What I'm Reading 2018

Hello again (or hello for the first time!), and Happy New Year!!

I always look forward to this time of year for a few different reasons.  First and foremost, January 1st means I can stop stressing about the holidays and focus on moving forward and starting the new year off right.  Secondly, I get to start my 2018 reading challenge!

If you've even glanced at the posts on this blog, you probably already know that I'm a huge bookworm and reading is such an important aspect of my life.  Because I teach English and Language Arts at a Title 1 school, it's crucial for me to not only genuinely have a passion for reading, but to show my kiddos that reading can change your life (super cliche, I know...).

All that to say, I take my reading challenges seriously, and I always document my progress throughout the year.  Whenever I finish and review a book, I post that review on here and my Goodreads; I also update this page as a sort of checklist to keep myself on track.

I'm trying to keep this short, but there's always so much to say!  Ok, here's a few things you need to know if you haven't kept up with my challenges in the past:

• I link each review in this post, so just click on the title if you'd like to know my thoughts about the book.
• I don't usually re-read anything, but if I do, I'll mark it with an asterisks (*).
• Audiobooks are noted. 
• Sometimes I cheat a little bit, sorry not sorry.

All jokes aside, I really do enjoy setting these reading goals for myself each year.  I want to broaden my horizons this year and read more books outside of my typical go-to genres.  Recently, I've been reaching for a lot of young adult fantasies (Sarah J. Maas was huge for me in 2017) and historical fiction (the Outlander series, in particular), so I'm looking to read more widely this time around.  

One last thing: I've never actually completed a themed challenge, but I have completed my reading goal each year for the past 5 years!  We can't break the streak now!!  I just wanted to push myself a little bit further so I can become a more well-read person.

I've done enough talking (typing??), so let's just move straight on into the reading challenge!  Oh, and if you want to check out my reading challenges from previous years, I have everything linked for you below :)

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2018 Reading Challenge Goal: 30 books (edit- 40 as of 10/5/18) I found this challenge on Modern Mrs. Darcy's site, and it looked like something I could accomplish without overwhelming myself.  She also has some wonderful tips on how to get more out of your reading life, if you're interested! * = re-read 1. A classic you've been meaning to read
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (audiobook)
2. A book recommended by someone with great taste
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas* (One of my best friends, Rose, recommended this book to me years ago!)
3. A book in translation
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 1 by Naoko Takeuchi 
4. A book nominated for an award in 2018
Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas (Goodreads Choice 2018 nominee)
5. A book of poetry, a play, or an essay collection
6. A book you can read in a day
The Selection by Kiera Cass (audiobook)- it took me several days to actually listen to this book because I have a career, but it was only 7 1/2 hours in total
7. A book with more than 500 pages
The Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
8. A book by a favorite author A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas*
9. A book recommended by a librarian or indie bookseller  Circe by Madeline Miller (recommended by Jean, aka Bookishthoughts on YouTube and Goodreads)
10. A banned book
The One and Only Ivan by Kathrine Applegate (I’m sure this book is banned in several school districts for a variety of reasons, but it’s an incredible children’s book!) 
11. A memoir, biography, or book of creative nonfiction


12. A book by an author of a different race, ethnicity, or religion than your own When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Other Books

• Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
• Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
• The Elite by Kiera Cass (audiobook)
• The One by Kiera Cass (audiobook)
• Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
• Closer Reading by Nancy Boyles
• Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
• Warcross by Marie Lu
• Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
• Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
• Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas
• Thor, God of Thunder Vol. 1: The God Butcher by Jason Aaron
• Thor, God of Thunder Vol. 2: Godbomb by Jason Aaron
• Twilight by Stephenie Meyer*
• A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas*
• The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 2 by Naoko Takeuchi
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 3 by Naoko Takeuchi
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 4 by Naoko Takeuchi
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 5 by Naoko Takeuchi
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 6 by Naoko Takeuchi
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 7 by Naoko Takeuchi
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 8 by Naoko Takeuchi 
• Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas*
• Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas*
• Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas*
• Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas*

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If you're interested, here are my other "What I'm Reading" posts:

• What I'm Reading 2017
• What I'm Reading 2016
• What I'm Reading 2015
• What I'm Reading 2014
• What I'm Reading 2013

As always, thank you for taking some time out of your day to check out my blog!  Happy reading!!
Keri <3

Gratitude Tag

Hi again!

