wings

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    Maitreya LaraX Push-Up

    Maitreya LaraX Push-Up

    I haven’t received an update from the Maitreya V.I.P. group in-world for quite some time, so when I saw a notice come through, I read it immediately. It appears that the new push-up breasts is attached to the Vixen dress, an old release. I didn’t even own this dress, but if you did, you could send yourself an update. I purchased this dress solely to try on the push-up breasts, even though I think the dress is somewhat outdated and the texture doesn’t look great. Nonetheless, I am excited that Maitreya Lara wearers are finally receiving push-up options, even though I may not wear this add-on all the time. I am surprised this hasn’t been released as an add-on right away, especially considering the popularity of the Juicy Boobs push-up version for Reborn.

    We have updated some clothes at Maitreya again and there is one very special update, because it also contains a NEW add-on: the Push-up!!

    At this point the Push-up is only available as part of the Vixen dress (push-up version). If people like the push-up (for LaraX, PetiteX and Lara), we’re thinking about releasing it as an add-on for the mesh bodies. We’d also share it in our creator kits, so designers in SL can create apparel for it. -Maitreya notice

    When I tried on this dress, I noticed there was a line along my shoulders where the push-up body part meets my LaraX body. I opened Onyx LeShelle’s profile, the creator of Maitreya, and her profile said, “For questions about Maitreya, you can leave me a message.” I like that I can message the person to whom I paid for support directly. It’s nice to be able to connect with the creator to receive real help. She responded to my question promptly and told me how to fix the issue. It’s simple; just re-select the materials on your body if you see a line.

    For all the fans of the Maitreya body, we certainly have something to look forward to in the future!

    Maitreya LaraX Push-Up
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    Tiki

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/gogolita/54308270720/in/dateposted/

    Yesterday, I was having a rather difficult day, and then suddenly Patch Linden announced the release of Thousand Island Tiki Linden homes! This announcement brightened my entire day and possibly my week. Without seeing them first, I upgraded an account to Premium Plus and rolled for a Tiki house.

    As a recovering Games of Home (GoH) addict, I quickly found myself drawn into rolling a theme that I know I won’t keep long-term. I immediately burned through the rolls—only five rolls for Premium Plus members? Could we have unlimited rolls? The next day, Second Life released even more Tiki homes. Although I don’t want them that much, my addiction took over, and I created another alt, spending an additional $30 just to burn another five rolls in a few minutes. As I mentioned, being a recovering GoH addict, two alts is my limit for this theme, and I will likely stay where I am for at least the next 30 days. I know these coastlines will eventually be blocked as more regions are launched to meet the demand.

    Tiki

    Do I like Tiki Linden homes? I think I would appreciate them more if they were available in lighter colors—I am simply not a fan of brown. Additionally, I am not particularly fond of Tiki aesthetics or circular rooms. While I do like the house model in the photo, I don’t think this theme is meant for me. My favorite Linden home themes remain Traditional and Victorian.

    I am grateful for the excitement that GoH provides; it’s fun to explore a new theme. However, I am already looking forward to the Alpine theme, and I hope it’s a winter wonderland. Please please please!

    What are your thoughts on the new Tiki Linden homes?

    Tiki
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    Cherry Blossom

    Cherry Blossom

    Feeling cold in real life, I went to Cherry Blossom Cove to enjoy some springtime landscaping. It’s so very pink here, so if you’re into that, come check out this place!

    Belle Epoque is giving away a L$500 store credit to celebrate the new year. I love how generous this brand is. They are always offering store credit or organizing fun hunts for group members. I believe this is a brilliant marketing strategy, as it encourages customers to wear the clothing and feature them on blogs. Because of these giveaways and constant sales, I have worn and blogged so much Belle Epoque over the past year. I also genuinely like most of the things they create. Hurry, the store credit ends on January 6.

