Tattoos - do you have any?

I'm divorced twice. I know I would never get someone's name tattooed on my body. Except for my children, maybe.

Oh yes. the children. They're the ONLY ones worth the pain and money but I wouldn't want to have someone's name tatooed on me that I eventually end up disliking.

or like my poor sister,,,,end up being a rapist. Yuck!

Now when you ask her what she hates av=bout herself or biggest regret, she says it that tatoo. She actually hates herself for getting it now. We're getting rid of him though if it's the last thing that we do.

I wish I could do that for you ~ it would be so much fun!

Hi there.

Of course you all probably know already but I've got quite a few tattoos. I got them knowing that tattoos aren't for everyone & could be looked down on for having them. It's sad to me that people judge others by the way they look but I accepted this and got them anyway. I know that my personality shines through my tattoos and I love knowing that I was able to change someone's initial opinion of me. I always hope it makes them feel a tad bad for judging me before knowing me. I think people are always surprised that I'm as nice & caring as I am.

All of my tattoos have very special meaning & I don't regret any of them. (Except for the 1st one I got when I was only 18, it was spur of the moment and taught me a lesson) The other ones I have are very important to me and they all spur conversation which is awesome to me. I'm constantly being asked who my artist is and always complimented on the quality of the work and how nice they look on me.

These are the ones I have currently:

*A king & queen swallow pair on my chest to represent me & my husband
*My 3 son's names on my ankle surrounded by wild irises, dragonflies, hearts & stars
*A sugar skull on my left arm to represent loved ones I've lost
*'Mom' & 'Dad' hearts with their favorite flowers (irises & sweet williams) on my right arm for, of course, my mommy & daddy
* 3 nautical stars on each arm, to keep me grounded, to represent my 3 boys and each star has 5 points to show my wedding date (05.05.05)
*a 4 leaf clover next to my belly button - this is the one I don't like that I got when I was 18. I have been through 3 pregnancies so it now looks like a piece of broccoli.

This is my advice about tattoos:

1) Make SURE you want it! You do NOT want to have it removed!!!
2) Research your tattoo artist fully. Make sure it's a legitimate business, meet with the artist prior to having work done & get recommendations from people who have actually been to that artist before. It's very important to SEE the artist's work ON SKIN before you commit to having this person put his permanent art on you.
3) I always tell people NOT to get a significant others name tattooed on them unless they have NO reason ever to think they'd want to get it removed. Tattoo removal is extremely expensive and even more painful.
4) Don't be impulsive, you'll regret it.

With all this, I actually have another tattoo apointment TOMORROW and can't wait to show you all what I'm getting!

These are the tattoos I plan on getting:
* a swirly background behind my swallows chest piece
* a hummingbird & pussywillow branch on my inner left arm for my grandma
* a peacock feather on my inner right arm
* fill in work to connect my arm tattoos together, all in floral work

Good luck, Jodie. Can't wait to hear what your decision is and see pictures of your tattoo if/when you get one.

Thanks for all the great advice! Unfortunately, it's not in the budget for me yet. But someday, hopefully in the next year or two, I want to get the flowers around my right bicep. And eventually a dragonfly on my shoulder, with my kids' names around it. Maybe a bird of paradise flower someday as well. Not sure where I would want to put that one though.

LOL at your "broccoli" tattoo!