It's Friday night and I'm bored... So, here's another tag/ journal prompt thing I found on Pinterest.  This is technically a 30 day challenge, but I'm condensing it down into just one post instead.

Here we go!

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1. What smell are you grateful for today?

Fresh brewed espresso

2. What technology are you grateful for?

My iPhone and work computer

3. What color are you grateful for?

Orange.  I used to visit my local music shop and mess around on the different instruments, and I fell in love with a Yamaha Precision Jazz Bass (which is metallic orange).  I started taking lessons and ended up playing bass in my high school's jazz band for 3 years.

4. What food are you most grateful for?

Pizza with extra cheese

5. What sound are you grateful for today?

My dog's barks of excitement when I get home from work

6. What in nature are you grateful for?

The sunshine

7. What memory are you grateful for?

I'm most grateful for running into Corey at the Fayetteville Public Library on April 18, 2016.  We reconnected (as cheesy as that sounds), and everything fell back into place.  We picked up right where we left off, and it was absolutely wonderful.

8. What book are you most grateful for?

You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero- it has truly changed my outlook and overall attitude towards life in general.

9. What place are you most grateful for?

Orange Park, FL

10. What taste are you grateful for today?

Mocha

11. What holiday are you grateful for?

New Year's Day

12. What texture are you grateful for?

Soft, fuzzy blankets

13. What abilities are you grateful for?

My intelligence, my ability to read anything and everything, and my musical talent (if you can really call it that)

14. What sights are you grateful for today?

Snapchats from Corey

15. What season are you grateful for?

Fall

16. What about your body are you grateful for?

My eyes, because they're my favorite feature, and they're pretty crucial to my quality of life.

17. What knowledge are you grateful for?

I'm grateful for my knowledge regarding teaching, child development, and pedagogy.

18. What piece of are you grateful for?

The coverart of "Take This to Your Grave" by Fall Out Boy

19. What touch are you grateful for today?

Rhaegar's soft bunny fur

20. Who in your life are you grateful for?

Corey, Raechel, Sammi, Mom, Dad, and Drew (and the fur babies!)

21. What song are you most grateful for?

"The Patron Saint of Liars and Fakes" by Fall Out Boy

22. What story are you grateful for?

The story of Harry Potter- I can't say it was a part of my childhood, but it was my life in high school and college.

23. What tradition are you grateful for?

I love the fact that my family has always celebrated Thanksgiving dinner together.  For the past 23 years, we've all hung out on Thanksgiving Day, and I hope to keep the tradition going for as long as possible.

24. What challenge are you grateful for?

My job is not the easiest, and I'm definitely not in this position for the fame and fortune.  I hear a lot of negative feedback on a daily basis, I usually don't hear "thank you," and teaching can be extremely frustrating and trying at times.  But I love my kiddos, and I'm so thankful for my colleagues (especially my math coach!).  This year has thrown me many curveballs, but I'm grateful for all the challenges and obstacles I face because I know I'm becoming a better and more effective teacher each and every day.

25. What moment this week are you most grateful for?

Working with my colleagues and math coach to successfully implement a weekly math camp for my fifth graders.

26. What form of expression are you most grateful for?

Music or writing; I can't live without playing/ listening to music, or books, so they're tied for first place!

27. What small thing that you use daily are you grateful for?

Pencils

28. What small thing that happened today are you grateful for?

One of my students had an "ah-ha" moment today during core instruction.  

29. What friend/ family member are you grateful for today?

Corey and Sara

30. What talent or skill do you have that you are grateful for?

I'm extremely grateful for my musical talent.  I absolutely love playing the piano and the bass, listening to music on Spotify, collecting CDs, and creating playlists to fit my various moods and musical tastes.

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Thanks for checking out my blog, and I hope to see you again soon :)

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

The Ultimate Book Tag

Good evening!

I'm bored and don't know what else to do with myself.  So, what better time to do (yet another) book tag??  I found this on Book with Bite :)  I just Googled "book tag" and found some pretty awesome questionnaires.

Let's get started!

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1. Do you get sick while reading in the car?
No, thank goodness!  I love reading on long road trips.

