Discount Dental Plans May Be Better Than Dental Insurance – This Is Why

Posted on by

Discount dental plans are an affordable alternative to traditional dental insurance and in many ways are better than dental insurance. What, you say? How could that be, you ask? Let’s take a look at the differences between the two dental plans.

Dental Insurance

Dental Insurance is what many people think of when they’re in need of dental care. The first thing that comes to mind for most people when they start having problems with their teeth is that they need to get some dental insurance. Unfortunately, by the time you start having problems you’re too late to have dental insurance do you any good. The reason for this is because, like any other insurance policy, dental doesn’t cover pre-existing problems. Most plans require a minimum of twelve months after buying the plan before they’ll start to pay any portion of your prior problems. Even then you’ll still have to pay 50% or more, in most cases.

Dental insurance is great for routine preventive care, such as fluoride treatments, teeth cleaning,etc. but if you’re thinking that you’ll go buy a dental plan to have it cover the root canal that you need immediately, then you’re in for a big disappointment.

Discount Dental Plans

Discount plans are not insurance in any way, shape or form. They offer big discounts of between 10% and 60% not only preventive maintenance, but also on major dental work, such as bridges, dentures, root canals, braces and more. You simply locate a participating dentist near you, pay a “less than insurance fee” to join the plan, make yourself an appointment with your new dentist (or your old. Your current dentist may already be a provider) and pay the dentist the discounted cost of your dental work in full at the time of your appointment. This way they get paid on the spot, you get your teeth fixed on the spot and you can both walk away happy.

There are no exclusions with dental discount plans, no age limits, pre-existing conditions are fine and there’s very little paperwork to deal with. If you or your family are need of a dental plan, especially if you’re in need of immediate dental care, I’d give dental discount plans a good look. They may even be your best option.

Tips For Preparing Your Only Child to Become a Sibling

Posted on by

Having your second child is an exciting time, however it can also be stressful for your first child, who suddenly goes from being your one and only child, to a big brother or sister. Whether your only child is 2 or 10 there will be an adjustment period for him or her. Fortunately, there are some things that you can do as parents to help prepare them for their new role. Here are just a few ideas:

Big brothers and big sisters are special. Speak in positive terms to them about what it means to be a big sis or big brother. Really play up their new found role and help them to feel special and needed. You will want to discuss how they can be your helper and how much the baby will need them. You may want to assign them a specific task, something age appropriate. For a younger child, fetching diapers for you might be a good one. Help your child to appreciate how much you need their help. At the same time, don’t go overboard and talk about the baby too much. Your older child is unique and needs to understand that your love for him is secure.

Don’t plan any other major changes. This would not be a good time to introduce any other major changes into their life, such as potty training, different sleeping arrangements or any other similar changes. You don’t want to overwhelm them nor add any added stress to their lives or yours. If your toddler is still nursing, there is no reason to stop during your pregnancy or even afterwards when the new baby arrives. Many moms have found that tandem nursing (breastfeeding siblings who are not twins) is very rewarding and a wonderful way to ease the transition for the older child. When they are assured of your place in their lap, they are not as likely to be jealous or resent the new baby.

Talk to them. Children understand more than we think. So, spend some time talking with them about the big event. You can tell them about what will happen when you go to have the baby, where they will be staying, and what they can expect. If you are having the baby at home or in a birthing center, you might want to consider allowing them to be with you at the birth. Children who are close by the mother during her labor are more likely to view the new baby as “ours” instead of an alien intruder! Some parents have found it helpful to read books that talk about getting a new baby in the house. These often explain how new babies need constant care and feeding.

Get help. Going from one to two (or two to three, and on and on!) is a wonderful time to ask friends, family, Grandparents and others for a little help. While you and the baby are resting, could someone play with your toddler, arrange a playdate or take them to the park for a couple of hours? A little extra one on one time with a beloved adult can make up for the fact that you are going to be giving the toddler a little less attention for awhile. This is a time for Dad to step up too. While he does need time to bond with the newborn, this can be a time of growth in the older child as he embraces Dad as someone who can also meet his needs.

Watch your language. When the baby arrives, be careful how you phrase things. If your older child asks you for something and you can’t help them because you’re caring for the baby, don’t “blame” it on the baby. Say something like, “My hands are busy now, but I can play with you in a few minutes. Why don’t you come snuggle next to me and I’ll read you a story?”

Another tip that some moms have found helpful is to talk up the older child to the baby. We moms love to go ga-ga over our babies, but why not brag on the older sibling? “Ooh look at what big brother is doing! He’s building a block tower and it’s sooooo tall!” This can make the older child’s heart swell with pride.

Don’t feel guilty. It’s very common for moms to feel guilty about displacing their older child, but children have been dealing with the arrival of siblings since the beginning of time! They will be just fine, and will gain a playmate and perhaps a lifelong friend. Be positive about the transition and your child will likely pick up on your emotions.

Seven Beauty “I Dos” For Your Special Day

Posted on by

You have the dress. You’ve hired the caterers. The flowers are ordered, and your family is flying in from all over. But before the Wedding March starts to play, take some time to plan your beauty regimen for your special day.

