Cuprit: Villa Sirocco + Tons of Stuff!

Hi everyone!  I knew that my posts were going to get skimpy while I worked on preparations for the SL Home & Garden Expo but I never knew how much time it actually takes (sometimes 16 hrs/day).  I have a whole new level of respect for the folks that do this regularly and while I was exhausted by opening day, I also knew that I was hooked.  I loved the challenge and am looking forward to the next adrenaline high!

SL's Home & Garden Expo 7 opened this week and has 9 sims devoted to some of the best new products on the grid.  The Expo is one of several mega-events operated by Relay For Life of Second Life, which donates funds for cancer research.   I've long been a fan of eku Zhong's work for Culprit. In addition to be a Gold Sponsor at this year's Expo, Culprit has released a fabulous house, the Villa Sirocco, which is a lovely mix of Moorish and Spanish architecture.  The home features a large U-shaped room on the main floor.  There is enough division between the rooms so that they can include a kitchen or a main bedroom; there are really no restrictions.  All rooms open directly into an inner courtyard that features a reflecting pool.  

The stairway is on the exterior of the house, adding to the openness of the interior and also another spot to decorate :).

This is actually just a small corner on the lower level.  Because the house has so much area it can handle heavy furniture looks.  The ceiling is lower on the main floor but the upper level has soaring ceilings.

This photo of the study area is tan from the courtyard.  The room entries are truly fantastic.

Eku has made a few new extras for the house, like the sconces shown above and the lanterns on the stairway that really add a sweet touch to the house.

The upper rooms feature tall beamed ceilings and large windows to let in natural light. These are also very large rooms and can easily be multipurpose.

The two upper rooms are separated by a darling open patio.

/Hangs head in shame for leaving out the toilet!  I had a lot of fun making the other upper room into a bathroom, Trompe Loeil has a lovely set at FaMESHed this month so thanks to Cory Edo for all her hard work on it!

Almost all of the items I've shown in the rooms are available right now at several of the current rounds of several fantastic events.  They include the Home & Garden Expo, The Liaison Collaborative, The Men's Dept., Collabor88, FaMESHEd and The Arcade, all mesh and with amazingly low impact so that you can fill up this grand house and still have room for a garden.

Credits: There are a ton of new items in the post and the SLURL to each event is in the paragraph above so as to keep the credits as clean as I possibly can make them.

Exterior:
Home: Culprit: Villa Sirocco - LI 90: New Release: currently available exclusively at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo  (url is direct tp to the exhibit)
Trees: Studio Skye: left: Four Season Oak Tree: 100% donation to RFL;  right: Ancient Olive Tree: 100% donation to RFL   Both trees exclusively available at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo  (url is direct tp to the exhibit).
Walkway: +Half-Deer+ : Lighted Pathway - Planks - Tex. Change
Pagoda: KIDD: Japan Lantern -Single Lamp
Lantern: Thistle - Lantern with Arm & Glow
Lounge: Sway's:  [Dreamer] Garden Lounger . lavender (from I<3 Ulaa event)
Cart: Roawenwood: Fantastical Cider Cart

Courtyard:
Bench: POST: Nisswa Pine Bench (blanket)
Cat: Fashionably Dead:  Cat - 07 Sitting Down: currently available to win at The Arcade

Stairway:
Lanterns: Culprit - Moorish Lanterns: New Release: currently available exclusively at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo
Cat: Fashionably Dead: Cat - 10 Scared: currently available to win at The Arcade

Living Room: (left to rightish)
Lantern: Barnesworth Anubis: moroccan filigree pendant lantern
Birdcage: +Half-Deer+ : The Mad Scientist's Birdcage - New Release: currently available at The Liaison Collaborative
Sofa: Stockholm&Lima: The Spellbound Settee: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Chair: [Fetch]:  Vega Chair -  New Release: currently available at The Liaison Collaborative
Rug: Max Marine - ancient!
Table: Trompe Loeil - Octopus Table Marble - Black: currently available to win at The Arcade
Cigars (on table): Zigana: cigars: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Leather Pouffe: Zigana:  leather pouffe . chestnut: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Lillies: Dutchie: lilies
Big Lamp: Soy. Floor lamp [Gourd tree]
Lounge: Culprit: Sleek Lounger Brown Leather: 100% donation to RFL. Exclusively available at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo
Radiator: ARIA: Parma short radiator: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.

