Fashion Friday - Red Carpet Dresses For Less

    I saw this article in Cosmopolitan magazine and thought it was interesting.  So today I'm posting Red Carpet dresses we can buy for less. 

                                                                        Jason Merritt/Wireimage.com

For her first Oscars, Kristen Stewart rocked a sophisticated mermaid gown that took the Twilight star from teen sensation to glamour queen. The sweetheart neckline and figure-flattering color make for a dress that's elegant enough for a black tie event and sexy enough to keep all eyes on you.
Get her look: Castaway Gown in Midnight Blue, ShopDress, $256

                                                                     Steve Granitz/Wireimage.com

Anna Paquin took the plunge in this futuristic animal print Alexander McQueen mini. The bright mix of colors and V-neck accentuate all the right curves.
Get her look: Palm Print Wrap Dress, Cache, $98

                                                                       Steve Granitz/WireImage.com


Julia Roberts turned heads with her vintage YSL dress, Van Cleef & Arpels statement necklace, and signature megawatt style. Her above-the-knee-length cut allows her to highlight some leg without worrying about a crotch flash.
Get her look: Ruffle Sleeve Necklace Dress, Cache, $118

                                                                          
                                                                 Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

Fergie showed off her killer figure in this Emilio Pucci mini with a gold slither detail. It takes balls to wear this incredibly hot, formfitting dress, but the payoff is huge — every guy will be staring at you.
Get her look: Zip Front Tube Dress, Forever 21, $14.50

                                                                 Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

The French actress Marion Cotillard  looked white hot in her Elie Saab Haute Couture one-shoulder mini. The flirty fringe and romantic side bun make for a super glam combo anywhere from a romantic dinner to a rooftop party. She gets way more than Nine stars for her sexy yet elegant choice.
Get her look: One Shoulder Dress with Tulip Hem, Macys, $258

                                                                      Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

Though Ginnifer Goodwin didn't win a Golden Globe for her HBO hit Big Love, the star left fashion critics stunned with her adorable pixie cut and cobalt draped Vionnet dress. Everyone raved over the frock's unique take on the halter and eye-grabbing color.
Get her look: One-Shoulder Asymmetrical Dress, Bluefly, $258

 You can see the rest of the article at the link below.  There were my favorites from the article. 

Read more: Red Carpet Dresses For Less - Cheap Red Carpet Dresses - Cosmopolitan



    Hope you enjoyed today's look at Red Carpet Dresses For Less.  Happy Fashion Friday!



    Today I'm linking up with Kori from Blonde Episodes for the Fashion Friday blog hop.  If you have a fashion post and would like to add yours, click on the button below to find the details.  Hope to see you there!


 

HLNB Summer Challenge III - Day 30

August 30th Day 30:
Exercise: 
Yesterday I rode my bike 3.5 miles and watered my garden.

                        The famous bicycle scene from "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid".




Food:
I ate some raisin cinnamon toast, some homemade guacamole, some Pasta Fresca, a salad and drank 100% fruit juices with all three meals.  I also drank 8 oz of green smoothie.

                                                               Pictures courtesy of Pinterest.





  Items to note:
       See my contact information on the tabs above if you want to send me an email with any questions or suggestions.  With my "HLNB Challenge" I'm logging my daily activities of how I keep moving.  I'm not offering any medical advice or making any guarantees.  This is meant for fun and if you want to follow along I hope it will be fun and encouraging  for you too.  I'm also not logging everything I'm eating, only listing the healthier items. I'm trying to convert my family's food choices to more healthy options and fresh foods selections as well.  On days I'm listing more it means I'm replacing less healthy foods with healthier choices.  This is one of my personal healthy living goals. One day when I look back, I hope to see improvements on my activities and on my eating habits. Thanks for following along in the journey.

HLNB Summer Challenge III - Day 29

August 29th Day 29:
Exercise: 
Yesterday I watered my garden and I walked while doing errands.  However, yesterday was a day of rest from exercises.  We all need a day of rest every now and then!

