Welcome to the second round of Tattoo Tuesday! I am so, so happy with how the first round turned out- I received so many submissions, which is super awesome. I'm trying my best to make my way through what feels like millions of fabulous tattoos in my inbox, in addition to some of my friends' tattoos that I'm in love with and can't wait to feature.

Our first featured lovely is the adorable Kali, who can be found over at Whimsical Creature!

Name and blog name: Kali (whimsicalcreature.blogspot.com)

Tattoo/location: Ribbon, cupcake, buttons with thread and hearts on the upper left arm

Artist/shop/location: Danny Reed at Hot Stuff in Asheville, NC.

(click on the following photos to make them bigger)





1) Tell us about the tattoo you are sharing with us- is there a background story or special meaning? Why did you choose this particular piece of art?

This is my first tattoo that did not hold a rather significant meaning. I really enjoy baking and crafting, so I chose to incorporate a little bit of each into a bright and cheerful tattoo.

2) Do you have any other tattoos? If so, what do you have and where?

I have a skeleton key on the back of my left arm, wind and leaves that wrap around my left upper arm, tiny hearts on both of my forearms, and owls tattooed on top of both feet.


3) Do you plan on getting more?

Definitely. I would like to get a chest piece next and I'd eventually like to get a rib panel and my shins done.

4) How do your family and friends feel about your tattoo(s)? Have you run into any adversity or negativity because of them?

The vast majority of my friends are tattooed, so it is well received amongst that crowd. My parents, brother and sister all like them a great deal. My grandparents are quite traditional, so I try to keep them covered when the entire family is around.

5) Any advice for those interested in getting tattooed but haven't gotten one yet?

I think that as long as you have given it thought and not rushed into it, it's awesome. Also, to research your tattoo artist a bit before you go in to get work done is also key. I am really thankful that I knew all of my tattoo artists ahead of time and had a good experience while being tattooed and receiving a beautiful tattoo that I adore and have no regrets about.




Our second featured tattooed darling is my amazing little sister Lauren, who can be found on her blog- monsterxlove!



Name and blog name: Lauren (http://monsterxlove.blogspot.com)

Tattoo/location: Lighthouse on right shin, Umbrella on left shin.

Artist/shop/location: Cory, Phoenix AZ





1) Tell us about the tattoo you are sharing with us- is there a background story or special meaning? Why did you choose this particular piece of art?

I had the umbrella with "When it rains it pours" tattooed first. It basically represents the way my life had been for the previous 3 years or so. My family went through a lot; cancer, surgeries, heart attacks, lost jobs, etc. A common theme kept reoccurring in my life: "When it rains it pours." Even though it is a negative type tattoo and reminds me of sad and hard times, I am really happy I got it. My tattoo reminds me that I have been through a lot and that we made it through stronger than ever. I had the lighthouse tattooed on my other shin about 2 weeks later or so. My family is originally from the East Coast and we always used to go visit lighthouses. The lighthouse reminds me of my childhood and of my amazing parents. My shin tattoos are kind of a pair.

2) Do you have any other tattoos? If so, what do you have and where?

Yes, I have my chest tattooed, "To Thine Own Self Be True" a Shakespeare quote, on the tops of both of my feet I have roses. I have a little tiny silly star on my inner foot, "Love" on one wrist, "Life" on the other wrist, I have from the tops of my shoulders to halfway down my butt tattooed with a geisha scene. I also have a matching tattoo with my sister on my thigh that says, "Tea for Two" and my most recent tattoo is an open rose with a traditional girl head inside of it.












3) Do you plan on getting more?

Yes!! I will be starting on my arms in a few months here. I am going to be doing a whole traditional sleeve on one arm-similar artwork to what I got tattooed on my neck. I plan on pretty much being covered; other thigh, both ribs, stomach, both arms, and anywhere else I can squeeze them in!


4) How do your family and friends feel about your tattoo(s)? Have you run into any adversity or negativity because of them?

My parents were not happy at first about my tattoos; they didn't understand where they went wrong in raising me. But after a while they got used to them and realized that I don't drink, smoke, do drugs, I have a career, and that being tattooed just makes me happy-so now they say that they hardly see them anymore. I always get a little nervous when I stop by my parent's house with a new tattoo though-especially if my Grandma is home, "What is that THING?" I am really the only one among my friends that is heavily tattooed and I'm fine with that. It is annoying though to be introduced as the "tattooed girl" or the "tattooed friend" or "the CRAZY friend." Haha it's so funny how people have a preconceived idea of what a tattooed person should act like. My fiance is heavily tattooed as well though. I do find that if people meet me and get to know me and do not know that I have tattoos, especially adults, they are so surprised to find out that I am tattooed. I am a teacher so I do cover most of my tattoos, but I don't "hide" them. If one peeks out and my students ask me about it, I just say, "Yes it is a tattoo, big deal." I find that when I don't make a big deal out of it, neither do they. I show my feet tattoos, wrist tattoos, and I'm sure my neck tattoo soon as well, when I am at work. I always say that if people want to judge me based on my tattoos, then I wouldn't want to be friends with a judgmental person like that anyway.

5) Any advice for those interested in getting tattooed but haven't gotten one yet?

I would just make sure that you are sure of what you want to get. Some of my tattoos have significant meanings behind them, while others I got just because I liked them or thought it would be pretty. I get tattoos that make me happy, and that will never change. Also be sure to carefully pick out a tattoo artist, do your research-most tattooers are known for a particular style, make sure it fits yours.



A big thanks to both Kali and Laur for participating this week! Until next Tuesday...

Well, tonight marks the end of a great three-day weekend. I often struggle with trying to do too much during vacations, and on this short one I feel I really succeeded in relaxing and enjoying myself! Today was quite the quiet day at the Hampton house. Hank had to work, so I slept in late (and I mean LATE!)- I didn't wake up until a little after 10am. I eventually got up and had a super productive day. I ran around all day, checking everything off my list and then when Hank got home from work we made dinner, I baked him cookies, and we watched The Bachelor. Well, I watched it and he played online. haha.

I have a fairly low-key week ahead of me. We have half days every Wednesday it makes the work week seem even shorter. I don't have any major goals, but I would like to continue having "gym dates" with Hank every night. And as far as blogging, this week I will be announcing a great giveaway that I'm really excited about, so stay tuned!

