Monday Mantra

In order to give Not A Model a little more structure, I thought I'd start a "Monday Mantra" post. Every Monday I will post an inspirational quote to get everyone starting the week on a positive note. I know Mondays are not everyone's favourite!

Not A Model's Monday Mantra, as sent to me by a co-worker: 

"Only 25% of job success is predicted by intelligence. 75% is predicted by three characteristics related to happiness: optimism, a positive social support network and a positive response to stress.”

Source: globeandmail.com article, "It turns out intelligence, not ignorance is related to bliss"

Happy Monday!

GUESS & Flare - Grand Opening Event

Last week, I attended the grand opening of the GUESS flagship store on Queen St. West in Toronto. Everyone at the jam-packed event was simply buzzing, whether they were filling up their shopping bags or getting to know the stylish person beside them. My roommate and I enjoyed goofing off in the photo booth and admiring all of the creative, colourful ensembles of the evening. We browsed the fashion picks from the cool staffers at Flare, and listened to Keshia Chante croon an acoustic set for her 23rd birthday. I even got to meet the (very tall) girls from Goldfacedbetty. (Finally!) All in all, I had a great time and can't wait to pick up a pair of coloured shorts for the summer.

So thank you GUESS, Flare and Lotus Leaf for a fantastic event! Not A Model had a blast. 

Medium Magazine Launch

Are magazines dying? Are we just a touch, click and tablet away from obliterating the classics known as paper and ink? Will our children look back at the traditional magazine the same way we look at a record player?

These were the questions I asked myself as I attended the launch party for Medium Magazine at the Thompson Landry Art Gallery in the Distillery District.

Medium is "Canada's first beauty and fashion based interactive tablet magazine." The monthly magazine is downloadable (free of charge) on any iPad and allows the reader to interact with the content. For example, if the reader likes the shoes in a shoot, they can tap on the model and the model will spin around, and information on the product will appear. It reminds me of the Harry Potter portraits when the person in the photograph comes to life. (Apologies to all the non-Harry fans who missed this reference.) 

Overall the event was fantastic with delicious drinks, horderves and branded desserts. I'm obsessed with the gallery space and wanted to take every piece of art home. As I left, I realized that I'm not ready to declare that print is dead. I feel there is room for both as long as the content is stimulating.

So congrats to Medium for a successful launch! You can find Medium on their website or follow them on Twitter here.

The Look: Roman Holiday

Lately, I've been daydreaming about Italy.

Call it the Sunday blues, or a severe case of holiday yearning, but sitting inside at a desk all day never seems tougher than when the warmer months roll around.

While I don't have any European adventures planned this summer, I'll have to settle for flipping through old vacation photographs, or visiting my grandmother for some homemade fettuccine. The other night I read every word aloud of my Italian phrasebook while waiting for my roommate before we went out.

These days it's all about cubicles and careers, so gallivanting around on a pastel coloured vespa with a young handsome Gregory Peck will have to wait. Until the day I decide to move to Italy and eat gelato for breakfast, I created a look inspired by the classic film, Roman Holiday on polyvore.com.

Enjoy! xx

[image created on polyvore.com]

The Summer Shift: Fabrics, Brunch, Dogs, Spikes & Flowers

Once summer creeps up, little things change. 

Suddenly, no one wants to be swaddled in thick knits and nurturing yarns. The warmth and security of the extra layer peels off and what's left is a different type of being, a freer one. There is the luxury of leaving the house without a jacket, or telling your socks you're breaking up with them for a couple of months. Recently, as the coordinator for my first major PR media event, I chose to wear a silk-cropped blouse with a bright bird print. The colour vibrated positivity and lightness, which is exactly what a worrier like me needed on a big day.

The on-set of summer also makes me miss my dog Bailey. Yeah I know blogging about your dog isn't cool but I don't care. I've been known to bend over in skirts, dresses and heels in my condo elevator to greet any sort of dog. I usually nod at the owner, hoping that they know that I am also in love with a furry thing. I hope to steal B soon for a weekend and introduce him to my new city life. We'll have a wild time.

Beyond dogs, I am the proud owner of an orchid, a housewarming gift from my sister. Every morning I sit by the orchid while eating breakfast and think to myself that if you don't take care of beautiful things, they will die. To treat an orchid you must first drown it with water and then let it completely dry out, until you can soak it again. These days, I've been event hopping, brunching, city shopping and my old after work coffees have been replaced with post- work drinks or dinners. My life seems to be overflowing right now, but I know one day soon it will balance itself out.

Until then, I better get used to the flood.

Silk bird printed blouse

Strawberry waffles at Le Petit Dejeuner

Bailey (Bilu)

Pepsi Throwback Tweet-Up Event

Studs & spikes at the Evan Biddell trunk show

Mel's orchid