores and products available. You certainly will not regret it and I can also tell you that you’ll see more from the event on this blog before the end of the event.

HotDog – Military Tailcoat

• Original mesh
• 6 color changeable parts via HUD
• Fits most major mesh bodies (Female version included)
• Exclusive to NEO Japan until 04/21/19

Closing out this entry, I’m still very much in disbelief that 5 years has gone by and I am still doing this crazy thing. Blogging is a great outlet and a fantastic release to help deal with emotional things at times to also challenge myself creatively to see what I can do with the various parts and pieces provided to me by the Second Life grid and community. Like everything it’s had it’s ups and downs and has also chronicled different times in my life and looking at it now I know that all of it continues to shape who I am as a person.

If there is anyone out there who has been a reader since the beginning that I’ve not spoken to, you have my sincere gratitude. Over time I’ve said this and it’s worth repeating again that while I am the founder and author of this blog, when I hear from friends or family and even the random message or like on social media it validates what I do here. This blog also serves the owners of the stores I blog for or the events that I am a part of as well as those I just love to show my appreciation for.

On that note, it’s time for me to get this posted up and begin working on the next photo so I can start getting back into a routine. I’ve been a little lax as of late since the Skin Fair but that’s going to change (I hope). Anyhow hope everyone’s had a great weekend and until I’m back with some fun new (and not so new sometimes) items I’ll catch you on the flipside!

 

On and on we carry through the fears
Disappointed faces of your peers
Take a look at me cause I could not care at all

 

POSE: Everglow – Majorette #1

HEARSE: Kalopsia – Hearse

My Look #1

HEAD: LeLutka – Guy v3.3
SKIN: Stray Dog – Mario

HAT: BALACLAVA – Shako Hat ✦ Retired Item
COAT: Hotdog – Military Tailcoat @ NEO Japan ✦ NEW
PANTS: Hotdog – Baxter Suit Trousers

My Look #2

HAIR: Elua – Stella (Blacks Pack)
HEAD: LeLutka – KORINA v3.3
SKIN: MILA – Aida Skin (LeLutka) (Sugar)
BODY: Maitreya – Lara v4.1

HAT/DRESS: CUREMORE – Black Parade Dress (Noir)
KNEE SOCKS: Luxuria – Spring Summer 19 Semi Sheer Knee Socks
BOOTS: Vale Koer – Rainy Day Boots

 

[#614] Happy

 

We’re so happy and everything is perfect.
The weather’s just so splendid.
Aren’t you just as happy as I am?

Stories Untold, ♫Happy♫

Music ties into a lot of things in my life as many of the artists and songs are as much of a soundtrack to it as they are to the blog posts I create here. Sometimes I discover new musicians through YouTube just by looking up the videos for songs that I already know as the algorithm suggests them as they are similar.

I’m not sure what I was looking for when I discovered the band Stories Untold but I decided to listen to their song “Happy” on a whim; I do not regret it for even a second and it’s this photo that is inspired by the song’s video so the idea is not necessarily mine but it is enough of a difference with the tools I have to work with in SL.

Before I get too far into my thoughts, the thing that drew me to this song is that I can empathize with it as do many people most likely. Sometimes feelings get overwhelming and can show up for a day or so or wind up becoming a cluster until it finally subsides and what is considered to be “feeling normal” or “like yourself” happens. After I heard this tune I realized that the songwriter totally gets it, totally understands that it’s not as easy as it seems to talk about things.

It could be hypocritical that at times I’ve expressed that talking to people when you feel a certain way can help but following your own advice is not as easy.

Blogging definitely helps in a way because I can sometimes just let some of it escape and there is a bit of relief from it which is one of the reasons why I still do it and to a degree still enjoy doing it as well. Giving myself an opportunity to create with the skills that I do have and I’m always trying to learn something new all the time, I guess it acts as a bit of a poor man’s therapy session.

In a related an unrelated note, the band I’ve put a bit of a spotlight on in this blog is playing their very last show in a few days which is a bit sad as well as after only two albums which both are really good (which is of course my opinion but I feel that fans of theirs agree). Things come into your life when they need to or you discover them at a time of need and I’m honestly grateful for it.

Now to focus on my look for this blog, which is mostly a mix of old and new Deadwool items with an added touch of a paper bag over my head much like “Bad Bag Bob” as he is known in the video. I did a look around the marketplace for paper bags worn on the head and the one I am wearing by Diabology was the closest I could find to the video. I probably could have just as easily just found a plan bag and just did a little post processing magic on it to make it look true to it but using creative license prevailed in the long run.

As I mentioned at the beginning of the first paragraph, my look is a mix of both old and new Deadwool and those that visit this blog on any kind of basis will know that I don’t talk about older items and that I feature new things such as the “Suede Jacket” that is currently a part of the equal10 lineup for about another week or so. The detail of the jacket is fantastic and the options for it knock it out of the park as far as things go, there is one slight thing that I would have done differently.

One thing that bothers me sometimes about clothes is that this jacket is structured with the arms stuck in a solitary position so if you wanted to use a specific pose it would not be very effect because it wouldn’t show any arm movement. Don’t let this deter you from potentially shopping for this item because aside from photography purposes, it’s definitely excellent fashion that deserves a spot in your wardrobe.

Deadwool – Suede Jacket

• Original mesh
• 10 different choices
• FATPACK option available
• Bonus content within FATPACK
• Fitted for Belleza (Jake), Signature (Geralt and Gianni) as well as SLink Physique mesh bodies.
• Currently exclusive to the Equal10 event until 04/05/19

Right now I am in between events and things so I will be putting together some looks with some of my brand partners to help with getting back on track after taking a couple days to just veg out and relax once Skin Fair ended. That was a really fun opportunity but also one I devoted lots of time and energy to thus requiring a little bit of extra down time.

