"I Never Did Mind About the Little Things"

Well I've done something I never thought I'd do on this blog. In fact, I structured the page with the understanding that I never would do it. But I'm someone who believes that confession is good for the soul.

So, here it goes:

I changed skins.

That's right. I actually purchased a skin that isn't from Minnu... and not only that, I've been wearing it for hours. See, I venture out and buy new skins all the time. And then I wear them for about 20 minutes and decide I can't deal with it and switch back. It's a combination of not liking my shape in different skins or not liking specific details. I'm just as picky with my real life make up as I am with my virtual shading and highlighting. When I find something that I like, I stick with it and I vary very, very little. I've been wearing the same type of purple-ish eye shadow since I was 19. I switch brands, sure - Laura Mercier, Mac, Channel, Clinique - but it's all pretty much the same. I do switch it up a bit when it comes to lipstick and lip gloss, but basically... I know what works and I stick with it.

Minnu's skins just work with my shape that was tweaked for days and days to fit. Sure, sometimes I think of different colors that I wish she'd do (an eye shadow similar to my favorite Mac purple, for example would bring tears to these Mercier-lined eyes), but overall I'm thrilled with my Minnu skins and can't ever change for any period of time.

Tonight, however, I took a jaunt to a new SIM that I'd heard whispers here and there about. After adjusting my settings for the full effect, I slowly made my way around the offerings at The Abyss and paused to review the skins. I did what I always do - pick up all the demos and wait to get home to try them on. I need to try a skin with all my favorite hair styles and a few of my favorite shirts... I need to wear it around and catch sight of my face from different angles to see if there's anything that rubs me the wrong way.

And this one? It didn't... it really didn't. The lipstick is more severe than a color I'd wear consistantly, but it's fun for specific looks. I love the smokey eyes. They're not TOO dark but dark enough to give contrast to my eyes and make them pop just the way I like it. I even love the contouring offered with the blush just under my cheek bones. Yes, yes indeed... I think I like it.

So, I teleported back and pushed my way through the lag to buy my favorite pack. I slid it on dashed back home. There was one final test that the skin had to pass. See, I'm not the only one who's pretty happy with my Minnu skins. In fact, every "other" skin I've tried on Ben has almost immediately rejected. And 9 times out of 10, I agree with him completely. So, this time I didn't say anything. I was up on a pose stand taking a few pictures when he signed on. After our usually (sickeningly sweet) greetings, he said "you look awfully cute..." I held my breath and offered a simple "/me smiles" in return... "... despite the different skin." "/me sighs" But, instead of an "I don't like it," he said, "it's a different, hot little look." Well that was positive.

I took him back to The Abyss and we shopped some more and marveled at the SIM build. (It's really, really phenomenal - if you haven't been, go. And, follow the directions for altering your settings.) As we dressed to go listen to one of our favorite DJ's, I even got a "the skin is growing on me."

So while I don't think I'll ever leave Minnu permanently (and I really, REALLY won't if the aforementioned Mac purple shows up when the SIM reopens in December), I am happy to have found a "different, hot little look."

One of the first stores I found and fell in love with in SL was Sand Shack Surf Co. I was thrilled to see a notice of new stuff from Emma today, right after I wore my ballet flats on the blog, too. She released some adorable kitten heels that I had to check out (thank god for the "shack pack!") and there are some fantastic new sweaters, too. I thought the black was perfect with my dramatic make up and hair. I like the unexpectedness of the ruffled edge and lace insets with the more dramatic elements of the outfit. I wanted a little color pop and figured the tintable tank from Persona would be the perfect option. When I put it on, it was already tinted this great deep aqua color from an outfit I wore last week. It was the perfect "pop" under the black layers so I didn't even change it. The tuxedo pants from Last Call are the manifestation of unattainable perfection. I love their low-slung nature; the fit through the hips and thighs and the smooth flare at the legs. The "tuxedo" stripe down the side is just an added finishing detail that makes these pants my favorite black "go to" pants ever.

The accessories for this outfit were simple. I added a prim belt buckle for finishing. The wrapped pearl necklace from Bonita works with the lower cut neckline of the sweater and compliments the short, modern hair. Ah, the hair. This hair is super, duper, uber flexi hair from Analog Dog. While it's officially called "Sasha," in my inventory it's labeled "Femme Nikita" and every time I wear it, I picture Bridgette Fonda calmly saying "I never did mind about the little things" in the movie Point of No Return. In my mind, it fit with the make up and the overall feel of The Abyss SIM. (Have I mentioned that you HAVE to go check it out?)

