My Mind Quiets as I Play

I actually took the day off from blogging seriously and it feels wonderful. Every now and again it happens. The words fade away. I think its because I’ve had a rather stressful few days both personally, professionally and Second Lifely. The perfect maelstrom of forces pulling me every which a way and requiring undivided attention that I do not have. So instead of beginning to blog items for The Couturier’s Dock, now that the SIM store is in place and ready to launch today March 29, 2013 at 1:00 PM SLT, I decided to step back and play a little. A month or so ago Belle Roussel of Chop Zuey (the jewelry store), gave me a folder full of her items. I told her at the time, I’ve so little time to spare, I don’t really blog individual designers anymore, but she kindly told me not to worry about it to just play with them from time to time because she liked my style. I thought that the grandest compliment! Thank you Belle.

So today when I decided I just wanted to play with windlights and photography, I pulled on Chop Zuey’s Rocinantes Curve, styled around the pieces and headed over to Neva Crystall’s Neva River SIM. Such a gorgeous place, if you get a chance stop by there before it’s closed off again. As you may know, in Don Quixote, as written by Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote named his skinny little horse Rocinantes. There was much thought by Quixote in naming the horse. “Four days were spent in thinking what name to give him, because (as he said to himself) it was not right that a horse belonging to a knight so famous, and one with such merits of his own, should be without some distinctive name, and he strove to adapt it so as to indicate what he had been before belonging to a knight-errant, and what he then was.” Rocinantes is much like Don Quixote in that he is awkward, past his prime, and engaged in a task beyond his capabilities. Just like me this week. Don’t you love it when all the pieces fit together without fore thought!

I spent an hour snapping pictures, refocusing my soul, and relaxing. My mind has quieted while I played. The take from? Yes. Don’t force life to happen, it will happen anyway. If you find you are just getting further and further behind. Stop, play a while, enjoy the view. You may never quite catch up to where you should be, but honestly, on the last day of your life, do you really think you will care? Life is about living. Have a wonderful weekend! I am feeling so much better about my day, I even included the taxi for you! Chop Zuey:

Outfit:
Hair: Lelutka, Pocahontas
Jewelry: Chop Zuey, Rocinantes Curve
Outfit: ~Soedara~ Nudzahui
Feathers/makeup: Plank Couture, Crow Feather

Baby.Booties.and.Being.There.

If my mama sees me like this she’s going to librarian me upside the ‘ead with the dictionary

I’m at the age where all my friends are starting to have children. I decided a few years ago I wasn’t going to have any. No, I’m not defective, it’s my family, they are. About four years ago I asked my mum if she’d watch Katy (my Jack Russell Terrior-ist) for me while I went away for a weekend. I thought how bad could it be, I mean she raised me right? What a great weekend it was, practically “childless” and free to come and go as I pleased. But when I went to pick up the dog, she was hiding under the baby grand piano that tortured me as a child, hyperventilating like she was running the marathon. So like every good “mother” I asked my mum what the deal was, to which she replied without missing a beat, “she’s okay, she just swallowed three of my estrogen tablets from my nightstand.” Right away I decided there were two things I wouldn’t rush into, childbirth or menopause.

Hey, Cao’s can Daisy Mae with the best of them. 😉

I digressed as usual, back to my friends. I don’t suppose it’s off-kilter to want children at a certain age, though I don’t really believe in the biological clock thing, why hurry in your thirty’s? I see forty something women having children all the time. My sister was one of those. At some point I suppose I was disappointed they all decided to get married or have significant “others,” I mean after all, I’m still not sold on the fact that the boys have cooties thing is all myth. But good friend that I am, I went along with them anyway and embraced all these men in their lives. If not genuinely, than at least figuratively I accepted they were mostly there to stay. This new chapter though, to me it’s overwhelming. They talk about cycles and child-rearing and tell me often enough I should have one too, that I don’t have to have a man to have a child. Huh? I must have been so embarrassed in that particular sex education class all the blood rushing to my face clogged my ears. What a novel concept. But I think I’ll wait though, I mean heck, I forget to feed myself often enough, I can’t imagine having the responsibility of feeding a little Cao. Sorry if this post it too much information, it’s actually tongue in cheek. Mostly. I suppose this new really sexy skirt from Leezu! has my mind a wandering and it filled the blog with some random absentminded thoughts today. Now, if I can just find where I put those birth control pills. Katy?

