second life blogger

  • Lace

    Bygogo Uncategorized
    3 Comments
    Lace

    When brands leave popular social media platforms, it becomes incredibly hard to keep up with their releases. That’s what happened with Toksik. For whatever reason, probably money, they decided to leave Flickr, and since then it’s been a challenge to track their new releases or even look back at what I already own or might want to buy. I find it a little odd that so many designers say they left Flickr because it’s “too expensive,” without thinking of that small yearly cost as part of their marketing budget.

    Anyway, I saw the Vicious outfit at Nightshade and debated whether to buy the fatpack for L$4,000, which includes all the colors, or try my luck with the gacha machine. I ended up getting a few friends together, and we all played until everyone had a full outfits in all the colors, including the rare hat and collar. I spent less than half of what the fatpack costs, so that’s my suggestion if you want this outfit too. I’m still not a fan of gacha though. If this outfit had been a regular release, it would have come as a complete set instead of being split into pieces. It’s just a dress with a hat, after all.

    In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new Premium Plus plan with no stipend. Designers are thrilled, of course. This plan costs $143 a year if you pay annually, or $191 if you pay monthly. But if you’re someone who buys lindens occasionally throughout the year, this plan probably isn’t for you. You don’t really save much, if anything at all, once you factor in the lack of a stipend.

    I have to admit, I’m feeling a bit burnt out on Halloween events across the grid. I’m ready for cozy fall vibes and something more cheerful. But if you’re a Halloween lover, this is definitely your month. There are tons of hunts, freebies, and events happening right now, including Shop & Hop.

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    Along Came a Spider

    Bygogo Fashion, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
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    Along Came a Spider

    If there’s one month to put spiders in your hair, it’s October. Who knew arranging tiny jeweled spiders could be so fun? The Along Came a Spider set from Sparkle Skye includes jeweled spiders and a delicate metal web with pearls that you can wear as a hair clip. I never thought I’d actually put a spider in my hair in Second Life, but here we are. They’re small enough to scatter throughout your hairstyle, so you can create your own unique spooky accessory.

    Find it at Camp Syndicate!

    Along Came a Spider
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    Bellisseria Trick or Treat

    Bygogo Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
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    Bellisseria Trick or Treat

    This year marks the 5th Bellisseria Trick or Treat event! The first one will always be my favorite because it was hard as hell. None of us knew how many candies we needed to win, so my friends and I went all in and collected a ridiculous amount. I still didn’t make the Top 10 or get all four bears in 2021, but it was so much fun trying. The second year was great too, and the bears were still adorable.

    By the third and fourth years, the prizes switched to boopies, and collecting candies around Bellisseria got easier, but it still had some challenge to it.

    This year, though, felt like life on easy mode. It was so simple that I didn’t enjoy it as much. As a homeowner, I already got five free candies every day. Since the Tier 4 prize only required 400 candies, I knew from the start that I’d win just by following the Bellisseria Citizens group Trick or Treat list. I guess I’m grateful it only took me two days to hit the top prize, but it wasn’t as fun because I didn’t have to team up with friends and explore all over Bellisseria like before.

    My pro tip for this event is to skip any house where the bucket is too hard to find. There are tons of buckets out there, and your time is valuable. If you don’t spot it within five seconds, move on. When teleporting around, open Area Search, type “BUCKET,” and get within five meters so you can click it. You can even touch it directly from the Area Search window.

    One thing I noticed about the BC list this year is that there were only around 400 buckets total. That makes me think not many people are active in the Bellisseria Citizens group anymore. There have to be over 30,000 Linden Homes by now, so where’s everyone at?

    How can this event be more exciting next year? Go back to the first year’s trick-or-treating style. I don’t want to know how many candies I need to win, and the requirements should depend on how many residents are actually collecting. I’m not saying make it harder, just make it less predictable. There was also a lot of lag this year, and I really don’t like those long, narrow 2048 parcels. And bring back the bears, they were the best!