2. Which author's writing style is completely unique to you and why?
Right now, I'm obsessed with Hunter S. Thompson and Sarah J. Maas.  HST is obviously a critically-accalimed journalist/ author, so I don't really need to say much about him.  Honestly, his writing is so raw, and he somehow maintains a crazy amount of realism even though he's trippin' out of his mind.  Sarah J. Maas, author of A Court of Thrones and Roses and the Throne of Glass series.  Oh my goodness, she's insanely talented, and I haven't found another fantasy author that even comes close to her style.  Her books are still considered "YA" (I believe), but she writes some intense/ steamy sex scenes; she somehow manages to do it without making it disgustingly smutty.

3. Harry Potter series or the Twilight Saga?  Give three points to defend your answer.
Harry Potter, no doubt about it!  a. The characters in HP are so well-developed and dynamic characters, b. the plot (or lack thereof) in the Twilight Saga is absolutely horrendous, and c. J.K. Rowling is one of the most amazing and inspiring women on the face of this planet.  Sorry, Twihards.

4. Do you carry a book bag?  If so, what is in it (besides books...)?
I carry a bag to and from school, but I usually just carry my wristlet/ wallet thing.  However, I do take a book with me pretty much anywhere I go :)

5. Do you smell your books?
Nope, but I don't judge.

6. Books with or without little illustrations?
I don't really pay attention to that, but I can't help but love the little illustrations in the HP books!  They add a nice touch depending on the type of book you're reading.

7. What book did you love while reading, but discovered later it wasn't quality writing?
Probably the House of Night series by P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast.  I read them while I was taking a ton of intense classes my sophomore year of college.  They weren't awful, from what I remember, but the quality was definitely lacking.  I don't know, I'm just not a huge fan of this series.

8. Do you have any funny stories involving books from your childhood?
I have a heart-warming story, if that'll work for ya!  I'm a fifth grade teacher, and I kept a lot of my childhood books for my classroom.  One of my kiddos started reading The Rainbow Fish the other morning and he had a huge smile on his face!!  I love when my kids discover books I've previously read :)

9. What is the thinnest book on your bookshelf?
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

10. What is the thickest book on your bookshelf?
A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire #5) by George R. R. Martin

11. Do you write as well as read?  Do you see yourself in the future being an author?
I'm published in the University of Arkansas' Inquiry (a journal for undergraduate research/ thesis papers).  I wrote an honors thesis entitled "The Effects of Peer Mentoring on Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder" in 2015.  Honestly, academic writing is probably my favorite (I know, I'm a werido), but I also like writing the occasional short story.  I don't think I would ever publish anything other than academic papers, unless I posted it here.

My boyfriend, on the other hand, is an incredible writer!  He has a blog called Rassle Tribune where he reviews wrestling matches on a weekly basis.  Check it out if you're a mark like us ;)

12. When did you get into reading?
My parents read to my brother and I every night before bed, and I know that's where my love of reading stems from.  We had a program called Accelerated Reader in school- basically, you read books and answers several comprehension questions on a computer afterwards.  I'm still in love with the program, and I hope I can find some way to get it into my current school.  Pizza Hut also had a program called BookIt.  If you read a certain number of books, your teacher gave you a card for a free personal pan pizza!  How cool is that?!

13. What is your favorite classic book?
"The Odyssey" by Homer (even though it's technically an epic poem)

14. In school, was your best subject Language Arts/ English?
I was all about my education and got As in almost all of my classes.  ELA was always my favorite subject, but I think my overall best subject was math in elementary school.  My best subject through middle/ high school and college was ELA for sure!

15. If you were given a book as a present that you had read before and hated, what would you do?
I would say "thank you," and hopefully re-home it to someone who would like the book.  I'm not big on returning presents, honestly.

16. What is a lesser known series that you know of that is similar to Harry Potter or the Hunger Games?
I'm not sure if it's a lesser known series, or if I just hadn't heard about it until this year, but I really enjoyed the Legend series by Marie Lu.  It's set in a dystopian society in which the different classes are divided into sectors.  It reminds me more of the Hunger Games series, but it's unique in its own right.

... and I just thought of another series I wanted to mention!!  The Daughter of Smoke and Bone series by Laini Taylor is so incredible!  There's magic, romance (ugh, but whatever), demons, etc.  Seriously, if you need a new series that's quick and easy to read, check this one out!

17. What is a bad habit you always do (besides rambling) while filming?
I don't film YouTube videos or anything, but I'm sure my worst habit would be looking in the view finder instead of at the camera.  I only say that because I'm really bad about doing that on FaceTime with Mom haha

18. What is your favorite word?
Umm... I'm not really sure if I've seen this in a book recently, but I like the word "facetious."  It's a fun word to say and it's not overly common in our day-to-day lives.

