the secret life of ceecee wilkes, chapters 21 - 35.

it's that time of the week again...let's talk more about what ceecee/eve is up to.

to read my discussion about the first ten chapters, click here.  to read about my discussion of chapters 11-20, click here.  to get the details about the bookclub, book beginnings and bookends, please click here.

1. Do you think Tim is the one sending the money?  yes.  it has to be him.  i mean, who else could it be?  tim could easily find out where ceecee/eve is by asking naomi or forest.  besides, he was so generous with ceecee in the beginning by giving her that money for school, so why wouldn't he give her money now.  i'm sure the guilt is eating him alive and perhaps this is his way of trying to make things better...somehow.

2. So far, there's been a lot of discussion on CeeCee/Eve and her choices. What choice(s) would you make differently from her?  if ceecee/eve were me, i wouldn't have made it as far as she has.  the red flag would have gone up in my mind the minute tim asked for ceecee's participation in the scheme.  and, even though ceecee went along with it, i certainly wouldn't have continued on after the birth of the baby & genevieve's death.  i would have gone straight to the authorities & confessed/turned myself in.  sometimes, it is more important to be selfish than to protect the identity of others.  besides, i wouldn't be able to live with that "monkey on my back" so to speak. 

3. What do you like about Jack? Are there things about him that you don't like?  jack seems genuine.  he seems like more of a gentleman than tim.  he seems to value eve & does not disrespect her for being a single mother.  he is interested in what she does, what she loves, etc.  his adoration for not only eve but for cory show that he's much more of a man than tim is.  at least that's my opinion.  the only thing that i didn't really like about jack was that he did seem to come on a bit strong at times especially with trying to win over cory with presents.  but, i like his persistence.  and, i like that he wanted to get to know eve and cory and not just eve.  jack understands that he's not just dating eve, but he is getting to know cory as well...this is important if their relationship gets serious.

4. What are the differences between CeeCee/Eve's relationship with Tim and Eve's relationship with Jack?  they courted!  they dated!  they had fun.  they laughed.  they shared stories.  they shared secrets {ha ha ha}.  ceecee's relationship with tim was based on lust.  tim was this something wonderful that swept 16 year old ceecee off of her feet.  eve's relationship with jack was just the opposite.  he had to win her even though there was some sort of mutual attraction between the two of them.  their relationship evolved in a more normal way and was based on love.  although eve has to bear the weight of ceecee's past, she still manages to have a very meaningful, absolutely wonderful relationship with jack.

5. Do you think Eve is to blame for Cory's fears? What could she do, specifically, to help Cory feel like less of an outsider?  as i was reading the story during these particular chapters, it didn't even cross my mind to pin cory's fears on eve.  looking back, however, it does make sense.  eve is a single mother & cory is her child.  eve shelters cory.  of course cory would be hesitant about new people, new situations, new experiences.  to help cory feel like less of an outsider, i think eve should have socialized cory more as a younger infant/toddler & not sheltered her so much.  she should have allowed her to explore, ride her bike on the sidewalk, play outside, etc.  by keeping her so alienated she pretty much instilled an apprehension within cory that will probably only worsen over time.

6. Do you think Eve appropriately answered Cory's questions about her father? Do you think Cory will question her father more as she grows older?  yes and no.  it's hard to come up with a quick answer when you're put on the spot...especially when you have to lie & stretch the truth.  of course cory will ask more questions as she gets older & more inquisitive.  children know no boundaries when it comes to asking "tough questions."  i think the questions will keep coming with more intensity as cory enters school and sees her friends with their fathers.  she'll want to know why she doesn't have one and what happened to him.  for eve's sake, i hope she can keep the story consistent and believable. 

the secret life of ceecee wilkes, chapters 11-20.

it's monday & it's time to discuss the next ten chapters of the secret life of ceecee wilkes.  we talked about the first ten chapters last week.  if you're interested in participating, it's not too late!  just click here for the details.

