Happy Halloween 2026

 And published on the correct day, this time! I've been feeling a little fiery lately...

...not unlike a certain also-red-haired X-Man. (Yes, I am a huge nerd behind the keyboard, thank you.)

Road Trip, Stop Four: Pacific Northwest

 My next stop is in the woods of Oregon, not far from the Washington border; I got offered the use of a small cabin there to relax after some big-city busy-ness.

The air's crisp and clean here, and the woods mostly quiet aside from the occasional rustling of wildlife in the underbrush. (While I'm sure most of it is raccoons or deer or chipmunks - I'm still glad I have a cabin to stay in here, not just a tent.)

Feeling Like Fall

 Not an official part of the Road Trip series, just a pose/outfit combo I picked up last autumn - then I ended up not even unpacking the set, much less using it. 😵

So! To make up for that, it's fall leaves time! 

(Not-so-fun factoid, I had all the style info for this look written up in a notes file, and my computer decided to fart it out into the ether. And as it turns out, I had forgotten to save the outfit - probably because I'd already taken the picture. Soooo I can't for the life of me remember which face skin I have on for this shot, apologies to its creator.) 

Road Trip, Stop One: San Diego Comic Con

 I had planned to start my road trip in New England, Susan's stomping grounds, in honor of her help in choosing the next theme.

When I get a call from Mei Lin, it turns out to be a good thing I didn't make my travel arrangements yet.

"Tarra, I need help! I wanted to do a C-Drama cosplay at San Diego Comic Con, but the friend who was going with me got sick and had to cancel at the last minute!" she says.

"That's awful, I'm so sorry," I tell her. "But how can I help? I'm no doctor - don't even play one on TV."

"Noooo, but you are almost exactly the same size as Valerie, who was going to wear the other costume. Any chance I can talk you into coming out to model it?" Mei wheedles. "You won't even need to wear a wig!"

...which is how I find myself in California, dressed as a nine-tailed fox spirit and loyal companion to Mei's young goddess going through her tribulation.

 "Are you sure it's okay to wear this here?" I ask. "It's not really comics related."

"Neither are Forrest Gump or the Phantom of the Opera, and they've both made appearances," she says with a laugh. "Anyway, if anybody complains, just tell them we're from a Shang Chi AU." 

I'm not sure exactly what that means, but I guess I'll just have to trust my young goddess!

The Idea

"I don't know, it's just staring to feel... stagnant?" I said. "Put together an outfit, snap the picture, post, then lather, rinse repeat. I'm just afraid if I don't find a way to shake things up, I'll lose interest and dip out of the grid again."

 

"Hmm." Perched beside me on the picnic table, Susan stared across the yard in thought. "What kind of things are you thinking of to shake it up?"

 

"Well, I don't want to just give up again. I've considered doing portraits for other people?" I offered hesitantly.

 

She tilted her head. "Okay, and what are the downsides of that?"

 

"Logistics, for one thing." I shrugged. "You know how long it took just for the two of us to meet up in-world. Also, having to advertise to get people interested - I'm not great at promotion."

 

Susan nodded. "And working with an agent or manager would run into the same logistics problems. Okay. What else?" 

 

"Add in some scenery shots?"

 

Her eyebrows went up. "That could work, especially if you come up with a 'fit that goes with the location, instead of finding a location or making a backdrop that goes with the clothes."

 

"Or at least vaguely goes with," I admitted. "So basically... SL Road Trip? Around the Grid in Eighty Days?"

 

"Like that! But don't limit yourself to a specific number, in time or number of locations."

 

I thought about it. "Yeah, and there are some areas of the Grid I'll probably skip rather than trying to get everywhere. This could help, though."

 

It would take more research than the stufved been doing, and probably more Lindens since I'd have to dress appropriately for the location instead of just working with whatever was on the weekend sales at any given time. But - this just might work.

 

"Okay, Road Trip it is!"

When Inspiration Strikes

 I stumbled across a painting class set-up while touring an in-world winery, and decided to give it a go. 

While I can't say I'll ever become a skilled (or even mediocre) painter, some inspiration did strike while I was there. After talking it over with a friend, I'll probably start setting up and posting the results of that inspiration soon!

Head: LOGO "Christina"
Eyes: .:|Profect|:. "BOM Cati Eyes_blue"
Skin: Not Found "Vaelis" L007 B
Hair: Monso "Gara" Black & Red
Makeup: Cazimi "Fae Eyeshadow 11 Pink to Gold"; Alba "Essential Eyeliner - 5"; Miamai "Donna Lips Evox_02"
Manicure: e.marie // "Gia Nails" Pinks
Clothes: Carol's "Gemma" Top & Pants, Light Blue

Location: Pour Up Winery & Vineyard

 

First of Her Name

 

When you find a gown that makes you feel like a queen, you might as well run with the theme!

