Your Smile…THE Fashion Accesory

So it is finally official.  Smiles are fashionable.  Since Paris fashion week models have been told to smile, no pouting, no grimacing, no frowning…SMILE

What took the designers so so I wonder?  Is it the fear that the fabulosity of a smile might take away  from focusing on the clothes?

One thing is for sure no matter what you look like, how you feel a smile is THE accessory to flash around.  The universal language, it has both physical and emotional positive effect effects.  That’s why I LOVE what I do.  I get to share in the transformation as people’s confidence soar and often they tell me that the happy person inside now has a chance to come out.

So today, a typical, dreary cold wet british morning, give a stranger one of your smiles.  It might be the only sunshine he sees all day!

A Woman Of Substance

A few weeks ago I attended an inspiring awards ceremony celebrating the 30th anniversary Barbara Taylor Bradford’s debut novel, A Woman of Substance.

I remember first reading this book as a kid and being totally riveted by the story of this strong woman overcoming the odds.  A total dreamer and an introvert, I used to loose myself in books and I remember telling myself if Emma Harte could do it why not me

This award was to recognise women of today overcoming the odds and the first ever recipient was truly inspiring.  Lisa Salmon, 42, from Horsforth, Leeds, was crowned ‘A Woman of Substance 2009′ Lisa was nominated by her mother, Sheila Salmon, and her friend, Gail Robinson, who described her as an extraordinary human being. Lisa  has had to deal with a series of tragedies — one of which resulted in her losing her sight and the other the death of her son at just two days old. Since then, she has managed to triumph over adversity, going on to marry and have two children, and is now juggling a busy family life with working as a writer with the support of her husband Mark and in her spare time helps to support and campaign for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance service that saved her life.

Lisa when asked about the award said “I was amazed I won. I don’t feel like I’m that special. I’ve just got on with life. I do feel sometimes that I’m the luckiest unluckiest person alive. I’m over the moon to be seen as a real woman of substance. I just can’t believe it.”

During her acceptance speech I was struck by a comment she made…”bad things happen to good people , there’s just no point in moaning, it just doesn’t serve any purpose, I just got on with it.”

At that point the lady I was standing next to turned to me and said, “Well that put’s my bad day into perspective!”

Congratulations Lisa, Emma Harte would be proud of you!

Dentistry Vegas Style!

I cannot believe it has been over a month since I wrote anything on the blog, totally shocking!  I am trying to decide if the time has sped by so fast because I am having such a great time or if it is just because I am getting older and I don’t know what it is about time, but the older you get the faster time seems to speed by!

Anyway in my defence I have been in the states, for almost three weeks, first for a conference and then for a course.  Yup the Yanks are still the leaders when it comes to cosmetic dentisty which is why I invest so much time and energy in the many trips I take there to learn all the new techniques to make sure our guests do absolutely benefit from the best.

I was in Vegas for the International Federation of Esthetic Dentistry.  It is a conference held every 2 years where all the top cosmetic dentists from over the world come together to share experiences and learn.  It is really intense, early morning 7am starts.  I was moaning one day and had to shut up after talking to a Korean dentist who had travelled twice the distance i did, was more jetlagged than I and was struggling to understand all that was going on because his English wasn’t that great.  It reminded me that excellence was a journey and he said he felt just being there was sufficient..nothing more to be said!