Everything Is Good Tonight

I've got a ridiculous amount of great stuff for you today. It's like 10 different blog posts crammed into one, so hang on tight!



Left:
Top - Sea Hole - Camille Sculpty Crop Top : Colbalt - $165L
Skin - [ROCKBERRY] Jules Red Cross natural/DKBR - $250L (Red Cross item)
Hair - fri. - Nicole - Sensitive Black - $250L
Center:
Dress - [LeeZu!] Virage Flexi Dress /mauve - $100L (Red Cross item)
Shoes - ANEXX_StuddedJewelHeels_Black - $390
Skin - [ROCKBERRY] Jules Red Cross natural/DKBR/Cleavage - $250L (Red Cross item)
Hair - fri. - Nicole.2 - Sensitive Black - $250L
Right:
Jacket - AOHARU_BT_FurCoat_G2_BlackFur - $195L
Shoes - R2 "Anela" Cherry - FREE (SAH Gift)
Bag - Indy&Co.: The Ireben Carry-all - FREE (SAH Gift)
Sunglasses - Kumaki - Goodworld 1.00 - FREE (SAH Gift)
Skin - *CUPCAKES - Diamond - Nutmeg - Hungover - FREE (Group Gift)
Hair - Maitreya Sasha - Bistre - $50L (Red Cross item)

Ok, first up, I finally got a chance to swing down to the Albero Winter Sweethearts Festival, where I picked up the blue top in the first pic above from The Sea Hole and the black top in the first pic below from Vena Cava. Both of them are adorable and totally affordable. While you're there, slap the Subscribe-o-Matic for Vena Cava - there's a free pose auto gift. Heaps more down at Albero - I need to go back as soon as I have some more lindens XD

I also got a chance to swing through part of the Shoes & Accessories Hunt this weekend. So much great stuff! :O You have no idea how hard I'm kicking myself for forgetting to return my application XD Oh well! There's some truly fabulous shops involved and the gifts are really generous. In the top pic, I got the Sunglasses from Kumaki, the bag from Indyra and the boots from R2. And in the bottom pic, I got the shoes from Nardcotix, sunglasses from Hoorenbeek and another pair of shoes from Kalnins that I didnt even realize are color/texture change, till I'd already uploaded these pics. I should also note that a huge portion of the gifts in this hunt are unisex and most stores are offering gifts for both guys & girls. Drag your friends along - it's a good one!

Oh, and speaking of things you should not be missing out on, the Aoharu sale... Do you really need to be told why you need to go? Honestly - 50% off everything, all of it great quality and worth far more! I grabbed the bedazzled prim-footed shoes in the top pic, along with the little fun fur jacket and the denim jacket in pic below. Go. Go now.



Left & Center:
Top - .vc. - Black Clavicle Blouse - $90L
Skirt - +mocha+ - Hopping Shower [Red] - $50L (Red Cross item)
Shoes - Nardcotix - Ashoka T-Strap Plaid Red - FREE (SAH Gift)
Jewelry - *tw. - have heart set *red cross* - $100L (Red Cross item)
Hair - fri. - Victoria.2 - Cynical Black - $250L
Right:
Jacket - AOHARU_BT_VintageDenimJK_WithShirt/Black - $190L
Top - fri. - Help Thermal.Henley - $100L (Red Cross item)
Shoes - Kalnins Footwear - SlipOns - FREE (SAH Gift)
Sunglasses - [ hoorenbeek ] Risky Glasses - FREE (SAH Gift)
Skin - [ROCKBERRY] Jules Red Cross tan/DKBR - $250L (Red Cross item)
All Poses - fri.day - $45L each

If all that doesn't bust a hole in your wallet, how's about some new releases from Fri.day? Ugh - who can resist their hair?? Seriously - some of the best quality on the grid today. I've got 3 different styles in the pics above. And to top it off, all of the poses in the pics today are from Fri.day. They released 2 new fatpacks of poses that a pose junkie like myself cannot resist. Like everything else they do, the poses are classic, clean and just what you need.

