I know you all secretly looked me over and thought I was a "bad girl." You know, visions of what kinds of ink or piercings were tucked away under my clothes, picturing me raising hell and running off to Mexico for the weekend to drink tequila and dance on a bar, things like that.

Right?

Pfffffft.

Fortunately for me, I don't have to necessarily be a hellraiser to enjoy some great tattoos in SL. I don't have kind of personal style to pull off sleeves or full body tats, but I am all for flashing a little personality in the form of unique, original tats that make a statement. And, one of my favorite spots for tats that fit the bill, is .:Collisions:., where the tats made by my friend Guenevere DeCuir do all that and more.

Guen has multiple shops around the grid, but you can find her mainstore at Freakheim (SLURL) along with freebies (she also makes lovely unisex jewelry), some awesome photography showcasing her tats, and other information.

And before I forget, let me make sure to mention she is available for CUSTOM TAT WORK and does an excellent job. One of the tats I wear whenever my legs aren't covered, is a very lovely bear-themed kanji-mixed with-tribal piece of art on my calf that I commissioned with her -- I gave her some very loose guidelines and she put together a gorgeous piece that gets comments almost every time I wear it.

So here's the important info: All Guen's tats are available on all layers, and they are copy/mod/no transfer.

Okay, so I know these are little, but click through and see them on my flickr for more detail. My blog template borks with larger pictures. Blah blah blah I know.

First things first, RFL. This is Guen's item that's up for sale at her store for L$100, to benefit Relay For Life. The kanji reads: Courage, Strength, Wisdom, and it's framed with lovely colored accents on the sides.

And sticking with the spine-tattoo theme, here's another one that I just love.

Rosie - Roses - get it? Get it? Quill & Thorns, another spine tat from Collisions, also L$100. What you can't see is the little red droplet of blood coming off of the quill-point at the bottom (it's covered by my corset) but it makes a statement for the writer in all of us.

And just because I want to show you my belleh, here's one I'm especially excited about:

Serenade, a belly/midriff tat by Guen, features a heart-themed musical score that floats over your tummy. Now remember, my tummy is bigger than average so it'll look slightly different on a regular-sized avie. Serenade is a companion piece to the Sable Rose Ballad pendant, which also features the same treble-bass-clef-heart design. I was really, really thrilled when Guen released this, and you can find this tat as well as other tats that match up with some Sable Rose jewelry, both at Collisions and at the Sable Rose mainstore.

Guenevere DeCuir puts her heart and soul into all her designs, whether they're her own creations for the store or custom pieces for clientele. I've commissioned her for custom tats (color and monochrome) in the past and I've never been disappointed. I highly recommend her for unique, personal tattoos that show off your personality.

Collisions Tattoos & Unisex Jewelry Main Store: (SLURL) -- http://slurl.com/secondlife/freakheim/225/226/22

So it's been another week or so since bloggin. I guess I've seemed pulled a bunch of directions and trying to keep it all managed.

Everything's good, just been busy in RL (thankfully) and SL both. I keep getting things gonna stack up on the bloggin posts and then semi-forgetting about them.

Stay tuned, there is blogarificness. I promise.

Oh, wait. Here's a semi-funny story I'm thinking you might get a giggle out of.

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So I was at the club, this was probably a few weeks ago, now. And this avie, a 2007 avie in a 2007 linden skin and static prim hair and linden shoes and a freebie dress, and a pretty noobish shape, and was wearing some kind of intricate +~->ZOMG I'M A MODEL<-~+ kind of tag.

You know the ones.

And suddenly she says:

"I see a big girl dancing there, go big girl, go! I could never be fat, my agency is so strict about my appearance."

So I said, "Oh, I've done some modeling in SL. Each agency is different I guess."

So she said again, "Yeah, I'm big in RL but I could never be fat in SL and still be able to keep my job modeling."

So I said: "Must have been hard to find a modeling agency that would let you model in freebies, non-prim shoes and a Linden noob skin, huh."

Then I said, "Would you like me to give you some landmarks to places like Gnubie's and Sarah Nerd's, so you can pick up some higher quality freebies?"

She shut up.

Thanks to everybody that made my 29th (*cough*) birthday a very very lovely day. I kept getting surprised with gifts and wellwishes every time I turned around, probably thanks to Marxi "letting the cat out of the bag."

