Not A Model Contributor Post - Standards of Beauty

By: Vanessa Grillone

I came across these pictures on WeHeartIt.com the other day and they really got me thinking. What do you need to look like in order to be considered beautiful? I agree with the second photo, every body is beautiful.

But what is acceptable?

Coming from an Italian and Portuguese background, I am considered to be “too skinny” by my family members. To other people I am seen as “normal”. To my doctor I am seen as “healthy”, given my height and weight measurements. Personally, I am comfortable in my own skin and really, isn’t that what matters most? Would I like to be a little more curvaceous? Yes, I would. It would be nice to look more like a woman instead of a 14-year-old girl that hasn’t fully developed, but hey c’est la vie! Beauty isn't about how much you weigh or what you see on T.V. It’s about being comfortable in your own skin, being healthy, and being confident.

Beauty is how you see yourself. Beauty is loving yourself.

Not A Model mantra - The reminder

When was the last time you checked in with yourself to find out what drives you forward?

For me, it took a week away from my daily routine to remind myself. Spending time with my family, writing, reading, listening to music, submerging myself in salt water and letting the sunshine kiss my skin are all little things that bring me the most happiness. While I can't always escape on a vacation on a weekly basis, sometimes all it takes is some reflection before a big week to really connect with yourself and think of the moments when you feel most at ease.

As I prepare to get back to the daily grind, I read this to remind me. Enjoy!

"Whatever makes you happy, makes you laugh, drives you, matters to you, motivates you, brings out the best in you, comforts you, elevates you, strengthens you or supports you, keep your mind on it, open your heart and soul and embrace it, never lose sight of it, always nurture and dwell on it." - Shadonna Richards from Think Happy and Be Happy

Family Ties - Be Back Soon

Not A Model is off on a family vacation.

For this one, it's not just the core four as in Mom, Dad, sis and myself. This time we're bringing along the cousins, aunts, uncles and BABY for the ride. You may wonder, "Who is excited to go on a vacation with their extended family in their mid-twenties? Boooooooring." Well, I am.

Growing up in an Italian family meant that my first friends were my cousins, my "nannies" were my grandparents and most of my extended family lived within a walking distance of each other. We are a close bunch (and while we're not bringing everyone along - there are a lot of us) I can't wait to spend a sunny week with them.

While I'm not one for forced holidays (*cough cough St. Valentine) here in Canada we have family day coming up on Monday. I hope everyone spends time with the people they care about, or whomever they call their clan. I'll be with mine, slushy drink in hand.

In the meantime, below are some of my favourite fashion advertisements for spring from Escada, Massimo Dutti, Mulberry, Hermes and Versace. Enjoy!

Not A Model will be back soon.

I wear bright pants. I am a writer.

I admire fashion bloggers.

I applaud those creative souls who post endless photos of themselves looking put together and polished on a daily basis. I can't seem to do that. I'll admit that I like to hide behind my words. I feel more comfortable sharing my thoughts more frequently than my face.

However, when your best friend is a photographer you learn to get used to the other side. I like looking at photos as a guide to my life at a particular moment in time. I can look at one image and instantly remember how I was feeling. These days (as my pinterest post explained) we are inundated with images. We're a visual culture feeding off photos rather than words. I wonder how many people have already scrolled down this post to the photos instead of reading it?

For this shoot, I put on the brightest pants I own. A bright piece of anything, whether it be on your legs or lips can instantly boost your mood and give you confidence. I find every little bit helps.

Yes, I am a writer - but now and then it's okay to show the person behind the pen.

Enjoy! Cred: Stef Sgams

Looking for some PINspiration?

It seems that I've succumbed to the Pinterest obsession.

I know, I'm late to the party. It all started with my cousin and sister and their obsession, then it was the app, then it was an invite to an account for PR purposes and now I'm a professional "pinner" as I like to call it. Pinterest is all about inspiration. For those who are also late to the party, Pinterest is an online pinboard that lets you collect things that you like/desire/covet and then share with other people. There are tons of categories, from travel to fashion to photography to name a few.

It's kind of like eating candy. There is a quick "sugar" high from the immense amount of scrolling and clicking and then pinning. It's a weird little rush to see all these pretty things in so many different categories and boards. It can leave one feeling inspired, or sometimes a bit tired.

An indulgent browse through Pinterest can be all Ryan Gosling, closets the size of kitchens, frosted cupcakes with impossibly charming mini-cupcakes on top, gooey macaroni and cheese lasagna, and Paris - in every way, shape and form that Paris can be represented. Oh, and balloons - bunches and bunches of balloons on balconies, in you guessed it, Paris.

This type of overload can then lead to:

• Ryan Gosling is not who I wake up beside in the morning, my entire bedroom is the size of that closet - oh, and I haven't unpacked that box under my desk that's under a pile of books and I've lived here for 10 months; I want to eat that macaroni and cheese lasagna but still look like the girl carrying those balloons, while also eating a cupcake in Paris. Wait...

While I still love Pinterest, I think that sometimes it's okay to look around at your own life and realize that not everything is pretty and perfect and "pin" worthy.  Sometimes it's good to take your eyes off the screen and find something beautiful in your everyday.

While it's still winter, I find some daily inspiration in the sunshine. The mornings are bright and blinding and my walk to work is that much easier. Sure this isn't Paris, I'm not currently eating a cupcake and I will never have an organized closet, but the best part of this inspiration is... it's mine.

Follow Not A Model on Pinterest at: http://pinterest.com/notamodelblog/ 

The Kit Beauty Post - Oil...for your face

Below is another one of my Blog Ambition beauty posts for The Kit. Enjoy! 

When I think of oil, I immediately think of my favourite snack.

I envision myself sitting at the kitchen table with my father, while he carves into a large hunk of crunchy Italian bread, spilling dark crumbs everywhere. He hands me a piece, and I grab the crust, turn it over, and dip the soft, white, porous inside into a plate of extra virgin olive oil. The bread sops up the oil like a thirsty sponge, and my mouth is happy.

When it comes to non-edible oil, it can be daunting to imagine any type on the face. We’ve been bombarded with messages that oil causes breakouts and grease slicks. It’s time to debunk that beauty myth. It is actually true that if skin is devoid of oil (cough, cough too dry) it will actually work overtime to produce it, in turn causing more breakouts.

My latest skin saviour is Josie Maran’s Organic Argan Oil, available at Sephora. The oil is organically grown in Morocco, and is cold-pressed to perfection.

While I thought oil on my face would be extremely greasy, Josie Maran’s face oil absorbs effortlessly and has quickly replaced my heavy night cream. With vitamin E and fatty acids, it leaves skin feeling smooth and rejuvenated. Best of all, the product is purchased from women’s cooperatives in Morocco to support their social and economic welfare.

While nothing can replace my pre-dinner snack, this is the kind of oil I can really sink my pores into.