The Fourth Day of Christmas Decorating with suggestions from Xstreet SL Merchants!

Gentle Readers who are faithfully following this blog will realize not only are they eligible to win L$300 but that I've not been decorating for Christmas on every day since I started.  Meep!  How will I ever get my Christmas shopping done if I can't even get my Christmas decorating completed.

In a complete act of desperation I've come to rely on the kindness of strangers and a plea to both the Freebie Telegraph group inSL and the General Discussion Forum on Xstreet SL has yielded several friendly suggestions. 

 Today I'll share with you the responses I received from the merchants on Xstreet who recommended freebie and dollarbie Christmas decorating items. 

I also want to give a special Meep shoutout to Ginger Glimmer for the great idea she had of decorating each of the twelve days with the items from the song.  

Next year I'll start out with a Partridge in a Pear Tree and see who has the best one. Everyone keep an eye out for one and let me know when you find one.  I'm sure that five golden rings will be one of the easier things to come by.

The next Christmas suggestion came from jay wright who has a freebie particle Christmas tree you can get on Xstreet SL.  It's an outline of a tree in green particles with a very pretty star at the top.  You can also get it in several colors.

And a special holiday wishes to Glory Takashi who hasn't even started decorating her RL yet!  Meep!  I haven't started either!  

Lutricia Roux has two dollarbie Christmas giftboxes you can get on Xstreet SL.  The boxes are modify and transfer so you can add your gift item and then send it on to the recipient all nice and Christmasy looking.  You know we kittens find the packaging almost as important as the gift when it comes to presents.  They are really cute boxes and you can find 

them here http://www.xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=1038281

and here, http://www.xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=1038290

When I returned from looking at the Christmas boxes, I found a very nice surprise delivered right to my inventory from Ravenblue Sin.  She sent me a box that has a gesture for each verse from The Twelve Days of Christmas song, as sung by Bing Crosby.  She also sent me a box of particle poofers that include a present for each day of the song.  When you touch the present, it poofs a particle cloud that represents one of the verses from the song.  Very Christmassy Cute and something this kitty would love to receive from a nice tomcat on each of the twelve days of Christmas!  You can find Ravenblue's Twelve Days of Christmas items for sale on Xstreet SL here, http://www.slexchange.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&MerchantID=108882. 

But those aren't freebies, and since this is all about decorating your place of business for the holidays on the cheap, you can find a very nice Christmas Present Box from Ravenblue Sin on Xstreet SL.  It's a nicely wrapped Christmas present box that comes with three Christmas gestures and also poofs pretty red bows around it as it's sitting out.  You can find her freebie on Xstreeet Sl at, http://xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=481756

And the last suggestion from an Xstreet merchant was from Wade1 Jya.  She makes pets and animals inSL and she has a freebie Santa Avatar that you can win by solving a puzzle in her store.  Meep!  this kitty isn't a brainiac so she couldn't figure it out, but Wade1 says it's a 8-bit retro graphics style avatar, not a "realistic" one.  So don't be disappointed if you're looking for a realistic one.  Here's the link to Wade1's store inSL, http://world.secondlife.com/place/d1677b9f-8b80-2cdb-16f2-9ade252c7e0c

After all that clicking of the keyboard this kitty is going to crawl under the nice warm covers and get some nice purr time before digging into a whole big list of freebie and dollarbie suggestions from the great people in The Freebie Telegraph group.  

Remember to live a luxurious holiday inSL

~CultureCannibal Zilz

Psssttt....see upper right hand corner of blog to "follow" and automatically be entered in the weekly give away.  I'll be doing a live "drawing" to find out who the winner is on Friday, but don't worry you don't have to be present to win.  Just have to be publicly following my blog! You can find the event listed if you want to watch the drawing in the Second Life event calendar by clicking here, https://secure-web21.secondlife.com/events/event.php?id=2129214&date=1228464000

Take your picture with Santa from Dec 1 through the 25th.