Also, I wanted to see if any of you had any documentary suggestions. My senior class and I are beginning a documentary/discussion unit and I'd love any ideas for classroom appropriate viewing. So far we've watched "The Invisible Children" and I think I'm going to show "Food Inc." later this week! I'd love suggestions so feel free to comment below!

Short post, but I wanted to wish everyone a happy week if tomorrow is your "Monday." Goodnight!

xoxo

In my earliest teen years, I was into many things, but most of all, I had a love for a Mr. Kurt Cobain and his beautiful music. My room was covered in posters of the group, and as much as I loved all of the guys, Kurt was my number one crush. I remember watching Nirvana: Unplugged in New York and feeling like my 11-year old self was destined to marry him, fuzzy green cardigan and all. To this day whenever I watch these videos and I get a happy little feeling in my belly. Kurt, wherever you are, I love you! :)



I also went through a Jonathan Taylor Thomas phase, a la Bop and Tiger Beat but I moved on quickly from him, into my grungy rocker phase (um, hi Jordan Catalano) which has kinda lasted forever, although Hank isn't very grungy. Regardless, it was quite the jump from my all-American JTT to Kurt! Do you have any "crushes" from when you were younger? Do tell!

I love Sundays so much! It's especially sweet knowing I don't have to go to work tomorrow either! :) Hank and I slept in a little bit which was so lovely, and once we were up we decided to use a gift card from the holidays and have lunch at Wildflower Bakery. We don't usually frequent restaurants like this- we tend to stick to our local favorites downtown, and I was reminded again of why during this visit! The food was "okay," and it was so incredibly packed it was hard to find a table. Once we got one it was hard to really have a conversation because the tables were so close and it was just kind of weird. I am so appreciative of the giftcard (free food = awesome!) but I think we'll keep sticking to our old favorites and steer clear of chain restaurants like we always do.

After lunch we made a quick Costco trip and then went to see "The Lovely Bones." Having read the book twice, I had been looking forward to seeing this film for some time. One thing about me though, is that I never, ever compare the book with the movie. I know that I have an idea in my mind of how I think the book should pan out on screen, and I know unless the screenplay writer/director are mind readers, it will never ever match up. I just try and keep an open mind and remember that all books to movies are adaptations. This helps me to avoid feeling let down. This movie though, couldn't have let me down if it tried. Hank was a little apprehensive about seeing it, and he ended up really, really enjoying it. Overall it was a little too creepy/scary for me, but I made it through the entire thing without covering my eyes. I thought the acting was good (I actually really love Mark Wahlberg) and I truly enjoyed it, beginning to end. I think it was a tricky movie to make with all of the "heaven" type scenes, and I think it was executed pretty well. A lot of my friends have had different reactions though, especially the ones who had read it first. Have any of you seen it? What do you think? Next weekend I am hoping to see "Up in the Air" and "Leap Year."

We came home after the movie and I enjoyed a yummy cupcake that Hank had bought for me! Such a sweetie. The rest of the night is dedicated to...absolutely nothing! Sometimes those are the best kind of nights.

I wanted to also include a little "hello" and a thank you to all my new readers. There are quite a few of you, and I want you to know how much I appreciate you taking the time to stop by my little corner of the internet. If you'd like, leave your blog address in the comments so I can come see your little corner too! I made a cheesy video for all of you too. :)




poor Hank is still a little sick, what a trooper though, agreeing to snap a pic :)





cupcake compliments of Hank!

Time for my weekly Formspring questions and answers, volume three! If you'd like to read the other posts you can do so here and here. And as always, feel free to ask or tell me anything in that little box up there to the left.

I also wanted to add that I skipped about 10 of the questions that I've already answered, so be sure to check the above links or my search feature up there on the right if you don't see you question!

Also- I wish there was a way to make a sort of livejournal cut type of thing so this didn't take up so much space. Does anyone know how to do anything like that?



I read in your blog that you use dry shampoo and I LOVED the idea that I wouldn't have to wash my hair everyday! I was wondering what kind of dry shampoo do you use and where do you buy it? Thanks so much! I really love reading your blog!

I wrote a post about my favorite dry shampoo here, and it still is my favorite brand! Some people complain that the product amount isn't worth the price, but I actually have found it to last quite awhile because I only use it in my bangs.

What is your routine at the gym? I am trying to get back into it and need some inspiration. Thanks :-)

I try to workout about 6 days a week. I typically will do 45-60 minutes of cardio (mix up the machines or run outside) and then lift alternating body parts. For instance tonight is legs, tomorrow is back and chest, and Sunday is bi/tri and shoulders. I also alternate abs every few days. I get bored of the gym though, so I like to use classes and videos to mix it up. I love spin class, and some of my favorite videos are Jillian Michaels' 30-day Shred and P90X videos. I also enjoy both running and "speed-walking" outdoors. When it gets nicer out, I absolutely love riding my bike (a beach cruiser) A LOT too!

Who made your blog layout? It's super cute!

I made the original header and the lovely Lindsay at Her Sunday Dress added to it, and also did the cute overall layout. She's a talented lady and if you're in the mood for a new look, don't hesitate to contact her- she's the sweetest!

What are your religious beliefs?

I don't have any! I don't follow any religion, I don't believe in god. I believe in love, and I believe in being a good person and doing the right thing, and these things have brought me all the happiness in the world. Although I feel strongly that religion is absolutely not for me or my family, I am open to anything, so if someday I had an experience where I said, "yes, yes there is a god," then I would believe in god. I also don't feel that there is just nothing- I do think there is some sort of energy in this world, turning the universe. There are too many amazing coincidences and miracles to just say there is absolutely nothing.

Do you think you'll ever go back to working once you've had kids?

