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.