America Ferrara is exactly the kind of star I love to see achieve success. She’s humble, bright, funny, talented, adorable, classy, and NOT a stick figure. But while everyone wants to say that her upward mobility in the industry is an indication that our cultural values are changing, or that real bodies are slowly becoming more welcome in Hollywood’s ranks, I’m going to give that a flat NO. Actresses are still starving themselves for their agents, their films, and their clothes, and women everywhere are still taking “before” photos for weight loss projects that deserve to be “after” shots. Fitness, yes. Health, yes. But even in this wee, supposedly liberated space we call the blogosphere (I know. But what else can I call it? Blogtown? Blogland? Blogville? Blogiverse?) I can’t click through more than three blogs written by women without coming across some sort of self-deprecation, body-bashing, or calorie-counting remark, even by the ladies who say “all bodies are beautiful.” What? Did you mean all bodies except yours? Seriously! The most feminist voices out there turn into high school girls poking at their thighs and fretting aloud about their hips and bellies. Do you see how ironic you are? Putting up that freakin’ Dove commercial in one post, and then using the term “muffin top” to describe their body in jeans in the next. AND — while I’m at it — since when should someone like America (or Jennifer Lopez or Jennifer Hudson or Beyonce or Kate Winslet (!) be considered “full figured”? Gah! Stop comparing people to the thinnest possible example of womanhood. That’s NOT how our bodies work, save for women who are naturally disposed to that kind of frame. And if you need to starve yourself and work out for two hours a day? You’re not naturally disposed. Sorry.
I am redeveloping my love for singer/songwriters who perform as solo acts, with only piano or guitar to accompany them. I love how the lyrics, rhythms and chord progressions shine through when everything else is stripped away. Don’t get me wrong — I love a good Justin Timberlake throwdown, too — but I’m discovering a lot of talented voices lately, and they give me a lot of inspiration and joy.
Has anyone tried Crest Whitestrips? Or any kind of whitening system? I’ve abused my teeth a little more than I should have with coffee and karaoke microphones (don’t ask) and I’m curious about whether or not they damage teeth or create sensitivity.
Sometimes you just have to acknowledge incompatibility. The nicest, most lovely people in the world can be horrible in the wrong combination. That’s just how it is. Everyone thinks that being nice and being kind and being a decent human being means you should be able to make it work. Again, nah.
Fog is trying to take over the city of Vancouver. Last night, we couldn’t see the house across the street. Creepy? Yes. BUT… it’s not RAIN. And I like anything that’s not rain. And even rain sometimes. But not right now.
9 Responses to “five random thoughts for a monday morning.”
Have tried Crest Whitestrips and I did notice a little sensitivity but not a great deal. However, that may have been because I was somewhat distracted by trying not to drown in my own saliva, as it was rather like the breaching of a dam as soon as my mouth realised what I was applying to my teeth.
If you’re willing to suffer the inability to talk for half an hour while you have them on, and can find a comfortable position to sit in where excess saliva production does not become a threat, I say give ‘em a whirl!
Oh and I did notice a bit of a difference in the colour of my teeth, though didn’t finish the whole course because I got tired of the nightly struggle to stay alive.
I’ve also done the WhiteStrips thing, and have somewhat sensitive teeth all the time (namely cold bothers ‘em), so knew I was taking a chance. What I didn’t expect was the honest to God PAIN that they created. I’m vain as hell (exaggeration, I hope) and was getting married and was getting the results I wanted, so I stuck with it. They do work. But I was one grouchy woman for a while there. Lovely. Oh, and I decided to do the top and bottom at different times as it decreased the intensity of the pain, and I was more concerned with the top chompers anyway…
1. yes, i cry everytime i see America Ferrera accept an award. she is absolutely charming.
2. have you listened to joshua radin? i downloaded his album from itunes a few months ago and i cannot stop listening to it. adore!
3. ouch! make my teeth hurt! stomach turning pain! so sensitive! no!
4. amen….but what if you’re not compatible with anybody?
5. yay for being drier than normal.
I also tried the Whitestrips (and I had to order them in special, being in the UK), after being intimidated by my American friend’s white smile. Have to say they worked very well, although they made my teeth slightly senstive for a few days after finishing. And I had to use two lots in a row to see a real difference. I found it best to use them when listening to a 30 minute relaxation tape and lying on my back, so I didn’t have to keep swallowing. My mouth obviously thought they were food…
I bought the Rembrant whitening stuff because it was cheaper than Crest and you only have to use them for a week. I noticed a little sensitivity to cold during that week, but it went away and my own the coffee stains seem to have disappeared. Two thumbs up.
I also did the Crest thing (multiple times) and sensitivity was a problem and also seems to have lingered after the last use…which was quite a while ago. My dentist thought it might have been my toothpaste so I switched but my teeth are still now more sensitive than they ever were before.