This weekend will also be what I consider my official blogiversary as my first solo post ever which was under the banner of the former title of this blog was made in 2014. Five years is something I consider to be a long time especially when it comes to devoting myself to it as a serious thing (not just like a time passer or hobby which is also fun too).

I went from taking pics of me and everyone around me at the time (some of which are no longer around for whatever the reason may be). Most of my photography now is blog related and probably at some point I will scale back with the brands or events I blog for so I can take more photos that aren’t specifically for anything other than enjoyment. I am not at that point yet but the reality is that all things do eventually come to a stopping point.

Will it be another 5 years? That’s not something I can honestly even say because the platform I’m working with may or may not be here but truth is that the logic in it was the same back when I started so I am just taking things a step at a time and making sure that I don’t let it become a chore (as if that becomes the reality then it is time for me to move on).

I’d say possibly check back sometime this weekend to see if I’ve done a special post but I don’t want to make any promises that I cannot keep. Until then I hope you’ve been entertained and see you all again soon!

 

If I say I’m happy maybe one day you’ll see,
I hope maybe you’ll be, one day, happy

 

PAPERBAG: Diabology – Paper Bag – Happy
TANKTOP: Deadwool – Suede @ equal10 ✦ NEW
JEANS: Deadwool – Broberry Jeans (Revenge)

 

[#613] We Leave Our Pieces On The Ground

 

We build it up, we tear it down
We leave our pieces on the ground
We see no end, we don’t know how
We are lost and we’re falling

Rob Thomas, ♫Pieces♫

 

Today is the final day for Skin Fair 2019 and thus is my last post for the event and through the last two odd weeks I’ve spread across this site items for both male and female alike. This last one is one more for the ladies and I really have to say that I’m a huge fan of the LeLutka “Korina” head as a counterpart to the “Guy” head I wear normally. As a part of the fair I have learned an extra bit of versatility that I can carry on with me now through my creative portfolio.

Some of the items may be exclusive to the Fair so if you have not taken a look at the shopping guide, I suggest you take a look to see what interests you as at the end of the day they may be gone for good.

As far as female skin creators go I am not as well versed as I am with male skins. I know mostly of Glam Affair, Session Skins, Clef de Peau (as I have several male skins from the previous two stores), Insol, Not Found and a couple others but through the fair I’ve been introduced to several more stores such as MILA, whom I am wearing the “Aida” skin in the Fair Tone.

I think this skin is very nicely done and the body skin options have depth to them as there is an option for curvy girls available (which I’m not going to say the name of as I personally do not care for the term). With that said, for those of you ladies that may not be familiar with MILA, from my perspective is not only a quality skin but gives you more than just a standard body choice.

The second and final item I am blogging are the “Amelie Eyes” from Cubic Cherry. This is a store that I’ve heard the name of from various events I’ve visited and shopped but have never truly used anything of before. As a fan of different kinds of eyes, I find these to be very pleasing visually and are of very high quality which is what any person who not only creates but also buyers would wish for. The colors in the pack are the usual tones that you would find in human eyes and I will say can be used for every day and not limited to fantasy looks.

In combination with the skin and eyes, I am also wearing a fun drunk/tired applier that I’ve had for a while from Go&See called “Wasted Eyebags”. It goes along with the overall theme of the photo and soundtrack in which I am basically the epitome of a hot mess.

MILA – Aida Skin

• LeLutka Skin Applier
• HUD contains 3 brow options (Black, Brown or Browless)
• 6 different ones (Bronze, Fair, Honey, Ivory, Sugar and Tan)
• Body appliers sold separately
• Exclusive to Skin Fair !CLOSES TODAY 03/24/19!

Cubic Cherry – Amelie Eyes

• Mesh Eyes + HUD
• Omega HUD
• 12 different iris colors in pack
• Exclusive to Skin Fair !CLOSES TODAY 03/24/19!

Now that I can essential blog both women’s and men’s items it also means that I have to make sure that I choose things carefully because the cost could become great but at the same time I don’t foresee myself blogging that often so with weekly sales such as Fifty Linden Friday and The Saturday Sale with all items from both being under 100L, it shouldn’t be hard for me to find things on a very tight budget to also help with blogger packs I may receive from my stores.

This week I partook in both of those sale platforms and found a few hairs as well as some clothing including the hooded sweatshirt that I am wearing. White River Co. is definitely a knew store to me as I know most of the stores that sell clothes via either shopping with Brenna or having had the use of a female alt. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of not only the hoodie but also the boots which were a part of FLF this past week. The leggings I am wearing from them that complete an entire outfit (however, sold separately) were not in the sale but were still not cost heavy. The hoodie also has a really cool built in hair feature which can be toggled on and off (White River Co. has a partnership with Elikatira hair).

Last but not least for those of you who are in the Session Skins in-world group, you already know that we were treated to a cigarette prop for photography a day or so ago. It has a realistic smoke effect to it which I thought I would put to use along with my Reve Obscura whiskey bottle prop from their “Whiskey” pose. All these elements fit together to create a story of hitting a low point, which many of us do from time to time.

As I close out this blog, I want to give a huge shout out to Pale Girl Productions for having me be a part of their event. I’ve loved every bit of my time showcasing this event and writing about the items I’ve blogged from it. I look forward to being a part of your “Vintage Fair” event that’s coming up just a bit up the road. Hopefully I can be a part of this event next year as this was a very big deal to me as a blogger. Thank you for putting your event in my hands and deeming me capable of creating visuals and writing as an ambassador for the event.

One that note I am going to bid you all adieu for now but stick around for the credits. Until next time…see yaaaaaaaa!

 

Run away, run away if you can’t speak.

