Winter Wonderland - Not A Model Contributor Post

By: Jennifer Sgro

If you're spending the Holidays in the snow, here's my top three picks to make sure you're bundled up against Mother Nature:

We’re crushing hard on the Joan of Arctic Sorel boots, which by the way might just be the best thing since sliced bread. They combine Sorel’s celebrated cold-weather performance with a stylish design and keep our toes from getting frostbitten, even after hours of building snowmen.

Even though we’d rather be lounging poolside, we have a soft spot for coats (it must be our Canadian roots and love of hockey), so while we’re out shopping around town we’ll be sporting this adorable hooded, toggle plaid coat from Old Navy. The grey and cream is so chic and the yellow stripe adds a pop of sunshine colour.

Our favourite new accessory is Gap’s cable-knit hat with faux fur pompom. Not only is it super warm and stylish, but it keeps our tresses looking super chic without leaving us with hat head.

Not A Model Recipe of the Month: French Onion Soup

By Katie Mills - Contributing Not A Model Blogger



Hello Not a Model readers!

I'm thrilled to be a fashion and food contributor to my lovely friend Amanda's blog. We'll get to the fashion a little later on, but for now let's talk about food. As a frequent food blogger, I thought it would be appropriate to share some of the recipes I make at home on Not a Model, in a Recipe of the Month column. I want the recipes to be classic (perhaps sometimes with a twist) but also seasonally appropriate. What better way to kick things off than with a very traditional and delicious, French Onion soup.

As I've shared on my blog many times before, soup is one of my all-time favourite foods; you really can't go wrong with a delicious homemade soup. I had never actually made French Onion soup before but this one had a lot of good ratings so I thought it was safe to try. Minus the long caramelizing and boiling down process with the onions, this recipe is fairly straight forward and doesn't call for a lot of ingredients, which is always a nice thing. I didn't bake my bowl of soup in the oven with the bread and cheese like they do in restaurants, mostly because I didn't think I had the appropriate dishware to do so, but broiling the cheesy toast and adding them on top afterward was an equally appealing (and necessary) option. If you're a fan of French Onion soup, I would definitely give this a try. It's the perfect meal after a busy day at work/school, and warms your belly up in an oh-so-delicious way.

Meet The Not A Model Squad!!

Notice a new tab up above?

After putting out my plea for contributors, I received a surprisingly amazing response. (I'm the type of girl who will send out 100 party invitations and be genuinely surprised when 99 people attend). It's been a longer process than imagined, but I officially have a new Not A Model team of amazing girls.

It's great to have new talent on-board that are passionate about writing, blogging and communication. The squad is diverse, with all of them bringing different angles and perspectives to interesting topics. From a talented make-up artist, to a New Brunswick native who comes from a military family - I hope you will enjoy engaging with these new voices.

Here at Not A Model, I strive to create a message - (both online and in my everyday life) that focuses on contributing to the world in a positive way, no matter how small. It takes nothing to brighten someone's day while sharing your passion, whether it be for fashion, beauty, health or life. I'm so excited to start this new angle to the blog.

Without further delay, click below and...

  Meet my NOT A MODEL SQUAD!

The Kit - Fragrance Foe

Here we have another one of my beauty posts for The Kit.  This time, it's a sultry little move for your hair, and my disdain for fragrance. Enjoy. xx

I’m going to share a small secret: I love to wear perfume in my hair.

Now I’m not sure how many women spritz fragrance in their mane, but it is my favourite trick. It’s a subtle little move that keeps your hair smelling irresistible to all those lucky people who happen to be around you that day.

Now here is the issue: I STRONGLY dislike perfume, especially perfume done wrong.

I hate walking into an elevator in the morning and having to wear a gas mask (oh wait, I don’t own one of those). Let’s try that again: I repeat, I hate walking into an elevator in the morning and not being able to breathe because someone decided to douse their entire body in perfume. (This goes for men too.) The key word is subtle. One spray, mayyybe two.

I even hate the perfume section of the department store and will cower from the trigger-happy spritzers who want to share their samples with me. Runnnnnnnnnnn!

Just when I was ready to go as “scent-free” as a kindergarten teacher, I discovered Lanvanila. Lavanila (available at Sephora) is a light, almost natural perfume made with pure essential oils, vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

Say what? I know. The fragrance is also made without parabens, sulfates and even synthetic dyes. My personal favourite for my body and hair is  Lavanila Pure Vanilla. With notes of freesia and patchouli, it won’t leave you smelling like a cupcake.

Not A Model Weekly Mantra

Yesterday, in a group lunch meeting I received some simple, but powerful advice:"Feed Your Brain."

The advice came from a smart, challenging and diverse businesswoman, a CEO nonetheless. Now you could probably expect a leader to tell young people to "feed their brains" with more business - more news about business, more books about business, but this advice was the opposite.