Take from? Naw. Even I can’t find one today. I did include the LM to Leezu! though, that should count for something. Taxi:

Outfit One:
Hairs: .Ploom. Mookie
Skirt: Leezu!, Pia *NEW**
Shirt: Leezu!, NightLove
Knickers: Son!a, Tulip (part of gown)
Glasses: Crie Style, Scioilto
Necklace: Kunglers, Amanra
Shoos: Gos, Angelina

Outfit Two:

Hairs: Lelutka, Vibrato
Hat: Riders Westernwear, Cowboy Hat. *THANKS NORTH* xo
Shirt: Leezu!, Valerie Blouse *NEW*
Shorts: Leezu!, Heather Hot pants
Boots: *LpD*, Oh Susannah!

Social Media Meme

My mum would love this pic, I look so serene, so elegant. In other words, so un-Cao

Strawberry Singh posted another meme, this one Social Media Meme with the hopes we can connect and meet each other, so if I am long winded, blame her not me. 😉 If you get a chance, do one of these and please, send me the link. I’m always looking for new people to stalk erm, nicely follow, from a distance of course, I guess, if I have too..

What was the first social network you joined using your SL Avatar?

Flickr in May 2010.

Which social networks are you currently on using your SL Avatar?

Flickr Taxi:
Facebook Page Taxi:
About.me.com: Taxi:
Facebook Profile Taxi:
Plurk Taxi:
Google+ Profile (for my avatar) Taxi:
Pinterest Taxi:
Second Life Profile Taxi:

One word for this dress, (It is Desir’s FFL offering) the word? Divine!

If there are some you are listing above that have private timelines or you prefer not to add too many people to, just make a note beside them please because I will be going on a stalking following spree when I read your posts!

Which network is your favorite?

I used to think flickr, I was a SL flickr model way before I became an inworld model. I love my flickr friends and the talent there but I find it to be a little “wieldy” for my tastes. I always want to go and see everyones work, it just takes too much time. So I think I enjoy and spend most of my time on Facebook these days. I can chat there, see what people are up to at a moments glance, like their artwork. Meet knew people.

I could so sport this hairdoo in RL, I sware, its what I look like in the morning when I go to sleep with wet hairs

Which network is your least favorite?

At this moment, I’d have to say Plurk. But thats just because I don’t “get” it. As an example, for some reason it says I am from New Orleans, Louisiana. I don’t know where the information came from and I can’t figure out how to change it. So on Plurk I am a Lil Cao lost in Louisiana. If someone can come find me and lead me home to Florida, I’d appreciate it. Well, a lot.

Which network do you have the most amount of connections?

I’d say Facebook. Not really sure where they keep coming from, but boy do they. Last I looked I have 1,698 friends, most of whom have friended me. o.O (I know right? I wonder why too.) I hope there is never a test like in elementary school where everyone says their name and the next person has to say all the names that were said before them. Um, I just might fail, by catastrophic proportions actually. But Facebook works, I’ve liked all the people I’ve met, so far.

Got the dress, all I need is the man.. Anybody have an extra one?

How/Where do you usually read/use most of your networks?

/me whispers “on my work computer.” hahaha just kidding! Dang! On my Nook or android. *blushes*

What are your favorite social networking apps? (if applicable)

On my android I use WordPress and Facebook, and a little Flickr. Can I say here, I just love Pinterest? I put all the styles I love there so I can see them when I want to try and style something new and, wait for it, EPIC. But also, it shows an evolution of how my tastes change over time. And of course, it puts up an official Lil Cao’s wish list for all my rich friends out there who want to buy me a little birthday prezzy.(May, it’s May 😉 ) Oh! and I will always stand by my mantra, you can never go wrong with a pair of Jimmy Choo’s..(that would be a size 7)…

What do you like most about social networking sites?

Being able to keep up with my online friends weekends and weekdays without being attached to a mouse. I tend to ramble, and I don’t just mean with words, though that’s been said, dutifully noted, and discarded Draakje Dailey (xo). I like to see pictures and read blogs my friends have written while I am running like a mad Cao about town. People in Second Life have always been able to drop me an IM to email but I actually have a lot of “real life” blogs I read and respond to (as opposed to those only written about SL, who’d a thought there even was such a thing?) so social networking has helped me keep in touch with those friends too.

What do you like least about social networking sites?

I hate those people who constantly nag or complain on their pages all the time. I check in to see whats fun, whats news, but not the “what ticks me off” complaints about friends, neighbors, politics. I can find that stuff right around me in the real world. But if you want to show me a bucket of puppies, the most adorable baby in the world, or the whackiest of cats, that just makes my day!

