NEW TATTOO: "MY LIFE, MY RULES"



If you have more than a few tattoos, you know that some pieces are a long, drawn out decision and others... you just know the INSTANT inspiration comes. These guys are definitely the latter.

I've been wanting something with this sentiment for a long time, but I couldn't figure out placement or verbiage to save my life. As I was perusing some body positive blogs, it just hit me. My life, my rules. I choose my morals, ethics, lifestyle, body choices, career... everything. I don't subscribe to anyone else's handbook, I just create my own. And that, I find pretty awesome.

Just as awesome as the placement of the script. Iam now a huge advocate of knee tattoos! As painful as they may be, the aesthetics are totally worth it. Amiright, or amiright?

If you had to choose words to have on your skin forever and ever, what would they be?

38 comments

  1. Awesome. Great fucking choice.

    I have "to thine own self be true" on my wrist and am strongly considering Gaiman's "sometimes you wake up. Sometimes the fall kills you. And sometimes, when you fall, you fly."

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    1. Love it! I think the next words I'll get will be lyrics from a Journey song for a mental illness homage: "some are born to sing the blues".

      I've been thinking about it for years, and holding off to make sure I want an 80s band song tattooed on me... and I still want it just as much.

      Next.

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  2. LOVE THEM! I can't wait until I can afford another.

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  3. i love these and your story behind them! recently i've been thinking about tattoos and finally getting some. i'm not certain about words yet, but a lot of my friends are artists and i would love to have a collection of their artwork ON MY BODY.

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  4. Uh, would it be totally tacky to do the same thing? But in a different font / style?
    This is so empowering!

    http://transmogrifiedlimn.blogspot.com

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    1. NOT AT ALL! I love tattoo inspo:) Go for it!

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    2. Ya know, maybe I just will! :)
      I'm loving reading peoples' comments here.

      Your blog is too great!

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  5. Goooorgeous! I love them!

    Mine would say "Grow up to be".

    Becky
    xx

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  6. Love the new art & the message!

    I've always been drawn to words when it comes to tattoos. Obviously, I have two words already: the kiddo's name and the word "wanderlust". The kid's name was an obvious choice and I had been thinking about wanderlust for years, but could never decide on a location. In the end, my cousin/best friend/soulmate and I got the same word (in different fonts) on the same location, but on opposite arms. I love that we were able to share the moment and make a testament to something we both love and aspire to.

    There are many more that Ive considered, but Im pretty cautious when it comes to body art these days (after a tattoo at 18 that means nothing to me).

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    1. I totally feel you... caution is good, but only in small doses:) I can't over think or else it doesn't happen. But no regrets so far!

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  7. LOVE. Digging the new layout too!

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  8. I love these. The placement is great. You look fantastic in that dress - what a great pattern!

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  9. Man, Jes. This is exactly why I love reading your blog. You are most definitely one of the most badass bloggers out there. It looks amazing!

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  10. Great tattoo choice! I have "Don't Dream it, Be it" on my chest.

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  11. I love everything about these - I have more recently been thinking of thigh/above the knee tattoos... it's prime real estate! I want an "elegant" wolf with a floral wreath/frame around the face on my thigh. The whole style of yours looks amazing right there and I like that they will peek out of dresses and skirts.

    For several years I have been wanting to get the phrase "leap before you look" tattooed on me. I almost got it right before I quit my job to start freelancing, but never got around to it. Several years later I'm still considering it but I'm not exactly sure where I want it. I'm thinking underside of the upper arm (tricep?) or the inside of my forearm right under my elbow.

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  12. Very cool! I actually really love the placement most of all. I know that I would have been kicking from tickles!

    And I so know what you mean about that AHA! moment when you know what you are going to get and where it's going to be. I may only have one tattoo, but I remember that moment, remember drawing it and making the final touches, and then finally getting it done!

    So how many are you up to now? I know you had a previous post about all of your lovely body art, but I lost where that was.

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    1. 17? 18? I don't know:) And it certainly didn't tickle... but there were so many nerve endings that my legs would involuntarily twitch over and over again:/

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  13. wow! those look great! the only words i have now are "say it ain't so" on my back. my favorite words i've ever seen are the ones you have on your side. they are really beautiful!

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    1. What is the meaning for you behind "Say it ain't so"? So curious!

