Bohemian Rhapsody

Peace......
     It doesn't mean to be in a place with no noise, trouble, or hard work
                It means to be in the midst of all those things.........
                             and still be calm in your heart

                                                                                                      ~Maya Angelou

     I think we can all agree that life can be hectic and messy and just make you want to grab your hair and scream your head off for a few minutes lol. When those moments happen for me and I feel the need to condense or ponder out some chaos, I like to go someplace beautiful and colorful and find myself a little hidey-hole to curl up in. If you're looking for a place like that in SL, I definitely recommend that you visit The Trace. From the moment you arrive, there is almost a tranquil spirit about the place; with a profusion of natural landscaping, pathways, and other fun surprises that can be great for just one person or if you are exploring with friends. This location is available through the generosity and hard work of Kylie Jaxxon and Elvira Kytori; who even allow visitors to rezz their own belongings with a group membership; which is free of charge. I can only say that, there is something about this place that makes me come back again and again. Today is a perfect example as, when I got here this morning, the sim settings were showing a beautiful and expansive sunrise. I stayed to appreciate it for a little while, feeling calmer then when I arrived, and after taking care of the needs of the day, here I find myself again, just in time to catch the last rays of a sunset that is so pretty it just makes you sigh.

Cosmetics:
        Eyes ~ Winged Liner Full Pack by :: Lola May ::
        Lips ~ Sunny Lipstick (5 colors) by Deesses Boutique
        Mani/Pedi ~ Ombre Glass Set 2 by La Boheme

Hair ~ Viola by little bones @ Collabor88
Sunglasses ~ High on Love Sunglasses (Classics) by #Foxy
Earrings ~ LUX Celeste by .: RealEvil Industries :.  !!Free Gift!!
Necklace ~ Suncatcher Necklace Set - Short by .:ECCO:.
Bracelet ~ Statement Tag Bracelet - Gold by ::ECCO::
Backpack ~ Walnut Backpack - Common by ..::ILLI::.. @ Cosmopolitan
Top ~ Rita Top w/Buttons // Purple by Addams @ Uber
Bottoms ~ Catalina Overall Short // Dirty by Addams @ Uber
Sandals ~ Gonki Sandals /  Maitreya, Belleza, Slink, Eve, TMP by .:KC:. Couture

Location ~ The Trace

Push It

The pain you feel today......
                   Will be the strength you feel tomorrow
                                                           
                                                                 ~Unknown

 I decided at the beginning of this month that I was going to be ready to complete a 5K by fall. It sounded like a fabulous idea at the time and I was excited to get started. I had finished one once before, but 5 years and two serious car accidents later (neither of which I caused, btw) I was definitely NOT ready to just head out the door and show up at somebodies finish line. So 4 days a week, either right after work or right after lunch, I head to a park with a perfect set up for this type of run and get to it. The first day my run-buddy and I went, all I could think to myself was "OMG I'm dying! Screw this"! Yet one foot kept going in front of the other, and every training day my buddy and I do the best we can. So here I sit; it's late, my body hurts; and all I can think about is that there had better be an EPIC 5K available when I'm ready to run this thing! lol

So to everyone who is facing a challenge, no matter what it is, just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Take that pain or anguish or worry or whatever it is, and let it hone you into someone or something stronger than you were before. Your limits only limit you when you refuse to challenge them!

Hair ~ Anika hat Hair by ICONIC @ Tres Chic
Earrings ~ LUX Celeste by .: RealEvil Industries :.
Necklace ~ LUX Ti Amo Gold by .: RealEvil Industries :.  
Music/ Media ~ Earbuds by [Volmaak]
Outfit ~ Georgina Yoga Top/ Pants by Blueberry !!New Release!!    
Shoes ~ Georgina Work Out Shoes by Blueberry !!Group Gift!!            

Uptown Girl

I'm independent and strong, but sometimes......

                         just sometimes, it's nice to be taken care of.  

                                                         It's nice to be made to feel like a lady

                                                                                                        ~Samantha Towle

     I'd love to open with something super witty to say but honestly, I think the above quote pretty much sums it up perfectly. I work hard, I'm capable of providing for myself and my dependents and I'm more than happy to pay my own way in life. I can be assertive, authoritative and if the situation calls for it I can be down right scrappy, All that being said however, that doesn't mean I don't have a profound appreciation for moments when my doors are opened for me, my chair is pulled out or the enumerable other things that a man does when he's being a gentleman and makes a point of treating you like a queen. Yes, bouquets and flowers can be nice and are always a pleasant surprise, but it is the little every day things that a man does, that cost nothing more then a little bit of time and thoughtfulness, that really show you how deep you are in his heart. In turn ladies, let's not forget to show our appreciation; whether it be by word or deed. A big "thank you" to all the men who take the time. You are awesome!

