Tatted Thursday: The Stories Behind MY Ink: Part One

As my blog title suggests I am HUGE into tattoos and the love for them in this house is HUGE. Earlier when I started the blog I shared my Hubby's ink in a two part series and I realized I have yet to share mine! 

If you'd like to catch up with his you can check out Part One here and Part Two here.

As for me the adventure started when I was 16 and it has blossomed into a full fledged addiction I am sure. 

Right now my count is at 16 and more planning is in the works for future ink therapy sessions.   :) 

In order to not bore you to death I broke this down into several posts and they are in no special order either... so here we go :0)

Cancer Awareness Ribbon & Cross:

Shop Name/Location:  Forbidden Images Dothan, Alabama

Artist Name: Jesse

Placement: Left Calf

Pain Scale: 4

Price: $100

Age: 28?

Meaning/Story: Cancer is something so real and since this deadly plague runs through our family line I wanted to honor family members  and friends who have fought with this unforgiving disease.

 

I <3 U

Shop Name/Location: Anchor Tattoo & Piercing Bryant Arkansas

Artist Name: Chad

Placement: Left Ring Finger

Pain Scale: 5

Price: $60

Age: 30

Meaning/Story: Last year for mine and my husbands 8 year wedding anniversary her wrote out "I heart U" and I went and tatted that bitch to my finger :) I have always wanted a finger tattoo and we had talked about getting wedding rings tattooed forever but I decided I liked this idea way better and I can still wear my wedding ring :) 

 

Semi Colon

Shop Name/Location: Anchor Tattoo & Piercing Bryant Arkansas

Artist Name: Chad

Placement: Behind Left Ear

Pain Scale: 3

Price: $60

Age: 31

Meaning/Story: I know it seems that this tattoo is a trend and you my friend are RIGHT! The semi-colon has become the sign of self harm awareness and for good reason!

A semicolon is used where a sentence could have stopped, but didn't. With that being said this tattoo (especially on a wrist, is used by survivors) A semicolon tattoo means shes a survivor of self harm/anxiety/depression and things of that sorts. She could have very easily ended her life but she was strong and got over all the pain to continue on with her life story..

As for me personally I got it for my oldest daughter who had a VERY rough year last year. Though we battle it daily still we know that she is working on herself and she knows she has the support she needs to battle this! 

 

AMJ 

Shop Name/Location: Screamers Tattoo Daleville Alabama

Artist Name: Dave

Placement: Left Side of Neck

Pain Scale: 3

Price: $40

Age: 21

Meaning/Story: If you checked out my post when I shared the hubby's ink then this looks familiar :) After a year together went and tatted each others initials on our necks. Our Parents freaked the fuck out but I told them... well he went first :)

He of course decided he was going to make going first funny and had me soooo scared... such a drama queen :)

There are plenty more to share with you guys so be sure to check back with us! 

If you would like to share your ink and the story behind it please contact me. I would love to feature you and your stories right here on the blog!

10 Ways We Are Beating the Summer Heat in Central Arkansas

With summer in full swing and the temperatures rising we have been finding ways to cool off this summer!

June and July are usually our "coolest" months here in Arkansas but with the heat index already reaching 105+ I sit here and wonder what August will bring.

Luckily we have found a few tricks and treats to beat the summer heat and ALWAYS looking for more...

Here is what we have so far this summer.

1: Swimming!

Because it takes a REAL genius to figure that one out :) 

Here in Central Arkansas you have a TON of great swimming places to choose from ranging from FREE to a few bucks a head and you can't beat that! 

 

One of our favorite places is the Saline River.

It is close to home for us and free! 

The kids and the hubby always enjoy it but to be honest I am not a huge fan of river water. Guess its the Cali girl in me but my Southern babies love it. 

A few downfalls is when it storms the river is easily flooded and damaged so unless you have a 4x4 and maybe a death wish this may not be for you.

 

 

We have also fell in LOVE with Lake Catherine State Park this year. 

Between the swimming "beach" and the trails we tend to find ourselves there on the weekends soaking in the sun and taking a dip in the lake to cool off. 

Warning... get there early or the beach will be crowded, but all the same a great day to be had :)

 

We personally don't have a swimming pool... yet... but we are very blessed to have some friends who do. 

