What Healthy Means to Me

This is a repost from a few years ago. I thought it needed to be said again! XO My blog title is "Color Me Healthy". When you read that and see that I have Cystic Fibrosis, have had two organ transplants, and the various problems that go with those two, I'm sure you automatically think "Color Me Healthy" is referring to my physical health. That's only part of it. To me, health refers to the physical, the spiritual, and the mental. It not only means taking my medicine and complying with my doctor's orders, but it means feeling good about myself when I look in the mirror, feeling good about choices I make, and being happy and feeling at peace in life. I have never wanted to look sick. I can only remember a few times that I didn't at least fix my hair before going into the hospital. I remember my lung transplant pulmonologist coming into the room a week or so after my lung transplant and saying... "Well, I'm glad you FINALLY look sick." LOL. I always thought if I kept the outside looking "healthy", then that would help the inside. It has in a way, because it helps my attitude and outlook on life, and we all know that attitude goes a long way. There is another blog that I visit where a chat is taking place soon to tell others why you named your blog what you did. We are always working toward bettering ourselves, whether it be through knowledge, health, appearance, or spiritual growth. "Color Me Healthy" is me striving for all of these. Attitude and a love for life get you pretty far no matter what your challenges are! As you have noticed, my blog posts are about health, fashion, beauty, faith, prayer, family, friendship, and just about anything else that life is about. I hope I never focus 100% on one of these things, because that would mean I am neglecting other things that matter.

How to keep your skin young, prevent damage, and heal damage

How to keep your skin ageless! This is my full skincare regimen, and you will notice that I use many different brands. They all work very well with each other. Above everything else, keeping your skin moisturized by drinking a lot of water and little caffeine, wearing sunscreen, and wearing big hats in the summer to protect your face is most important. Being 42 and being told that I have 25 year old skin is priceless. Here are the steps I take:

Morning routine:

I was my face with purity cleanser by Philosophy. It is a nice simple cleanser that I find very light and refreshing.

I then put SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic on my face. This is an antioxidant, helps build collagen, and helps your sunscreen work better.

Next, I put on this wonderful moisturizer by Karin Herzog. I use the Vita-A-Kombi 2 face cream, but if you are in your 20s or early 30s, you can use the number 1, which is more for prevention, whereas two is for prevention and healing.

The last step that I take in morning is to put on my sunscreen. You can get a sunscreen with 70 spf, and you will not get the coverage you will with something like Blue Lizard, which has not only a chemical barrier, but a physical barrier because it has zinc oxide in it. I also have the Blue Lizard sunscreen for my body.


Nighttime routine:

Again, I use Philosophy's purity cleanser.

Three times a week, I use this exfoliator with my cleanser. It works great, and is not too harsh. It's the Olay PRO X advanced cleaning system.

Three times a week, I also use this Olay PRO X exfoliating cleanser with the exfoliator above. My face feels so clean after removing all of the dead skin cells. You can use this more or less often as necessary.

Every night, I put on SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel. It helps with tissue repair and it replenishes nutrients.

My final step for the night is this Renew Overnight Moisturizer by SkinCeuticals. I use the formula for dry skin, but it also comes in oily.

I have been using self tanning cream since 1994. Having tried most brands out there, I keep going back to Clinique's line of self sun. I use it on my face and body. I never get sun on my face. That is the number one key to youthful skin!!!

Oscar Fashion 2013

My review is a bit rushed this year, because I have to travel in the morning, but I wrote most of my reviews while watching the red carpet event. Most of my reviews are based more on what the celebrity looked like onscreen instead of in pictures. As we all know, the lighting and angle of photographs can offset the entire look. I do have pictures attached though for those of you who didn't get the chance to see them on TV.

As always, I take into account the entire look, including dress, hairstyle, make up, and accessories. And I steer clear of all reviews before writing mine.

I guess the trending topic in all reviews this year will be "train". It seemed like the fad this year on the red carpet, and for the most part, they were very pleasing to the eye and added the right touch to the dresses!

First of all, this year didn't offer much when it came to fashion. As far as colors go, there were a good variety of colors tonight, whereas usually I've seen one color be repeated over and over. The styles of the dresses, other than the trains of course, also varied greatly. I will say; however, that there were few dresses tonight that just screamed "WOW"! On the other hand, other than Kristen Stewart's nightmare of a number, there were very few unimpressive dresses. (Kristen is not in my review, but you can find her dress here).

