Breaking the cycle

When you have done something a certain way your entire life, how hard is it the change the habit?

I have a handful of friends who have transformed themselves and are looking fabulous. I am so inspired by these women. The down side is I am now wanting to try the diet/program they are on.

That is not what I am setting to achieve, it's the behaviour I am trying to break. I have set myself a goal to get to a size 14 by my 40th birthday. I estimate that this is about 0.8kg a month over the next 2.5 years. I am taking baby steps and retraining my way of thinking about food and exercise.

With 3 daughters I want them to grow up knowing how to make healthy choices. I want them to not have any hang ups with food. The best way to do this is to be a good role model. My biggest challenge is getting rid of these old patterns of behaviour.

So as I hit my first hurdle in this journey, I have turned to writing and know that putting my thoughts out there is another step in the right direction for me.

And to all those women out there who have fought their battle and won.

I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!

Living Green

I woke up yesterday morning and was VILE. I was yelling at the kids, moody, unreasonable and did not like myself at all. WHY? I ate pizza on Tuesday night and my 'green' body did not appreciate it.

It is so crazy how much food can effect your entire being. When I am eating green and my body is alkalized I am on top of the world. I can get up at 5am, go for a run, get every ones clothes layed out, lunches made and all before anyone gets up. Eat acidic food and I don't even want to get out of bed. I am lethargic, moody and generally a BITCH. I know it's hard to believe, but I am.

So last night when we went out for dinner I had a beautiful Greek salad and shared some of Dave's pasta. That way I got to enjoy some rich food but my body got the green's it needed.

This isn't something that can change over night and it will take me years to get the hang of. I still fight daily with my food issues but I am winning the battle.

My aim is by the time I am 40, I will be in a happy, healthy place and listening to my body.

Allow me to introduce myself

Good afternoon,

my name is Shelley Peers and I am a strong confident woman.

You may have met me previously but that wasn't the real me, that was a watered down version of who Shelley thought she should be. I used to follow, walking 1 step behind, not wanting to draw attention to myself. I used to go along with the crowd, not daring to deviate, not having a voice.

But that has all changed. I have stopped listening to my brain telling me what I should do. I now lead with my heart and listen to my soul. There are too many learnt patterns in the brain and it does not know what is good for me. My heart and soul do.

Today could have been a down day for me, attending a funeral yesterday and missing out on two opportunities today. But it's not. Everything happens for a reason and when something you want really bad doesn't come your way, get excited, because there is something bigger and better approaching.

I have a new clarity, a new confidence, and I am so excited about our life. I am on a journey to be the best wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend that I can be. I have found my place in the universe and it is a wonderful spot.

Thank you for joining me.

Luv Shell

Aligning the Spiritual, Physical, Mental and Emotional Me

Firstly I would like to thank everyone for their ongoing support. Being able to share my journey has definitely made it easier to keep going.

I am about to embark on another part of my journey, a spiritual path. I have an appointment tomorrow with a Holistic Wellness Coach. Mind, Body and Spirit all coming together. On this journey I will stop obsessing about food and build a new relationship with it. A healthy one, of respect and enjoyment.

With this new knowledge and clearness of mind I will be able to raise my children to also have a great relationship with food and exercise. I know it will take some work to get to where I want to be, but it will be a fun journey. This journey is about healing my mind and my inner health. Not about what I weight on the scales or the next diet I can try. That is all about to stop and the true Shelley will shine through. No more baggage or reliance on food for comfort and reassurance.

It's amazing how just admitting this to you all has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.

We must be the change we want to see in the world

. Gandhi.

The Liberation of Shelley

If you are anything like I was 4 weeks ago, diverting your eyes at a sex scenes in a movie, giggling at the thought of entering a sex shop or turn red when talking about 'rude bits'? Turn away NOW!

I had often though there was something wrong with me, I am such a PRUDE. I would never initiate sex, talk about what I do and don't like and would get a little embarrassed when looking through the boobie shots in ZOO. It got to the point where I decided to seek help, I got the number of a therapist, but never made the call.

