Is Spring here yet?

I am sure I heard on the radio that this weekend marks the beginning of spring, with that thought in mind I was imaging a beautiful weekend with plenty of sunshine and warm weather. Not quiet like that, so I'm turning to these beautiful spring coloured photos for inspiration, has spring arrived for you?

I was also tagged by the lovely n a t s u m i, who has the sweetest drawings. Some rules: step 1: Respond & rework-answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own. step 2: Tag-eight other un-tagged people. Now onto the questions:

What are you wearing now? navy jumper, black skinny jeans

How often do you blog? Everyday, spending around 2-5 hrs each day!

Who was the last person you hugged? My friend

Which item from your closet are you wearing most lately?My purple shirt/t-shirt top

What's for dinner? I just had pizza, yum!

What was the last thing you bought? well apart from food, a heart shaped red framed sunglasses

What are you listening to right now? nothing but I'm watching QI on BBC

If you could have any super power, what would it be?
To be Luphia! Luphia is actually the name of a fictional character of my favorite computer game since I was 10 (did I mention I'm a geek? :), a heroine and a goddess, more about her later...

What is your favorite weather, and why?
Early summer, when it's sunny and not so hot, around 25C.

What time do you usually get up? 8:10 am and running late most mornings for my 9am lectures

What is your most challenging goal right now? Trying to setup my little business! (nearly there...)

Say something to the person who tagged you: Her drawings are the cutest!

If you could have a house-totally paid for, fully furnished-anywhere in the world, where you want it to be?
That's a hard question! Unrealistically Paris or Venice! Realistically London or Bath.

Favorite vacation spot? Europe and China

Name the things you cannot live without:
So many! Family, friends, my laptop, internet, clothes shops!

What movies can you watch over and over?
All my fav movies are dramas hence a bit too sad to watch often but I do love Big Fish.

What is your favorite tea flavor? Earl Gray

and I am tagging: Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy ; Cafe Fashionista ; captivateme ; CHIC Sensibility ; Design Dig ; Dolce Chic ; GOSSIP STYLE VINTAGE official blog ; on dressing up ;

and the important news! The winner of the Paul & Joe makeup giveaway, drum roll please... ps: please turn your computer volumn down as somehow the background music (and seagull noises) became quite squeaky !

Congratulations Shini! I will contact you shortly for deliver address.

Don't be too disappointed, as there will be more giveaways this month, stay tuned! :) Enjoy the rest of your weekend my dearest readers, xx

(images 1st by toriginal others by Rebecca Thuss )

Break'n Owt

Time to check out Life is Good sim. (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Life%20is%20good/128/128/2)

At Little Birds location in PollyJean you can find a cute pants outfit for free and if you're up for it a lingerie set for $1. ($0-1 - F - Pant set/Lingerie - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Polly%20Jean/66/55/27)



Concrete Flowers is providing a $1 item for free each week. This week it's the CUTY PANDA DOODLE BOOTS. Stop by to before Monday to pick these up! ($1 - F - Shoe - http://slurl.com/secondlife/X/198/181/38)

Jewelry is from KUMAMOTO JAPAN. ($0 - F - Jewelry - http://slurl.com/secondlife/KUMAMOTO%20JAPAN/202/127/28)


(Skin & eyes from Imagen - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Daffodil%20Island/18/96/23)

Hair shown throughout is the House of Heart Designs Febuary 13th release samples. You'll want to pay special attention to the green displays in store for extra saving on retiring styles. ($0 - F - hair samples - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Tropical%20Escape/126/67/24)



Skin is from Illuminati Designs and is a combination of skins won from their lucky chair (top row is the lucky chair prize - Wynter) and a couple from their free bag (bottom row). Drag your guys along because there is skin for men here both in the lucky chair and in the free gift bag. ($0 - m/f - skins - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Pulse/187/122/30)

If you like the poses used today stop by Juicy to buy them up. Most are not free, but there are several $1 poses and sample bags! ($1 - $300/pack - poses - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Juicy/105/220/23)

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Part of everyone's daily ritual by now should be stopping by Lemania Indigo Designs to see what dress is retiring. If you haven't you may have been missing out! ($1 - F - dress/outfits - http://slurl.com/secondlife/S%20Crystal%20Springs/148/169/30)