I will save my best dressed and worst dressed for last, so here goes, starting with these very talented nominees.

I will say that I had so much anticipation in seeing Jennifer Lawrence tonight. She is a sparkly gem, and she usually gets everything right. If you remember my review in 2011, she was one of my best dressed, and she hadn't even made a name of herself as a style icon yet. Tonight, I was just really disappointed in her gown. I loved her highlighted hair pulled back into a simple bun, her perfect make up job, and I even loved the top of the gown down to the drop waistline. I shouldn't have looked any further. The rest of her gown looks like a lampshade. Even the brocade design gives the impression of something that sits on my nightstand, instead of on one of the most stylish actresses performing today.

A ruffled beauty! If you know me, I have never been a big fan of ruffles, especially when there are as many as there are on Amy's dress, but I absolutely loved this pale gray, strapless, Oscar de la Renta gown. The full skirt and train could have been excessive had it not been for the understated bodice. Her diamond jewelry really complimented the gown! Unfortunately, Amy's messy updo knocked this whole look down a notch or two. Overall, I'm still impressed!

How cute is Quvhenzhane Wallis? Although, I thought this dress looked too old for her age, it was still a beautiful dress and she had an overall adorable look. Starting with her curly updo and crystal headband, down to her shiny ballet slippers, she was impeccably dressed. The blue gown, with it's black tulle overlay and crystal embellishments was Oscar-worthy for sure. Her wrap added a nice touch, and anyone who has been following this talented little actress knows she would show up with her puppy purse. Now THAT'S age appropriate!

Procrastinators unite... three hours before showtime! Yes, Anne Hathaway picked out her dress three hours before stepping onto the red carpet, and it shows! Remember your child's first ballet recital outfit.. in the NINETIES? This blush Prada satin gown reminded me of that. Even though it had a unique back, the rest of the dress looked like it came off the rack at your local retailer. I can't believe that Anne could go so wrong.

Age appropriate? Yes! Emmanuelle Riva looked very elegant in this caped, turquoise gown. Her stylish hairstyle, choker necklace, and bracelets added just the right touch to bring this from simple to elegant.

Mermaid gone wrong? This top 3/4 of this crimson gown was completely beautiful and had a nice fit for Jackie Weaver. I really liked the sheer top with its red sequined design and the crisscrossed sash across her waist, but her half up, half down hairstyle and the mermaid skirt, that made her look shorter than she is, ruined the look.

If you cross an angel with a rockstar, you get Charlize Theron on the red carpet tonight. This was a super edgy look for her, and how many actresses, other than she and Halle Berry can pull off this hairstyle? I thought the white gown with the slit neckline, beaded peplum, and simple train was stunning! 

This deep, metallic blue gown was made for Jennifer Hudson! The bateau neckline, and fish scale-like appliques over sheer sleeves and upper chest gave this gown a very unique look. Jennifer's bangs and her matching clutch were a nice touch, but her straightened extensions were overkill.

Legally wrong! Have we not seen Reese in a similar, unflattering dress before? This tuxedo type dress, with its roll over black neckline, satiny finish, and messy train was extremely unflattering. Reese's vintage curls and make up were perfection, however.

Adele had to redeem herself after the floral nightmare she wore to the Grammys. She certainly did that tonight. This Jenny Packham number with its simple bodice and skirt, black on black embellishments, and sheer sleeves draped so nicely on Adele's frame. I like that she has a half updo, and as always, her smoky eyes are quite entrancing. 

Artistic knockout! Naomi Watts shines in this charcoal, metallic, asymmetrical Armani gown. She certainly has the shape to pull this gown off, and the caped sleeve vs. the cutaway shoulder added a very unique touch to this otherwise simple design. Naomi's wavy updo was my favorite of the night! 

You cannot fully appreciate the beauty of this gown unless you see it onscreen! My mouth dropped when I saw Amanda in this Alexander McQueen masterpiece! This taupe dress had such an amazing halter neckline. The chocker at the top flattered her face and shoulders, as did the perfectly placed keyhole. I adored the way this dress draped her body so gracefully. The leaf appliques on the sheered overlay were beautiful as they appeared to be falling from top to bottom. Amanda's voluminous updo and understated jewelry were exactly what this look called for. Can Amanda ever get it wrong? I don't think so! She was my very close second when it came to picking best dressed.

