May 9th, 2012 is my 5th rezday. Five years ago today I found Second Life® and signed up whilst eating a bowl of strawberries, hence the name (yes, I am just that creative lol). It’s been quite a journey for me as I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’ve gained and lost many friends and loved ones these past five years and each one of them has left an imprint on my heart. A lot of people call this place just a game, but it’s so much more than that. The people I’ve gotten to know, the photography you see on this blog and all the writing and rambling I do here, has changed me and my life…forever.

I was only a few months old in SL when a friend introduced me to the sl flickr community and I fell in love with all of the creativity. So I signed up and since August of 2007 I have been documenting my SLife on my flickr. As of this moment, I have almost 2500 images uploaded on my flickr. Sometimes I go back and look through them from the starting and it brings tears to my eyes. I’ll cherish every single one of those memories.

Although I don’t update them as often as I would like, I love creating sets and collections in flickr so I can navigate through my images with more ease. I’d like to share two of those sets with you guys today.

First is a slideshow of a set called “Headshots” these are closeup images of my face over the years and how it’s changed. The majority of these images are photoshopped, a program I didn’t know anything about until just a couple of years ago. Now I can’t seem to live without it.
Headshots set slideshow:

Another set I’ve created on flickr is called “my favs” most of the time after posting an image on flickr, I usually hate it within thirty minutes. All of the flaws and errors and silly things I missed while processing all of a sudden just jump out at me and I can’t stand the thought of even looking at the picture anymore. Anyhow, that happens most of the time, however there are some pictures that resonate with me and mean a lot to me. It could be because of the way I was feeling when I created them or the way I feel about the people that are in them, whatever the reason is, these are the ones that I still look back on and smile (or sometimes cry). I’m not going to do a slideshow of this one, but you can view them on my flickr if you like.

Flickr is definitely one of my favorite places I share information about my Second Life. Another place that is slowly becoming a favorite and I’m really enjoying sharing things on there now is my Facebook Page. I am loving interacting with the SL facebook community. I’ve been slowly adding some of my favorite headshots in an album on there, you can check those out at this link if you’re on facebook.

Looking at all of these images I am reminded of why I love Second Life so much. I love being able to be whatever or whomever I want to be that day. I can be a blond, a brunette or a redhead. I can be a fairy, a mermaid, an angel or a scary monster if I want to. The possibilities are endless.

The past five years have been fun and enlightening. I just hope for many more. Thank you for being a part of my Second Life. <3

What does Second Life mean to you? Why do you keep logging in?

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Linden Lab® to create an image with a music theme. I wasn’t sure exactly what to do. Then I remembered this adorable pose I had from Olive Juice and asked Mr. Prad Prathivi to come sit with me. I think this is one of my most favorite pictures that I have ever done, it means so much to me. That’s why I’m so happy that it’s on SecondLife.com today. (Remember to logout if you are logged in so you can see it)

Along with Mr. Prathivi and I, you will see Miaa Rebane, Faint Paulse, Harlow Heslop, Sixx Yangtz, Harper Beresford and Ivoni Miles. Just click on the arrows to see all of the images. Congrats to them all. <3

After submitting the above picture (which is pretty much a raw screen shot) I had played with the image more in photoshop and posted it on my flickr, so sharing it below. While processing the image, I was listening to "I love you forever” by the amazing Two Steps From Hell.

The couple’s pose in this image is by IsabellaGrace Baroque of Olive Juice. She will be giving this pose out for FREE at Pose Fair which will run from April 15th till May 5th. So remember to drop by the Olive Juice booth and pick up your free pose! <3

Credits:
What Mr. Prathivi is wearing:
Shirt: Aoharu – Silk Shirt (Black)
Jeans: Zaara – Classic Jeans (Ash)
Shoes: Kari – Kicks Shoes

What I’m wearing:
Skin: Aura
Hair: Shag
Shirt: Erratic
Jeans: Maitreya Mesh Jeans
Jewels: Je Suis and Erratic
Shoes: Soreal Sneakers

I know I disappeared for a few days, I’ve just been kind of swamped with client pictures. Not that I don’t love shooting you guys. It’s a really great feeling to take a picture of someone and they end up liking it so much they post it everywhere. It makes me smile and I’m so thankful to be able to do that for so many people. However, since it’s been taking up so much of my time, I haven’t had the chance to do something else I love doing as much and that is to take pictures of myself! LOL I kind of miss blogging. So I think after this week I’m going to start taking fewer clients a day. I know this means you might not be able to get an appointment right away, but it will give me the ability to also blog when I feel the need to since I have to juggle my time wisely in SL due to RL work. I hope you guys understand and I really appreciate all the encouragement and support I continuously receive from the whole community. <3

