Pansies Are For Memories

Pansies, are a flower that symbolized memories. I have been running through my memories lately, the good and the not so good. Sometimes memories haunt you, and other times they bring comfort. When I think of pansies, I think of my grandmother. She was the most loving individual I have ever known, she had this energy of love about her, she accepted everyone for who they were, and she never ever complained, no matter how hard her life got. She will be gone 12 years in August, and I can hardly believe it. She died from complications of Cancer of the Liver. She was ready to go, she missed my grandfather who had died when I was just a child, and she was at peace with herself. I was not so ready to let her go, but that is true of loss in general, we are never ready, we never want to see it coming. I was there when she passed, at her side, in her home, caring for her mid-way through my nursing school training. I had never seen anyone die, though I had seen someone already gone in my travels as a nursing student, and it was not a frightening thing. But I blamed myself for a long time, since I had given her a dose of morphine to treat her pain minutes before she passed. I felt it was my fault, now I know I could not have stopped it, she was in a coma at the time. I miss her every day of my life, she was my best friend. She loved pretty things, and I know she would have loved this dress.



This Floratta Long Dress in a Pansy print by *Reale* is so lovely, so elegant, yet casual and comfortable at the same time. I think it incredibly well textured, with lovely lace edged skirts and flexing ties at the neck. It comes in several prints, but the moment I saw pansies, I saw a favorite flower of my grandmother's and knew I had to have this version.



How do you accessorize a dress so lovely, how do you add interest without taking anything away? I was thrilled to come upon the lovely and appropriately named Melancholy Set in White from {Violet Voltaire}, something I picked up at the amazing Armoire Jewelry Showcase. The floral theme and colour fit so well, and the delicate nature of the prim work is so very feminine. I added a simple Pearl Ring from Caroline's Jewelry, and The Blossom Bag in Blanche from Paper Couture to finish the look. The perfect simple yet elegant shoe is the Stiletto Moody Pinup Pump in Patent, this is the colour change version, the one I would recommend, as the colour options are amazing.



Another lovely up-do style from TRUTH, the Victoria style is perfection for a summer night out in a fresh dress. You can see the casual curls, and it is easy to wear with long earring or an up-turned collar. This skin is another lovely colorful mod by -AnaLu-, the *InRainbows* line is really great for all those fans of natural lipped skins with a more dramatic eye. My eyes are by Miriel, and lashes are from MMS (now LeLutka).

I hold on to my memories tight, sometimes too tight where it concerns the sad ones. But I do have something in my possession that is now more precious then the pressed pansies from my grandmother's 85th birthday party. Before she died, I found a book called "To Our Children's Children". In it are lists of questions to ask your grandparents or parents, asking them to recall moments of their lives. You can use it to document your own life for your children, or use it to interview someone else. The questions are wonderful, and before she died, I managed to tape-record my grandmother answering a great many of them. I haven't been able to listen to them yet, not sure why, but I am ready to sit and listen to the memories, and remember her, and her voice, and most importantly her brilliant deep belly laugh.

Shopping Details:
Dress - *Reale*, Floratta Long Dress (Pansies)
Bag - Paper Couture, The Blossom Bag (Blanche)
Shoes - Stiletto Moody, Pinup Pump Patent Color Set (White)
Earrings - {Violet Voltaire}, Melancholy Earrings (White)
Necklace - {Violet Voltaire}, Melancholy Necklace (White)
Bracelet - {Violet Voltaire}, Melancholy Bracelet (White)
Ring - Caroline's Jewelry, Pearl Ring
Hair - TRUTH, Victoria (Blacks)
Skin - -AnaLu-, *InRainbows NAT05 .rosepurple.
Lashes - MMS (now LeLutka), Thora Lashes
Eyes - Miriel, Hazel Eyes (Big)

Cheeky Monkey!

I felt like having a little fun with today's look. Going with cute and punky, and utilizing as many hidden gems in my closet as I could. I am a huge fan of the film of Kevin Smith, I think Clerks is probably the best student film ever made. I know it line for line, word for word, I have watched it so many times. I came across this great :.:71:.: top back in Spring of 2007, that's the date it came into my inventory. It's called Mallrats, and features a picture of Jay and Silent Bob with their signature phrase "Snoochie Bootches". Last night Draco asked me what that meant, I honestly have no idea, but it is darn funny anyways. Unfortunately there was no in-world location to be found, one of the hazards of having been in-world for almost two years. I paired it with a favorite mini skirt from (Pixeldolls) simply called the Everything Skirt, and it really is, it can be use in a dressy look or a punky look with ease, and the prim skirt can be slid up or down depending on the length of the top you pair it with. This Lime Sheer Daisy Lingerie Set from POPPY was probably one of the first I ever bought at the original Lalique Square. I wanted to pull out the colour from the bow on the back of the top and use it as an accent. I always love wearing stocking with a funky mini-skirt or dress, and the bright Lime colour really pops here. Skull Arm Warmers from Canimal get me into a funky mood, and really add some colourful fun, these are great because they are tint-able and you can make then match anything you like.



