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It’s late. Or early, depending how you look at it. It’s edging up on two o’clock in the morning and I’m just now finally getting ready to close my laptop and my eyes for a few hours after three days of non-stop TV appearances in three different time zones across the country. It’s that time of year, when I offer up gadget gift guides far and wide, delivering advice on what to buy for every budget and everyone in the family. As soon as I finish this round of deadlines, it will be time to reflect over tech trends of the year past, and take a turn with the crystal-ball forecast of what’s in store for innovations next year. And somewhere, in the middle of all of this holiday madness, there’s me.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want this Christmas. As someone who goes hands-on with just about every tech gadget invented at some point, there’s not a lot that I want for when it comes to “stuff.” I, like so many super hard working moms (and dads) I know, would give just about anything for more time in the day, more moments of peace and pure bliss with my daughter and husband. More quiet, disconnected hours. A real vacation. But this year, there’s something I actually want to do for myself. It’s something that I’ve put on the bottom of my bucket list for too many years to count. I want to fix my teeth.

My bottom teeth are crowded in the front and they’ve ached for a good 20-years (about the time I stopped wearing my retainers from my high school metal-mouth braces). They’re not crazy crooked, and because of that, I’ve actually felt self-conscious and guilty about getting them fixed. I’ve also never been able to swallow the idea of spending $3,000-$5,000 on myself for something that isn’t life threatening. I’m sure a lot of moms feel this way. There’s college to pay for afterall, how could I spend so much on myself?

I did a story that included Invisalign* clear aligners as a high-tech alternative to traditional braces last fall, and they’ve been there in the back of my mind ever since. Many insurance plans pay around 50% of the cost. I can use my flexible spending health savings accounts for Invisalign treatment, and make my money go farther with pre-tax dollars. I even found a local orthodontist that offers financing for around $100 per month. Hmmmm. Why not wear a set of nearly-invisible braces for a few months? The trays are clear, would slip right over my teeth, and fix up the trouble in no time. Why not?

It sounds crazy, but I would love to start another year rocking a sparkling straight smile with teeth that don’t ache so often. So the next time I file a selfie-blog post like this one, all tired and all … hopefully I’ll be updating you on my newest review: Invisalign clear aligners.

*Disclosure: I’ve partnered up with Invisalign clear aligners brand, but all opinions expressed in this article are my own.

Posted in Girlfriend's Guide, Sponsored, TechStyled