Thinking About Getting Braces? What You Need To Know

Getting braces can be a bit daunting, but it also can be an exciting new chapter to straight, healthy teeth that will last you a lifetime!

When thinking about getting braces, you first want to consult with an orthodontist. You might be concerned about the cost of a consultation; however, a high-quality orthodontic office often offers no charge consultations and can cover a wide array of topics, from your medical history to your treatment options and even financial needs like payment plans.

This initial consultation is an essential part of your treatment plan to talk about your orthodontic concerns, problems and what treatment would be best suited for you. Some of the things that a good quality orthodontist will talk to you about before you can get braces include:

• Your medical history

• Your Orthodontic concerns/problems (malocclusion)

• Treatment options

• Treatment Plan

• Mode of treatment (braces, clear aligners or even behind the teeth braces)

• Financial needs like whether you require payment plans

Preparing For Braces

Once your treatment plan has been finalized the first thing your orthodontist will recommend is getting a cleaning with your general dentist. This is because your orthodontist needs your teeth and gums to be clean and healthy before your braces are put on.

The Day You Get Your Braces on

Getting braces put on typically takes the same amount of time as watching your favorite TV show, about 45-60 minutes. Generally, after your teeth are prepped, the braces are treated with adhesive and fitted to your teeth. After this the orthodontist connect each tooth with wires. 

It is a good idea to have some over the counter pain medication handy as your teeth and gums are likely to be a little sore. This soreness usually goes away in a few days.

Cleaning Your Teeth When You Have Braces

Now that you have your braces on you want to avoid certain foods that can break brackets and bend wires. Avoid hard foods like nuts, lollipops, chewy candies, carrots and popcorn.

You want to make extra certain that you are really cleaning your teeth morning and night with a good quality toothpaste and mouthwash as food and bacteria get more easily trapped between your teeth.

If you are looking to get a straighter and healthier smile contact your local Orthodontist for a consultation. If you’re in the Washington, DC area, Dr. Patrice Smith at Infinity Orthodontics offers Orthodontic treatment with options to fit your very busy lifestyle. Choose from convenient options like behind the teeth braces, Invisalign or custom braces.

Revive Your Soul: Ideal Places to Plan a Reset Trip

This is a guest post by Marjorie Jones

If you feel like you are in an endless cycle of stress or burnout, you are not alone. In the U.S., the majority of Americans admit to feeling stress. There are various reasons for it, including anxiety over finances, healthcare, climate, and violence. If you need a break from the hustle and bustle, it might be time to take a self-care "reset" trip. 

 Palm Springs, California

First, you must ask yourself, can you afford to vacation anywhere? Most people have to put together a budget. However, understanding your finances and how to reach your financial goals by doing something you love can help you make plans to hit up Palm Springs, California.

 Palm Springs is a popular resort destination. You can spend your days lounging by the pool or head to the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. The city has museums, botanical gardens, and plenty of outdoor activities to take part in. Take in breathtaking views at the Tahquitz Canyon, a waterfall tucked into a canyon.

 Sedona, Arizona

Sedona has a breathtaking landscape and a thriving town. At night, experience the stars above the canyons or live entertainment downtown. You can even check out the UFO tour and share some of the anomalies in the night sky.

Traveling to Sedona provides you with a break from everyday life while blending beautiful Arizona nature with a lively town full of museums, dining, bowling, and other recreation.

 If you fall in love with Sedona, consider a vacation home in the city. Remember that purchasing a vacation home requires a substantial downpayment of 20% or more. If you struggle to afford that much, you could take a second mortgage out on your house or use a home equity loan to purchase the property.

 Seattle, Washington

Seattle is a diverse city. While your first impression may be the towering skyscrapers and shopping district, you will also notice the surrounding mountains, many parks, and fresh Washington air. In Seattle, many people find themselves at the Seattle Center, checking out the Space Needle and Museum of Pop Culture.

 Outside of Seattle, you can see Mt. Rainier and visit various wilderness parks with hiking, backpacking, camping, swimming, and other outdoor recreational activities. When you find yourself hiking on one of the many trails surrounding the Seattle area, you might feel a complete shift in your mood. Experts explain that spending time outdoors can reduce your anxiety and give you a moment to breathe and relax at the moment.

 Houston, Texas

While in Houston, you can enjoy various outdoor recreational activities to soothe your mind and calm your soul. Additionally, there are parks, museums, walking tours, and tea parties to entertain yourself with.

 Look for discounted tickets online if you want to snag a deal on Astros tickets. You can filter the tickets by price, date, range, and seat rating. Some sellers offer an interactive seating chart for a 360-degree virtual in-seat view.

 Sometimes, you must break away from everyday life and do something for yourself. Your mental health matters and can impact your physical health and your ability to function in your day-to-day life. You should feel refreshed when you return home from a "reset" trip.

About The Author

Marjorie Jones created Working Class Wow because she knows you don’t need a big budget to make your business look like a million bucks! From a well-designed logo and a carefully-crafted website to grammatically-correct copy and professionally-printed marketing materials, it is entirely possible (and surprisingly affordable) to bring a little “Working Class WOW” to your small business to build your brand, improve relationships with customers, and benefit the bottom line. WorkingClassWow.com can show you how.

How Does Digital Marketing Improve Your Business?

Most, if not all, companies rely on marketing to capture audience attention. From catchy songs and phrases to beloved characters, businesses utilize many tactics to promote products and services that they hope consumers will purchase. 

Marketing helps to build brand awareness and brand loyalty, capture new customers, and secure existing ones. As of late, companies have embraced digital marketing to reach consumers. Since most individuals and businesses rely on technology to perform daily functions, it only makes sense that companies would mobilize this space. 

If you are a business owner, having a strong digital marketing strategy can be beneficial. Digital marketing can be a cost-effective way of optimizing your performance in a competitive marketplace. Let’s take a closer look at some of the ways digital marketing can help improve your business. 

Digital Marketing Is Cost-Effective 

Perhaps one of the biggest advantages of digital marketing is that it is a cost-effective strategy compared to some traditional promotional activities. 

Mailers and billboards are much more expensive than digital ads, for example. With digital marketing, you do not have to worry about paper costs, stamps, signage, or manpower. Furthermore, with just a few simple clicks, you can launch an ad in seconds and reach a wide audience for a nominal fee. 

Depending on the size of your business, you may have limited resources to spend on marketing, so this can be a good way to expand your reach without breaking the bank. 

It Helps to Build Strong Relationships with Consumers 

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. This certainly rings true in the digital marketing space. 

Think about all the times you’ve scrolled through your social media feed. How many times have you seen brands and businesses advertise their products or services using a single, impactful photo? Photos can be a powerful way of sharing your story as a business owner. They have the potential to evoke a strong emotional response from consumers and generate business based on that intense pull. 

On Instagram, for example, you can upload a photo in seconds. You have the option to include a short message, if you wish, to add additional context or embed links to draw people to your website. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok provide an easy pathway to connect with customers in new, fresh, and meaningful ways. With minimal effort and cost, you can cast a wide net and build strong connections. 

It Can Help to Improve Your Market Presence 

With digital marketing, you tend to utilize a lot of different pathways to share your brand story, products, and services with new and existing customers. You also tend to update and post new information more routinely than you would as compared to some traditional forms of marketing. The updates are more instantaneous. Rather than a one-time, static marketing tactic, digital marketing is fluid and constantly evolving. 

As such, your business may perform better in online searches. Many search engines prioritize websites and other platforms that refresh content regularly. Paying close attention to certain keywords can help boost your business to the top of these search engines, as well. 

The closer you are to the top of the list of search results, the more likely prospective customers are to click on your links and explore your offerings. Your visibility increases, which can ultimately generate new growth and revenue. 

It Helps to Even the Playing Field 

Traditionally, when it came to marketing, larger companies often had an advantage. These businesses would have the manpower and the material resources to promote their services in many ways. This was not always true for the smaller, less-resourced companies. When it came down to it, the marketing efforts just didn’t compare. 

However, digital marketing has helped even out the playing field. It provides a platform for all businesses, large and small, to reach people all over the world quickly and efficiently. The size of the business doesn’t matter as much since the same tactic is being employed to capture the attention of a global audience. 

It Helps to Reach Mobile Customers More Easily 

Most people nowadays have a phone with internet capabilities. With digital marketing, you can reach people and promote information in a mobile capacity. People can browse your website, scour your social media feeds, and view your digital advertisements all from the palm of their hand. 

If someone is not in front of a computer or tablet or does not own such a device, it is not as much of a barrier as it used to be with the introduction and widespread use of these handheld technologies. 

Conclusion 

A strong digital marketing strategy from a company like Evestar can help to improve your business in many ways. It is a cost-effective scheme to help expand your reach, grow your online presence, foster strong relationships with customers, and engage in a more competitive business scene. 

A Healthier Mouth With These Three Things from Smile Brilliant

You may recall in the past I reviewed Smile Brilliant's custom-fitted whitening system and was quite pleased with the results. My sister wore the whitening trays for a bit over 2 weeks and was happy with her visibly whiter smile.

Smile Brilliant

Custom fitted whitening system that you can safely do at home. Photos to the left taken two weeks apart.

Whenever an oral care company is founded and run by oral care professionals, it automatically increases my trust in them. Smile Brilliant was founded by a team of dental professionals who saw a need in the marketplace to decrease the amount of trips to the dental office, for whitening products and services in particular. They have a lab-direct process which makes achieving professional results at an affordable price pretty easy. In the last few years, they've taken this model and expanded their line of oral health products to include something for everyone - from the newest in the cariPRO line - a cordless water flosser that allows for easy and effective cleaning, to a custom night guard system to protect the teeth from nighttime grinding.