                                                                



Food:
I ate some oatmeal with strawberries, some penne pasta with tomatoes, onions and spinach, a salad, some cucumber and tomato sandwich and drank 100% fruit juices with all three meals. I also ate three small pieces white chocolate today.

                                                               Pictures courtesy of Pinterest.






  Items to note:
       See my contact information on the tabs above if you want to send me an email with any questions or suggestions.  With my "HLNB Challenge" I'm logging my daily activities of how I keep moving.  I'm not offering any medical advice or making any guarantees.  This is meant for fun and if you want to follow along I hope it will be fun and encouraging  for you too.  I'm also not logging everything I'm eating, only listing the healthier items. I'm trying to convert my family's food choices to more healthy options and fresh foods selections as well.  On days I'm listing more it means I'm replacing less healthy foods with healthier choices.  This is one of my personal healthy living goals. One day when I look back, I hope to see improvements on my activities and on my eating habits. Thanks for following along in the journey.

HLNB Summer Challenge III - Day 28

August 28th Day 28:
Exercise: 
Yesterday I rode my bike 3.5 miles and walked 2 miles.  I also watered my garden.

                                                               Marilyn Monroe on a bike.






Food:
I ate some oatmeal with strawberries, some shrimp tacos, some rice with black beans and drank 100% fruit juices with all three meals.

                                                             Pictures courtesy of Pinterest.




 Items to note:
       See my contact information on the tabs above if you want to send me an email with any questions or suggestions.  With my "HLNB Challenge" I'm logging my daily activities of how I keep moving.  I'm not offering any medical advice or making any guarantees.  This is meant for fun and if you want to follow along I hope it will be fun and encouraging  for you too.  I'm also not logging everything I'm eating, only listing the healthier items. I'm trying to convert my family's food choices to more healthy options and fresh foods selections as well.  On days I'm listing more it means I'm replacing less healthy foods with healthier choices.  This is one of my personal healthy living goals. One day when I look back, I hope to see improvements on my activities and on my eating habits. Thanks for following along in the journey.

HLNB Summer Challenge III - Day 27

August 27th Day 27:
Exercise: 
Yesterday I was inspired by Haley's comment about riding her bike 30 miles so I rode mine 7 miles today.  I know it's not as much but it was more than I usually do each day.  So I'm glad to have that extra inspiration, thanks Haley.  I also walked 2 miles and watered my garden.

                                                    Jennifer Aniston having fun riding a bike.






Food:
I ate some oatmeal with strawberries, ate some roasted veggies on a sandwich, ate a salad with tomatoes from our garden.  I also drank 100% fruit juices with all three meals.

                                                            Pictures courtesy of Pinterest.



 Items to note:
       See my contact information on the tabs above if you want to send me an email with any questions or suggestions.  With my "HLNB Challenge" I'm logging my daily activities of how I keep moving.  I'm not offering any medical advice or making any guarantees.  This is meant for fun and if you want to follow along I hope it will be fun and encouraging  for you too.  I'm also not logging everything I'm eating, only listing the healthier items. I'm trying to convert my family's food choices to more healthy options and fresh foods selections as well.  On days I'm listing more it means I'm replacing less healthy foods with healthier choices.  This is one of my personal healthy living goals. One day when I look back, I hope to see improvements on my activities and on my eating habits. Thanks for following along in the journey.

Guest Post - Ditch the Gym and Take Your Workout Outdoors

  We are featuring guest post on Healthy Living Natural Beauty today.  In this article, read about taking your workout outdoors.    Please feel free to leave any comments or questions for our guest author in the comments section.
 

Author Byline:

Ken Myers as an Expert Advisor on multiple household help issues for many Organizations and groups, and is a mentor for other “Mom-preneurs” seeking guidance.  He is a regular contributor of “http://www.gonannies.com/”.  You can get in touch with him at k.meyerst20@gmail.com.