Sconce Photo:
Sconces: Culprit: Wall Candle:  New Release: currently available exclusively at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo
Table: POST: Latour Antique Telephone Stand
Dispenser: POST: Neuchatel Absinthe Fountain

Study:
Desk and Computer: [Fetch] Vega Desk / Vega Computer & Snacks: New Release: currently available at The Liaison Collaborative
Lounge: Culprit: Sleek Lounger Black Leather: 100% donation to RFL. Exclusively available at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo
Chair: Consignment:  Travelers Desk - Chair (gacha item)
Wall Display: 22769 ~ [bauwerk] Wall Display: New Release: currently available at The Liaison Collaborative
Rug: junk.: bartlet rug. one.
Coffee Table: EliBaily: Nar Coffee Table_Black: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Plant: EliBaily: Potted Nep Plant: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Ceiling Light: ARIA: Parma pendant  light: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.

Bedroom: (left to right)
Drafting Table: Aria: Parma drafting table, includes stool & cactus - both PG/A available: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Wall Light: Pixel Mode - Manchester - Wall Light: New Release: currently available at The Liaison Collaborative
Trompe Loeil - Monserrat Chair With Blanket: New Release: currently available at Collabor88
Bedside Lamp: EliBaily: Pipe Lamp_Black: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Horsie: 7 Emporium: Giddy Up (rare): currently available to win at The Arcade
Bed: Pixel Mode: Manchester Bed - PG/A: New Release: currently available at The Liaison Collaborative
Cats: Fashionably Dead:  Cat - 19 Cuddling Pair (rare): currently available to win at The Arcade
Table: Thistle: abc Animal coffee table: 100% donation to RFL. Exclusively available at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo
Sofa: EliBaily: Chester Leather Sofa brown PG/A: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Rug: LISP - Lolo Rug Green-Beige

Upper Patio:
Fountain: Kaerri: Expo Planter Fountain: 100% donation to RFL. Exclusively available at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo
Lamps: Shabby Tabby : Chalky Lights: New Release: Exclusively available at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo (part of the Chalky Dining Set)

Bathroom:
Lounge: Prime 1:1: StyleWise No.3 By PRIME
Table: Trompe Loeil - Octopus Table Copper: currently available to win at The Arcade
Lilies: POST: Haarlem Deco Vase with Calla Lilies

Tub, Shower Curtain, Towels, Hamper and Vanity: Trompe Loeil - Classic Bathroom pieces PG/A: New Release: currently available at FaMESHED: these items are absolutely full of features and superbly done

Sink: Dutchie:  toilet sink with towel: 100% donation to RFL. Exclusively available at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo

Rug: Cheeky Pea: Fish! Rug

Cabinet: Dutchie: distressed cupboard empty

You Are Being Watched

One of the things that I love about The Men's Dept., besides the fact I think it is the premier event for male-friendly items, is that it forces me to leave my "pretty" box and play around with more androgynous looks. In RL I am not a particularly girly-girl though my one attempt in college to turn my hair into a mo-hawk resulted in my slick straight hair constantly falling limp on my shaved head.  (it was a wierd time) The current round of The Men's Dept. (TMD) ends on July 31st and it's definitely worth a visit.

Tableau Vivant has released a new unisex hair, Checker, for the event, A6D (After 6 Days), or MixMatch. It is a new concept brought to you by the folks that organized Euphoria's Limited Bazaar. Briefly, the themed event allows you to pick up exclusive, original items for 2 weeks either at the event or sometimes at the designer's main store. May of the items can be purchased at the event for a discount using a discount HUD.
The theme for this round is Chess. The hair includes 2 hairbases, a checker board pattern and another called "pawn", as well as a tintable hairbase.  Happy shopping!

