Perhaps the best part of this pink explosion is its influence on beauty. This spring, expect to embrace the shade as your new shadow of choice, especially for days when you want to spice it up. Instead of turning to your go-to smoky eye for a night on the town, pile on a romantic pink.

Consider this the only makeup look you’ll have to attempt all season long.

Pulling off pink shadow is all about keeping the rest of your look simple. Think of it like you’re creating a rosy sunset on your eyelids. The color should be gradual, light, smooth and even. Here are the best products to get the job done: 

Creamy Color

For those who seek a super shiny lid, go for pink shadows with glossy, balmy or creamy textures:

Le Métier de Beauté’s Crème Fresh Tint – Although multi-purpose in nature, this tint really works on the eyes. It leaves a subtle finish that’s perfect for day-to-night. It’s also relatively crease-free, so you don’t have to worry about a mess.

Eyeko Alexa Chung Me and My Shadow Liner – If you want a more smudged rocker look, opt for an eyeliner in a pinky shade. This one by Eyeko is the perfect rose gold color. Blend it with a brown or grey liner with a metallic finish for added drama.

Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize – Charlotte is known for her celebrity makeup work, need I say more? This pop of shimmery perfection goes on smooth and leaves you with a perfectly undone look that’s oh so French.

Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes – This is the real deal, girls. Sure, it’s a bit pricey, coming in at $45, but it’s definitely worth it. It’s the color that Annie used on her wedding day. The color has a frosted, pearly finish that’s super unique and amazingly photogenic.

Powder Color

YSL Couture Mono Eyeshadow – Channel your inner 60s cinema icon and go with a powder pink. YSL’s is perfect, because it has a touch of iridescence, which makes the shade more 2017 in the chicest way.

Sisley Phyto 4 Ombres – If you’re going out, mix pinky hues with browns and tans to create a sexy evening vibe. This palate by Sisley Paris gives you the perfect set of 4 colors that effortlessly blend with one another.

Extras

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base – This is the secret to keeping your color on all day or night. The NARS base holds it all together without feeling heavy or cakey. This is a great staple to have on hand, no matter what makeup look you’re going for.

Kevyn Aucoin Exotique Diamond Eye Gloss – If you want to pump up your color (both cream or powder) in a major way, layer on an eye gloss. It creates the most jaw-dropping shine that gives you an effortless cool-girl look.

Story by Lexi Tollefsen.

Images, from ELLE France March 2017, Daphne Groeneveld by Steven Pan.

Right before I moved to Zurich, I met with a fellow expat, Clémence von Mueffling. The French beauty is a professional who has an amazing track record in the industry. Her resume boasts names like Clarins and Dior, but once you know her, this comes as no surprise. She was simply following in the family footsteps.

Both Mueffling’s mother and grandmother were beauty editors at THE French Vogue. Now she lives with her husband and twins in New York and is the Founder & Editor of newly launched beauty site Beauty and Well Being. She’s got a wealth of beauty knowledge that’s filtered through the lens of her classic French POV. During our meeting, I legit wanted to ask her one million questions, but of course I tried to contain myself.

Lucky for me, she was kind enough to spill her well kept secrets. You’re going to want to savor this one, girls. Here is my interview with the ever so sweet Clémence.

What are the French more into, clean or organic? 

In France, each neighborhood has its own café, bakery and pharmacy. So at a young age you start to buy your skincare products from pharmacists. These are usually very ‘clean’ pharmaceuticals brands that are super effective and not too expensive. This is how we start good habits by buying ‘clean’ beauty products.

Glowing skin or matte?

The older I get, the more I want some glow!

As beauty editors, we are able to try so many different brands and products. What skin products or brands do you always come back to?

Avène, La Roche-Posay, Bioderma, A-Derma, Esterderm for Sun protection, Joëlle Ciocco, Clarins, Embryolisse and Filorga.Which American beauty brands would you consider your favorites?Aerin, Supergoop!, Soapwalla Kitchen, Rahua, SkinCeuticals, Kiehl’s.

The French are known for being really into scents. Tell me about your favorite yummy smelling perfumes, body oils and shower gels.

