Invisalign Straight Talk – Braces Then, Invisalign Now {Sponsored}

May 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Sponsored Post

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Invisalign.

invisalign

Do you remember braces from way back when? The wrap around metal brackets, bonded brackets, clunky head gear? When I was a child, I had horrible teeth. They were so crooked, I was on the path to wearing all the head gear and metal braces for at least several years. I don’t know if it was lucky or not, but I fell and broke my jaw in first grade and had to have my mouth wired shut for six weeks. That fall straightened my teeth beautifully – but I do not recommend it as a way of getting out of braces.

Luckily, those old metal braces are becoming a thing of the past.  Just like technology improves our daily lives, it also advances orthodontics and today’s braces are better than ever… and far more sophisticated than they ever were.

Removable aligners, like Invisalign and Invisalign Teen, offer clear braces and are quickly becoming a better option than traditional metal braces. The lightweight plastic material sits smoothly on the teeth. This allows a more comfortable fit while working as well as the traditional style of braces. One big difference between Invisalign and metal braces is that Invisalign can be removed. Kids can eat, brush their teeth, and floss like normal, all without the hindrance of metal braces. Invisalign can also help keep kids confident because this type of treatment is almost invisible when they smile, laugh, or talk with their friends.

Take a look at these before and after pictures:

before and after invisalign

If you happen to visit a dentist and you are told that your child is not a candidate for Invisalign, you may want to consider getting a second opinion. After all, not all dentists and orthodontists are certified Invisalign providers. The very best way to find a certified provider is to visit the Invisalign Doctor Locator.

I do hope you’ll take a few moments and learn more about Invisalign by taking advantage of the following resources:

Have you – or someone you love – ever used Invisalign? Would you take a moment to tell us about your experience in the comments below? If you haven’t used Invisalign, would you consider doing so?

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Invisalign. They provided the information. However, any opinions and stories in this post are my own and should be treated as such.

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How We’re Making our #EverydayEffect a Little Better {Sponsored}

April 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Sponsored Post
This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/P&G.

The choices we make today will have an affect on our tomorrow.

Over the past few weeks, I have been trying to share with my children the importance of taking care of the Earth. I want them to understand that if we don’t take care of it, in time, we won’t be able to enjoy it.

Before I get into my post, I want to share a short video with you on the different ways we are making a change in our “Everyday Effect.”

Feed subscribers and mobile users, click here to watch the video on YouTube:

Our #EverydayEffect

As you can see, we’ve made a few changes.

First, I have switched Carly over to cloth diapers. This will greatly reduce the number of diapers we’re sending off to a landfill. And, I’ve got the whole family involved. It might be as simple as helping me toss the dirty diapers into the washing machine, helping me fold the diapers and put them away, or even having Gage help me by tossing the dryer balls into the dryer for me. Each step is a chance to open up and talk with the kids about the importance of reducing waste.

Another idea we had was to take those leftover plastic grocery bags from our local store and turn them into gifts for other people. So far, we’ve only made bracelets, but we’ve made lots of them. Lucy loves making them for her friends… and of course, her MawMaw. It’s a fun, easy way to turn something as useless as a plastic bag into a gift for someone else. It’s teaching my children that you don’t have to be rich to give someone a gift. Sometimes even the simplest things can brighten someone’s day.

Hubby and I really wanted to get the kids excited about the environment, so we took them on a hike yesterday. We went up to the top of Brasstown Bald Mountain. Let me tell you, that is one of the best ways to enjoy the beauty of our surroundings. We talked about the different types of trees and plants, and how they feed the animals that live on the mountain. At the top of the mountain, there’s this awesome little museum that tells you all about the history of the land, the different types of vegetation, the different animals you can find in the woods, and so much more. They even have an entire wall dedicated to Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling! It made it fun for the kids to see how something as simple as a plastic milk jug can be recycled and made into something like carpet.

recycling

After we walked through the museum, we went up to the highest lookout spot and took in all that we could see. Coming back down the mountain, the conversation was completely different than it had been on the way up. It had all become much more real to them. And when Jace found a plastic water bottle someone had tossed into the woods, he carried it all the way back down the mountain and found a recycling can to put it in. I didn’t have to tell him to do that, he did it all on his own. I was so proud! It was all starting to sink in!

Our children are listening, and it’s so important that we as parents teach them from the time when they are little to reduce waste and take care of this beautiful earth.

everyday effect

There are other steps we are taking, too. We only buy super concentrated dishwashing liquid, (Dawn Power Clean is my favorite!), we wash most of our laundry in cold water, and the new refrigerator we just bought is very energy efficient. These are just simple little things that we can do every day to help make our impact on Earth a little better.

