My Invisalign Journey So Far

After years of not being 100% happy with my smile, I decided that this year would be the year that I would address it.

I have suffered with a very painful over bite for years, have some over lapping teeth at the front of my smile & some gaps between teeth at the side of my mouth.

After exploring the different options available to me, I decided that Invisalign with Ortho Specialists would be the perfect option.

I made an appointment to have a consultation with Dr. Owen Crotty who is a specialist orthodontist based in Douglas in Cork. 

Dr. Crotty has years of experience in this field and from the initial consultation, I knew that I would not find a better orthodontist to treat me. He is exceptionally trained but he's also highly realistic as to what he can achieve.

Once I had committed to the Invisalign process, Dr. Crotty took impressions of my teeth and sent away the moulds to have the braces made. He was even able to show me a computer generated "mock up" as to how my eventual smile would look like.

On the day of the fitting itself, I was very nervous and had mentally prepared myself for pain. I have failed to tell you so far, that from a previous bad experience a few years back, I am a desperate patient when it comes to dental work! The full team at Dr. Crotty's clinic were very understanding of my fear and very kind. I need not have worked myself up though as it was completely pain free and over within 10 minutes.

Invisalign are a clear plastic brace that quite simply click on over your teeth.

They ideally stay on your teeth for 22 hours per day and just come out for eating or drinking (hot liquids).

Every 2 weeks, you get a new set of braces for your teeth. The shape constantly changing as your teeth move.

With regard to pain, there is slight discomfort on the evening that they get changed every fortnight, but nothing that a few OTC pain medication can't relieve.

With the process, I did have a set back for quite a few weeks that was disappointing. When Dr. Crotty carried out X-Ray's during the treatment, he found quite a severe infection in a root canal that had been completed by a previous dentist. As a result, I needed to have the root canal removed, treated for infection and have a new crown fitted. Because of the extent of the infection, it took a prolong period of time to have the work completed, hence why I was delayed with moving forward with my Invisalign journey.

However, I consider myself very lucky that Dr. Crotty found the infection before it became a more serious issue.

I still have a few months left in my process and I will keep you posted but for anyone thinking or wishing for that perfect smile - I highly recommend Ortho-Specialists!

http://www.smilerevolution.ie/

http://crottyorthodontics.ie/

My Secret Facelift

As someone in their early 30's, I'm on a quest to find the secret to looking eternally youthful. 

With increasing stress, high pollution, processed food & fast living, it is of course fighting a battle that's near on impossible. 

However, when I heard of the CACI facial that delivers visible and corrective results without the need for surgery, dermal fillers or injections - I was very curious. Could this really be the answer?

CACI (pronounced Kay-Cee) which stands for "Computer Aided Cosmetology Instrument" was originally founded by a medical doctor to treat facial palsy. When the medical world saw the elasticity and muscle tone return to the facial muscles, it was then sold to the beauty industry.

I had my CACI facial in Devereaux Beauty in Vogue Hair Salon in Parkgate in Frankfield. Devereaux have 2 salons - one in Frankfield and the main salon is in Maryborough Woods.

The Frankfield Salon is recently opened & offers beauty treatments such as waxing, threading, HD brows, tanning &facials. 

Rachael was looking after me & fully explained the treatment prior to starting. The facial was a 1 hour treatment comprising of a number of steps using micro current facial toning therapy. The recommended advice is to have 10 treatments to see full results - like anything - full results will not be instant. 

I do have to say though that after my 1 hour treatment, I noticed my skin felt very smooth, very clean & very supple. Visually, I could definitely see a difference. I looked much brighter and fresher. CACI is very successful in treating many skin issues such as acne & pigmentation as well as improving tone, elasticity and fine lines.

Without doubt I would recommend the CACI facial treatment. For me, I prefer facial treatments that I can't do at home and that is results driven. I follow a very good skin care regime as it is with exfoliation, peels & masks - therefore, when I go to a salon, I want a treatment that can't be done at home.

CACI ultra facials cost €120 per session but are on special offer with this blog -

10 sessions for -€599 (just quote Sandra In The City).

If it's good enough for Jennifer Lopez, it sure is good enough for me!!

