Designer Showcase Anniversary

 Hiya everyone! Tonight's post is full of gifts for the Designer Showcase event and their 15th anniversary round. Can you imagine such longevity? Naturally we have to help them celebrate :) Just join their group for free and you get to pick up tons of thoughtful gifts, in addition to some excellent sales offers. The round just opened and lasts until the 20th of January. 

Let's start with the lovely [Enchantress] Hira Set 2 gift, which gives Emily in Paris vibes. The effortlessly chic outfit consists of top and belted skirt in sizes for Erika, Gen X Classic, Gen X Curvy, Khara, Kupra, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, Petite, Lara X, Petite X, Reborn, and Waifu mesh bodies, plus playful beret. If you guessed that there's also a HUD, you would be correct :) That offers 20 colors each for the top, 2 different patterns of skirt for 40 total options, 20 belt, and 20 beret colors, along with 5 metals for the buttons and buckle. I love mixing and matching like this!

A fantastic choice for exploring a wintry wonderland is our La Feminique Jolie Gift. This cozy puffed jacket, cropped sweater, and pants are all included in sizing for Belleza Classic, Belleza Curvy, Erika, Kupra, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, Petite, Lara X, Petite X, Reborn, and Waifu mesh bodies. I appreciate having the full outfit, and also could see wearing the pieces with other wardrobe components, for example a longer BOM shirt or sweater for even more warmth or adding sneakers to walk through snow.

I kept those pants on to show off the delightful Ghee - SH Philla sweater. The cold shoulder style contrasts beautifully against the turtleneck and long sleeves which tighten at the forearms, and the body is a loose fit that is so fun for this season. Our gift includes Erika, Kupra, Legacy, Bombshell, Perky, Maitreya, Lara X, Petite X, Reborn, Waifu, and Star mesh body sizes, in a deep teal that is flattering for so many skin tones and hair colors.

The Evergreen - DS GIFT '26 turned out to be another gorgeous excuse to keep wearing those pants :) Just look at the details...the slender straps tied with petite bows, the tiny sleeves with one draped off the shoulder just so...and the lace trim that draws attention to the neckline and the gathered bodice! We receive sizes for Belleza Classic, Belleza Curvy, Kupra, Legacy, Perky, Lara X, Petite X, Reborn, and Waifu mesh bodies. I'm also planning on sifting through my inventory to find a maxi skirt to pair it with, hopefully in any shade of blue that appears in the pattern. 

For my final look this evening, I am loving the SAS - Mady Pink Dress gift from Sascha's Designs. This wrap dress looks ethereal in pale pink, reminiscent of flower petals, and you'll find Legacy, Maitreya, Lara X, and Reborn mesh body sizes inside when you unpack this beauty. Naturally I had to add the .:{Sofia}:. Shakira Necklace Diamond Shine. Pink gift, because the colors are a match made in heaven :) The closer view lets you see that it has tiers of emerald cut pink gems, and it will fit Gen X, Kupra, Legacy, Maitreya, Lara X, and Reborn bodies with ease. Sometimes fortune smiles on us, and we find the ideal accessory without even trying.

Whew, my support group session was so chaotic that two people left early and I don't blame them. Our goal is to talk about ways to ease anxiety and share successes and plans/goals, but a new person got really talkative about violence he'd experienced or witnessed which deeply upset one of the longtime members enough that she called him out on being triggering. He sorta dismissed her and kept talking since he was 'trying to make a point though', and she was too upset to stay. I am concerned about her, but the moderator (a therapist) is going to check in with her tomorrow. Fingers crossed that she returns, because I will greatly miss her. Tomorrow I've got an appointment that will keep me from having time to prep a blog post, so it's a night off for me :) I'll be back the next evening with more goodies of course, and a clearer head with a more positive outlook *fingers crossed*. I hope you're all having a nice day/evening, many magical magpie hugs to everyone!!

Credits:

All Group Gifts from Designer Showcase:

Photo 1:

Outfit: [Enchantress] Hira Set 2 $0L Group Gift

Photo 2:

Outfit: La Feminique Jolie Gift $0L Group Gift

Photo 3:

Top: Ghee - SH Philla sweater $0L Group Gift

Photo 4:

Top: Evergreen - DS GIFT '26 $0L Group Gift

Photo 5:

Dress: Sascha's Designs SAS - Mady Pink Dress $0L Group Gift

Necklace: .:{Sofia}:. Shakira Necklace Diamond Shine. Pink $0L Group Gift

Head: LeLUTKA Fleur Head 4.0

Hair: TRUTH Tangle - Blonde

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

Ring: {Carter} Wedding Zoe (Marketplace)

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

Poses: Various Sets from [piXit] or Verocity

Holiday Shop & Hop

 Hiya everyone! Tonight it's time to get our shop on, with the annual Holiday Shop & Hop event :) There are 18 regions filled with 360 stores, and a gift for everyone available at each stop. As usual, I'm sharing one region at a time and tonight it's the Dahlia that was randomly selected. I'm also going to suggest another tradition from the past several S&H rounds, the amazing FabFree spreadsheet that has all the info about these gifts and can be sorted by type, store name, etc. by the tabs on the bottom. I am so grateful to their team for keeping this going and helping us keep track of any gifts we may have missed, and it helps me to be able to tell Xan about the male or unisex gifts he might be interested in. The shopping party has been open for a few days and continues until the 4th of January.