I have had the opportunity to use and test some of their products over the last several weeks and offer my honest feedback as both a consumer and a dental professional. The items I will be reviewing are their electric toothbrush, water flosser, plaque highlighter and dental probiotics. Here’s my breakdown:

TOOTHBRUSH HIGHLIGHTS

Their cariPRO electric toothbrush has some really impressive features that are unique to the brand and in my opinion, gives a dentist-style clean. Some highlights include:

2 - 4 replacement brush heads

Built-in timer and pacer for brushing

Wireless charging dock

60-day money back guarantee

2 year warranty

Free shipping

caripro Electric Toothbrush

SPECIFICS & IMPRESSIONS

• 40,000 vibrations/minute

  • This is 10,000 more vibrations than the top electric toothbrushes on the market. I do not know of any other toothbrush that has this many vibrations.

• Five (5) modes, some of which were a bit aggressive for me but I did especially like massage, gum care and sensitive modes. The 5 modes are:

  • clean - for optimal results

  • white - high speed polishing

  • massage - gentle stimulation

  • gum care - timed pulse & gemlike health

  • sensitive - ideal for sensitive teeth

• Waterproof

  • Safe for the shower or bath

• 7 x plaque removal

  • It boasts that it cleans 7 times better than a manual toothbrush and improves gum health within two weeks

• Ergonomic slim design with graphite gray soft-touch grip

  • The design is in line with other electric toothbrushes on the market. However, the graphite grey color and soft-touch grip are unique to their brand.

• One month battery life

  • In line with other electric toothbrush brands

• 2 year Warranty

  • If at anytime during the first 2 years the brush breaks or stops working, they will replace it for you free of charge.

• 60 day money back guarantee

  • You have 2 months in which you can try the toothbrush and if for ay reason you don’t like it, they will happily give you your money back.

CARIPRO Waterflosser

WATERFLOSSER HIGHLIGHTS

As an orthodontist, I recommend water flossers in my practice daily! While they are not a substitute for regular string floss, it is a great addition to your oral care routine. I really enjoyed using the cariPRO water flosser and have been recommending it to my patients. Here are some highlights:

4 floss tips

Auto-interval smart timer

5 hour rapid charge

USB adapter and universal charger

60-day money back guarantee

2 year warranty

Free shipping

SPECIFICS & IMPRESSIONS

• 44-75 psi floss jet

  • Comparable to top waterflossers on the market.

• Three (3) modes: normal, soft and pulse

• 45 second flossing time

  • comparable to top water flossers on the market

• Waterproof

  • Safe for the shower or bath

• 28 day battery life

• 2 year Warranty

  • If at anytime during the first 2 years the brush breaks or stops working, they will replace it for you free of charge.

• 60 day money back guarantee

  • You have 2 months in which you can try the toothbrush and if for ay reason you don’t like it, thy will happily give you your money back. Plaque Highlighters

Plaque Highlighters

How It Works:

These are otherwise known as oral disclosing tablets which temporarily highlight
plaque & tartar build-up for more effective brushing. They are quite nifty in helping to identify where plaque may be hiding so that those areas can be targeted with your toothbrush and water flosser. All you have to do is chew the tablet and wherever there is a concentration of plaque it will be bright pink. brush until the pink color goes away. I love that Smile Brilliant carries these for both adults and kids.

We typically use disclosing tablets for kids because let’s face it, they are not usually the best brushers. The disclosing tablets, once chewed, highlights the areas that has plaque build up so it’s easy to see where to concentrate your brushing. You would usually get these at your dentist’s office but Smile Brilliant carries them not only for kids, but for adults too. If you really want to see how well you’re brushing, these disclosing tablets will tell all the secrets. I haven’t considered using them for myself outside of the dental office, but it’s pretty cool having them at home. I definitely recommend grabbing a few of these plaque highlighters, it’ll help you to brush and floss better.

dental probiotics

Most of us have heard of probiotics for maintaining intestinal (gut) health, but probiotics have actually been shown to be very useful in many areas of the body, for skin care & dental care in particular.  Like other types, dental probiotics shift the balance of the existing bacterial composition (microbiome) toward an increased population of “good bacteria”, improving the overall health & fortitude of the area. What that means for us, is that our mouths are healthier.

Did you know there are over 700 species of both good and bad bacteria that populate our mouths? Our mouths have a diverse ecosystem of bacteria in it. The key to a healthy mouth is maintaining the right balance of bacteria where the “good” bacteria outnumber the “bad” bacteria. The bad bacteria are largely responsible for creating an acidic environment where they thrive. When your mouth becomes very acidic, demineralization, gum inflammation and cavities occur and when there is an overgrowth of said bad bacteria, plaque and biofilm begin to form. A healthy population of good bacteria is the key to creating an oral microbiome that eliminates bad breath, reduces plaque, tartar, cavities and gum inflammation. An added benefit to this is that this protection actually extends to our ear, nose & throat providing immune support & protection against viruses and developing infections. 

Have you ever found yourself wondering why, after doing everything your dentist tells you to do - brush, floss, rinse twice per day and see them for check-ups and cleanings every 6 months, you still have some lingering bad breath and even cavities? It happens to the best of us, and that’s because only 2% of the population actually have naturally occurring “good” bacteria enough to fight bad breath and create a healthy oral microbiome. For the rest of us, there are a myriad of things constantly disrupting our oral microbiome and causing bad breath, some as simple as not using the appropriate mouthwash, dehydration and diet.

BAD BACTERIA versus Good bacteria

The Bad - Bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, and hundreds of other species are constantly regenerating and populating the micro crevasses on your teeth and gums. They create a film on your teeth that leads to plaque and tartar. These bad bacteria consume sugar from your food and produce waste in the form of acid and volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs). The acid creates cavities and the VSCs cause bad breath.

Lack of brushing, poor quality foods/high sugar, lack of water, and dry mouth can lead to an over-population of bad bacteria.

The Good - Bacteria such as lactobacillus plantarum, streptococcus salivarius, and others fight the bad bacteria. They keep the bad bacteria population under control and keep the oral microbiome in a healthy state.

When you brush with toothpaste or rinse with an alcohol-based mouthwash, you are essentially sterilizing your mouth and that sometimes this kills both good AND bad bacteria. Unfortunately, the bad bacteria tends to grow back fast and often over-populate your mouth before the good bacteria has time to fight. (This is why we often hear stories of people who regularly use mouthwash but still have bad breath)

HOW DO YOU IMPROVE YOUR ORAL MICROBIOME?

Well, the obvious: Brushing your teeth is one of the most important ways to rid your mouth of plaque, tartar and the bacteria that is associated. Flossing, using a tongue scraper and rinsing with a non-alcohol based mouthwash also helps to further eradicate pesky bacteria. However, one thing that has not been historically included in your oral care routine is the use of oral/dental probiotics. Dental probiotics are chewable tablets with concentrated amounts of the healthy bacteria that your mouth needs. It is recommended to be chewed once a day before bed (after brushing, flossing and rinsing). The tablets populate your mouth with good bacteria and leaves less opportunity for the bad bacteria to take hold.

By repeating this process on a daily basis, studies have shown that you can truly change the microbiome of your mouth and increase the population of good bacteria while subsequently reducing the population of bad bacteria. This process is often referred to as Microbiome Rejevenation Therapy or Bacterial Replacement Therapy.

Studies have shown that clinical grade dental probiotics reduce plaque, cavities, gum inflammation and bad breath over brushing and flossing alone. Further, they help improve the upper respiratory immunity in both children and adults.

Giveaway!*

I have personally started using these dental probiotics several weeks ago and can report a noticeable difference with morning breath. I am very excited to share this new addition to my oral care routine and thus will be giving away a 30-day supply of dental probiotics for you to try.

To enter: Go here and come back to this page and leave a comment below about an interesting fact you learned about dental probiotics. I need at least 3 comments to activate this giveaway. You must be 18years or older and reside in the US, Canada or UK. Winner will be chosen one week from the published date of this article.

Don’t want to enter the giveaway but want to try these dental probiotics (or any other product), do so with a discount. Go to Smile Brilliant’s website and enter code: theunorthodoc20 at checkout for 20% off your purchase.

Over $10K Blog Income for June 2022

This month I am on track to make over $10K from blogging. That is, money coming in to do exactly what I would normally do - publish one blog post per month.

When I started this blog I was pretty inconsistent with my posting schedule. When I realized it was directly affecting my SEO (the way it showed up in internet searches) that’s when I decided to put some strategy in and start posting more consistently. For the greater part of 2 years I posted once per week consistently. That greatly improved my ranking in google searches and thus the blog’s visibility. This also strengthened brand’s trust in me. Because of this combination, my blog has been making steady residual income.

I don’t do blog income transparency posts often but when I do, it is to show that blogging can be a lucrative side hustle if that’s what you desire. I did a similar post last summer where my blogging income over 8 months was $12,201.67. Roughly a year later and that 8 month income is close to the monthly income. This is the power of consistency. If this income remains consistent, that will be over $120K/year - a 6 figure income from blogging alone!

I have said this before but it is worth mentioning again, blogging didn’t start out being a money making venture for me (still isn’t the aim) but has been a welcomed side effect of doing what I love to do. When you love something, I mean love it, you don’t see it as work.

It’s why I can get up at 6am work until 8:30am, go to my 9–5 and then work from 6–10pm (if I want to). It’s joyful and I love to do it. Here are some of the benefits of a side hustle you love:

• It’s free therapy

• It gives you clarity

• It builds your confidence

• It gets you motivated

None of those things are about money, the money is a bonus.

