• Home
  • About
  • Contact

Serendipity Mommy

For happy, healthy, thriving moms

  • Children
  • Education
  • Pets
  • Wellness
  • DIY/Home
  • Cooking
  • Fashion
  • Travel
  • Finance
  • Tech

Dentist or DIY: What You Should Know About Teeth Whitening Today

June 15, 2017 by Mandy

Everybody admires nice white teeth and a confident smile. Most of us think that our teeth are not really white enough. But go to a dentist to ask about teeth whitening and you may be surprised by the cost and wonder if it is really worth the expense. So what about using a kit to whiten your own teeth? Are there any risks and what, if any, are the advantages?

Whitening Methods

There are several different methods that are used to whiten teeth. All involve the use of chemical bleach, mainly hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.

  • In-office whitening, as its name suggests, takes place in the dentist’s office. It is generally regarded as the quickest way to achieve noticeable effects safely.
  • Custom-fitted whitening trays can be supplied by your dentist or purchased directly. A mould fits closely around the teeth and ensures even contact with the whitening agent.
  • As well as trays, online outlets such as WhiterSmile can supply strips or paint-on gels. These are simple to use, and especially effective when combined with LED light accelerators.

Advantages of Dentist Treatment

Getting your treatment done by a dentist means that you are in completely safe hands. Although the risk of doing any harm is very slight if you treat yourself, you know that your dentist will not make any mistakes.

With your dentist supervising your treatment, you know that you will get quick results and a nice even color.

Advantages of DIY Treatment

The most noticeable advantage of DIY over dentist treatment is that it is much, much cheaper.

In the majority of cases, the results will be indistinguishable from those achieved by the dentist.

Home treatment is more convenient, you can decide for yourself when and for how long to apply your whiteners. You can maintain the level of whiteness at a pace to suit yourself.

Things to Remember

Even if you decide that a home whitening kit is the way you want to go, it makes sense to consult your dentist before you start. There may be reasons why your teeth are getting discolored which indicate a different problem. Also a thorough clean with the removal of tartar will make your teeth most receptive to whitening.

If you have crowns or bridges, the whitening will not affect them and you may be left with discolored teeth among your bright white ones. On the other hand, if your crown was fitted when your teeth were whiter, you will want to bring the natural teeth back to the same color.

All treatments are temporary. Whatever method you use, you will almost certainly need to repeat the treatment on a fairly regularly basis, typically two or three times per year.

Go With Your Smile

A confident smile is a great asset in life, and if you know your teeth are white your smile is probably going to be easier and more natural. Teeth whitening, whether at home or in the dentist’s chair, is generally safe and easy to achieve.

Filed Under: Dental Health Tagged With: dentist, health teeth, teeth, teeth whitening

The Perfect Diamond Necklace for Your Significant Other

June 15, 2017 by Mandy

For many people, getting the right kind of gift for a loved one sometimes poses a challenge. Will they like it? How much will it cost? Does it look too tacky? Most men will have these thoughts when picking out a piece of jewelry for their significant other. This is especially true when it comes to necklaces.

Such a large piece of jewelry is designed to be showed off. Diamonds and other precious stones are often set into it, or they come in the form of pendants. Whatever the case may be, all you need to do is have a look at the varieties out there and perhaps invest a little time in diamond education. This will help you to know what you’re looking for!

Formal or Casual?

If you’re going to buy a diamond necklace as a gift, you may want to decide whether it is for formal or casual wear. In this case, consider what your wife or girlfriend wears the most. Does she work in a high-powered job where she’s required to attend formal business events, dinners or galas? In this case, a beautiful pear diamond necklace will go well with any formal dress.

If you do want to be on the safe side, jewelry fitting for more casual styles is probably your best bet. Many necklaces that are good for casual wear can also work well for formal wear. Should you feel that it may be a little too much, you can always take it back and perhaps try out another one.

The Four Cs – Really, Know Your Stuff!

The “Four Cs” refer to cut, color, clarity and carat weight. These are the factors that jewelers use in order to value diamonds. By taking a little time to learn about them (essentially, what makes a diamond truly sparkle), you’ll be closer to getting a diamond that’s worth the money. A piece of advice: don’t confuse diamond carat weight with “karat” which is a unit used to measure the purity of gold.