It goes like this: if your job/education deals with fashion, communications or medicine, you should feed your brain with information outside of those realms. Basically, if you're learning about rackets in your day job, don't spend your free time only thinking about rackets. You must read, absorb, listen, and learn about things that are different from you and your current knowledge. Watch foreign films, listen to podcasts about topics that confuse you, or intimidate you. Go outside of your information comfort zone. It's the only way that you will be able to contribute to your industry (and the world) in a meaningful way. Actively work harder at your curiosity.

You see, if you're learning about rackets all week, spend the weekend with the guy who makes the balls.

Sunday Strolls - Not A Model Shoot

We're back! It's been quite a significant amount of time since Stef and I did one of our classic Not A Model photo shoots. We've both been busy, and for most of October Stef was on an adventure travelling around Italy.

While three weeks isn't a devastating amount of time for a friend to be gone, I couldn't wait for her to return. When I moved to Toronto this summer, my support system took a minor blow. While I have a great social network in the city, the people that I grew up with are no longer around the corner, or down the street. Stef was one of the first people to leave our Italian suburbia and move out on her own. When I'm having a rough day, I know that I can call her up, or stop by her restaurant (my personal version of Cheers) and sit at the bar. She listens. She gets it. She doesn't judge. It's that simple.

For this shoot, we decided to use our Sunday hang as a chance to photograph some new stuff. When walking down the street in all-bright-everything, I realized how many people wear black and grey all the time (myself included). Sometimes it's nice to inject some colour into the world.

It's all about recharging with the simple things: your favourite sweater, your favourite friend, an easy conversation; the rest can be solved with a cup of coffee.

For now.

Some women stare at supermodels when they run on the treadmill, I prefer Mindy Kaling.

This past Saturday, (as I peeled myself off the couch from watching While You Were Sleeping - note: how can anyone resist 90s Sandra Bullock romantic comedies?) I put on my runners and went to the gym. I brought the latest issue of TIME magazine and flipped to the article I've been meaning to read all week.

I downloaded a preview of Mindy Kaling's new book "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?" on my Kindle after noticing many articles on her. Not only is she a writer (The Office), an author and an actress..she is Not A Model role-model worthy! (Try saying that 5 times fast).

You see, Mindy didn't have to sleep her way to the top. She didn't become a reality television star or have a circus wedding to induce success (cc: Kim Kardashian). Her parents don't work in Hollywood. She's not discussing the 7 ways to looks thinner, or younger. She's smart and funny and successful. She's proof that if you work hard at something that you love, you can succeed in an industry that may not be the most friendly.

Her story resonates with me far more than the desire to look like the woman on the cover of a health magazine with a 6-pack and shiny, straight, "I just got out of the shower and it dries like this" hair. So I kept my magazine on this page while I ran. I realize that I too want to be a successful writer and that is a healthy dream I can run towards (pun intended). 

This week, Not A Model says: Focus on a role model that you admire. Be creative. Think about the person you want to become and look for people who have paved the way.

Who knows, you may be on the next glossy page that someone is running on a treadmill to.

How I Look After A Work Day...

At the end of a work day, I like to avoid reflective surfaces. I know that when I decide to take a glance, the following things will stare back at me:

• There will be mascara underneath my eyes, as if I've been dancing in a sweaty nightclub, or had my face buried in a mushy pillow all day. The whites of my eyes will be bloodshot, as if a miniature teacher has scribbled her red pen edits on a blank page. 

• If my hair was worn in a bun, it is now frizzing out, and any pin that was securing something, is now probably somewhere on my office floor. (The hazard of things flinging out of my hair without my knowledge is very high). If my hair was down, it's probably up anyways.

• My outfit will be wrinkled in creases I didn't even know existed. I will start to panic when I realize that I'm not wearing any jewelry. The fear will subside when I remember that my rings, bracelets, and/or earrings are probably buried under a stack of paper, as I can't seem to keep anything on for an entire day.

• I will curse myself for not bringing an emergency make-up kit, especially if I have to meet someone after. I've never been someone to carry more than lipgloss and (maybe floss) in my purse. I don't reapply concealer. I don't add blush. I don't carry hairspray. This is it. Whatever was put on in the morning has evaporated. I'll pinch my cheeks and hope my next destination has bad lighting. My rationale is that I could try and glop on some additional makeup (if I had some) but it's just like adding ketchup to burnt chicken, underneath it's still burnt.

You see, I prefer my reflection right after I wash my face.

It's like pressing a refresh button. I'm completely bare. There is nothing to hide. There is nothing to fix. The day is over and I'm ready to participate in my favourite weeknight activity:

• Sleep.

Happy Weekend Not A Model readers!

Not A Model Beauty Giveaway!!

Welcome to the first Not A Model beauty giveaway! 

Not A Model is offering a giveaway to its readers to win Avon's new night cream, Genics and an Avon "Step into Sexy" kit (includes perfume, body lotion, shower gel and wristlet).

