3 Years Ago Today...

I married my best friend and the person I could always count on. Leading a life in the military, either as the Marine or the wife, is not an easy life to live. The constant moving, deployments, training, politics, and moving again make the days rather trying. However, it's always easier when you have someone there for you. I couldn't ask for a better someone than my husband. Sure, our relationship is not perfect. Sure, there are times when we want to kick each others shins until they're purple, but, as the sun goes down and we crawl into bed together, there is no place else that I would rather be.

 

 

Out with the Old, In with the New

So, this is NOT a sim post, at all. Just a random, excited post from a girl who got her very first, brand new car. After 7 hours at a dealership, wheeling and dealing, bargaining and saying no, we finally worked out a deal that we were happy with and I am the VERY proud new owner of a 2011 Inferno Orange, 6.2 L V8,  6 speed manual transmission, RS detailing package, Camaro SS. I am a lucky woman!

 

Butterfly Lagoon

Out of sheer boredom the last couple of days, I have been browsing contest forums. They always seem like a good way to rouse my creativity and get my working on something. Sometimes you just need a little inspiration, you know?

Anyway, this contest was for a remodel of a home in Sunset Valley. I chose Mosquito Cove for a multitude of reasons. 1) When I first bought the Sims 3, it was the first house I ever moved someone into and 2) it has SO much potential. I love the pretty, scenic lots and that pond is just asking for help.

So, after much work and head scratching (no exterior walls were allowed to be demolished), I can up with a rebuild that fit the criteria but just looked much more inviting. It now has 2 bedrooms, full bath upstairs and a toilet and washer downstairs. The pond has been upgraded, beautiful flowers and garden added, butterflies and pond spawners have moved in, and, of course my favorite, a covered, arched footbridge leading to the house. No more ugly, divided pond with terrain look.

I am rather strange so I came up with a story for how the house turned from that hideous shack that would look rather well situated in the swamps of Twinbrook to this lovely home you see before you: When Emmanuelle Bellamont had to leave her beloved french country side, she was devastated. She had been offered a fantastic, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in Sunset Valley, and she knew she had to take it but wished she could bring her lovely estate with her. When she came across Mosquito Cove, she knew she had to have it. Though it would require much money and work, the location alone was worth it. When she finished, she had a garden for her growing her own ingredients, furnishings in warm colors, and a homey feel that almost competed with her native town. Unfortunately, shortly after finishing the renovations, Emmanuelle gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and decided to leave Sunset Valley and take her little Claire back to France to meet her father. This home can now be yours! 

Now for the pretty pictures!

Before:

 After:

It does require some store content and 2 pieces of custom content.

• Provence Set from the Store (I used almost everything from this set)
• The chair and sofa from Club Vaindenburger set from the Store
• Faire End Table and Faire Wheel Barrow from Faire Folk Life from the Store
• Bumper Crop Expansion Set by QBuilderz
• Dicke Berta Stove by Plasticbox

If you do not have these items and do not wish to buy/download them, please be aware that your lot will not look exactly like the pictures. Without these items, the game will replace them with something you already have though the colors may be quite...off. Enjoy!

Download Butterfly Lagoon

Mediafire

Sim Contest - Win a Role in the Avendale Legacy!

Alright everyone! I have decided to have a contest here for a sim. The winning sim will receive a character role in my legacy story, found here. Since Generation 2 just started, chances are your sim will be interacting with Shane and Tanner. What is in store for those two as the years go by? Is there a sworn enemy, yet undiscovered, to stand in the way of their dreams? A seductive temptress to lead them down the path of immorality? Or perhaps an older mentor, to give them the advice they're lacking from the loss of their mother? Your sim may prove to be the answer.