Credits:
Hair: Tableau Vivant: Checker w. pawn hairbase - available exclusively at A6D
Skin: Glam Affair: Cassia - Pink Rose (artic A)
Eyeshadow: La Malvada Mujer: Smoke on the Water (eyes only): available at The Cosmetic Fair
Brows: Buzz: Talia Eyebrow - light blond: available at The Cosmetic Fair
Hand Tattoo: Paperbag: Hamsa Hand Tattoo (slink applier): available at The Cosmetic Fair
Sweater: Etham: James Cardigan - Black: available at The Men's Dept.
Shorts: Ison Man - Denim Cut-off (teal): available at The Men's Dept.
Necklace: Zibska: Ivar: incl. both M/F versions as well as texture-change HUD w/ resizer: available at The Men's Dept.
Pose - I am sitting on 7 emporium's Cigarette Machine lol

Collabor88: Bye Bye Lindens

Like every other budget-wise fashionista in Second Life, I adore Collabor88.  Lately, the collections have been simply outstanding and it becomes a true effort on my part to decide what to purchase and what I must live without.  It's not that I don't have clothes; my 100+ K inventory is a testament to that.  It's just that everything is so stinking well made and thus I would be a fool to wait and purchase it later at a higher price, and so my logic goes.  I must look good while hiding out on my platform!

R2 gets the win for the totally impractical but oh, so sexy kagaya bodysuit.  Mesh is nearly impossible to layer unless you have pieces from a set, but it reminded me of the skimpy clothing worn by the woman in the iconic Annie Lebovitz portrait of James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano, that woman with the legs that went on forever, thus I had to have it.  I should have bought the nude but I love black.  Gos introduced his new Isabella sandals at Collab and of course I had to get the 3 pack.  I love his shoes but they do take a bite out of the wallet and it's like 3 pairs for the price of 3.

I was and am a HUGE Sopranos fan and this photo is etched in my brain.

Clawtooth made me drool with his new Windswept hair, also new at Collabor88. I've been following Bubbles since he started and this style reminds me of one of his first, Lola's Big Date.  It was very glamorous and this one is even more so, with a few air-brushed layers that gives it a nice sense of depth. He also makes some of the best reds on the grid and I pretty much favor them over my usual blonde.  Glam Affair is selling even more skins that I cannot live without, especially as I am a sucker for a smokey eye.  Lastly, not at Collab but special right now are HANDverk's Lion's Tail necklaces that are at a steep discount at We <3 Roleplay.  Sales are your friend!

Credits:
At Collabor88:
Bodysuit: R2: kagaya - black
Shoes: GOS: Isabella sandals
Skin: Glam Affair: Neva - Arctic 02b
Hair: Clawtooth: Windswept - Strawberry Cream

At Other places of awesomeness:
Necklace: HANDverk: Lion's Tail Necklace - bright: discounted at We <3 RP event (50% off)
Cupid Motel: 7 Emporium: was at a recent FaMESHED and being a sucker for roadside Americana I bought at first sight with my awesome Linden shooting trigger finger. Now at the mainstore.
Hands: Slink: Mesh Hands - Elegant

Greetings from Charlevoix

I live in Michigan, which gets a really bad rap because our economy, which has been over-reliant on the auto industry, has really suffered.  However, I grew up on the west side of the state, i.e. not Detroit, less than a mile from Lake Michigan.  It is idyllic most of the year though the weather can be harsh.  There are so many great decor items and some can be had for a song.  The Nest has 18 items to be found as well as a few new dollarbies from floorplan.  All you need to add is imagination.

