Tattoos - Heck yes!

Good morning yall!   I did a guest post back in 2012 on a friend's blog who sadly isn't blogging anymore.  She gave it up 2 years ago but I still keep in touch.  I wrote a post about my feelings on tattoos.  I had writers block this morning and had so much in my head that I didn't know what to write about.  Does that happen to you? I wanted to touch on the bikers in jail in Waco and the McKinney police even that took place but I couldn't get my words together today.  So I am recycling a post from a few years ago. 

Hi,I’m Holli from Holli's Hoots and Hollers and I have 3 tattoos and I’m about to get 2 more. I’m 44 years old and I’m not too concerned about what they’ll like look when I’m old.  Tattoos are not for everyone and I get that. One thing about being my age is that I’m not set out anymore like I was is my 20’s to impress everyone. My tattoos are for me and me only. They mean something and I am proud of all of them.  I am corporate trainer that stands in front of large groups of employees every day and 2 of my tattoos are visible. I have a toe ring tattoo on my right foot and a cross with Jesus fish all around my left ankle. My very first tattoo was when I was 19 on my booty. I wont be sharing that pic with you. J  Luckily, my boss has not made me wear bandaids, pants, or close toed shoes to conceal them. I believe that companies and people in general are becoming more tolerant of tattoos now.  Especially in the workplace if you don’t flaunt them or they’re not offensive.

Look around now and see many actors, actresses, models, NFL players, etc showing tattoos. We’ve come a long way since the late 1800’s when people would go to the circus to see the Tattooed Lady.

It’s not just for sailors, biker gangs, and tribe’s in 3^rd world countries anymore. Now I will say that I read a statistic that over 80% of the American prison population is tattooed. At last I’ll fit in fine should something bad happen and I find myself sharing a small closet size room  and a roommate that can bench press me and makes me take the top bunk. Tattoos are a form of personal expression and a way to share sentimental feelings or tributes to loved ones.

One of my next tattoos I’m getting is going to be very special to me. Both of my parents are both pretty young but neither of them are in good health.  My mother has a very small Raven tattoo on her left side that she got when she turned 50.  I’m going to have the exact same Raven tattooed on me. My dad is an amazing musician and can play guitar and piano wonderfully. SO, I’m wanting to incorporate a music note of some sort around the raven. This way I have something that represents both my parents but nothing cheesy like the words Mom and Dad.  Any creative artists out there- I’m open to suggestions.

The funny thing is that I do ride a Harley and have grown up around bikers all my life. My tattoos are not because I have to fit into the biker community. I just happen to fit into that stigma. HA! I am also thinking seriously about having my eyelids tattooed. Wouldn’t  it be so cool to wake up and not have to put on eyeliner? A few of my friends had it done and they love it. Anyway, i’m hoping that there is less judging as we progress and more accepting of people and primarily women with tattoos. I can really be one of the best friends you can have so don’t judge my by little ink on my body here and there.

It's a tulip- i had it facing out (upside down)

My ankle band

Heidi Klum

Kate Moss

My views haven't changed in the least on tattoos.  Todd got a half sleeve in black and white a few years ago too so now he's hooked.  I really cant explain it but ask anyone with tattoos, you quickly want more.  I want at least 3 more.....

A Love Song - First love Last Love

 There are songs that just grab me and sink into my soul like no others.  As so many of my blogger friends agree, music is a huge part of our lives and can transport us to the very minute of a memory. Maybe that memory is when we first heard that song or that the song was playing during a momentous event.  A movie titled About Last Night was released in 1986. That was the year of my high school graduation and when I started my first year of junior college. When you graduate, you literally feel the pressure of being a "grown up" and leaving your parents house. You're making decisions that will literally steer your course of action and impact your entire career path.  For some girls in my class, their main goals was to get married and get started on a family right away like their mom did and their grandmother.  I didnt have a high school love. I went to small high school and my whole graduating class was only 98 students.  Most everyone grew up together and started going school together since Pre K.  I was an outsider and transferred there my freshman year.  Basically, we were one big family that knew everything about one another.  There were only a handful of couples that got together and stayed that way.  The girls had to go outside our school and went to the nearby small towns to flirt with those boys. 
I had a dance scholarship to a junior college here in texas. It was in East Texas and it was college drillteam.  The football team, drillteam and cheerleaders all had to be at the college and dorms before everyone else because there of the football games starting the first week of school and we had to be prepared.  I met a boy named Scot.  He was a linebacker on the football team and was a year older than me.  That meant that the sophomore girls on my dance team all knew him and they warned me to stay away.  I did not heed that warning and i had met my first true love.   We dated my whole freshman year and most of my sophomore year.  I loved him with all my heart and i know he loved me. It was young love though and we had different plans for our futures that took us in different directions. Long distance love is hard and especially hard on young college kids. 
Back to the song, Bob Seger had always been one of my favorites since i was a young girl. My mom loved him too and had all his albums.  When this movie came out and this song was on the soundtrack, i bought it that week.  It sang of a love i wanted. It was a love that i always dreamed of . I hoped that a man in my life would feel this way for me.
The movie was on last night and i bet it had been at least 10 years since i saw it.  When this song came on and the love scenes were playing i focused on the words again and tears streamed down my face.  It was an amazing feeling that 29 years later since i first heard this song, i found that love.  It took me a while and many heartbreaks along the way with wrong relationships.  I have a husband that loves me for all my good , bad and ugly.  Todd proclaimed his love for me and never wanted to let me go.  I live in his heart and he lives in mine.  We have only been married a few months shy of 2 years so we most likely wont celebrate a 50 year anniversary (we're in our late 40's) but i cherish every minute i can.  And i can say now that it was worth the wait.
Living inside my heart -Bob Seger

