Crystal Cluster Tattoo (Tattoo #18)

Hi again!

I wanted to write a post today about my newest tattoo :) I don't have too much to say about this one since it was pretty much a spur-of-the-moment decision, but I did want to blog about it. I'm bored out of my mind and need something to do!!

Side note- I'm glad I'm on spring break this week, and I'm thankful I have the opportunity to relax. However, relaxing is so insanely boring after awhile!! I need to find something free/ cheap to do this week. 

Anyway, here's a picture of my new baby!

So, I originally went in to get one of my other tattoos touched up. When I talked to the artist, she said she would touch it up for $60 or I could get another tattoo and she would do the touch ups for free. Obviously I chose the latter! I googled some random moon images and I found this little guy on Pinterest. It was originally just an outline, so Malicia took it and added her own flair to it. I love that she added stippling to the moon, and kept everything black and gray besides the crystal cluster. Seriously, it's absolutely gorgeous and I could not have asked for a better tattoo! The experience was amazing, and I've made a new friend in the process :) That's one of the reasons why tattooing is such a wonderful thing- you meet amazing people and you walk out with a beautiful piece of art on your body <3

I'm not gonna lie, I was pretty nervous for this one. I don't have tattoos anywhere near my feet (unless you count my bats, but those didn't take very long to do), so I wasn't sure what it would feel like. I've heard it's supposed to be one of the toughest places to get tattooed other than your ribs and hands. 

Honestly, this wasn't as terrible as I thought it would be!! I'm not just saying that to sound like a badass. My gypsy and Sailor Mars tattoos (calf/ side of the leg) were much more brutal than this little guy. The only part that really caused me some pain was the stippling on the moon. Granted, this one only took about an hour and a half to complete. Malicia is super light-handed so that probably has a lot to do with it. The way I had to sit for the tattoo was more painful than the tattoo itself! 

Overall, I am 100% in love with my moon and crystals and I can't wait to go back to Malicia!! I don't really know what I want on my other foot, but I'm thinking either a sugar skull or the sun with a warm-toned crystal cluster. We'll see!

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Thank you for checking out my blog today! I hope you enjoyed reading about my obsession with tattoos, and I hope I get to talk to you again very soon :)

Until next time!

Keri <3

🎶 All I Want for Christmas is a Tattoo 🎶

Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

So, my mom was awesome and paid for my new tattoo as a Christmas present :) It's pretty self explanatory, but this is kind of a tribute piece to my fur babies, Charlee and Dany, and all of our previous pups who are no longer with us. I'm so glad I was finally able to fill the awkward, narrow gap on my leg. My shin is almost completely covered, which means I really only have to add some fillers and my calf piece and my right leg will be finished!! 

Ok, here are my new paw prints:

I also had Jimmy touch up my little foxes while he was at it. Their ears and eyes are all nice and perfect now :)

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Thanks for checking out my new tattoo! I hope you're having a wonderful day, and a great end to your year!!

Keri <3

Sailor Mars and a Sugar Skull (Tattoo #15 and 16)

Hi!

So, I kinda went on a tattoo streak recently, and I wanted to show you my new babies!!  I don't have a ton to say about these pieces, but I'll write a little paragraph underneath each picture to give you some more info.  Enjoy :)

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Eternal Sailor Mars by JC
Hart and Huntington in Orlando, FL
This was definitely another one of my impulse, spur-of-the-moment tattoos.  I decided to take a trip to Orlando to see if H&H had any walk-ins available.  Luckily for me, JC was free (check out their website to see his portfolio/ book appointments), and drew up this awesome piece for me!  I think it took about 6 or 7 hours total.  This is the longest session I've ever done on a tattoo, but I'm glad we knocked it out all in one night.  If at all possible, I would much rather sit for a long time instead of breaking a piece up into multiple sessions.

I absolutely love this tattoo!!  It's unlike any of my other pieces, and I love that JC added his own touch to her.  I'm obsessed with the flames <3  This one, for some reason, was a bitch during the healing process.  Honestly, leg tattoos are huge pains anyway; this one took about a month and a half to completely heal.  Sometimes that happens, and it's definitely no one's fault.  My right leg is almost covered, which I'm super happy about!

Sugar Skull by Kristen
Jacksonville, FL
Quick little note- Kristen recently left the shop she used to work in.  Because of this, I'm not going to add the name of the shop (I'm also not sure where she's tattooing at the moment...).

