Most people know this iconic line from Gone with the Wind, but have they actually sat through all four hours of the movie? If you haven’t, you should at least once. Scarlett O’Hara isn’t exactly likable, but she was a survivor, and that’s probably why she’s remained such a memorable character all these years later.
I recently rewatched Gone with the Wind to get in the mood for photographing my current obsession from this round of The Arcade.
My friends were absolutely gushing over the Monique dress from PurpleMoon, and of course we all wanted the rare Floral version. With the right styling, it looks like something Scarlett herself might have worn while dramatically descending a staircase at Tara. As you all know, I have a weakness for period-inspired fashion, so even though the print does remind me a little bit of a floral sofa, I was willing to overlook that minor detail. The gloves are a lovely touch, and I’m even wearing the matching heels underneath the dress, though you can’t see them in these photos.
I normally don’t pay much attention to gacha these days, but once in a blue moon I’ll keep playing until I get exactly what I want.
Speaking of that famous line, let’s circle back to it for a moment.
The thing amusing me this week is watching some designers encourage other creators to drop support for LaraX, while also suggesting customers should simply switch bodies instead.
This dress is made for LaraX. I bought it because it’s made for LaraX. If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t have.
I’ve never switched mesh bodies just to wear a particular outfit, and I probably never will. If something isn’t made for the body I’m using, I move on. There is so much talent in Second Life that no single brand is irreplaceable.
Until something better comes along, I’ll continue wearing Maitreya LaraX. It does everything I need it to do. It’s funny to me that there are still residents happily wearing system bodies, yet some people act as though using a mesh body that’s still one of the most widely supported on the grid somehow makes you outdated.
I’m not resistant to change. I’m not afraid of trying new things. I’m just not interested in switching to something that doesn’t offer me anything better than what I already have.
This “currently crashing out” print on the Honey Cropped Tank from The Kiwi Co. feels a little too relatable right now, because mainland has been testing me lately.
When I first went Premium back in 2019 to get a Linden Home, it was also the first time I could finally own mainland. I eventually bought a snowy parcel that I absolutely loved and kept it from 2022 onward. It was extremely landlocked and surrounded on three sides by massive ugly ice walls from neighboring parcels, but somehow I still made it work because I liked the region.
Recently, several abandoned coastal parcels nearby became available after a former neighbor left. I submitted support tickets hoping to expand naturally into the coastline, but instead the parcels were sent individually to auction. I managed to buy some of them, but after getting outbid on the final piece, I realized I was done fighting with the region. The walls finally won.
I still wanted snow land though, so I moved a couple regions over and spent a pretty significant amount acquiring new coastal land through auctions and direct purchase from a land baron. In total, it probably cost around $500 USD worth of Lindens, but I was excited to finally own a beautiful coastal snow parcel.
Then I discovered a 32m micro parcel sitting directly in the middle of my new land.
The owner had no other land in the region and was asking L$32,000 for it.
That isn’t normal land use. It’s extortion.
I submitted another support ticket hoping Linden Lab would step in, especially since Second Life already has a policy against land cutting practices. Unfortunately, my request was denied, and no discretion was used to resolve what is very obviously a bad-faith micro parcel situation. That part is what disappoints me the most.
As someone still relatively new to mainland ownership, I’m starting to understand why so many residents say mainland can be incredibly frustrating. One bad neighbor or one strategically placed micro parcel can completely ruin an otherwise beautiful area.
And if anyone is wondering how my planned move from Gaeta 1 to New Zindra is going, it isn’t. I bought Gaeta 1 land back on April 15, but after realizing I’d likely be at the very end of the migration queue, I decided to put everything up for sale instead. At this point, I’d rather just settle into my snow land and enjoy it in peace.
Exile quietly released new textures! I tried on the latest Signe hairstyle and immediately noticed the redesigned HUD too. Obviously my favorites are the Blondes pack and the Fantasy pack. The Choice pack is great too if you’re indecisive and constantly bouncing between hair colors. I couldn’t decide between light pink or light blonde today, so I just wore both.
I always let my hairstyle lead the way when it comes to building an outfit. This whole look started with this playful hair. I wanted a giant bow to finish it off, and the Vale Headband from C’est La Vie ended up being perfect. I’m also wearing colors I normally avoid. Does orange and teal actually work together? I think maybe it does.
My last post about using AI to judge my face caused quite a stir on Facebook. I think Second Life residents on Facebook can be especially rude compared to other social media sites. I don’t know if it’s the demographic, and I don’t necessarily mean age, but something about Facebook makes people react with hostility to absolutely everything.
Moments like that make me appreciate the genuinely nice people I’ve met in Second Life over the years. One of those people is Kavar Cleanslate, the creator of Exile. A lot of you probably don’t know this, but Kavar has been my friend for a very long time and is honestly one of the nicest people ever. We actually live on the same region. Well… technically one day he told me I could rez my house there, and I just never left. It’s been decades now. LOL. I don’t think he knows how to ask me to leave, but honestly, would he even? He’s that nice.
And since this is a a hair-themed post, would you like to win early access to Hair Fair? You have six chances to win. Just follow Hair Fair on social media and like/comment with your SL username for a chance to get in early. I’ll be at Hair Fair before opening, so hopefully I’ll see some of you there!
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!
Shoutout to Sonya Marmurek because her blog post actually convinced me to visit a region called Bến Tôm Rơi, which translates to Shrimp Bay. It’s built by Victor E. Eton and Walton Wainwright. As I said in my last post, I usually stick to auctions for big charity events, but this year I wanted to actually explore, and this region is stunning. The colors are beautiful, and even with all the shops, there are still plenty of great spots for photos.
I also rediscovered a shop that is new to me, Grasshopper Street. Before seeing Sonya’s post, I remembered picking up a historical hat from them at another event. I love period clothing in Second Life, and their whole store is such a delight. I saw so many gowns I will probably go back for later, but this time I chose something that fits the region. The Áo Dài is a traditional Vietnamese gown and the national dress. You can also get the matching coiled headscarf, Khăn Vành Dây, from Grasshopper Street. I love when I can put together a full outfit and shoot it on location. It just feels right.
Southeast Asia is so underrepresented in Second Life, so it was a nice surprise to find not one, but two stores featuring Vietnamese inspired clothing at Fantasy Faire. Another one is CocoCat. It’s not featured in this post, but they have a really good freebie at the event. Unfortunately it isn’t made for the Maitreya LaraX body, but if you alpha your whole body, you might be able to make the Legacy version work.
If you have time to explore, Bến Tôm Rơi is definitely worth a visit.
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.
