Bens Boutique Treats

 Hiya everyone! Tonight we're headed to Bens Beauty & Boutique, whose group is currently free to join and there's a large section of wall with gifts for not only their group but others as well. I greatly appreciate their generosity, and you'll notice that these gifts also include HUDs so they are very versatile too :) Start your week with a sweet treat to add to your inventory staples. 

The evening's first look is Bens Boutique - Yuana Dress & Jacket, which is fantastic for this time of year. Its tube dress and denim jacket are each provided in Freya, Isis, Hourglass, Kupra, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, and Petite mesh body sizes as well as a standard version. The enclosed HUD lets us select from 20 colors for the dress and 6 hues of denim for the jacket. I think the cropped style is fun for cool but not overly cold weather, easy to slip on or off when needed.

When it's time for a more formal look, you can reach into your virtual closet and enjoy our Bens Boutique - Shady Dress - Hud Driven gift. This satiny slip dress has an opening in the front of the skirt that is trimmed with gentle ruffles, and it seems to caress our curves :) There are sizes for Freya, Isis, Venus, Legacy, Maitreya, Hourglass, and Physique mesh bodies, along with a HUD offering 45 gorgeous colors to choose from. Add the footwear and jewelry of your choice to dress things up or down. 

Sometimes we need lingerie or something extra spicy, so I'm suggesting Bens Boutique - Darlene Set Hud Control for those times. Darlene contains the bra, skirt, panties, and socks in sizes for Altamura, eBody Curvy, Freya, Isis, Hourglass, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, Petite, Tonic Curvy, and Tonic Fine mesh bodies. We also receive a HUD that offers 20 colors for each piece, allowing for plenty of mixing and matching :) The top, some of the skirt, and the socks are fishnet, with solid panties and the central panel of our skirt. Did you notice the little white letters on the bands? Those say OMG, which was my first thought at this sexy outfit ;)

Bens Boutique - Leigha Dress is such a fun group gift, with a wide halter neckline that plunges to show off lots of cleavage. The satin texture looks terrific in all of the 10 colors we can pick from via the HUD :) This dress will fit Freya, Inithium Original, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, and Petite mesh bodies.

My final look of the evening is our Bens Boutique - Paisle Set Hud Control group gift. The satin top, loose fit shorts, and chain belt are all included in sizing for Belleza Classic, Belleza Curvy, Kupra, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, and Reborn mesh body sizes, along with a HUD offering 30 colors each for top and skirt plus 6 metals for the chain. It always makes me smile to get to play with HUDs and check out all of our options :) 

It was a pretty decent weekend here, and I have a few things to plan or schedule this week that will keep my fairly busy off and on for a while. RL stuff, adulting, you get the idea ;) The weather has been up and down, but I am glad we have exciting things for May to enjoy in SL. I hope you're all having a lovely day/evening, many magical magpie hugs to everyone!!

Credits:

All Group Gifts from Bens Boutique:

Photo 1:

Outfit: Bens Boutique - Yuana Dress & Jacket $0L Group Gift

Photo 2:

Dress: Bens Boutique - Shady Dress - Hud Driven $0L Group Gift

Photo 3:

Outfit: Bens Boutique - Darlene Set Hud Control $0L Group Gift

Photo 4:

Dress: Bens Boutique - Leigha Dress $0L Group Gift

Photo 5:

Outfit: Bens Boutique - Paisle Set Hud Control $0L Group Gift

Head: LeLUTKA Fleur Head 4.0

Hair: TRUTH Collective / Divine - Essential

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. .WS. ALMOND MEL

Ring: {Carter} Wedding Zoe (Marketplace)

Body/Hands/Feet: Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara 5.3

Poses: Various Sets from [piXit] or Verocity

Fitmesh Fanatics

 Hiya everyone! Tonight felt like a good time to explore and find some Fitmesh Fanatics group gifts to share. The group is free to join, and there are lots of quality designers who participate by sending notices to inform us about sales and special offers. They can also choose to offer gifts for the Fitmesh Fanatics group, as you're about to see :) It's always an adventure to scout out the stores and track down the gifts, as I get to see all the new releases and any remodeling or anything that the designers have done. Then I get to see how generous they are, which always warms my heart.

We're starting at Delicatt Couture, where the Olivia mini dress V2 is our group gift for February. They do seem to change them as soon as the new month arrives, so I'm going to suggest you hurry here :) The strapless dress is decorated with silver studs and a glowy floral pattern, in 11 colors via HUD. We receive Altamura, eBody Curvy, Freya, Isis, Venus, Maitreya, Hourglass, Physique, and TMP mesh body sizes. 

I also picked up the flirty ::KF:: Ariel DressPantie gift from KyaraFashion. The dress has built in panties and comes in sizes for Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, Petite, Lara X, Petite X, Reborn, Juicy, and Waifu mesh bodies. Not only does it have a daring low neckline and bright gold zipper down the front, but it also has an "undress me" script so you can choose who you want to be able to take off the dress and leave just the wisp of panties behind :) The last time I clicked someone who was wearing something scripted like that was a complete accident, both of us trying to sit in the same lucky chair at once, and I would up slapping her boobs, LOL! I was probably more surprised than she was. Be sure to set the permissions before you head out in public to prevent accidentally stripping.