This one took about 6 hours, and again, it was worth every second!  Kristen is a beast when it comes to linework- these are the straightest, cleanest lines I have on my body.  For real, this piece is just gorgeous.  I sent her a picture of a pretty generic sugar skull on top of roses, and this is what she came up with.  Seriously, this has got to be my favorite tattoo!  The colors are so vibrant (and I love the little gold tooth she gave him), and I'm so in love with the traditional style.  The purple shading was a last-minute decision on our part.  My mom's favorite color is purple, so it works out perfectly.  The high-contrast between the teal/ turquoise and the yellow petals is mind-blowing, and the pictures don't do it justice.

I usually don't take pictures when I'm getting tattooed just because I'm never sure if the artist is 100% ok with it. Honestly, I don't think anyone cares, but I don't want to be a distraction! This was the one picture I took before the sugar skull was finished. The purple part was legitametly the worst section of this whole thing. Oh my god, that was tough!! Obviously not unbearable (and I still think my calf tattoo was much, much worse, pain-wise), but unpleasant to say the least. It's pretty close to the bend, meaning the skin is thin and extremely sensitive. Luckily, it was a very small section that didn't take too many passes/ touch ups. Again, calf tattoos are way more brutal, but that spot was pretty tender.

I love all of my tattoos, but I'm just amazed at how beautifully this piece turned out!!

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Thanks for checking out my new tattoos :)  I probably won't be getting more any time soon, but my collection will continue to grow in the future!

Keri <3

New FOB Tattoo (Tattoo #14)

Hey there :)

As I'm waiting for Hurricane Matthew to pass over us, I figured I would try to take my mind off the storm by writing. You guys probably already know that I love tattoos. I've recently added a few more to my collection, and I just realized that I hadn't posted about them yet! 

If you'd like to check out my other tattoo posts, check out my "Tattoo" tag on the right side of this blog. 

Ok, on to the tattoo!!

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"You were the last good thing about this part of town." (Take This to Your Grave, "Grand Theft Autumn" by Fall Out Boy)

I can't remember the exact date that I had this one done, I've had it for about a month or so now. I took this picture the second day, so it's still a little swollen and red. 

Getting this tattoo wasn't nearly as impulsive as some of mine have been in the past, but it was a bit of a spur of the moment decision. I knew I wanted this lyric, but I didn't know where. My artist, Bret and I picked out the font and he suggested the placement. Honestly, I think it's absolutely perfect and I love the handwritten feeling the font has to it. If I remember correctly, it's called "Jane Austen." 

Pain wise, this was probably one of the easiest places I've been tattooed so far. My arms are usually pretty painless, thankfully. There were a few sensitive spots close to my elbow, but overall, I would give the pain a 3 out of 10. Maybe even a 2. From start to finish, it took about 45 minutes. 

I'm so in love with this tattoo and I wouldn't change a thing about it (even if I could haha)! The lyric has a special meaning to me and I'm glad I finally have it on my arm :)

Last little thing. It's a coincidence, but this is on my left outer forearm, right below my "Take This to Your Grave" tattoo. I thought about it after we placed it; I'm glad we picked the spot we did! 

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Thanks for checking out my blog, and I hope to talk to you again soon!

Keri <3

Little Foxes (Tattoo #12)

Hello!!

So, I may have made a really impulsive decision to get (yet another) tattoo this past weekend.  I mean, the design wasn't impulsive, but making the appointment was kind of a spur-of-the-moment type thing.  As usual.  I called the shop and Jimmy had a two hour window in between tattoos; couldn't let that opportunity go to waste, right?

Anyway, I came in with these two little guys and asked if Jimmy could get them to flow together:

I found these guys on Pinterest, but I think the original artwork is from someone on Deviantart.  Obviously, I didn't want to steal anyone's work, so Jimmy made it his own by changing up a few things.  Here is the finished product:

I took this picture a night after I got it done (excuse the swelling and bruises due to my clumsiness).  They're on my right shin, and the leaves wrap around the side of my leg just a little.  The placement is perfect.  I'm planning on getting my entire leg done, so I like that there's just a little bit of space between the foxes and my FOB skull.  I could add something if I wanted, or just go with shading.  Whatever, that's for a different post, I'm getting off track (sorry).