My first look is the stunning Son'a-Edge Regal Festive Dress - Gift. It is a great choice for this time of year because of the colors, and it is extremely versatile as well. That's because there is a HUD that offers 16 gemstone colors (seen as white across the neckline on the left above) as well as on/off options for the glow, sequins, bright, sleeves, ruffles, sparkles, and light. The dress comes in sizes for Kupra, Lara X, Legacy, and Reborn mesh bodies. On the right I've switched off our sleeves and the sequins, and it almost looks like an entirely new dress :) Imagine turning off the ruffles too, which are our neck strap, and you'd have a strapless gown that is truly festive just as the name says.

Another glamorous gift is our .:{Sofia}:. Gift Raindrops Gown Dress. Gold. With its strapless embroidered bodice and full satin skirt, it glimmers with tiny beads dripping down the skirt to really catch our attention. We receive sizes for Erika, Gen X Curvy, Kupra, Lara X, Legacy, and Reborn mesh bodies, along with a single size white fur jacket. It will look just as pretty if you slip out of the jacket when you arrive at your destination of course, just make sure your fans get a glimpse of you wearing it both ways ;)

Next we head in a more casual direction with the ***Ambrosia***Nordic Knit Dress gift. The name describes the texture quite well, and I'm loving the red and white combo for this time of year :) Our snug sweater dress fits Lara X, Legacy, and Reborn mesh bodies. The short hemline and short sleeves give it a less bundled up vibe, and a more flirtatious feeling.

WZRWRKS has a jaw-dropping tee for us called [WAZ] Scoop-Neck Crop Top as their gift for the event, and there is a (less busty LOL) shirt for the men as well. This cutie includes sizing for Lara X, Legacy, Reborn, and Waifu, with alpha layers in case parts of you decide not to stay inside the shirt. I did have two very specific little parts that made the alpha layer handy, and yes you are probably guessing correctly. I think the holiday decorations also really help make this a fun treat. 

For my final look tonight, we have a closeup view of the Nives: Leya Bento Long Stiletto Mesh Nails 2K gift. If you like your manicure to be long and slender, and decorated for winter, these are the ones for you! There are sizes for BBL, Belleza, Belleza Gen X Curvy, eBody Reborn, Erika, Kupra/Kups, Legacy, Maitreya, and Slink hands; just use the body's HUD to hide its built in nails, and add the matching size from the folder. Voila, you have lovely new claws :) This made me think of a video I saw recently of a woman with similar nails whose cat was very slowly extending its claws and then slowly retracting them, trying to teach her how to put her talons away, LOL! Poor thing was so confused, probably wondering why its human was so bad at being a cat. My RL nails are nowhere near this long and rounded rather than pointy, but I do wonder if a cat would think I forgot how to retract them too now.

My anxiety made my outing fairly challenging, but I got to a store and back safely so I am counting it as a win. We went a back way which is bumpy and winding, so that was a big part of the problem. Taking the main roads home helped a little, although the traffic increased so that made it challenging too. I did pick out some treats to reward myself for getting there, lol, and I took a nap after dinner which was soothing. I'm so behind on Advent stuff now though, for the past few days I've just shoved them in a folder 'to sort' so that is a goal for the weekend if not sooner. Meanwhile I've got several more regions of S&H to visit, and other events and hunts, so I am a busy little magpie :) I hope you're all having a terrific day/evening, many magical magpie hugs to everyone!!

Credits:

All Gifts from Holiday Shop & Hop - Dahlia Region:

Photo 1:

Dress: Son'a-Edge Regal Festive Dress - Gift $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 2:

Dress: .:{Sofia}:. Gift Raindrops Gown Dress. Gold $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 3:

Dress: ***Ambrosia***Nordic Knit Dress $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 4:

Top: WZRWRKS [WAZ] Scoop-Neck Crop Top $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Pants: Delizio - Jeans + Applier for Maitreya + Omega $0L Marketplace

Photo 5:

Nails: Nives: Leya Bento Long Stiletto Mesh Nails 2K $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Head: LeLUTKA Fleur Head 4.0

Hair: TRUTH Mellow - Essential

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. .WS. ALMOND Cleo

Ring: {Carter} Wedding Zoe (Marketplace)

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

Poses: Various Sets from [piXit] or Verocity

Poppy Shop and Hoppy

 Hiya everyone! Tonight it's time to visit the Poppy region of the Halloween Shop & Hop event, which appeals to my shopaholic side and my gift-loving nature. There are 18 regions packed with designers' displays, each with discounted offerings and a gift or two for us to enjoy. The FabFree team has worked hard as usual to provide us a spreadsheet of gifts, which you can view sorted by type, store name, etc. with the tabs at the bottom. I'm always grateful because that ensures I didn't miss any gifts, and I can steer Xan towards the male gifts and unisex ones that may catch his attention :) The event area is seasonally decorated quite nicely, and we have until just past Halloween (November 2nd) to explore and shop.

