Laughter -- Featuring Xen's Hats from the Instruments, M&M from .PENUMBRA. Fashion Week, Dark Horse Style, Also :jazzitude, LOoLOo & Platypus, ORQUIDEA and [B!asta] from the Promenade

I love to laugh. I think it's healthy too. I looked up an article printed by the Mayo Clinic about laughter and found this in summary. For short term stress relief, laughter stimulates oxygenation of the body and thus improves the state of most organs in the body, laughter stimulates the same region in the brain that anxiety or fear might stimulate, and by exercising that part of the brain in a positive way, it's easier to stay calm, also, with the same increase in oxygen to the body, blood circulates and eases tension that might otherwise affect our muscles. In the long term relief category, negative thoughts manifest their way into actual chemical reactions that deter health while laughter and positive energy works in the opposite manner, laughter can produce the natural endorphins the body needs to combat pain, in essence easing pain through laughter, increase personal satisfaction, and lastly it can improve mood.

I think the personal satisfaction element is so important to someone like me who's got chronic illness to deal with, as often there are no cures, no new answers, no solving the problem. People care and often say, "I hope you feel better soon." Chronic illness doesn't allow for this. Instead, someone with chronic issues has to find a way to accept and adapt to the world. I might not always be happy, but I work on being consistently content.

I've found some of the new releases for October already tickling my fantasy, like this hat here with spiders that comes from Xen's Hats at The Instruments. M&M's dress from .PENUMBRA. Fashion week called Shelena, and on my nails I have another new look, Dark Horse Style Butterfly Cutouts Dark. :jazzitude provided the Acorn Bracelet from the Promenade. Also from the Promenade are the Sage Scarf from LOoLOo & Platypus, the Vampire on White handbag from ORQUIDEA, and the [B!asta] :LEENA LUX heels in Emerald for mid-high feet.

Featuring Dark Horse Style Butterfly Cutout Dark

Featuring M&M Shelena Dress Flowers from .PENUMBRA. Fashion Week

Featuring Xen's Hats Arachnophobia Hat Black from The Instruments

Featuring :jazzitude Acorn Bracelet from the Promenade

Featuring B!asta :LEENA LUX: Emerald (for mid high feet) from the Promenade

Featuring LOoLOo & Platypus Scarves Sage Plain from the Promenade

Featuring ORQUIDEA Halloween Handbags Very Vampire White Bag from the Promenade

1. EMO-tions: Brian

2. MG: Wild Full Thick

3. October's 4Seasons: Milk Skin Tone (Angelina)

-- Adriana Pink Berries Gloss

4. KMADD/Moda: Mesh Eyes

5. SLink: Mid High Feet

-- Elegant 1 Hands

6. Morphine: Kazumi Lime/Liner

7. .::MS::. Soul Poses

Living In a Fantasy World -- Featuring Zanze at Designer Showcase -- Sneak Peek at NEW October's 4 Seasons Face -- and M&M

When I saw this slinky little gown/dress from Zanze, metallic silvers and aquatic blues, I immediately thought about my fantasy costume folder. I've paid 'good money' over the years for different pieces of fantasy that came in and out of style in Second Life.

I even have a very pink panther skin, emphasis on the word pink. These wings twinkle with particles. I know, so passe, no one does twinkles anymore, but I love my wings and I will probably have them in my inventory til kingdom come. Today was a good day to dust them off and play.

Zanze's Sage Mini {PANSY} comes from September Designer Showcase and is the last item I have in my box to share with you from September's run. All those delectable temptations there, just a little longer and then it's (EGADS!) already October. I'm sure that time flies when we're having fun but as I get older, it seems to fly even faster. Does that mean I'm having more fun?

Featuring Zanze Sage Mini PANSY at Designer Showcase

Featuring M&M Incorporated Brooke Heels (Mid)

Featuring October's 4 Seasons Orchid Skin Tone NEW Angelina Face

1. Isolde Wings in Plum

2. SLink: Mid Feet

-- Elegant 1 Hands

3. October's 4 Seasons: Glamour Lips Ombre Delicate

-- Shine Eyeshadow Pink Pearls

4. Gaeline: Mysteria

5. KMADD/Moda: Mesh Eyes

6. Truth: Fernanda

7. Avante Poses

In Black and White -- Featuring from Fashion for Life even.flow, [[Masoom]], M&M; Also New ~ghee

It is rare for me to take so many photos, but I did so after spending some time with one of SL's premiere photographers, October Bettencourt.