I once saw an episode of Opera chatting about how important SEX is to a relationship and to set aside date nights. We have been doing this for a few years now, Friday night is DATE night. This way no matter what else happens during the week, we will have time together on date night. On the same episode they interviewed a lady who gave her husband a year of sex for his 40th birthday. They then wrote a book about it 365 nights. I haven't read it but should definitely check it out.

So you may be asking 'what happened 4 weeks ago?' Channel surfing one Saturday night we came across a documentary called 'The Perfect Vagina.' Yes my cheeks did flush but I was intrigued as to what this show was about. It was actually quite fascinating. Thanks to the Brazilian Wax young girls can now see their inner workings and are comparing them to what they see in magazines. So now not only do they worry that they are not the right body shape they are now having surgery to correct labia that may be protruding.

With this new knowledge I started talking about the show with other people and started to feel more and more liberated. I could talk about 'rude' bits without getting embarrassed. Which has now led to me asking friends about their SEX lives. I am fascinated at the different scenarios that are unfolding and the openness of my informants. As you can imagine we are all so varied in our personalities and lives, as too are our SEX lives.

So as I discover my inner Vixen and unleash her, you may be asked to share some tips and secrets. So watch out!!

The Right Person For The Job

I am now back at the gym and enjoying putting my new body through it's paces. Only problem is that when I went to spin last week I didn't even work up a sweat.

Disappointed in the lack of motivation dispelled by the instructor I started looking for other avenues to fitness. I couldn't find something that was on the days and times I needed. My next move was to look at a personal trainer, but they are $$.

So today I went back to my gym and tried an Athletics 101 group training session. OMG! I found my Mojo. My lunges were burning, the sun was shining on my face and although I thought I might die, I was ALIVE.

It got me to thinking what a difference it makes to have the right person in the right job. How important is it that my waxing lady knows how to make candles? I want her to know which way to pull that wax in the most gently brutal way possible. Hears hoping I will never need a lawyer, but how important is it that he has sat his bar exam and doesn't get stage fright. I don't care if he is a member of the local choir and performs in church each Sunday. Just plead my case.

So back to the gym instructor. Her job is to motivate, entertain and inspire her class. Yes it is a big ask but this is what she signed up for. The instructor I encountered did none of this. She put the group down, she sung to herself and would get the tracks/exercise wrong. Sorry love but your class has been crossed off my list.

What Makes a Parent Proud

Last night we were mucking around having fun and Macie bit me on the collar bone. I was very angry and pushed her off of me and walked out to the lounge room. Macie came into the lounge room with the saddest look on her face. I almost cried but had to stay strong as she had done the wrong thing. With her down turned mouth she said to me "Do wee's on toilet?" I said "You are ready for bed and have a nappy on, go away." Heart broken she walked off and asked Dave "Do wee's on toilet?" Dave gave her the same answer I had given her. She then came and sat beside me very quietly, not even looking at me.
After what seemed like an hour I asked her if she knew what she had done wrong. She said that she had bitten me and that it was naughty. I gave her a big hug and all was forgiven. It was only once she had gone to bed that I realised why she was asking to go to the toilet. Because she knows how proud I am of her when she goes to the toilet and she wanted to make me proud of her again.

Crazy how a young mind works. That got me thinking about my parents and what are they proud of me for. I am sure there are oodles of things that are proud of. I know that whenever my mum writes an editorial or application letter she gets me to proof it. Does this mean she is proud of my writing ability? I know that if mum has a computer problem she asks me how to fix it. Does that mean she is proud of my tech knowledge. I know that she loves me and my beautiful family unconditionally. Does that mean she is proud of my personal accomplishments?

One thing I know for sure is that my mum and dad are proud of the woman I am becoming and the work that is going in to my transformation. How do I know this? Because on their recent visit they told me. We know we are doing the right thing but to be told by your parents that they are proud of you, that just makes your heart sing and puts a spring in your step.