First up, I slipped into the striking Son!a-Edge Kenya Dress Witch gift, one of a few they are offering in their setup. The gown has an attached cape and is studded with gems down the sides, and is provided in sizing for Khara, Legacy, Maitreya, Reborn, Juicy, and Waifu mesh bodies. We also receive a HUD which offers 16 colors for the gems, on/off options for the cape, sheer skirt, gems glow, materials, gems bright, and a sheer/solid choice for the cape. I've got the cape solid on the left and sheer on the right, so you could see the fun straps in the back easier through it :) The Maitreya fits my Lara X body fairly well, other than a bit of clipping on the back of the hips which was instantly resolved with the alpha layer included with the dress.

Our BlueMoon enterprise gift, BMe Drusilla Halloween Gown, is also very elegant with a touch of spookiness that suits the season wonderfully. The gown has shoulder straps adorned with a high collar, long sheer sleeves with slits, deep V neckline laced very loosely, and a dramatic slit on the left thigh. Those deep red and black stripes are simply stunning, aren't they? This treat comes in Lara X and Reborn mesh body sizing.

Do you need even more elegance in your life? If so, be sure to visit .:{Sofia}:. and pick up their gorgeous Titania Gown Dress Blood V.2 gift. This seductive satin gown has a ruched bodice topped with a large black bow, and the swirl of skirt is opened on the right to reveal a black inner lining (plus a whole lot of leg!). There are sizes for Erika, Freya, Gen X Classic, Gen X Curvy, Kupra, Legacy, Maitreya, Lara X, Reborn, Juicy, Waifu, and Slink Hourglass mesh bodies provided, along with a pair of black earrings to really complete the look in style.

You know I am a casual gal at heart, at least most of the time in SL, so naturally I adore the GoodVibes HER Creeping it Real gift too :) The cropped sweater is decorated with a seasonal spider wearing a jack o'lantern, and its fuzzy legs seem to be more numerous than usual as I think I counted 14 of them! It does say CREEPING IT REAL above and beneath the spider, and I think the jack o'lantern goes perfectly with the images on the pants. Our gift includes the sweater and pants in sizing for Lara X, Petite X, Legacy, Reborn, Waifu, and Star mesh bodies, plus matching heels to fit Lara X, Legacy, Reborn, and Star feet. There is a men's gift here too, similar in theme, so tell a guy friend :) 

My final look this evening is a closer view of my nails for the night, our BLOOM - BLACK RIBBON NAILS [CUTE SQUARE] gift. They are ideal for those who love the look of a manicure but do not want an extra long or pointed style. These have a sheer black base with tiny dark polka dots, then the free edge is deepened with a solid black that almost mimics a French mani style. To wear these, please use your body's HUD to hide its built in nails and add either the eBody, Legacy, or Maitreya size nails from your new gift's folder. Chef's kiss!

It was a quiet day, but that is for the best since tomorrow I'm making a huge attempt to go further than I've been in over 2 years. The anxiety might not always play nicely, but I'm trying to kickstart things in the proper direction for healing. Please insert your favorite meme about being nervous here, lol, as I can't even decide which one to mention first. I hope you're all having a lovely day/evening, many magical magpie hugs to everyone!!

Credits:

All Gifts from Shop & Hop - Poppy Region:

Photo 1:

Dress: Son!a-Edge Kenya Dress Witch $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 2:

Dress: BlueMoon enterprise BMe Drusilla Halloween Gown $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 3:

Dress: .:{Sofia}:. Titania Gown Dress Blood V.2 $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 4:

Outfit: GoodVibes HER Creeping it Real $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 5:

Nails: BLOOM - BLACK RIBBON NAILS [CUTE SQUARE] $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Head: LeLUTKA Fleur Head 4.0

Hair: TRUTH Friday - Essential

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. .WS. ALMOND EMILY

Ring: {Carter} Wedding Zoe (Marketplace)

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

Poses: Various Sets from [piXit] or Verocity

Shop and Hop Snapdragon

 Hiya everyone! Tonight we are visiting the Snapdragon region of the SL22B Shop & Hop event, which is in its final week now as it wraps up on the 20th. The region has 20 designers' displays to explore, as each of the 24 regions do, so there are many discounted offerings and free gifts to enjoy :) Personally I am loving the Myths and Legends theme, which is not a requirement but the regions are decorated accordingly and many of the designers have let their creativity run wild with it. Isn't that always fun to see? 22 years of Second Life thriving as a virtual home for so many people is an incredible achievement, and I can't wait to see what the future holds. As always with Shop&Hops, I'm going to suggest that you use the FabFree spreadsheet as a guide to ensure that you don't miss any gifts, and show them some love for all of their hard work :)

My first look of the evening is our La Feminique gift named Taylor. It includes both the halter top and cropped pants in sizing for Kupra, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, Petite, and Reborn mesh bodies. The hot pink pants are styled as jeans with straight leg cut, and the color matches the strands holding the flirty halter top in place :) Naturally the tiny floral pattern on that top made me smile too, it's just so charming.