This is one of those love/hate kind of dresses. And guess what? I love it, and I hate it! This Miu Miu number had a pale pink bodice that was adorned with everything from my daughter's craft drawer. Even though the top was a little busy, I still found this to be an interesting dress. The coral color worked great with Kerry Washington's skin tone, and the simple bow belt and train added just the right of normal to this dress.

Sheered Sally! This red dress, with its jewel neckline, long sleeves, and ruffled skirt and train was age-appropriate for Sally Fields, and the sheered sleeves and panels added a touch of youth to this look. Sally's teased updo was so "Sally". This was an overall good choice for her.

It's Christmas in February! As beautiful and glamourous as Zoe Saldana is, I was not very impressed with this pale gray gown. The top of the dress resembled a Christmas ornament I bought this year, and I'm not sure a silver buckle belongs on a ball gown. I did like the side bow at the waist, and the layered skirt and train. Zoe's hairstyle and drop earrings were elegant, and as always her make up was immaculate.

First of all... HOLY COW this girl can sing! And obviously Samantha Barks knows how to dress too. This low cut black Valentino gown was so simple, but yet so comely! Her gold statement necklace was the essential focus of her entire look.

Catherine Zeta-Jones looked much better onscreen than she does here in this photo. She is always so becoming in whatever she wears. The camisole neckline was flattering, as was the fitted bodice and the gold, metallic appliques over the blush sheer fabric. Catherine's classy hairstyle and gold, chandelier earrings added to the glamour of this entire look.

Octavia Spencer! You go girl! What a flawless blush dress! This one-shouldered tulle dress with a beaded bodice flattered her frame and is a show stopper! Octavia completed her look with bright lipstick, stunning diamond earrings, and a neatly styled updo. 

This was SUCH a surprising look for Jennifer Aniston! NOT!!!! As always, Jennifer Aniston takes no risk and plays it safe with a simple gown and decade-old boring beach hair. The Valentino gown would have looked so much better on someone who wasn't so bo bo bo boring! 



AND here are my picks for best and worst dressed! 

The worst dressed gong goes to.... Helen Hunt!

I wasn't expecting Helen to stun me, as she has never stunned me in the past, but seriously? This wrinkled satin mess was something she must have pulled out from the back of her closet. Having such thin hair should make someone want to get a hairstylist to help with styling on such an important night, but methinks she did this herself in the limo ride over. Her regal necklace was the only thing that saved her from being shoved off of the red carpet for embarrassing the Academy!


I am so thrilled to review my best dressed choice of the night! Here is the amazing Jessica Chastain!

Is it just me, or did this golden goddess just step out of old Hollywood? Jessica Chastain took us back in time with this alluring Armani dress. Everything about Jessica's look was tied together so well, including her red, wavy hair, red lipstick, and gold sequined mesh dress. I don't believe I have ever seen a more exquisite redhead in all of my 42 years. I definitely haven't seen one like this on the red carpet. I have a feeling that Jessica will be on many best dressed lists this year!

Every time I do a review, I am eager to hear your comments. Agree, disagree, or add your own personal review! Pictures are from cbs.com, and you can also go here for excellent coverage of red carpet arrivals! 

YES, there will be an Oscar fashion review

Watch out for my review.. coming after the Academy Awards Red Carpet on February 24th. I skipped last year, but only a coma will keep me from skipping this year's review... stay tuned!!!

Merry Christmas 2012

It is hard to believe it is Christmas-time again! It feels like we just took the tree down!

I thought I would update any readers I may still have left. This year has been full of ups and downs, but mostly ups! The only surgery that I had to have this year was a cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) in June. I had about three months of complications from the surgery, like high liver enzymes and inability to eat any fatty foods, but thankfully, things have settled down from that.

I have been in the hospital twice since June. One was for a port-a-cath infection where my port had to be removed. The second time was for shortness of breath and fatigue, and I had a lung infection that had to be treated. At the beginning of the year, I also had my second bout of lung rejection, but it was taken care of with solumedrol and a prednisone taper.

My 11 year double lung living-lobar transplant anniversary was in November, and my 4 year kidney transplant anniversary was 2 days later. I have my mom and uncle to thank for donating lobes, and I have my mom to thank for my new kidney! It's hard to believe that it has been so many years! I am beyond blessed with these gifts and with one of the best lung transplant hospitals in the world as my transplant center.

Jason is still working at the AT&T data center. He loves working there! He is currently dieting, since he has gained 20 lbs the past 2 years. We will be married 7 years this coming February.