19. Are you a nerd, dork, or dweeb?  Or all of the above?
I honestly don't know the difference, but I would identify as a nerd, I guess.

20. Vampires or fairies?  Why?
Fairies- A Court of Thrones and Roses series is all about Fae and human relations.  It's pretty awesome, and you should definitely check it out sometime!

21. Shapeshifters or angels?  Why?
Laini Taylor made me fall in love with angels.  Her angels can be total assholes, but they can be cool at times.  I like the thought of ancient beings that possess endless amounts of knowledge and power.

22. Spirits or werewolves?  Why?
Spirits mostly because ghosts/ demons fascinate me.

23. Zombies or vampires?
I haven't really read a lot of books with zombies, so I'll go with vampires.  Not Twilight vampires; more like Interview with the Vampire vampires.  I like that they're ancient and have tons of knowledge (I know, it's the same reason why I chose angels), but they also have their quirks and silly little characteristics.

24. Love triangle or forbidden love?
I.  Hate.  Love.  Triangles!  I can enjoy forbidden love stories once in awhile, if I'm in the mood.  But most of the time I reach for books without a lot of romance involved.

25. Full on romance books or action-packed with a few love scenes mixed in?
Ugh, I can't stand romance books, so I'll have to go with action-packed books with a few love scenes mixed in.  That's why I adore Sarah J. Maas' writing so much!!

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Thanks for checking out my little blog.  Hope to talk to you again soon,

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

Currently Reading

Good evening,

If you've followed me for awhile, or if you know me at all, you'll know that I'm a huge bookworm.  I complete a reading challenge each year (check out the "books" tag on my blog to see what I've read so far this year), but I've never written a "currently reading" post.  I was browsing for new ideas on google and I stumbled across this idea.

So, here's a quick little update on what I'm currently reading :)

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Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor
57% finished
The first two books in this series were absolutely incredible, and I read through them fairly quickly (even though they are pretty lengthy).  It's taking me a little bit longer to read this installment, but that may also be due to the fact that I'm super busy with teaching and other life stuff.  I'm still interested in the plot, and the character development is on point, for sure!  It's not as fast paced as the first two books, but it's not bad at all.  I'm excited to see how everything plays out, and I'm very curious to see if all these loose ends get tied up in the end.

Winter by Marissa Meyer
59% finished
I'm not really sure how I feel about this one yet.  I want to like it because the previous books in this series were well-written and moderately-paced.  This one seems to drag on a lot more than the others, and the characters really aren't doing much at this point.

(SPOILERS?)

What I mean by that is, the team has been split up and they're working towards getting back together (I think), but I'm not really sure exactly what they're trying to accomplish right now.  Their actions don't make a ton of sense, and the plot line is pretty much stagnant.  Hopefully it gets better soon.

The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan 
44% finished
I started reading this during the last few months of my student teaching internship per my student's recommendation.  One of my third-graders read through this series within the week, and told me to pick it up at the book fair.  I have to be honest- this is written for a younger audience, meaning some things are kind of predictable.  Riordan is an incredible author, though, so his writing definitely makes up for it :)

Lord of the Flies by William Golding
24% finished
I read this book my freshmen year of high school, but I honestly don't think I read the entire thing.  It also took us over two months to finish this book as a class, so... Some parts are a little fuzzy for me.  At this point in the book, the kids haven't really done much and not a lot of interesting things have occurred yet.  I remember liking this book when I was younger so here's hoping I'll like it just as much as an adult!

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson
25% finished
Ok, I don't think why I've waited so long to read one of HST's works!  Corey is pretty much a walking encyclopedia when it comes to Thompson, his accomplishments, and his pieces, so he recommended that I read this.  Seriously, I am all about his writing style, and I love the fact that this piece is literally about drugs, sex, and booze.

The Fellowship of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
32% finished
Oh man, some of you are not going to like me after you finish reading this little paragraph.  I just don't like Tolkien's style at all... I'm not sure if it's because he's so long winded, or what.  I know he's setting up the world and setting the tone for the rest of the story, but, oh my goodness!  It should not take 50 pages to describe what a creepy forest looks like or what weird ass creatures live in it.  I haven't picked this book up in months, which is not something I normally do; however, I need to find the time and energy to read the rest of it.

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Thanks for checking out my blog!

