Hey girlfriend!

Seriously, let's all take a minute out of our day and call a girlfriend and say "HEY! I LOVE YOU!" Female friendship is one of the most wonderful things in the entire world, and I've been lucky enough in my life to be surrounded by amazing girls throughout all 27 years I've been on this earth. From my Mom to my sister, my aunts, my grandmas, my childhood friends to my friends from high school, dance friends, soccer friends, college friends, sorority sisters, teacher friends, the list goes on. How lucky are we all to have even one lady in our life we can count on!

I'm a total girl's girl, and I value women so much. I have always thought it was so sad to hear my fellow ladies bash girls, doing the whole "I just don't get along with them" routine. In no way is it possible to like every woman on the planet, but we should at least try to support each other instead of cutting each other down from the get-go and playing that game. By nature humans are competitive, and I think many times girls see each other as competition and through a comparative eye, rather than seeing inspiration or alliance. I've written on this topic before, and my position has always been the same. Women need women in their lives to understand all the things that men just can't grasp. I feel such a sisterhood with my best girlfriends, and the amount of support I receive from them is paramount. Each girl in my life has such a different, unique role. Some of these friendships have been cultivated since I was very young, and others I have met along the way. I see some of my friends everyday, some a couple weekends out of the month, and others go years between visits. However, it feels like no time has passed when I am with these girls. As we grow up, it's just not possible to chat everyday on the phone, to spend hours hanging out each weekend, or even to get together once a month. But we make it work, each in our own way that defines that particular friendship. In healthy relationships, there is no resentment. There is simply love, and no matter how often I see or talk to these certain people, our love runs deep. I feel grateful. The older I get, the more I realize just how important it is to have real relationships in my life. Wouldn't you agree?

So, with that said, do you have a best girl in your life that means the world to you? I'd love to hear about it. One of my most favorite things about this blog is input from all of you fabulous people, so thank you in advance for putting yourself out there.

So much (girl!) love.

Blocks of Lucky Ink: Heather's Tribute to Her Son

Heather has seven tattoos.

The one I noticed that led me to approach her is not the one you're about to see. It is on her foot and, in her opinion, slightly "flawed," so she chose to share one that is nearer and dearer to her heart:


The tattoo marks the birth date 3-28-99 and spells out the name Vegas, for her son.

What's particularly cool about this tattoo, which is on Heather's outer left forearm, is not just that she spells out her son's name in kids' building blocks, but that these blocks are also dice, which acknowledges the name Vegas, and its link to the city which is built on chance and luck.

Other images that ring the name are a slot machine, a horseshoe, and a hand of cards featuring four aces. The colorful dice/blocks also feature some traditional tattoo designs, including the standard "Mom" design (on the A block).

This great tattoo was completed in two sittings and was done by Baba, who works out of Vintage Tattoo Art Parlor in Los Angeles.

Heather also has a large back piece that she will hopefully share with us in the future,

Thanks to Heather for sharing her wonderful tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Tattoo Tuesday V.11

I am so happy to present one of my most favorite blogger lady-friends ever, Jessica! She is such an awesome gal, wonderful wife, and mother of TWO! I met the gorgeous Jessica online awhile back, when we realized that my husband's band had played with her husband's band! I've been reading her blog ever since, and loving each and every one of her posts. She's super real and super awesome. So thank you Jess, for being a part of this feature. I know you guys will enjoy all of her photos and insightful advice.



Name and blog name: Jessica Youngsma

I've got 3 blogs!
My general blog is:

http://thedoeorthedeer.blogspot.com/

And my kids each have their own:

http://letters-to-zoe.blogspot.com/

http://2equals4.blogspot.com/

Tattoo/location: Owl and bones located on my left hand.

Artist/shop/location: It was done by Dan Smith in a kitchen, in Orange County (4 years ago). But Dan is now tattooing at High Voltage Tattoo in LA aka "LA Ink" (He's the australian guy on the show).



1) Tell us about the tattoo you are sharing with us- is there a background story or special meaning? Why did you choose this particular piece of art?