These are some of my favorite boots ever, from **C-Shoes**, they are one heck of a sexy Fetish Heel boot, real ass-kickers with a sexy twist. They are all prim, and I have to say as someone with a crap graphics card, I miss the days when shoes appeared instantly when you put them on, instead of taking 10 minutes to fully rez into shape. I wanted to go big on the fun with all my accessories, so I started with this absolutely adorable Cuppycake Necklace from {Violet Voltaire}. Violet does some of the best Gothic and kitschy accessories I have seen, and the colour combination here, the fluorescent links and pastel beads really make the Cuppycake Birthday Set so great. What goes better with cake then candy, and ~*Fresh Baked Goods*~ Time For Candy Necklace is a cute and easy choice, and works well with the layering of necklaces here. Some great [Woo's] Bangles do the trick on the wrists, they are really fabulous, and so inexpensive. Well verifying the SLURL to the shop today, I noticed several great freebies by the door, and almost everything in the shop is less then $100 LaLas. Skull Rhinestone Earrings are favorites from (CREAMSHOP).



Can we talk Hug Monkey? This little fella had been sitting in my inventory for quite a while, a Freebie at Asian Monks Store. Sometimes the sort of Harajuku Punk Princess looks are the perfect ones to add some tag-along friends. Grab him up yourself while he is still Free. More great hair from BP*, the simple and sweet Yuka Chignon was another great Hair Fair find. Skin is from Celestial Studios, with Love Lashes by [Detour] and Glassy Mustard Green Eyes are favorites from Freak Fantasia. So in this look, I get to dance about and be as cheeky as I want to be, or else I will sic my Monkey on you!

Shopping Details:
Top - :.:71:.:, Mallrats (by Tymber Donovan)[No Location Found]
Skirt – (Pixeldolls), Everything Skirt
Stockings, Bra – POPPY, Sheer Daisy Lingerie (Lime)
Arm Warmers – Canimal, Arm Warmers (Skulls 2, Colorable – Tinted)
Boots - **C-Shoes**, “Fetish Heel” Boots
Toy – Hug Monkey by Asian Monks Store EA [Freebie]
Necklace – {Violet Voltaire}, Cuppycake Birthday Set, Cuppycake Necklace (Short)
Choker - ~*Fresh Baked Goods*~, Time For Candy Necklace (S – Spine)[Review Copy]
Bangles – [Woo’s], Black & White Checkered Messy Bangles
Earrings – (CREAMSHOP), Skull Rhinestone Earring Set
Hair – BP*, Yuka Chignon (Dark Brown)[Hair Fair]
Skin – Celestial Studios, Charmed Line (Tone 20, Gloss Pink)
Lashes – [Detour], Love Lashes
Eyes – Freak Fantasia, Glassy Mustard Green Eyes

The Missing Difference

Sometimes in Phil's Place, we forget to root for the little guy. The big mega-brands get a whole lot of attention, they can afford to send review copies to everyone, they have customer service reps who handle the day to day, and the money just rolls on in. Unfortunately, little shops, no matter how brilliant they are, face an uphill battle, particularly if their creators cannot spend full-time working on new product to feed our massive hunger for newness. D!FF=> was one of those little guys, and unfortunately, they closed up shop a few months ago. It is a shame, they had some really lovely items, and I have many of their things. The question is, do we blog items from sellers that are no more? I say yes, we do, because it serves to remind us all that we need to support small business in-world, as well as the big guys (& gals). The adorable Isometric Dress was one of my last purchases from D!FF=>, I love it's simple summer style, the lovely print and colour combination, and the fact that I didn't have to shell out brand name bucks for it.