I lovingly call her Ms. O. or Ms. Oooh, Or Ms. Oh-la-licious.

All of them mean one and the same.

She's absolutely affected my world, offline and on, and I credit her with keeping me somewhat sane over the past months while I dealt with health issues.

I know it takes practice practice practice to get to a point where you do something well.

One day, I hope that I'm half as good at photographs as she is.

It's in her blood...

I'm grateful to each designer who offered their part to this styling:

Featuring from Fashion For Life even.flow Adrift Dress

Featuring from Fashion For Life M&M Lakry Earrings Silver

Featuring from Fashion For Life [[Masoom]] With Love Necklace

Featuring ~ghee Rawr Hat

Featuring Silken Moon Twisted Nights Facial (full makeup set)

1. Maxi Gossamer: Swallow Wings Lashes

2. KMADD/Moda: Mesh Eyes

3. Kyxe Skins & Shapes: Latte Skin Tone

4. SLink: Elegant 1 Hands

- Med High Female Feet

5. MaVie Poses

Sometimes I Write Epistles! -- Featuring from Fashion For Life [Wild Serenity], from Designer Showcase {ZOZ}; New >Asset< and M&Ms

It is my intention to post the local .org address of Relay for Life each time I blog because some of you may want to do as I do and pay directly to the .org site for tax purposes. http://www.relayforlife.org/getinvolved/donate/index Another way you can get involved is to visit the AMAZING sims filled with creations, exclusives, designed to tickle your fancy and inspire your purchase. [Wild Creations] new Gilded Blush Filigree is an exclusive item, and with your purchase, you will be donating to Relay for Life via. Fashion For Life in our SL.

I know, by now it's sooo difficult to figure out what Karyn's like best in this world. I wear my every motion on my sleeve and I'm outgoing and vocal about things I truly want to support. This is the same me on or off line, Facebook or Flickr, or a snail mail letter to my amazing Uncle Bob! I believe in education and charity, and the combination of both, and how they can be fleshed out in our Second Life as well as our world off line. The thin line that divides those worlds gets thinner all the time.
All glitz and glam as I get set to begin sharing the glorious creations coming from multiple directions for all the sorts of reasons I love getting excited about here. Fashion for Life as it has been called the past two years is about Cancer research, and raises money for something that almost everyone has had personal experience with, and rarely ever in that 'right' way.
The big C scared me this year. It tore away my own sense of self empowering, about taking care of me better than anyone else could do, about being my own advocate, and about how to interact with personnel at every level of medical care in a positive way because their days are long, taxing, grueling, and by the end of every single one of them, they're spent and tomorrow will present exactly the same, more of it, more people needing, more people hurting, and few people remembering to say thank you.

People have asked me, since I'm a blogger and have sponsors, how do charity events work for me? It's a fair question and I want to share personally. I always find the .org website. Most of the well known fundraising, medical, etc. type sites have switched away from .com and moved to .org. I pay as Karyn Co.... and safe the receipt. I pass on the receipt with my personal address/phone blacked out to the event coordinator so she can add the tally of USD donations for this year to his or her list, and then I get to work, blogging what you share with me, and loving every moment of it.
Designer Showcase continues into June with all new designs and fun products at beyond fair prices. I just met the brand {ZOZ} last month and it's already become one of my favorite new kids on my block brands. I love places like Designer Showcase and with their help to pain my nails, {ZOZ} for June makes an appearance.
The hair designer >Asset< is really growing on me -- get it? Bad pun. Past my bed time. The thing is, I've worked with a couple of budding hair stylists and they had different margins of success. I have not found one yet that I couldn't use somehow and each time I get something new from the store, I think the skill putting together the hair has improved and makes it more useful to me as a blog model. If you don't know >Asset<, they may be a well kept secret but one you should check out!