 

POSE: Secret Poses – Dreamer

BACKDROP: Minimal – Underground Backdrop 1
CIGARETTE: Session Skins – Cigarette With Smoke ✦ Group Gift

HEAD: LeLutka – KORINA v3.3 @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW
EYES: Cubic Cherry – Amelie Eyes @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW
EYEBAGS: Go&See – Wasted Eyebags
SKIN: MILA – Aida Skin (LeLutka) (Fair) @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW
BODY: Maitreya – Lara v4.1

HOODIE: White River Co. – Eventide Hoodie (Storm)
LEGGINGS: White River Co. – Eventide Leggings (Aubergine)

 

[#612] Material Girl

 

Living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl

Madonna, ♫Material Girl♫

Don’t adjust your screens or monitors or think that your phone is borked. What you see is what you’re actually seeing as I’ve decided to branch out a little bit as I was given a nudge by Skin Fair to take a crack at seeing how the other half lives. So far it hasn’t been bad and it may take a bit of an adjustment from taking photos of an alt or taking a photo of someone else.

When it comes to things like skins and clothing the female market is super wide open as compared with the male market. There are also more events that specialize more in items that females would purchase so if every now and then I tap into that market because I can creatively fulfill a need then I might as well do it because I have more of an access to it as a blogger (with slight name recognition).

It was an honor to have been given a review copy of the newest addition to the LeLutka mesh head family, Korina. For it being my first official female head product, I really like the look of it and it’s very much the style that I envision of myself as a lady. One of the things I like best about LeLutka is that right out of the box you get a very detailed HUD which from the moment you run it gives you a rundown of how it works before you even get started. So for those who have never had a head from LeLutka before you are given a crash course from the word jump.

Of course the base skin is created by Aida Ewing, head honcho behind Glam Affair so this will easily gel with the skins that come with the Maitreya body for those of you who also own one of them. Likely I am not providing any new information as it relates to these things but it’s somewhat new to me so I’m reporting what I know as that is what I do.

Even though I am a fan of how “Korina” looks right out of the box, I wanted to show off the latest skin from Clef de Peau which is being sold right within the LeLutka booth at Skin Fair. “Bianca” has a really good look to her and as a someone who has enjoyed male items from Clef de Peau, I feel that the detail for the ladies is just as consistent as it is for the guys.

Also appearing at the fair is a store I’m very familiar with, Avi-Glam. I was once a part of their team as a blogger and I loved being a part of them so it’s great to be able to showcase their work by wearing the “Daydreamers Eyes”. There are four color packs to choose from and I’ve always been partial to the blue eyes, so I went with pack 3 so I could have my trademark blue eyes.

It’s taken me some time to adjust actually having female parts on this avatar but I think it won’t take me long before I take off with some ideas that I might have squirreled away for a rainy day.

LeLutka – Korina

• Original mesh bento head
• Fully immersive HUD
• Starter skins from Glam Affair
• Bento Facial Animations (looped and non-looped)
• Exclusive to Skin Fair until 03/24/19

Clef de Peau – Bianca

• For LeLutka Korina
• 5 different skin tones to choose from
• Body shape and eyebrow shape included
• Body appliers sold separately
• Exclusive to Skin Fair until 03/24/19

Avi-Glam – Daydreamers Eyes

• 4 colors in each pack
• 4 color packs (FATPACK option available)
• Mesh eyes
• Applier HUDs for Catwa, Genus and Omega
• Exclusive to Skin Fair until 03/24/19

As a part of this blog I wanted to wear something unique to go along with the occasion so direct from the On9 event is the “Persea Dress” and “Persea Boots” from Bakaboo. These items are definitely an attention getter as they are a part of the Animated line of clothing that has started to take off more and more.

The dress and boots each have a pack with 3 different animated designs but you can also get both items with all the designs in a convenient and also value priced FATPACK. Ladies, if you are interested in getting the entire outfit may as well save yourself some extra dough by getting the whole set at a reduced price. Works out best in the long run.

Bakaboo – Persea Dress and Boots

• Original mesh
• Three different designs for both dress and boots
• Animated mesh
• Dress and Boots packs sold separately (FATPACK also available)
• Fitted for Belleza (Freya and Venus), Maitreya (Lara), SLink (Hourglass and Physique)
• Standard sizing also included
• Exclusive to On9 until 03/30/19

Now that I have gotten the first of who knows how many blogs with a female look out of the way, I feel like this could be a way to make me more confident about my creativity as it relates to the virtual world of Second Life. Please keep in mind readers that I will still be doing my usual thing as that is not changing, this is just another outlet for me to work with even more great brands potentially.

On that note I am going to wrap this blog up so that I can begin work on what is likely my final post for this years Skin Fair. There has been many great designers for both genders and I hope that I’ve been able to bring things to those who have found me through other bloggers or via social media. It’s always my goal to give as much information about the things I enjoy on this site.

Until the next one, enjoy your journey as best as you can. See yaaaaaaa!

 

They can beg and they can plead
But they can’t see the light, that’s right

 

POSE: Chat Noir – Pose Pack 1704

HAIR: Navy+Copper – Macaron Fatpack RARE ✦ Gatcha
HEAD: LeLutka – KORINA v3.3 @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW
EYES: Avi-Glam – Daydreamer Eyes (Omega Pack 4) @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW
SKIN: Clef de Peau – Bianca (Pearl) @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW

DRESS: Bakaboo (Store / MP) – Persea Dress (Color C) @ On9 ✦ NEW
BOOTS: Bakaboo (Store / MP) – Persea Boots (Color C) @ On9 ✦ NEW

 

[#611] I’m Just Fulfillin’ My Destiny

 

Tell me, how would you define this?
You witnessin’ the finest
Yeah, you never know what you can do until you try it

NF, ♫Destiny♫

 

Let me tell you…sometimes I get this crazy second wind at night and I end up at my desk taking photos that turn out to what I consider to be satisfactory and then jump to start writing this part of the blog and it’s late but I’m just really hyped up. It is often a mixture of watching music videos on Youtube or putting an outfit together that just sparks something that I have to do it or it gets lost. When that happens I don’t get angry with myself necessarily but I am disappointed in what would be consider a wasted opportunity.

