The Business Trip - Not A Model Travel Diaries New York

The formula is simple: solo business trip = career adulthood.

As I mentioned, last week I went to New York City for a PR related work event. I was so excited to have the opportunity to attend and a bit nervous to head out on my own. Once I checked into my hotel (adult feeling #1 - a whole room to my lonesome?!) the thought of dinner loomed over my head. My stomach said, "Feed me NOW" while my mind said, "How lame is it that you are going to eat alone in New York City?"

Not A Model Confession: I've never eaten dinner alone before.

Sure, I've had a quick lunch at the mall or sat at a cafe while listening to music and reading a magazine, but never in a real restaurant, at night. So I hit the streets. I had no destination in mind and I wasn't going to be caught with a touristy map. I walked, and walked until I saw this beautiful park. It was already pretty dark out and all I could hear was my mother's voice in my head, "Amanda, never go into parks by yourself at night."

However, this park had chairs, tables and pretty white lights (I'm obsessed with any type of light bulb on a string) and I was curious. I walked in and discovered...The Shake Shack, a hamburger and milkshake restaurant stand. While this is probably a cop-out for eating alone, (since it was outside and in a park) it was good enough for me. I ordered a deep fried Portobello mushroom burger (that with one bite, exploded with warm cheesy delicious goo) and topped it off with a classic chocolate milkshake. After dinner, I went to a 24 hour hair and nail spa where I got a purple manicure and then went home to get a good night's sleep for the next morning.

All in all, the work event went really well and once it was over I had the rest of the weekend to myself. I set out early the next day to treat myself to some shopping in Soho (my favourite go-to spot) and embraced my inner Felicity, with a stop at Dean & Deluca. Afterward, it was off to meet my friends in Brooklyn. (More on that to come).

Below you will find some photos. Enjoy! xx 

[The Hotel]

[Reflective State]

[Soho]

[Pretending I'm Felicity - Dean & Deluca, almond latte & poppyseed muffin]

[Purple Rain Nails]

[The Shake Shack in Madison Square Park)

[Amanda to cab driver: "Do you mind if I roll down the windows to take photos?"]

Write for Not A Model!

Not A Model wants YOU!

Yes, that's right. Not A Model is opening her doors for submissions and contributors! I am on the lookout for some talented writers/bloggers to join the Not A Model team.

Are you passionate about fashion, beauty and positivity? Are you interested in music, culture and lifestyle topics? Do you like writing but don't want to start your own blog?

I am looking for some beauty, fashion, lifestyle & culture bloggers to contribute. (I am also open to other topics and discussions.) If interested please send me a short e-mail with the following:

1. A mini-bio: tell me a little bit about yourself
2. Rationale: tell me why you want to write for Not A Model
3. Sample:  What would your first post look like/say?

Please send all submissions to write.notamodel[at]gmail.com

Lastly, I'm off to New York today on my first adult business trip. Eek! I'm also visiting some special lady friends in Brooklyn (I've never been) on the weekend!

I hope to hear from you soon!

Thanks!

Amanda, Not A Model

Cougar Boots & Monday's Mantra

Before the snow hits, we all start looking for the fashion necessities. We start to think about durability, warmth and comfort, hopefully without sacrificing our style sense.

I was approached to review a pair of Cougar Boots for the upcoming winter season. My choice was the Marla boot. (See left)

I didn't know how I would feel about an industrial style boot with a rubber heel, but I really love these boots. I enjoy the rugged look and the heel actually softens them up a bit. They're also super warm (they can withstand -20 degree weather to be exact) and the polar plush lining is soft like a teddy bear. 


Beyond my affinity for the boot, I really like their editorial photos and the video for their iconic pillow boot. You can check out their website here for more information, pricing and photos.

Lastly, for this week's Not A Model mantra, I enjoy the Cougar Boot motto. See below. Happy Monday!

Stuff I Find in My Hair - Part 2 - The Kit

My latest post for The Kit is quite confessional. I mean, who wants to admit that their scalp is a little on the dry side? However, in the name of beauty (writing) I decided to out my situation for the greater good of the human head.

Here we go..

Let me start first with a disclaimer: if you want to date me, or if you are currently dating me, stop reading here. I mean it, don’t go any further.

There is nothing more horrifying than someone saying, “Uhh, there’s something in your hair.” A co-worker of mine recently informed me of a piece of “gunk” as he referred to it, in my mane.

Mortified, I watched as he offered to pluck it out.

Now I’m sure you now conjure up images of me, as a greasy, gross, dandruff-ridden mess, living in fear of black wool sweaters but that’s not the case.

As a curly haired girl, I’ve been told on many occasions from hair stylists that I have a very dry scalp (a usual symptom of people with curly hair).

My issue is that I find scalp-focused shampoos a little bit too harsh. With their gooey consistency, sometimes strong smells and warning to use only “once or twice a week” I’m never sold.

My scalp saviour? Aveda Scalp Benefits Balancing Shampoo. With burdock root, echinacea and sage, it’s gentle enough to use daily and still removes extra build-up from my regular product routine.

Now how about that date?