This gorgeous dress is our TOG STORE . Alky Set gift, which is a real head-turner with that bare midriff and extra short skirt. We get to choose from 10 fun patterns too, for the main dress and the sleeves separately if we wish, thanks to the enclosed HUD. The dress is designed for Gen X Classic, Gen X Curvy, Kupra, Kups, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, and Reborn mesh bodies. I try not to choose favorites, but that playful kitty print on the right is simply the cutest thing I've seen all day :)

Next we check out the Bens Beauty - Taia Set which is one of several gifts on the same wall; just look for the Fitmesh Fanatics hovertext above it :) The set consists of the top and skirt in sizing for Gen X Classic/Dainty, Gen X Curvy/Dainty, Kupra, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, Reborn, and Waifu bodies, plus a handy HUD. The HUD offers 30 colors and 10 metals each for the top and the skirt, so there is plenty of potential for variety here. I love the way the straps have a little gap from each of the pieces, for an extra flirty flash of flesh. 

My final look of the evening from Suna Designs is their S-Linda silver dress, which I think is a very flattering style and color that will add some shimmer to any time of year. There are Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, Lara X, Reborn, and Waifu mesh body sizes included. I'm trying to decide my favorite feature, and I'm leaning towards that playful bow on the halter neck with the tails dangling down the back. While you're upstairs to get this gift, be sure to look for other groups you may already be a member of for other terrific treats :)

Oh my goodness, my morning was something else! I had just finished taking these photos and notes, and was going to be headed downstairs for breakfast soon when I heard noise right behind my chair. It sounded like chewing, and I had been suspecting tiny rodents were visiting again, so I turned around and firmly said "stop chewing!" like I do when my parents' birds start chomping on something they shouldn't. Well I wasn't expecting to actually get a response, LOL, but a little mouse got offended and ran away across the room! You know I screamed a little, one of those startled gasp screams, and lost track of it but think it went behind a bin near the heating register. I didn't stick around long, grabbed a few essentials and fled to my bedroom to calm down. Couldn't bring myself to even check the room until tonight, and am relieved not to see anything amiss and the old humane trap near where it headed is still empty. We got lots of snow and the driveway is not plowed yet, but they should be here to take care of that in about 6 hours. Once the housemate will be able to drive to the park for releasing any critters, we will re-bait some traps and see what happens. Is it weird that I noticed it was a much darker color than the ones we've caught before? They were medium brown, this looked dark almost black but the same size. I have no idea if that is significant or not, lol, and not sure I want to try to find out. At least the power stayed on *knock on wood* and no harm was done. I hope you're all having a cozy day/evening, many magical magpie hugs to everyone!!

Credits:

Photo 1:

Dress: Delicatt Couture - Olivia mini dress V2 $0L FMF Group Gift

Photo 2:

Dress: KyaraFashion ::KF:: Ariel DressPantie $0L FMF Group Gift

Photo 3:

Dress: TOG STORE . Alky Set $0L FMF Group Gift

Photo 4:

Outfit: Bens Beauty - Taia Set $0L FMF Group Gift

Photo 5:

Dress: Suna Designs S-Linda silver dress $0L FMF Group Gift

Head: LeLUTKA Fleur Head 4.0

Hair: TRUTH Collective Corvina - Essential

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. .WS. ALMOND CLEO

Ring: {Carter} Wedding Zoe (Marketplace)

Body/Hands/Feet: Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara 5.3

Poses: Various Sets from [piXit] or Verocity

Mesh Body Friends

 Hiya everyone! Tonight I ran across several fantastic gifts for the Mesh Body Friends group, which is free to join so all of these gifts are entirely free. We know that I adore the multi-designer groups as a great way to find out all the news from lots of stores at once, and of course the gifts are a lovely bonus :) If you have a favorite group of this sort or a store who's loaded with gifts for those groups, I would love to hear about it in the comments. Meanwhile let's take a look at some generous treats!

Our first stop this evening is Hilly Haalan, where you can find their [hh] GIFT Arista Dress among other gifts for this and other groups by teleporting to the group gifts room. This gorgeous red mini comes in sizes for Gen X Classic, Gen X Curvy, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, and Reborn mesh bodies. The many straps wound around the waist are such a fun detail, much like the little golden clasps present on them.

I must admit, I misinterpreted this outfit when first glancing at the vendor image ;) The TOG STORE . Omeko Set is our flirty gift with touches of fishnet on the skirt, and I'm going to suggest you wear your some panties beneath like they must have done in their photo. The top and skirt are each provided in Erika, Gen X Classic, Gen X Curvy, Kupra, Kupra Ups, Legacy, Maitreya, Petite, and Reborn mesh body sizes. There's also a HUD, with 20 colors apiece for the top, laces, and skirt portions. The back of the skirt is entirely fishnet, so nearly bare bum, and that white flower you see on the front is something I added in Photoshop and not in SL or part of the outfit whatsoever. I really appreciate the versatility of the HUD!

