A DULCE Start

Featuring
DULCE SECRETS


Dear Second Life,

How exciting, a new year is about to begin in a few hours and I am already wondering what it will bring
with it. 2013 was full of surprises, some good, others not so much. Still, I see it as a blessed year and
can't thank God enough for the many blessings I have received. 

It is in our hands what we want and how we want the new year to be. 
2014 is a clean canvas just waiting to be painted on.
I can't wait to start my 2014 masterpiece full of vibrant colors. I may not be a Picasso 
or a Leonardo da Vinci or Vincent Van Gogh but I am a heck of a dreamer
that believes that anything can be possible when we have faith and believe in ourselves.

Any new year's resolutions?
Not for me thanks.
I have failed every year in keeping them and so have most of the people I know.
I won't lose my time writing down a list of things that I will probably just start forgetting about in a
month or two. I however have in my heart a list of things that I wish for the people I love and myself 
for this coming year.

I wish to find more patience and understanding when I am confronted by an uncomfortable situation.
That my heart feels more compassion and love towards other people.
That forgiveness remains in my heart for this is the only way to find peace.
That I may be a better mother so when my children leave the home, 
they leave with a heart full of beautiful memories.
That I may be a better daughter, sister, and friend.
That I never lose focus of what is more important in my life.
That I never stop fighting for what I believe in,
and that I keep giving my 100% to the things that I love.



Guess I ended up writing a list after all.
These are the things that are important to me and I carry them with me through the whole year.
Every time I get a chance, I work into reinforcing them in my life.

Now tell me,
what are your new year's resolutions?

Forever Yours,
~ Lori Novo ~


By the way,
I know many people always want to look better for the new year as a new year's resolution
either by working out at the gym or taking better care of their hair and skin.

has this new 
TIERRE SKIN
by
AnneAlyce Maertens
that is sure to make you look beautiful.

It is available in 
4 Skin Tones
(Bisque ~ Cinnamon ~ Copper ~ Fawn * The one I am wearing)
and
3 MakeUp Options

You will find the 3 MakeUp Options at the sales skins at DULCE SECRETS
Tierre in The Rosy Makeup Option you will find at the COSMOPOLITAN SALE ROOM for L$70 each.
The Ocean MakeUp sales for L$99 ('til Jan. 26) and that you can find at DULCE SECRETS MAINSTORE.

Now got to run and join the family.
Wishing you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR
MUAH

InWorld Store / Blog / Flickr

BALI by FineSmith

Featuring
COSMOPOLITAN SALE ROOM
~ FINESMITH ~


Dear Second Life,

Did I mention before that this new round of the
COSMOPOLITAN SALE ROOM
comes packed from wall to wall with irresistible deals from some of Second Life's best designers?
I am serious!



TCS ROOM
Features some of best SL Designers and their quality items for L$70 or under.
Round Changes every two weeks 

~ Norah Jones ~

For example 
The 
BALI GOWN 
from 
FINESMITH
by
Yula Finesmith
valued at L$70 each.
They are perfect to help us say goodbye to the old year and receive the new one looking absolutely stunning.

This gown is available  in
Black~ B&W ~ Gold ~ Popi (Wearing on top photo)
Gown includes Belt and Collar




✈ Your First Class Ticket To The Gown ;)
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLebrity%20City/88/154/103




CREDITS:
Hair ~ Taylor * Black ~
.:EMO-tions:.
Skin ~ Mya SK 1 ~ Belleza
Eyes ~ Ardent * Industrial ~ IKON Eyes
Pose Two ~ aDORKable 
Model & Photographer ~ Lori Novo



♥⊱Thanks To All My Wonderful Designers For Their Support ... Hugs ⊰♥

A Soft & Romantic Kollective

Featuring
THE KOLLECTIVE


“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, 
known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. 
These people have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life 
that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern
.Beautiful people do not just happen.” 
~ Elizabeth Kubler-Ross ~




Exciting news my beautiful people,
A new round for
began yesterday with a SOFT & ROMANTIC theme this time. This round will be running 
from December 29 until January 26, 2014, and it is brought to us by Chatte Management.




For this new round, I had the honor of working in collaboration 
with Master Jeweler, Sebastian Dionysus.

Here I am wearing a Kollective Exclusive by this very talented jewelry designer.
CHERRY BLOSSOM
It is absolutely a beautiful set so well detailed down to the three tiny gems 
that have been added throughout each piece. Available only at the Kollective Showcase 
and it's priced at L$125 for the set.


Flickr

Designs by Sebastian
The Kollective
InWorld Store
MarketPlace

See You All There!