They have invited us over a few times for the day to hang out, have a few drinks and par take in the enjoyment of their pool. Granted we have not been once where my hubby has not thought it would a splash to throw me in... 

Now if these places aren't for you that's ok here are a few ideas for you to run with!

Local splash pads!

We have one walking distance from us at Tyndall Park but I personally think that our youngest who is 9 is a bit big for this area though I have seen grown adults enjoying the pad. There are also several scattered between us and up into Little Rock :)

Public Swimming Pools

There is a great one not to far from us at Mills Park we went a few times last year but they went up on prices this year and since I am not working right now we are trying to conserve money. You can also check out other places and parks plus even hotels in the area will allow you to pay to swim for the day! 

2: Ice Cream

Because we all SCREAM for ice cream and lets face it who doesn't LOVE ice cream?!

We are HUGE Sonic ice cream fans and I since I am signed up for the text deals they have I get the scoop on all the promos they have! Which you can't beat! 

 

One of my personal favorites though is Gary's Sling Blade Diner. 

It is another home town favorite here in Benton. The diner was the diner in the movie "Sling Blade" staring Billy Bob Thorton and a HUGE local fav! 

Their ice cream is amazing and the prices are too!

3: Shaved Ice aka Sno Cones
Because no matter your age who doesn't LOVE a sno cone!
Here there is NO competition on where to go and that is over to Hobo Joes!  
There are well over 50+ flavors and the prices are hard to beat!
We have been SEVERAL times this summer and I might have a new obsession!

4: Iced Coffees
I love coffee... my girls love coffee... my husband does not... weirdo!
But that doesn't stop us girls from enjoying this amazing iced treat right here at home!
I happen to have 5 years as a certified barista under my belt of "talents" and it pays off here at home. The girls love that I can make "fancy" drinks and lets be honest so does this mamma :)

6: Make Overs 
What girl doesn't love a make over!
Me and my youngest has spent a few days relaxing at home  doing our toes, nails, make up and face masks. This is a great way to bond and always fun!

7: Cold Drinks
Ok so we ALL know Summer = Beer but I personally think Summer=Cold Refreshing drinks no matter the alcohol content.
Don't get me wrong I do LOVE a good beer, wine, liquor etc. but I have kids too ya know :)
SO anything from an iced tea to a Mikes hard lemonade you can't go wrong with lots of ice plus you need to stay hydrated right?  

7: Gatherings with Friends
There is nothing like spending time with some amazing friends!
We have been very blessed this summer and have got to hang out with some very good friends so far!
On the 4th we went and sepent the day with my god father and his work crew (which is my hubby's work crew also) and enjoyed every minute of it!
I love that my husbands job has brought so many wonderful people into our lives these last few years!

8: Exploring your town!
 Yesterday I posted where we had spent the weekend exploring new places.
Though I have not posted EVERY time we have done this (maybe I should?) we do it often.
We are always checking out things and visiting our favorite spaces :)
Check out yesterdays post for more information.

9: The Good Ol Water Hose!

 

With today's world I have noticed that things move faster and faster and there is less time enjoying the simple things for example the water hose...

I woke up one Saturday morning around 8 to an empty house... I went outside to see if my husband had left to find him and our youngest out washing the cars (another great way to beat the heat!) But when I looked at my daughter she was more wet than the cars daddy was washing! LOL 

I love moments like this where I see my girls taking in the old school techniques that we did as kids too. You can even find her in the sprinkler once in a while too or building forts in the house :)

10: Movies/TV
Though I would not say we are HUGE TV watchers we have come to find two shows that we might or might not schedule our lives around if possible :)
Monday nights you can find us on the couch watching America Ninja Warrior... I am not sure to be honest why we are so addicted but we are and we love that is is something ALL of us will watch!

 Now on Tuesday and Wednesday nights we are ALL about some AGT!
This is the first season where we have watched it from the beginning episode and we are hooked! So hooked that someone in this house (wanna guess who?!) even downloaded the app for the live shows!
There are so many talented people on this season and I am on the edge of my seat this week as tonight is the last of Judges Cuts! EEEKKK

 

Wednesday nights me and the youngest stay up and watch The Night Shift 

(daddy usually bails on us and goes to bed...party poop-per)

we love this show! It kind of reminds me of ER which I LOVED back in the day and I am very sympathetic to overnight workers since I personally worked the grave yard shift before. 