Due to the fact that my brain has holes in it like swiss cheese, I have some of the oddest combinations of pieces saved in inventory. It's my own wild chaotic way of staying organized. Yesterday I cleared out 20,000+ pieces of inventory to make room for Fall/Winter 2013 and Spring/Summer 2014. Everything else was so yesterday! While I was opening folders and tossing, I found a buncha heels from M&M's, multiple colors, and put on a pair for this blog. I don't think it's the sort of M&M's that melt in your mouth, not in your hand, but heels that you'll enjoy with every sort of favorite pants set or dress.

How can I possibly thank those who make this blog possible often enough? I'm always so grateful:

Featuring from Designer Showcase June {ZOZ} Dark Spring Silver Polish Nail Appliers

Featuring >Asset< Love Letter

Featuring from Fashion for Life [Wild Serenity] Exclusive Gilded Blush Filigree

Featuring M&M Brooke Heels

1. Moondance Boutique Jewels Gaia

2. Kyxe Skins & Shapes: Pearl Skin Tone

-- Romance Lipsticks Rose

-- Candy Eyeshadow Lagoon

3. SLink: Elegant1 Hands

-- Mid High Feet

4. MG: Inverted Crown

5. KMADD/Moda: Mesh Eyes

6. Image Essentials Poses

FASHIONART: Lybra, {NanTra}, HOLLYHOOD, !Fabouzz, Frogstar, M&M, *~Damesfly*~, NailedIt, DEADPOOL -- !Elemental, Face Paint

Rather than tell you three separate stories tonight, I want to share with you one big story, and show you a whole passel of items that will be available in two days at the FASHIONART Faire by Glamourist.

So many different participants means unique and fun pieces to mix and match. Each photo will attempt to blend several designers in a way that shows them to the best of my ability and enough to tempt you too.

I went and got SLink feet as a part of this process and have three pair of SLink mesh shoes. SLink just released a High version of their bare feet, and designers at this Faire have used both the Mid and the High to create shoes, so as a consumer, you might want to check as you shop, to differentiate between the two.

This outfit from Lybra may be one of my favorite outfits from the whole faire, but to be fair, I haven't tried on everyone's art yet so it's early to be saying favorite. I just thought the concept was fresh. The heart emits particles while the face globe radiates light. The unusual twist of chains makes a pair of angel wings like I've never seen.

All the photos use poses from {NanTra}, a pose creator I did not know prior to this event. I enjoy discovering new creations by new creators!

The angel photos and the photos with the Geko dress show two colors of the same heels from HOLLYHOOD. The emerald heels in the middle series of photos come from M&M Incorporated. I had not worked with either of these designers either.

Because of the beautiful glowing globe, I chose to go bald, completely bald with that outfit. The other two styles come from *~Damesfly*~. Lucas, the short style, has photos of both genders wearing it. The updo blends a bit of elegance but in a way that's easy, loose and summery instead of formal elegance.

I like the line of the Geko dress from DEADPOOL. The collar flips up just enough to be chic. !Fabouzz created the dress with irises, something short, simple and beautiful to wear.
As I shared over the weekend, Face Paint opened it's doors after the owner Eve Express took a hiatus. Two new releases, Breezy and Smoked Beauty 2, accented both outfits with the dresses.
I've also just begun to blog with items from Designer Showcase, and the gorgeous gold jewelry set from !Elemental accented the black Geko dress remarkably.

Accessories are the key to completing any style and the FASHIONART Faire has its share of them. NailedIt created a new set of nails and have them for SLink, as Mesh and also as Prim, so no matter what your preference, it's there.

I'm looking forward to other designers that are new to me as well as familiar faces, so to speak. I'm so glad you paused to read and support this work I truly love!

