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.

Sometimes, the best medicine for what ails you is throwing your arms around someone's neck and hanging from them playfully as they hug you tight.

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I reckon having so many places to sit quietly and talk with someone that it becomes a "chore" to remember them all and pick one, is a pretty nice problem to have.

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Sometimes it's not what you're doing, but who you're doing it with.

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Happy Monday, everybody!

So this weekend was filled with crazy fun randomness, and I can only hope yours was. I got to go shoe shopping with girlfriends, become a quadruplet, bought some L$50 Magika hair and a L$50 ball gown which a kind gentleman or two last night referred to as "smoking hot" (Topaz Square, TOPAZ SQUARE!), DJ'd for charity (we've raised L$10k for Stand Up To Cancer so far, thank you), got sold on an auction block, became a copycat and bought some boots I wanted, got caught breaking into Camthan's house for some craziness (okay, so that was on Thursday), and enjoyed the company of some amazing folks along the way.

And then yesterday I got to hang off of shoulders.

Is it Friday again yet? Or do you think maybe we can add some random insanity to the weekdays?

I think the most amazing asset in SL is friends. Truly.

Oh sure, there's the fun, and the amazing creativity, and the shopping and the dancing and the cavorting and galavanting, but what is any of that without amazing friends to experience it all with?

I mean, whether it's the people you see from time to time that crack your shit up and make you laugh, or the people for whom your SL and RL blends together, new acquaintances or deep old friendships, and of course loving partners.

I was talking to my dear friend Camthan Hax the other day, and we were sort of reveling in all of our amazing friends, old and new. Having the stability of strong, warm friendships awaiting you when you log inworld can sometimes be the driving force that keeps us attached to SL.

Lately, I've had the absolute pleasure of getting to know some brand new friends, people I've admired from afar for their own personal uniqueness and creativity, and I'm absolutely thrilled to count them among my friendships now.

Have you reached out to your friends, old and new, lately? Have you given them some driveby IM <3's or stopped just to see how they're doing? Have you asked them to join you on a fun day of exploring or have you asked to join them at an event?

I highly recommend it.

Enrich your day by seeing them. I'd bet you'll enrich theirs, too.

Shimmy, from Subtle Submission

Originally uploaded by Rosie Barthelmess

How much do I love Noirran Marx and all the clothing and accessories in her Subtle Submission shop?

How much?

A ton. A TON.

Shimmy is a slim silhouette lovely formal gown with a sequined prim skirt made up of three panels. In these photos, I did not have to adjust the skirt AT ALL.

Not one bit.

I didn't touch it.

One prim set goes on each leg, plus one in the middle to "fill in the gap." The result is a lovely, nearly vertical, smooth skirt that goes with the flow when you walk or dance, but looks hot as heck when you're standing still. If it looks this good on me, imagine how it's going to look on you.

An absolutely lovely dress for a night on the town or that formal occasion, and a super mega bargain at L$200. That's right, I said L$200.

Shimmy is available in one color, as you see it here.

Walk, do not run, to Subtle Submission at HERE and get one of your own plus like, one of each of everything.

PS: Now I need to find an appropriate occasion for which to wear this lovely dress. Shall we go out on the town?

I'm blessed to have a SL filled with some very wise friends. Amazing, open, warmhearted, insightful, intelligent, openminded, loving, incredible friends.

One of them said something to me last night that has resounded so deeply within me that I feel the overwhelming need to share it with all of you.

This tidbit of wisdom has inspired me in ways you can't imagine. Although some of you will be on the receiving end of some of my inspiration now.

Here's the tidbit. Ready?

As regards our virtual lives (and I suspect, the real ones too):

"This is your game. And your dream. Live the dream."

So there you go.

Today I challenge all of you to step outside the box a little. And live your dream.

If we can't do it here, where can we?

zoewedding_005

Originally uploaded by Rosie Barthelmess

This weekend, I had the very distinct honor of participating in the SL wedding of a very dear friend. MrZoe Ninetails, friend and co-worker at Lounge of Dreams, and his partner Tim Merserau, were married in the lovely Great Hall at Pennyroyal Sim, the home and creation of those two very talented and creative men.

I was not only a bridesmaid for MrZoe, but he asked me to give him away. I was very proud to do so.

The heartiest of congratulations, you two -- may the brightest blessings shower themselves upon you.

Oh, yes -- and then we partied like rockstars.