I was sitting here listening to “Destiny” by NF and I thought it kind of relates in a way to my blogging journey. Though he’s looking to become super well known and probably famous and in the virtual world it’s a bit different and really being famous in that way is not as glamorous as it seems at least the way I view it anyway.

Personally I just want to be looked at by my peers as someone who puts a lot of energy and passion into what he does at the end of the day. I love finding a scene or creating one (with or without help) and then finding a pose and a look to try and tell some kind of story and I don’t really always spell it out because letting people decide what they see for themselves is really how I consider art to be. It’s just like music and I’ve said plenty of times that my interpretation could be much different than the writer’s was at the time it was put on paper (or typed because we are in an age of technology afterall).

My primary focus this month has been Skin Fair as well as The Men Jail but that doesn’t mean I haven’t thrown in a few things that are new from other events I enjoy or stores that I blog for. Take for instance the beanie/hair combination I have on right now from lock&tuft, which seems to have an element of things coming full circle.

Not to long ago I wrote about Brenna and I going on trial with Alyxx and we know him now as Elijah, which is what the hair I am wearing is called. Who would have thought that the name of a hair he made long before we ever met him would play into his choice of names? Before I get too sidetracked…this past weekend it became official and we have welcomed Elijah fully into our family. He is a great addition because he truly fits in and has a similar personality to mine.

To speak more about this beanie/hair combination, I really like the amount of colors that you can make the beanie as well as the fact that it has the roman numeral for the number 13 (some that are superstitious may shy away from it but I don’t mind the number myself). There is also the amount of colors in the packs to color the hair with. The power of choice can be a great thing for the indecisive in us all, why not just cut out the middle man as the stores FATPACK option will not break you even a little.

lock&tuft – Elijah Hair

• Original mesh
• Beanie HUD contains 14 colors to choose from
• Resize script built into beanie/hair
• 5 different color tone HUDs to select from
• FATPACK option available also
• Currently for sale at the lock&tuft main store location

As you have all seen over the course of the last few weeks that Skin Fair is not just about skins. The stores that participate in the event may also be creators of mesh body parts (heads or bodies), make-ups, facial add-ons, tattoos and shapes. The latter two play a role in my current look for this entry; one of them happens to be Gloom. They provided two shapes and a set of eyes for this year and I am now on the second and final shape.

When trying things like shapes it is best to keep an open mind (which I have). This shape is vastly different from many of the shapes (including my own) that are out on the market. I would be apt to say that this skin is geared towards possibly teen avatars in the sense that it definitely gives off a very youthful appearance even compared to other shapes and the body type is very skinny and not as muscular in nature. I was slightly skeptical of what it would look like with some of the skins I already had and I did try a few before I decided on “Damian” by Session Skins.

I’ve also got a new ink sleeve in the form of “Hourglass” by Endless Pain Tattoos. I have dabbled with their products in the past and have not been disappointed and the same can be said for this tattoo. I like that with the Signature body I can apply it to just one arm instead of both and leave the other one bare or have a different tattoo if I chose. Belleza has tattoo targets now as well I believe with version 2.0 of their body but there are still some things with it that haven’t been fixed so I’m sticking with Signature until I am given a reason not to.

I really like the hourglass that is just right below the bend of the arm which gives it its name. When I get in the mood to wear ink on my body this will likely be one of the ones I rotate between to keep things freshened up and I don’t get bored of tattoos easily.

Gloom – Honeyboy Shape

• Shape has mod and copy rights
• Eyebrow shape also included
• Exclusive to Skin Fair until 03/24/19

Endless Pain Tattoos – Hourglass Tattoo

• Applier HUDs for the following:
• Belleza
• Maitreya
• Omega
• Signature
• SLink
• Exclusive to Skin Fair until 03/24/19

Lately I’ve been kind of using some of the same pose packs and I wanted to do something different so I was sorting through some things and came across a pose pack from SVP Poses named “Coutcha”. This is a new store to me but I feel like they maybe haven’t been around super long but cycling through the poses gave me something to work with and found a spot to take a picture.

The best way I could describe this pose set is that it has a very urban feel to it and I could be mistaken but it is just the vibe that I get from it and that’s one of the main reasons why I found a bus stop backdrop to use for my background and the results of which I am definitely good with. Overall I think everything blends well from concept to finish.

On that note, I think it is well beyond time to wrap this up. It’s super late and I want to get a little bit of sleep and make the social media rounds. Be well and let’s all try to have a good week and until next time…see yaaaaaaaaaa!

 

I’m just fulfillin’ my destiny
I’m just fulfillin’ my destiny (all day)
To the death of me, I’m just fulfillin’ my destiny

 

POSE: SVP Poses – Coutcha Pose Pack @ The Men Jail ✦ NEW

HAIR: lock&tuft (Store / MP) – Elijah
HEAD: CATWA – Daniel v3.2
SKIN: Session Skins – Damian
SHAPE: Gloom – Honeyboy Shape @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW
TATTOO: Endless Pain Tattoos – Hourglass @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW

TANKTOP: FE Style – KUZOVH Tank (Black)
JEANS: Wazzer Works – Ultimatum Jeans – Dark Blue @ TMD ✦ NEW

 

 

[#610] Coffee And Cigarettes

 

Yeah, I have friends, but they have friends,
And they have parties, and I’m so awkward.
So what do you say, just as friends, we see a movie
This weekend, alright? Okay.