Head: LOGO "Christina"
Eyes: .:|Profect|:. "BOM Cati Eyes_blue"
Skin: Not Found "Vaelis" L007 B
Hair: Ade "Isla" (on Mirja "Hairbase 3.0")
Makeup: Cazimi "Fae Eyeshadow 11 Pink to Gold"; Alba "Essential Eyeliner - 5"; 
              Miamai "Donna Lips Evox_02"; Sera "She Basic" Undereye Glitter
Clothes: :Dernier: "Carmen" Gown and Cloak; :DBL: "Aphrodite Gloves"
Jewelry: Earthstones "Lora" Earrings; Zibska "Vionica" Headpiece

Backdrop: EVHAH "Eternal Flame" set (on private land)

(I had this photo taken ages ago, but that darn first life has a nasty habit of interfering with my time...)

Happy Half-Price Chocolates' Eve!

 Hey, a gal has to have her priorities, right? 😉

(This shot does use a few more items from the February Shop & Hop; the delicious box of chocolates was part of last weekend's sales.)

February Shop & Hop Goodies

 I have a different idea in mind for the 14th, but did want to show off some fun gift items from the February Shop & Hop. (Not everything in the image is from there, but most of it is!)

Fall (Down On The Job)

 

Once again, RL has interfered with my posting. (Bless the full-time job for keeping the bills paid and computer running; curse it for being...well, full-time. Really takes away from my ability to SL!)

Took this shot before Winter struck, and I still have so many outfits to style and get pics of! I might have to ban myself from the weekend sales until I get caught up a little bit. 

Happy Belated Hallowe'en

 What happens when the rest of the "meddling kids" forget and leave you behind? Well, I guess you take a solo pic instead.

(I had this costume well before Hallowe'en; even had it on for over a week ahead of time. But life and yes that cozy game still got in the way of finding a good location, taking the photo and editing it. (No, Scooby-Doo was never a favorite cartoon, but the costume is just too good for a redhead.)

Head: LOGO "Christina"
Skin: Gloom - Veruska Skin (Rosekiss)
Hair: Stealthic - Beam

Clothes: Mug - Dallene Costume

Pose: STUN - Belinda 4

Location: Frogmore

 

Daisies and Bunchberries

 This photo was originally intended to go up back in Spring, but the Typist got hooked on a cozy-style video game that still has a very strong hold lol. As a result, blog posts got pushed aside, and while I have a nice backlog of items from the various weekend sales over the months for more photos, it's going to take a while to style them all and get the shots. 

(I also haven't been on Primfeed much, and sincerely regret not seeing everyone's pictures and giving likes there!) 

Head: LOGO "Christina"
Skin: [Glam Affair] "Foxy" L006A 
Hair: TRUTH "Linger" - Redhead
Makeup: Velour "Dreamin" Eyeshadow (Gold), Cazimi "Holiday Glam" Eyeliner 80% and Warm Lt Nude 60& Lipstick

Clothes: ::pm:: Paula Set -cream-, [M.O.D.A.N.] "Anais" Heels
Jewelry: *Avaway* HUMMINGBIRD Earrings Set, ~~Ysoral~~ "Ariane" Bracelet, Evelock "Flora" Amber Necklace

Pose: versuta. melly // 9

Location: Dutch Pavilion 

Autumn Colors in Spring

 I'm so far behind on my weekend sales pictures! hangs head (Honestly, The Typist needs to win the lottery or something so I have more time to play.) The dress and hair pictured here were on sale 2 -3 weeks back.

February Fugue

 The second half of February kind of went by in both a rush and a daze for me; the anniversary of an emotionally fraught event falls in there, some RL stuff (helping a friend move, being even more short-staffed at work due to co-worker medical issues, etc,, and The Typist getting hooked on a new video game. possibly in reaction to some of that stuff). 

There's no location for this shot, as it's a set put together on a friend's bit of private land, with items from the February Shop & Hop, and items from a couple of weeks' worth of weekend sales.

What I Didn't Do Before

 

Got this tank top from the Shop & Hop event - and honestly? I think this is what was wrong in my previous turns in SL: I came in seeking external validation and not respecting and loving myself enough. (To be honest, that's still a big work in progress - but I'm trying.)

Just for the record, though, you can love yourself dressed up, too!

 

Weekend Sales Fun

 This is probably my last weekend sales splurge for a little while, before I go back on a more extreme bargain-hunt "diet" - but since I'm being my own Valentine this year, I indulged in a few heart-themed items (and used at least one that was already in inventory).

It doesn't really show in the face-on image, but the hair has a heart-shaped braided bun in the back!

 

HelLO Christina!

 

I finally got around to trying the second free mesh head of the season, and LOGO's Christina really wowed me! As pretty as the Camila head is, Christina is a little bit more - me, I think. The angles of it, the shape of the mouth... yeah, I am really enjoying this look.

There are things I still have to figure out about the LOGO hud, and I'll be a little bit sad if my new eye appliers don't work on this head - but not sad enough to stop wearing it.