It’s the Monday after a holiday weekend. I’m bummed that I’m not in Paris watching couture shows and spending evenings at the Meurice. And I miss Britt.

You know what makes everything just a bit better…puppies! Seriously, it’s true. Sure they may not be the answer for all that is failing in our economy, as seen in this funny sketch. But they do make us smile.

Modelinia’s slideshow of the day features the girls (Miranda, Gisele, Maggie) we love to watch walk and the pooches they walk every day.

And you know what? The afternoon just got a little better. Give it a try, we think you’ll like the results.

The Whitney Art Party’s on Wednesday night and we’ve gotten the first edition of the confirmed guest list.

Starlets and artists will be there in droves, but as far as models go, there’s Coco Rocha, Lydia Hearst, Dree Hemingway, Brooklyn Decker, Lisa Cant, Julie Henderson, Maggie Rizer, Selita Ebanks and Hilary Rhoda.

And of course, we have no idea what to wear, especially since the party’s sponsored by BCBG again which means all of their perfect little bodies will be swathed in Herve bandages with feet tucked into sky high heels. Because sure, no one’s looking at us, but it takes a serious outfit to guarantee we won’t hide in a corner under the weight of being anything less than 5’11 with long blond hair and the perfect Rick Owens leather jacket.

So, should we follow in the footsteps of last year with a long vintage floral number, flat sandals and little effort? Or, is it time to step it up with something a bit smaller and louder? If only we had this in our closet.

Last night, the fashion crowd showed up at the Longchamp store for beauty company Orlane’s cocktail party and fundraiser for Afghan Hands, which helps widows in Afghanistan completely alter the course of their lives.

It’s an amazing project in which the women are paid to attend classes at centers around Kabul and also to embroider these gorgeous scarves and wraps (pictured). It’s literally the only means of education many of them have ever been offered.

Maggie Rizer (in an adorable BCBG dress), Claire Danes, Hugh Dancy, Peter Som, and a slew of fashion and beauty editors shopped the goods and chatted each other up on the store’s third floor deck.

We were pretty much in awe of all those who commit so much of their time to helping women who’ve never had the opportunity to make their own way. That they are able to do it with hand-crafted fashion, even better.

We just got our invite to the Cool Vs. Cruel Awards.

And despite the fact that some think she’s “too everywhere,” we’re kind of thrilled to see both Agyness and Albert Hammond Jr.’s names under DJs. The model’s kind of dropped off the fashion radar since she got a rock star boyfriend and we’re excited to have her back in New York. Plus, they win our cutest (real-life-not-Chuck-&-Blair) couple award.

The ceremony, which recognizes animal friendly fashion design, take place at the Bowery Hotel next week. Calvin Klein, Marc Bouwer and Urban Outfitters will be honored for their “commitment to fur-free fashion.”

Urban should take that commitment one step further and sell a little bit less creepy faux-fur.

Anyway, the committee includes Charlotte Ronson, Maggie Rizer, Sue Stemp, Steven Klein and Nate Lowman. So of course we’re going, because despite that Oprah denial, MK is totes Nate’s gf.

(But, we just realized, MK wears fur. That might be awkward.)

Even though Maggie Rizer hasn’t walked a show at Fashion Week in forever, it doesn’t mean she still isn’t working the residuals of having been a really successful model -

In addition to opening her own doggy day care and appearing as some kind of celebrity on Stylista, she’s also very busy penning her own memoir.

Unlike Naomi, she says she’s writing it all herself, and that it’s been very emotional.

The book’s called Model Behavior, and meant to detail the ups and downs of growing up in a business of showcasing your best physical assets.

Maybe the CFDA will back it?

WWD’s Marchesa story this morning had a much more fun story packed near the bottom:

Maggie Rizer is starting her own doggy care business.

The 90’s beauty’s been searching for the perfect West Village spot to open a dog day care and spa with her boyfriend (and high school sweetheart - remember him from Maggie’s Style Channel profile?), Alex Mehran.

So if you know of a space that’s roughly 3,000 square feet and with tons of floor-to-ceiling windows, please call her.

You never know - since the spa is meant for both pooches and owners, maybe you’ll end up with Maggie as a masseuse.