a more confident smile with smile brilliant!

** disclosure: this is a sponsored post. smile brilliant

graciously provided me with my own customized

teeth whitening trays and gels. as per usual, all opinions are my own!

i have to admit, between working full-time, 

babysitting former preschool students of mine, and blogging

in much of my free time, self-care sometimes goes out the window.

don't get me wrong, i enjoy keeping busy! 

in fact, i prefer a week and/or weekend filled with 

blog events, appointments, brunch dates, trips to visit my family, etc. 

but what does this all mean? i end up drinking far too much coffee

to keep me active and energized (!!!).

my drink of choice is a dark roast drip coffee or americano; 

though delicious, the one or two cups i drink each day

inevitably stains my teeth. i've tried numerous products and brands 

of whitening toothpastes, gels, strips, and rinses - to no avail.

my teeth continue to look somewhat yellow, and after using 

these harsh whitening products, i notice a heightened sensitivity to cold

drinks and acidic foods. this is less than ideal for a girl 

who not only loves coffee, but also ice cream!

when smile brilliant reached out to me and offered to let

me try their customized teeth whitening trays, i couldn't wait to get started!

the first step was to create impressions of my teeth. 

smile brilliant provided the supplies (including extra putty 

in case i made a mistake), detailed instructions, 

and a pre-paid mailing envelope to send off the molds of me teeth

before receiving my custom-fit trays. after letting the

molds dry, i sent them off and waited less than a week before

receiving my trays (pictured above)!

inside my kit, i also received three syringes of the teeth whitening

gel, as well as three syringes of the desensitizing gel. 

to apply, simply squeeze a thin layer (in the center of the tray that will touch

your teeth) of the whitening gel on both the top and bottom tray. 

then, place the trays in your mouth and voila! the whitening process begins.

one thing i quickly noticed when using the smile brilliant 

whitening trays, is that i could easily multi-task (including talking on the 

phone) while wearing the trays. in the past, when i've used whitening strips,

i feel as though the strips are falling off or falling out of my mouth;

i constantly slurp and need to re-adhere the strips to my teeth.

i end up feeling annoyed and skeptical of other 'miracle' health and beauty 

products, as i seldom notice a difference. 

this at home teeth whitening system was truly a different experience 

altogether. i felt that i could whiten while relaxing in my room or on-the-go;

the whitening trays are safe to stay in your mouth for periods as

 long as one to three hours! when you're done whitening, just rinse 

the tray with cool water. then, similar to the whitening gel, apply 

the desensitizing gel to the trays and wear for another

 15-20 minutes. the desensitizing gel protects your enamel and helps 

prevent future stains.

there is enough gel in the whitening and desensitizing

syringes for three uses (and possibly more, depending on the amount

you place in your customized tray). 

i wore the trays over the holidays every-other night for just under four

 weeks. i cannot tell you what a difference i have noticed in my smile!

the results are comparable to those you would receive when 

visiting your dentist for whitening services.

^^^ before & after! ^^^

#smilefearlessly

photos by elizabeth kathryn photography

before using whitening products, i am always

weary of damaging my enamel and increased teeth

sensitivity. after reading this article, my mind was at ease. 

to learn more about smile brilliant, you can  read these customer 

reviews and watch this video tutorial.

are you ready for a noticeably whiter smile?! smile brilliant has 

graciously offered a 5% off coupon code for diary of this girl readers - 

simply enter 'diaryofthisgirl5' when checking out. 

additionally, one lucky reader will receive a $75 e-card towards your order

by entering my givaway here. good luck!

xoxo.

Whitening Teeth At Home

chef by request meal delivery service

source

one of my goals for 2016 is to live a more active and health conscious

lifestyle (i previously shared a few additional health and fitness related goals here).

meal prep and cooking is not my strong suit! in fact, i'm absolutely terrible

at grocery shopping and planning meals in advance. my typical routine? grab 

a few healthy snacks to eat during the day and stop by a local coffee or sandwich

shop to supplement whatever is missing. the end result? spending a fortune, over eating, 

and finishing most meals with a cookie (or two). 

new year, new routine! when tara, from chef by request, asked if i would be interested

in sampling the meal delivery service, i immediately said, 'yes, sign me up!'