Forever Yours,
~ Lori Novo ~


STYLING CREDITS
Hair ~ Soleil
WoW Skin ~ Amanda * Milk (NEW) ~ Exclusive at SL Fashion Week Event
Lips ~ Milana LipStick Set B * #2
Lashes ~ (No Longer Available) ~ Natural Beauty
Eye MakeUp ~ Addon Black
Eyes ~ Ardent * Industrial (Large) ~ IKON Eyes
Model & Photographer ~ Lori Novo

♥⊱Thanks To All My Wonderful Designers For Their Support ... Hugs ⊰♥

Just A Cry Baby

Featuring
INDYRA ORIGINALS


Dear Second Life,
Feeling a little emo here since yesterday. That is why I cheated on yesterday's post by giving you
 just a song. Hopefully, nobody noticed so please let's keep it hushed. ;)
What can I say, I am only human and though most of the time I am in high spirits, I sometimes 
do get the blues that get me in this "OMG, Why me?!" mood. 
A bit dramatic here I know, you can almost hear the sound of violins in the background I bet.

Sometimes all those sad memories make it so hard. It could also be the holiday blues,
you know those sad feelings some people get around this time of the year.
Maybe getting so often sick is what has gotten me so down. 

I have a very strong will but sometimes my depression just gets the best of me.
However, it is good to let those tears out if we feel the need to just let go of the pain.
There is nothing wrong with that. Our emotions are what make us human. Once we stop feeling
 pain or joy then we got a problem. Our tears, pain, and suffering, just as our laughter, joy, and love
are what keep the heart alive. We don't want a heart that is stone cold and can't feel any kind of emotion.
Right?

I always tell my kids never to feel ashamed of their tears. 
In our Hispanic culture that says, "Los hombres no lloran" (men do not cry).
I don't agree with this at all. Men feel just as women do. They go through the same losses, pain, and
heartbreaks so why should they not be allowed to cry? A few tears that are shed won't make them any
less of a man, don't you agree with me? I say real men DO cry! ;)


But going back to my emo state, I already finished a box of Kleenex and going now on my second one.
I am either a very emotional woman or just a plain cry baby.

Laugh,
Cry,
and never be ashamed of your emotions.
Forever Yours,
~ Lori Novo ~


NEW
from
LA FILLETTE COLLECTION
by Indyra Seigo

Includes
Flex Gown ~ Chemise Dress ~ Stockings ~ Gloves ~ Chocker
Optional Tango Hud

InWorld Store   MarketPlace   Blog   Flickr * Official   Flickr * Fan Group


STYLING CREDITS
Hair ~ Essie * SandleWood ~ Truth
Skin ~ Melissa SK * #2 - 6 ~ Belleza Skin
Tears ~ I'm Not Feeling Very Well ~ Izzie's
Eyes ~ Ardent * Industrial (Large) ~ IKON Eyes
Pose One ~ aDORKable
Pose Two ~ Diesel Work
Pose Three ~ Del May
Location ~ Blood Oak Forest
Model & Photographer ~ Lori Novo

♥⊱Thanks To All My Wonderful Designers For Their Support ... Hugs ⊰♥

There Was A Time ...


"But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
And they turn your dream to shame"



~ Anne Hathaway ~


There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were soft
And their words inviting
There was a time when love was blind
And the world was a song
And the song was exciting
There was a time

Then it all went wrong

I dreamed a dream in times gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung
No wine untasted

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
And they turn your dream to shame

He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came

And still I dream he'll come to me
That we'll live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather 

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed

Now life has killed
The dream I dreamed


The VineYard

 Featuring
FIFTY5 THURSDAY


Dear Second Life,

It's been a few weeks that I haven't done any of my Fifty5 Thursdays' posts but thankfully my SL
sister Valki took it on herself to feature her personal pick every week. This week however she wasn't
able to bring us her weekly post since she has family staying over at her place due to the holidays
which I am very happy for her. She does an excellent job for us and I could not be more proud and
grateful to her.

So I decided that I should bring you this week's Fifty5 Thursday even if I am running a day (almost
two) behind. And you know what? I sure do miss doing them. You have no idea how I always waited
with so much anticipation for the list to be published every Thursday morning. Not to mention that 
most times I felt so tempted to present two, three, and even four picks instead of just one because
these great designers make it so hard to limit myself to just one pick.

One of the advantages I earned by doing this Fifty5 Thursday post voluntarily is that some of the
designers I work with now found out about my work through these posts and recruited me to their
 team of bloggers. Taking the initiative in doing things on our own is a good way to get better
 known out there.