Devereaux Beauty Frankfield -

021 4369100

Devereaux Beauty Maryborough Woods

021 4890333 

Ladies Day at Killarney

I have been going horse racing as far back as I can remember. Many of my childhood holidays were spent at the Killarney & Tralee races (before the closure of that track). The highlight of the meetings is always ladies day for me.

The July 2015 meeting was possibly the wettest day of the year but it certainly did not dampen our spirits, nor our intentions to have a wonderful girlie afternoon. 

We were all delighted to be wearing Elizabeth Christina Design head pieces that were designed by the wonderful Kinsale based milliner, Tina Hemlock. 

Tina has designed a few pieces for me this year & I honestly could not recommend her highly enough. She is a pleasure to deal with and I truly trust her creative instincts to design pieces that she knows will suit the event and suit my personality.

Overall, the day was a wonderful day out with some fantastic friends. We all love getting dressed up & enjoyed the excitement & planning in advance for this race meeting.

Hat - Elizabeth Christina Design

Dress - Coast

Hair - Kopper, Glanmire

Shoes & Bag - Purchased in a boutique in Tenerife 

Just go with the flow

What He’s Thinking On Your Second Or Third Date? 

I’m sure it comes as no news to you that a man can be doing all the things that say he’s interested in you, but still say he’s not ready for a relationship or “anything serious”.

It’s one of those things that drive women crazy.

What’s worse, he can do all kinds of things with you from hanging out to getting physical, but he won’t communicate what he’s really feeling... until after he decides things “aren’t working”.

Frustrating, right?

You didn’t even get the chance to know or talk about what was going on inside his head.

How in the world did he think things were supposed to end up working? Were you supposed to read his mind!?

The problem is that women try to read TOO much into their early interactions with men, which then leads them to think that after the first few dates, they’re in what is called the “instant relationship”.

“When a man asks you out for a second or third date, all it means is he’s interested in getting to know you better, because he felt a good connection with you on date #1.”

That means women often think they’re in a relationship with a man when he’s still feeling things out and probably doesn’t have “relationship” anywhere on his radar. So what IS he thinking on those first few dates? Here’s the deal.

What Dates 2 and 3 Mean to a Man

When a man asks you out for a second or third date, all it means is he’s interested in getting to know you better, because he felt a good connection with you on date #1.

It doesn’t mean that he necessarily wants to be “exclusive” or is thinking “serious relationship.” He’s still just getting to know you.

He’s enjoying your company, having fun, and starting to wonder about you.

Meanwhile, you’re already thinking ahead to the next few months when this is the ONLY man you’re seeing and things are “serious”.

You’ve already made a decision about this guy, and you don’t even know him that well yet. All you’re doing is going by your “gut feeling” and the chemistry you feel when you’re with him.

So you start acting on that “feeling” and you begin to make certain assumptions about what’s going on between you.

This can send a really bad “vibe” to a guy, especially when you assume you’re going to be seeing each other every weekend, when you express your annoyance with him when he doesn’t call you more often, and when you assume a monogamous relationship instead of actually discussing it, then get furious with him when you discover he’s still dating other women.

This is when a guy will pull away, sometimes for good. And you’re left wondering, “What happened?!”

Put Some Testosterone in your tactics girls

Do you ever feel that you are stuck in a rut in dating? Or even stuck in a rut with your life? We can all from time to time, fall into a Groundhog Day lifestyle where we are aimlessly and mummy like going from day to day and week to week. When this happens, it effects all areas of our life - whether single or dating, being stuck in a rut is detrimental. In particular, it can have serious consequences if single because, we just lose interest and become negative. And that's why girls, we need to change our dating tactics and date like one of the boys. 

Men fantasise about having women hanging off each arm, so they fulfil this fantasy by multi-dating (seeing several girls at once). Men don't go into a relationship thinking "this is the one", instead they think "this is a fun way to spend the evening". For a change of pace, I think we need to follow their examples. Keep expectations low and see different types of men before falling in love.   

Variety is the spice of life and hanging out with a host of hotties will help you in a wealth of ways. Firstly, it'll charge your confidence which means you'll attract a host of even more potential partners and prevent yourself from focusing on just one. For example, if you're sitting waiting on a text from the guy you saw on Friday night, you'll be less likely to come across as desperate, needy and clingy because your mind will be now distracted by the guy from the gym that you're about to go on a date with.