I had known Dan a few years before I met my husband and when I met my husband, come to find out my husband's band (Bleeding Through) and Dan's band (Day of Contempt) had toured together and had known each other for awhile too. It's a very small world we live in. So we had talked about him tattooing me some time and found an opportunity between touring to get something done. It just happened to be in a friends apartment kitchen. Don't worry, it was sterile. I decided I wanted an owl, because I have a "thing" for birds and such. And an owl seemed to be the perfect shape to fit on a hand snugly. So, Dan whipped it up and slapped it on. It took about 3 hours and the rest is history! It's the best "kitchen tattoo" I've ever gotten. And yes, this wasn't the first time I've been tattooed in a kitchen.

2) Do you have any other tattoos? If so, what do you have and where?

I have plenty of others! I included a bunch of pics, because who doesn't like pics?!
Neck (left side), Jim Minor
Chest, Kayle LeoGrande
Right arm, Nick Vargas & Los Ocegueda
Left arm, Nick Vargas, Brent Vann, Old School Alex and Mike Childers
Lower back, Nick Vargas
Upper back, Jeff Cooper
Back of neck, Nick Phillips
Left ankle, *myself...(It was the 2nd tattoo I had ever done and its pretty bad.)

























3) Do you plan on getting more?

Yes. If I ever stop being pregnant! I can't wait for Los to finish my Jesus tattoo and get him started on finishing the rest of my right arm. I need to get something for my children and the other side of my neck will be reserved for my dad. Legs, maybe and my throat will be the very last thing I will do before I die.

4) How do your family and friends feel about your tattoo(s)? Have you run into any adversity or negativity because of them?

My mom and dad disowned me when they found out how much I was tattooed. I hid them till about 5 years ago and they found out through finding me in a magazine. Whoops! My mom had said that I would never find a husband looking the way I did. Well, her protest only lasted a few months and I showed up at her door in only a bikini. She also takes back ever saying I wouldn't find a husband, because I've been happily married for 3+ years and she loves my (tattooed) husband. My family doesn't even notice them anymore and they actually stick up for me when people say crappy things about tattooed folk.

As for issues with friends, 98% of my friends are heavily tattooed, so its really a non-issue. I don't get too much crap about them from the general public, but unfortunately there is still a stigma attached to heavily tattooed women. We are seen as skanky, un-motherly and irresponsible. Its really unfortunate how tattooed women are treated by society in modern day.

5) Any advice for those interested in getting tattooed but haven't gotten one yet?

3 things:

WAIT! I honestly don't suggest getting tattooed till you are 26, because your taste as an eager 18 year old, might be done out of trends and you don't really know yourself till you have actually lived and decided who you really are.

RESEARCH! Too many times people go to the local-yokal "tat" shop and blindly choose an artist. Scourer magazines, blogs and websites in search for the artist that "speaks" to you and your style. If that means you got to fly or drive a few hours, its worth it! It's on your body forever, why would you skimp out on a permeant feature on your body? It's like half assing on picking out a leg... If you got to choose what leg you wanted on you for the rest of your life, wouldn't you want to pick out the best looking leg?!

PUT DOWN THE PENCIL! It's fine and dandy to come up with a rough idea (sketch) of what you want to show your artist, but let them take control. They are the artist! I promise they know more about tattoo art than you and what looks good, fits good and an overall aesthetic, (if you had done good research of the artist). This also means, leave your cousin thats in prison out of the designing of your tattoo, too. (Most) artists won't admit to your face that they hate your drawing, but they do. It's worse than picking out random tattoo flash. Trust me.

The Gaslight Anthem

The Gaslight Anthem is easily my favorite band, and I've been anticipating their new album "American Slang" that comes out on SideOneDummy June 15th for so long! Today they released a single off that album and it's really amazing. Click here to check it out on Facebook! Be sure to go to the "My Bands" tab to listen.

Laura's Goose Girl Tattoo

I met Laura in Herald Square last week after I spotted this phenomenal tattoo on her upper left arm:


Laura explained that her mother had a lot of random books of fairy tales in their house where she grew up.

One of her favorite illustrators was Arthur Rackham and this tattoo is based on the following image from "The Goose Girl" from the Brothers Grimm in a volume illustrated by Rackham in 1909:


Laura counts this piece among her six tattoos. It was done by Rob Green at Whatever Tattoo in Manhattan.