Never Shout Never, ♫Coffee and Cigarettes♫

 

The weekend is almost over already and it feels almost like it just started but oh well what can you do right? I needed a day or so to recharge and am back to what I know best and that’s showing off stuff I like and telling the world what I think about it in the best way I can (even though sometimes it comes out awkward).

A week of Skin Fair 2019 has gone by with another week left (it ends on the 24th, exactly a week from today). I’ve had a blast showcasing items from the event and there is still plenty more as well as ones you might not expect to see in a post here. Yep that’s right I am going to put my spin on some Skin Fair goodies that I might not have done in the past.

Today’s blog has items from stores I’ve blogged for the fair but have released more than one exclusive. I am going to start out with another skin from Vendetta in which is for either CATWA and Omega which is different from the last skin I featured as that was for the LeLutka specifically. It is a very youthful skin for those of you who tend to want your virtual selves to look younger but I’m sure that you can give it a more seasoned look with the right facial hair.

I paired it up with the “Desmond” shape from West End, which is for the CATWA “Daniel” head; both of them combined I think make a great combination. When I am looking through things and pairing them at random I never know what the results will be but with the look I put together here it turned out to be a good mix of designers.

Vendetta – Yvan Skin

• CATWA and Omega applier (Sold Separately)
• Available in 3 tones (04, 05 and 06)
• Body skins are sold separately
• Exclusive to Skin Fair until 03/24/19

West End – Desmond Shape

• Shape for CATWA Daniel
• Body shape and eyebrow shape included
• Exclusive to Skin Fair until 03/24/19

Time for me to also get a bit deeper into this current round of The Men Jail which has really been chock full of things (some of which I may not even get to blog before the round ends). I’ll start though with the Zule Hair by Letituier, which is a medium length curly hair that has a slight part on the left side. I would say this style has a lot of volume to it. The style itself is not one that I’ve worn much because it is not often that designers create it.

My awesome shirt is one of the latest from Gild. Garrete killed it with the “Interval-T One Arm” shirt, which is more like a modified turtleneck in retrospect as the neck is a bit longer than your usual sweater or shirt. There is also a slanted intended slash across the middle of the chest/abdomen area as well as the right arm completely missing to give it a unique fashion look.

I love standard clothing (jeans, shirts, jackets and the like) as much as the next person but wearing creative and functional items like this is also fun too. It also allows for a bit of fresh air to come through in these blogs so that they don’t get as stale as they could with wearing the same type of clothing all the time.

Rounding out my review of TMJ items in this blog is for the pose set from Navajo. I see their pose set ads on Flickr quite often and when I saw this set come through as part of the event, I found the right setting to use it at. “Bento Static Pose Pack 11” is a set of smoking poses with two of the poses having a mirrored version (a mesh cigarette for either hand is included).

I am not a smoker personally (I was a very long time ago) but it just wasn’t really a good plan for me personally so if I can do it without harm virtually then (or in a potential role-play situation) that’s fine but I also at the same time am not promoting it. I see younger people take it up at staggering ages as compared to when I was in that age frame.

Letituier – Zule Hair

• Original mesh
• Resize script in hair
• 6 different color HUDs (Sold Separately)
• FATPACK is also available
• Exclusive to The Men Jail until 03/28/19

Gild – Interval-T One Arm

• Original mesh
• Black, Gray and White versions
• FATPACK option also available
• Fitted for Belleza (Jake) and Signature (Gianni)

Navajo – Bento Static Pose Pack 11

• Bento capable poses
• 4 poses (with 2 mirrored ones)
• Left and Right hand cigarette prop
• Exclusive to The Men Jail until 03/28/19

Today is also St. Patrick’s Day, many people all over the world (that are not likely even Irish) will celebrate by drinking copious amounts of beer to eating Corned Beef and Cabbage (which is also a tradition on this day). I myself in the real world are not Irish but my virtual heritage is so I am getting together with a few friends and just hanging out.

I hope that anyone who is out there celebrating that you stay safe and make sure you get home as well without any trouble. Many will wake up with the headache the size of a double decker bus but hit the shower get some coffee and swallow down a few aspirin and get back to it. Fun start to the week for that lot of people.

On that note I am gonna take the opportunity to wrap up this post and leave you all with the style credits. Enjoy the last remaining hours of the weekend and see you back here again for the next one…byeeeeee!

 

And I’ll hope that Saturday will be the day
When everything feels okay.

 

POSE: Navajo – Bento Static Pose Pack 11 @ The Men Jail ✦ NEW

HAIR: Letitueir – Zule Hair @ The Men Jail ✦ NEW
HEAD: CATWA – Daniel v3.2
SKIN: Vendetta – YVAN (Tone 04) @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW
SHAPE: West End – Desmond @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW

TOP: Gild – Interval-T One Arm (White) @ The Men Jail ✦ NEW
PANTS: Gild – Soft Leather Easy Pants (Basic)

 

[#609] Touch, Peel And Stand

 

Yes I’ve finally found a reason
I don’t need an excuse
I’ve got this time on my hands
You are the one to abuse

Days Of The New, ♫Touch, Peel and Stand♫

 

Sometimes when looking through things that come through as review packs from some of the partnerships I have there are things that I usually know that there will be a few things that will likely not end up on the blog because of my comfort zone but I’ve been trying more as of late to work outside of it. This blog is visual proof of that and I am not sure how I feel about it quite yet but my initial impression is favorable.

