There's Feet On My Back!

One of my favorite bloggers around lately is Cassie from Sage the Blog. She's so sweet and so creative, and last week she posted a really cool post about one of her tattoos. I'm a big fan of tattoos, and I love hearing stories behind other peoples' artwork. Because it is art and almost every tattoo has a story. I say almost because one of mine is a flash tattoo with no story.

SO... after emailing with Cassie (because I didn't want to totally steal her idea here!) I wanted to share my tattoos with y'all.

My very first tattoo I got in 2006. I had thought about this tattoo for a long time, and I knew I wanted to get something special... not just any old tattoo. I had thought about a sister related tattoo or something like that, but it all seemed so silly. One day it hit me like a ton of bricks. "Just Breathe". My Great Great Uncle Louis used to tell the family this all the time! He lived to be 106 years old, and in his small home town of LeRoy, New York he was interviewed because he lived so long. The local paper asked him how he lived so long and his answer was simple, "Just Breathe". I knew that's what I wanted my first tattoo to be. A simple reminder that when  life gets too hard, just breathe. As long as you're breathing you're living. What I love most about this one is that it was freehanded. The lady that did it took a toothpick, dipped it in the ink and wrote on my back with the toothpick to see if I liked the placement. When I said yes, she wiped it clean and went to town! Talk about a trust exercise, huh??

 

My second tattoo I got in 2008. Like I said, this tattoo has no story. There's no meaning behind this one. It's a flash tattoo from the walls of Magick Dragon Tattoo. Josh went in there wanting something new. The day I got this one he got his third (and biggest) tattoo. I was jealous that he was getting something new so I wanted to get something, too. I don't regret this one at all, in fact I still love it today. It's my simple little rose/heart. It's on my right wrist and I've never had an issue with it being exposed at work.

 

My third tattoo I got in 2012, just after Zander turned two. I knew after I had him I wanted some sort of tattoo for him. However, I also knew I didn't want a bear or kid toy picture or even a portrait. Those always seemed silly to me. I wanted something special. When he was born, the hospital did stamps of his feet, so lightbulb went off in my head: that would be the perfect tattoo for him! So this tattoo is exactly Zander's feet from when he was born Feb. 26, 2010. This picture was taken moments after the artist finished so that's why it still looks swollen.

I'm dying to get more tattoos, but sadly with two kids it's just not in the budget. There are better things for me to save up for right now. My next one will definitely be something for Ainsley. I was thinking maybe her handprints since I had Zander's feet. Who knows... we'll see when the time is right. I have so many ideas for different tattoos just (like I said) not the funds for all of my fun ideas.

Being that today is Monday, we're starting this week with a grateful heart. Linking up with Emily at Ember Grey. I'm very grateful for my tattoos and I love it when people stop to ask me about them. I know it seems silly but I love them! I'm also grateful that I have the freedom and ability to have tattoos.
So tell me, do you have any tattoos? If not, do you want one?