Featuring [[Masoom]], h.m.a.e.m., Italian Style Shoes and also Featuring Gizza, Cae, (lime) from J&A Expo

I tried to watch the new version of Sound of Music this evening as I worked with photos and blogs and all that I enjoy.

I'm not sure I understand the race to do remakes. I love Carrie Underwood. Yet I kept thinking of Julie Andrews and missed her instead of enjoying the redo.

Surely all the stories in the world have not yet been written. If we were all out of stories to tell, would we not be out of life too?

I would prefer to see new stories. New movies. New plays. New musicals. During the commercial break, I also noticed that Disney debuts another remake for the Christmas holiday season.

It's another Julie Andrews film. The original was called Mary Poppins. The new film is called Saving Mr. Banks. He's the man who said, "Kindly do not allow the issues to cloud the facts." Mr. Banks that is.

Maybe all of history comes with makes and remakes and remakes of remakes. I imagine in another hundred years, they'll be saying the same thing. Carrie Underwood sang beautifully.

I often here in our shared world that copying is a form of flattery. Sometimes I think it's a shortcut and doesn't really save time. It's just one opinion.

Featuring GizzA Peacock Necklace Coral Chain Gold and Soil Gold from J&A Expo

Featuring Cae Princess Solitaire Set - Earrings and Necklace from J&A Expo

Featuring (lime) Gold and Diamond Watch from J&A Expo

Also Featuring [[Masoom]] Sexy Salma Dress from Peace On Earth Hunt 6

Also Featuring h.m.a.e.m. Essenziale Collection The Nini Hat

Also Featuring Italian Style Shoes Passion Innuendo

1. Kyxe Skins & Shapes

-- Orchid Skintone

-- Apple Blossoms With Gloss

2. MADesigns: Eyes Confidence - Pine Fresh

3. Face Paint: Metallic Shine Green

4. Gaeline Mesh Lashes: Mysteria

5. Bliss: Mandy

6. pulcino: Reyukken

7. Manifeste Poses

Stepping Into New Waters -- Featuring Liv-Glam, [[Masoom]] and Hairoin

Life changes and that's a good thing. It makes get out of the ruts of familiarity and comforts we design for ourselves. This week, Eve Express at Face Paint announced that Face Paint was closing at the end of this month. My entire model career has occurred with Eve as a mentor, friend, boss and sometimes 'mom'.

Featuring [[Masoom]] Sheela Top - Devil

Featuring Hairoin: Kenzie

1. IKON: Sunrise Eyes Steel Blue Pale

2. Pulcino: Reyukken

3. Noya: Chrystal Platinum Female

4. [Mirror's Enigma]: Megumi Skinny Jeans

5. Viviane Fashion: No4 Pink

6. Face Paint: Copper Bangles

7. Cute Poison: End of the World Necklace

8. Gaeline Mesh Lashes: Divina

So it's time to seek out new territory to explore and learn something new. My passion for a while has been photography in Second Life. I had a very old laptop for a long time, and about a month ago, I got an Alienware. It does graphics and shadows and things I never knew were even on the screen in Second Life.

Featuring [[Masoom]] Sheela Top - Devil

Featuring Hairoin: Kenzie

1. IKON: Sunrise Eyes Steel Blue Pale

2. Pulcino: Reyukken

3. Noya: Chrystal Platinum Female

4. [Mirror's Enigma]: Megumi Skinny Jeans

5. Viviane Fashion: No4 Pink

6. Face Paint: Copper Bangles

7. Cute Poison: End of the World Necklace

8. Gaeline Mesh Lashes: Divina

I scroll back to photos I took previous to my new computer and I realize how little I had to work with considering all the fascinating props and tools Second Life gives us. I take photos with several different windlight settings, like this one and the one under this sentence.

Featuring [[Masoom]] Sheela Top - Devil

Featuring Hairoin: Kenzie

1. IKON: Sunrise Eyes Steel Blue Pale

2. Pulcino: Reyukken

3. Noya: Chrystal Platinum Female

4. [Mirror's Enigma]: Megumi Skinny Jeans

5. Viviane Fashion: No4 Pink

6. Face Paint: Copper Bangles

7. Cute Poison: End of the World Necklace

8. Gaeline Mesh Lashes: Divina

I do this just to see what happens. It's like looking for the prize at the bottom of a Cracker Jack box. I never quite know what will happen when I push <this> button. Eventually I imagine I'll get used to some of the settings and it won't be such a huge surprise, but I know it will still be a joy.

