Have you ever wondered what AI thinks you could do to improve your Second Life face? I uploaded two photos to ChatGPT, front facing and profile, and asked what I could do to make my avatar’s face better. Surprisingly, it said my face was nearly perfect, but that my eyes were too big. Omg, were my eyes too big?
It actually gave me some helpful tips, so I nudged the sliders a bit here and there. One of the things I’ve always been concerned about is my profile. It has to be great. ChatGPT suggested making my chin protrude a little more and my lips protrude a little less.
Another critique ChatGPT had for me was that my usual lashes were too glam, too full. I dialed it back with a new set of wispy lashes, but I don’t think I care about that critique. I love thick full lashes!
This new Twirl hairstyle from Truth Collective is so sweet. It’s a relaxed style with a low ponytail. I’m always super excited when I see a hair from Litterbug, Truth’s real life daughter. She might be the youngest hair creator in SL right now? And her side gig is making real life money, probably better than most experienced creators. When your father is one of the best… it’s expected. I’m glad the hair legacy continues.
I also tried on the new Halcyon Maxi and Shorts from Tres Blah, and purposely picked the print that reminds me of porcelain plates. I love it. This delicate print is perfect for lounging around the house. Even though we’re heading into summer, I decided to dial back my skin tone from 004 back to 003, a lighter tone that reminds me of a porcelain doll too.
Do you play around with your style and change it up now and then? I like to bounce around between 2-3 skin tones and blondes or brunette. Let me know in the comments!
Anthology event announced that May will be the last round. This is the only event that I’m a blogger for, so it feels kind of sad seeing it end after two years. But honestly, I also think there are too many events on the grid, so losing one is probably healthy overall for the Second Life economy.
Events create this rushed mentality for both creators and consumers. Before I even get a chance to unpack and show you my latest outfit, it’s already three releases old from the same creator. Now it feels dated, it’s no longer at whatever event it launched at, and I don’t even know if it made it to the main store. Events are not that great for bloggers.
My blog posts sell items long after I post them. Years later, people still find old blog posts and go shopping. That’s why event blogging has always felt weird to me, because the content expires so fast. I’ve always been hesitant to sign up for event blogging because I don’t actually want to feel obligated to blog anything. Anthology was super nice about it though. You just blogged a few items per round and could pretty much blog whatever you wanted. Blogger’s choice.
Even though I still blog fashion, I also want to blog about so many other things in SL. That’s why I don’t really sign up to officially blog for a lot of brands or events. If I’m only blogging, on average, once a week, I don’t want my content dominated by one thing. I’m too scattered for that.
So I guess this post is really just to say that Anthology will be missed, at least by me. It was me dipping my toes into event blogging and realizing I probably couldn’t handle a massive event with super strict blogging rules.
Anyway, don’t ask me why I decided to shoot these photos in the dark. Then I realized you couldn’t even see my shoes, so I had to go back and change the EEP light settings.
I love loafers, and these are the Elaine Shoes by Arltos at Anthology. I don’t know how long Arltos has been around, but I only really started noticing them fairly recently, maybe within the past two years? I wear low heels, loafers, flats, sandals, and sneakers. I’m not a fan of sky high shoes. They look uncomfortable, even on virtual feet.
In honor of Fantasy Faire, I typed in “wand” into my inventory and found this fabulous Unicorn Magic Wand from Insomnia Angel. I have no memory of ever getting this, so that means one of my friends probably gifted it to me because it was a gacha item.
And what does one wear with a wand? A crown, obviously. I pulled out Fairie Queen by Sparkle Skye, which has always been a favorite of mine. I should wear crowns like this all the time, because why not. I’m also wearing the Caroline Gown from Just Because, one of my recent favorite gown makers. The pricing is fair, it’s sold by body type, and this gown has a shiny PBR finish that really works here. You could style it futuristic or regal, the choice is yours. Back in the day, girls used to run all over the grid in full flexi ball gowns like it was casual attire. Shopping, dancing, standing around somewhere. We need to bring that back.
Now let’s talk about Fantasy Faire. I go every year, usually for Jail & Bail with Patch Linden or the Silent and Live Auction during the last few days of the event where I like to bid on Linden-sponsored items. Because of that, Fantasy Faire to me has always felt like a Linden-endorsed event.