Last but most certainly not least, I cannot tell you how floored I am by what's happening over at the Red Cross Skybox on Scribble. In just 5 days time, the skybox has doubled in size, as more and more designer donations crowd up and down the walls. There's new stuff being added daily! Check back regularly, cause you would not believe the diversity and quality of the items on offer. Every penny of which is going straight to the Red Cross. And, last I heard, the grand total raised so far is just about $2 million Linden dollars! That's roughly $8000 US. Could you just cry? Don't you just want to see that total rise?

Please run your pretty butt on over there right now and see all the new things you need to go pick up, like the Maitreya hair that's just $50L, the Leezu dress (only available at her mainstore) that will be priced at just $100L for a limited time, the Fri.day striped top, the Mocha skirt and the Trolleywood angel wing jewelry set that's just too adorable for words. Or maybe you need to go grab some new and exclusive skins from both Rockberry and Cupcakes, just $250L each! It's everything you could ever want, all for cheap prices and all for an amazing cause! Go be generous! Let's see if we can top $10,000 US before the weekend! ;D

Mission sequence engage

Yesterday Ghanima at +++Blue Blood+++ released a new set, in a welcome break from her gorgeous dresses, she presents us with 'Sakito' a no nonsense, bad girl jacket set, complete with naughty girl skirt. I love that there are some drastically different ways you can wear it as well. There is no denying the presence of this set with it's strong epaulettes that make it clear, you are no one to be messed with, even if you're showing off your butt. Which is totally what is happening with that skirt *love*

+++Blue Blood+++ 'Sakito' set (black) - 300L
Exile 'Amelia' (greystone) - 225L
A-Bomb 'Jenny wellies' - 150L (limited time)

New hair from Exile is Amelia, and gorgeous. I love how it's short and sassy, but totally gives you an air of authority. Finally, those adorable red wellies are from A-Bomb, who right now, is donating the proceeds from sales for all of the red items in the store. The wellies are color change, and not part of the promotion, but right now they are 50% off, and I think I'm in love with them.

You want to see me... as a noob? *cry*

So, there is a blogger challenge going on right now, courtesy Sophia Harlow. I'm kind of embarrassed to do it, cause I was a straight up mess as a noob. Well, not really. But it's still not all that pretty. I cacn't 'recreate' the look, beause, well. It's all been deleted, sans the skin and top. I was way too tall, way too skinny, and not curvy at all. Mmmm revel in that shiny hair. The skin I'm wearing is the first skin I ever bought and I worked SO hard to get it. It's 'Vanity' from Domestic-V, which Mair took off the floor shortly after I bought. Everything else pretty much is freebie dungeon whatever, except for the black part of the top, which was part of another Domestic-V set. I kind of worshipped that shop back in the day. Still do, as I love Mair to death for being so kind to me when I was new.

This is me as of last night at the Silent Sparrow 500 birds party. I'd say it's an improvement. Wouldn't you? Right now I'm just running around in underwear getting my CSR cards stamped, so, I don't think that'd be the best picture to show you. But yeah, I think just about all of us were busted as noobs, and it's alright. I'm just grateful I don't have a picture of that first outfit I put together after creating an account and getting off of noob island. That would have been scary.

Wings from atomic, corset and bra from silent sparrow, tattoos from Cyanide, headpiece from nomine, skirt from Moxie Polano and boots from J's. I whole bunch of yum all mixed up and looking lovely.

Help

Over the past few days a huge effort has been undertaken to raise funds for the disaster in Haiti. There is a skybox up on the scribble sim with a huge variety of creators chipping in with items to donate the proceeds to charity. Tacky Star has probably one of the best deals available for your donating dollar. The set I am about to show you is set at a more than reasonable price of 200L, and is worth a whole pile more than that.

