Once Upon a Time..

… there was a young girl who loved fairy tales; they were the first stories she read to herself and the dreams she dreamed at night. Like many girls, she wanted to be a princess, find True Love, and live Happily Ever After.

As she grew older, she learned that the world was not exactly as it seemed in the stories she loved best. It was hard to dream about castles from a 2-bedroom apartment and gallant princes always seemed to be in short supply. She began to write stories instead, creating characters that were like her, but not her, and she made a point of finding happy endings for all of them. It wasn’t ideal but, gosh, she believed in them anyway.

 (This picture is even lovelier in higher resolution. Check my flickr, darn you! )

I’ll admit that I had other plans for this post (*gasp!*). It was going to be a cheerful, cheeky introduction to Awesome Breed Creations (ABC) horses where I depicted and discussed everything a curious outsider would want to know. I took pictures. I asked questions. I wore knee boots and jodhpurs and ran at a script count of one without looking like it. Then my friend Draco passed me some horses, these horses, and my well-laid plans flew out the window.

 ( Frangipani (left) and Carrot (right) look like princesses in their own right. Right? )

When I rezzed the horses I nearly cried. My heart raced and it was hard to breathe. I just stared at them for a good five minutes before I hopped on Frangipani’s back and rode her across my wintry home. Carrot and I jumped across rivers, over park benches, and raced faster than I knew I could move in SL. This was when I realized that I had to write from a deeper, truer place and share something that might provoke the sort of feelings I’m experiencing myself tonight.

It feels like magic and it’s wonderful.

 ( What do you MEAN I’ve reached my monthly limit?! I hope to add more pics to flickr soon. Ick. )

So I’ll write an introduction to these horses tomorrow night (December 20th) after I attend my first live ABC horse race! It seems to be on their main sim (here) and begins at 5pm SLT. I would love to see you there but if you cannot make it, please have a look back here on the weekend to learn all about these incredible horses. <3

~ Portia ~

Fairy Skin -Avie- /*snowstorm *REDGRAVE*
IKON Eternal Eyes – Peak
Miamai_Catwalk Lashes_Glitter 01
Rhapsody [ glow ] studio – Lashes – GLOW special
ROZENA/ Kiss Kiss ~ dolce

[LeLutka]-POCAHONTAS hair – Powder

:: PM :: Winter Queen in Ice ~ NEW group gift, ladies!

Poses: !bang
Setting: Heart, Botanical, FREE Snow Maker

~ Frangipani ~

Breed : Thoroughbred
Coat : Palomino
Eye : Birthstone – Diamond
Mane : Long Wavy
Tail : Wavy
Face Marking : Star Stripe

Home Stable: Nacht’s Landing

~ Carrot ~

Breed : Thoroughbred
Coat : White
Eye : Dark Brown
Mane : Plaited
Tail : Plaited
Face Marking : Blaze

Home Stable: My house.  >.>

 

 

Check @ the FAIR!

Hello everyone!

I’d like to begin today by thanking my SL sister, the incredible Bean, for inspiring this post by dragging (okay, maybe not entirely dragging) me to the last installment of FAIR last week ( ) and pointing me toward these beautiful mesh gowns by Apple May Designs. I’m not sure what other people thought when they saw red and white side by side but my mind went IMMEDIATELY to Wonderland.

>.>

( Check my Flickr for an awesome widescreen shot of our showdown! )

Now ordinarily I’d have been all over the white option, anyone who’s peeked at my blog can see how much I love white and light neutrals, but there was something about the red that appealed to me. I wore a larger size of IKON‘s Kaleido eyes than usual (XL when my standard is M), changed my skin for a layered eyeshadow look, and added two pairs of eyelashes, two sets of gloves, and my boldest, curviest set from the incomparable Chop Zuey Couture Jewelry. The result, I think, is just a little creepy but you can’t deny that it looks neat.

The set was a ton of fun to put together (I can’t think of the last time I built anything!) and I’ve gone ahead and linked what I used at the bottom of this post. While it isn’t outfit-related, well, Bean and I wouldn’t have looked half as good against a white screen.