Set 1: Chains are Wings

Featuring !.Lybra.! Captive Heart from FASHIONART Faire by the Glamourist 

Featuring {NanTra} Kinetic Poses from FASHIONART Faire by The Glamourist

Featuring High Holly Mesh Black Vida Heels from FASHIONART Faire by the Glamourist

Featuring SLink - New High Heels

1. KMADD/Moda: Mesh Eyes

2. Candy Nail: Enishi White

3. Kyxe Skins & Shapes: Latte Skin Tone Make Up 10

4. MG: Lashes Wild Full Thick

Set 2: Irises

Featuring !Fabouzz VG Iris Broken White Dress from FASHIONART Faire by the Glamourist

Featuring Frogstar Pearl Drop Necklace Blue from FASHIONART Faire by the Glamourist

Featuring M&M Incorporated Brooke Heels Autumn Bag Emerald from FASHIONART Faire by the Glamourist

Featuring *~Damesfly*~ Lucas Non-Rigged from FASHIONART Faire by the Glamourist

Featuring Face Paint Breezy

1. Bliensen + MaiTai SLink Nail Applier Flowers

2. SLink Elegant 1 Hands

3. SLink Mid High Feet

4. Gaeline Mesh Lashes: Magnifica

5. Kyxe Skins & Shapes: Orchid

-- Innocence - Subtle Purple Shadow

6. KMADD/Moda: Mesh Eyes

7. {NanTra} Kinetic Poses from FASHIONART Faire by Glamourist

Set 3: Geko

Featuring Holly Mesh Gold from FASHIONART Faire by Glamourist

Featuring NailedIt SLink from FASHIONART Faire by Glamourist

Featuring DEADPOOL Down Under Art Geko Dress from FASHIONART Faire by Glamourist

Featuring *~DAMESFLY*~ Kalina from FASHIONART Faire by Glamourist

Featuring Face Paint Smoked Beauty 2

Featuring !Elemental Carinna Blue Chalcedony from Designer Showcase

1. [nikitafriede]: Ludic Dreams Lashes

2. Kyxe Skins & Shapes: Blossom Skin Tone

3. SLink: Elegant 1 Hands

4. SLink: High Feet

5. KMADD/Moda: Mesh Eyes

6. {NanTra} Kinetic Poses from FASHIONART Faire by Glamourist

Handle With Care -- Featuring from Easter Market M&M -- Also Featuring EMO-tions

New Easter Market fun from M&M, not the candy but just as delicious! This metallic bodysuit with spikes brought out the 80's rocker chick in me.

EMO-tions released a new color palette that includes fades like the choice shown in this series. All of the colors you've come to love are available just as you knew them, and then there are all new pairings of those colors to create the new looks. Rosa is a mesh style that showcases this new twist at EMO-tions perfectly. I also found a little bauble from EMO-tions, the Addicted ring. I'm fairly sure I'm addicted!

I'm happy to continue to show new releases from Kyxe Skins & Shapes and this eye color comes from the series called Shine. You'll find several new makeup palette options at Kyxe now and more coming soon. If you have special requests, you can jot a note and put your message in Keisha's box, or let me know and I'll pass it on to her lickety-split!

Staple items like eyes and lashes, even the shape I once spent so much time working with to try to get it 'just right' don't always get mentioned but to me, they're always appreciated. Any artist has a certain amount of basic work go into their creations, and I lovingly put those details, with the great mesh eyes collection created by Maddox and the awesome HUD driven mesh lashes from Gaeline into my finished project.

For the fun and flirtatious fittings I had to design this style, I thank you:

Featuring from Easter Market M&M Corset Bronze

Featuring EMO-tions Addicted Ring

Featuring EMO-tions Rosa

1. Bokeh: O.D. Bangles Metallic

2. Face Paint: Nail Art

3. Kyxe Skins & Shapes: Captivate Juicy Lips

4. Kyxe Skins & Shapes: Shine White Lemons Eyes

5. Kyxe Skins & Shapes: Marigold Skin Tone

6. KMADD/Moda: Mesh Eyes

7. Gaeline Mesh Lashes: Mysteria

8. {{BSD Design Studio}}: Djinn Immortal Gold

9. PosESioN: Irish Pose Set

Swiss Cheese 'Eyes' -- TBCF Dulce Secrets, BUB, M&M, Gaall, UNA

I realize lately that I've done a lot of apologizing to people with regard to the side effects of medications I take. These medications make a great difference in how I feel, how much pain I have to manage, and my overall disposition.