It's always fun to see the little ones going to see Santa and to tell you the truth I miss it! I wish I could crawl right up there beside Santa and have my picture taken too.  Course I'd rather be curling up next to a sexy Santa with my tail wrapped around his finger while I purr away in contentment. 

Meep!  Did I just say that out loud? 

Luckily we can do in our Second Lives what we might be a lil too shy to do in our first ones. And to make that possible we're offering free photo opportunities with Santa at The Forum Shops mall.  We've set up three different areas with a special backdrop and sleigh so you'll have your choice about what type of Christmas photograph you want to take.  You can take your photo with a sexy male Santa or you can use the empty sleigh for you and a friend to have your photo taken together.  Best of all, you can find me in a sleigh when I'm not out and about.  

You can teleport to The Forum Shops,  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Stanlee/4/231/2056, and look for the Sexy Santas!  We're going to try to keep two models on the sleighs at all time so you can drop by anytime with friends to get your photo taken.  You just hope on the green pose ball above the sleigh and you'll be ready to start snapping your holiday photographs.

Zak Escher, from Forma Designs, explained to us how to run the METAbolt non-graphics browser to keep our avatars logged in 24/7.  If you don't see both our Santa's sitting on the sleighs, please IM me, CultureCannibal Zilz, and let me know so I can arrange for another model to take the place of whomever is missing.  Using models is great for people who are selling skins, shapes, or clothing.  I'll soon write a post explaining how to do this for yourself.

Happy Holidays!

~CultureCannibal Zilz

On the third day of christmas decorating my true friend gave to me...

On the Third Day of Christmas Decorating my true friend gave to me a Cask of Christmas Cheer, a teddy bear Christmas t-shirt, and started following my blog!  That's a three Meep gift!  For a girl starting out in the big wide virtual world of business, my friend Orinoco Beresford has been full of helpful tips for the business avatar.

Orinoco owns OB Designs, where he puts his RL graphic design talents to 

use creating the most fabulous textures for his furniture, decorative arts, and Shabby Sheek Sheds.  For the holidays he made this fabulous freebie Cask of Christmas Cheer that you can get 

at his store or on-line at Xstreet SL. He also sells a fancy-dancy version that serves drinks full of holiday cheer to people. Perfect for any holiday parties that need a little excitement added to the mix. You can find the Cask of Christmas Cheer on Xstreet SL here, http://xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=1041507

A winter wonderland needs snow!  Glorious piles of pristine white snow drifted into corners and piled up in small mounds.  A beautiful way to add a wintery touch to your holiday decorating.  I found this nice freebie pile of snow on Xstreet SL made by Quark Yifu.  Meep!  Now I can be a snow kitty too!  You can find the pile of snow at Xstreet SL here, http://xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=1005940

Once you've got the snow drifted in all the right places, you can add some snowy trees to your winter wonderland.  I found some beautiful freebie one prim snow covered trees designed by Sonja Kowalski.  If you look at her profile, it looks like she has wonderful plant and garden things for sale.  If you go to Xstreet SL, you can find the snowy trees here, http://xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=995637

Happy Thanksgiving and stop back for more days of Christmas Decorating!

On the Second Day of Christmas Decorating

It's been a busy day in Real Life getting ready for Thanksgiving tomorrow, but I still have time to get in a little freebie shopping to spread Christmas Cheer.  So let's see what wonderful treasures nice people are making available for free today on Xstreet SL.

