(almost) wordless Wednesday...it's finally done!

after 4 sessions & 21.5 hours total...it's FINALLY done!
(that's including my fairies too tho)

& while David was there, Curt decided to get his wedding band touched up too ;0)

guess it's time to start planning all those future ideas! ;0)

xoxo,
sharon

wordless Wednesday...adding color...

it's a sickness...

i've always loved tattoos...i went out & got my very first one AS SOON AS i turned 18! it was just flash...nothing custom...& not something i regret...just kinda wish i'd given it more thought

each of the 3 i got later, meant something...& i'm still thrilled with them - love em!

but i've always wanted more...& when i say more, i mean MORE!

i didn't know what, exactly...that's why i never went for it...i always knew that i wanted some art to represent my children - but i didn't envision that tat being the BIG piece that i knew i'd eventually have...i just knew that one day, it would come to me

then a few months ago, it kinda did...

Jaden was commenting on that 13 year old tat on my back - the one that always makes me wonder if it started Jaden's dragon obsession...he was saying how cool it would be if it grew & went down my arm...&...well...uh...

light bulb!

what better way to represent my amazing son, than with an amazing dragon! & a dragon design could definitely create the beautiful 1/2 sleeve i envisioned having one day!

i still wondered how i'd tie in the girls...i wanted something just as amazing & special to represent them too...& just like that, it seemed to come to me as well - fairies! something that they do indeed love...sticking with the whole mystical/fantasy theme...even a good representation of the beautiful, magical beings that they are! :0)

& so - the idea slowly came to life...

i talked to my friend, David...he lives/works about 2 1/2 hours away, but comes home to visit regularly...i described to him what i had swirling around in my head...i sent him pics i had found online, to give him an idea of what i liked & what i didn't...we tentatively scheduled a weekend a few weeks out...& he drew up some sketches

& then the countdown began!

i continued to save my pennies & beef up my i'm-finally-gonna-do-something-for-myself-and-not-feel-guilty-about-it-tattoo fund...then a bonus at work also came right on time...when this weekend finally rolled around, i felt like a kid on Christmas eve...i was sooooo excited!!!

i'm not gonna show u full shots of both tats just yet...cause it's hard to see our final vision...it's all just outlining right now...JUST 4 1/2 hours of outlining! ~lol~ the basic set up for David to come in & work his magic with shading & color next time...& probably another time after that...chances are, i'll have 2 more sessions - one to finish the fairies with color/shading (they're on my other arm) & to begin the fill-in/shading/background of my sleeve...then one last sitting to fill in all the color for the dragon sleeve

don't i look thrilled?! ~lol~

David came to do the work in our dining room...& Curtis was able to sit & chat with us for a lot of the sitting...i had my cell (FB & Twitter) to keep my mind off the pain...but honestly, it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be - u kind of zone out after a while...well, at least until he gets to that tender, fleshy skin right around ur armpit - ouch! ~lol~

it really is a sickness...a need...an addiction if u must ~lol~ but one that i'm definitely not ashamed of...& hey, it could be worse, right?! ;0) now, another countdown has begun...i'm sooo stoked to get these 2 pieces finished! i'm not planning on stopping after that either...sorry Ma! well, i will chill for a while...but i have plans for at least 4 more in the future - they will be more of the smaller ones, but still kick-ass art on their own...& who knows after that? i'm always getting inspired & thinking up more designs...i just drew this cupcake the other week - looks like it could make a pretty 'sweet' tat, huh? ;0)


so, tell me...

do u agree?
do u have tattoos?
are u now addicted?