Do try and keep your dating diary simple. Never arrange two dates on the one evening. It'll just lead to complications and confusion, especially after a few glasses of Pinot Grigio if you start telling the accountant how sexy you find his Garda uniform. Also, never take a date to the same bars - again it'll just lead to confusion. If you become a success at the multiple dating, keep a simple little diary of where you went on the date, what you wore (just so you don't show up the following week in the same outfit) and just some brief notes about the date.

Unless you've lied to your dates, there is no need for you to feel bad. Dating was designed to be commitment free. If it wasn't, you'd be boyfriend and girlfriend after the first date. When you're seeing several men, you are simply road testing them to see which one could last long term. When and if they dreaded conversation of "where are we going comes up" you'll have to be honest and admit that you are not exclusive but enjoying the way things are going with that particular guy. If your men don't ask, there is no need to say anything the likelihood is that they're doing the same thing. 

Once you've mastered the art of multi dating, it won't take you long to find the one that fits the bill and make you want to ditch the others. But, once you are exclusively dating - DO NOT RETREAT TO YOUR OLD WAYS. Think back to when you were dating - your time was limited - you had a life - and you weren't needy. So concentrate on having fun - relax, enjoy and see what happens.

Are We Over Sharing?

Are you over sharing?

We've all had those conversations with our girlfriends.... You know the ones that start with "OMG you won't belief what (insert boys name here) did....!". But whilst you think divulging your biggest relationship secret is helping you deal with minor problems, you could actually be causing bigger ones.

Chatting about boys and sharing relationship problems with your friends is what us girls do. It's part of our DNA. Get a group of girls together and it s a pretty sure thing that within 10 minutes, a boy and something 'unbelievable' or 'unfathomable' that he's done will be the chat topic.

There are definitely positives to sharing. It can help you see things from another perspective and it can help get rid of that stress from holding it all inside and driving yourself crazy from playing a chat over and over on your head and trying to work out why it (that last message/his decision to go out with his mates instead of you) happened or what it means. But don't be fooled that the good outweighs the bad when it comes to over-sharing. Discussing everything about everything can cause some serious downfalls. You need to be careful what you say and how you say it, otherwise you could find yourself in a situation where your bestie hates your guy and refuses to go out if he's going - all because after a chat with him you decided to forgive him for having lunch with that flirty girl from his office, while she still thinks he's a complete moron for doing it. And if you forgive that guy who got a bit carried away on a lads night out and got friendly with a girl, will your mum be so understanding? Unlikely. She'll probably hate him forever. Of course you need to share your life with your friends, otherwise it wouldn't be much of a friendship. But when it comes to relationships, there are something's you should never share. Here's why.....

They may hate him - there will be times when you'll just want to rant and vent because your guy is being annoying or spending too much time with his mates and none with you. But when you start going into specifics you're playing a dangerous game. Your family and friends only want the best for you, so if your guy starts to look or sound bad, they will start to dislike him.
They will NEVER forgive a cheater - if some,one cheats on you and you bin them, go wild. Tell ALL of your friends of now much a scumbag he is. But if you're working it out, NEVER tell your friends that he misbehaved. You may forgive him because you love him, but your friends love you, so they never will.
They'll get bored - your boyfriend didn't send the text "Hey listen, sorry about earlier....can we chat tonight?" to Mary Jane and Sabrina, so do they really need to see it? NO! Keep all mails and messages away from the eyes of your friends. Well away. They'll probably get bored and by default begin to hate him.
They won't be able to help with the big stuff - complaining about your guy to your friends is a bit like going home to stay with your parents once you've moved out. It's fine with small amounts but too much can be bad. If you keep telling about daily bickering your friends will eventually just wonder why you don't dump the jerk and move on.

Sugar Me Bare

Sugaring, sugar waxing or Persian waxing is a method of hair removal that has been around since 1900 BC. Whilst it is a method of hair removal here that is as of yet not as popular, it is the most popular in Turkey, Eygpt, Iran & the Middle East.

When my friend Deborah invited me to have some sugaring done, my very first question was - "Is it painful?". I'll be completely honest & say that for me personally - strip waxing is a complete & utter no-no - in any area of the body as I find it incredibly painful & I always need a period of downtime with the redness. I'm a Lycon wax convert and when making any waxing appointments, I always ensure that Lycon is the wax within the salon. Let's be very honest at the outset - salons that tell you removing hair from the follicle with Lycon or any other wax is Painfree - are exaggerating the truth unless they plan on putting you under a general anaesthetic, however there most certainly is a huge difference with regards to pain, discomfort & downtime between the different treatments.