If you create something you love regardless of the money, the money feels like you’ve won the lottery.

This month alone (June) my blog is on track to make roughly $10,180.05

My blog makes passive income with affiliate links and sponsored posts. This month alone (June) my blog is on track to make roughly $10,180.05 (this does not include income from my candle company). There are no overhead costs (besides the annual cost to keep the site up and running) and I don’t have to do anything differently. For me, blogging is a good side hustle.

Here is the breakdown:

1. Sponsored posts $6,000.00 - a sponsored post is an article you write on behalf of a company that would like to get in front of your audience. The key for me where this is concerned is to only agree to write such articles when it is a product or service that I have personally used or can get behind.

2. Affiliate links $4,180.05 - On the resources page of this blog I have products and services listed that I have used myself and even carry in my practice. I like giving my patients options especially when it come to oral care products and I extend the same to my readers. When I promote a company’s products as an affiliate I earn a small commission for the referral.

I am not including income from my candle company because it involves putting in extra time. I hand-pour and package each candle that is purchased and it does carry some overhead costs. However, running a candle business is another lucrative side hustle!

Invest in a side hustle.

It’s a way to have a job and do the work you really want to on the side with zero risk. Once the side hustle starts to become a bigger part of your income, you can slowly transition from a job to work you love, if that’s what you want.

I invested a lot of time before and after work to make it happen. I can now say it’s one of the best investments I’ve ever made.

Do this:

Work on a side hustle between 6-10pm. Commit for at least a year. Invest time into learning about online income streams. Experiment until you find your sweet spot.

Here are some Side Hustle blog posts and a Side Hustle Guide to get you inspired. Want to take things a step further? Purchase my e-book: From idea To Profit.

Increase The Good Bacteria in Your Mouth With Dental Probiotics

Did you know there are over 700 species of both good and bad bacteria that populate our mouths?

Our mouths have a diverse ecosystem of bacteria in it. The key to a healthy mouth is maintaining the right balance of bacteria where the “good” bacteria outnumber the “bad” bacteria. The bad bacteria are largely responsible for creating an acidic environment where they thrive. When your mouth becomes very acidic, demineralization, gum inflammation and cavities occur and when there is an overgrowth of said bad bacteria, plaque and biofilm begin to form.

A healthy population of good bacteria is the key to creating a microbiome that eliminates bad breath, reduces cavities and fights gum inflammation.

BAD BACTERIA

Bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, and hundreds of other species are constantly regenerating and populating the micro crevasses on your teeth and gums. They create a film on your teeth that leads to plaque and tartar. These bad bacteria consume sugar from your food and produce waste in the form of acid and volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs). The acid creates cavities and the VSCs cause bad breath.

Lack of brushing, poor quality foods/high sugar, lack of water, and dry mouth can lead to an over-population of bad bacteria.

GOOD BACTERIA

Bacteria such as lactobacillus plantarum, streptococcus salivarius, and others fight the bad bacteria. They keep the bad bacteria population under control and keep the oral microbiome in a healthy state.

When you brush with toothpaste or rinse with an alcohol-based mouthwash, you are essentially sterilizing your mouth and that sometimes this kills both good AND bad bacteria.

Unfortunately, the bad bacteria tends to grow back fast and often over-populate your mouth before the good bacteria has time to fight. (This is why we often hear stories of people who regularly use mouthwash but still have bad breath)

HOW DO YOU IMPROVE your ORAL MICROBIOME?

Dental probiotics are chewable tablets with concentrated amounts of the healthy bacteria that your mouth needs. It is recommended to be chewed once a day before bed (after brushing, flossing and rinsing). The tablets populate your mouth with good bacteria and leaves less opportunity for the bad bacteria to take hold.

By repeating this process on a daily basis, studies have shown that you can truly change the microbiome of your mouth and increase the population of good bacteria while subsequently reducing the population of bad bacteria.

This process is often referred to as Microbiome Rejevenation Therapy or Bacterial Replacement Therapy.

Studies have shown that clinical grade dental probiotics reduce plaque, cavities, gum inflammation and bad breath over brushing and flossing alone. Further, they help improve the upper respiratory immunity in both children and adults.

Some great dental probiotic options are:

ProBiora

The original dental probiotic - brings your oral biome into balance, addressing the cause of most common teeth and gum issues.

Smile Brilliant

The optimal way to build a healthier oral
microbiome and support ear / nose / throat
immunity!

Burst Oral Care

Contains one of the highest concentrations of BLIS K12TM and BLIS M-18TM available. Studies have shown that these probiotic strains support robust oral health.

Great Oral Health

These chewable oral probiotics are vegetarian, gluten-free, sugar-free and lactose-free with natural flavor. They have no artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners and carries a unique and patented blend of dental probiotics packed with 7 potent strains of probiotics: the BLIS K12 and BLIS M18, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus Reuteri, Lactobacillus Salivarius, Lactobacillus Paracasei, Lactobacillus Thermophilus, and Streptococcus Salivarius.

Father's Day Gift Guide

Father’s day is June 19th this year and since my gift guides have become quite popular I have decided to create one for dad, too. Unlike me, my husband will be celebrating his 2nd Father’s Day this year (our son was born at the end of May). I have to admit, growing up my dad always received the cliché dad gifts from me and my siblings - a tie, mug and cheesy DIY card. I always felt like dads didn’t care much about Father’s day until my husband said otherwise. So here we are! I am rounding up a few amazing gift ideas for the dad/father figure in your life.

1. Packing Cubes - Hey, guys like to be organized too when they travel and if he isn’t hip to these yet he will be! ask me how I know.

2. Bose Speaker - My husband loves his bose speaker and takes it with him on vacation, to outdoor family picnics or to just chill in the backyard. It’s great for having your own little personal jam session. It’s loud enough to feel like you’re having a personal party but quiet enough to not disturb your neighbors or beach/vacation mates.

3. Bose headphones - If you’re hubby/dad is a music lover then he will appreciate great quality headphones. Bose has the best ones.

4. Record Player - Such a fun device to have. When hubby is feeling nostalgic he throughs a record on, grab a glass of whiskey, a cigar and vibe out. Great gift.

5. David Yurrman Bracelets - I have a love for Yurman classic pieces, if you haven’t figured that out by now. They are so sophisticated. My husband wears this cable cuff and this spiritual bead bracelet all the time and has them in different colors that he switches out based on the color in his outfit.

6. Ray-Ban Sunglasses - You can never go wrong with a pair of sunnies. These are such a no-brainer and almost anyone looks great in Ray-Ban aviators.

7. Duffel/Weekender Keep All - Really nice and generous gift for hubby, dad or boyfriend. Great to take on weekend trips or to use as a hospital bag (yes, dads pack a hospital bag too). My husband loves his and uses it for short weekend getaways.

8. Tiffany Whiskey Glasses - These brandy snifters made it on my Christmas gift guide last year and I found similar whiskey glasses. These are really simple yet classy gifts for dad. If he drinks he will love these.

9. Cologne - No brainer if you can’t think of anything super unique. My husband’s fav at the moment is Bleu by Chanel. Smells amazing.

10. UnOrthoDoc Candles - The simplest, most thoughtful gift, imo are candles. Everyone loves them and you can find some really great scented ones around. Obviously I am going to recommend my own candle line - Deboniar and Allure are great for any male figure in your life.

11. Wine Chiller - We are now wine lovers and even recently joined a wine club where we get 3 bottles of specialty wine delivered to us every month. We take a bottle with us to friends homes as gifts, to the rooftop when we want to hang out with a view, on picnics etc. Needless to say, we needed a way to keep our wines chilled on out outings and found these.

12. Wine Club Subscription - Is dad/hubby a winer lover? then get him a wine subscription from sparkle-ist. We joined this wine club recently and are obsessed. We get 3 bottles of specialty sparkling wine each month from small family farms around the world. We are having fun discovering and learning about sparkling wine. It is the gift that keeps on giving.

13. Plush Microfiber Robe - Robes are always a great idea. They are super cozy and make really nice gifts for grandpa, dad, uncle, husband or brother. They’ll be wearing it all year round.

14. Electric Toothbrush - The dentist in me will not allow any gift guide to be complete without oral care goodies. Give dad the gift of good oral hygiene. Any electric toothbrush and water flosser is great, these black ones from Burst are really cool.

I hope you see something you love for dad, that father-figure in your life or for yourself. At the very least I hope this gift guide gives you some inspiration this year. Happy shopping!

Starting a Business When You’re the Stay-at-Home Parent

This is a guest post by Marjorie Jones

In many households, being a stay-at-home parent can be more advantageous than employment due to daycare costs, other obstacles, or the simple desire to be more involved in the lives of your younger children. Still, you may feel as though you could be doing more — such as running a business. There are actually many businesses you can operate successfully while being a stay-at-home parent.

Leverage Your Talents and Interests

One of the easiest ways to start a profitable business that doesn’t require too many resources is by using the knowledge you have to teach lessons to others. If you play an instrument, you can offer music lessons. If you paint, you can teach art lessons. Consider that you can also teach lessons online and sell pre-recorded classes.

Being a personal trainer is a great way to make a reliable income without needing to leave your home. You can stream lessons over the Internet to clients working out with weights at home or at their own gyms. This kind of setup also enables you to scale the business to a larger degree.

If you’re knowledgeable about a niche and skilled in writing about it (or writing in general), you can take on clients from the comfort of your own home. Even if you work through a platform that connects you with clients, you can work both online and for local businesses on the side. It’s probably most beneficial to file your taxes through an LLC as an independent contractor.