source

i must admit, i am not a foodie // food critic (unless you define 'foodie' as one who
enjoys sampling a variety of foods, particularly cookies, ice cream and the occasional salad).
however, after enjoying two days worth of fully prepared meals, delivered to my
doorstep, i might just consider becoming a food critic and lifetime subscriber to meal
delivery services!

i opted to sample the paleo menu, but chef by request also provides
family meal plans, gluten free and vegetarian options.
my meals included -
day one:
breakfast 
mushroom scrambled eggs and fresh fruit
lunch
albacore tuna and vegetable salad
dinner
balsamic tomato roasted chicken and broccoli
snacks
almond butter dip and fresh fruit
turkey and pear salad

day two:
breakfast
hard boiled egg, turkey sausage and fresh fruit
lunch
mediterranean shrimp salad
dinner
caramelized onion roasted beef
snacks
chicken and green bean caesar salad
egg salad with fresh fruit

as you can see, the menu is diverse and would seemingly appeal
to a variety of individuals, especially those aspiring to be health conscious, such as myself.
my favorite items were the balsamic tomato roasted chicken,
almond butter dip with fresh fruit, and chicken and green bean caesar salad!
overall, i was very impressed with the menu, delivery convenience, and
taste of my sample items. the convenience factor alone makes
this delivery service very appealing, especially for someone who struggles
in the kitchen (and with meal prep and planning in general).

unfortunately, two of the packaged containers i received (the albacore tuna
and vegetable salad and the egg salad with fresh fruit) were damaged upon delivery.
while i likely could have eaten them, i am a bit picky with food storage
and freshness and decided to skip these items - which was a bummer as i love tuna.

despite this, however, i would absolutely try the chef by request meal delivery
service again! the menu is expansive and the 40/30/30 meal composition
(40% carbohydrates from fruit and vegetables; 30% lean proteins; 30% favorable fats)
makes eating healthy simple and delicious. when finishing the items i received,
my hunger was satisfied and i felt good about the types of food i was eating.

additionally, chef by request strives to serve locally sourced foods in an effort
to support local farms and businesses.
 they guarantee your meals will be delivered to your
home or office by 6:00am. simply grab your lunch cooler and you're out the door
with no need to fixate on the dreaded question, 'what am i going to eat today?'
to learn more about chef by request, or to see if their delivery service is available near you,
visit their website here.

a special thank you to tara from the seattle chef by request for
providing me with the opportunity to sample two days worth of paleo food items!
xoxo.

**this is a sponsored post. i was provided with two days worth of items
from chef by request, but as always, all opinions are my own! 

my health and fitness goals for 2016 with brooks

^^^ my fitbit helps keep me on track throughout the day! ^^^

one of my biggest goals for 2016 is to dedicate more time 

to eating well and working out. you may or may not know this about me, 

but i have such a sweet tooth; i eat dessert after lunch. and dinner. and often

have a treat in between. while my meals are moderately healthy, 

i need to drink more water throughout the day and should add

 more protein and vegetables to my diet (and perhaps

have a few less treats? and less sugar overall). 

i strive to workout four times each week, but new year? new goals!

i'm hoping to continue working out throughout the week, but also 

meet my 10,000 a day step goal. this isn't always possible, of course, 

and i don't want to set myself up for failure.  

taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking further away when at the

store or coffee shop, and being active with my toddlers during the work day 

are a few ways in which i can increase the number of steps i take.

running is one of my favorite means to alleviate stress!

give me a pair of supportive shoes and a good playlist, and i'm ready.

i should also mention that i am by no means a star athlete. or marathon runner.

that's my brother! i enjoy a jog around green lake or brisk walk through sculpture park!

^^^ stretching, squats, jumping jacks, and using my jump rope are other

ways i like to get my heart rate up! ^^^

photos by michelle dorman photography

what else motivates me to get my body moving? 

great workout clothes, of course! 

today, i am wearing the brooks launch 3 shoe.

this shoe provides adaptive cushioning, a segmented crash pad to

assist with heal-to-toe support, and moisture management technology to keep 

my feet warm and dry on our (frequent) rainy, seattle days.

i have on the streaker hoodie and capri, as well as the 

streaker racerback tank. the capri offers a personalized fit and my hoodie

is odor resistant (perfect for transitioning from a workout to errands

or meeting up with a friend for coffee!). 

i added my down vest as an extra layer to keep warm. 

what are some of your health and fitness goals for 2016?

if you have any workout tips or green smoothie recipes

to share, i am all ears! 

be sure to stock up on running shoes and attire from brooks

 (and check out their amazing winter sale, too!). 

in case you missed it, i shared a recap of my trip to the trailhead store here.

xoxo.