I went for dark almost bronze gold accessories, inspired particularly by Violet Voltaire's brilliant No Love Lost Set in Bronze. Violet is a "Wizard of Primery" (I made that up, but it's true), I love her little cogs, bows, and other unique details that make her work so interesting and desirable. That and she doesn't charge insane prices for her stuff. I pulled in a freebie from ~*Fresh Baked Goods*~, this from the Velvet SIM Launch, a sweet candy coloured Gold Charm Bracelet. I think these are still available, along with matching earring on velvet, but on Retrology they have the same set in pretty pinks and baby blue. The bag is new from [Armidi Gisaci], the Focsani Bag in 24K Gold could carry a lot of my fashionista must haves. I pulled in a great Purple Showtime Shoe from (Next Step), a really fun fussy Stiletto Pump.



This hair was a freebie I nabbed at the opening of [The oBscene], they have some great skins too, but I really love this Ceres Style in Black. This is my favorite skin from bianca F., the Bloom make-up with it's pinky-purple shadow. Lashes are from [Detour], and it is clear I am seriously addicted to these Love Lashes. Eyes are Freak Fantasia's Glassy Mustard Green Hazel Beauties. Let's not let those Different and Unique places go missing again, remember to blog what you love, not just what everyone else is wearing.

Shopping Details:
Dress – Differ*nt, Green/Purple Isometric Dress [No Longer Available]
Shoes – (Next Step), Showtime II (Purple)
Bag- [Armidi Gisaci], Focsani Bag (24K Gold)
Necklace, Earrings – Violet Voltaire, No Love Lost Jewelry Set (Brass)
Bracelet - ~*Fresh Baked Goods*~, Velvet SIM Launch Gift – Gold Charm Bracelet
Hair – [The oBscene], Opening Gift – Ceres Special Black
Skin – bianca F., *bf* fata2-ivory-bloom
Lashes – [Detour], Love Lashes
Eyes - Freak Fantasia, Glassy Mustard Green

Very Precious Metals

Feeling Like I have been lacking a little shine lately, so I though it was time to get the lead out and get metallic. I picked up this great jacket and jeans combo from Digit Darkes at the Relay For Life Clothing Fair a few weeks back, and I decided to throw it on and see what I could work with it. It is called the Digit'all Tracks outfit, and includes the tube top, jacket, and cuffed capris, this is the Graphitee combination, but it comes in a bunch of hot colours. Very cute, and really leaves a lot of room for funky rockin' accessories.

I started with these great Armidi Gisaci Oxford Leather Ankle Boots in Silver II, and they really pick up nicely on the silver of the jacket. A bracelet from *UnTone* in black and silver, again a nice match and really quite a cool looking item, with the interesting textures on the sculptie hearts. Nice to see sculpties in Jewelry too, less prims and some really creative pieces on the market. I belted up with this fabulous Muism Double Zip Belt, which comes in a studded version as well. I think the flexi prim flaps are really nicely done, giving it a real movement most belts are sadly lacking. Always happy to wear a little Violet Voltaire, I threw on this great and very intricate (237 Prim) Angel Necklace, it comes with matching earrings too. A Cute little purse from Nerdy Birdy means I am ready to go back to work collecting Red Sticks in the ongoing hunt!

I am wearing one of my fabulous new biancaF. skins, this is the Bloom make-up on the Ivory-fata skin tone. I just love how luminescent this skin is, and an really not looking forward to the Windlight Viewer I have yet to install for fear it may change the way my pictures turn out. More hair from HCT, this funky Smitten style is really cute. I am wearing amazing BBBM eyes, and yep... Detour's fab Love Lashes once again. Red Sticks, here I come!



Shopping Details:
Eyes – BBBM, Watery Eyes, Mud (Splatter)
Hair – Here Comes Trouble, :HCT:, Smitten, Gray Scale (Small, Black-White)
Lashes – [Detour], Love Lashes
Skin – biancaF., *bf* Ivoryfata-bloom
Bracelet - *UnTone*, Black Heart Bracelet
Necklace - ::Violet Voltaire::, Angel Necklace (Black/Black)
Outfit – Digit Darkes, Digit’all Tracks (Graphite)
Belt – MUISM, Double Zip Belt (White)
Purse – Nerdy Birdy, Bunny Purse (Clouded) [No Current Location]
Boots – Armidi Gisaci, Oxford Leather Ankle Boot (Silver II)

Easy Breezy Steps into Spring

Spring may bring with it a whole lot of Sunshine and Tulips and All Kinds of Fresh New Things, but in RL, my allergies have come back with a vengeance. Good thing there is no Pollen or Dust in our virtual world. What is also brings is the return of a bare leg, and wonderful strappy sandals, and colour, colour, colour! This look started after Draco and I went to check out the new /artilleri/ releases this week. Antonia Marat, I Love You! I wanted to buy fatpacks of everything, but seriously, I rarely wear the same thing twice, so having the same thing in a bazillion colours is even more likely to sit in my closets. I instead called upon Draco to pick one colour in all of the new releases for me, and he chose this lovely Green Carla Circle Skirt, and the fabulous crisp White Carlita Top. I love the prim tie detail on the top, and instantly fell in love with this amazing skirt with a slightly higher and belted waist. The skirt moves brilliantly, and the texturing is absolutely flawless. I am more then impressed with Antonia's skills and how they have evolved over the years.

