I am going to start dating my posts because I'm tapped out of ideas lately

I hope everyone who celebrates the Christmas holiday had a safe and happy one.  I live in a cold climate and as I get older I have really come to love the beauty of winter.  The Trace at The Celestial Realm is the most gorgeously landscaped sim and it has become a favorite place for photos (you can even rez there!).

I was excited to get out of red/green clothes; it's not really a favorite combination for me, probably because my schoolteacher mother is the most festive person on the planet and had outfits and various regalia for just about any holiday. Even in SL I tend to grab black so lately I've tried to be more expansive and I'm liking the results. Azure Electricteeth of Tee*fy is someone who really knows her colors and I love the combinations she is offering at this months Collabor88.

Speaking of Collabor88, Miss Cory Edo has recently put her December release for the event out for sale and it is nothing short of a STEAL at L$ 88.  This seems to be some kind of penitence she is forcing upon herself for not being on time for once in her life as she is such a consistent and high quality creator. The Willoughby Lakehouse is a gorgeous farmhouse with touches of Gothic Revival to give it special character. It comes in 2 different colors; I'm showing the "warm" version here as I love the trim combination.

The home includes a snow add-on for the roof (that I forgot to put on) and has a control system for lighting, windows and doors.  It weighs on with a LI of 119 (10 more if you remember to add the snow).  I am a sucker for houses (though I spend my time on a platform) and this one is a definite keeper.

Credits:
Hair: Truth: Ainsley: New Release
Skin: Glam Affair: Mokatana Petal (Happy Xmas) - New Group Gift
Shirt: Tee*fy: Elan Wool Vest Shirt - mint/grey - available at Collabor88
Skirt: Tee*fy: Edela Buttoned Skirt - knitted grey - available at Collabor88
Hands: Slink: Avatar Enhancement Hands - elegant
Stockings: Izzie's: Overknee Socks - aqua
Boots: Maitreya: Stagioni Boots - artichoke: New Release (group exclusive color @ discount!)
Deer: The Secret Store: My Lil Fawn - Toffee - FREE at The Inspiration Point Hunt: the best hunt ever!
Home: Trompe Loeil: Willoughby Lakehouse - "warm": New Release at Collabor88

Snowy Solstice

Hi everyone!  So many great new releases that I need to chat about.  I dragged my pal SigiFaust over to Beetlebones to play Suetabulous' newest gachas, Artic Friends.  Insanely cheap at 50 L per play, two machines are stuffed with adorable animated animals and avatars.  These amazing creatures transform based on your animation (e.g. standing, sitting).  They are not rezzable but the prizes come in these little domes and you can edit and remove the dome if you want a rezzable version: 2 prizes in 1!  Maybe I was lucky yesterday (I wish) but I won quite a few rares.

I'm really excited about the new subscriber gift at ieQED.  The unisex Antler Paudrons have been specially textured textured in a candy cane version and include both red and green bases (they are so vivid under normal light settings).  You can also pick them up in the ieQED inworld group that is free to join until January 5, 2014.  Group benefits include 10% store credit for all in-store purchases (possibly some events) as well as 50 L store credit/monthly (coming soon) and exclusive group sales.  Wasabi Pills has been cranking out new releases again and I love the new Casey hair for a nice off-the-shoulder flowy look.  Maitreya also has new releases and I love sales and could not resist the new Stagioni Boots in the group exclusive Artichoke texture (at a reduced cost, yay)!
Credits:
Hair: Wasabi Pills: Casey:  Rye - New Release!
Skin: Glam Affair: Mokatana skin:America 03 w/ lip gloss 02 (included): available @ Collabor88
Paudrons: ieQED: antler.pauldron.candy.cane: available in red and green: NEW subscriber gift, also in ieQED group archives.
Coat: u.f.o.: Nerd Duffle Coat - Red: originally released for Geeks'n'Nerds
Skirt: Coco: Pleated Mini Skirt - TartanRed
Socks: Maitreya: Dahlia Socks - Magnolia: New Release!
Boots: Maitreya: Stagioni Boots: Artichoke: New Release: Group Exclusive Color at Discount!
Owl: Beetlebones: Artic Friends: Snow Owl (rare): Gacha, 50 L per play
Poses: !Bang

Let's Give it up for Santa!

Think of all the fun I've missed
Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed
Next year I could be oh so good
If you'd check off my Christmas list 

 (Santa Baby, J. Javits, P. Springer)

Santa looks like I'm full of it, which I usually am. Call me the Christmas Queen cuz there is a plethora, a cornucopia o' holiday themed items all over the grid right now.  Absolutely no reason to not be festive, so shape up and cheer up!  Read the credits below for item information so that I don't end up being too wordy here.