(Pictured from left to right: Silver Dream retired 25th, Caramel Latte retired 26th, & today's dress Holiday Reflection all shown with free shoes from Kumamato Japan)

The eyes used throughout are the demo pack of eyes from Skinthesis. ($1/0? - Eyes - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sterling%20Pointe/194/144/2)

If you haven't been by the Kumamato Japan sims in a while you may want to stop by and take a look. Dogyanya2 has added a ton of new lucky boards and has 3 camp pads ranging in time from 10 minutes to 30 minutes! Prizes are dresses, stoles, & shoes. ($0 camp/luckyboard - F - clothing items - http://slurl.com/secondlife/KUMAMOTO%20JAPAN%202/54/193/43) A small store next door named **Chako** has 5 mini-dresses all for free. ($0 - F - dresses - http://slurl.com/secondlife/KUMAMOTO%20JAPAN%202/11/143/28) There's also a kimono shop :::Morhime:: with lucky boards and camp spots for kimonos and kanzashi that was featured some time in November. ($0-$10 - F - kimono/kanzashi - http://slurl.com/secondlife/KUMAMOTO%20JAPAN/246/117/28) There's also a couple of goodies that are still left from Valentine's Day like the dress located on the board outside ::Cafe Bouquet:: that shares space with Dogyanya2. And lets not forget the Kumamoto Japan free area that has 3 lucky boards, kimonos, tinie avs, huggable bears, jewelry, tons of sculpty shoes and boots! ($0 - F/M/tinies - http://slurl.com/secondlife/KUMAMOTO%20JAPAN/202/127/28)



Trinity gave me a bump ^^ and made me take a look at *Amrita* which I hadn't visited since it's opening & if you're like me you'll find a new free item upstairs a muffler in a variety of styles and two cool colors (pale pink & green). Shown with dress & shoes from Kumamoto Japan. ($0 - F - clothes & acessories - http://slurl.com/secondlife/kasandra/225/21/29)



I also have a couple of lucky chair items to share! The first is from *Sugar* mainstore that Suri tped me too (Ty Suri ^^!!). The outfit (Juliet) came complete with glasses and boots. (Lucky Chair - F - outfit - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Tipton/38/27/71)



And to balance out the bad girl outfit. The Rabbit Police RED won from the lucky chair at Umi Usagi. These chairs flip fast and give a lot of ? so. You'll find this outfit along with a pair of boots and also a complete outfit with boots included on the lucky chairs at the main Umi Usagi location. (Lucky Chair - F- Outfits & shoes - http://slurl.com/secondlife/UmiUsagi/206/200/21)

Hooked on: Vintage Linen Pillows

{Ludwigas Linen}

I have always loved all things vintage, whether it's vintage clothes, vintage typewriters or my current love vintage linen. Their simple yet elegant designs speaks to my heart, and it is also eco-chic!

{Beyond France}

How about these beauties made from old grain sacks? I just adore the design!

{top left: Ernst and Thistle bottom right: Vintage Weave others: MFV53}

What do you all think my dearest readers, do these lovely pillows have a place in your home? :) Oh, I've also joined the Hooked on Friday party, check out what others are hooked on here.

Happy Friday! I will be back tomorrow for a post of the new series {Styling Luphia}, so if you get bored, you can always come and visit me in blogland? ;)

I wish I am in Paris, care to join me? Just look at the photos and imagine... xx

(fashion photos by Thomas Klementsson)

From a Different Point of View

Shall we get straight to the point? Ok, here it is. I am old fashioned and I LOVE carpets, especially in the bedroom. They may not be the most trendy flooring option, but they're warm, soft and let's face it, UK is not a warm country so we need all the heat & dryness we can get!

I was recently introduced to this great new website Fun on the Floor, which has lots of inspiring ideas for carpet flooring, covering a wide range of looks in their lookbook, whether it's a boudoir or a minimalist style you love.

An idea or DIY your old chest of draws? How yummy is that shade of yellow!