Perhaps you should see about other avenues for teeth whitening if tooth sensitivity is a problem for you. Or try it once and see how things go.
Personally, I would not recommend it. But that’s just me and my own experience. Yours could be quite different.
My dentist tells me that alot of the whitening products on the market are no good for your teeth. I was recommended to either put up with the colour of my teeth (which isn’t that bad) or save the money spent on special products and have it done professionally - in the chair. Not so cheap, but better in the long term.
I’m in agreeance with Princess September. My dentist said the same thing…which I didn’t mention in my other comment, partially because it was getting too long. I don’t know how much the professional whitening is but you could put it on your “Save For” list.
We’ve got one of those and it’s just about matter of importance. For example, to me it’s more important to save for a trip with my husband than to save for a new stereo receiver, although both are on the list. You know? Because I could really use a trip to someplace warm with him right about now.
When I was in high school (look at me, acting like it was more than a mere 5 years ago) one of my classmates fell asleep with the whitestrips in.
The next day she could barely breathe through her mouth there was so much sensitivity.
Also, her teeth gave off as much light as a computer screen. Awful.
I know I’m a good year & a half late with this, but I was scrolling through random archived posts & decided to share my story.
January 29th, 2007 at 9:28 am
Have tried Crest Whitestrips and I did notice a little sensitivity but not a great deal. However, that may have been because I was somewhat distracted by trying not to drown in my own saliva, as it was rather like the breaching of a dam as soon as my mouth realised what I was applying to my teeth.
If you’re willing to suffer the inability to talk for half an hour while you have them on, and can find a comfortable position to sit in where excess saliva production does not become a threat, I say give ‘em a whirl!
Oh and I did notice a bit of a difference in the colour of my teeth, though didn’t finish the whole course because I got tired of the nightly struggle to stay alive.
January 29th, 2007 at 9:59 am
I’ve also done the WhiteStrips thing, and have somewhat sensitive teeth all the time (namely cold bothers ‘em), so knew I was taking a chance. What I didn’t expect was the honest to God PAIN that they created. I’m vain as hell (exaggeration, I hope) and was getting married and was getting the results I wanted, so I stuck with it. They do work. But I was one grouchy woman for a while there. Lovely. Oh, and I decided to do the top and bottom at different times as it decreased the intensity of the pain, and I was more concerned with the top chompers anyway…
January 29th, 2007 at 11:17 am
1. yes, i cry everytime i see America Ferrera accept an award. she is absolutely charming.
2. have you listened to joshua radin? i downloaded his album from itunes a few months ago and i cannot stop listening to it. adore!
3. ouch! make my teeth hurt! stomach turning pain! so sensitive! no!
4. amen….but what if you’re not compatible with anybody?
5. yay for being drier than normal.
January 29th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
I also tried the Whitestrips (and I had to order them in special, being in the UK), after being intimidated by my American friend’s white smile. Have to say they worked very well, although they made my teeth slightly senstive for a few days after finishing. And I had to use two lots in a row to see a real difference. I found it best to use them when listening to a 30 minute relaxation tape and lying on my back, so I didn’t have to keep swallowing. My mouth obviously thought they were food…
January 29th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
I bought the Rembrant whitening stuff because it was cheaper than Crest and you only have to use them for a week. I noticed a little sensitivity to cold during that week, but it went away and my own the coffee stains seem to have disappeared. Two thumbs up.
January 29th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
I also did the Crest thing (multiple times) and sensitivity was a problem and also seems to have lingered after the last use…which was quite a while ago. My dentist thought it might have been my toothpaste so I switched but my teeth are still now more sensitive than they ever were before.
Perhaps you should see about other avenues for teeth whitening if tooth sensitivity is a problem for you. Or try it once and see how things go.
Personally, I would not recommend it. But that’s just me and my own experience. Yours could be quite different.
January 29th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
My dentist tells me that alot of the whitening products on the market are no good for your teeth. I was recommended to either put up with the colour of my teeth (which isn’t that bad) or save the money spent on special products and have it done professionally - in the chair. Not so cheap, but better in the long term.
January 30th, 2007 at 3:40 am
I’m in agreeance with Princess September. My dentist said the same thing…which I didn’t mention in my other comment, partially because it was getting too long. I don’t know how much the professional whitening is but you could put it on your “Save For” list.
We’ve got one of those and it’s just about matter of importance. For example, to me it’s more important to save for a trip with my husband than to save for a new stereo receiver, although both are on the list. You know? Because I could really use a trip to someplace warm with him right about now.
June 27th, 2008 at 9:29 am
When I was in high school (look at me, acting like it was more than a mere 5 years ago) one of my classmates fell asleep with the whitestrips in.
The next day she could barely breathe through her mouth there was so much sensitivity.
Also, her teeth gave off as much light as a computer screen. Awful.
I know I’m a good year & a half late with this, but I was scrolling through random archived posts & decided to share my story.