It’s snuck into a few posts since it healed, but this is the new thigh tattoo I got this summer. It needs a little touch up this fall, but I’m in love with my new piece! It’s has some references to the flowers and ribbon in my sleeve, but has more of a traditional style which I looove and am so excited to have added to my tattoo collection!

This was the first tattoo that I’ve done in one session, and I thought that the thigh wouldn’t be too hard to have work done on. Of course, I was totally wrong and it was an intense experience, but as I’ve started telling people who ask which part of my sleeve hurt the most, wherever you’re getting tattooed is the most painful place to get a tattoo! You’ve just got to try to stay still and whimper quietly ;)

I love having a tattoo with text and I love it even more since it took such a long time to find a phrase that I’ll always want to have on my body. After a lot of searching and note taking I realized that the only way I was going to find something right for me would be if I wrote it myself.

“Be Daring, Stay True”

Now I have a visual and beautiful reminder to be true to myself, to never stop taking risks, trying new things and approaching life with an explorer’s heart.

Bonus points? After I came up with the saying, it passed my ultimate geek test: there are only two results for that phrase on the Internet (until now!) Something about that makes an idea that means a lot to me feel even more meant for me.

photos by Leigh-Ann