Preparing dinner…

On August 4, 2014 By AlexaIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Since growing up a barbecue grill was a common thing at our home. The type and size of grill has changed over time, going from a round red grill with wheels to the stainless steel gas and charcoal combo grill. Grilling is almost a competitive sport in my family. It becomes a match between two brothers and one sister claiming they grill the best ribs, chicken, hamburgers and whatever else happens to be the meat of choice during family events. You just learn to nod and tell them each they’re the best.

Luckily in real life everyone is spared me at the grill and any type of disaster like charred meat, but here in Second Life I get to show off my grilling skills with this new Lakeside family BBQ set released from Heart Homes/Aphrodite Shop. It is nearly 100% mesh and comes loaded with animations and props for solo, couples and also animations to use with kids. It has so many features to it. The ease to it is amazing, from just clicking the grill to start the barbecue and choosing the meal and let it cook. Once it is done, it will tell you and then all you have to do is click the place mat to rez a platter with the food you just cooked. Pretty easy!

Once you’ve enjoyed the fine meal you’ve cooked up there are dishes to be washed by hand or if you prefer just stack the dishwasher. The set comes with a few props like a bread board, vegetable board and drinks cooler that are quite detailed and realistic. If you like to entertain with family or friends this is the perfect setup for you.

Credits:

Featured Item:
*Lakeside” Family BBQ Set by Heart Homes/Aphrodite Shops

Hair -+Elua+ – Tricia Black
Top/Pants – Blacklace – Sally: Jean Set {this past Lazy Sunday}
Shoes – Reign – Petal Hoppers White

Deck – Lisp – Mesh-Bergamot Square Decking

Hitting the bike trail…

On June 24, 2014 By AlexaIn Events, Home, Landscaping, Role-Play2 Comments

I tried to convince Draco to let me be the one holding the map, cause we know how some men can be challenged with directions. Though I must say we didn’t get lost — then again we were not very far from home. Like we haven’t even left the parking lot.

While we stopped for a moment to admire the scenery and catch our breaths I couldn’t resist getting a picture. It was sort of a joke between us. I take lots of pictures in-world and many never make it on this blog. It’s really hard for me to remain idle and often when doing things and we’re chatting away I’m positioning the camera and snapping away. He’s grown tolerant of this or I hope he has. He’s given me a special name as a result, so now as a joke I get to pulling out my camera every chance I get and tell him to say cheese!

These picnic bikes are the latest release from Aphrodite Shops, which have single and couple poses. The bikes have picnic boxes with food and drink. You also get a wearable version with AO to ride. We tried all the poses and they were all quite cute, some adjustments to be made due to our heights, though that is a fairly easy thing to do.

There are three color sets of bikes. I only picture the pink and blue picnic bikes. The other not pictured is the “Casanova” male picnic bike that comes with sandwiches, wine glasses and a chocolate type wine. You could say for a little romance along the trail.

You also get a menu controlled fire and an animated picnic log. We had a little rest as you can see while the deer grazed nearby.

Looking at those hamburgers remind me that I haven’t had one in such a long time. I’m suddenly hungry.

Credits:

*Picnic Bikes – Aphrodite Shops
Landscaping – Happy Mood {First 4 pictures}
Enchanted Woods – Studio Skye
Red Deer Herd – Sweet Revolutions {previous 30L Saturday}

Hair – Magika – Reading in Black
Tank -!gO! – Tank Top White
Pants – TonkTastic – B52 Pants
Shoes – Reign – Petal Hoppers White w/ Slink Flat Feet
Watch – Le Primitif – Leather Kiti_Watch C-Leopard

Lesson 51

On June 12, 2014 By AlexaIn Home, LandscapingLeave a comment

© The Best Year of Your Life by Debbie Ford

Lesson 51: The Love You Need

We all yearn for different expressions of love at different times in our lives. Sometimes we need acceptance and gentleness; at other times we crave passion and adventure. And although we often look to others to give us the love we need, the highest act of self-love is to learn how to give it to ourselves.

When we take the time to listen to the desires of our hearts, we nurture ourselves from the inside out. By giving ourselves the love we need, we no longer look to others to complete us.

