Josie Maran Argan Infinity Cream. I load this all around my eye area at night, on any other areas that happen to be extra dry, and use as a lip balm during the day. This is greasy…think Aquaphor or Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream. The difference is that it is creamier and lighter, less sticky, glides on much more easily, and is petroleum free. If you don’t want to splurge on Josie Maran, I have been using Alba Un-Petroleum around my eyes for years…it is definitely stickier and thicker that the argan cream, a little more Aquaphor-ish.

Vegenaise. I know this stuff is nothing new, but I somehow just discovered it when reading Gwyneth’s latest book “It’s All Good.” I also highly recommend this book for all fans of GP, healthy recipes, and good photography. Back to the Vegenaise…It is the perfect substitute for mayo and works so well for different dressings and sauces. Miller and I made Gwyneth’s version of ranch dressing and as she would say…this stuff is like money in the bank. The ingredients are below- combine and whisk together. Find it in the refrigerator section at Whole Foods.

*1/2 cup Vegenaise

*2 teaspoons of fresh squeezed lemon juice

*1 teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning

*1 finely minced garlic clove

*1 tablespoon of chopped chives

Lafco diffuser. These are the best quality and prettiest diffusers I have ever used. Miller and I burn through candles so fast that it’s ridiculous. There is constantly one burning in our living room so we decided we needed a more cost efficient way to keep the bedroom smelling good. Funny I say cost efficient because this thing is not cheap, but it lasts an entire year and it gives off a very strong scent. The container is hand blown glass- we buy the Lafco candles too and save each container after the candle is finished burning because they are so beautiful- perfect to use for flowers. The diffuser we have right now- well I guess for this year – is Ski House, but all of their scents are absolutely wonderful. I would definitely order from a store that offers free shipping like Candles off Main or Candle Luxury.

Covergirl Lash Blast Fusion. My cousin Lauren introduced me to this mascara, and it will definitely be my go to mascara from now on. Like she explained on her blog, it really is lengthening, volumizing, and clump free. Add drugstore price to that list and it doesn’t get much better. One thing I should mention, this does have a thicker wand, so if you prefer something smaller where you have more control, this might not be the mascara for you.

Somme Institute. I am very hesitant to post on a skin care line because everything works so differently for everybody. I first read about Somme Institute on Into The Gloss…this is a lot of information, but if you find skin care as interesting as I do, you will appreciate.

After reading this, I got to thinking that I need to find another product to use nightly so that I am not overusing my retinol cream. Which, if you are not yet using a retinol cream, you 100% should be!!! I decided to try out the travel size to see how I liked the products without having to fully commit. I really did love it. My skin tone/texture definitely benefited. When I ran out of the travel stuff, the products I felt that were worth re-ordering were the Serum and the A-Bomb. The serum is filled with vitamin C which is great for skin tone, but you have to be careful with vitamin C because some forms of it will cause you to break out. This one does not, or at least didn’t for me.

The A-Bomb is filled vitamin A and E, which is very good for skin texture. This is much more gentle than the dermatologist prescribed retinol creams (also vitamin A) like Retina or Renova- with that said, I still believe those should be used, but not overused. So I use the A-Bomb most nights and use my strong retinol twice a week. If you have been looking for a new skin regimen or could use some brightening, you should try out the travel pack to test the waters!

Favorite new- or new to me- sites…Honestly Yum (lots of great food, drink, and entertaining ideas) and Domaine Home.

P.S. – All women’s apparel is 20% off today at J.Crew.

Miller and I had a really cool shoot in Maryland on my actual birthday – the actor Miller photographed actually starred in the movie Miller watched when he was fifteen that inspired him to get into photography in the first place. So it was definitely a special shoot.

Miller took me to the cafe at Bergdorf for a birthday lunch…this is the 3rd year in a row we have done this, and I definitely want to continue the tradition year after year. I always look forward to the champagne cocktails, big salads, sharing truffle mashed potatoes and dessert. It truly is a happy place.

It was pouring rain on Saturday so we decided this biker man would be the most fun way to get around.  We were laughing sooo hard the entire time- such a fun memory!