That is why all this AI drama looks so bad. Last year, I watched a resident get bullied by Fantasy Faire designers and maybe others too for using AI to enhance photos. I’m not even sure they were an official blogger. They may have just been a regular resident who got piled on so badly they removed a lot of photos from Flickr. Fantasy Faire organizers said nothing discouraging the bullying. That was a bad look, especially for a charity event benefiting the American Cancer Society.
Previously, Fantasy Faire allowed AI use for designers in certain ways, while banning bloggers from using it. Designers could reportedly use it for marketing or decorations as long as it was not being sold. This year they changed the rules again and moved toward banning AI entirely, even for things not for sale.
Then came the DRD situation. According to DRD, they were privately given the green light by organizer Elizabeth Tinsley to use AI posters around their region build. Then later another staff member came through putting up red boxes to mark items for review or removal before opening. Things escalated, and DRD says they felt publicly shamed and harassed.
If that is true, then the problem is not AI. The problem is how this was handled. You cannot privately approve something, then publicly crack down on it later and expect no reaction. Any designer would be upset.
In my opinion, the aggressive anti-AI stance has no place in a charity event, and the selective enforcement looks even worse. AI is a tool. Whether people personally like it or hate it, using it is not against Linden Lab’s Terms of Service. Treating residents like they did something terrible over it is unnecessary.
Fantasy Faire should be about creativity, fundraising, shopping, and fun. Instead it keeps becoming drama over technology. They should release a public statement, explain what happened, and maybe apologize where needed. They also need one clear rule for everybody. Not one rule privately, another publicly, and something else depending on who you are.
They picked the wrong battle, and now it shows.
DRD Statement from their Discord server
We had something special planned for Fantasy Faire this year: our return after 10 years, with a brand-new region and a follow-up story to San Mora.
What should have been an exciting return took a very different turn in the final days. What started as a discussion around AI use escalated **far beyond that**. We were transparent from the beginning and had shown what we were doing early on, with approval to move forward, but 2 days before opening the situation shifted, and how it was handled crossed a line for us.
It escalated into repeated public shaming using hundreds of red glowing prim markers pointing out anything and everything, it reached a point of bullying.
Eventually the entire build was covered in nearly a thousand Fantasy Faire posters. **There’s nothing left of what we created.**
We literally filled the region with Orwell quotes about censorship and authoritarian control and now we’re being silenced and erased in real time. The irony is not lost on us.
This was no longer about being anti-AI or pro-AI. Everyone is entitled to their own stance on that, and we respect differing opinions. What this became about was how poorly the situation was handled.
Things have really changed in 10 years.** It no longer felt like a Faire for charity… it became a protest against AI.**
__We weren’t even allowed to set up RFL vendors to sell our build__ , meaning we were not allowed to raise money for RFL.(?)
It no longer felt like something we wanted to be part of.
We donated the sim to FF to do with it what they wish and to remove the name Reservoir Zero, because that is NOT Reservoir Zero.
**We made the decision to step away completely**. We’re not going to compromise our work or vision just to fit in.
**So here’s what we’re doing instead:**
We’re moving the full, uncensored version of Reservoir Zero to our own sim.
This summer, it will become the **full apocalyptic experience** we originally planned… a proper continuation of the story.
For now, we’ve already started setting things up there together with a few amazing merchants, and we’ll be hosting our own Relay For Life charity event and party very soon.
We’re sorry for the sudden change and any disappointment. **This wasn’t how we wanted our return after all these years to go.**
But we’re looking forward to showing you the version of Reservoir Zero that actually reflects what we built.
Thank you to everyone who reached out and had our back, it meant a lot.
Even though many brands in Second Life create amazing products, the way they treat customers can leave a sour taste in your mouth. When that happens, it makes you think twice about spending money with them again.
I’ve encountered more than a few brands I’ve supported that ignore simple customer service issues, like refunding a double purchase or answering a basic question. I’m sure most of us have experienced being completely ignored by a store owner or customer service rep. Some people know how to create great things in Second Life, but they never learn how to build loyalty.
On the other hand, the brands that go out of their way to be kind and helpful earn my support for years.
One example is Everfaery. Every time I’ve had a question or needed help, they’ve responded in a way that was even nicer than expected. Honestly, the fact that they respond at all already puts them ahead of many brands. Recently, I asked a question on Flickr and got a quick reply. That reminded me they also give L$50 monthly store credit to group members. On top of that, creator Fever Fae is incredibly talented, making clothing, hair, shoes, décor, and more. She has range, and she’s had staying power in SL for years.
