Come Together

We call ourselves a community, us bloggers and Plurkers and content creators and consumers who run in the same circles. We get caught up in silly drama, and get all worked up over things that no one else can understand. We are an insular group to some extent, those of us who consume the fashion feeds on a daily basis, looking for something that makes our hearts beat faster, and we love to create new heroes, and some might even enjoy pulling others from their pedestals. Sometimes we take ourselves too seriously, other times we laugh at ourselves, or we should. But every now and again, we remember that we have a power to reach out to others and make amazing things happen. This is one of those times when we as a community can make a huge difference in someone's life, not their second life, their first life, and I am hoping we can.



I didn't know Shir Dryke, or her shop Ornamental Life, until very recently. Over the holidays, I was sent some gift cards by friends, and off I went to discover new-to-me joy. I do love Shir's designs, and was happy to add some pieces to my wardrobe, but I have been out of the blogging habit lately and hadn't gotten a chance to show it all off. But I decided today I needed to help get the word out about how great a person Shir is, and how happy I am to be able to use my blog to do it. I really only met Shir through Plurk, a little habit we all have developed lately, it is a way to get to know people in a hurry and learn about them in ways you never imagined. Shir is funny, sweet, and talented, and she is a pleasure to know better. But Shir is also a pretty spectacular woman for the battle she has been fighting unbeknownst to most of us.

Shir has some serious health problems, and although I am not privy to all the details, nor feel the need to expose them, I do know that she is in a financial crisis and requires a heart transplant that may save just her life. For more details you can contact her friend Flutter Memel, who along with AnnaH Whitfield, Dove Swanson, and Annyka Bekkers have established a charity fundraiser campaign to help raise a very specific and relatively small amount of money to most of us, in order to help Shir afford the cost of this essential surgical procedure. Fellow blogger Dot Lane gives us all more information on her Blog. The Heart of Love fundraiser is running now and time is limited, so I urge you to stop by Ornamental Life and shop, give a donation, and make a difference that could literally keep Shir with us where she belongs.

Hart Larrson of PXL Creations has released a special skin that you can purchase with all proceeds going directly to the Heart of Love fund for Shir, and as you can see, it is really stunning. It comes in freckled and non-freckled versions, with three different brow colour options. I am also wearing tops from Ornamental Life, so you can see some of Shir's great work. The green halter top is called Proteus Machine in Watermelons, and the sexy sweater vest is Shir's Eve top in For You I Was a Flame. There will be more news on how you can get involved as a designer or content creator soon, and how you can shop with purpose if you are an addict like myself. Let's see what we can accomplish when we all come together!

Details:
Skin - [PXL], Linda_LT_DeepEyes_WineLips_BlackEB - Special Charity Edition
Sweater Vest - Ornamental Life, Eve (For You I Was A Flame)
Green Halter - Ornamental Life, Proteus Machine, Watermelons

Jeans - Total Betty, *College Bound* JEANS, Dark Blue
Shoes - ETD, Hampton Wedge (Lucky Green, St. Patrick's Day Freebie)
Ring - Caroline's Jewelry, Gimcrack Diamond Solitaire Ring
Hair - ETD, Eva II (White Burnt)
Eyes - Freak Fantasia, Glassy Mustard Green Eyes
Lashes - Cake, Bedroom Lashes

Around The Grid in 365 Posts!

When I started this blog on November 30th of 2007, it was just a sort of hobby, some way of documenting my burgeoning wardrobe and making me feel less guilty about spending so many LaLas in-world. Who knew that in less than a year, I would hit the 365th post! It really is a labor of love, and I feel like I have accomplished a lot since I started. My pictures are better, I am accessorizing with more flair, and I am really learning to mix and match pieces and make unique looks for myself. Today's look got lots of great reactions, so I am glad it marks this big milestone. I love this amazing [MG fashion] Wool Capelet, and of course it is in my favorite Green. It is really sweet and cozy looking, with wide sleeves and a babydoll feel. I paired it with a simple yet classic pair of Dark Blue College Bound Jeans from Total Betty. A simple pair of socks from [MG Fashion] keep my tootsies warm, and this Red Brown colour is one from a fatpack of colours, all really nice and great staples in your sock drawer.



With the red accents on the coat, I went with a favorite boot from (Shiny Things), the Scarlet Ruffle Boots are sexy and have a really nice detail to them, with the button and loop closures and the butter soft leather ruffle. I decided to accent this look with golds, and started with this great bag from Cachet. The Anya Bag comes in two version for one price, with Gold or Silver Accents, and the almost chartreuse golden colour is really interesting. I love the look of these sweet Charm Earrings from Bonita's, a simple low-prim options that adds some colour as well as some cute. I pulled in some ~*Fresh Baked Goods*~, with the Sculpted Sugar Gem Bangle on the left wrist, and the Gem Jelly Donut Bangle with Gold settings on the right. I always love wearing these pieces, as you can customize them to match almost anything. Also wearing my favorite ring from Caroline's Jewelry, the Gimcrack Diamond Solitaire Ring.