I don't think I'd ever go back to a job outside of the home, but I would definitely love to write children's book and possibly novels. At the same time though, I never like to say never...so I guess I should say that I am unsure at this point. :)

What time do you go to bed? You always seem so energetic and seem to get so much done in your days? How do you accomplish it all in a day? Do you require a certain amount of sleep? Also, you mentioned your skin routine...do you always recommend a moisturizer even if somebody has horrible skin (like me)? I'm always afraid that the moisturizer will make me break out more. But then my face seems dry in areas too. (that may be an odd question, lol)

I go to bed anywhere between 10pm and midnight and wake up between 6am and 7am, depending on if I have to shower. If I workout in the morning I get up at 4:45am and go to bed around 9:30am. I am typically very energetic, where I get a lot of sleep or a little bit of sleep. I function best on 8 hours of sleep- my skin looks its best and I feel really happy and healthy. Normally I do get 8 hours, but sometimes 7. Last school year I got into a bad habit of getting just 4-5 hours of sleep and I hated it. The question of "how do I get so much accomplished" comes up a lot, and honestly I don't feel like I do that much but thinking about it, I guess I really do. You have to think about the fact that my work day is over at 3pm. I have the entire evening to do as I please, with my only responsibilities being to hang out with my husband and pup, workout, cook dinner, and I also love to fit in blogging. I still manage to have enough time to be lazy for awhile too. I think its my great teacher schedule! :)

As far as skin...moisturizer is KEY! If you don't moisturize, your skin will get dry, causing it to produce more oil, which in turn clogs your pores and will make you break out! I recommend any lotion that is oil-free and won't clog your pores! I love Purpose's face lotion with SPF 15.

What are your top 5 favorite songs right now?

Songs are hard for me but here are my most favorite songs that have been on repeat a lot this week!

Frank Turner, To Take You Home
Jay-Z, Young Forever
Stay Gold, TGIF
Count Me Out, My Regret
Dolly Parton, 9 to 5

I listen to a really strange mix of music, I know. My tastes are allll over the place.

Is Hank a romantic guy? Like does he bring home flowers and gifts just because?

He is super romantic in our own little way. Here's a little example-



Last time he was on tour, he hid little notes saying "I love you" and other cute stuff all over the place. Even under the last slice of bread I often eat for breakfast! Silly and so adorable. He finds really sweet ways to always let me know he's thinking of me and I love that about him.

where did you go to high school? do you think hank and you would have dated in high school?

I went to high school at Red Mountain High in Mesa, AZ. I definitely think we would have dated. Most of the guys I hung out with and dated were skateboarders and into music, and he was into the same stuff. I should get a photo of him from high school and post it. SO CUTE.

What kind of camera do you use?

I use two different little digitals for quick things- a Nikon and a Canon. But for most of my photos I'll use our D-SLR- Nikon D60. :)

Was Hank the first person you fell in love with?

Before Hank, I thought I was in love twice. But after meeting Hank, those relationships couldn't hold a candle even to the first week of Hank and me. Nothing compares, and I don't consider anything before Hank "love."

What attire do you normally wear to the gym? I want to start going but I feel so self conscious in that gym wear!

I wear the same thing all the time: black yoga capri pants (click here for my favorite one from Victoria's Secret- I have a million pairs of the black on black) and a hoodie with a tee shirt under it or just a long sleeved tee. I usually like to sweat a lot when I go so I prefer to wear the sweatshirt the entire time, but I have the tee on in case I get hot, or if I need to remove it when I left. If I wasn't tattooed I would probably wear little tank tops rather than tees but it's the most annoying thing in the world to go to one of the only gyms in town as a high school teacher. I probably see 20 students there every time I go, and it's just easier not to be "out and proud." haha. I'm looking forward to when I don't have to deal with that anymore. But as far as being self-conscious, don't be! Everyone is there for the same reason you are. Wear what is comfortable, and anyone who tries to make you feel any less than comfortable is just ridiculous!

to teach English,did you have to major in Education and English or just English?Thanks for your time!!!

My BA was in English Literature, and my M.Ed. was in Secondary English Education. You'd have to check with your state for the standard, but these days you have to be "highly qualified" in your area to teach it, so getting a major in English and in Education would be the best route.

Do you find that since you have been a teacher (especially for English!) that you read less for your own pleasure? When you do find time to do so, do you have any go to authors or books?

I actually read a lot more! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday my students and I read for ten minutes at the start of class. They can choose to read whatever they'd like. So for me, that adds up to about an hour a day! Plus, I make time to read for about an hour every night. Besides working out, reading is my number one hobby so I don't think I will ever read less if I can help it. As far as go to authors, I have the widest ranges of reading interests. Stay tuned for a book recommendation post soon! :)

Hey there, Danielle. I have been following your blog for a while and I love how positive and optimistic you are; it's an admirable quality that I'm sure inspires many people to follow suite. What people, or things, inspire you the most?

I am inspired by so much. Number one would be my little town. It's hard to describe but living here makes me want to just stay inside and bake and cook and keep our cute little house in perfect domestic bliss. I know that sounds weird but I feel like Prescott is a dream place for me- it's the kind of town I would imagine when I was younger, and I now I live here. I love walking around downtown and spending time on the square, it makes me so happy. I am also constantly inspired by blogs. I could spend hours on the computer just browsing all of the amazing images that exist. I recently was asked by my friend Tyler to name 10 specific things that inspire me for an issue of his zine, and here is my list- (you can click here to see this list with photos too!)

Not at all, which is awesome. His parents probably give him and his sister a harder time than me. ;)

Can you post some pictures and a little tutorial of how you do your manicure? I love doing mine on a Sunday, but not always does my nailpolishcome out the best. Yours however, ALWAYS looks fab!

I got 4 or 5 of these comments about my nails so I will definitely post something when I repaint them! And thank you for the compliment, I definitely don't think I do anything special but I'll post a video anyway!

Sorry if you've gotten this question already, when did you get your first visible tattoo? Had you already decided you wanted to be a teacher? I am an aspiring high school History teacher and I already have a tattoo on my wrist. I had not decided that was what I wanted to do until after my tattoo. I'm hoping it won't be a problem! Thanks :]

It's totally okay! :) I posted this question because I got quite a few tattoo questions this time around. You can always check out this post here! I think I am going to make a little box for my sidebar that includes some of these frequently requested posts.

Hi Danielle! I never knew you had a VW. What kind was it? The bug? Do you have any pictures of it? It is my favourite car in the world actually!

