it's that itch again

Uh oh.  It's that itch again.  That tattoo itch.  I want another one.  No wait I want two more.  Hmmm maybe three... 

I love tattoos, absolutely love them.  Kevin on the other hand isn't as into them as I am.  He likes the tattoos I have now and was so supportive about my big bluebird tattoo (even though he was a little nervous about it), but he doesn't want me to be covered in tattoos.  While I am a firm believer in getting a tattoo for yourself and not letting other people's opinions influence you I have to respect the way Kevin feels.  Even though it is MY body I do share it with him and he has to see it everyday.  I would never want it to be hard for him to look at me.  So while I would rush out there and get the tattoos I want I think I have to run them by him first and get him on board.

Hmmm I wonder how he will feel about me getting tattooed again before we get married...

Update: Kevin was not very pleased when he read this post.  I had to assure him that I am not making plans for any big tattoos.  I only have a couple small tattoo ideas.

tattoos

Holly from Running in Stilettos inspired me to do a post about my tattoos - she even gave me a great shoutout, thanks Holly!  I have been meaning to blog about all my tattoos since I got my newest one but I have been slacking, oops.  

I have 4 tattoos at the moment.  Well I guess it depends on how you count them because if I was counting each separate tattooed piece on my body I would have 7!  That seems like a lot.  Anywhooo... I have loved tattoos for a long time.  They can be so detailed and colorful and can hold so much meaning.  I am always amazed at how creative people get with their tattoos.  In another life I would be tattooed from head to toe, seriously I would be.  In this life I am too scared to commit my entire body to artwork and I know my parents and fiance would not be pleased about it.  I really love all the tattoos I have right now, they are all so meaningful to me.  I thought long and hard about each one (well kinda).  So here they all are (I will go in the order I got them)...

(I apologize for the poor photo quality except for the last one)

Tattoo #1: 3 stars on my left wrist/hand.  I got this tattoo the week I started my senior year of college (September 2006).  The stars symbolize my brothers and I.  I have the best relationships with my younger brothers, we are so close.  

 I love that you can't really see all three at once.

Tattoo #2: diamond on the back of my neck.  This is probably my most impulsive tattoo.  I got it the summer after I graduated from college (July 2007).  Kevin helped me come up with the idea and it is a little tribute to him.  I don't usually suggest getting a tattoo for a girl/boyfriend but this tattoo doesn't say his name and is very discreet.

Tattoo#3: an 'E' on the inside of my right wrist.  I got this tattoo in October of 2009 in honor of my family dog Elsa that we had to put to sleep last fall.  It was the most devastating experience and I still get teary if I think about her for too long.  The second I knew she was sick and wouldn't be with us too much longer I decided I needed to get a tattoo for her.  I love how simple the E is.  I toyed with the idea of getting her full name but in the end I decided not to.  

Tattoo #4: two bluebirds on my upper back.  This is my largest tattoo and the only one in color.  I got it this past October in honor of my parents.  Ever since I got my first tattoo for my brothers I knew I had to get one for my parents some day.  I did a big post about this tattoo here if you want to check it out. 

Did you notice a theme?  All my tattoos have to do with my family.  I have always thought it is important to get a tattoo of something that will never change, something that's meaning will remain constant.  The love I have for my family will never change.  There will never be a time when I look at any of my tattoos and regret them because they each represent someone I love with all my heart.  I have nothing against people who get tattoos without such a deep meaning but it is important to me personally.

I am definitely not done getting tattoos but since I just spent a decent amount of money on a big one I am taking a break for a little while.  I will definitely get tattoos for my children when the time comes and I have a couple other small ideas that I have been tossing around...

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!