Tickets and Tats

Soooooooo today I felt like getting a tattoo, so I did....


I know, I know, a lot of people are all like "why would you want to put something permanent on your body," or "you'll regret that in 40 years!" And I get that, I really do. Why would somebody want a naked lady holding a snake around her neck or a Native American woman riding a dolphin on your thigh? No clue. But what I chose to get has been something that I have been wanting for years now. After my first summer (2010) in Riga, Latvia, I fell in love, and the next year, I decided that it would be cool to get something that would mean something to me and that place. I had a bunch of different ideas for what I wanted and where, and once I finally came up with exactly what I wanted, I was set.

I called up my friend Steph when I was leaving work, and we went down to Deep Ellum and ate dinner/had two margaritas (had to loosen myself up a tad), and headed over to Elm Street Tattoo. I ended up sitting in this cool dude Carl's chair, and explained to him what my tattoo meant to me and he thought it was pretty cool, even though I had to pull up a map and show him where Latvia was. I had no idea what to expect, all I know is I was shaking and sweating nervous, and about 2 minutes into it I started getting really light headed - I know, I'm a baby. So we took a little water/M&M break then finished it up. It's crazy how something that lasts a lifetime only takes 5 minutes...

Here's my new tattoo, it's super crazy and totally worth almost fainting, huh... But here it is! I decided to go with a Baltic/Latvian symbol for The Sign of Sun right under my hairline at the bottom of my neck. And I absolutely love it.

Speaking of Latvian symbols... Me and my friend Olivia also just BOOKED OUR FLIGHTS TO RIGA THIS SUMMER!!!!! I am so excited to be in Latvia doing Camp Hope with some of my very best and favorite friends from across the world, helping and loving on the kids that need it most. This summer will be a little bit different than my past 5 trips, considering this is my first year to actually be at Camp Hope. I am so lucky and thankful for my parents allowing me to follow my passions and love of this country and these people. Can't wait to see the amazing things that God is going to do in these kids lives this summer.


Take a look at the facebook page and please start praying with me for these kids and our staff.

Camp Hope Facebook Page

Nicola Bathie

Earrings are like.. my thing right now. For some reason, recently I have been really into wearing all kinds of earrings, especially bold dangle pairs. I never really wore statement earrings, usually just studs if anything. But a few months ago, I discovered Nicola Bathie's Instagram page and became obsessed. Nicola is a girl around my age who went to TCU, but has lived in and visited so many places, and along the way collected one of a kind beads that she beautifully crafts into unique statement jewelery. She is always designing, making, and posting new ideas and styles, ranging from extravagant multi-bead dangles, to tassel dangles, to simple brass pressed studs, and even makes some chunky bracelets and necklaces. I wore my first pair (the aztec triangles with dangle beads) to my Christmas Eve service, and I wore my two newest pair (bottom picture) that I got for my birthday around on my New Orleans trip! Nicola's handmade jewelry is perfect for all sorts of occasions - she's made bulk for bridesmaids, custom for special events, and provides all sorts of styles for anybody wanting some one of a kinds.

Her stuff can be a bit pricy, but her sales are totally worth the wait. I normally wait for her Insta-sales, where she rapidly posts pictures of the pair on sale and the first person to comment their email address is sent an invoice. I got 3/4 pairs on sale that way - it's for sure the way to go. Granted, every single pair I have received are well worth the high price, sale or no sale.

Shop Nicola Bathie here!
Instagram: nicolabathiejewelry

I promise you'll fall in love.
P.S. There's totally a pair called The Gable's... holla

Nobody likes you when you're 23.

Yeah, Taylor Swift raves about being twenty two-oh-ohhh, but I would like to call BS on that Blink 182... because my girl Miley likes the number 23, and I am pretty sure I just had the best 23rd birthday of my entire life. I mean yeah it will be the only 23rd birthday in my entire life, but that's besides the point. A lot happened, so I'm going to basically summarize, and show the rest in pictures because I took way too many pictures and videos this weekend to do nothing with but to share. So here goes - experience my favorite weekend of 2015 so far...

My birthday was last Wednesday, April 29th. I decided that I had nothing better to do, and I actually enjoy going into work at DMag everyday, so I walked into the office that morning to be greeted by my co-workers and surprised with a box of donuts on my desk! I got off at 5 and had a birthday dinner planned with my parents, and two of my friends Annette and Stephanie at Cane Rosso in Deep Ellum, which is absolutely amazing by the way. If you don't get the chocolate and cookie butter pizza - you're wrong. So as Annette, Steph, and I were drinking wine waiting for my parents, I turn to the door opening and see my sister and her two friends walk in!!! - I just started bawling. She surprised me and drove 5 hours that morning from Lubbock to Dallas, and through my tears handed me tickets to go see Ben Rector and NEEDTOBREATHE who were absolutely amazing. I could'nt stop smiling all night. My sister is my best friend and I am so thankful for her. Also shoutout to Annette, Steph, Caroline, and Cydney for helping keep the surprise a surprise.

^^ When A Heart Breaks by Ben Rector - One of my very favorites ever. 

It only gets better. I was lucky enough to spend the rest of the weekend (Thursday night until Monday night) with a group of my best friends in New Orleans, Louisiana. That place is nuts. We spent all weekend on Bourbon street making friends with a badass 38 year old couple, carrying around daiquiris and grenades, and exploring the city. Much more happened, but we can keep all the details to ourselves for the sake of having our own "inside jokes and stories."

I also got to experience the craziness that is called Jazz Fest - full of drunk sweaty people from around the world. My favorite was this one old lady in her lawn chair covered in wet paper towels, yelling at us "YOU CAN'T WALK THROUGH HERE THIS AIN'T NO WALKWAY"... referring to the walkway.. crazy lady. But we got to see/more like hear Sir Elton John through the crowd of people. I sang my little heart out to Tiny Dancer and Benny and the Jets, so that was pretty neat - crossed that off my bucket list. All in all, New Orleans is a beautifully dirty city full of beautifully interesting people, and I can't wait to go back.

I just freaking love my friends. So thank you to my sshz, I can't wait until our next reunion!!