Miller gave me this gorgeous tray for my birthday- I love having a husband with great taste! I instagrammed this picture earlier and a few people have asked about the book on the tray. It is a Paris guide authored by French Vogue’s New York correspondent. She also wrote a New York City guide, which I also have. They are such beautiful little books filled with really great information. Although it says a Fashion Insider’s guide, there is plenty of useful information that does not relate to shopping/fashion. Here is Paris and New York.

And now the most special part of the weekend…Since I had a big party last year, I told Miller in advance I did not want a big ordeal for my birthday- just a super chill night with a few of my best friends.

Once again, they completely blew me away with their thoughtfulness and genuine kindness.  If you have been around me since our trip to Paris, you know I can not stop talking about it. I have always been interested in the French culture, but this trip just sent me to another level-I am in love with France! So when I walked into my best friend’s apartment, they had set up a “French cafe”, complete with croissants, baguettes, prosciutto, cheeses, French butter, pastries, and all of these wonderful jams and honeys. And around the room, they hung up signs where they had each written their favorite qualities about me. When I walked in, I just couldn’t believe it…I immediately burst into tears. It was one of the times that I have felt the most loved and celebrated in my whole life.

We then went to a little French restaurant called Raoul’s for a wonderful dinner filled with lots of oysters and french fries. After that, we went back to the girl’s apartment and had a dance party in the kitchen for like 2 hours. This was after we had danced to Justin Timerlake “Mirrors” way too many times.

I feel like I say it all the time, but I feel so unbelievably blessed for the friends in my life. I can not thank these girls and Miller enough for making me feel so special and loved on my birthday. They are a true testament to the fact that there is so much power in surrounding yourself with positive people.

And I have to give major, major props to my best friend Olivia, who “beautified” the back yard of their Grove Street apartment (and by beautify, I mean everything from finding cheap furniture on Craig’s list and having it moved, to hanging lights and a hammock, Home Depot trips, fresh flowers, candles…she did such a great job!), so we now have the most relaxing little oasis in the middle of New York City!

Nothing in me wants to get out of Parisian mode. Since returning to New York, I have had a croissant for breakfast every day and am sitting here eating a baguette as I type. Why is everyone working so hard, walking so fast, on their phones nonstop, drinking green juices, exercising like crazy, not having three hour lunches, and not loading butter on their bread???  I have got to snap out of it, but I don’t want to let go!

We found beauty in absolutely everything…the architecture, people, fashion, food, and really just the culture as a whole. Their slower, more relaxed way of life really is something special. One of my favorite things about our trip is that we had no agenda. Each day we would wake up with no alarm clock, walk to a cafe for coffee and croissants, get on a bike or just walk around exploring different parts of the city, have long drawn out lunches, stop by lots of pastry shops, naps every afternoon, late dinners, and late nights sitting at cafes talking, having wine, and people watching. It was perfect.

Here are a few pictures from our trip…

Our own little piece of Paris – on the Pont des Arts.

Outside of the Tuileries Gardens. If you are in this area and don’t want to tackle the Louvre, the small Musée de L’Orangerie , home to Monet’s Water Lilies, is a very easy museum to visit. Try Café Marly for lunch and Angelina if you want a beautiful atmosphere, tea or hot chocolate, and a sweet.

Palais Royal.

Cafe de Flore is a great breakfast/lunch spot – a little touristy, but a Paris institution- and the perfect place to people watch.

We ate the same thing for breakfast every single day- I could never get tired of this.

A typical lunch or afternoon snack for me…a few of our favorite lunch spots were Café Charlot, Les Philosophes, Café le Papillon, and Le Comptoir.

One of my favorite things about Paris is that there is fresh bread everywhere- and that wonderful bread smell which is one of my favorite things in the world.

This was a pretty typical dinner for us…we preferred the casual bistros over the fine dining restaurants.

Basically everywhere you go, there are little markets with the most beautiful flowers…add the smell of fresh flowers to the smell of bread and it really is my heaven.

Biking was definitely my favorite way to get around the city- the Velib system is amazing.