Before this past year, I was always a VW girl! I miss them a lot actually. My very first car was a 1998 VW Passat, it was Sky Blue. I got it when I was 16 (in 1998) and I loved it so, so much. It was the perfect high school girly car- cutest color, sunroof, etc. I thought I was so cool ;). Next, I drove a 2000 VW Jetta (turbo and red, soo cute and fast) for a couple of years until I fell in love with the 2002 VW Beetle when I was a sophomore in college and bought that. It was blue and so adorable. Then when I graduated in 2004 I bought yet another new VW Jetta in slate gray (2005 model). Sigh. Now I miss those cute cars. I also sound like a crazy person who goes through too many cars but I always liked having new ones. :)

how long did it take you to grow your hair? do you have thick hair?

My hair has been growing for awhile, and I'm even really sure when I decided to grow it long. I don't have thick hair, but I have a lot of fine hair! I have the most amazing hair stylist and friend Rhonda who is also a "big sister" to me and has been in my life and doing my hair since I was 13! She works wonders. If you live in Phoenix and want a new hair stylist, definitely let me know and I can point you in the right direction!

Did you ever feel ostracized within your sorority for the "alternative" music you listen to or for your tattoos? I know you've written positive things about the sorority experience, but it seems like you had the sort of superficial differences from them that can damage relationships when everyone is still young and silly, especially because sororities are so image conscious.

Great question! And absolutely and definitely not! Although I have to say that I didn't have tattoos when I was in college- I waited until I had graduated to get one. It's kind of odd to type this out, but outside of tattoos and some of the music I listen to, I am the silliest girly girl in the entire world, and very much a "sorority girl," all the good parts at least! ;) I also never would have joined an organization where I felt judged or made to feel bad about myself! Even now, five years later, I go back with my friends from time to time for reunions, initiations, Homecomings, etc, and I don't feel "ostracized" at all. But again, I think that if I was what people (sadly) stereotype to be a "tattooed person" to be like, it wouldn't have worked out. And I probably wouldn't have wanted to rush in the first place.

Hi Danielle! Superb blog you have here, it is FANTASTIC to see the way it is growing! Can you tell me where you got your shades from? It's the black one with the gold pieces at the sides. They are fab!



Thank you so very much! :) I think you mean these ones! They are from Forever21, last summer.

what kind of hair dye do you use? how often to you go to the salon?

I don't know what kind of hair color it is. I go to the salon about every 5-6 weeks, but only trim my hair every other time.

What are your top 10 favorite blogs? Who do you admire and "look up" to?

It's so hard to just pick 10, but some of my favorite blogs are:

Sheryl
Jenna
Lauren
Holly
Elsie
Jessica
Katie
Marisa
James
Lindsay

As far as "who I look up to," I look up to my parents the most out of anyone in the whole world.

I have super sensitive skin like you. What daily body lotion do you use/recommend?

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Cetaphil body cream. I constantly get comments on how soft my skin is, and I fully thank this lotion. I put it on immediately after I exit the shower and dry off with a towel, and it totally seals in moisture. As far as more natural stuff goes, I am a big fan of anything by Kiss My Face!

Hi Danielle. I just recently found your blog and am really enjoying it. It's hard to believe you had any body image issues, you are such a beautiful person. I know we all have our own little quirks about ourselves though. Anyway, I was just wondering where your archives link is? I don't see one on here.

I added one for you right over there! Thank you so much for the suggestion! xo

Just a random question, but what kind of laptop do you and Hank have? I'm curious as I imagine you'll be using your laptop a lot for blogging etc. Are you satisfied with them and if not, do you have any other models in mind for your next purchase?

We both have Macbooks and both LOVE them. We are an Apple family and will always have brand loyalty. :)

well you know how you have the huge sometimes sweet thing as like a header, well i'm new to the blog world, and i would like to know how to do that. i kinda made up a picture but it doesn't work.

Go see Lindsay at Her Sunday Dress, she can help you out!

Hey there Danielle! I realize the time has QUITE come, but do you have any "favorite names" that are potentials? Have a beautiful day!

Hank actually picked out our future daughter's name a long, long time ago and I swore I wouldn't tell the internet world until the day came. But you can know our first boys name, since he will be a IV. hah. Henry Hampton IV that is! ;)

Hi Danielle! As a very unhealthy vegan I'm always on the look out for healthy new meals. You mentioned recently you were making a macro platter for dinner - what do you put on it? Thankyou! Much love, Sam xxx

We always have steamed veggies, brown rice, tofu, and beans!



Hey! I've been reading your post about feeling a bit ill (hope you feel 100% soon!) and I'm interested in hearing about what supplements etc you take daily, and if you can recommend anywhere to learn more about them. I'm interested in taking some but have no idea where to go for advice! Thanks xo

Hi! Okay remember to check with your health care provider too. I take a few things- Trader Joe's Once Daily Prenatal (I have taken this for over a year and love it, I think it's done wonders for my skin and hair), Fisol Fish Oil Capsules, and bee pollen. This particular brand of fish oil is awesome because it's a different kind of pill that only opens once its in your intestine, where it should disperse. Because of this, you don't get the fishy burps or after taste (which is SO GROSS). If you click on the name of the product up there you can learn about its benefits. The bee pollen is kind of an odd thing, but very neat. It's a super amazing supplement that has a lot of health benefits. It's toted as a "super food" because it has all of the complete nutrition you'd need for one day. It is a veritable alphabet of vitamins, tons of trace minerals, it's a natural appetite suppressant, it contains "more protein by weight than beef," and it smells and tastes yummy. It also is a great topper on your oatmeal in the morning or even dissolved in hot water if you're not wanting to eat.



I feel really lucky that my mom is such a natural health nut because she turns my sister and I on to a lot of really awesome, new things. I love it!

Do you know what you want your next tattoo(s) to be?

Yes, but I'm not telling! ;)

You like Mondays?! Admirable. I dread Mondays - which is probably my problem. Can you tell me how you ease into Monday? Do you have a Sunday afternoon/evening routine you like to follow?

Sundays are a really special day in my family, when we're at my parents' house. It's a tradition for all of us to get up, workout together, then go to breakfast and food shopping at Trader Joe's, Sprouts, and Whole Foods. We usually make a stop at all three because my Mom likes to get items from each store as funny as it sounds. Hank and I kind of do something similar and spend the day really enjoying ourselves. We usually workout, food shop, and lay low. Sunday evening I always paint my nails, make sure every nook and cranny in our house is perfectly clean, and plan meals and workouts for the week. This really helps me feel "set" for the upcoming week. There's been a few times we've been on vacation and I've missed being able to do this, and I always feel a bit out of sorts come Monday. I would say the main thing is to just organize, organize, organize! I am an organizational freak with my day planner attached to my hip so it's a necessity for me.

