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3 Things I Wished I Knew BEFORE Invisalign

3 things i wished i knew before invisalign

Happy Friyay!

 

I wanted to share with y’all my final thoughts on my Invisalign journey.

I wore Invisalign starting in July 2018- December 2019

Overall, I had a great experience with Invisalign.  As a former expander, night mask, 2 year braces wearing teen, Invisalign was a breeze for me.

If you want a more info, I’ll link my other two videos here!

Invisalign journey

CLICK HERE to watch – Invisalign- Braces for the Second Time

 

halfway point - invisalign

CLICK HERE to watch – Halfway point! Invisalign – the good, bad, and brown spots!?!

So here are the 3 Things I Wish I Knew Before Invisalign:

3 things i wished i knew before invisalign

CLICK HERE to watch my video review!

1- The number of trays.

When I finally got my trays, I received 14 of them.  I then calculated in my head – 14 trays – > 2 weeks a tray -> 28 weeks – > yay! I’ll be done in less than a year!

WRONG!

My first set of 14 trays were used to close the larger gaps in my teeth.  Once, I finished those trays I thought, “Hmmmm my teeth are not as close as I would like them to be.”

My next orthodontist appointment, the orthodontist informed me, we will move to the next stage of refinement… and I received 10 more trays, which I changed out my trays every week.  Then I received 4 more trays.

So what I learned is there are different stages in Invisalign.  AND you do not get all the trays at once.

2 – The time it takes to get your trays.

To get fitted for your Invisalign, you have this long round wand they stick in your mouth and run along your teeth.  Tooth by tooth.  The wand then scans a digital image of your teeth onto an iPad looking screen.  This is completely painless but kind of annoying holding your mouth open during  the process.

This scan can go quickly or take eternity, it all depends on how well the machine is working that day.

It can take 2-4 weeks to get your trays.  I had to get scanned at each phase in my Invisalign journey.  So I got a new scan at 18 trays, 10 extra trays, 4 extra trays, and once I was finished.

So often times, while I was waiting for my new trays to come in, I would wear my most recent trays just at night.  So remember that sometimes you are waiting on trays.  Calculate that in if you are trying to figure out how long you will wear Invisalign 

3 – No permanent retainers!

I’m not 100% how often they even do these anymore, but I’m thankful to not have to try to floss around some permanent metal piece in my mouth.  Maybe that is just for my case.

I do have to wear night retainers for the rest of my life. 😉

So would I recommend Invisalign?

YES!  While my experience was longer than what I thought, I am very happy with my results and that I did not have to have metal all over my teeth again!

 

If you have any questions, leave them below!

 

Follow me on Youtube, Instagram, and Pinterest!

 

Happy Friyay!

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DIML with 6 Month Old – Exclusively Pumping & Baby Led Schedule

DIML with 6 month old

Hey guys!

DIML with 6 month old

“Let them be little because they are only that way for awhile. Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle. Just let them be little.”

I’m excited to upload this blog/vlog! My baby is now 7 months old. I can’t believe it! (I’ve been meaning to post this when he was 6 months old but life happens. )

What I thought life would be like and what it is, is almost completely different. I thought Milo would be crawling – he’s getting there. 😉 I thought he would be sitting perfectly on his own like the other kids. (I think my kid is lazy or just has a big head!)

I thought I would be breast feeding from the breast. I thought he’d be a perfect sleeper! (ha!).

But my life does not match the Pinterest schedules of what a 6 month old should be doing or what milestones he should have accomplished….

And

That’s

Okay.

Yes – one thing I am learning to embrace. I’m even feeling a slight tug on my heart typing that wondering if the words really are true. Is….

It’s

Okay.

Now what I DO HAVE is

A heathy 6 month old boy, who loves to roll over and over. A boy who knows his name, his mommy, and daddy. Who smiles ear to ear when his daddy gets home. A boy who likes to scream and holler.