Some people have a nightmarish vision for Christmas and you can find some very dysfunctional Christmas decorations very easily.  This first one is the Melty McSnowman from Boo Wobbit.  The poor dear doesn't look like its in too much pain as it's melting into a big 

puddle. The carrot nose is a disappointing cone, especially when you've got these fabulous sculptie stick arms as part of it.  It also comes in a very nice newspaper wrapped/ribboned box that would look great under a grunge Christmas tree.  You can find this on Xstreet at, http://www.xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=1015293

If you're a returning reader then you already know that I love cuddling!  There's nothing more fun than crawling up close together and sharing a little warmth on these cold winter nights.  The giant sculpty Christmas Cupcake by Minke Bailey is perfect for this.  The cupcake itself is amazing and it lets two avatars crawl up and cuddle.  A wonderful holiday backdrop for those Christmas pictures you need to send out to your friends.  This is available on Xstreet at, http://xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=1036755

Meep! Since this is the second day of Christmas decorating I only need two items, right?  Unfortunately Second Life seems to be messing up and while items are being delivered almost immediately from Xstreet, it's taking forever to move something from my inventory to rez it in-world so I'm giving up checking out anymore items for tonight.  I have to usually go through several items for every one that looks worthwhile.

Goodnight and Happy Thanksgiving!

The Twelve Days of Christmas Freebie Decorations

If you're a new business owner like me, you know you've got to pinch every Linden!  I'm not talking about behinds.  One way to extend your advertising dollar is to find the many wonderful holidy freebies and put them to use decorating around your place of business and home.  To get you help get you started I'm going to review some of the Freebies I found and have put around The Forum Shops mall.  Over the next twelve days I'll be reviewing freebie Christmas deocrations and blogging about the ones I like with links on how to purchase them.

Meep!  I'd better plug the Culture Cannibals store too.  We have a selection of inexpensive Christmas decorations placed around the store too. Plus a special surprise freebie that will be unveiled during The Forum Shop's Christmas Holiday Kickoff Party this Sunday, November

 30th from 5:30-7:30 PM [Click to see the SL Event listing].  Sponsored by 7 Minds Web 

Services, Peer Shapes, Fora Shapes, and Wedding Elegance. 

Now off to the Christmas Freebies!

The first thing I've found is a wonderful sexy Santa outfit freebie by Ruffian.   As you can see, this isn't something you'd normally wear for a business meeting. It's more suited to casual sex Friday attire when you're tired of wearing jeans.  If Mrs. Claus wore something like this the Christmas presents would have never been delivered. This outfit is a freebie by Ruffian and also includes boots and bangles.  You can find it on Xstreet SL at 

 http://www.xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=1028138

The hood in the outfit above is a bit much for me. Plus it covers up my cute ears and not even dogs want to wear something to prevent their ears from being scritched.  I had to search for a hat that was the right colour and also allowed me to adjust it enough so my ears would poke through.  I found this wonderful freebie Santa hat designed by Luthien Unsung that fits the bill perfectly.  It's the right colour and the right fit.  Boys can even wear it!  Here's the Xstreet SL link for

 it, http://www.xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=529031

Speaking of boys and what they can wear....let's find a nice Santa suit for the male avatars reading the blog.  Meep!  I got sidetracked by all the fantastic high quality Christmas decorations available for free.  Boy's, you'll have to wait for an outfit because this North Pole sign is the kitty's meow!  It's a little prim whorish weighing in at 17 prims, but you can't beat the quality for a price of L$0.  I had it delivered to The Forum Shops mall in anticipation for the upcoming Christmas Kickoff party and it looks grand by the entrance steps. You can fget it for free from, http://www.xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=999224 

For those with prims to burn, here's another lovely holiday, an ice skating snowman!  It's an adorable well-made creation, but 44 prims!  I sat hypnotized by it's slowly circling figure for about ten minutes before I

 returned him to the inventory heap.  Just too many prims for The Forum Shops mall, unfortunately.  I hope someone can find a good home for him.  Until then, here's the link where you can go to adopt him, http://www.xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=371902

Gosh, I could be here all day!  Here's one last review of some nice freebie decorations for you, including a single prim wreath, candy cane, and Christmas tree.  There is also a very top drawer looking toy soldier and a cute snow man with a corn cob pipe that are under twenty prims each. These freebies were created by Alicia Stella Design and I've set them out at The Forum Shops if you'd like to take a look.  You can get them from Xstreet at, http://www.xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=154117

Tomorrow as I continue this series over the next twelve days,  I'll try to find a nice Christmas outfit for the male avatar.  If you have any favourite freebie Christmas deocrations, feel free to add them to the comments to share with everyone.  Don't forget about our Christmas Decorating Kickoff Party on Sunday, it would be lovely meeting some of you dear readers!