Keri <3

Furry Friend Tag

Hello!

I'm coming at you today with the Furry Friends tag.  I don't really remember how I found this (probably when I was binge watching YouTube videos late at night...), but if you want to answer the questions, I found them at this website.  Let's get started!
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1. What is your pet's name?
   Charlee and Dany
2. What kind of pet is he/she, and what breed?
   They are both little dogs- Charlee is a nine-pound miniature pincer (min-pin), and Dany is a three-pound Yorkshire terrier (yorkie).
3. How long have you had your pet friend?
   I've had Charlee for almost 4 years, and I've had Dany for a little over a year.
4. How did you get your pet?
   I adopted Charlee from a local animal shelter.  They said he was a stray, but he definitely had an owner and probably got out of the fence because he's so small.  Dany is also from a shelter, but she was an owner surrender.
5. How old is your pet?
   Charlee is 6 years old and Dany is 2 years old.
6. What are some quirky things about your pet's personality?
   No one is going to believe me unless you've heard her do it, but Dany purrs like a cat!  She was raised with a cat so I'm assuming she just learned how to imitate the noise from hearing the cat purr.  Charlee snores like a lawn mower even though he's so small!  Seriously, when he's dead asleep, he is so noisy... He also likes to burrow under blankets no matter how hot it is.
7. What does your relationship with your pet mean to you?
   I've had dogs since I was born, so I'm definitely a dog person, and I can't see myself living without at least one dog.  Honestly, I cherish every second I have with my pups simply because their lives are so much shorter than ours.  I read a quote the other day that perfectly sums it up:
   "Dogs are just a part of your whole life, but you are their whole life."  I spoil Charlee and Dany like their my kids (and so does my mom!), so I would say my relationship with them is very important to me :)
8. What are some of your favorite past times with your pet?
   Dany will play fetch for hours!  If you throw one of her toys, she'll bolt after it even if she's asleep or in another room.  Charlee likes to take naps and bark at the neighbor dogs.  He also likes lounging on the porch and being read aloud to (I told you, I spoil them).  They both love sunbathing.
9. What are nicknames that you call your pet?
   Charlees has an alter ego, named Frank.  When he's hyper, or acting like a typical min-pin (shaking, whining, eyes bugging out of his head, etc.), we call him Frank.  I also call him Little Charles sometimes.  Dany's full name is Daenerys Targaryen (duh), but we also call her Mother of Dragons and Khaleesi.

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Thanks a ton for reading my random blog!  Hopefully I'll talk to you again very 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

50 Things That Make Me Happy Tag

Hi!

I wasn't sure what to post today, but I knew I wanted to post something positive and uplifting.  I've been having a bit of a rough couple of weeks, so I thought this would be something I could look back on whenever I'm feeling a bit down.  Hopefully this can help some of you guys out too :)

I encourage you to write a journal or blog post about things that make you happy.  It's kind of tough, but if I can come up with 50 things, so can you!

PS- I found this tag on Nicola's blog.

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These are the 50 things that make me happy:

1. "Defying Gravity" (from the Broadway show, Wicked)
2. Seeing Charlee and Dany's excitement when I come home every day
3. Knowing that I got through a tough breakup and have come out a better person
4. The support of my friends and family
5. The fact that I have a bachelor's and master's degree in education
6. Bubble baths
7. My tattoos
8. Starbuck's mocha frappechinos (with an extra shot of espresso)
9. I've written an honors thesis and a masters thesis
10. Books
11. My blog
12. Music 
13. Playing the piano
14. Candles from Bath and Body Works
15. Writing (both academically and for fun) 
16. Going to concerts
17. The public library
18. Maurice's and Torrid
19. Buying makeup (especially eyeliner and liquid lipstick)
20. Weekly meetings with my therapist
21. Good hair days
22. Naps
23. Vacations to Orlando, FL
24. Looking forward to having my own classroom in the near future
25. Cinnamon chip muffins from Einstein's
26. Instagram
27. Taking pictures of my two adorable dogs
28. Foxes
29. Watching YouTube videos after a long day
30. Trips to Lush
31. Cooking/ baking random things
32. Coloring 
33. My education
34. Watching Fixer Upper with Mom
35. Long roadtrips with friends
36. Looking at pictures/ souvenirs from my trip to London
37. Strawberry Sprites from Sonic
38. Hour-long conversations with Raechel
39. Fall Out Boy, Avenged Sevenfold, and Thirty Seconds to Mars
40. Learning a new song on the bass guitar
41. Frosted Flakes cereal 
42. Comfy jeans
43. Shirts that show off my tattoos
44. Sitting in my favorite chair with a fluffy throw and binge-watching Netflix
45. Reading on rainy days
46. Walking around campus on sunny days
47. Goodreads
48. Online shopping
49. Moving to Florida in May/ June of this year
50. Random arts and crafts projects

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Hope this helped some of you guys look on the bright side!  I'll talk to you again asap.