Deborah assured me that the treatment was a comfortable treatment so I decided to book in with her. She met me in the Salon Shop in the Kinsale Road and explained the process in a professional & knowledgeable way. The Alexandria Professional Sugaring is actually a full system - like a treatment really where the area that is being waxed is fully prepared prior to treatment & then treated after the hair has been removed. By that I mean that the skin is exfoliated initially using salts and at the end, a mud mask applied. 

I opted to have a Hollywood bikini & my underarms done with her on the day. I would have loved to have had the legs done but I have always shaved my legs for 2 reasons -

1) I'd be completely terrified that it's such a large area that it would be too painful 

2) I can't stand or tolerate hair except on my head so I haven't the patience or mental strength to watch it grow or feel it grow

It was my first time having my underarms done and I had been warned by friends that is wasn't a pleasant area - it was highly tolerable! The Hollywood was fast, efficient & also very comfortable. It was less uncomfortable that Lycon for me which is a big statement to make.

The downtime was minimal and there were no ingrown hairs. I also got a longer period from this method of hair removal.

I would definitely recommend Sugaring as a method of hair removal & I hope to have the patience the have the legs done soon! 

Deborah Long owns Jades Beauty Bar and you can contact her here https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jade-Beauty-Bar/716293078425620

Deborah is also the educator for Alexandria Professional in Cork & she works with Ciara in the Salon Shop where she carries out training & does treatments there.

https://www.facebook.com/salonshophairandbeauty

Date like the boys!

Put some testosterone into your tactics

Do you ever feel that you are stuck in a rut in dating? Or even stuck in a rut with your life? We can all from time to time, fall into a Groundhog Day lifestyle where we are aimlessly and mummy like going from day to day and week to week. When this happens, it effects all areas of our life - whether single or dating, being stuck in a rut is detrimental. In particular, it can have serious consequences if single because, we just lose interest and become negative. And that's why girls, we need to change our dating tactics and date like one of the boys.

Men fantasise about having women hanging off each arm, so they fulfil this fantasy by multi-dating (seeing several girls at once). Men don't go into a relationship thinking "this is the one", instead they think "this is a fun way to spend the evening". For a change of pace, I think we need to follow their examples. Keep expectations low and see different types of men before falling in love.  

Variety is the spice of life and hanging out with a host of hotties will help you in a wealth of ways. Firstly, it'll charge your confidence which means you'll attract a host of even more potential partners and prevent yourself from focusing on just one. For example, if you're sitting waiting on a text from the guy you saw on Friday night, you'll be less likely to come across as desperate, needy and clingy because your mind will be now distracted by the guy from the gym that you're about to go on a date with.

Do try and keep your dating diary simple. Never arrange two dates on the one evening. It'll just lead to complications and confusion, especially after a few glasses of Pinot Grigio if you start telling the accountant how sexy you find his Garda uniform. Also, never take a date to the same bars - again it'll just lead to confusion. If you become a success at the multiple dating, keep a simple little diary of where you went on the date, what you wore (just so you don't show up the following week in the same outfit) and just some brief notes about the date.

Unless you've lied to your dates, there is no need for you to feel bad. Dating was designed to be commitment free. If it wasn't, you'd be boyfriend and girlfriend after the first date. When you're seeing several men, you are simply road testing them to see which one could last long term. When and if they dreaded conversation of "where are we going comes up" you'll have to be honest and admit that you are not exclusive but enjoying the way things are going with that particular guy. If your men don't ask, there is no need to say anything the likelihood is that they're doing the same thing.

Once you've mastered the art of multi dating, it won't take you long to find the one that fits the bill and make you want to ditch the others. But, once you are exclusively dating - DO NOT RETREAT TO YOUR OLD WAYS. Think back to when you were dating - your time was limited - you had a life - and you weren't needy. So concentrate on having fun - relax, enjoy and see what happens.

Why do people commit adultery?