A boy who likes to drink mommy’s breast milk from a bottle, a boy who likes to snuggle next to his mommy at night.

I’m trying to embrace the quote above. “Let them be little.” They don’t have to be Pinterest perfect – just be my baby. Hug them and love them.

DIML with 6 month old

So here is what my day looks like at 6 months. If you want to watch the video/ vlog – JUST CLICK HERE!

  • I’ve been going strong for 4 months as an exclusive pumper ( started at 1 month). I start my morning at 5 am pumping. Sometimes I can’t believe I’ve even made it this long.
  • Sweet baby Milo wakes up around 7 – 8 am.
  • During the morning – He takes a bottle and eats some cereal. Then I’m usually trying to entertain him while doing some house work. Entertaining him is taking more and more of my time. He’s a tough crowd. 😉
During the video – I share with you some of his current favorite toys, adorable monsters eating pizza PJS, AND a jumbo ball pit Grams got him for Christmas. CLICK HERE TO SEE!

DIML with 6 month old

  • 10/ 11 am -PUMPING TIME! I always try to have toys around to keep Milo entertained! Oh and drink you some water! 😉 Anyone else able to hear their pumping machine noise? 😉
  • Next is lunch time for him and momma! Oh and he’s got two teeth!
  • 2-4 pm- Nap time AND pump time. Over Christmas I was able to get some Avent storage bottles. They hold up to 6 ounces and you can write the date on them.
*** Side note ***
I thought I was going to love those bottles. WRONG – I have tried tightening those bottles as tight as I can. No matter how tight I make them, they STILL manage to spill when I shake the bottle to mix the milk. So now I’m just sticking with my Lansinoh storage bottles. JUST FYI
  • 5 PM – COFFEE TIME – Hallelujah!  Its my celebration drink for making it this far in the day!  😉
  • 6 -8 pm – Supper, play time with Daddy, possibly another nap, bath time!
  • 9 pm – LAST PUMP (yay! I made it another day! You can too I promise!). During this time, daddy will entertain Milo. In the vlog, we ended the night by watching the Disney movie “Tangled” while I pumped. After my pump, we all go to bed. Zzz

I hope my vlog, or daily schedule can be an encouragement to another momma or daddy. You don’t have to follow another babies schedule.  Just do what works best for you and your baby.  
And let them be little because they are only that way for awhile. 😉

~ Gracefully Fashionable Britt

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What’s in my Skip Hop Diaper Bag? (*Target Find*)

what's in my skip hop diaper bag

“If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands.”  – Milton Berle

I chuckle at that quote while trying to find a unique quote to start this blog.  What better quote for a blog about needing your two hands.  That is why I recommend the diaper bag by Skip Hop.  I found it at Target.  Click here!  

I want to make this blog easy to follow so here is why I love this Skip Hop Diaper Bag:

  • I love backpacks and easy to carry bags.
  • Great design – doesn’t look too diaper baggy-y (new word!)
  • Organized sections.
  • Wide opening.
  • Black and Gold – perfect for boy or girl – also doesn’t even look like a diaper bag!
  • My husband will carry it with no shame!  #genderneutral 😉

If you want to see a more detailed explanation – Click here to watch my YouTube video!

what's in my diaper bag

Next, 

I know there are tons of videos of what is in my diaper bag – so for a bit of a twist, I thought I would write things I forgot in my diaper bag.  

I even actually left one time COMPLETELY WITHOUT my diaper bag.  It was a serious sleepy mom moment. 😉

So things I have forgotten:

  1. Diaper bag (face palm moment!)
  2. Pacifier
  3. Burp cloth
  4. Change of clothes 
  5. Trash bags (for dirty diapers, or dirty outfits)

I now mentally go over this check list in my mind each time I pack my Skip Hop diaper bag.  If you can think of any other must-have-don’t- forget items please leave them below in the comments!

Check out my YouTube channel for more videos on my journey as a new mommy!

