The Steps to healthy teeth and a brilliant smile

     So the other day we spoke about 'The Benefits of Smiling'. Now that you know how important it is to smile. How about we work on getting those pearly whites in the best shape of their lives? A brilliant smile can be a great conversation opener! : D

        

     If you are like most persons, then a trip to your dentist’s office isn’t exactly one of the events in your life that you most look-forward-to. However, it is a necessary one. Teens can be very tough on their teeth. With a busy schedule of school, co-curricular and social activities, it may seem that there is not enough time to brush teeth regularly and properly. This combined with an unhealthy diet of a lot of junk food, candy and sodas, is a definite recipe for dental decay and a dentist drilling your teeth. Now no one looks forward to facing a dentist’s drill. So isn’t it better to prevent cavities before the drilling begins?

               

Dentists have often said that the most important part of tooth care happens at home. Here are a few steps to ensuring that your teeth are in good health and well-taken care of.

1)    Brush your teeth two to three times daily with a fluoride containing toothpaste.

Dentists recommend that the minimum time one should spend brushing their teeth is 2 minutes twice a day. Brushing regularly cleans your teeth and stimulates the gums, which helps to keep them healthy and prevent gum disease. Also, Fluoride, the most common active ingredient in toothpaste, is what prevents cavities and inhibits decay.

2)    Clean between your teeth daily with floss

To keep your teeth clean and healthy, brushing alone is not enough. Dentists recommended that individuals floss at least once a day and use un-waxed floss because it is thinner and easier to slide through small spaces.  It is important to floss because flossing removes the plaque and particles of food stuck between your teeth, under the gum line, or under braces.

3)    Use a mouthwash and rinse your mouth thoroughly to cure bad breath and help combat the effect of bacteria.

4)    Use a soft or medium tooth brush. A hard one may damage enamel.

5)    Buy a new toothbrush every two to three months or sooner if the bristles get worn out or bent. 

6)    Drink water throughout the day to ensure that any trapped particles are washed away and to minimize the effect of bacteria in the mouth. 

7)    Chew sugarless gums after meals to help clean the mouth.

8)    Get regular dental check-ups. It is recommended that you visit your dentist every 6 months or as needed. The main reason for going to the dentist regularly, i.e. every 6 months, is as a preventative method. The aim is to prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and other disorders that put the health of your teeth and mouth at risk.

9)    Eat healthy snacks such as bananas as substitutes for candies and energy bars. Eating sugar is a major cause of tooth decay. When you eat sugary foods or drink sodas frequently throughout the day, the enamel that protects your teeth is constantly exposed to acids. Hard candies, cough drops, and breath mints that contain sugar are especially harmful because they dissolve slowly in your mouth. Replace these with healthier options like fruit so you can get your sweet tooth satisfied without doing much harm to your teeth.

Practicing good dental health is more than just about having the perfect smile; it’s about having healthy teeth and gums and preventing the emergence of dental diseases that may arise in adulthood or your golden years. Remember the best person to take care of you is YOU!

Thank You very much for stopping by and having a read!!! Have a great day!!

Much Love,

Nella

Sources:  

http://www.colgate.com/app/Colgate/US/OC/Information/OralHealthAtAnyAge/Teenagers/Teenagers/OralHygieneandYourTeenager.cvsp

http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/take_care/teeth.html#

http://www.dentalgentlecare.com/teen_dental_health.htm

http://www.dentistry.com/articles/Oral_Health_Tips_for_Teens.aspx

Fat Girl Slim!!!

