New dollhouse rug

To keep the study room in sync with the new set of curtains from Tanya Shevtsova, I bought this lovely rug for my vampire tenant:

It comes from Green Gypsies.  The black and red rug is now in the shop, instead of the blue one.

I am currently waiting on some more curtains from Tanya for the drawing room.  I can't wait to have them!

FinFun Mermaid Barracuda black tail skin review

My dear husband gifted me with a new tail skin, the FinFun Mermaid Barracuda Black, from the Mermaidens Collection.  When the new designs (red, black, Celtic green and rainbow) came out, I wanted to give them a try.  So, here is how everything went.

I had no problems while purchasing on the website.  Once I selected my size (I chose size M)  the system recommended a monofin that would fit me.  I was hoping that my Magictail monofin would fit into the skin, so I selected "none".  I wanted to try, and if the monofin finally did not fit, I would purchase a FinFun monofin in the future.  Also, being a USA import to the EU, buying skin and monofin separately would save me the import fees.

I paid through PayPal, as usual, but credit cards are also taken.  The package shipped in less than 24 hours and it came in 10 days (in the middle of the Christmas season), which I thought was pretty fast - I selected the cheapest shipping option, which was $10.

The tail skin came packaged in a cardboard box, inside a lovely blue organza bag, with tags and a mermaid sticker.  When I tried to fit the Magictail monofin in the tail skin, it actually fitted, which was a nice thing.

Here is a video showing the tail:




And here are some pictures:

Unboxing

Detail of the dragon type scales

Detail of the fluke

Comparison with the Magictail skin

Detail of fluke with the Magictail monofin inside

It really fits!

 Looking forward to using it!

Mernation Scale Silicone Top Review

Being the incorregible person that I am, I wanted a new mermaid top that matched my Arielle Magictail.  Very few people make tops that fit WELL on models over a cup size B or C.  My Merbella top was bought knowing it would not fit me perfectly, and that it had been designed to fit up to a C cup after put on the bra.

I came upon Mernation by chance, after browsing on Etsy for "mermaid tops".  Their Silicone Scale Top got my attention immediately.  Not only they included D cups (mine), they also accepted customizations, even though the price could vary.  Their opening price, $160, seemed to me very reasonable, so I sent them an email, saying I was ready to buy one of their tops, and asking if it would be possible to have one that would not tie at the neck as a halter top.  My Merbella top is a halter, and after a while wearing it, the pain on my neck is substantial.  The first day of contact was October 21, 2014.

They replied very professionaly within a 24 hours period, saying that yes, it would be possible to leave the shoulder straps and cover them with fishing net.  They also stated it would be best if I were to buy a bra and ship it to them with the straps already set in their right place.  That way the fitting would be 100% accurate.  It was a perfect plan, and I gave them the OK to bill me with PayPal.  The final top cost was $180 for the custom design, and I was allowed two colors of my choice for the painting.  I sent them a picture of me on my Arielle tail, and asked if they had similar colors.  I wanted it to be blue with hints of green.  I was told they blended their own colors for each work they did, which I found amazing.  I was over the Moon.  I was sure this top was going to be wonderful.

I had some problems finding the bra I needed, but I bought a nude bra and shipped it to them on November 5.  It was sent urgent, but my tracking number was not working and I emailed them on November 19 to ask if it had arrived.  I was told they were out for the Thanksgiving holiday, and they contacted me again on December 3 to say they bra had arrived and they were going to start production. 

I was sent a picture on the same day!, to ask if I liked the colors:

I told them they were amazing and that I loved them.  The following day they sent me two more pics, to ask if I wanted some extra netting over the cups:

The answer was a yes.  That same day the top was finished, and on December 5 I was invoiced the shipping charge, which was $25.  I paid, and the top was shipped that same day.  It arrived to my house on December 16. My mom offered to pay for it, so the top ended up being a Christmas gift from her.

It came very well packaged on a cardboard box, covered with green tissue paper.  The package showed that the shipping was precisely what I had been charged, unlike my previous experience.  I was speechless when I took it out.  It was perfect.  Flawless.  I tried it on immediately and it fitted like a glove!

I love how the scales drape over the tummy!  It is so flattering!  I cannot wait to try it in the water. More pics soon to come!

I am very, very happy that I chose Mernation.  It has been a fabulous experience, and one that I would be ready to repeat.  I very much appreciated how they kept in contact with me throughout the whole process (thank you Lauren!!), and each reply was made within 24 hours.  I am not considering a silicone tail on the short run, but if I ever do, right now I would choose Mernation without a doubt.  It is fantastic that they really want to make the customer happy.  I cannot say enough, and I wholeheartedly recommend them.

