BEAUTY & STYLE REC OF THE WEEK: LAUREN CONRAD

I was never a huge Hills fan (though I must confess, it was an occasional guilty pleasure a couple of years back), but I have to admit this girl sure knows how to build a brand around her perfect beachy waves! who else but Lauren Conrad. From red carpets to paparazzi street shots she always manages to look head-to-toe gorgeous. Her trademark waves and cat eye are the beauty everyday inspiration to girls around the globe and probably most pinned beauty images. She has quickly become a style icon and a successful businesswoman yet still manages to keep that girl-next-door look authentic and achievable for us mortals.

Her Style Manual is a true reflection of her classic understated persona. From building your wardrobe from basics such as jeans and tees to how to shop vintage or online, layering necklaces, to alternate uses for silk scarves, wearing colors and mixing patterns; you'll find every style basic in this easy, no BS simple guide, beautifully illustrated with pictures of LC herself featuring her statement looks.

Her Beauty guide is perhaps a bit more elaborate, proving once more this girl can only go up and has done some growing up in all senses in the past five years or so. Following the same layout as her Style guide, LC sticks to clean pictures and texts you'll breeze through. You'll find entire chapters dedicated to skin care with easy to follow steps to read your face, hair care, makeup with all her trademark tips and tricks product by product: foundation, concealer, mascara, lipstick and whatnot. 

You'll also find easy to follow step by step application tips to master the no makeup look, morning makeup, makeup guidelines if you have dark complexion, fair complexion, freckles etc.

Her Everyday Hair chapter including tools and products will make you want to stop pinning images of LC's perfect waves, bangs or whatever she's wearing these days and actually try it yourself with her mistake-proof tutorials.

Oh! how you inspire us LC...!!!

CLICK HERE TO BUY LAUREN CONRAD STYLE ON AMAZON.COM

CLICK HERE TO BUY LAUREN CONRAD BEAUTY ON AMAZON.COM

BEAUTY SPECIAL: SKIN & HAIR!!!

It's summer! endless days under the sun in the summer heat can leave you with a killer tan and the perfect beachy waves, but as days (and nights) get longer, skin gets darker, hair gets lighter and temperatures rise, you should prep your hair and skin and amp your beauty routine.

In college I lived with my best friend. I remember her taking off her makeup every night no matter what time we'd arrive home. I was usually on the lazy side, and used to go to bed and wake up with those hideous raccoon eyes. She would wake up with glowing bright skin and all, and mine would look dull and tired. I've come a long way since those days, now I won't go to bed without a full cleansing and moisturizing eye and face routine.

I just turned 30 and understand your skin has different needs at different decades. Thirties are all about prevention, prevention, prevention. I see a lot of the word 'Anti' in my products. I am currently in the process of rediscovering my beauty routine and finding the products that will protect and prevent...without breaking the bank! As much as I'd like to eat La Mer out of the jar for dessert, I couldn't afford it! So you'll find I will make some splurges here and there, but I'm usually open to great drugstore finds as well!

Your skin's health is a reflection of a) genetics and b)your lifestyle in general. Watching what you eat, drink, regularly working out, drinking plenty of water, avoiding high levels of stress and getting enough sleep will probably get you glowing skin, but since most of us can't fit eight to ten hours of sleep in our daily schedule, here are some up the products I rely on to get a young, fresh, glowing complexion. I went with no text on this one, instead you'll find pictures of every product so you'll easy recognize them on your next trip to Sephora, your local Target or CVS.

SKIN

My Basic Daily Beauty Routine in Five Easy Steps:

1. Cleanse
2. Clarify
3. Tonify
4. Moisturize
5. Protect

The Clarisonic Cleansing System (Image 2): I once heard and confirm, it's the Best Cleansing Invention since the toothbrush!!!

With age I've kicked my routine a notch or two by adding specific anti-aging products to fight premature lines and wrinkles and correct dark spots:

At least three times a week I try to fit in two additional steps by exfoliating and applying a different mask to suit  my skin's needs that specific week:

Lips are such a delicate part of our visage, and yet so frequently forgotten. I couldn't tell you how many lip balms I have. I carry with me one everywhere I go and leave spare ones at home, in the car, in different handbags and beachbags, and I'm known for re-applying recurrently. These drugstore goodies are my among my faves, but nothing beats my Kiehl's Lip Balm # 1, I should seriously be treated for this addiction. During the day or out in the sun, remember to use lip balm with an SPF 15 or higher.