I know I always say this, but I absolutely adore these little foxes, and I could not be happier with the way they turned out!!  They took about 2 hours.  I feel like this spot was pretty easy, but this is one of my smaller tattoos.  The online was a breeze (it took about 45 minutes), and the shading took about 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Honestly, my calf was still my most painful tattoo.  There were some tender spots (like the very center of my shin), but overall, it was about a 4 out of 10.  Maybe a 3.5.  The shading was more painful mostly because he had to make sure everything blended together.

There really isn't a story behind this tattoo, other than the fact that the fox is most definitely my spirit animal.  I remember reading something a few weeks ago about how it's better to leave foxes alone when they're angry, and their cunning, independent, witty creatures.  I don't know, I just feel like I connect with foxes.  Plus, I just think they're so damn cute!!

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Thanks for checking out my newest addition to my ever-growing tattoo collection!!  TTYL :)

Keri <3

Gypsy Soul (Tattoo #11)

Hey!!

I have yet another tattoo post for you today :) As you can see by the title, this is my 11th tattoo. Technically, the line work was my 10th tattoo, but I got my AB/ AP skull done before this one was finished. So, I'm just gonna say my gypsy is #11. 

Anyway, I got this line work for this done a few weeks ago, and my artist finished it up last night. I am absolutely in love with the way she turned out!! As always, Jimmy did an amazing job, and I'm proud to have this beautiful piece on my body permanently. 

Here's the original lineart for this piece: 

And here's the finished tattoo: 

This was taken a few minutes after we finished, so ignore the swelling/ blood droplets. 

Day 2: 

Since it's still healing, I'll have to update this post in a week or so to show you how she looks. This is on my left calf, and it took about 5 hours total (we did it in two, 2 1/2 hour sittings). 

Fair warning to anyone looking to get a calf tattoo- they hurt. Honestly, this was probably my most painful tattoo to date. On a scale of 1 to 10, it would definitely be a high 8. Some spots were more painful than others, but it was pretty intense overall. The closer to my ankle and the bend in my knee were more painful than the center portions. The line work was less painful than the shading. She was totally worth it, but this one was a killer! I definitely would not recommend this spot for your first tattoo. 

My calf is super swollen and red. This is definitely going to take a while to heal, but it's already less sore than it was yesterday. Obviously. Lots of (unscented) lotion usually does the trick :)

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Thanks for checking out my newest addition to my ever-growing tattoo collection!! I'll talk to you again soon!

Keri <3

American Beauty/ American Psycho (Tattoo #10)

Hello there!!

I'm bringing you (yet another) tattoo post today! I went to Hollywood, Florida last week to see Fall Out Boy!! They played at Hard Rock Live, and they were absolutely incredible (as usual)! This part is going to sound a bit crazy, but if you know me at all, it makes complete sense. I was bored and decided to walk around the casino/ hotel. I found a tattoo shop. You know where this is going, right? 

Lorenzo at BlackJack Tattoo did such an amazing job on this little guy!! He's right above my bats on my right ankle. I'm so in love with how this turned out, and I would definitely get more work done at this shop. If you find yourself in the Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, FL, go see Lorenzo! 

If you've seen FOB's cover for American Brauty/ American Psycho, you'll know the inspiration behind this tattoo. If you haven't seen it, here ya go: 

Since I'm such a morbid and weird person, I decided to get another skull permanently inked into my skin. FOB is on their tour (Wintour) for this album, I figured now was the perfect time to get this done. I made the decision about 20 minutes before I got it tattooed. Needless to say, this was a pretty impulsive/ last minute decision. But I don't regret it one bit!! PS- I love the white outline he added. 

Pain wise, this one was super easy (but it also helps that Lorenzo was really light-handed). I feel like this is a pretty painless spot anyways. On a scale from 1 to 10, I'd give it about a 2. It's about the size of my palm, so it's a decent size; nothing too major. It took about an hour total. 

Hope you enjoyed reading about my new tattoo! I love him so much, and I can't wait to get more work done!!

I'll talk to you again soon :)

Keri <3

Making My Own Happiness (Tattoo #9)

Hello!!

I feel like it's been so long since I've posted anything! If you read my last blog, you'll know that I've been through some tough times recently. So naturally, I decided to get (yet another) tattoo to remind myself that I can get through anything life throws my way. 

Actually getting this done was kind of a spur-of-the-moment decision, but I have been wanting this tattoo for awhile now. Last November, I found out I have severe depression and general anxiety disorder, and I've been seeing a therapist and taking medication for a few months now. This tattoo is kind of my way of acknowledging that I have mental illness, but it also reminds me that I'm doing something to help myself get back to a happy place. 

