wanna know my secret?

I got a new tattoo!!!  Last Saturday (October 2) I traveled to Three Kings Tattoo in Brooklyn with Marissa and Kevin so I could get a tattoo in honor of my parents.  Here is my journey in photos (taken by the fabulous Marissa).

I got pretty anxious when I actually stepped foot in the tattoo parlor.

When I had my consultation with Dan I just brought in a bunch of pictures of real bluebirds, told him I wanted a male and a female bluebird on my upper middle back and left the rest of up him so I really wasn't sure what the tattoo would look like until I saw his sketches.
 

I was happy with the first time he placed the stencil on my back.  I had originally envisioned them being lower but I think they just felt right where Dan placed them.

Once the stencil was on my back Kevin went off to have a beer and grab something to eat - so typical, haha.  Marissa stayed with me the whole time, what a trooper!  Don't worry Kevin came back after about an hour and stayed the rest of the time, he also has helped me wash the tattoo and moisturize it multiple times a day for over a week, he is the best!  Dan started the tattoo by doing all the black outlines.

 

 Then he moved on to the black shading.  The pain got noticeably worse, all the rubbing of the needle really didn't feel good, but I was a big girl and didn't complain at all.

Lastly came the color, the most exciting and most PAINFUL part.  At this point I was pretty exhausted but I was ready to just get it over with.  I had a lollipop to keep my blood sugar up.  The tattoo remained a pretty big mystery to me during the process.  Marissa would take some pictures and show them to me and Kevin kept checking on it and letting me know it looked amazing - his opinion was really important to me and it made me feel so much more relaxed knowing that he loved it.  The entire tattoo took a little over 3 hours to complete - it sounds like a really long time and well it is but it really didn't feel that long. 

The end result is breathtaking.  I don't think I could have asked for a more beautiful tattoo.  The detail and color just blows me away.  I can't stop looking at it.  I unveiled it to my parents this weekend.  They both didn't think it was real at first, haha, but they both love it.  I got the tattoo in their honor.  Bluebirds symbolize happiness and home and that is what my parents are to me.  I wanted something to remind me of them that I will carry with me always.  I have been blessed with the most loving and amazing parents anyone could ask for.  Mom and Dad, I love you so much!