LaQ Sandy Bento Head - Tropical Glow time

I've been wearing the Catwa Lona head for a long time now, practically since it came out which I am sure is longer than a year ago. When I came back to sl, I got a new shape, new skin etcetera for it and that was my makeover. However, I do like to change looks from time to time but I find that 5k pop every time with Catwa to be prohibitive. I'm disabled irl and on a fixed income and sometimes that 20 bucks real life is hard to come by.

So, I started considering LaQ heads a while ago though I hadn't seen the right head for me yet. I did go ahead and buy the hud when it was on sale just to have it when the time came. If you don't know, LaQ has a great system where you purchase the hud one time and it works with any of their bento heads. I like this also because it means things like your preset colors for hair base are universal from head to head, even makeup looks and animations are saved and can be used on any head. The heads themselves are only 1500L which is a much less painful pill to swallow.

So enter Sandy. She's a recent release from last month's Uber and now in the store both skin and head.

I'm wearing the Sandy skin applier with the Sandy head and the brand new NextGen body appliers. I couldn't be happier with the result! In my humble opinion, I think she's absolutely beautiful and makes me look beautiful too.

Unlike other heads, LaQ heads work with system eyes and have a unique eye fx to give your eyes and face more life. I ran right over to pick up new eyes from Ikon in my trademark purple to wear with this.

I'm wearing lipstick by Pink Fuel made for LaQ heads (size B) in the Sparkle and Shine set. And eyeshadow by Izzie's also made for LaQ heads. My hair base is by Siiix called Yemenese. The omega version worked perfectly for me.

My eyelashes are also by LaQ, the Glam02 lashes available at the main store.

I am wearing a shape by West End called Sarah made for the Sandy head. I've tweaked it quite a bit for my own aesthetic but I couldn't have gotten this look without that starting point. ♥

My absolutely beautiful hair s by Phoenix hair. It's called Mishon and is the new release for Fameshed Go. I really love these big beautiful curls. ♥

Now on to the rest of what I'm wearing. I've been a fan of Scandalize for some time, their designs are often fresh and unique and sexy and the color palette is varied and vibrant. I buy fatpacks as much as possible, that's how much I love this brand's clothing. Also the group gifts are very generous and always stunning.

This dress really is a great example of the quality you can expect with Scandalize. I wear Maitreya body and I couldn't ask for a more smooth and perfect fit, yet I could still wear a mesh panty underneath it without it showing through. The patterned studs on the smooth dress texture is really amazing and as I said above the color palette is wonderful.  Here's a look at the full length dress and shoes.

Girl look at my booty! Like I said the fit is wonderful and look at how smooth the patterning of studs is over the surface of the dress in both pictures. The silhouette and style of the dress is also very flattering.

I'm also wearing the matching Diamande shoes, you can get both at the new round of Shiny Shabby. Below is a better look at the shoes which again fit perfectly and are made beautifully.

Finally, as usual, I am maxed out on jewelry so I'll start from the bottom and work my way up. I'm wearing a butterfly anklet on both sides by Avaway. On my hands is a ring set by SpotCat and bracelets by Supernatural.

My armlets are also by Avaway and are called Cindy. My necklace and earrings are by Zuri's Jewels and I splurged on the elite set v3 since opals are my birthstone. I'm weairng the magic pixie ears and bindi by Swallow. Lastly my nail appliers are by Cazimi. I really enjoy these and have several appliers from this brand, the colors are great and their nail pack comes with several appliers all packaged together so I can apply omega to my Empire coffin nails and maitreya to my toes all from the same folder.

The little twinkle you see on my body is my Stripper Dust by Cynful. I love it, sparkles on my body <3

For those of you who just want the deets and the slurls, see below :)

Basics
Head - LaQ Sandy head worn with Sandy face appliers and new NextGen body appliers for Maitreya.
Body - Maitreya Lara with included bento hands and high feet.4.1
Shape - Sarah by West End for Laq Sandy head, edited by me.
Hair - Mishon by Phoenix Hair for Fameshed Go August round.
Eyes - System eyes by Ikon in Odyssey series - Darkstar.