Your Self-Love Assignment

For the next five days, take some time each morning to connect with yourself. Close your eyes and take a few breaths into the area around your heart. As you breathe in, notice any feelings or emotions that are present. Then ask yourself, “What is the love I need right now?” Is it acceptance? Gentleness? Acknowledgment? Respect? Rest? Appreciation?

As you hear the kind of love your heart is longing for, take five more minutes to shower yourself in that type of love.

Self-Love Points Earned

Give yourself 100 points every time you give yourself the love you need.

Credits:

Hair/Hat – Argrace – Equestrian Cap/Dakota Black
Eyes – Slink – Mesh Eyelids
Top – Tee*fy – Laura Unbuttoned Knotted Shirt Lemon
Pants – {mon tissu} – Cotton Pants Khaki
Shoes – Reign – Petal Hoppers White for Slink Flat Feet

Scene:

Daybed – Pixel Mode – The Dreamer – White
All Landscaping – HPMD

Lesson 50

On June 6, 2014 By AlexaIn Events, Home6 Comments

“We derive our vitality from our store of madness” ~Emile M. Cioran

© The Best Year of Your Life by Debbie Ford

Lesson 50: Simplify

Take a moment to check in with yourself: Are you as vital and energetic as you’d like to be? Is your thinking clear and focused, or at times dull or confused? Are you feeling light and eager, or burdened and lethargic?

Heaviness in body, mind, or emotions is often a sign of too much input. Too much work, too many appointments, and even too much recreation can dull our enthusiasm and deplete our vitality.
This week, look to see what modifications you could make in your daily routine to simplify your life and streamline your schedule.

Your Self-Love Assignment

Look at your schedule for the next 30 days. Notice how many activities and commitments on your calendar fall under the category of “shoulds,” “obligations,” or “have to’s.”

Now see what one activity you could take out of your schedule that would give you some relief and simplify your life.

Your self-love assignment for this week is to streamline your schedule by letting go of something non-essential. Take the extra time to do something nice for yourself.

Self-Love Points Earned

Give yourself 50 points for every non-essential item you take off your schedule.

Credits:

Hair – LaViere – Daisy/ Greyscale Pack @ Fifty Linden Fridays
Top – Coquet – Cross Top Stripe
Shorts – Mia Shorts Sand @ FaMESHed
Sneakers – Reign – Petal Hoppers White
Bike – Epia – Traveler’s Bicycle RARE @ The Arcade
Sweets – Tentacio – Sweet Box RARE @ Kustom9

Coffee O’Clock

On May 7, 2014 By AlexaIn Home2 Comments

“Life’s too short to drink cheap coffee.”

Today I am combining something new with some previous buys, most of which are gacha items from past events. Aphrodite Shops has released a new mesh fully animated coffee machine that has on and off sounds and a coffee beans container. It dispenses a dozen of different gourmet coffees. It comes with the new automatic attachment system that I like, that doesn’t create items in your inventory. The set comes with a dozen decorative cups that are rezzable and also decorative sugar bags. The cookie platter is also part of the set and on touch dispenses cookies. Those little details in a product matter to me — especially when you want to have an interactive experience.

After looking at those cookies it really makes me want to have something sweet in real.

Credits:
Hair – Clawtooth – Pink Flamingo/Black Beauty
Top – Boom – Hello Girl (Navy)
Shorts – Rebel Hope – Kassy Mesh Capri Pants White
Flip Flops – Reign – Phoebe Flip Flops Navy
Feet – Slink – Womens Natural Barefeet

Scene:
House – Ionic – La Boheme RARE
Kitchen – Agora – Bella Kitchen (Chocolate)
*Gourmet Coffee Maker – Aphrodite Shops
*Chocolate To Go Cup Decorative – Aphrodite Shops
*Brown Sugar Bag Decorative – Aphrodite Shops
*Assorted Cookies Platter – Aphrodite Shops
* Espresso Coffee Cup Decorative – Aphrodite Shops
Curtain v2-Linen A – BBQQ
Petunia Plant – Dutchie
Inspire Chair Red – Ionic
Inspire Chair Orange – Ionic
Industrial Lamp Black – Hideki
Barrel w/ Grass – JoHaDeZ
Grass Pot – JoHaDeZ
Ladder with Frames – Hideki
Book Decor – Zigana – Packaging Box
Atelier Desk – Zigana
Yellow & Red Roses Bucket – Atelie Visconti
Rug – Zigana – Rug Naturel