TJ Maxx

Lately, with Matthew coming and going with training and the baby growing, I'm starting to lose my mind a little. I'm thinking "this baby is going to come soon" and I 1. have nothing ready and 2. need to do things now that I normally wouldn't because after the baby, time is gone! My world with revolve around babe! 

So I think, I need to get into a normal routine where I start taking care of/whitening my teeth again! Back when I was "single" (in a relationship but long distance so it was like I was single) and had all the time in the world to myself, I would do a lot of self care. I would whiten my teeth often, I would do face masks, workout (sometimes multiple times a day) and I would even get to moisturize and not worry about dry/cracked skin! But now that I'm married, I have totally different priorities (and I don't know how it got this way! While I also want to add that there is NOTHING wrong with that!). I ran out of activated charcoal right before we moved to NY and after that I would always just forget about it or just put off buying more. I really noticed though that my teeth were seeing the difference. They were a more off-white than pearly white and that was not normal. I would use a crest strip every now and then but it's just not the same. Plus you can't talk for like 30 minutes because you have those things on your teeth and yea, you know what I mean. So anyway, when we moved here I told myself "I'm getting some friggin' charcoal". I searched a few different stores and wouldn't find it. So one day, I'm at Publix (which I had never been to OR heard of. If you're from the north, they're VERY similar to Stop n Shops. If you're from anywhere else, they're like nice Wal-Marts minus the clothes) and asked an associate if they had any. Apparently, she's familiar with the goods. She told me unfortunately they didn't but that TJMaxx carried the activated charcoal powder AND they had actual activated charcoal toothpaste! That was even flavored!! HELLO!!! At this point, I was a heart-eyed emoji and golden gates had opened with music playing in the background. A reason to go to TJMaxx had been bestowed upon me from a Publix goddess! I thanked her, paid, and rushed the crap to TJMaxx. 

Now that I finally got to the point--I've slowly been compiling some great finds from TJMaxx. I don't always buy the great finds (ask Babe about the coral Michael Kors slip on espadille sandals) but I will still let you know when there are good finds. Also, keep in mind that this possibly only at MY TJMaxx in Columbus, GA. I can recommend to check your local store, but we can't promise it's there. (Although I did recently see a girl I know from South Texas post about a super cute dress at her local store and found it up here ON SALE and bought it.) 

This was my first buy. Once I was informed that they carried it, I walked right in and bought it. Activated charcoal powder with peppermint flavoring. 

If it wasn't obvious enough, this was my first purchase and I think my only purchase at the time. (Me, walking out of that store with one item is a Hallelujah moment!) As I stated before, I've been using the activated charcoal for some time now. Maybe a year or two? I started using it because I saw on Pinterest "natural whitening methods". I had gotten tired of using the white strips and quite frankly, they were too expensive and hurt my friggin' teeth! So the tablets that I used before were roughly ten dollars for a hundred tablets. I'd buy them and then break them into a clear container that I would just use the powder out of. Very similar to what I ended up buy now! So anyway, what I would do is I would put a thin layer of toothpaste across my toothbrush, dip it in the activated charcoal so the toothpaste was covered black, and then I'd brush away! I'd do that for a minute or two (literally) and just make sure my mouth was nice and disgusting looking (and I promise, it will be). Once that was done, I'd spit and rinse my mouth then repeat by just brushing my teeth like normal with toothpaste. (That was done to make sure I got all the charcoal out of my teeth because there will be left over residue).

In case you've never used activated charcoal before, this is it! (USE WITH CAUTION. MESSY!)

But for the great disclosure: THIS STUFF IS MESSY!! If you don't use it with caution, you will 1. have black powder everywhere and if you try to simply wipe it you will then have black smudges everywhere! and 2. be cleaning up AROUND your sink...a lot. I'm not sure if it's on the powder container or not but they do warn--when brushing, stand close to the sink and preferable learn forward close to the running water.

This powder is nice because it says you can simply dip your damp toothbrush in the powder and with just that, you can brush your teeth. Once you brush for a minute or two, wash out your mouth and toothbrush and with a clean brush, go over your teeth again (to clean off the residue). 