Those pants also came in handy to help me show you the [WellMade] Marline Top, another free gift found in the Snapdragon region. It is similar in that it's another halter top, this one shaped like a beautiful butterfly with sparkly textures. By the way, there is a texture HUD included, with 9 wonderful choices :) There are Erika, Kupra, Legacy, Maitreya, Reborn, and Juicyboobs mesh body sizes provided in this generous gift.

Perhaps you are hoping to find something a little more formal among the gifts, well .:{Sofia}:. has you covered with their Catalina Gown Dress Lima. I'll guess that the lima part means lime, although in my lighting the dress has more of a lemon-lime hue ;) This strapless beauty is studded with delicate gemstones, and the full skirt has a slit on the front for ease of walking. We receive sizes for Erika, Gen X Curvy, Kupra, Lara X, Legacy, and Reborn mesh bodies. At this point I switched from Lara 5.3 to Lara X :)

Next I shimmied into the gorgeous :::WILD:::Fashion SL22B Gift Gown, lovely in a raspberry red with sequined stripes and rich sheen. This elegant mermaid style gown comes in Legacy, Maitreya, Petite, Lara X, Petite X, Reborn, Juicy, and Waifu mesh body sizing. 

I'm wrapping up tonight's post with something casual and a little bit flirty :) The zOOm - Spring Top & Legging Gift pairs a sunny yellow top with matching patchwork patterned leggings, each of which will fit Lara X, Legacy, Reborn, and Waifu mesh bodies. The tube top is laced very loosely closed in the front, while the leggings are low rise and dip down both front and back. I'd say that a cooler summer day or evening would still be a perfect time to wear this, despite the 'spring' in the name :) 

Weekends can be a real mixed bag lately, so I am relieved that mine was relatively peaceful. The weather was decent, and therapy went well earlier, so I am in an optimistic frame of mind. My plans for the upcoming week will probably affect my blogging schedule slightly, but more on that once I've got the details ironed out :) I hope you're all having a great day/evening, many magical magpie hugs to everyone!!

Credits:

All Gifts from SL22B Shop&Hop - Snapdragon Region:

Photo 1:

Outfit: La Feminique Taylor $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 2:

Top: [WellMade] Marline Top $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 3:

Dress: .:{Sofia}:. Catalina Gown Dress Lima $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 4:

Dress: :::WILD:::Fashion SL22B Gift Gown $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 5:

Outfit: zOOm - Spring Top & Legging Gift $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Head: LeLUTKA Fleur Head 4.0

Hair: TRUTH VIP Taffy - Essential

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

Ring: {Carter} Wedding Zoe (Marketplace)

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

Poses: Various Sets from [piXit] or Verocity

Holiday Shop and Hop

 Hiya everyone! Tonight it's time to start exploring the 2024 Holiday Shop & Hop event, and I'm thrilled as always :) There are 320 stores taking part in this round, 20 per region so 16 regions (sims) to explore. Each participant is offering discounted merchandise and a gift for free to all, many of which are gift cards or store credit. FabFree has once again put in the hard work to compile a spreadsheet for us as a guide, with pictures of the gifts and sortable by region, type, or store name alphabetically so you can find all the store credits or a specific store very easily. I find it easiest to keep the gifts sorted in my inventory by region, and all of tonight's looks can be found on the Frosted region. 

My first look tonight is the flirty Faida - Udane Xmas Special gift. This black slip dress is trimmed in matching black lace, and has slits on the front and back of each thigh. It is provided in sizing for Khara, Kupra, Legacy, Maitreya, Lara X, Reborn, and Waifu mesh bodies. It's tempting to wear as a nightie too, depending on the mood.

I couldn't resist sharing the Noel Sequin Dress (Gift) by Madame Noir and their matching Noel Sequin Stole either :) The strapless mini dress has a cinched waist so you may need to use the enclosed alpha layer, and it has been designed for Legacy, Bombshell, Perky, Lara X, Reborn, and Waifu bodies. The stole has the same pattern as the skirt of the dress, and its sizes include Legacy, Lara X, and Reborn bodies. There is a HUD for the stole to turn the sparkles and materials on and off, so we get a bit of customization so it can accommodate our PC and our viewer's settings better.

I really enjoyed my visit to the Tea Lane display, and it was a great place to find several generous free gifts that can be mixed and matched together. The ~TL~ Turkey Girl Cropped Tee is a fun short sleeved knit top in sizing for Gen X Classic, Khara, Kupra, Kups, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, Lara X, Prima Busty, Prima Petite, Reborn, Waifu, and Senra Jamie mesh bodies. Then I added their ~TL~ Turkey Girl BoM Skinny Jeans gift, which includes two different system clothing layers of these slim fitting jeans with front and back pockets. Other gifts include leggings with the same pattern, a hoodie, a hat with hair, and even some poses to help you show them all off and take photos. I'm curious how many of you usually have a turkey for the Christmas holidays? My family always does turkey for Thanksgiving, seafood (feast of the 7 fishes) for Christmas eve, then homemade pizza the next day :) We also used to do a huge ham for New Year's Day, but that tradition fell by the wayside over time.