I read an interesting article in a newspaper about Noel Biderman who knows a thing or two about adultery. The 43-year-old is happily married, but is the creator of the world's largest marketplace for cheaters. In 2002, his extramarital dating website, Ashley Madison, went live. The $125 million global business attracts 26 million members from 39 countries, garnering 40 million page views a month. Biderman, once the most hated man on the internet, has said that he is fine with being labelled controversial.


Why do people in apparently happy relationships have affairs?
The protest affair: If there has been a lot of unhappiness and rowing in a relationship, your partner might have an affair not only to hurt you but also to say: 'Look how much you've hurt me!' These attention-seeking affairs, though they start off as secret, are often revealed 'accidentally'. We all know about the open email left lying around, or a mysterious phone number calling.
Though you don't want to be endlessly picking over your relationship, it's always worth keeping an eye open for the state of its health. Weeds grow in untended gardens, and if you're both going through a bad patch, this is the time that each is particularly vulnerable to an affair. When things are bad don't get further away from each other; get closer, even if it means saying things you'd rather keep to yourself.

The you-don't-love-me affair: Sometimes a man might have an affair because he feels left out and insecure when his partner's pregnant or preoccupied with small children, for instance. In the same way that it's easy for a wife to feel left out if her husband's too preoccupied with his work or hobbies, so a husband can feel unwanted if his wife is constantly giving all her love and attention to the children.
Men who are insecure in this way need constant reassuring that love isn't a finite commodity, and that just because the children get loads, doesn't mean there's still not loads left for him. Reassurance that the love his wife feels for him is a different love to the love for the children, can also make him feel more special. Some women can be guilty of hogging the parenting role, and men can be shy of intruding on what seems to them like women-only territory. The more involved men are in bringing up their children, the less chances of them straying.


The romantic affair: When the initial buzz has worn off and relationships become humdrum, some people have affairs because they so desperately miss the romance. Believing that romance equals love and finding they can't rekindle it with their partner, they look for it with someone else.
Some might say that couples should try to keep the romance alive in their relationship by going away for special weekends, but you can't keep this up all the time. Better, then, to acknowledge your own disappointment in the fading of romance and share the disappointment with your partner. Out of this disappointment can grow a different kind of love, one that doesn't need endless candlelit dinners and bunches of roses to keep it intact.



The escape-route affair: When it looks as if there's no way out of a relationship except to get a divorce, some partners use an affair as an excuse. It's much easier, and probably more fun, to race off with someone else than discuss separation. It may be that if you marry too young or too quickly, you both develop at very different rates, so it's not surprising that eventually one will start looking around for someone more their type. Rather than let things get to this state, it would be far better to acknowledge your differences and either to agree to continue, for the sake of the children perhaps, or to think about divorce. It is much less painful to divorce when both are in agreement than wait for one to run off with someone else, causing blame and hurt all round.

Afternoon Tea Delights & Spa Afternoon

As it was my wonderful sister in law's birthday yesterday, I decided to take her for a late afternoon of spoiling which she so desperately deserves. She's a mother of 3 young boys and works full time so she, like most mothers, rarely has time to indulge in luxurious activities.

Once our working days were completed, we met in the K Lounge of The Kingsley to enjoy a delicious afternoon tea.

I have had afternoon tea on a few occasions at the hotel & it never disappoints. It's served past the reception area in a lounge that has splendid views of the River Lee - A view I normally see from the 1st floor gym - so it was particularly nice to be enjoying the culinary delights for a change.

After spending a very lazy hour in the K Lounge, we then headed of to the spa for our treatments. When booking treatments, the staff will always advise you to arrive early to allow time to enjoy the Thermal Suite in advance of your treatment. I'm very fortunate with my gym membership that I have access to the thermal suite, which I love to enjoy on days that I have extra time.

The thermal suite has plenty for all spa guests to enjoy, including a Chromotherapy room, jacuzzi, hammam, sauna, steam room, tropical rain shower, ice shower etc.

After enjoying all facilities that the spa had to offer, we were collected by our therapists to have our individual treatments. I had a back, neck & shoulder massage and my sister in law had a mini facial.

We both thoroughly enjoyed our treatments & found the therapists to be polite, professional & highly skilled.

Post treatments, we vowed to try & make a spa day a more regular occurrence. We all have such busy lives now that it's so important to make time to relax & spend it with people you love.