Casey is a junior in high school now. She was inducted into the Beta Club and the National Honor Society this year. I am so very proud of her! She has made a decision about her future career, and she wants to be a doctor. She is mentally preparing herself for med school. She is exploring colleges and scholarship opportunities. Casey has been driving since January, and she will continue her flight lessons this coming summer so that she can get her pilot's license before applying to colleges next fall. She had lessons this past summer, but because of her's and her instructor's schedules, she was unable to finish them. She has chosen not to take lessons during the school year.

I hope that all of you are well, and you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!!!

This is a picture of Casey that I took yesterday as we decorated the tree. Her hair is growing out again. She donated 14 inches of her hair to Pantene this past year. :)

BLACK's black bow gloves worn by Duchess Catherine

As most of my readers know, I love fashion, even if I don't always dress like I do. I pretty much love all of the Duchess of Cambridge's style choices. She has amazing taste, and is so classy!

When I saw her in these black bow gloves, I knew I had to have them. Thankfully, the Duchess Kate blog has shared with her viewers how to get these gloves 15% off. Check out the blog, and check out BLACK's website!

Celebrity thin

As I'm working on getting "fit" and ready to run a 5k by next fall (maybe next spring), I've been researching a lot of healthy diets (as in to get healthy, not thin), and exercise blogs. What I've come up with A LOT of times is sickly celebrity thin photographs and how to get like that.

At one point in my adult life, I was 87 lbs. At that time I was 5'5" tall. Yes, I've shrunk since then, but I'm hoping that yoga gives me my height back. LOL. I wore children's clothes. I was smaller than the adult 00.

I went to a wedding back in 2001, and I was up to 92 lbs. The photographs that were taken of me, like the one below, show me in a dress that was a size 2 and had been taken in by an inch or two. It tells me that the celebrities today are "sickly thin" like I was, although mine was due to a chronic illness and not starving myself.



I don't ever want to look like that again! I want to have muscle and curves (I don't have many, but I want to maximize what I have by working out). If you want to look like the girls below, you will have to starve yourself, you will be unhealthy, and truly, the man in your life will NOT think it's pretty! Love your body, get fit, but be happy with what God gave you! :)

The Truth about Lung Transplantation

Most of those who are at end-stage lung disease hear this statement when considering lung transplantation as an option: "You are trading one illness for another". Ok yeah, that's true, but it is not a reason to say no to transplant.

I do have the greatest respect for my friends who decide that transplant isn't right for them though. I recently had a young Cystic Fibrosis friend pass away, because her center turned her down for transplant, and she said she didn't have the means to travel to another center. In my heart, I think she was just scared, and she didn't want to go through the transplant process. That is very understandable, since it is definitely a scary surgery/recovery.

When I was being evaluated for a transplant, and undergoing the treatments necessary to get me as healthy as could be for a lung transplant, I knew no one who had gone through the surgery. Even though we should be thankful for all of the online support groups now, and the forums, and facebook for giving us a pretty good picture of what lung transplant surgery looks like, I still am kind of thankful that I knew nothing about the process at the time. I did meet two young women after I had been evaluated and accepted into Duke's lung transplant program who had been through lung transplantation. One had done extremely well, and the other was struggling, even after almost a year post-transplant. I knew it was the end of my life with my old lungs. There was no question that I would go through the surgery. I went in with a positive attitude and also with faith that no matter the outcome, I would be going home... either to my family or to heaven!!! It got me through, and it was the only reason I was able to have peace through it all.

Fast forward almost 10 years. I see the reality of those who have had lung transplants. The lungs are the single most solid organ that is more likely to be rejected by your body than any other. Even though I do know someone who is 18 years out of double lung transplant, I don't know many who are more than 10 years out. It's a reality. It's definitely not something we obsess over or focus on, but it is reality. Again, that is why I support the Lung Transplant Foundation, who's main goal is to fund research by doctors like Scott Palmer at Duke, who continue to find ways to combat chronic rejection in those who've had lung transplants.

As most of my friends know, I had to have a kidney transplant 7 years after my double lung/living lobar transplant. This will happen to about 15% of those who've had lung transplants due to the damage the anti-rejection meds do to the kidneys. That is only one of the possible complications that come with lung transplantation. The risk of cancer is much greater in those who've had transplants, because the anti-rejection meds decrease your immunity. I've had several friends survive these cancers, several friends who are still fighting, and several friends who unfortunately lost their battle to cancer after successfully coming through a transplant.

