Whitening Sensitive Teeth at Home

*Enter to win a free whitening kit at the end of this post!

From newlywed to preggo to post partum, my smile has undergone a transformation. During my pregnancy I gained a lot of weight in my face and my smile seemed to have gotten lost. Now a little over 3 months post partum I finally feel like I am getting my grin back but I know it could be better.

Of course I am a coffee drinker, like most mamas out there I have coffee stains on my teeth. My stains are something that I thought I needed to live with, they didn't make me feel insecure but I definitely was aware of them. I had tried a couple at home whitening products that gave me no visible results and also made my sensitive teeth hurt so badly I never finished the whitening session.

When Smile Brilliant reached out to me and asked if I wanted to try their product, I began to get excited at the prospect of getting help with my grin. I quickly did my research by browsing through their website and instagram for real life reviews. I would have whitening trays of my teeth made and a dentist grade whitening service without actually visiting the dentist? You can't put a price on convenience and quality, well maybe you can. It's less than $200!

"Let's get this process started!" After I answered a few questions about my dental history I had a Smile Brilliant box delivered to my door two days later. I read through the instructions and started to make my molds, I was anxious to get them back and start the whitening process. Once the molds were solid and dry I sent them back to Smile Brilliant in the provided envelope. I received my custom whitening trays about a week later and started whitening. The entire process was simple, fast and very user-friendly. I read the instructions once and I was good to go!

#WhileIWhiten I have done house work, showered, laid on the couch and played candy crush until my son has woken up from his nap. One evening we went for a walk as a family and halfway through the walk I asked my husband if he could tell I was whitening my teeth and he had no clue! The whitening trays were barely visible and also didn't affect my speech so I was still able to have conversations while I whitened.

I whitened my teeth every night before bed for 21 days and saw my smile becoming whiter with every use. I have sensitive teeth like I mentioned before and that is a concern for me with any whitening products. Smile Brilliant has an awesome desensitizing gel you can use after whitening. I had zero sensitivity what so ever and was so impressed.

This mama's smile is back! I ended up really loving this product and totally recommend it to anyone looking for some serious whitening results without the sensitivity. I've already mentioned it to friends and co workers who have noticed my sparkling grin. Of course these opinions are my own and trust me, I would not recommend something to you if I didn't love it myself. Scroll down a little further to see my before and after!

Here's a good resource to read before thinking about getting your own Smile Brilliant kit, 7 things to know before buying teeth whitening. If reading isn't your thing go ahead and click here to watch their review video.

Okay now... it's your turn to get your smile back!
Do you want to WIN a FREE whitening kit of your own? Enter here to win and if you can't wait, use code lavidavera for $20 off your custom whitening trays.

*The giveaway is open for 1 week! Open to USA, UK, Australia, and Canadian residents. You must enter your email to be entered!

-B

5 Lipstick Must Haves [National Lipstick Day]

In honor of National Lipstick Day (yes, there should be a day dedicated to lipstick) I thought I would give you my 5 lipstick must haves to throw in your purse, wristlet, or diaper bag that come straight from my collection.

I believe a good lipstick shade can really pull your look together, make you feel confident, and can make your smile shine even brighter! I don't claim to know all the greatest shades out there, I just know what I like. These are my most worn, most repurchased, and best bang for your buck lipstick shades.

1. Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid in Nude Thrill: $7.99

2. Mac Stain Lipstick in Brave: $17

3. Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 01: $14

4. Milani Color Statement Lipstick in 26 Nude Creme: $4.99

5. Wet n Wild Liquid Catsuit Lipstick in Nice to Fuchsia: $4.99
[click the links to add them to your collection]

-B

My Mama Moment

I found myself using the phrase, "I need a mama moment" yesterday as I was talking to my husband on the phone in the Target parking lot while a waterfall of frustrated tears were streaming down my already makeup free face. Despite having a child constantly attached to me I was feeling alone. Here I was, this stay at home mama who was doing everything for her family and her home to function smoothly but I was feeling like I was flying solo. Can you relate?

I needed a couple hours to check myself before I wrecked myself. A couple hours to regroup and stop any selfishness that was trying to creep up and steal my joy. A couple hours to find the root of my emotions. A couple hours to remember that when I feel alone, God is right along side me cheering me on. A couple hours to really step back and look at my life to see how blessed our little family has been. A couple hours to realize that my communication in my marriage needs some work. A couple hours to really appreciate how hard my husband has been working for our family in order for me to be a stay at home mama. A couple hours to smell the popcorn that permeates the Target aisles to snap me back into reality. A reality that is pretty amazing. 

This mama moment for me was significant. I needed it in order to put me back in a truly selfless position. To help organize my emotions in order to allow myself to communicate them successfully to my husband. I am discovering that feeling alone is only a small price to pay for the experience of bringing my son into this world and growing together as a family. Instead of "sucking it up" (my hormonal cry fest Target parking lot solution), I am going to embrace this season. This God given season of Motherhood. A season where in the solitude of my home, while I hear the little toots coming from my son's crib, that I truly feel whole in Him.

-B