HAIR

If there's something I'm proud of having passed on to my daughter is my trademark mane. Her hair is gorgeous! not that mine is but I do have to thank the heavens for it! It's abundant, low-maintenance, and on most days healthy. I can go five days straight without washing my hair and you wouldn't notice. I rarely flat iron or blow dry and never ever color. I usually step out of the shower, detangle, let it air dry, apply a few drops of multiple beauty awards winning John Frieda FRIZZ-EASE Original Formula (this is important) Hair Serum and hit the road. Not many can do this. On days I don't shampoo and condition, I spray Ojon's Revitalizing Mist to refresh, the smell is just amazing. Lately it has been thinning though so I'm taking extra care of it by trying to shampoo just twice a week (can you say dry shampoo?) and additional hydrating. These are my hair must-haves, you will notice I am a MoroccanOil Fan, trust me I have my reasons, try these and so will you!

Meet My Best Friend Oscar.

It is important to get to know your skin and hair types and use products accordingly. Remember to always ask for help if you are unsure of you type's needs. Sephora is my personal beauty paradise and will always consult their professionals on every new product I try.

Next Week on L'Art de Vivre: 

BEAUTY SPECIAL PART II: MAKEUP

XO

LESSONS 4 & 5: SAVOUR THE MOMENT AND DO IT WHILE YOU CAN!

LESSON # 4: SAVOUR THE MOMENT

Angelina's Choc Mont Blanc

Don't try to make too much of this lesson's title. It's actually very literal. Savour the moment to the last bite and to the last drink.

I don't think I have ever eaten or drank more than I did during this trip. I can't think of once I may have counted the calories, ordered dressing on the side, or declined dessert. I don't think I once drank a coffee standing up or on the go,  I sat down and savoured every cup to the last drop (with whole milk and all!), and noticed everyone around me drank their coffee sitting down, in deep conversation, not on their cell phones, but with actual real people, no one looking at their watches... How many times are we in a such a rush we get our food and drinks from a drive-thru and actually take the time to enjoy it in good company?

I admit I may have had one too many glasses of Rosés and 1664s (yes I'm a beer kind of girl) and way too many frites, pains au chocolat and croissants, but I don't regret a single bite. The smells, the flavors, the fresh ingredients, how could I deny my palate and my body such pleasures? The following day I'd probably walk at least 4 miles in a gorgeous city to make up for it, something I rarely got to do in my city, breathing a different air, seeing wonderful sites: what better way to exercise and rid of the little guilt I may have had from dinner the night before?!

It's not that a said screw it all, I said if I'm doing this I'm enjoying every piece and bit of it. And I have every inch of my love handles to prove it!!!

Quiche aux champignons at bread&roses 

LESSON # 5: DO IT WHILE YOU CAN

I can't tell you how many times I was questioned by friends and family on why I was traveling a month to europe with a four-year old. Most of the time I would have wanted to answer ''because I can'', and offer no further or unnecessary explanation. I realized however how rude and arrogant this would sound. To be honest I myself questioned this decision more than once. But the truth was, that was the very  honest answer I would've liked to give. My husband and I are both young and full of energy. His job allows him to take this much time off. My four-year old is a well behaved, extremely smart one, I should be able to handle my own kid! so, why not?

Then I realized how privileged we were in being able to do this. And trust me it has nothing to do with being able to pay for it all, it was about (and I keep coming back to this...) finding the time.

Point is, it really is true that annoying YOLO abbreviation, but you do, you only live once. If you can do it now, when else?

Sharing this experience with my husband has brought us even close together. Trust me, we had those moments we just looked at each other knowing we were each thinking ''Can't we just leave'em here?'', but we also knew we'd had all the time we needed to ourselves when we got home. We were doing this as a family, and we were going to enjoy this no matter how tired we were...and guess what? I wouldn't change a day of this trip. I got to know the girls in a way I probably wouldn't have at home, ever. I enjoyed every smile, every frown, just watching them sleep every night, cuddled together, made every exhausting day worth it.

We laughed, we ate, we shopped, we slept, we cried (a broken ipad incident), we had so much fun. True, loving, exhausting fun. Would I do it again? Can't wait to pack our bags again?

So what are you waiting for? Take that trip you've been wanting to for a while now. Find the time to share with your loved ones. Sit down for five minutes to enjoy that cup of coffee. Go out and live your dream, whatever it might be. Eat, love, dance, laugh without regret. Seize the day, every single moment of it!

Thank you for joining me in this unforgettable journey, I really do hope you found in it as much as I did for myself and my loved ones.

Til' next time, you know what the say...We'll always have Paris (sigh)...

Much Love,

XO.

