Mermaid Living

Hello dear readers!

Just a heads up, Not A Model is heading to where those Laguna Beach kids go on Spring Break. Yes, I'm off to Cabo San Lucas to live the life of a mermaid for a week! Well, a mermaid who has dancing feet at night and who sips pina coladas by day.

It's time for a little break. I'm ready to unwind, hang with my favourite girls (minus a few) and take in my surroundings. I want to breathe in some ocean air and maybe get some writing done. When travelling I always bring the essentials: music, reading materials, journal & camera. I can't wait to dig into all those September issues and my latest novel, "Water for Elephants. That issue of Vogue is weighing down my carry-on though.

Need a Not A Model fix while I'm gone?

Check out: http://notamodel-lite.tumblr.com/ or show me some love on Facebook. Lastly, you can always follow me on Twitter; who knows I may even post a few live vacation tweets!

I hope you all enjoy the last week of August, which to some is unofficially the last week of summer! When I return it will be September, which signifies a new year in a way. Change is coming...hold on tight.

Admit it, your neck is lonely

Elena Tari will make the world colourful again.

Tari is a Fashion Design student at Ryerson University, heading into her third year. At 20 years old, Tari explains she was first into drawing and painting before she got into fashion.

"Fashion is like art, you have an idea and sketch it out in the same way," she says. 

She enjoys pop art (as I could tell by the giant mural on her wall) and her favourite designers are Betsey Johnson and Gwen Stefani. She started creating her own designs when she took a sewing class in high school. "I like designers who use lots of colour," she says.

Despite her talent Tari is a little too modest, "I'm not interesting enough for an interview," she insists. I beg to differ. Her positive demeanour (she's always smiling) and bright outlook on her craft is inspiring. My eyes didn't know where to look as I wandered around her basement studio.

Her most recent project is a scarf line that came about from her desire to use up all the extra pieces of fabric she had lying around. At the interview, I explained to her how I recently tried on a scarf made from the flimsiest material priced at $98.00! Tari's scarves are fun, handmade and best of all they come at a price that is economical. For only $10-$15 you can own one of her designs.

 

That's less than a week's worth of coffee!! I scooped up the army green t-shirt material one with the beads. I can't wait to bust it out for fall.

If interested in owning one for yourself, or for more information or customization contact her at: elena.tari@ryerson.ca. 

Trust me your neck will thank you! 

Spanish Flowers

Step outside. Take a walk. Breathe in fresh air. Get moving. Stare at a face instead of a screen. Ears perk up at the sound of laughter. Face crinkling laughter. Warm to the touch skin. Eyes make contact. Sun beating on the back of your neck. Take nothing out of context. No punctuation necessary.

Step outside the lines. Let go. Find a surface that reflects the truth. Challenge the boundaries. Question the comfy, cushy, down filled pillow. Find yourself in something new. Floating upstream. Go so far that you can't find your way back, and then go back anyways.

Step outside of yourself. Your thoughts. Your well-constructed status updates. Who you think you are. Who you want others to see. Beyond to-do lists & day planners. Me. Me. Me. The incessant wanting and needing. Find a way to give back. Count your blessings: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5...

Step outside the opinions. Forget what they say. Ignore the peanut gallery. People who think they know what's best for you. People who talk too much & listen too little. The judgments that stick to your clothes. Peel the letters off. Stick your fingers in your ears. Be free.

Lately, I've been slacking on the blogging. My head's in a bit of a fog. I have lots to say, don't know where to start. Hope your eyeballs will like it. I love hearing from you, introduce yourself and tell me more: write.notamodel@gmail.com. xo

Not A Model Street Style

I can't stop running into Jalani Morgan.

Lately it seems that every time I'm in the city, we bump into each other on the street. He's a talented Toronto photographer with a laid back sense of style and awesome lengthy dreadlocks. To me, male street style doesn't always have to be about loafers, pressed shirts and rolled up pants (which is usually how men are portrayed on style blogs) sometimes casual cool and awesome hair can fit just right.

Shirt: band t-shit Broad Way Sleep
Shoes: Nike

It was quite unnerving busting out my point-and-shoot camera and taking a photographer's photograph, especially when I end up cutting their head off. Oops! Anyways, if you want to see more of Jalani check out his fantastic website http://www.jalanimorgan.com/ or follow him on Twitter @jalanimorgan.

Now if you excuse me, I'm off to search the streets for my next non-model...I hope you're ready for your close-up.