I kept the Tea Lane jeans on and changed into a different shirt, The Annex - Daddy Tshirt duo. They have black and white versions with the same Santa image above the word "Daddy", each in Lara X, Legacy, Reborn, and Waifu mesh body sizes. The tees are designed to be a little bit baggy for a playful and casual feeling.

My final look of the night is perfect if you need something formal and are still in your Barbie pink era as I always will be :) The .:{Sofia}:. Danielle Gown Dress. Pink is a gorgeous satin gown with pearl-studded halter strap and a full circular train layer over the figure hugging main skirt. It's just irresistible, and the satiny sheen has me feeling like a total diva. There are sizes for Erika, Kupra, Legacy, Maitreya, and Reborn mesh bodies. 

It was a busy and odd sort of day, leaving me feeling a bit drained. The planned outing did not happen, but I've got a couple of future appointments in the books and a totally unrelated doctor sent a message that I have an appointment the morning after Christmas. Nope, that is not okay, and before I could respond I got another message in the patient portal that it was canceled due to staff clerical error. No kidding, lol, although I am not mad because they remedied the mistake promptly without me even having to point it out. I do need to go back to her soon now that a test result came in, but I'll choose my own date and time. This time of year is exhausting enough without extra appointments sprinkled in. I hope you're all having a wonderful day/evening, many magical magpie hugs to everyone!!

Credits:

All Gifts from Shop & Hop - Frosted region:

Photo 1:

Dress: Faida - Udane Xmas Special $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 2:

Dress: Noel Sequin Dress (Gift) by Madame Noir $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Stole: Noel Sequin Stole (Gift) by Madame Noir $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 3:

Top: ~Tea Lane~ Turkey Girl Cropped Tee $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Pants: ~TL~ Turkey Girl BoM Skinny Jeans $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 4:

Top: The Annex - Daddy Tshirt $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 5:

Dress: .:{Sofia}:. Danielle Gown Dress. Pink $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Head: LeLUTKA Fleur Head 4.0

Hair: Magika - Noella Hair

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. Pale ANNIE

Ring: {Carter} Wedding Zoe (Marketplace)

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

All Poses: Verocity  (Various Sets)

Cosmopolitan Treats

 Hiya everyone! Tonight I am excited to share that the Cosmopolitan Event has their Advent tree out for this entire round, which started on the 25th and is open until the 6th of January. This means that with their free group tag active, you can click all the balls or baubles on the Christmas tree and receive dozens of generous gifts from their designers :) The landing spot is directly above the tree, which you can see beneath you through the glass floor, so you can either cam down to it or walk around to one of the ramps that brings you to the lower floor and approach it from ground level. I believe there are over 60 treats waiting, and I promise they aren't all Christmas themed so you don't have to hesitate if you're just over the holiday season ;) There were a few of course, which were lovely but you won't be seeing them here this evening. I am grateful for them, don't get me wrong, it's really just being ready to focus on other things I guess. 

My first look is the sexy Blackstone - Giovana Dress - Red gift. This daringly cut mini dress has a navel-baring neckline and diagonal cut hem, showing off extra thigh on the left side. We receive sizes for Khara, Kupra, Legacy, Maitreya, and Reborn mesh bodies, with a HUD to turn the shine on or off. I have it on in both views above, and I think it might be more noticeable on the right side of my photo. 

Our [Din] Bonnie Fatpack gift also seems to want to help us wrap up the year with extra sex appeal :) The dress and panties (which are basically a slender string) each fit Erika, Gen X Classic, Gen X Curvy, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, Reborn, and Juicy bodies. There is also a HUD, with 8 colors apiece for the top, center, bottom, and panties, plus controls for shine and materials. I felt like mixing things up a bit rather than a monochromatic look, which also gives you ideas of a few of the hues we can select from.

Denim is a timeless essential in my book, so I am delighted with our Yadia Jean Dress - Blue Jeans gift from #UNIVERSA. There are sizes for Gen X Classic, Gen X Squishy, Khara, Kupra, Kupra Mounds, Legacy, Maitreya, Peach, Reborn, Reborn Mounds, and Reborn Waifu mesh bodies provided. I really like the styling, with plunging neckline, pretty collar, and daring side slit for a playful feeling. 

Next we see the beautiful .:{Sofia}:. Cheer Star Gown Dress - Purple dress, whose details immediately made me smile. It is provided in sizing for Erika, Kupra, Legacy, Maitreya, and Reborn bodies, and has a ruffled layer built in with one frill across the bodice and one on each side of the skirt. The ruffles reveal the gold inner fabric, a shiny satin that matches the belt and the floral decorations on the underskirt. That leg slit is an eye-catching detail too, don't you think? I've always thought of purple and gold as a very regal color combination, so this could bring out our inner beauty queen.