1. Where do you think Tim and Marty are at this point in the story? are we talking mentally or physically?  mentally - i think the both of them are far gone.  they are wrapped up in saving their sister.  and, i think that as much as ceecee believes that tim really cares for her, i almost believe it's evident in his actions that he's using her.  i mean, you can almost sense it or feel it as you're reading.  sadly, ceecee doesn't {although i did find it funny that she faked the big o on their last night together - come on, who's fooling who?}.  physically - i know they discussed what "the plan" was...where they would pick up genevieve, where they would take her {the cabin}, but after that it was never really clear.  they would just be hiding out elsewhere while they communicated with the governor.  the "covertness" of this whole kidnapping plot makes me think that things are going to take a turn for the worse...become more dangerous.  let's hope for ceecee's sake that it does not.

2. What were your thoughts as CeeCee was helping Genevieve deliver her baby?  holy moly.  seriously.  holy moly.  it would be one thing if the circumstances were different {okay, no, it would still be a nerve-wracking ordeal}.  you know, if genevieve wasn't being held hostage, if ceecee wasn't in a snow white mask & wearing gloves, if they weren't in a secluded cabin deep in the woods.  i think that ceecee was very fortunate that genevieve was semi-calm & knew what to do.  i know that if it was me i would be freaking out.  it was at that point, i believe, that ceecee knew within her gut that this whole "plan" was NOT going to be a cut & dry as tim and marty said it would be.  perhaps the birth of the baby could be seen as a symbolic transition into just how difficult things would end up being.

3. After Genevieve died, what would you have done with her baby if you had been in CeeCee's shoes?  i would have gone straight for the police or somebody.  turning the baby in and confessing at that point would have been the right thing to do.  but, that's me.  of course, if i were ceecee, i would have probably just left the baby with naomi & forest and bolted.  but, ceecee is in the woods, she doesn't know her way around...yikes.  i don't think i could have kept the baby like ceecee did.  my conscious {and the guilt} would eat me alive.

4. Why do you think CeeCee/Eve is still holding onto hope that Tim will come for her?  oh, there is that young, hopelessly in love thing again.  ceecee truly believes that tim will find her.  didn't he say he would?  i can't remember.  but, there she is again, holding onto a false hope.  she was used for one thing and one thing only...to help spring andie out of prison.  sadly, she didn't realize that tim would never come back.  it was up to naomi to pretty much tell ceecee that from that day forward she would never be ceecee again.  ceecee had a boyfriend named tim.  eve did not. 

5. How do you think Eve will establish her new identity in Virginia?  oh, this is a tough one.  here she is - 16 years old - setting off on a road trip with a newborn baby driving a car she could barely drive going to a place she didn't know to stay with a woman she had never met before.  whoa.  if anything, you just have to hope that naomi & forest really do care and have set eve up with someone trustworthy enough to help get eve back onto her feet.  and, you also wonder, too, if eve will crack and just give up.  or, will she persevere and really hold onto the new identity she's been given.  there's a lot at stake.  there's also a lot to have to remember...stories to keep straight...goodness gracious, it makes my head hurt just thinking about it!

6. What do you think of CeeCee/Eve now after she has gone through with the kidnapping, the delivery of the baby, the escape, and the relocation?  i feel sorry for her.  very sorry.  so sorry that i'd love to grab her by the shoulders, shake her and say, "what the hell is wrong with you, woman?" she's only sixteen.  sixteen!  she's been through so, so much already in her young life.  she's endured more heartache & sadness than what most of us will even have to deal with in our own lifetime.  part of me feels sorry for ceecee/eve.  the other part of me doesn't.  after all, she allowed herself to be fooled into this situation.  she made her decision with her heart and not her head.  unfortunately, now she must pay for the consequences of her actions/decisions/choices.  choosing to keep the baby as her own & start over somewhere new will be a constant reminder of what she helped tim & marty do.

the secret life of cee cee wilkes, chapters 1-10.

book beginnings and bookends.

go check it out.  it's a blogging book club spearheaded by rachel & erin.

i decided to participate because the last book club i was in sort of fizzled out {one book & we were done?  yeah, that actually happened}.  hopefully, once grad school starts i'll be able to keep up with the demands of bb&b. 

anyways, the first inaugural read is:

{source}

i am not going to lie.  i read the whole book.  it took me maybe two days.  so, so good.  the fun part will be keeping myself from spilling the beans, so to speak.  for now, let's just discuss the first ten chapters, shall we?

1. What was your first impression of Tim?  too good to be true.  seriously.  good looking, hard working student.  but, in my opinion, he came on a bit strong.  clearly there was an age difference so it got me wondering what his intentions were with ceecee. 

