more changes.

I don't do well with change. I never have, whether its good or bad. I like to plan, organize, be consistent.

After only 4 weeks back from maternity leave, I had to leave my job. I could write a BOOK on that situation, but I won't.

Thankfully I got another job quickly, and one I'm really really excited about. I'm trying to see the stress of leaving my job as a blessing in disguise. I'm slowly getting my happy back.

I'll be working as an Executive Assistant/Marketing Manager for a tutoring center, three locations. I'll be working out of the one right here by our house. It takes me less than 10 minutes to get there, it shares a parking lot with our pediatrician, and is maybe half a mile from daycare. I also work MWF, and get two days home with Penny girl. Which is great, to still spend time with her- but also saves us money on daycare. Winning! Eventually I'll be able to do some work from home T/Th which is amazing. So far I'm really enjoying it, and am so excited to be working in something I love: marketing! My employer also encourages learning- already talking about sending me to a social media seminar. Excited is an understatement. I've started looking at various schools and what they offer in a Social Media certification/degree. That will be down the road, cause ya'll-- money doesn't grow on trees around here. But just the thought of going back to school has me SO excited.

Work-wise, my self esteem was torn to shreds. Just totally crushed. I haven't had to go on interviews for years, so I was really nervous. I knocked them all out of the park, and ended up getting some pretty amazing job offers. Two in particular I had to decline, they both told me to get in touch if my situation changes because they'd love to have me. Talk about good for the soul. It made me realize I need to stop selling myself short. I've always applied to entry level positions, reception, etc. thinking that was all I could get since I don't have a degree. This go around I realized I'm worth more, and clearly there are employers out there who think that.

It has been a really rough and stressful few weeks, but I'm slowly recovering.

I always survive, right?

here we go again....

so, its no secret I've battled with depression off and on for years. there are plenty of sad sappy posts in this old blog to prove that.

I finally got off anti-depressants (which, was really hard) after suffering post partum depression in 2012 when Adelynn was born. By the time I was 12 weeks pregnant with Penny, my doctor put me back on them after diagnosing me with pre natal depression, which I didn't even know was a thing. I was nervous about taking them while pregnant but it proved to be a blessing and really helped me- and penny girl is here, just fine & healthy.

Lately I've been skipping doses on random days. Sometimes because I just do...and sometimes because I just get so busy I forget. Its pretty stupid, I know. I thought about it a lot today and am definitely not going to skip it intentionally anymore.

That, along with some situational stress...has put me in a big funk.

I had 12 weeks off of work to be home on maternity leave with Penny- which was a welcome change from the short 8 weeks I had with Adelynn. During these 12 weeks a LOT happened: recovering from a section, a touch of post partum depression (despite the medication) getting in to a routine with a newborn & 2 year old, having all my wisdom teeth out, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Joey's bday, New Years, and our sixth wedding anniversary. Oh, and Penny got RSV- ended up taking her to the ER and then to the pediatrician every week for three weeks. After that I didn't leave the house unless I HAD to, I didn't ( and still don't) want to get her out in the cold if I didn't have to.

I started back work almost two weeks ago. I work from home 4 days a week and go in to the office on Fridays. Awesome, right? I was so excited to have this time with Penny, that I didn't get to have with Adelynn when she was a baby. I worked really hard to make this happen- I've been striving for it for over three years, got really close once, but it fell through. This whole me working at home gig was my way to enable us to grow our family. Before Penny we knew we couldn't afford two in daycare. And obviously can't afford for me to be a SAHM. Thats how this plan went in to motion. We wanted to grow our family, but wanted to do is responsibly.

Looks like history is about to repeat itself. Hence why I said I WAS so excited...

I don't know what happened. I'm hurt, disappointed, and confused. I didn't do a thing wrong- followed all the rules- did what was asked and expected of me...so I can't help but thing "why? WHY ME?"

hence the whole battling depression thing. again.

I think the stress is what is causing my insomnia, so I'm running on about 4 hours of interrupted sleep every night. I can't sleep. I'm sad, angry, confused, hurt, stressed. Its a vicious cycle.


but, I'm doing what I always do. As much as I'm feelin' all the feels, I'm chugging along and pushing onward. Doing what I have to for my family.

Younique By Kelly-- BB Cream!

I don't know about you, but when I first heard the term BB Cream I had no idea what it was!

Shortly after trying Younique's mascara, I looked in to the BB Cream and decided to give it a shot. I'm glad I did, because next to the mascara- its something I wear every single day.

The BB Cream is light weight (not cakey, yuck!) and gives you a flawless, dewy finish. It truly is a complexion enhancer. I have awful circles under my eyes, they almost look purple-- and after my first pregnancy I've had super splotchy skin, which is very noticeable as I am very very fair skinned. (I use the cream colored cream) This stuff works wonders on evening out my complexion and giving my skin a nice, even finish. A lot of times I will only wear BB cream, no concealor or foundation!

I absolutely love the results I get with it. It also acts as a moisturizer, which is perfect with all this cold weather we're having now.

As for application, everyone does it differently. You can use a brush, sponge, or just your fingers! You can also use it for highlighting and contouring.

I've had a lot of girls try this out shortly after getting hooked on the mascara, and every single one of them love it!

Needless to say, it is something I will forever keep in stock for myself! When I have my baby girl next week, mascara and BB Cream will for sure be in my hospital bag ;)

Get yours here: BB Cream

 mini make over  by ME!

and an after shot with better lighting outside ;)

www.3DLashesByKelly.com

Vanity Primp

make up lovers, take note!

I stumbled across this sweet lady on instagram a few weeks ago, and I'm so glad I did! She makes customized compact mirrors- THAT HAVE LIGHTS! she can also do phone cases too! Her work is AWESOME.

Go follow her on IG @vanityprimp and take a look at all her goodies.

Working with her to create my mirror was a breeze- we emailed back and forth a bit so she could get an idea of what I liked, what I was in to. I told her: hello kitty, younique (duh), starbucks, pink, flowers, etc etc and this is what she came up with:

um...hello gorgeous.

right?!

I'm also getting a phone case, check it out:

I mean...I love it.

So like I said, go find her on IG @vanityprimp, and you can also email her vanityprimp@yahoo.com

Tell her Kelly sentcha ;)

Below are some more pictures of other mirrors she has done!

Younique By Kelly -- Eye Pigments!

NEWS FLASH!

The eye pigments are about to go up in price, so stock up now if you've been thinking about it!

Currently they are $10/pigment, but starting in just two days (11/1) they will be going up to $12.50/pigment.

What is great about these pigments, is they are so versatile. You can wear them wet or dry. You can also apply them as a liner, make your own nail polish, or even use them as hair chalk!

Not to mention they are free of all the harmful junk that comes in most makeup. No chemicals, oils, perfumes,talc, synthetic dyes, no fillers, or parabens. 100% natural!

Get to it ladies, a couple colors have already run out of stock and are on back order- so if there are colors you've got your eye on, snag 'em at the $10 price before 11/1 !

Thinking of getting a few? Check out the sets, you'll save money that way. You can buy individually (for now) at $10/pigment, OR do a set of 4 for $35 (saving $5), OR do a set of 8 for $65 (saving $15). *And yes, you get to choose the colors!*

Single Pigments

Set of 4 Pigments

Set of 8 Pigments

And as always, we do have a Love It Guarantee-- nothing to lose!

Holler at me with any questions, and to shop for pigments as well as all other products, go to my site: www.3DLashesByKelly.com

Also find me on instagram @youniquekellyr

Younique by Kelly -- 3D Fiber Lashes!

If you haven't heard yet.... I'm now a Younique rep! I know I know...direct sales *insert eye roll here*. But man, this company and these products really ARE different!