Featuring TBCF

-Dulce Secrets Starley.Blanc.Jade Furor (N)

- .::B::U::B::. Bow Dress Hippie (blue)

- Gaall Think Sandals

- M&M Groovy Earrings

- UNA Deer Bag (rare)

1. IKON: Sunrise Eyes Steel Blue Pale

2. Bliss: Zylina

3. [NikitaFriede]: Long Lashes Ludic Drama

4. Candy Nail: Enishi

5. [Mirror's Enigma]: Azuka Light Lips Fruity

6. Kyxe: Devine Shadows Oceans

7. Manifeste Poses

As a young person, I was tempted by others who used drugs illegally and recreationally to do the same. Since I'd already had 16 or 17 years of medications for various things related to the health issues, I could never find logic much less joy in the idea of taking drugs unless a doctor prescribed them.

Featuring TBCF

-Dulce Secrets Starley.Blanc.Jade Furor (N)

- .::B::U::B::. Bow Dress Hippie (blue)

- Gaall Think Sandals

- M&M Groovy Earrings

- UNA Deer Bag (rare)

1. IKON: Sunrise Eyes Steel Blue Pale

2. Bliss: Zylina

3. [NikitaFriede]: Long Lashes Ludic Drama

4. Candy Nail: Enishi

5. [Mirror's Enigma]: Azuka Light Lips Fruity

6. Kyxe: Devine Shadows Oceans

7. Manifeste Poses

I went through my teen years in the 1980s. In the US, an anti-drug campaign ran for a while that powerful impact in my life because I recall it vividly 30 years later. An egg in a hand, "This is your brain." The hand taps the egg, opens it and drops the egg onto a very hot skillet. "This is your brain on drugs.

Featuring TBCF

-Dulce Secrets Starley.Blanc.Jade Furor (N)

- .::B::U::B::. Bow Dress Hippie (blue)

- Gaall Think Sandals

- M&M Groovy Earrings

- UNA Deer Bag (rare)

1. IKON: Sunrise Eyes Steel Blue Pale

2. Bliss: Zylina

3. [NikitaFriede]: Long Lashes Ludic Drama

4. Candy Nail: Enishi

5. [Mirror's Enigma]: Azuka Light Lips Fruity

6. Kyxe: Devine Shadows Oceans

7. Manifeste Poses

All sorts of things affect our memory. Selective amnesia works to some benefit. A woman who bears a first child may live through a traumatic experience. Yet sometime in her future, she may eagerly seek pregnancy and another child. The memory of the trauma disappeared through selective amnesia.

Featuring TBCF

-Dulce Secrets Starley.Blanc.Jade Furor (N)

- .::B::U::B::. Bow Dress Hippie (blue)

- Gaall Think Sandals

- M&M Groovy Earrings

- UNA Deer Bag (rare)

1. IKON: Sunrise Eyes Steel Blue Pale

2. Bliss: Zylina

3. [NikitaFriede]: Long Lashes Ludic Drama

4. Candy Nail: Enishi

5. [Mirror's Enigma]: Azuka Light Lips Fruity

6. Kyxe: Devine Shadows Oceans

7. Manifeste Poses

Losing pieces of my memory frustrates me, and it's an ongoing thing. I tease lightheartedly about it rather than letting it beat me. Some have likely heard me compare my brain and my ability to recall things to Swiss cheese. My thoughts, memories and ability to express self have holes like that cheese.

Featuring TBCF

-Dulce Secrets Starley.Blanc.Jade Furor (N)

- .::B::U::B::. Bow Dress Hippie (blue)

- Gaall Think Sandals

- M&M Groovy Earrings

- UNA Deer Bag (rare)

1. IKON: Sunrise Eyes Steel Blue Pale

2. Bliss: Zylina

3. [NikitaFriede]: Long Lashes Ludic Drama

4. Candy Nail: Enishi

5. [Mirror's Enigma]: Azuka Light Lips Fruity

6. Kyxe: Devine Shadows Oceans

7. Manifeste Poses

What I didn't know till recently, the more holes Swiss cheese has, the more flavor it possesses. Instead of trying to figure out ways to reduce the empty space, scientists worked with cheese makers to discover ways to increase the empty space. Maybe my holes in my brain add to my personality and value rather than take away from it. I just needed to see things from a different point of view.