Here's a picture of my newest addition (ignore the swelling...):  

I had my glyphs touched up and added the serotonin molecule. This is like my way of saying, "I make my own happiness with the help of music." My glyphs represent 30 Seconds to Mars and the serotonin molecule represents my happiness. Pretty self-explanatory. It's not much, and it's one of my smallest tattoos, but I absolutely love it! As always, Jimmy did an amazing job- the lines are so clean and precise! 

On a scale of 1 to 10, the pain was probably about a 3. The only thing that was a little uncomfortable was the "HO" since it's pretty close to the crease of my elbow. My touch ups were more of a 5 or 6; touch ups seem to hurt worse than the original tattoo (at least in my opinion). 

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Thanks for keeping up with my tattoo adventures :) I hope to talk to you again very soon!

Keri <3

PS- check back soon for another tattoo blog. I'm going in this Friday to get another piece done by the amazing Jimmy!! I could not be more excited!

Update on the Bats (tattoo)!!

Hello there!

As you may (or may not) know, I got seven little bats tattooed on my ankle a few months ago.  I have no idea why, but a random thought occurred to me while we were waiting in the hour-long line at the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland- why haven't I named my bats??  So, Mom and I (and later Sara, Drew, and Corey) helped me give the little guys some pretty ridiculous names.

Just in case you're interested, here ya go (from top to bottom):

1. Sylvia
2. Damian
3. Millicent
4. Clyde
5. Freddie
6. Simon
7. Gertrude

I know, I'm really strange (but you already knew that).  This was probably the most random blog I've ever posted, but that's what happens when you're supposed to be writing a paper for class :)


Anyway, I'll talk to you again very soon (hopefully!).  In the mean time, I hope you all are having a wonderful summer, and/or beginning of the school year!!

Keri <3




PS: In case you were wondering, I named Freddie first.  His name came from a tombstone outside the Mansion.

Bat Country

Hi!!

Yep, you read the title right- I got another tattoo. Surprise, surprise! If you've been following me for a few month (or have read any of my posts from late 2014), you'll know that I'm absolutely 100% addicted to tattoos. I don't know what is so addictive about tattos... Maybe the adrenaline rush? Either way, tattoos are a form of art (in my opinion), and I wear mine proudly :) 

Anyways, let's get to the point of this post, shall we? I wasn't really planning on getting a new tattoo until my birthday. But, but brother went in for his first tattoo and asked me to go with him. He got the same lyric I have on my right forearm: 

"I fell apart, but got back up again" from the Thirty Seconds to Mars song, "Alibi." Drew and I have both been through some tough times and have overcome a lot in the past few years. He's a tough kid!! I normally hate matching tattoos, but since this song means so much to both of us, I absolutely love it. I like that his font is similar to mine, but not exactly the same. I love my brother; I'm so proud of him and all his accomplishments!

So, while he was getting that done, I was contemplating my next tattoo. Brian had time for another tattoo before the shop closed (my regular guy, Jimmy, was completely booked), so I got this: 

Seven little bats on my foot/ ankle. I love them!!!! This is my third Avenged Sevenfold inspired tattoo. If you're familiar with the band, you've probably heard the song "Bat Country" at some point. There are some bats flying around in the music video, so I figured, why not get bats on my foot? Sounds awesome to me! 

PS- the music video is super trippy and amazing. Syn's solo is flawless and Zacky looks so sexy with his long hair and snake bites. Just sayin. 

PSS- the band took inspiration from Hunter S Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas for the song and music video. So, this tattoo is kind of a literature and music themed tattoo. Two of my favorite things in life are books and metal music.

Honestly, this was the most impulsive tattoo I've ever gotten, but I couldn't be happier with how this one turned out :) Brian did an amazing job!!

Side note/ funny story time: 

Adam (and Jimmy and Brian, but mostly Adam) hates doing bird tattoos. You know the birds every girl seems to have/ want? He dubbed them the "Pinterest basic bitch birds." I was talking to the front counter girl, Britani, and we decided to call my bats the "basic bitch bats" in honor of Adam's hatred for all things basic. 

