The world is obsessed with teeth. And it’s easy to see why. A beautiful bright smile is very appealing, and now thanks to huge advances in dentistry, it’s easy to transform even the worst of teeth into a glorious Hollywood smile.
But despite the wide range of treatments available, they aren’t always affordable, especially if you’re looking for a complete smile transformation. The good news is that there are several products on the market designed to help you get your dream smile, without breaking the bank. Take a look at some of the ways you can improve your teeth to get your perfect smile.
A pearly white smile may be your end goal, but it’s important to remember that the health of your teeth is the most important thing. The first thing you need to do is get any problems taken care of. Whether you need to fix some common dental problems or you simply need to take better care of your teeth, these are things you should do before you try to make cosmetic improvements to your smile.
There are a lot of great dental products on the market right now to help you enjoy healthier teeth. Find a toothpaste, mouth wash and floss that will help you improve the condition of your teeth and gums to keep them healthy. These products are affordable and will likely save you money compared to expensive treatments required as a result of neglect. This is also important after you have made any improvements to make sure your teeth always look their best.
Choose from different ways to whiten your smile
Whitening your smile is easier than ever, and there are a lot of different ways you can whiten your smile, with some excellent results. Teeth whitening strips are an affordable and popular way to whiten teeth at home, although it can take a lot of patience to get the result you want.
If you want to enjoy fast, professional results then the best option is still to head to your dentist. Teeth whitening treatments are an affordable way to boost the look of your teeth, especially if you’re planning for a big event like a wedding. The results are impressive and you’ll soon be showing off your incredible new smile.
Straighten your teeth at home
Years ago, it was only possible to get straighter teeth with some major orthodontic treatment, and having to wear braces for several years. Now, technology has moved on and it is possible to straighten your teeth with clear aligners. Some packages allow you to use aligners through mail order, making it even easier to straighten your teeth at home. Several companies sell clear aligners, so it’s worth comparing services to help you find the right ones for you. See how they work in this TikTok transformation:
As you can see, there are several ways you can improve your teeth to get that coveted Hollywood smile. Try whitening treatments, correct your smile and be sure to take good care of your teeth and gums for a smile you’ll be proud to show off. Friends, how are you caring for your smile this season at home? Leave yor thoughts in the comments below.
If you feel as though money management isn’t your strong point, then you have come to the right place. This guide will show you what steps you can take to manage the money you have better, so you can begin to look forward to a brighter financial future.
Create a Budget
The first thing you need to do is create a budget. People who are dealing with a lot of financial stress tend to struggle with things such as budgeting. They also don’t feel as though they are in control of their money and this means that they spend their paycheck impulsively. Creating a budget is one of the first steps to creating better money habits. Budgeting helps you to ensure that you always have enough for the things that you want while giving you the chance to build for your goals going forward. If you feel as though creating a budget is out of your wheelhouse then one thing you can do is start by adding up your monthly income. This includes your salary at your current job, plus other sources of income. This could include bonuses, tax refunds, and more. You can add up your monthly expenses when you have this number. This can include anything from a major category, such as food, housing, loans, and even transport. If you have monthly payments that are not always the same then take an average over the last few months and go from there. When you have done this, subtract the expenses from your income. The amount will be the basis for your budget. Anything that is left over is where you can begin to start paying down debt.
Tracking your spending is often the best way for you to avoid overspending. It also helps you to stay within your budget. Studies have found that if you can stick with healthy money habits when you feel confident then this will help you overall. You may also find that it benefits you when things get more challenging. Keeping track of your spending doesn’t have to be complicated. You can record your expenses digitally if you use the apps that are available online too. By doing this, you can then split your expenses into categories, so you can see where your money is going. This is the best way for you to avoid spending too much, so be mindful of that if you can.
Save for Retirement
A lot of people worry about their retirement and their financial future. Retirement accounts tend to be the best way for you to safeguard yourself going forward. One thing to take note of is that retirement accounts come in many different formats. You have a 401(k) and you also have an IRA, or individual retirement account. Contributions to accounts like this tend to be tax-deferred, so you can benefit here. When you retire and begin making withdrawals, you will soon see that the money you have is taxed at your income tax rate. Either way, if you are unsure about anything here then one thing you can do is try and hire an accountant. When you do this, you can then count on them to give you the help you need.