Work from Whatever has appeared previously here.

Thanks again to Laura for sharing her beautiful tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

UPDATE:

I missed a panel, here's a more complete version:

Back to work I go...

Oh, Monday. A Monday like today is especially rough when it's the start of not just a new week and the first day back from vacation, but the first day of a new quarter. Granted it's the last quarter of the year, but it's a bummer to have to snap out of vacation mode and get back into work mode so abruptly. I write all the time that I like my job, love it even, and I really do, but sometimes I wonder if I just enjoy it so much because I know there's a time stamp on it. I couldn't ever imagine doing this for the rest of my life. A few more years maybe, but I could never be one of those admirable people (like my inspiring Mama), who teach their whole lives. Knowing that I am going to be a stay-at-home mom when Hank and I eventually have kids kind of makes it much easier. Don't get me wrong, my job is incredibly rewarding and I smile every single day knowing I'm making a positive impact in my students' lives, but it's not quite a "career" for me. I hope that makes sense. :)

So, today was a good day at work. My sophomores and I started Fahrenheit 451 today (it's probably the 25th time I've read it!) and I'm excited. I love this book a lot and I hope they do too. This week should go by fairly quickly, and then next Friday we have off! So excited. Amber is coming home to Prescott for a visit and we will be heading down to Phoenix so she can get her very first tattoo. I can't wait.

Also, I've been reading tons of books lately, but one in particular I wanted to mention: "The Last Song," by Nicolas Sparks.



This book was recommended to me by one of my students, and I have had it for a couple of weeks, but didn't pick it up until recently. I won't give anything away, but I thought it was absolutely beautifully written, full of emotion and overall just a fabulous read. I spent the last 40 minutes of the book crying pretty hard, and it was amazing that it had affected me so deeply. I recommend that all of you read it, and please let me know what you think! The movie opens this weekend, and I am so looking forward to it. I researched the film a bit earlier today and found out that Nicolas Sparks actually wrote the screenplay before he wrote the novel, and Miley Cyrus actually named her own character Ronnie. I know a lot of people are skeptical of Miley- I personally am a huge fan- but after reading the book, I feel she was perfectly cast. In fact, I think the entire movie was. Miley and her love interest in the film are actually dating in real life too, and I find that really sweet and it will make for great on-screen chemistry I'm sure! Here's the trailer:



Have any of you read the book? Are you SO excited to see it? I am literally counting down. Fortunately my friend Robyn is going to see it with me, so I don't have to drag Hank to a movie he definitely doesn't want to watch. Yay for girlfriends!

I am heading to sleep, but I hope all of you have a wonderful night. I'll see you tomorrow night for Tattoo Tuesday!

xoxo

A Selection of Jorge's Tattoos

I met Jorge last week at the top of the escalators leading from Penn Station to 7th Avenue.

He has quite a few, and I took photos of the front and back of his left forearm.

The inner part of his arm has this koi design:


A friend of his did this for him, which he got for luck before going overseas with the U.S. Army to Iraq in 2008. He proudly served with the Third Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, 187th Infantry Regiment, also known as The Rakkasans.

Jorge loves what he calls his "good luck koi fish" and says "We deployed for 15 months....every time I was tired for walking for 2 or 3 days nonstop, I would look at my tattoo and smile and keep walking...".

After returning, he got this tattoo in Nashville:


This piece was just a very cool design.

Bridging these two very different tattoos are two cherry blossoms:


Jorge wanted to make sure they didn't get omitted from the post, as these flowers represent his mother and sister.

That would have been it for this post from Jorge, except the day after meeting him, he sent me this shot of a tattoo on the upper left side of his back:

He hadn't mentioned this when I met him, so I was pleased to include it in the post.

Jorge got this piece at Coyote's Tattoo in Lima, Peru.

He says this is a tribute to his mother and his Peruvian heritage. It is based on a pure gold artifact found next to a mummy in Peru which he saw on display in the American Museum of Natural History.

Thanks again to Jorge for sharing so many of his tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!