EJ's Closet

“I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within.”

∼Lillian Smith∼

Yesterday I took some time to go and explore SL like I used to in my SL infancy. If you take advantage of the SL destination guide, you can very quickly find suggestions to try. There are also some great blogs out there that you can use to help speed your journey, so it makes it easy to dial up a destination.

I wanted to get outside of my box, literally, and find a location to shoot a blog picture. I remembered being on a sim recently that looked promising so I returned there to hunt for a spot to snap a pic. The sim is called Le Sixième Sens. I had no plan. I had not even selected a pose before I had the idea to do a location picture. So off I went, looking for some place to snap my style for Tres Chic. The result is below.

Once I had completed, what I thought was a cute blog pic, I decided to take a moment and just enjoy the amazing creation of Natacha Haroldsen and Yeiyaiel. This sim is truly a treat for the senses. I found this lovely field of sunflowers and tried several windlights before settling on one of Bryn Oh’s called Immersiva Grey Dust. It just captured the quiet mood of my thoughts at that moment.

I encourage anyone who enjoys exploring to take the time to visit this place. Remember, you never know how long a place will exist SL since change is a fact of our virtual life. Which reminds me, I must go back and find a donation box to help it stay.
P.S. Yes, this blog post title is a quote from JRR Tolkien

Goodies:
Blouse: Lace Blouse, Biscuit, Mimikri @ Tres Chic
Slacks: Cropped Floral Pants, Black, Mimikri @Tres Chic
Shoes: Marylou boots, Mosquito’s Way @Tres Chic
Hair: Luna, reds, =DeLa*= @Tres Chic

I didn’t have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.

Mark Twain

 I am not sure if that quote originally comes from Mark Twain or if he stole it from The Lettres Provinciales by Blaise Pascal. It does say a lot in a few short words. This is something that I struggle with. It’s not easy to convey with pinpoint accuracy what is formulating in your head onto the paper; or in this case the screen. There are so many words to pick from. Often times it’s hard to pick just the right word to make sure what you are thinking is what people read. I suppose that is why writing is considered an art form. Art is always subject to interpretation.

So today I am going to be brief and just say that I love this outfit. It makes me feel confident.

Goodies

Jumper: Trench Suit, Olive, Eclipse      @Tres Chic January

Boots: Trench Suit Boots, Olive, Eclipse      @Tres Chic January

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”

― Anne Bradstreet

Although spring may be just around the corner, winter is flashing its icy claws this weekend to remind some of us that it still has dominion over the first month of the year. I decided to explore a few of my favorite photography sims to see if there was a wintery spot to reflect the chilly mood I was in. I found a warm and cozy wintery spot to help put me in the right setting for an outfit from Coco that spoke to my mood.

The sim I settled on is It All Starts With a Smile. I always find some little hidden place here to snap a photo. Today I found the perfect spot in one of the wintery cottages they currently have on the sim. I cozied up in a wonderful bed by Bazar that I found had a great amount of really interesting poses. If you are looking for a well-made comfy bed the Stockholm bed by Ria Bazar is just the ticket. Not only does it have some really nice poses, it has a good deal of options for the color of the pillows and blanket.

I settled in and was inspired, even though it was blustery outside. Now all I need is a nice cup of hot chocolate and some soft music in the background. I think I am warming up already.

Goodies:

Jacket and top: Coat with Hoodies, Navy Coco (January round of Fameshed)
Skirt: Leather mini, Brown, Coco (January round of Fameshed)
Boots: Suede over-the-knee Boots, Blue-Grey, Coco (January round of Uber)

“Only the development of compassion and understanding for others can bring us the tranquility and happiness we all seek.” šš
Dalai Lama XIV››

I saw a movie today that struck a chord with me. It was about a writer who had written a story involving a writer who had found a story written by someone and thinking the author must have died years ago published the story as his own. It got me to thinking of how many lives are folded into one’s own life. People say that they have many sides. Do people also have many lives? For those of us that live in real and virtual worlds the answer must be yes. Although we may be the same person, do some of us present a different side of ourselves virtually? How about with one group of people versus another? Is that other self a better self, or is it a less desirable self? I think how you handle this situation depends on you. When given the chance to reinvent yourself, what have you done with that opportunity?