Hitting a small stride on the naughty side, I have some items from The Men Jail that definitely fall within the category of outside of my normal stylings. I’m going to start out with the “FiDa Shorts” by Cubura. This very small shorts accentuate a certain part of the male anatomy in a very defining way especially if choosing some of the lighter colors that come in the HUD from the FATPACK.

I have to say that idealistically they are a tad snug (you’re welcome for that nugget of info).

Another thing that I don’t normally feature in my posts is decor but the “Sadistic Pleasure Rack” by Short Leash helped me come up with an overall idea for what I wanted to do with the pic which was delve into the kinky side of the world. There’s plenty of tools (not really sure if that is the right terminology but oh well don’t shoot the messenger) hanging on the rack to ideally make for an interesting night. Yes it might only be for show but it’s very detailed and would be a great addition to someone’s “play room” if you catch my drift.

Cubura – FiDa Shorts

• Original mesh
• 24 colors to choose (Briefs and edges)
• 4 button metal colors
• Fitted for Belleza (Jake), Signature (Gianni) and V-Tech (Maitreya) mesh bodies
• Exclusive to The Men Jail until 03/28/19

Short Leash – Sadistic Pleasure Rack

• Original mesh
• Realistic kinky tools hanging upon a wall rack
• “The Pleasure Is All Mine” adorns the top
• Resizable item
• Exclusive to The Men Jail until 03/28/19

From the Skin Fair I am wearing the “Vergil Skin” from Kooqla which is a store that I am vaguely familiar with but had never really tried their products before. I was pleasantly surprised by what I found with the detail of the skin as well as the range of skin tones (of what I am wearing tone 03). The body skin has just the right musculature.

In addition to that also gave myself an edgier look with the “Fade To Black Tattoo” by MooLoo Body Art. There are so many good things to say about this tattoo…such as I like the clouds and moon up by the collarbone/shoulder area as well as the portrait bust of one of my favorite authors, Edgar Allen Poe, adorned right on the back leg.

I really see wearing this tattoo on a more consistent basis in the near future which is not a usual modus operandi of mine (I do not usually wear tattoos all the time or for more than a few days). With each new release I continue to become more and more impressed by MooLoo and in my opinion the store can hang with the heavyweights like Dappa, Speakeasy and even Bolson.

Kooqla – Vergil Skin

• Five tones (001-04 sold seprately)
• CATWA head skin and Belleza body skin (also sold separately)
• Exclusive to Skin Fair until 03/24/19

MooLoo Body Art – Fade To Black Tattoo

• Fresh and Faded body appliers
• Applier HUD for the following:
• Belleza (Female and Male)
• Maitreya
• Omega
• Signature
• SLink
• Exclusive to Pose Fair until 03/24/19

There were likely a lot of song choices I could have used to be the backing but I dug into my magical bag of music knowledge and pulled out a gem from the late 90’s. This song was likely one of the only songs that trended at that time for Days Of The New but at the time it got a lot of radio airplay as I recall having heard it a lot on the weekends when I could stay up longer and listened to music before falling asleep.

I feel like it has an element to it that fits with the scheme of the blog and who knows maybe it was written for situations such as this? Music unless the writer explicitly says what it is…is open to interpretation. Whichever the case is, it works for me and I’ve now hammered out another blog that I can put to rest and leave all of you with the style credits.

Time to relax a little and get ready for the weekend I hope everyone has some great things planned and until I return with some fun new items I hope everyone takes care. Laterrrrrrrrrrrr!

 

And now I stand, and I peel for more.
Won’t you touch me touch me, I won’t let it go

 

POSE: WRONG – BENTO Male Poses – 21

HAIR: Burley – Dorian
HEAD: CATWA – Daniel v3.2
SKIN: Kooqla – Vergil (Tone 03) @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW
TATTOO: MooLoo Body Art (Store / MP) – Fade To Black @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW

SHORTS: Cubura – FiDa Shorts @ The Men Jail ✦ NEW

SKYBOX: llorisen – Keating Skybox
CHAIR: Violetility – Junk Armchair (Damaged)
TOOLS: Short Leash – Sadistic Pleasure Rack @ The Men Jail ✦ NEW
NEON: Seven Emporium – Sinners

 

[#608] There’s A Way From Here Believe

 

And I need you
To keep me here
I’m starting over again

TRUSTcompany, ♫The Fear♫

 

Hello again! I’m back once again with some cool things that I wanted to share with the interwebs and despite the fact that I’ve been on this blogging journey so long there are still some things that I feel I lack when it comes to photography. Close-ups to me are a slight weakness because I always want to include things from the background yet it takes away from being able to showcase certain items (such as eyes or facial tattoos).

For this reason, I made sure to capture some extreme close-ups for the two items in my look that can be found at Skin Fair. I’m starting out with the “XpReSS Ur Self” facial tattoo set from Lush. This facial ink is applied to your cheek and is unisex with 23 different words/phrases to pick from. I personally chose “Fearless” as a message to myself that when it comes to creating art virtually that I’ve been around long enough that being afraid of failing is not an option and even when setbacks occur that it simply takes brushing yourself off and hitting it harder will pay off.

It is my passion and determination that has helped me achieve great goals and allowed me to work with great stores and events.

Recently I blogged one of several items from Gloom (it was a shape for the LeLutka “Guy” head). In this blog I am featuring the “Pills Collection” eyes that I find to be very excellent quality and in one of a few moments that I didn’t select to feature blue eyes. I like how the honey ones look and it fit with the rest of my visasge well.

Lush – XpReSS Ur Self Facial Tattoo

• Unisex facial tattoo
• 23 different words/phrases
• Applier HUDs for Catwa, Genus, LeLutka and Omega branded heads (sold separately)
• Exclusive to Skin Fair until 03/24/19

Gloom – Pills Collection

• 7 different iris colors
• Normal and larger pupil appliers included
• HUDs for Catwa, Genus and LeLutka (sold separately)
• Exclusive to Skin Fair until 03/24/19

To give you a better idea of what these items look like, here’s a close-up for more detail.