 

Ditch the Gym and Take Your Workout Outdoors

With the sweltering heat that is a staple part of long summer months it’s not unusual to opt for the air conditioned gym over the great outdoors when it comes to getting in some exercise. However as fall rapidly approaches and the temperatures finally start to cool down it’s time to reevaluate your relationship with the gym. Sure, there’s camaraderie to be found in group exercise classes and sharing sweat on the various exercise machines with your fellow sweat enthusiasts, but there’s also something incredibly relaxing and therapeutic about taking your workout outdoors. The next time you want to break a sweat but don’t want to be forced to listen to the guy next to you on the elliptical singing along loudly with his iPod, use one of these five activities to get your workout on:

1.       Hit the trails. Trail running or going for a hike is a lot different than running on a treadmill or on a paved road, and can give you a nice dose of nature with your usual jaunt. Instead of being cooped up under artificial lighting get outdoors and get yourself a good dose of vitamin D. Bring a friend with you and catch up as you navigate over tree roots and pinecones and enjoy the scenery instead of zoning out to your favorite guilty-pleasure TV show.

2.       Get out on the water. There are a plethora of workouts you can do on a lake or other nearby body of water, such as paddle boarding, kayaking, open-water swimming, or wakeboarding. These workouts will engage your muscles in a completely different way than any workout done at the gym and will double as an excuse to spend the day on the water.

3.       Join a running club. Nearly every city has at least one running club, if not more, and these clubs are a great way to get more familiar with the area you live in, make new friends who lead the same active lifestyle that you do, and stay consistent with your exercise. The group settings of running clubs helps make the time fly by and give you extra incentive to get your workout in on the days that they meet.

4.       Utilize the park. The next time you take the kids to the park – or even just hit up the park solo – take your workout up a notch. Instead of just running the same, tired loop that you normally run, take pit stops to swing your way across the monkey bars, get in some triceps dips on park benches, and lunge your way across the playground. You can get in a great full body workout using only park equipment and your bodyweight, and the extra exercises added in can make your normal running loop a bit more interesting.

5.       Implement daily walks. A lot of people underestimate the power of walking, choosing higher intensity exercises in place of this low impact cardio. However daily walks can help supplement any workout routine and are a great way to burn some extra calories without exerting a lot of extra effort. Get your significant other or family to go with you each night to get in some extra time together.

Changing up your workouts and taking them outside every once and while can breathe some new life into your normal workout routine and give you a chance to enjoy the area you live in while still being active. Plus, getting outdoors can be just the encouragement you need to finally try something new, such as joining a soccer league or playing tennis. And the best way to keep your workouts interesting is to continually change them up. 

HLNB Summer Challenge III - Day 26

August 26th Day 26:
Exercise: 
Yesterday I walked 2 miles and watered my garden.

                                                              Picture courtesy of Getty Images.

                                           Amanda Seyfried walking with her dog. 






Food:
I ate some raisin cinnamon toast, some homemade guacamole, homemade salsa, drank 100% fruit juices with all three meals.

                                                                   Picture courtesy of Pinterest.




 Items to note:
       See my contact information on the tabs above if you want to send me an email with any questions or suggestions.  With my "HLNB Challenge" I'm logging my daily activities of how I keep moving.  I'm not offering any medical advice or making any guarantees.  This is meant for fun and if you want to follow along I hope it will be fun and encouraging  for you too.  I'm also not logging everything I'm eating, only listing the healthier items. I'm trying to convert my family's food choices to more healthy options and fresh foods selections as well.  On days I'm listing more it means I'm replacing less healthy foods with healthier choices.  This is one of my personal healthy living goals. One day when I look back, I hope to see improvements on my activities and on my eating habits. Thanks for following along in the journey.