Tacky Star 'Red Mask' Lolligagger skin - 200L (part of set)
Tacky Star 'Lolli' Lolligagger skin - 200L (part of set)
Tacky Star 'Birdie Bye-Bye' Tattoo set - 200L (part of set)
Valmai underwears - 90L each

The 'Tacky Star Survival Kit' comes with five skins, two sets of eyes, and one of my favorite tattoo sets she has available. There are skins from the Lolligagger line included, and if you missed out on the Designers United III set, one of the skins from her Faded Star set is stuffed in there as well. The eyes included are 'Ice Cold' as well as 'Satin Button' and come in all of her regular sizes, so you're sure to find the size you need.

Tacky Star 'Faded Star' skin - 200L (part of set)
Tacky Star 'Birdie Bye-Bye' Tattoo set - 200L (part of set)
Valmai underwears - 90L each

All of the underwear worn is from a new venture from Ghanima of +++Blue Blood+++ and Theodore of Zanzo, called Valmai. The store caters mostly to men, but many of the styles available are unisex, and oh so cute. Every pair is 90L, and comes in a wide variety of colors. Your mens need underwear, go get them some ;x

Tacky Star 'The Butterfly' Lolligagger skin - 200L (part of set)
Tacky Star 'Birdie Bye-Bye' Tattoo set - 200L (part of set)
Valmai underwears - 90L each

There are a pile of other things available in in the Haitian relief store, all manner of goodies to be had, so take a trip and help do some good. They broke the 600,000k L mark last night, so let's get that up to 1,200,000. I know you all can do it, and with the goodies available, you really should.

Empty Your Wallet & Love It!

This week your $50L can do a hell of a lot more than you ever imagined.



Jacket - {SMS} Another Vintage Jacket Red for Red Cross - $50L
Skin - :: DUTCH TOUCH ::MaUVe:: Cream - Vamp - $500L
Pose - esme for (pda) Break In Case Of Anything - $100L (Fatpack)

Last night Barb posted a plurk asking people if they wanted to participate in a Red Cross fundraising event in SL. 24 hours and dozens of contributors later, more than $200,000L has been raised. To up the stakes even more, many of today's $50L Friday designers have pledged the proceeds from at least one of their items. In addition, there is an entire skybox filled with all kinds of exclusive goodies. And every single last little Linden dollar is going directly to the Red Cross! You have a chance to make your money do something really wonderful, so SHOP YOUR BALLS OFF!



Top - ~*RunoRuno*~ Wrap Tank - $50L
Hair - [Aden] Autumn (Black) - $50L
Jewelry - *Ticky Tacky* Save a Prayer Jewelry Set - Red - $260L
Pose - esme for (pda) All My Heroes Are Weirdos - $100L (Fatpack)

Let's get to the fashion! I'm totally digging the jacket in the top picture, from So Many Styles. It's really wonderfully crafted. You can purchase this right at the shop. The RunoRuno top in the 2nd picture can be found at the Red Cross skybox. Runo's fluid and organic shapes never cease to impress. It's a steal for $50L. For a bit more than that you can grab the special edition jewelry set I made for this event, from my shop *Ticky Tacky*. It's packed with options and it's pretty badass, so don't miss it! The hair is from the sale at the new Aden satellite shop at Starlust. All the hair is $50L, and this style features a tight little bun with a texture changing headscarf.



Top - *Fishy Strawberry* Wings Tee - Red - $50L
Skin - :: DUTCH TOUCH ::MaUVe:: Cream - Xtrema - $500L
Hair - Clawtooth: Let's Get Married (Valentine) - $50L
Pose - [LAP] - Slex-Cute Charlotte - $50L (Fatpack)

Clawtooth by Clawtooth has been rocking my world a little too much lately and this flaming red flip 'do leaves me a little breathless. The fact that this is CBC's Red Cross item only makes me love it more. Find it at the shop. Fishy Strawberry's Red Cross item also kicks some major ass. This perfect red, 3/4-sleeve top has adorable angel wing decals on the back. This is available at the Red Cross skybox. The skins used in this post are from the ongoing sale at Dutch Touch. I've rhapsodized about these before. No clue when the sale might end, so get them while you can. The poses in this post come from Long Awkward Pose and Penny Dreadful Arcade. The PDA set can be found up in the Red Cross skybox, along with loads of other wonderful things you need to go buy right now! :D

Winners of the Love/Hate best of 2009 ballot!

