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!