I've been wanting to do this post for a while and I had a short break in between clients so I whipped up this quick picture for it. LOL Took me srsly about 15 minutes. Meet my photography ALT, her name is Berrylicious and she looks EXACTLY like me. LOL I realized that it was my inventory on my Strawberry Singh account that was making it difficult for me to actually take high resolution pictures, with great shadows and also minimal crashing and glitches. So I started to use Berrylicious as my photography ALT. She has a very small inventory and while taking pics she rarely crashes and can take beautiful shadow pictures with a very high resolution. So what I usually do when I’m taking a pic for a blog post these past few weeks is login to my Strawberry Singh account using regular sl viewer and dress her up for the post. Then I use Kirstens Viewer to login to Berrylicious. Kirstens is my favorite viewer for shooting pictures. Then I use Berrylicious to actually take the pictures of Strawberry Singh. (Did I confuse you yet? :P)

Anyhow, back to the reason for this post. I am a big Elikapeka Tiramisu fan. I was an avid shopper few years back at her old store ETD. So much so that I was totally excited when she chose one of my pics to be displayed as a poster back in the day. Look I even did a goofy blog post back in 2008 about it. On second thought, don’t look, I was a little TOO excited. LOL

Now that she is back with the all new elikatira I have just been drooling over the hairs. I had to get the latest release for Berrylicious because it is just the most cutest french braid I have ever seen and the front part frames my face so well. If you haven’t checked out elikatira yet, what are you waiting for? Her styles are amazing and her textures are so soft and beautiful.

elikatira blog: http://elikatira.com
elikatira on marketplace: https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/1368
elikatura slurl: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Elikatira/79/127/36

Credits:
Skin: [:Tuli:] Claire / fair / li :: TDR Newyear 2011 LE by Tuli Asturias
Hair: [elikatira] Later – Brown 04 by Elikapeka Tiramisu
Clothes & Jewels: Zaara by Zaara Kohime

There is nothing more I love then a luscious dark skin. I just feel so incredibly sexy in it. Kasumi pale has also been released, you can see me wearing it in this post. You can find both of the dark and pale in the PXL mainstore now.

I haven’t done Berry’s Favorite Things in a while, definitely adding Kasumi in dark into that category.

And while we’re discussing my favorite things, here’s more of my favorite jewelry from je suis. Luckily je suis is have a Black Friday sale and everything in the store is 50% off till 11:59pm slt tonight. So make sure to check it out today!

Credits:
*Skin: PXL Kasumi by Hart Larsson
*Eyes: PXL by Hart Larsson
Hair: Lamb by Lamb Bellic
Bra: :bijou: prayer by Kotobuki Jewell
*Jewels: je suis african set by Julia Merosi
*Nails: je suis by Julia Merosi
*Poses: Long Awkward Pose by Dove Swanson
*Promotional items

For this week’s installment of Berry’s Favorite Things I’d like to bring you….Sofia. Glam Affair’s new skin in dark that I’m not planning to take off anytime soon. As soon as I tried the demo, I just went wow and bought my favorite makeup. Now I’m regretting it and wish I actually bought the fatpack…perhaps I’ll do that in a few days. :)

The poses I’m using are by Elikapeka Yokosuka who just opened a new pose store by the name of Honey and Vinegar. I found the poses to be very simple and stylish.

The clothing and jewels I am wearing in the post will be available at the ~ Etheria – When Jeweler’s Dream ~ event. It starts on June 13, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. slt and is a collaborative fashion event between the following stores:
~ Caroline’s & Ingenue
~ Dark Mouse & Lark
~ KessKreations & Moonshine Designs
~ Lolapop! & Blue Blood
~ MONKEE & Evie’s Closet

Have a great weekend! <3

Credits:
Skin: -Glam Affair - Sofia Dark – make up 3 by aida Ewing
Eyes: Poetic Color eyes -star -mercury by Lano Ling
Hair: W&Y MODEL HAIR 20 by yukitan Farrjones
*Dress: Ingenue :: Valdez :: Bodice :: Golden 2 by Betty Doyle (Available @ Etheria on June 13th)
*Jewels: Caroline’s Jewelry Diamond by Caroline Apollo (Available @ Etheria on June 13th)
*Poses: honey and vinegar by Elikapeka Yokosuka
Location: Svarga

*Promotional copies

It’s time for another installment of Berry’s Favorite Things because my favorite eyes on the whole grid are on sale, 50% off, making all the eyes L$100 each. I’m wearing Poetic Color‘s latest release, the star eyes, named after the planets. These are definitely my most favorite and I just couldn’t resist and went and bought more fatpacks! :D But you gotta hurry because the sale is only going to be for 3 days.