Are you thinking about taking an office carbinet home? ;)

I love how these images focus on the floor so you can get a feel how different colours would work

there's plenty of inspiration for decoration ideas too, what a great idea to use an antique chest as a coffe table! Now I just need to find that $5 chest from a flee market, any suggestions? ;)

I don't usually post kids related things but how fun is this room!

This is my favorite room, I just love the vintage feel and books on the floor? I do that already :)

So what's your view on carpet? Just in the bedroom, living room or none at all? I'd love to hear what you think :) xx

(images Fun on the Floor)

Dreaming of a Studio like this

This little studio would be my perfect creative space, it would be located at an old factory converted building, with white floors and white painted brick walls,

filled with vintage finds and pretty objects

with a chaise longue for relaxing time while catching up on my favorite magazines, and the wall as the inspiration board, two vintage red phones sit on the table, one for business use, one for personal use, of course ;)

as for the guests? a wide selection of comfy sitting choices to choose from

If this were my creative studio, I think I'll never get out of here! :)

(image by Janne Peters)

Le Danse De Mardi Gras

In town the streets have been cleared from the Lundi Gras festivities that ran late into the wee morning hours. A new stage has been erected in the town square. Cans have been picked up by those who need a little extra cash to make ends meet. The day is fresh. The band strikes up melodies and sings in their dying language. People gather; they dance, they talk, they drink, walk the streets, and wait.


(Lilly Skin from Warholic Vampire Shop $1 - F - 13 Skins - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Whispers/124/152/21; Outfut broceliande from Dany French touch peut etre $1 - M - outfit - http://slurl.com/secondlife/New%20Toulouse%20Algiers/11/202/29; Balmoral Pumps from Truth $0 - F - shoes - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Truth%20Island/115/144/26)

The young riders have not slept and the old will get up earlier than usual. The air has just a whisper of cold. The chill keeps those who have been awake up for the ride and work ahead. Today, chickens awake with fear in their little hearts all around Cajunland. They know the riders are coming. They are coming for the chickens, rice, flour, oil, onions, bell peppers, & green onions. Have their bounty and they'll stop their procession at your homestead and the band will play for you Le Danse De Mardi Gras.


(Newbie skin from Fleur $0 - F - Skin - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fleur/166/128/27; The special non-hunt Josephine Baker dress released as a $1 today only exclusive is from Lemania Indigo $1- F - dress - http://slurl.com/secondlife/S%20Crystal%20Springs/148/169/30;

Floats, beads, cups, and dubloons are non-existent here. Wooden carts drawn by horse are for the band, retired riders, and women who watch. Things are as they were in the past. You ride, then you go to your section of town and make the gumbo for your section of town. Life is segregated here; still today.


(Clergy outfits can be obtained from Calleta's Hobo Railroad Docks $0 - m/f - clergy outfits - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Calleta/74/166/24)


If you venture into the cities the festivities are much different and probably more of what one who hears Mardi Gras thinks of. But, no matter where you awake you'll go to church and be marked by ashes. You'll bear your mark until sundown. And then begins a time of repentance and fasting and wait for the Easter vigil.


Used in the above:
Hair is from the abundent $1 wall at ChiChickie!'s hairspray location. There was also a style for men available. ($1 - M/F - hair - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Hairspray%202/33/181/51)

Location are the New Toulouse & New Toulouse Algiers sim. Preset used is ghost.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Selena Heslop of Sasquatch Design had sent me a big package to share with you guys full of amazing staples and a lot of it would be really nice for the Male avatar too. Here are some items and snippits from her notecard:

I have a few new freebies and dollarbies out for everyone to enjoy
these include ---->

A cute Rainbow Bracelet (dollarbie)
A set of full perms peircings, two nose and two lip. (dollarbie)
Rainbow collar and matching earrings (freebie)
Flip Flops (dollarbie)
Sasquatch Tank Top (dollarbie)

(the freebies and Dollarbies are available indefinatly)




These are shown with more of the Warholic's Lilly skins and the valentine hair that is still available at Candy House. ($0 - F - Hair - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Honmoku%20Hills/233/212/23)

The shirts shown in the above picture are $5. Selena said "Also i have a couple of 5L tees available, they are on the back wall amongst the normal priced tees, you just need to "right click - buy" to find the 5L ones. " If you've got 27 minutes to camp you can win a fat pack of tanks (ad photo provided by Selena).