2. If you were in CeeCee’s position, would you be willing to help your boyfriend in the way that she is willing to help Tim?  i'm thinking back to when i was sixteen.  yeah, i did some boneheaded things, but nothing that was remotely close to what ceecee became involved in.  i think that we all do foolish things when we are in love, but we really have to question our hearts when our morals are being put on the line.  i know that i could never help someone {boyfriend or not} in the same capacity that ceecee helped tim.  but, i think a lot of that can be contributed to my upbringing & knowing that i don't have to compromise myself and my beliefs in order to feel accepted and loved.

3. Why do you think CeeCee is so eager to please Tim?  she's young.  she's in love {for the first time ever}.  she had such a hard life growing up that i think she doesn't want to lose this "good thing."  tim is too good to be true in her mind.  he seduces her with money, love & what seems to be trust.  he is her way out of the life she is currently living {if that ain't a foreshadowing of what's yet to come, then i don't know what is!}.

4. Who do you think has it harder? Tim or CeeCee?  ceecee.  and i'm not just saying that because i read the whole book already.  she's being coerced into a situation that she knows is wrong.  but, she doesn't have the guts to stand up to tim.  besides, she doesn't want to lose that "good thing" they've got going on.  tim kept telling her she was naive.  boy, is she ever.

5. What character trait(s) about CeeCee stuck out the most to you in these first ten chapters?  her willingness to trust.  her independence.  her survival.  the way she opens up to tim.  her relationship with ronnie {ceecee seems like such a good girl compared to ronnie}.  her perseverance. 

6. Do you think CeeCee is as mature as she seems?  in certain ways, ceecee is mature.  she's living {essentially} on her own, holding down a job & trying to get herself into college.  she was only twelve when her mother passed away from breast cancer.  i think that by surviving her mother's death & years in foster care, ceecee has this inner maturity deep within her core.  however, when it comes to love & trust, i feel that she's actually a bit on the immature side.  she's young.  she's willing to open herself up too quickly.  she hasn't been jaded by men, relationship issues, etc. 

chapters 11-20 will be discussed next monday.  and, if you want to join the book club, please do so!  you'll be able to catch up in no time.  promise.

Your Participation Counts!

I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for participating in my "Brace Face" discussion series. I really enjoyed reading your comments and sharing in your memories about growing up with braces.

Remember, any & all comments made in any of the "Brace Face" posts (there are FIVE of them) will be entered to win The Braces Cookbook & The Braces Cookbook 2. I will leave the comment contest open until Thursday, June 4th at 11:59pm EST. A winner will be announced on Friday, June 5th!

Good luck!

BRACE FACE - Avoiding Injury

So, we've been talking about braces, what it's like to wear braces, how it feels to be in braces, what you can eat when you're in braces, but what about protecting your mouth - whether or not you are in braces?

Did you play sports as a child growing up? Do your children play sports? Did you ever wear a mouth guard? Do you make your own children wear a mouth guard?

I'll be honest, I didn't wear one whenever I was playing sports. Of course, my sport of choice was swimming and that's all I did for as long as I could remember. It seems silly to even think about facial injuries while in a pool, but if you've ever taken a foot to the face while swimming laps then you'll know where I'm coming from.

With that said, this is the last post for the "Brace Face" discussion series. Again, I'm featuring a guest post from Catherine Manabat and she stresses the importance of wearing mouth guards. Let me know what you think...


Help Your Kids Avoid Sports Injuries
Catherine Manabat is a guest blogger, writing on behalf of the American Association of Orthodontists. The American Association of Orthodontists is a resource for parents to learn more about orthodontic treatments and provides general tips on how to achieve healthy, beautiful smiles, get braces-friendly recipes, and find an orthodontist near you by using the Find an Orthodontist Locator service. Why should you choose an orthodontist? Orthodontists receive an additional two-to-three years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth.

Catherine is also a proud former “braceface” and smiles every day to prove it!


We all know sports are fun, but getting an injury—especially to the face or mouth—isn’t fun at all. According to the Centers for Disease Control, sports-related injuries are the leading cause of emergency room visits in 12 to 17 year olds. A typical emergency room visit or a child can cost anywhere from $425 to $550, according to the Blue Cross Blue Shield. The good news is that many of these injuries can be avoided, just by wearing the right protective gear.