Do you like sushi?

YES!

What does your voice sound like? You should post more videos.

I do post videos from time to time, but I will try and post more! Here's a short little video I made for Hank will he was on tour. There's my voice! :)



quick question tho. you have said you only wash your hair every couple days right? how do you keep it so full? do you tie it up when you sleep? if so with what. id appreciate any advice you have to give. mine always comes out flat if i sleep with it down or gross and crinkled if i wear it up.

Yes, I only wash it every 2-3 days! I use dry shampoo just on my bangs, so the rest is just normal old dirty hair, haha. I sleep with it in a big, loose bun on top of my head, so I'm sure that helps with volume! I never have kinks in my hair because I tie it very loosely with itself- I don't use a rubber band or anything. If you don't have enough hair for that yet, I would advise using an old 1980s type scrunchie to avoid the kink. :)

How do you get such great self-portraits? Do you use a tripod or set your camera on something with a timer? Or does Hank take them?

Most of the self-portraits you see are just from my Macbook actually. I just set the computer on a flat surface and snap a picture! Any "regular" photos though, like the ones from today are all Hank. He likes taking my photo and I definitely oblige. We don't have a tripod so it's either photobooth or the hubby! And thank you for the compliment!

Can you post pictures of all the framed portraits/pictures on your wall? (Maybe not all of them, but your favorites?)

I will do that this week! Thanks for the question.

So I am getting married in October and I have a few personal questions to ask you about your wedding. It looks like it was absolutely beautiful. First, who designed your dress? Next, did you have a budget or did you anything go? Lastly, is there anything you wish you would or would not have done at your wedding? Thanks!

I actually have no idea who the designer of my dress was, isn't that weird? I suppose I should find out. I got it at a wedding shop in downtown Phoenix- my friend Shirley picked it out and it was the second dress I tried on. Once I put it on I didn't really ask any questions, I was in love! To answer your next question, we were fortunate enough to be able to pretty much have whatever type of wedding we wanted, and I am thankful for that. And in terms of changes, no, I wouldn't change a thing. If I think hard about it, maybe the only thing I would have done was to have it in the fall because I love that season so much, but our timing worked out really well with my teaching schedule.

What sort of children do you hope to raise?

Hank and I talk a lot about this. We hope to raise open-minded kids who never feel judged, and always feel like they can be themselves, whoever that may be. I hope they are loving, open, creative kids who really enjoy being kids! Other than that, we don't really have a game plan. My biggest thing is just making sure they know whoever they are is a-okay with us and that we will always love them unconditionally.

Hey! Someone rightly commented on your lovely posture and I wondered if you had any tips on how to get good posture - any exercises you think help etc?

Thank you! I really attribute it to years of dance and gymnastics! I also consciously tell myself to roll my shoulders back all of the time so now its just a normal thing for me to do! I would just say to consistently remind yourself to sit and stand up straight. Pretty soon it will become second nature.

How much of your body are you willing to cover with tat'?

Thanks! :) I would like to have a lot more actually, other arm, other side, both sides of neck, other thigh. Fun! ;)

I noticed on your twitter this week that you mentioned finishing up your family budget. Have any tips for making & maintaining a budget? What about tips from your own experiences, for couples about to combine their finances? Thanks!

I only recently started doing this, so I don't have much advice, but once a couple months have passed I will make a post about this.

Has a student ever had a crush on you?

I don't know, nor do I want to know. :)

how do you know elsie?

I met Elsie through blogging! She's been a great source of inspiration for me, and I adore her.

hi there! I absolutely adore your blog! I am a quite heavily tattooed 21 year old girly and am consdering working towards a teaching credential. Now to my question! When people would ask you about what profession you were considering, did you ever get negative feed back for your tattoos from family/ friends etc? Because i seem to be be very discouraged when it comes to furthering my education goals towards teaching. Thanks so much!

People are always going to have something negative to say unfortunately. As far as your profession though, tattoos have nothing to do with it. You can cover with clothes and no one would ever know! Many people at work don't even know I have tattoos, and it's not an issue at all and has never been one. You'd also be surprised to know how many other teachers have tattoos under those professional clothes. Tell the naysayers that some ink in your skin has absolutely nothing to do with your profession- it's silly for them to even think that. And as time goes by and tattoos become even more mainstream, it will be even less of a potential issue.

After I read the story of how you and Hank met, I was just wondering, do you think if two people meet and they don't get the same feeling that you both had, then are they still meant to be together? Or do you think that all people who are meant to be together will get that feeling? I hope that's not too confusing :D

Absolutely not! I think our story is pretty uncommon. For instance, my sister and her fiance have known each other and been friends throughout junior high and high school. They didn't start dating until they were in college. It happens differently for everyone, and I think it happens in just the right way for each couple!

Buying organic, do you have to go grocery shopping a lot more often in order to have fresh food at home?

We go food shopping about 2x a week. We almost always go on Sundays, and usually I will go again on my own around Wednesday or Thursday for produce. I really enjoy grocery shopping so I don't mind going, and this way we never really waste food since we never buy more than a couple days worth of stuff.

What is your favorite meal to cook?

Lately I've been making this meal every week! I love it :).

Alright, so that's it for this week! Thanks for all the questions and so many AMAZING, thoughtful, sweet, encouraging comments over there. Continue to ask me/tell me whatever your heart desires. Until next Sunday...

Thanks guys!
xoxo

I am being quite lazy today and I definitely needed a morning like this! I woke up around 8am, and proceeded to do absolutely nothing outside of tv-watching, tea-drinking, and blog-reading. A very perfect kind of morning if you ask me! Hank is still sick, so he slept in for awhile, and once he got up I kind of did too. I made myself some breakfast and then thought I should probably get ready for the day. I'm planning on running to Target in a bit, then the gym, and tonight Hank and I are maybe going to the movies, or maybe I can finally convince him to watch "Away We Go" with me. It's so funny because I've asked him about three times to watch it, and every time he asks what it's about, and every time I say, "I'm not sure, but it has the guy from The Office" in it!" in the hopes that I can trick him into watching a chick-flick with me! haha. Another movie that looks absolutely wonderful is "Dear John." I really like the main actress, Amanda Seyfried, and I also really enjoy watching her in "Big Love!" I'm a total sucker for sappy, 10-tissue movies like "The Notebook," and this is another movie adapted from a novel by the same author, Nicolas Sparks. The trailer even makes me cry!



