Aphrodite's Serenity

It wasn't so long ago that I was commenting (ok, whinging) about the sometimes extortionate price some designers charge for their shoes in Second Life on another blog. I don't think you will be able to make the same complaint about the shoes I'm going to show you today, they are a mere L$150 a pair. Of sculptie shoes. And they aren't just cobbled together (geddit?) either. They are actually pretty damn good.

Aphrodite's Creations
Greyceful Dress (Apple) & Serenity Shoes (Light Green)

I've been a fan of Aphrodite Creations for a while now, since Winter Wonder was released, and met Aphrodite Outlander, the designer, when I visited the store to pick up a copy. She couldn't have been more kind or more helpful. I've since kept an eye out for any new releases, and snapped each of them up. So I was thrilled when she dropped me a pair of her newest release this morning, the Serenity Shoe.

Oftentimes I find that designers tend to be good at one thing and not so hot on another. Excellent clothes designers tend to be not so great when it comes to shoes, hats and so forth. So, I must admit, my expectations weren't high. I was very pleasantly surprised that this doesn't seem to be the case with Aphrodite. In fact, I'd go as far as to say, these shoes are on par with some of the well known & successful shoe designers in SL.

AC Serenity Shoe :: Colour Options

The Serenity Shoe comes in 11 jewel-toned colours that match perfectly with both her own clothing range and the colours other designers are using this season. At L$150 a pair, or L$1250 for the fatpack (almost 25% off!) you have absolutely no reason not to have the perfect footwear for your party frock this New Year! I'll certainly be wearing a pair!

Happy New Year Everyone!

What I'm Wearing ::
Skin :: Series 2 Female Skin ** Special Ed. ** :: DUTCH TOUCH :: (free)
Hair :: Calla Mistletoe Bleached Blondes (Wheat)
Eyelashes :: Cake - Bedroom Lashes - Tintable
Eyes :: Skin Deep real hazel eye SO
Nails :: Skin Within [SW] Creme Manicure
Dress (bottom picture) :: *Punch Drunk*Glam Rock Dress (Teal)
Necklace (Bottom picture) :: Swallowtail Tear Drop Chain necklace!

Hug-fest!

Yesterday saw the début of Random Calliope's newest design, The Amandote!, a truly sensual set of wearable art that celebrates self and one's own sexuality.

I was humbled to read that Random drew some inspiration for the design from his friendship with me and the times we've gone dancing. He is a dear friend and a truly beautiful person. I was also honoured to be involved in it's release - the event took place at my club, Popeye's. And what an event! For over two hours the hugging didn't cease - 1800+ hugs were given in that short time! It was a sight to behold. Slightly chaotic to host, I'll admit, but the love that filled the place was palpable.

One of the 18 different coloured sets of necklace, earrings, bracelet and ring is given away randomly (geddit!) when you recieve a hug from someone wearing the specially designed hugger, scripted by Desdemona Enfield. The hugger itself is a work of art, taking the form of a small red heart which attaches to the left pectoral region, buried deep within the chest, representing "trust, protection, giving, needing, taking." These are also freely available, so anyone may give away this wonderful gift.

Since the debut event I've not removed my Amandote! hugger, and have been randomly offering hugs to strangers in the vicinity of wherever I happen to be. And therein lays a tale. I, like many others, spend a few minutes each morning whizzing around the grid collecting the daily advent gifts from generous creators such as Nefaria Abel (Ivalde), Britneyj Crimson (Second Mirage) and Ninja Petion & Zoey Pinkdot of Digital Dragon Designs. There are many others that do similarly. My gift gathering has taken me a little longer these past two days though, as I have stopped at each location and sought out someone to hug, spreading the love this holiday season and leaving the gift Random has enabled. Reactions have been many and varied, but largely fall into two categories. Those who would never refuse a hug despite being slightly bemused even from a strange and potentially crazy woman (ok, not potentially, hehe). These folk tend to hug in return and are thrilled with the gift they receive. But the other half (and it is roughly half) look taken aback, if not slightly offended, at my simple "Hi X, may I give you a hug?" as if I might suddenly turn into an evil vampire and suck all their pixelated blood before selling their soul to the devil.

