Nattering.Prattle.

No blog today, my brain is always so full of nattering prattle I oft think I am hearing voices. The lucky thing is, they aren’t telling me to DO anything. They are just my constant companion it seems. I suppose its because I am quiet by nature and usually surrounded by quiet. But like most who like to write, I am aware of the ebb and flow of the electrons of my brain and I know if I write this late in the day my words mix up and my letters craftily move into an opposite order in which they were typed. Don’t believe me? Ask the Dragon, by a certain hour of day in SL I tell her, it’s time for me to log. Of course, it comes out like “tsi tmie fro em ot gol.” I’ve always wondered if she knew what that meant.. She’s known me so long that these days, after reading my garble for a while she will say, “Isn’t it time for you to og?” But then, thats what friends are for, right? I hope you all have a gorgeous night!

Outfit:

Headpiece: *SoliDea FoliEs*, Mila
Hair: Boon
Outfit: *SoliDea FoliEs*, Winter Tutu
Boots” Bax, (is that brand still around?)

Some.People.Feel.The.Rain.Others.Just.Get.Wet.

What a very true statement that is, I think Bob Dylan was a very wise man. And we all know those “get wet” people, they are the ones who consistently focus on their own discomfort instead of focusing outwards and realizing perhaps, in the long run, their own discomfort isn’t quite so bad after all. In Second Life, I like to relate this to constantly having your camera focused on your own avatar, instead of seeing with amazement all that surrounds you. So today, I have a new take from. (yes, there is one). I wanted to throw out some “News Year’s” resolutions for SL models and aspiring models. And maybe for some real world “avatars” as well. I’d love to hear some of yours too, if you’d like to comment. And I could think of no better designer’s design to wear today then my friend Giz Seorn of Gizza.

1) My first and fave is: smile, it improves your face value. I personally love to smile, don’t you? When I chat with friends and strangers inworld sometimes I smile so much I swear my laptop thinks I am in love with it. 2) Be forever grateful of the gifts you receive, even if it is just a short hello. Because think about it, on that day someone thought of you kindly enough to say “hello.” 3) In return, always find something to compliment in others, every one has at least one something worthy of praise so learn to dedicate your space, your face, and your time to the wellness of others. 4) Follow the 3 question rule about things that bother you. a. How important is my complaint to the “big picture?” b. Is what I have to say important to others, or just myself? and c. Will it seem as important a week, month, year from now? If you answer yes truthfully, then approach it by thinking about and then saying what you feel. Words are weapons as sharp as any sword.

Resolutions for modeling in particular. 5) You are not marked by your past. What did or did not occur in the past, does not ever mean it will continue on into the future forever. Learn from what went wrong, or what went right, expand upon it and move on, healthier, happier and stronger for having experienced what happened. 6) If worried about trying, what ever it is, a casting, a contest, a school, a career.. remember to think about what’s the worst that can happen from trying? You fail and get made fun of? You fail and are out some money? What is so important that you would choose to live a life of unhappy sameness when you have the chance to succeed and live your dream, but if only you would just try? 7) Do not ever compare yourself to others, make yourself with your own hands. If Steve Jobs had failed (actually he did, several times) but if he failed and never made it, should we all have wrung our hands with shame, walked away and said “it’s impossible!”? I certainly hope not. If it’s not right, dust off the big girl knickers, regroup, realign, recreate and push on. Somewhere in each of us is this wonderful soul, heart and mind, well able to bring us what we seek, if only we could learn to let go of the “I can’ts”, “I faileds” and the “it cant be dones, especially by me(s)”. I know, my dragon friend Draakje, “word and peace.” I’ll silently move away before I’ve got you all snoring on your desktops, I was perhaps wandering away with the keyboard a little. I hope you all have a New Year that fulfills the delightful wonders being dreamt in your hearts. Slurls on SLurls page. And here’s one to Gizza: Taxi:

Outfit One:
Jacket: Gizza, hooded sweater
Shorts: Gizza, loose denim short *New*
Hairs/HatL Exile, raspberry beret
Boots: Gos, wellington
Umbrella/pose: What Next?, Rainy day
Earrings: Mandala, senjyu earring

Outfit Two:
Gown: Gizza, Anna *New*
Hairs: Vanity Hair, cotton club *NEW*
Gloves: Mimikri, glove
Jewelry: Donna Flora, Brenda earrings, Samara watch, Arturo ring
Makeup: Mons, lipstick

Outfit Three:
Gown w hat and gloves: Gizza, Linnda *New*
Hairs: Lelutka, pacahontas
Jewelry: Mandala, pearl rain

Making.Spaces.Treasured.Faces.