( Another Flickr link. <3 )

~ Portia ~

Fairy Skin -Avie- /*ash *REDGRAVE*
IKON Kaleido Eyes – Shadow
ROZENA/ Kiss Kiss ~ dolce
-Belleza- Eyeliner 4
Miamai_Catwalk Lashes_Glitter 01
[ glow ] studio Vanity. eyelashes – rogue (red)

Vanity Hair:The Potion-Platinium
Vanity hair base V.2.1-Platinium

Apple May ~ Winter Formal Mesh Gown – Lust ~ Available @ FAIR

Chop Zuey ~ Rocinante’s Curve Set ~ Silver
:: PM :: Meryl Gown in Black Gloves
DNR ~ Long Dress Gloves (tinted, raar!)

Poses: BENT ~Available @ FAIR

~ Bean ~

Bean’s credits can be found on her blog, Serene Cadence (SOON, I HOPE!)

~ Homemade Set ~

Topiaries: Trompe Loeil
Roses Sculpt: Arctic Greenhouse (custom texture)
Chess Board Texture: E&D Engineering
Chess Pieces Sculpt: Jabberwocky
Background: Turnip Skydome 2.0

Beyond the Waves

Hello, everyone!

Just a short little bloggy post for now; I’m hoping to get another installment for Tomorrow Today, well, today! I just have to share this lovely new hair from Exile, though, and my continuing love affair with the IKON Eternal eyes. Since it’s a casual kind of day (and I’ve gotta wear something), I figured Maitreya was the way to go; if you haven’t been there lately you absolutely need to check out the mesh sweater dress and the gorgeous new(ish) Suave shoes from Maitreya Gold. The jewelry is pretty casual too and a couple of my favourite finds from Glow Studio and Maxi Gossamer. <3

( Check here for a close-up of the hair/eyes/gorgeousness. )

~ Portia ~

Fairy Skin -Avie- /*natural *REDGRAVE*
IKON Eternal Eyes – Dew
Miamai_Catwalk Lashes_Evergreen 04 Audrey
ROZENA/ Kiss Kiss ~ dolce

::Exile:: Beyond the Waves:Bleach

Maitreya Milia Sweater Dress * French Roast
Maitreya Gold * Suave Pearl

[ glow ] studio – Bubble Pearls Necklace (gold)
[ glow ] studio – Bubble Pearls Ring (gold)
Maxi Gossamer ~ Necklace – Garbo Graduated – Combo – BLEACHED

Pose: Marukin

Thursday?!

HG: Thursday! It can’t be! It’s too gruesome!

PV: What’s so gruesome about Thursday?

HG: Nothing, except I can never remember when it’s coming up.

AAAHHHH!!!  Thursday already and nearly a week into Cinema! Can you believe it?! I had plans, so many plans, so many outfits lined up and ready to go but life just kind of takes over sometimes and it’s all we can do to keep up. But boy, I have a treat for you now – cross my heart and kiss my elbow!

So yes, I can never decide of Breakfast at Tiffany’s is my favourite movie of all time but when I have the “mean reds” there’s nothing else for me to do but pop this DVD on, close my eyes, and just listen to Audrey Hepburn’s voice for a couple of hours. I could do it right now except it’s Thursday (!!) and I have other things to do this afternoon, blah!

I kind of flipped when I saw Baiastice‘s version of Ms. Golightly’s orange coat (“Hey, did you ever steal anything from a five and ten – when you were a kid, I mean?”), and nearly fell out of my chair when I saw the vintage hats right beside it! I added my favourite black pumps (thank you, Gos!) and these great ‘Holly’ glasses from Redgrave because .. why the heck not? Also, they’re perfect.

The picture below may be one of my favourite outfits, period. I’ve covered Caroline’s Audrey necklace before (in black, back in my Tribute post) but “golly gee damn,” Ms. Apollo created the tiara and matching earrings for Cinema so I HAD to get the necklace in white to match. Obviously. This dress from Cracked Mirror fits like an absolute dream and look – my Ingenue kitten heels (still at The Arcade) peek out from beneath the skirt!

( I had breakfast at Caroline’s earlier today! )

While I would love nothing more than to quote Holly Golightly at you all day long, I’m going to head off for now and serenade you with a sweet video instead. Deal? Deal.