Having everything you need in your makeup kit will make everything go much more smoothly on the day of the wedding ceremony. After all, you don’t want to be rooting around for the perfect eye shadow while your groom is waiting at the altar.

To look flawless on your wedding day, we suggest the following beauty tips:

1. Keep it loose. Today’s brides are ditching the fussy sculpted updos of weddings past for a much looser, natural look. Swirled open chignons and half-up hair styles with do-it-yourself charm are also popular picks. But no matter how you wear your hair, don’t forget J.F. Lazartigue’s Hair Volume Tonic Styling Spray to boost volume and keep flyaways at bay.

2. Banish blemishes. Wedding jitters do more than just mess with your head-they can mess with your skin, too. Just in case a pesky pimple appears overnight, have a concealer at the ready. Try Murad’s Acne Treatment Concealer, which is formulated with Salicylic acid to treat the blemishes it disguises.

[Hot tip! If you are prone to acne, keep blemishes at bay with the Murad Acne Complex Kit, designed to reduce the signs of acne in just four weeks. The kit includes a cleanser, an exfoliating gel, a spot-treatment solution, and a skin-perfecting lotion.]

3. Polish your look. Save the wild, sassy nail colors for your bachelorette party! On your wedding day, your nails should be beautiful, but subtle. Choose a shimmery-not glittery-lacquer in a neutral shade, such as Essie’s Nude Beach, for perfect nails that don’t steal the show.

4. Cry, if you want to. Don’t worry that those tears of joy will ruin your makeup halfway through the ceremony. Stila’s Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner gives your eyes the smudge-proof definition you desire, while Stila’s Lash Visor Waterproof Mascara keeps your lashes looking lovely no matter how many tears you shed.

[Hot tip! Even if you have a later ceremony, skip the smoky eyes, which can be susceptible to smudging. Instead, go with a pastel shade like Ballet Pink or Mint from Smashbox’s new Heartbreaker collection for a fresh and pretty look.]

5. Set the tone. Give your skin a radiant, sun-kissed look with CAUDALIE Fresh Complexion Tinted Moisturizer, which is also designed to protect your skin. Then refresh and hydrate your skin throughout the day a spritz of Dermalogica’s Multi-Active Toner.

6. Groom your groom. Help your future hubby get ready for the big day with The Art of Shaving: 4 Elements of the Perfect Shave Kit, featuring a pre-shave oil, a shaving cream, an after-shave balm, and a badger shaving brush. If he’s worried about hair loss, suggest Billy Jealousy Hair Raiser Follicle Revitalizer to help strengthen hair and promote future growth.

7. Smile for the birdie. Flashing those pearly whites is a full-time job on your wedding day, so keep a tube of Supersmile Quickie on hand to periodically brighten your smile. This magic whitening polish freshens your breath while whisking away stains from coffee, red wine, and other culprits. You’ll thank us later when you are paging through your wedding album.

Gifts for Your Diabetic Mother

Posted on by

Just because you have foot ailments does not mean that you have to sacrifice style. The very fashionable diabetic shoes and diabetic boots are designed just for people who suffer with diabetes and foot pain so often associated with diabetes disease.

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, people have been running in circles, trying to figure out the right gifts for their mothers. The solution becomes much more difficult, in those cases where the mothers in question, happen to be afflicted with diabetes.

Yet, unknown to many, there are actually a whole host of gifting options at your disposal, provided you apply your mind and thought to them.

For instance, did you even think of the non-food items that you could gift to your mother? In fact, in the very first place, who told you that the gifting season was all about gifting food items only?

Trusting that you would obviously know your own mother very well and therefore would be completely tuned in to her interests, likes and dislikes, why not gift her something that is completely in line with the same?

In fact, if you look online and see any of the various websites that sell gift items for diabetics, you will see a wide range of non-food gift items that can easily be gifted to diabetics; in some cases, they are even especially meant for the same.

For your mother, how about a new pair of diabetic shoes for women in a color and style that she truly appreciates? And how about jewelry and other accessories to match with the same? Think sling bags, think purses, think jewelry of a certain type, shape and size that she really adores…the possibilities are truly endless.

Further, again assuming that you definitely know your mother and her interests and passions all too well, why not gift her, a set of movies starring her favorite movie star? In this regard, remember that somewhere deep inside, diabetics do tend to suffer from depression and loneliness, at least to some extent, though it need not always be the case. Therefore, these movies that you will be gifting to her, will probably serve a vital role of cheering her otherwise gloomy disposition.

Finally, has your mother been longing to travel for long yet not been able to fulfill her desire? This may just be the perfect opportunity for you to fulfill her dreams and allow them to take wings, albeit quite literally! In fact, if you consider the uplifting effect that leisure traveling has on spirits; Women’s diabetic shoes are a priceless gift that you would be giving to your mother – one that she will truly cherish for eternity!

A healthy diet along with regular exercises and Diabetic footwear is vital for all the diabetic people in order to improve one’s cardiovascular health, improve blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Always remember that making some small changes in your life if you have diabetes can surely help you to reduce your blood sugar levels for a longer run.