Recently, I was invited to attend a girls night event for Avon with a handful of fantastic bloggers. We listened to live music from Mumford & Sons and learned about the new products. I'm currently loving (and using) the Anew Genics cream. There is nothing like a little extra protection for the skin while you sleep.

Interested? To enter this beauty giveaway (value $120) all you have to do is one of the following:

1. Leave a comment here (or email me at: write[dot]notamodel@gmail.com & tell me why you read the blog!

2. If you're not a fan of my facebook page, LIKE Not A Model and say hi! *(With either option don't forget to leave your e-mail address so I can contact you!)

  

The winner will be chosen next week and will be sent their gift pack directly. All are welcome to enter, the prize pack also makes a great gift for the upcoming holidays. :)

Not A Model Weekly Mantra - The most important relationship...

With the newly minted extra hour of sleep from daylight savings, the first thought that comes to my mind is, "November is the darkest, longest month of the year." 

With the holiday season approaching, we will soon be catering to the needs of those we love. Here at Not A Model I'm all for altruism, but sometimes we forget to be kind to the person in the mirror. It's easy to be negative, it's easy to put yourself down, it's easy to smile at every person on the street, but not to your own reflection.

Try and be kinder to yourself. Treat your body with care. Give yourself a daily compliment instead of waiting for someone to pay you one. Remember that if you're not good to yourself, you're no good to anyone else.

This week's quote comes from my favourite female designer, Diane von Furstenburg. After hearing her speak in New York a couple of years ago, I've always looked up to her, and her motto on life.. 

"The most important relationship in life is the relationship you have with yourself, because no matter what happens, you will always be with yourself"- Diane von Furstenburg

Below is the quote on a "Fashionable Face," a cool new poster series from fashionnotes.com. To choose another fashionable face, like Karl or Valentino, check out the series here.

The Scissor Rebellion - The Kit

Happy (almost) weekend Not A Model readers!

Before most of us take a well-deserved break and head into the most glorious days of the week (Saturday & Sunday) I'd like to share my latest hair post from The Kit. It involves a heavenly new hair mask and my resistance to chop my mane.

Enjoy the read, and get ready for tons of new updates next week, including a beauty giveaway :)

The Scissor Rebellion

I really need a haircut. 

Okay, so why don’t I just get one, you ask?

Maybe it’s laziness (my new hair dresser is too far, I work too late) maybe it’s frugality (a haircut is expensive, I prefer to spend my money on overpriced avocados) or maybe it’s related to hair trauma? I received a terrible haircut in April (think curly hair triangle mullet) and I haven’t touched it since.

Usually, when I get a bad haircut—and I’ve had my fair share (like the time my grandmother decided to cut me curly bangs in grade two, before my first communion) I steer away from any scissor-happy Edward until I’m really, really desperate.

You see, I’d totally be content to let my hair grow out until it reaches Diana Ross status, but my ends are really brittle. My hair slurps up product faster than a sick child with a bowl of homemade chicken soup. While dry, disheveled hair was cool in college, it just doesn’t cut it (no pun intended) as a young, working PR professional.

While I’m still holding out on that haircut, I’ve found a temporary solution. The Body Shop’s Rainforest Radiance Hair Butter is the perfect trick to condition and smooth those coarse ends with an intensive deep-conditioning treatment. As per usual, I love products without too many chemicals, so the eco-conscious formula leaves my hair fresh and my mind clear.

Now if only those avocados weren’t from California.

Brooklyn, Brunch & Mimes - Travel Diaries

For the second half of my trip, I went to visit two friends of mine, Julia and Cam who live in Brooklyn. Julia used to live in the Canadian suburbs that I'm from until she moved to New York for optometry school. There she met Cam, and the rest is eye doctor history.

Let me get this off my chest, I love(d) Brooklyn. (Williamsburg to be exact.)

I decided that if I ever move to New York, I would work in Manhattan and live in Brooklyn. It's the best of both worlds. I love Manhattan, but I can find it a little overwhelming at times. Brooklyn is the perfect mix of cozy neighbourhoods, vintage shopping, cute cafes and helloooo, the original home of Jay-Z and also the new home of Ryan Gosling. Yes, yes, yes.

The rest of my weekend consisted of traipsing down the Brooklyn and Manhattan streets dressed up as a mime (for Halloween of course), shopping, brunching, bar hopping (last call is 4 a.m.?!) Chinese noodle eating and getting caught in the freakiest October snowstorm I'd ever seen. This was the first time I saw New York through the experiences of people who actually lived there. No tourist stops, just day to day.

As for the photos, I wanted to take my usual 300, but the snow was a real inhibitor. I tried to take one
during my tour of Williamsburg and almost destroyed my camera. I voted to keep my camera safe over capturing the moment. Thanks again to Julia & Cam for an amazing weekend. I promise to visit again soon.

Below is all I could grab. Enjoy!

[Snow in October?!?]

[2 words]

[Meet Jules]

[Brunchin' at Juliette]

Mime-time

[The classics: Harry, Sally, Lo-mein]

xx