Nails Of The Day: Sparkly Acrylic - Attempt One!

White tips, clear acrylic powder mixed with sparkly glitter. 3 parts clear acrylic powder one part sparkly powder. Looks a bit more sparkly than real life due to the flash! Let me know if you want a tutorial even though its super simple!

5th Day Braces & First Appointment

I had my first check up appointment at the orthodontist today. Nothing too major or time consuming. They mostly wanted to check and see how everything was going but more specifically the 3 springs I have that were giving me pain on the two teeth Ive mentioned quite a bit in my previous posts. (Top right canine and bottom tooth at the front.) They changed the springs on the bottom to a bar that doesnt move my teeth because they thought the springs were too strong for the time being. My next appt was supposed to be March 2nd (I think 6 weeks from getting them on) but they changed it to just 4 weeks to see how the bars and top spring is doing. Opening/closing the brackets and changing the springs on bottom was super painful. The most pain Ive had yet simply because there was TONS of pressure to begin with and with her pushing on my sensitive teeth pretty firmly sent pain all through my jaw. The pain/pressure lasted about 30 mins and Im fine now. I can already tell with these bars instead of springs theres a lot less pain on my bottom teeth, they dont hurt nearly as bad and chewing is slightly easier. They post poned my rubber bands for another few weeks so that Im comfortable with eating and the pain. I also got told I have to brush better under my springs but they understand Im babying the area cause its extra sore. Im very anal about brushing/flossing/mouthwash 2x a day but its really hard when everything is sore and the electric toothbrush is too abrasive for right now. I find my top brackets feel semi dry and like they have plaque on them and its kinda of an uneasy/uncomfortable feeling. No more sores in my mouth or cuts on my tongue. Lips arent as dry. Still eating soft foods. I can chew a bittt better but still cant bite into anything. I just break up the food and chew with my back teeth.

My Entire Nailpolish Collection!

LEFT TO RIGHT

1. Revlon - Really Rosey 

2. OPI - Strawberry Margarita

3. Sally Hansen - Simply Divine 

4. OPI - Elephantastic Pink 

5. Revlon - Perfect Pink

LEFT TO RIGHT

1. OPI - Barefoot In Barcelona

2. Sally Hansen -  Crinoline

3. OPI - Makes Men Blush

4. OPI - Catch The Garter

LEFT TO RIGHT

1. China Glaze - Black Onyx

2. OPI - Lincoln Park After Dark

3. OPI - Unknown (Sorry)

4. OPI - Armarillo Almondine

5. Rimmel - Steel Gray

LEFT TO RIGHT

1. Revlon - Coral Me Wild

2. OPI - Paint My Mojitos Red

3. China Glaze - Tarnished & Varnished

4. OPI - Hot n Spicy

5. OPI - Melon Of Troy

6. Sally Hansen - Mellow Yellow

LEFT TO RIGHT

1. OPI - Peru-b-Ruby

2. OPI - The Show Must Go On

3. OPI - Im Not Really A Waitress

5. OPI - Malaga Wine

6. OPI - Chick Flick Cherry

7. OPI - Mrs O Learys BBQ

8. OPI - Midnight In Moscow

LEFT TO RIGHT

1.OPI - Mod About You

2. China Glaze - Flip Flop Fantasy

3.Revlon - Cherries In The Snow

4. OPI - Its All Greek To Me 

5. OPI - Your Such A Kabuki Queen

LEFT TO RIGHT

1. Sally Hansen - Mint Sorbet

2. China Glaze - For Audrey

3. China Glaze - Custom Kicks

4. OPI - Suzy Says Feng Shui

5. OPI - Yogota Get This Blue

LEFT TO RIGHT

1. Rimmel - Hard Metal

2. Revlon - Dreamer

3. OPI - Jade Is The New Black

4. Orly - Snowcone

5. OPI - Not Like The Movies

LEFT TO RIGHT

1.OPI - Mod About You

2. Revlon - Gum Drop

3. Sally Hansen - Lacey Lilac

4. OPI - Done Out In Deco

5. Revlon - Plum Night

4th Day Braces...

So the little canker sore I had on the inside of my bottom lip is now healed and gone and Im almost positive that was from excessive talking...I tried to apply wax on the bottom bracket but it wouldnt stick (I couldnt get it dry enough, Im gonna try a blowdryer on my tooth next time haha.) I find my mouth gets excess saliva in it when I lay down. I think it may be because my mouth isnt used to the objects in my mouth and maybe it thinks its food so it over produces spit? I dont know, but thats my theory! I dont feel like my lips stick out much anymore. I brushed and flossed and all that fun stuff yesterday, it is a long process but nothing too difficult. TIP: Dont put toothpaste on your electric toothbrush and turn it on when its not in your mouth LOL. I can chew a little better today. Still going with softer foods though. I go for a check up appointment tomorrow to see how everything is. My top canine and bottom tooth are still tender to the touch but pain is good I dont feel anything like the second day. Still havent taken any meds so it is definitely bareable. As far as movement, I can tell my top two teeth in the front have straightened a little bit (but they werent too crooked, just needed slight tweaking) and the bottom tooth as moved very slightly. I noticed (and as expected) food gets stuck everywhere inside the braces so I try to eat with my back teeth then I try and clean in and around the brackets with my tongue and I have a feeling Im gonna keep an extra toothbrush/floss and a mirror at all times in my purse. Im gonna be self concious of eating now because stuff gets stuck between every bracket. Not the end of the world though :) I quite like them now. Something I thought I would NEVER say. I like them because I know they are helping me

3rd Day Braces...

