CW: body image stuff, food/diet talk For the last CW: body image stuff, food/diet talk

For the last couple of years I’ve worked hard on (mostly) being at peace with my body. I work out for my mental health and because it feels good, I stay off the scale, I don’t see any food as “bad” anymore.

The thing I haven’t been able to adjust is giving my body nutritious foods without diving into diet culture. If I don’t track foods I won’t eat veggies like....ever. If I do track foods, I start worrying about calories, losing weight, etc. So I’ve chosen not to worry about it, for fear of falling back into an unhealthy relationship with food and my body.

Smoothies have always been a good way for me to get fruits and veggies but it’s a lot of work and tbh making a good smoothie requires a LOT of ingredients and then I end up with a massive smoothie. That’s why when I first heard about @kencko, it seemed too good to be true. Freeze dried fruits that you mix in water or any milk, like a protein shake. 2.5 servings of fruits/veggies per packet. (The packets are compostable btw). LOADS of flavor options with various benefits.

I was sold.

I signed up for three months to get the best deal, PRAYING they would taste good and y’all......they are incredible. I am shocked at how much I love them, even the flavors I didn’t think I would be crazy about. I signed up for 20/month and will def be increasing that quantity.

Sorry this is soooo long winded but I wanted to share in case anyone else had similar struggles. They do have a referral code so if you want $10 off your first box just let me know 💕
“Every day is a gift.” That’s what I said t “Every day is a gift.”

That’s what I said to myself when I woke up on Monday. I got dressed in an outfit I loved and promised to make it a good day. And the universe said “okay let’s see how far we can push this gratitude thing” and threw A LOT of shit at me 😂 I still ended my day with a smile and a @onepeloton @jesskingnyc ride. Then I couldn’t sleep because I worked out too late but it’s fine.

Woke up today with the same attitude. Drove an hour to get my second vaccine, arrived for my appointment and they told me they didn’t have the vaccine I needed. Even though I had called to check last week to ensure this didn’t happen. 2.5 hours in the middle of the work day wasted. After working until 10:15 last night and getting four hours of sleep.

I’m still not going to let it break me. (And yes, I was able to find another appointment and I’m SURE it’s the right vaccine.) Life is so precious and I’m so grateful for what I have. I’m especially grateful that in just a few weeks I finally get to see my family for the first time in over a year. What a joy. Sometimes I never thought that moment would come - I shed a lot of tears over it. But it’s almost here.

The only bad thing is now I have to find another vaccine outfit because I wasted this one today.
I guess I’m posting outfit photos again! They wo I guess I’m posting outfit photos again! They won’t be very aesthetic but I’m excited to share and also document what I wear. I know a lot of y’all are here from my fashion blogging days so thanks for sticking around 💕

A wardrobe shift usually means having to buy a bunch of new stuff. For me, what I really “needed” more of was plain tees. I tried to look at sustainable brands but honestly they were just too pricey especially considering the sub-par reviews. So instead I went with my old standby...Target. Their shirts have always lasted me a really long time and the one I’m wearing here is linen 😍 I was very picky and took back a few that didn’t quite fit me properly. All in all I spent around $40 and now have a wardrobe that feels really filled out - here’s to hoping they last me a few years like my current Target shirts have!

I guess all this to say...sometimes you just have to make the best choice for you. I intend on keeping this shirts in my closet for a long long time and know they will get tons of love. Now I’m back on my super low/no buy and can’t wait to wear in my new goodies! 

Ps VERY excited to be wearing sandals! It’s finally spring (?????)
This feels extremely 2014 IG but I’m fine with t This feels extremely 2014 IG but I’m fine with that. My style has changed so much and this is where I’ve been living lately - simple neutrals, plus a couple of necklaces. Color correcting cream, mascara, brows, Fenty gloss bomb because it’s literally the only lip product that doesn’t make my lips crack the next day. 

Anyone else’s style completely change in the past year? My closet looks so different and past me would think it’s “boring” but I feel good and getting dressed is easy now so who cares. 

