Thursday, June 30, 2011

teeth whitening: the verdict

After a VERY uncomforable 1.2 hours, my teeth are 2 shades whiter than they were, and after the next two weeks of using the take-home whitening trays, my smile just might blind you! 

I can tell a difference.  My teeth are whiter, but the process was SO uncomfortable and for a brief period, painful!!  I guess I'm a weanie when it comes to mouth pain.  I'd rather go through another c-section instead of professionally whitening my teeth.  I guess there are different levels of whitening and this was the quickest, most intense way to do it. 

Basically, they greased up my lips with a TON of vaseline and put on those cheek expanders.  Then, then they painted on some waxy stuff to protect my gums from the bleach stuff.  Then, they painted the bleach on and shined an extremely warm blue light on my teeth.  They repeat this 4-5 times.  I could only stand to do it 3 times.  My teeth were becoming very sensitive.  She said that a lot of people don't make it through the whole process.  Also, they dont' let you move at all b/c you can easily break off the waxy protective coating--they don't even want you to text or read a book!  You just have to watch TV (which, daytime TV is always boring). Yesterday afternoon and evening, my teeth were extremely sensitive, which was NO fun. 

All in all, I'm glad I did it and had the experience, but I wouldn't do it again.  I'll stick with whitening tooth paste and maybe the occassional Crest white strip after I'm done with these bleaching trays.

Monday, June 27, 2011

An early birthday present

This Wednesday, I get an early birthday present from my husband:  professional teeth whitening.  And it didnt' even cross my mind until I started writing this blog entry that maybe this is his subtle way of telling me my teeth are getting janky and yellow with old age... nah.  couldn't be.

Anyway, our dentist is having a special half off teeth whitening, so he signed me up.  He said if all goes well then he'll do it too.  Maybe I'm the guinea pig?  I am looking forward to it, but not looking forward to the 1.5 hours it will take.  I'm looking forward to seeing if there really is a difference and if it is worth the price.  A few years ago, I used to use those Crest White Strips.  I would say my teeth were presentably white.  It's been a long time since, though, so they could probably use some freshening up.  I'll try to remember to take a before and after picture of my smile to compare and show you.  I like to keep it real.  ;)

Try not to fall off the edge of your seat waiting for the results...

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Cheap wine and big plans.

Found and bought some wine that is less than $3.00 a bottle.  I'm no wine connoisseur (sp?), so I'll probably like it because I just don't know any better.  I'll let you know the results after this weekend's party that we are hosting.

Tomorrow, we are taking Jackson to Grammy and Papa's house for the weekend.  The boy will be there two whole nights!  He's never stayed more than one night anywhere away from home w/o me, but he is BEYOND excited!  Grammy is going to take him to see the new Cars 2 movie on Saturday and that should just blow his mind.  I'll miss him like crazy- especially on Saturday and Sunday morning when he's not here.  He's been our little alarm clock--waking us before/at dawn for his entire life!  Little brother will miss him, I'm sure, too.

Pics of this fun weekend to follow!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Sloan's first day

Jackson and Sloan started summer MDO today, and it was Sloan's very first day of school EVER!  I have to say, I was nervous for him, but it is much easier when it's the second child than the first.  I was only sad because he just walked right on in and didn't even look back for me.  But, I guess that means that he will like it (fingers crossed!)  He has been wanting to go to school for a long time and wanted to stay whenever we dropped Jackson off this past spring.

So, here's my little guy on his first day!

so, first time with the backpack on, and he apparently likes to eat the straps.

Big brother Jackson!  Sloan, still eating the strap.  Hopefully they give him a snack at school...

Sloan going for a taste of the other strap.  Pretty sure it tasted the same.

Monday, June 20, 2011

I am SO over...

Here's what will probably become a somewhat regular installment, seeing as how I can always find things that bug me...

Today, I am SO over:
Women who wear skimpy, tight outfits to the gym to "work out" in. 

I don't even go to a place like Gold's Gym anymore, where you kind of expect some of that.  I go to the Family YMCA (or rather, the Y, as they have now legally changed their name, but anyhoo).  I'm a serious worker outer.  I sweat. a lot. I don't wear full makeup and I don't do my hair up all nice and cute.  The LAST thing I want/need to see is some other lady setting herself up next to me with her teensy tinsy little tshirt that is basically see-through so you can see her bra (and mind you, it's not even a sports bra!) with little bitty tiny shorts that were probably bought/borrowed from a tweener.  I don't look good to go to the gym.  I'm not there to impress anyone else and it is BEYOND me as to why someone would dress like they are trying to pick up a date at a family place.  I almost feel sorry for someone who feels the need to dress like that to get attention.