I also love that it is something me and the girls can watch together :)  

 

Though we are NOT TV people we are however movie people!

Though we do not usually go to theaters we do how ever rent or buy movies like a maniac! Movies are our go too!

Here are a few that we have seen and both are worth it just so you know :) 

Trust me when I say we have seen more but I can't remember all of them PLUS I don't want to bore you :)

 How are you beating this summer's heat?

Exploring New Places....

I know what you have got to be thinking... How are you STILL exploring NEW places?!

Well the facts are this...

We have lived in our "new" home state for almost 5 years...yes

We have been to Little Rock and North Little Rock COUNTLESS times... sure

We have checked out MANY places and explored the areas often...absolutley

BUT...

There is ALWAYS something new! 

When we first got the hubby's job offer 5 years ago I did some mad research on Arkansas and the area in which we would be living and working.

When I was FLOODED with information and things to do it knew that this would be an adventure that could last a while!

October markers 5 years here since our move and so far I have not been wrong or let down in the things to do category! 

One of our most favorite places to go is to Little Rocks River Market no matter how many times you go there is always something new and exciting happening and we LOVE that! 

Plus its convent location offers a great and exciting walk to other local gems like The Old State House Museum .

We have visited the museum before after we first moved here to the state but we just had to go back! The hubby and I really love history and learning new things and we feel that it is an important trait to teach our girls! PLUS they are always adding new things and the building alone makes you want to see inside! 

This time around they had added an area called "Different Spokes" dedicated to bikes and their history, since our youngest LOVES to ride her bike she was super into seeing all of the bikes and the differences through out the ages...

Here are a few pictures from our trip. 

 

Though you can spend the entire day at the river market it does tend to get a little HOT in the dead center of summer so we try to break it up with places to cool off so we don't over heat the children :) Since we were so close to North Little Rock we took the 10 minute drive to that mall there and stopped for a quick bite to eat. 

While we were eating I got to thinking about some places we have never been to since the move and since we were in North Little Rock The Old Mill.

If you have seen the movie Gone with the Wind then you too have seen this mill and just didn't know it! 

From the Opening Credits from Gone with the Wind

  The credits in the movie REALLY doesn't give this place justice! 

As some one who enjoys history AND a photographer I was IN LOVE! 

We WILL be going back and I think I might have just found a new location to offer for my photography business but even with that fact the place is JUST AMAZING! 

If you are ever in Little Rock or North Little Rock area I highly suggest that you go! 

I really would like to see this place with all 4 seasons and Might be adding that to a personal bucket list! 

Here are some pictures from our trip there.

Amazing right! 

Planning it all Out!

As a mom of three girls there are times that life can get a little chaotic hectic crazy busy, that is of course ONLY the beginning. 

All three of my girls are in different school again this year.

Dakota my oldest is going into 9th grade and will be going back to the Junior High building this year before hitting the big league next year on the High School campus. 

Alora my middle girl is headed to 7th grade and will also be headed back to the same campus as last year over at the Middle School grounds where she will be prepping for the Junior High campus for the 2017-2018 school year.

Then there is my "baby" who is headed to 4th grade and is still at the Elementary Campus which to me is WAY for fun than the other two and with a lot more happenings!

So on top of keeping up with all three of their schools and what is happening in their lives like band, choir, ROTC, etc; I have to keep up with my husbands work schedule, school schedule, when bills are due, appointments for everyone, events that we are to attend like birthday parties, get together's and such. I keep up will birthdays and anniversaries for both sides of our families, I run the blog and still working on What the Photography plus right this minute I am back to job hunting so there is the luxury of keeping up with interviews... yay.

If you are like me then I am sure that list overwhelmed you. When I sit and think about everything I am responsible for as a mom I think I am NUTS! Not to mention I do NOT have the best memory at all so then I have to figure out a way to make this all work and run smoothly...

There are a MILLION apps out there now since we are in such a tech-lovin' day in age but I will tell you right now as much of an app and tech junkie that I am I HATE using my phone or a digital device to keep me on track. 

Of course there are SEVERAL reasons why this is for me personally but to each his own: One is because I have never had the best of luck with phones. I have lost important info when my phone has reset its self etc. Two if I loose, break, or even have my phone stolen well then there goes my life.... and it would spiral into a VERY quick chaotic world.... 

