Update...

Hi All!
I've been under the radar these last few weeks...I've been so busy with work and visiting my freinds on the weekends! Hope everyone had an amazing New Year! New Year for me was a success! Celebrated with 7 other friends and had the time of our lives! I live in Washington state and the winters here are hard! Snow, ice, no sunshine, the whole 'winter' experience! I must admit I love it...but at times I just want to feel the warm breeze run through my hair...San Diego was just that! Nice 72-75 degrees the whole time I was there! It was just amazing to think that back home it was no warmer than 30 degrees! Coming back after a week was quite an adjustment!

Part of the group on NYE:










While on vacation I broke one of my front hooks that supports the small tiny rubber bands I wear at night time! So I went ahead and pulled the other one off with my tweezers...It would have looked way too funny if I didn't...plus, one hook wasn't going to do me any good I would have to get both replaced! These small hooks/rubber bands are supposed to allign my bite...I'm like 1 cm away from having them all perfectly meet! I swear that before I got braces my front teeth met with my bottom teeth when I would bite down...but all of a sudden they didn't and I had to get the hooks/bands.
When I came home from vacation, I called my ortho and booked an appointment for that same day. It took no more than 10 mins to get my hooks replaced! That night I wore my bands and then next morning my teeth were killing me! They hurt so bad :( Must have been because I hadn't worn them for about 5 days. Amazing how one day can set you behind!

I go in to see my ortho on Feb 1st...I'm excited to go in. I guess I'm excited every time because it means I'm one step closer to getting this grill off my face! It also means that the closer I am to getting my bands changed the closer I am to being able to have MUSTARD!!! I absolutely love mustard and before my bedazzles I used to have it all the time! Post-Grill...I've had mustard 3 times! :( I can't have mustard because it stains my clear bands! Turns them yellow, and frankly that's the last thing I need! It's bad enough to have braces...but to have yellow, musty, gross looking ones: Worse! So I wait until the night before I'm getting my bands changed to indulge in mustard! LOL

I hope when I go in he tells me I no longer need to have the hooks on my front teeth. Because one: I don't like them, two: They hurt! and three: I just don't like them!!! OK...enough of me complaining! LOL

Here's some pics of my baby...it just makes me feel better to look at his sweet face! (I know I sound like a crazy dog lady!) LOL

Getting home from the groomers:











He was too cold after the groomer choped most of his hair off! He had to wear his little shirt to keep him warm!













xoxo,
C

First Christmas with the grill!

My very first Christmas sporting the grill! Must admit sitting down and eating Christmas dinner was a bit intimidating. I couldn't eat many of the things on the table because either one: I couldn't (like corn on the cob) or two: I didn't want to risk it (Greens and red wine) But other than that I stuffed my face with other goodies, turkey, duck (kinda), potatoes, stuffing, tamales! Tons of other choices. Kept my talking to a minimum because I didn't want to scare anyone with food in my gear! And of course embarrass myself! LOL In one of my earlier posts I joke about wearing the green and red bands on my grill for the holidays...good thing I didn't follow through!

xo,
C

A lot to be thankful for!

I usually don't blog about anything on here besides my braces, but I wanted to take a moment to blog about what could be the best thing that has ever happened to me on Christmas.

This morning I woke up, fed Bug, and got ready to drive to the local mission to volunteer for their yearly Christmas dinner. I showed up not knowing what to expect, since I don't usually volunteer unless I 'have' to do it for some reason or another.

This year has been different, I promised myself I would make more of an effort to help others when needed, not spend as much money on silly things, don't talk bad or judge others, go to church more often, be more understanding, and overall become a better person.

When I arrived I signed in and took a spot next to the other volunteers. There were about 20 other volunteers, many families, and groups of people. On the other hand I was standing there alone. The organizer was asking for volunteers to do specific tasks...I quickly rose my hand and volunteered to serve desert.

As I was waiting for 1 o'clock to hit, a little boy about 8 or 9 ran up to me and said 'Can we eat yet?' 'No, not yet in about 10 minutes'. He ran off and said 'OK Thanks!' I stood there watching him run away and I couldn't help but feel extremely sorry. A feeling of sadness covered my body. I thought to myself 'God, when I was 8 or 9 I could care less about the food...all I wanted were my presents and I wanted to make sure I got exactly what I asked for' I guess I never really thought about food because I just automatically assumed it would always be there. I mean as an 8 year old girl, I didn't think about those things all I was thinking about were my toys and when the next sleepover was going to be.

1 o'clock came around and I was on a mission! I wanted to make sure everybody had at least one piece of desert. Pecan pie, cupcakes, pumpkin pie, apple pie, and chocolate cake was on the menu for desert. It was sweet potatoes, ham, mashed potatoes, carrots and green beans for the main course. Salads, coffee, milk, water was also available.


When the doors opened and the ok was given, people swarmed in. Lots and lots of people. I'd say about 200. People of all races, ages, kids, seniors, males, females, they were all there. People got up when they were finished and their spot was quickly taken by someone else.