Set Up Your Business

In order for your business to run smoothly, you’ll need to take some steps to get it set up via paperwork and other factors, so it can operate legally. An LLC offers tax advantages, liability protection, and operational conveniences. This can be done via your state government or proper provincial offices.

When starting out with your stay-at-home business you’ll need to determine how much the business will cost to start and where you’ll get the funding from. You’ll need a comfortable and sufficient workspace somewhere in your house, such as the garage, guest room, or office. Marketing is also a crucial question to figure out, and it’s not a bad idea to start online or use geofencing methods to attract more localized customers.

Get the Ball Rolling

Getting paid requires invoicing clients properly and following up to make sure you receive payments. Your business will probably be on a smaller scale, so up-front payments are probably a good idea. However, there are many tools you can use to make invoicing clients simpler and easier when necessary. This invoice generator will save loads of time and provides several templates you can use for different kinds of businesses. You can also customize different elements of the document by adding logos, photos, or other elements that make identifying and reading them easier for clients and yourself.

A Business Can Change Your Life

If you plan carefully and choose a business niche that works for your circumstances, you can operate a profitable venture that benefits your whole family. Make sure to register your business venture through proper channels and use invoice software to make the process simpler.

For insight and advice from an entrepreneur and mother who’s seen it all, visit The UnOrthoDoc blog.

About The Author

Marjorie Jones created Working Class Wow because she knows you don’t need a big budget to make your business look like a million bucks! From a well-designed logo and a carefully-crafted website to grammatically-correct copy and professionally-printed marketing materials, it is entirely possible (and surprisingly affordable) to bring a little “Working Class WOW” to your small business to build your brand, improve relationships with customers, and benefit the bottom line. WorkingClassWow.com can show you how.

Why Scented Candles Are The Perfect Gift

Finding a gift for someone is a daunting task no matter who is on the receiving end. It takes a lot of thought, time and effort to come up with a perfect gift for a friend, loved one or family member. Candles are a great solution when looking to buy the perfect gift. They are always well received and due to their versatility, there's truly something for everyone.

Here are a few reasons why scented candles are the perfect gift for pretty much anyone.

PROVIDES AROMATHERAPY

Scented candles are great mood boosters as the scent triggers receptors in the brain that are responsible for making us feel positive. They can have a profound effect on our emotional, physical and mental state. Who wouldn't enjoy lighting a candle after a long day and feeling themselves relax and de-stress? Even if not as a gift, it is amazing to get this self-care gift for yourself as well so even you can enjoy the countless benefits of aromatherapy.

COST-EFFECTIVENESS

Scented candles are an amazing choice when you are on a budget and still want to show someone how much you care about them. You can find exceptional quality scented candles ranging from as little as $10 all the way up to $200 (and even more). There is literally a candle to match any budget.

UNIQUENESS

The best thing about scented candles is their diversity of scents. From fruity and sweet to floral and musky and everything in between there's always something for everyone. Our sense of smell is the only sense directly connected to memory and emotions.

LONG-LASTING ENJOYMENT

A good quality unlit scented candle will continue to emit fragrance for many months and even years. Once lit they provide many hours of fragrance, depending on size some can last up tp 50 hours. They are a luxurious addition to any space and will fill it with an amazing smell for you to enjoy for a long time.

SPRUCING UP YOUR SPACE

It's surprising how many people buy candles yet don't light them. Candles have a wonderful ability to add more aesthetic to any space. With their beautiful jars and subtle release of fragrance into a room, they provide a stylish focal point whether lit or not.

This is why they make great presents for others and yourself. You can get many uses out of them.

Burst electric Toothbrush: An Orthodontist's Review

As a dentist (Orthodontist), every now and then oral care brands send me items to try, have my patients try, give my feedback and then write a review. One of these said companies is the BURST, and in this case it’s their electric toothbrush.

If I’m being honest, I initially thought of BURST as one of the latest social media fads. If you have spent any time on social media in the last year or so, then chances are high that you have heard about them from not only dental professionals but a host of “influencers.” I am often wary of items that I notice influencers are all over at the moment. It is no secret that brands pay influencers to drive sales of their products and it can be hard to tell whether the reviews are genuine or if it’s for a paycheck.

As an Orthodontist, I am a fan of electric toothbrushes in general and frequently recommend them to my patients. I am not a brand loyalist so my recommendations usually take into consideration the needs and wants of my patients, their budgets, if the products work and do what they say they will, if the products are from a reputable company and whether I think it’s an overall good product.

toothbrush Highlights

• Subscription service

• Built-in timer and pacer for brushing

• USB charging stand

• 90-day money back guarantee

• Lifetime warranty

• Clinically proven

• Free delivery

Toothbrush Specifics & Impressions

• 33,000 sonic vibrations/minute

  • This is roughly 3000 more sonic vibrations than other popular electric toothbrushes. I found that even though there are more vibrations, it is very gentle regardless of the mode that you brush on. The 3 modes are: whitening mode (full power), sensitive mode ( gentler on gums and teeth than whitening mode), and massage mode (pulsating vibrations).

• Shown to remove up to 10x more plaque than a manual toothbrush

  • Based on Clinical Studies *

• Reduces gingivitis up to 3x more than a manual toothbrush

  • Based on Clinical Studies*

• Tapered multi-length charcoal black bristles

  • These make the brushes stylish but there’s still a lot of debate in the dental community about the abrasive properties of charcoal. Some studies have found that charcoal gives it’s whitening effect by removing a thin layer of enamel, which can be harmful. However, these studies are few and inconclusive. I cannot speak on the effectiveness of having charcoal bristles versus another type, but I can say that the bristles are soft and my teeth felt like I had a professional cleaning at the dentist.

• One month battery life

  • In line with other electric toothbrush brands

• Lifetime Warranty

  • Love this - if at anytime the rush breaks stops working, burst will replace it for you free of charge.

* I downloaded the clinical studies report done by burst and skimmed the 357 page document which showed that this brush indeed did offer a superior clean over manual or comparable electric toothbrushes on the market. Feel free to peruse the study for yourself - Link to download clinical study.

Price POINT

There is a Black, White, Lavender and Rose Gold color option. It is $69.99 for the Black or White color option, $79.99 for the Lavender color option and $99.99 for the Rose Gold color option - all with free shipping. This is a subscription service so replacement brush heads are sent to you automatically (and conveniently) every 12 weeks for $8. Right now with this purchase, whitening strips refill packs are included free of cost (a $14.99 value). In my opinion, this is good value for the price especially when compared to the more popular electric toothbrush brands that will run you anywhere between $100-$300.

The Verdict

Overall, I really like the BURST toothbrush. It is superior to other leading electric brushes in the categories of sonic vibrations/minute which cleans and removes more surface stains a bit better, the lifetime warranty and the price point. Based on this, I agreed to become a dental professional ambassador and recommend their electric toothbrushes in my practice. My patients get the benefit of receiving BURST electric toothbrushes at a discounted price.

If you are interested in purchasing the BURST electric toothbrush for yourself you can also take advantage of special pricing and save by heading to their website and using the code UNORTHODOC at checkout. This will save you roughly 40% on your purchases. If for any reason you aren’t happy with your purchase, they have a 90-day money back guarantee.

PS: At the time the toothbrush was gifted to me, I was not a Burst ambassador. This is my honest review, and I became an ambassador after I read the clinical studies and used the brush myself.

Cozy Earth Mother's Day Gift Guide

One of my favorite brands is having a Mother’s Day Sale and I had to share. I was introduced to Cozy Earth several months ago and I kid you not, they have some of the best quality products I have come across in a long time. All their products are made of bamboo! The bamboo is sustainably sourced, pressed, dried, milled and spun into viscose which gives us the softest, most breathable fabrics.

I own their loungewear and it is easily the most comfortable ones I own, I practically live in them. When I am home, the jogger pants and matching pullover are my go to. I also have the kimono robe and some of their bed sheets - they are the softest sheets in my linen closet. My mother (who is of a certain age) has been living with us since my son was born and has taken over the sheets because of how breathable they are. As someone who suffers from frequent hot flashes she is loving the fabric and how cool they keep her during her sleep.

This Mother’s Day I will be getting my mom her own Bamboo sheet set and getting a few items for myself. They are having a 25-30% off sale but my code: DR.UNORTHODOC40 will get you 40% off. I plan on getting another jogger set, lounge socks, crib sheets for baby Braxton and a bath mat.

1. Plush lounge socks - Soft, breathable and moisture wicking fabric, made from viscose from bamboo. Great for lounging around home or to wear on cold flights.

2. Bamboo Joggers - My all time favorite joggers that I wear all the time. They are the most comfortable ones I own. You will love them.

3. Rib-Knit Bamboo Pants - Great for lounging or wearing to run errands.

4. Bamboo Throw Blanket - I always need a throw when I get on the couch to cover my legs. This could be used as a comfortable cover or decor for your sofa.

5. Baby Crib Sheet - I have the bed sheets myself and I think my baby deserves to sleep on soft, breathable sheets too. Will be getting this!

6. Sheet Set or Bedding Bundle - The softest, most comfortable and breathable sheets in my linen closet.

7. Plush Bath Towels - Ultra absorbant, made from 40% viscose and 60% cotton.

8. Plush Wash Cloths - Similar to the bath towels - ultra absorbent, made from 40% viscose and 60% cotton.

9. Short sleeve Bamboo Pajama Set - Rated “softest ever” by Oprah! I am sure this is super soft since it is made of 100% viscose. The shorts and short sleeve top makes it great for the spring and summer months

10. Stretch Knit Bamboo Kimono Robe - I have this and love it! Made of 100% viscose and VERY soft.

As with all the products I review, I personally own some of these and honestly love them. Whether for your mom, mom friend or yourself I am sure you will love these items.

