A few weeks back I lost a friend. And when I say lost, I mean lost - forever. She did not disappear. She did not evolve into a new identity. She died. When I received the notecard telling me of her passing, I felt cold. I felt shock. I felt numb. I sat with my fingers on the keyboard with thoughts racing through my brain. What exactly was I feeling? I never knew her true name. But when seeing her name pop up on my friends' list, I knew her. I knew little of her background and yet I knew the life she shared with her partner on a beautiful island in a rambling house. I never heard her voice but I could sense the laughter and friendliness when we were together. So what did I know?
I knew her profession, one of caring and consideration, that definitely passed on to our other world. She always asked how I was, and what was new in my life. She was a great listener and was willing to take the time to hear my rantings and ravings and always had a positive spin on the situation that made me look at things in a different way.
I knew the state she lived in and although we didn't share the same country, views on politics or thoughts on international affairs, we did share much the same weather! And we both could commiserate about that!
I knew she had children. They were grown-up but she was very proud of them and often mentioned about the accomplishments of each.
I knew she was very ill.
Yes, I didn't know a lot about her, but I considered her my friend...a good friend. I will miss seeing her name in bold, miss the conversations and miss her friendship.
Jacket: The Secret Store Mrs. Jones' Jacket (carbon) Skirt: CoCo Designs Ruffle skirt black lace (group gift) Earrings and necklace: Dark Mouse simple pearl set (black) 12 days catnmousemas Chair: Morantique Garbo chair / natura
My Grandmother had a Billie Holiday record that she often played and I thought of it when I was doing this picture.
"A smile on my face A song on my lips Pretending is all I do I'm painting the town red To hide a heart that's blue
I stay with the crowd I play with the crowd But oh, if they only knew I'm painting the town red To hide a heart that's blue
Must I go on carrin' on? My merry song is just pretend Loving you so, wanting you so Where will it end, how will it end?
A smile on my face A song on my lips But never forgetting you I'm painting the town red To hide a heart that's blue" (I'm Painting the Town Red by Billie Holiday) Maybe that's an appropriate song for Valentine's Day too. Who knows?
Good Night for now. I'm wearing: Skin: LeLutka Mila / HUSH Eyes: Miriel Hazel (no longer available) Eyelashes: LeLutka Seductress volume lashes Hair: Truth Hair Pepper Nails: SN Shiny Red Nails Jacket: Awram-Viie kimono shuiro (red) Cami: Sapphire Ambrosia (top only) (red) Leggings: Milk Motion my cut-out leggings (red) Shoes: Vignette Betty dots (red) (free) Earrings: G Field Heart earrings (red) (free from Sweet Heart Hunt) Bracelet: Saga Jewelry silver/red bracelet Purse: G Field Heart bag (red) (free from Sweet Heart Hunt)
I was thrilled when Luna announced that the colour for this week would be black. I have tons in my closet. "This will be so easy", I thought. HA! This was probably the most difficult since it was so hard to choose which outfit to feature.
Black is so elegant. My Grandmother always said that if you wear black and pearls, you can go anywhere and look like you belong.
Black can herald many things. There are black tie affairs, that signify a semi-formal / formal event. It can indicate someone is in mourning. Before the 1960's most sisters in a convent wore a black habit. I even discovered that in some places a black bandana shows allegiance to a gang.
I roughly counted over 20 movies with black in the title (Black Swan; Creature from the Black Lagoon; Meet Joe Black for a few); over 30 book titles (Black Beauty; Black Dahlia; Death by Black Hole as example) and 70+ music titles ( Back in Black; The man in Black; Black Velvet to cite a bit). Enough trivia for today!
Needless to say, I love black and was so happy to do this colour! Good Night for now.
I'm wearing: Skin: LeLutka Mila / HUSH Eyes: Miriel Hazel (no longer available) Eyelashes: Glow Studio Bohemia eyelashes (raindrop) Hair: Oh Hair Bob Nails: SN Shiny nails (black)
It's Super Bowl Sunday!! I love this day! Not only for the game [what happened to da Bears??] but for the BBQ, salad, desserts and beer. And who will be the champs?? Hmmm....Steelers have already won 6 times; the Packers 3...but I think the Pack is HUNGRY this time around... I always wanted to know how it would feel to throw around a football in front of a huge crowd so I went out to Rutgers Stadium. I had to dress the part and wear my hair to rival Matthews and Polamalu.