Also, I think it’s been a while since I shared a quote…so here you go. <3

“In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so.”
Anton Ego from Ratatouille

Credits:
Skin: CandyDoll Sarra Pale by rebeca Dembo (L$69 today only)
Eyes: Poetic Color eyes by Lano Ling (3-day 50% off sale – All eyes are L$100 each)
*Hair: >TRUTH< Marnie Streaked - barley by Truth Hawks

*Promotional copies

I first visited the Trilogy sim back in January of 2008. A good friend of mine told me about it and since then I have returned many times for photo opportunities. This “fashion alley in the rain” has a great array of shops to choose from. However, what I like most about it are the raindrops on the windows. The textures and colors are also all very exquisite. Male stylist and blogger, Galliano Boucher, has recently taken a lot of great pictures on the Trilogy sim. I’ve always wanted to include this sim in one of my blog posts, so I’m glad I finally got an opportunity to. I hope you take the time to visit if you haven’t been. You can see other pictures of the sim in the Trilogy flickr group.

Credits:
*Skin: &Bean – Hounds of love by Keiko Morigi (coming soon)
Eyes: Poetic Color eyes – quicksilver by Lano Ling
Hair: MIEL TUE HAIR – Group Gift Pack by Miel Nirvana
*Outfit: JE*REPUBLIC-Dear Girl-Red by Jungeun Vella
*Pose: [[ dollipops ]] by December Dollinger
Location: TRILOGY / Fashion alley

*Review copies and/or gifts.

Recently I’ve noticed a few comments on blogs, flickr and even plurk regarding the kind of people that use plurk for social networking. Plurk is getting to be known as a place where “drama queens” reside with timelines full of emotionally unstable rants and witch-hunts, 24/7. Although I admit that might be the case for some plurkers, but let me assure you, there is another side of plurk that you may not be aware of.

Plurk will always hold a special place in my heart, because after all, it is the place where I first met the love of my slife. During these past two years on plurk, I have gotten to know many people, made a lot of new friends that I wouldn’t have otherwise and discovered many new stores and places to visit in Second Life.

Take today’s outfit for example. I would never have known Tuli sent out this beautiful skin to her group since I do not read the Fashion Feed everyday if it wasn’t for my plurk friends spamming my timeline with it. :P Yesterday, I felt like shoe shopping and all I had to do was ask plurk and I got a ton of responses therein resulting in a major shoe shopping spree where I found the beauties I am wearing today.

I admit, I also do have my off days where I will go off on a rant or do an emo plurk. However, I do my best to surround myself with positive people so I can be nauseatingly happy and piss off all the jealous emo people! (Yes the rumors are true, I AM evil)

No but seriously, most of my timeline is full of me plurking about food, spamming my flickr pics, sharing my favorite bollywood songs, revealing my deepest darkest secrets, calling people meanies, demanding kisses, sharing too much information and sometimes I really have nothing to say at all. But more than anything, I just like to be goofy, torture people and make them laugh! <3

So you see, it's not all drama 24/7. It's actually a lot of fun and helps me get through the day with a lot of laughs. You just need to know who to befriend and who to follow. So you can start by befriending me! I promise I’ll be nice (maybe).

Finally, I just want to take a quick moment to thank each and every one of you that has left a comment on my blog, IMed me, emailed me or private plurked me to thank me for the tutorials. I couldn’t have done them without Catero Revolution’s help. Also please note it is the plurkers that gave me the idea to do the tutorials in the first place, so you actually have them to thank for that! I will be working on the last two very soon and they should be coming up in the following week.

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend. I hope I see you on plurk! <3

Credits:
*Skin: []::Tuli::[] Sayuri :: VIP update group special by Tuli Asturias
*Hair: >TRUTH< Annie - espresso by Truth Hawks
Top: [SC] Surf Couture – La Plage Tee – Berry by Emma Gilmour
*Maitreya HighSkirt Raven by Onyx LeShelle
Shoes: [PM] Baby T Plain: Black by Tya Fallingbridge
*Necklace & Earrings: Baiastice-onyx pools set by Sissy Pessoa
Bangles: [MANDALA] Takara Bangle Zebra Fur Set by kikunosuke Eel
*Poses: Diesel Works – Scarlett by Rogan Diesel
*Furniture & Decor: ::TASTY:: BOOKWORM FULL SET by Veronica Kanya
Skybox: :::!off-brand Furniture::: Urban Skybox by Haruka Ackland

*Review items and/or gifts.

