Not So Basic Smile (and other thoughts)

Hey Babes. LONG time no see. Sorry for being MIA but I needed some me time the past couple weeks to decompress and get organized. Life got overwhelming for a while but I decided to make like Elsa and LET IT GO. But I am back and ready to go!

Despite having some hard times the past few weeks, I have had a lot to smile about. I got to take a short trip to Portsmouth, NH. It was beautiful! I also got to take a trip back home to see my family in Upstate New York. It is always good to be home, no matter how brief.

Portsmouth, NH

Home

So speaking of smiles,  a lot of you have commented on my Instagram or messaged me about my teeth. So I decided to share some of my tips. I have super sensitive teeth so I can't use traditional white strips because my teeth hurt horribly after I use them. I know, life can be rough. These are things that work for me and I hope they work for you too!

I just like to smile, smiling is my favorite!

-Buddy the Elf 

• Sensodyne Extra Whitening Tooth Paste: Babes, this stuff works wonders. This toothpaste whitens better than most that I have tried AND it doesn't cause my teeth any pain. I use it at least two times a day and I LOVE IT.

• Coconut Oil Pulling: When I asked my dentist about natural ways to whiten my teeth that wouldn't cause sensitivity he mentioned oil pulling. He said that while he never tried it himself, he had patients who claimed it worked very well for them. So I tried it and I loved it. There are a ton of videos you can look up that will show you how exactly to pull so I am not going to go into too much detail.  But basically I wake up, put a table spoon of coconut oil in my mouth, pull it through my teeth for 10-15 minutes, spit it out, rinse with salt water, brush my teeth, and get on for the day. JUST DON'T SWALLOW, the oil is full of toxins and you don't want to digest that. 

• Rite-Aid Teeth Whitening Pen: I learned about this gem from The Skinny Confidential (AKA my favorite blogger, seriously she helped me change for the better, check her out). This pen whitens your teeth immediately. It is just a little tube and when you twist the bottom the gel comes out the top and you can brush it right on to your teeth. I LOVE IT. It also doesn't cause my teeth to be sensitive at all. Super cheap, works great, go pick one up. Go!

So keeping with the smile theme- I found a great lipstick color and I'm obsessed with it- this lipstick is to me as pickles are to the old fun Snookie who drank her way into our hearts so many years ago. It is called Everlasting Wine by Maybelline. I had been searching for the perfect late fall almost winter color and this is it. It is deep red with some purple undertones. I had visited Sephora and multiple department store counters looking for a new color and then I found this at the CVS at the Cambridgeside Galleria, go figure!

Babes, life gets hard. It gets hectic and stressful.  But when you take a step back and let yourself look at the big picture, you realize it's pretty awesome. Surround yourself with people you love and appreciate how fortunate you are. You'll see that you have a lot to smile about- now with whiter teeth and a sexy red lip (sassy girl emoji here). 

Until next time Babes (and there will be more abut Boston!). 

xo Whitney