For more information and ideas, check out the following resources:
*Procter & Gamble Website
*Procter & Gamble Facebook page
*Procter & Gamble on Twitter

I’d love to hear the steps your family is taking to reduce waste and better our environment. Share them with me in the comments below!

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by SheSpeaks and Procter & Gamble.

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Enter the Great American Worker Contest (Sponsored)

April 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Sponsored Post

Do you know someone who could be the next Great American Worker? Someone who should be recognized for their dedication to community involvement, productivity, and safety? If you answered yes, you need to keep reading!

GAW_Logo

The makers of Brawny Industrial® wipers have have officially kicked off the Great American Worker contest,  an annual Georgia-Pacific Professional event that salutes the efforts of the unsung heroes of American industry.

What Can I Win?

The grand prize winner will receive a Ford® F-150 Truck! First prize is a DeWALT® Combo Kit (ARV $279), and 25 Second Prize Winners will receive Georgia-Pacific paper products valued at $70.

Who Qualifies for the contest?

Those who are plant managers, floor supervisors, assembly line operators, truck drivers, mechanics, and workers in manufacturing, automotive, construction, logistics, food service, and other U.S. industries are eligible.

How Do I Enter?

Candidates nominate themselves online at www.brawnyindustrialGAW.com.

What are the Requirements?

Contestants must submit a short essay telling why they are the Great American Worker and how their commitment, dedication, and leadership have made a difference on the job and in the community.

What is the Essay Theme?

“Get Work Done.”  We are looking for stories about the things that inspire American workers to get the job done safely and correctly the first time around so they have personal time to relax, recharge, and ‘be there’ for their families and communities.

 How will the Voting Work?

The top 10 entries who receive the most points from judges will be entered in the Grand Prize community voting phase. Friends, family and co-workers are invited to register to vote on the contest website during this phase. The contestant with the highest final score will be selected as this year’s Great American Worker and will receive the new Ford F-150.

  • Each voter is limited to one (1) vote per day for each one of the finalists during the voting phase.
  • Voters who submit a vote for one (1) of the finalists will receive one (1) entry into a sweepstakes for a chance to win a DeWALT® Combo Kit or a Georgia-Pacific Product Pack.

 Can You Share the Timeframe of the Contest?

  • Nominations accepted:  March 5-July 7, 2013
  • Judging: July 8-July 25, 2013
  • Community voting: July 26-September 20, 2013
  • Votes tabulated: September 21-October 14, 2013
  • Winners announced: On or about October 15, 2013

So, there you have it! If you know someone who should be considered for the Great American Worker contest, please tell them about this post and encourage them to enter. Remember, you can’t win if you don’t enter, so it’s worth a shot! You have until July 7th to get your entries in, and I hope you will all take a moment to do so.

Good luck to those who enter!

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by the PR firm for Georgia Pacific Products. I will receive a gift card for my time in crafting this post.

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Camera Lens Shaped Mug Just $14!

March 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Camera Lens Mug

I am all about things that are unique and fun… and if they have to do with photography, well, I just love them even more.

That’s why I am SO excited that today’s deal from Eversave is for a camera lens shaped mug. Regular size is $14, travel size is just $16. Those are almost 71% off the regular price. (Best part?? They are Canon themed lenses. SWOON.)

Click the banner below to get your camera lens coffee mug today. This would make the perfect gift for the photographer lover in your life… or for yourself!

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Changes Coming to Blessed Beyond Words

January 4, 2013 By 9 Comments

For the past several months, I have been feeling quite overwhelmed with keeping up with reviews, giveaways, and everything else on this blog. With the arrival of baby #7 just weeks away, I have been terrified that this will only get worse.

It wasn’t until this week at our church’s revival that it hit me: I am using my blog for all the wrong things.

So, I plan to make some big changes around here. There will not be as many product reviews and/or giveaways. I know, I know. This is going to kill my stats and social media ranking. That’s ok. There will still be some reviews and giveaways, but I will be much more selective about the products offered up to my readers. Why? Because I don’t want to share “fluff.” I want to share things that my readers genuinely need and want to hear about. I do have several commitments that I need to follow through with, so expect a few review posts in the immediate future, but they will slowly start to trickle off.

I will also be using my blog more to discuss topics I believe my readers want to hear about as well. You will see lots more posts on cloth diapering, parenting, relationships, faith, and (once the baby is born) weight loss. (Remember that 40 pounds I lost? Yeah, I found it. Now I have to lose it all over again!)

Also, if there are more topics you would like me to discuss, please don’t ever hesitate to use the contact form to let me know! (I’m also putting one in the sidebar for quick and easy access.)

I have a feeling that this will cause me to lose many subscribers and followers, but that is their loss… and then they will miss out on the giveaways I do host! I just really feel that I need to use my blog to help and encourage mothers out there… not bog the internet down with more useless mumbo jumbo that just takes up space.

