Envie Magazine by talented Domonik Gravine – June 2015
Happy to beging the summer with a new fashion story out! 
Heaven Has Heels Spring 2015
ChicLifistyle Spring 2015 by Enrique Vega
Video for talented Karolina Zamarlak’s collection.
Spring Athletic Look for Ambrosio Jewelry by Julia Pogodina.
Spring is here and new work is out! Very happy to see this images shot by talented Julia Pogodina!
Early Bird Resolution
I have been failing this one badly, really badly, that is why there is a delay in posting this article. I was really hoping that i will get back on truck and will have some good, proud things to say about myself. How I was up every morning on every day of the week at 7:30 AM or at least before 8AM and made my day into actions but it really wasn’t the case, and still quite isn’t but I am trying. The ratio has been about 3:4 which is less than 50% for the early morning.
The month of February turned out to be slower than expected. I had some great editorial gigs (which will be out soon) to do, but being not part of the NY’s Fashion Week (didn’t spend days running in cold) and not quite a showroom model with the size 2 (showroom size is usually 4-6), I have had many days where the “early bird” wake up was only up to me, to my own will. And the “will” told me he doesn’t want to leave the bed when there is no need and it is 23 degree (-5 C) to 18 degree (-8 C) outside.
Most of the days I would be up by 9 AM, but again not leaving my bed till 10 AM, sometimes even 11am, when I would get stuck reading news on the iphone. Some warmer days of February I have woke up around 8 AM and even made few runs outside, though none of this was as consisted as planned. My “determination” alarm would ring at 7:30 AM and get back 10 times to SNOOZE mode. Eventually I changed it to 8:30AM to no longer irritate myself with it. There was many reasons to my slacking, first of all the real lack of motivation. Why I shall be up before 8 AM if I have not a lot to do, and whatever I have to do can be done later. It is too cold (another excuse) to get out of bed, to get out to the street, and again no real good reason for that, I can work out later. Some other reasons were that I could not figure out the best hours to make it happen. Some nights I would go to sleep way too early and lay bright awake by 5 AM desperately trying to fall asleep. And I would eventually, but around 8AM and then not up till 11 AM. Another nights I went to sleep too late in order to wake up at 7:30AM.
The wind blew, the snow fell and I stayed, for the most part, locked in my cosy apartment, and I do not regret this even by a bit, only the missed morning hours. Because I am the most productive only early in the morning, before noon and late at the evening, somewhere after 6 P.M. The afternoon usually a blurry time for me, especially if I have not put myself together before that. Then, I am not ready to act on my day-I am a mess, so the early hours are very crucial to my well being (and if I know this why I am so “will-less”).
There are immense advantages in getting out of bed early, because of many un-expectancies that are associated with being a model such as last minute castings or even work call. Being up early you may enjoy a lovely, not rushed breakfast (this is a great motivator for me). You can do your work out in the morning – I am sure you are saying big “yes!” to this. Honestly, I do prefer to work out in the morning because it means I am done with it for the rest of the day! Evenings are always tempting to socialize with friends (or just get lazy) rather than going to the gym, but of course this depends from the person. You will have enough time to dry hair (after your work out) in the morning, you always need more time when they are long. I, personally, have fine hair type that is very soft and get oily quickly under a hat, for this reason the night wash doesn’t work, it must be washed in the morning. You can take time to put a light make up, even though we know you are beautiful without it. You can spend more time on what to wear and change your mind. Have enough time to have your metro card, phone, ipad, compcards in your bag, and to get back home if you forgot any of that. The list of benefits waking up early is simply endless.
Good news, that in my seclusion I have done a lot more reading and many thanks to my friend in recommending me podcasts and particularly NPR radio. Most recently I have listened to a short story about Roger Babson named “What Goes Up” #605 which I recommend listen to here http://www.npr.org/podcasts/510289/planet-money. For those who doesn’t know who he is (i did not quite knew who he was) and may don’t want to bother listening, he was: once a MIT student, an early 20’s century banker who predicted crash of Wall Street, a founder of a Babson College in Boston, a man who lived till 91 years old despite being diagnosed with tuberculosis and many more (check the audio). So why am I talking about him in my “early bird” post? Well he is also the “father” of Babson Boulder Trail in Dogtown Mass. I found the idea simply great, here is some boulders I really liked :
I thought, what would my boulder be? Or if I have had to create one what would I add?
Well, here it is:
Nah, this one is too long…Ok last one!
And of course I meant BABY!