Happy Tuesyay!

~Gracefully Fashionable Britt

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Planner Review : Day Designer Midyear 2019-2020

Day Designer Planner Review

Happy Fri-yay!

Don’t you just love days when you are checking things off your to do list! Every check mark gives me a little joy on the inside. That is why I am totally a planner girl!

Even from my elementary school days, I have always loved planners. I was the girl in third grade that would always write down her assignments and test dates in an agenda I would get each year from Walmart. Is that nerdy? 😉

Anyways, I have used a planner my whole adult life. I needed it in college to survive and in marriage to keep my husband and I functioning. I write down doctors visits, to-do lists, and meal plans in my planner.

Since I have been married, I have always used the Day Designer brand. I first fell in love with it 4 years ago at Target and I have not strayed since.

I have purchased from Target twice and ordered online a couple times for my planners.Day Designer Review

If you want to watch a quick review – Click here!

So let me explain quickly why I love this planner ~

The Calendar –

Day Designer Review

t’s perfect! There is enough room each day for me to write out multiple appointments or events. Plus there is a note section where I write all my bills for the month.

Weekly Daily Agenda –

Day Designer Review

I love how there is a top 3 to try to accomplish at the beginning of each day. Since I have a 4 month old baby, usually 3 things is about all I can accomplish.

There is room for an hourly agenda if you need to remember certain times during the day. I use this for any appointments or work events.

There is a to-do list section. I use this for any minor tasks that need to be accomplished. Usually these events roll over to the next day.

There is a tonight section which I use to meal plan.

Lastly, there is a gratitude section for you to count your blessings each day!

The Weekend –

Day Designer Review

Now this is a bit different than all the other planners I have used. Saturday and Sunday are on a page together. At the top of the page, there is a section for – “Take a Time Out: Fun Things to Do!” I thought this was great to add. Often times on the weekend, I just write things that still need to get done. But this allows you to pause for a moment and remember to ENJOY your weekend. 🙂 .

Next, there is an hourly agenda for Saturday and Sunday.

Last, there is a “Next Week” section and a “Don’t Forget” section.

I absolutely love this planner. The size is perfect for packing around and pink and gold have been my colors lately.

If Target still has this planner I will try to link it here!  I did not see it online, but here is something similar . (CLICK HERE) . 

It seems to have the same interior but a different design on the outside.

If you have any questions, please leave them below.
Check out my youtube channel for more planner reviews!
Take some time and enjoy your weekend!!!

-Gracefully Fashionable Britt

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My Labor Story – Induced – C-Section

Hey guys!  I have been on like a maternity leave enjoying all my snuggles with my new baby.  (Follow me on instagram “gracefullyfashionable” if you want to see the cutest baby in the world 😉 I am a little bias though 😉 )

my labor story - induced - c - section

I am 7 weeks postpartum now.  I recently made a Youtube video sharing my labor and delivery story.  Nothing went even remotely close to how I thought it would go.

Induced – heart rate drop – 27 hours in labor – C- Section – Hole in heart

Sadly I feel like my story was everything but joyful.  I felt disappointed in my experience and how I felt about my journey so far into mommyhood.

I just had one of the greatest gifts from God, yet there were more tears than smiles.

I wanted to share my story for anyone else who might have gone through something similar.  I am learning more and more how important it is for us momma’s to lean on each other.

No one else can relate except another momma who went through the same thing or something similar.

So I hope my story can help you feel comfort knowing you are not alone.

BUT NOW

I am one of the happiest momma’s in the world.  I am falling more and more in love with my son each day.  

Yes, I am exhausted and sometimes wonder what in the world have I gotten myself into.

But then I snuggle with him or watch him smile up at my face.  I get those warm fuzzy momma feelings…

So click here to watch my labor and delivery story!

Check back here on my blog for more of my fashion loves, faith rants, and my momma journey.

~Gracefully Fashionable Britt