April is National Facial Protection Month, and orthodontists are encouraging athletes to wear mouth guards while participating in sports and other activities. A study was conducted among parents to figure out why face and mouth injuries are still common among young athletes, despite being preventable. Lack of knowledge, particularly about which sports and skill levels benefit from protective gear, was at the top of the list.

Another interesting finding shows that 67 percent of parents surveyed that their child did not wear a mouth guard. Of those parents whose children do not wear a mouth guard during organized sports, 84 percent said it is because the league of coach does not require it. This is unfortunate because mouth guards are one the least expensive pieces of sports equipment. Over-the-counter versions cost as little as $5.00, although custom-fit mouth guards offer greater protection. An orthodontist can recommend the best mouth guard for an athlete who wears braces.

52 percent of the parents who said their kids did not wear mouth guards reasoned that their child “doesn’t need that level of protection.”

However, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children wear mouth guards for all contact sports. This includes baseball, soccer, basketball and football, which account for about 80 percent of all sports-related emergency room visits for children between the ages of 5 to 14, according to the Centers for disease control. Orthodontists say mouth guards should be worn when participating in any activity where the mouth might come into contact with a hard object or the ground, to prevent facial injuries. Facial protective gear is less expensive than repairing an injury—not to mention less painful.

Perhaps your child already sees his dentist regularly, so you may think why add an extra appointment on top of their (and your) busy schedule? The answer is because orthodontists receive an additional two to three years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth.

Choosing an orthodontist for your child is an important decision, and the American Association of Orthodontists is here to help your growing athlete stay safe. Make an appointment to meet with an orthodontist today!

BRACE FACE - Dances and Boys and Braces, Oh My!

I'm sure you heard me say it before...I had braces in junior high school. Me and just about every other adolescent girl in my school. Not only did I have braces, but I had a perm, too. But, that's fodder for a completely different blog post. If I had my junior high school yearbooks, I would gladly post - for all to see - me in my 7th grade glory. But, thank goodness, my junior high school yearbooks are 2.5 hours away in my parents house...whew!

Anyways, this is part four of the "Brace Face" discussion series and I'm featuring another post by Catherine Manabat. She so elegantly & humorously captures to awkwardness of being a preteen in braces. Let me know your thoughts - share your stories with me - and you could be entered to win The Braces Cookbook & The Braces Cookbook 2!


Dances and Boys and Braces, Oh My!

Catherine Manabat is a guest blogger, writing on behalf of the American Association of Orthodontists. The American Association of Orthodontists is a resource for parents to learn more about orthodontic treatments and provides general tips on how to achieve healthy, beautiful smiles, get braces-friendly recipes, and find an orthodontist near you by using the Find an Orthodontist Locator service. Why should you choose an orthodontist? Orthodontists receive an additional two-to-three years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth.

Catherine is also a proud former “braceface” and smiles every day to prove it!
When I look back on my junior high days, I won’t lie and say I have only fond memories. Let’s face it—junior high, with all the issues that come with transitioning into adulthood, is and always will be a tricky time in a person’s life.


The 8th grade was quite possibly the most life-altering time for me—at least, that’s what I thought back then. I had to deal with three major differences from my pre-middle school days. First, I had to find a date to the end-of-the-year dance. Secondly, one of my best guy friends had inexplicably turned on me and became a crush. (The nerve of that boy!) And finally, that was the year I was going to get my braces. Naturally, it seemed like all three of these situations were tied together somehow.

My parents and I had known for a long time that I needed my tremendous overbite corrected, but I wasn’t sure how I felt about getting them at that exact moment. At the time, most people got their braces in high school (The American Association of Orthodontists actually recommends your child come in for a check-up no later than the age of seven), so you can imagine my mixed feelings about getting braces. I tried to get them postponed—but my dentist and my orthodontist insisted it was the right time. So I complied, and the braces came. I got the day off from school, so that was a nice treat.

That first week got some getting used to, with the list of things not to eat, or to eat in a special way… a special type of floss along with a special way to brush. The aforementioned boy noticed there was something new about me— so, of course, I agonized whether or not this was entirely positive. But at least he noticed, right?

Along with the new oral hygiene routine, I had to get used to how I looked. I had one of those friends who touted a disposable camera all the time. At first, I didn’t want to show my teeth as much when smiling for pictures. I had this irrational fear that the metal was too bright for the flash. But when I saw my ho-hum smile compared to my wide, bright, brace-wearing smile, I quickly got over that complex and got used to smiling normally.