Outfit:
Dress - Diamande by Scandalize for Shiny Shabby August round
Shoes - same as above.

Accessories:
Ears - Magic Pixie by Swallow
Bindi and piercings (Jahanara) by Swallow -
Necklace and earrings - Spellbound V3 Elite by Zuri's Jewelry
Armlets - Cindy and Anklets - Butterfly by Avaway Jewelry
Bracelets - Drih Silver by Supernatural
Bento rings - Nightlife by Spotcat
Coffin nails - Medium Maitreya by Empire

Appliers:
Lashes - Glam02 by LaQ
Lipstick - Sparkle & Shine B size by Pink Fuel
Eyeshadow - Spring Eyeshadow by Izzie's for Laq (and other heads too)
Hairbase - Yemenese by Siix on mp
Nail appliers by Cazimi, and I'm sorry I forgot which applier set, I think this is Picture Perfect.

My backdrop is by Mons, one of their beautiful 3d backdrops - Leaf Photoshoot Decor Spring. I also put this on the ground so it would look like I was standing on or at least amongst same leaves.

My poses are all by BellePoses though I didn't write down which ones. They are all great just go look!

I uses Tillie's Pose Stand and hud.  And my windlight was one by Satomi Masukami. There are tons of windlight settings to download if you look, I wanted a bright warm look and used ultra settings to take these photos.

You can click each pic for a larger view or if you prefer you can check out my flickr.

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Tired and Frustrated - tldr post

It's been a while since I've posted here. A lot of things have happened both irl and in sl and while some of it is very good and gives me a lot of happiness, some things are not so good and 1 or 2 have been downright awful.

I've run into something that weirdly enough I've never encountered before. See, for me... sl offers me the best chance of an abiding relationship. I'm not interested in random pixel banging and I'm not here to count notches on my virtual bed post. When I was younger in sl, I did some of that, but I guess I sowed my wild oats or something... that's not me now, at all.

I've been in sl for 12 years, sure I've taken some longish breaks away from it but... for all intents and purposes, 12 years. That's a long time to stay with anything and over that time... well that's a lot of water under the bridge. That's a lot of time to have all sorts of experiences, some good some bad some in between.

And, I don't care what anyone says, virtual relationships are still relationships. Our brains just aren't equipped to see it differently, unless you approach everything like it's a game and like people in sl are merely constructs without feelings. I think this is a horrible way to see other people and I want no part in that.

So... when I find someone I like... and they clearly think a virtual relationship is inferior,  a fantasy only, well that hurts in a major way.

Especially since, if I'm honest, well sure it's inferior. As much as it gives me pleasure to see our avatars embracing, it's definitely not the same as being embraced physically. How can it be?

But, then I think how much it often hurts me to be physically touched. Fibromyalgia is no fucking joke in that department. The slightest touch can set off a jangle of nerves that makes me want to cry. A whole hug is all but impossible on some days. And to think of anything further?...

So... then that virtual hug looks a whole lot better. It feels good and doesn't hurt. Plus there are other things... my chances of a real life relationship are small...due to health and other reasons. Is it really so wrong to be looking for a virtual replacement?

I just feel frustrated by this. I'm so hurt, and the whole thing makes me tired, mentally and emotionally. The human desire for love and companionship, I think it's the most natural of impulses.  I don't know why it's so hard.

I'm really sick right now with a bad infection, I'm taking these huge amoxicillin pills twice a day so that's got me down also. Infections are extra stressful for me because I have total adrenal failure so I think everything seems more dramatic to me right now.

I just want to be loved, the way everyone else does. I want to be with someone smart and compassionate, loving and strong... I don't know how to find someone like that. I sure seem to be doing it wrong at any rate.

Perhaps I'm wrong to put this out there... to pour out my heart like this. But I'm really sad, and tired, and frustrated... and venting that may help me put myself back together.

And I want to say that I'm really grateful to my sl family, my dear Dame and Sin, my lovely Lessa, Brian and Dresden. I'd be so much worse off without you all and I love you very much.

I'm blessed in both family and friends and I don't forget that. My sl is mostly very happy.

I just... want more.  I don't think it's wrong to want more, I really don't.

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