PS: I love partnering with brands whose products and services bear a mission and purpose that I can get behind. This page contains affiliate links and will earn The UnOrthoDoc a small commission if you purchase or sign up to the services. These add no cost to you but helps keep The UnOrthoDoc sustainable. It’s also worth noting that almost all resources mentioned are resources that I have verified and/or personally use. To find more promo codes visit the Resources Page.

My Favorite Mommy Accessory: Tushbaby Carrier

If you’re in my friend circle or follow me on social media, you would know just how much I have been loving my newest mommy accessory, the Tushbaby carrier. I have raved about it since I got it last week.

My baby boy Braxton turned 10 months recently. At his 9 month pediatrician appointment he weighed roughly 25lbs. He is in the 96th percentile in both height and weight for his age. Needless to say, it has been quite the ordeal to hold him for any extended period of time. This is why I was ecstatic when one my company reps and friend told me about tushbaby and how much it helps her carry her little girl around. I got it immediately and have been in love since.

If you have an infant or toddler I’m sure you’ll love this product too. You can actually use it from birth up to 36 months (or 45lbs) and it can be worn in four different ways.

Wearing the TushBaby is very comfortable, and it’s easy to put on. You simply wrap the TushBaby around your body, above the hips, and secure the velcro as well as the buckle. It feels very secure and with the heavy-duty velcro, it’s not going anywhere! Then you simply set your child on the seat. You can place your child in a feeding position, face to face, front facing or side carrying. I mostly carry Brax face to face (he loves laying on mommy’s chest) or side carrying. His weight is more evenly distributed through my back when wearing the carrier than when I simply carry him on my hip. The anti-slip fabric patch on the seat keeps him in place, and keeps his legs in a good, wide position which is important for his hip development.

Four Ways to Wear Tushbaby

When I have him in the carrier, I do need to hold onto him with one arm to make sure he doesn’t tip backwards, but it’s still significantly less difficult than supporting all his weight on my hip and arm.

TushBaby has multiple storage compartments which makes it even more handy! There is a front pocket which is the perfect size for my small wallet, phone and anything you need within easy reach.

There’s another really big pocket underneath the seat where you could store a variety of items. I carry my wallet, keys, a small pack of wipes, a bottle, toys, etc. There’s also a mesh pocket in the back.

In my opinion, TushBaby is a great option for parents with young children! From birth through toddlerhood, it is a product that can serve many purposes and stages.

Quite a number of my friends got the carrier after I raved about it to them, so I left a great review on their website and reached out to the brand for a discount code and they happily obliged. Purchase from TushBaby and use the code UNORTHODOC to save 15% on your order.

Come back and tell me how you like it!

Mother's Day Gift Guide

Mother’s Day is different and extra special this year because it will be my first! I always have a lot of fun picking out thoughtful gifts for my mom, sister and mom friends but never have I been on the receiving end of things. I love receiving gifts! (perhaps it’s one of my love languages) and I equally love giving them, so I have rounded up a few gift ideas for the mommas in your life. These items are things that I either have, would want for myself or things that are on my “wishlist.” You might even see something that you want to grab for yourself!

1. The Always Pan - You must’ve seen these all over Instagram, they are all the rave because it’s a do-it-all pan designed to replace eight traditional pieces of cookware. They are also very good looking pans that add a bit of decorative flair to your kitchen. They also come in over 10 colors.

2. David Yurman Bracelets - I love Yurman pieces. They are sophisticated, classy, stylish and I love that they look amazing when you mix, match or layer several styles. I personally love pieces from the cable classic collection. These stack well with the oval link bracelet.

3. Mama Pendant Necklace - Definitely getting this as a gift to myself. I love how dainty and cute it is.

4. Hermes Geta Bag - Summer is coming and I love a great statement accessory, like this Hermes Geta Bag. It is uniquely designed and has the right amount of pop! A bit on the pricey side but makes a great gift. New mommas, if you didn’t get a push present this is it.

5. Chanel Blue Tweed Flap - Again, love a good accessory. The tweed is classy and I love the colors in this purse for Spring. But honestly, any classic Chanel flap is a great gift regardless of color.

6. Baccarat Rouge 540 - Perfume is a no-brainer! Whenever I am in a pinch and can’t think of anything this is always my go-to. In love with this scent from Baccarat at the moment.

7. Satin Pajama Jet - Can never go wrong with a luxe pajama set. I love the animal print on this one but it also comes in a variety of colors.

8. Birdies Slides - Luxury for your feet. These slides are classy, comfy, cute and comes in 2 colors.

9. Electric Toothbrush + Waterflosser - The dentist in me will not allow any gift guide to be complete without oral care goodies. Give mom the gift of good oral hygiene. Any electric toothbrush and water flosser is great but I love the rose gold ones from Burst.

10. UnOrthoDoc Candles - The simplest, most thoughtful gift, imo are candles. Everyone loves them and you can find some really great scented ones around. Obviously I am going to recommend my own candle line - I really do hope you give them a try!

11. Monogrammed Trinket dish - Love these trinket trays for jewelry or as a catch-all for random things like hair pins, hair ties and buttons. They are pretty and will look great on mom’s vanity.

12. Dior lipstick - In addition to diamonds, I believe lipstick s a girl’s best friend! Pair a great lippie with any of the items listed to round out your gift.

13. Amber Champagne Flute - I am in love with these champagne flutes from So Home Collective. The flutes are classy, sophisticated, fun AND is black woman owned. The collection ranges from the classic “The Sunday” flute, to a cute pink, an ultramodern grey to my fav - amber.

14. Designer Sunglasses - Gift me a pair of sunnies any day. They make such a great gift. Get mom a pair of chic, fun, classy designer eyewear and she’ll love you forever. Love these Dior ones.

I hope you see something you love for mom, that mom-figure in your life or for yourself. At the very least I hope this gift guide gives you some inspiration this year. Happy shopping!

How to Balance Work and Parent Life - Tips from Experienced Moms!

This is a guest post by Stephanie Shea

Balancing family and work has become an issue for modern families. It’s overwhelming and stressful, especially when you’re giving more attention to one at the expense of the other. This behavior has led to dysfunctional outcomes like strained family ties, poor physical and mental health, and inefficiency in the workplace.

Balancing these two different aspects of life is therefore essential. The process is daunting but achievable.

Here are tips from experienced moms to get you started.

Prioritize Balance

It’s pretty hard to be everything to everyone. Therefore, making a conscious decision to prioritize work and parent life balance is crucial. Most moms believe you must create opportunities for balance to avoid failing along the way. Making effective decisions about your life will make attaining balance easy, like finding a job that’s not overwhelming or thinking of a family size you can responsibly raise.

Additionally, you can make small changes here and there as your family continues to grow to achieve balance. An excellent example of a small change you can do is requesting flexible hours and reorganizing responsibilities at home.

Talking to your Family

To solve your work versus family conundrum, you’ll need different perspectives. Talking to your family to see how they feel about your work will shed light on their perceptions. They’ll be honest with you and tell you if you’re focusing too much on your work. It will allow you to be aware of areas you need to change. During such moments, try to make them understand your obligations at work.

Having such conversations will make your loved ones feel heard. Plus, they’ll see where you’re coming from as far as your work is concerned. It’s, however, essential to make these conversations constant.

Accept Help

At times, balancing work and parent life becomes difficult. Maybe you’re trying to beat a deadline, which means working till late hours. You’ve already communicated to your family how the situation is at the workplace. It’s now time to bring in help.

Most friends and family are always willing to help. Ensure you seek help from people who can be trusted to do the things you’d normally do. If it's taking your kids to practice or picking them up from school, they should be willing to do them all.

Create Boundaries

It’s essential to establish boundaries between family and work. Boundaries are imaginary lines that protect your work from family distractions while protecting your family from work obligations. It shows what’s acceptable and what isn’t. With clear-cut boundaries, you can easily tell which aspect of your life is not going in favor of your ultimate work-family life balance.

You can make rules like no work-related phone calls at the dinner table or no checking emails on vacations. It’ll make your family feel they are a priority too.

Accepting Work-Family Imbalance Is Inevitable

Are you struggling to balance work and parent life? Don’t beat yourself up; you’ll let your family or work take center stage at times. You can miss a work event when your loved one is sick or miss a couple of dinners to beat a project's deadline.

It’s, however, important not to let this imbalance become the norm. The scale may shift according to the situation at hand. Ensuring the scale moves at the center always should be your top priority any chance you get.

Take Time for Yourself

Taking time off from everything-the work, the family to relax and re-energize. There's no point in pouring from an empty cup. It doesn’t have to be grand; it can be an easy fitness class, following your favorite TV series, or taking a walk to feel the sun over the lunch box. 

Going on vacations is also an excellent idea; check out these designer bags for your next vacation here. When you take good care of yourself, you’ll be better positioned to manage your busy work schedule and take care of your family, achieving a balance in the end.

Wrapping Up!

Trying to balance your work and your parenting life is not easy. There’s no right approach to finding this balance. What works for one family may not work for the other. Every family needs to zero down and find solutions specific to their needs and preference.

People who have made strides to balance between work and family life can sufficiently meet both family and work commitments. Working hard to get ahead in life is what everyone desires, but letting it override every other aspect of your life becomes a challenge. There’s nothing that’ll replace all the missed special family moments.