So I know it has been weeks since I told you all that I would start my workout regimen and happy to say folks that I began it yesterday!!!! Yay me!!! :-D I started small with a bit of flexibility and toning focuses so I did some stretches, weightlifting and of course the abdominals (which I plan to do everyday) in the morning before I head for school. Yes folks I have began my summer body boot camp and can begin my weigh-ins. My overall goal is to improve fitness level, lose 15-25 pounds, tone my body and increase strength and flexibility. I was actually looking at my schedule and sadly I do not have my during the day free periods to work out during the school day anymore so I'll have to do Thursdays, Saturdays and try for some evenings. Sigh! But I am determined and I WILL accomplish my goal this year by the end of May! Look out for big changes this year!!! Here is a starter exercise plan I'm trying (complemented with some cardio-treadmill). It's my way of trying get my body tuned up for the heavy work. Wish me luck!!! Happy days! Pleasant trails and for those of you who want to join my body challenge with me, we can try and do a support system so send me a message and we'll talk. Together we can do it all!!!

 

Fat loss & total body toning interval workout

• Do the 10 exercises below back-to-back without stopping and then...
• Rest 2-to-3 minutes and...
• Repeat this workout 2-to-4 times to get a 20-to-30 minute workout and...
• Ladies: Do this workout using light-to-moderate weights to maintain & tone your muscles and...
• Guys: use moderate-to-heavy weights to maintain and/or get bigger muscles.

	Exercise #1  Dumbbell Squat 12-15 repetitions
	Exercise #2  Jog in place for 90 seconds
	Exercise #3  Oblique Crunch 12-15 repetitions each side
	Exercise #4  Jump rope for 90 seconds
	Exercise #5  Bent Over Dumbbell Row 12-15 repetitions
	Exercise #6  Jumping Jacks for 90 seconds
	Exercise #7  Upright Row 12-15 repetitions
	Exercise #8  Jog in place for 90 seconds
	Exercise #9  Triceps Kickback Dumbbell 12-15 repetitions with each arm
	Exercise #10  Jump rope for 90 seconds

http://www.nowloss.com/full-body-toning-interval-weight-loss-workout.htm

The Benefits of Smiling

    

We have all heard of different plans, weight loss and exercise programs that are bound to improve your health. It all seems so confusing and contradictory. But what if there was something simpler out there that we all can do to improve our health? And what if that something is right under our noses? Literally!

You may scoff at this. You may even laugh at the notion! Well good you’re on the right path to good health. One may never believe all the health benefits of smiling but they are real. Smiling is a great way to make yourself stand out while helping your body to function better. Smile to improve your health, your stress level, and your attractiveness.

 

1. Smiling Makes Us Attractive

We are drawn to people who smile. There is an attraction factor. Smiling is a natural attraction factor. We tend to be drawn to people who smile. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is so good. Frowns, scowls and grimaces all push people away -- but a smile draws them in (avoid these smile aging habits to keep your smile looking great).

2. Smiling Changes Our Mood

Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There's a good chance you mood will change for the better. Smiling can trick the body into helping you change your mood.

3. Smiling Is Contagious

When someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of others, and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with them. Smile lots and you will draw people to you. When you smile at friends, family, fellow students and even stranger you not only boost your own health and beauty, you also send a positive message that can potentially change someone else’s mood for the better. The stranger you graced with your smile may go on to pass the kindness to someone else. Who knows how far your original smile will travel?

4. Smiling Relieves Stress

Stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you'll be better able to take action.

5. Smiling Boosts Your Immune System

Smiling helps the immune system to work better. Various studies conducted over the years have shown that smiling and laughter can boost the functioning of the immune system.  When you smile, immune function improves possibly because you are more relaxed. This may help to reduce your risk of developing everything from the common cold to chronic diseases such as cancer. Could there be a less expensive medicine than this?

6. Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure

When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Give it a try if you have a blood pressure monitor at home. Sit for a few minutes, take a reading. Then smile for a minute and take another reading while still smiling. Do you notice a difference?

7. Smiling Releases Endorphins, Natural Pain Killers and Serotonin

Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin. Together these three make us feel good. Endorphins are the same group of hormones responsible for the runners high you hear so much about. If you don’t have time to get to the gym for a hard run, try adding a smile and a bit of laughter to boost these natural, stress relieving hormones. Say no to ineffective and harmful drugs. Smiling is a natural drug.

8. Smiling Lifts the Face and Makes You Look Younger

The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don't go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day -- you'll look younger and feel better.

