Everyday Beauty - Merve

Meet Merve!

Merve is from Germany and she is also studying Italian in Florence for a portion of the summer. While we are not in the same class, (Merve speaks much better Italian than I) we met on a trip to Cinque Terre a couple of weekends ago. I also run into Merve often at our local cafe where we both seem to enjoy a daily espresso. When I asked Merve if I could take her photo, she responded the way most people do,

"Oh me? Really?! I don't look good in photos."

I assured her that everyone says this exact thing, and everyone who says this about themselves is very wrong. The Everyday Beauty series is about capturing people in a natural state: staring off into the distance, walking down a cobblestone street, enjoying a laugh with a friend. It's about noticing something special about someone. For me, I noticed Merve's relaxed approach to style and killer sunglasses.

I took these photos as we waited for the next train, and while they are a little grainy (the sun was strong and I couldn't quite see the final results on my screen) I loved Merve's positive attitude towards the whole thing. x

New Weekly Mantra & The Festival Of Lights - Pisa

This past weekend I visited Pisa and attended La Luminara di San Ranieri, which is a festival of lights for their patron saint. Each window and building that lined the Arno river was lit by thousands of candles hand-placed, to illuminate the entire city.

It was the most magical festival I've ever experienced. People who are close to me know that I am mesmerized by lights. Take me to a restaurant, a bar or a park with tea lights and I'm yours.

Sometimes the light can be more scary than the dark because it involves going towards something that is greater, stronger and more stunning than we may believe we deserve. This week's mantra come from Plato, and has to do with accepting the light in whatever form it presents itself.

"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light."

Below are some photos I took of the festival. I'm not the most skilled in taking photos at night, so here is my experimentation. Enjoy! x 

The Roses

Yesterday I visited Giardino Delle Rose, translation: Garden of Roses.

Roses remind me of my best friend Stefania, who has a sleeve of roses on her arm, and who also launched a new website/photography company called, Yellow Rose Portraits.

While you sometimes see her photos on my blog, she also has an impressive portfolio of travel, lifestyle and portrait photography. I took her photo for the "About Me" section of her site, and below is my favourite shot. You can also check out her website here. Congrats Stef!

Now, back to the rose garden.

I huffed and puffed up many steep slopes, and for the first time since being here I was uncomfortably hot. Summer has officially arrived in Florence and my adventures now leave me gleaming in sweat. The rose garden was lovely and although some of the flowers were wilted from the heat, there were plenty more to stare at.

I don't listen to headphones here in Italy (too dangerous) and it seems that my daily walks and explorations are more vivid, and my mind is more alert. The saying, "Stop and smell the roses," is not just a cliche, as I've begun to find a great calm from being around nature lately.

This weekend, I hope you find the sun, a steep hill or something to marvel at. I have a full weekend planned in Tuscany so I will have much to share next week!

Below are my photos from the garden. Enjoy! x.

Everyday Beauty - Maria

If you read Not A Model lately, or browse Instagram you may wonder who takes the few photos that I appear in.

The answer is Maria.

Maria is my new roommate at my Italian apartment in Florence. She is from Thessaloniki, Greece. As I mentioned in a previous post, Maria is a civil engineer, who abandoned that career to follow her artistic passion for making jewelry. She launched her very own brand, called My Precious in Greece and has since been working full time to create her line. (I've already placed my order for a new necklace).

Despite my initial fear of living with strangers in a foreign country, (cue the possible nightmares), Maria is a gift of a roommate. She is thoughtful, funny and kind; the type of person who would always attract new friends. Maria likes to drench herself in bright clothes and accessories, with a girly flair for bows, ribbons and patterned pants. She is statuesque and beautiful, with wide expressive eyes that easily give away her feelings. Italian men love to discount all items for her as she walks by.

Though there is a slight language barrier between us, (she speaks mainly Greek, but also English and a bit of Italian), it seems that talking about relationships (she tells me all about her Greek boyfriend), dessert (she indulges in my gelato fixation) and window shopping (we can't seem to get enough) is universally translatable.

