I hope everyone has recovered from their post-Christmas turkey hangovers, safely navigated the Boxing Day sales and are ready to settle back into their lives – both real and Second.

Maybe it’s a good time to reflect; to think about the year that has passed and the one that is to come. Maybe it’s time to make those New Year’s resolutions – or not. Or perhaps it’s just a chance to spend a little quiet time by yourself, to recharge after the manic Christmas season.

For whatever reason you choose, this stool from Kuro is the perfect spot to do your thinking. It is available at a special price on Saturday for The Neighbourhood. Whether you tuck it into a quiet corner or plonk it down in the garden like I did, it is versatile enough for any location. And it has some cute poses!

On another note, I made a couple of purchases for myself for Christmas. I finally joined the mesh body bandwagon and hurled myself at Lara by Maitreya almost as soon as she was released. Why did I choose the Maitreya version after spurning The Mesh Project, Slink and Belleza versions? Quite simply: the alpha system in the HUD. The alpha slices available make wearing even the trickiest cut dress or top possible with a mesh body. I was sold when I saw the way the slices on the breasts are designed. Instead of just full or no boobs, each breast is sliced into multiple alpha choices so you can customise the alpha for daring cut tops, without the risk of showing off those ta-tas to all and sundry. While I am sure there will be some cuts that just can’t be matched by this system, it is by far the most comprehensive I have trialed. I know I’ll be spending more time dressing with a mesh body than the classic SL body, but at least I can feel confident that I am properly covered – and uncovered – when I choose to wear it.

While waiting for the [PXL] Creations applier to be released (please, oh please, Mr. Larsson, release one!), the other reason I went ahead and took the plunge was because I finally found a Glam Affair skin that I like. While I have always appreciated the quality of Glam Affair skins, they just didn’t seem to suit me. But the Amberley II skin in the America tone released at Kustom9 this month fit me like, well, a first second skin. Since the Maitreya HUD comes pre-loaded with Glam Affair skin tones, it was a simple matter of buying the Slink appliers to match, and I was set.

So, why am I pretty much covered from head to toe, instead of showing off this beautiful body? Simply put, I have seen enough of Lara’s T&A on Flickr already. And she is just as beautiful wrapped up as she is in all her natural glory.

Reflect on that.

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

Sweater: =Zenith=(Blue) fringe sweater by Miffyhoi Rosca (available at Kustom9 Dec. 2014)
Jeans: .: Somnia :. Twiggy Jeans {Light Wash} by Sanura Snowpaw
Boots: Maitreya Stagioni Boots * XS-S Chestnut by Onyx LeShelle
Hair: “”D!va”” Hair “Rosa” (Garnet) by Marisa Kira
Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V1.0 by Onyx LeShelle
Skin: -Glam Affair – Amberly II skin – America 13 C by aida Ewing (available at Kustom9 Dec. 2014)
Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual (L) & Splayed (R) by Siddean Munro
Hand appliers: -Glam Affair– Slink Feet Skin Appliers AD by aida Ewing
Eyes: [ MUDSKIN ]_Glass Eye_Blue3_w1 by Sopha Portal (available at Kustom9 Dec. 2014)
Lashes: Mon Cheri *MC* “Falsies” Eyelash by Freya Oliveri

*Stool/pose: Kuro – Timespender stool by Luana Dawg (for The Neighbourhood Dec. 27, 2014)