Just yesterday I used the Mediterranean Honeysuckle Body Cream by Aerin. It has the nicest fragrance that remained all day. It reminded me of the summer and its shimmering beaches.

I love body oils too, usually in the evening after I shower. Some of my favorites include: Joëlle Ciocco, Soapwalla body oil, Nuxe and the incredible Leonor Greyl Huile Secret de Beauté.

I always have Clarins Eau Dynamisante, which I use like a cologne. It has been a staple in my bathroom for 20 years!

For shower gels, depending on my mood, I will use Dr Bronner’s shower gel with the Almond scent. When I need to be very energized I use Clarins Tonic Body Oil, and when I want to feel glamorous I use Frederic Malle Eau de Magnolia’s shower gel.

What are your favorite skin devices for at home use?

I have been faithful to Nu Skin for years. Both my mother and grandmother use it too! This at-home spa treatment revives and invigorates your skin, and smoothes lines and wrinkles.

A few days ago I was introduced to Foreo’s LUNA, a Facial Cleansing Brush & Anti-Aging Device.

Where do you go for facials?

I go to Renew Spa in NY as well as Caudalie Spa.

Do you believe in botox/fillers?

I believe in non-invasive techniques, such as micro current.

Who is your dermatologist?  

He is in Paris… but I try to see him twice a year! His name is Philippe Simonin.

What is your skincare routine?

A toner in the morning, some Avène thermal water and an eye contour (these days I am trying BioEffect). Depending on the ‘mood’ of my skin, I may or may not use a serum, then a moisturizer such as Caudalie, Filorga or Avène. I will use an SPF only if I know that I will be in the sun.

In the evening I like to double cleanse. It is my relaxing moment. I use products with lovely textures and scents. Such as Joelle Ciocco cleansing milk, Tata Harper cleansing oil, or de Mamiel cleansing balm.

Then I use a micellar lotion and my Avène thermal water. Sometimes I just finish with that spritz of water if my skin feels hydrated enough. In the winter I may feel the need to add a cream such as Nuxe Crème Fraiche or an oil such as Marisa Berenson’s prickly pear oil. These days I am loving a night serum by Bio Effect.

 Is that Mason Pearson brush all that it’s cracked up to be?

My mother would always buy a Mason Pearson for my sister and me. And I have to say that there is no equivalent in terms of quality. They are expensive, but so worth the price. Clean them regularly and you will keep them for years!

For hair care I love Christophe Robin, David Mallet and Leonor Greyl. I also use Rahua and sometimes Klorane or Furturer.

What are some of the most important lessons that you learned from your mom and grandmother?

To be feminine at all times! And the older you get, the more disciplined you have to be with your beauty and wellness routine.

What is your definition of beauty?

Beauty comes from a woman’s femininity and elegance. It is also the glow that comes from her skin, her smile.

Let’s talk makeup. What are your essentials?

By Terry for foundation, Guerlain for blushes and YSL for the eyes! What products are currently in your handbag?

Aerin’s rose hand cream, a Bioderma lip balm, Eau de Magnolia perfume in its traveling size, a nail file and a Shiseido Pureness compact blush.What skincare products give you the best life-changing results?

These days I have been very impressed with Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 (despite the not-so-nice smell), Bio Effect night Serum and Marisa Berenson’s face oil. 

For better skin texture, which products would you recommend?

More important than products, I would recommend a good cleansing routine, as well as regular skin massages and a healthy diet.

#1 beauty secret is… the face massage. 

Tell me a little about your diet and skincare routine…

My diet is a very simple, balanced diet. I still love my croissants, and I eat tons of dark chocolate every day. However, I did stop eating processed foods and sodas and I have become a ‘flexitarian.’ According to the author of the ‘Omnivore’s Dilemma,’ Michael Pollan, it means someone who does eat some meat – but only sometimes.

Beauty trend that you completely dislike?

Harsh skin treatments such as Fraxel and Dermabrasion.

Secondly, they need to be skilled. Your wedding is NOT the time to mess around with someone who isn’t capable of giving you what you want. You want to feel the prettiest that you have ever felt before in your life – otherwise your whole night is going to be off, because you will be thinking and saying to anyone will listen, “Do I look ok?” This is certainly not what you want.