Ps @roseybeeme influenced me to buy this letter necklace and it makes me feel like a mobster and I love that.
Little Plop got an upgrade to his playpen today (a Little Plop got an upgrade to his playpen today (a pillow) and he is OBSESSED. 

I’m going to keep saying this, if you’re in the denver area and looking for a puppy...he is perfect. It’s going to be hard for me to let this little guy go. Message me if you’re interested in adopting him and feel free to tag someone!

He’s ten weeks, some kind of mix but definitely has wire hair like a terrier. Will probably be small/medium like 25-30 pounds. Very smart and spunky but has a neurological disorder that causes him to have a bit of weakness in his back legs.
Meet Duke, our newest foster puppy. He is a precio Meet Duke, our newest foster puppy. He is a precious brindle wiry haired pup, who also has a neurological condition that makes his legs a little wobbly. Duke doesn’t let that slow him down though. He is curious, playful, loving, and I can’t wait to spend the next week with him. He will be up for adoption next Saturday via @coloradopuppyrescue 💕
Current obsession: this weird little centerpiece I Current obsession: this weird little centerpiece I made using dried flowers that I used in a @brennancandleco shoot. Trying to be better about reusing and giving things a second life like this cute little fox(?) skull.
We are not fans 😩 We are not fans 😩
“Less is more” was a phrase that never resonat “Less is more” was a phrase that never resonated with me. I used to always jokingly say “more is more” and honestly, one of the most surprising outcomes of the pandemic is I’m….becoming a minimalist. I’ve decluttered LOADS of stuff (I wish I had documented it, honestly) - at least 50% of my wardrobe, probably more. I’ve been on a serious low buy since the start of 2020 with only a few additions. We’ve even sold off about 1/3 of our furniture! 

And I have to be honest….I love the breathing room. I feel more at peace. I feel lighter in the spaces where I’ve decluttered more. 

I still have a lot of work to do. And I want to be intentional about my minimalism - it’s not about the aesthetic. It’s about only having things that I love or that serve a purpose. I want to continue to minimize my carbon footprint by buying less. Minimalism for me is not purchasing a new capsule wardrobe every season. It’s finding a style I love and sticking with it, with a few additions here and there. It’s a “1 in 1 out” rule for clothing. It’s getting rid of things responsibly when I want to change things up. It’s a space that’s easier to clean because I don’t have to spend HOURS tidying up and trying to find a space for all of my stuff.

So anyway, here’s my new dining room - we got rid of a coffee table and relocated two big chairs. I’m sitting in one of them while I take this photo. I feel at peace.

Any other minimalists out there? Has the pandemic made you think more about your space since you’re in it more?
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Beauty · July 26, 2016

Easy Gift Idea | DIY Pedicure Kit

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

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SallyStrong #CollectiveBias

diy pedicure kit
One of my favorite ways to relieve stress is to get a pedicure but honestly…the thrifty gal inside me doesn’t do it very often. I mean jeez, I could buy a pair of shoes for that price! Naturally, I’ve come up with an at-home solution that makes the perfect gift for someone who has a lot going on and just needs to treat herself. Plus it’s WAY cheaper than getting a gift card for just one pedicure. Or you can keep it for yourself, I promise I won’t tell. 

Here’s what you need:

  • 2 small mason jars or other glass containers
  • 1 c of epsom salt (to use as a hand or foot soak)
  • 1/2 c brown sugar
  • 1/2 c white sugar
  • 1/2 c coconut oil
  • Sally Hansen Vitamin E Nail & Cuticle Oil – a moisturizing oil that softens cuticles and helps care for dry, brittle nails
  • Sally Hansen Complete Care 7-in-1 Nail Treatment – an all in one Base Coat, Top Coat, Growth Treatment, Strengthener, Ridge-Filler, Brightener, and Ultra-Moisturizing Nail Treatment
  • Nail polish (I love Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure polishes!)
  • Cute box, bag or basket to hold everything

And here’s what to do:

1. Pour your epsom salt into a mason jar. Easy! You can also include a tag or note with instructions on how to use the epsom salt – “Put a few tablespoons of epsom salt in warm water for a nice hand or foot soak” or something similar. 

