Tag Archives: body modifications

May4

Tattoo Etiquette

Posted on May 4, 2024 by lifewithlilred

Howdy!! I often forget how many tattoos I actually have until the warm weather hits and shorts and T-shirts are appropriate again. It’s so easy to not even think about a majority of my tattoos when they are consistently covered up with jeans and hoodies all fall and winter long! This past week, we enjoyed eighty degree days in the good ol’ A-K-Rowdy and I was excited to finally break out shorts and a T from Misny Merch. I am used to a lot of the usual comments when my tattoos are out… “How much did those cost?”, “what hurt the most?”, “why do you have so many?”, and so on and so forth. However, I never experienced anything quite like what I did when I was job coaching at work.

While I was on site on Tuesday, I had not one, not two, not three, but FOUR people in under an hour grab me to get a “closer look” at different pieces. This made for a grand total of SIX times in two days, but I had never had that happen so many times in such a short period. This is my PSA to PLEASE DON’T DO THAT. It is an absolute invasion of personal space, shows no respect for a person’s boundaries, and is simply insane that adults don’t know how to keep their hands to themselves.

As this was all happening, I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone because it just kept happening lol. I don’t know about all of you, but I have never grabbed a person’s hair because I liked it and wanted to learn about the color and cut. I have never grabbed a person’s shirt because it was adorable and I wanted to know the brand. It is shocking to me that such an easy concept to grasp just flew out the window when my tattoos were involved. Body modifications do not give anyone permission to touch you. Nothing gives anyone permission to touch you without your consent. And just for good measure, I repeat: No one should touch you without your consent!!!! Get it together, people. Je-sus.

Word to the wise, if you would like to get a closer look at someone’s ink – just ask. Ninety-nine percent of the time, we are happy to accommodate, but don’t take lightly to being grabbed out of nowhere. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk!

What is a weird situation you have encountered in public? What is one of your biggest pet peeves? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May3

New Finger Tattoos

Posted on May 3, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! I had an excellent tap out tattoo session a few weeks ago by my wonderful artist, Emily, at her brand new shop called Vivid Visions. We got a ton done, but there was still a few odds and ends to complete that we didn’t have time for. I have known Emily since I was fifteen and have been a client of hers for over a decade now. We have had so many fun times in the shop together and she absolutely spoils me when it comes to tap outs. Any crazy idea I have, she is game for and is always willing to work with my schedule for touch ups and quick fillers. This past Monday, I got some vines on both of my thighs, two new delicate neck tattoos, and these adorable details on my fingers:

One of my deepest regrets about getting tattooed was that I waited SO long to get my hands done. I have only had my hand tattoos for about two years and they are, easily, some of my favorites. However, Emily and I both agreed during this tap out that they were still looking a little bare – especially on the fingers themselves. Prior to the end of my tap out session, Emily encouraged me to look up inspiration pictures, send them her way, and we would brainstorm the design when I came back to Vivid Visions.

As I browsed pages of finger tattoos, I realized that I wanted to go the minimal route with them. While the bold tattoos were awesome, I feared they would be too much because I have pretty tiny hands. At the shop, I showed Emily what I liked and what I didn’t. Then, she had me sit down and began drawing on my fingers. Before I knew it, she had brought what I was imaging in my head to real life. Emily was able to take my ideas and craft them into something that was even better than I hoped for.

Once the designs were drawn on, the tattooing began and it was easy peasy. Of course, I have an incredibly high pain tolerance but I have never had a problem with any of the tattoos on my hands before. In under fifteen minutes, my finger bling was permanent and it is such a nod to Emily’s skill. Ever since I have been her client, she has worked with masterful precision and speed and turns the smallest, most delicate tattoos into something special. ❤

It is safe to say that I am quickly running out of room for more tattoos. That doesn’t mean I don’t have a few more ideas up my sleeves, though. I can’t wait to see what Emily does with them!

What is your favorite tattoo that you have? Do you have any tattoos you regret? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr26

Living For Lilac OOTD Bloopers

Posted on April 26, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to the blooper reel from my Living For Lilac OOTD! During a very easy work week last week, I enjoyed getting new tattoos and my hair done. I felt so spoiled and pampered and have been simply obsessed with the results. It has been a long while since I did a total hair transformation or gotten a tap out session and my only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner! I was feeling my damn self while taking OOTD shots over the weekend and a few of the pics were my favorite in recent history. The ones we are about to take a look at? Eh, not so much! Lol, check it out:

Party people put your hands up

Hey…. Do you have a cigarette?

Solid foot pop, yikes face lol

Using all of my willpower and inner strength to not fall over

Getting blown away by the wind helllllllllp

Don’t mind me wiping my runny nose SMFH

I LOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like to think of myself as seasoned in the art of getting tattoos. I got my first one the day I turned eighteen and have been tattooed more times than I can count in the past twelve years. In fact, a recent post featured my golden rules for a long tattoo session. I follow these standards religiously and they have never failed me – even during the longest almost ten hour appointments. So, tell me why I decided to just forget one of these rules the day of my last tap out?!

Before my appointment, I had a good breakfast and snacked on the way to the tattoo shop and as I waited to get started. Once my artist began working on the first piece, it was go time and I let my mind go to my happy place. In between singing along to the bumping music at the shop and chatting with the artists, I was on my phone or in my own little world. Before I knew it, we were already on the last piece of the day. It was then that I realized it had been a fat minute since I had eaten and it caught up to me quickly.