I tried throwing.
I caught it and ran for the goal.
Sooooo close now.....almost there.
TOUCHDOWN!! I went crazy and the crowd went wild!
Wow! How thrilling for me! Now I can really get into the game.
Good Night for now. I'm wearing: Skin: LeLutka Lola (light) Eyes: Miriel Hazel (no longer available) Eyelashes: LeLutka Lola Hair: LeLutka RUSH
Tee: MaxThreads Clay Matthews home jersey Jeans: FD Entourage Original (blue) (no longer available) Sneakers: Viviane Fashion sneakers heart (red) (only $L1)
Today is the Lunar New Year or as it's often called, the Chinese New Year. This year's symbol is the rabbit, the 4th animal in the 12 year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.
"People born in the Year of the Rabbit are articulate, talented, and ambitious. They are virtuous, reserved, and have excellent taste. Rabbit people are admired, trusted, and are often financially lucky. They are fond of gossip but are tactful and generally kind. Rabbit people seldom lose their temper. They are clever at business and being conscientious, never back out of a contract. They would make good gamblers for they have the uncanny gift of choosing the right thing. However, they seldom gamble, as they are conservative and wise. They are most compatible with those born in the years of the Sheep, Pig, and Dog." (from Chinese Culture Center)
One of the colours associated with this sign is Aqua so I picked an appropriate dress for visiting the beautiful Pear Garden.
The hair from Plume was a wonderful addition to this dress.
Gong Hay Fat Choy!
Good Night for now.
I'm wearing: Skin: LeLutka Mila / HUSH Eyes: Miriel Hazel (no longer available) Eyelashes: LeLutka Lola (in skin pack) Hair: Plume Asia
Dress: Lika Ruby china dress (teal) Shoes: Maitreya slinky stilettos (red)
OK I paraphrased a line from "The Wizard of Oz" but it just fit my feelings about emerald. I love all of the greens but emerald is one of my favourites and of course it fits into the jewelry category too.
Emeralds have always held an allure for me. Yes, it's the colour, the carats and the cost but when you look deeply into that sparkly green stone, all sensibility leaves your brain. Last year I was in Colombia and I just had to go to a jewelry store. I tried on rings, bracelets and necklaces that were all beyond my reach but it was such fun doing it.
The emerald is a true gemstone. When buying an emerald, as with diamonds, you should consider the four "C"'s - colour, clarity, cut and crystal (transparency). The darker the colour, the more valuable the stone. Most emeralds have flaws and often develop cracks but that doesn't lessen the desire to own one. Although Colombia mines produce most of the world's emeralds right now, I read that emeralds can also be found in other countries, including Canada! Hmmmm....running out now with a pick and shovel!
Good Night for now
I'm wearing: Skin: LeLutka Ava (light) Eyes: Miriel Hazel (no longer available) Hair: ploom Twila
Top: Barbed wire body by Eshi Otawara (emerald) (comes with earrings) Skirt: The Secret Store Chiffon silk kerchief skirt (for TDRB) Leggings: A piece of candy Sheilagh leggings (emerald) Shoes: GF flat shoes "Little Diva" (moss)
Bracelet: Zaara Pratha silver cuff "malachite" Glasses: Dark Mouse Cateye glasses Marilyn
Taupe is one of my favourite colours. I certainly have enough of it in one of my closets - sweaters, pants, a jacket or two, and of course, shoes. It's funny though, because everyone of those "taupes" are slightly different in hue.
I searched the online encylopedia for a description but it referred me to a Swiss tenor from the early 1900's. I went to the Encyclopaedia Britannica (online) but this was the message they gave me. "Sorry, we were unable to find an exact match for taupe. Here are results using alternate spellings and phrases. You may also try rephrasing your query." One more "educational" try - but that one had so much advertising, I couldn't even find the search bar. So I just had to try on my own.