Save for Emergencies
Making sure that you always have enough money put to one side is so important. You need to cover yourself for any unexpected events that could occur in your life. This could include your home needing repairs, for example. Things like this can help you a lot when it comes to your money situation, so keep this in mind if you can. When you save for emergencies, just remember that interest rates do vary and that it could be wise for you to shop around a little for a savings account. If you find an account with a better rate than what you have now then this little bit of interest can add up over time, so make sure you keep that in mind. If you find yourself in a mind, to the point where you might need a bail bondsman then you don’t need money for this, so make sure that you keep that in mind.
Pay off your Debt
Paying off debt can also help you to manage your finances. It can also help you to manage any money-related stress. If you want to pay off debt then you can use the snowball method. This helps as you will pay off your smallest debt first. You will make the minimum payment on your debt and you will then work your way up to the next biggest amount. This will eventually create a snowball effect, meaning that you can gain traction with your money without making your lifestyle any worse off. If you can keep this in mind then you are bound to reap the benefits going forward. Another strategy you can adopt would be the debt avalanche method. You will begin by listing your debts from the highest to the lowest in terms of the interest rate. When you have done this, you can then put your money toward the debt with the highest interest rate first. When you have paid this off, you can then use this extra money to pay off the next debt and so forth. You can also continue to make the minimum payments too so make sure that you keep that in mind.
At the end of the day, debt consolidation is another solution. You will roll all of your debts into one account as this will help you to simplify your accounts. You may be able to save a great deal of money on interest too. Keep in mind that there could be some fees associated when it comes to debt consolidation, so you will have to take these into account when the time comes for you to explore this method.
Establish Good Habits
Credit can be a huge part of financial wealth. Working on your credit score can help set you up for life, including a better financial future. Your credit score can also help you to decide whether or not you should apply for credit and whether you get a good deal on your mortgage. You can easily use this to your advantage, so make sure that you keep that in mind. If you want to establish good money habits then a few things you can do include paying your bills on time, every time. Don’t get too close to your credit limit either. If you keep going close to your credit limit then this will make it harder for you to shift your debt, which is the last thing you need.
Monitor your Card
You have to ensure you are always monitoring your card if you can. This is a very important step if you want to build good credit health. You can even explore the impact of your financial decisions, such as getting a mortgage if you know where you stand. Remember, you are not alone if you are finding it hard to manage money or if you are having a hard time understanding your cards in general. If you can keep this in mind then you will soon find that it is easier for you to get the result you are looking for.
Let Go of Limiting Beliefs
Next, you need to let go of your limiting beliefs regarding money. Building a money mindset will help you to make the right decisions and it will also help you to break free from the situations you are in right now. Building a good money mindset starts with you reminding yourself about the abundance of available opportunities. You also need to notice your negative thought patterns so you can do something about them. Replace them with more positive thoughts if you can. If you can do this then you will soon find that it is easier for you to get the result you want out of your financial situation.
Be Accountable
When it comes to money management, you have to take ownership. You are likely to face an emergency at some point in your life, and you can’t hope to tackle it if you do not feel financially stable. One thing you can do to help yourself would be for you to reach out to a friend and see if they can help you if this should happen before you can get your money in order. If you can keep this in mind then you are bound to reap the benefits going forward. Of course, you also need to understand that being money savvy isn’t always about having money to cover everything, it’s about making smart choices that will benefit you in the future rather than just now. If you can keep this in mind then there is no reason why you can’t benefit going forward. You may also find that you are able to take advantage of deals and discounts on the market too.
Have you ever paused to consider the world of children’s speech? It’s not just a mix of adorable mispronunciations and earnest questions about where the sun goes at night. There’s a whole lot more bubbling beneath those seemingly simple conversations. So, let’s embark on this enlightening journey through the wondrous world of kiddie talk!
First, children’s speech is like a symphony, albeit with a few more off-key notes and unexpected solos. Every babble, giggle, and ‘why’ question is a note in their growing language melody. But here’s the twist: It’s not just about the words they’re saying. How they play with sounds and rhythms is their way to discovering new and better ways to pronounce various words and sounds. They’re experimenting with language, and it’s downright fascinating!