Relay for Life 2010

wow, what a night!

this was my very first year ever participating in any way with Relay for Life...i didn't quite know what to expect...i'd heard it would be fun - & boy was it ever?! just a big party!

surprisingly, i have very few photos from the Relay...Misty took a lot of the pics below...i was just too busy having fun & taking it all in, to remember to snap a lot of pics ;0)

we got there around 3pm on Friday & started setting up our site...

my BFF, Misty, worked her magic (she works for the chamber of commerce for Yadkin Valley, NC) & got our t-shirts donated...they were designed from my tattoo

there was sooooo much to do at Relay! the girls & i got colored hair extensions put in...

the kiddos also enjoyed moon bounces, face painting, karate demos, a petting zoo, games, tons of food...the list went on & on! & believe me, they wanted to do EVERYTHING! it was hard to say no too - cause everything was so cheap & the money was all going to the teams' fundraising goals for Relay! there were live bands throughout the night...even karaoke at 3am! it was so much fun!!!

my fav munchies of the night came from this site...here there had things like fried pickles & asparagus...& my personal fav - grilled mushrooms...mmmmm! not to mention, a kick-ass grill! ;0)

here's a family shot...including my mom - she & i are wearing our survivor sashes (my mom had a cancerous tumor removed from her thyroid in 1984)...

the first 2 laps of the Relay were for the survivors & caregivers...

the kiddos helped us decorate the luminaria that were donated by our generous friends & family...

they walked a few laps with us too...but mostly, Curtis kept them busy checking out the different activities & food...here they are showing off their face painting (& ice cream & funnel cakes)...

the luminaria ceremony was at 9pm...it was such a moving experience...

about 10pm or so, the kiddos started getting tired...they chilled inside our tent with a movie for a little while, but then headed home with daddy before midnight...

they were disappointed they couldn't stay all night, but as Curtis reminded me - if Misty & i wanted to get any sleep the next day, he needed to sleep some that night (so he could leave the house with the kiddos while we slept)

at midnight, there was a womanless beauty pageant...no matter how hard i tried, Curtis would not do this for me...he said there are just some things he will not do ~lol~ maybe next year ;0)

at 12:30am, we had a team captains meeting...i snapped this pic of my beads while i waited for the meeting to start...at that point (half way), i'd walked 7 miles...

(the beads were a cool fundraiser that one of the teams had...u bought the string & ur first bead for $3...then each time u passed their site, u picked up another bead...u'd get a colored one on every 4th lap - that helped u track ur miles)

we picked up our pace during the last half tho (i guess the distraction of all the games/vendors/food slowed us down in the beginning)...at the end, my mom & i both finished up at 17 miles & Misty went a whole 19!!!

(pic from at home, the next day)

at around 5:30am, we stopped for a group picture...we might look like death warmed over, but we wanted to stop & thank each one of u for ur support & donations! we couldn't have been so darn successful without u guys!!!
♥

& i'm soooo thankful for these ladies!

of course, my mom - for always supporting me! she actually passed me & my fundraising total at the very end of the week - raising $860!!!

Misty - for not only coming all the way up from North Carolina to walk with us! but for being a true best friend - there for me always...encouraging & supporting me more than anyone i know!

& my dear friend Cindy - who was one heck of a trooper that night...staying out there with us the entire night...& she's 4 months pregnant!!!

the sun was rising during our closing ceremony at 6am...we were so proud to be among the few that stuck it out all night...it was such a rewarding experience & we've already talked about what cool stuff we can do next year to be even more successful...i can't wait!!!

here's a video i took while walking around the whole area (double lap)...i wanted to catch all the luminaria lit up...remember that each luminaria u see, represents a person that has fought the battle against cancer - some winning, some losing, some still fighting

celebrate. remember. fight back.



& lastly, here's a pic of Misty & i before she headed home...after our IHOP breakfast & only 4hrs of sleep! ;0) luv ya girl!!! ♥

final PET scan?