Let me also say: this stuff is pretty great. I never bought the powder with peppermint before but since I did, it definitely leaves a cleaner taste in your mouth. Matthew went into the field Monday and took our only toothpaste so when I got ready to go buy more, girl needed a clean mouth. I used to charcoal to see if it would do the job just so I could get to the store and it actually did! My mouth actually felt cleaner LONGER! With that said, I'd recommend 10/10! 

This is the actual charcoal toothpaste that too is flavored. (This avoids what I used to do with the toothpaste and powder.)

After using my activated charcoal powder for about a week or two I began thinking "what's the toothpaste like?" and "will it be any different/better?" So what'd I do? I went and bought it! The powder runs for $6.99 (the one I bought) and the toothpaste was $7.99. I had originally bought the powder because I know what it can do but also because I felt I was getting more for my money. The powder would last for sure 6 months to a year while the toothpaste would maybe last a month or two. And with a dollar difference, the toothpaste is actually kind of a splurge for me. Regardless, I checked it out. 

Actual tooth paste bottle out of the box.

Okay, so I tried this RIGHT when I got home from buying it and I gotta say, I didn't feel a magical tingle in my teeth that instantly made them 20 shades brighter or anything, but I definitely did like it. I would probably recommend not using it every single brush (I don't get that crazy clean taste I do from regular toothpaste) but maybe once a day. (Normal teeth cleaning is recommended brushing three times a day. If you can do that, I'd say clean with charcoal toothpaste at lunch because then you're washing off residue from morning coffee, etc.) I love the packaging too though because it gives you alll the details and ingredients. You don't have to worry about what's in it because it's all over the bottle. (A major plus in my buying process.)

Back of the bottle with all ingredients listed. 

My favorite thing about this is that besides the ingredients included all over the box and tube, it gives you directions on HOW to use it. The back of the tube has a small list of instructions but I BELIEVE it's the back of the box that has step by step details WITH pictures. It even discloses being close to the sink. (Seriously though y'all, be close. SPLASH ZONE.)

The sweetest, most beautiful, yet subtle smelling candle I've ever had!! I was kind of skeptical because I always get a certain candle but fell in love with this one!

Okay, being pregnant has basically broken all my scents. (HA!) Everything smells different to me and I don't know why. I'm a major candle and air freshener person (with this nose, I can smell everything so it's gotta smell good!) and since we got married, I'd found the perfect candle and get it literally any time I get a candle. (I also have a tendency to blow through them pretty quickly, so it's hard to keep them around). I normally use Hawaiian Breeze as a wall plug in and air freshener/furniture freshener. That's a generic Glade scent you can get basically anywhere. For candles though, I always shop Target and it's called Paradise Flower (I believe. They changed the label since I bought my last candle so when I went back to look it was different.) Anyway, Matthew and I had always said that as much as we loved the smell, we always thought it was a little pricey. I definitely felt this house of men was in need of some more candles but thought maybe I'd find a less expensive alternative at TJMaxx. Well, I definitely found a great smelling candle! I did the math when I went to Target and while this candle is about a dollar or two are than the "small" sized candle we get, it was larger, yet still slightly smaller than the "large" candle. And about a dollar or two less expensive. This scent is so delicate that it's not overbearing but strong enough to smell it (obviously). It sets a good relaxing mood and I've lit it a few times while I take a bath. It literally soothes the moment. It's so good, I ended up NOT putting it in the livingroom (and put a Paradise Flower defuser instead) because the candle was TOO GOOD to waste and have it in our room. I think I've lit it in two separate occasions while Matthew is home and then have it open with the lid off and it STILL lets off the same scent!! That's how good it is! So seriously, if you stumble upon this candle while you're out on your TJMaxx run, pick it up. It's too good not to because it'll definitely last longer than the "56 hour burn time" it says on the container! I had also bought a peony scented candle because I love peonies and they were my wedding flower but I just don't feel the candles give them justice. But again, these products are the BOMBDIGGITY!! Buy them.