9. Smiling Makes You Seem Successful

When you smile, appear more confident, more capable, more confident, are more likely to be promoted, and more likely to be approached. Given the choice between two equally qualified job candidates, the smiling candidate is going to be perceived as being more of a team player and easier to work with. Who do you think is more likely to get the job offer? So next time you go for a job interview, just smile and see how well everyone reacts to you.

10. Smiling Helps You Stay Positive

 

Try this test: Smile. Now try to think of something negative without losing the smile. It's hard. When we smile our body is sending the rest of us a message that "Life is Good!" Stay away from depression, stress and worry by smiling. 

Bonus reason to smile: You'll Live Longer

According to a study published in the November 2004 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, elderly optimistic people, those who expected good things to happen (rather than bad things), were less likely to die than pessimists.

On a final note: Even though life may seem a bit rough sometimes, one should always take the time out to just smile and laugh their way through life. The next time you’re tempted to face the world with a frown, remember another old quotation. “It takes seventeen muscles to smile and forty-three to frown”. Just remember to smile and the world smiles with you.

There you have it folks, the beautiful benefits of smiling. Not only does it make you look quite attractive but it also has quite the health benefits. Thank you for reading! Enjoy your day!

Much Love,

Nella

  

Comments, Feedback and Suggestions are welcomed!!!

Sources:

http://socyberty.com/lifestyle-choices/20-benefits-of-smiling/

http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/04/12/smile_the_remarkable_personal_benefits_of_smiling.htm

http://longevity.about.com/od/lifelongbeauty/tp/smiling.htm

http://www.articlesbase.com/dental-care-articles/the-benefits-of-smiling-1315051.html

http://hubpages.com/hub/Benefits-of-Smiling

When the going gets tough, think positive!!!!

QUOTE OF THE DAY :

“Don’t wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges,

obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.”- Mark Victor Hansen

Mantra! Mantra!

Hello ladies and gents, 

It has been quite a while since I made a relationship/dating post to guide you young eagles to relationship success. Well if you missed my guiding light (and I am sure you have ;) ), never fear Nella is here. I have returned to save you all. 

Now I believe the first step in loving someone else is to love God and yourself first. Self-appreciation and self-love is an important step on that journey to that romance and united, unconditional love we all seek. Now don't get me wrong. I am not talking about nor am I preaching vanity, whereby some of us are so in love with ourselves that we are selfish with our love that we are unable to share it with anyone else, nor do we want to. What I am simply putting forth is the idea that you should know and realize that you are someone who is worthy of love and worthy of the best possible love there is. Therefore, no one should accept abuse whether physical, mental or emotional. You should accept the love you deserve. 

So you may be wondering: "Where is Nella going with all this?" "Is she going to speak about abuse? Or is it something else along those lines?" Well my gentle loves the answer is 'No'. The tantalizing topic for today is: 'Dating mantras- The guiding principles of any single guy or gal'. No this is not like my previous post 'The Dos and Don'ts of Being Single'. So sit back, relax and enjoy!!! 

 

Dating! What a trip?! Dating is definitely a roller coaster ride. It has many ups, downs and sometimes even horizontal. It can smile unconditionally or make you pull out your hair. Despite all this, we need to remember to focus on the positives and keep the bigger picture in mind. As I always say, 'Sometimes you have to kiss many frogs before you find the one'. So do not get discouraged if things do not work out as you want it to. Use every dating and relationship experience as a learning tool. Note what you did wrong, what the other person did wrong, identify your likes and dislikes, just make a note of everything that you noticed and use it so you can have more successful relationships in the future. Every mistake helps you to learn what no to do. So I present to you my lovelies dating mantras to help remain open to love.