There are plenty of tutorials on the Internet that’ll help you get to know your way around a diamond. So, use the information and resources that are at your fingertips! If you really want, you can also shop around and compare using your new-found knowledge.

Don’t Get Stiffed

Jewelers are essentially there to sell their wares – though they are also more than happy to dole out advice. However, take what they say with a pinch of salt when it comes to how a diamond or necklace will look. After all, you know your partner and therefore should have an idea of what sort of taste they have when it comes to jewelry! Don’t let a jeweler trick you into buying the most expensive piece just because.

These handy tips can help you to steer clear of any trouble if you’re looking for the perfect present. There is a stereotype that men have no idea when it comes to gifts – well, it’s time to prove it wrong!

Filed Under: Fashion Tagged With: diamonds, fashion, jewellery, necklace

How to Have a Happy Marriage when You Are Busy Parenting

June 9, 2017 by Mandy

Source

Most people get married because they love their other half with a passion. They want to spend the rest of their life with this person, for better or for worse. Unfortunately, married life often goes downhill once kids come along, so let’s look at how you can maintain a strong, happy relationship and still be a great parent.

When your man presented you with an engagement ring from Adiamor.com, did your heart skip a beat? If so, you are not alone. A marriage proposal is a special event. It is that perfect moment when you see a wonderful future all mapped out, the two of you, creating a family and living happily ever after, or at least that’s how you imagine life is going to pan out.

Planning a dream wedding becomes the next priority, and then once you both settle into married life, no doubt the conversation turns to having children. Most couples romantically discuss having kids. They choose names and imagine what a great parent their other half will make. What they gloss over, however, is how difficult raising kids can be, and how much it can affect your relationship.

Placing Children at the Center of the Family Universe

Once kids come along, your relationship is no longer a priority. Taking care of the kids takes precedence, especially for moms. This is perfectly normal when children are very young, but it can cause problems if you let it continue.

Too many parents pour all of their energy into their children. Every waking moment is spent feeding and nurturing their children. Their kids are the apple of their eye. Mom does all the school runs and looks after the practical things, and dad takes the kids to the park at the weekend.

By the time you have run yourself ragged chasing after kids, ferrying them to after-school activities, and finishing the chores, is it any wonder you don’t have any energy left over for your partner?

If you are not careful, your relationship will become little more than a cohabiting arrangement where you talk about nothing apart from the kids. Putting the kids at the center of your universe is only right when they are newborn babies, but kids need to learn their place in the family hierarchy.

Children love to be the center of the universe, but it is not healthy for them or for you. You need to make time for your relationship. The more you ignore your relationship, the faster the cracks set in. A healthy marriage is a foundation for a happy family. Parents who devote their energies to the children encourage a child’s bad behavior and create emotional distance in the marriage.

You might think your marriage is doing just fine, but when was the last time you spent quality time with your spouse without the kids taking center stage?

It is very hard to have an adult conversation when you have a toddler demanding more juice or an older child pleading with dad to kick the ball around. Too many parents give in to the demands of their children because it helps to keep the peace, but organizing activities each weekend so your kids are kept busy is not helpful to them or you.

Nurturing Happy Children

Children need to learn that they are not the center of the universe. The sun does not rise and set around them and their parents have a life away from the family home. It might be an unwelcome announcement to a demanding toddler with a Napoleon complex, but it will help them grow into nicer human beings.

The more you pander to a child’s demands and ignore your spouse’s needs, the quicker your marriage will unravel. Healthy marriages need nurturing, just like plants. Kids know when their parents are unhappy. No matter how many fun activities you plan in an attempt to disguise the fact your marriage has cracks deeper than the Grand Canyon, your kids will be able to tell things are not good between you two.

Two parents who barely have anything to say to one another is not a healthy atmosphere. You probably assume that because you don’t argue or scream at each other, everything is great. However, this is not the case. Emotional distance is more insidious and far more damaging to a marriage. It also sows the seeds of childhood insecurity, and insecure children are not happy campers.

Make Your Spouse a Priority

If you want a successful, happy marriage, your spouse needs to come first. The parenting years are difficult, but they don’t last forever. Eventually, your kids will fly the nest and make their own way in the world. When that happens, it is just the two of you left at home. Do you want to be one of those couples that sit in silence at the dinner table because they have nothing to say?