Living a Luxurious Holiday,

~CultureCannibal Zilz

Classes at The Forum Shops

Meep...I've accidently become a teacher! If you read one of the earlier blog posts I made about Xstreet SL, you may have noticed the bit about looking for the short class on how to signup for Xstreet.  It's true, I've now stumbled into teaching inSL.  

It all started one night when I was suffering from writer's block.  My goal is to write one blog posting a day, but as you can see I'm writing one about every two days.  My mind started to wander as I sat at my desk, banging my head against the keyboard, trying to jar something loose for the screen.  I began to think about how my learning style seems much better situated to being in a class and learning from an instructor.  If most people are like me, is it even worth it to write a how-to blog entry?  

That's when I decided I needed to start teaching too!  Along with writing about how to do things that help avatars going into business inSL, I'd also start offering quick classes.  We're all very busy, so a quick 15, 30 or even 60 minute class is a perfect way to spend a short amount of time learning a new skill or product that can be essential to the success of your Second Life whether you are a creator, shopper, or business owner. 

I've already started offering two classes, one on how to signup for the web shopping service Xstreet SL that lets you shop on the web and have items delivered to your Avatar inSL.  The second is a class on how to find freebies on Xstreet. If you have ideas for other classes, or specific times you'd like to see a class taught, please add it to the comments for this blog post.

Following are ideas for several other classes I'd like to offer. 

• How to signup for Xstreet SL (already being offered)
• How to find freebies in Xstreet SL (already being offered)
• How to sell items using Xstreet SL (in development)
• How to use the forums in Xstreet SL to market your items (in development)

Other course possibilities:

• Creating and using a group inviter for your store
• How to use the slide presentation Tool
• How to make a blogspot blog for your business/creations
• How to make a drop shadow in Photoshop for a sort of 3D effect
• How to make a seamless repeatable texture in Photoshop
• Demonstration on how to use the Fashion Show Venue 

And I'm sure you can think of many more!  Please post suggestions to the comments or drop me a notecard inSL to CultureCannibal Zilz.

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More Xstreet SL: Finding Freebies for your Second Life

One of my favourite things to do in Second Life is to find nice freebies.  But this kitten's legs get tired running from store to store and sim to sim sorting out which freebies are keepers and which ones get buried in the kitty litter box.  Xstreet SL is the purrrrfect way to shop for freebies from the comfort of your own couch.

Freebies, Freebies, Everywhere!  There are two ways to find freebies on Xstreet.  The first is to look at the marketplace freebie list and the second is to do a marketplace advanced search and limit your maximum price to L$1.  When I checked earlier today the list of freebies, excluding non-mature items is 1,000 pages long.  That's over 10,000 freebie items! Enough to keep me purring all night long, and the next night, and the next...well you get the idea.  You can even find some naughtie freebies by enabling mature content.

However browsing through 10,000 items doesn't exactly make our shopping life easier...and that is my intended goal.   Using Xstreet's marketplace search not only helps you find a particular item you're looking for, but can also tell you if that, or a similar, item is available for free.  One of the first things I do when shopping on Xstreet is click on the advanced search button to expand the search options.  Along with the search words I set the maximum price to be L$1 and then we're off.  If there is anything matching the search words that cost L$0 or L$1 then they will be returned.   If nothing interesting is returned then I remove that and go about my search normally.  

Quite Easily Done.  The 12 days of Christmas ain't got nothing on Xstreet's list of freebies.

Living Luxuriously inSL,

~CultureCannibal Zilz