Another brand that consistently treats customers well is Izzie’s. I’ve said it before, but it’s true. A few days ago, I saw their Nail Beds set and thought, “I didn’t even know I needed that.” Now I can’t imagine not having it. It adds another layer of realism, and I appreciate creators who think of those details. Plus, Izzie Button has always come across as genuinely kind.
Then there’s Truth. Creator Truth Hawks regularly gives gifts to the VIP group and runs solid sales throughout the year. I’ve also been a Truth hair blogger for years, and their relationship with bloggers has always seemed professional and respectful. That kind of relationship-building is one reason some brands last so long in Second Life.
My list of brands doing it right is actually pretty long. There are many wonderful creators in SL. But when a brand ghosts me after I’ve supported them, I remember it. I’m too classy to name names, but you know the type. We’ve all encountered them.
There’s one brand where I used to buy every fatpack. Now? Maybe I’ll grab a single item during a weekend sale and spend the equivalent of a real-life quarter. Why reward bad customer service with full-price loyalty?
At the end of the day, customer service matters. Talent may get people through the door, but kindness and reliability keep them coming back.
If there are any brands you love that treat customers right, let me know in the comments!
I was so excited to go to the Gaeta 1 / Zindra Town Hall, and I ended up leaving that meeting feeling disappointed.
First of all, I didn’t want to say this, but I will. The Town Hall could have been planned so much better. Dear Lindens, please make a question submission form, collect questions throughout the week, then choose the most informative ones to answer live. Letting everyone ask questions in local chat was complete chaos, and a lot of people couldn’t stay on topic. I was also surprised it was entirely handled through chat. You know that meme that says, this could have been an email? Yeah. That.
This meeting could have been genuinely informative if they had come in with a clear list of answers, explained exactly what residents need to know, then saved the last 15 minutes for open Q&A. Why that didn’t happen is anybody’s guess. Sometimes these meetings feel like Linden employees struggle with creating an agenda and sticking to it.
I was also disappointed to learn that residents who bought in on April 15 or after the expansion blog post went live seem to be treated like second class citizens. The relocation process should not prioritize only the biggest landowners or the people who have held land there the longest.
If I were managing this move, I would contact every current landowner, I think they said there were around 349, and ask two simple questions:
Do you want to move to New Zindra?
Can you move now?
If the answer is yes to both, put those residents at the top of the migration list and start moving them immediately. The people with more complex requests, unusual parcel needs, or plans to relocate elsewhere can be handled afterward.
Residents who are ready now should be first in line. Tier doesn’t stop while people sit in limbo, and it would be nice if Linden Lab remembered that.
I hope this whole thing wraps up within weeks. If the new continent is ready to go, I’m ready to move too.
And now onto what I’m wearing, because even when it isn’t a fashion post, it somehow becomes one.
Another round of Anthology just opened, and this shimmery dress is the Artemis Dress by Madame Noir. This dress is an example of when PBR is done so well it creates reflections and highlights correctly. With this outfit, I needed to find a place to serve as the backdrop for my photo. I opened the Destinations menu in-world looking for a music venue, and somehow ended up outside an 80s movie theater. I love The Breakfast Club, so naturally I had to take the picture in front of the poster.
Even though I rezzed in Second Life in 2006, the first 13 years of my SLife were spent on private regions. I bought my first region in my first year, so mainland was never something I paid much attention to. I didn’t even get Premium until I got my first Bellisseria home on April 15, 2019. Ever since then, I’ve been buying mainland here and there, holding snow land, bidding on auctions trying to get beach land, all of it. I love land. I don’t always love mainland chaos, but I love nice waterfront land enough to keep dealing with it.
So when I read the post about Gaeta 1 closing, I’m not even going to lie, my first thought was where the hell is Gaeta 1? Then I kept reading and saw they’re offering size for size replacement parcels and will work with owners to find something comparable. The second I read that, I went straight over there and bought land.
Gaeta 1 continent in Second Life
If owning land there is my ticket into the new Zindra continent, then I bought my ticket and I’m ready to move.
There’s a town hall Monday, April 20 at 11am SLT, so I’m hoping they give real details then. For residents like me that can move instantly, I hope Linden Lab lets us rush in and claim spots first. I’m not going to waste anyone’s time going back and forth for weeks. Just give me what was promised, a comparable parcel. Every piece of land I bought on Gaeta 1 is waterfront, so yes, I expect waterfront back.
What makes this fun for me is I remember when Bay City launched, and I remember Horizons too, but I wasn’t Premium back then. Now I am, and I am readyyyyyyyy.