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Thank you for keeping up with my tattoo obsession!! Hope to talk to you again soon :)

Keri <3

Deathbat for Life (Tattoo #7)

Hello :)

Let's skip the intro today and get right into the post.  So, you know how I'm obsessed with Avenged Sevenfold?  And addicted to tattoos?  Well, this is what happens when those two things are combined: 

Yep, I finally got my Deathbat!!  I literally could not be happier with the way this turned out- Jimmy never disappoints!  Everything about this is perfect (to me); it's exactly what I wanted.  I thought about getting it in color, but since I couldn't decide on one, I stuck with black and gray- and I'm so glad I did.

Technically, this version of the Deathbat isn't on any of the album covers, but it's similar (almost identical) to the one Zacky Vengeance has on his chest.  I liked this version more than the original just because it was different from the other Deathbat tattoos I see all over Google/ Pinterest/ Tumblr (not that there's anything wrong with the original Deathbat!).  I don't think you can really see in the picture, but there are little nails holding the wings down; that's one of the reason I loved this version so much.  I also like the wings on this Deathbat more than the original.  Either way, I'm so glad I finally got this done!!

I wasn't planning on getting this tattoo until after the semester was over (it was supposed to be a reward for finishing the semester with a 4.0), but I went into the shop because they were looking for a front counter girl.  The job ended up being full-time and it didn't work with my class schedule for next semester. I made a really impulsive decision to schedule an appoint for the next day with Jimmy to get the Deathbat on my back. I've been wanting this tattoo since August, so I guess it wasn't that impulsive/ crazy. 

I got this one done on Saturday.  It took almost 5 hours, and it was definitely the most intense tattoo I've gotten (both pain-wise and time-wise).  The outline wasn't bad at all; I think it took about an hour.  The shading took almost 4 hours.  Honestly, there was never a point when I couldn't feel the needle, but some spots were more sensitive than others.  The skull was by far the most painful, probably because of the crazy amount of shading around the jawline and the eyes. The pain wasn't unbearable at any point, and we did take breaks every hour or so (thank god!). I'm convinced that I have a really high pain tolerance; or maybe I'm just able to focus on other things besides the pain? Who knows. I'm not going to lie and say tattoos don't hurt. They do. It's just a different kind of pain. I don't know how to explain it... If you have tattoos, you definitely know what I'm talking about. 

I'm pretty sure I've said this in one of my other tattoo-related posts, but the aftercare is the hardest part about getting a tattoo.  Since this one is so big, it takes a ton of Tattoo Goo/ Aquaphor to cover the whole thing.  It's totally worth it in the end, but the healing process is seriously not fun.  I usually use Tattoo Goo in the morning and throughout the day, and Aquaphor at night after taking a shower, just because the Aquaphor is pretty thick (it sticks to clothes, so I hate having it on during the day).  

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Anyways, enough rambling!  Thank you for reading about my tattoo adventures :)  I'll talk to you again very soon. 

Keri <3

Vengeance Will Be Taken Sevenfold (Tattoo #6)

Hey there!!

If you've been following me for the past few months or so, you'll know that I have a serious obsession with tattoos. I got my first one last May, and now I'm up to #6. Don't worry, this will be the last one for a while (I think). A lot of my friends/ family think I'm absolutely insane for getting these tattoos in such a short amount of time. 

Yes, I did get all of them done one right after another. No, I don't regret any of them. 

All of my tattoos have some sort of meaning to me; I think that's all that really matters. I have gotten some strange looks/ responses to some of them (my 30stm glyphs, especially), but it doesn't bother me. It's kind of cool when people are genuinely interested in them. I take it as a compliment :) 

Also, quick fun fact: all of my tattoos are band or music related. If you haven't checked out my other tattoo posts, I'll link them below for ya!

"I fell apart, but got back up again"

Glyphs (30STM)

Triad and bass clef

"Take This to Your Grave"

Ok, on to the tattoo!!

I took this picture the day after I got it done (sorry about the redness...). 

Ok, so this one doesn't have too long of a story behind it. I absolutely love Avenged Sevenfold, so naturally, I thought I needed an a7x-related tattoo. I can't remember what video I was watching, but Matt was talking about how the band got its name. It comes from the verse "Vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold" (Gensis 4?). Instead of getting the entire quote, I liked the idea of just getting the word "vengeance." Plus, Zacky Vengeance is my favorite, so it all works out. 

Quick side note- I adore all the guys in the band, I just couldn't see getting a tattoo that says Shadows, Gates, or Christ, ya know (lol). 