LESSON # 3: BE OPEN TO CHANGE & EMBRACE THE UNEXPECTED

Summer Sunset over the Seine

The ugly (or beautiful) truth is, life will sometimes go your way, and sometimes it won't. Deal with it and make the best out of it. Easier said than done, right?

Let me tell you how I learnt this lesson, especially hard for the control freak that I am...

During this recent life changing trip I've been going on for the last few posts, the few days we did have a plan, I swear something went wrong (or right) and for a number of reasons, incidents and accidents, 'the plan' had to change. I'm usually the one freaking out about about running late or getting lost and my husband is the one keeping it together, honoring the now famous Keep Calm motto, and assuring me when these things happen 'it is always for the best' (Oh how I used to hate this lecture!). This trip however for some reason I was on a different vibe. I was relaxed and enjoying every minute of getting lost or arriving late. If it hadn't been for these incidents we wouldn't have discovered delish cafés, beautiful parks, and hidden streets. I wouldn't have discovered this amazing vintage books stall in St. Germain des Prés, where I found a number of very special books for my daughter, we wouldn't have seen the sunset over the Seine at the perfect timing, or wouldn't have ended our journey exactly at midnight at the Trocadéro with the Eiffel Tower's twinkling lights waving us goodbye

In fact I dare say, the best days of this trip came out of a wrong turn, a missed train, or searching for a lost sock. We just had to give Plan B a chance, and life gave it right back...

LESSON # 2: NOBODY IS WATCHING. REALLY.

I love fashion yet I don't consider myself fashionable. I keep up with trends, collections and designers, yet I rarely splurge on anywhere else than H&M. But on this trip I vowed I would not look like a tourist, and would make my best attempt to actually blend in with Parisians. Every night I would lay out different outfits to choose from, and on every outing would note other women's appearance with special attention on their clothes, le 'no make-up' look, hairdos and accessories. Every day I would take one final proud glance at my effort on the lift's mirror, before I stepped out and about the streets of Paris...only to realize nobody was actually watching. In fashion capital of the world (and Couture Week!) I was one more fish in a vast sea of aspiring fashionistas. Not that my choices had gone terribly wrong, sure I got a few glances here and there, but everyone was too busy just minding their own business, I wasn't doing this for me, I was doing this for people I didn't even know, and frankly, I was just trying too hard. 

Realizing this however did not upset me. Bizarrely, it gave me a strange sense of liberation. Nobody was watching. I could literally have hit the streets of Paris in my PJ's and no one would've probably noticed!

This feeling quickly spread from the fashion aspect to my general behaviour in private and public. On days I was the happiest, I almost felt like skipping instead of walking, until one day I did, (followed by my astonished and more than encouraging four-year old) Guess what? Nobody stared. If I walked into a store and one of my fave tunes was playing, I would sing along to it very loudly I must admit, and guess what? Nobody cared! I would even practice my more than rusty french, asked for directions, ordered at cafes and restos, thanked people, and even held brief conversations here and there, and guess what? nobody stopped me mid-sentence to correct me, if anything they praised my accent and appreciated my effort.

I think you get it by now. It is bizarrely liberating to, for once, do what you feel like doing, walk, dance, sing, jump, skip, without thinking everyone, or anyone for that matter, is watching or actually cares!

I recommend you try it for once and I promise you'll feel relieved, happier, younger, energized, revitalized ... you'll feel free!

5 Simple Life Lessons Learnt in 21 Days

I recently spent what felt like a rather brief though it was almost a month long family summer vacation abroad (as you may have noticed if you are a regular on L'Art de Vivre and follow me on Instagram, since I bombarded you with daily pictures trying to document and share the highlights of this unforgettable trip). It wasn't my first time in any of our destinations, it was however my first time with kids and more importantly, my first trip with no agenda whatsoever.

Traveling with my husband is great in the sense that he loves planning every second of a trip and you really get to see every site worth seeing in each city we visit. You do however need a holiday after each holiday. Not that I'm bitching about it, I'm young, I'm healthy, I have the energy, and realize how many people can't afford to travel frequently or take this much time off.

This trip however, I accepted to on two conditions. One, we'd had to stay in one same city at least three weeks or 21 days, and two, we wouldn't have a schedule.

Why three weeks? 21 days is the average of what it takes a human being to get used and adapt to any new environment. One city? Yes, only one. We usually try to squeeze in three or four cities on one same trip. We get to see a little bit of everything but usually miss out on the not so touristy sites and best kept local secrets, because we usually run out of days and have to move on to the next city. 21 days in one same city is enough to get a good sense of how life would be if you actually lived in it.

The city? Being the french freak that I am, Paris was the obvious choice.

