After all, a toning shoe that promises a better butt, stronger core and weight loss seems like the perfect answer for a bride like you who can’t always make it to the gym.   The big question is: do toning shoes really work?

Do Toning Shoes Help You Get a Better Butt?

How Toning Shoes Work

Most toning shoes attribute greater lower body muscle activation to their shoe’s unstable walking surface.  By creating this unstable surface, studies sponsored by the manufacturers say you can recruit anywhere between 11%-41% more leg muscles just by walking in their shoes versus traditional walking shoes.

Reebok EasyTones are based on their “balance ball” technology and others like Sketcher Shape Ups, Avia Avi-Motion, New Balance Rock & Tone and Ryka Reform rely on a “rocking” technology to create an unstable surface which ultimately changes your walking gait and posture.  If you’ve ever tried on a pair of toning shoes, you notice the instability as soon as you stand.  In response, you feel your muscles activate to correct this instability. That must mean you’re working harder, burning more calories, right?

An independent toning shoe study sponsored by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) wanted to find out just that.

Independent Toning Shoe Study

Exercise scientist from the University of Wisconsin lead by Dr. John Pocari conducted 2 separate toning shoe tests. One to determine if more calories are expended by wearing toning shoes. The other…

Brides Across America, an organization founded by Heidi Janson, is hosting their Nationwide Wedding Gown Giveaway for military brides throughout the month of July.  Bridal salons across the country are hosting the series of events where the free wedding dress are given away. To qualify, brides-to-be must be engaged, planning a wedding and either be serving in Iraq or Afghanistan or have a fiancee that is on active duty. Some paperwork is required, so check their website for details.

Each bridal salon or store has a limited number of wedding dresses to give away. So show up early. It’s on a first come, first serve basis.

Richie revealed the exciting news while on the set of the Late Show with David Letterman.   It seems the couple has been engaged for some time now.  Monday night Nicole Richie’s fiance Madden tweeted “…Yeah we’ve been engaged for a while so your all kind of late on that…”

The couple has two children, daughter Harlow is 2 and son Sparrow is 5 months.  No word yet on the Richie & Madden wedding details.

Learn how you can get involved in the fight against heart disease in women

It might surprise you that the number one killer of women in America isn’t breast cancer, it’s heart disease.  While many Bombshell Brides probably associate heart disease with the older men in their family, coronary heart disease affects just as many women, although sometimes overlooked.

The Go Red for Women organization is trying to increase awareness and decrease instances of heart disease in women. Their website is one of our favorites. It’s a great resource for heart healthy recipes, how to speak to your doctor about heart disease and what you can do to prevent it.

If you’ve improved your life and well-being to prevent heart disease, you could even be a spokesperson for Go Red for Women. Learn about their casting call which ends February 26th.

See Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard side by side in the romatic comedy "When in Rome"

Kristen Bell, star of  the newly released movie “When in Rome”, is engaged to fellow comedian Dax Shepard. The couple have been dating since 2007.

Bell, who is known to take the stairs whenever possible,  tells Women’s Health that yoga helps keep her aware of her body.  In addition, workout buddies like Hayden Panettiere help keep her accountable. And what about counting calories?

[Try this workout from NYC Yoga Instructor Sadie Nardini: Stress Busting Yoga for Busy Brides]

“I find it almost comforting to count calories, because it makes me conscious of what I’m eating. But on Super Bowl Sunday, I thought, “Surrender to it. It’s nacho time.” Then I ate nothing but Doritos all day.”