Smell ya later, 2020. (This is an old photo from Smell ya later, 2020. 

(This is an old photo from this summer when I did my Harley Quinn makeup, but the energy felt right.)

I’ll be honest, I think the first half of 2021 is gonna be brutal but there is a light at the end of the tunnel, babes. We are almost there so stay safe and stay diligent.
I posted an embarrassing photo in my stories so I I posted an embarrassing photo in my stories so I have to balance it by posting a hot one here 😂 Also wow I haven’t posted since HALLOWEEN. I’ve been spending most of my IG time on my candle account, @brennancandleco, but I truly MISS Y’ALL. I formed so many great relationships over the years and I want to get back to that. So you’ll be seeing more of me, probably in a less curated way than you used to. I might lose some of y’all but I hope the ones I call friends will stick around because I really do miss you. 

And lastly, if you ARE into more business-y content from me, follow @brennancandleco, there are some pretty awesome things happening over there if I do say so myself.

Photo by @narirophoto
I may be at home, but I wasn't going to miss out o I may be at home, but I wasn't going to miss out on transforming into Furiosa. 

2020 has been a heck of a year, and I think we're all feeling a bit like we're stuck in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Ready to turn things around and kick our own Immortan Joe to the curb.

Happy Halloween. Stay home.
My latest project: @brennancandleco 🖤 My latest project: @brennancandleco 🖤
Welp I think this negative space mani is my new si Welp I think this negative space mani is my new signature look so prepare to get sick of seeing it in different colors. 💅🏻
Our tomato plants finally started flourishing and Our tomato plants finally started flourishing and thennnnn there was snow in the forecast 🙃 Tomorrow we are supposed to get quite a lot and I’m very cranky about it. Hoping our plants survive but more importantly, I hope the snow puts out the wildfires that seem to be never ending. It’s been a brutal summer for many reasons, but it’s still pretty cool to look at this bowl and know we grew these tomatoes from seeds. Also there’s currently zucchini bread in the oven from our garden ☺️
I am so so so grateful to @crispy.ray for designin I am so so so grateful to @crispy.ray for designing this and putting it on my body, y’all 😍 They are SUCH a talented artist and all around great person. I felt super comfortable and they executed my vision perfectly. 👽 I’ve been a diehard X Files fan since I was a kid (swipe for evidence and a photo of me and Gillian Anderson where I have never felt uglier lmao), so this means a ton.

Re: COVID-19. Truthfully I felt super nervous to get my tattoo and super nervous to post it here. I’ve still been doing my best to stay home but am also (like many of you, I think) struggling mentally. So where is the balance? Honestly I don’t know. I haven’t had a haircut (besides doing it myself), had my nails done, or sat down to eat except for once (and it was a place with no servers). I barely see anyone except my husband. Some days it’s fine and others it’s “how much more of this can I take?” So anyway. I took a risk, but @blackbirdinktattoo was taking everything very seriously. All were masked and sanitized (duh it’s a tattoo place) and I specifically chose a leg tattoo so Christa and I wouldn’t be breathing on each other. I long for the day when things are normal again. I long for the day when I can see my family again. But for now, I’ll try to safely find small pockets of joy and normalcy and ride those little waves until the next pocket of joy.
Dennis and Sweet Dee are here to help ward off the Dennis and Sweet Dee are here to help ward off the Sunday scaries 🐾 In case you missed it in my stories, these are our newest fosters! (We just decided on names today - I think having to name two slowed us down 🤣) Usually we only have pups for three nights but we had to keep these little pals for an extra week before they’re ready to be adopted. 

Also I PROMISE I am going to record a video/write a post about fostering this week so keep your eyes peeled for that. 

Annnnd last but not least if you’re in the Denver area and looking for a puppy, message me if you want more info on either of these little ones! 🥰
Once Upon A Time in Hollywood is still one of my f Once Upon A Time in Hollywood is still one of my favorite movies from the past five years, please don’t judge me 😂🙈 “Hey! You’re Rick f*cking Dalton. Don’t you forget it.” (that line was improvised btw - it was based on something someone told Brad Pitt once when he was struggling 💕 I just love that.)

Print by @rbrunoill
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Fashion · February 5, 2018

2018 Style Goals

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and/or make a purchase, I may earn a few cents at no additional cost to you. Any products gifted by a brand will be marked "c/o." Thanks for helping make this blog possible! <3

Hat: Forever 21 (super old) | Jacket: Charlotte Russe (also super old) | Sweater: so old I don’t remember where I got it | Clutch: Estate Sale | Skirt: c/o Shopbop (available here!) | Booties: c/o Shopbop (…you guessed it…old! I found some similar ones here, here and here – the last pair is on clearance for less than $25.)