You can never get them back, so be sure to make time for your family even as you're stomping the workplace. Strive to achieve a balance that works best.

About The Author:

Stephanie Shea is a marketing professional who originally hails from Southeast Asia. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends by visiting various natural landscapes and hanging out on beautiful beaches. Besides nature-tripping, she’s also very passionate about writing quality content that helps in building professional relationships with people and sharing informative insights to various audiences interested in different types of topics.

10 Ways to Stay Inspired as an Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are a unique group of people. Many attributes set us apart from others -- the deep levels of desire, independence, needs for freedom, levels of dedication and a willingness to take risks.

However, many entrepreneurs suffer from creative blocks due to being so wrapped up in tasks. To a large extent, we all have to let the processes of creativity and inspiration come to us from the outside because it is not always an internal process we can count on. Inspiration waxes and wanes along any person’s journey to success. Yet, there are many ways to stay inspired through outside sources to keep our engines of motivation and excitement roaring.

1. Read

Keep one or more motivational books or readings with you at all times. Sometimes it only takes one sentence to get your mind in gear on what you want to achieve in your day, your business and the bigger picture of your life. Reading something that hits home reminds you that your path to success is worth the hard work. Having a book on hand is like having a pocket coach. When you need it you can reach for it at a moment’s notice.

2. Rest or Time alone

The majority of time in your life will be spent in the consistent company of other people on a regular basis. Even when the connections you have are positive, it is still taxing on your energy to be constantly giving out. It is vital to the human spirit to have a certain amount of time alone to detox and re-energize. Inspiration cannot come from a dry well of energy resources. It is important to refuel and take time for yourself.

3. Money

Money is a great motivator; not the root of all evil. Money is a tool and resource which can be used for so much good. Money is also one of the greatest rewards acknowledging your hard work. It is not wrong to work for money, or to have making more money as a priority and important goal in your life. You should always strive to make more money. Increases in money often come hand-in-hand with increases in status and position; all which build confidence. With money comes the freedom to do more things. Having this type of freedom brings more happiness. You are never more inspired than when you are happy.

4. Music

Music can be one of the most direct ways to find inspiration. Inspiration is a drive, but as much as it is a drive, is also an emotion. You either feel inspired or not. Emotions, the full range of them, make up inspiration. If you’re hurt or angry, the right song can inspire you to succeed. If you have a creative block the right music can open your mind. It has been proven that music is in sync with our brain waves, and when people listen to Mozart before taking intelligence tests they score up to 10 points higher. So if you want to find some inspiration, listen to some great music.

5. Exercise

Getting outside, moving your body, getting fresh air and working up a sweat are highly creative ways to find inspiration. When you are at work, your mind is only focused on the task at hand, which leaves very little room for your right brained activities such as inspiration to come forth. When you exercise, the left brain is distracted by the task of exercising, allowing the more right brained emotions and ideas to come through. Further, when you push yourself physically you learn how strong you are emotionally, and this helps to keep you inspired and believing in your capacities to continue pressing forward.

6. Gratitude

Wherever there is gratitude there is a spark of life, wherever there is a spark of life there is inspiration. The more grateful you are for what you have the more motivated it makes you to want to sustain and elevate above your current level of success. Abundance is a beautiful thing. A great way to practice gratitude is to write thank you on every check and every receipt as a way to remind yourself of how blessed you are to have the abundance to spend the money you spend. When you are grateful you become plentiful. The feeling of being in abundance is inspiring because it is not a feeling you want to lose. You become more deeply committed to all you do when you treasure what you have. There is no room for complacency when you are grateful.

7. Vision

If you lose inspiration, go back to the drawing board and either create the vision of what it is that you want, or be brave and flexible enough in your mindset to reinvent the vision you currently work from to more effectively move forward. Having a vision is a way of creating a future benchmark of achievement that sits out luminously in front of you; you knowing you won’t be satisfied until you achieve it. A vision inspires the willingness to strive for what you want. It inspires you to live your dream.

8. (Healthy) Competition

Competition breeds inspiration, whether you’re competing with yourself, a score, a dollar amount, another person, for a raise, a bonus etc. Competition inspires you to get to that next level. It motivates you to prove yourself to yourself and to those others who matter when pushing yourself forward. Getting to that next level will require hard, work, training, and motivation. There is nothing more inspiring than wanting to win. You will naturally do nearly anything to feel that sense of accomplishment.

9. Other people’s stories 

A great way to find inspiration is to study other inspirational people. Read their biographies, watch movies that are touching. The last book that I read that was really inspiring was Will, by Will Smith. There is something so intoxicatingly inspiring about the underdog having a major comeback or victory. If you feel low on inspiration take a day to read, watch a film, or otherwise study others who others have made it against all odds. Emulate in your life, what inspires you about these people and these stories.

10. Give

When you give and you see the fruits of your labor. Seeing the significance of your impact on the world is so moving it inspires you to work more, and make more in order to give more. Giving is the greatest gift that gives back. To see that what you contribute to the world makes a huge difference in the lives of others. It is what inspiration is all about.

Part of the problem with inspiration for entrepreneurs is creating a healthier work-life balance. Many entrepreneurs often don’t give enough attention to their physical, mental, or emotional well-being. We work at all hours, eat whatever is closest to us, and blindly finish tasks under taxing conditions. This type of lifestyle is a recipe for burnout. The state of mind which allows us to find inspiration becomes more elusive if we aren’t addressing our own needs along the way.

4 Benefits of Taking a Data-Driven Approach to Run Your Dental Business

This is a guest post by Bash Sarmiento

With how hectic the everyday operations of a dental practice can be, sometimes big-picture strategies are left on the back burner. However, adopting a data-driven approach and analyzing your dental business’s data is one of the surefire ways to recognize opportunities that can improve your practice. 

Here are four reasons why you should run your dental business with a data-driven approach:

1. You figure out what works and what doesn’t

Managing your private dental practice means that you’re monitoring a lot of moving parts, from your patients to your staff to your inventory and everything in between. Being able to gather information about the different aspects of your business allows you to assess what’s working, what needs improvement, and what can be eliminated. 

You are also able to distinguish any blind spots or weaknesses in both your business and actual practice. While trusting your intuition is always a good approach, this may cause you to overlook crucial opportunities for improvement, SoftwarePundit points out. Not studying your data may lead you to overestimate certain features of your practice that can be detrimental to your performance. 

Being more mindful of your business’s data, staying on top of collecting, measuring, and analyzing them, helps you identify opportunities to improve. It can also maintain and enhance cost-benefit ratios for both the dental care providers and the patients. Gathering and analyzing data doesn’t have to be labor-intensive like you might think, you can easily create an automated Google sheet dashboard to better showcase your data.

Improvement does not always have to be grand either, as big-picture metrics may not properly encompass the day-to-day way things operate. Adopting changes according to your data analysis may not present an immediate impact, but over time and with the right approaches and techniques, you will find that you are getting your desired results in the most efficient way possible. 

2. Your patients will receive better care

Analyzing your data makes it easier to catch details regarding your patients’ oral health, like whether or not you are experiencing high patient attrition rates or you could possibly be underdiagnosing certain oral diseases compared to the national statistics. Of course, to realize the latter, you must first be able to gather the appropriate data in your own practice to refer it to the national averages.  

The best way to gather patient data efficiently is to consider switching to electronic dental health records (EDRs). This gold mine of data can greatly help you better organize your patients’ information and assess your delivery of quality care.

Your metrics coupled with discussions with your staff on how to better approach these oversights will greatly benefit your patients as you provide them with quality care and services. It also keeps your practice running efficiently to deal with different cases.

3. The numbers are great motivators

By having the hard data, not only are you able to see how your business is doing currently, but it also helps you set reasonable and attainable goals moving forward. Sharing your data with your staff can also help them understand any problems you, as a collective, might be facing or any points of improvement everyone can contribute to refining. 

Your data can support any areas you are excelling in, while also presenting any probable lapses in services or operations. Since each team member has their own role, they can focus on the data related to their responsibilities and possibly help their colleagues in their respective fields too. Your team may be able to effectively meet and even exceed their goals given the data available to them. 

As you continue to measure your data and see that the metrics are improving, presenting the positive changes to your staff can be a great motivational tool for them. Recognizing your staff’s hard work and being able to back their improvement with tangible data can make the praise all the more rewarding. This can also improve your employees’ satisfaction rate in the business which in turn creates a culture of growth and continued improvement in the team.

4. Improvements beyond your own practice

The data you gather will not only help improve your own business but can serve a greater purpose for the dental community as a whole. Newer technology makes it possible to provide and access a plethora of dental record data which makes it easier to study which dental therapies work and which need updating, according to Dental Economics. Problem-solving and advancements in the dental industry may now be easier to develop as the data required to promote these changes will be easier to gather, manage, analyze, and access.

Data in this day and age is a valuable commodity. While it may take some time getting used to staying on top of recording and analyzing your data will greatly impact your business. Adopting a data-driven approach to your practice will not only propel you to a more efficient and successful dental practice but will also aid in the movement towards an improved dental industry.

Meet bash Sarmiento

Bash Sarmiento is a writer and an educator from Manila. He writes laconic pieces in the education, lifestyle and health realms. His academic background and extensive experience in teaching, textbook evaluation, business management and traveling are translated in his works.