I was lucky to find someone that I really loved, Jaclyn, who works for Charlotte Tilbury. We worked together to create my wedding look which was inspired by Black Swan. My dress was rather Black Swan-esque and my hair complemented the whole ballet look as well. I wanted Cate Blanchett SK-II-esque translucent skin, no blush (because I always feel like I look so “done”), stained matte lips and some sort of pink eye. I initially thought I wanted black eyes but in the end, I decided on something softer, more etherial and fairy.

This is exactly what we used to get the look. For more pictures from my wedding day, you can check under the hashtag #thebodmers.

SK-II Facial Essence

SK-II GenOptics Aura Essence

SK-II R.N.A. POWER Radical New Age Cream

Verso Eye Serum

Sk-II Mid-Day Essence

Dolce & Gabanna Perfect Reveal Lift Foundation in Creamy 80

Tom Ford Complexion Enhancing Primer

Nars Concealer in Vanilla

Charlotte Tilbury The Retoucher in 1 Fair

Tom Ford Cream Color for Eye in 09 Pink Haze (bottom)

Tom Ford Cream and Powder Eye Color in 03 Golden Peach (this was patted on top of the Pink Haze)

RMS “Un” Powder (just around my nose and t-zone)

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Skin Perfecting Micro-Powder 1 Fair (dusted all over)

Charlotte Tilbury Eye Liner

Charlotte Tilbury Mascara (used below the lashes)

Ardell Individual Lashes Starter Kit (no stripes here, no thank you)

Charlotte Tilbury Brow Lift

Glossier Boy Brow

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow – Fair/Medium

RMS Beauty Living Luminizer

RMS Beauty Master Mixer

Charlotte Tilbury Lipcheat in Pillow Talk

Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick in Dolce Vita

Step 1 DROP THE TWEEZERS

Stop tweezing, trimming, plucking, prodding, waxing and threading for 1-3 months (minimum) before the big day. I don’t care who you are or the state of your brows, you will be shocked to see that you will start growing hairs in places where you never thought they would grow, simply because you left your brows alone. Now it’s going to look a little funny, but keep the brows in check with a little clear brow gel or even concealer to cover up random hairs. You want to wait at least 8 weeks before even touching them in order for your true brow shape appear. Also, tweezing anywhere near the brows stimulates the hair growth cycle, which is why waiting allows time for all the hair to get on the same cycle.

Step 2 USE A SERUM

Use a brow growth serum…religiously. I used Plume, which is actually for the lashes and the brows, but I just used on my brows. What I like about it is that it’s natural and actually works! I have significantly less hair on one of my brows, so I really focused on this smaller patch of area. I used the serum every morning and night and I could see the magic happening by week 3. It was glorious. I actually just ran out, so now I’ve started using Grande Brow which I’ve heard is amazing.

Step 3 USE A GEL

After eight weeks or so, you can begin to strategically clean up your browns with tweezers. Only remove hairs that are closer to your eyes, or like why above the brow, rather than hair close to your brows. Your brows are still deep in the regrowth process at this time, so it’s important you refrain from going overboard with tweezing. In the meantime, to help blend and thicken the brows, try tinting them. Also, nothing does the trick quite like a good brow pencil or gel. I use Glossier Boy Brow and Hourglass.

Step 4 TRY TINTING

Around month 2-3, find a professional who you REALLY trust to clean up your brows. Again, don’t have them go anywhere near the thick shape that you have worked so hard to create. Just have them clean things up a bit. I swear by Nicky Cayot in NYC who I have been seeing for the past 3 years.

The summer leading up to the wedding was crazy. I was traveling a lot over June and July and was barely even at home in New York. The last 3 weeks in July I traveled to 4 separate counties, attended 3 different weddings and by the time I returned home at the end of the month, my head was spinning. I decided to go all in and order the 21-day clean program cleanse, which is my absolute favorite. I had been drinking like a fish so I was ready for a full detox.

Other than my cleanse, I wanted to give you all the beauty secrets that helped me get ready for the day when I needed to seriously glow and feel confident. Check out my 8-step plan below.