Good luck with your early morning,
Onega
An inspiring talk “Fake it until you…”
Recently, my good friend shared with me, for which I am immensely obliged, this TED talk. The sharing coincided with my earlier thinking and examining of a phrase “fake it until you make it”. I was thinking of my job being a model, or an actor and of many other life situations when you have to convince others and make them believe in yourself, your ideas etc. I was never the biggest fun of that phrase, but believed that there was some sense in it, yet it was missing a better “spin”, composition of the words. In Amy Cuddy’s “Power Posing” talk the phrase is excellently re-phrased and thus re-born into, in my opinion, a much better version of the old one. I could not state it any better.
Winter Work Out Drills or Backlash on Winter’s Stall.
I enjoy working out a lot, it helps me not just stay in shape but also obtain a positive energy which is really a must in NYC. Unfortunately winter is my “soft spot” time, and I often lack on being consistent. Sometimes I may avoid working out for weeks (to stay sane I don’t recommend you to do this), but whenever I do I am always trying to get the most out of my work outs. Swimming is one of my favorite ways to exercise, but a dry land work out can be no less fun and easier to manage during winter time. I love to do lots of aerobic (cardio) exercises with low weights. Here are the images of some of my gym drills.
Have Fun,
Onega
Resolutions 2015
Every year I have many resolutions. Some of them quite though and somewhat unrealistic and others are much more possible. This year one of my many resolutions I have two that are “easy” and that I have been meaning to fix for quite some time.
My first resolution is “Don’t be late”.
I want to make sure I will not be running late to any meetings whether it is a meeting with a friend, going to a casting or my own time frame to be at certain place for convenience. And the most important is not to be late to work! To my defense I can proudly admit that I am almost never late to work. Seldom, I may show up 10 min late, but in general I am right on time. However, I fall behind many other occasions to be on time, and especially in regard to castings. Thus, the resolution of this year is to come as early as I can to my appointments or not later than 30 min till they end. This means that if I have a window between 1 and 3pm to make an appointment I shall be there no later than by 2:30pm. The idea is nice but “how do I make it happen?” was my first question to myself. The second question I asked was “why do I run late?”
I start from the later question. The thing is it takes quite some time to get ready for castings and then I am one of those people who is guilty of procrastination pleasure. I have noticed that my procrastination always grew longer before the castings. I would often end up doing something at home, things like washing dishes or looking for something obsessively that could be done in any other time, just to not leave my place. The truth is – castings often can be a frustrating experience and eventually I realized that all this was a “play of my mind” that would do anything else but not to leave my apartment and deal with the pressure of castings. One really has to be in the “right mood” to go and meet the clients. Thus, I decided to fallow some simple truths and come up with the 3 key tricks to have a “better time with castings” and “don’t be late”.
“Better Time with Castings” – tricks
1. Always check your castings at the evening for the day ahead. If there is none, check in around 10-11am.
Knowing your castings an evening before gives you better idea what to wear and what kind of clients you will meet, so you can prepare mentally. Give yourself few outfit options just in case you wake up in the morning and not feeling like wearing one, you may feel for the other. It will safe a lot of time. For example when I am not prepared, I often find myself caught in front of my closet contemplating what to wear, it can take up to 30 min of ones time.
2. Check the weather a night before or at least in the morning.
For me personally it is one of the most important factors too. Us, models are always on the run and you may end up running in the city entire day with no chance to come back home and change so it is bets to plan it thoroughly. It will help you to figure out your outfit as well.
3. Have a good sleep and give yourself few hours to get ready to your appointments.
You don’t want to wake up and feel, think that you look tiered. Notice that your hair is not clean and there is no time to wash them and dry. It will make you not wanting to go to your appointments, and as a consequence you will procrastinate and be late.
4. Remember cab is not always a solution.
Often if I know I am going to run late I think, oh I just take a cab, but only if it is an option. You must remember that cab often can take longer then a train especially if you are going cross town. Plus, I never really spend any of my “cab money” on the castings. Reserve cab for going to work, as I call it a “pay for a pay” (which means you are finally doing job that is paying you so you can pay and deduct it from your salary, in your head).
This month is coming to the end and to flatter myself I can say that I have not been late so far, except few moments. Couple of times I was about to run badly late to work but cab was my solution so I came right on time. However, i want slightly push myself and not just to be on time but come 5 -10 min early to work. Thus that is what I am working on.
I will post the “Early Bird” resolution in the part 2 of this article in the month of February.
Good luck with you castings,
Onega
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