1. I am human and I am worthy of being loved. I recently read a quote "We accept the love we think we deserve" and I must say agree with it completely. Ever wondered why a sweet person stays with a total jerk? Or why an abused person stays with an abusive partner? Well read the quote and you will find your answer. Many times we are unhappy in a relationship, yet we are so caught up in the relationship that we just don't leave. Remember you should only be in a happy and fulfilling relationship. You are worthy of love and only accept the love you truly deserve. No mediocre love is acceptable.  
2. Quit sweating the small the stuff. Stop being such a worrywart and enjoy your day and life. You are way too young to have worry lines or frown lines across your face. There is a quote that says, "Youth is wasted on the young". Do you want to make this true or do you want to enjoy life and live it up? Take things one day at a time and enjoy the life God has blessed you with. Practice reciting 'Today is a new day. Live it up.' Or you can ask yourself 'Can I be happy today?' and the answer should always be 'Yes'.
   

   
   
   
3. My sadness is mine. It is okay to feel sad. It is your right. It's a valid feeling. It's okay to go there, so give yourself permission! You won't die from sadness. Mourn that relationship and then get back out there and be happy again.
   
   
4. This too shall pass. "Everything will be okay in the end; if it's not okay, it's not the end!' You may have gotten rejected, ended a relationship, lost a loved one or worse but the fact remains that the pain will not last forever. Keeping positive and looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow can truly help your state of mind. It helps you to feel better about the future and the prospects to come. 
   
   
5. I am the guardian of me. I cannot control anyone's behaviour. You cannot make anyone love you or care for you. Take a deep, calming breath and realize the person's actions are out of your hands and control, you will not stress out and you'll feel better. The only thing you can do is guard your own heart. Now this doesn't mean that you should 'Put up a wall', all it simply means is that you be realistic in your expectations and keeping them in check, taking responsibility for your own behaviour, not making excuses for someone else's bad behaviour, and understanding that things don't always go your way. Take gently care of your heart until you find someone else who will.

Thank you again for reading!

Yours Always,

Nella

*A mantra is guiding principle to help one feel happier, healthier, more cleansed, peaceful and spiritually centered. It's about transformation into a happier, better you.

 

Adapted from the article '11 Dating Mantras to Live By' on Glamour.com

Comments, feedback and suggestions are welcomed!!!

DIY: Make up tips-Lips-Lip Tips

There are many of us who may want to wear makeup but haven’t got the slightest idea where to start. If you are one of those, well you have come to the right place. Let’s start with the basics-the lips. Lipstick/lip gloss provides the final touch to your makeup, without it no look is complete. For a perfect result, you will need a steady hand, some practice, the correct implements and some knowledge of the correcting techniques.

What you will need:

·      A narrow, flat ended brush

·      A selection of finely sharpened lip pencils/ lip liner

·      Lip gloss

·      Lip stick (either the conventional tube lipstick or the cream type with a sponge-tip applicator.)

N.B.: If your lip colour is uneven, then you will need a special lip base or balancer. Use a lighter tone on the dark areas and a dark tone on the light areas. These balancers also form a base for lipstick and help to keep the colour of the lipstick pure and clear.

Instructions:

Step 1: Choosing the right shade

Before outlining the lips check that your lips are smooth and grease free. Choose a lip liner that complements your skin tone. Choose a lighter shade of lipstick and one more shade that's lighter than the lip liner and lipstick. Make sure all three shades of makeup complement your skin tone and each other.

Step 2: Outlining with lip liner

Use a sharp lip liner pencil in a shade close to that of your lipstick colour and with a steady hand, lightly outline the lips. For the upper lip, start at the centre and work out, towards the corner of the mouth. For the lower lip, work from side to side.

Step 3: Priming the lips with a lip balancer

Fill in the lips with a special base or balancer to even out the skin tones. If your lips are of an even colour, use a face powder as a base.

Step 4: Filling up with lipstick

Apply the next lighter shade of lipstick to your lips, concentrating most of it toward the centre. Allow the lip liner colour to stand out around the edge. Using a lip brush, fill in the colour. For the upper lip, start at the centre and work outwards. On the lower lip work from side to side. Do not pile up too much colour. It is much easier to add some more later than to remove any excess.

