Valentine’s Day stress relief

February 12th, 2007 at 07:10pm Ryan Darragh

For some of us, Valentine’s Day can be…traumatic.  You know who you are.  If you’re in that crowd, I want to do something a little different for you here.  Here are a few great V-Day ideas I’ve run into recently.  Hopefully, some of these will work for you.    First up, a few things to wear, then on to some gift ideas.

It’s a perennial, really.  Every year we see another round of Valentine’s Day-themed boxers for the guys–although I’m sure the girls can wear them too, yeah baby!  The catch is finding the good ones among the teeming masses.  Designer Ravelynn Templar of Liquid Velvet Studios has released her Silky Whispers boxers in two different designs for Valentine’s Day, “Be Mine” (shown at left) and “Kiss Me,” similar in design but scattered with lipstick kisses instead of red hearts.  Perfect for those special moments.  Priced at L$95 per pair and available now at Liquid Velvet Studios (Forsaken Enterprises 22, 175, 30).

These spooky/romantic tees by designer kaia Ennui are part of the GingerDead collection, available at Nocturnal Threads.  At right you see the “Be Mine” design, a classic romantic plea reinterpreted with a gently obsessive twist.

Perhaps a bit more serious is “I Love You to Pieces,” at left.  Pieces? … Um, I’m guessing I don’t want to know.

These sincerely unsenti- mental, unisex tees are available for L$75 each at Nocturnal Threads (Pimushe 86, 29, 67).

Be sure to check out the GingerDead webcomic too!  How can you not love a comic strip that’s about “a semi-neurotic goth gingerbread boy, his strange playmates and the sister who wants him dead”?

Maybe you’re not worried about what to wear for the big romantic event, but the whole idea of gift-giving freaks you out.  Of course the time-tested standards are candy and flowers, but you may have noticed that candy in SL is at best a mixed bag.  And flowers are nice and all, but wouldn’t it be great to do something unusual, maybe even dramatic?  Designer Rend Bertrand of Render may have the perfect solution for you.

These large (5-6 meters tall) rose sculpture fountains are meticulously constructed, unique pieces of real art.  Animated water flows from the rose petals, cascades down and ripples over the softly-lit coral or slate base.  Available with red or pink roses, in single or double configurations, they are beautiful by day but breathtaking by night–I wish these pictures could truly do them justice.

If you’re at a premium for space, you may want to consider the glass-domed tabletop versions.  Designed for display in more intimate settings, they’re perfect for a bedside table or other special place.

My personal favorite, though, is the Lava Rose sculpture.  It is as if the earth has sprouted a flower from solid rock.  Lava spills from its dark petals and falls glowing into the pool below, from which a gentle mist rises.  This is a truly striking piece, and one I’ll be enjoying long after Valentine’s Day has come and gone.

The small domed roses are priced at L$600 each; single rose fountains are L$800; double rose fountains are L$1000.  Available at Render (Tangna 185, 215, 65); the lava rose is on display here.  Also available on SLX and SLB.

Perhaps your Significant Other is a lover of nature and living things.  Giving a pet as a gift is at least somewhat risky in RL, given the ongoing requirements of care and attention.  Pets in SL, though, seem to thrive whether you remember to feed them or not–it’s like the best of both worlds.  For Valentine’s Day, Kaikou Splash of Splash Aquatics has created this heart-shaped fish tank, complete with coral and lively red fish.

The heart-shaped fish tank is priced at just L$250, and for a small additional fee, Kaikou will even deliver it to your loved one anonymously on Valentine’s Day!  See the store display for details.  Available at Splash Aquatics (Gooruembalchi 112, 194, 70).

Okay, okay…I thought I was done, but I’ve found one more.  Not only are the V-Day boxers a perennial, they’re inescapable–you may as well give in.  Bailey Mackenzie of Here Comes Trouble just released this set at the very special price of L$1, so even if you’re on a budget you have no excuse.  The set includes “Lipstick Kisses” boxers–on grey flannel this time, so that’s something different and the texture is really very good–Bailey’s “Kai” hairstyle in pink and red for V-Day, and a holdable heart (just wear it and you’re good to go).  This set is worth picking up if for no other reason than the fact that, for L$1, the boxers aren’t just a bargain, they’re a steal.  But just try to tell me you won’t have fun with the hair. 

Available for just L$1 (did I mention that already?) at Here Comes Trouble (Troubled City 120, 52, 25).

Disclosure: Seen in World: Yes | Review Copy: Some | Friends List: No

Notes: On Ryan: Dante Light (Toned) skin by Lost Thereian (Naughty Designs). "Untamed" men's hair by Lost Thereian (Naughty Designs). Freebie black jeans by Starley Thereian. Neko ears by Zoe Llewelyn (Jungle Voodoo). "Rectech" glasses by Cienna Rand (Primcrafters).

Entry Filed under: Gift Items,Here Comes Trouble,Holiday,Liquid Velvet Studios,Nocturnal Threads,Novelty,Render,Shirts,Splash Aquatics,Underwear