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!

What I'm Reading 2016

Hi there!!

Let's keep this short and sweet- here's a list of books I've read throughout 2016. Anything marked with (*) is a re-read.   If you would like to follow me on GoodReads.com, check out my profile here.

Little side note- I'm also attempting to complete the "Rory Gilmore Challenge" (even though I've never seen the show...). There are 339 books total, so I'm positive the challenge will take a few years to complete. 

So, I was kind of over-enthusiastic this year with my goal setting. I started out thinking I could read 52 books this year (about one a week), but that quickly changed to 50. Since I had only read 40 books by December 29, I changed my final number to 42. I'm not sure if I'll make it (I'm typing this on the 29, and I don't really know if I'll be able to squeeze in 2 more...), but I'm going to try! Here goes nothing!!

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1. Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen
2. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
3. Alice in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glas by Lewis Carroll
4. The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
5. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
6. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
7. School's Out - Forever by James Patterson
8. Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson
9. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
10. The Grownup by Gillian Flynn
11. The Final Warning by James Patterson
12. Max by James Patterson
13. Fang by James Patterson
14. Angel by James Patterson
15. Nevermore by James Patterson
16. Maximum Ride Forever by James Patterson
17. It Ended Badly: Thirteen of the Worst Breakups in History by Jennifer Wright 
18. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 
19. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
20. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
21. Beloved by Toni Morrison
22. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
23. Cress by Marissa Meyer
24. A Court of Thornes and Roses by Sara J. Maas
25. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
26. Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
27. Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
28. Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
29. The Shining by Stephen King
30. Partials by Dan Wells
31. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
32. Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
33. Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor
34. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
35. Winter by Marissa Meyer
36. The Assassin and the Pirate Lord by Sarah J. Maas
37. The Assassin and the Healer by Sarah J. Maas
38. The Assassin and the Desert by Sarah J. Maas
39. The Assassin and the Underworld by Sarah J. Maas
40. The Assassin and the Empire by Sarah J. Maas
41. The Girl with All the Gifts by M. R. Carey
42. You are a Badass- How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero

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Thanks for keeping up with this year's reading challenge!  Talk to you soon :)

Keri <3

Unpopular Opinions Book Tag

Hey there!

It's been awhile since I've posted anything new to my blog (although I have been updating my 2015 reading and movie lists, if you want to check those out!), so I figured I would do yet another tag.  If you've been here for a while, or if you've looked through my posts, you'll probably notice that I am obsessed with tags!  I found this bookish tag on TheBookArcher's YouTube channel.  Check her out if you're a bookworm like me :)

Quick little disclaimer before I get started: this tag is meant to be about my UNPOPULAR opinions on POPULAR books.  That being said, please don't take offense to anything I might say about books you enjoy.  I'm just giving you my opinion, and you are 100% allowed to disagree with it.  I'm not, by any means, trying to offend anyone or hate on popular books.  I just tend to have different opinions than most people on social media.

Ok, let's get this tag started!

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1. A popular book or series that you didn't like
I do not like the Moral Instrument series.  At all.  I wasn't even able to finish the whole series (and that never happens)... I started reading the first book about two years ago because one of my favorite YouTubers was talking about how amazing it was.  The first book was alright, but I didn't really understand the hype.  I got about halfway through the second book and had to put it down.  The plotline was ridiculous, and the story just kinda fell off for me.  I don't know, maybe I'm just not into the whole Shadow Hunter thing.  I feel like it's already been done so many times (although this series does put a slight spin on the overdone teen-romance, demon-fighting, vampire, whatever genre).

2. A popular book or series that everyone else seems to hate but you love
Everyone seems to hate on the Matched trilogy by Allie Condie (at least everyone I know), but I loved that series!  I'll admit, the second book was kind of a waste of time- why did they need to go back up the mountain??- but the series overall was fantastic.  I love the character development, the plot twists (although some of them were pretty predictable), and the overall story arch; plus, Condie's writing style is incredible.  Yes, this is another teen-romance/ love triangle/ dystopian series.  But, if you take it for what it is, I think it's a great set of books.