Do you have any favourite products? I'd love to hear from you! Also, remember to visit The Kit for plenty other beauty posts from great bloggers.

xx

Not A Wedding Photographer - Kiel & Carly

This past weekend I attended the wedding of Kiel and Carly at a scenic little winery in Niagara called Vineland Estates.

This was my first non-Italian, non-traditional, non-banquet hall wedding and I was excited. I met Kiel (exactly a year ago) when we both were starting out at our PR agency. I remember when we had to drive up to Niagara Falls together for a work event, barely knowing each other in my second week on the job. He told me all about his amazing and smart fiancee Carly, and a year later (we were not only great friends) but I was attending their wedding. Along with my two other great co-workers friends, (Kathleen and Navi) we road-tripped it up to Vineland for the big event.

My favourite unique touch was the bride walking down the aisle to Cat Power's Sea of Love, and I also enjoyed the wine tasting before dinner. Carly looked gorgeous, and was one of the most relaxed brides I'd ever seen, while Kiel looked dapper in his trademark plaid and bow-tie. (He wears plaid everyday). We all had a great time and I was honoured to be one of their chosen guests.

Congratulations to them both! Below are some photos. Enjoy. xx

Not A Model Weekly Mantra - Happiness

This week's Not A Model quote deals with happiness.

I'm part of a book club and this month I chose The Happiness Project as the October book for my group. Although I'm not finished, (and book club is fast approaching on Thursday, yikes!) I have enjoyed reading about the author, Gretchen Rubin's journey to finding happiness. She dedicated an entire year of her life to achieving happiness in all areas; from work to relationships to money. Personally, I find it difficult to fully define happiness for myself. I struggle with the idea of asking myself if I'm happy. How many answers can I come up with? Does it depend on the day, month or circumstance? How can I be someone that is always happy?

I came across this happiness quote and thought it would be a good one to start the week with:

Happiness doesn't depend on any external conditions, it is governed by our mental attitude.
Dale Carnegie

This week, try not to let your mood be based on what kind of job you have, or how much money is in your bank account. Try not to believe that say, if you were in a relationship, or had a thinner waist you would be happy. For now, just start with thinking positive thoughts and the rest will come.

xx

I will share next month's book club pick! Perhaps some people will want to read along.

Not A Model Photo Diary - Autumn Daze

This is fall. This is Thanksgiving. This is my family. This is what I wear to work. This is what I like to eat. This is my heart. This is now.

Welcome to another Not A Model Photo Diary...

[The family that eats a meal together, walks off the meal together]

Morning Java & Autumn Art

My colleagues, "Amanda you look like a stewardess today."
"I watched Pan-Am last night, and I guess I was subconsciously influenced."

Little & I at the pumpkin patch

Fudgetaboutit

Pie-mania

Look Ma, I match the pumpkins! 

xx

Stuff I Find In My Hair - Part 1 - The Kit

It's time for another beauty post from The Kit!

While I've been writing predominantly face-focused blogs for my beat, I've been asked to write some more hair focused posts. At first, I wasn't sure exactly what I was going to write about because my hair-care routine is pretty specific to my mop. However, the following posts came organically out of things I experienced over the course of a few weeks.

The first part of the series, "Stuff I find in my hair" focuses on aging. (Note the embarrassing childhood photo.)

If my hair was a sitcom, it would be called The Golden Curls.

As a child, I was always known for my natural honey hued ringlets. Since then my mane has become a myriad of different honeys, golds and browns, some shades natural, others salon induced. However, while recently putting my hair up, I noticed something I hadn’t seen before.

There she was, smack in the middle of The Golden Curls was Betty White hair.

I started to freak out. I knew that this wasn’t genetic as my mother didn’t go grey well into her thirties. Why was this happening to me? Am I one step away from 80?

It seems we are all under this crazy notion that youth equals beauty. We are told to hide our age, hide our wrinkles and prolong the inevitable. We hire eight-year-old children to pose for Vogue and praise the hot new 13-year-old walking down the runway.

I made a decision to nip the tantrum. Instead I will take as a sign to relax more, reduce my stress load and focus on my health, not my vanity. Even on the Spring 2012 runway, hair trends seem to embrace an unconventional white-out aesthetic.

I say, bring it on Betty. You’re a babe.

Check out the post on The Kit and vote on how you feel about grey hair? 

Stay tuned for the next series, Stuff I find in my hair - part 2. 

Not A Model Weekly Mantra - Be Grateful

Since Thanksgiving is coming up, I thought I'd share a quote about gratitude.

I believe that gratitude should be practiced everyday, not just on a holiday. For the past couple of months, I've tried writing down lists of what I'm grateful for at night before I go to sleep. I've read that it is a good way to put things into perspective. Also, if I didn't have the greatest day, or if I wasn't feeling supremely happy, I'd force myself to pick something good about my life. It could be something simple like, "I am grateful for my bed" or "I'm grateful for that phone call with my mom this afternoon."

It allows me to understand that no matter how terrible I thought the day was, there is always something to be thankful for. It's the realization that it could always be worse, and right now I wasn't even close to "worse." In the spirit of gratitude, today's quote is the following:

"I am learning what it means to be grateful. The more I think, the more I thank." -anon

So think about it, what are you grateful for?