I wasn't sure what shoes to choose, and then remembered some amazing Sandals that Anessa gave me last week, the new =DeLa*= Celine Sandal. When she dropped them on me (love having a shoes blogging sister), I didn't have time to look at the colours, but was over the moon when I found this pair in the Wordsworth combination that matched the skirt and blouse to perfection! The are a lovely feminine sandal that are simply perfect for a bare leg, with sweet fabric bows at the ankle, and a lovely gemstone on the top of the sandal. Wow! I needed a little bit of jewelry here, and remembered this fabulous set I picked up from Violet Voltaire recently, called the Girl Germs Cameo Set, this one in Butterfly in an Olive colour. Again, a match to the outfit, both in femininity and colour choice. Violet does simple amazing tiny prim work. I pulled in one of the new Paper Couture bags, this one appropriately named The Blossom Bag in Blanc (White). Very Fresh, Very Spring.

More amazing hair from Here Comes Trouble, and I must say, the two-toned styles, like this one, are becoming fast faves and helping to sooth my broken heart over the missing Old Gravy. This style is called Satelina, and the best part is that the hairband/bow is colour script change to touch, so you can match it with what you are wearing. I love details like that. Again, I am wearing my review copy of the new biancaF. skins, and actually made the jump to buy some yesterday, finding 2 I really wanted, and luckily they were also available as part of a three-pack, with another nice make-up choice for $2200LaLas. Considering the skins are a very reasonable $1000LaLas each, getting a third for only $200LaLas was a deal and a half! Hazel Eyes from Decollage, and Love Lashes from Detour.



Every Canadian girl loves a good Donut, and when I met the ladies behind the new Fresh Baked Goods Brand this week, soon to open their main store on Retrology, Sweetie Pye passed me a preview copy of their soon to be released Bangles. This is the Sprinkled Donut Inset Gem Bangle, and is is so pretty, but best of all, it has a touch scripted bangle to 12 different yummy colours! I can't wait to see the line when Sweetie and her partners Dessert Furst and Sugar Babii open their shop at the end of the month.

Shopping Details:
Eyes – Decollage, Hazel Eyes
Hair – Here Comes Trouble, :HCT:, Exclusive Pack 1 – Satelina (Small, Black)[Colour Script to Touch Bow]
Lashes – [Detour], Love Lashes
Skin – biancaF., *bf* Ivoryfata-base [Review Copy]
Skirt - /artilleri/, Carla Circle Skirt (Green)
Top - /artilleri/, Carlita Top (White)
Necklace & Earrings - ::Violet Voltaire::, Girl Germs Cameo Set, Butterfly (Olive)
Bag – Paper Couture, The Blossom Bag (Blanc)
Ring – Caroline’s Jewelry, Gimcrack Diamond Solitaire
Shoes - =DeLa*=, Sandal Celine (Wordsworth)
Bracelet – Fresh Baked Goods - ~*FBG*~, Sprinkled Donut Inset Gem Bangle [Preview Copy, Main Store Opening Soon on Retrology, Colour Script Bangle To Touch]

Fruit Salad!

Grapes, Mangoes, and Pineapples! Oh My! Yep, I may be a bit of a nut, but I love my fruity colours this season. I just can't get enough! I nabbed these amazing Kogo Skinny Pants from Armidi Limited on my last trip, and was immediately drawn to this delicious colour, called Mango. They are really nicely shaded, seem to pick up the light, and I love the prim pant cuffs which make them great with any shoe at all (No funky sustem pant glitches). I love to mix and match colours that are normally not seen together, and when I threw on this yummy shrug from Tree Of Second Life (TOSL) and saw the similar trim colour, I knew I was on to something. The colour of the shrug is not so Edible, called Thistle, but I assure you that the main store for TOSL is full of yummy, starting with the giant candy house and cupcakes at the base of the tree house.