Jeli snuck up on me and was SUPER MISS DEVIOUS and sent me RL flowers, too, which was a super-amazing treat. They're still here next to my desk making my whole office smell absolutely lovely.

It was an absolutely awesome day of shopping, making lists of where to go shopping, daydreaming of shopping, and um, SHOPPING! Thank you to everybody who so kindly thought of me. You guys know "you didn't have to do that," but you did and I can't thank you enough. Whether there were gifts involved or not, you all are the best set of friends anyone could ever ask for in any life.

The house got covered with balloons and gifts and signs and streamers by the Four Corners crew, and I also got to spend a little time with Eirik which was a joy as always.

Then, later that night when I relogged after some RL celebrating with friends, I was shuffled off to the club where everyone took turns spanking me. I think a few of you liked spanking me a little too much. Or is it me that liked getting spanked a little bit too much?

After my birthday died down, I spent yesterday working most of the day in RL and made an appearance in SL late last night to try to finish up Eirik's valentine present. I'm quite happy with it and will post some pictures after I give it to him this weekend. Shhhhh!

Today, we spent some time exploring Chakryn Forest, as neither of us had ever been there. We had quite a lovely time and I'm sure we'll end up going back because I doubt we even scratched the surface of this amazing openspace build. It was truly mystical and beautiful, peaceful and inviting, whimsical and quite obviously a labor of love.

I had been reading about the fires, as I'm sure we all have, on news outlets and was very happy when my friend Winter Jefferson dropped a notecard on me (and the rest of his friendslist) about a fund raiser being organized to contribute to relief efforts in Australia.

Autumn Hykova and Dakota Buck are putting together a fundraising campaign that has already raised tens of thousands of Linden dollars for the Red Cross relief efforts to help the victims of the bushfires in Victoria.

Many folks are helping out inworld and I would encourage you to give if you can at all -- every Linden counts.

I have put together a prim necklace with the design of a Phoenix rising, which is now available at the Sable Rose mainstore (SLURL) at Subtle Submission. Thanks to Winter Jefferson for the inspiration.

Speaking of Subtle Submission -- Thanks to Noirran Marx, there are two Aussie Red Cross donation kiosks at the Lounge of Dreams (SLURL).

She has also created a set of Aussie Garter Socks which are the TOTAL CUTENESS, and can be found right next to ANOTHER donation kiosk in the main entry of Subtle Submission (SLURL). LOOK HOW CUTE. And they're Xfer.

Peek around, lots of folks are having sales and creating beautiful and original items for sale to benefit our Aussie friends. It's a great way to help out for a very deserving cause. I'm always amazed and proud of the way SL pulls together to try to help those who need it. Thanks for reading. <3

Good grief, I've been gone for what seems like forever.  My SL is getting more and more full as the days go on and while that's a good thing, my blogging has definitely suffered.

Let's see if I can cover the bases.

There's a new blog for the Sable Rose store so I don't have to clutter up this one with posts about the store. I'm hoping it gets accepted to one of the feeds, since I've never felt it would be right to put this one on a fashion feed or anything similar. The address for the blog is, at least temporarily, http://skatoolaki.com/sablerose and I've started posting pictures of some of my stuff.

Today, I had the honor of meeting with Shenlei Flasheart of Shengri La and the Fashion Institute, and I've been accepted as a vendor in what is currently known as the Vintage Marketplace. I'll be working with Shenlei to try to progress my little shop along and raise awareness of my jewelry, with the goal of becoming better known without sacrificing all of my free time or my SL enjoyment by things feeling more like "work."

I also signed Sable Rose up for the Twisted Hunt that's going to be starting in April, so watch for more news about that.

Life on Four Corners is never dull, and we're getting the island fleshed out and absolutely beautiful. From Bonibaru's mermaid hangout under the sea to Raeyn's ground level fog and clouds, to Izzy's willow forest to our garden, we're all settling in and loving it.

That being said, I help Marx Dudek out with her residential sim Wellstone, and she has some parcels up for purchase. She's letting them go for a very good deal depending on the size, so if you or someone you know is looking for an affordable chunk of LOVELY oceanfront estate land to call their own, have them contact Marx Dudek inworld.

Hm, what else is going on? Fleur! Fleur, fleur, fleur! As you may or may not know, I am a CSA for Fleur and I am down at the store a few times a week to meet and greet and help people find what they're looking for. If you haven't seen the absolutely gorgeous new Shoujo valentine's skins and the Vain - Kissed Hunt free skin yet, do yourself a favor and head to Fleur and CHECK THEM OUT. Don't forget to enter the photo contest for your chance at Fleur gift cards!