Beyond Babble: The Art Of Learning Languages
When toddlers first start speaking, it’s easy to think they’re just imitating what they hear. But oh no, it’s so much more than imitation. They’re like tiny scientists, testing and hypothesizing the rules of language. They mix and match, trial and error, all in the quest to communicate. And here’s a fun fact: they sometimes create their own grammatical rules, which, frankly, can be quite ingenious!
The Secret Society Of Sounds
Now, let’s talk about letter sound correspondence. Ever noticed how kids often mix up sounds? Like when ‘spaghetti’ becomes ‘pasketti’? Sure, it’s cute, and it’s a critical step in learning how sounds and letters interact, but they need to be corrected and helped to ensure they don’t end up saying ‘aminal’ instead of ‘animal’ when they’re older. There are so many fun ways to learn the correct letter sounds without making it feel like a lesson.
Gestures Galore: When Hands Do The Talking
Have you ever seen a child’s emphatic hand gestures as they tell a story about their day at school? It’s not just for dramatic effect (though let’s admit, it adds to the charm). These gestures are an integral part of language development. They’re a bridge between thoughts and words, helping children articulate ideas that their vocabulary can’t yet capture. It’s their hands filling in the blanks for their mouths!
The Emotional Echo In Every ‘Eww’ And ‘Wow’
Children’s speech is a treasure chest of emotional cues. The way they stretch the ‘E’ in ‘Eww’ or the wonder in their ‘Wow’ tells us more than just their likes and dislikes. It’s a window into their emotional world. Their tone, volume, and pitch are like unspoken subtitles to their feelings.
The Social Spiral Of Chatting
When kids talk, it’s not just about exchanging information. It’s a social spiral where they learn to take turns, read reactions, and build relationships. Through conversations, they’re learning about the delicate world of human interaction. They learn when to speak up, when to listen, and, most importantly, how to connect with others.
Conclusion: The Whispers And Wonders Of Words
So there you have it! Children’s speech is a universe of its own, teeming with discoveries, experiments, and emotional nuances. It’s more than just talking; it’s a complex, wonderful journey of growth and learning!
Encouraging creativity and self-expression from a young age can provide children with skills that will serve them throughout their lives. Arts and crafts provide a perfect outlet for developing key abilities and bringing joy and satisfaction through hands-on activities. There are abundant reasons why parents and teachers should foster participation in arts and crafts during childhood.
Develops Motor Skills
Arts and crafts help children build dexterity and strength in their hands and fingers—key components of motor skill development. As young kids manipulate objects like scissors, paint brushes, glue sticks, crayons, and more, they gain precision in small muscle groups. The motions involved in cutting, tracing, folding, squeezing, and other craft motions improve hand-eye coordination too. Over time, engaging in arts and crafts translates to competence with tasks like writing, dressing, sports, and computer use.
Enhances Creativity
Crafting lets kids flex their imagination and creative thinking skills. They can dream up their ideas or put new spins on existing concepts. There’s no limit to what they can invent through art and exploring different mediums gives them a canvas to produce original works. It’s not about rigid instructions but seeing where their ingenuity takes them. Nurturing inherent innovation from toddlerhood helps cement cognitive flexibility that aids in problem-solving and adaptability later on.
Teaches Planning and Patience
To bring an arts and craft vision to life requires forethought and dedication. Children learn how to plan out steps, gather materials, and set up their workspace. Complex projects also necessitate sticking with tasks even when frustration arises before achieving the desired result. Kids who regularly engage in arts and crafts cultivate patience and coping mechanisms for pushing through challenges to fully realize an end goal. These psychological tools pay dividends when applied to tough situations in and out of school.
Fosters Self-Esteem
When children have the freedom to design projects aligned with their budding interests and personalities, they gain confidence and pride. Seeing ideas manifest into completed art boosts self- assurance and validates creative potential. Displaying finished products allows them to receive praise and positive reactions from others. Young kids who regularly participate in arts and crafts tend to have higher self-esteem regarding their skills and individuality. Their mentality embraces that they have distinctive talents rather than comparing themselves to peers.