As always, Jimmy did an amazing job, and I couldn't be happier!! I love the placement of this one- it's on my left shoulder/ collar bone area. I originally wanted it to be a bit bigger, but my tattoo artist scaled it down (and I'm so glad he did!). It's easy enough to cover up for my classroom observations, but I can show it off with an off-the-shoulder shirt. I can't remember the name of the font... I do know it's on the first page of the calligraphy section on dafont.com, though. 

This one only took about 15 minutes, but the feeling (I can't really call it pain) was more intense than any of my other pieces. Probably because it's over a bone and the skin on your collar bone is pretty thin. 

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Well, that's pretty much it for now. Thanks so much for reading/ keeping up with my craziness ;)

I'll talk to you all again soon!

Keri <3

PS- I'm going to Florida this weekend for Fall Break (god knows I need a vacation from all this course work)! Check back soon for a Harry Potter/ Universal/ Orlando adventures blog :)

Tattoo Addict (Tattoo #5)

Hello!!

I've mentioned this in a few previous posts, but I'll say it again: I am addicted to tattoos. I can't explain exactly what it is that I'm addicted to (the pain/ rush from getting them, or the actual tattoos themselves? Both? Idk), but I'm definitely addicted. 

I've had this idea in my head for awhile now that I wanted to get a tattoo inspired by Fall Out Boy's album "Take this to Your Grave." Quick backstory: I listened to TTTYG for about 3 months straight while I was dealing with my depression/ suicidal thoughts. Obviously, Fall Out Boy will always hold a special place in my heart because their music got me through a really rough time in my life. I truly believe that they saved my life (I know a lot of people say that, but it's definitely a real thing). I needed something inspired by their album as a sort of "thank you"/ tribute to the band, and as a reminder to myself that their music got me through some rough times. Even though it's a daily struggle (another cliche... sorry), I think I've become a better person because of the things I went through. 

Anyway, back to the point. I found a design online (three skulls surrounded by roses), but turns out it's a really common flash design. So, my amazing tattoo artist, Jimmy, came up with a 100% custom tattoo. I was completely speechless when I saw it; he has got to he one of the best artists I know! I pretty much gave him total freedom with this tattoo. I trust him completely, which is saying a lot since I don't even trust people to wax my eyebrows! The only thing I absolutely needed to have was a banner with "Take this to Your Grave" written on it, and blue roses. Jimmy came up with the rest. 

Here's how it turned out (my skin is still a bit red since I got it done last Saturday): 

I still can't believe this beautiful piece is on my arm!! Honestly, I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out- it's beyond perfect. I told Jimmy I need to cut off the sleeves on all my t-shirts so everyone can see my tattoo haha! 

Tattoos aren't all fun and games, though. This one will probably take 3 weeks to heal, and I have to be extremely careful about washing it/ keeping it moisturized. I definitely want the colors to stay as bright as possible. Which means no sun for awhile, and tons of sunscreen later on. My arm is still a little sore, especially near the top of my shoulder. Getting the tattoo wasn't nearly as painful as I thought it would be; it only hurt once we started again after taking a break. I think I've said it before, but the only sensation I felt (for the most part) was similar to burning cat scratches. The outline was pretty intense, but the shading was a breeze after that. 

This bad boy took about 4 1/2 hours total. Nothing too crazy, but it's the longest I've ever sat for a tattoo. It was definitely worth the time and pain. 

It's crazy to me that I have a custom tattoo. I love knowing that no one else has anything exactly like this. I can't thank Jimmy enough for his awesome skills and the time he put into this piece.

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Thank you for taking the time to read about my lastest tattoo :) Love you all, and I'll talk to you again soon!

Keri<3

Tattoos #3 and #4

Hey guys!!

Hi, my name is Keri, and I am addicted to getting tattoos. 

I have a super short post for you today- I just wanted to show you all my new tattoos :) I went back to Jimmy Romance and got these babies: 

The Triad is behind my left ear and the bass clef is behind my right ear. I got the Triad because I'm (clearly) obsessed with 30 Seconds to Mars; yes, I did get it there because Shannon Leto has it in the same place. Feel free to judge me. I play the piano and the bass guitar, so I decided to get a bass clef.

I'm absolutely in love with all of my tattoos, but I'm pretty sure the Triad is my favorite 💙

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That's all for now, but I'll definitely try to post more often. Talk to you all again soon :)

Keri <3

My (2nd) Tattoo and FAQs

Hello again!

So, I got another tattoo a few days ago. Unlike the last time, there really isn't a story that goes along with this one. 