I was not about to walk about with nothing on under the shrug, and remembered my last trip to Twosome, when I picked up this delicious Grapes Retro Top. It comes with a tucked in version, yay! So I was ready to dig into my shoe vault to see what I could find. The amazing ETD Heel Strap Platforms in Orchid jumped out at me, a fine match I think. I decided to wear one of the fabulous freebies I picked up at the Starlust Motel opening, this adorable Gargoyle Cameo from Violet Voltaire. Violet has always made some of my favorite trinkets, from her adorable crowns to the fabulously yummy little cake necklaces. I thought I could use a cool bangle, and tossed this great Gold & Onyx Bracelet from Curio in the Mix.

On my last trip to Mirai, I nabbed this fabulous huge wig, called Yoka. It made me feel like a total Bardot-esque Bombshell! I can tell you that my man was all over it, and mentioned running his fingers through it more then once. I am wearing one of my favorite Celestial Studios skins, from the Charmed Line, called Sunset, it has such a lovely smokey purple eye-shadow. The Love Lashes from Detour add a whole lot of sexy, and these Hazel Eyes from Decollage are big and dark, and look like you could get lost in them.

To finish off my little fruit salad, I brought in this amazing Pineapple Bag from Chapeau Tres Mignon. Megg Demina has some really amazing hats and accessories, and it is really worth a trip to her main store to check out all kinds of creative and inspired pieces of what I consider art. Yep... It's time for a snack!






Shopping Details:
Eyes - Decollage, Hazel Eyes
Hair - Mirai, +*Yoka*+ (White)
Lashes - [Detour], Love Lashes
Skin - Celestial Studios, Charmed Line (Tone 20, Purple Sunset)
Necklace - Violet Voltaire, OrArch Cameo Necklace [Freebie, Starlust Motel]
Pants - Armidi Limited, Kogo Skinny Pants [Mango]
Top- Twosome, Grapes Retro Top
Shrug - Tree of Second Life (TOSL), Eiru Stitched Trim Shrug, Thistle
Shoes - ETD Shoes, Heel Strap Platforms, Orchid
Bangle - [Curio] Gold & Onyx Bracelet
Purse – Chapeau Tres Mignon, Pineapple Bag** by Megg Demina

Queeen Of New Years' Eve

New Year's Eve had me in the mood for a little Celebrating, and what better way than with the most Fabulous Gown from "Casa del Shai". This one is really a winner, with a lush full skirt and perfectly created seams and folds. It was the perfect choice for the "Black & White Formal Ball" at PIN UPS, and topped with a feather boa from "Callie Cline" and this sweet little crown from "Violet Voltaire" I was ready to Party All Night! My shoes, mostly hidden by my gown, are just too cute not to show you, and Melanie Zhao has some great little detailed pairs you should check out on your next trip to "ZHAO". Hair from "COIF", my first, looked absolutely perfect for this look and I will definitely be heading back for more styles!



Hair – COIF, Sushi (Snow)
Skin – Celestial Studios, Charmed (Tone 20, Rubies)
Eyes – Freak Fantasia, Glassy Mustard Green
Lashes – Celestial Studios, Prim Lashes (Club 13)
Crown – Violet Voltaire, Wicked Crown (White)
Boa – Callie Cline, RAINBOWA (Black)
Dress – Casa Del Shai, Caroline’s Serpentine Gown (White)
Shoes – ZHAO, Sadie (White)
Bracelets – EARTHTONES, Grazia Bracelets (White Pearl)
Ring – Caroline’s Jewelry, Gimcrack Diamond Solitaire

Sweater Girl

Another Fab Casual Sweater I picked Up recently from Sh*t Happens. I love Green, you will see this trend no doubt, so I could harldy resist it. Adding some whimsy, a great little necklace that my sister Anessa Stine gave me and one of the great graphic Tees in my collection from !Boing Fromage! Hair from Armidi is an instant fave, love their colour packs, since some days I am torn between Black and White... and their "Midnight" Pack has Both!



Hair - Armidi Hair, The St. Moritz (Pearl)
Skin - Celestial Studios, Charmed (Tone 20 - Red Dusk)
Eyes - Celestial Studios Optics, The Naturals, Hazel
T-Shirt - !Boing Fromage!, Fur Tee
Jeans - Sh*t Happens, Medium Fade Jeans
Sweater - Sh*t Happens, Boyfriend Cardigan (Olive)
Boots - (Luna Viola) Desert Boot, HUD Colorable (Brown Accent Version) [Available @ Pixel Dolls]
Glasses - /artilleri/, Marla Glasses - Blue
Necklace - Violet Voltaire, Chocolate Cake Necklace - Pink [Available on Retrology SIM, Obscure Finds Fleamarket]
Nose - Tickled Pink, Uma Nose Stud