Credits: 
Sleigh: Trompe Loeil: Holiday 2013 Couples Sled: Available in Dark (shown here) and Light (white w/blue embellishments). 18 LI Includes several snugly and adjustable couples sits for your daily dose of holiday spooning: Available at The Garden @ The Liaison Collaborative.
Santa: !! Follow US !!: Christmas '13 Santa Claus: Truth in reporting here. This very grumpy but cute santa is a mesh item that includes a sleigh and a bunch of presents around him. All uploaded as a single object with a super low LI of 7.  I just wanted Santa and so I ended up derendering everything but him and a bag, which was tons of fun since my horrible graphics card causes me to crash with nearly every photo I take.  Follow US has a ton of adorable, inexpensive items on the Marketplace, but I recommend if you just want the santa don't be as miserly as me and spend a few Lindens more on the Santa with just the bag.
Dress: The Secret Store: Sarah Dress Coat - Carmine: available at Collabor88
Hair: Wasabi Pills: Sally - Golden: available at FaMESHed: cute hair bow is texture change via HUD
Skin: Glam Affair: Mokatana skin - America 03: available at Collabor88
Eyes: IKON: Destiny Eyes: Clarity
Hands: Slink: AvEnhance Hands: one Pointed and one Elegant
Stockings: Cannibelle: Spot of Winter Tights - Brown (from Darks pack): Slink Appliers included.  A slew of cute new releases at the store, all very reasonably priced!
Shoes: ieQED: Gerda flat for Slink Flat Feet: available at The Seraphim Social. Mesh, materials ready. These shoes are really quite splendid with painstaking texture details, including scuff marks on the bottom and little nails that attach the heel to the sole, as they would have been in the days of Hans Christian Andersen. I just kept crashing and couldn't take it anymore
Feet: Slink: AvEnhance Feet Female Flat
Poses: Imeka: from the Katie set: available at Collabor88

Catching Up

I'm so far behind on posts and there is so much to show! There are some sales that cannot be missed, like the Winter Sale at Coco that ends December 15.  Everything is half off and so I went big spender! The Men's Department, where everything there is original work, is in full swing. And Wasabi Pills has recently done 3 completely awesome hairs which I must show off.  Kira from Arcade is probably one of my all time favs from Wasabi creator, MissAllSunday Lemon. I'm a little obsessed with the widow's peak. Lastly, HANDverk creator Daphne Klossovsky has up and rebranded her work to ieQED and is working under her favorite avatar, SigiFaust.  Her HANDverk items are now being added to The Marketplace, but be sure to keep following her creations on ieQED!

Credits:
Hair: Wasabi Pills: Kira - Golden: gacha available at The Arcade
Skin: Glam Affair: Vera - last week's FLF item (LOVE)
Eyes: IKON: Destiny Eyes - Clarity
Necklace: HANDverk: Strand Necklace - manic maize
Sweater: NERD.P: Sweater 006 - 01 (mens size S for a cute boyfriend look): available at The Men's Dept.
Purse: Indy&Co: The Ireben Carry-all
Pants: Coco: Tapered Pants - black: HURRY for 50% off!
Shoes: Coco: Ankle Boots - black: HURRY again!

Wish You a Manly Christmas

So, we are celebrating Christmas at my brother's house this year. My brother, Dean, is a big imposing Harley guy with the heart of a marshmallow. Generally there would be a motorcycle in the middle of the living room, but he has a new house so I'm sharing a mental image of what I hope it looks like.  Sometimes men need cozy, too.

Credits:
From The Men's Dept.:
Aria: Hiver sideboard cabinet: Touch options include texture change (color and stencil) and shadow effect
22769 ~ [bauwerk]:  Barrel Chair Green: available in green, red and blue. Includes 10 adjustable poses (animated and static)
From The Arcade: 
Trompe Loeil: Advent Calendar 2013: The tree calender itself is free to all.  Plays are only 25 L for a variety of adorable items.  The items I have rezzed include (left to right): Tree Candleholder, Branch Wreath, Dashing Through The Snow Chalkboard, Recycled Wood Photo Frame, Snowflake Pillow Bunch with animations (Seats 2, eight couples animations). Just rez the keys near the advent tree and the corresponding door opens and delivers the actual item.  The items are exquisite and it's kind of fun to see the door pop open with a mini replica of each item.
From FaMESHed:
Trompe Loeil: Holiday 2013 Hearth: available in 3 wood finishes and touch on/off fire; Holiday Couch: PG and Adult versions with 9 touch controlled color/pattern sofa fabric options and 8 pillow fabric options. About a zillion animated poses; 2013 Holiday Tree: available in 6 colors; each set includes 6 versions; perfect inside or outdoors.
Misc:
Barnesworth Anubis: fancy pet feeder - KittyCats advent 2013: gift 1 of 25 lovely free gifts.  If you miss a day you can come back and get!  The KittyCat folks do such a lovely job with this event.
EmmePose: little grey kitty: attachable mesh prop from Meow pose reopening gift: TY TY
POST: Retro Coffee Table
Apple Fall: Chinese Takeout: old group gift
Sari-Sari: Weihnachtsteller: part of 4 Walls Hunt: 20L
Silent Sparrow: Rudolph Penant: free gift in store with the unmistakable artwork of hyasynth Tiramisu
Lisp: Assorted Gift Boxes: Transferable, but I could not bear to part with them!

Lindens Go Poof

Wow! Has this been an expensive weekend in SL. The Geeks'n'Nerds event is still on, the Arcade has opened, there were 10 billion Black Friday sales but it's been fun.  My outfit is an amalgamation of those two events plus other purchase from my 5 day shopping binge.

Credits:

From Geeks'n'Nerds:
Glasses: Ison: Pegley Glasses
Slink Nail Appliers: elephante poses: Once Upon a Dream
Poses: bbqq: from the Believe Set
From The Arcade:
Coat: Elate: Willow Coat: Solid Burnt Orange
Hair: Clawtooth: Closer: Coco
Necklace: Katatonik: Carousel Necklace: Sunny
Purse: Coco Animal Clutch: Dochi: Glitter Rare
Boots: Sleepy Eddy: Engineer Boots: Camel
Other:
Skin: Essences: Dyana: from last week FLF
Shirt: Pig: Dollinger Tank
Skirt: Maitreya: Leather Mini Skirt: Eden
Stockings: Izzies: Overknee Socks (incl. Slink Appliers): New Release