*The package we booked includes afternoon tea & a 30 minute treatment for €60p.p.*

Lent - things to give up & to take up

If I'm to be completely honest, as a child, my parents never forced us to "give things up during Lent" - probably because we didn't have much to give up. We never had treats in the home and really it was Easter & Christmas time that the luxuries appeared. I distinctly remember in 3rd class, our teacher going around the classroom asking what we had given up & with nothing to say - I said - tomatoes - only because I despised them & knew I wouldn't be at risk of being caught eating them!

So this Lent, I've decided to let go of negativity and all that holds me back. I want to pave a path for a happier existence & future.

I've also decided to set myself a Lenten Challenge to complete 40 training sessions during Lent. I know it's going to be tough but I'm determined to succeed. Most days I'm going to do 1 training session but somedays I'll do a morning & evening session to allow myself a day off. I'll be mixing it up between the gym, classes, long walks/hikes & swimming. For me life is too short & too hard to give up the odd guilty pleasure like wine or chocolate so instead I'm doing Lent, my way.

I can & I will - watch me

One of my former personal trainers once said "Sandra, you are the most consistent client I have at inconsistency".... Well at least I was consistent, right?

I have always had a love/hate relationship with training. When I'm training in a regular pattern - I love it. My mood is better, my energy levels are raised, my reflexes are faster, my thinking is sharper, my diet is better, I sleep better and overall, my well being & health is vastly improved. 

On the other hand, when I slowly slip out of the routine, all of my bad habits return. My sleep is disturbed which leads to unhealthy food choices which affect my mood & ultimately make me unwell with various ailments including chest infections, muscular aches, headaches & general lethargy.

So, this time, I will not fall out of the pattern. I have just begun training with Rob in the Kingsley - and this time I will not fail.

New Year, New You?

Over the past number of weeks, I've seen an increasing number of major changes in dynamics of friends relationships. And by major changes, I mean - make ups, break ups or engagements. I suppose between Christmas and the New Year people do very much assess where they are in their life's and the changes that they want to make for a better year ahead. In my own opinion, I think that people should stop making unrealistic New Years Resolutions that are broken by the 3rd week of January and instead vow to take things up that will improve their lifestyle. So whether that is, take up a 'good deed for the day' policy, take up more exercise, take up eating more healthy, I believe that when you put a positive slant, you in turn become more positive as an individual. If you begin to tell yourself that you can't have this, can't have that and can't have the other, it's a negative action and a form of self deprivation that won't last. Ultimately, it's like the long written book, The Secret, whereby for every positive action, there is a positive reaction.

For friends that have either recently become single or have been single for a while, I've seen them become increasingly negative with regard to meeting a partner. Many of them saying that 'there are NO men', or 'there are no gentlemen', or maybe 'there are just no normal men left'. Now, I will be the very first to say, that available normal gentlemen are very thin on the ground. And this isn't a case of women being fussy with their standards, it is more a fact due to our change our economic climate and the huge numbers that have emigrated. But I would disagree with the powerful exaggerated statement that there are NO men available.

A number of months ago, following on from my long standing research on dating and the minefield that it is, and after reading countless books on rules and no rules, there was one particular book, that did change my way of thinking. That book, written by a MAN, so coming from a mans mindset changed the way I looked at dating. It was refreshing not to read a book written by a female telling you - not to call, not to text back straight away, to refuse the first date, the play it cool and to effectively make a man jump through every perceivable hoop like a circus animal. The book that I'm talking about is called "Get the Guy" by Matthew Hussey. Yes, there are countless books that you could read over and over but I honestly felt that reading from a mans perspective and how they think was the best possible angle to look at dating.

Even last week, a friend said that she had been messaged by a few guys on the dating app Tinder, but point blank refused to message them back because 'she's an old fashioned kinda gal'. This book will tell you that if you live in that mindset, you will be left an old fashioned kinda gal. His believe is, that if you want something, you go get it. Fate and destiny are a very rare occurrence and in reality YOU are the master of your own destiny. The same can be said for love as with career.... Did your employer walk up to you at the traffic lights and said that you looked like a good representative for the company? Of course not, you got in there, applied for the role and by God sold yourself at the interview process. Looking for a partner is the same. So ladies, if it's  meant to be, it's up to me - go get the guy!