Most already know by now that Catwa has released a new male head which is named “Gac” after the well known Stray Dog owner, Gac Akina. With it being brand spanking new, there haven’t been any skins created for it as of yet so I am wearing a recent male release from Session Skins “Damian”. Gac has a very strong jawline with an edgy look to it and I played just a little with the included shape and the results are appealing (at least to me).

This release dropped just right before Skin Fair opened and could have been part of the event but with the “Jade” head also coming out at the same time, us fellas lucked out to not have to fight the massive traffic of the event to get our hands on the head. I am looking forward to seeing what skin creators come up with to make this handsome face even more so.

This is about all the time I have for this post as it is short, sweet and to the point. Don’t worry though as I’m sure I will be back sooner than anticipated with more fun things that I’ve discovered. Until next time….see yaaaaaa!

 

Take me in
I’m yours again
For awhile – just like the first time

 

LOCATION: Candlewood

POSE: WRONG – BENTO Male Poses – 36

HAIRBASE: Birth – Buzzcut
HEAD: CATWA – Gac v3.2 ✦ NEW
EYES: Gloom – Pills Collection @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW
SKIN: Session Skins – Damian (Tone 02)
TATTOO: LUSH – XpReSS Ur Self @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW

TANKTOP: flow – SK Tank Top 03

 

[#607] We Don’t Know

 

Oh we don’t know the roads that we’re heading down
We don’t know if we’re lost, that we’ll find a way
We don’t know if we leave, will we make it home
We don’t know, there’s hope, then we’ll be okay

The Strumbellas, ♫We Don’t Know♫

 

One of the coolest things about a virtual community like Second Life is that creators really put a lot of effort into the items they make (well the ones that are legit and don’t take from other hard working people but that’s an entirely different story). Many skin makers tend to pay homage in ways to some of their favorite celebrities or pop culture icons when making face skins.

The proof of that can be seen in Birth’s latest male offering that is a Skin Fair exclusive named “Mr. Lee”. I likely don’t have to tell you who this skin is patterned after but just in case I can at least give you a hint: He is a legendary martial artist who passed away way before his prime and his son Brandon (who is in one of my favorite movies of all time) did as well in 1993 during filming of that movie.

The level of detail in this skin is remarkable as is the quality of the body applier. I would say that personally I would wear more Birth skins (as I also love their facial hairs) but their range of skin tones doesn’t cover what I feel represents me. Their skins are awesome but as an every day wear it just isn’t in the range that I’m used to, however, it is for a lot of people as I know most skin creators work when I see people out on the grid I know who created their face. Yes that sounded a lot less weird in my mind but I hope it makes sense.

This release has 7 different tones which I am also providing a skin key for so that you can see what is offered. Also keep in mind that this is a Catwa applier which I am wearing on the “Daniel” head. Each tone applier has options for eyebrows, hairbase and beard combinations with different hair tones for all three. The body appliers which are sold separately also have options for bare skin or two different options of body hair also with the same tone colors for body hair.

Also from Skin Fair is the very discreet “Infinity Tattoo” from Reviver. This is a store that is new to me so I am just learning about it as I go but I chose to wear this ink because I enjoy the message it has to it which is essentially “love forever” in the form of an infinity symbol with a feather and the word “love” on the top and bottom.

Such a great message really and it doesn’t have to even mean love for your significant other, it can be love for your parents or family or even for yourself because it all starts there. While it may be cliche to say…love truly starts with yourself and if you can’t love you then there’s no way that you can love anyone else.

Birth – Mr. Lee Skin

• CATWA head appliers
• 7 different skin tones (sold separately)
• HUD includes No Eyebrows, Eyebrows, Hairbase and Beard options
• Body skins sold seprately
• Exclusive to Skin Fair 03/24/19

Reviver – Infinity Tattoo

• Unisex tattoo
• Applier HUDs for Belleza, Maitreya, Omega, Signature and SLink mesh bodies
• Exclusive to Skin Fair 03/24/19

With a face that looks like one of the most legendary martial artists of all time it would be ridiculous not to have hand wraps (taped hands). The “Luctator” hand wraps by L’Emporio & PL are just the thing that anyone who wants to take a photograph depicting hand to hand combat or fighting of any kind to make it more realistic. The tape is so realistic looking that you know L’Emporio took great care in making these. Truth be told I had been looking for something like this for a while but had given up looking. Seems it was the right timing and just fell into my lap.

The coolest part to me is that each version comes with 3 colors (white, dirty, and black) each with clean and bloody types so that you could take a photo before a skirmish and then take another one that would take place after with the blood stained texture. These are the kind of things that make me happy in the virtual world when it comes to accessories or clothing. It just takes the right person with a similar mind and the expertise to be able to create it and bring it to consumers like myself.

L’Emporio & PL – Luctator Hand Wraps

• Bento compatible (Bento viewer needed for proper use)
• 3 colors included via HUD (White, Dirty, and Black)
• Clean and Bloody versions also included via HUD
• Fitted for Belleza (Jake 2.0), Nyramith Aesthetic and Signature Gianni mesh bodies (sold individually)
• Exclusive to The Men Jail until 03/28/19

Now that I’ve had my fun trying my hand at being a peaceful warrior, maybe I’ll wear the hand wraps again and do a follow up photo where I’ve hit the streets of some location and take down some evil doers with my fists of rage. Come to think of it many video game characters have also had their fists wrapped over the years so that could be put to use for an idea as well.