Do you feel social networks are a good way to promote you/your brand/your work?

I do think social networks are an excellent way to create your brand! Ask any model I’ve ever spoken to, brand recognition is my numero uno rule. See, Eyes smart, I’m a multi-national Cao, I speak a smattering, a very minute smattering, of Spanish). When I was in college we did a lot of studying on viral marketing. I did a research project on Scion. When Scion came out, their marketing budget was about zero. If you remember there were, and still are, very few TV commercials for Scion. They rely heavily on “on the street” guerilla marketing, viral marketing and word of mouth. But their success with social networking is a model for many of us, including a silly little Second Life model who just wants a recognizable face as her “brand.”

What is your main reason for using Social Networks?

Like Strawberry Singh, they were at first to promote my blog. But to be honest, now I love them for their own worth. I love feeling connected wherever I am. I love, laugh and sometimes even cry with my friends there. I enjoy finding blogs of new people, learning new things, laughing with the ups and sometimes even the downs, we all go through and share with one another. I love seeing the wonderful photography there, I am soooooo glad my friend Skip Staheli joined Facebook, I’ve been missing so much of his craft from bypassing Flickr. Hands down, it gives me a connection to the people I am missing when I am not in Second Life.

Thank you all for putting up with me, I can’t think of a single person in either life whom I don’t like. Isn’t that just crazy? But it is so true. You all bring me different things, laughter, smiles, love, likes, knowledge. You’ve all gleaned a little bit of it all on me. I just adore you all! Thank you each and all for being you, the people who make my social media medium the enjoyment that it is. And thanks Strawberry Singh for making me face these questions. I was daunted at first, but I pulled through. In the words of one of my social media friends Aliza Karu, \o/

All styles brought to you today by the letter D. (designer Vivien Emerald’s brand Desir)

Outfit One:
Dress: Desir, Ceres *FFL*
Hairs: Desir, Luck Knot
Flower: Desir, Sakura
Earrings: Fulo, Mystic Dragon
Bird: .:Magic No Magic:. Pyramid box Maia Bird Tropicalia Pet **thank you!**

Outfit Two:
Dress w. hair flowers: Desir, Demeter
Hair:: Vanity Hair, Neox
Pearls: Dahlinks, Back knot

For.Those.We.Have.Lost.

It is so close to the time. So close and I am so excited because this event weighs so heavy on my heart due to my best friend/sister in law dying of leukemia. I look forward to it every year, this is my third in Second Life and I hope you will lend a hand and help too. The wonderful part of SL’s Fashion for Life event is you don’t just donate, you receive a product for your donation, something you would possibly wish to buy anyway. All the designers items at donated to the charity at 100%. One person can make a difference. As stated on the RFL website, “Nowhere is that more evident than with the story of the American Cancer Society Relay For Life, which began in Tacoma, Washington. In the mid-1980s, Dr. Gordy Klatt, a Tacoma colorectal surgeon, wanted to enhance the income of his local American Cancer Society office and to show support for all of his patients who had battled cancer. He decided to personally raise money for the fight by doing something he enjoyed – running marathons.” Dr. Klatt walked the track for 24 hours straight for his patients and with his friends raised $27,000 toward the cure. Don’t think cancer is some vague disease that will never effect you. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States alone. I personally lost my best friend/sister in law to leukemia at the age of 36 and watching the disease progress is devastating. There are many types of cancer, but all cancers start with a single abnormal cell. Abnormal cells multiply quickly. They spread to other parts of the body, invading healthy body tissue and organs, yet almost half of all cancer deaths can be prevented with early detection and treatment.

Relay For Life is the signature fundraising event of the American Cancer Society. The Relay For Life of Second Life is the largest, most successful fundraising event in our virtual world, raising more than $5.4 million in 2012. From noon March 9th 2013 to noon March 17th 2013, the biggest, boldest and most fabulous fashion event of the year will take place, helping to raise funds and awareness on behalf of the ‘American Cancer Society.’

The Look: Base Piece, I built the look around. The Jacket. One Word AMAZING! I loved it so much, here’s the taxi! Taxi:

Jacket: Sonatta Morales, *8* Avril Coat
Collar: *CoCo*, Fur Tippet & Pearls
Knicker Short: Leezu! Glitter pant
Shirt: Part of Miamai’s Demi Gown
Earrings: *SoliDea FoliEs*, Aliza **NEW** L’Accessoires
Belt: *Coco*, Wide Waist belt
Handbag: Handverk, Tetrahedron, **NEW** L’Accessoires!
Hat: Lode, Bittersweet [Spring] **NEW** L’Accessoires!
Hair: Miamai, Songe
Eye Makeup: +Nuuna+ Katy
Lips: Blackliquid, Blood Gloss
Boots: Belgravia, Electra Boots

UNTIL THERE IS A CURE. . . .WE RELAY!!

