Acme Tattoo + Body Art

I will continue posting things I am thankful for until I am finished. I meant to get them done by Thanksgiving, or by the 30th, but this break has been the busiest! Instead, I am going to share with you guys what I spent 7 hours doing yesterday. I sat in the chair for 4.5 hours and Bret was in for 1.5. The first picture is the before shot:

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June 2012

Here's what the same tattoo(s) looked like after the touch-up, yesterday (just touch up on outline and black shading so far in this picture. No color, yet!):

November 2012 -Yes that is blood and yes it hurt. A lot.

The following pictures are after is is totally complete...... It. Took. A. Long. Time.

These were all taken last night at 11 pm. Sorry about the dishes.... I did them this morning ;)

I am in love with it. I will be back later today to show you Bret's updated work and new additions!

Also, here is Guillermo looking dapper.

Happy Sunday! 

30 Reasons to be Thankful, v.2

7. My job. I am so thankful to be able to do what I love each day. I know that I have a reputation, especially on this blog, and definitely in life, for wanting to hope from job to job as quickly as possible. This usually pertains to retail and part time jobs, but I am also sure that many of you remember a time when I considered abandoning my teaching profession for schooling to become a veterinary technician. Don't get me wrong, this is still one of my dreams and goal (for another day), but for now, I am so deliriously thankful that I am able to teach what I love, and to really connect with my students. I am SO thankful to be in an environment where I am comfortable, and where many people wouldn't be. Teaching in an inner city school is challenging to say the least, and there are really crappy days, but for the most part, I love love love love my job and my kids. Teaching is definitely my calling.

8. Books. This probably should say "an escape" because that is an accurate definition of what books and reading are for me. Reading isn't enjoyable for many people, for a lot of people it just seems like work. My boyfriend is one of those people. He has other escapes that he enjoys, but I am so thankful that I fell in love with books so many years ago. Sometimes, and I hate these times, I have to take a break from reading. But I never let it last long. When it's a focus in my life I feel happier and more thoughtful.

9. My baby sister. I probably have the most awesome 6 year old (almost) sister that ever existed. Whoever thought they would have a small person idolize them? It never crossed my mind. What a privilege to be her sister and her god mother. She is a constant reminder (sometimes we all need one) to  be the best that I can, the happiest, the most responsible and moral, and honest person that I can be. What a responsibility. I have to give her high standards to live up to, though. ;)

Photo by Brandon Frimming

10. My grandparents. I miss them so much. I have been thinking about them constantly lately. This season will be good for that for the rest of my life. They both taught me so much, and they were so.... them. It is hard for me to imagine living without them here with me for the rest of forever, but there are so many things I wouldn't have without them. For example, my love of animals? Totally my grandma. Harry Potter, matryoshka dolls, and A Christmas Story? ALL my grandpa. They were clever, smart, and loving people, and I will always cherish the time that I had with them, but might wish they were still here with me.

11. Apple. This is probably the most light hearted part of this post. Bret bought me an iPad mini for our anniversary (not until January 2) and I am absolutely obsessed. I can officially say that I am an Applehead. All of my electronics are now Apple and I have to admit.... I am becoming kind of a snob about it. ;) Anyways, I am mostly thankful that I have a job that lets me afford this guilty pleasure of mine.

12. My friends. Kyle, Lauren, Christa, Nicole, Stephanie, Melanie, Kim, and everyone else. I love you all so much! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

30 Reasons to be Thankful

Since I have seen so many people posting their "30 days of Thanksgiving" posts on facebook, I decided that I am going to do the same thing here, but condense it down a bit. I am going to post about 30 things I am thankful for, 5 in each post. Spiratically, and hopefully I will finish by November 30.

1. A home that I love. I am incredibly thankful to have a home that I love with people (and puppies) that I love. Our house is the perfect size, and Bret and Kyle are perfectly happy with my display of design style basically however I choose. There's never a lonely or boring moment with four dogs, a boyfriend, and a roommate. I am always warm, am able to fill it with furtniture that I love, and basically have a 24/7 sleepover with my bff.

2. My parents. My parents are the best. They are supportive, helpful, and considerate. They think about me even when I might not have the time to show them that I am thinking of them. They are continuously going out of their way to help me and to make my life easier, and they are my go-tos for absolutely anything.

3. Grad School. Not everyone has the opportunity to go back to school while working full time. Not everyone has the ability to do this and to focus completely on it. I have been blessed with the time and resources to achieve my goals comfortably, and am surrounded by people who want nothing more than to see and help me succeed.

4. My boyfriend. While it has taken both of us some time to learn the way each other works, I can absolutely say that I have never been more connected to anyone, and have never felt such trust in another person before. Bret is truly my best friend, and I am so lucky to have him. He is the most considerate and helpful, caring and loving, honest and kind person I know.

5. Fur babies. All four of them. I am thankful that after living for two years with just each other, Ella and Guillermo have so successfully come into a house with two other dogs and get along so well. I am thankful that I can now claim the sweetest and most gentle boxer in the world as partly mine, and that we have the ability and resources to rescue a fourth fur baby, Darcy. And that we are able to give her a loving, caring, warm home with a pack to call her own.

6. My brother. After a childhood of not being the closest or nicest to each other, I can truthfully say that he is my best friend (along with all those others). I know I can count on him, and he cant count on me. It's the best thing in the world to have a sibling you can rely on.

<3

Darcy. As in, Mr. (Pants)

The newest member of our huge fur family: Darcy Pants. BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY. (If you don't catch the reference, we were going for Pride & Prejudice.) She is the cutest and the sweetest. We got her last Sunday from a rescue group that comes to PetsMart near us each weekend. She and her litter mates were taken from the pound on the kill list. Her mother, for some reason, was unable to nurse the puppies. When they were found, the pound deemed them "unsaveable" because they were so incredibly malnourished and planned to euthanize all five of them. Then comes in Dream House rescue. They took all 5 puppies.

Two of the litter did not make it, but the three that did were nursed back to health. That's when we come in. She is almost 16 pounds (2 heavier than when we got her a week ago.) and very happy and energetic. The spots you see in some of the pictures are alopecia and are a result of the malnourishment. Other than itching her a little bit, they don't seem to be uncomfortable to her. We are currently treating her with antibiotics and medicated shampoo to hopefully get rid of them as quickly as possible.

The other dogs have taken to her well. It took Guillermo a couple of days to let her into the pack, but a trip to PetsMart with just the two of them solved that problem. They have been playing and cuddling ever since. Even Ella, who is 5.5 pounds, loves to try and test Darcy. Granted, she gets scared and runs away, but they play nonetheless!

Of course, Mak is being an amazing big sister, showing Darcy the ropes and playing with her for hours and hours. She is very gentle with Darcy and loves to wrestle with her. Darcy mimics most of what Mak does and, obviously, that is adorable.