Featuring Liv-Glam Gone To California

1. IKON: Sunrise Eyes Steel Blue Pale

2. Sexy Mama's Sculpted Nails

3. [Mirror's Enigma]: Sapphire Tan Skintone

4. Bird Next Door: Ethnik Bangles

5. Moonshadow: Flower Season

6. Hairoin: Insidious

I've begun to take photos of friends. I'd like to take more photos as time passes, and work with a number of subjects so I can learn as I go. If you're interested in posing and letting me play, I won't charge anything. I would just treasure your time. If you had interest in the photos, you can have them for the price of the upload or I can send them to you via Email so you upload them yourself.

Featuring Liv-Glam Gone To California

1. IKON: Sunrise Eyes Steel Blue Pale

2. Sexy Mama's Sculpted Nails

3. [Mirror's Enigma]: Sapphire Tan Skintone

4. Bird Next Door: Ethnik Bangles

5. Moonshadow: Flower Season

6. Hairoin: Insidious

I only caution you to realize that I'm not a professional photographer. I want to expand my abilities as a photographer, but that takes time and practice. If you're looking for something special, there are countless amazing SL photographers whom I'd recommend you to hire. If you're content to work with a novice, please contact me. Add me. I have a caryn Ashdene blog, flickr, SL and Facebook account.

News Flash: Remember This Is Supposed To Be FUN!!

I don't know about each of you out there across the world, but I spend a lot of time online. I have my reasons and everyone else has theirs. We turn to the world online for many reasons: company, intrigue, relationships, games, interaction and so much more. I come online to feel the world around me at my fingertips.

My Second Life fulfills me and makes me smile. I enjoy the challenge of business and the business of pleasure. I like connecting to all sorts of people in all sorts of corners of the world. Some of the modeling groups I watch have a lively banter from time to time, and it only adds to the joy of belonging to that group.

Last night, one of those groups was actively jabbering about this and that, and one of the members mentioned having a gift but it was only for naughty girls. I said, "I can be naughty!" Though I think there were a few scoffs. If people only knew how naughty, but never mind. I like that you think I'm pure. That's what the name Caryn means. Pure!

This little gift arrived in my inbox and I opened it to find this enormous afro. I loved it. It reminded me of things in my childhood. I was age 2-11 in the 1970's so I experienced big hair and bell bottom pants from a little girl's point of view. And the hair did look BIGGG to me, and other things were so sparkly, so loud, so vivid. I was so thankful for the gift. It made me laugh.

My friends and acquaintances share different difficult stories with me regarding the effort and energy they devote to Second Life.  Only one person can win a contest, so that leaves 30 or 100 who did not win. The gift of hair, a gift meant to inspire humor, made me laugh and reminded me that this thing we all do in Second Life is supposed to be fun. If you put this much of your heart and life into something, I encourage you to remember to laugh sometimes and have fun.

Featured KL Couture Opium Luxe Sandals Silver For Shoe Fair
Featured Zanze Larissa
Special and fun feature - BeReal - a gift for 'naughty girls' - or so they said!!
1. Poetic Color: Hot Mocca
2. WoW: Diva Lashes
3. Face Paint: Sunkissed
4. Pulcino: Joulutorttu
5. Liv-Glam: Amelie Bronze
6. Soo*FooL Maum Set

7. Taken on location at Image Essentials

Trying On Different Hats -- Featuring Dot-Be Fashion, {{BSD Design Studio}} and Chop Zuey

The world online exposes us to so many options that might otherwise never exist in our life off line. For some, it is because they live in a rural part of the world that simply does not have an array of entertainment options and for others, like me, their health does not permit outings and experiences that look and sound enticing.

I've played a little bit of every character in Second Life and explored it since March of 2005 when my first Caryn character entered this virtual world of many opportunities, and many hats. One day I was an official Second Life Mentor, the next I was helping to manage an island called Nage Prime. Each time I tried something new, it reminded me of the saying about trying on different hats.