Breathing.Deep.Letting.Go.

Dress: Drift Mood Dress. ❤ Hair: Tableau Vivant. Heels: Whatever. Balloons: What Next?

I hate it when I grow up and make a rational grown-up decision. I really do. I’ve done something pretty rare in Second Life. I’ve lived in the same place for 3 years now. Three real life years. And it’s time to let it go. To prepare, I sent a letter to the people I lease the land from about three weeks ago, because I knew mentally this will be difficult to do. You would think it wouldn’t be, it’s not like I have had more than eight people come visit me in all that time, I truly am a recluse. But its been a labor of love the entire way. I think where it started to change was this year it took all my energy to change to a snowy landscape. Then this past few months, I hardly even travel down there, choosing to stay on my platform in the sky shooting pictures. It’s not like I spend much time in Second Life these days. An hour a day on weekdays maybe four hours a day on the weekend, so it hardly seems to be a viable expense anymore. It doesn’t take a business degree to figure out its money wasted. My only fear is it may signal as my waning days in Second Life, but I won’t think about or accept that at this point, I’m shoving it to the back of the inventory for now. Why? Because, I have so many very real friends in SL, including the designer of the Drift brand clothes I am wearing for this blog. Kallisto Destiny, a friend, designer, blogger, and excellent photographer, is one of the things I simply love about Second Life, the creativity abounds here in so many places and details.

As you can see, my house is a bit of a mutt. I’ve melded two seperate Leezu! homes into one. I used to just have the white house, but along the way, I wanted to add a bedroom, well, mainly so I could decorate with more “stuff.” In the foreground is my bath house, its a beach shop created by Teefy. I just love the areas and gardens of this property, every bit of it has been a labor of love. But, well perhaps a Second Life mimics a first and I find now that I am “old,” virtually 5! It has become time to downsize. I’ll be okay, I think. 🙂

Dress: Drift, Maxi Dress. Hairs: Tableau Vivant ❤

Take from? yep, it’s here. I never thought I was the type of person who would let possessions possess me. I am, by all accounts a minimalist in real life. But sometimes, you pour so much of your heart into a project that at some point you don’t know where it starts and where you end. I think the take from for me is, it’s okay. It’s never easy to let go, the trick is in learning to move forward without any doubts. To grow and try something new. So forward on, I go. If you get a chance, check out Drift this weekend. I know you will absolutely adore what you find there, soothing comfort clothes. What can I say, they go good with my macaroni and cheese… Here ya are, I even included the taxi for once: Taxi:

Siochan Leat, Eire

Soul.Meets.Soul.On.Lovers’.Lips.

Percy Bysshe Shelley was one of the major English Romantic poets and is critically regarded as among the finest lyric poets in the English language. Considered too radical in his poetry and his political and social views to achieve fame during his lifetime, as is often the way, recognition of his significance grew steadily following his death. He penned:

Music, when soft voices die,
Vibrates in the memory;
Odours, when sweet violets sicken,
Live within the sense they quicken.

Rose leaves, when the rose is dead,
Are heap’d for the belovèd’s bed;
And so thy thoughts, when thou art gone,
Love itself shall slumber on.

His biography is crazy enough to give Hollywood Housewives a run for the money. There was a great deal of begetting, a smidge or two of deep depressions and even two “love’s lost” suicides (one an ex-wife, one an unrequited love from his new wifes sister). But in all of this, I think one could never say he wasn’t earnest in his love(s)and thats what makes this poem so impactful. Take from? As humans we are so blessed in this capability to love one another, it is soulful deep and always so moving. Today on this St. Valentine’s Day, as you toast and love the person of your life, say a small thank you to the love’s lost because it is them who made your love of this lover possible. When love is lost and life moves on, the little dead rose petals remain scattered about your soul giving you a softly designed path to follow, filled with the senses your past lovers have touched. This path will hopefully one day lead you to your one true love, your mo anam cara.

Outfit one:
Gown: Desir, Valentina
Hair: UrbanLutz, Lotus

Outfit Two:
Gown: Desir, Natzuka
Hair: UrbanLutz, I Love You

Hye.Ja.