On that note I’m going to tuck this blog post in as it is also getting late where I am at and there’s plenty of things to do tomorrow. It’s looking to be a full day so my next blog entry may not be again until Wednesday with how things look. I hope that something in this blog has inspired even just one reader to take a glance at both of the events I’ve covered in this post even if not for the items I have featured.

Be well until our paths cross again grasshoppers!

 

Well I know it gets harder every single day
And I know my darkness will never go away

 

POSE: X.T.C Poses – KJ

BACKDROP: Bitter Vanilla – Aisumicha (Black)

HAIR: Stealthic – Narcotic
HEAD: CATWA – Daniel v3.2
SKIN: Birth – Mr. Lee (Tone 02) @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW
TATTOO: Reviver – Infinity Tattoo @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW

HAND WRAPS: L’Emporio&PL – Luctator @ The Men Jail ✦ NEW
PANTS: etham – Shane Joggers

 

[#606] Don’t You Forget About Me

 

Don’t you forget about me
I’ll be alone, dancing you know it baby
Going to take you apart
I’ll put us back together at heart, baby

Simple Minds, ♫Don’t You Forget About Me♫

 

Welcome back to my continuing coverage of Skin Fair 2019, in today’s entry I am featuring a shape from Gloom for the very recent LeLutka “Guy” head as well as a new facial hair from Mister Razzor. Strap in your seat belts and make sure you’re ready because I’m about to take you to more fun items from the biggest avatar modifying event on the grid.

I’m going to start off with the “Vic Facial Hair” from Mister Razzor, which I have to say personally that I like the life like look of this stores beards. There are three different styles for this release each of them with an applier for basic black and tintable (for the blondes, browns and gingers out there). For this entry I am wearing version #3 with the black applier. Having facial hair is something that I feel is a part of who I am both virtually and in reality and when I don’t have it I feel a little naked. There are many out there who feel the same way and I soundly encourage you fellas out there to check out this beard.

Gloom is a brand that I’m rather familiar with as they work with another event that I blog for but mainly release eyes for it so it’s pretty cool that for Skin Fair they have released several different shapes (2 male and 1 female) and since I am wearing the LeLutka “Guy” head, I have combined it with the “Castelli” shape. I really like the how they bring about the features of the face to the point where I likely wouldn’t tweak anything (as the shape is modifiable). Keep in mind that not everyone is the same height or even width on the grid so making adjustments to that is possible also.

Mister Razzor – Vic Facial Hair

• Black and Tintable applier
• 3 different versions (sold separately)
• FATPACK option also available
• Appliers for CATWA and Omega enabled mesh heads
• Exclusively at Skin Fair 2019 until 03/24/19

Gloom – Castelli Shape

• Made for the LeLutka Guy head
• Belleza (Jake) and Signature (Gianni) body sizes included
• Modifiable to suit your needs
• Exclusive to Skin Fair 2019 until 03/24/19

E Storm has two new items that just hit the shelves of The Men Jail that just opened up on the 8th! The double release is part of an ensemble called “Maxim” and consists of a shoulder draped shirt (more like a sweatshirt honestly) and jeans.

The shoulder shirt has 3 pack options each with 6 colors each and the pants have 14 different denim options (I am wearing Torn 2); both products have a FATPACK option to them if you just can’t decide which one you like best. The shoulder shirt allows for me to show off my upper physique a little better and with all this blogging I have been doing lately it is sure paying off.

It’s almost a workout in itself sometimes!

E Storm – Maxim Shoulder Shirt and Jeans

• Original Mesh
• 3 color packs with 6 colors each (Shirt)
• 14 different denim colors for jeans (sold individually)
• FATPACK options for both items
• Fitted for Belleza (Jake) and Signature (Gianni) mesh bodies
• Exclusive to The Men Jail until 03/28/19

My excitement level has gone up a notch because lock&tuft have just released a new beanie/hair combination at Equal10 that bears my name! That’s right, the “Brennan Hair” is named after me and comes with a HUD that has 9 different hat collars. There is also two versions each having a different patch in the front which is super cool.

150 hair colors are at your disposal between the 5 different color HUDs included in the FATPACK which is what you get with every lock&tuft release. This store doesn’t play around let me tell you that. The hair is a great value and also made very well which is something you will see more and more when I feature the store in my posts.

lock&tuft – Brennan Beanie/Hair

• Original mesh
• HUD for beanie with 9 fabric colors
• Two different patch versions
• 5 hair color packs
• Exclusive to Equal10

I really love how the photos turned out and am stoked full of energy about the things I’m discovering from Skin Fair as I know many of you are since it’s now been open for two days. There truly is a bit of everything there for the gals and the fellas which means that I need to really kick this post into gear.

On that note I am going to wrap this up and start setting up the next thing photo session. I hope you are enjoying my coverage of Skin Fair as much as I am as there is a lot more to come in the next week and then some. On a non blog related note I hope you all take care of yourself and those close to you because this is all we got and once it’s gone there’s nothing that can change how we’ve traveled through life.

Be good and be good at what you do; catch you all next time!

 

As you walk on by
Will you call my name?

 

POSE: Image Essentials (Store / MP) – Take A Seat V1

SKYBOX: Schultz Bros. – Art Space Skybox

HAIR: lock&tuft (Store / MP) – Brennan @ Equal10 ✦ NEW
HEAD: LeLutka – Guy v3.2
SKIN: Stray Dog – Mario (Tone 02)
BEARD: Mister Razzor – Vic Facial Hair @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW
SHAPE: Gloom – Castelli Shape @ Skin Fair ✦ NEW

RINGS: L’Emporio – Arloch Rings
SWEATER: E Storm – Maxim Simple Shoulders Shirt @ The Men Jail ✦ NEW
JEANS: E Storm – Maxim Pants @ The Men Jail ✦ NEW