Next we get to turn up the heat in our new [K-Style] TONIA DRESS #5 gift. The plunging neckline makes for a flirty view both front and rear, and that vivid shade of blue is simply fantastic. There are sizes for Freya, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, Petite, Hourglass, and Physique mesh bodies included. 

I also visited Bens Beauty and picked up their wonderful Vika Dress for the group. It comes in Erika, Gen X Classic, Gen X Curvy, Khara, Kupra, Kupra Ups, Legacy, Nerido, Perky, Maitreya, Petite, Peach, Reborn, and Juicy mesh body sizing, along with a HUD offering an impressive 50 dress colors and 6 metals for its attached belt. The crossed straps in the back are one of my favorite styles, and the large rings on the belt remind me of one I wore in RL many years ago :)

For my final look of the night, we've got the V-Twins - Viper Outfit gift, which will certainly command attention when you walk into any room. The dress, separate sleeves, panties, and above the knee boots are all provided in sizing for Kupra, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, Reborn, and Waifu mesh bodies. I'm sure you can tell that there is a HUD also, and that has 12 colors each for dress, sleeves, panties, and upper and lower portions of the boot, plus 3 metals for the dress and panties each. So that is a lot of options, which also helps us feel powerful. I think that's a great way to feel sexy too, being in control :) The first detail I noticed was the piercings on the bust, like a pair of nipple piercings are peeking through, then of course I noticed the single shoulder strap and the chain draped against the waist cutout. The rear view shows the side zipper on the dress quite well, in case those weren't enough fun features for you ;)

It is a winter wonderland here in RL, with about 10-12 inches of snow and some sleet and ice piled on top of that. Fortunately, knock on wood, the power is stable and the generator has not been put to the test. I had a productive therapy session earlier, followed by some relaxing gaming (Animal Crossing New Horizons, Hello Kitty Island Adventure) so I am doing okay. I'm hoping everyone in the path of the recent storm is safe and warm, and my thoughts are with anyone who may have been feeling unsafe lately in general. My anxiety makes the world feel really unsafe anyway, so when the news is ugly I get even more fearful. We are stronger together than divided. I hope you're all having a cozy day/evening, many magical magpie hugs to everyone!!

Credits:

Photo 1:

Dress: Hilly Haalan [hh] GIFT Arista Dress $0L MBF Group Gift

Photo 2:

Outfit: TOG STORE . Omeko Set $0L MBF Group Gift

Photo 3:

Dress: [K-Style] TONIA DRESS #5 $0L MBF Group Gift

Photo 4:

Dress: Bens Beauty - Vika Dress $0L MBF Group Gift

Photo 5:

Outfit: V-Twins - Viper Outfit $0L MBF Group Gift

Head: LeLUTKA Fleur Head 4.0

Hair: TRUTH Collective / Audacious - Essential

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. .WS. ALMOND Nelly

Ring: {Carter} Wedding Zoe (Marketplace)

Body/Hands/Feet: [LEGACY] Meshbody (f) Special Edition (1.7.1)

Poses: Various Sets from [piXit] or Verocity

Lara AC Group

 Hiya everyone! Tonight's post is full of gifts for the free-to-join Lara AC group (store's full name Lara Augusta Carnelian), but instead of featuring gifts from that store, I visited several other designers who are a part of this group. They have the ability to send notices to the group, and many offers gifts for anyone wearing the Lara AC group tag :) It is a generous way for her colleagues to thank her group members for stopping by their stores as well, and I always enjoy the sense of teamwork it shows among the many talented folks in SL who keep us looking fashionable.

My first look of the evening comes from FAVOR, and is their SIMA DRESS which is one of many treats for various groups they offer. This flirty crossed halter style minidress is gathered on the right front and tied at the hip, with fabric that calls to mind autumn with its coloring. There are sizes for Classic, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, and Petite mesh bodies included. 

When I visited Brunsen Couture, I noticed immediately that they had recently relocated their gifts and updated them all to various colors of this stunning dress. It's called Brunsen! Tara Sexy Dress [11], and this version is a shimmery deep teal that made me gasp a little :) Our gift includes Erika, Gen X Classic, Gen X Curvy, Kupra, Legacy, Bombshell, Perky, Maitreya, Petite, Lara X, Petite X, Reborn, and Waifu mesh bodies. 

Surely I can't be the only one who likes to carry a bit of springtime with me, some fresh blooms to remind us that new beginnings can happen whenever we least expect? :) This is the .:AMUI:. "Riloa" Dress - 10 gift, one of many for various groups on this wall of goodies. There is sizing for Gen X Classic, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, Lara X, and Reborn mesh bodies provided. The skirt has deep slits on both thighs, and I love the detail of one strap being fabric but the other being a bold metal chain! 