Holy Crap! I can't believe all the time I spent tabulating your responses, but the votes are in, and we have winners! This has been a long year, and I recently spent time going through every post made on the blog this year (that's over 1000, my dears) and relived a lot. Making the announcement about my mothers sickness, watching stores come and go, looking at how our ranks have changed. It's been a rough one, and I'm kind of relieved it's over. But enough of that, let's get to the popularity contest, shall we?

According you *you* Love/Hate readers, these are your top choices for 2009.

Top Five Events of the year.

1. Twisted Events!
2. Skipping Stones Hunt (Tie)
2. 50L Fridays (tie)
3. The L/H Birthday Hunt on Sound of Silence (ya brown nosers<3)
4. The L/H grand Re-Opening (tie)
4. Relay For Life(tie)
4. Slice of Summer hunt (tie)
5. Designers United events (tie)
5. CSR (Tie)

The Best Freebies/gifts/etc of the year

1. Tuli skin gifts
2. +++Blue Blood+++'s menagerie of gifts
3. Violent Seduction's Gruff Dress
4. Curio's Christmas skin gift
5. Cupcake skin gifts

and finally, the moment we've all been waiting for...

The Top Ten Stores of the Year

1. Sn@tch
2. Fri.day
3. +++Blue Blood+++
4. Nomine
5. Violent Seduction
6. Katat0nik
7. Wretched Dollies
8. +DV8+
9. Grimm Bros.
10. RC Cluster

I dub thee 'Year of the Lolita' 2009, now get thee gone! Whose to say what this next year will bring. Wait what? Oh, you want to know who won the prizes? Right... okay fine.

Prize Winners

1. A fatpack of dresses from +++Blue Blood+++ - Blondday Freck
2. A 1000L gift card to Tacky Star - Kris Idlemind
3. A 500L gift card to Ticky Tacky - Karmelle Applewhyte
4. A 500L gift card to (((RIPE))) - titania tigerpaw

Store owners will be in touch with you so you may claim your prizes very soon, congratulations to the winners! I'll be posting my favorites and my blogger's favorites later tomorrow, and you don't agree with the winners? Well, I suppose you shold have sent your ballot in as opposed to having been a total and utter LAZY. Happy with yourself yeah? Don't make the same mistake next year ;D

Just Because

Quick, before I collapse!



Left - !Ohmai [Silhouettes] Asymmetry Bodysuit - $1L
Center - *League* Matching Multi-Stripe Gloves & Skirt - FREE
Right - Pig - Long Island Deep Teal - FREE (I Heart the Starlust Gift)
All:
Skin - :: DUTCH TOUCH :: ::CleO:: Cream - PUNk2 - $500L
Eyes - Poetic Colors - Aurora Eyes - FREE
Poses - Striking Poses (Various Prices)

Okay - first off, you've probably picked this up already, but in case you haven't, the assymetrical bodysuit is the new in-store gift from the new Ohmai shop on Starlust. It's only $1L and, as you can see, pretty darn versatile. I layered it here under the gift from League. The skirt and gloves set are available both through the Subscribe-o-Matic and in store, and it's an apology for missing out on $50L Friday this week. Not sure how long it will be available, so be sure to get it while you can. That bodysuit looks pretty slammin' with the latest gift from Pig, too. You can find this in the I Heart the Starlust Group notices. I love this sweater so much, I want it in RL. It's my new favorite thing.

All of the pics in this post feature another one of those incredible sale skins from Dutch Touch. Everytime I wear one, I want to go back and buy more. If you can spot them, my avatar is also sporting the latest in-store gift set of eyes from Poetic Colors. They're a stunning deep blue & come with optional lightening prims. All of the poses used today come from Striking Poses. This shop also sent out a group gift today - a set of 3 new poses (not pictured). You can find the set still available in the Subscribe-o-Matic group History.