I haven’t done a Berry’s Favorite Things post in a while so I thought today will be the perfect day because I am totally hormonal, hyper and nauseatingly happy. Then on top of that Iki just released this AMAZING skin Amber. I am speechless. I am such a sucker for dark skins and this skin has everything I could ever want.

The fatpack (which is only L$4750) comes with not only 9 different makeups, but each makeup has several options for eyebrows, cleavage and hairbase. Also in the fatpack is an addons pack with a shape and different kinds of eyelashes, some of which I am wearing in the photos above! ^^
Each individual makeup is only L$1000 and comes with eyelashes, and different options for eyebrows, hairbase, cleavage! The body is always amazing!

I’m also wearing some recently released tops from Dutch Touch along with the jeans.

The hair of course is the all new and gorgeous Berry hair from Truth! :D It is based on my RL hair that I sent him a pic of and it turned out absolutely perfect! This is also my new favorite thing on the grid, obviously! :D I am in LOVE so thank you Mr. Hawks, even though you called me naughty! :P ♥

And that wraps up my favorite things for today….I really need to do this more often!

Have a great weekend! ♥

Credits:
Skin: Dutch Touch Amber by Iki Ikarus ♥
Clothing: Dutch Touch by Iki Ikarus
Hair: Truth Berry Hair – Espresso by Truth Hawks ♥
Eyes: Poetic Color eyes – night rain by Lano Ling
Rings: alaMood SweetStack Rings by Jori Watler
Poses: Long Awkward Pose by Dove Swanson

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IXkin

I must admit, before I saw these I was not into the prim feet like everyone else. I actually much preferred to roam the grid bare feet with just my anklets on, but once I laid my eyes upon these, it was love at first sight. So much so that I plurked about it the moment I saw the teaser pop up on flickr.

Shanti

Of course I couldn’t actually decide on just one shoe, when I saw all three I absolutely *needed* to have them all. To give my poor wallet a break however I decided to settle with only one color per shoe….for now. Oh yes, I will be going back for more. :D Especially for IXkin and I am in love with every color of the Salience.

Salience

These are hands down the best prim feet I’ve seen on the grid. The hud is so simple to use and it took one click for the shoes to match my tone. There are lots of options for nail colors as well.

There you have it folks, these are my favorite things on the grid these days. I’m not planning to take them off any time soon! :D

Have a great weekend y’all!

Credits:
IXkin:
Skin: :: DUTCH TOUCH ::DUNe:: Cocoa – CatsEyes by Iki Ikarus
Hair: [Detour] Bliss – Black – Flexi Hair by Keri Clip
Top: MIEL Bo Shirt Ebony by Mika Nieuport
Shorts: ::EmJay:: Torn True Blue Shorts by Magen Jigsaw
Tattoo: [HUZ TATS] Maori by Hunain Bellic
Bracelets: Zaara : Ramya wood bangles by Zaara Kohime
Cigarette: Primitive Design PD CIGARETTE – long ash by Geyer Schnyder
Shoes <3: Maitreya Gold – IXkin Black by Beauvoir Rousselot & Onyx LeShelle
Pose: Diesel Works by Rogan Diesel (Have you heard about the amazing contest?)

Shanti:
Skin: :: DUTCH TOUCH ::DUNe:: Cocoa – CatsEyes by Iki Ikarus
Hair: .:[ Tiny Bird ]:. Into My Arms – Chocolate by Autumn Hykova
Top: *Shai* Volpe Silk Blouse Purple by Shai Delacroix
Skirt: *Reale* Suede mini dress (beige) by Mallu Mayo
Earrings: Zaara : Panchali Earrings by Zaara Kohime (LE.LOOK! Exclusive)
Bracelets by Zaara Kohime (not released as of yet)
Shoes <3: Maitreya Gold – Shanti Dark-Ecru by Beauvoir Rousselot & Onyx LeShelle
Pose: Diesel Works by Rogan Diesel (Have you heard about the amazing contest?)

Salience:
Skin: :: DUTCH TOUCH ::DUNe:: Cocoa – CatsEyes by Iki Ikarus
Hair: Truth; Marianne – chocolate by Truth Hawks
Dress: Armidi – Satin Mini Dress – Rogue by Juju Armidi
Bracelets: kraftika No 306 Bracelets by Anuitka Barthelmess (LE.LOOK! Exclusive)
Prim Nails: Candy Nail #P024 Magic of Witch Black*LE (peche Bury)
Shoes <3: Maitreya Gold – Salience Brown by Beauvoir Rousselot & Onyx LeShelle
Pose: Diesel Works by Rogan Diesel (Have you heard about the amazing contest?)