Find him on Instagram and LinkedIn

Coffee Without The Teeth Staining or Bad Breath? Yes Please

A high-quality coffee is such a life-saver for ensuring my daily routines go off without a hitch. Plus, from the aroma to the last drop, I genuinely look forward to my coffee in the mornings. I’ve discovered and been loving Golden Ratio coffee lately. If you know me, you know I love a hot beverage and a good cup of tea (must be the Jamaican in me) but Golden Ratio coffee is just as smooth as tea! It has twice the caffeine and 5 times less acid than regular coffee with, check this, the added benefit of less teeth staining! You know the dentist in me is most excited about this part.

Coffee that stains your teeth is so 2018!

I’ve Identified 5 Big Problems With Most Coffee Drinks:

1. They’re super high in acid

2. They contain chemicals 

3. They sometimes make your stomach hurt

4. They make you jittery  

5. They stain your teeth *

6. PLUS they agitate GERD, Crohn’s Disease, Acid Reflux, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Insomnia, Migraines, Anxiety, and more (yikes!)

How to Choose Better Coffee

Quality matters when it comes to your food and there’s no exception when you’re shopping for the perfect coffee option. Here’s a quick checklist you can use the next time you find yourself wondering if a coffee brand is worth your time.

Look for coffee that is: 

• Roasted at low temps

• Ethically sourced 

• Single origin 

• Fresh from the producer 

• Contain certified organic ingredients 

• Free of artificial flavors and preservatives 

• Sold in sustainable, recyclable packaging, free of BPA and dyes 

Making sure you hit all these points is a tall order; there are only a handful of brands that go the distance. Do the best you can, but if you’re looking for a high quality, stomach, teeth and environment friendly coffee possible I have got you covered.

My favorite coffee at the moment is Golden Ration!

Golden Ratio coffee is:

• Made with organic ingredients

• Gluten-free, corn-free, and dairy-free

• No artificial flavors 

• Available in 6 delicious flavors

• Vegan

• Paleo-friendly

• Keto-friendly

• No bitter taste

• Contains 0g Sugar

• Packaged in recyclable pouches made from organic cotton -free of dyes and synthetic materials

• Plastic-free, available in single-use, easy to brew pouches

Golden Ratio is taking coffee back to its roots so we can supercharge our energy and conquer each day.  And making it easy to buy with a special discount just for my readers. 

Plus, they stand by their product, always offering a 30-day money back guarantee. No risk, all reward! 

Go here and enter the code: UNORTHODOC15 at checkout to save an additional 15% OFF these delicious, stomach and teeth-friendly, low acid coffee options in amazing flavors. 

Come back and tell me how you like them!

This post contains affiliate links . See disclaimer to learn more.

How To Make the Choice Between Dental Service Organization (DSO) and Private Practice:

Many dental professionals, new grads In particular struggle with the decision to join a dental service organization (DSO) or purchase their own private practice. A lot of the decision making lies in the fact that we are now burdened with heavy student loan debt combined with the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The question then becomes, do I take the leap and go into practice ownership or play it safe? Of course, and you might be more equipped to flourish on your own. But this depends on individual skills and preferences.

According to David Rice DDS, founder of Ignite DDS  “They both have advantages and shortcomings depending on the person. One’s level of personal responsibility, income level, and quality of life can all be better or worse according to preference. It definitely comes down to an important choice; how much are you willing to deviate from the old adage of ‘focusing on the dentistry?’”

DSO Advantages

DSO ownership can offer many advantages to a practice owner. There is essentially a corporate management system that takes over operations. This means help with payroll, supply distribution, and repair/maintenance issues. You’ll also probably enjoy perks such as drastically reduced repair bills and quicker service response. Large DSOs have the power to negotiate prices based on volume, so the larger they are the better the perks become. 

Operations isn’t the only thing that gets a boost; your new affiliation will offer inclusion in nationwide marketing campaigns, with more patient visibility through multiple website channels. In a world where the pandemic literally shut down almost everything, that can be a huge boost when trying to convince your patient base (who isn’t leaving the house much) that the dentist’s office is one of the safest public places to be. Speaking of your patient base, if you’re just starting out in practice this is a big plus—you don’t have to wait to build your client base; the DSO will have been marketing for you since before day one. 

Other perks will most likely include access to training and continuing education opportunities that you and your staff might not have known about or had access to otherwise. One thing about DSOs is that they prefer uniformity. This could result in the uniform decision to replace equipment that doesn’t hold up to their standard. You could suddenly be replacing dental chairs that are more than 10 years old or moving to CAD/CAM or CBCT if you haven’t already done so. 

The benefits of new equipment are obvious, and hopefully your team will be excited about the new learning opportunities. Guidelines are the key to success for them, and you’ll have to keep your team in the progress loop. Because of this, you’ll also learn a lot about running a successful dental business, something that will be invaluable should you decide to open your own office someday. Large companies hire successful, experienced executives to lead their (and your) teams so that only best practices are brought into the business. 

DSO Disadvantages

The drawback of the disadvantages might depend only on your interest in avoiding them, but profit would be at the top. You stand to make only a portion of what you would make as an owner, but the tradeoff is everything I discussed above. Because of the standards and uniformity, you’ll have little room for negotiation at the practice level, and other doctors and team members will be paid accordingly. Profits may take priority in corporate ownership, so you would be leaning into decisions you might not normally make under alternative leadership. 

You also stand to lose some decision-making power. More specifically, additional treatment could be the norm when in doubt (perhaps against your own intuition), and associates working on scale might be in competition for the high-dollar procedures. Production goals will also be in place, so if others are sending the business, you’ll be held to capitalizing on those opportunities. It’s also wise to find out everything about the contract you sign; some may include a restrictive covenant that would prohibit you from practicing within a certain distance of your current practice to prevent competition. 

Private Practice Advantages

On the flip side, private practice offers high-risk, high-rewards for those with dreams and perseverance. In reality, doesn’t everything worth doing carry risk? Obviously, overhead is the major discerning factor here, as all costs—from startup to maintenance—are solely your responsibility. Private practice also offers complete autonomy, with no location restrictions or restrictive covenants and complete control over capital investments, personnel, and other major decisions. 

It helps if you know something about business, and there are many articles available about what they don’t teach in dental school. Small offices are more personally affected by each employee, so you’ll need to create influence by being a strong mentor and helping your team members grow. One way to do this is by exposing them to new technology and procedures and developing their skills. The investments you make in your team will pay off exponentially with less absence and turnover. 

Also, human resources decisions are left up to you. If you do things right, you can minimize payroll with smart choices and multifunctional team members. You don’t have to seek approval to hire someone outside of your initial price range with exceptional skills. All major equipment investments, while seemingly pricey, will pay for themselves with a quick return on investment and will be attractive when it’s time to retire. I’ve often said that dental equipment upgrades are never a bad decision, and any dental transition broker will tell you that buyer dentists will consider offices with upgrades and good equipment a much better investment than something they must sink money into immediately. Furthermore, a private practice that is well kept is a very attractive opportunity should the owner want to take on a partner. 

Private Practice challenges

Some challenges a new private practice might face are the same as starting any other business. Startup costs in building or purchasing can be burdensome, and loans can put pressure on a new business. A consistent patient base can take years to develop, so a first impression is important. The current technology and a fresh, clean office are a must to lure new patients away from their current offices. Marketing is important, and while there are several programs that you can use with third parties, a good employee with a marketing background will help you manage that as well as a strong social media presence. Obviously, slow days in your practice mean less income to cover expenses, whereas working for someone else might not affect your daily rate. You’re also solely responsible for keeping up on all of your HIPAA requirements and security and failing to do so can mean consequences to you personally.

Ultimately, there are ups and downs at both ends of the ownership spectrum. My goal in this article is not to pick a winner, only to illuminate the fact that one’s ambition, desire for income potential, or need for autonomy would make one choice easier than the other. Depending on one’s abilities, means, and outlook on life, either one offers benefits and downsides, but switching between the two will take time and research. 

Before you make the decision, it’s wise to consider all factors, do your due diligence, and understand the restrictions of each. There are many resources available to advise on the cost/benefit spectrum, but no one else can tell you what’s right for you. If you value work/life balance and don’t put a premium on income, you might opt for less responsibility and focusing on the dentistry. If you want the chance to build something in your own name, you might want to take more control and reach for the brass ring. Good luck!

Original article from DentistryIQ

4 Tips for Maintaining Self-Care During a Busy Work Week

This is a guest post by Bash Sarmiento

Amid all the hectic chaos of everyday life, be it at work or with family and other responsibilities, it’s normal to forget that in order for one to function properly, one must pay attention to health and wellness. Self care is something easily swept under the rug, but is actually an essential part of maintaining a well-oiled machine.

Self care does not have to be the lavish and luxurious massages, yoga sessions, out-of-town beach trips, and shopping sprees for the most comfortable loungewear or whatnot that one might think of when we hear the term. While they’re all undeniably great, it does not and should not take so much out of the pocket to be able to practice basic self-care.

There are a ton of simpler, more cost-effective ways to practice self care in the middle of jam-packed work schedules. In this article, we gathered some of the most simple self care practices you can consider and adjust based on your schedule and budget.

1.Set your priorities straight

What self care is really about is knowing what your needs and priorities are at a given time period. When scheduling or crafting your self care regimen, ask these questions: what needs or issues do I want to be addressed first, second, third, and so forth? What activity will help me the most given these needs or issues?

This technique will help you in making your self care regimen more purposeful and productive. Who says self care does not contribute to efficiency? It’s actually what enables efficiency in the first place.

This will help tremendously in terms of managing our most valuable resource, which is time. Learn how to lay out what is most urgent and important for a specific time period, heavily considering the state of your physical and mental well-being and capacity.