Credits:
From The Nest's Halloween Hunt:
Piano: +sanctuaire+ : Reclaimed Piano Bookcase - Gypsy
Hand Chair: [ Organica ]: Caress Hand Chair (red) - one of 3 colors
Cabinet: [Noble]: Harvest Time Cabinet
Chair: Cleo Design: Mystery Chair
Owl: Thistle: Owl Ceramic Biggie (cm)
Lanterns: Sway's: Paper Lantern [lampion] candy corn / string
Bowl: (on top of piano): Cleo Design: Halloween Candy Apples
Crate of Pumpkins: 11th Hour: Pumpkin Storage Crate

Other: 
Wine Bottles: floorplan: pumpklin bottles and ghost bottles - 1 L each
Plate: floorplan: nevermore plate - 1 L each
Shed: POST: Toimi Pole Shed
Star Light: POST: Ely Roadside Star
Wagon: artilleri : Old wagon (with pumpkins)
Tall bucket of Apples: artilleri
Spigot / small bucket of apples: POST: Old Spigot with Apple Bucket
Hay Bales: Botanical: Rectangle Hay Bale
Crates: 7: Lab Crates
Pumpkin Planter: 11th Hour: @ The Fantasy Gacha Carnival
Sign: 7: Portable Marquee @ The Men's Department
Bench: POST: Nisswa Pine Bench
Table: Lark: Dessert Table
Tins: vespertine: cookie tin/butter cookies
Apple Juice: vespertine- apple juice basket
Birch Trees: Deco
Conifers: Tree House Designs

The Men's Department: Talk Nerdeh to Me

The October round of The Men's Department (TMD) opens Saturday!  The event will be even bigger beginning this month with 40 participating designers, all who use original content. Most of the decor and some of the things I am wearing are new items for The Men's Department.  My cute bloomers aren't from TMD (bummer, right) but another cute item I got at The Fantasy Gacha Carnival.  They are from Yasum and the bracers and the bloomer itself are separate items available in all sizes so you can get the right fit for your avatar.  The Jade hair from Wasabi Pills includes a hud to change the headband color and is available at this month's FaMESHed round.  It's a really fun mid-length style.

I absolutely fell in love with Sorgo's Steam glasses which are available in Wood/Earth/Black (gold) colors at The Men's Department.  The glasses include both sunglass and regular lenses.  Also, if you find you cannot get enough of them, there are a white pair available at the main store in LIMITED quantities so I will include a link to the store as well in credits.  Ispachi item for TMD are the brilliant Attero Headphones and Music Player.  The set includes 3 versions: Head, Neck and Hand attachments as well as a fully integrated HUD that controls the color, size, and shine control.  The Headphones come in 15 base colors and 8 metal textures, as does the Music Player, which also has 8 LED options.  Sweet.  Deco has some badass Duck boots at TMD.  They come in 3 different colors and include both small and large sizes.

There are also some fantastic decor items at October's TMD.  Culprit's Leather Wingback chair is lush with it's aged leather effect so that it looks like it's been a well loved reading chair.  It includes animations for both genders (and no, this is not a lady animation).  Eleventh Hour's Hinge Shelf is a great set of shelves held on each end by ladder scaffolding for a nice industrial effect for any decor. The large photo space can be edited to hold your own photos but I kinda like the photo of River Stromfield.  Cheeky Pea's Driftwood Silhouettes just make me LOL, with iconic cutouts of Bigfoot, Nessy, a shark and a platypus, perfect for all the big, tough burlymen of SL.  Floorplan's funny Mustache Marquee let's you chose between 9 different color choices, some with various levels of aged effect for a nice vintage feel.  I can't wait to see what else is there when it opens Saturday, October 5.

Credits:
The Men's Dept:
Glasses: Sorgo: Steam Glasses - black gold
Headphones: Ispachi: Attero Vintage Futuristic Headphones
Boots: Deco: Legends: Duck Boots - Dirt
Floor Shelving: Eleventh Hour: Hinge Shelf
Cut-Outs: Cheeky Pea: Driftwood Silhouettes
Mustache: Floorplan: Mustache Marquee
The Fantasy Gacha Carnival:
Bloomers: Yasum: Babes Romper - #1
Planter: Eleventh Hour: Pumpkin Planter
FaMESHed:
Wasabi Pills: Jade Hair - Golden
Other:
Skin: LAQ: Ebba - Fair
Large Bookshelf: Lark -  Imaginarium Librarium - Sage (Sept Arcade)
Side Table and Misc Library Decor: Post
Hanging Bulbs: 7
Lamp: Artilleri - Tampa Table Lamp
Ladder: we're CLOSED: old Ladder dark (Group Gift!)