The Adult land part does not bother me at all. I’m an adult. I also don’t think everyone is about to throw up sex clubs all over the ground. I think a lot of people will do homes, gardens, cute builds, and nice parcels like anywhere else. What I do hope for is some kind of covenant. No ugly visible ban lines, no giant prim walls killing views, no trash in the sky. Let’s start this continent off right.
This is not a fashion post, but I still need to say go get the new Margot tee from ISON. I wasn’t even going to buy it until I saw they were giving a free print HUD with any color pack. The prints are cute, it got me immediately, and now I own it.
I’ve officially given up on cleaning my inventory. Easter hunts completely wrecked it, and I’m done wasting time trying to fix it. I’m sitting at 106k today, which… I wish was lower, but at this point I don’t even know what to delete anymore.
I did a little shopping this weekend and it made me realize how much I appreciate brands that release a proper pair of pants. I love ISON for that. Most of their stuff actually covers everything and still feels really classy. I can’t even remember which event I picked up these Maisie Corduroy Trousers from, but they’re really good.
Normally I’m very basic. I just wear whatever the newest release is that everyone else is wearing that weekend. But this time I decided to dig deeper into my inventory and put something together that probably nobody else is wearing right now. I remembered this amazing fur coat from Dami, an old gacha from forever ago. The whole outfit ended up being a mix of old and new, plus a few freebies thrown in.
I think I like Gogo as a blonde, but it’s getting harder when some hair brands just don’t do good blonde textures anymore. I don’t know what happened to Stealthic, but the blondes just aren’t hitting like they used to. It didn’t work for this look at all, so I switched to a light brown instead. This hair was supposed to be part of Fifty Linden Friday, but I still ended up paying like L$199 because I needed the full pack just to change the style. Not really a sale if you can’t even use the features, right?
Overall I’m feeling a little burnt out with my inventory, and honestly with where clothing is at in Second Life right now. It feels like we’ve hit a bit of a standstill. I should already have everything I want and need at this point. And yet… I still keep buying things. I guess I’m doing my part to keep the economy going.
Let’s talk a bit more about the new Ridgewood Enclave Commercial shops.
It’s clear that Second Life is still learning and refining things as they go. Since launch just a few weeks ago, we’ve already seen several covenant revisions, likely to better serve residents and clarify expectations. Personally, I’m fine with the rules as they stand, and I plan to keep my current shop long term. I’m Premium Plus Lifetime, after all. I’m not going anywhere.
When I first blogged about these shops two weeks ago, I was settled in a different region with my friends. We hadn’t planned to move. These shops are always in high demand, and being together matters most to us. But when new regions released last week, an opportunity came up, so we decided to move together. We abandoned our shops and claimed new ones at Plaza Mercantile.
I couldn’t be happier. We’re together again, and this time the region has a central pool and plenty of parking, which makes it feel even more complete.
My EEP Shop @ Plaza Mercantile
I don’t have huge commercial ambitions, but I do enjoy having a shop in Second Life. For me, it’s less about business and more about shared experiences with friends. Right now, that experience just happens to be setting up our shops together. From the start, I knew that our enjoyment would depend on clustering near each other so we can promote and support one another. Unlike Linden Homes, where location can be everything, Linden Shops feel more about community than coordinates. That said, I still wanted both. Great neighbors and a beautiful location. I feel like I’ve found that here, and I don’t plan to move again unless a new theme is released.
Tonight, I spent far too long learning how to properly drive and park my cars in front of the shop just to get photos. The 30 minute auto return is honestly a bit tight. My car kept disappearing before I could even take a picture. Still, I love the idea of being able to park outside. It adds so much life to the region.
My JuicyBomb Shop HQ @ PLaza Mercantile
Even with the current demand, I don’t think Second Life should overdo it with these shops. Yes, they’re incredibly appealing, especially since they’re free with Premium Plus, but part of what makes them special is their scarcity. If there are too many, it risks turning into a sea of empty storefronts, and no one wants to be in a dead mall.
Right now, my region feels active and lively, partly because I’m blogging and sharing it on social media. But maintaining that energy across many regions is another challenge entirely. The Lindens and Moles will likely have their hands full enforcing the covenant, so they’ll need to balance expansion with sustainability.
One last thought. I still think these shops should be placed a bit farther from residential areas. Not everyone wants the glow of a neon storefront outside their bedroom window.