Promotes Emotional Growth
Self-expression plays a tremendous role in emotional health and regulation from the toddler years onward. Arts and crafts give children constructive ways to recognize, process, and communicate their feelings.
Emotions like happiness, sadness, frustration, hope, and love can all translate into colors, shapes, textures, and compositions. Exploring different facets internally helps kids better relate to themselves and have clarity when conveying experiences. As language and literacy skills progress, written elements expand means for articulating emotions too through journals, poems, captions, and stories.
Encourages Out-of-the-Box Thinking
Arts and crafts nurture the ability to move past conventional ideas to stretch possibilities outside the box. Activities centered on invention steer children to develop novel uses for everyday items and see ordinary things in extraordinary ways. Building, painting, or crafting without fixed guidelines compels tapping into unbridled imagination. Divergent thinking widens perspectives, sparking deeper insight and awakening entrepreneurial problem-solving abilities. Kids carry these mental skills for generating unconventional concepts into their studies, relationships, career paths, and unknown future obstacles requiring “light bulb” moments.
Supplies can be found easily online from sites like The Bead Traders and Amazon or local craft stores like Michael’s and Joann Fabrics. With affordable materials on hand, kids can explore endless arts and crafts endeavors from beading to painting, leatherwork to candle making, scrapbooking, model building, and everything in between!
If you’re on the road to recovery from an addiction, congratulations. Roughly 75% of those who seek addiction treatment are successful, so you have a good chance of making it. But the challenge is far from over. Addiction recovery is a life-long process often plagued with stress, exhaustion, frustration, and even loneliness. It’s more of a mental battle as you try to deal with withdrawal symptoms while battling the urge to return to your source of addiction. Thankfully, you can master a few skills to make your rehabilitation process more rewarding and successful. Here are some helpful coping mechanisms to use during addiction recovery.
It’s important to learn how to manage stress during your recovery process, as it has the power to derail your progress and send you running back to your addiction. Studies show that relapses happen within the first few weeks to two months, with 85% relapsing within the first year. Stress is one of the main causes behind most of such relapses.
So, be proactive about stress management. In other words, don’t let stress get the better of you before dealing with it. You can use several methods to control your stress levels, including deep breathing exercises, meditation, massage therapy, yoga, and relaxing hobbies. Also, try to get enough sleep at night.
2. Consider professional support and guidance
You’ll need all the help you can get during recovery, especially when coping with challenging withdrawal symptoms. Trained professionals like counselors and therapists understand the psychological and emotional hurdles most people must overcome during recovery. Their experience and knowledge can help you develop personalized coping strategies tailored to your unique needs. They also understand what you’re going through, so their assistance is without judgment.
You can also consider behavioral health consulting services to help you address the behavioral aspect of your addiction. You’ll find a safe environment to assess and explore your emotions and identify what behaviors trigger your urges.
It’s easy to fall back into old habits when you’re idle. With nothing to occupy you, the urge to return to your source of addiction will be constant, and it will only be a matter of time until you yield. So. don’t wait things out; start getting busy.
It would help if you had something positive and productive to do, especially activities that bring joy and a sense of fulfillment. Something else should give you a reason to wake up each day.
Consider learning a new skill or language. If you have travel destinations on your bucket list, now is the time to start planning your trips. You can also join a local team to play sports. Do anything that will uplift your spirit daily.
4. Wait before you respond
Addiction can cause you to act impulsively, making rushed decisions, and this behavior can persist even during your recovery stage. In most cases, the consequences of such decisions can leave you depressed, angry, anxious, and depressed, making it easy to relapse.
It helps to wait before responding to any situation or before making decisions. Give yourself time to breathe, clear your mind, and weigh the consequences of each decision first before you act.
Do you want to protect your financial data at home? Maybe you have had issues with security before and want to take steps to protect yourself. Either way, if you want to make a change then take a look below.
Use a Strong Password
Choose a strong password that is difficult to guess. Change your password often if you can, and do not assign the same password to every account you have. This way, if one of your accounts becomes compromised or if it is hacked, you have the assurance of knowing that everything is still going to be protected. It may seem obvious but make sure that you do not keep a list of your passwords in an unsecured location either. If you do then you may find that it becomes very difficult to keep everything secure.