WELLNESS

The Clean Program. I love the Clean Program so much that I ended up doing it for six weeks leading up to the wedding. It was super intense, but worth it.

The cleanse goes something like this. You have a shake in the morning a clean, hearty, protein filled meal for lunch and another shake for dinner. You also take probiotics and supplements at every meal. For lunch I would have a big leafy green salad with scallions, avocado and cold water-packed tuna with balsamic and olive oil or a piece of salmon, grilled vegetables or sautéed spinach. I would try to mix it up but I am such a boring eater so I didn’t really mind eating the same thing every day.

If I had a dinner or something at night that I couldn’t drink my smoothie, I would plan for it and drink two smoothies during the day and have my clean meal at night.

When you are on the clean program, there is a whole list of foods you have to eliminate. For example, you can eat whole fish, organic chicken and turkey, but you can’t eat strawberries, gluten, dairy, eggs or proceeded sugar. You also can’t have coffee or alcohol.

But let me tell you, I’ve never felt better. Disclaimer: I did drink coffee, but drank it with unsweetened almond milk and stevia, which are both allowed.

Vitamins. I took biotin for my hair and nails everyday. There is nothing quite like this all-natural supplement.

Beauty Elixirs. I love Raw Complexions the Beauty Pack because it includes everything your body needs to glow from the inside out. I hate having to buy all those different additives. This is like an all-in-one. I also added Moon Juice Beauty Dust into my morning smoothies because why not.

Body Vibes. These super vibe stickers, whether they were the placebo effects or the real thing, got me though the emotional rollercoaster that was my wedding.

BODY

Gym. I took it light. I went to two classes of Barre3 a week. I didn’t want to bulk up. I just wanted to stay ballerina lean. I also elevated my legs at a 90 degree angle on a wall for 45 minutes at night, whenever I found the time.

Massage. I alternated between hard-core painful massage and lymphatic massage. A week before the big day, I got a few lymph massages on my body and on my face to reduce puffiness.

Products. I used Tata Harper’s Body Balm because it gets rid of stretch masks and cellulite and Arcona Body Lotion 10% because it’s packed with glycolic acid to improve tonal quality and elasticity in the skin. It made my skin super soft and imperfection-free.

HAIR

Color. I lighted my hair a little before the wedding with my go-to favorite colorist around, Mauricio Bermudez at Sweet Caroline. He is famous for his blond clients like Dree Hemingway.

Cut. Tiffani at Sweet Caroline, who also works right under the famous Guido, cut my hair. She has the best vibes and I also did all my wedding hair trials with her. There is no one better than Tiffani.

Products. I stopped using anything harsh that could cause breakage. I stuck to Christophe Robin because it’s gentle and free of gross chemicals. I absolutely love his products. They give your mane a thick, healthy finish. Christophe Robin Prickly Pear Regenerating Shampoo, Rose Water Conditioner and the Prickly Pear Regenerating Mask. For styling I opted for Shu Uemura Essence Absolue, the Wonder Worker and the Cotton Uzu Defining Cream.

FACE

Facials. I booked weekly appointments at Dangene. I wanted lots of LEDS, microdermabrasion, oxygen and light peels.

Dermaplane. A week before the wedding, I got dermaplane, which is where they shave all the micro hairs off your face. Makeup application has never felt so good.

Laser. I burned everything off and got lots of laser over the past year leading up to the wedding. I also did some really invasive laser and chemical peels that took weeks of downtime earlier in the year. I also did acid treatments on my hands, back, neck, chest, arms and face.

Face Masks. I did lots of at-home hydration and glowing masks. I stuck to these three all-stars: Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask, SK-II Facial Treatment Mask and May Lindstrom Blue Cocoon. The week before the wedding my sister, my parents (even my Dad) and I used the SK-II mask every night before bed.

LED Face Mask. Every three days I’d take 15 minutes at the end of the day to lie under my Korean light mask. I did as Gucci Westman recommended and used the SK-II facemask right beforehand to make the most of the treatment. Dermstore also sells some bada** light devices…that are actually on SALE this week!

Eyes. Even when I get a ton of sleep I still have a propensity for under-eye bags. Verso Eye Serum is the only thing that works to get rid of the bags. Period.