( Just me and Ella, relaxing at home. <3 )

~ Portia ~

Fairy Skin -Avie- /*natural *REDGRAVE*
IKON Utopia Eyes – Light Silver+Blue
Miamai_Catwalk Lashes_Evergreen 04 Audrey
ROZENA/ Kiss Kiss ~ dolce

[e] Leah – Blonde 01

Baiastice_Edy Mesh Coat-orange- ~ Available at Cinema! ~
Baiastice_Edy Mesh Hat-tweed/darkest- ~ Available at Cinema! ~
*Fi-St* Ignition Stockings Shiny
[Gos] Pimp Your Pumps V2 – Point Court

- Sunglasses HOLLY / V1.1 – REDGRAVE
[ glow ] studio – Pearl Drop Earrings White
-LMK- Medium leather gloves ~ Black

~

Fairy Skin -Avie- /*natural *REDGRAVE*
IKON Utopia Eyes – Light Silver+Blue
Miamai_Catwalk Lashes_Evergreen 04 Audrey
ROZENA/ Kiss Kiss ~ dolce

(epoque hair) Stabilizer I – Grain

(CM) Audrey Dress MESH (black)
p.c; In the Red Gloves
Ingenue :: Ariane :: Noir ~ Available at The Arcade ~

(Caroline’s Jewelry) Audrey Earrings Gold ~ Available at Cinema! ~
(Caroline’s Jewelry) Audrey Pearl Necklace in White-Gold ~ Available at Cinema! ~
(Caroline’s Jewelry) Audrey Tiara in Gold ~ Available at Cinema! ~

~

Fairy Skin -Avie- /*natural *REDGRAVE*
IKON Utopia Eyes – Light Silver+Blue
Miamai_Catwalk Lashes_Evergreen 04 Audrey
ROZENA/ Kiss Kiss ~ dolce

::Exile:: Little Things:Stefani

Ingenue :: Every Saturday Tee :: Winter :: Winter
{mon tissu} Denim – Lou Lou ~ Used
Ingenue :: Ariane :: Noir

{what next} Fleeftone Acoustic Guitar

Poses: [ glow ], !bang
Props: What Next

Love! ~ Mon Tissu Blogger Challenge (pt. 2)

I may be a total hippie for saying it, but there is nothing in this world as important to me as love. It doesn’t have to be the sort of True Love we read about, the sort rhapsodized in song and story (although gosh, it’s pretty freaking wonderful when you find it); it’s perfectly perfect to love your family and your cat, your best friends and your favourite pair of shoes. Love a moment in time, carry it around with you forever, and smile as you revisit it an hour, a day, or ten years later. Something I noticed this morning is the love that goes into the designs at {Mon Tissu}; the care and thought and attention to detail that -seems- obvious at first until you look closer and realize that it’s more than that. Look at the chair in this picture – it’s pretty, right? Now look at the pattern in my shoes and this gorgeous bag.

Realize how lovely and profound this is.

Feel the love, my lovelies.

Mhmm, the larger picture. <3

~ Portia ~

Fairy Skin -Avie- /*natural *REDGRAVE*
IKON Horizon Eyes v2 – Light Blue
Eyelashes -31- ExtraLong *REDGRAVE*
ROZENA/ Kiss Kiss ~ dolce
cheLLe – (eyeshadow) Dreamy (Under Eye 3)

!lamb. Oh Baby Doll (Mesh) – Fair

{mon tissu} Ruffled Shell (Sheer) / MESH ~ Pearl
{mon tissu} Lycia Lace Bandeau Bra ~ Peach
{mon tissu} Gauzy Skirt – Khaki
{mon tissu} Favorite Leather Flats ~ Floral

{mon tissu} Floral Disk Pendant – Gold
ZC : Patra silver bracelets
{mon tissu} Sophmore Satchel / Down Strap ~ Floral

Pose: [Glow]

Sunday, sunday, Sunday! (Chop Zuey Girl Madness)

Okay, so yes, I realize today is, in fact, WEDNESDAY but as this is a post about last weekend (hah), the title fits! In my last entry I mentioned a certain competition taking place on (gasp!) Sunday afternoon and I’ve got to say .. it was an experience I’ll never forget.