Cosmetics:

       Eyes ~ Grande Eyeshadow by Deesses Boutique

       Lips ~ Blow Lipstick by Deesses Boutique

       Mani/Pedi ~ Nirvana Gold Omni Set by La Boheme

Hair ~ Talamasca by Vanity Hair:: @ Tres Chic

Sunglasses~ High on Love Sunglasses/ Classic HUD by #Foxy @ Tres Chic

Necklace ~ Effloresce Necklace- Gold by Empyrean Forge @ Tres Chic

Purse ~ Yasmin Bag Bloomingdahlia by phedora @ Tres Chic !!FREE GIFT!!

Dress ~ Kylie Dress Blanche by COUTURIERE @ Tres Chic

Shoes ~ Peony by #EMPIRE @ Tres Chic

Pose and Props (stairs and cats) ~ Urban Chic- Multiple pose prop by Luanes World @ Tres Chic

You're So Vain

Vanity is as old as the mammoth

                                     ~W. L. George


Ok...I admit it...I am a long hair-flipping, mirror-primping, lip gloss-wearing, turn-around-to-make-sure-you're-dress-doesn't-make-you're-rear-look-too-big kind of girl; and that's just in RL lol. Not because I think I'm just the most gorgeous thing ever or because I'm convinced the world will end if I don't look 100% at all times, but simply because I find a minute or two of girly primping here and there to be a part of being feminine and part of wanting to own that sense of womanhood. I know that seem seem a little odd to the fellas, or even beg the question; "the thought that fixing a smudge in our lip gloss is owning your womanhood"? I would counter with the question of how often have you seen your man walk a little taller and flex his biceps when he knows your checking him out; or how many times have you caught him fussing with his hair when he thought you were too busy with your own to notice? For the same exact reason, he's owning up on his man-mojo lol. We all want to feel we have a presence...a state of being that in its own right and in it's own way is a power unto itself. I find SL to be the perfect paradox to this train of thought. How do we as individuals attain that sense of presence in a world where pretty much everyone is attractive? It's the perfect environment where the sometimes lesser appreciated attributes, such as intelligence, creativity and sincere kindness can shine brighter than the whitest smile.

So I ask you, how will you choose to shine today?

Cosmetics:
       Eyes ~ Mine Eyeshadow by Deesses
       Lips ~ Sexey Lipstick by Deesses
       Mani/Pedi ~ Peacock Emboss Gold Omni Set by La Boheme

Hair ~ Jennifer by :::Phoenix::: @ HairOLogy
Earrings ~ Aletta Ear Wings *Peacock* by Zaara
Necklace ~ Blue/Green_Peacock_Necklace Long by *AvaWay*
Top ~ Lace Bustier - Black by *Just BECAUSE*
Jacket ~ Iridescent jacket - Blue by :: Purple Moon :: @ On9
Skirt ~ Asymmetrical Skirt Black by Blokc
Shoes ~ Nantes Heels / Maitreya, Belleza, Slink High & Eve Body by -KC- Couture !NEW RELEASE!
Peacock ~ Hatsuyume / blue peacock by { anc } (Gatcha Prize)

*Special thanks to my dear friend Chloe, who gave me that gorgeous pet peacock as a birthday gift. Thank you for knowing me well enough to see that no matter how much I was drooling over it, I wouldn't be able to bring myself to the point where I'd actually spoil myself that way. Big Luvs!*

Ride of the Valkyrie

Music hath charms to sooth the savage breast

                                                         ~ William Congreve

     
        Like many other history nerds, I find mythology completely fascinating. The knowledge and perspectives one can gain from a culture's spiritual belief system can not only be helpful in terms of understanding it, but it also makes the individuals who comprised that culture or period of time seem like people we can actually relate to or learn from in some way. A perfect example would be the Old Norse/ Viking era. The practices and customs of this ancient civilization were often violent and brutal on a visceral level, yet at the same time, they also had a clear and evident love of poetry, sagas and music. I think in many ways our lives today can mirror the duality of that cold-blooded aggressiveness as well as the tender, primal yearnings of an artistic soul. Everyday we get to choose which one of those will we be........who will you choose to be today?