NAILS

Gels. Naomi Yasuda, who is the cutest person in the world, did my nails. They were long and rounded with a gradient white ombre and tiny gold sparkles in the middle of the nail. It was inspired by my wedding dress.

Mani/ Pedi. I go to Eve, which is right around the corner from my apartment. They give great mani-pedis and sometimes I even see SJP in there. It’s totally no frills, but I love it.

Nail Oil. I wanted really long nails on my wedding day, so I started using Uka Nail Oil every night. This kept my nails and cuticles from being so dry during the day and therefore less tempting to pick and less likely to break.

TEETH

My dentist recommended Crest Whitestrips Express which Henry and I used every day or every other day for three weeks prior to the wedding.

HAIR REMOVAL

I saw my girl Nicky Cayot and she did the works on me right before the wedding. She waxed my bikini and dyed my lashes. She also trimmed and shaped my brows. Another one of her clients is Gisele. Enough said.

LASHES AND BROWS

I stopped tweezing my brows a few months before the wedding and went crazy with Revitalash Eyelash Serum and Plump Brow Serum. I have never had my brows and lashes this full in my life.

Generally, I am quite good about diet and exercise, but between summer travel, wedding planning and blogging life in general, I am exhausted. Enter Barre3. I had successfully completed Barre3’s Challenge back in January and loved it. I was taking four or five classes (sometimes 6 if you count the online classes) a week. I wasn’t really drinking alcohol and my diet was super duper clean. It’s that whole snowball effect; once you start something good, it just piles up and keeps getting easier and easier. But after the 3-week challenge was over, my diet and fitness routines went back to normal. I knew I needed a change. That’s when I signed up for Barre’s summer program, Barre3 Anywhere.

The goal of the program is to help you stay strong, balanced and energized wherever your summer takes you, and you only need to take 10 classes a month. It’s only been a few weeks, but I am super into it. This is why. Barre3 is, as the name suggests, a barre class. But it’s so much better than all of the others. It’s equal parts ballet, yoga and Pilates but every class is different, so your muscles are constantly surprised. It’s a class that I never dread beforehand because the instructors (you can see all my favorite teachers right here) are super sweet and motivational.

The class is only one hour and you are working until the very last few seconds of class so it flies by. Since Barre3 West Village opened up on my street a few years ago, I have been going quite consistently and my body has been in great shape since. You know when a class can make your legs or arms actually bigger? Well this never happens. My body feels tightened and lean, and you are not bulking up in strange areas.

What I love most about this latest challenge is that Barre3 is holding me accountable. It’s something that I have committed to, and the program is totally realistic, which is why I know that I am going to stick with it. Do you have a fitness routine that works for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the (new and improved) comments section below!

While I continue my search for my makeup artist (it’s so hard!), I am going to start testing lipsticks on my own. I need a color that’s in line with the inspiration for my full makeup look (something I’m keeping shhhh right now, but will show you soon) and also makes me feel like myself. My philosophy on wedding makeup is that you should look like you, but the best and most stunningly beautiful version of you. I find it a little weird when I see brides who never really wear blush or makeup turn into a person that I don’t even know just because it’s their wedding day. Who is to say that you shouldn’t just be yourself? If you always wear thick, black Amy Winehouse liner, then you should rock that on your wedding day too. Bottom line: Your wedding day is not the time to experiment. Look at your inspiration and choose a lipstick based on it. It’s the time to stick to something you’re comfortable with.

So when it comes to my lipstick, I want the perfect nude. Nude lipsticks always make me feel pretty and perfectly accentuates my pout. Nude isn’t one color, its basically your skintone so there’s a wide spectrum of colors actually. I already know my favorite lipstick brands for matte nude colors are Nars, Charlotte Tilbury, Tom Ford and Chanel. They have the best formulas and shades hands down. I know, I know — they aren’t natural, but I can splurge on my wedding day, right? These are my favorite colors so far:

Tom Ford is the perfect wedding lipstick and not just because it’s so damn expensive. The colors and shades are unlike anything else, and the formula feels so nice and creamy.

Tom Ford Lip Color in Spanish Pink – Creamy, pink with a hint of coral.