After an hour and a half, and almost breaking the coffee machine people were starting to clear out so I started cleaning tables off. About 5 minutes later, in through the door came a man and a young girl maybe about 10. I'm guessing it was a father/daughter. Volunteers imediatly seated them and handed them plates of food. A family who was also there volunteering asked if they could have their daughter (about the same age as the girl who walked in with her father) take desert. I nodded my head stood back and watched the little girl take two plates of desert to the table. I watched the two girls side by side. One wearing jeans, warm boots, and a Christmas turtle neck. The other wearing old jeans, flip flops and an old worn out jacket.

I wonder what went on through those girls minds? Did they even see what I was seeing? Could they tell they were from two complete different worlds? I don't know, but that moment made it clear to me, that life isn't always fair...and that I need to be grateful for every little thing that I have...because Yes...I sometimes complain! Why? Why do I do that? I have everything in the world...EVERYTHING! What else could I even dare to ask for? For crying out loud I drove there in my BMW!!! How much more selfish could I become?

Now that I've had some time to look back this experience has not only made me a more grateful person, but I honestly believe this was a life changing experience. I mean, how could this not change a person? Looking at people...human beings, that don't have a home to go to for Christmas and cook a warm meal makes me truly thankful for everything that I have. I have a home, a warm bed to sleep in, a job, food, friends and family

<--- This folks is the TRUE meaning of Christmas. Next time you get the urge to yell at someone in traffic, complain about not being able to have the latest and greatest game for your xbox, or getting annoyed at the young girl behind the counter because she can't get your order right...think about it twice. You don't know what kind of struggle people are going through. If you can eat, breath, walk, talk, have a warm bed, can put your own socks on consider yourself blessed and be thankful for what you have. Thank God for all of the little things He has given you and go out there and try to become a better person. The inner peace that you find within yourself when you do it...is the best feeling in the world.


Hope you all have a blessed Christmas and a very happy New Year!


xo,
C

Happy 6 month Anniversary!

Not yet...but only a few days away! On Christmas Eve I will also be celebrating my 6 month anniversary with braces :) Braceversary! It's crazy how fast time goes by! Thank goodness!

I will be spending New Years in San Diego with a few friends! Super excited to get some time off...maybe squeeze in a little shopping too! That's right...the grill and I will be traveling and going through airport security! Wish us luck! :)

Hope everyone has a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!



xo,
C & Bugsy!

Let Me See Yo' Grill...

Thought I'd share...

This song just played on my iphone! LOL Kinda ironic!

Needless to say...I took full advantage of it and showed off my grill to myself in the mirror as I danced my ass off throwing meaningless signs in the air with my hands! I kinda feel a little more gangsta' this morning! Awesome! :)

Peace,
C-Diddy

Just 4 Fun!

As promised some pics...these are mainly just for fun. It's fun to see my smile with grill! Plus it's really different than it was before...I can tell when I look in the mirror, but for some reason I can 'really' tell in pictures! hahaha :)

Smile



Bug is not ready for the picture!


There you go...better!

Being a dork...

Me...

Bug in his Halloween costume...he hated it! LOL

Keep Smiling!

Claudia :D

First Dental Cleaning with Braces!!!

Hi All,

So yesterday I went for my first cleaning with braces! Quite the experience! I had forgotten about it until I received my phone call reminder. So I called back to see if I needed to do anything special, they told me they would like to have my wires taken out. I told them how I just had them tightened. They said they could go ahead and clean around them and they would do as best as they could.

They were super excited to see me since they hadn't seen me in 6 months since they sent me to the ortho. Actually they didn't even know I went ahead and got the braces right away. They were ecstatic and I got the royal treatment! LOL My hygienist went ahead and cleaned my teeth and she said she didn't even mind the wire because my teeth were so clean! She said it's a bother to have 'bracers' who don't bother to clean their grills, and keep them spick and span!

Since most 'bracers' are teenagers, they don't keep them as clean someone older. I think it's because they don't have to pay for them! LOL...I forked out 3 grand and expecting my insurance will pay the remaining 2500. I tell ya what...I'm not a money tree and I WILL take care of them because I can't afford to get them again! LOL So to all my fellow followers "keep your grills super clean and shiny" the result will be worth it! and I can't wait to see my teeth...minus the grill!

So the cleaning went well...It took about 15 mins longer then usual...she complimented on my clean teeth and explained how it would take a little longer since she had to clean around the brackets and wires. Next time I think I will try to get my wires taken out before I go in...just to make it easier on her.

Oh yeah, and they gave me a bag full of goodies! Toothpaste, additional threaders, toothbrush, pics, and special floss.

By they way I used to use 'super floss' because it had the threader already added to the piece of floss, but honestly I hate using it! It gets stuck in my grill and it's way too thick. Then I get big balls of yarn stuck in my grill! So I started using 'Glide' floss, it's made by Crest. I love love love it! Of course it means I have to use the threaders but I'm willing to do that instead of the super floss. The Glide floss makes it easier to floss...I actually look forward to flossing! I know weird! It's funny, but I buy new things to keep my grill clean and I get excited about using them. I guess it keeps my grill shiny and clean! LOL So anyway, I would recommend staying away from 'super floss' and sticking with the 'glide floss'.

I have yet to post pics...I will soon promise! Just haven't had the time.

Keep Smiling,
Claudia :D