Life's a snow globe

Life's a snow globe.

We all live in them. We have our little worlds, in the circular bubble that surrounds us. They may be filled with jobs, relationships, apartments, mansions, huts, closets, possessions, family members, lovers, life partners, and bosses. We sit in them, womb-like, squishy in the water that surrounds us, like the first home we ever had.

And then one day, a giant toddler comes up to the globe and flips it over. 

A strange substance fills the air and alters the state of what once was. The continuous flow of peace and order is interrupted. You have to evaluate the change. Is it beautiful or horrifying? What is this constant shaking? Is it subtle drowning? What is happening? 

There are two types of change.

There is change that we choose; choosing to quit your job, choosing to break up with someone, choosing to move. Then there is forced change; getting let go from your job, someone breaking up with you, being forced to find a new place. I've been on the side of both forces of change, but mostly I like to choose change. Recently, I've been on the other side.

I believe that the universe will give you change when you need it even if you're not ready to choose it. 

I wrote a bunch of thank you cards this weekend and it reminded me that no matter how many shakes pop up in my life, there is always something to be grateful for. The list of reasons goes from the macro (family, roof, friendship, health) to the micro (soft pajamas, bare feet on summer grass, French press coffee).

You can't predict change. You can't hide in snow globes. One second there is stillness, the next it's a storm. Maybe the toss up is exactly what you need, or perhaps be grateful that the toddler just shook it, and didn't smash it.

There's always that.

Not A Model Weekly Mantra - Making Sense of Change

Lately, I've been working on change.

I've been looking for a a new place to live. I've been trying to get back into running. Internally, I've been working on changing my perceptions. Sometimes I'm far too quick to react, without understanding the full situation.

I like to measure my life's changes. I sometimes ask myself: one year ago today, what was I doing? Who was I dating? Where was I living?

I realize that some people always have the same answers to those questions, and others, are always recalculating. Some people beg for change, and others have their world flipped six different ways out of nowhere.

The only thing that can be controlled is attitude. This week's mantra comes from philosopher, Alan Watts. Enjoy! x

"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." 

New Weekly Mantra - September

September is my favourite month.

Beyond any other time of year, this month signifies something new. When January rolls around and we're supposed to make our resolutions for the calendar year, I can't help but feel forced. When September rolls around, I naturally start thinking about change and growth and the possibilities that lie ahead. 

I call this the "Back to School" effect. After years upon years of planning a "back to school" outfit, and opening up a fresh page of an academic notebook, I still get those phantom feelings without going back to a classroom.

September reminds us of that soon we will be heading in the months of family gatherings, added layers and a slight recluse into the home.  Summer is all about relaxation or vacation, whereas fall brings with it structure and reflection. It's not always the easiest time of year, but it's my favourite. 

This week's mantra is all about the next season ahead. Enjoy! x

"The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August, and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself like the first grey hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season too many." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

The Shift Debate

I said, "I don't like any kind of change."

My parents chuckled in my face and told me that people who don't like change don't move away. Ever. And I like leaving. Yet, I stew over nostalgia. I crave looking back. I relish in remembering. Thinking about the small distinctions of a person, then and now. Me, 2.0. 2.1. The newer version. The broken version. The confident version. The scared version.

I get weary over the thought about starting again. I get so excited over the idea of change that I paralyze the move. The fear contracts inside my arms, hands, legs and feet, like ivy that crawls up and adheres and tries to become permanent. Permanence. I don't have much of that. I don't understand it. I do see it on the faintest line on my forehead. I ask, "When are you going away? I'd like you to change please."

Before I make a leap, I calculate the amount of nicks I may get from a fall. After it seems that I always forget to count the blows because I'm usually wiping something brilliant off my face.

It's always just the before.

Not A Model asks: How do you deal well with change?

Not A Model Mantra - Change & Comfort

Lately, I've been thinking about change.

The moment you decide to do something instead of just talk about it. That last second when you go forward with option X towards that field of uncertainty.

It's the aching desire to try something new, with the secret fear that the knitted blanket that you've so carefully built and wrapped around yourself is the perfect amount of comfort.

A word that scares me more than change is "comfortable."

At this point in my life, I do not crave comfort. I do not yearn for a blanket. Instead, I want to experience everything to the point that I once again, crave that blanket. It's a cycle.

For this week's Not A Model weekly mantra I quote Mr. Obama:

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”


While this is a more cryptic post, I will share some more thoughts on change for the months to come. It will all make sense soon. Happy Week! xx

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

On Moving Out - From suburbs to skyscrapers

What would you do with 3 hours of your life back?

This is the question I ask myself as I have finally made the big switch from the suburbs to the city. After months of talking about moving, searching for a place and drinking my body weight in commuter espresso, it finally happened. 

This past week I was a mess. The first morning I realized I didn't pack spoons so I couldn't eat cereal. I tried to open a can and couldn't figure out how to use my roommate's IKEA can opener, even though she did a full demonstration the night before. The other day, I went to work and left my wallet on my bed. I said to my co-workers, "Hmm...I may be falling apart. I lived away for 4 years at university and yet somehow, I can't get it together?!"

There are also moments when I think of my family and dog all together in my old house and I get a little bit homesick. Cue the Full House sap song. I tell myself that people are continents away from their families and I can see mine with a hop over a highway. It's all part of growing up, I tell myself.

But wait, did I mention that I can walk to work in 5 minutes? 5 minutes! With the move, I have more time to sleep, write, exercise, socialize, live, breathe, relax and just be. I already love living with my roommate Farah who is superwoman and can assemble anything while simultaneously finding me the perfect belt to punch up my outfit. Oh, and I also inherited a cat (Horton) who has decided to fall in love with me and my bedroom. I already find myself leaving for work in the morning with a smile on my face and a hop in my step. I don't recognize my morning reflection anymore, I mean who brought the annoying happy girl?

Cue the musical montage. Look out city, I'm home.