Poolside Challenge

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I made it through most of winter intact but the last of the cold brought with it some unwanted insulation (in the form of lbs and inches). I have, therefore, set myself a poolside challenge. At the end of July, I will be at my favourite place: poolside at the Beverly Hilton; and I plan on looking fABulous.

beverly hilton champagnemoods.com

The Beverly Hilton is definitely home & when I’m there I want to look my best: thus the “poolside challenge”

 

One step towards that goal that has got underway this week is an INSANE workout challenge. The grad students in my department (mostly the girls!) are doing five exercise classes a week for the ENTIRE summer: three days sculpt & tone, two days spinning. We rely on an essential factor that we cover in a lot of our research: the importance of social support for adherence. (i.e. it helps when your legs hurt so badly that you walk at the speed of a tired turtle when everyone else is having trouble walking too and won’t make fun of you – and if they are all leaving the office to go to the gym, you aren’t getting away with staying in)

The spinning is the best part. I have always been SO SCARED of trying it because everyone just seemed to be killing themselves and I am not a fan of organized exercise classes in general. However, now, I am so upset that I took so long to try it because I LOVE IT! This is the final piece of evidence that proves something essential:

 

I’m really happy I’ve been proven wrong. It’s a valuable lesson to learn as I move towards hitting my quarter century in August.

This newfound hobby also has me enjoying this spinning clip from the Office, which has always been a favourite scene, even more:

I’ll keep you posted! I’m looking forward to some cute workout apparel as I reach my goals & fun new recipes.

Let me know if you want to join in my challenge! The main aspect is that whenever things get tough, you think of palm trees and sun.

Keep a spot by the pool free for me, Beverly Hilton. I’m a-comin’ :)

 

Wishing you the best of everything,

Champagne Moods

Cannes Film Festival Fashion

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The Cannes Film Festival has really been (in my opinion) declining (fashion wise) in recent years. There just doesn’t seem to be any glam coming through in the photographs of the red carpets (perhaps only for the men, but not enough to make you say “WOW!”). Thankfully, we are only in the first days of the Festival but I am SO impressed and SO in love with everything I’m seeing. Here are some of my favourite pics from the first events which were for Gatsby (click on image for original source):

Carey Mulligan looking gorgeous for a photo-op early in the day

 A close-up of the detailing:

From Global News

For the actual viewing, she really blew me away:

P.S. Also need to find that lipstick

Jewellery close-up:

Nicole Kidman blew it out of the park. Her dress was just so pretty:

I was really happy with Isla Fisher’s choice, I’ve loved this dress since it showed up on the runway:

Don’t you just love the back on this gown:

The women weren’t the only ones to step up, check out Gatsby’s DiCaprio’s beautiful suit (love the piping!):

He was also a gentleman, giving his umbrella to one of his costar’s to help her protect her gown

P.S. I’m LOVING Audrey Tautou’s haircut (but, by the way, if I were to share a pic of myself when I was 4 you would see that I TOTALLY had it first):

Hopefully this Hollywood Glam will continue for the rest of the Festival. Fingers crossed!

Wishing you the best of everything,

Champagne Moods

Life begins at 20? The follow-up

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The question of “are your twenties the defining decade?”keeps popping up, ever since Elle UK posted an excerpt of Dr Meg Jay’s book. This piece really interested me, and obviously interested one of you as it is the post that drives the most traffic on this site (check it out here). I’ve slowly been making my way through her book and for those of you who want more info, check out this link to her TED talk on the same topic.

As always, I’m open to your thoughts.

Wishing you the best of everything,
Champagne Moods

Work Attire

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Some people get work attire so right and others…so, so wrong. I was privy to that so, so wrong look the other day. A guest speaker showed up wearing a too short, too tight dress, with mesh sleeves and pleather pannels. NOT a good look. I didn’t understand it: here was an obviously intelligent woman who had to prove herself to us as being smart because of how she presented herself instead of us assuming it from the moment we saw her. I felt like calling in What Not to Wear, they would have loved this. Since they weren’t there, here are some potential dresses that they may have suggested.

Jenni Kayne Sleeveless Dress

 

Osklen Tricot Dress

Topshop Lace Insert Shift Dress

Zara Floral Printed Tube Dress

Zara Shift Dress

Wishing you the best of everything,

Champagne Moods