    If you want to join the fun, check out the official Trick or Treat post on the forum.

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    A Cheap and Cute Mesh Head?

    Bygogo Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
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    Akeruka

    I didn’t need or even want a new mesh head, but for L$99 I decided to give the Akeruka Milena head a try. I haven’t worn an AK head in a long time, so I honestly don’t remember what I thought of them before. Today I’ll share my honest reaction to this Milena head. First of all, it works really well right out of the box. Since it’s made for EvoX, I was able to wear the exact same skin and makeup that I already use with my LeLutka EvoX head. I didn’t have to press any buttons or change settings to get it to work, it just did, and that was a nice surprise.

    As with any new mesh head, I tried to tweak the shape to look like Gogo. The nose and lips were fairly easy to adjust, but the eyes gave me a hard time. I wasn’t happy with the profile or the chin either, which were the most challenging areas for me. I also noticed that no matter how I adjusted my shape, the closed-eye animation made my eyeballs poke through the eyelids. The eyes are rigged too tightly against the lids, so that’s definitely a problem if you like to use blinking or closed-eye animations.

    Even though this head is only L$99, I don’t think it’s inferior to Akeruka’s full-priced mesh heads. It seems to be the same product, with the same HUD and the same challenges. I really hope those issues get fixed, because overall it’s easy to use and looks great right away.

    If you just want a pretty face and don’t care about closing your eyes or using animations, this head might be perfect for you.

    Made a GIF so you can see the eye poking through my eyelid!
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    Who Really Benefits from Premium Plus Without Stipends? Creators.

    Bygogo Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
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    Who Really Benefits from Premium Plus Without Stipends? Creators.
    Photo taken at the Linden Casino!

    Second Life is rolling out a new cheaper Premium Plus plan this October, but it doesn’t include the weekly Linden stipend. On paper, it works out to about the same cost as the old plan with the stipend, but the benefit really depends on who you are in-world.

    If you’re a resident who shops, rents land, or just enjoys having a little spending money, the stipend is basically free Lindens in your pocket. It’s what makes Premium feel cheaper, because those few hundred Lindens a week can either go straight into your shopping budget or help offset the cost of Premium. Without that stipend, the discount doesn’t really give you more value. You just lose the free money.

    Where the new plan makes sense is for creators and anyone earning Lindens in-world. If you already have a steady flow of income, you probably don’t care about a stipend trickling in every week. In fact, this option benefits you more because it means fewer Lindens are being pumped into the economy. Less supply keeps Lindens stronger, and that helps creators when they cash out their earnings.

    There’s also a smaller win here for people who love playing Game of Homes (GoH) and having multiple homes. Premium Plus gives you access to the 2048 Linden Homes, and this new no-stipend version brings the cost down by about $100 a year. So if you’re mainly in it for the house and don’t care about stipends, this plan lets you hold onto a home for a little less.

    It’s also worth pointing out that with the real-life economy struggling, Second Life is clearly planning ahead. They’re looking for ways to improve their own virtual economy while keeping Linden dollar stable. A stronger, steadier Linden dollar benefits creators the most, especially those who rely on cashing out.

    But I also wish Second Life would consider the residents who aren’t earning any Lindens at all. For a lot of people, the weekly stipend is more valuable than free uploads or other perks. I have Premium Plus and almost never upload anything. This is where the new plan could backfire. Without a stipend, people may become more budget conscious. They may start to notice just how expensive it is to buy Lindens with real money, once you factor in the fees and the not so great exchange rate. Reminding people that in-game currency equals real money is not the kind of wake-up call Second Life should want to encourage.

    If Second Life wants to cater to all residents, they would allow us to customize our Premium plan. Imagine being able to pick from a list, no uploads, no stipend, no extra groups, etc., and adjust your subscription price based on what you actually use. That kind of flexibility would make Premium feel more tailored and valuable to everyone, not just creators.