While I don't mind the weather getting less hot and steamy, I am always eager for new swimwear to visit beaches all year round in SL. So the Bens Boutique - Nairam Bikini - Hud Control gift is just my style, and so versatile! The gift consists of the top and panty in Freya, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, Petite, Hourglass, and Physique sizing, along with a whopper of a HUD to choose from 50 textures for each piece. There are various patterns as well as solid colors, so I had fun mixing and matching as you can tell :) 

One last treat of the evening, we have the {Chaotic} Kaylee outfit which has a fun surprise in the rear view. The strapless dress comes in Erika, Erika Squeezed, Kupra, Kups, Legacy, Perky, Pushup Nerido, Maitreya, Petite, Reborn, and Juicy sizes, with shoes in similar sizes - Erika, Kupra, Legacy, Maitreya, and Reborn feet. The fun white fur jacket has two numbered sizes, so I suggest just trying them each on and seeing which works best with your shape and body. I had to take the jacket off for the rear glimpse though, which shows peek-a-booty with a teeny white thong peeping through. Unsurprisingly, it made me giggle :)

I don't have much to say about my day, pretty tame and some might say dull, which is not a bad thing when you need to unwind. I hope you're all having a beautiful day/evening, many magical magpie hugs to everyone!!

Credits:

Photo 1:

Dress: FAVOR - SIMA DRESS $0L Lara AC Group

Photo 2:

Dress: Brunsen! Tara Sexy Dress [11] $0L Lara AC Group

Photo 3:

Dress: .:AMUI:. "Riloa" Dress - 10 $0L Lara AC Group

Photo 4:

Bikini: Bens Boutique - Nairam Bikini - Hud Control $0L Lara AC Group

Photo 5:

Outfit: {Chaotic} Kaylee $0L Lara AC Group

Head: LeLUTKA Fleur Head 4.0

Hair: Wasabi // Macaron K9 Ed. Hair - Absolute Pack

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. .WS. Almond TOSCA

Ring: {Carter} Wedding Zoe (Marketplace)

Body/Hands/Feet: [LEGACY] Meshbody (f) Special Edition (1.7.1)

Poses: Various Sets from [piXit] or Verocity

Mesh Body Friends Gifts

 Hiya everyone! Tonight's post has several treats for the Mesh Body Friends group, which is currently free to join. Visit some of their participating designers and you just might find a gift for this group, near its sign that you can click for a link to join if you aren't already a member :) I'm always curious what I can find for these multi-designer groups, and I have had a lot of luck lately so I am feeling extra magpie-like these days.

FLAMINGO'S has a terrific treat for us called [FLA] Fantasy Dress. It includes the flirty dress and a thong to layer beneath, each in sizes for Gen X Curvy, Kupra, Lara X, Legacy, Reborn, and Waifu mesh bodies. It definitely calls to mind a certain fairy tale heroine, yet all grown up and very alluring.

I also headed to Pearl Fashion, where I found their lovely *PF::Maya2025 gift for Mesh Body Friends. The top and shorts will each fit eBody, Legacy, Perky, and Maitreya mesh bodies, and we also receive a HUD with 8 colors apiece for the bra, ribbon, panties, and ribbon portions. As you can tell above, the ribbon colors go with the trim for the respective pieces, so it is all very versatile with lots of possibilities.

If you crave a curve-hugging mini dress, pop on over to Bens Beauty where their Vika Dress can be yours for free :) They have several gifts for other groups as well, including their own, like this flirtatious one that comes in sizing for Erika, Gen X Classic, Gen X Curvy, Khara, Kupra, Kupra Ups, Legacy, Nerido, Perky, Maitreya, Petite, Peach, Reborn, and Juicy mesh bodies. The belt you see is separate in the same sizes, and there's also a HUD as I'm sure you guessed, with an amazing 50 colors to choose from and 6 metals for our belt. Change up the look all you want!

Next I happily changed into the Limited Addiction - LOTD 192 gift for Mesh Body Friends. It consists of the daring dress, upper arm bands, and bracelets, all in sizes for Legacy, Maitreya, Petite, and Reborn bodies. The dress caught my eye with the lacing on both sides and the back, plus who can resist the cleavage cutout? If you feel like wearing the dress alone without the arm bands or the bracelets, you can easily do so since they are each separate from the dress, making this a few different looks in one.

My final look of the night is our delightful ::PCF:: Lila Body Fatpack gift. It reminds me of a gymnastics leotard but sexier thanks to the openings, and is provided in Belleza Classic, Belleza Curvy, Kupra, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, and Reborn mesh body sizing. The enclosed HUD lets us choose from 13 solid colors, 13 ombres, and 4 striped like the red on the right above. It's either meant to be zebra or tiger, when it's in different coloring I can never quite tell ;) This really gives me the urge to layer a loose skirt over it sometime, just one of these random thoughts that tend to occur when I try on something new.