The energy was just incredible! Despite (or possibly TO spite) the lag and the crashes, the change of venue, missing finalists and co-ordinators and a general sense of ‘what the heck do we dooooooo,’ plus the stress of (oh right) THE COMPETITION, I am so pleased to say that the show did go on, and beautifully. Of the sixteen finalists, I believe fourteen were in attendance and just spectacular in sparkling gemstones and formal gowns. I’m kicking myself now for not taking notes on what everyone was wearing.

Here’s what I put together, though.

Want to see a pretty close up shot? It’s right here!

“Portia is wearing a simple, elegant gown to highlight the delicate beauty of Chop Zuey’s Enfleurage jewellery. Flowing white silk accentuates shimmering diamonds, popped with vibrant mint green garnets, while a simple band at the breast picks up the brushed gold settings that make this such a special look.”

Ladies and gentlemen, this is what styling is all about!

It wasn’t couture; I spent days arguing with myself over simple versus dramatic knowing that there would be plenty of both in the competition. The deciding factor, for me, was selecting the jewels I wanted to wear – I realized that whatever I wore would need to be about them and not necessarily my ability to style something spectacular. Then the coolest thing happened….

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Since I’m still pretty stunned over this, I’m going to share one of the answers I had prepared for the show as I think it applies to the situation perfectly:

“What Quality do you and Chop Zuey Jewellery have in Common?

Chop Zuey Jewellery, to me, is confidence. From a single, perfect strand of diamonds to the newest and boldest couture design, every new release is presented with the same enthusiasm and excitement as the last. Nothing else on the grid looks or feels like a Chop Zuey piece. A Realist may tell you that excellent building and clever scripts give each piece its depth and shimmer; I say it’s confidence that makes this jewelry shine … and all we have to do is put it on.”

So be brave, my dears! Own your style whether you’re wearing clogs and capris or the newest in exquisite couture. Be who you are and love what you love; take chances and you won’t be sorry you did. <3

~ Portia ~

Fairy Skin -Avie- /*natural *REDGRAVE*
IKON Utopia Eyes – Light Forest Green
Eyelashes -31- ExtraLong *REDGRAVE*
cheLLe – (eyeshadow) Undereye Shadows (Green)
ROZENA/ Kiss Kiss ~ dolce

::Exile::Tonight Tonight:Stefani

:: PM :: Ra Gown in Pearl
:: PM :: Ra Gown in Gold Sculpted Top
- Shoes Nikki – 12colors / REDGRAVE

Chop Zuey ~ Enfleurage Bracelet Grn
Chop Zuey ~ Enfleurage Earrings Grn
Chop Zuey ~ Enfleurage Necklace Grn

~

Fairy Skin -Avie- /*natural *REDGRAVE*
IKON Utopia Eyes – Light Silver+Blue
Eyelashes -31- ExtraLong *REDGRAVE*
cheLLe – (eyeshadow) Undereye Shadows (Blue)
ROZENA/ Kiss Kiss ~ dolce

[LeLutka]-SALOME hair – Sweeden

Apple May Designs ~ Angel Top – Sky
Apple May Designs ~ Angel Skirt – Sky

Chop Zuey ~ Mother of Us All – Turtle Bracelet
Chop Zuey ~ Mother of Us All – Turtle Earrings
Chop Zuey ~ Mother of Us All – Turtle Necklace
Chop Zuey ~ Mother of Us All – Turtle Ring

~

Fairy Skin -Avie- /*natural *REDGRAVE*
IKON ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Bleached Lavender
Eyelashes -31- ExtraLong *REDGRAVE*
Rhapsody [ glow ] studio – Lashes – GLOW special
cheLLe – (eyeshadow) Undereye Shadows (Navy)
ROZENA/ Kiss Kiss ~ dolce

[LeLutka]-JOLIE_RM hair – Sweeden

*LpD* – *Marie Antoinette* Dress Sunset
DNR ~ Long Dress Gloves

Chop Zuey ~ Imperial Malagasy Aurora Amtr/WG Tiara (<3 !)
Chop Zuey ~ Mother’s Song PkTz Earrings
Chop Zuey ~ Mother’s Song PkTz Necklace

(Re: Poses ~ I’m so sorry, pose creators! These pictures were taken a while ago and I lost my style cards when my computer crashed. I’ll make it up to you, I swear! <333333333333)