    At the end of the day, this plan isn’t really for shoppers or casual users. It’s for creators who earn their Lindens, or for GoH fans who just want the cheapest way to hold a house for less money. Everyone else will find the stipend plan still gives the better deal.

    Still, having options is always a good thing. Soon, residents will be able to choose what works best for them, whether that’s weekly pocket money or a lower upfront cost with no stipends attached.

    Read more on these blogs:

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    Autumn Look

    Bygogo Fashion, Hair, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
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    Autumn Look

    New face skin! I’m wearing the new Briar skin from Amara Beauty. I haven’t been wearing Amara much since I switched to non-Velour body skin tones. Amara right now only creates skins for Velour tones, which makes it hard to match with whatever body skin I’m wearing. At the moment I’m wearing Session body skins, which only comes in four tones. It wasn’t easy to match, but I think I made it work.

    I like this face so much, it’s nearly perfect. I added a few of Izzie’s face tattoo fixes, but other than that the skin looks great right out of the box. If you like a face with defined features and a polished look, this one’s for you.

    Autumn Look

    I’ve also been wanting to blog about the Belle Epoque Reopening Hunt since August, and I finally got around to it now. You have until September 30 to check it out and grab 22 items for L$10 each. I love this dress so much, and I already own it in another color. The hair I’m wearing is a free gift from Wings. If you’re like me, you love a good freebie and mixing it with paid items.

    Now that Autumn’s here, I’m so excited to bring out all of my cardigans and sweaters. This beautiful Maple Cradi from Orphic even has a built-in hand pose, which I usually avoid, but here it’s cute and it works. You can find it at this month’s Anthology event.

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    Fapple Neko Mansion, A Second Life Doll House

    Bygogo Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized
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    Fapple Neko Mansion, A Second Life Doll House
    My new Fapple Neko Mansion

    I was scrolling X when I stumbled on the cutest little dollhouse. Turns out it isn’t for sale, you can only win the items on the lucky boards at the Fapple store. What’s the Fapple store? I had never even heard of it. It’s on an Adult region and sells adult things, but somehow it also has the most kawaii little dollhouse I’ve ever seen.

    It’s called the Neko Mansion, and if you’re patient you can win 51 items to decorate every room inside. I couldn’t believe it was free. I immediately dragged my friends over to stand with me and by the end of the weekend we had collected all the pieces. Once I finished the collection, I sent everything to the creator and she gave me a copy/no transfer set. The original items are no copy/transfer, but you can’t sell them, you can only trade or gift them to friends.

    Fapple Neko Mansion, A Second Life Doll House
    Fapple Neko Mansion, A Second Life Doll House
    Fapple Neko Mansion, A Second Life Doll House

    With Christmas coming up, this dollhouse might be the best present you can give in Second Life, or keep for yourself. The transfer version is especially worth it because it comes with linked rooms, which makes decorating so much easier. I was already sweating at the thought of having to place every single piece myself. Huge shout out to the creator, Anna Timmerman, for making something so thoughtful and generous. This is easily the best gift I’ve ever seen in Second Life. Honestly, she could probably sell it for L$100,000 and someone would buy it, but instead it’s completely free. All you have to do is grab it off the lucky boards.

    Visit Fapple

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    Magic Moments

    Bygogo Events, Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized, What I think
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    Magic Moments

    There’s always room for a little magic in our lives. Sometimes I start rezzing random things on my platform that don’t make any sense at all, like twinkling glow blobs floating up behind me. But why not? It’s magical. Second Life doesn’t have to follow logic, it just has to look the way you want it to.

    Lately my Bridgerton obsession continues with this gorgeous new Fairie Queen crown from Sparkle Skye. You can find it at Engine Room right now, which is one of my favorite events. I love when an event is filled with historical and fantasy-inspired pieces, so if that’s your vibe, this one’s worth checking out.

    It’s your Second Life, make it sparkle.

