Casey Anthony appears in YouTube video diary labeled a ploy to repair her image

Casey Anthony resurfaced Thursday in a YouTube video diary that has been criticized as a cynical ploy to repair her image and finances.

In a roughly four-minute "video diary," Anthony — sporting a new blonde hairdo and glasses — does not mention her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, whose remains were found in December 2008 in a wooded area not far from the Anthony family home.

Nor does she talk about her high-profile murder trial that ended last July with her being found not guilty of killing Caylee.

Anthony, who is serving a year probation on an unrelated charge, did however talk about a dog she'd adopted, and the fact "a lot has changed" in her life since the trial.

"It's just a little surreal how much things have changed since July and how many things haven't changed," Anthony also said. "But the good thing is that things are starting to look up, and things are starting to change — in a good way. I just hope they stay … that things stay good and that they only get better."

She also said: “I’m extremely excited. I’m excited that I’ll be able to Skype and obviously keep a video log, take some pictures and that I have something that I can finally call mine. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to call something mine.”

Anthony does not reveal her whereabouts in the video, but says she'll remain there "at least until the end of February."

According to numerous reports, the black-and-white video first appeared on a website called caseyanthonyisinnocent.com.

However, Cheney Mason, Anthony's defense attorney in the trial over Caylee's death, told the Fox affiliate WOFL-TV in Orlando, Fla., that Anthony did not know how the video, which was meant to be private, ended up online.

"Casey has maintained some notes on her thoughts for personal use, especially for counseling. She did not release this video to YouTube and does not know how they got it," he reportedly said. 

However, Tampa Attorney Joe Episcopo accused Anthony of "trying to shop the story" of her daughter's death and her subsequent trial.

Episcopo told ABC Action News that potential investors in the Casey Anthony story were, however, too wary of signing her to a movie, book or TV deal "because she's just too despised by a large segment of the population — many of whom believe she either caused her two year old daughter's death or was cruelly indifferent to it."

"This is purely PR She's trying to look like the girl next door," said Episcopo.

Episcopo believes the new look and the bland chatter are carefully orchestrated to soften Anthony's image. He's also not surprised that Anthony spoke only about herself without mentioning the trial, her family or her murdered daughter Caylee.

"She's got to get paid for that. That's not coming out until she gets better ratings with the public. They'll probably do some polling," said Episcopo.

Anthony indicated in the video that it may not be her last.