Gown and Hairs: Desir, Chinese Shena. Jewelry: Alienbear, Feng Huang. Pose: Essential Soul, Shy Away

Short blog today, with no take froms. Well maybe one take from. The gorgeous kimono styled gown above is part of the exquisite new inventory in store at Desir, a dream of a store created by Vivien Emerald. The thing is, over the past few weeks she dropped a few gowns on me, and honestly? I loved them all so much I couldn’t settle on just one to blog. The take from? Think about that last sentence and it should come to you. I love Desir so much, I even included the jinriksha for you: Riksha:

Gown: Desir, Sayoko. Hairs: Vanity Hair, Lady Boy

Dress, Hat and Hairs: Desir, Chinese Dragon. Jewelry: Alienbear, Feng Huang

Dress, Hat and Hairs: Desir, Starline. Jewelry: Donna Flora, Vivien and Brenda. Bracelet: Mandala, Sitennoah

The.Show.Went.On.

The show, as always went on. In a one SIM runway show, with an audience and participants reaching a total ebb and flow of 80, the show went on. Amazing, resilient, with fortitude, aplomb and grace. These are just a few of the words I can use to describe the models who took time from their lives to stand with me in awareness of crimes of domestic violence and I could not be more proud. You see, most of us have become spoilt with our two, three and four SIM runway shows. Shows where the audience gets to watch the model as if gazing anticeptically at her through an aquarium glass. These models kicked it up old school, without a complaint, with much humor, and with very little attrition. Yes, almost every one of them stayed. Despite being tossed to the Gods of the Lindens several times. In quasi-runway show walkorder (I had to move them about a bit as they were whisked away by Fate), thank you with all of my heart, CC Teardrop, Kim Rongyu, Mimmi Boa, Blackliquid Tokyoska, Irina Strazytski, Draakje Dailey, Gamp Lane, Kay Fairey, Catlyn Sahara, Jen Tafler, Sessie16 Resident, Jaosi Odriscoll, Algezares Magic, Ekaterina Tolczyner, Alethia Bonham, Tai Galicia, Xia Firethorn, Laura18 Streeter, Amelia Foxtrot, Kathrin Dassin, Jessilyn Brandi, Belladonna Wexhome, Arialee Miles, Annough Lykin, and Catlyn Sahara. A special and love-filled thank you to my little dragon Draakje Dailey, for helping with strong hands, listening to me fuss at times, but always being there as the faithful friend she is. This show would have gone no where without you. I am so honored to have worked with each and every one of you! Thank you for your kind heart to bring awareness to the forefront of peoples minds this week!

But, of course, there would not be a show without the Designers selflessly removing their “labels” from their outfits so we could anonymously wear their products! And Wow! as always you all amazed me, I wish I had just a tenth of the creativity our designers have! Thank you so much for participating! Thank you Aliza Karu for your kind donation of the SIM and to you and MarkWD Hellendale for creating our wonderful black and white, yin and yang runways! A special thank you to my new friend the live vocalist and DJ Scarlet Damour, who held such patience and grace as we tried to free up some lag and thank you to an old flickr friend, Willhelm Ewing, Pyramid Cafè TV, and specifically the video shooting talent of Trisha Abbot, who with no small amount of magic, allowed us to stream the show live for the overflowing audience.

I want to extend a kind thank you to Ramonzita, I honestly do. Thank you Ramonzita for in kindness realizing the import of this show, and allowing us to forge on without wreaking havoc. Most of all, thank you to our audience. I was overwhelmed by your numbers, by your exuberance and oh so proud to stand with you as we raised awareness of 2Lei’s “International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.” We have done so little but we have done so much. If one person in all of the week picks themselves up and helps just one battered victim, we have not only raised awareness, we have won a small victory. Thank you to my reader’s as well, for not wandering away as my blog was one dimensional last week. With happiness, and a touch of sadness that the week is over, I look forward now.

Aware.

November 25, 2012 h. 1 pm SL Time

Please join us as we, women of all ages and socio-economic standards spotlight the designs of the “Anonymous Women’s Designers” of Second Life who have so kindly offered inventory for a runway show highlighting the cycles of abuse so many women endure in our world. We are women, standing up for women less fortunate than ourselves. We are women who have endured abuse at the hands of others and have found a means to break the cycle. We are women who just want to help, to highlight and showcase that we are aware of this abuse and we will find a voice to stop the abuse. Will you please join us to show you as well, want the atrocity to stop?

SLURL of the EVENT:

CSW Island – Taxi: