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?
  • Low Buy
  • Lifestyle
  • Fashion
  • Beauty

valery brennan

  • Home
  • About
    • Disclosure
  • Contact
  • Blog

Beauty · January 23, 2017

Ink Box Temporary Tattoo Review

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

One of my goals for 2017 is to have more guest posters so that I can introduce y’all to some other amazing bloggers you might not know otherwise. Today we have Rachel from A Bleach Life sharing a super interesting product review! Like me, Rachel has kind of an edgy style, which I’m a total sucker for. I’m so excited for today’s post so let’s get to it! Also don’t forget to show Rachel some love on her blog and social media (she’s @ableachlife everywhere)!

Hi guys! My name is Rachel, from ableachlife.com (come say hi!), and I am taking over Valery’s blog today! As you all know, Valery has some SICK tattoos, and tattoo virgins, like me, can get just a tiny tiny bit jealous of all that art! I have been wanting to get a tattoo for a while now, but I am a very non-committal person, I get bored of things very easily, and am always changing things up. So instead of going out and getting a full blown tattoo and potentially hating it the next month, I picked up this product called Ink Box.

Ink Box is a temporary tattoo, but it claims to look exactly like a real tattoo, and last 2-3 weeks. A 2 week tattoo is something I can definitely get behind! You can buy free-hand bottles, or you can buy pre-made designs. I opted for a pre-made design, I didn’t feel that this was the right time to test my hand at art. Below, you will find my experience with this semi-permanent tattoo, and all of the fails as well.

The design I chose was just this simple outline of the world map, called Wabi-Sabi, I didn’t really care for any of the designs much, but I did read that they were soon going to venture out and start offering custom designs, which would really broaden their audience, but for now this will do!

You start by peeling off the white backing, wiping it with the alcohol wipe, and placing it on your skin. Next, you remove the other side to reveal the ink. They provide you with a special cloth, which you microwave for 15 seconds, and press it very hard onto the tattoo, against your skin, for 30 seconds. Keep applying firm pressure for 15 minutes after that. Once the 15 minutes is up, remove the tattoo, let fully dry, and wash with soap and water. (washing is a VERY important step, that I will get to later). Here’s a how-to video you can watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3kOJtZf27o

Once you have peeled the tattoo off your skin, you won’t really see anything, that is because it takes 24-36 hours for the ink to fully develop.

Okay, so I obviously forgot to wash the ink off right away (did I mention that this is a very important step?!) When I bent my arm, the ink transferred to my bicep area, more than once…. And since you can’t see the ink, I didn’t even know this was happening! Ugh…I was a little disappointed in myself, this is going to be on me for 2-3 weeks! I take full blame for this, though, I should have followed the directions more carefully. Let’s get on to talking about the actual tattoo, though.

It looks pretty cute if you don’t get to close to it, a couple of my friends asked if I actually got a tattoo, and told me they thought it looked cool, but looking closer is a different story. It almost looks like a dark blue, and not black, and it could definitely pass off as something I drew on my arm with a pen. The lines also have bleeding that fades outwards, but I can’t be too sure if that is because I didn’t wash it off right away, so maybe it was caused when the ink transferred. Either way, it still looks like a pen doodle, but I don’t hate it.

All in all, I think this is a brilliant idea, especially for someone who wants to test out their tattoo idea, before permanently tattooing it onto them. Or maybe you just want a little detail on an area of your body for a special occasion (but in that case a regular temp. tattoo would work just fine) I don’t really see the point of wanting a tattoo for that long of a time unless you are eventually going to get it permanently on you.

What I have found from this experience is that I actually don’t want a tattoo at all, I am already sick of having this on my arm! (but that could also be because I royally fudged it up) I just get bored of looking at the same thing, and I know I would regret anything I ever get. My style is always changing and tattoos are something you can’t change. I still love tattoo’s on other people, I just don’t think they are for me.

At the end of the day, I don’t think I would ever try out this product again, but I could see how it would be useful to others.

What do you think, would you ever try out this 2 week tattoo?

(Hi, it’s Valery again!) Thanks again to Rachel for guest posting! If you’re interested in guest posting – fill out this form and I’ll get back to you if I think it’s a good fit.

xoxo
Valery (and Rachel!)

In: Beauty

You’ll Also Love

Elf Cosmetics Review + Get Ready With Me Video
Mail Monday + I Need Your Help!
How to Curl Your Hair Without Heat

Comments

  1. Dunya says

    June 2, 2017 at 4:09 AM

    Hi Rachel!

    I’m thinking about ordering from Inkbox but i’m curious how it look after 1, 2 or maybe 3 weeks. Is it fading away and/or is is ugly after two weeks?

    Thanks you for this review!

Next Post >

Diversity Chic | Looking Back on 2016

I'm an eclectic Denver blogger, embarking on a low-buy journey to break up with bad shopping habits and learn to love what I have. Most of the fashion you'll see here is thrifted, and the beauty is thrifty.

trending now

  • I’m Curvy…Can I Wear Overalls?
  • Easy DIY No Sew Poncho Tutorial
  • Ink Box Temporary Tattoo Review
  • 13 Halloween Costumes for Short Hair

instagram

follow @valerybrennan

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. 💪🏻

Copyright © 2021 valery brennan · Theme by 17th Avenue