So what DO I use you ask?

A Planner...

A good old fashioned, paper, use a pen to write in, tabs to pick your month planner!

There are two types of planners:

1: Annual

 Which will run your new planner from lets say January 2016-January 2017 and you might even get a bonus month or two.

2: Academic

This planner runs your planning year from June or July 2016 to June or July 2017 plus a bonus month or so also

I use the Academic planner because there is nothing I love more then trying to swap information RIGHT there at the holidays :)

In all seriousness though I do like the fact that it follows the girls and their schools years. During the summer there is a bit more "free" time that I can find to transfer dates and all with than in the middle of the holiday season when there is shopping, decorating, parties and running to take care of. 

Planners also come in MANY different sizes from pocket, 4x6, 5x7 and a LARGE 8x10 size (measurements are not accurate I am sure).

When I first started using planners back when I was 16 I used the pocket size one and it worked great for a while even with school and work... but then came baby...

I quickly found out that you are on the run MORE with a child in your life than if you were single and busy... Weird how that works. 

Anyways a baby turned into 3 over the years and the older they get the busier we are, the busier we are the bigger the planner...

I am now up to the 8x10 size and LOVE it! 

Huge areas to write in, monthly views, tabs and references galore!  

The last few years I have used Blue Sky's and I wont be turning away from them anytime soon. You can find them at your local Wal-Mart or order them online through Amazon.com like I did this year.

 

Check out this layout!

You get a HUGE monthly layout for fast reference

On top of that each month even has a a dedicated area to keep up with the finer details on whats happening in your life.

There are also LOTS of reference areas plus a quick contact list 

Nice right!
Now when it comes to keeping up with everyone's stuff and not getting it confused because I am pretty sure taking your 9 year old daughter to the OBGYN appointment set up for your 14 year old would get you mommy of the year award :) for example I color code it...

Yes folks it's that bad like that

The color coding is super easy for me to not fuck it up and since I also have a slight obsession with pens its a win when for me :)

Right now there are 10 color coded "happenings"

I LOVE these pens and you can also find them at your local store or Amazon

Here is my "cheat sheet" for my colors which is located in the back of the planner in the great note section

With us only a few weeks a way before the 2016-2017 school year I have put together my planner and feel a little bit more prepared for what this year may hold.

How do you keep it all together?

Our NEW Online Store

Here at Inked & Sassy we are  now offering fun, unique products for you and everyone on your shopping list. 

Since we have just started about two weeks ago we are focusing on our first product which I hold dear to my heart and that is a fun and adorable coffee mugs! 

As an avid coffee lover I know just how much a fun mug can mean not only to you personally but to your home, your friends and family, co workers and more! Th

ese are perfect for gifts or even something for yourself to show off your personality or even a great conversation starter! 

You can check out our store front right here!

I hope that you will check back often for new products that we will be adding in the future and for more great mugs!

If you are into social networking I have a public group on Facebook where you can stay up to date with ALL the NEW happening so I invite you to come join us and send your friends!  

Here are just a few of the mugs you can find RIGHT NOW in the shop...

and don't forget we are always open to requests and custom orders. :)

 

Happy Shopping!

XOXO

SJ

Operation Brace Face: The Final Mission

These last few months have FLOWN by! 

I always say that the older I get the quicker it goes and these last few months REALLY has proven my point! 

Now if you ask the kids they would TOTALLY disagree because we ALL know Mom's have no idea what they are talking about :)

After our last check in here with you guys on Operation Brace Face (which was in JANUARY!) we were in hopes that the appointment in March would bring us good news....

THANK the LORD it did! 

Everything was looking good and with a quick swap of colors and a few new packs of rubber bands we were out the door with not one but TWO appointments to wrap u the mission and get these jokers out! 

On May 4th Dakota got to go in and have an impression made of her now straightened smile and got to pick out the color and design for her retainer! 

They now do a permanent retainer on the bottom so it was a face and easy choice for her when they gave her the HUGE selection of design ideas! 

On May 26th (the day after school let out) we made a mad dash to the orthodontist in excitement to get them removed after 38 months of them on! 

I took the other two girls and they were SUPER excited for Dakota and they talked non stop of EVERYTHING she could eat again!

Here is the appointment recap in pictures :)

Here are some throwbacks for you from Operation Brace Face!