The finishing touch came from the "Diva" shoe from Tesla. I liked the height of the heel and thought that the platform sole added that touch of funk the outfit needed. Plus, in my mind I had morphed in to an assasin and for some reason, I could just see running down the street in these puppers. (Uh, in my fantasy world... in the real world, I'd trip and skin my knees and the palms of my hands which would result in my trying not to cry like a little girl while wondering which hurt worse - my owies or my ego.)

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Sweater - Frills Trim Cardigan, Black - Jacket Layer
Sand Shack Surf Co.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Lions Shore/62/196/0/

Pants - Maidi Tuxedo Pants - Pant Layer, Smooth or Slouchy Prim Pant Leg Attachments (part of "Maidi" outfit)
Last Call
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dazzle/68/11/27/

Undershirt - Tank Top, tintable - Colors Available on Jacket Layer, Tintable on Undershirt and Underpants Layers (for "tucked in" look)
Persona
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Axenfall/131/61/22/

Necklace - Black Wrapped Bead Necklace, Low Shine - Prim Chest Attachment
Bonita's Jewelry and Furniture Shop
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Malra/45/87/66/

Belt - Easy Street Belt Buckle - Prim Pelvis Attachment (part of "Easy Street" outfit)
TorridWear
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Chartreuse/177/69/22/

Shoes - Diva, Black - Shoe Base, Prim Foot Attachments
Tesla
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dreamworld South/231/221/22/

Hair - Sasha, Black - Prim Chin Bang Attachment, Prim Head Hair Attachment
Analog Dog
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Triggerfish/82/27/21/

Skin - Jadzi Noxious_SS, [3]C
The Abyss
http://slurl.com/secondlife/The Abyss/96/136/237/

Undo Pressure

Well, I've gone and put so much pressure on myself with this blog that I've been virtually unable to write! It's not that I don't have anything to say (of course that couldn't be it!), but I've gone on this mad SL Blog reading frenzy and there are so many great (and not so great) pages out there that it's hard to even fathom a comparison. What is it that you all are wanting to see? More of the same? What I've found is the same stores... the same clothes... the same accessories all appearing on page after page. And in some ways, that's not a bad thing - there is of course going to be a "best of the best" - just like Gap, BCBG, Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Versace and Prada can be seen on Real Life style mavens the globe over. So instead of running away from the popular, I'm just going to try to put my own spin on it. Give you a daily look in to my virtual closet and hopefully compile some "favorites"...

In order to start this adventure, I had to do a MASS inventory cleaning. I started on Friday and am finally finished with clothes and accessories. My "objects" folder is still in need of an OCD mood to hit, but at least my closet has been cleaned out. I was holding on to folder after folder of those freebies that I spent my first week accumulating. You know, the designer cast offs and screwy prims... the mismatched seams and (horror of horrors) system shoes. Well, I tried on every last one of them and got rid of the things that I was saving for that elusive "some night." (You know - "I may need this some night!") Well, trust me girl, there was NO way I was going to need the dress with a prim skirt that attached somewhere above my breasts and stuck out like the petals of a daisy. I did prance around my living room in it for a little while just to giggle at how ridiculous I looked. But, once I hit that "detach" button - in to the trash she went. I did contemplate the virtues of a "yard sale" - but let's face it, everyone's selling the same crap as I would have been... and I just can't bear to send any of that back on to the grid for some poor, unsuspecting newbie to pick up and start wearing. I'd rather pluck one from the ranks and take her shopping instead of subject her to the hideousness known as "Freebies".

Don't get me wrong, there are some great give aways out there and I did save quite a few. Some good camisole/undershirt layers... a few interesting pieces of jewelery that are actually bearable after a couple minutes on a pose stand with an edit window and a couple other treats I'm sure you'll see gracing the pages of this very blog sometime in the near future. So, don't fault me when you see "Freebie" in the credits... I couldn't get rid of it ALL, you know.