Selena also has a lucky chair which rotates through 6 prizes. And has provided the following information "My prices range from free - 200L with most of the items i make going for under 100L. Thank you so much for checking out my stuff!" So go and check out Sasquatch Design ($0-5 - m/f - piercings, shirts, flip flops - http://slurl.com/secondlife/SheDevils/112/204/21)

Daily Dose & Hunts

The offering for today (23rd) from Lemania Indigo Designs is a chic' pants outfit: Urban Mod. ($1 - F- outfit - http://slurl.com/secondlife/S%20Crystal%20Springs/148/169/30)



The earrings peaking through my hair are just one of many $1 samples from Chloe. ($1 - F - Jewelry - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Elf%20Fala%20Lands/60/176/2)

Hair from Adora found is a Valentine's present so I'm unsure of how much longer this will be available. ($0/1? - F - Hair - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Adora%20Isle/114/195/30)

There is a hunt going on at the Oak Tree Shoppes. You'll be searching for Mardi Gras masks and you have until the 27th to complete the hunt. There are lots of home decor items, but also a killer period dress from Vintage Clothing Reproductions by Skye Qi along with a shirt and vest meant for kids (I stretched it.). ($0 - ?# - home & clothing items - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Zebranky/10/128/22)



I've written about both skins shown in this post before, but both are worth mentioing again. The 'adult' skin is from RockBerry's lucky board. (Lucky Board - F - Skin - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Scaramanga/20/40/66)

The 'child' skin is from Utsuku City (a camping sim). The skin comes with a shape. You'll have to join the Utsuku City Members group and sit for 10 minutes in the chair with the "Ami" flag. (10 min. camp - F - skin - http://slurl.com/secondlife/utsuku%20city/179/18/37)

You'll notice that 3 of the shops in Oak Tree Shopping area are also participating in the Kid's Grid Wide Hunt. You may want to pick up these too, the bear from Vintage Clothing Reproduction contains both a child's and adult's dress in it. ($0 - children's items - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Zebranky/10/128/22)



Pictures taken at the Oak Tree Shopping area. Preset used [TOR] das fog.

{Beauty Tuesday}: Paul & Joe Review & Giveaway!

Hello dearest readers, I'm afraid there will be no Beauty Interview today, you're stuck with me instead but I do have a giveaway to make it up to you ;)

I am a huge fan of Paul & Joe Beauty products, not only do they have the most wonderful vintage packaging, the quality of the products doesn't disappoint either. This is an example where judging a "book" by its cover actually paid off for me! :)

Now onto the products review, I have only used a few of their products as they're not the cheapest and I have to get them from London or online. But whenever I want to treat myself I know just the brand that would do the trick.

1. Creamy Power Compact Foundation - this is more of a foundation than a pressed power as it is more mosied and gives better coverage, the power itself is really fine, on a similar level as a Dior or Chanel power foundation. The colours are flattering too.
2. Nail Enamel - lovely colours, long lasting (I always wear nail colours with base & top coats, it really makes it last much longer), and of course beautiful packaging!
3. Lip Gloss - I love the brush applicator in these lip glosses, the texture is also light as I don't really like heavy lip gloss.
4. Eye Colour - gorgeous colours, long lasting, I especially like the little mirror in each eye shadow case.

Overall, pushing the packaging aside, the Compact Foundation and Lip Gloss is better than the Nail Enamel & Eye Colour in comparision with other products I feel, but it is so hard not to fall for the sweet packaging... Ok, I'll stop talking about it ;)

Also you can get some really pretty computer wallpapers on their site, like this!

Now for the most exciting part - the Giveaway !

What's up for grabs? Two gorgeous Eye Colour in 18 (smokey grey) and 84 (grape), plus one Nail Colour in a gold/beige shimmer shade, total worth more than £35/$55! They'll all come with their pretty boxes too, i.e. all brand new but the grey shadow has been tested once by me as I was going to keep this for myself, but it turns out the colour is too similar to another eye colour I already have so I'm putting this in the giveaway too.