Tom Ford Lip Color in Pink Dusk – Creamy, rosy nude.

Tom Ford Lip Color in First Time – Matte, pink with a soft flesh undertone.

Tom Ford Lip Color in Blush Nude  – Creamy, pink with a hint of vanilla.

Ugh I love these Nars lip pencils. They are somewhere between the size of a true lipstick and a lipliner. You have amazing control here. The matte factor is perfect.

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita – This gives you that perfect bitten look and even has a hint of brick red. It’s a confused red.

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Roman Holiday – Perineal pink classic and so feminine, with the tiniest bit of purple.

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Walkyrie – The girls at the Nars office recommended this color to me, because it’s very popular among their brides, but it was too brown/ dark for me.

Here are my favorite one offs. These came into my life through a mix of friend recommendations and research. I love Charlotte Tilbury matte lipsticks. They are super similar to the Tom Ford ones. This Estee Lauder one is just the perfect pale nude and the Chanel Rouge Coco Shine is not matte at all, but it’s so gorgeous and totally wearable on any skin tone.

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Lipstick in Desirable – This is the perfect chalky nude.

Charlotte Tilbury in Sexy Sienna – A hint of peach and warmness make this one of my all time go-tos. Plus it was made for Sienna Miller. This is best paired Charlotte’s Lip Pencil in Pillowtalk.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Rêveuse – A neutral nude peach pink, in the tube it’s peachy, on my lips it looks more nude/pink.

So what do you think? Do you have a favorite? I need your help!

At 10:45am I had booked a hair appointment with one of my two go-to hair stylists Allen Thomas Wood. Side note: I believe that Allen (Bumble and bumble) and Tiffani Pachett (Suite Caroline) are the best in town, which is why I’m always recommending them to my friends for cut and styling.

I arrived at Bumble with dirty hair and with a set of clip-on extensions that I had bought earlier that week at Wigs Plus. I know the name is so bad, but it’s the best place. The hair is real too and not crazy expensive. Normally I think extensions are super cheesy, but my hair is finally in such a good place right now, so I wanted a little extra hair for thickness, not necessarily length. From 10:45-11:45am, Allen washed, blow-dried, added extensions, cut the extensions, and then Sarah Jessica Parker-style curled my hair. Can you believe it?

Next I rushed over the to MAC store on Bleecker and asked them to apply a set of super natural looking eyelash extensions. Everyone knows that I swear by Revitalash, but for big events, I love a good set of lashes. They make for such great pictures. I got MAC Lash 3. They are jet-black, super thick at the base and not overly long, so they look completely real and completely awesome.

Afterwards, I hurried home and started my makeup.

Firstly, I washed my hands. You never know what New York City might leave on those puppies.

I then applied SK-II eye patches and misted my face using SK-II Mid-Day Essence. Immediately after, I applied a little bit of Tata Harper’s Facial Moisturizer. I waited about 20 minutes for the eye patches to set in and then removed them. I started the real makeup portion with Guerlain Meterorites Primer. Then I mixed in a little Le Metier de Beauty Anti-Aging Complex and blended it into my neck using my RMS Beauty brush. Next, I used RMS Beauty “Un” Cover concealer in shade II under my eyes, eyelids and around my nose. I blended again with RMS Beauty Concealer Brush. Then I used RMS Beauty Living Luminizer on my eyelids, around my eyes and on the brim of my nose. I used the Master Mixer on my cheekbones and lids for a warm rose gold hue.

Next came the eyeliner. I used Milk Makeup Eye Marker to create a thin black line on my upper lids and to really set the lashes. I then applied the tiniest bit of Milk Makeup Oil Blush in Deep Pink and blended using my fingers. Next, using a small fluffy brush, I applied RMS Beauty “Un” Power to make sure I wasn’t completely shiny (especially for pictures). I applied a little Guerlian bronzing powder on top of that so I didn’t look too pale.

Last but not least, I used two different glosses on my lips. I felt like with the hair and the eye, I had a lot going on so I wanted something plump and bitten. I used Smashbox O-Plump Intuitive Lip Plumper and Smith & Cult Lip Stain in Sweet Suite for a juicy pink punch of color.