Trocadéro- head to this area for the best view of the Eiffel Tower.

What I will miss the most about Paris is the food. My favorite thing was walking through the street markets and looking at the freshest, most beautiful fruits and vegetables I have ever seen. Le Marché des Enfants Rouges was a covered market across the street from our apartment that I walked through multiple times a day just admiring the food. I don’t know if it is the soil over there or the fact that their produce isn’t being pumped full of hormones – whatever it is, there is a major difference in the quality of the food.

Miller’s brother, Cromwell, is living in Spain so he came over to visit for a couple of days. First time they had seen each other in almost a year.

Miller having expresso at our apartment before he went to meet with French GQ and a few other magazines.

The bar at the George V is a beautiful spot to have a cocktail -or go just to look at the flowers.

For our actual anniversary, we drove three hours into the Loire Valley and stayed at a beautiful chateau in Chinon, France. It was absolutely wonderful.

My sweet best friends had a bottle of champagne sent to our room- thank you Ruth, Olivia, and Anna!!

While I’m in the healthy zone, I thought I’d share a couple of things you may want to try…Since I am not a nutrition professional (although my best friend is and I learn lots of tricks from her), I’ll keep it pretty short and simple.

1. On most nights, I don’t feel satisfied unless I’ve had something a little bit sweet. Dark chocolate can get old since I’m constantly eating it, so I was excited when my best friend Ruth introduced me to the simplest healthy snack/dessert that I had never thought about making at home…chia pudding. It is soooo easy. Use vanilla almond or coconut milk (whichever you prefer) and use 1 part seeds to 4 parts liquid. Then you can stir in some cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, honey, agave, cocoa powder, or anything else you may like to give it some extra flavor. I like to add lots of cinnamon. Put in the fridge, stir every so often, and it will turn into a pudding consistency. One major key here is that you have to stir pretty often, otherwise the chia seeds will get clumpy. Once the consistency is good to go and it’s ready to eat, top with fresh berries, dried fruit, coconut flakes, bananas, dark chocolate chips…basically whatever you are in the mood for. It’s really satisfying, tasty, filling, and good for you. Click here to read a little bit about the benefits of chia seeds.

2. I have posted before on the benefits of drinking warm water throughout the day, but if you missed it, you can get a little education here and here. I don’t really enjoy drinking warm water so I haven’t been doing it lately, even though I know it has tons of benefits. But alas! I discovered the best way of drinking warm water, and I can’t get enough of it. I learned this little secret when Miller and I were at the Beverly Hills Hotel a few weeks back…I asked for mint tea and they brought me a little pot of hot water, filled with nothing but mint leaves, and a little jar of honey. It was so refreshing. I came home and have been filling our tea pot (it has a built in strainer) with hot water and mint leaves ever since. Let is steep for at least 5 minutes and then add as much honey as you like. I like lots! It is so good and also keeps you feeling very full. There must be something about the warm water, but it really curbs your appetite…

3. If you live in NYC and have always wanted to try a Tracy Anderson workout, but like most people, can’t afford to step foot into her studio, check out Body by Simone! I first read about it on the Harper’s Bazaar blog and was SO excited when she opened a studio a few blocks from my apartment. I have been going for the last few weeks and absolutely love it. Dance cardio, mat work, band work, low weight and high reps are incorporated into each class…it is the exact workout I have been looking for!!! Check it out if you have a chance.

Also, what songs have been motivating you to workout lately?? My list is constantly changing but here is what’s working for me right now. Some are a bit explicit (sorry mom!)

Even though it’s a slow jam, Rihanna “Stay” gets me moving- can’t get enough of it! Wasn’t able to add to the playlist since it’s not on Spotify. What songs motivate you these days??

If you have thin or fine hair, this one is great to add some volume. It also works wonders for second day hair!!!

If you are like me and already have body in your hair, then this beach spray works for spraying on wet hair and then air drying. It worked just as well on my best friend as it did for me…I always like to have a second opinion since most products work a little differently depending on the person.  I like this so much more than the Bumble and Bumble surf spray because it gives texture without that overly dry, crunchy feel.