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  14. Oh they're so pretty! My leg tattoos were also pretty impulsive, I woke up one day and thought... that's it! That's what I'm getting! I have a couple words I've considered getting on my knees, but I'm still thinkin about it.

    I have also wanted the words 'Prisoners of our own device' FOREVER from the line 'we are all just prisoners here of our own device' from Hotel California. That line has always struck a chord with me when I listen to it.. It reminds me that whenever I am upset with where I am in life or where I'm going, it's in my power to change that. I also know that if I get this tattoo it NEEDS to be on my chest, which is unfortunate because I don't know when I'm going to feel comfortable having such a visible tattoo. One day!

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  15. Oh man they are the sex! Love them.

    Until my recent foray into the world of some good ol' self acceptance my knees/thighs (along with anywhere on my stomach) have been total tattoo no gos for me due to feeling self conscious of them.

    Now I'm feeling the love a bit more, maybe its time to dive in and get something done. They do look amazing! xx

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  16. I love these! I've always thought placement above the knees is so cool. I don't have any tattoos, but I've always wanted "Don't Panic" - that little phrase gets me through a lot :)

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  17. My favorite tattoos are my white ink script on the insides of my arms: "for everything bows to beauty when it is fierce and it is flawless" Ani D baby!

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  18. I think I would get "All the days" for my mister and my little mister (and any other little ones that come along) :) I'm sure that doesn't surprise you one bit...
    And probably "Everything is exactly what I make it to be" for me.

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  19. I have been wanting more tattoos, one that has been in my thoughts for a while is my mother's initials on the back of my neck - everyone told me it was trampy/tacky but actually the back of my neck is a special spot when it comes to my mom, because she would always kiss it when I was a kid telling me thats where all my "sugar" was kept (because I was so sweet). So, f- those people. I'm doin it.

    Strive to Thrive,
    Nic
    www.Thriving-Wives.com

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  20. UGH love these! Such a great thing to always be reminded of, via tattoos!
    I've only got a little tattoo - a little sunshine only about the size of a quarter at most. It's replacing the words "pocketful of sunshine' from the song - a reminder that, there is ALWAYS a reason to be happy, even if its just the fact that the sun is there and the sun exists.

    If I had to get WORDS. Man, I don't know. maybe the word 'laugh', because i think if something feels horrible in the moment, but i know I will laugh about it in 20 years (for example - melting my roommate's toaster on the stove top... oops.) why the fuck not laugh about it now? It's helped me stay calm in shitty situations. :) I don't think I'd get words on me though, I'm a small - subtle - icon type tattoo girl and if i ever get another it'd be a pencil behind my ear! Like an 'artist' hehe ;)

    xo
    http://kittysnooks.blogspot.ca/

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  21. i love them! the script is really beautiful. thanks for linking up in the blog hop! that's how i found ya :)

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  22. Ooh I love! I think my next word-y one will be "they can't shoot ya"...something my dad always used to say when I was stressed about something growing up.

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  23. You're right, knee tattoos are SO cool. I would have "la pluie fera pousser les fleurs" which is a lyric from Les Miserables and is kind of my life motto. I am intending to get it tattooed some day!

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  24. would be very similar now: my life - my choice! but only few years ago it would rather sound like "let me be" or "leave me alone!"
    sigh...
    all my life everyone knew better what was good for me, and honestly, everyone was terribly wrong.
    few months ago I was chatting with a friend of mine, complaining a bit that I am "forever 19" and just don't fit into rat race, earning money, working hard for nothing really and so... I said: I tried to change so hard and nothing is working. he said: so stop. you are the way you are, if you cannot change then don't.
    and somehow I felt relief. yes, I won't change. I don't fit, but what's really wrong with that? I just need to find myself a way to be me. and this is a huge task, believe me!
    huge HUG, Jes! You are SuperWoman :-)

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  25. I have lyrics by Björk on my arm that say "It's not meant to be a strife. It's not meant to be a struggle uphill"

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/lillybetmagdalena/3003500019/

    Having this to go back to (no matter how I'm feeling) keeps me positive and lovely and I see the world with rosy tinted glasses. I got this tattoo after my grandmother (who was more like a mother to me) passed away.

    Word tattoos = the shit.
    <3 Elizabeth

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