In any case, I had bigger issues looming. I had to figure out a way to turn my friend-turned-crush into a crush-turned-date. Imagine my surprise when, just a couple months after I got my braces, he showed up to school donning his own! It gave us a new subject to talk about—I liked getting navy blue rubber bands and he enjoyed black ones. Basically, it was a sign we were soul mates.

It made me wonder if we went to the dance together, whether that would be the night of my first kiss. And it made me wonder if having braces was going to be a problem. (A popular myth about braces is that they can lock together during kissing—not true, so kiss away!) In any case, the end-of-the-year dance was fast approaching and he still hadn’t asked me. A different kid asked if I would go with him as a friend… but I was holding out hope for my special crush.
One day, a week before junior high graduation, I found out my crush had a new girlfriend. The news was devastating. And because of my idealism, I was probably going to the dance date-less.
So how did it all turn out? There isn’t an ideal ending here (it’s real life junior high, after all). I got a cute outfit and went to the dance on my own. And I didn’t get my first kiss that night.
But in the end, I had a great night and lots of memories to look back on. I had a lot more fun dancing with my girlfriends rather than worrying over what to say to my date. And I even got the chance to dance with him. And what about the braces? As planned, I got them off a couple years later in high school, and couldn’t believe how beautiful my teeth turned out—just in time for formal and prom photos, too! I guess you could say out of dances, boys and braces, my braces turned out to be the only thing that didn’t let me down. I have the smile to prove it!

BRACE FACE - Let's Get Cookin'!

Where were these cookbooks when I had braces? (Remember, you can WIN these cookbooks by participating in the "Brace Face" discussion series...all comments will be entered to win...so comment, comment, comment!)

I'm sure there was some sort of brace-friendly menu plan out there, but (of course) I had braces in the late 1980s - early 1990s so my fate succumbed to chicken noodle soup (a la Campbell's, no doubt) and any other mushy substance I could sink my sore jaws into on the days that my wires/bands were tightened. I get lockjaw just reminiscing about it all.

Anyways, wearing braces isn't so nerdy anymore and neither is the cuisine when it comes to wearing braces thanks to Pamela Waterman and Chef Amee Hoge. The pair teamed up to put together not just one, but TWO, cookbooks showcasing different (dare I say, gourmet?) recipes that can be fixed easily and LOVED by those in braces and even those who are not in braces. Ms. Waterman was not only inspired by her own daughter who was in braces, but she spent some time as an adult in braces, too.

I don't know about you, but I am a cookbook junkie so these two books are on my "wanted" list - all of the recipes look so yummy & tasty! And, as a parent who will quite possibly have two children in braces one day in the near future, I think that having these two resources on my kitchen bookshelf will be a lifesaver!

Here are some tidbits recipes from the books:

CORNBREAD PIZZA (from the Braces Cookbook 2)

This braces-friendly pizza is delicious, distinctive and oh-so satisfying. Try it tonight! Made with cornbread mix and a dash of Parmesan, it’s just the thing when you’re craving something different. You can even get your kids in on the fun by asking them to help with the toppings.

Ingredients:
2 (8½-ounce) boxes dry cornbread mix
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 jar or can (about 26 ounces) spaghetti sauce, any flavor
1 tablespoon oregano
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
Toppings of your choice

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake for 30-to-35 minutes total.

In a large bowl, stir together the 2 boxes of dry cornbread mix, 2 eggs, milk and Parmesan cheese. Grease a 9” x 13” pan, and also grease 6 muffin-pan cups (or line them with cupcake papers). Spoon batter into the 6 muffin cups, about halfway, as this is extra batter. (You’ll have muffins for another meal – they’re great with chili.) Then spread the remaining batter into the 9” x 13” pan and spread the spaghetti sauce over the top. Sprinkle with oregano.

Bake the pizza and the muffins at 375 degrees for 15 minutes and remove both from oven. Sprinkle the pizza with the mozzarella cheese and any other toppings, then bake it at an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Cut into squares.

Chef Amee’s Gourmet Touch:
To make two specialty “soft” pizzas, bake them in two round cake pans and top with your favorite toppings. Add 1 tablespoon of dried Italian herbs to the pizza crust along with 1 teaspoon of garlic powder for added flavor.