Apart from stuffing my face with patisserie, baguettes, croque monsieurs and macarons, there are a few life lessons I learnt these past weeks, not from Paris, not from the french, but from myself, and from taking the time to savour the small joys of everyday, and turning every moment into L'Art de Vivre.

LESSON # 1: LET. YOURSELF. GO.

Please people don't stop reading at the title above to let yourself go to your nearest fast food joint and grab a burger with large fries and skip the gym. Today, letting yourself go has nothing to do with gaining weight, and not caring for your bodies. Letting yourself go is about caring for your soul.

In the past four weeks I learnt how hard it is to live in the moment and disconnect yourself from the world, and for a brief instant let yourself go. Allowing yourself to enjoy that very second, putting aside all your fears, your plans, your dreams, your worries... Not to mention, disconnecting yourself from the electronic world and social networks! The first few days I couldn't leave the apartment without Ipad, Iphone, Ipod, and camera in hand just to name a few devices. I would constantly check my email, facebook, and whatsapp (my best friend is pregnant and would check daily for updates as her due date was getting closer. Nothing still, much like the royal baby...)As the days went by I relied solely on my iPhone, mostly to take pictures. Still it was hard to realize I should be living in the moment and nowhere else. I should be enjoying the right here, right now and nothing else.

Then, one day, it hit me. We were sitting at Place des Vosges, mostly people watching on a lazy sunday afternoon. My husband and my daughter were taking a nap on the green summer grass. There we were with not a single care in the world. Nowhere else we had to be, no one we had to meet. We could stay there for as long as we wanted. I sat there noticing most people laying on the grass next to us were on their own moment as well. Some were playing the guitar, others had set up full on picnics with bottles of Rosé, bread and cheese, a couple of young lovers were cuddling and whispering in each other's ears, and children were splashing around a fountain. I swear it was an image right out of a film, where everyone was going around minding their own business, just before a giant meteor would hit earth without them knowing what was coming. Except it didn't. Right there and then, the world had stopped for all this people and finally, it had for me too. The sun was setting, yet no one was moving, no one was packing up, no one was in a rush, no one was going home: this very second was home.

I could've stayed laying there forever. I slept like a child that night and dreamt of sunny summer days, blue skies and grassy hills.

For the first time in a long time, I.LET.MYSELF.GO....until I heard the 'Mommy I'm hungry' cry at 6 a.m. the next morning...then I let myself go...to the kitchen!

Tomorrow on L'Art de Vivre 

LESSON # 2: NOBODY IS WATCHING...REALLY.

LONDON CALLING

London in the summer...it's hot, it's crowded, but it's still the trendy and cool capital of the world! Outdoor film screenings and Summer music festivals and concerts are a few of your many entertainment options! (Bon Jovi and The Rolling Stones both played at Hyde Park the weekend we arrived!) The hip vibe of this city is unparalleled. Here are a few of my fave images and sites, that will twist anyone's stiff upper lip into a smile! 

How many British icons can you find in this one picture?!

Borough Market, a busy market located on the south end of London Bridge on Southwark Street.

You'll find a large variety of stalls selling wholesale and retail international food and delicacies. All your senses will come to life with the delicious aromas, gorgeous colours and textures of this culinary heaven. Bonus: an impressive view of The Shard.

The Food Quarter on Heddon Street, just off Regent Street, offers a lovely lively atmosphere, where you can wine and dine al fresco under twinkling lights on a hot summer evening.

 Carnaby Street in the Soho District, City of Westminster.  A pedestrian shopping paradise of gorgeous independent boutiques, and charming facades.

A deserted Portobello Street on a sunday evening.

Mannequin overlooking Harrod's marvelous Egyptian Escalator.

Charlotte Olympia and Veuve Clicquot's romantic setup at a Harrod's vitrine.

The iconic exterior window displays at Harrod's are jaw dropping magnificent and inspiring!

Harrod's Food Hall...Need I say more???

Gorgeous Fabrics and details at The Harrod's Terrace teatime.

Soaking Up some VitD at Green Park.

A fave to stars such as The Carrie Diaries' AnnaSophia Robb, Jigsaw is a UK Fashion giant and former employer to none other than the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton!

350 King's Road, Chelsea

Couldn't walk away of this dreamy summer Tod's window on Old Bond Street, Mayfair

 Bond Street: Shopping...or Window Shopping Heaven!

Tiffany's The Great Gatsby inspired dazzling vitrines!

British Fashion Mag Editions are the BEST!

The hip iconic red Telephone Boxes adorn the city.

My Favorite London Everyday Icons

XO from London, and still no Royal Baby....