So, tell your kids how proud you are of them. What a difference it makes to their world.

Not Just a Body Transformation

The journey I am on is more than just a body overhaul. For the first time since becoming a mum I have not rushed back to work. Saska and Hudson were both 4months old when I went back to work and Macie was 6weeks old. So for the first time I am a stay at home mum. This is a big learning curve and one I struggle with everyday.

One of the biggest things that I discovered this month is just how much joy you can bring to a child’s life by spending a little time with them. We are always so busy running from one place to the next that when you get time to just do nothing the kids love it.

Aspen was having a sleep and Macie and I were getting washing off the line. Macie asked me to push her on the swing. So we played on the swing and the entire time I am thinking of all the things I need to be doing. Folding washing, getting dinner ready, etc. Macie didn’t care about that stuff and was giggling and having a great time wanting me to push her higher. So I took a deep breath and focused on her. We had the best time playing outside and I realised how important this is for our bond. Something so simple like playing outside brings so much joy to the kids lives.

I think we all have to just let go every now and then and enjoy time with our kids. They don’t need gymboroo or music for tots, they need mum and dad’s undivided attention.

I am in love with my shadow

Feeling a little under the weather today I postponed my 7.4km bike ride. I decided to walk over to the shop instead as toilets are close at hand :(

On my walk I noticed my shadow. And my my she is hot. The line from hip to knee is now a straight line and the butt curve, wow. I know this all sounds very weird but I am in LURVE with my shadow and she is a foxy shadow. I could not stop looking at it and checking out your own butt is very liberating. I was a little disappointed on the walk home as my shadow was behind me and I couldn't perv on her.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Somnio for my fabulous new shape. Now it is up to me to remove the 15-20kgs of excess padding.

Run Forrest

For some strange reason I have it in my head that I want to run. The old Shell had a favourite saying. 'I couldn't run if something was chasing me.' So what is up with this Shell. I think I have just realised that running gets you there faster. In soooo many ways. Gets you were you need to be faster, gets you fitter faster and gets your weight off faster.

I spent some time yesterday putting together a playlist of pumping songs to keep my legs going and to block out the sound of my lunges gasping.

This morning I put on my new sports bra (in a D cup) and my sneakers and off I went.

I decided to do the walk run method first. I jogged out of the house and made it to the end of the street. Lunges burning, bad taste in my mouth, gasping for breath, I kept walking. At the next corner I turned the music up louder and jogged to the end of the next street. Lunges burning, gasping for breath, I kept walking. Then I did a little run across the street and a little more walking. Then it was time to take me jacket off and show of my Somnio assets and singlet.

My new sports bra did it's job and the girls had a great time out. My legs, which are still a little numb, were tingling with circulation.

Only bad parts of my first experience is I need to trim my toe nails. My little nail cut through the side of my next toe and there is blood. I had to hobble home, which is probably good as I lost my garage door remote. I put it in my pocket and when I took my jacket off i made sure it was safe. Anyway I got to the half way turn around and checked it and it was gone. It had flown out of my pocket, so I spent the journey home looking for it. Yes, I found it under a tree.

First run down. It can only get better.

Let the fun begin

Today the doctor is coming to see me and we should be heading home. The nurses have been around this morning and cleaned and drained the drainage pots. Well the two smaller pots were emptied and they sucked the air out of the larger ones. I think this is so the maximum amount of fluid will drain out before the doctor comes.

This morning I need to ask the doctor if I can have a shower. Getting stinky. I got up yesterday and washed my hair over the basin. I felt alive afterwards. I also need to know how long I need to keep compression pants on for? If I can have a break to wash them? When I can go for a swim? And I can have a beer? All very important questions, especially the last one.