CHERRY-CHICKEN SALAD BITES (from the Braces Cookbook 2)

Ingredients:
1 (12.5-ounce) can (or 1¼ cups) cooked chicken
½ cup (about 3 ounces) dried cherries, presoaked in hot water for 10 minutes, then drained
½ cup (4 ounces) black-cherry yogurt
1 Tablespoon Mayonnaise

Directions:
Drain the chicken and break it up into a medium-sized bowl. Add cherries, yogurt and mayonnaise. Stir together well. If you have time, let the mixture sit in the refrigerator for an hour to absorb the moisture and flavors.
This serves up nicely in tiny scoopfuls on ruffled red-leaf lettuce and is also excellent as a filling inside sliced miniature croissant rolls.

What’s so cool about this dish? Dried cherries are now as easy to find in the grocery store as raisins, a trend that makes this variation on the regular chicken salad a simple yet delicious change of pace. Plus, when it’s time for those braces to come off, you can add ¼ cup of slivered almonds to give the dish some extra pizazz. Need a gourmet touch? Chef Amee likes to add ¼ cup ground almonds and 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried mint leaves to add more color and texture to this scrumptious meal.


MOROCCAN SWEET-PEPPER CHICKEN (from the Braces Cookbook)
Ingredients:
3 boneless chicken breast halves, boiled
3 cups (fresh or frozen, unthawed) sweet peppers, diced (any color)

For the sauce:
1/3 cup orange juice
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ teaspoon ginger
1 Tablespoon sherry
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
(Optional: ¼ cup sliced almonds)

In a large pot, boil the chicken breasts until very tender, about 1 hour. (This is a great task to do ahead of time while getting other things done in your life.) Shred the chicken on a cutting board and set aside.

In a Dutch oven or large covered frying pan, simmer the peppers in ½ cup water for 15 minutes. Add shredded chicken and keep on low heat.In a small bowl, use a whisk to stir together all the sauce ingredients except the almonds. Pour the sauce over the chicken and pepper mixture and simmer the combination, covered, for 10 minutes. Serve over rice and, if desired, add the almonds on top for non-braces eaters. This recipe makes 6 to 8 servings.

FABULOUS FRUIT SMOOTHIES
For a quick, soothing breakfast or afternoon snack, put together the ingredients ahead of time. Keep the mixture in the refrigerator ready to whip together in a blender.

Ingredients:
2 bananas1 cup of milk1 cup of other fruit (raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, mandarin oranges – fresh or thawed from frozen)2 tablespoons of protein powder (optional)

Directions:
Cut bananas into 1-inch slices. Add all ingredients to a blender, and mix for 10 seconds on a low setting. Makes two servings.

TWISTY SOFT PRETZELS
These twisty soft pretzels are tasty with a dash of salt – or sweet with a shake of sugar and cinnamon. Plus, they’re easy to make. Pop a batch in the oven today!

Ingredients:
¾ cup warm water
½ envelope yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
Pinches of salt or cinnamon-sugar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425°. In a small bowl, stir together warm water, yeast and sugar. In a large mixing bowl, mix salt and flour with a large spoon. After 5 minutes, stir yeast mix into flour mix.

With well-floured hands, shape dough into 6-inch rods, initials, animals or traditional twisted pretzel shapes. Brush with the beaten egg and place on a greased cookie sheet. If desired, sprinkle with extra salt or cinnamon-sugar.

Bake for 12 minutes at 425°.

Now you tell me...do you really need braces to enjoy these recipes? NO! But, if you ARE in braces, I bet these recipes (as well as the many others featured in the cookbooks) are a welcome change to what you thought you were limited to, right?

BRACE FACE - Welcoming Braces

This is the 2nd discussion in my "Brace Face" series and I'd love to hear from you all - whether you are a parent or not!

For many parents (myself included), the thought of putting a child in braces can seem quite daunting...socially (for the child), physically (for the child), emotionally (for both) and financially (ouch...mom & dad's poor bank account!). If you wore braces, what do you remember about your first experiences with them? How did you feel at first? I remember when I first got my braces it was pretty strange and I most definitely remember how sore my mouth was, too! I didn't feel too awkward because, luckily, most all of my friends were in braces, too. Besides, all of the cool rubber bands in different colors (fortunately) made wearing braces seem almost fun.