Taupe certainly covers a wide range of shades. I looked for a colour palette and this is one that I got. It does show a huge range of colour. I wasn't sure that some of the colours should be considered in the taupe category. I had to look further.
Martha Stewart suggests taupe is a "perfect wedding color". In this article she calls taupe "sandy". I think that's a good description from the picture.
I finally decided to try Wikipedia (even though I hate to rely on this website). It did offer the largest coverage and my curiosity was satisfied.
Good Night for now. I'm wearing: Skin: LeLutka Mila / HUSH Eyes: Miriel Hazel (no longer available) Eyelashes: Miriel Glamor lashes (no longer available) Hair: W&Y hair # 154 Nails: SN Shiny Red
Today is Robbie Burns Day and I, along with the Scots, and all others of descent, celebrate the birthday of the national poet of Scotland. He was a poet but also collected Scottish folk songs often adapting or revising them. One of his most famous poems and songs is "Auld Lang Syne" often sung at New Year's. To find out about his life or his works, there have been new books just published this past year and most are available at libraries or book stores.
My paternal Grandfather was born in Scotland so my father always celebrated Robbie Burns Day with a group of friends. My Dad would come back from the celebration with tales of the traditional meal - haggis, neeps and tatties. Robbie Burns wrote a poem called "To a Haggis", where he describes the dish as a "Great chieftain O'the puddin'-race". At the formal dinner, the haggis is always brought in the room heralded by a bagpiper. I always wanted to experience this gastronomical affair...and I finally did. The neeps (mashed turnips) and tatties (mashed potato) were great and the haggis...hmmmm...needed some getting used to. If you'd like to try it, the recipe for making haggis can be found here.
I visited Taugh Ard in my other life and while touring around the countryside, I found this picturesque old library.
Once inside, I sat looking at old manuscripts.
Celebrating this day will always be a tradition with me and visiting this place today was perfect.
Good Night for now.
I'm wearing: Skin: LeLutka Ava (light) Eyes: Miriel Hazel (no longer available) Eyelashes: LeLutka Seductress Hair: DBS Winnifer Nails: Candy Nail Basic nails Red 01
I don't own any "furry" items. I'm not sure it's a moral issue with me. I'm just not into it. BUT....this morning the thermometer read -33C.
"Yeah", I thought. "Hmmm. And will the car start? What if the gas line freezes and I have to walk?"
So on that note, I dug out the furs.
The practical me is on the right. Great coat with fur trim and hood to keep my ears from freezing; woolen sweater with wool pants; and knee high leather, lined lace up boots. Of course you need heavy gauge knitted mitts to keep your fingers from freezing. All good for keeping you warm and safe from the extreme cold and biting wind that we seem to be having right now.
However, my alter ego likes to look cool while trying to maintain warmth. The fur head band keeps the ears warm - at least; the short leather jacket has fur trim - at least; the leather pants and unlined leather boots...ehhhhh. Gloves do not keep fingers from freezing but they do look very sleek. I mean...like...you have to keep up a great appearance. Don't you?
Even though it was an extremely cold, windy day, I managed to get outside. Ok...so it was only to run to the car, drive to work and then run into the building but still...come on....give me some slack! I'm a northerner! I would never get outside if I waited for warm January weather. It just won't happen.
Good Night for now.
I'm wearing: In both pictures: Skin: LeLutka Mila / HUSH Eyes: Miriel Hazel (no longer available) Eyelashes: FTL Kirei 501 lashes
The Real Me: Coat: Latte fur coat (brown) (comes with hair) Sweater: Orion sweater (grey) Pants: LeLutka grey dress pants Mitts: RendeR fur muff and mittens (only mittens worn) Boots: Shiny Things Ribbon boots (brown)
My Alter Ego: Jacket and hat: Eshi OtawaraBlack fur bolero (special) Sweater: CoCo turtleneck sweater (group gift) Pants: CoCo shiny leggings (group gift) Gloves: Cover Girl fur gloves (white) Boots: GF Long fur cuff boots (white)