The compression pants I have on are down to my calves and not practical. I have a few pairs of spanks at home that I am sure I can alternate. I think it takes 6 weeks for the swelling to go down. So I will be getting very chummy with my 'crutchless' compressions pants. The other night I needed to do #2's and didn't really want to do it through the 'crutchless' opening. So juggling the drainage pots I unzipped the compressions pants and pulled them off. The hard part was getting them back on. One handed trying to finally get the zip back up was a mission. But I did it.

My chest is still really tight. I am sure once we get out and I am walking around that they will settle into place. I think the big thing is that they had been saggy for so long, now they are sitting up proudly on my chest. I am not used to that. 

I am getting excited about putting my clothes on. I have been in a gown for 4 days and just want to see how my clothes fit. I will try not to buy too much as there will be a fair bit of swelling for the next 6 weeks.

Email home 6th April

We are about to embark on the FUN part of our holiday. I have had a shower and washed my hair. We are now waiting for the car to collect us and take us back to the resort. I will be back here on Friday to get all the dressings off though.

I am not sure how much communication there will be once we leave here. Free Internet at the hospital has been fabulous while I have been sitting around recuperating.

I just had a meeting with my surgeon and he said I can have a beer by the pool but not go for a swim just yet. I just took the compression pants off for the first time and there is a heap of swelling and bruising. I will wash my pants when we get back to the resort and put them straight back on again. I have to wear them for 6 weeks so we will be very good friends by the end of that time.

We just met two sisters up in the waiting room. They are very nervous and about to go in and get eye lifts. They told me I didn't look nervous at all. I told them that was because I was on my way home.

If anyone is thinking of having any sort of reconstructive or cosmetic surgery, I highly recommend coming to Thailand. This has been an amazing experience.

Trying out my new legs

Yes I am out of bed. I don't think the Thai nurses understand my need to be independent. As soon as the catheter was out I was up. Drainage tubes in my hand off to the toilet and to stretch my new legs. The nurse saw me juggling the 4 drainage pots and came back with two velvet bags to carry them in. Once i had them under control I went and washed my hair. The nurse came back in a little later to see if I needed any help. When she saw my nicely washed and brushed hair she realised I was under control.

Dave has been under a lot of stress and has left me in hospital to go enjoy a swim and a beer with the girls. I am not being too pushy and am doing everything I am told. Every time I have obs done there are 4 nurses. I have my own pit crew changing my oil and water, haha.

I was a little upset that I am stuck in here so long but we will still have 11days of holiday. I am feeling great. A little sore of course but otherwise great.

Still in bed

As per usual I am nagging the nurses to take the catheter out. The nurses are refusing , which is a good thing as it is forcing me to stay in bed. I need to let the incisions on my legs heal. It is really hard for me to sit still for too long. It is killing me.

The physio came to see me also. She gave me a machine that I have to suck on. I have to get all three balls up to the top of their chambers for 5 seconds and do it 10 times every hour. This is to make sure that my lunges are getting exercise and don't collapse.

So now I will sit in bed and do as I am told.

I am very proud of my gorgeous husband too. When I went into the oxygen chamber this afternoon he went for a walk. He found a 7eleven and bought a beer. He then found a seat under a tree and sat down and drank his beer. After an horrific day Saturday not knowing what was happening with me, he was awesome today.

Oh not only do we have the best room in the hospital but the nurse popped in and gave Dave a laptop with free Internet access.

We are Spoilt.

The day after Surgery

I woke up 10 hours later to Dave standing in front of me. He had a worried look on his face. I didn't know it at the time but I had been under longer than expected. They took me to ICU for the night for observation. I was shaking really badly but I wasn't in any pain. The nurse fed me some soup so I could take my medication. Dave left after that and I went to sleep.

I woke up every 1/2 hour or so after midnight waiting for Dave to come back. The doctor had found some compression pants for me which was awesome.