 So, today, after running 2.5 miles in record time for me, I went and lifted weights for about 10 minutes until one such lady sat herself next to me.  I couldn't stomach it, so I went and ran another mile.  Just so I wouldn't have to be around that.

Here's to fully clothed, sweaty workouts!!

Friday, June 10, 2011

Rx: Ice cream!

Cure for a hot day:  Ice cream!!!

It's so hot.  100 degrees pretty much everyday, and if it's not 100, then its 98.  We've done the pool.  We've done the sprinklers and slip n'slide.  We've done movies inside.  We've done the children's museum.  Thank goodness VBS is next week and after that, both boys will be in a summer mother's day out program!  For their sakes and mine, we need it!  But, today, we didn't do anything, really. We stayed home and had a pretty chill day.  Jackson and I did make some homemade ice cream in a bag today.  It was surprisingly good!  I only wish it made more.  But, maybe I'll just have to shell out some money for an icecream maker like I've been meaning to, but haven't yet.  Anyway, Jackson had fun making his own ice cream.  I thought he would really enjoy shaking the bag, but he handed that job over to me, which I ended up having to use oven mitts b/c it was so cold!

Here's the recipe:  (SOOO easy and FUN!)

1 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla (I think we actually used about 1/2 to 3/4 tsp b/c I let Jackson pour it in and a little extra was added, but it was good)

2 cups ice
3/4 cup salt (rock salt or kosher)

1 gallon size and 1 quart size ziplock freezer bags


Place the ice and salt in the large bag.  In the small bag, mix the other ingredients.  Squeeze out air and seal.  Place teh small bag inside the big bag.  Seal; shake and knead the bag for ten minutes, until the cream thickens.  Remove the small bag, rinse, then open and eat!  (note: I like it a little more frozen, so we stuck it in the freezer for 5 more minutes).

Thursday, June 9, 2011

hypocrite?

My random thoughts for today:

We live on a private road with a private lake.  The entrance to our road has 2 or 3 signs that say "private property, no trespassing, etc".  I get frustrated when random people drive through just to looky-loo.  Mostly because one of the perks to living on a private road is that I can have my kids play outside w/o worrying about strangers.  We only have 11 other neighbors on our street.  Also, these people usually drive way too fast for my liking, especially with my kids and neighbor kids in the area.  Well, the other day, somone drove through that did not belong and I complained.  My husband then said, "what's the difference between them driving through here and the time that you climbed through an unlocked bathroom window to look at a house for sale?"  Ouch.  But, I have to say there is a difference when the house is for sale.  I mean, I was just looking at an empty, new house.  It was for sale and technically, it did have an open house sign in the front...it just wasn't open that day apparently.  Anyway, maybe I am a hypocrite. I can live with it in this case.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Getting old

Top Ten Signs that I am getting old:

1.  I think the summers in TX are too hot.  Anything above 87 is too hot.  I remember in college that I loved the summer and the hotter the better because I would spend all day at the pool/river/lake.

2.  I stay up past 11:00 and it takes me two days to recover.

3.  When I tell people I was born in 1980, they used to say "wow!, you were born in the 80s!  You're so young!"  Now, they just say "oh, okay".

4.  Baggers at the grocery store call me Ma'am.

5.  I get carded maybe 1 out of ten times when I buy a bottle of wine (and NEVER when I am at a restaurant).

6.  I spend a total of 10 minutes looking in the mirror the entire day- and that's at the first of the morning and includes time spent brushing teeth and washing face. 

7.  Every time I look, I find a new gray hair.

8.  The lady at the makeup counter tries to sell me anti-wrinkle cream when I just want to refill my eyeshadow.

9.  I drive under the speed limit (unintentionally)

10.  I'd rather go to bed early than stay up and watch a good movie.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

18 Months

Today, my little Sloan is 18 months old!!  I cannot believe this past year and a half has flown by!  It seems that it went even quicker than Jackson's first 18 months of life.  In the big scheme of life, 18 months is barely a drop in the bucket, but even though he's only celebrating 18 months of life today, it is hard to imagine our family existing without this little guy. 

He brings laughter and joy to not only my heart and his daddy's heart, but also to his big brother's heart!  He is so independent, but cautious at the same time.  Where Jackson jumps in head first into an experience, Sloan pauses, assesses the situation, then if all seems well, he will join in the experience.  I love watching his little personality...even the part that likes to push my buttons (and it's amazing how quickly he learned which buttons to push!!).

Sloan Jacob, I love you and love being your mommy and helping raise you into the man of God you will become!

TMI??  I had to crop this picture b/c he pulled off his swim diaper and Grammy let him run "free and wild"