2013 is going to be a great year, and I am genuinely excited about these changes. I hope that you will stick around and see what I have up my sleeve. Heaven knows I’ve got lots to talk about. :)

Thank you to my faithful readers and friends in 2012. I’m looking forward to spending 2013 with you as well!

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My Word for 2013: PURGE

January 1, 2013 By 3 Comments

2013: PURGE

For the past month or so, I have prayed about the word God would have me to keep in mind throughout 2013.

I’ve finally found it!

My word for 2013 is PURGE.

Here are 13 ways I plan to PURGE my life this year:

  • I will PURGE the things in my life that hinder my relationship with Christ.
  • I will PURGE any thoughts or reactions that might harm my relationship with my husband.
  • I will PURGE the things in my life that keep me from spending time with my children.
  • I will PURGE from my home the clutter and things I no longer need and either donate them or throw them away.
  • I will PURGE from my life relationships that do not foster my relationship with Christ.
  • I will PURGE from my heart any bitterness or unforgiveness that may be hanging around.
  • I will PURGE from my eyes anything that does not need to be set before them. (TV shows, movies, etc.)
  • I will PURGE from my Bible verses that I can memorize and apply to my life.
  • I will PURGE from my diet foods that do not help me meet healthy living goals I have set for myself.
  • I will PURGE from my mouth any desire to gossip or say things that could harm another person.
  • I will PURGE from my mouth any desire to “snap back” or get angry.
  • I will PURGE my desires to nag my husband or children and instead use words to encourage and uplift them.
  • I will PURGE through last year’s Prayer Journal, rejoice in the blessings God has given us, and start a new journal for this year.

Those are my goals for 2013. While they will not be easy, I rejoice in the fact that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phil. 4:13)

What’s your word for 2013?

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Thankful for the Blessings of 2012

December 31, 2012 By 1 Comment

Happy 2013!

As 2012 draws to a close, I just want to reflect for a moment on the many blessings God has bestowed upon my family this year.

This has been a roller coaster year for us – full of ups and downs. I am so thankful, though, that there were lots more ups than downs.

Several months ago, something happened with my husband’s job, and he ended up taking a huge pay cut. We went from living paycheck to paycheck, to barely being able to live. Yet somehow, the money we needed was always there.

There were times when I didn’t know where our next meal would come from, and on those days, food would appear on our front door step. I still can’t figure that one out.

All of our bills were paid, no services were ever shut off.

Someone at our church gave us money to fix both my husband’s car and our Expedition. (New brakes, new tires, the works.) There was no more getting in the car and just praying the brakes would work well enough to stop when we needed them to. We still don’t know who that angel was, but what a blessing bestowed on our family!

God more than supplied every single need we had.

I have been able to teach my children more about faith this year than I ever have before. God has been so good to us, and the kids have all seen that firsthand.

Oh, and hubby is back into a similar position that he was before everything happened, and his pay rate should be adjusted back accordingly soon. Praise the Lord!

I hope that 2012 was full of blessings for you and your family, and that 2013 will be full of even more love, family, and blessings for each of you. With our precious baby arriving sometime early this year, I am already looking forward to what God is going to do with our family.

Thank you for spending another year here with me at Blessed Beyond Words. I’ve got some big changes coming in the New Year, and I hope you’ll stick around and be a part of it.

Stay safe tonight as you celebrate. We’re off to our church’s revival, and I can’t wait to usher in the new year with some really great preaching.

See you in 2013!

Photo Credit: CrazyWebsite.com

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Check Out These Must Have Gifts from @TheSharperImage

December 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by Sharper Image. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have been a fan of The Sharper Image for years. When I still lived at home with my parents, we would often travel by plane to vacation destinations. My favorite catalog available on the plane was always The Sharper Image catalog. I loved looking at all the neat gadgets they had available to make life easier.

Now, here we are, just days away from Christmas, and what better gift to give than a gift from The Sharper Image?!

Take a look at a few of my favorite items available this holiday season:

First, we have the Bluetooth Speaker. I love this little gadget. Because of where we live, we don't get any radio stations. (Unless we drive 1 – 2 hours south.) With the Bluetooth Speaker, I could listen to my favorite music that's stored on my iPhone any where I want to. It connects wirelessly, so there are no cords to get in the way. There's even hands free calling available so I can answer the phone quickly and easily.

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Next, we have the Sound Soother. As a mom of 6, you can imagine how much noise I hear in a day. Wouldn't it be wonderful to lie in bed and fall asleep to the sound of falling rain? So peaceful and calming. I can only dream about what that must be like! The Sound Soother has lots of great features like an extra large display,  continuous play, and an auto-off timer that you can set for 15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes. This would be such a great gift for a mom who just wants a relaxing night of sleep. 