In the southern region of the United States (and likely other places as well) when someone is graduating high school or college, they're often encouraged to try on different hats until they find the most fitting career choice. I put on {{BSD Design Studio}}'s hat, sold at the Hair Fair right now, and realized this new look with Dot-Be Fashion's very casual top and the accessories including one of Chop Zuey's always amazing and generous gifts created an image that was very new to me. I ended up trying on a new hat, both figuratively and literally.

Featuring Dot-Be Fashion Unisex Rolled Sleeve Shirt
Featuring Chop Zuey Spangles Ring
Featuring {{BSD Design Studio}} Bandana from Hair Fair
1. EMO-tions: Anna
2. Poetic Color: Autum Colors - Storm
3. Face Paint: Marie
4. Pulcino Nails: Reyukken
5. Mirror's Enigma: Nixie Light Skintone
6. Ben's Beauty: Always Earrings
7. Miamai: Pink Catwalk Lashes

8. Boho HoBo: Bohemian Punk Mesh Jeans

New from the House of Eliot, Exclusive Liv-Glam at Designer Showcase, EMO-tions and Chop Zuey

I've had the most thrilling week this week in Second Life despite some overwhelming challenges off line. I know that we often say 'real life comes first' but sometimes the real life that has to come first is just ick. I love the dichotomy of two worlds, one online and one off. I like when both are in harmony and if one gets out of balance, it's tough to get everything important back in balance.

EMO-tions released four different hair choices with an Oriental theme. This Yuki is the third out of four that I've shown you. If only my hair would look like this again off line, but in my case, I began growing silver hair at 24 and it's been getting more and more so over the years.

The fourth of EMO-tions Oriental looks is Suri, shown above with the purple gown. It's one of those messy styles with twists and braids and chop sticks holding it together that takes hours to look this good. Messy is more difficult than a perfect coif.

I met Virlay this week while I was exploring her new store, The House of Eliot. She had a free gown out called the Gypsy gown and since I'd never tried any of her designs, a free gift item was a good way to go. You'll see one of the clever gifts given in the 12 days of Christmas countdown from Chop Zuey paired with this look, the Venetian Honey Set.

While I was there, she showed me some new items she had yet to put out for sale including a massive number of colored beads/pearls and stunningly crafted eyes. I know with her success on the runway and her reputation earned through hard work, she'll have a great customer base and competitive items for sale in a market that makes fame and fortune a challenge for anyone.

I write the blog for Liv-Glam, something relevant for every single item released from furniture to skins to jewelry to clothing. I pick a few of the items to bring into my blog here because I love styling as much as I love writing about well designed art. This Munier Jacket dress definitely shows the classy talent of Liv-Glam designers.

And at the moment, this particular item is available at the Designer Showcase. There are 6 items from Liv-Glam designers at the Designer Showcase in all, 3 that are Liv-Glam and 3 that are from the new designer K-Collection. It's an array of beauty at a price you'll find easily affordable.


Featured House of Eliot Gypsy Gown
Featured EMO-tions Suri
Featured Chop Zuey Venetian Honey Set
1. Custom Shape
2. Shiva Skin: Riria 002
3. Poetic Eyes: Oriental Pearl
4. Face Paint: Deadly Purple
5. Gaeline Mesh Lashes: Divina
6. [SHOCK] Starshine Glitter Nails
7. N-Core: Caresse Silver

Featured Liv-Glam Munier Jacket
Featured EMO-tions Yuki
1. Custom Shape
2. Mirror's Enigma Native Natural Skin
3. Poetic Eyes: Hot Mocca
4. Face Paint: Kitty Cat Storm
5. Liv-Glam Sculpted Lashes
6. Pulcino: Joulutorttu Red
7. Stella: Shanti Knee Boots
8. Curiosity: Vintage Heirloom Necklace
9. Demise of Flight Wallflower

PMVH - Update from Pulcino - Nails

In a previous post, one of the items worn was the lovely Valentine nails provided by pulcino as part of the PMVH event.

The smaller photo below shows the nails but also some prims that rezzed incorrectly. I don't know if Second Life or the user (me) did something wonky, but as soon as I realized the image made it unclear what pulcino offered for this hunt, I wanted to offer you a close up photo to help.