My final look of the evening features the [hh] Jada Dress gift from Hilly Haalan. There are two different lengths of the dress included, each in Erika, Gen X Classic, Gen X Curvy, Kupra, Kups, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, Petite, and Reborn mesh body sizes. There's also a HUD as you can tell, which offers an impressive 40 colors each for the top, upper skirt, mid skirt, and lower skirt for the longer style dress. I was apparently in an ombre mood when taking these photos :) There are also 4 metal options for the clips on our straps, so this dress is wonderfully customizable.

It was another chaotic day here, as my therapy session turned into an outing to the dentist's office parking lot. It was a little better than yesterday's excursion, but still far too much anxiety for my liking. The weather is still rainy but I think it's supposed to clear up for the weekend :) Dinner at my parents' tomorrow, which I am looking forward to as usual. I hope you're all having a lovely day/evening, many magical magpie hugs to everyone!!

Credits:

All Advent Group Gifts from Cosmopolitan Event:

Photo 1:

Dress: Blackstone - Giovana Dress - Red $0L Cosmo Group Gift

Photo 2:

Dress: [Din] Bonnie Fatpack $0L Cosmo Group Gift

Photo 3:

Dress: #UNIVERSA - Yadia Jean Dress - Blue Jeans $0L Cosmo Group Gift

Photo 4:

Dress: .:{Sofia}:. Cheer Star Gown Dress - Purple $0L Cosmo Group Gift

Photo 5:

Dress: Hilly Haalan [hh] Jada Dress $0L Cosmo Group Gift

Head: LeLUTKA Fleur Head 3.1

Hair: TRUTH Levitate - Redhead

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

Ring: {Carter} Wedding Zoe (Marketplace)

Body/Hands/Feet: Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara

All Poses: Verocity  (Various Sets)

Time For Shop and Hop

 Hiya everyone! Tonight it's finally time to take a peek at some of the many gifts awaiting all of us at the Holiday Shop & Hop 2023, with 16 regions filled with designers' displays that offer discounted sales items along with generous gifts. I'm focusing on the Chickory region's gifts tonight, simply because it is easiest for me to keep them sorted by region and do one at a time instead of trying to send you to a bunch of landmarks all at once ;) It took me a while just to get there this year with the start of Advent and all the usual monthly things, so I'm relieved to be able to share these wonderful presents that are meant to brighten our holidays. I definitely find myself more in the spirit of the season after visiting :)

Starting this evening off, we have 2 gifts from [Pixel Doll] - their Emilie Set 01 on the left, and Emilie Set 02 on the right. Both include the dress and panties to fit Legacy/Boobs/Perky, Maitreya, and Reborn/Juicy bodies, plus a matching hat with resize script on touch. The strapless dress is loosely tied in the front and on each hip, and the hat is like a old fashioned sleeping cap that drapes down with a poof at the tip. The gingerbread pattern on both is just precious, and looks great on both background colors :) 

For a real showstopper of a look to wear at a fancy seasonal gathering, be sure to visit the Moon Amore display and grab their free Santa's Helper Dress // GIFT. It is beautifully decorated with 3D ornaments just like a tree, with golden accents around our baubles ;) This extra full skirted dress comes in sizes for eBody, Legacy, and Maitreya mesh bodies.

::{Sofia}:: is offering the gorgeous Sae-byeok Gown Dress, Cherry as its gift for the event, and I am immensely grateful for it. The cleverly styled gown has a single long sleeve to contrast with the bare left shoulder above the hip-high slit on the same side, in sizes for Freya, Kupra, Legacy, and Maitreya bodies. The gift also includes matching earrings, rings for each hand (not shown), and an accessory that is the lovely flower atop the leg slit's opening. That long flowing skirt looks so elegant satin, don't you think?

Tis the season for red, so I next combined two gifts for one red hot look! The top is our BONNICCI - Ivonne Top - Red treat, a delicious little strapless bra top with a lace ruffle in sizes for Legacy, Maitreya, and Reborn bodies. It pairs remarkably well with the (*<*) 1313 Natasha Leggings - Festive gift from 1313 Mockingbird Lane. These snug leggings are slit from waistband to ankle with sheer golden lace in between, to match the gold polka dots just right :) This gift is provided in eBody Reborn, Kupra, Legacy, and Maitreya mesh body sizing. 