Step 5: Finishing up with the lip stick

Use the lightest shade to place a small area of highlighter colour in the centre of your bottom lip and under the Cupid's Bow, or centre of your top lip. Smudge in lightly.

Step 6: Blotting Off

Fold a clean tissue and place it between your lips. Press the lips lightly together to remove the excess colour and to help seal the remainder, so that it stays on the lips rather than moving onto every glass you use. Apply powder to your lips to set the colour and make it look natural. Concentrate the powder around the edges for a natural look.

Step 7: The finishing touch

Finally finish with a lip gloss to get a gleaming look. Apply some light clear gloss for a dewy look. Put the gloss only toward the centre of your bottom lip.

Please note: Females with extra-full lips, should use lip gloss very sparingly.

Quick Fixes:

Shaping Up Your Lips:

Through some knowledge of what you can do to correct lip shape you can truly achieve a perfect finish to your face. Study the shape of your lips, identify the defects, if any, and decide on what you want to achieve and then proceed.

1.   Small Mouth, With Small Lips

These are easily corrected by taking the lip liner pencil outside the natural lip line. Work slowly and steadily to form a perfect shape. Fill in with primer and finally with the lipstick. A highlight of frosting on the upper lip would also create an impression of fullness.

2.   Large Mouth With Full Lips

Apply liquid foundation makeup to the entire mouth, then outline with a dark shade of lipstick just inside the natural contours of the mouth. Then apply lipstick of a lighter shade carefully and accurately within this outline. Subdued shades work well for this kind of mouth. Use medium toned lip colours and avoid dark browns, plums, electric brights or pale shimmer shades.

3.   Full Upper Lip

Apply fluid foundation makeup to the upper lip. Outline just inside its natural contour and apply a dark shade of lipstick. Then outline the lower lip just outside its natural contour and emphasize by filling in with a lighter shade of lipstick.

4. Full Lower Lip

Outline upper lip just outside its natural contour. Apply a light shade of lipstick and in the centre add a touch of lip gloss. Apply fluid foundation makeup to the lower lip. Outline just inside its natural contour. Then fill in with a darker shade of lipstick, using a lip brush.

5. Wide Mouth

Cover the corners of the mouth with foundation makeup or a cover stick. Apply lipstick with a lip brush, stopping a few millimetres before the corners of the mouth are reached.

Patching Up

If makeup has to be touched up during the day, only powder makeup should be applied, using a brush. Use gentle patting strokes and blot the excess off.

Tips and tricks:

·      For long lasting lip colour, apply sheer layer of foundation on lips, dust powder on them and then colour them. This also helps lipstick not to change its colour on dark lips.

·      Choose a lip liner close to lipstick colour to define the shape of lips.

·      To make your lips look thicker, make the outline just outside your natural lip line while for thinner lip look; place the outline just inside the natural lip line.

·      Fill the defined shape with lipstick using a brush and blend the colour well with the outline until the latter is not noticeable.

·      Lipsticks can be glossy, matte, creamy or frost ones. Choose the one that suits you and do not make the skin on lip look dried and chipped.

·      A sheer tinted gloss look can also be achieved by sucking on the Popsicle of desired shade!

·      Apply two coats of lipstick for longer durability. After the first coat, press the lips on a tissue paper and then apply the other coat.

·      Outlining of the lips prevents lip colour bleeding.

·      Lip-gloss can be applied on lipstick or used alone for a nude look.

·      Gloss makes lips appear fuller, so women with thicker lips should avoid using it.

Sources:

http://beauty.indobase.com/makeup/lip-makeup.html

http://www.marykay.com/whatsnew/applicationstips/lipapplication/lipapplication.aspx

http://www.101lifestyle.com/beauty/makeup/makeup3.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_2211167_apply-lip-makeup-fuller-lips.html

There you have it folks another Homemade Beauty Tip brought to you by 'As told by Nella' I hope you've enjoyed it! Have a wonderful day!!!

With Love and Sweet Kisses,

Nella