Today as I search the list for this week's 
FIFTY5 THURSDAY
and came upon this beautiful
RED ROSE FORMAL DRESS
from
CRISTAL'S CREATIONS
I knew was the perfect pick for me.
I have visited this store many times before because it never fails to bring us beautiful L$55
deals every week.



As soon as I saw this beautiful gown it reminded me of the 1995 romantic drama film 
starring Keanu Reeves, A Walk In The Clouds. I also knew exactly what kind of photos I wanted to take
and what type of location I needed for them. That is how I came to find Outer Limits ~ aQ Creating
Lifestyles in my search for the photo shoot. It is a lovely place that I encourage you to visit whenever
you have time. It is amazing how a gown can bring so much inspiration from the poses we want to take
to the kind of place we want to use.

Lately, I have been using too much my studio in my photo-taking which makes me feel a little ashamed.
Second Life is full of so many beautiful locations that it would be great to just take all my photos in all
those wonderful Sims that our designers work so hard in creating for us. Finding the perfect location for
my photo shoots will require more effort which is very much worth it since my posts could also add a
little of my so loved Exploring Second Life to the blog. We'll see ;)

Forever Yours,
~ Lori Novo ~

CREDITS:
Hair ~Yahira ~ A&A
Skin ~ Mya SK 1 ~ Belleza Skin
Hat ~ Clarisse In Silver *Jasmine Capelline* ~ PurpleMoon
Poses ~ Morphine
Model & Photographer ~ Lori Novo


♥⊱Thanks To All My Wonderful Designers For Their Support ... Hugs ⊰♥

LOUCURA

Featuring
THE WHITE ARMORY & BIZARRE HAIR


Dear Second Life,

Today I bring to you two more gowns from the 
NEW
FORMAL AFFAIR COLLECTION
from
THE WHITE ARMORY
by designer Bee Dumpling


Parisian Pink & Winter White

InWorld Store
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Emerald/61/137/25
MarketPlace
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/24234
Official Blog
http://thewhitearmory.com
WebSite
http://www.whitearmory.com


‘°ºø•❤•.¸¸.•❤•.•.


I would also like to mention that my 
GODDESS HAIR
(Includes Earrings, Necklace & Hair Jewels)
comes from
BIZARRE HAIR
which is having a HUGE Closing Sale
All hair priced at L$79 - L$99
(Regular Price L$249)
All clothes also priced at L$79 


~ Maritza ~

Probably by now you have noticed that I often share Maritza songs with you.
I just adore this very talented artist, her voice and the passion with she sings all her songs.

EnJoY!

‘°ºø•❤•.¸¸.•❤•.•.

CREDITS:
Skin ~ Leila * Arcade 13 ~ Belleza
Eye MakeUp ~ Les MakeUp * Yuki 08 ~ MiaMai
Lashes ~ (No Longer Available) ~ Natural Beauty
Eyes ~ Ardent * Platinum (Large) ~ IKON Eyes
Hair ~ Goddess (Includes Earrings, Necklace & Hair Jewels) ~ Bizarre Hair
Poses ~ aDORKable
Model & Photographer ~ Lori Novo


♥⊱Thanks To All My Wonderful Designers For Their Support ... Hugs ⊰♥


Imperfection is beauty,
madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous 
than absolutely boring.
Marilyn Monroe ~

Only those things are beautiful 
which are inspired by madness and written by reason.
Andre Gide ~

No excellent soul is exempt
from a mixture of madness.
Aristotle ~

Forever Yours,
~ Lori Novo ~

The New Starr by Hush

Featuring
HUSH SKINS


Dear Second Life,

Blogging and photography are my passion in Second Life. 
I have a very strict rule when it comes to my blog that I always follow. 
If the pictures I take for a post don't satisfy me to the point of making me smile, I won't use them. 
I will retake them as many times as necessary until I am completely satisfied.
I either present the best to my abilities or I will refrain from posting a mediocre post 

with pictures  that say nothing. 
I won't insult my passion by presenting a piece that is done in a hurry and with no true meaning to it. 
I don't like my pictures to be just quick takes, lousily edited and with no real appeal to the eye.
Unfortunately, since I have fallen ill, I haven't been able to do my work 
to the satisfaction that I have set for myself.
For the first time I have to break my own rule in order to avoid getting behind with my work.
I will have to settle for the best I can do under my condition. 

Hopefully soon I'll be back on my feet 100%  healthy and ready to take this blog like a storm 
and produce the quality of articles and photos you all deserve.