This morning Janel also featured me on her lovely blog. It was really neat to be one of her featured bloggers and I really appreciate you including me, Janel! If you don't already follow her, you definitely should hop over and say hi- I love her blog and I know you will too!

I also wanted to remind you guys that today is the last day I will be accepting Formspring questions before tomorrow's "Formspring Sunday" post. So if you have any questions for this week's round, feel free to shoot them my way!

I hope all of you have a wonderful, beautiful weekend! I still have two more days off after this one, and I'm excited to really enjoy my time.

I'll leave you with some photos that Hank snapped about an hour ago. I'm going to try and take outfit photos more often. Even though they seem a little too much "me me me" they are fun to look back on and even fun to take! There a few more on my Flickr too.








Hank kept taking photos, I guess this is my "I'm done" face.



Saturday shoes



"Marie" is officially framed and has found her place on our wall! "Augusta" will soon be joining her. I am so pleased with how this turned out, frame-wise. Thanks Michael's!



I wish she was looking at the camera :)



Happy weekend! xo

The lovely James over at Bleubird Vintage has posted another round of her adorable Show and Tell! Hop over her way and take a peek at all of the awesome submissions, and maybe make a new blog friend or two!

Here's what I shared -



Once you head over to Bleubird, you can see what I wrote and see all of the other show and tell items! It was such a fun read to see what everyone wanted to share.

Today has been a great day. Work went by fairly quickly, and as always I had the best time with my Seniors. I always have great days with my sophomores too, but the seniors are a bit special because this is the 2nd or every 3rd time I've had most of them in my class. I know these kids very well, so there's an air of comfortableness in my classroom that is unmatched by any other group. These guys are able to share a lot more, and put themselves out there without fear of anything, and it's a really awesome environment to spend time in. I will surely be sad when they all graduate in May!

I love the weekends, and I am really excited for this one. One, because it's a three-day weekend, and two, because I literally have no plans! The only thing on the agenda is to see "The Lovely Bones" with my friend Carolyn. Speaking of that movie, I am really excited. I know critics haven't given it the best reviews, but I am going in with an open mind. I really enjoyed the book, and I'm so curious to see how it all pans out via screen.

As for now, I am off to the gym for a late night workout! I may be back for a late night blog session too! We'll see. Either way, I hope all of you have a great night.

xoxo

People often ask me how my husband Hank and I met, so I thought I would sit down and tell this story not just for the inquirers, but so we always have this tucked away somewhere, to always remember how we began.

The summer of 2004 was a crazy one for me. I had just graduated college and was living in Scottsdale with my best friends, Autumn and Shirley. Throughout that summer I'd dated many different boys in my old, usual fashion of never wanting to be tied down. After an annoying run of annoying guys, I decided that I would become "anti-relationship/pro-friendship." And yes, I actually used this ridiculous term to describe myself many a-times. I was sick of guys, and meeting guys who would eventually turn out to be too "something," so I figured if I just decided to be friends instead of date I would enjoy myself a lot more. Of course as fate would have it, usually the minute you utter something like this, exactly what you're not looking for, comes knocking on your door...

My friend John had just gotten back from tour with his band, Where Eagles Dare. He had just gotten home, and I had gone over right from a workout, so I was not looking my best. I didn't care though, because I was just happy to see my dear friend after he had been all over the country for some time. We hung out for awhile, watched some television, when he said that our friend Jaesyn and their friend Hank had to stop by to get Jaesyn's tattoo book out of the tour van. This mystery man Hank had also just gotten back from touring with his band, Life in Pictures, and was going to get tattooed by Jaesyn. I decided I would stay inside when John asked me if I wanted to come out and meet Hank. I even sarcastically said something along the lines of, "What kind of name is 'Hank' anyway? No thanks." Yikes. So I sat in the comfort of glorious air conditioning on that hot August afternoon, when suddenly felt like I had to go outside; like I should go outside. I remember getting up, walking to the door, walking down the walkway, walking up to my friends...walking...and suddenly and seriously feeling like the wind had been knocked out of me as I looked at this tall, tattooed, curly-headed boy with the most beautiful brown eyes. The rest of this meeting was completely in slow motion. I said hello to Jaesyn and then "Danielle, do you know Hank?" "No, but nice to meet you." Slow-motion handshake. "Nice to meet you too, Danielle." I was in a fog, a haze, my brain felt like molasses. I didn't even know what to make of it. Later Hank would tell me that he felt the exact same thing, that in his gut something was saying this is it, this is the one- however unrecognizable that notion was at the time.

I went back inside and didn't say a word about that odd, lingering feeling. I went home shortly after and didn't think too much about it- I hung out with Autumn and Shirley, made some dinner, did our usual routine. That night Hank's band was playing a show at The Modified- the same show some of my girlfriends and I were releasing issue #1 of our then zine, Broad. I got there a little late, and was outside of the venue, to the right of the building in the dirt parking lot, when Hank walked by, grabbed my forearms and quickly, breathlessly and in one sentence said "Hi wow it's good to see you again we're running really late and just got here from Prescott but I hope you watch our set." And he was off. I hadn't watched his band before, and even with all of our mutual friends, I'd somehow never met him or heard of him. It was truly bizarre we didn't know each other, and looking back we had so many near-meets, including when his band played in my freshman dorms at NAU. I can recall walking through the lobby of Sechrist Hall during this time, and even remember his band playing. Odd. But back to The Modified, I'm embarrassed to admit that although I told Hank I would watch his set, I never went inside to do so, and once we were dating he told me he was looking around for me as he played and knew I hadn't come in to watch. Oops. I couldn't stick around to talk to him afterward, so I left pretty soon after he played.