    Isn’t my Coquette Bunny adorable? I saw someone on X/Twitter holding it, so I went to purchase it at a store called Mowdols! This bunny was quite hard to find since it’s a hair store, but I eventually located it near the entrance. I forgot that I bought this three weeks ago until I recently cleaned my inventory and stumbled upon it again. As of today, I have deleted 6,000 items and now have 71,000 items. Progress.

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    Happy New Year

    Happy New Year

    Aren’t these Gigi Balloons from Legna the best? I love that these numbers come with two really nice poses for each hand. Even though the balloons state they are no modify, it actually allowed me to modify one, and I tinted it a light shade of blue. You can also rez these numbers for any occasion.

    This is meant to be an early Happy New Year post, but I also wanted to share my reflections on last year. Overall, I feel I had a good year in Second Life! I upgraded from Lifetime Premium to Lifetime Premium Plus, which cost a significant amount, and at first, I was genuinely excited. However, as the year progressed, I began to worry about the longevity of Second Life.

    I was enthusiastic about the mobile app when I tried it early this year as part of the alpha program; however, I now think it’s completely hopeless. This Open Letter to Linden Lab clearly outlines why I don’t believe we will ever see a usable mobile app.

    I had a lot of fun in the Aurelias region with my friend Sparkle. Still, I ultimately decided to pull the plug when I recognized that the economy and the state of Second Life might be uncertain in 2025. It was actually an easy decision; when faced with uncertainty, it is prudent to eliminate an unnecessary expense. As much as I enjoy having a whole region, I also appreciate the freedom that comes with not having to maintain one. I told Sparkle not to let me bring the region back next year, even if I have new ideas and want another one. 2025 is not the year for significant land projects.

    What am I looking forward to in Second Life in 2025? I am looking forward to Philip Linden changing his outfit. Additionally, I am eager for the next Linden Home theme, although Linden Lab has gone silent on that topic! Will it ever come? Who knows. It has been so long since the next theme was chosen via a poll that I almost forgot we were promised Alpine and Tiki as the next two themes. I am also looking forward to cleaning my inventory; right now it stands at 77k, but I know I can reduce it to 50k if I put in some effort.

    What are you looking forward to next year? Let me know in the comments!

    Happy New Year
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    Wintertime in Second Life

    Everfaery Frostlight Jacket

    I know it’s still November, but I’m already in the mood for winter lights and Christmas festivities in Second Life. There are several things I look forward to during this time of the year, including Black Friday sales, the LeLutka Christmas tree gift, and clothing options that go beyond dresses that barely cover one’s bum. I need to find a way to wear this Everfaery Frostlight Jacket year-round, as it comes with so many color options and optional string lights. Everything is better wrapped in string lights.

    To distract myself from the issues with the Second Life mobile app, I decided to visit Winter Love Valley and enjoy some snow. This region is simple yet truly exceptional for photography! I was especially impressed with the chairs by What Next; the poses are all great and appear very natural. I immediately messaged Sparkle to ask if we had those chairs in our region, and she confirmed that we do.

    Wintertime

    In all the years that I’ve blogged about Second Life, I have never felt appreciated by Linden Lab. Therefore, when I read about the secret invitation-only blogger’s Zoom meeting, I was not surprised at all to not receive an invitation. A few other bloggers expressed similar sentiments, as feeling excluded is regrettably nothing new here. Second Life gains a significant amount of free press from its residents; we take millions of photos and create videos daily to promote the platform. Second Life bloggers are essential to the platform’s success; without us shopping, buying regions, and showcasing our experiences online, brands would not be able to thrive here.

    If you read the blog post I linked, you will see that in Brett Linden’s email, he mentions plans for even more secret meetings with selected creators. If you are a creator, consider how you can get on that list, as your competitors may receive invitations and obtain information that could significantly impact your livelihood before you do.

    There’s more I want to express about how Linden Lab has handled these matters, but I am not particularly impressed with recent developments, and I worry about Second Life’s future. With tickets going unanswered and numerous hacking incidents reported on the platform, I question whether we are safe. Is Second Life in trouble?