3. A love triangle where the main character ended up with the person you did NOT want them to end up with
Ugh, I hate love triangles.  Is it possible to find a book without love triangles anymore?!  Anyway, I'm still not happy about the ending of The Hunger Games trilogy, even though it makes the most sense logically, and is the ending most people wouldn't have expected (myself included).  No spoilers here, but I'm not thrilled about who Katniss ends up with, and I'll probably never get over it.  Sorry not sorry.

4. A popular book genre that you hardly reach for
I'm not into the vampire/ fantasy creatures genre at all.  I feel like it's way too overdone, and almost every book I've read from the fantasy genre that includes vampires/ werewolves/ fairies/ whatever is almost exactly the same as the last.  I know it's not fair to judge an entire genre based off the few books that I've read, but if I had to pick one, I'm kind of over the teen fantasy genre at the moment.

5. A popular or beloved character that you do not like
A lot of people aren't going to be happy about this one.  Gus Waters and Hazel Grace are some of my least favorite characters in teen fiction.  Seriously, I don't understand the obsession with The Fault in Our Stars or the characters.  I feel like they're so static, the book is beyond cheesy, and the plotline is predictable.  I'm sorry, I just don't understand the love for this book, or John Green in general.  He's not a bad writer (in fact, I actually enjoy his writing style), but this book was so choppy to me.  Let me explain: there are parts that are written beautifully, and then there are parts that seem like a 12 year-old wrote it.  I get that Hazel is going through a lot, and she's still a teenage girl.  But, if you're going to write from that perspective, you should stay in that perspective 100% of the time.  Green throws in some well-written, fantastic sections that almost sound like Shakespearean sonnets, but then goes back to the typical teenage girl thoughts ("oh my god, he's so hot!").  I'm gonna stop before I go too far.

6. A popular author that you can't seem to get into
Ok, I can't really say I've tried to read anything she's written, but I cannot see why everyone is so obsessed with E.L. James and the Fifty Shades of Grey series.  Let's make one thing clear- I'm not at all against the subject matter of the book (in fact, I'm kind of into it).  For one, this is NOT an accurate representation of the BDSM community in the least. From what I know about the triology and the parts that I have suffered through, these books glorify a ridiculous relationship between an egotistical man and a weak woman who doesn't know what she needs/ wants from a man. Anyway, I'll stop with that. What I don't like is the way the book is written and the concept that it's based on.  I can't stand Twilight (yes, I have read all four books...), so I'm positive I wouldn't like a book that started out as a fanfiction of the series.  From the few pages I have read, E.L. James' writing style doesn't appeal to me in the least.  Sorry, I just can't get into a book that is written poorly, and has ridiculous inner dialogue.

7. A popular book trope that you're tired of seeing
I. Am. So. Tired. Of. The. Love. Triangles.  Please, make it stop!!  Honestly, you can write an incredible series or book without including any romantic aspect at all; but, if you must include some sort of mushy whatever, please keep it between two people and not three.  I'm so over the love triangles, it's not even funny.  I love The Hunger Games series partically because Collins does a wonderful job of balancing the violence and political components of the book perfectly with a little bit of love and teenage angst/ drama.  She does a wonderful job of not over-exaggerating the love triangle between Katniss, Peta, and Gale, and she keeps the characters believable and realistic.

8. A popular series that you have no interest in reading
I've already mentioned this series in #6, but I have no interest in reading the Fifty Shades of Grey series.  I'm not interested in the movies, I'm not interested in the spin-offs, blah, blah, blah.  In all seriousness, I don't think James does the BDSM community any justice by the way she portrays the relationships in this book (but, like I've said, I haven't read the books, so take my opinion for what it is).  I could write you an entire dissertation about the subject, but I'm gonna keep this short and sweet: I will not read this series.  Period, end of story.

9. The saying goes, "The book is always better than the movie," but what movie or TV show adaptation do you prefer more than the book?
I can honestly say that there is not a single movie/ TV show that is better than the book.  However, I want to mention the Harry Potter series, simply because I think the movies are AS GOOD AS the books.  The books and the the movies are different enough that I can appreciate both for what they are, even though the movies don't follow the books exactly.  The only other movie I can think of that even comes close to being as good as the written text is August: Osage County by Tracy Letts.  The play is incredible, and the movie is phenomenal- the casting is absolutely perfect, by the way.