My partner Daman has reincarnated himself as Eirik, and as such Eirik has started a new blog. He has subtitled it "beating up Second Life with the chair leg of truth," which I reckon means he's going to be telling us a lot of what's on his mind. As the one who gets to talk to him more than most I reckon, I can tell you he has a lot of things on his mind so I'm sure it'll be interesting. Make sure you check it out.

On a more solemn note, I have been cherishing my inworld friends and I am so deeply grateful for the support and fun and friendship you all have been sharing with me. I have been finding the time recently to become closer with my core group of friends who are definitely converting/converted into my SL family. But I am SO blessed to have a varied and amazing group of people around me in SL so in case I have neglected to tell any of you how amazing you truly are, HERE, YOU CAN READ IT IN MY BLOG BECAUSE THAT IS THE BEST WAY EVA TO GET THE POINT ACROSS.

Okay, well, hopefully you know what I mean. And I intend to get back to making with the regular drive-by IM lovins. SL is nothing without the people in it.

What else can I torture you with? I've lost 10 pounds IRL, RL Mr. B. is settled in overseas and we're patiently counting the days until he gets to come home on a mid-tour trip in July. We're thinking about heading to Vegas for a few days.

I would do almost anything for some french fries or buffalo chicken wings, I'm Plurking as much as I can to hold my karma steady at 65 which frustrates me, I'm trying to stay caught up with all of y'all on your blogs, and, um.

THERE'S LOTS AND LOTS GOING ON.

Is everybody feeling as crazy as me? C'mon, talk to me, frenz. Tell me what's on your collective minds.

Today, I don't really have a TON of time to write a long post or a list about the things I'm thankful for.

But, let me try to at least make a list. Because I am surrounded by blessings (even the ones that don't always feel very good) in my RL, I won't go into them here. Instead, I'll write about my SL blessings since that's what this blog's all about anyway.

1) I'm grateful that after a very, very hard year in RL, I have managed to become connected to an amazing, supportive, sprawling group of friends in SL who allow me to throw love and affection their way, and then throw it back at me.

2) I am grateful for two of the best friends in any world, Isadora and Camthan, who put up with me, chat with me, laugh with me and cry with me through anything.

3) I am indescribably grateful for my amazing partner Daman (or is that Eirik?), who is not only one of the finest people I've ever had the pleasure to get to know but who is also boundlessly supportive, who listens to me, who finds the patience to help make sure we're always understanding one another, and who keeps finding reasons to come back to SL day after day so our paths can continue to cross.

4) I'm grateful for Marx Dudek and her incessant desire to do more, be more, see more, build more, create more, offer more, give more, love more.

5) I'm grateful for the Lounge of Dreams and the opportunity to keep it running after our one year anniversary, providing a safe and fun place for everyone to be able to go and enjoy themselves without fear of judgment.

6) I'm grateful for the readers of this blog, although I think I'm probably down to like ... three or four now, since I haven't been writing much. You guys who occasionally comment or mention that you read something I wrote, you help me keep wanting to write. And with the year I'm about to have, reaching out - even through writing - is going to be a really big part of my routine. Or at least it's going to have to be, if I expect to not drive myself crazy.

7) And, for all the pain in the ass it can be, I'm grateful for SL. Because I've always said, my SL is dynamic and amazing and creative and thrilling and spectacular and happy and melancholy and stimulating and relaxing and everything else, not because of the platform, the client, Linden Lab, the money, the sims, the rules, or anything else. It's all those things because of the people. And without SL, I would not have spent the last 18 months growing and being exposed to so many amazing souls. Even if they're souls I don't have the pleasure of seeing so often any more -- they've all impacted me and helped shape who I am. Many have inspired me, some have entertained, but all have contributed in their own way. I can only hope I've given back a fraction of what you've all given me.

This holiday season, hold your loved ones (RL or SL) close and tell them what they mean to you. Make sure they know. Never, ever hold back your praise, your friendship, your awe, your pride, your affection, for those who make your SL what it is day in and day out.

Give them all the gift of yourself. Of yourself, of your heart, of your time. The gift of you.

I am grateful today, and every day, for the gift of self the amazing individuals who have touched me in this virtual world, have given and continue to give.

So thank you.