2. Start an exercise routine

Keeping the machine running and getting it started early on in the day will help clear your mind of stress, anxiety, and other debilitating mental conditions. Establishing a certain exercise routine for the morning will actually help in the long run in terms of keeping your physical and mental state clear.

This does not necessarily mean the whole weekly gym visit or weekly cycle session. It can be as simple as waking up an hour earlier than usual to take a walk or sprint outside or doing some basic stretches on your computer chair.

The idea is to get that machine running earlier in the day to keep your mind active during normal waking hours and stabilize this activity.

A bonus to this is having a dedicated routine for health and wellness in general. Some people will have skin care regimens, for example, for the purpose of oil cleansing. This is for the purpose of systematizing your me time!

3. Set clear boundaries

Having clear boundaries will let you know when and where work ends and me time begins. It is important to have these boundaries when talking about self care since this is what most people tend to forget. 

Saying no to requests and schedules is normal. While it can be a challenge at first, it’s best to always bear in mind that sometimes you have to put you first, and self care is actually part of ensuring that you will be able to deliver the best service to them. We must quash the notion that taking care of yourself is selfish or indulgent. Taking care of one’s self is essential to everyone’s physical and mental well-being.

One of the concrete ways you can do this is by setting meal breaks solely for meals and not for work. Taking weekends off is another. Start with allotting hours or days specifically to reel back and rest from all the hecticness. Clearing your mind will also be beneficial to delivering more efficiently at work in terms of providing fresh perspectives and a renewed energy.

4. Get some light

Many have attested to the positive effects of starting your day early in the morning with a quick walk around the neighborhood. Getting good sun is not only good to clear your mind and prepare you for a new day, but also for your entire body. The quick walk can also serve multiple purposes, such as running errands for the parents or buying that period underwear you have been looking for.

Get your daily dose of natural light every morning to wake up and you will automatically radiate the sun’s vibrancy as well after your walk. Seeing people from the neighborhood starting their days as well can help boost your morale. We’re all in this together!

Final thoughts

Key to maintaining a self care routine is identifying your needs and what can most efficiently resolve them. It is important to include in the conversation your loved ones, family, and friends as these are the people outside of your work life who know you the most.

Meet Bash Sarmiento

Bash Sarmiento is a writer and an educator from Manila. He writes laconic pieces in the education, lifestyle and health realms. His academic background and extensive experience in teaching, textbook evaluation, business management and traveling are translated in his works.

Find him on Instagram and LinkedIn

Mental Health Toolkit for Winter 2022

Original article by Natalie Foster of Mindfully Well Rooted.

There are many times in the year when our mental health comes under fire with challenges. Challenges that come from every direction of life. Those challenges can come from motherhood, from marriage, the comments people say, from work, and the list goes on. These reasons alone and so many more for every black woman, are why it is so critical to have a mental health toolkit. A mental health toolkit is a necessary resource that is specifically designed to support mental wellbeing throughout the year. 

What Is A Mental Health ToolKit?

A mental health toolkit is a group of resources designed to bring you comfort in times of mental stress. A mental health toolkit can also be referred to a mental health survival guide. This collection of resources helps keep you grounded, calm, and redirects focus to positive situations in your life. When creating a mental health toolkit, it is best to lean into incorporating specific resources. Resources that help you maintain a happier and healthier version of yourself throughout the year. The components of a mental health toolkit are meant to help manage mentally stressful conditions, reduce the severity of mental illness symptoms, and boost overall mental well-being. A mental health toolkit is not meant to stay the same. There are periods of life that lead to evolution and change. So as the circumstances of your life change so does your mental health toolkit. 

What Led Me To Create A Mental Health ToolKit

I have had a long-standing history of mental health disorders since the age of 11. I continuously struggled through much of my adolescence and young adulthood with a range of mental health issues. Those range from depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and suicidal ideation. During this particular time frame, there were certain circumstances that escalated my mental health issues. That is when I would usually turn to alcohol, marijuana, and or promiscuity to numb the pain of the mental pressure I was dealing with. Eventually I realized the mechanisms I was turning to only worsened my mental illnesses.

During my experience with cognitive behavioral therapy, I asked my therapist if I could possibly go any lower. From there, my therapist asked me since I felt this way, what healthy coping mechanisms did I enjoy? She made me aware that I deserved happiness. I could do so by implementing those mechanisms when I felt myself entering a mentally stressful moment. She simply dubbed those mechanisms as a mental health toolkit. She informed me that a mental health toolkit will create a positive foundation for me to redirect my mind while engaging in positive mechanisms. In spring 2019, I started discovering resources to support my mental wellness.

The Foundation of My Mental Health ToolKit

Over the course of the past 2 years, I have leaned into specific resources. Resources that will help me to maintain a mentally healthier version of myself. After a significant amount of trial and error, I found that my particular preference of resources include the five senses. Having a resource from each of the five senses, mentally works for me. I have grown to nurture this approach for the past two seasons of fall and summer. I have found that taking this approach with the five senses allows me to have variety in the tools I engage in. Having five broad areas I can pull from gives me the freedom of knowing that I can always change a tool when it longer improves my mental wellbeing. 

I use tools that stimulate each of the five senses

What's In My Mental Health Toolkit?

The purpose of what is in my mental health survival guide is to help me recall or imagine joyful moments. These joyful moments are brought on while engaging in activities that I thoroughly enjoy. Having these specific mental health tools have prevented me from reaching the point of a mental health crisis.

Sight

I incorporate the sense of sight into my mental health toolkit by either reading a book/magazine or opening up my affirmation coloring book. Being able to read takes me away to different settings within the books where I am able to connect. I often imagine what the fictional characters or nonfictional people did outside of what was presented in the books/magazines. While I color, my mind focuses on precise strokes of my crayons and pencils. It's a form of a calming experience for me that I recommend as a mental health gift. Some of my favorite books to read are The Alchemist, Set Boundaries Find Peace, and The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck. Plus a few of my favorite adult coloring books are Color My Melanin: Affirmation Coloring Book and Uplifting Aspirations.

Smell

The act of lighting candles and then letting the amazing aroma permeate the room, is how I incorporate smell into my mental health toolkit. Smelling the aroma from candles truly helps me to ease any stress that I may be having. There are certain scents that remind me of a particular place or a specific time. That place and or time in my life is usually when something positive occurred in my life. I have been a fan of using candles in my mental health toolkit for the past two years. My favorite candles to burn in my home include UnOrthoDoc Candle Co., Public Goods, the Harlem Candle Co.

Touch

Holding onto a soft weighted blanket has been the way I incorporate touch into my mental health toolkit. I also like to pull out my childhood teddy bear to hold onto for some extra plushness. The weight of a soft weighted blanket offers a therapeutic touch that mimics a comforting hug for me. The type of comforting hug my husband and dad gives me. Speaking of my dad, he bought me a teddy bear when I was about five years old. I have held onto that bear ever since because of the pleasant memories it me. However, if you are looking for your own weighted blanket, I recommend the Room Essentials Sherpa Blanket, Baloo Throw Blanket, and the Bearaby Cotton Napper

Taste

One of the best ways for me to incorporate taste into my mental health toolkit is to eat some sweet and savory snacks. It is known that the types of food we consume play a vital role in not only our physical health but our psychological health as well. This is why I tend to stick to eating things that are good for my mental wellbeing. I love to eat some strawberries and grapes along with some roasted almonds and pistachios! The taste of these foods immediately make me feel great! I tend to shop at Publix, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s for my fave mental wellness snack!

I incorporate the sense of hearing into my mental health toolkit using two tools. Hearing is incorporated by either playing the piano and or listening to music. I started playing the piano when I was seven years old. Honestly I used to despise it. However, now that I am much older and in the world of adulthood, I have grown to appreciate the talent I have. These past two years, I have been playing the piano to improve my craft and escape in the melody of the music.

I also escape while I am listening to some of my favorite genres of music on my record player. Music is oftentimes a powerful way to bring mental stability into your world. A quick dance session happens a majority of the time when I listen to music as well. The piano I am currently playing is Williams Legato III Keyboard and a few of the records in current rotation are Michael Jackson Thriller , The Isley Brothers, and John Coltrane.

The circumstances of life are constantly changing. Oftentimes those changes challenge our mental health and wellbeing throughout the year. That is why it is so important to have a mental health toolkit to turn to in those times. Using that toolkit outside of those times, is just as critical to keep the mind at ease before stressful situations arrive in life. I encourage you to build your own mental health toolkit. Be intentional in what you choose to include in your toolkit. In addition, incorporate it into your life on a daily basis and not only when a mental health crisis arrives. If you need inspiration on how to create a mental health toolkit, I highly suggest you visit the following websites: Plus if you know anyone who needs something new to put in their mental health toolkit may I suggest checking out my Mental Health Gift Guide.

Let me know in the comments what you have decided to put in your mental health toolkit for this season!

To find these items and purchase them visit my LTK Shop at https://www.shopltk.com/explore/MindFULLyWellRooted**

**This post contains affiliate links and I receive a commission if you visit a link and make a purchase. There is no additional cost to you, and I only recommend products and services that I trust.

Meet Natalie

Natalie Nicole Foster is the blogger and content creator behind MindFULLy Well Rooted. On her blog and social media platforms she uses both her faith journey and life managing mental illness to propel other women forward to build a relationship with Christ and prioritize their own mental wellness. In addition, she encourages other women to manage all the various hats as mothers, wives, and everything else in between. Natalie Nicole is a stay at home mom of two boys and a wife to her husband of nearly three years. They live in the beautiful city of Charlotte where they enjoy the outdoors, family events, and so much more!