So Im pretty much used to the feeling of braces by now. The pain is non-exsistant unless I clench my teeth together or try to eat. It feels like I cant bite or chew anything for some weird reason...so much pressure and tenderness. There is one tooth on top and one tooth on bottom that are particularily sore and have been since the first few hours of getting my braces on. I havent taken any pain meds and did go out all night partying and as long as Im not eating Im not in any pain. I am developing a little sore on the bottom inside lip and I think its from shouting in the club for a few hours last night and excessively talking. Drinking/brushing my teeth is super simple and Im happy about that but still eating is very difficult. Im getting a little more used to the braces and Im way more confident than the first day. Most people didnt even know I had them either which was great! I was taking pictures all night and still smile in pictures. Although, its still a little awkward while smiling or laughing because my lips dont know what to do, lol! My lips have been quite dry but I keep them moisturized.

Ive been eating really soft foods like potatoes, ravioli, overly boiled pastas, yogurt, jell-o etc. I try to chew on things but my jaw is to week to break up the food so I put the food to the very back and mash it around and I chew fairly loud because I cant chew my food I can only really suck on it. So far I havent seen any real movement which I wouldnt expect to see until around a months time. Ive decided Im going to take a picture once every Sunday until they are off to see progress!

2nd Day Braces...

Well I went to sleep up and woke up and Im insanely sore today. There is one tooth on the bottom that feels extra sensitive/tender. My whole mouth feels like theres pressure and its tender to bite down. The pain is giving me a slight headache with a bit of an ear ache. It feels kind of like pressure from wisdom teeth coming in is how I can describe the pain. Im semi-used to the feeling of the braces but still very awkward to eat. I havent attempted to brush my teeth yet but I will later today. I need to start wearing my rubberbands but I still cant get them on! I will probably try again in a day or two when the pain isnt so bad. Im hoping this is the worst of the pain...even though I do have a semi high pain tolerance.

Today I Got Braces.....

I will be blogging about my experiences about once a week on any changes/pain/concerns etc. And will throw in a YouTube video once in a while to show you guys progress.

So just a little bit of background on my specific case:

Iam soon turning 21 in April and have wanted a perfect smile for about 10 years. The last 5yrs I was doing some mad research and thinking hard about what I wanted to do and just this year I saved all the money to finally go ahead and do it. Was $6,200 but I had $3100 (Canadian) covered from dental. The main reason I wanted braces was to align and straighten my severely crooked bottom teeth and to round out my mouth to have fuller arches and a wider smile. I had black spaces on the sides when I smiled and my top teeth were slightly crooked as well. My treatment is estimated to be 20-24 months.

*Keep in mind EVERYONES case is different with cost/procedures and what type of braces will work best for you.

I originally wanted to get Invisilign (clear on top and bottom retainers, no metal required) and made an appointment with an Orthodontist. For her personally, my case was a little severe and out of her comfort zone so she sent me over to an Ortho that was more complex. I had about 4 visits with her when she crushed me when she told me I shouldnt get Invisilign for the simple fact that my case was still too severe. She had said they would work and improve my teeth but not give me a 100 percent result and I may need to go into braces again right after which meant (4+ years of braces + double the cost)..um....no thanks!

We finally decided upon braces (The Damon Braces) I got 6 clear top brackets with the rest metal. I have to wear light rubber bands that are fairly hidden for the duration of my treatment. I have stoppers on my molars to prevent me from biting down and hitting my back brackets. For the first few months I have 3 springs (one on the left canine and two over my bottom teeth) Before I got my braces it was a very long, drawn out process...I had to see 2 Orthos as well as go to about 25 appointments, get all my dental work done, get molds, xrays and get all 4 of my wisdom teeth out before we could start (I have a blog post on that).

As far as getting them on it took about 2 hours. Its a very easy process just very long and annoying after a while. No pain putting them on and my mouth didnt feel as stretched out as I thought it would with the big plastic parts they put in your mouth to hold your cheeks back. My jaw did get sore after 2 hours of holding it open but after the brackets were on the wire was a breeze. All they do for each tooth is pretty much dry it with air, put on glue to hold the bracket, push the bracket on the tooth and cure it with a light. Takes about 3 minutes per tooth. The first time I felt them was with just the brackets (no wire) and they didnt feel that weird to me...once the wires were on they do feel quite weird and bulky in the sense that your mouth and lips dont really know what to do for awhile. I talk totally normal I dont have a lisp but my lips get confused on where to rest and do stick out a lot.