If you didn't read my post about my previous tattoo, I'll give you the short version of the story behind that one. A little over a year ago, I was battling suicidal thoughts and pretty severe depression. As a reminder to myself that I can overcome whatever life throws at me (cheesy and cliche, I know...) I got the line "I fell apart, but got back up again" tattooed on my right forearm. It's a lyric from the song "Alibi" by Thirty Seconds to Mars. 

Basically, as soon as my artist finished the first tattoo, I decided I wanted a second one. I wanted to get the MARS glyphs/ logo on my left forearm since I had a lyric from one of their songs on my other arm. I waited a few weeks just to make sure it was something I really wanted. After I got back from London, I went in for some touch-ups on my first and got my second :) I'm officially addicted to getting tattoos (which may or may not be a problem, depending on how you look at it). 

Here's a picture of my newest addition:

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I figured since this was a pretty short post, I would do a little FAQ section just because. A few people have asked me about my tattoos/ tattoos in general, so I figured this may help some of you out (maybe?). 

Does getting a tattoo hurt?

So many people ask me this!! Honestly, I think I have a pretty high pain tolerance. I would be lying if I said I didn't feel any discomfort, but I wouldn't say it's overly painful. Of course it's going to hurt a bit- you're being stabbed with a needle over and over again. The feeling is more annoying than anything- it's burns for the first 10 minutes or so, but you pretty much go numb after that (I did, at least). Everyone has different thresholds for pain.

How much did they cost?

Each of my tattoos cost $60 because that was the shops minimum. They're both pretty simple and didn't take too much time. 

How much time did it take?

My lyrics took about 15 minutes, and my glyphs took a little over 30 minutes. My touch ups took less than 5. 

What do the symbols mean?

The symbols (the logo, glyphs, glyphics, whatever you want to call them), according to the band, say "Thirty Seconds to Mars". There are a few websites that explain each symbol individually; just google "Thirty Seconds to Mars glyphs" if you want to know the full story behind them :)

What is the name of the font you chose?

I believe it's called "Jenna Sue" (I found it on daFont.com). 

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That's all I have for you at the moment. Thanks a ton for reading, and I hope to talk to you all again very soon :)

Keri <3

My Tattoo

Hi guys!

Long time no see/ talk!! I'm sorry I've been MIA for the past few weeks- finals week was pretty stressful and I had to finish up my honors thesis. Now that all of that is out of the way, I should be able to blog more often (if something interesting happens haha). Anyways, on to the point of this post. 

I got a tattoo last Friday! I honestly never thought I would get one simply because it's "unacceptable" (especially around here) for teachers to have visible tattoos. I just decided that I really didn't care anymore- if I have to cover it at school, that's perfectly fine with me. I wanted something that I could see every day.

Ok, there's a bit of a backstory behind the tattoo. I'll try not to go too in depth (sorry, this is probably going to be a long post). Last June, I fell into a pretty deep depression- that led to self-harm and suicidal thoughts. I was in such a dark place, and it just seemed like there was no way to overcome it. I stated going to group therapy once a week after I told my family what had been going on. There wasn't a quick fix to this problem; some days are harder than others. I've been struggling to overcome this for almost a year, and I can honestly say I feel like I'm in a completely different place now. A healthy and safe place. 

Skip ahead to this year. I just recently discovered Thirty Seconds to Mars, and have become completely obsessed with their music. I really don't know why, I just absolutely love the band- their music is incredible and the Jared, Shannon, and Tomo are amazing musicians. I was listening to the "This is War" album in my car one day, and the song "Alibi" came on. It sounds so cliche and cheesy, but I heard the lyrics and started crying. One line, in particular, stood out to me: I fell apart, but got back up again. The way Jared sings it still brings me to tears (I'm talking ugly-crying, guys); there's so much pain in his voice, but by the end of the song, it turns to determination. I can honestly say that no other song has ever had such an impact on me. I knew this song was special the moment I heard it, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. I went through so much pain (emotionally and physically) that I knew I needed this line somewhere where I could see it each and everyday. It's more of a reminder than anything. A reminder that I have overcome so much, and I can continue to get past whatever struggles may come my way in the future. 

My tattoo is on my right forearm. John did such an amazing job, and I'll definitely go back to him for my next tattoo (I'm thinking of getting the MARS logo on my left forearm). 

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You made it to the end of my (super) long post!! Congrats!

Thank you so much for reading :) Hope to talk to all of you again very soon!

Keri<3