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Thanks for checking out this tag.  I encourage everyone (especially bookworms) to complete this tag! Talk to you again soon :)

Keri <3

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.

Movies 2015

Hey!

Just a quick little intro- I'm a huge fan of movies. Honestly, I probably spend way too much time (and money) on movies, but whatever. I figured it would be cool to keep a running list of all the films I've seen this year. If I re-watched something, I'll mark it with an (*). 

Hope you enjoy!

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1. The Imitation Game
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone*

3. Silence of the Lambs

4. Still Alice

5. Big Hero 6

6.Avengers: Age of Ultron

7. Interstellar

8. Pitch Perfect 2

9. Pulp Fiction

10. The Doors

11. Aloha 

12. Spy

13. American Psycho

14. Cast Away*

15. The Jeffery Dahmer Files

16. Michelle Kwan- Figure Skating Documentary

17. I Know That Voice

18. The Intern

19. Treblinka: Hilter's Killing Machine

20. August: Osage County*
21. Magic Beyond Words: The J.K. Rowling Story
22. Secrets of the Tower of London

23. The Terminator

24. The Farm: Life Inside Angola Prison

25. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*

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Thanks for reading! Check back soon for more updates!!

Keri <3

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

What I'm Reading 2015

Hi there!!

Let's keep this short and sweet- here's a list of books I've read throughout 2015. Anything marked with (*) is a re-read. 

My goal this year is 50 books by New Years Eve!

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1. It by Stephen King
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone* by JK Rowling
3. Exposing Torture: Centuries of Cruelty by Hal Marcovitz
4. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
5. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
6. You're Making Me Hate You: A Cantankerous Look at the Common Misconception That Humans Have Any Common Sense Left by Corey Taylor
7. Wanted by Sara Shepard
8. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
9. Wicked by Sara Shepard
10. Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
11. Mayhem by Sarah Pinborough
12. Teaching with Poverty in Mind: What Being Poor Does to Kids' Brains and What Schools Can Do About It by Eric Jensen
13. Carrie by Stephen King
14. Seven Deadly Sins: Settling the Arguement Between Being Born Bad and Damaged Good by Corey Taylor
15. "August: Osage County" by Tracy Letts
16. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Heaven (Or, How I Made Peace with the Paranormal and Stigmatized Zealots & Cynics in the Process) by Corey Taylor
17. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer 
18. Guitar Notes by Mary Amato
19. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 
20. The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star by Nikki Sixx
21. Crank by Ellen Hopkins
22. Code Name: Verity by Elizabeth Wein
23. Burned by Sara Shepard 
24. Matched by Ally Condie
25. Crossed by Ally Condie
26. Reached by Ally Condie
27. The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1)* by Lemony Snicket
28. Stunning by Sara Shepard 
29. Interstellar by Greg Keyes
30. Killer by Sara Shepard
31. Black Bird Vol. 3 by Kanoko Sakurakouji
32. Still Alice by Lisa Genova
33. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
34. Black Bird Vol. 1 by Kanoko Sakurakouji
35. Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
36. Black Bird Vol. 2 by Kanoko Sakurakouji
37. The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker
38. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
39. Heartless by Sara Shepard
40. Twisted by Sara Shepard
41. Ruthless by Sara Shepard
42. Black Bird Vol. 4 by Kanoko Sakurakouji 
43. Black Bird Vol. 5 by Kanoko Sakurakouji 
44. Black Bird Vol. 6 by Kanoko Sakurakouji
45. Black Bird Vol. 7 by Kanoko Sakurakouji
46. Black Bird Vol. 8 by Kanoko Sakurakouji
47. Black Bird Vol. 9 by Kanoko Sakurakouji
48. Black Bird Vol. 10 by Kanoko Sakurakouji
49. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
50. Black Bird Vol. 11 by Kanoko Sakurakouji
51. Black Bird Vol. 12 by Kanoko Sakurakouji
52. Black Bird Vol. 13 by Kanoko Sakurakouji
53. The Diarie of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
54. Legend by Marie Lu
55. Prodigy by Marie Lu
56. Champion by Marie Lu
57. Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

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Thanks for keeping up with the books I've read this year!! 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