I have squamous cell carcinoma on my scalp. It is spreading, and even though I have treated it with topical medication and cryotherapy, I am getting new patches almost every few weeks. If surgery is the only final option, I'm not sure how much scalp I will have left. I'm so thankful that it hasn't gone beyond the superficial layer and that I have a great dermatologist, but this is just a reality of post-transplantation for a lot of folks.

When looking for a center to be transplanted at, I want to remind all of my end-stage lung disease friends to look for a center that cares more about getting you 10 years out than getting you 2!!! I cannot stress this enough. Most transplant centers today can get you off the table and through recovery. MOST centers today cannot or rather will not treat chronic rejection (an eventuality with those who've had lung transplants) aggressively. Ask your center what they do for you if you are suspected of having Bronchiolitis Obliterans (chronic rejection). If they say "we just put you on Azithromycin 3 times a week), leave immediately and find yourself another center. It's unacceptable! Getting you off the table isn't enough. I promise when you get 10 years out, you will want more and more and more. Am I being selfish? Maybe.. since so many don't even get the chance of a second life, but I'm also being realistic and telling you how you will feel!

I am thankful for my 10 years (this November) with my new lobes. I am so beyond thankful to my mom and uncle for their donation (my mom's twice donation). But I want more time. I want to see my daughter grow up and graduate and go to college and get married and have children. I am selfish. I want time. I beg all of you to be as selfish as I am.

Lungapalooza 2011

Why the organization Lung Transplant Foundation means so much to me:

This organization means so much to me for many reasons. The biggest reason is that my doctor, who stepped down from the medical director's position of the lung transplant program at Duke to put his main focus on research, truly does care for his patients. He is pouring everything he has into finding ways to prolong the lives of his "older" transplant patients, i.e. those 5+ years out from transplant.

The Lung Transplant Foundation was started by a fellow Duke lung transplantee, and although the entire board of directors is somehow affiliated with Duke or the area, the organization's goal is to branch out to other medical facilities to fund research there that focuses on extending the lives of lung transplant patients. Research at ANY center can benefit lung transplant recipients from around the world!

Because the lungs are the only transplanted organ that is exposed to our outside environment, they are susceptible to pollutants in the air, and this is just one more reason the lungs tend to reject quicker than any other transplantable solid organ in the body. Eventually, those of us who've had lung transplants will get chronic rejection in our lungs (scarring from our body's defense system attacking the foreign organs). My doctor's research focuses mainly on finding treatments to slow this down, and hopefully one day find a cure for it. This foundation is the only one of its kind, and with the funds the organization hopes to receive through awareness/fundraising, they hope to expand it, so that many research hospitals throughout the states can have grants to further their work.

All of us who get transplants want those few extra years to spend with our families and live our lives. We are told from the beginning that a transplant isn't a cure, it's just an extension of life. We all think at the beginning that getting another 5 years to live will be satisfactory. Although, it is wonderful to have those extra years, after you get there, you want more. Of course I am to the point of one day hoping to see my grandchildren born. I hope with the LTF's fundraising, and with doctors like Scott Palmer, Scientific Director at Duke, I and so many others like me, can look forward to a normal life expectancy after lung transplant.

Please sponsor me in the Lungapalooza 2011: A Walk for Breath which benefits Lung Transplant Foundation. You can go here to sponsor me in the walk, and you can read all about Lung Transplant Foundation here.

Thank you for helping save the lives of me and of many of my closest friends! XO

My Anaphylaxis

The very first night that I was administered IV Vancomycin, I got "Redman's Syndrome" about 30 minutes into the infusion. The infusion was stopped for awhile, and I was administered 25 mg IV Benadryl. I did fine with the rest of the dose at a very slow pace, running over 5 hours. The next night, I was pre-medicated with 25 mg of IV Benadryl, and the Vancomycin was set to run over 3 hours. After half of the infusion was given, I developed the symptoms again and was given another 25 mg of IV Benadryl. The rate was slowed, and I was able to finish the dose.

The third night that I received Vancomycin I was also pre-medicated with 25 mg of IV Benadryl. It was set to run over 4 hours per my request. Two hours into the infusion I was extremely nauseated and received IV Compazine. I had just had sinus surgery the day before and had been dealing with nausea ever since. Previously Zofran had been helping but, at this point, I needed something different. About 40 minutes after the IV Compazine was given, I started my anaphylactic reaction.