I know my approach has been to try and be a better version of me virtually. I see it as an opportunity to not repeat mistakes; a second chance to do better. Sometimes I am successful, and sometimes not, but I see it as a chance to expect more of myself. I have always been a harsher critic of myself than I think others may be. I am a perfectionist so it positions me to always fall short of my own expectations for myself. In that aspect I am the same in both worlds. I still have yet to figure out the way to fine tune my need to do well, with a contentment with my efforts. Maybe I should get another dog. Dogs are always happy with you, or at least they have a way of making you believe they love you just for showing up.

In my move to emphasize the positive this year, I am not going to talk about the people who use their virtual space to be mean. I don’t understand why someone would choose to do that. My only guess would be that they carry a lot of pain, in both lives. With so many beautiful places in Second Life, go explore. Try to find something peaceful to lift your spirits. There are so many places to discover that can do that for you. Make a choice to seek the good things that are all around you. Just my two cents…

Goodies:
Dress: Ambrosia Dress, SHANGHAI @ Tres Chic
Shoes: Sophie Heels, MOSQUITOS WAY @Tres Chic

“Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness.”  

~ Eckhart Tolle ~

I am beginning this year with a conscious effort to make 2017 a year of self-improvement. There are some person goals I want to accomplish this year. This means that I will need to be more conscious of living in a manner that puts the achievement of those goals as a top priority. I believe that the people who can properly maintain a balance of caring for themselves and the needs of those in their life have truly achieved something special. For some people this is an effortless thing. For me I believe it will take some time to get this in the proper balance.

I have generally been a person who thought that my wants could be put on hold and they really did not matter as much as what others needed. I don’t think this is the optimal balance. I believe I need to change and it will take a conscious effort to achieve a good balance of these two things so I remain a good friend, neighbor, and citizen while still making sure to be good to myself.

I grew up watching the way my mother put her needs behind those of others around her. She always made sure everyone was taken care of in a way that made it seem as if everything was well under control. She was always happy and seemed very content. I have never doubted that this is the way to have a happy life. I can honestly say that I do find joy in making people happy. To know that you have been the cause of placing a smile on someone else’s face gives you a sense of having done something worthwhile.

I never questioned this approach to life. I still believe this has merit and there is always joy in living a life to help others. One of the things I also have come to realize is that if you do not care for yourself, no one else is likely to take on that task. The last thing my mother said to me was “Please do something good for yourself for a change”. At the time I was not sure why she said that to me, but looking back I think I know why.

So in search of doing good things for myself this year, I wanted to start the year with a beautiful photo. I think this amazing photo that Skip Staheli made of me fits that to perfection. Skip has warmed my heart and made me feel very special in this photo. Thank you Skip.:)

So cheers to an amazing year of happiness for everyone and to the achievement of all our personal goals!

Love, EJ

I’m not in competition with anybody but myself. My goal is to beat my last performance.”

– Celine Dion

Before the next MVW is selected, I wanted to take a moment for a few personal reflections on this competition and share the work I did on my journey this year as MVW Germany 2017.

I decided to audition for MVW because I wanted to represent the country of my mother. She was such a kind and loving person I wanted to honor her and my grandparents and celebrate my German heritage.

I decided very early on that I wanted to try and stay true to as realistic an approach to the challenges as I could, as well as make my fellow Germans proud of my conduct and professionalism throughout my time as MVW Germany 2017. I am going to provide in the following post, a brief look at each challenge for this year’s MVW.

The initial audition runway challenge was for a galactic ball styling I wanted to create a futuristic look, but one that could be seen as possible in our future. I pulled together a formal gown with lots of golden sparkle, a long flowing split skirt surrounded by a golden cage, and a very tall hairstyle with golden sparkles.

Our next directive was to attend the first meeting for the Misses. As a Miss you should always look your very best. I created an urban chic style that was comfortable, edgy, very on trend, and professional. I wanted to be seen as a model that means business and is serious about her profession.