Below are the photos I took. Enjoy! x

Ciao from Cinque Terre!

This past weekend, I visited Cinque Terre.

I went with my language school on a 2.5 hour bus ride to the land of the coloured houses, as I call it. The best thing about bus rides in Italy are the convenience stops along the way that sell NUTELLA AND BREADSTICKS in those little containers with JUICE. My absolute favourite thing to buy, ever.

As for a mini background lesson: Cinque Terre is located in Liguria, and translates as "Five Lands." Of the five villages, we visited four: Riomaggiore, Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza and Manarola.

Once we arrived, all I could smell was the sweet ocean.

The houses in Cinque Terre look like they've been stretched in the colours of saltwater taffy. They range from lilac and creamsicle to baby doll pink and Robin's egg blue. To me, colour equals life. People and tourists come in droves to hike the paths and sample the sizzling fried fish along the water. Being there is like walking into a postcard that was then uploaded and enhanced on Instagram. It's that vivid. For lunch I had tagliatelle alle granchio, (pasta with crab), and of course, I finished the day with gelato.

If you're ever in the region, I highly recommend it.

Below are my photos. Enjoy x

Not A Model Weekly Mantra - What Now?

Books seem to be the best companions when travelling solo.

I've only been in Florence for a week, and I've already finished reading three books. Keep in mind this time frame includes my 8.5 hour plane ride and a two hour day trip this past weekend. I am not some freak speed reader.

The latest book I finished reading was, What Now by Ann Patchett. It is a published essay on the commencement speech that Patchett gave at Sarah Lawrence College. The essay includes Patchett's experiences attending her alma mater, working as a waitress and trying to become an author.

It is an essay that provides insight into the question that always seems to pop up when people find themselves at a crossroads. 

That question is, "What Now?"

Seeing as I will be returning to Canada in less than a month, the question "What Now" or "What Next" seems to linger in the air. While I should not be worrying about the future, it is inevitable when spending time solo to begin to analyze one's life path. This essay was a great reminder of the possibilities that lie ahead, not the stress.

Below is a quote from Patchett's essay, and this week's mantra. Enjoy! x

"If you are trying to find out what's coming next, turn off everything you own that has an OFF switch and listen. Make up some plans and change them. Identify your heart's truest desire and don't change that for anything. Be proud of yourself for the work you've done. Be grateful to all the people who helped you do it. [..] You are, every one of you, someone's favourite unfolding story."

The Daily Pleasures - Florence - Travel Diary Part 3

While travelling, expect the unexpected.

Barely a week into my trip, my phone has decided to self-destruct. While I am equipped with other modes of communication, it is a very unsettling feeling to not have your main lifeline of communication thousands of miles across the world. While I enjoy my independence, I do take comfort in the way that technology keeps me tethered to the people back home. Whether it's an email, text or photograph, I need that connection.

Beyond that annoyance, I am relishing in the little moments here in Florence.

Things like: finding the perfect stationery shop; feeling diminutive next to rivers, bridges, sculptures and churches; eating gelato for dinner; drinking red wine on the moonlit evening streets; the way my tongue curls to Italian words; and getting lost, and then found around my living area.

Below are some photos from my first week. This weekend I am off to Cinque Terre!

Happy Weekend! x

The Great Escape - Travel Diary - Florence - Part 2

While I haven't been in Florence long enough to desire a refuge from city living, who wouldn't want to escape to a palace garden?

Earlier this week, I tagged along with my classmate's plans to visit Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens. Not knowing a thing about where we were headed, he quickly gave me a lesson in the history of the place. Short version: the palace used to be owned by the famous Medici family, and thereafter, most of the ruling families of Tuscany used to reside there.

While I didn't want to spend too much time inside the palace museum, I found Boboli gardens to be a complete dream. With panoramic views of Florence, sweeping paths of greenery and larger than life stone sculptures, it was a marvel. I also couldn't believe how quiet it was compared to the crowded streets.

Words aren't the best descriptors in this case, so below are my photos! Enjoy. x