Now for the RULES:

• Must be a single sim, of any age. (Keep in mind that, according to legacy rules, any sims placed using Edit Town, may not be added to the legacy family. In-game born sims can join the family).
• Sim MUST be unique: no binned sims, no sim from previous contests or uploads, and absolutely, NO sim stealing.
• 3 photos need to be included: 1 headshot (shoulders up, white background, good lighting), 1 full body shot (white background, good lighting), and 1 scene shot that gives an idea of who they are.
• You MAY include one extra photo (for a maximum of 4, as long as you have the required three) of whatever you want, regarding your sim: hobby, a shot from their past to go with the backstory, anything goes as long as it follows any other rules posted.
• Included character bio: aspiration, likes, traits.
• Sim must also have a backstory that gives me and any judges an idea who of they are. This sim will be a new resident to Twinbrook so their backstory should include where they are moving from and why. 500 words maximum.
• NO CC allowed shown or packaged with the sim (see below for exception).
• NO photo-shopping images.

Now for the Contest Details:

• Contest will start immediately. As in, now. Like right now....get to it!
• Contest will end on Sunday, September 18th, at 11:59pm PST. Click here for a countdown.
• Entries should be submitted via comments.
• Any comments received/edited AFTER the close of the contest will not be valid.
• Entries from anonymous posters will NOT be accepted; please have either your own blog or a homepage on a large site like thesims3 or MTS. Anon comments/entries will be deleted.

This contest is NOT a pretty contest. The winning sim will be chosen on uniqueness and ability to add something to the story. Looks will play a part but is not the entire point of the contest.

Now, as a side note, I use LadyFrontBum Nice default skins with her Silk face. I also use Escand's default Oh My! eyes. This is just a note to let you know that your sim may look different in my game than your screenshots. If you have LFB Nice skin/Silk face and/or Escand's eyes, that may be used in your screenshots because it will be how it shows up in my game, but is not required. This is the ONLY exception to CC rule.

Story and Riverview Update

I am pleased to say that I have finally caught everyone up with my legacy. For quite awhile, I had been posting once a week and working ahead. That turned into being almost a generation ahead of what was posted so I switched tactics. I am now updating as I finish a chapter which will make things more interesting and will give my readers a chance to participate when it comes time for new heirs and such. I have many ideas and plots that I'd love to use but we'll see if they make it in. You can find the updated story here, along with other information regarding my stories. Stay tuned for more juicy details and chances to participate and become part of the legacy.

In other news, I have, once again, started working on Riverview. It has been so long since I have worked on it that I almost forgot everything that still needs to be done. And, geez, it's a lot. At least routing is pretty much done. Just lots and lots of lots to finish. And spawners. Can't forget those pesky things. Oh, and bushes for armiel. She'd never forgive me if Riverview was barren of bush. And...well, you get the picture. The list goes on and on. Hopefully I will have some update pictures in the near future and, maybe if you're good, a beta version for people to test.

So, back to the grind of CAW for now and, soon, to the Avendales!

As a side note, I just want to really, really, thank my lovely friend Wally for being so supportive and listening to me whine and complain. Definitely deserves a great big thank you and hug!

War. War never changes.

After changes required a couple of times (lemme just tell you, taking pictures for 6 lots is time consuming and so easy to botch), my lots were finally approved! This was my first multi-part upload, my first trashy, extreme CFE lots, and my first time doing an animation for a thumbnail. All in all, a lot of firsts and I am proud that it is up. Though, needless to say, rather relieved it's done as well. Now I can continue my work on Riverview and work on my stories as well.

If you want to download any of these lots please visit my thread, A Series of 6 Fallout Homes on MTS.

Fallout Lots and Legacy Stories

So I finally finished the Fallout lots. They are ready for moderation in the MTS queue. I will link them as soon as they are ready.

I also have taken to posting my legacy story on my other blog, located here. I shall be updating the story as I finish a chapter, rather than the once a week that I started at. Also, due to asking around and inspiration from Benno's blog, I will likely be doing an heir poll as the time gets close each generation. So stayed tuned if you want a chance to affect the outcome of the story.


Lastly, I will also be working on the story of the Kidd's, as you saw in a previous post (the family at Melon Avenue). Hopefully, I can start working on that one soon and be ready to have it up in the next couple of days. I haven't decided if it will be a legacy or just a story of the already made generations. Needless to say, IF it does go legacy, it won't follow the traditional rules of the legacy challenge. Anyway, stay tuned for all kinds of updates soon!