The doctor came in in the morning and checked my boobs. He said that they were nice and pick which was good as the blood supply was intact. He organised for me to have six visits to the hyperbaric oxygen chamber. It is a big perspex tube that you get wheeled into and it pumps in 100% oxygen for 1 hour at a time. I felt like Michael Jackson as I read once that he had one in his house. The doctor said that he hops in it sometimes as it is good at increasing oxygen saturation.

Surgery Day

Wow, what a day yesterday was. This hospital is amazing. The nurses are gorgeous too.
When we arrived yesterday I had blood tests, ECG and a chest X-ray. We were the first ones here but the waiting room soon filled up.
The doctor called me in around 8am and went through the procedure. I then stripped off down to my undies and the doctor took some before photo's. He then got out his tape measure and texta's and started drawing on me. He measured my chest and because of the shape of my breasts he could not go too big. I had thought 400cc, same as Gin. I tried on 250cc and 300cc and decided on the 300cc. I told the doctor that I still needed to lose another 15kgs and that my breasts would shrink. I asked if we could go up to 350cc. He would see how it fit and would do between 200cc - 350cc, no bigger or smaller than that.
He then asked me if I had compression pants. I told him that I didn't and that I had be reassured that they would supply them. He said that they did stock them but not in my size. He said that they would see what they had and if they didn't have my size he would have to cancel the lipo.

I WAS GUTTED.

When Dave and I sat waiting Dave told me that maybe we should cancel the whole thing and come back another time. I didn't want to do that. I wanted to at least get my breasts lifted.
The doctor called me back in and told me that the biggest pair they found was still too small for me. I said that I still wanted it done and that I had not come all this way not to have it done. I asked if there was somewhere close by I could go and buy some. He laughed and said no. He said that he would still do the surgery and bandage my legs to keep the swelling down. he said that the first 48hours was the most important and that there would be more swelling without the compression pants.
Dave sent Nic a message and asked if she could grab a couple of pairs of spanks for me. Nic got some from K-mart and would bring them with her when she arrived on Monday.
We went back to the waiting room and a nurse came to take me to the accounts department to pay for the procedures. The finance lady tried to put the payment through but it didn't work. So she put half through and it worked. She tried to put through the other half and it would not work. I called the bank and a block had been put on my account. I had been to the bank before our trip and they told me it would all be okay. The guy on the phone said it shouldn't have happened, apologised and said it was all fixed. The cashier tried to put it through again and it didn't work. She tried for about 15minutes and then I rang the bank again. I was using my Visa debit card and it had a daily limit set on it. They increased the limit and the payment went through.
We went back to the waiting room to a worried Dave, we had been gone so long. I no sooner sat down then the nurse came to take me to theatre. I said goodbye to Dave and a 2nd nurse tool him to our room (apparently the best in the hospital).
I walked into the theatre and layed on the operating table. The anaesthetist came in and went through the procedure with me. They put the cannula in and got the room organised.
The anaesthetist then told me she was putting some medicine in. AND I WAS OUT.

The first days of our trip

30^th March 2011

We have just packed our bags. Checklist has been ticked. This is getting REAL now.

1^st April

After months of counting down, we are here on the plane. Time to Singapore: 4hrs 16mins.

CRAZY

All the stress of getting everything organised and now we are quietly sitting on the plane watching TV. 2 days of uneasiness and once you hop aboard the plane and you are cocooned away from everything.

I have just watched Burlesque and an episode of Mike and Molly.

Dave has never flown overseas and was a little anxious. Once we got settled on the plane he couldn’t wait to watch a movie. But then I guess flying is different when you don’t have four kids to control.

So we are in limbo waiting for our holiday to start. It is great flying as it gives you time to relax.

2^nd April

It is 5.40am and we are awake and about to get ready to go to the hospital. The hospital rang last night and are now coming to get us an hour earlier.

I am not worried about the surgery at all. What I am worried about is them telling me I am still too big. I guess most people get surgery once they are at their goal weight. I am still 15kgs off my goal but getting surgery qwill help me get to my goal. My surgery is more reconstructive than cosmetic. Surgery will allow me to get fitter and healthier.