2. Make your sugar scrub! There are tons of ways to do this but since people have different allergies and sensitivity to scents, I’m keeping it simple here. If your coconut oil is solid, microwave it at a low temperature until it melts. (Since it’s summer, your oil might already be in liquid form at room temperature).

dallas blogger valery brennan675Then mix the oil with your sugars – you should have 2 parts sugar to 1 part coconut oil. I layered mine and then just used a butter knife to carefully stir. Add more sugar or oil as needed. It should look a little something like this once you’re done:

dallas blogger valery brennan683

Like the epsom salt, you can include instructions on how to use the sugar scrub. “Gently rub this sugar scrub on hands or feet to exfoliate and moisturize the skin.”

3. Put everything into your container….told you it was easy! If you want to take it one step further, add a cute handmade tag for the epsom salt and the sugar scrub!

dallas blogger valery brennan695

dallas blogger valery brennan702Admittedly, I have to buy new nail polish, treatment and cuticle oil before I give this kit away to a friend because I had to give these a spin for myself! I applied the Vitamin E Nail and Cuticle Oil all over my nails and cuticles (I love that it has a brush to make application super simple), massaged it in for a few minutes and then washed my hands. Then I applied one coat of the Complete Care 7-in-1 Nail Treatment, let that dry, and followed it up with Complete Salon Manicure polish (in the shade Black and Blue).

dallas blogger valery brennan707Once the polish was dry, I applied one last coat of the Nail Treatment as a top coat. Even though I applied four coats of product, it went on very smoothly and dried down completely in about 20 minutes. Three days later and my nails haven’t chipped at all…which is nothing short of a miracle! Thanks to the Nail Treatment and Oil, my nails feel much stronger and smoother – I’m seriously amazed.

I grabbed everything I needed for this little project at my local Target – you can find all the Sally Hansen nail products in the beauty section, it should look a little something like this.

In-store-Target-photo

  • Do you get regular pedicures? If so, would you consider an at home pedicure?
  • Anyone else suffer from insanely brittle and soft nails? Spill your secrets!

xoxo
Valery

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Comments

  1. Jennifer C says

    July 26, 2016 at 7:35 AM

    Sure it’s admittedly cheaper – but sometimes you just want to treat yo’ self! Nothing beats a professional pedicure – the key is, it may take a couple trips shopping around to different nail salons to find the perfect one (which yes, can add up with anywhere from $20-$65 a piece) But if you find the best, local nail salon that you can go to and get the most for your money, it’s worth it! I’ve found a salon I can go to and for roughly $45 – I can get a full, deluxe pedicure – which includes all of the following:

    -free beverage
    -seated in a massage chair (which is worth it alone!)
    -some kind of entertainment (music and/or TV)
    -begin with foot soak/wash in jetted tub
    -full pedicure (remove old polish, nail trim, cuticles, foot scrub with “cheese grater”, lotion)
    -depending on the package you choose, you get some kind of fruit/herbal/organic treatment (fresh oranges/citrus, peppermint oil, coconut oil, brown sugar scrub, chocolate mousse, etc) massaged into foot, ankle, and all the way up your shins and calves
    -rinse off and place feet in bag of hot parafin wax
    -apply oil to the rest of the leg and wrap in hot towels
    -if you’re lucky, they will rub your forearms with lotion and give you a deep tissue massage while your feet set in the wax and hot towels
    -remove wraps, rinse off and rub shins and calves with hot stones
    -finish with applying nail polish (with multiple layers and top coat, it dries almost instantly and lasts for months)

    I agree, it’s not the most affordable treatment for some and is definitely considered a luxury – but if you go to the right place, you’re getting a LOT for your money! 🙂

    But the DIY kits are adorable and would make a great gift!