If you have a simple straight or slightly layered cut that tends to get a little boring, this will give you a piecy, more texturized look. It is super light weight so you don’t lose any movement, it’s non greasy , and doesn’t leave behind any residue.

These products are a little pricey so if you want to try them out without committing to the full price, the dry texture spray and beach waves spray come in a travel size!

For example, about a year ago, I posted that white shoes were about to be a big thing, and that trend is going stronger than ever. If you want be “right now”, get yourself a pair of white shoes. That is something I have incorporated into my wardrobe because they are simple and work with basically everything in my closet. There are other passing trends that I have chosen to, well pass on…like the whole neon jeans/pants thing – I thought it was cool, but not for me personally.

So I am going to start doing a “right now” post every so often, and you can decide if it’s something you are drawn to or not. Keep in mind that not every trend works for everybody. The most important thing to consider, and in my opinion the only fashion rule to follow is…keep your body type in mind and never wear anything unflattering just to stay on trend.

Another thing to keep in mind is that fashion is meant to be fun- it’s not meant to be taken too seriously. It is a whole lot easier for me to say now that I live in NYC as opposed to Alabama, but you don’t have to fit in with what everyone else is wearing (boooring)…do you own thing, have fun with it, and don’t worry what other people think!

Here is a quick list of trends happening now…

White shoes

Or a white bag

A couple more shoe trends…silver metallic and transparent. We get two trends in one with the pump below!

© Garance

Ruffles

Graphic prints/ black and white – she is working the white shoes too!

She is incorporating the black and white and another of the moment thing, the ankle strap pump…

Wear your jacket off your shoulders

Longer, more feminine hemlines

© Sartorialist

Small ladylike handbags

Over the knee  boots- I had no idea this was going to be so big until after the most recent fall shows! This trend can be verrrry tricky. There is a way to wear it without looking silly or like you are trying too hard, but it can be difficult to pull off. Tall boots in general are making a big comeback…doesn’t have to be as aggressive as over the knee. For a while, it’s been all about the booties, but we will be seeing a lot more tall boots.

Red. Red outerwear, red bag, red shoes, basically red anything.

Also working the ankle strap.

Had to throw in Kanye

Two sunglasses trends- round frames and mirrored lenses

Mirrored lenses again…if you want to be really bold, a crop top is pretty “right now” as well. Hard to pull it off without looking scandalous, but it can be done!

Load up on the rings

Or wear just a few…this is totalllly up my alley

Oversized clutches

Brooches

Prints that look like digital images or paintings

Military inspired hats

Low block heels and kitten heels

Belt your coat/jacket. Such a simple and flattering way to update the outerwear you have been wearing all winter. Not to mention, belts were allll over the runways during the Fall 2013 shows, so while it is extremely simple, it is modern and of the moment.

Add some animal print to your all black/gray/neutral ensemble. Whether it be shoes, a belt, a bag, etc…a little bit of leopard adds a really nice touch AND a leopard print is something that will never go out of style so it’s always a good investment.

Throw a little red in there. Most of us have something red in our closet, and it really pops when paired with all black or gray. Cherry red was another color that was big during all of the fall shows.

Get a new lipstick or pull out one you haven’t used in a while. I do not know exactly how to classify this color in the pictures below…my cousin Lauren said it’s a berry red- whatever it is, it is gorgeous. The first photo is from the J.Crew fashion show a few weeks ago, and their styling/hair/makeup is always pretty much spot on. Thanks to Garance’s blog, I know what the artist used for this first picture…Hourglass opaque rouge in Icon topped with clear Mac Lipglass.

Loving a bold pink color, too!

A manicure may be the easiest, most noncommital way possible for a quick pick me up. Right now I really like neutral/foundation colors, and a color like this really pops next to darker clothing. This color is Essie Sand Tropez.

© StylebyKling

Get out of your hair rut and do something different. My best friend just got one of those hair wand things, and her new waves have been such a great way for her to mix up her look and feel fresh again. Pin your hair up, a ponytail, a braid…anything to keep you from getting bored with your look. If you saw my Instagram earlier, you know my cousin wanted an update so we did a little box ombré…I’m not recommending everyone do at home hair color, but Lauren’s turned out great- whatever it takes to keep things interesting!

