Living In The Wild, Wild West

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I’ve had the song by The Escape Club running through my head since I started working on the photos for The Challenge – it isn’t that bad as far as earworms go, but it is still an earworm! I am hoping by getting this post done I can also banish this song from my memory. If not, I’m sure it will feature in at least one of my DJ sets later this week 😉

As you may have deduced, the theme for The Challenge this month is “Wild, Wild West.” If you are looking for a rustic build or decor items, then this is the event for you.

The western store by [hate this] is really amazing. It weighs in at only 35 LI and has a HUD so you can customise the sign, the colour of the attached shed and the wood on the front of the store. It is materials enabled, so it will catch the movement of the setting sun. It could even be used as western home, since you can remove the sign completely – or add your own if you choose.

There is a separate decor pack which includes barrels, coffins, a watering trough and burlap sacks, each with a materials enabled version or standard. You can mix and match to your heart’s content.

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Next is this detailed wagon from Cleo Design. There are actually two versions available – this one with the barrels and pillow and another with cactus nesting in the wagon. Two people can sit in the version I am showing. LI is 16-18, depending on whether or not you include the two barrels as shown.

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From Sway’s comes this lovely bench with a western flair. There are three versions to choose from and for the first week of The Challenge, you can pick them up for 20% off. There are a ton of poses for singles, friends and cuddling. You can see some of the items from the [hate this] decor pack in this photo, as well.

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And finally is this mug tree from Kuro. You can have a cup of coffee from the mugs and if your horse is suffering a fashion crisis, you could always disassemble the mug tree for a new pair of shoes. Well, maybe not, but we know I’m a shoe-loving gal, so I would probably try 😉

The Challenge runs from today until April 29th, so saddle up and head to the stores to grab these nifty items with a western theme. And I won’t be unhappy if you get “Wild, Wild West” stuck in your head…it might get it out of mine!

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

*Building: [hate this] [ht] mesh – western store by Corvus Szpiegel (available for The Challenge March 31-April 29 2014) LI: 35
*Barrel, Western Sacks & Coffin: [hate this] mesh – western deco pack by Corvus Szpiegel (available for The Challenge March 31-April 29 2014) LI: 1 each
*Cactus: [hate this] [ht] mesh – cactus by Corvus Szpiegel (available for The Challenge March 31-April 29 2014) LI: 1
*Wagon: Cleo Design Western Wagon by Cleom Bailey (available for The Challenge March 31-April 29 2014) LI: 16-18
*Bench: Sway’s [Tuari] Bench – foliage by Sway Dench (available for The Challenge March 31-April 29 2014 – 20% off the first week) LI: 2
*Mug tree: Kuro – Wild mugs by Luana Dawg (available for The Challenge March 31-April 29 2014) LI: 8
Surround: ChiC buildings The Meadow MESH surround by Chic Aeon
Grass & dead tree: ChiC buildings The Meadow Landscape Pack by Chic Aeon

Best. Hair. EVAH!!!!

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If you read the credits of my posts or have visited my SLurls To Favourite Places page, you have seen me mention *ARGRACE*. While I may have been aware of this store before, it really hit my radar at Hair Fair last year. This has become my very favourite hair store in Second Life and rika Oyen, the designer, has pretty much guaranteed that anything she releases becomes an insta-buy for me. Haruka was no different.

When I took a look at the photo in the note card from the *ARGRACE* group when I logged on today, I zoomed straight to the store. I didn’t even bother trying on a demo – I just paid my $L250 and dashed home (I also bought the other new release, but I’ll save that for another day).

Now, I know there have been other windblown styles before – I even have a couple – but either the colour wasn’t quite right for me or I got a severe halo effect around the edges of the hair. True Red by *ARGRACE* is my current favourite red and there was virtually no halo effect with this hair. And I would wear this hair out – not just for a photo shoot. She has caught the movement perfectly – I only wish my real hair blew around this beautifully in the wind!

When I got home and put Haruka on, the next question was, “What do I wear???” Fortunately, The Dressing Room Fusion has a new round and I thought this dress from Kunglers would be perfect. I slipped on my 21 Shoe Hucci slingbacks, and I was set. I ran to the dock, struck a pose and off I went.

For this photo shoot, I used Torley’s sunsets. I won’t bore you with how many shots I took (it was over 40 lol) but this one just grabbed me when I looked at my raw shots. The lighting is so dramatic and it set off the fiery red of my hair well.

I am including a cropped version of this photo so you can see the hair close up. I did play with the hair a bit in processing, but mainly to enhance the highlights from the Windlight setting. I probably didn’t need to do it, but hey…I did anyway 😀

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It has been a while since I have been so excited about a single purchase in Second Life. But who wouldn’t be excited by the Best. Hair. EVAH!!!!