Something that hit me yesterday on our way here was the Western influence. Driving through beautiful countryside with shanty’s then out of nowhere there was a Burger King sign. It really upset me. Dave pointed out that it’s just business. I know that but why do we go to a foreign country? Isn’t it to experience their culture and customs? We passed a big outlet mall like Harbour Town too. I will not be going there out of principal. Are we that alienated that we need to assemilate everywhere we go?

That also got me thinking about Muslims and their Burka’s. We say ‘You in our country now’. But when we go to another country we take what we know and are comfortable with, with us too.

Better stop the rant and have a shower.

(Dave’s email)

Sawadee peeps,

had a great flight over. It went really quickly. When you have a little screen in front of you and a huge selection of movies, tv and games to choose from.

We both are missing the kids already but thinking of the things we need to and getting on with our big break.

Shell is a tower of strength (as usual) I am just a little nervous but am sure this will pass.

Love to Saska, Hudson. Macie and Aspen. (see I remembered all their names :)

Dave and Shell.xoxoxo

Obituary

I have known the SB twins for a number of years and we had become very close.

SB1 I was introduced to as a teenager. We shared boot leg jeans and A-line dresses and got excited when a spare seat came up beside us on long flights. We never shared pencil skirts or wore kaftan's, as no matter how flowing the fabric, we both could not squeeze in. Spanx became our friend in later years and the three of us were joined at the hip and had lots of fun times together.

As for SB2, we were slowly acquainted during the course of breastfeeding four children. We were very close over the Summer months when SB2 headed South, enjoying skin to skin contact. When I layed down, sans bra, SB2 was always playing cheekily under my arm pit.

I will miss the SB twins dearly, even though I was the one who signed the order of their demise.

(SB1 = Saddle Bags) (SB2 = Saggy Boobs)

Travel Tips

We are very lucky to have lots of well travelled friends. We invited them all to give us tips and tricks to travelling. Although some of their opinions are conflicting, that is the beauty of opinions.
I think the type of trip you have is very individual. Whether you are escaping the rat race to hang around the resort for a week reading a good book or taking a walk off the beaten track to live like the locals, it's your holiday.
So I thought I would share some of the tips we have beem given. I will let you know once we get back which worked for our type of holiday.

MONEY (To Convert or not to Covert)
Here is an area where everyone has their own preference. We have not yet decided what to do.
1) Take Baht with us and put it in our hotel safe
2) Take Australian dollars and put them in the safe and get it converted as we go.
3) Take eftpos card and withdraw money as we need it in Thai Baht.
4) Use credit card at the end of the trip to pay room bill (this one we will do)
Then there are more options like where to get it converted? At the bank or the currency converter? At the hotel or from a street merchant?
5) Check currency exchange before you go
6) Divide money between both of you so not just one person has cash on them.

TUMMY BUGS
I have a very sensative stomach and do not like coriander (insert GASP!). I would love to be free and easy and enjoy the local cuisine but do not want to end up sick. I get sick from eating ornages, pork and dairy so really don't want to go to exotic. Here are some tips on not getting sick and what to do if you do.
1) Take a bottle of 45%+ cordial and have a shot morning and night
2) Take gastro stop with you just in case
3) Buy bottled water for drinking and teeth brushing
4) Take a pack of Glad Ice Cube bags. Make your own ice cubes in the hotel room freezer. Enjoy a drink without the worry of getting sick.
5) The local chemist sell gastro tablets which work great as well
6) Don't get ice in your drinks or accidently drink pool water either

EVERYDAY TIPS
1) Take some laundry soap so you can wash your clothes daily
2) Take a hanging rack to dry your clothes
3) Pack light. It is very warm in Thailand so local made clothes are best, cool and light weight. We have decided to only take carry on luggage over and will buy luggage to bring home.
4) Opinions differ on quality and price of clothing and accessories on offer. A friend who lived in Thailand for 3 years said that local rich women buy from the knock off shops as it is cheaper and no one can tell the difference. Others have said that it's poor quality and no worth buying. I think this is a personal choice. I also think that it depends where we buy. A market stall versus a shopping centre, the same as at home really.
5) give clothes to the laundry people in phuket on the street. Very cheap! Do it at the end of the trip then no washing 4 u when u get home
6) Take some bags of chips and nuts with you. Cheating wedges by the pool veryday can be a little bit much.