A couple of days later I logged into Myspace to see a message waiting from Hank. Due to his cross-country touring, over the next couple of weeks we messaged novels back and forth to each other. I still have every letter that was sent, and they are absolutely amazing to read over. Through those weeks we got to know each other quite well and I knew we had a really special connection. He kept wanting to talk on AIM, but I really didn't want to because I knew once that happened, our letter writing days could possibly be over, and I truly loved them. So I consistently avoided giving him my AIM name whenever he would ask. Finally he said something about my avoidance so I begrudgingly gave it to him. That night he messaged me, but I was completely take aback when he was weird and unresponsive. After getting over the initial disappointment, I told him I had to go. He asked for my number and said he would call me in ten minutes. At this point it was probably around 9pm. I gave him my phone number. 9:10 came and went, as did 9:30, 10, 11, even midnight. I went to sleep, but was woken up around 1am by a phone call from an unknown 928 area code, and a voice saying "Ahh I hope I didn't wake you up, are you asleep?" He apologized a million times and explained some dramatic story about an ex-girlfriend and another ex-girlfriend having some issue with each other, having to do with him (looking back on this, seriously hilarious). We ended up talking until 4am about everything and anything, and he decided, at 4am, to drive down to Phoenix that very next evening to take me on a date.

The entire next day I was a ball of nervous excitement. This guy, who I had a total crush on, was driving four hours round trip to take me out on a date! I was ecstatic that he wanted to make that effort. We decided to meet at Veggie House, a vegan restaurant in Phoenix. I remember exactly what both of us were wearing. Me- a polka dot skirt with a white top tucked in, and blue ballet flats. Him- a Give Up The Ghost hoodie, jeans and vans. It's all still vivid in my mind. I remember how nervous we both were (later Hank would tell me this was his actual "first date" ever!). We had such an amazing dinner. Great conversation, wonderful food at a place we both considered our favorite restaurant. After dinner we took my car over to Harkins Camelview to see Garden State. Hank still teases me to this day about what an adamant non-soda drinker I was, yet kept stealing sips from his Dr. Pepper. I still blame it on nervous social-drinking! After the movie we went to IHOP to meet our mutual friends for a quick hangout, then we headed back to Veggie House, where we had left his car. We didn't kiss goodbye, and although this was better, I was so used to typically always kissing on the first date if I liked someone (tsk, tsk) that I was a bit let down. I drove home and went to bed, a little unsure about the whole thing.

When I woke up the next morning I was greeted with a long, long Myspace message from Hank, about what a great time he had on our date and how he couldn't wait to see me again. I'll never forget that feeling in my stomach when I realized that this was a mutual "like," and the guy that I was so into was so into me, and had no problem telling me.

Time started to go quickly here. I made a trip up to Prescott, we shared our first dreamy kiss on his bedroom floor. We became an official "couple" towards the beginning of October, and I still remember walking into our first show together at The Brickhouse, holding hands. It was neat to watch him play a set that night, before Converge went on, and thinking, "that's my boyfriend." We continued to spend more and more time together. It was easier for me to go up to Prescott, as Hank had band practice every night, and his father didn't care if I stayed over for days at a time. We spent almost an entire year doing the long distance thing, until the following August when we decided I should make the move to Prescott. That winter, while living in our first teeny tiny apartment downtown, sharing a twin bed and snuggling close when the heater would often break, he gave me a pink sapphire and diamond promise ring. He definitely kept his promise.

I feel lucky that I somehow met my one true love in this big, wide world. Thinking back to our story, looking through old photos, it's crazy to me to think that those young people were us at one point. We've been through a lot of life changes over the past almost six years, and I'm incredibly thankful that because we've been together for so long and since we were quite young, we've grown up and together, rather than up and apart. I will forever cherish those first special months of new love- those butterflies that still reappear today, the long phone calls when we lived apart, the letters and postcards sent via mail. I will always find comfort in knowing this is it for me, and I will always find happiness in retelling our story.

Thank you for reading!

First of all, thanks for all the wonderful feedback on the new feature, Tattoo Tuesday. I'm really excited to do this every week and it should be a lot of fun!

So today I was still feeling pretty sick- and I still feel a little under the weather...but not as bad as yesterday. I don't take medicine unless it's a really serious situation, so I relied on all of my natural remedies and I definitely think I'm in the clear. Hank is also sick, and was still sick at work today too, so I'm curious to see how he feels when he gets home. I came home from work early today, rather than staying and going to meetings, and I think the extra rest definitely helped. I went on a little walk outside for some fresh air and I'm in the "getting better" zone for sure. Yay. I'm never sick and I'm such a baby when I am, so good riddance to you, cold or sinus infection or whatever you are. Here are some photos from today:





trying to show my bow belt! I need to get a better photo of it.



Hank just walked in the door and is still sniffly, poor guy. I'm going to make us a macro platter and then I'm going to dedicate the night to reading one of the books I'm working on - Cleaving: A Story of Meat, Marriage, and Obsession by Julie Powell, via my beloved Kindle. Can I make a quick plug about my Kindle DX for a moment? I LOVE IT. One of my most favorite things about this great gadget is the free book samples. Basically when you're surfing around Amazon.com or the Kindle store on the device, you can have the first chapter of ANY book you like, sent to you for free! I love this because I often buy a book and then end of really disliking it. This way, I can get to know a new author or book, no strings attached! Additionally, I'm the kind of person that is in the middle of 3-4 books at a time. With the Kindle, I can switch between books and store as many books as I would like. It's just awesome. Like I mentioned before, I'm currently reading Cleaving, and I like it so far. It's by the author of Julie and Julia, and it's another memoir that follows Julie's life after she hit it big with her book deal, etc. If you read it, you know that Julie and Julia is a book of a blog...and it's a true story. Cleaving is quite interesting in that it involves Julie working as a butcher, so a lot of the story has to do with many details about that topic. I would go as far as to say that the book's descriptions may be a little much for non-meat eaters or those with a squeamish stomach. The writing is great though, and I'm definitely curious to see where this story line is going. I'll keep you posted!

I thought I'd do something a little different today. I wanted to share four really yummy items from our pantry and recommend them to you guys! I consider all of these food substitute foods for delicious, packaged items that are typically pretty bad for you.



