This post is sponsored by Crest, all opinions are my own.

Self-care is a big buzzword right now. When you hear it, you instantly think of someone relaxing in a tub full of bubbles, or applying a facial mask, or reading. But honestly, who has the time to stop the chores and kids every day and carve out hours of relaxation time? I also often forget about one thing; my teeth! I don't know about you, but I have drank so much more tea and coffee during these past few weeks than I have in a lifetime! That sure takes a toll on my teeth and has caused stains on them. My teeth need that TLC just like how I've been taking care of the rest of my body and mind! A dentist may be able to get me my pearly whites super white within minutes but the treatment can get pricey! This is why I tried out Crest 3DWhitestrips Original Teeth Whitening Kit with Crest Blue Light at home to take a #SmileBreak for 14 days as an affordable solution to be able to give my teeth the love and care they deserve. Best part, I am doing this all without HOURS of time away from our busy home life! Today, I am so excited to share with you my 14 day journey and how I found time to take a smile break!

Whitening my teeth could not be any easier when I use Crest 3DWhitestrips. I know sometimes it can sound intimidating but it’s sooo simple! There are 4 easy steps to achieve a whiter smile (PS, you can do this while folding laundry, cleaning, on a Zoom call or even on a walk)!

Step 1: Simply peel back the whitening strip from its liner. So far so easy, right?

Step 2: Apply on your teeth. I can do this anywhere in my house even with a baby crawling all over me. I found this part to be really intuitive. No messy gels or trays to juggle and no messy goop dripping down my mouth. The strips stay on firmly and don’t have a weird taste. I mostly even forget I have them on!

Step 3: Boost. This is where the magic happens! After you have left your Crest 3DWhitestrips on for the allotted time, you turn on the blue light, leave it on until the light turns off automatically. This is my favorite step! It gives my teeth the speedy whiting boost and is simple with its built in timer.

Step 4: Reveal. It is the best feeling once I peel away the strips to show off my brighter smile! It cannot be any easier! The Advanced Seal™ Technology’s no slip grip stays put. No slipping, no sliding!

It is such a game changer when it comes to multitasking! I call it my Smile Break. I can apply the Crest 3DWhitestrips and set it and forget it while I'm tidying up the endless mess in my house. I was able to sit down and play music with Bo on one of the days I had my Crest 3DWhitestrips in. On another day before watering my plants with Kai, I applied a Crest 3DWhitestrip and I was on my way. I even tried to learn to play the guitar while whitening my teeth! You can even have a Zoom meeting while whitening and no one will be the wiser! It's also safe to drink water while you have them in! There is so much you can do while you're whitening your teeth and not being confined to a dental chair!

Here are 10 ideas/ new things to try while whitening your teeth at home!

1.Nature scavenger hunt - the whole family can come up with ideas/ shapes/colors to find in the wild on walks. Mix things up a little and collect rocks to paint later too!

2.Start a self-care audio book- I often don’t have time to pick up a physical book copy but I can do audio books in small doses!

3.Whip up something yummy in your kitchen or try a new recipe. This benefits everyone in the house! Let the kiddo join in! We also just grew a few herbs on the windowsill to add to our fresh creations.

4.Take up crocheting, knitting, or sewing. These activities require low startup costs and could come in handy down the line when something needs patching or for creating personal gifts.

5.Organizing your pictures. We have so many pictures that I need to be better about printing them and putting them into albums. Did anyone else make scrapbooks for all their boyfriends back in the day? Just me?

6.Learn a new language. Being able to speak more than one language has been such a blessing. If you're looking to learn a new one, apps such as Duolingo and Rosetta Stone are a great place to start!

7.Start a journal. I'm always so sad when I miss a cute moment on camera. I know I can always write it down in a notebook as a keepsake. It can't wait to pass it to my kids once they're all grown up!

8.Start a succulent garden. I am the plant and flower lady in my family. It has taken many years of practice but it has been so fun to learn and grow my garden. Kai is starting to share my same passion and that makes my heart so happy! Succulents are easy to take care of for beginners and don’t require much maintenance.

9.Pick up a paintbrush or pen. I have always been interested in calligraphy and there are so many options for online courses that I can stream from the comforts of my own home. Definitely something I will be able to do while I'm whitening my teeth.

10.Complete a jigsaw puzzle. I feel like puzzles are having a moment during this time. It's so hard to find any jigsaw puzzles in stock! If you are able to find some, it is a great way to pass the time.

After I have used it for 14 days, I noticed a big difference in my teeth! It did such an amazing job of removing all the yellow stains caused by my coffee and tea drinking. You can see how much whiter my teeth are! I love that Crest 3D Whitestrips uses the same enamel-safe whitening agent dentists use. I didn’t experience any sensitivity at all! I was able to see a difference after 3 days and full results in 14 days. I also love that my white smile will last for at least 6 months and beyond. This definitely gives me a big boost in my confidence with my whiter smile.

Like any other part of our beauty and wellness routines, our smile needs to be maintained to look its best and brightest.  I challenge everyone to take a smile break. Do it while you are cooking, online shopping, pumping out emails or whatever! Make those times a self-care time! Let's all take a smile break together!