2day was my final PET scan...well, hopefully the last 1 for a while anyway

i'll meet with my oncologist on Monday (the 24th) to find out the results...i've already claimed a clean report tho! y else would i have already gotten my "i kicked cancer's ass" tattoo?! ;0)

it was actually a little different 2day than my other PET scans...1st difference was that i had a nose ring this time - & those meanies made me take it out! thankfully, it wasn't as scary as i thought it would b - went back in fairly easily...also, the wait (while the radioactive juice was flowing thru my veins 4 an hour) was a lot more relaxing - i actually got in a nap! & this time they had me put all my stuff in a locker b4 i went back & changed in2 scrubs...they didn't let me take my phone or ipod back with me (that's y i napped instead of tweeting, or updating my facebook, or reading on my kindle app, or snapping pics ~wink~)...i guess they're cracking down in the scanning facility...oh, & it also took 2 sticks 2 get a vein 4 my IV - & it wasn't even that great of a vein! after digging around, trying 2 puncture the only visible vein in my arm & having no luck, she had 2 move 2 the back of my hand - & stab hard 2 get the needle in2 it - saying "u have tough veins!"...i've also been told they "jump" ~lol~

of course, there will b more PET scans (& MRIs) in my future...but once i get the "all clear" from this one, i'll b done with scans/tests/blood work for a while

can i just say...

PRAISE GOD!!!

i'm so ready 2 have a big break from all this...hey, 3 or 4 months IS a big break in my eyes! ;0)

random friday...

a sunset on our way home from bible school last night
i ♥ the sky!

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yesterday afternoon, Curtis & i had our follow-up appointment with Margaret! here's what Curtis got...

(my initial - wedding band)

& here's what i got...

(nose piercing)

both of us r super happy with everything! Curtis swore that this would probably b the only tattoo he'd ever get (his 1st)...he was nervous (totally scared of needles) so Margaret explained everything 2 him, promised 2 b gentle, then began...as soon as she started, Curtis goes "that's it?!" & b4 we even left the shop, he was talking about what other tats he may want in the future! ;0)

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soooo, i'm totally missing SYTYCD!
(been a crazy couple of weeks!)

i missed last week's episodes, & then did it again this week! that's y i haven't updated u guys since June...but i did catch the tail end of the show on Wednesday - where they briefly show a snippet from each routine...then i caught the end of last night's show - right as they were deciding who'd go home

can u believe my boo Phillip is gone?! well, i can...even tho he's an AMAZING dancer, it didn't take long 2 realize he just wouldn't b able 2 keep up with the other trained dancers...but he definitely held his own! & they even made an exception last nite - telling us that both Phillip & Caitlin (the girl that was cut) would b able 2 join the tour, along with the top 10 that r left! so, that's cool! here's a video of Phillip in action...i'm sure he'll go on 2 do great things!



my new fav, Brandon, is still in it...hopefully i'll b able 2 catch the shows next week & then follow along 4 the rest of the competition!

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& now, a garden update...

our Big Boy tomatoes r coming - still small & green...but they'll get there

& check out the baby squash!

the Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes r EVERYWHERE! still green, but plentiful!

the pepper plants r slowly moving along, but at least we haven't had any more critters eating at em

& the cucumber vines r taking off!

we're loving it!
well, the girls & i r anyway ;0)

oh, & guess what...that ugly bush in our yard that we're about 2 cut down?

it blooms pretty purple flowers!

we're still cutting it down tho!
;0)

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we've got a busy weekend planned!

2nite is the final nite of VBS (at another community church - our church's VBS will happen while we're at the beach)...the kiddos will give a little performance & then we'll all have a picnic 2gether - should b fun!

then, i'm finishing up not only Jaden's birthday cake 4 his party 2moro, but i'm also working on 1 very special order 4 Miss Jennifer (aka, 1 of the cake sisters)...Jaden's party is 2moro afternoon, followed by some swimming (pray the rain stays away!!!)...unfortunately, Curtis works both days this weekend - but at least he'll get 2 celebrate with us b4 heading in 2moro

& we might take the kiddos 2 the movies on Sunday (b4 Curt goes in2 work), but we'll see...Jaden really wants 2 see Ice Age 3, so we might do it as a bday treat...but my house also really needs some attention - it's bad enuff as it is now...after 2nite's all night cake decorating session & then 2moro's party chaos, i'm sure by Sunday it'll b way overdue!

i hope u guys have a fabulous weekend!
enjoy every second of it!!!
♥