Genre: Surprise Party

I'm squeezing in one last Genre post - this time doing my best to show off some of the decorative items which are available through the end of today. My outfit - this confection of balloons somehow attached to my body, is from DeviousMind and is a great deal of fun! It comes with a ton of appliers for different bodies - L.inc, Belleza Venus, and Lolas Tango - some textured pieces to cover the critical pieces, and different versions of the bustle as well as particle ribbons for the hand which kick in when one moves. It's enormous fun for a burlesque outfit or similar style event, which is what inspired me to pull out the Bliensen + MaiTai party cake, which is set up for a dancer hopping out of it and performing for the crowd! It comes with two hiding locations, plus several "pop out of the cake" events (singing, clapping), and several more dances. It also delivers accessories for each appropriate step, like a microphone for singing to the crowd, and even a cake top hat! I'm definitely keeping this in my inventory for someone's surprise party, or even as a club crowd pleaser.

Once I got started, I couldn't help but fill in the rest of the room. First I pulled out banners and star lights from Spyralle, all of them brightly decorated with Spyralle's signature bright patterns. They are editable, with the banners flexi on large boxes which means they can be resized to fit different areas of the house and made either fullbright or not. I absolutely adore the colors and brightness they bring to the party! In one corner I set up a table with party accessories in red and green from Bauwerk. This is one of my first times interacting with their creations, and they really are lovely. The accessories can all be mixed and matched as you wish, and I love the random combination of the cups and letters spelling out "Happy Birthday."

This set could also work well for Christmas, being the proper hues, and it's all copy-ok, meaning you can fill a wall with chairs to park the pizza on, like I did. The pizza is from Lost Junction, and is nicely textured. It includes full pies and single pieces on plates, which I was able to set down here and there as if this were a snapshot in the middle of a party. They also put out a gift of pizza slice nails for everyone who nibbles when nervous! And finally, tucked off to one side I placed a sideboard from Frogstar, all set up for sending invitations and wrapping gifts. This would be a charming addition to any living room, indicating one is the type of householder who is always at the ready - I particularly liked the touch of blackboard squares to write the contents of drawers on, and may end up stealing that idea for offline drawers.

Upstairs, I set up the perfect little nest for a little girl. Hanging overhead is a lovely runner of cloth from Paper Moon, available with and without tassels and including simple wooden beams for hanging from ceilings. Under it I placed this gorgeous trundle bed from Noctis, it's blankets and pillows texture-change between four colors which can be mixed and matched. It's also available with the trundle pulled out or pushed in, and there's a lovely set of accessories to be fitted on top and into the built-in shelving. This is perfect for a guest room, or even the bed in a loft. Finally, tucked between the bed and the window I put a lovely children's tea set from Distorted Dreams, the tablecloth a lovely mix of blues. The tea set can come either attached or not, and there is an additional tea cup for drinking as one feeds ones teddy bears the best imaginary tea! There's less than twenty-four hours left before the Genre Celebration ends, but I hope you have a chance to swing by and pick up what catches your eyes - be it the perfect party outfit, or some fun furniture for entertaining.

Genre: "The Discreet Princess" or The Adventures of Finette

One of my favorite stories of my young adulthood was written by Marie- Jeanne L'heritier during the late Baroque period - one of the periods covered by Genre right now - an era of sumptuous clothing among the courtiers and witty salons within which much was discussed - building up to the crescendo before the reign of terror in the late 1700s. It's the story of a careful, wise princess who navigates a number of troubling attempts at disrupting her honor, her safety, and her life at the hand of a single, vindictive man. I sometimes wish for her poise and clarity; being a fairy tale, the princess is one step ahead all along the way, and it's part of what I really love about the story. Finette is wise without being cruel - though her Fairy Godmother more than makes up for that lack of cruelty. Much as I love Finette, I fear I have far more in common with her sister, Nonchalant, than the estimable Discreet Princess.

My gown is a gorgeous release from The Library with the long bodice and wide skirts characteristic of this era. The gold is pretty consistent, but the colors vary - I chose blue but there's a whole range of rich, dark shades available. It's rigged in an interesting manner, bending slightly with my legs, but not too much - I'm not quite sure how she pulled it off, but it's a very neat effect. A gown this impressive needs an equally impressive hairstyle, and I got that and more with this astonishing confection from Bliensen + MaiTai, complete with roses and lace on one side. There are tiny curls all along the browline, and corkscrew curls for over the ears - my one wish was that they be linked separately, so I could move them around my enormous ears, but honestly the rest is so gorgeous I don't think anyone will notice my magic curls. I tucked in under the roses a lovely brooch from Eclectica set in a diamond pattern, which color changes on touch.

Every princess, Discreet or not, needs a slew of accessories. My lips are slightly pouty and decorated with shiny sheen from La Petite Morte, a perfect cupid's bow. There are a wide variety of shades available, but I went with rose red. I added on a lovely set of pearls from Lost Junction with a bow at the back of the neck. I particularly like the findings on the back of the neck - it's such a unique and delicate touch - and it comes in three shades: cream, pink, and white. You can also get it with large symbols in gemstones across the front, but I fell in love with the simple triple strand. Finally, perfect for flirting behind is my gorgeous pink and blue fan from The Muses. It's a gorgeous combo of ivory peacock feathers and gold embossed base, and there's one for each hand. I love the curve of the peacock feathers - two rows of them arching delicately out to the sides.