Tip of the Week - A Healthy Swap for Chips or Croutons

    This week I'm adding another video from the web show "Reluctantly Healthy" with host Judy Greer.  In this video Judy's co-host is Aida Mollenkamp (I've seen her on Food Network).  They are showing us a healthy alternative to chips and croutons.   Chickpeas are a good low fat, source of  protein and folic acid.  I'll be trying this one out. I think it will be great on salads.  There are also come fun out takes at the end of the video that are always fun to watch!

Note:  You can turn off my blog music with the iPod player on the right hand side before playing the video.

HLNB Summer Challenge III - Day 25

August 25th Day 25:
Exercise: 
Yesterday I hiked for 3 miles.  I also watered my garden.

Food:
I ate some raisin cinnamon toast, some homemade chicken fajitas (I used Gardien chicken substitute on my fajitas I couldn't taste a difference, they really do taste like chicken), some bruschetta, some homemade guacamole with homemade salsa.  I also drank 100% fruit juices with all three meals.

                                                                   Pictures courtesy of Pinterest.



Items to note:
       See my contact information on the tabs above if you want to send me an email with any questions or suggestions.  With my "HLNB Challenge" I'm logging my daily activities of how I keep moving.  I'm not offering any medical advice or making any guarantees.  This is meant for fun and if you want to follow along I hope it will be fun and encouraging  for you too.  I'm also not logging everything I'm eating, only listing the healthier items. I'm trying to convert my family's food choices to more healthy options and fresh foods selections as well.  On days I'm listing more it means I'm replacing less healthy foods with healthier choices.  This is one of my personal healthy living goals. One day when I look back, I hope to see improvements on my activities and on my eating habits. Thanks for following along in the journey.

HLNB Summer Challenge III - Day 24

August 24th Day 24:
Exercise: 
Yesterday I rode my bike 3.5 miles and walked 2 miles.  I also watered my garden.

               Paul Newman has his famous bicycle scene in the movie "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", but here he was riding a bike with his wife Joanne Woodward. 





Food:
I ate some oatmeal with strawberries, a tuna sandwich, some Chicken Parmesan and drank 100% fruit juices with all three meals.

                                                      Pictures courtesy of Pinterest.





Items to note:
       See my contact information on the tabs above if you want to send me an email with any questions or suggestions.  With my "HLNB Challenge" I'm logging my daily activities of how I keep moving.  I'm not offering any medical advice or making any guarantees.  This is meant for fun and if you want to follow along I hope it will be fun and encouraging  for you too.  I'm also not logging everything I'm eating, only listing the healthier items. I'm trying to convert my family's food choices to more healthy options and fresh foods selections as well.  On days I'm listing more it means I'm replacing less healthy foods with healthier choices.  This is one of my personal healthy living goals. One day when I look back, I hope to see improvements on my activities and on my eating habits. Thanks for following along in the journey.

Fashion Friday - Find Your Perfect Jeans Style Part I

  Something most of us wear on a regular basis is the basic jean.  Jeans match with so many different styles of tops, sweaters, coats and they are so comfortable.  However, most of us don't know which style of jeans to wear that best flatters our own body shape.  It can be very hard to find that perfect pair of jeans.  So today I'm posting some choices for different body types.  Since there are a few styles to choose from for each body shape this will be part I of my fashion post.  These jean styles are suggested by Cosmopolitan.com.


Body Shape:  Hourglass

What to look for:  If you are an hourglass, a classic, wide-legged trouser with a mid-rise and flat front will keep you looking slim in all the right places—but still show off your sexy curves.

Once choice: 7 For All Mankind High Waist Slim Denim Trouser in Atlantic Twilight Wash, $169, www1.bloomingdales.com

                                                                                Picture courtesy of  cosmopolitan.com. 

Body Shape: Pear-shaped

What To Look For: Pear-shaped girls with curvier hips should steer clear of anything super-tapered and go for a low-rise flare or trouser style. This creates overall balance, which helps keep your hips looking slim and streamlined.