    Please share your thoughts in the comments! Do you believe Second Life is better than ever, or do you think it could improve?

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    Bright

    Bright

    I just discovered my perfect skin three days ago, but now I have found a new perfect skin! Everything feels right in the world now that Glam Affair skins align with my style. Typically, I wear over a dozen Izzie’s tattoo skin fixes, but today I’m wearing only eight; some of that includes just extra highlight and an ear fix. At the moment, I’m wearing the Liv skin from Glam Affair, available at Collabor88. I am delighted that I didn’t have to make many adjustments to the shading on the face.

    Bright

    I must be longing for warmer weather now because I’ve put on this bright Sunshine Set from Fashionably Dead. I don’t recall blogging about it, so it must have gotten lost in my inventory since I acquired it in August. This outfit is so different from anything else I own, and I adore how vibrant it is; the embroidery is my favorite part.

    Is Wings my favorite hair store right now? Yes. They are participating in the 11.11 50% off sales event alongside other brands, so be sure to check it out! I don’t recognize many of the stores on this list, which means I will have plenty of opportunities for great deals from this sale. Let me know if there’s a store on this list that you think I should explore!

    Bright
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    ‘Cause I dream about nothing but you

    'Cause I dream about nothing but you

    I decided to switch up my skin tone again and now I’m wearing the Velour Snow from Glam Affair. While I loved the Ivory shade, it ended up being too pale for the Sina skin, so I’m diving into a variety of Glam Affair’s faces and skin tones to find the perfect match. When I tried on this skin, I knew it would be perfect with some tattoo fixes from Izzie’s. I’ll recommend adding additional highlights on this skin with Izzie’s Highlighter Set, and because I’m fussy, I also added the Lower Lip Border Fix, Eye Fix, Nose Shading Fix, Nostril Lightener, Blush/Contour Remover too.

    Shopping is one of my favorite pastimes, but a friend advised me to hold off until the Black Friday sales. It’s sound advice, especially since I often find myself with nothing left to buy from my favorite brands by then. It’s the tricky dilemma of being a loyal customer—you end up owning everything already! Plus, many Second Life brands don’t offer discounts on their new items during Black Friday. So, this year, I’m planning to curtail my shopping for a bit and see if there are any enticing deals when the sale arrives.

    'Cause I dream about nothing but you

    Even though I’m trying to limit my purchases, I can’t help but enjoy playing dress-up with new items. I went to Belle Epoque to get the free L$500 store credit, which allowed me to get a beautiful dress, and I even spent a little extra to get a second one! So I suppose I wouldn’t say I’m completely not shopping, but I’m definitely doing better at slowing down. Belle Epoque is such a generous brand, frequently hosting hunts and giveaways. I’m a big fan of their styles—they’re incredibly cute and so affordable.

    'Cause I dream about nothing but you

    If you find yourself on a shopping hiatus but still crave some adorable outfits, keep an eye out for brands offering giveaways! This time of year is perfect for discovering the spirit of generosity among Second Life brands.

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    ReShade

    Aurelias

    I’m absolutely loving ReShade! I recently started exploring it, and I’ve noticed a lot of SL residents using it to enhance their snapshots. However, there are some downsides. It can be a bit tricky to use, and you’re limited to taking screenshots at your display size rather than high-resolution images.

    The graphics settings in Second Life have improved significantly over time. With certain third-party viewers, you can access features like depth of field, tonemapping, and color grading, which means that while ReShade is still entertaining to play with, it’s not as essential as it once was. That said, it can create stunningly ethereal effects, making your photos truly pop! See all of my ReShdae snapshots on Flickr.

