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 · May 25, 2018

I Quit My Job.

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

Y’all know I’ve been…..a hot mess lately lol. And although that’s kind of my normal MO, the last month or so I’ve really been at next level “hot mess” and now I can FINALLY reveal why!

I quit my full time job.

No I am not blogging and/or running Fiercely full time. But for the last year, I’ve been working full time, working part time for another company, AND I’ve been juggling my own stuff. Plus add in there keeping my marriage afloat, trying to maintain relationships with all my Dallas friends, visiting friends and family, trying to make Denver feel more like home, meeting new people here…..you get it.

Something had to give. So I quit my full time job and I will be working part time (remotely, three days a week) for a marketing firm based in Irving, Texas. I actually used to work there full time and have been helping out with their social media the last year! Then 2 days a week, I’ll be working on my blog and shop – get ready for things to ramp back up! And then….I’ll have two days a week where I DO NOT WORK. This is such a foreign concept to me.

Before I go any further, let me say I am SO thankful that my (former) full time job allowed me the freedoms it did. I have worked remotely the last three years and I know most would consider that a luxury. Yes it comes with it’s own set of challenges, but it is AMAZING and I’m sooooo thankful I was introduced to remote work life. I worked for a solid company with some amazing humans, but I haven’t felt fulfilled in quite a while.

You see, my job was fine, but it was too easy. I was a customer service rep but it required almost no critical thinking, no creativity, I just read from a script and occasionally answered some questions that weren’t on the script. Which was great at first – I got to do semi mindless work for my 9-5, and focused all my creativity on my outside projects. But eventually, it started to take it’s toll on me and things took a turn. My anxiety increased, my productivity in ALL aspects of life decreased and I was constantly frustrated with myself. I wasn’t “me” anymore and it was reflecting in my work, which made it worse because I find a LOT of my identity in my work.

I’m an ENFP, and after revisiting 16personalities.com, it all started to make sense:

“Repetition, predictability, boredom… while some Sentinel types may appreciate predictability and clear hierarchies, these are not selling points for ENFPs. People with the ENFP personality type need to feel like they’re pushing boundaries and exploring ideas, and should focus on interests and careers that encourage that.”

….oh. I literally wasn’t made for this life. It has nothing to do with the job, there’s just nothing I can do. I’ve been in the same position for three years and it’s not fitting anymore. My heart was telling me I needed something new, but so was my BRAIN.

And guess what y’all, that’s totally okay! I would NEVER tell you to just straight up quit your job, but if you’re feeling like something isn’t fitting, start to think about an exit plan. What would it take for your life to improve? What do you like about your current job? What do you dislike? These are questions you can start to ask yourself if you’re feeling the panic of “omg what do I do now?!”

For me, I LOVED my coworkers, I loved getting to help people on a daily basis, and I loved working remotely. So I needed a solution that kept those pros, but also allowed me to be more creative and left more time for my own work. I have also learned that I prefer positions where I get to form more long-term relationships with clients – that’s important to me.

So what do these things look like with my new situation? Now I’ll be working three days a week (remotely) for a marketing firm, doing social media, SEO and whatever else they need. It’s a small firm, so everyone wears lots of hats (another thing that I love!)

  • Coworkers: I LOVE the people who work at the firm, we get along SO well! As I mentioned above, I used to work for them back when I lived in Dallas and it was a blast.
  • Helping people: I know some people don’t think of marketing as a “helping” job, but I really do! I love helping others grow their businesses and I get a lot out of it!
  • Creativity: Marketing is SUCH a creative field and the firm I’m working for is smaller so there’s more need for flexibility, learning new skills and trying out new ideas. All things that Iove! Also most of our clients are arts-based so sometimes I get to market shows for some of my favorite artists, which is REALLY cool.
  • Remote: I’ll still be working remotely, but since the firm is based in Dallas (and my friends and family are all in DFW), I can still visit and spend a few days working in the office to make sure I’m up to date on all projects and just to get some face time in with real humans lol. Working remotely can be LOVELY but it can also be LONELY.
  • Time: This is going to free up SO much time for me so that I can work on my businesses during normal business hours. I’m looking forward to having a more normal work/life balance, something I haven’t had for ages. Also, I literally don’t have any hobbies except watching tv so I’m really excited to explore that more (this is very sad to admit but it is what it is and I know a lot of other entrepreneurs feel the same way).

A few weeks ago, I went to a brunch with a Meyers-Briggs specialist and one thing she focused on was not to use your type as a crutch. This is suuuuper important. Don’t make excuses for bad behavior or habits because of your type. However, I think it can be helpful in seeing WHY you’re reacting to certain things a certain way. It definitely was for me. I felt like I was failing and couldn’t do any better, no matter what I changed. Turns out, I was just in the wrong job for my brain.

I don’t really know what else to say other than the fact that I’m really excited to see what the future holds. I’m grateful for my past opportunities, and I’m thrilled to have some new things on the horizon. My word for 2018 is Flourish and I’m fighting like hell to make sure that’s what happens. For now, I’m spending the next week and a half in celebration mode. I’m heading to Memphis with two of my besties to see Justin Timberlake, and party with a bunch of diehard fans on the floor. After that, I’m going back to Texas where I’ll be spending a few days in the office to get “settled” into my new position.

Fight for the life you deserve. Because you really do deserve it.

xoxo
Valery

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Comments

  1. Stephanie says

    May 25, 2018 at 1:54 PM

    You are FLOURISHING! So proud of you. Cannot wait for your new adventures to unfold.

  2. Heather Webb says

    May 25, 2018 at 5:32 PM

    I’m so happy for you! I also can relate SO MUCH to being unhappy in your position and feeling like you are stuck. It’s how I felt in my last job, where I was also a customer service rep, and I had all the same things happen. My anxiety increased and I was so unfulfilled. I finally found my current job and I’m thriving there. It’s a smaller start up where I build relationships with my clients and it’s such a better fit. I’m so happy you’ve found something that works for you and I can’t wait to follow along on your journey.

  3. Meg Ackley says

    May 26, 2018 at 5:21 AM

    We’re cheering for you, Valery!! Very proud of you!

  4. Diane Owen says

    May 26, 2018 at 10:35 AM

    I am thrilled that you were able to make this work! You make me so proud! Keep being you, I love her. ❤️

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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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