    • Valery Brennan says

      July 29, 2016 at 8:14 PM

      Yeah! It’s definitely more of a “treat yourself” kind of thing. Thanks for stopping by 🙂

    • Tee says

      August 1, 2016 at 3:11 AM

      I’m sorry but you can’t go around teasing people with these fantasies! No but seriously, I just desired a pedicure like I never have before. So hard to do your own feet when you have back issues, and can’t sit in a chair 45 minutes at a salon. One day hope to treat myself to a spa pedicure though after reading this comment.

  2. Denise says

    July 28, 2016 at 1:25 AM

    I love the idea of a homemade scrub– is that something I can use on my lips too? Also, you saying that your nails are chip-free is really making me want to grab those products for myself! [client]

    • Valery Brennan says

      July 29, 2016 at 8:14 PM

      Ohhhh I didn’t even think about that!

      • Kristin says

        July 30, 2016 at 10:34 AM

        I bet you could– it’s just sugar. Just don’t rub too hard or for too long, I’d say a minute tops!

  3. Pedicure Spa Chairs says

    December 27, 2017 at 11:11 PM

    I hate to spend $50 on a pedicure each month so this will help out GREATLY! It actually makes doing the pedicure at home really easy.

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CW: body image stuff, food/diet talk For the last CW: body image stuff, food/diet talk

For the last couple of years I’ve worked hard on (mostly) being at peace with my body. I work out for my mental health and because it feels good, I stay off the scale, I don’t see any food as “bad” anymore.

The thing I haven’t been able to adjust is giving my body nutritious foods without diving into diet culture. If I don’t track foods I won’t eat veggies like....ever. If I do track foods, I start worrying about calories, losing weight, etc. So I’ve chosen not to worry about it, for fear of falling back into an unhealthy relationship with food and my body.

Smoothies have always been a good way for me to get fruits and veggies but it’s a lot of work and tbh making a good smoothie requires a LOT of ingredients and then I end up with a massive smoothie. That’s why when I first heard about @kencko, it seemed too good to be true. Freeze dried fruits that you mix in water or any milk, like a protein shake. 2.5 servings of fruits/veggies per packet. (The packets are compostable btw). LOADS of flavor options with various benefits.

I was sold.

I signed up for three months to get the best deal, PRAYING they would taste good and y’all......they are incredible. I am shocked at how much I love them, even the flavors I didn’t think I would be crazy about. I signed up for 20/month and will def be increasing that quantity.

Sorry this is soooo long winded but I wanted to share in case anyone else had similar struggles. They do have a referral code so if you want $10 off your first box just let me know 💕
“Every day is a gift.” That’s what I said t “Every day is a gift.”

That’s what I said to myself when I woke up on Monday. I got dressed in an outfit I loved and promised to make it a good day. And the universe said “okay let’s see how far we can push this gratitude thing” and threw A LOT of shit at me 😂 I still ended my day with a smile and a @onepeloton @jesskingnyc ride. Then I couldn’t sleep because I worked out too late but it’s fine.

Woke up today with the same attitude. Drove an hour to get my second vaccine, arrived for my appointment and they told me they didn’t have the vaccine I needed. Even though I had called to check last week to ensure this didn’t happen. 2.5 hours in the middle of the work day wasted. After working until 10:15 last night and getting four hours of sleep.

I’m still not going to let it break me. (And yes, I was able to find another appointment and I’m SURE it’s the right vaccine.) Life is so precious and I’m so grateful for what I have. I’m especially grateful that in just a few weeks I finally get to see my family for the first time in over a year. What a joy. Sometimes I never thought that moment would come - I shed a lot of tears over it. But it’s almost here.

