Snow, Snow, Everywhere, Nor Any Tooth To Sparkle

I dunno if you guys have noticed, but I'm on a change-everything kick. This need to fix my hair, face, muscle tone, etc. hits about twice a year, and usually coincides with the beginning and end of winter. In the fall, I dye my hair outrageously dark and try to amp up my makeup, scaring my mother when she comes to visit, and in the late winter/early spring, I slather self tanner onto my pasty skin, try to achieve cali-beach hair, and obsessively try to beat my zits into submission. The changing of seasons has always bugged me, but waiting for winter to turn into spring in Alberta is like inchworming your way over hot coals. It's March, with 2 feet of snow, at -33c outside. And it will be like this until mid May. The thought is a bit depressing. Out of boredom and to maintain my sanity, I embark on mini makeover missions. If you want to psycho-analyze my motivations, perhaps I do these makeovers as a ritual, enabling me to feel like as I change, so will the weather, giving a subconscious feeling of control. Or, maybe I'm just sick of being stuck in the house for over 6 months of the year with f'in chapped, blindingly white skin.

So bear with me as I introduce another boredom induced project: teeth whitening. I'm off to buy Plus White 5 Minute Speed Whitening Gel today. According to every makeup blog I've read out there, this stuff knocks the socks off of all other tooth whitening products. All you have to do is squirt some of the gel into the tooth trays, or apply it to the tooth surface with a q-tip, wait 5 minutes, and then receive compliments from outrageously attractive men on the street. Or, y'know, flash your pearly whites at the cute guy in the car next to you while waiting for police to clean up the fender bender caused by someone trying to drive with all season tires in this weather. I'm sure he'll be able to see your sparklers from beneath your toque, balaclava, and down filled jacket...

Anyway, I guess this stuff doesn't cause tooth and gum sensitivity the way Crest Whitestrips do, and works better and faster than the Rembrant whiteners. And the plus side - it costs $7 (Can.) for the tube of whitener, or $14 for a whole kit, including the gel, a tooth tray, and some b.s. whitening rinse. That's a steal of a deal. Oddly enough, the only place I've been unable to find this is at Walmart. I've seen it at Superstore, London Drugs, Shoppers, etc. so it is pretty easy to obtain. If you're like me, and like to check everything out on MuA before you purchase, Plus 5's review page is here. I'm off to give this a go, and will update you on the results in about a week!

Listening to: Postcards From Italy - Florence And The Machine

Sunny D and Cereal are NOT Good Sources, Guys!

I'm a big fan of vitamins*. I eat lots of fresh fruit and veggies, and I take in enough meat to get my protein and iron, so I don't bother with multi-vitamins. Some vitamins, like vitamin c, are water soluble, and you can't really take 'too much' of these kinds. But, some other kinds are fat soluble, meaning they get stored in your fat deposits if you have too much of them in your diet. They get used up as your body needs them, if your intake ever drops below normal, the same way we store fat to use as a fuel source if we run short on food. Having these vitamins is a good thing, since they keep you running in top form. But having way too much of these fat soluble vitamins can lead to toxicity. That's why I don't take multi-vitamins -- if I can get it in my food, I don't need an artificial source that might cause more harm than good.

One mineral I don't take in enought of in my diet is calcium (read this, it's good!). Your body needs pretty huge amounts of calcium compared to other vitamins and minerals. You need calcium throughout your life; when you're young you need it to build up sturdy bones; when you're of child-bearing years you need it to supply your growing baby with building materials and to replace those in your own body that you've lost; and when you're older, you need it to slow bone density loss, and to prevent brittle bones. I think a lot of girls stop drinking milk when they get into their teens, and don't realize they are depriving their body of a main source of calcium. I don't use milk in anything but cooking, so I obviously don't take enough calcium in. So I take a big ol' horse pill of calcium every morning so that I can continue to wear high heels well into my twilight years, without fearing that I may break a hip.

Pay attention to what you're eating -and what you're not! - to see what you are getting healthy levels of vitamins from and what you might need to eat more of. Read nutritional information and look up the values for fruits and veggies on the internets. If you just can't fit any more foods into your diet, find a supplement that works for you. Be careful of how much you take though, and really pay attention to toxicity levels and toxicity symptoms. If you aren't sure what you need more of, go to your doctor or a nutritionist to get help figuring it out. Keep yourself healthy on the inside and you'll look and feel better on the outside. You'll feel good, your skin will glow, your hair and nails will grow in strong and healthy. See, vitamins ARE a beauty product! Look after your body - you've only got one, and it has to last you for a while.

Listening to: Lay All Your Love On Me - Mamma Mia! OST.

*By saying vitamins, I'm refering to the supplement that contains both vitamins and minerals. I use 'vitamins' to cover both dietary necessities interchangeably.