I could, of course, tell them in advance they will be rewarded for the simple act of warmth with gems which, if sold, would undoubtedly be worth thousands of Lindens. I'm sure they'd jump at the chance then, knowing the hug would be lucrative. But I feel it shouldn't be about the jewels per se, the reward is the received hug first and foremost, the shared moment of care, kindness, joy, honour, acceptance. So I don't, and won't, pre-warn. People will catch on, in time, and the pleasure I get from their glee when given the gift will perhaps be less, but for now it gives me joy. Maybe this will go some way towards softening hearts, teaching us that when we let people in, allow them to show us kindness and care, we are rewarded in ways as yet unseen.

So thank you Random. Not just for the jewellery, as magnificent as it is. Not just for your generosity, as boundless as it can be. But for the joy of giving that you have enabled. Your gift extends far past prims, past the hugger you have fashioned to reside within my avatars chest, right into my living, beating, loving heart.


Amandote! Huggers available from ::

• Worthwhile, Ode
• Popeye's Beach Club, Pamran

:: THE SOLSTICE SALSA :: The Amandote! Debut

Popeye's Beach Club is thrilled to announce that on Saturday 22nd Dec, 8am - 10am SLT, we will be hosting a special event ::THE SOLSTICE SALSA::

This event will see the debut of SL jewellery designer and artist, Random Calliope's newest design, the Amandote! The Amandote!, which comes in 18 colours, celebrates love of oneself as depicted by the dance, the Salsa. Sets of will be given away during the event by Random Calliope himself for the hefty price of....a HUG!

Dress in your finest Salsa dress and dance to music provided by our Live DJ, Gruran Solomon while you find out how Popeye's earned it's reputation as "The friendliest club in Second Life".


Popeye's Beach Club is a venue for the 2007 Winter Festival. Furries, Tiny's, BDSM, GBLT all welcome. Ice skating. Skoopf Vendor. Local shopping including Style Your Destiny, LaynieWear, Vintage Reproductions, and Evolution Creations & Mystics. Skydive SL.

Happy Elfin' Christmas

This is SO funny, I had to share.

Christmas Shopping Finds

As tired as you might be after spending a day shopping, the best bit just HAS to be getting home and delving into the myriads of shopping bags to try on your new purchases. With the plethora of gifts and goodies around in this pre-Christmas season it had been a while since I'd had a chance to do such, so it was with much glee that I sorted out my inventory this morning, regaining some of it's normally meticulous order and trying on items as I went.

One of the fun things about this is the sometimes bizarre combinations I end up wearing, with things go on as I get to them. Mismatched hair with mismatched skin, with an ill-fitting hat and mismatched shoes. It's at times like this that I'm happy none of my friends call round unannounced! However, every now and then this randomness creates a winner, and one such happy accident was how the outfit below was born.

The dress/jacket combo is from Cover Girl, a small boutique in a Japanese sim. I'd seen another outfit reviewed elsewhere and went to check it out, but fell in love with the jacket in this set - it looks so soft I can almost feel my fingers sinking into it's fluffiness. I'm not particularly a fan of white, or lace, but the layering on this dress works well. The tights in the centre picture are from another Cover Girl outfit, but they work well here. However I think I prefer the retro-geometry of Bijou's "Stocking E" in pink, shown in the images to the top & bottom .

It takes quite something to get me away from my trademark platinum blonde locks, but as I attached Calla's new "Christmas Rose" demo in Dark Mahogany I knew it was perfect for this. The white of the rose lifts the look, tying in colours and adding a little charm. I picked up the necklace and bracelet at another Japanese boutique, Untone. The earrings are from Shiny Things' Nighttime Gems set.

I couldn't decide which boots I preferred as each give it the look a slightly different vibe, so I've included three variations; the gorgeously funky Chunky Ribbon Boots from Shiny Things in white and pink, Armidi Gisaci Unisex Classic Moccas in red and PixelDolls' LunaViola Basic Boot. We are truly spoilt with the number of fabulous boots around at the moment.

The overall look puts me in mind of something you'd wear to meet your boyfriend's parents for the first time - cutesy girlishness with an underlying kick-ass attitude. Now I just need the boyfriend!

Meet My Daemon

The Golden Compass, the new film staring Nicole Kidman, speaks of a world where every person has an animal that represents their soul. You can find your own daemon by clicking here. Mine is apparently a Hare - modest, inquisitive, humble, competitive & responsible Could you take a few moments to confirm if this is accurate... or not. I'm not really sure about the modest bit (or the responsible bit come to that!).

Happy Birthday Pamran!