    Magic Moments

    What I’m Wearing:
    Sparkle Skye – Fairie Queen @ Engine Room
    Wings – TF0710 hair
    JustBecause – Oaklynn Gown
    Everfaery – Amia Necklaces
    Glam Affair – Song (L005)
    LeLutka – Billie Mesh Head

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    Session – Athena Body Skin

    Bygogo Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Skins, Uncategorized
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    Session - Athena Body Skin

    Now that my shopping blackout is over, I rembered that I wanted the Oaklynn Gown from Just Because. I collect a lot of their gowns since I love their style and color choices. When I’m not lounging in casual clothes, my other favorite style is Victorian lady, so I just fill my wadrobe with lots of gowns.

    I went to Session Skin to try on the Charlize skin, mostly out of curiosity. I had no interest in looking like Charlize Theron, but I wanted to see if it looked good in-world. That led me to trying on a whole wall of face skins, only to decide they all aged me a little more than I would like in Second Life. The good news is that I still came away with a gorgeous new body skin.

    Session - Athena Body Skin

    I wasn’t even looking for a new body skin, but I’m always open if something suits me better. I tried on the Athena body skin and it looked great with a few of Izzie’s fixes. The challenge was matching their four skin tones to my Glam Affair face. It’s surprising that they only offer four tones and no neck blend, which leaves you on your own if you’re wearing anything other than a Session face skin.

    Still, I made it work. I paired the Almond body tone from Session with Glam Affair L005 for the face. What you see here is not the bare Session skin since I added a couple of Izzie’s tattoos, but you get the idea. One of my gripes with the Ethereal Essence body skin I was wearing before is that the torso was too shiny, and they still have not released an optional layer to fix it. Another annoyance was how the inside elbow sat too high on the upper arm, which looks awkward when you bend your arm. Since I bend my arms a lot in Second Life, especially when holding things, I notice it right away. The Session body skin, however, has perfect shading at the elbow.

    Session - Athena Body Skin

    If you wear lighter tones and want to try a new body skin, these are worth a look. The toes are a bit of a blurry mess, but overall I liked it enough to fatpack. I would never recommend a body I would not wear myself. The definition is nice, and I managed to match it pretty well.

    Session - Athena Body Skin
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  • Sweet

    Bygogo Uncategorized
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    Sweet

    The only thing on my calendar this weekend is the Spoonful of Sugar Festival. This event raises money for MSF/Doctors Without Borders, and I always admire the designers who donate their time to causes in Second Life, especially the smaller or lesser-known charities. Every year I look forward to SOS because some of my favorite creators are part of it.

    This year it feels like a lot of people might be skipping the festival. The Seraphim mention didn’t include a gallery, and even SOS’s own website doesn’t have one. That made shopping a little tricky, but I went straight to the brands I love such as Izzie’s and Alaskametro and found some great things. There’s even a gacha area if that’s your thing.

    Pro tip: Keep an eye out for a bowl of sugar if you want to grab some L$20 bargains from participating brands.

    Sweet
    Izzie’s – Age Yourself (BoM Layers) – Left: Bare skin | Right: With face wrinkles added

    One of the highlights for me was Izzie’s new Age Yourself set. Wrinkles and aging looks seem to be getting more popular in Second Life, and honestly, she’s scary good at transforming skins. The set comes in 50%, 70%, and 100% opacity layers so you can blend the wrinkles with your current skin.

    Sweet
    Alaskametro – Soft Brows – Left: Light brows | Right: Tinted brows

    I also picked up the new Soft Brows from Alaskametro. I never use the brows that come with a skin, so I’m always hunting for new ones. These are the perfect thickness, and they looked great when I tried them on. The only thing I wish is that they came with a HUD so I could play around with the opacity. I like layering BoM brows under LeLutka HD brows. On the left you can see the light colored brows, and on the right the tinted ones. You lose a bit of detail when tinting, but it’s fabulous that the option is included so you can get the exact shade you want.

    Check out the SOS Festival, show your favorite brands some love, and support a good cause while you shop.

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