Weekly Summary #23

Ready to go get my tattoo finished, The finished result! Stuck in Huddersfield,

Colette before phone shopping, Before work, Online window shopping,

Reece is funny, Snoozy dog, Evil dog wants skittles.

1. Another week and no new blog posts. I don't know what's up with me. I'm all blogged out at the moment, plus I've been working way more hours, so blogging is at the bottom of the pile unfortunately :( I promise to at least try and put a post up this week, probably Wednesday. I think it will be a post about my tattoos, now my back one is complete!
2. Like I said, I've been working a ton. It's remarkable how exhausting it is to serve hot dogs day-in, day-out. 
3. I spent a couple of days at my friend's in Huddersfield during the week and had lots of fun watching a lot of Prison Break (which is dead good!) and eating a lot of crappy food.
4. I also saw my favourite ladies for the first time in what seems like forever on Friday. We went and got Colette her iPhone (ick) and had coffee and chatted and ate pasta. It was fun.

Not much has changed with me, still always working, and when I'm not working I'm sleeping! The only day I have off this week is Friday, which I should be spending in Huddersfield shopping and spending my wage - come at me Nike. 

How are you all? I feel like I haven't spoken for an age! Leave me a comment telling me how you all are!

Thanks for reading, promise to speak soon! xx

Weekly Summary #16

new purchases: Barthes 'A Lover's Discourse' and The Science of Sleep, sunburny legs :(

Pub quiz after a Nandos on Tuesday, Lunch at Teacup on Thomas St, Smoked chicken soup,

CAKE, Red Velvet cake (that we couldn't finish), New Rilo Kiley print,

The National print for Lydia's birthday present all framed and pretty, Tattoo half finished, Waiting for the train home

1. This week has been ridiculously fun! I spend Tuesday catching up with and old friend with a picnic (resulting in the sunburn). It was lovely to catch up with her as I haven't seen her properly in a few months. I've also made plans to get together with my best male friend from school in a few days as we keep missing each other, which is silly considering we live about 20 minutes away from each other.
2. I also saw Moonrise Kingdom (review here). Recommend me your favourite Wes Anderson film? Have you seen it, what did you think?
3. I spent Thursday with Abbey in Manchester. We went to tidy and clean up her flat so she can just nip back and collect her stuff next time we go. It only took us and hour between us to completely upend the kitchen (think pulling every compartment out of the fridge and scrubbing the oven), whilst simultaneously dancing and singing along to the music channel on the tv. We then went shopping for my housemates' birthday gifts and had lunch. We went to Teacup on Thomas St. in the Northern Quarter, which I've been wanting to visit for a while. It was delicious, and not too expensive either. We were defeated by the yummy red velvet cake though. We then went to the gallery next door, where I found a couple of prints - one for me and one for Lydia's gift (which she loves!)
4. On Friday I got my back tattoo started, and blogged about it here. It's only half finished at the moment, with colour still to be added in a few weeks, but do let me know what you think! Are you pro/against tattoos?
5. Yesterday I went back to Manchester to celebrate Lydia's birthday. It was a brilliant night, with all of her friends from home. We went to 42nd Street (as always) and danced our feet off. It was great to be back again, I miss it and can't even contemplate the fact I have one year left as a student :( This afternoon a few of us went for a Nandos (second this week, and I didn't pay, it was great), and then headed home. I caught a ridiculously packed train which went the long way home. Not amused. 

Tonight I think I'll stay in bed with books and films having a late night as I get a lie in tomorrow! 

I hope your weekends have been as lovely as mine :) Happy Sunday!

Thanks for reading x

p.s. Oh, if anyone knows of a cheap place that sells custom sized frames could you drop me a comment and let me know? That Rilo Kiley print is proving awkward to frame!

Tattoo Session Number 1 (and a few tips)

I've been posting about it for the past couple of weeks, but today I finally had my first session on my latest tattoo. I now have four in total, with this one being my biggest.


When I had my consultation and booked in, I gave my tattooist the brief of a lighthouse with crashing, Japanese-style water, which was to be in the middle of my upper back (no tramp stamps here). 
He has done one of my previous tattoos, and I wouldn't go anywhere else, so I fully trusted him with the design.


He came up with this:

This is obviously the basic outline, overall I was ridiculously pleased with it. I'd looked online at lighthouse tattoos, and obviously it's difficult to come up with one that is totally unique, but I think that the little details Gazz has added have really made it a bit different. I love it.

I was initially want a quote running along the bottom of the design, but for now I think I'll leave it as it is.

I had my first two hour session, and this is the tattoo so far:

excuse the back fat/bra

The first hour was the most painful, as the outlining is definitely the most painful part of any tattoo. For me, getting tattooed isn't really overly painful, it's more like an itch I can't scratch, but the lining, especially near my spine did hurt. The shading felt like nothing in comparison - more like being tickled, it was pretty relaxing actually!

I am so pleased with it, it's going to be about 6 weeks until I can get it coloured, unless a cancellation comes up, I really can't wait. I find lighthouses beautiful, whenever I told people what I was getting, they looked at me like I was a bit mad, but there really isn't any other reason than I wanted it because I find lighthouses beautiful. Simple.

I'll do another post once it has been finished.

A few tips (from my own experience):

• Look around different shops before settling on a tattooist. Look on websites at portfolios etc to see if the style is what you are going for. 
• Don't always go for the cheapest or quickest option. It is worth paying that little bit extra, and being on a waiting list a little bit longer in order to get a decent quality tattoo. They have to stand the test of time, after all.
• Listen when it comes to design advice. Understandably, you want a tattoo that you;re going to love, but tattooists really know their stuff. Tattoos are made to fit the contours of the body, so if you take in a design and the tattooist doesn't think it will work, listen to them and see if you can adjust it so it will. In my opinion, custom tattoos are worth the effort, if there is something you don't like in a design just tell your tattooist. Some may look tough, but they don't bite!
• Listen when it comes to healing advice. There are many different ways to heal a tattoo; I personally leave my tattoo to air out ant apply savlon or bepanthen cream. Some people don't use creams at all and dry heal, others apply creams and then wrap up the tattoo. Bodies work in different ways, so listen to advice. Also, if it scabs, don't pick at it.
• GO TO A PROFESSIONAL! It sounds almost silly, but tattoo machines and kits are easy to buy online nowadays. There are people who tattoo out of their homes, which is just ridiculous and unsafe. Go to a professional. Please. Just do.

My tattooist is Gazz Hunter and he tattoos at The Integrity Tattoo Lounge in Ossett, West Yorkshire. I may be biased, but he's brilliant, so if you're up this end, check him out.

Links: shop website and Facebook

If you'd like me to do a post about my tattoos let me know and I'd be more than happy to :)

I hope this has been helpful!

Thanks for reading x