You also need to try and keep your operating system up to date and secure. Implementing security fixes is so important here, as is enabling automatic updates across all of your devices. You should be using a good internet provider and you should also be investing in a VPN if you can. In terms of browser, Firefox or Chrome are the best options because they tend to be the most secure and they are also updated regularly to keep hackers at bay.
Never Click on an Email You’re Suspicious Of
Many criminals use phishing email schemes as it allows them to solicit personal information. They also use emails in an attempt to install malware on your PC as well. If you find that you have an email that looks to be a bit suspicious then you need to avoid it. Don’t click on it and don’t divulge any personal information either. If you happen to receive an email regarding your finances from a banking institution then call the number from the institution. Make sure that you are dialing the one that is listed on the website if you can, because if you don’t then you may find that you end up calling the scammer which will not do you any favors.
Don’t Share Personal Information
You also need to make sure that you don’t share any information across a public WiFi network. One thing to take note of here is that public WiFi networks are not secure at all and any information that is shared can be intercepted. If you are using a public WiFi connection then one thing you can do is use a VPN to protect yourself more.
Maintain Software
Your internet devices have to be equipped with security software that checks for harmful activity from time to time. Make sure that your software has firewall protection and virus protection. If it doesn’t then now is the time for you to update that. Never connect to the internet if you do not have a strong system in place. If you do then you may be leaving your PC open to viruses which is the last thing you need.
Shred your Documents
It’s not just your online data that you have to worry about. Fraudsters often comb through people’s rubbish in an attempt to find bank statements and other important documents. Bills can give criminals the information they need to access your account, which can leave you in a bad situation. They can use this information to steal your identity which can have major consequences.
Monitor your Accounts
One of the easiest ways for you to identify any fraudulent transactions would be for you to monitor your accounts. You need to make a point of trying to log all of your accounts a couple of times a week, so you can make sure that you do not have any transactions coming out that you do not approve of. So many people don’t check their bank as often as they should, but this is a major mistake. Take advantage of reports and also make sure that you keep an eye on your credit score. If you see that you have taken out a credit card that you did not approve of or if you see any red flags that could indicate that someone is using your card without you knowing about it then take action immediately. You need to freeze your accounts to stop any more spending and you also need to make sure that you keep an eye on how things change going forward. If you can do this then you will soon find it easier to keep yourself safe.
Disclosure: Many thanks to NBC Universal for providing a sample of the product for this review. My opinions are 100% my own.
Growing up as an adopted child, I loved few stories more than The Prince of Egypt. The ultimate rags to philosophical riches story ever told. The Prince of Egypt: The Musical, is told from the point-of-view of the ultimate onlooker, viewing an Egyptian queen, widowed, and much in need of a personal blessing, who finds a child in a humble reed basket along the Nile River.
Believing her prayers were answered by the God of the River, Hapi, the god of the Nile, said to bless both valleys and women, with the annual river floods. Moses, the child placed in the wild river beds by his Hebreic slave mother, Jochebed, wife of Amram, and mother of Miriam, the older sister of both Moses, himself, and Aaron, the future leader of the Hebrew people. Found by his sister and servant of Pharoh’s daughter, Tuya, while she bathed in the river. Calmed the cries of the besotten queen who miraculously acquired a son, striking down an edict of her father, who decreed that all first-born Hebreic sons must be put to death to circumvent the prophecy of the yet-to-be-born slave prince, destined to lead Egyptian slaves to freedom.
Moses’ magnificence was first seen by his favored father figure, Pharoh, and an even closer bond with his Egyptian brother, Ramses, whose connection was forged stronger than that of his Hebric past. Despite his upbringing, the highly-favored prince kills an Egyptian guard, who mercilessly attacks an unarmed slave. To avoid being seen as a murderer, Moses is banished from Egypt.
Moses, cast out as a murderer, finds solace, safety, and community in the family of nomads. Marrying Zipporah, daughter of Moses employer and friend, Jethro, despite their religious differences. They marry and have two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. Later, after G-d speaks to Moses through a burning bush, Moses sets out with his family to return to Egypt-freeing his people from slavery.