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And lastly, we have the Back Massager. I'm pretty sure this would be a little taste of heaven for any mom. Being pregnant for a seventh time, my back hurts so badly some days that I can hardly walk. Imagine sitting in a chair and having a rolling massage any time I wanted. Yep. Sounds like heaven to me! The Back Massager also features a deep-kneeding shiatsu massage feature as well as a soothing heat feature that allows for a deeper, more relaxing massage.

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I'm sure you can see exactly why these three gifts from The Sharper Image have made it to my must-have list. What about you? Which of these three great items would you most like to have, and why?

Visit Sponsor's Site

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How to Make a Christmas Wreath (Tutorial)

December 9, 2012 By 2 Comments

 

You won’t believe how super easy (or cheap!) it is to make this wreath! Let’s get started, and we’ll fancy up your door this Christmas season.

Materials Needed
Christmas Bow (see my “How to Make a Large Bow” post.)
Wreath (I got mine from Walmart for $2.50. It’s 20 inches.)
Ornaments of different sizes/colors.
Large Ornament, Wooden Letter, Decoration, etc.
Hot Glue Gun
Florist Wire

 

Instructions

Step 1. First, you need your wreath. Mine was as flat as flat could be, so I had to spend some time “floofing” it into shape.

 

Step 2. Decide where you would like the bow to sit on the wreath.

 

Step 3. Fold a large piece of Florist Wire in half and use it to attach the bow to the wreath. (Be sure to twist the wire as tightly as you can. I use tweezers/wire cutters to do this.) Then, tuck any extra wire up into the wreath so you can’t see it.

 

 

Step 4. Decide where you want the large ornament/decoration/etc. to go, and flatten the branches around it as needed. Use LOTS of hotglue to glue it into place. (Especially if you’ll be putting the wreath on a door. If your house is like mine, the door will get opened – and slammed – about a thousand times a day.)

 

Step 5. Tuck the tails of the bow in the branches, leaving room to still glue on ornaments.

 

 

Step 6. Use lots of hotglue on each ornament and strategically place them all around the wreath.

 

Ta da! You have a beautiful wreath perfect for decorating your door, or giving as a gift this Christmas season! Just grab a wreath hanger from your favorite store, and hang your beautiful creation on your door… or wall. :)

Here’s what’s hanging on my door this year:

I would love to hear how your wreath turns out if you use this tutorial!

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How to Make a Large Bow (Tutorial)

December 8, 2012 By 3 Comments

I will start out this post by warning you that this post will be loaded with pictures, so it may take some time to load. But, I want to give you step-by-step instructions to make it even easier for you.

Ok! Let’s get started! The instructions will be posted above each picture.

Materials Needed:

Large Roll of Wired Ribbon (I used 2″ x 75′. This will make quite a few bows.)
Florist Wire (Silver is best, all my Walmart had was green.)
Wire Cutters (optional. Mine are also tweezers, and I use them to twist the wire tighter around the ribbon.)

Instructions:

1. Decide how long you want the “tail” of your bow. (I always tend to make mine longer than I should – it’s easier to cut off more at the end than it is to start all over because it’s too short.)

 

 

2. Make your first loop. (This will determine how big your bow is. The larger the loop, the larger the bow.) Pinch the ribbon together at the end of the loop.

 

 

3. Make your second loop on the opposite side. Continue pinching the ribbon together in the middle.

 

 

4. Continue until you have as many loops as you’d like. (For this bow, I wanted 8 loops.)

 

 

5. Cut a long piece of wire, and then fold it in half for extra stability.

 

 

6. Wrap the wire around the area you’ve been pinching all this time. (Use wire cutters/tweezers to get the wire twisted as tightly as possible.) Do NOT cut the excess wire. You’ll need it in a minute.

 

 

7. To form the little center loop, use ribbon from the side of the ribbon you haven’t cut yet and make a small loop.

 

8. Use the extra wire that’s still on the bow and wrap it through the smaller loop to secure the loop to the rest of the bow.

 

 

 

9.  Secure with extra wire. (Optional: I do this if I know I will be putting the bow somewhere that it will be taking a lot of abuse – on an outdoor wreath, on a package, etc.)

 

 

10. “Floof” the loops and shape them exactly how you want them.

 

 

11. Cut the second tail from the roll of ribbon at the same length as the first tail. Then, cut each tail at an angle as shown below to make an upside down V shape. Repeat for each side. (To ensure they are exactly the same, you can put both tails together and cut at the same time.)

 

 

Tada! You have a finished bow!

 

These bows can be used on just about anything… gifts, wreaths, doors, you name it. Tomorrow I’ll share a fun wreath project that needs a pretty bow like this.

You can easily make a bow in under 5 minutes. Now all my friends know my secret, and they know why I have so many bows all over my living room. :)

I’d love to see your finished bows if you use this tutorial!

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