There is one thing I will tell you and I know its completely normal but its a feeling that you will never know until you get braces and thats...having all the metal in your mouth and feeling like its 30 times bigger then it actually is and it feels like everyone in the world is staring at your mouth. (Even though when we see people with braces it is noticeable but its not all you notice...and I happen to think braces ON OTHER PEOPLE are cute) Thats the toughest part for me....Im very in tuned to what I look like (like most people) and my confidence is just completely shot after this. I feel so ugly and I feel like I will never look good with them on. Im not gonna say they are pretty nor will they ever be but hopefully after they straighten and I get the springs off it will look less harsh. Your mind also has to get used to seeing yourself  like that. Once you see yourself your heart kind of sinks because a) you know they cant come off b) your stuck with them for 1-2 years c) your in for a lot of pain for a good few weeks d) retraining your mouth to talk, eat, drink, and for you lips to sit normal is a challenge. (Eating is especially hard with the big block of filling in my molars preventing me from biting down all the way. It feels like hard gum stuck in your teeth that you cant get out and the sensation of where your food is, is very odd)

As far as pain...I didnt feel any within the first 4 hours...none at all it was mostly getting used to them. But I did take a nap and woke up and there is certain teeth that if I touch them they are tender and almost feel loose and wobbly. Quite a bit of pressure. Nothing unbearable yet. There is no sharp brackets in my mouth and so far, dont have any problems with sores inside my mouth. Once, I was using my tongue to clean out the sides of my braces and it kind of hooked onto a bracket so just be careful of rubbing your tongue along the outside. As far as rubber bands go....most frustrating shit I've ever experienced! They are tiny and so hard to hook on to your brackets. Between big fingers + small elastics + saliva and your cheeks and with a very small bracket to work with ...it becomes very frustrating....the only thing keeping me going is getting the springs off and seeing improvement and getting these bad boys off. Im glad the top are clear but the springs dont exactly make it very clear at the moment. Ive eaten a softer chilli so far and its not that bad to chew...I just use my back teeth because my front teeth are sore. I will update soon! xo

Nailpolish Of The Day: Orly's "Snow Cone"

Orly's "Snow Cone"

A really nice light blue with a slight tinge of periwinkle purple. Kind of similar to OPI "Suzy says feng shui"

-Very opaque and rich in colour. You only NEED one coat but I always do two just to be safe :)

Review On My YouTube Camera: Sony Handycam HDR-CX360V

Just my thoughts, pros & cons on this camcorder.

Cost: $450-650 CDN 

Where to find it: BestBuy, FutureShop (online, etc)

This camera is GREAT for YouTube videos especially tutorials and things like that. Extremely easy for beginners or people that arent great with technology/computers/camera settings. It comes all set up and the buttons and settings are very straight forward. 

Pros:

-Very light weight, compact camera

-5" flip around touch LCD screen

-Amazing playback audio surround sound speakers

-USB is built into the camera so you dont have to worry about forgetting cords

-12x optical zoom with 17x extended zoom (I can zoom into a sign 300 feet away and still read it!)

-Stabilizes video recording for shakey hands as well as comes with a hand grip

-Comes with remote. Stop start record, pictures, zoom in and out hands free!

-Built in GPS

-Takes photos

-Built in light for night time photos or recording

-Compatable with PC and MAC computers

-32 GB space...you dont need to spend the extra money and hastle on memory cards

-Wide angle for YouTube

-Focuses on objects directly infront of the camera without fussing with settings 

Cons:

-The only con I have about this camera is it took me a while and lots of researching to figure out how to get my videos from my camera to my Macbook laptop. It would transfer my photos totally fine but not my videos until I figured out I had to open up iMove first then plug in the USB which I never had to do with my old cameras. 

-The files are very big and take a lot of computer space so just be aware of that.

I dont know the in's and out's of this camera just yet but if you have any questions just let me know.

Favorite Drugstore Nailpolish Brands/Swatches

Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear    -    "Mint Sorbet"

Under $5.00 CDN

Found at any drugstore.

Extremely pigmented & long lasting. Not a wide variety of colours though.

Revlon   -   "270: Cherries In The Snow"

$3.00-8.00 CDN

Found at most drugstores/grocery stores.

Extremely pigmented, glossy, long lasting. Wide variety of colours and fnishes.

Rimmel London   -   "Steel Gray"

$3.00-$5.00

Found at drugstores.

One of the longest lasting polishes Ive tried. Pigmented. Has a unique flat brush for easy use. Ive only seen about 10 available colours.