It’s already been a year since Glam Affair collaborated with Not Found to create the Ethereal Essence body skins. I tried wearing it for a while back then, but the shine was a bit too much for me, and I couldn’t get past my initial impressions. I ended up switching to Session Athena body skins, which I still love. That said, I’ve been wanting to go back to Ethereal Essence because the tones match my face skin perfectly without any blending or adjustments. I really wish Session would release something in those tones because they work so well together.
Anyway, onto this new body skin. I say this every time, but did I need another one? No. Did I want one that was actually made to match my face skin perfectly? Yes. I tried on the new Idol body skins from Ethereal Essence and the first thing I noticed was the reduced shine. There’s still some shine around the collarbones and shoulders, but the torso looks so much better now. This body skin also comes with several add on options to adjust or enhance the navel, vagina, cleavage, bone definition, thigh folds, and more. Overall, I’m really happy with both the options and how it looks. I would still add a few of Izzie’s tattoos that I like, such as body veins, foot tendons, and other small details that most people probably will not notice, but I will.
If you’re wearing Glam tones in the 001 to 020 range, definitely check out the new Ethereal Essence body skin because it is a perfect match.
Also don’t miss the Ethereal Beauty Hunt from March 29 to April 12. To celebrate the launch of the Idol body skin line, a few brands are doing free hunts for skins and cosmetics. There is a really nice Glam Affair skin available for free. I’m wearing the lipstick from the Linny gift skin in this post. You can get all 20 tones, you just have to find the gifts hidden around the Glam Affair store.
I was playing around with the Solaris glow in ReShade the other day when it hit me that I can already do this in the Aperture Viewer. This is still my favorite viewer right now, but it looks like the creator’s stepped away from the project since last year, which is really sad. It feels like every third party viewer I end up liking either doesn’t get updated enough or just gets abandoned completely.
This post isn’t about TPVs though, I just needed to say that.
You might’ve heard about the newly released Ridgewood Enclave Commercial shops, or maybe you haven’t. Even when something’s “big news” to some people, most Second Life residents stay in their own bubble and don’t follow updates or read blogs. And that’s fine. A lot of people just want to log in and play Second Life at their own pace.
I’m not one of those people, especially when it comes to Bellisseria.
Last week in the middle of the day, my friend messaged me saying “omg, shops dropped!” We’d been waiting for these for months after the Lindens hinted at them during a land meeting. Even though I already knew I really don’t like the Ridgewood Enclave home theme, I still opened the map, teleported, and claimed a shop.
My Shop
It’s free for Premium Plus, doesn’t count against your tier or your Linden Home, so you really do get to have everything here.
I’m not going to complain about a free perk. The experience has been nice so far. I ended up on a full block with friends because we all rushed over at the same time and grabbed one.
Some people are upset that they didn’t get one, or that the Bellisseria Citizens group heard about it before the official blog post went out. It sounds like it was shared a couple of hours earlier. But honestly, that’s just how things go sometimes. If you’re in the group and paying attention, you’re going to hear things sooner. If you find out later, then unfortunately on a limited release, it’ll be sold out.
There will be more shops. Probably Monday, based on what was said at the land meeting today.
Even though it’s been less than a week, residents are already creating events and websites around the new shops. I’d barely started moving in before I was getting messages asking me to pay for advertising or join groups to promote my shop. No thanks. I don’t want to advertise anything. I just want a quiet little shop. I’m a Lifetime Premium Plus member and I’m just enjoying the perk.
I also think Linden Lab shouldn’t make too many of these. I know the demand is high right now, but the number of shops should stay small compared to homes. If there are too many, Bellisseria starts to feel less like a place to live and more like a mall.
Sparkle’s Shop, the prettiest
When something’s limited, people get weird about it. Sometimes ugly. Or maybe some people just aren’t used to how Bellisseria works yet. If I had to describe it in two words, it would be “sold out.” And that’s not a bad thing.
Some themes are always sold out, and that’s fine. It’s better than being undesirable. We’ve already seen what happens when there are too many. Chalets, Fantasy, Log Homes, Houseboats. They were all in high demand at one point. Now there are more than people want.
We don’t need everything all at once. People move on, and when they do, the community around something new fades too. It’s better to let something stay a little rare.
Also, we don’t need to overcomplicate how people use these shops. If someone wants to pretend to sell virtual coffee, let them. Commercial doesn’t have to mean serious business. We’re all already paying customers anyway, no one deserves a shop more than others.
“Your shop, your way” feels like the right idea. With some rules, just not a million of them.
At the end of the day, this is supposed to be fun.