Jacket: sYs, Black Swan (Love this!). Hairs: Vanity Hair, Lady Boy. Leggins: Indyra, from the Venice outfit. Earrings: Finesmith, Feather Story NEW!. Shoos: Diktator, Envy. Bra: Ladies Who Lunch. Ugly Ciggy: Di’s Opera Pose: DelMay

Ok, I know it and so do you. Second Life with it’s anonymity creates vast crevices where a ton of drama can pile up. The virtual world has a faster gossip mill than the Central Intelligence agency of most third world countries. Why? I suppose because some people thrive on it. Me? I prefer to keep my pixelated head entrenched deeply in the sand. The take from, and you know there always is one.

It’s a high gravity Monday after taking 9 days off, I chose to dress like I mean business. In a cheeky way of course.

Everyone has some crazy friends, or coocoo family members. You know the ones, they can be a joy one moment or a living ‘ell the next. But you can’t fix crazy. You also shouldn’t spend a lot of time on worry, trust me this worry is probably small compared to the one waiting just around the corner for you to show up. As for the friend? And it may sound mean but their problems are theirs, not yours. What is important to you is how you let their problems effect you. Empathy for them is understandable and right. But as to their solution, this is where you make space for them to figure out their own. Let them know you are there for them and then step back and just be there.

These shoos. mmmmm I smell sex and candy.. Hot, hot hot.

I did a mix and match today and have to say, I just love this jacket from sYs, so incredibly amazing! The shoos from Diktator need no introduction, but watch out, Draakje already licked the vendor.. The hair is from Vanity Hair and is a perfect have available in inventory style. I love to pull it out every once in a while because of its shorter length and pulled back style. I heard a rumor, but a good one, that Yula Finesmith of Finesmith Designs is back and back in style to boot. I just fell in love with this whispy and gorgeously feathered necklace and earring set. If you get a chance, swing by one or all of these designers stores, I know you will find the perfect attire for your drama free Monday as well. (The SLURL’s are under my “last known SLURL’s page.” I know, lazy Cao, but for today you will have to empathize with me, I’m just off vacation and running a little jagged.

Cao’s in feathers, I’m sure there is a nursery rhyme in there somewhere.

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

Foolish.Wisdoms.

Well. I survived my foray into New Orleans. Who wouldn’t really? It’s such a gorgeously historic place. I just feel a little bit under the weather, which isn’t a good start to the new year. For my first blog of this New Year I’m not blogging clothes, so for the picture I chose this simple (and stunning) cowl-necked cocktail from Erratic Rain of the store Erratic and played it down with the Vanity jacket from the same designer. Short, simple and sweet.

A little over a week ago a dear friend of mine, who works for one of my favorite designers, began a rant on FB about an avatar in the store who didn’t change their shape so the system skirt she was wearing made her arse appear bigger than usual. For some reason, because of the simple fact the avatar was over two years old, my friend felt they should know about system skirts and design flaws. Well, I have to say, first of all, I adore this friend but I am of the sort who feels ranting on public forums probably isn’t the wisest course of action in any situation. But second, and more a point of my own shortcomings, I can attest as a fact that I myself had no clue about system skirts and arses until after two years of existence as well. Some of us take life at face value and just assume the situation is what it is. But after thinking on this for a few days I came to a conclusion of a blog I wanted to write, so here is the take from.

I get asked all the time which modeling schools I recommend. As you can see, I went to Mimmi Boa modeling academy, MVW academy (upper level courses), Outrageous Glamour advanced and Passion Academy (the only one that was free and I can say in this case free does not mean subpar, it is an excellent school taught by former MVW’s). I enjoyed them all, but this is what I feel about SL modeling courses. There is so much information you can learn without taking courses, so learn as much as you can by doing, by practicing, by interacting with other models. If you don’t know something, ask. Now, I DO recommend you attend at least one academy because it is a good way to meet other models, designer’s and really to get your name known a little faster. Talk to the schools, ask questions, talk to other models and see how they feel about the school from personal experience and choose one that is within your budget, because many of them are pricey and as I said, price doesn’t necessarily mean the education is better. So research and plan the course of action that makes YOU happy, because trust me, models don’t get rich, it definitely has to be a labor of love.

The second part of what I decided to blog. I have created pages (along the left panel of the front page) with some of the major tips and advice I’ve learned along the way. Many were taught to me and some I just picked up through experience but in all ways, I hope someone out there finds it helpful. Have a happy New Year and may your days be filled with love and kindness!