How was everyone's weekend? Mine was busy but decent, and my therapy gave me a lot to think about because of something he mentioned at the end. The clinic I'm working with has a support group for anxiety, virtual and free, so he asked if I'd be interested and I said yes, maybe (didn't want to 100% commit) so I expect during the week he'll email me or we will discuss it more next week. He did indicate needing to get more info about it, and he ran it for about a year when he started there, so maybe he needs to find out who is currently handling it and confirm the time, things like that. Otherwise we talked about my fears about the dentist Tuesday, and how I am wavering in my confidence about it from moment to moment. I was there 4 months ago, and nothing has really changed so I should be able to make it then too :) The weather was stormy last night, but should be clear for a few days. I hope you're all having a pleasant day/evening, many magical magpie hugs to everyone!!

Credits:

Photo 1:

Outfit: FLAMINGO'S [FLA] Fantasy Dress $0L MBF Group Gift

Photo 2:

Outfit: Pearl Fashion *PF::Maya2025 $0L MBF Group Gift

Photo 3:

Dress: Bens Beauty - Vika Dress $0L MBF Group Gift

Photo 4:

Dress: Limited Addiction - LOTD 192 $0L MBF Group Gift

Photo 5:

Bodysuit: ::PCF:: Lila Body Fatpack $0L MBF Group Gift

Head: LeLUTKA Fleur Head 4.0

Hair: TRUTH Collective / Enigmatic - Essential

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. .WS. Almond SHARON

Ring: {Carter} Wedding Zoe (Marketplace)

Body/Hands/Feet: [LEGACY] Meshbody (f) Special Edition (1.7.1)

Poses: Various Sets from [piXit] or Verocity

Palomma Plaza Pretties

 Hiya everyone! Tonight's post comes to you from Palomma Plaza, which if you recall The Free Dove it is a loving tribute to its owner, Palomma "Dove" Casanova, and in the same location. The group is free to join, and with that "Doves Angel" tag you can claim countless gifts from very talented and generous designers :) I treasure my memories of chats with Dove, and hope she knows she is still missed and loved by so many people. The designers' displays I am focusing on tonight are Bens Boutique and Stars Fashion, so my link should give you a red arrow to the aisle right between them. I would also like to mention that as of this morning there was still a large Christmas tree in the building with lots of great gifts underneath, but I chose not to blog those because they are probably going away pretty soon and many are seasonal. So I still recommend peeking and claiming those too, and much like Christmas you will get to be surprised with each one you open :) It's funny, I still see people mention The Free Dove in group chats, and usually someone will chime in about the reopening and the new name but old landmarks still working, and I think it really shows the impact she made on SL with her caring nature and wanting everyone to be able to look their best even if they are low on funds.

My first look is the lovely Bens Boutique - Shae Dress group gift. It has 15 patterns and 30 solid colors to choose from via HUD, so it is very easy to personalize your look. The dress fits Freya, Isis, Venus, Maitreya, Hourglass, and Physique mesh bodies, all with that deep dipped neckline and high slits on each thigh.

The Bens Boutique - Bridget Jumpsuit is a gorgeous choice for New Years Eve, but of course it is going to look phenomenal no matter where or when you decide to show it off. We receive standard mesh sizes along with Freya, Isis, Venus, Hourglass, Maitreya, and TMP mesh body sizing in this gift, plus a 10 color HUD for our sparkly texture. I love halter necks and bare backs, and I'm thinking this could be just what we need to display a new back tattoo or one of those fun necklaces that hangs down the back.

Over on the Stars Fashion display, there are several wonderful gifts including this Danika set. Its single shoulder tube top and low rise jeans are each provided in sizes for Altamura Sofia, Freya, Isis, Maitreya, Hourglass, Physique, Tonic Curvy, and Tonic Fine mesh bodies. The HUD inside offers 10 colors for each, to make mixing and matching a breeze. I noticed that it slowed down if I clicked the HUD too many times in a row, but if you take it slow (yeah I get impatient, LOL)  all the buttons will work eventually. SL has been oddly laggy at times lately, anyone else noticing that?

Next I changed into the flirty Stars Fashion - Niki gift, which easily made me smile. The bare shouldered top and extra short skirt each fit Freya, Isis, Venus, Maitreya, Hourglass, and Physique mesh bodies, and there is also a HUD with 20 colors each for top and skirt, then 2 for the ruffles. So you pick your top color and then let the ruffles remain the matching hue, or click the black or white buttons above it to have a contrasting ruffle color. Same for the skirt :) The lacing on the side of the skirt is another eye-catching detail, making this even more revealing and sexy.

My final look of the evening is also from the Stars Fashion display, and is my choice for heading somewhere tropical and breezy :) Their Twila outfit is a playful combo of wrapped long sleeve crop top and slim fitting denim shorts, in sizing for Altamura Sofia, eBody Classic, eBody Curvy, Freya, Isis, Venus, Maitreya, Hourglass, Physique, Tonic Curvy, and Tonic Fine mesh bodies. There's also a HUD of course, with 10 patterns for the top and 10 shades of denim for our shorts. Get creative and have fun with the HUD, just be patient if SL is being slow and the textures don't change right away. 

Happy New Year, everyone! I tend to get a bit reflective this time of year, and usually try to be optimistic and upbeat about a new year and a fresh start. This time I'm finding it more difficult than usual for many reasons, grief and my health issues being a big part of that, but I still need to hold on to some shreds of hope. I am wishing all of you a year ahead filled with peace, love, healing, comfort, and whatever you need most from 2025. Many magical magpie hugs to everyone!!

Credits:

All Group Gifts from Palomma Plaza:

Photo 1:

Dress: Bens Boutique - Shae Dress $0L Palomma Plaza Gift

Photo 2:

Jumpsuit: Bens Boutique - Bridget Jumpsuit $0L Palomma Plaza Gift

Photo 3:

Outfit: Stars Fashion - Danika $0L Palomma Plaza Gift

Photo 4:

Outfit: Stars Fashion - Niki $0L Palomma Plaza Gift

Photo 5:

Outfit: Stars Fashion - Twila $0L Palomma Plaza Gift

Head: LeLUTKA Fleur Head 4.0

Hair: TRUTH Collective / Parfait - Essential

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. Pale ANNIE

Ring: {Carter} Wedding Zoe (Marketplace)

Body/Hands/Feet: Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara 5.3

All Poses: Verocity  (Various Sets)

Bens Boutique Treats

Hiya everyone! Tonight we're taking a look at some of the generous group gifts from Ben's Beauty & Boutique, whose store group is free to join. There's an entire wall filled with gifts outside, for not only their own group but several others as well, so I'm confident that you will find plenty of treats that you can claim and enjoy :) I've been a fan of the brand for ages, so it is a pleasure to share some of their wonderful gifts with all of you.

For my first look, I slipped into the Bens Beauty - Erish Set. This group gift includes the bra, skirt, and panty each in sizing for Gen X Classic, Gen X Curvy, Gen X Classic Dainty, Gen X Curvy Dainty, Kupra, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, Petite, Peach, and Reborn bodies. There is also a HUD included, with an impressive 45 colors for each piece as well as 6 metals for the buckles. I think the breezy styling makes this just right for spring, which I'm thrilled is officially here :)

Next we see the Bens Boutique - Steshan Sweatshirt, another generous group gift that has a fun touch of sass. The front says "FOREVER or never..." across the chest, on your choice of 20 leopard print textures via HUD. The shirt is just long enough to wear as a mini dress, or add some pants/jeans to enjoy as a tunic top. The gift fits eBody Classic, eBody Curvy, Freya, Isis, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, Petite, Hourglass, Physique, Tonic Curvy, and Tonic Fine mesh bodies. Some of the prints are very vibrantly colored, while others are more muted, but all are wonderful.

Bens Boutique - Paisle Set is another thoughtful gift that will liven up our spring and right on into summer with its satiny tank top and breezy shorts. Both of these and the chain belt are provided in Belleza Classic, Belleza Curvy, Kupra, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, and Reborn mesh body sizes. As you can guess, there's also a handy HUD, with 30 colors each for top and shorts, plus 6 metals for the belt. If you aren't a fan of belts, you can always wear the outfit without it if you prefer since it's a separate attachment. Personally I think it's a cute touch, but my goal is to show you things you might wear rather than telling you how you should wear them ;)

This sweet look is the Bens Boutique - Sugar Dress group gift :) I genuinely wanted to call it sweet before realizing the sugary pun, then I just doubled down on it because why not? In sizes for Gen X Classic, Gen X Curvy, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, and Reborn mesh bodies, it is a single piece that can be worn to look like one or two depending on the color/s you select. There are 30 hues for each on the HUD, with 3 metals and the option to hide the little metallic bits. I think I might lean towards the single color look on this one, no particular reason and I could easily change my mind tomorrow. Those slender straps wound around the waist really create a flattering appearance!

My final look of the night is a full outfit called Bens Boutique - Darlene Set. This gift consists of the top, skirt, panties, and socks, each in sizing for Altamura, eBody Curvy, Freya, Isis, Hourglass, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, Petite, Tonic Curvy, and Tonic Fine mesh bodies. The HUD offers 20 colors for each so we can mix and match to our heart's content :) I'm sure you noticed the sheer fishnet sections, and since the entire bra is fishnet it is probably best reserved for mature audiences only. The socks make me think of legwarmers because of being footless and because I'm old LOL, but they are definitely a modern twist on the ones I recall. 

Whew, so I had my phone call visit with the family doc, and good grief was she slow...again...it was scheduled for 5pm, and at 6 she texted that she didn't forget me and would call shortly. It was 6:45 when she finally called, sigh, and I was exhausted physically and emotionally by that point. We agreed that I will be contacting a psychiatrist who can prescribe meds since this one isn't working and she is out of ideas, so that took some researching and I'll be contacting one tomorrow. If he takes my insurance, it will be a huge help and sadly a rarity. I saw one website (not the group I'm contacting, one who doesn't take insurance) say $900 for an initial session, the strangled gasp that escaped me did not sound like any human noise I'd ever heard before. The good news is that she can probably send someone to draw blood for me since I can't get to the lab yet and she can't refill my thyroid meds without checking my levels first since she'd get in trouble and her office would be audited (?). There's a service she is checking with and will get back to me. It was frustrating to wait for her, but I think it'll turn out to be relatively productive so I'm okay with it all. That really sums up my day, lol, and tomorrow is dinner at my parents' which is always nice. I hope you're all having a lovely day/evening, many magical magpie hugs to everyone!!

Credits:

All Group Gifts from Bens Beauty & Boutique:

Photo 1:

Outfit: Bens Beauty - Erish Set $0L Group Gift

Photo 2:

Top: Bens Boutique - Steshan Sweatshirt $0L Group Gift

Photo 3:

Outfit: Bens Boutique - Paisle Set $0L Group Gift

Photo 4:

Dress: Bens Boutique - Sugar Dress $0L Group Gift

Photo 5:

Outfit: Bens Boutique - Darlene Set $0L Group Gift

Head: LeLUTKA Fleur Head 3.1

Hair: TRUTH VIP Lullaby - Essential

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. .WS. MANON EVOX SKIN - VELOUR PORCELAIN

Ring: {Carter} Wedding Zoe (Marketplace)

Body/Hands/Feet: [LEGACY] Meshbody (f) Special Edition (1.6)

All Poses: Verocity  (Various Sets)

Weekend With SLMB

 Hiya everyone! Tonight we return to the SL Mesh Body Group Event, where we can find 2 rooms full of gifts for the SLMB group members. The rooms are ringed by stores set up by each designer, with special offers and discounted merchandise because we all deserve affordable high quality fashions :) This round of the event is open for another 2 weeks or so, which gives us plenty of time to enjoy. Be sure to use those stairs to visit both upstairs and downstairs so you don't miss out on anyone's sales or gifts!

My first look of the evening is the Bens Boutique - Cecelia Dress Hud Control group gift. This gorgeous gown has spaghetti straps that cross in the back, and it hugs our figure all the way to the hemline. There are sizes for eBody, Freya, Hourglass, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, and Petite mesh bodies, with a 30 texture HUD that has a mix of solids and patterns for us to enjoy. The simplicity of the style means it looks fantastic no matter what you choose :)

Next I slipped into the lovely Tessa dress from Telsiope's Couture. What a playful style, flirty with that deep V neckline and dramatic diagonal hem! This gift fits eBody Reborn, Erika, Freya, Hourglass, Legacy, and Maitreya mesh bodies, all with a HUD that lets us select from 10 different colors. It's sexy and versatile, and let's not forget that it is also free, so what are you waiting for?

The [Luxury] Zariah Dress gift gave me quite a chuckle when I read the "Look Up" on the top and then "Yes, I am crazy." at the hem next to the bold side slit. Before noticing the lower message I thought it was just a form of "my eyes are up here" type message, but now I think it is all to be silly and I do love good fun :) This gift consists of sizes for Altamura, eBody Classic, eBody Curvy, Freya, Isis, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, Petite, Hourglass, Physique, Tonic Curvy, Tonic Fine, and Tonic Minim mesh bodies. The back is solid black with no text, so no secret messages from behind other than having a flattering booty.

I was also captivated by the Graffitiwear SL Mesh Body Group Gift because of its soft colors, floral pattern, and alluring style. The peekaboo cutout on the midriff provides a flash of underboob, with a cheeky view from behind thanks to the skirt being just a bit shorter in the back. Claim this gift and you'll receive Freya, Isis, Venus, Legacy, Maitreya, Hourglass, Physique, Signature Alice, Tonic Curvy, Tonic Fine, and Tonic Minim mesh body sizing. 

My final look of the night is the tempting *Suna Design* gift of their S-Elza fatpack. The gathered wrap dress has some sheer fabric on the right front midriff, and is clipped with a gold buckled strap on the left to cinch the waist beautifully. There are sizes for Freya, Kupra, Legacy, Maitreya, Petite, Hourglass, and Physique mesh bodies included, along with a 20 color HUD for changing up the look with a quick click. The satiny material is a fun choice for the weekend, just saying :)

My day was stormy, and I wound up not going to dinner at my parents' tonight which is a bummer but not as much as missing the farmers market tomorrow. With this much anxiety I am just not up to going, so things are less than cheerful here at the moment. No worries though, time in SL with Xan will take my mind off the RL stuff, and I will be resting on Saturday. All of Sunday looks stormy again from like 3AM on into the next day, yikes! My sleep earlier was interrupted by 2 huge thunder claps where the second one sizzled, startling me and well that isn't great for anxiety ;) The forecast has changed a few times already though so fingers crossed that things stay safe and fairly calm. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend ahead, many magical magpie hugs to everyone!!

Credits:

All Group Gifts from SLMB Event:

Photo 1:

Dress: Bens Boutique - Cecelia Dress Hud Control $0L SLMB Event Gift

Photo 2:

Dress: Telsiope's Couture Tessa $0L SLMB Event Gift

Photo 3:

Dress: [Luxury] Zariah Dress $0L SLMB Event Gift

Photo 4:

Dress: Graffitiwear SL Mesh Body Group Gift $0L SLMB Event Gift

Photo 5:

Dress: *Suna Design* S-Elza fatpack $0L SLMB Event Gift

Mesh Nails: N.Kolour+KOSMETIK: Omega Coffin Nails - Medium // Maitreya

Head: LeLUTKA Fleur Head 3.1

Hair: TRUTH Collective Inocent - Essential

Skin: 7 Deadly s[K]ins - MARLIE cotton candy (BOM)

Ring: (BENTO)~~Ysoral~~ .:Luxe Ring Lyanna 4:. (Marketplace)

Body/Hands/Feet: Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara

All Poses: Verocity  (Various Sets)

Bens Boutique Gifts

 Hiya everyone! Tonight we are visiting Bens Beauty & Boutique, a lovely store that I have had the pleasure of exploring before and will surely do so again in the future :) They have a wall of group gifts that include some for various multi-designer groups and several for their own group, which is currently free to join. Those are the treats I'll be sharing tonight, some of the many for the Bens Beauty & Boutique group, all yours for free with that group tag active. It's a nice way to start the weekend, particularly with some flirty styles including a lingerie set. 

First I tried on the charming Bens Boutique - Leigha Dress - GROUP GIFT, which is a tight satin mini with plunging neckline that on certain shapes will even show a teeny flash of nipple from certain angles ;) The dress fits Inithium, Kupra, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, and Petite mesh bodies, and includes a HUD with 10 bold colors to choose from. 

Next we see the intimate wear I promised, called Bens Boutique - Infinite Lingerie Set. Our sheer lacy bra and panties are each provided in sizing for Altamura, eBody Curvy, Freya, Isis, Hourglass, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, Petite, Tonic Curvy, Tonic Fine, and Tonic Minim mesh bodies. There is also a HUD with 20 terrific colors for each piece, so we can mix and match if we wish. On the right I chose a slightly darker blue for the panties than I did for the bra, for a subtle contrast that I enjoyed. What types of color combos do you prefer?

With spring still at least a few weeks away, the Bens Boutique - Yuana Dress & Jacket is handy for those chilly days or evenings. Its strapless mini dress and crop jeans jacket each come in Freya, Isis, Hourglass, Hourglass Petite, Kupra, Legacy, Legacy Perky, Maitreya, and Maitreya Petite mesh body sizes, with a HUD offering 20 colors for the dress and 6 denim hues for the jacket. We can certainly wear the dress without the jacket as well, I just decided to show you two different denim colors so I wore it twice here :)

Maybe you need something a little more fancy for your weekend plans, in which case I suggest the beautiful Bens Boutique - Shady Dress - Hud Driven gift. There are sizes for Freya, Isis, Venus, Legacy, Maitreya, Hourglass, and Physique mesh bodies in this gift, along with a whopping 45 colors via HUD. Think of the possibilities! I really like the high-low hem with the flirty ruffle, so we can show off a little leg while maintaining a relatively formal appearance.

My final look this evening is the Bens Boutique - Joana Valentine's Outfit group gift, which has a sexy schoolgirl vibe mixed with the hearts of Valentine's Day but can be worn any time of year. The sweater, skirt, and shoes (with built in socks) are each packaged separately in standard mesh sizes as well as Freya, Isis, Venus, Legacy, Maitreya, Hourglass, and Physique bodies, with the exception of the shoes not having the standard sizing. There are even matching red heart-shaped hoop earrings for an extra romantic touch. I love having matching footwear with an outfit, and coordinated jewelry is just the icing on the cake ♥. 

Hooray for the weekend! It will be very cold again when I go to the farmers market tomorrow, but there are many tempting treats waiting for me there so I will bundle up and try to make the best of it. There might even be snow flurries in the early afternoon, so going as soon as they open (10AM) is my safest bet. Otherwise my weekend will be fairly quiet, with another hockey game in the evening and then we'll see what Sunday holds. I hope you all have a fantastic weekend ahead, many magical magpie hugs to everyone!!

Credits:

All Group Gifts from Bens Boutique:

Photo 1:

Dress: Bens Boutique - Leigha Dress - GROUP GIFT $0L Group Gift

Photo 2:

Lingerie: Bens Boutique - Infinite Lingerie Set $0L Group Gift

Photo 3:

Outfit: Bens Boutique - Yuana Dress & Jacket $0L Group Gift

Photo 4:

Dress: Bens Boutique - Shady Dress - Hud Driven $0L Group Gift

Photo 5:

Outfit: Bens Boutique - Joana Valentine's Outfit $0L Group Gift

Mesh Nails: N.Kolour+KOSMETIK: Omega Coffin Nails - Medium // Maitreya

Head: LeLUTKA Fleur Head 3.1

Hair: TRUTH Eternity - Redhead

Skin: 7 Deadly s[K]ins - REFLECTION cotton candy (BOM)

Ring: (BENTO)~~Ysoral~~ .:Luxe Ring Lyanna 4:. (Marketplace)

Body/Hands/Feet: Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara

All Poses: Verocity  (Various Sets)