Our first official runway challenge was described as the Congo Conga. Mixing the feel of African rhythms and Cuban culture to blend the two, I paired a knotted top I retextured, with a conga pant, and added a fun hat a friend of mine made for me. I added some very big bold jewelry to highlight the fun of the dance. Throughout the outfit I used the colors of the German flag as homage to my country and found a wonderful pair of maracas to shake as I strutted my look on the runway. This was a fun challenge.

Next was our first photo challenge. This challenge was to create a style based on an ancient goddess. I chose to find a Nordic goddess from the same region as Germany. The goddess Iðunn, or Ithunn, was my inspiration. Ithunn is a goddess associated with apples and youth. I was very fortunate to have Magissa Denver do my photograph; she made me look amazing. Thank you to Magissa for being my photographer and helping my styles come alive. I could not have asked for a better collaborator.

Our next assignment was more of a test of our ability to juggle multiple things at one time. This was called Bootcamp. Bootcamp consisted of a series of tasks all with a single due date.

For task 1 we were asked to create a look inspired by one of two fashion Icons; Helen Rose or Iris Apfel. I selected to style an old Hollywood glam style based on the classic creations of Helen Rose. I had a feeling more candidates would choose Iris and I wanted to be different.

Task 2 was to create 3 advertisements for stores on the BOSL mall. One for a causal look, one for an accessory designer, and one for a formal look. We were asked to present these advertisements on the BOSL mall.

Task 3 was to be our opportunity to speak for a case that we felt is important to showcase. I created a presentation around Domestic Violence. It spoke for itself.

For task 4 we were asked to create a styling based on a celebrity. Two of the Misses were given the same celebrity to use as their inspiration. I was given Nikki Minaj. I was very happy to receive Nikki to style by because I am very familiar with her. I see her as a shining example to women how to be unique, strong, and unapologetic for your uniqueness. Nikki appears to be enjoying life, enjoying her career, and having fun in general with just being alive. She makes you smile when you see her. Nikki has such a fun and funky style I could have gone crazy and been accurate. I chose to portray the softer side of this female force of nature. Whenever I have seen her at red carpet events she looks flawless and confident and most of all she carries a sense of elegance and I don’t give a *F* what you all think. This was how I styled her.

The second runway challenge was to create a look to represent a young art director attending a gallery opening. I chose to use a pop art look so I could have some fun and be youthful and funky. I happen to like funky. I created something I thought looked very much in the style of Andy Warhol. This would be the type of look I would attend a gallery opening in. Comfortable and eye catching.

Our next challenge was to create a presentation in support of a charity. If you were to win Miss Virtual World, what would be the major charity event you would organize? I chose to support the Feed a Smile organization. Feed a Smile (FAS) has had a presence in Second Life for a number of years and is well respected as a charity that gives 100% of what is donated directly to the charity.

Feed a Smile in Second Life is based in Germany with offices also in Kenya. FAS works to feed and care for children in Kenya. They provide not only meals, but also clothes, education, and a variety of support to Kenyan children in need. I created a detailed presentation about what I would do to host an event for this worthy cause.

Next our challenge was to think as CEO of BOSL and create a new brand for the organization. I put on my CEO cap and detailed out what a CEO of BOSL might do for a rebranding effort. This would of course be launched in the BOSL Magazine. I created an office look for a CEO and an office to show for the cover photo.

Next we came to our third runway challenge. This challenge involved presenting yourself as a French Provencal small business proprietress. I created a comfortable no nonsense look for a French business woman, very chic and stylish of course!

Entering the month of October, we came to our next photo challenge, of course the challenge would be to create something for a vintage Halloween. I immediately knew exactly what I wanted to do. I transformed myself into a cracked and worn out puppet doll, just a little bit scary in a creepy sort of way. Once again, Magissa brought my style to life with her photographer’s magic wand.

The 4^th runway challenge was to create a look to attend a rock concert on the moon to see our all-time favorite, yet perhaps aging, rock star. I pieced together a rock chic look that stands the test of time. Rocker babes are rocker babes, this does not change over the years. Smart, hardcore, edgy, and fabulous to catch the eye of the lead singer and become his #1 groupie. Isn’t that every groupie’s dream?

Wow. This is a lot of work and we still have a couple more to go.