Then came the champagne…

In honor of the fast-approaching big event, I wanted to share with you my favorite New York City and Brooklyn-based sweet shops that have caught my eye. These are truly the cutest shops you need to know about for your next event – many of whom even ship to other places around the US.

Soji’s Honey Bakeshop (See images below and above/ Instagram: @sogishoneybakeshop)– Brooklyn based bakeshop that specializes in hand-painted cookies and illustration. They can illustrate practically anything you want. My friend Madeleine even got her wedding crest hand painted one one of Sogi’s cookies.

Sweet Saba (See images below/ Instagram: @sweetsabacandy) – Maayan, (previously the founder of whimsical lingerie line The Lake & Stars) started this specialty line of candy meant for adults. Some of my favorites are her lipsticks and of course, the crystals.

Flourshop (See image below/ Instagram: @flourshop)– My friend Amirah Kassem started her BEYOND delicious cake shop 5 years ago, but the buzz is still going strong. I have never tasted a better cake in my life. We have ordered her red sparkly “lip” cake that’s filled with rainbow layer inside, her scull cake for a Day of the Dead themed party, a steak cake complete with chocolate carrots, glittery lips for my She’s in the Glow launch event and my fiancé even proposed to me with her giant diamond cakes.  Let’s just say, we are obsessed.

Erin McKenna’s Bakery formerly Babycakes (See image below/ Instagram: @erinmckennasbakery) – They are known for their dairy-free, egg-free, vegan, kosher, refined sugar-free, wheat-free, soy-free and gluten-free baked goods, but I love their coconut mounds best. The taste, consistency and even color are so cute and delish and you can request fun shapes like”hearts,” “cats” and “lips.” Even those who despise anything vegan will appreciate their amazing taste.

Cake Hero (See images below/ Instagram: @cakeheronyc) – Art-like quality cakes and all things sweet using organic, locally sourced and fair trade ingredients.

To kick things off, I signed up for the barre3 challenge. Every week from January 4th – 31^st I took 4 classes, completed a 10-minute online workout and tried at least 1 barre3 recipe. As the month progressed, I got more and more excited about attending the classes. Surprisingly, though, I found I didn’t always get to the online workouts. There’s certainly something to be said for making time to go to an actual fitness studio. It’s more of an experience. At least for me.

Now that the challenge is over, I wanted to share how 3 consecutive weeks of barre3 affected me and what I learned:

1. Increased energy: While many people think that exercise will make them tired, I found the complete opposite to be true. I left class energized and alert every time.

2. Physical transformation: I noticed a positive change in my body. My arms feel thinner and more toned, and my stomach feels flatter. YES.

3. Mood boost: Feeling better in your body is far more important than a smaller waist. Barre3 left me feeling less stressed, more positive and generally happier than before. For more tips on how to be happier, check this out.

4. Healthier eating: I craved real and healthy foods way more than usual. Because I was working out so often, I felt guilty putting something not so good into my body. I even gave up all sugar for the month of January. That meant no late-night chocolate and no desserts, which I usually live for. Chocolate is my real weakness.

5. Things get easier: Morning (and evening) workouts became WAY easier and less dreadful after doing them a few times. Motivation certainly kicks in, and you decide that a night of boozing is going to feel a lot better if you workout before.

6. Planning in advance works: Signing up for classes online (using Mind Body app or even Class Pass) is super helpful because you feel obligated to go. If you miss a class, you will get charged. Yikes.

With the challenge behind me, I want keep the momentum going. But how? I have always heard that the key to staying fit is to constantly “shock” your muscles with new moves. So while I would love to continue taking 4 barre3 classes a week, I’m going to start incorporating a few other classes into my routine to mix things up. Exercise is so personal, and everyone has their own method. The point is that you have to find what you love and set goals for yourself.

This is my weekly plan. I know this might seem slightly aggressive, but hey, I’m motivated by the dress:

– 4 barre or “bootcamp” classes

– 1-2 yoga classes

– 1 long run outside

– An active effort to walk as much as humanly possible whenever I can. This is why I love the city. You can literally walk everywhere.

Look out for my next post on my favorite fitness classes in the city and shop my favorite workout gear below.