So, after I lightened my inventory load by a good 3000 items (um, I'm not exaggerating), I set out to find THE outfit to debut on my blog. Well, I got myself so deep inside the pressure cooker I caught myself exclaiming to the poor boy who entertains my whimsical ways on a daily basis "I just don't have anything to wear!" I heard the intake of breath on the other end of the voice line and I could see the words formulating in his head. "How can YOU... not have... anything to wear?" I whimpered and whined that it was true and declared a shopping trip as the event for the evening. "Right after I get dressed," I said. (God love him, he didn't even remark on the irony... because, after all, if I were able to get dressed... that would of course mean that I had something to wear now wouldn't it? Shhh, I didn't point it out, either.)

So, off we went. I felt this need to expand my "Accessories" folder. I have a few tried and true jewelery pieces that I turn to often when I need an extra "punch," but I find that SL Kristianne treats accessories much the same way RL Kristianne does. I'm all about the shoes - JUST GIVE ME MORE SHOES... but I'll settle in to a nice, simple necklace that has some deeper meaning and diamond studs; a watch when I'm not playing the "I don't care what time of day it is" game; and maybe - MAYBE - a ring. I'm the same way in SL. I found a necklace a few weeks ago that fits that "deeper meaning" model and I wear it, or some iteration of it, daily. It didn't take me long to find my good old trusty diamond studs that I also wear when my hair demands a little something extra. I just can't get in to the watch thing in SL - where time never really DOES matter - so I've opted for a bracelet when my arms are bare... but it just wasn't the right set of accoutrement that I've seen some of my peers do... and so off to shop I went.

I took a spin through Miam Miam (love the charm bracelets!) and stopped off at Charmed (such a cute little monogrammed ribbon choker!) before passing through Shiny Things (mmm, chunky bracelets... yummy!) and then headed to Paper Couture. "I'll take that, and that and that...."

And then, I experienced the humiliation I'll now refer to as "The PC Stairs". Good LORD am I the only one who felt like a prize needed to be waiting for her at the top of that staircase? Stairs in SL are hard enough - but a little, itsy, bitsy spiral staircase? Let's just say it took, um, a few tries. But man am I glad I made it to the top!

Because there I found... the outfit that will now mark the debut of Life by Proxy.

It's Fall and everyone's wanting something a bit warmer to mark the season. I've found a few cute turtlenecks that I throw on when it gets cooler and I've tried a few of the sweater dresses out and about. But none have hit quite the style mark as this one did for me.

It did come with a chunkier turtleneck prim attachment that looked like I wrapped my duvet around my neck and so I opted to go without.

Not bad for a system skirt and the texture of the leather is just delicious. I love how thick and cozy it looks and it does do nice things for the derrière.

The back detail on the sweater is nice and does give the illusion that one is not wearing a baggy sack but instead a fabric that accentuates her physicality nicely.

A few of my delectable new accessories to accent the detail of the bustier and high leather waist and my perfectly messy super-flex pony tail, and I'd say I did pretty well for my debut! Welcome to the blog! More to come!

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Dress - P.C. Leather and Wool - Shirt and Skirt Layers, Prim Turtleneck Attachment (not pictured) Paper Couture; House of Lu (Barcola 80, 125, 26 (Mature))

Hose - Pantyhose - Ebony - Socks and Pants or Underpants Layers 1-800 Bettie's (Roosa (235, 21, 28))

Boots - Melisande - Onyx - Shoe Base, Prim Foot and Lower Leg Attachments Last Call Vamp (Dazzle 68, 11, 27 (Mature))

Earrings - Black Pearl Drop Earrings - Prim Ear Attachments Paper Couture; House of Lu (Barcola 80, 125, 26 (Mature))

Necklace - Black Wrapped Bead Necklace, Low Shine - Prim Chest Attachment Bonita's Jewelry and Furniture Shop (, Malra (45, 86, 66))

Hair - Pony Tail - N Flip Brown - Prim Head Attachment Bang - 11pm Bang Wavy Brown - Prim Chin Attachment (sold with the "Lexy" UpDo) Analog Dog (Triggerfish (28, 27, 21)) Shoulder Length - Mica - Mahogany - Prim Head Attachment ("glow" and "non-glow" styles) Maitreya (Superieure (94, 43, 451))

Skin- MM-Pale SkinGloss-Old Hollywood (not available for sale) Minnu Model Skins (Glam World (118, 136, 23))

Poses - Luth High Fashion Poses Reel Expression (Lalique (219, 92, 26))