**this is not a sponsored post. all opinions are my own, however, brooks running

graciously provided me with the shoes and clothing that is featured here! 

visiting brooks trailhead

last week, i had the pleasure of attending the brooks running 

spring 2016 preview event! 

not only were we shown gorgeous workout attire,

but we had the opportunity to complete a 30 minute run/HIIT workout, 

lead by the knowledgable staff and team members at brooks.

i have to admit, my legs are still a bit sore! 

i plan to make squats, jumping jacks, and push-ups a more regular

part of my workout routine #bringsallyup

additionally, we were able to sample brooks running shoes, capris, a seamless top,

sports bra and socks; i swear, the clothes make the workout

 (or so i tell myself!). throughout the experience, i was comfortable and felt

great support from my shoes and bra. brooks, you sure know what you're doing!

^^^ the brooks heritage line is my favorite! 

the chariot shoe, part of the heritage line, embodies current fashion 

and past running shoe trends. plus, they're incredibly comfortable! 

the spring colors are gorgeous this year. ^^^

^^^ after the 30 minute workout, we were hungry! 

i'm still thinking about the tasty grilled chicken skewers and the veggie sticks. ^^^

i had a wonderful time at this event!

any excuse to catch up with fellow bloggers, enjoy tasty snacks,

and learn how to enhance my health and fitness practices is

just what i need to jump start 2016. 

be sure to check back later this week to see the outfit i received.

and run happy, everyone! 

xoxo. 

**this is not a sponsored post. brooks graciously invited me to attend 

this event, and all opinions are my own.

my top skincare must-haves

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 

happy new year, everyone! 

this past week has been a blur: 

home from vacation, back to school, a new work schedule, 

re-acclimating to the chilly seattle rain, plus a few unforeseen events

(like losing both my license and debit card in the same week?!).

alas, the weekend is here so i can finally catch up on a few things.

over the holiday break, my family and i visited hawaii. 

we stayed in kona, and the relaxing vacation was just what i needed 

to recharge after christmas in preparation for 2016. 

however, my skin has been struggling due to the increased sun exposure, 

warm temperatures, and subsequent dry and cold upon coming home.

hello, breakouts, flaky skin, and a dull complexion (!!!). 

we all want beautiful, radiant and healthy skin, so i thought i would 

share a few of my current favorites. these products

have been of great help over the past week as my skin 

scolds me for everything i've put it through as of late. 

origins make a difference plus rejuvenating moisturizer

i picked this up the week before we left at my local sephora and apply both morning and night. i have combination skin (dry, oily and breakout-prone), and this moisturizer keeps my skin hydrated, smooth, and less oily than many other products i have tried. 

simple cleansing face wipes

these wipes were my saving grace while on vacation! i carried them in my beach bag and could easily wash my face before applying sunscreen. i also use them to remove makeup and clean my skin before washing my face at night. they're gentle, yet effective! 

lush oatifix fresh face mask

lush fresh face masks are some of my favorites! i usually keep two (or sometimes three) in my refrigerator. the oatifix mask contains banana, fine oats, and ground almonds. it is immensely hydrating and leaves my skin feeling soft and healthy.

josie maran argan daily moisturizer SPF

face sunscreen is typically problematic for me. i have struggled to find a product that doesn't burn or cause breakouts upon applying; i want to protect my skin from sun exposure, but not irritate it. i've tried countless sunscreens (to no avail). this josie maran sunboost was perfect while in hawaii. it did the trick and contains SPF 47! 

sun bum sunscreen lip balm

have you ever gotten a sunburn on your lips? it leaves them puffy, chapped, and can be incredibly painful. just as i want to protect my skin from the sun, i also wanted to find a lip balm that contains SPF. this sun bum balm (in coconut) was perfect for long days at the beach! 

origins finzing refreshing eye cream

i first received this origins eye cream when trading in my beauty points at sephora. i quickly fell in love and recently purchased the full-size eye cream. it instantly reduces my dark circles (which are prominent these days!) and puffiness. my eyes look and feel refreshed from the coffee bean, ginseng, and magnolia extract that make up this cream. 

what are some of your current skincare favorites?

i am always looking for new products to try! 

xoxo.