Today I'm going to talk about the best selling product: the 3D Fiber Lash Mascara!

Before I joined Younique I had a friend ask me to throw an online party for her, so I said sure, why not. I ended up having a decent party sales-wise so was able to get the mascara free with my hostess rewards. I wasn't really all that interested and was kind of having a take or leave it type attitude. BUT...once I tried it? I was hooked. The difference it made in my lashes was crazy. I've been using Cover Girl Lash Blast for years and thought it was the bees knees...boy was I wrong.

On one eye you can see Younique, and on the other- the Cover Girl Lash Blast I've used forever.

Guess which is which!?

This is when I knew this makeup was different. I started using the mascara every single dang day and fell in love with it more and more. A couple weeks later I was curious about selling...and here I am! Business is booming!

The mascara is two tubes, one is the Transplanting Gel and the other are the Green Tea Fibers.

What I love about this company and these products, is a lot of them are hypoallergenic! Also: vegan, cruelty free, gluten free, and so on. My skin has been so sensitive since I had my little one, everything makes me break out in a rash- not this stuff!

Step 1: Gel

Step 2: Fibers

Step 3: Gel

DONE!

You CAN use your old mascara as a base if you want- I've done it both ways and tend to change it up daily. At first, it will feel weird-- cause its different that what you're used to! But now its like second nature to me and takes no time at all.

Here is a good video going over the application- and you can see the difference in her lashes right away- its like magic! (you don't need sound either, she uses captions!) Not only does she show how to apply, but she shows you how to make them even longer.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=i7ru4t8DM8I

Whats cool is you can layer the mascara as much as you want, to get your lashes as full and thick as you want! On a daily basis I only use 1, maybe 2 coats. But if I'm going out or going to an event, I'll go more bold. The below picture is from a wedding I went to a couple weeks ago- this is 3 coats of Younique!

What is even more awesome about this company? We have a Love It Guarentee! Don't like it? Return/exchange it! I've been selling this since August, and so far- NO returns. Everyone who has tried it has LOVED it. Skeptics turned to believers, I have a group of loyal customers ordering over and over cause they can't imagine using their old mascara again!

The cost? $29. Seems high right? BUT, this stuff will last up to 3 months! I use it daily, applying anywhere 1 to 4 coats, and it lasted me over 3 months! I just had to re-order a new mascara recently, and I'm actually still using my original one.

So! What are you waiting for?? 

Get it here: www.3DLashesByKelly.com

Next time, I'll talk about BB Cream!

It's A......baby!

GIRL!

another baby girl for the Rickels :) No one was surprised ha.

So, this cute little baby is Penelope Ann Rickels, or Penny :) a baby sister for Adelynn!

My mom and niece Payton came to the ultrasound along with my in-laws too-- so it was nice having them there to share in the anticipation/excitement, and they got to see miss penny swimming around on a big screen. they gave us a dvd of all the pictures as well as a dvd of the ultrasound, its about a 10 minute video. we got the same with adelynn when we found out she was a girl, so its cool to have both of those for the girls.

we're pretty dang excited! we've already somewhat started working on her room. theme is gray,pink, white, elephants. we've already got a dresser/changing table- its wood colored so joey will be sanding it down so we can paint it a light gray. i also have her crib, gray. and an antique telephone table that was refinished in gray/white, to use next to the glider. we just need to paint the walls and start putting everything together! which is a ton of fun, i had so much fun doing this with adelynn so i'm excited to get started with penny.

i have my next doc appt this week for a check up, 16 weeks along now! its flying by so far. all is looking good and healthy too which is always awesome.

i'm not sick anymore- and thankful for that. but i've been dealing with awful headaches every day, and some serious insomnia at night. i just lay there, wide away. the last two nights i've gotten up about 4am and gone downstairs cause i cant fall back asleep. it sucks! i'm anxious to ask the doc about it thursday - never had this with adelynn.

so, thats all for now-- exciting stuff! excited to meet miss penny in November!