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

Dress: (Kunglers) TDRF #036 – strapless dress – Floral by AvaGarnder Kungler (available at The Dressing Room Fusion March 2014)
Shoes: ::HH:: Hucci Uvol Sling Back – 21 Shoe by Eboni Khan (colour no longer available)
Earrings: Cae :: Promise :: Earrings by Caelan Hancroft
Hair: *ARGRACE* HARUKA – True Red by rika Oyen (NEW)
Skin: [PXL] Creations [PXL] JADE NAT PetalPink MEB C2 (FR) by Hart Larsson (available at The Skin Fair 2014)
Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual by Siddean Munro
Feet: Slink Mesh Feet (Av) High by Siddean Munro
Hand & Feet appliers:[PXL] Creations – [ PXL ] Slink Hand & Feet Appliers NAT by Hart Larsson
Eyes: Amacci Gaze Eyes – Ocean Blue by Carina Larsen
Lashes: Mon Cheri *MC* “Falsies” Eyelash by Freya Oliveri

Dock: Cheeky Pea :CP: Bae Dock w/Blanket by Isla Gealach

Pose: oOo Studio Poses – oOo brevity_three by Olaenka Chesnokov

Photo taken with the LumiPro HUD

Getting Out Of The Bedroom

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I really hadn’t planned on using these photos for my blog. I took these before I headed back up to the bedroom to shoot the picture I used yesterday but I wasn’t happy with what I was seeing in my viewer. In fact, I didn’t even look at the raw shots until much later and decided they weren’t so bad after all. Since I seem to be struggling with getting shots of all of the different corners and crannies upstairs, I thought I would cover off the lounge (living room) in one post.

Until moving to this island, I had mainly lived in homes that came furnished with a few odds and ends of my own added in. The two houses on the island are the first time I have taken a blank canvas and created a fully “Peep” look. As you will see from the credits, I haven’t stuck with one or two designers as I have in the past, although there are a few repeats; I seem to have a lot of favourites. But, ironically, the vast majority of items in this house were already sitting in my inventory – this room in particular. In fact, the only things in this room I bought after I got the house aren’t shown in these pictures – a dresser/bookcase and a pair of shoe/planters. This home in particular has become a showcase of things I love from all over the grid.

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I can’t fail to mention the dress I have been wearing in my last two posts – MOLiCHiNO is back, and the simple elegance of this dress stole my heart. Doesn’t look bad on my backside, either 😉

There is still the kitchen/dining area, the porches and deck to show off. I may even get ambitious and do an exterior shot of the house. And of course, I will be getting back to the bedroom. It is where I started this series and I think it would be appropriate to end this exploration of Roxie where I began, just as I begin and end my day – in the comfy confines of the bedroom.

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

Dress: MOLiCHiNO Molly Dress Freesia by Aurelia Chauveau
Shoes: ::HH:: Hucci Talasea Sandal – 21 Shoe by Eboni Khan (colour NLA)
Necklace: Purple Moon :: PM :: Lily Necklace in Pink and Gold by Poulet Koenkamp (this was a :: PM :: anniversary gift – not sure if it is still available)
Earrings:Purple Moon :: PM :: Lily Earrings in Pink and Gold by Poulet Koenkamp (this was a :: PM :: gift – not sure if still available)
Clutch: ::HH:: Hucci LaRosita Clutch Leather – WildPink by Eboni Khan
Hair: Amacci Hair Gloria ~ Warm Red by Carina Larsen
Tattoo: Letis Tattoo :: Pink Rose :: Back :: 50% :: B12019 by Leti Hax
Skin: [PXL] Creations [PXL] JADE NAT PetalPink MEB C2 (FR) by Hart Larsson (available at The Skin Fair 2014)
Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual by Siddean Munro
Feet: Slink Mesh Feet (Av) Mid by Siddean Munro
Hand & Feet appliers:[PXL] Creations – [ PXL ] Slink Hand & Feet Appliers NAT by Hart Larsson
Eyes: Amacci Gaze Eyes – Ocean Blue by Carina Larsen
Lashes: Mon Cheri *MC* “Falsies” Eyelash by Freya Oliveri

Floral chairs: junk. perry chair. posy. by Tab Tatham
Rug: Thaino Designs Shabby Square rug 2 by Thaihiti Baroque
Coffee table: Atelier Visconti A.V. Etienne Low Table by StephanVisconti
Love seat: Spargel & Shine Shabby Daybed Blueberry by Tess Spargel
Basket on table: A.D.D. Andel! Garden Basket DecorV2-Yellow by Andel Rhiadra
Candle & rose petals: LISP – Noir Petals & Candle by Pandora Popstar
Book stack: Thaino Designs Clara small pile of books by Thaihiti Baroque
Corner chair: *ionic* Victorian chair (ground) by Iakua Arriaga
Heart decorations: A.D.D. Andel! Hearts On a String by Andel Rhiadra
Floor Vase: Thaino Designs TD vase of sticks (mesh) shabby blue floral by Thaihiti Baroque
Box of books: Scarlet Creative June Arcade – My Box of Poetry Books by Charlotte Barlett
Fireplace: Zen Creations Coastal Comfort Shabby Chic Fireplace 1 by Zhoie Adder
Candles: Thaino Designs Driftwood shore candle display by Thaihiti Baroque
Picture frames: LISP – Silver Frames for top of piano by Pandora Popstar
Carousel horse: [HANDverk]Carousel Horse.eggshell by Daphne Klossovsky (gacha prize)
Pink bowl: Thaino Designs Clara bowl of roses by Thaihiti Baroque
Heart plant: LISP Vintage Heart Plant Tabletop by Pandora Popstar
Shelf with decorations: *ionic* i am happy (shelf) by Iakua Arriaga
Wood basket: Apple Fall AF Woodstock by Apple Fall (gacha prize)
Ivy: **InteriorAddiction** Potted Ivy by Amelie Carlucci
Suitcase table & accessories: *ionic* Waiting for your call by Iakua Arriaga
*Shadow box: Frogstar – Without Prejudice Wall Art (Khaki) by Ravenna Rossini

Pose: oOo Poses – oOo fever Series by Olaenka Chesnokov