Teach Your Kids the Art of Self-Entertainment

Kids are needy, demanding, and apt to throw a tantrum if they feel ignored, but it is healthy for them and for you if they learn how to entertain themselves.

You and your spouse need to do adult things from time to time; even it’s just having a cozy lie in on a Sunday morning or reading the newspapers in peace.

If your kids are used to having your undivided attention, they will probably react badly if you tell them to go play in their room for an hour. However, it won’t kill them. Say you and your spouse need an hour’s peace and if the children play nicely on their own you will do something fun as a family.

Kids need to learn how to play on their own. It helps them grow into self-sufficient adults. Part of the problem with the Snowflake Generation is that they have grown up in a world where an anxious parent takes care of their every whim. Don’t be that parent. Your kids will survive if you ask them to stay in their bedroom and play with Lego for an hour. Yes, really!

Be Nice to Each Other

The small things make or break a marriage. Forgetting to put the trash out every week or not helping at bath time causes toxic resentment to build up over time. Conversely, thanking your spouse for helping out or buying flowers on a whim keep a marriage alive.

Make an effort to be nice and do nice things, even if you don’t always feel like it. The nicer you are, the nicer they will be in return.

Make Time for Date Nights

You need to spend quality time alone with your partner. Since there is a limit to how much quality time you are likely to have at home with the kids around, schedule in a date night at least once a month.

Book a babysitter or ask the grandparents to have the kids for an evening. Go out for a meal or take a nice stroll together. There are plenty of things you can do that cost nothing if money is tight. You could even sign up for a night class together, or join a dance group. The quality times you spend together are a chance to catch up on life. Make a point of not discussing the kids at all. Instead, pretend you are on a date and do the things you used to do before kids came along and two became three or four… or more!

This is your time to reconnect and remind each other of what life was like before kids came along. Enjoy this special time together. It’s priceless.

Listen to Your Partner

When was the last time you really paid attention to what your partner was saying? Do you tune out their conversation and pay more attention to your children?

It is easy to ignore our partner when we are stressed out, busy with the kids, or just exhausted. Have an adult conversation before bed each day where you each share what happened that day. Talk about the news and discuss current affairs. Use these conversations as a way of touching base amidst the chaos of a hectic family home.

Prioritize Intimacy

Intimacy is often the first casualty when kids come along. Night feeds, an insomniac toddler and an endless succession of childhood illnesses spell death for love and intimacy. After all, who feels like being intimate after less than two hours sleep in the previous 48-hours?

Many parents avoid intimacy of any description because they are too tired and stressed for sex. However, intimacy is not just sex. Intimacy is having a cuddle on the sofa or holding hands on a family trip to the park. Make time for intimacy; it is the glue that holds couples together. Sure, you may not feel like sex for a while, but don’t let intimacy disappear for good.

Keep the lines of communication open during the parenting years and don’t let small issues snowball into major problems. Work at your marriage every single day and by the time the kids leave home, you might just fall back in love, all over again.

Filed Under: Children, Wellness Tagged With: life partner, love, marriage, parenting, relationships

Taking Care of a Sick Dog at Home

June 8, 2017 by Mandy

For many people, their dogs are the next best thing to a child. It’s only natural that you want to care for a sick puppy. Your dog can’t tell you if he’s feeling ill or he’s in pain, so it is important to look after him carefully after surgery or during a bout of illness.

Tummy Bugs

Dogs can pick up bugs just like us, so they do sometimes throw up or suffer a bout of diarrhea. You can take care of most minor problems at home. Dogs love to eat things that disagree with their stomach, no matter how noxious it might taste or smell. The decomposing rabbit your dog dug up on a long walk might not look very appetizing to you, but it is the equivalent of cordon bleu cuisine to him. Unfortunately, it will probably give him a bad tummy for a few days.

Diet

If your dog has a bad tummy, restrict his food intake for 48-hours, or until the symptoms clear up. Avoid giving him anything that could upset his stomach further. Boiled chicken and rice are bland but palatable, and may tempt him to eat something.

Make sure your dog has plenty of fresh water, especially if he is vomiting and/or has diarrhea. Keep a close eye on his urine output, and if he isn’t peeing much, contact your vet for advice, as dehydration could lead to more serious health problems.

Sick dogs need to be kept quiet, preferably away from the hustle and bustle of the family. Move your dog’s bed to a quiet room where he won’t be disturbed by kids and visitors. He won’t feel like being sociable, just like you don’t when you are ill.