Pull out your white jeans…it’s never too early. They can be worn year round.

Pile on the jewelry! This first picture is a bit exaggerated…most of us aren’t going to feel comfortable with this much going on, but when it comes to jewelry right now, anything goes. Statement necklaces are still going strong, everyone is piling on the rings, and big earrings are baaaack. So pile on whatever you got…it doesn’t have to be all “matchy, matchy.” Fun jewelry is a great way to add some color to your winter wardrobe.

Buy a cheap bright beanie. A lot of the girls around here have been wearing Carhartt ones. There are tons of bright beanies available at Asos.

Go head to toe black or black/gray.. It always looks sharp!

Wear a bright colored silk scarf. This is another great thing to have because you can wear it year round. I love how it looks brightens the all black look below and it would look just as good worn as a headscarf in the summer.

© StylebyKling

Hmmmm other ways to refresh…take a trip somewhere warm! Sounds like a pretty nice idea, but not always affordable. The best option may be to just suck it up, laugh, enjoy the people around you and have fun despite the seemingly never-ending cold! That’s what these girls seem to be doing!

Here are a few photos I especially like…The more subtle and less “cutesy”, the better!

This hat is not actually personalized…the M is just the logo of a high end hat line, Maison Michel. But it would be a great idea to monogram your hat (I could so see my best friend Olivia doing this)

A monogram in the most unexpected of spots

© I Love Your Style

Letters on a beautiful planner, notebook, or journal – these make great gifts. You can get extremely high quality ones at Smythson or Hermes that are what I call a “forever” gift. These from Saks are a tad more price friendly.

Catbird Alphabet Rings

Subtle initials on an Ipad case…still trying to figure out where this came from

© Elin Kling

The bracelet below and other pieces of personalized jewelry available here. And the monogrammed catch-all by Clare Vivier makes a GREAT gift. I also love it in the navy color. She also makes a jewelry pouch that is another awesome gift idea!

The photo below of Christopher Walken has nothing to do with this post, but it’s my husband’s most recent portrait and it is BAD-A! To keep up with Miller’s latest work, become a fan of his Facebook page!

Whether in a relationship or single, it’s such a great thing to take time to celebrate the people we love most, our family, friends, and even to love on yourself a little bit. One of my best friends is single and after work she went to get a manicure, pedicure, and a nice bottle of wine. I thought it was so great that she was able to show herself some love. So if you didn’t celebrate all the love in your life yesterday,  do it this weekend! Life is too short not to.

My best friend Abbi sent me this Oprah quote this morning: “The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” I think that’s such a great outlook…The only thing I would add (sorry Oprah) is the more you celebrate your own life and the lives of the the people you love. If you are able to do that, then despite all the hard stuff that happens, life really can be full of celebration.

A few pics from our Valentine’s

I woke up to this nice surprise! Billy’s cupcakes, Rose champagne, and a box of roses! I am so thankful to have such a thoughtful husband.

So I went out and got him a few surprises…I may not be the best at homemaking his favorite things but I’m a pro at going out and buying them:) French Onion soup is his favorite, and this French cafe near our apartment makes the best! And Blossom Bakery makes the his favorite chocolate chip cookies. I used the candy bracelet he gave me for garnish ha

Before dinner, Miller made homemade gimlets with his Hendrick’s

We went to a fabulous little restaurant in our neighborhood, Porteno. I highly recommend it. It is very small and intimate, great food, music, service. It’s a little off the beaten path, but if you live here and want a chill date night, check it out.

Miller and I on our walk home from dinner – Miller must have taken notes from my hoodie post the other day:)

We tried to take a really good picture but kept getting photobombed by all the lights- candy bracelet still acting as a garnish

The Empire State Building was even bright pink and celebrating. I can’t take credit for this photo, I stole it off the internet and brought it into my Instagram hahaha! I tried to get a good one last night but it just didn’t work out

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!