Cosmetics:
        Eyes ~ Belle Face Tattoo by White Widow
        Lips ~ Cookie Lipstick by Deesses Boutique
        Mani/Pedi ~ Hisse Silver by La Boheme
   
Hair ~ Lo by Little Bones @ Uber
Head ~ Feather wreath (All Colors) by =Zenith= @ WLRP
Head ~ Edoras Headpiece Silver by LE FORME @ WLRP
Earrings ~ LUX Nia by .: RealEvil Industries :. @ Cosmopolitan
Wings ~ Feather Wings (All Colors) by =Zenith= @ WLRP
Instrument ~ Sheol Muse Set by Astralia @ WLRP
Top ~ Nubian Charm Set by Yasum @ WLRP
Bottoms ~ Valkyrie Skirt by .Arcadia. @ WLRP
Shoes ~ Hera Sandals by ..::ILLI::.. @ Mesh Body Addicts

Lazy

Today I don't feel like doing anything. I just wanna lay in my bed
          Don't feel like picking up my phone, so leave a message at the tone
                                                            'Cause today I swear I'm not doing anything.

                                                                                                                               ~ Bruno Mars

         With spring not far away, I'm definitely looking forward to waking up on a weekend morning to the sound of birds chirping and soft sunlight streaming through the windows. In all honesty though, what I look forward to the most on a weekend in any season is being able to be lazy and not wake up or get out of bed until I feel like it. For some reason, just being able to take my time to wake up slowly and stretch the kinks out before my toes even have to touch the floor feels like a little bit of self-pampering that can have me purring like a chilled out Cheshire cat lol. Last but not least, no official lazy day is complete without spending time at the beach doing absolutely, deliciously nothing until all that remains is to take a deep breathe and sigh all your worries away as you enjoy that last cold drink and watch a beautiful sunset.

        May each of you find moments in time to be completely and decadently lazy we draw closer to that wonderful, wonderful weekend!

Cosmetics:
        Eyes~ Mine Eyeshadow by Deesses @ Tres Chic
        Lips ~ Sunny Lipstick by Deesses
        Mani/Pedi ~ Shelter Set2 by La Boheme

Jewelry:
        Earrings/ Necklace ~ Doji - Peace by EarthStones
        Arm Bracelet ~ Daphne by .Swan.
        Bracelet ~ Soothe-Gold by [BREATHE]

Hat ~ Raffia Beach Hat by Maxi Gossamer
Hair ~ Mona by [RUNWAY]
Dress ~ Kala Ivory by Maitreya !New Release!
Shoes ~ Etherea Heels/ Maitreya, Belleza, Slink, Eve, TMP by -KC- Couture !New Release!
       
** Special thanks to Clive Yardley; who allowed me to visit his beautiful home and use as a backdrop for the above images. :-) **

Ring of Fire

Do fear or run from strife.........
                          There's a reason it takes fire to make steel.

                                                         Embrace the heat

                                                                                   ~Dawn Ryan

       
      I think we have all had days or weeks where we experienced what I almost would call "stress clusters", where it seems as if one thing after another is occurring over & over within a short amount of time. They aren't fun, but they are just a part of life and you learn to deal with them. Then there are those occasions where, in a single unexpected moment in time, something will happen or you'll get a phone call that has the potential to completely throw you off center. Such an event happened for myself and my family last Sunday and I just remember going straight into a sort of "auto-pilot mode"; with my mind systematically thinking over what to can be done to try and minimize the impact this event would have on my loved ones and how to explain to each of them exactly what had occurred without completely freaking them out because frankly, things had to start happening right away and there was simply no time for melt downs. It wasn't until the next day when I was telling M. Jay about it that, all of the sudden and very unexpectedly, my own feelings about it hit me for the first time and I had to take a few minutes to just let it process. I'm so grateful that had my M. Jay and my dear friend Chloe, who have been so loving and supportive during it all. Thankfully things ended up not being as bad as they could have been, though it's still going to be a long road for one of my family members. I've done all that I can on my end however, so the rest is up to them.

      So I guess my whole point for this is, that sometimes life is just going to throw something heavy at you but, no matter how impossible or challenging it may seem, you have to just push through it, keep fighting and above all else, just don't give up. It might be hard, it might hurt, but in the end it can forge you into something stronger, if you let it.

Cosmetics:
       Eyes ~ Belle Face Tattoo by White Widow
       Lips ~ Rouge Allure-Plum Desires by {Melted Cosmetics}
       Mani/Pedi ~ Mehndi Ombre Gold by La Boheme

Bindi ~ Suria Dots Ruby by :::ChiChica::: @ WLRP
Earrings ~ Leda - Gold/Red by .Luminary. @ WLRP
Wings ~ Fenix Wings by .:Aurica:.
Sword ~ Elendil Gold by [M]A.C. [D]ESIGN
Outfit ~ Celestial Suit full- Fiesta by [[ Masoom ]] @ Uber
Cape & Armour ~ Celestial- Fiesta by [[ Masoom ]] @ Uber 
Shoes ~ EXCITE HEELS by -KC- Couture (New Release)

Pose ~ seraph 10 by !bang @ WLRP