~ Lori Novo ~

NEW
from
HUSH

STARR SKIN
by
Hush Darkrose

Comes in
BERRY
CHARCOAL
NIGHT
WINTERGREEN

Each Skin Includes
6 SkinTones
(Sugar ~ Vanilla ~ Cream ~ Honey ~ Cocoa ~ Caramel)
✿ 3 Brow Options
(MB) MedBrow ~ (LB) LightBrow ~ (DB) DarkBrow
✿ Cleavage and (NC) No Cleavage Option
✿ Modifiable Shape


InWorld Store
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/HUSH/128/167/26
MarketPlace
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/96030
Blog
http://hushskins.com/
Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/groups/hushskins



My 
JACQUELINE FLEXI DRESS & ACCESSORIES
in Purple
Includes Beret, Earrings and Gloves
(L$35)
comes from
ADONESS
Also available in Red, Pink and Green
and can be found at the
CHRISTMAS MARKET 2013
(From December 18 - December 31)


*** A Holiday MarkePlace Where Nothing Goes Over L$50 ***



CREDITS:
Hair ~ (No Longer Available) ~ W&Y
Eyes ~ Ardent * Industrial (Large) ~ IKON Eyes

Beautiful Imperfections

Featuring
COSMOPOLITAN SALEROOM
DULCE SECRETS


Dear Second Life,
What do you see when you look in the mirror?  Do you like the reflection you get back?
Many of us will find a million things wrong with the image that is staring back at us. We become 
so critical of our own image that we see imperfection even in the smallest thing. And the more we look,
the more disappointed we can get. It is as if we are out on an exploration trip into finding only what we
don't like and ignoring all the strong points that make us beautiful.

Our beauty begins with us, with our self-confidence and knowing that God doesn't
create ugly people. Beauty comes in many shapes and forms and it is up to us to light what God has
given us as beautiful and bright as we can or dim it down with our own insecurities.
And believe me, many times those things we may see as imperfections may just be our strongest,
traits, those that will make us stand out from the crowd.

I say to embrace what we got. We were created with a beauty like no other. 
We are unique, really one of a kind!

I am not saying that there is no possible way there may be imperfections when we look in the mirror,
but I do believe those imperfections can be worked with and made work to our advantage. See your
imperfections as challenging points that all they need is a little help and the results can be extraordinary.

But for this, you have to find a starting point in order to make the change. Look for that one thing you
like the most about your physical appearance. Is it your eyes, your hair, your lips? 
Anything! Once you find it, work on that strong point. If it's your eyes, get beautiful long eyelashes.
Maybe some pretty eyeshadow or anything to multiply even more the beauty in your eyes. You will be surprised to see how after a while you will notice another strong point that you may have not noticed before. Now these two strong points coming together will keep multiplying and adding more beauty when you look in the mirror. This is what I like to call "the beauty chain". It starts with one chain link, creating another, and then another, all gradually coming together.

Keep working on every new "pretty" point as you discover and allow the chain to keep growing. 
At some point, even those things that can't be changed or worked with, for example, a crooked nose,
or thin lips will no longer appear unappealing as before but will fall perfectly with the rest of your face
and even your body in the final composition of a new "beautiful" you. For these unworkable points, we
need to simply accept its beauty as it is and embrace it. By the time you know it, your whole being will
have become together and you will learn to see yourself as you were meant to be, a beautiful creation of God.

Do you see what other people see in you?
I found this interesting video by Dove.
Hope you like it.

~ Lori Novo ~


Talking about beauty, this new round for the
comes full of great new items that you won't be able to resist. I usually go by every time a new round
begins to see what is being offered this time and make a list of the things I am hoping to feature in the
blog. This time, my list got pretty long by the time I left.

My favorite item/items though got to be these beautiful
TIERRE SKINS
from
DULCE SECRETS
valued at L$70 each
by
Anne Maertens

They come in
Bisque Rosy        Fawn  Rosy        Copper  Rosy        Cinnamon  Rosy
*** DEMO AVAILABLE ***


TCS ROOM
Features some of the best SL Designers and their quality items for L$70 or under.
Round Changes every two weeks 

STYLING CREDITS
Dress ~ Mesh Mini Dress (NEW) ~ SOUL!
Hair ~ Leilani * Ivory ~ Truth Hair
Eye Lashes ~ (No Longer Available) ~ Natural Beauty
Eyes ~ Ardent * Industrial (Large) ~ IKON Eyes
Model & Photographer ~ Lori Novo

♥⊱Thanks To All My Wonderful Designers For Their Support ... Hugs ⊰♥

MeRRy Christmas


~ John Lennon ~


A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS 
TO YOU ALL MY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE.

All my heart and loves goes to you all and the biggest hug ever.
Let's embrace each other and spread the love and peace around us 
where ever we may go.

Forever Yours,
~ Lori Novo ~


~  Michael Bublé Duet With Thalía ~