Keep Your Dog Quiet

Lay newspaper on the floor if your dog is throwing up or he has diarrhea. He will not be able to tell you if he needs to vomit or go to the toilet, so accidents may happen. The newspaper will make it easier to clean up the mess.

Administering Medicine

You may need to administer medicine to your dog. Read the dosage instructions carefully and if in doubt, check with your vet. Give your dog his meds according to the label, or it will not be as effective. Some dogs hate taking pills, so buy some pill pockets so you can hide pills inside a tasty treat.

Exercise

Keep your dog quiet until he is feeling better. Walks should be short and sweet. Give your dog enough time to do his businesses and then take him home. If he doesn’t want to go for a walk, respect his wishes.

Is it Serious?

If your dog is feeling off-color, monitor him closely. In most instances, he will pick up again within a short time, but if you have any reason to suspect it is more serious than a dodgy tummy or your dog could have been poisoned or come into contact with a contagious infection, schedule an appointment at the vet. Your vet will be able to treat your dog and advise you on the best way to take care of him.

Filed Under: Pets Tagged With: dog, family pet, pet, sick dog, vet

4 Ways for Adopted Kids to Find Their Roots as Adults

June 6, 2017 by Mandy

Were you adopted as a child? Some kids who grow up in adoptive families have no trouble accepting their adoptive parents as their “real” parents and don’t wonder much about their birth parents. Others feel they can’t rest until they track down the parents who conceived them and learn more about their birth family, heritage, and situation. It’s perfectly normal to hover between the two extremes, and even to have different feelings on different days. If not knowing much about your genetic family makes you feel ungrounded, here are some ideas to help you feel more rooted.

Order a DNA Test

Image via Flickr by Victoria Nevland

If you don’t even know what box to check when asked your ethnicity, this is a good place to begin. Services like AncestryDNA and 23andMe have made it very easy to learn more about your heritage. For about $100, you’ll get a report that breaks down your DNA and tells you where your biological ancestors came from. 23andMe also offers an upgrade with a genetic health report, which might be lifesaving if you don’t know anything about your family’s heath history.

Seek Out Your Birth Parents

If knowing your heritage doesn’t satisfy you, it may be time to seek out your birth family, but first, make sure you have reasonable expectations and are emotionally prepared. There are services that can help you find your birth mother, or you can register and file court petitions yourself. Childwelfare.gov offers a publication that can help you find local support groups and navigate the legal system if you decide to do the search on your own.

See a Therapist

If your thoughts race in circles and you can’t decide whether you want to try to contact your birth mother, schedule a few therapy sessions. There are lots of issues to consider, including your own emotions, whether your adoptive parents are supportive or feel threatened, and your birth parents’ feelings. Most people could use a little help working through all that. A therapist can also help you explore the expectations that you’re bringing, and will offer an unbiased ear to help you process the meeting if and when it might occur. If you’re not comfortable talking with a therapist, try keeping a journal to help you untangle any complicated emotions that arise.

Pay it Forward

Everyone has down days. There may be times when you feel a bit lost, or disappointed, or struggle with other issues that you carry around your adoption. One of the best ways to stay focused on the positive is to put your energy into helping others. Working with orphans or taking in foster children will help you appreciate the sacrifice your birth parents made, and the hard work and love your adoptive parents have showered upon you.

Growing up as an adopted child can be very complicated for some people. As an adult, you can practice self-care that will help you feel grounded, whether you decide to seek out your birth parents or not.

Filed Under: Children Tagged With: adoption, children, family, kids, parents

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 82
  • 83
  • 84
  • 85
  • 86
  • …
  • 116
  • Next Page »

Follow Me on Social Media

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Like Me on Facebook for Updates!

WordPress plugin

get children’s educational toys from dhgate.com

Recent Posts

  • The To-do List You Must Check For Your Kid’s Birthday
  • A Guide to Zanzibar’s Most Beautiful Spots
  • New Home New Bed: Finding The Perfect Mattress
  • 5 Reasons Why Gucci is Worth Your Money
  • 9 Ways Stopping Alcohol Makes You A Better Parent

Calling All Moms!

Welcome to Serendipitymommy.com! The woman and parenting resource brought to you by a mom, for moms. I also write articles about travel, business, finance and many more subjects to take your super-momness to the next level!