    ReShade is a generic post-processing injector for games and video software developed by crosire. Imagine your favorite game with ambient occlusion, real depth of field effects, color correction and more … ReShade exposes an automated and generic way to access both frame color and depth information (latter is automatically disabled during multiplayer to prevent exploitation) and all the tools to make it happen. Download here: https://reshade.me/

    If you’re curious about experimenting with ReShade in Second Life, there are plenty of tutorials out there to help you get started. I began my journey with it back in May but got sidetracked by PBR. I’m still on the lookout for my favorite ReShade add-ons, so if you have any suggestions, drop them in the comments!

    Now, let’s discuss my look for today. I’m a huge fan of Wings hair, but I’ve noticed lately that the bangs sit very closely against my face and lashes, leading to some stubborn alpha glitches. I really think the designer should consider tweaking the front strands to sit a bit further from the face, or at least provide some customization options.

    I usually tackle alpha glitches in my photos, which is why I always recommend demoing hair before you buy. I’ve adjusted my shape and face somewhat, but I’m not keen on widening my face just to make this hairstyle work. Finding the perfect fit is crucial!

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    Unseen

    Unseen

    Capturing a photo “in the dark” can indeed be a challenge. You aim for that perfect dim ambiance while still ensuring the products are visible. I absolutely adore this blindfold I purchased from Tentacio. This brand is known for creating unique products, often adorned with floral accents.

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    Glam Affair

    Glam Affair

    If you asked me about my top two favorite skin brands on Second Life, they’d definitely be Amara Beauty and Glam Affair. Shout out to these amazing creators for making faces that are both sweet and easy to wear. My favorite brand at any given moment really depends on their latest release. I was a dedicated Glam Affair fan for months earlier this year, but around May, I switched to Amara Beauty. The reason? My favorite tone, Beige, started looking too orange. I suspected that PBR was affecting my tone preferences, so I tried a lighter shade, Flower. Still, it didn’t resonate with me. Given how much skin tones rely on shading and highlights, I made the switch.

    I was happily wearing Amara Beauty for a while, but no brand is perfect. I still layered dozens of Izzie’s products on my face to fix the skin. This is why I don’t really do skin reviews anymore—it’s hard for others to replicate the look after I’ve customized it so much.

    Glam Affair
    Glam Affair – Nicta (Ivory) | w/ Izzie’s & other tattoo fixes

    Anyway, today I’m back in a Glam Affair skin, and it’s not without its challenges. When I tried on the Nicta skin, I saw so much potential. It felt like “me” for a moment, though there were issues. I didn’t like the heavy highlights on the lips or the odd side highlight on the forehead above the brows. What’s going on there? I called my go-to skin doctor, Izzie Button (Izzie’s), and asked her to create a custom fix for the lips so I could wear my favorite lipsticks again and to remove the bizarre forehead highlight. She did it! One thing I appreciate about Izzie is that she’s always willing to create custom fixes for skins. If you need Dr. Izzie, feel free to message her in-world—she says I can tell you that. 🙂

    Glam Affair
    Face Shine 25% Opacity & Face Shine 100% Opacity

    Now that we have PBR lighting, I find myself drawn to face highlights, but not the overly baked-on kind. I like options, and Glam Affair included a Face Shine layer at 100%, 50%, and 25% opacity. If you prefer your own face shine, just wear the skin as-is and add on Izzie’s Highlighter Set to your liking.

    This Glam Affair Nicta skin isn’t perfect to me, mainly due to the face and lip shine and the freckles on the nose that can’t be removed or fixed with Izzie’s tattoos. The freckles mean I can’t use Izzie’s Nose Shading fix, as it removes freckles only on one side. So you might be wondering, “Gogo, if you have to make so many adjustments, why wear the skin at all?” Just look at it! With Izzie’s help, I managed to fix about 90% of the issues, and now it feels like me. I decided that my new tone from Glam Affair is now Ivory, because it looks the best in PBR lighting and matches my current body tone.

    Do you wear a skin without any additional tattoo layer fixes? Let me know in the comments, because I haven’t been able to do that in a very long time. I almost never wear the original brows that come with any skins—I guess I’m just complicated like that.

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