For those of you who aren't parents, but do have experience with braces, what kind of advice would you pass along to parents & children about braces? Do you have any fun memories to share or any words of wisdom?

Below is a post that I am using with permission from Rachel at American Pop (remember, their company is working with the AAO)...enjoy!


Tips to Help Your Child Welcome Braces

Catherine Manabat is a guest blogger, writing on behalf of the American Association of Orthodontists.

The American Association of Orthodontists is a resource for parents to learn more about orthodontic treatments and provides general tips on how to achieve healthy, beautiful smiles, get braces-friendly recipes, and find an orthodontist near you by using the Find an Orthodontist Locator service. Why should you choose an orthodontist? Orthodontists receive an additional two-to-three years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth.

Catherine is also a proud former “braceface” and smiles every day to prove it!

Each year, a considerable number of children are fitted for braces to straighten and guide wayward teeth to their proper places. The result is a healthy, beautiful smile. When gaps and crowing are eliminated, teeth are sure to last longer and fight cavities more effectively.
Each child can have a different reaction to the process of getting braces and having a new look for 18 to 24 months (the actual length of treatment for your child depends on his/her individual case). If you have been informed that your child will need braces, it’s good to get him/her used to the idea even before they get their brackets placed.

Ask family members who might be able to offer their own tips or positive experiences for you and your child. To find an orthodontist near you, visit the Find an Orthodontist Locator service or ask your dentist for a referral.

Be open to the questions and concerns your child may bring up. Being sympathetic is a great approach. Also, keep a positive outlook, and focus on the results—a healthy, attractive smile! Point out celebrities, especially kid or teen stars, and classmates of your child who wear braces to show them that they are not the only one with braces.

Take some time to familiarize your child with each step of getting braces. From taking impressions and x-rays to getting the actual braces, knowing how each step works and why it’s important will better prepare your child for what’s to come.

It’s a good idea to celebrate the day your child receives braces by taking them out for a treat or write in a journal about the experience. Pledge to do the same on the day the braces are removed to look back on a great childhood memory!

Once your child has his/her braces on, be sure to remind them about brushing and flossing correctly and the additional rinsing that will help keep their teeth clean. Soon enough, they’ll get used to the new routine.

Braces can be integrated into your lives quite easily with a little preparation. It can be a great experience for your child, and soon enough they’ll be enjoying the benefits of a healthy, beautiful smile!

BRACE FACE - The Introduction

I think it’s safe to assume that all of us have had some sort of experience with braces. Did you wear them? Did your siblings or friends wear them? Did you wish you wore them? Do you have kids in braces currently? Will your child(ren) need braces? No matter what you answered to any of those questions, I think you will enjoy the series of discussions I have lined up for the next few days. I’ve teamed up with Rachel at American Pop – her company is working with the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) – and we are going to talk about any and all things braces (and oral care)!

Did you know?

• Early or late loss of baby teeth may indicate a child’s need for braces.


• The American Association of Orthodontists recommends all children get a check-up with an orthodontist by no later than age 7.


• Orthodontists receive an additional two to three years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align & straighten teeth.


• Mouth guard use is very low – 67% of parents surveyed said that their child does not wear a mouth guard – yet, 70% said that their biggest fear when their child plays organized sports is that they will get hurt.

I would love to hear about your thoughts on braces. After all, this is a discussion and part of the fun is sharing our stories & experiences with one another. As a parent, I know I am dreading that inevitable day when I have to put my own children in braces – trust me, I know it’s coming because our family dentist has already said so and a consult with an orthodontist will happen this year (at some point) for both of my children. I remember my days in braces – I think just about every other girl in junior high school wore them – some days were better than others, but what a feeling of joy & relief when I finally got them taken off!

As an incentive, I have decided to jazz things up a bit -- all comments made during the “Brace Face” discussion series will be entered to win a pretty sweet gift. I love cookbooks (and I am really thinking about adding these to my collection) and what a better gift to give away than a set of cookbooks specifically for those in braces, The Braces Cookbook & The Braces Cookbook 2. In a later discussion, I will be featuring some recipes from these books...and you don't need braces to enjoy them! In the meantime, participate…and you just might be the lucky winner of these two books!