Next came the 3^rd photo challenge. We were to create a Christmas look without using red, green, or white, in the colors of the styling. I had no doubt from the beginning that I wanted to do something that look very old world with deep golds and blacks. I layered on several beads and bobbles to create the look of Mother Christmas guarding the spirits of Christmas in the woodlands. Magissa worked her magic again and made me look stunning, magical, and sparkling with the spirit of peace on earth and good will to men.

This brings us to the last runway challenge before the national costume presentation. Our fifth runway challenge was a homage to Delipop Cresi, the reigning Miss Virtual World. Deli chose for her challenge to the misses, the designs of one of my favorite Haute Couture designers, Elie Saab. I have loved his gowns for many years. The beading and embellishment he does to gowns is unparalleled. He makes every woman who wears his designs feel like a princess. This would be a difficult challenge to create one of his haute couture looks for SL. Since I knew the first thing you think of when you think of Elis Saab is a gown, I decided to look at his less formal collections for spring for inspiration and uniqueness. I was inspired by his Spring Haute Couture 2016 collection. This collection used a soft lavender palette that really spoke to me. I looked for full perm items so I could texture them with beadwork and match the shade of lavender exactly. I created a look I felt was different from what many of the other misses presented yet still spoke to the design esthetic true to Elie Saab.

This brings us up to our next two presentations of the national costume and the finale outfit. For those, you will have to wait. I am sure your eyes are tired after this rather long recap of the tail of MVW Germany 2017. It’s been fun so far. I am certain it will be fun to the end. I can’t wait to see who takes home the crown.

“The desire to know the future gnaws at our bones.” – Pamela Freeman

The need we have to know what is ahead can sometimes obscure our focus on the present. Is knowing the future so important that we might be willing to risk enjoyment of what is happening around us in the present? Why has seeing the future always been so intriguing to us? Would it be a good thing or a bad thing?

I am a planner by nature. Being a planner is different from being a controller. Anyone who likes to plan knows that they need to be flexible and allow for the things which happen that they cannot predict. None of us is fully in control of life and life will throw us curves that we have no way of seeing. Sometimes those curves are bad, but sometimes those curves make for an exceptional memory. This is all a part of living. If we could see the future there are good and bad aspects to having that knowledge.

I think we would lose the element of surprise that is so special to us. Think of knowing what is in every present under the tree at Christmas. Would that not take all the fun and surprise out of Christmas morning? There would be no gasps of surprise, no squeals of delight as a child opened that favorite thing that they wanted that ‘Santa’ brought them. We would not have those tears of joy as a marriage proposal is made after great effort has been taken to create the perfect moment to ‘pop the question’. That special moment when a couple finds out they are to be parents would be lost, and the shock to find out they are having twins!

Seeing the future might makes us alter our plans and more fully appreciate what we have today before it disappears from our lives. How many times has a sentence been started with the phrase “if I had only known?” Seeing that our actions have had a negative effect and having the ability to correct that would be a wonderful thing, but what other related things would that alter; perhaps a positive thing would not happen. We do learn from our mistakes. Would that be taken away if we knew what was ahead?

I used to plan things for myself; like setting goals for the future and even dreaming a little about possibilities. I hit a major shift in my life and decided I didn’t care enough to plan or do anything. I gave myself permission to just coast. This was not in my best interest. When you stop making forward progress everything comes to a standstill. When I don’t plan, that is when I waste time with no particular destination or progress.

I am still glad though, that I could not see the future, since traveling this road in life has taught me many lessons. One of these lessons is very important; don’t waste time, it will not be given back. Another lesson is that you will find out who are your real friends when life gets bumpy. Another important lesson is that you must take care of yourself, no one else really can do that for you.

At the end of it all is seeing the future going to make everything perfect? I think not, rather it will just create a new set of unforeseen variables that will surprise you on your path. In my opinion why bother with knowing what is coming ahead; good or bad, take it as it comes, deal with it the best that you can, appreciate each day, and learn from your mistakes. Enjoy the mystery of tomorrow.

Goodies:

Outfit from Ghee for the Freak Show Carnivale presented by SCALA. October 28^th – November 13