Our final look of the evening is the beautiful AlaFolie - RED LILY gift. The wonderful dress has long sheer sleeves, sweetheart neckline, and frilly skirt that comes almost to the knee for a fairly modest (at least by SL standards) appearance that I find quite endearing. It comes in Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, Petite, Prima Busty, and Prima Petite sizes, with panties that resemble bloomers in the same sizes. There is also a system/BOM layer "culotte rouge" which is a pair of red bikini panties that you can wear instead of or with the mesh panties. As always in SL, it is all up to you how you choose to wear your new outfit :) 

I had a busy but enjoyable day, and dinner at my parents' was pretty nice. I had to laugh when I mentioned that my haircut appointment was Tuesday, and they both went, "you got your hair cut??" with looks of blank confusion. I got like 6 inches lopped off, LOL, it's not like I got a half inch trim and then got mad (I was not upset at all) that nobody noticed. There are countless memes that could explain how all of us felt. There was a brief discussion of holiday plans, and we decided on a single batch of crab cakes rather than double for Xmas Eve, and I just have to keep my fingers crossed that it's enough. I hope you all have a delightful weekend ahead, many magical magpie hugs to everyone!!

Credits:

All Gifts from Holiday Shop & Hop - Chickory Region:

Photo 1:

Outfit Left: [Pixel Doll] Emilie Set 01 $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Outfit Right: [Pixel Doll] Emilie Set 02 $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 2:

Dress: Moon Amore: Santa's Helper Dress // GIFT $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 3:

Dress: ::{Sofia}:: Sae-byeok Gown Dress, Cherry $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 4:

Top: BONNICCI - Ivonne Top - Red $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Pants: (*<*) 1313 Natasha Leggings - Festive $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 5:

Dress: AlaFolie - RED LILY $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Head: LeLUTKA Fleur Head 3.1

Hair: TRUTH Serenity - Redhead

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

Ring: {Carter} Wedding Zoe (Marketplace)

Body/Hands/Feet: Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara

All Poses: Verocity  (Various Sets)

Shopping and Hopping

 Hiya everyone! Tonight we're back at the Halloween Shop & Hop, this time visiting the region of Forsythia which is one of 16 regions filled with treats. There are exclusive sales offers from 20 designers per region, with at least one free gift from each as well :) Some are gift cards or store credit so you can select your own reward for visiting, while other designers have picked out something they feel is representative of their brand and hard work, and I'm grateful for every single one. The Halloween Shop & Hop is open until the 5th of November, so we still have plenty of time to explore and enjoy.

My first look of the evening is an extra large image, so please give it a click to see the full view of our .:{Sofia}:. Kayla Gown Dress V1 - Orange gift. This gorgeous gown and matching bow are each provided in sizes for Belleza Classic, Belleza Curvy, Erika, Erika Bubble, Freya, Legacy, Maitreya, Reborn, Reborn Juicy, and Waifu mesh bodies. Then we can add the earrings, brooch (appears on the bodice), and even the floral bouquet with a built in hold pose. This gives a unique bridal look, or at least bridal party, but without the bouquet it can be an elegant gown for any formal event :) The orange of course gives Halloween or autumn vibes, or maybe it's just your favorite color which makes it perfect for any time of year.

Another gift I found with similar coloring is the Stories&Co. Mara Dress - Glow. This sexy strapless dress comes down to mid-thigh, with a daring slit on the left leg all the way up to the hip, and the fabric does indeed appear to glow because of the beautiful texturing. Claim this gift and you'll receive Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, Petite, Reborn, and Reborn Waifu mesh body sizing. Please note the low cut neckline is definitely flashing some nippleage with the Legacy body size, and sometimes that does vary by body but for wearing in a family friendly place I'll layer a strapless lace bra beneath.

I also love purple for this time of year, so it was a pleasure to find the Entice - Sweet Jane - Purple Plaid gift :) The jacket and panties are each provided in sizes for Freya, Hourglass, Kupra, Legacy, Maitreya, and Petite mesh bodies. The panties are solid colored and coordinate beautifully with the hues of the plaid we see on the jacket, subtle and lovely.

For something cozy and casual to wear any time of year, be sure to visit the Caboodle display and pick up their Anne Shirt & Shorts - Stripe gift. The loose-fitting short sleeved top and shorts that are laced tightly in front like football pants are both a soft beige with slightly darker striping. There are eBody, Freya, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, and Petite sizes of these sweet separates, and as individual pieces you can pair them with other wardrobe staples as well if you prefer.

My final look of the night is a combination spooky and sexy (spexy?) treat from Les sucreries de Fairy named *Cute Gost Outfit*. There are black and white versions each in sizes for Legacy and Maitreya bodies for the dress, panties, collar, and garters. They are basically photo negative images of each other, with the ghost appearing on front and back of each color. This particular brand was crafting fashions for Maitreya only for a while, so it was a pleasure to see the Legacy sizing included as well :)

It was a quiet day here, which is just the way I like them, and I am basically going to be flipping a coin or rolling some dice to decide which of the many events' gifts to share tomorrow ;) I have been focusing on variety so not too much of any one at once, as this month is a bounty of seasonal celebrations and anniversary/birthday treats from various events. Believe me, I feel blessed even if it is a bit busy! November will probably be very quiet, then December is generous chaos. I hope you're all having a terrific day/evening, many magical magpie hugs to everyone!!

