ALLELUIA!!!!!

Today some awesome information has come to my attention. Like, the most awesome-est information you could ever imagine if you were me. And maybe you. If this information is as awesome to you as it is to me, we should be friends.

As you SHOULD know (if you don't, get with the program here, folks!) Brand New is my favorite band of all time. I will never ever get sick of listening to their music. Ever. It's pure art to my ears. My blog is named after them and I'm getting a tattoo with a lyric from their song. It is my DREAM in life to see them live! MY DREAM! I have heard my BFF Tonia rave about them on and on since I met her. She has told me my mind will be blown and my life will be complete when I finally see them. I don't doubt that. Kevin, who loves them, too, but is not nearly as obsessed, has seen them live, and loves to rub it in that I haven't. Since I started listening to them, they haven't toured anywhere NEAR the midwest. As a poor college student and the frugal gal I am, I haven't been able to travel to the coasts to see them, either. I considered traveling to Canada (11 hours north) with Tonia to see them, but Kevin assured me, "They're gonna come closer!" Well folks it's true. THEY'RE COMING!!!!!!!!!

Brand New announced on their Facebook page today that they are going to be playing at a festival in St. Paul June 23-24. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! That's soooo close! I can't even handle this! Nobody is here to share my excitement, Tonia is still in school, and Kevin is working. So, here I am, blogging my excitement away!!!

The festival is called Rivers Edge, and they just announced the lineup. I only recognize a few bands, but it looks like a great lineup! Dave Matthews Band, Mutemath, Motion City Soundtrack... YES! The list goes on and on. You can read the whole list and all the details of the festival here.

Do you think it's coincidence I decided upon my Brand New tattoo the same week they have FINALLY decided to come see me? I don't. I think it's fate. And that means I have until June 23 to get my first tattoo! If this isn't motivation, I don't know what is! I can't wait!!!

Am I more excited for my wedding or for this concert, you ask? I plead the 5th. ;)

And now I'm off to go on a nice long run with some Brand New BLARING in my headphones! WATCH OUT, WORLD!

Ink Inspiration

Good golly this is my 3rd post about tattoos! I need to stop talking about it and just DO it! Such a commitment and I cannot make big decisions easily. (If you're new here, read my first post about tattoos here and a silly post about a tattoo here).

I've wanted a Brand New lyric for a long time, so I'm pretty set on that idea. I had to find the right lyric that spoke to me, a lyric that would still be meaningful when I'm 80 years old. "Hold On To Who You Love" has been stuck in my head for a long time. I can't ever see myself regretting that message, even when I'm old! It will only grow in meaning as I age.

Here is a picture I found on Brand New's Facebook page. I know I posted it the last time I talked about tattoos. I still like the idea of having the handwriting of my family as the fonts in the tattoo. It looks good in this one, but I'd be nervous it'd look jumbled or weird. It's an idea that adds even more meaning!

The next decision was placement. I had thought about my foot before, but I don't like feet and don't care to draw more attention to such an ugly body part. It's a weird quirk, I know. I saw a picture of a bride on Green Wedding Shoes that had a tattoo on her back and I fell in LOVE (I also fell in love with the entire wedding...you should click the link and check it out!) I think it just looks so cool and I love the placement on her shoulder blade. I want a tattoo that can be easily hidden, but I also want a tattoo that can be easily seen when I want it to be. 

While I want something a little more subtle and delicate, I was inspired. I searched for other tattoos on the shoulder blade and I loved the tattoos I found.

This is another Brand New lyric I found on Facebook. This is more what I had in mind for size and placement.

Another Brand New lyric :) I think this would be the exact size and placement I'd want.

I've also posted this one before. This is more of the size Kevin wants me to get but I think it might be too big. (Again, BN lyric.)

I loooove the placement on this one! However, I don't think it's be easy enough to conceal.

You always hear people say you should draw your tattoo on your skin and live with it for awhile to see if you really want it. Since I can't exactly write on my back, I asked Kevin to do it for me so I could see what it looks like in the mirror. My direct instructions were "In your neatest handwriting possible, write 'Hold On To Who You Love' in one straight line in small letters." Here's what he came up with:

It also took 6 tries to come up with this dark, blurry picture with a finger over the lens. Sheesh! Where's a woman when I need one?! Anyway, this is not at all what I had in mind so I'm not even going to consider this "inspiration" for my future tattoo. It was too humorous not to include.

Any thoughts? Opinions? Anyone have a lyric or meaningful text on their bodies? Tattoos on your shoulder blade? I'm open to your feedback!