I had been having a dry mouth for 2 days and a fruity, sweet taste in my mouth. My husband said that my breath had the faint smell of fruit on it. I was tested for ketosis, which was negative. About 20 minutes after the Compazine was given, I complained to my husband about having a metallic taste in my mouth. It also became extremely dry (no amount of water could moisturize my mouth).

About 20 minutes later, I told my husband that I felt dehydrated to the point of passing out. I then told him I was having a reaction. It was a strange feeling that I cannot completely explain. It just scared me so much! I started laying back on the hospital bed, and my husband pulled the code switch in my room. In about 10 to 20 seconds I developed a rash around my neck and thoracic region, front and back, and I had a handful of nurses around my bed.

I had burning and tightening in my chest and stiffness in my legs. My blood pressure spiked to 212/178, and I was in tachycardia. My pulse was about 113 at that point. I then started feeling burning in my throat, sides, and my muscles all over my body were micro-spasming. It was then that I felt my tongue begin to swell. I couldn't communicate very well to the nurses and resident, because my mouth was still extremely dry making it difficult to enunciate words. My neck was so swollen at this point, that it looked like I had two golf balls on both sides of my trachea.

I had a complete feeling of impending doom!

During this time, my nurses had begun administering IV Benadryl and IV epinephrine. I began to feel some relief, and then I would be flooded with symptoms again, which gave them reason to continue this treatment for awhile. After pharmacy brought up Solu-medrol, I was given a bolus and then a drip of it. I was better at this point, but I couldn't relax because of my panic. They decided to give me Ativan to help me relax, which helped tremendously with my symptoms. My daughter was by my side, and did so well, even checking my b.p. regularly and helping out the nurses. She's such a tough girl, and stayed with me the entire night in the hospital so she could watch over me. :)

The Ativan was given about an hour and a half into my reaction. I remained symptom-free for about 2 1/2 more hours, when all of the treatment meds starting getting out of my system. I again started feeling burning and tightness in my chest and swelling of the tongue. I was given more IV Benadryl and another Ativan at this time. That was my very last reaction.

At this point, my allergist is leaning more towards the IV Compazine as being the culprit, but they have listed both Vancomycin and Compazine as an allergy on my allergy list. They will definitely desensitize me to IV Vancomycin if I ever need it again, and I will never be given IV Compazine again.

I wanted to share this with mainly my CF friends in hopes that if you ever feel any symptom "to the extreme", you will call for help immediately and recognize that it isn't normal. I am so thankful that I had my nursing staff on my case in a matter of seconds, and I'm so thankful I wasn't home when this reaction started. I also will carry an Epi-pen with me everywhere I go now. No more taking chances for me. :)

Oscar Fashion 2011

I was pretty much blown away by the red carpet fashion this year. SO blown away, that it was hard for me to pick 5 worst dresses. There were quite a few that were mediocre, 3 that were horrible, but the rest of the looks were glamorous and Oscar-worthy! There were many wives/significant others of celebrities who looked amazing, but I only included the stars in my reviews.

Usually, I try and review every red carpet look, but I have decided this year, to only pick my top 5 best and worst dressed. All photos by Yahoo Movies.

Just like in my previous reviews, I look at the entire "package" and not just the dress. I think that a hairstyle, make-up, and accessories play into how a celebrity appears on the red carpet as much as her dress does. And as always, I stay away from other reviews before writing mine.

There were many red dresses last night. Honestly, I was impressed with only one of them, and that person is in my top 5 best dressed list below. None of them made my worst dressed list, but were in the mediocre category in my opinion.

As far as the winners at the awards show, the only winner I was disappointed with was for best supporting actress. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, I think that Helena Bonham Carter should have won that award for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in "The King's Speech".

Ok, onto my 5 best dresses. I am starting with my number five choice and counting down to my number one:




Reese Witherspoon certainly looks like she stepped out of the 1960's with this look. As simple as this dress was, it was a stunner! Channeling Bridget Bardot (or Bardie if you want to go that far) with her voluminous, sexy hairstyle, she really did stand out on the red carpet. This look could have been a nightmare had she paired the big hair with a busy dress, but since she kept the dress elegant and simple with just the perfect amount of color contrast, she is a winner in my book! Oh and I must mention her gorgeous emerald earrings, which only added to her overall loveliness.