Credits:

All Gifts from Halloween Shop & Hop - Forsythia:

Photo 1:

Dress: .:{Sofia}:. Kayla Gown Dress V1 - Orange $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 2:

Dress: Stories&Co. Mara Dress - Glow $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 3:

Outfit: Entice - Sweet Jane - Purple Plaid $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 4:

Outfit: Caboodle - Anne Shirt & Shorts - Stripe $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Photo 5:

Outfit: Les sucreries de Fairy *Cute Gost Outfit* $0L Shop&Hop Gift

Head: LeLUTKA Fleur Head 3.1

Hair: TRUTH Tangle - Redhead

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

Ring: {Carter} Wedding Zoe (Marketplace)

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

All Poses: Verocity  (Various Sets)

Tree Treats from Cosmopolitan

 Hiya everyone! Tonight we have more of the Cosmopolitan event's Advent tree gifts, all available for free with their group tag (free to join) active, until the round closes on the 7th of January. Just click each glass ball or bauble on their tree near the front entrance, and as I mentioned last night it helped me to derender the tree and then do the same to each bauble after I clicked it to keep track of which I'd claimed and see all of them easily. Please keep in mind that there are dozens of gifts and this is just a sampling, so you will find plenty of exciting gifts of all sorts like home decor, accessories, and more. Much gratitude to each and every designer participating in Cosmopolitan and offering a gift for this extra round so we all have more time to claim them :)

My first look of the evening is an elegant gift from Hilly Haalan called [hh] Evany Dress. The single long sleeve is contrasted by a slender strap that crosses over to join it on the left side, and a wrap style skirt that shows flashes of thigh. There are Erika, Freya, Isis, Kupra, Kups, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, and Petite mesh body sizes included, as well as a HUD with a whopping 50 colors to choose from! Such a thoughtful gift, not to mention versatile :)

Next I wrapped myself in the Cherry Up! Twiggy Mini Dress @Cherry. gift, and who can blame me? :) The style is fun for this time of year since that bold red will pop against a wintry background, yet it shows off our long legs and a hint of cleavage. The gift includes sizes for eBody Reborn, Erika, Kupra, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, and Petite mesh bodies. 

Seniha is offering their alluring Kandy Dress // Fatpack as the gift on the tree, and it is quite the fatpack indeed! The dress, sleeves, and string (panties) each fit Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, and Petite bodies, and the HUDs are what makes it a fatpack. The dress and sleeve HUDs each have 30 solids, 30 stripes, and 15 prints to choose from for the main dress/sleeves and the trim, and the string HUD offers 30 solid colors. This means lots of mixing and matching, and since the sleeves are a separate piece we can easily wear the dress without them if we prefer. How will you wear it first?

My next look is the unique Foxton Berlin Outfit - Fullpack gift, with the appearance of a sheer blouse, tank top, belt, and partial pleated skirt wrapped around shorts, but all combined in to one fun piece. It is provided in eBody, Legacy, Perky, and Maitreya sizes, with a HUD that offers 10 colors each for the shirt, skirt, belt, top, and shorts. This means we get to do lots of mixing and matching, and the bright hues among our options made me think of the neon trends of the early 80s that I may have indulged in as a young girl :) There is writing on the right side of the blouse, but these old eyes couldn't quite read it...I did a lot of layering of blouses over tank tops in the 80s too so that might be contributing to my nostalgia even if this is a very modern take. 

It's almost New Year's Eve, do you have your outfit picked out yet? If not, be sure to click the bauble from .:{Sofia}:. containing their Eluney Star Gown Dress Purple since it is a stunning formal look! The gown with overskirt is a beautiful shade of purple, reminding me that it is a color for royalty, and will fit Kupra, Legacy, Perky, Maitreya, Petite, and Reborn mesh bodies. I think this was a fitting choice for my final look of the evening and the year. 

It is so weird to realize that this is my last post of the year, and I always find myself pondering what I would like to see for the fresh start of each new year. We all need more peace and health I think, as many of us had really rough years since 2020 or so. That is my wish for all of you, a year filled with whatever you needed more of in 2022 whether that is love, friendship, peace, luck, improved health for you and your loved ones, financial stability...all of you deserve the best that life has to offer. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend ahead, and wish you all a happy and healthy new year. Many magical magpie hugs to everyone!!

Credits:

All Group Gifts from Cosmopolitan:

Photo 1:

Dress: Hilly Haalan [hh] Evany Dress $0L Cosmo Group Gift

Photo 2:

Dress: Cherry Up! Twiggy Mini Dress @Cherry. $0L Cosmo Group Gift

Photo 3:

Dress: Seniha. Kandy Dress // Fatpack $0L Cosmo Group Gift

Photo 4:

Outfit: Foxton Berlin Outfit - Fullpack $0L Cosmo Group Gift

Photo 5:

Dress: .:{Sofia}:. Eluney Star Gown Dress Purple $0L Cosmo Group Gift

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

Head: LeLUTKA Fleur Head 3.1

Hair: TRUTH VIP Merry - Essential

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

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

Body/Hands/Feet: Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara

All Poses: Verocity  (Various Sets)