Look. I know it’s February, but when I sat down to write this post I realized I never made style goals for the year! This is something that’s new to me, but when I saw it on Nicole’s blog I knew I had to create some style goals for myself!

I feel okay about my personal style, but lately I’ve been doing a lot of shopping without intention and it has left me with a lackluster wardrobe. I’m just not *feeling* it right now. I think having some style goals and shopping more intentionally will help me fall back in love with my wardrobe and fill some gaps I have in my closet.

Pick a style ID

I’ve been fighting with this for SO LONG. I don’t know why, I just can’t seem to put a name to my style these days. I’m working on it, with the help of the Feel Good, Dress Better workbook! If you have any ideas, definitely let me know!

Get dressed more often when I’m working from home

Ooooof this one is a STRUGGLE for me, you guys. But I find that I always feel better about myself when I get dressed and it makes me more productive after work, too. My struggle right now is I don’t have a lot of comfortable winter clothes so it’s either pajamas or jeans, a top and a coat. I’m hoping to add a few more comfy pants/joggers/leggings to make this a bit easier on myself.

Thrift more

I think I mentioned this in a previous post but I’m going to focus on thrifting more this year in an effort to shop fast fashion less. Plus, I’ll be able to rock more unique pieces, which is always fun!

Shop fast fashion less

Similar to what I said above, this year I’ll be doing less shopping at “fast fashion” stores. I’ll be talking about this more in the future but the short version is…I’m not saying I’ll *never* shop at Forever 21 again, but I’m going to make a serious attempt to do better.

Wear things more often

This is terrible but (like most people) I have a lot of clothes I RARELY wear. I’m going to make an extra effort to mix and match clothes I already love. I’m not going to do a capsule wardrobe (restrictions of any kind don’t work for me lol) buuuut I was thinking about a challenge. Maybe 30 days, 30 outfits, no spending? Anyone want to join me?

Accessorize

I’ve been kind of lazy about accessorizing lately, which is super strange! I’m going to focus on replacing some of the accessories I’m tired of (and I’m going to thrift and shop vintage first!) Accessories can really elevate a look sooooo I need to get back on it.

About the look…

Funny enough, this outfit goes along quite nicely with my new style goals…this wasn’t intentional at all. Y’all know I can’t lie to you guys. BUT I still want to talk about it a little bit! The bag and ring (which I honestly didn’t get a great photo of…sorry!) were both purchased at an estate sale! I hadn’t been to an estate sale in ages, but it was such a nice experience and they had SO many cool items. The skirt is something I’ve had in my closet and hadn’t worn yet (yikes), and I think I have only worn these booties once (double yikes). This look really feels like “me” so I’ll definitely be referencing it as I choose my new Style ID.

Alright my dudes, I’ve done enough chattering for today. Sorry I didn’t get a post in last week! I promise I’m on the home stretch and things will pick back up here in the next few weeks. Thank you for your patience as I figure my life out and focus more on Fiercely temporarily.

xoxo
Valery

In: Fashion

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Comments

  1. harper says

    February 5, 2018 at 1:39 PM

    I totally believe in culling your wardrobe! If there are things you don’t wear often, take that as your own intuition that you don’t love it.

    As for style ID: I think, punk texture junkie?

    I completely bailed on F21 in high school and I’ve never really looked back. I’ve never shopped at Zara either. It’s definitely doable. Especially if you thrift for the weird/less classic pieces.

    • Valery Brennan says

      February 11, 2018 at 10:16 PM

      Ughhhh I’m sorry I’m so bad at replying to comments!!!! I appreciate the support of culling my wardrobe, I really need to just break down and do it. Texture junkie is something I hadn’t really considered, but that seems like a REALLY good thing to add to my list!
      Thankfully I don’t shop at F21 tooooo often (maybe 1-2 times a year I’ll do a mini haul of like 5 items) but there are other fast fashion places I frequent. Just in the last few months I’ve been moving away and I’m really loving it so I just need to cut the cord completely!

  2. Priya Pappu says

    February 20, 2018 at 5:04 PM

    Oh I just love a Style Goals post! I only made one for the year: wear more things that I love. I feel like you’re off to a great start on yours with this outfit by breaking out this amazing skirt and BOOTIES! Omg!! I bet you can find some amazing stuff at estate sales– I’ve never actually been to one but I need to get on that. Here’s to you and your style goals! Can’t wait to follow along.

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Smell ya later, 2020. (This is an old photo from Smell ya later, 2020. 

(This is an old photo from this summer when I did my Harley Quinn makeup, but the energy felt right.)