How cute is this wig? I think it's adorable, and everyone that saw me in it felt the same, so it's even more wonderful when you take into consider that this CUTIE Hair from (JUNWAVE) is not just fabulous, it is extremely inexpensive. Gotta love great hair that costs next to nothing. Skin is from Celestial Studios Charmed Line, with eyes from Freak Fantasia. My favorite Love Lashes from [Detour] round out the essentials. Well, 365 posts in less then a year makes me think that I am actually a certifiable blogger, lets see what the next 365 have in store (pun intended)!

Shopping Details:
Coat – [MG fashion], Wool Capelet (Green)
Jeans – Total Betty, *College Bound* Jeans (Dark Blue)
Socks – [MG Fashion], Knitted Socks – Red Brown (Pack 01)
Boots – (Shiny Things), Ruffle Boots – Scarlet
Bag – Cachet, Anya Bag (Gold-Gold)
Earrings – Bonita’s Jewelry, Charm Earrings
Bracelet (L) - ~*FBG*~, Sculpted Sugar Gem Bangle (Gold)
Bangle (R) – ~*FBG*~, Gem Jelly Donut Bangle (Gold)
Ring – Caroline’s Jewelry, Gimcrack Diamond Solitaire Ring
Hair – (JUNWAVE), CUTIE Hair_5Set (Black_L)
Skin – Celestial Studios, Charmed Line (Tone 20, Drama)
Lashes – [Detour], Love Lashes
Eyes – Freak Fantasia, Glassy Mustard Green Eyes

Jitter Bug Doll

For a "Pretty in Pink" Event, I took my oppotunity to go a Retro with this adorable Dress from "Total Betty" chosed for me by my husband Draco who said, "You hardly ever wear pink". The hair is simply fabulous, from Betty Doyle of Ingenue, and it makes the Retro image complete. Some retro stocking and a pair of slingbacks from 1-800-Bettie's finish the outfit off nicely. I always like to add my personal touches, some punky piercings to contrast with the squeaky clean Retro Doll look make it all me!



Hair – Ingenue, Jitter Bug Doll (Silvery White)
Lashes – Celestial Studios, Prim Lashes (Club 13)
Skin – Celestial Studios, Charmed (Tone 20, Purple-Orchid)
Eyes – Freak Fantasia, Glassy Mustard Green
Dress – Total Betty, Boppin’ (Pink)
Stockings – 1-800-Bettie’s, Stockings By Bettie’s (Taupe)
Shoes – 1-800-Bettie’s, Slingbacks (Black)
Ring - Caroline's Jewelry, Gimcrack Diamond Solitaire
Earrings – Drifting Sands, Tunnels Earrings
Nose - Tickled Pink, Uma Nose Stud

Pajama Game!

To Me, There is Nothing Sexier than some cozy PJs and some FAT Curlers! This is one of my favorite looks, pure silly and great fun, all set for one of my favorite PIN UPS Events, "The Sexy Pajama Party". The Cucumbers and Nose Strips are from "Total Betty", available on the Retrology SIM, and come as part of a fantastic Cozy Plush Bathrobe Set. The Hair is the "Piece De Resistance", they are the FATTIES (A new larger version of their great curlers hair), and are just a riot! Hello Slippers, love collecting great slippers in SL, and these Hello Kitty slippers were my first ever, and still my faves!



Hair – Curl Up & Dye Salon, Fatties – Black Shades (White)
Eyes – Miriel, Hazel Big
Skin – Celestial Studios, Charmed (Tone 20, Silver 1)
Ring - Caroline's Jewelry, Gimcrack Diamond Solitaire
Pajamas – Celestial Studios, Lulu PJs, Navajo White (Shirt, Stripped Pant)
Slippers – LooLoo, Hello Kitty, Angel Wings
Cucumbers – Total Betty, Cukes & Facial Strips from Cozy Plush Outfit

Ivalde Winter Wonderland

When I realized I was able to make it to Neferia Abel's Winter Fashion Show, I threw on a Fab Coat and Dashed Over!Nef is seriously one of the most talented and energetic people I have met in SL, and her work is always amazing. I probably own at least 50 of her creations, and bought more after the show. This coat, one of hers, looks warm and cozy, but is very stylish and stands on it's own so well.



Hair - ETD, Sofia (White)
Skin - Celestial Studios, Charmed (Tone 20, Neutral 3)
Coat - ~Ivalde~, Kita Black Suede Coat 1970
Pants - Total Betty, College Bound Capris, Rust
Boots - LC:Covet, Last Call Vamp Liah Onyx Boots
Ring - Caroline's Jewelry, Gimcrack Diamond Solitaire