How to enter? Just leave a comment below stating your current favorite blog {apart from Luphia loves, just to make the choice harder for you ;) }.

I am also giving a little extra advantage to my lovely followers, if you left a comment below & also follows Luphia loves, you will get two entries in the prize draw, hence doubling your chances! So if you're not following Luphia loves yet, now maybe a good time? ;) The deadline is Friday 10pm GMT. Good luck!

{giveaway courtesy of a little business I'm currently working on, will reveal soon}

(images from Paul & Joe Beauté)

Gossip Girl Style

The title is a little misleading I suppose, this won't be on "the best outfits of Gossip Girl" since plenty of amazing bloggers have done this already, instead I'm presenting you a series of stunning photo shoots that resemble the Gossip Style, hope you won't be too disappointed ;)

If staying in education means going to a grand school built in the 19th century, wearing fabulous clothes and amazing heels, I think I may stay as a student forever! :)

Now on to a litte discussion about the Oscars red carpet, I have to say I was a little disappointed overall, sure there were lots of big fabulous gowns as always but I usually fall for the more colourful and chic dresses.

My favorite this year is Natalie Portman, I adore this girl to bits anyway so maybe a little biased, to me she's the perfect package as a young woman, beautiful (inside & out), intelligent, down to earth, stylish and care about important issues in this world. Evan Rachel Wood also looks very elegant in the Saab nude gown. Miley Cyrus's dress is a litte too much for me on the red carpet but if I was 5 again that mermaid dress would definitely be my fav! ;)

As mentioned yesterday I received three blog awards last week from these fantastic blogs: Captivate Me , Under Lock and Key and Pearls, Peonies, and Ponderings. Now it's the time to pass them on! See I'm doing a mini "Blog Oscars" myself ;) , I have way too many favorites so this time I'm going to concentrate mostly on some new fabulous blogs that I discovered recently!

Your Blog is Fabulous! goes to *Felinofelice , camilla at home , la couturier & Mademoisselle Chic

I {heart} your blog goes to Creme de la Mode , D!RTY LAUNDRY , Daisy Pink Cupcake , FRENCH ESSENCE , Hooked on Houses , january & Make Room for Living

Proximidade award goes to The Drifter and the Gypsy , :: Lime in the Coconut :: , Design Dig , Diamondcanopy , essenceanddesire , Fashionably Early , GOSSIP STYLE VINTAGE , two ellie , Eyes of Me & A Wedding Cabaret

Forgot to say earlier, who's on your best dressed list from the Oscars?

(photo shoots by Baldovino Barani, red capet images from oscar.com)

One Day Deal & More

If you haven't heard Lemania Indigo is retiring a bunch (about 150!) former hunt prize dresses. And before these dresses are permanently gone they are offered up for $1 one per day before their deletion. Today (22nd) the Ginger Rogers will have it's day in the spotlight. ($1 - f - dress - http://slurl.com/secondlife/S%20Crystal%20Springs/148/169/30)



The mask shown with the above dress is one of 11 prizes that may be found in the Crimson Shadow hunt. You'll find goodies to accessorize for both male, female, & neko avatars. ($0 - m/f - 11 prizes - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Crimson%20Shadow%20Rezzable/128/128/2)

There are still a couple more days to the Greatest Love hunt (ending 28, Febuary). Lemania's prize contained two dresses! ($0 - f - hunt prize dresses - http://slurl.com/secondlife/S%20Crystal%20Springs/173/162/30)



If you stop by Sweet Alice you'll find a $1 skin amongst her other skins. So stop by and scroll over for this cute surprise! ($1 - F - skin - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Silacci/235/76/127)



One last dress from Lemania Indigo before I go. This one is a group gift that she wants to share with everyone! The Party Girl Barbie gift will be available until Saturday so sign up! ($0 - F - group gift dress - SL Divine Divas )



All hair shown is from Elv'an Majika a cute shop that was featured on Freebie Telegraph blog. Nothing in the store is over $5 so definetly a must see. ($0-3 - F - Hair - http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cutie%20Land/52/25/22)

Location: Nishi AZABU (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Nishi%20AZABU/2/118/2)