SURGERY TIPS
As everyone would know by now i am getting some maintenance while on holiday. Here are some tips from fellow Somnio clients.
1) Wash your hair and shave underarms the morning before surgery. This will be hard to do for a few days afterwards.
2) Find a button up top/dress so you don't need to put your arms over your head.
3) Pack darker coloured tops for after surgery. You may not wear a bra and white shirts with no bra are not a good look.
4) Take Arnica tablets 4 weeks before surgery to reduce bruising.

I think that is it for now. If I think of other tit bits I will add them.

Does Anyone like the Dentist?

I don't know what happened to me between the age of 18 and 23. For some reason I went from getting teeth pulled and having braces fitted without a problem, to dentist hater. With braces on I was at the dentist every month to have my braces tightened. No tears or queasy feeling in my stomach. Once my braces were off I did everything I could not to go to the dentist.

Once at the age of around 23 I had to go to the dentist as I had a tooth ache. I remember sitting in my car afterwards in tears. I called my dad and could hardly get the words out. He told me to calm down and just go in and see the dentist. When I was finally able to tell him I had already been in to the dentist, he told me to come home.

So it had been years since I had been to the dentist. Then, the week after having Aspen, I broke a tooth. Nothing I could do but toughen up and go see the dentist. I was nervous and scared but told myself that seeing I was a mum now I had to be brave. And do you know what? It worked. I sat up in the dentist chair and had my tooth fixed no problem. I then told the dentist that I wanted to book in for a full checkup. I am getting a make over so I had better make sure all my teeth are healthy too.

A few weeks ago I went for a root canal. Even the toughest of tough (my mum, who doesn't even have needles for fillings) was scared for me. But I wasn't. I read up all about the process, which gave me confidence in what was about to happen. It was no worries at all. So I am 3 fillings off having a healthy smile and gums.

Whilst at the dentist I also asked about getting veneers. The dentist asked me why I wanted veneers and actually got me to point out the teeth I didn't like. After close examination she told me that she wouldn't do it. That there was nothing wrong with my teeth.

That got me to thinking that I shouldn't be aiming to be perfect. I may end up looking fake with no depth or character. So I will use whitening tooth paste to make my smiler a little whiter and go for regular check ups.

My name is Shelley Peers and I love my dentist.

Becoming High Maintenance

I have always been the tallest and biggest framed girl out of all of my friends. All my friends are naturally beautiful and are aging wonderfully. Even the few I have been fortunate enough to find again thanks to face book, are as beautiful as we were in our teens. I never considered us to be high maintenance. A night out meant scrunching my hair, putting on some bronzer and some mascara.

In the last few years I have discovered that high maintenance is different to what I had always thought. It isn't about the amount of makeup you wear or the $$ spent on clothes. I am proud to say that I am becoming high maintenance.

After years of binge drinking, binge eating, 4 children and sporadic attempts at fitness, the time has come to take care of me. This is not just for me but for my family as well. When I am feeling good and looking after myself I am a happy person.

I now have a beauty regime with scrub, mask and moisturiser. I also get regular waxing and have started going to a hairdresser to get my locks looked after. This week I also started at the gym and bought a new pair of sneakers.

So for years I was defining High Maintenance as a girly girl with heaps of time to make herself up. When in fact, I believe it is respecting yourself and looking after yourself.

This week I am back to the gym. I also have an appointment with two beauticians. 1 to get a patch test for IPL hair removal and the other to remove a tattoo.

My name is Shelley Peers and I am high maintenance.