Diets suck but being fat sucks more

I struggle with my weight. I'm the heaviest I've ever been. I am a stress eater and I've been stressed for the last few years.  I think I'm the only bride that actually gains weight before their wedding. I almost didn't fit into my dress. 

If you remember though, I got married a month after my dad had his double lung transplant.  I was seriously stressed for several months leading up to that.

It's summer now and you can't go into any stores without seeing swimsuits at the very front.  Makes me cringe! 

I have no one to blame but myself.  When I get home from work I could be walking around the block but instead I sit in the recliner with my dogs in my lap.  Oh and I really love food. My favorite thing is to try new restaurants.  

Many of my friends have bought Fitbits or  other tracking devices lately and they seemed to really like them.  I drank the Kool-aid too.  I decided I was going to do that for myself for my birthday. So a few weeks ago I bought a Fitbit Charge.  It's not the fancy one that measures heart beats and GPS and other bells and whistles.  Must admit, I haven't lost any weight but I do take the long way around to my desk at work and if I'm really close to achieving the 10,000 daily steps, I'll walk around the house or backyard until I do. I figure any extra steps is good. 

I'm so very grateful that my husband is very very supportive and tells me all the time he loves me no matter what and finds me beautiful.  I've had 2 relationships in the past where they were pretty mean and unsupportive if I gained weight. That alone was so stressful. I felt pressured all the time. I know I need to lose the weight for my health but I also want to feel good about myself.  

It's a challenge every day.  I really do love  tacos! 

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Happy Wednesday.  Have a great day 

1. What's something you're looking forward to in the month of June?  I have a family reunion next weekend and supposed to go ride Harleys with some good friends of ours on the 20^th.
2.   In what way have you come full circle?  Hmm kind of a hard one.  I think I would say my marriage with Todd.  We have been best friends for over 18 years and only together for 4 of those years. We gave each other dating advice, work advice, etc.  The fact we ended up together as husband and wife is really coming full circle.
3. Lonely Planet lists ten spots in America you should see in 2015 and the reasons why.  How many on the list have you seen?  Which one on the list would you most like to see? Queens NY,  Western South Dakota, New Orleans, the Colorado River region, North Conway NH, Indianapolis IN, Greenville SC, Oakland CA, Duluth MN, and the Mt. Shasta region CA.   I’ve been lucky to say I’ve seen all these places minus the Indiana and the New Hampshire locations.  I love New Orleans the most out of all these.
4. A song that describes your mood right now?  Unwell by Matchbox 20.   I feel like I’m not myself lately and cant explain it.  For one thing though are my hot flashes. They are so uncomfortable.
5. 5.  Strawberry ice cream, strawberry shortcake, strawberry pie, or strawberry right off the wine... your favorite? I love strawberry cake cupcakes. There is a bakery not too far that make the most yummy strawberry cupcakes with strawberry icing.   I also love chocolate covered strawberries. If I had to choose from this list I would say the shortcake.
6. Aesop's birthday is celebrated on June 4th - although there is some disagreement to whether or not that's accurate, or if he was a real person.   Regardless, the name Aesop is associated to this day with many well known fables.  Which of the following best applies to something in your life right now?   The Tortoise & the Hare (slow and steady wins the race),  The Ant & the Grasshopper (be prepared), The Fox & the Goat (look before you leap), or The Crow & the Pitcher (necessity is the mother of invention)?  Hmm, I am going to go with The Ant & Grasshopper and The Fox & the Goat.  My job has been very busy and don’t get me wrong- I love every minute of it.  I’ve mentioned that we are going thru a HUGE company merger and I feel like I cant breathe or relax.  In other words I need to always be on my “A” game at all times. We are constantly laying off one group or another and I don’t live in fear.  However, I just need to stay realistic and hope that I can remain busy and needed with my company.  I celebrate 20 years in September and I really love my job.
7. The answer is yes...   what's the question?  Do I love sweet tea? Do I love music more than anything? Do I have the cutest 2 dogs in all the world? Do I adore my blogger friends? Do I love to dance?
8. My random thought.    I am happy that the rain has stopped for a while here in Texas.  I am happy we were able to FINALLY mow the lawn after all the weeks of rain and flooding. The grass was getting so high I could barely see my dogs. The mosquitos are out of control from all the water. I look like I have the chicken pox again. 