Crack Your Head Open

I never. 

I'm not referring to that ridiculous drinking game where people pretend they're more promiscuous than anyone actually ever is. Lately, I think it is important to reject the "I never" statement. It's the cliche saying, "Never say never.." but if you set yourself up saying you'll never do something, you essentially cut yourself off from life's experiences. 

Same goes for the word 'hate.' You know those people who seem to hate everything. I hate asparagus, I hate long hipster beards, I hate people who like vampire movies.. etc.

Here's the thing. Everyone has their own tastes, likes and dislikes. If you really don't like something, that's your prerogative. However, if you've never touched it, tasted it, watched it, talked to it, or TRIED IT then I can't back you up. 

How do you know what you really like unless you try it out? People are meant to change. We are constantly in a state of moving, evolving, growing up and expanding.

I find examples of this in my everyday life. For example, I used to hate running, yet I now run almost everyday and can't find another form of exercise that better clears my mind. Also, while I used to dislike rap music, I now listen to more rap music than any petite-can't-throw-a-punch-took-too-many-women-studies-courses-suburban-girl ever should.

Open your mind to new things. New people. New experiences.

If you introduce yourself to that dude with the hipster beard, he may turn out to be the absolute love of your life. Granted, he may give you a rash every time you make-out, but it may be worth it. At least try. If you try and absolutely hate something, then go ahead and spray paint "I never" on your walls. 

Just don't turn down my buttered asparagus. You won't know what you're missing.

Now if you're rolling your eyes at my peppy, positive, motivational speaker type jargon clearly you need to try something new...like being happy? Trust me, you'll like it.

My Shorts Get High & Waisted

The best purchase I made this summer was cheaper than an issue of Vogue.*

I was on the hunt for the perfect pair of high waisted shorts but my search felt impossible. Fit was always an issue, as was cost. Unwilling to give up, I went to Value Village and alas found my match. I fastened the last button of the $4.99 steal and they fit just right. My alter ego (who has a shaggy haired rock star boyfriend) probably wore them to a sweaty summer concert many moons ago.

I usually would just take a photo of the shorts, but I decided to include me in them. With blogging comes the territory of being known and shown. I'm getting used to this idea (albeit it only took 10 months) for me to warm up to the lens. I also believe I should "practice what I preach" and embrace my own imperfections or what makes me different. The best way to show who I am besides through writing is with photography.

Today, my mom and sister giggled at the large mass of springy, frizzy curls flying off my head. I went outside for an afternoon soak, let my hair dry naturally and got dressed. No make-up. No styling products.

This is what happened. This is always what happens.

Embrace your quirks and what makes you different. It may not fit in with a standard that was created by someone else, but it was never about them anyway.

*an issue of Vogue in Canada is $5.99

voglia

I WANT: (desire, wish for, hope for, aspire to, fancy, care for, like; long for, yearn for, crave, hanker after, hunger for, thirst for, cry out for, covet; need.)  

• to have every single answer in that big book titled: "LIFE." flip through each chapter and cram like I'm studying for an exam. number 2 pencil. multiple choice.

• to not have a single answer and live every day. minute by minute. not a moment sooner. go with the flow. indulge in the present moment. if someone says, 'future' not understand what exactly they mean.

• to feel everything a little too much. no time for words or rationality. just feelings. all in excess. decisions determined by goosebumps or quickened heartbeats.
  
  
  

• to mend the broken heart of my favourite person. sow it back together with string. nice and strong. fast forward and show her just how great everything will be. she's perfect. as is.  

• to tell every young girl that she can eat that full bag of popcorn. play sports. conquer the world. oh and that snot-nosed twerp who doesn't like her will end up bald and working in a tiny cubicle one day. 

• to just know.

• a new camera to take photos with. one that will snap. snap. snap. everything around me. more real than real life. document it all. print photos and blow them up as posters. give them as gifts.
  
  
  

• to travel to a place where I'm unknown. speaking a language like poetry. everyone lives by the beach. where food is made by old ladies in a tiny kitchen who will affectionately call me 'Mandy' every time I walk in. 

• to write something that will inspire. something that will appear on a big screen. something that people will snuggle beside with on a train or have a conversation over coffee about.

• to walk by a group of strangers with self- assurance and direction and hear them say, "Who is that girl?"

Let's get back on track shall we? New posts, material and thoughts to come! Until then I ask, What do you want?