Halle Berry, your beauty never ceases to amaze me. From head to toe, she rocked this look! I prefer Halle with short hair, and last night proved that it could never look better. Her cropped, spiky hair was flawless! She needs to keep her make up artist on speed dial. Those smoldering, smoky eyes were gorgeous! Her nude dress went perfectly with her skin tone. There is nothing bad I can say about her strapless, crystal and tulle gown. She was so elegant, that I think this may be her best look ever.



Calvin Klein rarely disappoints. Jennifer Lawrence has the perfect figure for this red, scoop necked gown. Some may say that it is too simple of the Oscar red carpet, but less is most certainly sometimes best. Her long, flowing blonde hair, eye-popping make up, and minimal accessories complete this simple, but yet very glamorous look.



Wow Mila Kunis! Casey and I both gasped when we saw her on the red carpet. This lace and chiffon gown was very unique and very flattering to Mila's petite frame. Periwinkle has always been one of my favorite colors (it was my favorite crayon growing up). I adored her clutch and her accessories, and I thought that her wavy up-do was very elegant. She is definitely one to watch on future red carpets. I haven't seen a bad look on her yet, and this is only the beginning for the beautiful, bright young star.



Can you believe, after all of the bad reviews that I have given Amy Adams in the past, that she is my number 1 best dressed this year? Maybe she's been reading my reviews.. ha! Let's start with the wavy, side-swept hair. It is feminine, elegant, and the perfect color red you could ask for. Her blue, jewel-encrusted, capped sleeve gown went perfectly with her skin tone and red hair. It accentuated her amazing figure! I loved the fact that she paired this blue gown with emerald jewelry. It was a lovely look all the way around. Thank you Amy for finally hiring the right stylist!


And now... my picks for the worst dressed. Again, I'll end with my choice for number one worst look:




Nicole, Nicole, Nicole. You never cease to amaze me with your colorless red carpet looks. When you decide to wear color to an awards show, I think that the heavens will rejoice! You have such an amazing body, but yet you choose this hip-flaring, strapless nightmare. And what is going on with the metallic flower and leaf embellishments? I do however, like the necklace and the shoes, but unfortunately, that doesn't save you from my worst dressed list.



First of all, who is Florence Welch? Ok, she's a singer.. I'm just kidding. Anyway, for her first Oscar red carpet appearance, she definitely didn't hire a stylist. If Caroline Ingalls were to go to a ball, she would have worn this. She could have pulled off the color of this dress with her firey red hair (which by the way looked like she took scissors to right before she stepped out last night), but there is nothing good to say about this lace, ruffled, granny pajama gown.



I know exactly where Marisa Tomei found her gown. It's actually a bedskirt from one of her old comforter sets, and she is definitely into recycling! From the swimsuit-like straps and neckline, to her overboard tulle skirt, this dress just fails to impress me at all! Marisa's hairstyle was just ok, but I did find her earrings to be my favorite piece of jewelry last night!



It seems that Melissa Leo is also into recycling.... her grandmother's old doilies. In the running (and eventually winning) for the award of best supporting actress, she should have chosen an elegant gown that wasn't so busy. I wasn't impressed with the lines of the dress either. From the high neckline in the back, to the padded shoulders, to the odd-looking front slit, nothing about this gown was even remotely attractive. Her loose up-do is the only thing nice I have to say about this overall look.



Don't get me wrong here, Cate Blanchet is one of the most beautiful, talented actresses in Hollywood!!! Obviously though, she has not an ounce of style, and that is why she gets my number 1 worst dressed look of the night! What is going on with this alien-inspired nightmare of a gown? This lavender (or light blue?) gown with it's very odd embellishments appears to have been squirted with mustard on both shoulders. Do you think that Cate had indulged in a hot dog before stepping out on the red carpet? The accordion skirt was the only part of the gown that should have left the designer's workshop. From the neck up, she does impress. I'm just sorry that she doesn't pair that with an Oscar-worthy (not a Halloween-worthy) gown.

Honorable mentions (those who would have made my top 10 if I had reviewed that many) are Natalie Portman, Hailee Seinfeld, Mandy Moore, Hillary Swank, and Michelle Williams. They all looked lovely!!!

As always, I would love to hear your opinions. Agree, or disagree! Tell me your best and worst dressed celebs of the night! :)

Cystic Fibrosis Awareness

This is for my non-Facebook, non-Twitter friends. I got purple highlights for Cystic Fibrosis awareness. Crazy but fun!!! XO