The only bad thing is now I have to find another vaccine outfit because I wasted this one today.
I guess I’m posting outfit photos again! They wo I guess I’m posting outfit photos again! They won’t be very aesthetic but I’m excited to share and also document what I wear. I know a lot of y’all are here from my fashion blogging days so thanks for sticking around 💕

A wardrobe shift usually means having to buy a bunch of new stuff. For me, what I really “needed” more of was plain tees. I tried to look at sustainable brands but honestly they were just too pricey especially considering the sub-par reviews. So instead I went with my old standby...Target. Their shirts have always lasted me a really long time and the one I’m wearing here is linen 😍 I was very picky and took back a few that didn’t quite fit me properly. All in all I spent around $40 and now have a wardrobe that feels really filled out - here’s to hoping they last me a few years like my current Target shirts have!

I guess all this to say...sometimes you just have to make the best choice for you. I intend on keeping this shirts in my closet for a long long time and know they will get tons of love. Now I’m back on my super low/no buy and can’t wait to wear in my new goodies! 

Ps VERY excited to be wearing sandals! It’s finally spring (?????)
This feels extremely 2014 IG but I’m fine with t This feels extremely 2014 IG but I’m fine with that. My style has changed so much and this is where I’ve been living lately - simple neutrals, plus a couple of necklaces. Color correcting cream, mascara, brows, Fenty gloss bomb because it’s literally the only lip product that doesn’t make my lips crack the next day. 

Anyone else’s style completely change in the past year? My closet looks so different and past me would think it’s “boring” but I feel good and getting dressed is easy now so who cares. 

Ps @roseybeeme influenced me to buy this letter necklace and it makes me feel like a mobster and I love that.
Little Plop got an upgrade to his playpen today (a Little Plop got an upgrade to his playpen today (a pillow) and he is OBSESSED. 

I’m going to keep saying this, if you’re in the denver area and looking for a puppy...he is perfect. It’s going to be hard for me to let this little guy go. Message me if you’re interested in adopting him and feel free to tag someone!

He’s ten weeks, some kind of mix but definitely has wire hair like a terrier. Will probably be small/medium like 25-30 pounds. Very smart and spunky but has a neurological disorder that causes him to have a bit of weakness in his back legs.
Meet Duke, our newest foster puppy. He is a precio Meet Duke, our newest foster puppy. He is a precious brindle wiry haired pup, who also has a neurological condition that makes his legs a little wobbly. Duke doesn’t let that slow him down though. He is curious, playful, loving, and I can’t wait to spend the next week with him. He will be up for adoption next Saturday via @coloradopuppyrescue 💕
Current obsession: this weird little centerpiece I Current obsession: this weird little centerpiece I made using dried flowers that I used in a @brennancandleco shoot. Trying to be better about reusing and giving things a second life like this cute little fox(?) skull.
We are not fans 😩 We are not fans 😩
“Less is more” was a phrase that never resonat “Less is more” was a phrase that never resonated with me. I used to always jokingly say “more is more” and honestly, one of the most surprising outcomes of the pandemic is I’m….becoming a minimalist. I’ve decluttered LOADS of stuff (I wish I had documented it, honestly) - at least 50% of my wardrobe, probably more. I’ve been on a serious low buy since the start of 2020 with only a few additions. We’ve even sold off about 1/3 of our furniture! 

And I have to be honest….I love the breathing room. I feel more at peace. I feel lighter in the spaces where I’ve decluttered more. 

I still have a lot of work to do. And I want to be intentional about my minimalism - it’s not about the aesthetic. It’s about only having things that I love or that serve a purpose. I want to continue to minimize my carbon footprint by buying less. Minimalism for me is not purchasing a new capsule wardrobe every season. It’s finding a style I love and sticking with it, with a few additions here and there. It’s a “1 in 1 out” rule for clothing. It’s getting rid of things responsibly when I want to change things up. It’s a space that’s easier to clean because I don’t have to spend HOURS tidying up and trying to find a space for all of my stuff.

So anyway, here’s my new dining room - we got rid of a coffee table and relocated two big chairs. I’m sitting in one of them while I take this photo. I feel at peace.

Any other minimalists out there? Has the pandemic made you think more about your space since you’re in it more?
Fuck yeah. 💪🏻 Fuck yeah. 💪🏻

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