UPDATE 21-01: Last Monday I went swimming with the Mernation top.  It is a dream!  It does not move at all while swimming.  In fact, it is like you were wearing nothing at all.  No fuss, no issues, no more pressure on my vertebrae due to halter ties, not even pressure on my shoulders!  My boobs stayed put all the time, they did not attempt to come out, and the silicone was very comfortable.  I had 3 different people commenting on it, saying how original and pretty was.  I think this top will be the first of two or three (with time...).  So so happy!!

Back from Barcelona

Hello all!  Happy New Year!

So sorry for the absence!  I have been on a trip to Barcelona, and came back some days ago.  Then New Year and some shop issues got in the way of me blogging.  I'll share with you the best of Barcelona.  I had a great time there!

Don't worry, I'm not going to tell you about the Sagrada Familia, the Picasso Museum, the Güell Park or the Batlló House. You can find that in any travel guide.  But I will say this: buy tickets in advance.  I'm serious. Whatever it is you plan on visiting, search online for the official website and buy the tickets there.  Do not bother with lines, because even if you do, when you get to the window there may be a chance you will find tickets but they may not let you in until 2 or 3 hours later!  They have a policy of only a certain number of people going in every 15/30 minutes.  If you get there at 11, you may not be able to enter until 1 or 2 in the afternoon.

OK, so for mermaid and sea lovers: The Maritime Museum is a must!  There is a collection of real, life size ships, sea houses machinery and other curios, including a mural with a vintage picture for you to pose as if you were inside of antique diving equipment.  When we were there there was also an exhibition about Mediterranean pirates, and another one showcasing the evolution of underwater photography and filming. We saw the underwater cameras that were used during the filming of The Big Blue and Titanic.  Don't miss out the museum shop!  Lots of gadgets and sea-related mementos of your visit.
Also, you will enjoy a walk by the pier. If you visit the Maritime Museum, you can also hop on and visit a small ship, the Santa Eulalia, which is in the pier; price is included with your museum ticket.  Or you can visit only the ship for the price of 1 euro.
And if you are up to it, you can purchase tickets for a ship ride that will take you to see the beaches and Barcelona's skyline.

For comics/convention goers/vampires and goths enthusiasts: You have what the locals call the Freak Triangle.  It is a series of shops, all of them around the same streets, in which you can find comics, fantasy and science fiction books, merchandise, movies... You get the idea.  I am going to mention specially Aliens4Sale and Madame Chocolat. In the first one you can find aliens in bottles or "taxidermized" to adorn your walls - be prepared to spend some serious money on them.  On the second one, you can find Lolita and Steampunk clothing, and lots of accessories as well.  Some gothic stuff too, but not too much.  Also worth mentioning is Norma Comics, where you will find heaps of merchandise from Harry Potter, the Lord of the Rings, etc, and all the comics you can read and more.

You can also find Continuará in Vía Laietana 29.  Comics, figurines, and merchandise.

For relaxation and well-being enthusiasts:  You can find a Turkish bath very near the Freak Triangle, in the Born district.  I did not go inside because I did not pack a bathing suit.  You bet I will next time I go to Barcelona!  I was left wanting to experience it.

For music and opera lovers:  A visit to the Liceu Theatre is a must.  I was fortunate enough to attend a representation of Maria Stuarda with Joyce DiDonato as leading singer.  Even if you do not want to purchase tickets for an opera performance, you have the option of visiting the Liceu in the morning, when it is empty and the workers are preparing stuff for the next representation.  You have the option of two visits: one that lasts a whole hour and one that is, I think, 30 minutes.  I strongly recommend the 1 hour tour, if you have the time.  They will show you what it is the called the Liceu Circle, which is an exclusive club for Liceu members whose furniture and ornaments date back to 1847.  Very, very worth the visit.

For purchases/gifts/souvenirs: Forget the classic souvenir shops!  You have a wonderful shop, Tienda Mallart, that sells table games, cards (poker, tarot...), tic-tac-toes, chess boards, and many more things in Carrer de Jaume I, 17, in the Gothic district.

You also have Arlequín Máscaras, a shop that would fit very well in Venice, with masks of all kinds, and also some string puppets, in Carrer de la Princesa 7, near Via Laietana.

For something more modern, you have THR, a shop that sells beautiful and out-of-the-ordinary handmade jewelry made with iron and glass (earrings, necklaces, bracelets...).  You will love them!  You can find it in Carrer de les Ramelleres 24.

Also, you have CD shops and alternative clothing shops (goth and punk) in Carrer dels Tallers.

That is all!  Pictures of the trip will come soon.  Stay tuned!