I’ll be honest, I think the first half of 2021 is gonna be brutal but there is a light at the end of the tunnel, babes. We are almost there so stay safe and stay diligent.
I posted an embarrassing photo in my stories so I I posted an embarrassing photo in my stories so I have to balance it by posting a hot one here 😂 Also wow I haven’t posted since HALLOWEEN. I’ve been spending most of my IG time on my candle account, @brennancandleco, but I truly MISS Y’ALL. I formed so many great relationships over the years and I want to get back to that. So you’ll be seeing more of me, probably in a less curated way than you used to. I might lose some of y’all but I hope the ones I call friends will stick around because I really do miss you. 

And lastly, if you ARE into more business-y content from me, follow @brennancandleco, there are some pretty awesome things happening over there if I do say so myself.

Photo by @narirophoto
I may be at home, but I wasn't going to miss out o I may be at home, but I wasn't going to miss out on transforming into Furiosa. 

2020 has been a heck of a year, and I think we're all feeling a bit like we're stuck in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Ready to turn things around and kick our own Immortan Joe to the curb.

Happy Halloween. Stay home.
My latest project: @brennancandleco 🖤 My latest project: @brennancandleco 🖤
Welp I think this negative space mani is my new si Welp I think this negative space mani is my new signature look so prepare to get sick of seeing it in different colors. 💅🏻
Our tomato plants finally started flourishing and Our tomato plants finally started flourishing and thennnnn there was snow in the forecast 🙃 Tomorrow we are supposed to get quite a lot and I’m very cranky about it. Hoping our plants survive but more importantly, I hope the snow puts out the wildfires that seem to be never ending. It’s been a brutal summer for many reasons, but it’s still pretty cool to look at this bowl and know we grew these tomatoes from seeds. Also there’s currently zucchini bread in the oven from our garden ☺️
I am so so so grateful to @crispy.ray for designin I am so so so grateful to @crispy.ray for designing this and putting it on my body, y’all 😍 They are SUCH a talented artist and all around great person. I felt super comfortable and they executed my vision perfectly. 👽 I’ve been a diehard X Files fan since I was a kid (swipe for evidence and a photo of me and Gillian Anderson where I have never felt uglier lmao), so this means a ton.

Re: COVID-19. Truthfully I felt super nervous to get my tattoo and super nervous to post it here. I’ve still been doing my best to stay home but am also (like many of you, I think) struggling mentally. So where is the balance? Honestly I don’t know. I haven’t had a haircut (besides doing it myself), had my nails done, or sat down to eat except for once (and it was a place with no servers). I barely see anyone except my husband. Some days it’s fine and others it’s “how much more of this can I take?” So anyway. I took a risk, but @blackbirdinktattoo was taking everything very seriously. All were masked and sanitized (duh it’s a tattoo place) and I specifically chose a leg tattoo so Christa and I wouldn’t be breathing on each other. I long for the day when things are normal again. I long for the day when I can see my family again. But for now, I’ll try to safely find small pockets of joy and normalcy and ride those little waves until the next pocket of joy.
Dennis and Sweet Dee are here to help ward off the Dennis and Sweet Dee are here to help ward off the Sunday scaries 🐾 In case you missed it in my stories, these are our newest fosters! (We just decided on names today - I think having to name two slowed us down 🤣) Usually we only have pups for three nights but we had to keep these little pals for an extra week before they’re ready to be adopted. 

Also I PROMISE I am going to record a video/write a post about fostering this week so keep your eyes peeled for that. 

Annnnd last but not least if you’re in the Denver area and looking for a puppy, message me if you want more info on either of these little ones! 🥰
Once Upon A Time in Hollywood is still one of my f Once Upon A Time in Hollywood is still one of my favorite movies from the past five years, please don’t judge me 😂🙈 “Hey! You’re Rick f*cking Dalton. Don’t you forget it.” (that line was improvised btw - it was based on something someone told Brad Pitt once when he was struggling 💕 I just love that.)

Print by @rbrunoill
Complementary 🧡💙 If you have hooded lids and Complementary 🧡💙 If you have hooded lids and/or you’re scared about mixing colors, this is such an easy way to do it, y’all! Monochromatic on top (I incorporated an orange shimmer but you could keep it super simple and just blend out one shadow), and then a different color on bottom. I was worried the blue would look too heavy on me since my eyes are a bit downturned but I think it turned out just fine! 

I’m using a @shopaltergo palette again here, this one is a dupe for the Natasha Denona Metropolis palette ($129). The Alter Ego palette is a whopping $22….and so far it’s a GEM. I don’t have ND so I can’t compare them directly but I didn’t have any issues with these shadows at all.

Lips are @lagirlcosmetics liner in Keep It Spicy + @flowerbeauty lipstick in Spiced Petal
Brows are eyeshadow and a bar of soap

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