The first food (upper left corner) is Trader Joe's 100-calorie dark chocolate sticks. I love these because number one, with its antioxidant properties, dark chocolate is a good way to justify eating sweets every once and awhile! And two, the sticks are a really generous size, and sometimes I only eat half. 100-calories is a great snack and if you're craving dark chocolate- it's 70% dark too, which is yummy! Although there are 8g of fat and 5g of saturated fat, I still eat a stick of this maybe once or twice or week if I'm craving it. Definitely a staple in our house!

The second item (upper right corner) is something that is so, so necessary in our pantry for me. I am a total mac 'n cheese girl, and back when I didn't care too much about things like preservatives and all that nasty stuff, I would crave Kraft's version constantly. In fact, when I stopped being vegan in 2005 that's what I ate first! Amy's brand Macaroni and Cheese is the best substitute for me, because it comes in that easy box form, and you can even get it in a low-sodium version, as shown. It's not the lowest in calories, but I usually eat half a box with broccoli mixed in, and it's not too bad for you that way. Because macaroni and cheese is one of my all-time favorite foods, I love having this healthier substitution.

The third item (lower right corner) is one of my breakfast staples- Kashi GoLean Honey and Cinnamon Oatmeal. This stuff is GOOD. I usually make two packets at once, and add fresh berries, bananas, or apples and a little bee pollen on top. Each packet is only 150 cal and 8 g protein/5 g fiber. It fills me up in a major way and is seriously delicious. Yum. I'm getting hungry just talking about it. I totally recommend this oatmeal!

The last time is Thai Kitchen's Instant Rice Noodle Soup (Spring Onion pictured here), which is a great substitute for ramen noodles, if you like that kind of stuff! Hank and I love these little noodle packets, and I like to add fresh veggies in with the noodles and delicious broth. They cook really quickly in the microwave, and it comes with both an oil packet, and a seasoning packet. At 99 cents you can't really beat that either if you're craving a noodle soup! Definitely a must-try.

Alright, I hope you enjoyed my little food round up and maybe you'll give something a try you haven't tried before! I also hope that are having a great day. I'm going to head to bed soon to read and try and fight the last bit of this sickness. :)

Welcome to the first installment of Tattoo Tuesday, my new weekly feature. As you know, I absolutely love beautiful tattoos, so I figured why not show off some of my lovely friends' artwork. If you would like to participate in this feature, simply email me at sometimessweetblog@gmail.com and put "Tattoo Tuesday" as the subject (by clicking on the link it will immediately send me an email with the subject already set up for you!). I will feature one of your tattoos and have you tell us about that tattoo in particular, and also have you answer some general questions! Sound like fun?!

I'm really excited about this and I'm looking forward to featuring all sorts of beautiful artwork.

So, without further ado, our very first lovely lady for Tattoo Tuesday is my friend Ms. Elsie Flannigan!

Name and blog name: Elsie from A Beautiful Mess


Featured tattoo/location: vintage polaroid camera on inner arm

Artist/shop/location: Freaks on Broadway in KC Mo. Shaun did my tattoo, but he has since relocated to Seattle.




1) Tell us about the tattoo you are sharing with us- is there a background story or special meaning? Why did you choose this particular piece of art?

I've never had a tattoo (yet) with a sentimental meaning. My favorite tattoos are lighthearted and are usually of everyday objects and cute things (sewing machines, cute animals, ribbons, bows etc...). I chose this camera because it's my all-time favorite polaroid model!

2) Do you have any other tattoos? If so, what do you have and where?

I also have some thread spools and some cherries.



3) Do you plan on getting more?

Yep. I would like to finish a little half sleeve with crafty/DIY items this year. :) Next up will most likely be a pretty sewing machine.

4) How do your family and friends feel about your tattoo(s)? Have you run into any adversity or negativity because of them?

My grandparents are very traditional, so I pretty much hide them at family events. My parents have become really cool about it since all my siblings have them now. :)

my brother's tattoo-



5) Any advice for those interested in getting tattooed but haven't gotten one yet?

I think that it really depends on your personality. I don't easily regret things and I also have a pretty solid style that I've had for a long time. I think that people who change a lot and second guess themselves are smart to be more cautious. I think it's great as long as your really know what you like and don't like! In fact...I think that really specific/unique tattoos are much more fun to look at!



Thanks so much for being "the first lady of Tattoo Tuesday" Elsie! And thanks to all of you for stopping by. You'll see this feature again next week.

xoxo

This is an older photo. I was looking through some old pictures and came across it, and the colors made me happy so I thought I would use it for today's picture as I am not feeling very well. Yesterday both Hank and I started noticing sore throats, and by the time we both got home from work today, we both felt horrible. My head was pounding throughout my work day, with that annoying feeling like you're in a tunnel because nothing sounds right due to sinus pressure. Let me tell you, that feeling is not fun when you have to be up in front of a class all day. If you know me, you know I am never, ever sick and this looks like it is my once-a-year illness. It's not horrible, but because I'm used to feeling so healthy all the time it really bums me out. So here I am, in bed, drinking tea and relaxing. I'm definitely looking forward to hopefully waking up tomorrow feeling good again.

Do you guys have any special natural remedies you use when you're sick? A personal favorite of mine is Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE), which is awesome and kind of a cure-all for a lot of things. I also load up on tea, odorless garlic, zinc, and vitamin c!

Sickness, go away!

I hope all of you have a wonderful night- I'll be back tomorrow with my regular posts.

xoxo

My dear friend Emily and I have always shared a love for Mondays! In her most recent post she said, "I LOVE Mondays! It's the day I hit "re-start" and get ready for a fantastic week. Every Monday I wake up feeling refreshed and ready to organize my weekly plans/goals." I couldn't agree more, and I think almost every Monday I write something about how much I enjoy the "restart" and setting goals. On Sundays I enjoy doing a little run-down in my mind of what I accomplished, and what I need to work on for the upcoming week. This week, for instance, I am working on getting into the gym each and every day, cooking yummy homemade meals that are ready when Hank gets off of work 4 out of the 5 work days, and spending time outside everyday. We always cook a lot throughout the week, but it really makes more sense for me to have it ready right when Hank gets off work. Often I feel tired after work and I curl up in bed for a couple of hours with my laptop or a Netflix dvd, but I never feel good after I waste time like that for so long. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love doing nothing, and just relaxing, but if I do that right after work sometimes I won't even want to get up! So, my goal is to stay motivated and get everything done that I need to get done. :)