One choice: Hudson Gwen Wide Leg in Oldmill, $165, hudsonjeans.com

                                                      Picture courtesy of cosmopolitan.com. 


Body Shape:  Plus-sized

What To Look For: If you're plus-sized, a darker-rinse denim is the way to go—just make sure it's either straight-legged (slightly form-fitting) or a trouser style. Both of these looks are slimming.

One choice:  Forever 21 Fab Skinny Jeans (Short), $12.50, forever21.com

                                                                                 Picture courtesy of  cosmopolitan.com. 

Body Shape:  Tall

What To Look For: When you're tall, you can definitely rock long and lean straight-legged styles—or go retro and try flared, '70s-inspired denim.

One choice:  MiH Jeans New York 5 Pocket Flare Jeans, $214.19, us.asos.com

                                                                                    Picture courtesy of cosmopolitan.com. 

Body Shape:  Boy Figure

What To Look For: If your body is more straight up and down, opt for a mid-rise jean with a slight boot-cut opening or flare to create a curvier silhouette from top to bottom.

One choice:  7 For All Mankind Skinny Bootcut in Malibu Sands, $189, 7forallmankind.com

                                                                             Picture courtesy of cosmopolitan.com. 

Body Shape:  Petite

What To Look For: Petite girls should stick with a slim-cut pair of jeans. Try a cute boot-cut or sexy, cropped skinnies.

Once choice:  ASOS PETITE Exclusive Light Blue Skinny Jean, $55.40, us.asos.com

                                                             Picture courtesy of cosmopolitan.com. 




     Hope you enjoyed this look at finding your perfect jeans style.  Watch for Part II of finding your perfect jeans style coming soon.  Happy Fashion Friday!

    Today I'm linking up with Kori from Blonde Episodes for the Fashion Friday blog hop. If you have a fashion post, click the button below to add yours.  Hope to see you there!

HLNB Summer Challenge III - Day 23

August 23rd Day 23:
Exercise: 
Yesterday I rode my bike 3.5 miles and walked 2 miles.  I also watered my garden.  Yeah, my tire is fixed!

                                                                  Anna Paquin riding a bike.



Food:
I ate some oatmeal with strawberries, a cucumber with tomato and onion sandwich, some bruschetta with tomatoes and basil from our garden.  The cucumbers were also from our garden.   I also drank 100% fruit juices with all three meals.

                                                              Pictures courtesy of Pinterest.



Items to note:
       See my contact information on the tabs above if you want to send me an email with any questions or suggestions.  With my "HLNB Challenge" I'm logging my daily activities of how I keep moving.  I'm not offering any medical advice or making any guarantees.  This is meant for fun and if you want to follow along I hope it will be fun and encouraging  for you too.  I'm also not logging everything I'm eating, only listing the healthier items. I'm trying to convert my family's food choices to more healthy options and fresh foods selections as well.  On days I'm listing more it means I'm replacing less healthy foods with healthier choices.  This is one of my personal healthy living goals. One day when I look back, I hope to see improvements on my activities and on my eating habits. Thanks for following along in the journey.

Always & Tampax Always Radiant Collection

                                                                      Picture courtesy of Influenster.com


     I received a sample Always & Tampax Always Radiant Collection to try from Influenster's VoxBox testing program.  The collection included a cute pink purse that you can carry with you discretely.  It's pretty and looks like a small make up bag so it's very inconspicuous. The products are from the trusted brands and offer reliable protection.  They also have a re-sealable wrapper that is so much better than anything offered before.  It's a wonderful new collection.  You can read more about the Radiant Collection at Always and Tampax.



   You can buy this new line at retailers nationwide.  The suggested retail price ranges from $3.99 to $9.49 depending on sizes purchased.



Disclaimer:  This product was received complimentary through the VoxBox product testing program at Influenster.  All opinions expressed are my own.