Art in many forms

While in Ohio a few weeks ago , I dropped my husband off to band practice and I was driving around killing time.  I came across this very interesting place on the side of the road. It has ginormous metal statues and I couldnt drive by without pulling over and taking some pictures.  You just don't see stuff like this everyday. 

This is blurry but those are duck decoys. 

There were a few political signs too but I just took pictures of the art.  

I just love different. People who express themselves .  There's beauty in that!

Have a great day yall! 

I hit the Holliween jackpot

So a few weeks ago my dear friend Di who is the general manager of a retail store at nearby mall, was informed that her store was not going to have its lease renewed.  Since then , she has already got another job lined up so yay for that!  The store has everything on clearance and they had some old mannequin pieces that we're going to go to the dumpster.

Guess who is the lucky owner of those pieces? Yep - you guessed it - ME!! 

I have two sets of legs and top forms but they are headless and they don't have the stands that help them stand up.  I also have 3 arms with detachable hands. 

I can't tell you how excited I am! I may be  a little on the weird side but I like to think it's my creative side.  

As mentioned numerous times here on my blog, I have an epic annual Holliween party and I like to change it around every year.  I have some ideas for the mannequin parts but I'm also open to any of your ideas too.  I was thinking of burying the hands so they stick up out of the ground in the front yard.  

Happy Thursday yall!! 

I went back to Ohio

I am wrapping up my visit that I spent in Ohio 2 weeks ago.  I only mentioned the one night that Todd played in his band so far. We were there for 3 nights and 3 days so we were able to have some nice relaxing mornings.  We stayed in a Homewood Suites in a town called Maumee. They served breakfast until 9:00 am every morning. What was so funny is that we woke up every single morning at 8:45. If you knew how strange that is for big of us. I am not a sleeper. I am a very restless sleeper and I wake up very easily.  Sleeping late to me is 7:00 on a weekend. We stayed up late though every night and probably didn't get to bed before midnight.  Luckily there was a Cracker Barrel across the street from us.

Todd wanted to see his homes and schools that he lived in and went to.  We also saw where his dad went to elementary school.  We drove around a lot and spent some time in a cute town called Grand Rapids, Ohio. It had nice little shops and antique stores.  A beautiful river ran behind the Main Street. 

One thing I couldn't get enough of was all the lovely huge barns.  Out near where we were it was pretty rural. Lots of farms and crops were around. I lost count and gave up taking pictures of all the barns once I realized that dang near everyone had one.  If I lived in Ohio, I would have to have a huge barn!! 

Todd was super excited to eat at a place called Tony Packos.  In fact, we ate there twice.  If you remember the TV show MASH, then you know the character Klinger. Klinger was from Toledo and always mentioned his favorite place Tony Packos.  They're famous for their Hungarian hot dogs and chili.  I have to admit, they were tasty! We went to the original one that was close to downtown Toledo.  

Another night, while Todd had practice , I had the evening alone to explore. I ate at a chain that was also popular in that area called Charlie's. It was Greek and so yummy!  Afterwards, I shopped and didn't buy much but Todd and I bought a few shirts from the Harley shop the day before. I also bought some gorgeous antique chippy Corbels that came off a house there in Ohio. The lady at antique store was so nice and told us she was there when they removed from an old abandoned house. I love knowing the history of something I bought.  Todd suggested me going to a post office and shipping my purchases home.  Instead, 

I found a thrift store and bought a small carryon bag for one dollar!! It was perfect  to pack the corbels and tshirts in. We checked it for free and I didn't have to ship anything. 

All in all, I had a great time and enjoyed seeing a part of Ohio that I'd never seen before. Todd was happy and had fun  and we needed some time away together. 

Now for tons of pics:

Downtown Toledo