After returning to Egypt, Moses is unsuccess in convincing both his brother, Pharoh Ramses, and Egyptian High Priest, Hotep, to free the Hebric people. Later, G-d sets forth a series of ten catastrophic plagues upon the people of Egypt-slaves and masters alike. Nothing moves the heart of Pharoh until the tenth and final plague, killing his firstborn son, Amun-her-khepeshef. A devastated Ramses curses both the Hebrew slaves and the death of his son. Then, despite the previous warning’s Pharoah father figure, Seti, that the political chain forged over his reign, linking the throne with the power of the army, nobility, and priest-class, Ramses lack of political sophistication, begrudgingly agrees to pardon his slaves-culminating in their exodus from Egypt.
Following the Hebric exodus, a faliled recapturing of their Hebrew slaves by Pharoh, a mismanagement of the blessings of G-d, and the following of false gods, God’s people are made to wander the desert for forty years. Following this, the chosen people are presented with the Ten Commandments, and after Moses inflicts wrath upon the Hebrew nations, for worshipping false Gods while Moses sojourned with G-d on Mount Sinai, he is punished by being prohibited from entering the promised land.
Culminating in the tribes of Isreal reaching the promised land by Moses’s brother, Aaron., ends in the bittersweet reality that it is Moses, the son of slaves, and prince of Egypt, responsible for forging both his people’s freedom from Egypt and his ultimate barring from the lands of Milk and Honey-simultaneously forsaken and favored, by G-d.
A scene from The Prince Of Egypt by Stephen Schwartz and Philip LaZebnik @ Dominion Theatre.
While this stage performance is both awe-inspiring and Biblically accurate, with its choreographed design, we the audience are privy to the story’s propensity for staged innuendo reigns supreme. Seen in the opening of the show- featuring a dance illustrating the killing of the firstborn Hebrews and a doll slashed with a knife and red ribbons signifying blood, the killing of the Egyptian guard is both distant and demanding. As are the depiction of both plagues and the parting of the Red Sea. Sweeping stage projections of death and destruction. Both staged and choreographed fights convey the pain felt all of Moses’s life.
While numerous productions have portrayed the biblical story of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt, The Prince of Egypt: The Musical, rises above previous productions-film and stage alike. This enjoyable production bases its view of Moses’ tale, as seen in the 1998 animated Dreamworks film, The Prince of Egypt, from both a biblical and political humanistic view.
Featuring time-honored tracks from composer Stephen Schwartz’s namesake songs, including “Deliver Us,” “All I Ever Wanted,” the Oscar-winner, “When You Believe, ” and ten new-to-viewers score tracks.
A scene from The Prince Of Egypt by Stephen Schwartz and Philip LaZebnik @ Dominion Theatre.
If you loved the 1998 Prince of Egypt movie, you’ll likely enjoy this live production of The Prince of Egypt: The Musical, filmed live at the West End’s Dominion Theatre, London. Featuring a cast and orchestra of 60 performers, making it one of the biggest musicals ever staged. From its talented cast to its musical score, this stage play is worthy of all the praise its casting and orchestral departments have thus far received. Timely in its modern-day evaluation of two brothers, from opposing worldviews, who ultimately find a way through societal turmoi, through G-d’s uniquely positioned power to move humanity towards a better future.
While G-d’s power is a part of the equation here, the direction is less evident in its usage of set design and theatrics that leave much of the production’s backstory to innuendo and chance. A dichotomy some secular viewers may find disheartening. Overall, I like The Prince of Egypt: The Musical– I think you will, too.
For those looking to see this production of The Prince of Egypt: The Musical digitally, the perfect musical to watch with your kids this season A film adaptation sure to spark priceless family conversations about Moses and the Old Testament, practical information from a biblical worldview, can buy or rent this production starting December 5th!
Plus, thanks to Momentum Media, you can enter to win a $10.00 Amazon gift card. To enter, leave a comment, here, or on social media, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, sharing why you want to watch the The Prince of Egypt: The Musical. Please note, that this giveaway is limited to winners in the United States, only. This giveaway ends 12/5/23 at 11:59 p.m. CST. Good luck!