This was the first time I had EVER gotten the shakes when being tattooed and I was so thankful that I stocked up on snacks at the gas station beforehand. After housing almost an entire bag of honey roasted peanuts, I was good as new. Like it had never even happened and the rest of the appointment went without a hitch. Don’t pull a me and be sure to EAT if you are getting tattooed – no matter how distracted or not hungry you are feeling. The shakes was the literal worst!

Although I failed to follow one of my tried and true tattoo rules, everything was a-okay and I was happy to have been able to complete the session. I have never tapped out yet! I can’t wait to get the last few odds and ends added soon! 😀

Are you treating yourself to a makeover? What are your plans for it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr23

Demon Slayer Villains Tattoos

Posted on April 23, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Yesterday we took a look at the heroes from Demon Slayer that I got tattooed turned my tap out session. Today, we are going to peep the baddies – the villains! While I already had a huge Demon Slayer heroes piece prior to this session, I only had one villain tattooed – Enmu from the Mugen Train arc. Only one simply wouldn’t do and I wanted to add Daki and Gyutaro who are, easily, my favorite demons in the series thus far. They were Just. So. Cool. The tattoos are pretty rad too! Check it out:

Daki and Gyutaro are the demons from the Entertainment District arc and I loved the dynamic between the “brother and sister” duo. Daki is one hundred percent pure brat power while Gyutaro handles the heavy lifting and Daki’s emotional support. Their tandem fighting was absolutely insane to watch with Daki’s killer kimono and Gyutaro’s flesh sickles. They were a deadly team and my mind was blown the first time I saw this season. I have watched it several times since and the shock value has yet to wear off!

For my tattoos, I chose to get the image when Daki and Gyutaro are shown together for the first time midway through their big fight. Coincidentally, this is shortly after Daki gets beheaded by Uzui which is the tattoo I got on my inner leg. This worked out perfectly because I have Uzui (seen yesterday) on the other side and it looks like something right out of a manga. The tattoo of the demons together on my outer thigh wasn’t anything to sneeze at. Like the Uzui tattoo we discussed yesterday, the Daki tattoo on my inner thigh was not all that. Lol, but hey – I made it through and have some killer ink to show for it!

Demon Slayer is something that my brother and I both love and truly bonded over. I am beyond thrilled with how my heroes and villains turned out and can’t wait to finish up my session soon!

What is the biggest tattoo you have? How long did it take? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr22

Demon Slayer Heroes Tattoos

Posted on April 22, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! During my tap out tattoo session last week, I got four huge new pieces to start somewhat completing my legs. The final odds and ends will be done at the end of the month and I can’t wait! The tattoos I got during my session are from one of my favorite animes called Demon Slayer. My brother introduced me to it and I was hooked one minute in. I already have a substantial tattoo on the side of my leg featuring Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Nezuko. So, I wanted to build on that by doing a heroes and villains motif. Take a look at a few of the good guys:

To expand on my heroes leg, I got two hashiras tattooed. The “fire guy” as my artist called him is named Rengoku and the “green guy” is Uzui. While there are a plethora of hashiras in the Demon Slayer world, these two have resonated with me and my bro as our favorites. Not just in their fighting skills, but their personalities too! Both Rengoku and Uzui are hilarious in their own rights and we are constantly quoting their phrases to each other. And, of course, a Rengoku tattoo wouldn’t be complete without his signature catchphrase “set your heart ablaze”.

These tattoos were not in the most comfortable spots, but it wasn’t awful. The Rengoku tattoo was super easy and there was essentially no pain with it. The Uzui tattoo on the inner leg, however, wasn’t ideal lol. That spot is tender and this one took significantly longer to complete. Despite any ouchies, my artist works extremely fast and this is highly motivating because I knew the process would be over soon(ish)! Before I knew it, I had the tattoos that I have been telling my brother for years that I was going to get and I could not be happier with them!

My hero tattoos turned out exactly how I wanted them to and I can’t wait to show them off in shorts this summer. Stay tuned for the villains pieces tomorrow!

What is your favorite anime? Who is your favorite character from it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr20

What To Do Before A Long Tattoo Session

Posted on April 20, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! This past Wednesday, I enjoyed a grueling nine hour long tattoo session at my friend’s studio called Vivid Visions. My artist got four huge pieces done during my tap out session and we are still not done! We’ll be adding the rest of the odds and ends towards the end of the month. I often get asked two questions about these appointments because it is the only way I get tattooed. One) How? Answer: Very high pain tolerance lol. Two) How do you prepare for it? It’s actually quite simple, so check it out:

Sleep Well:

A tap out session isn’t a sprint, it’s a full on marathon. Yes, the tattoo artist is doing literally all of the work. However, it’s your job to make it as easy as possible for them to do what needs done. This all starts with a good night’s sleep. Think about how miserable it feels when you aren’t well rested and have a ton to do that day. That is SO not what you want to be feeling during a tap out. You want to feel strong and alert so try to get at least eight hours before your big appointment and take it easy during the time leading up to it.

Eat, Eat, Eat:

It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to EAT on your tap out day. Your body is essentially about to be injured for an extended period of time and you need that fuel to get you through it. Not eating can lead to shakes, dizziness, weakness, and fainting and no one wants that. Be sure to start your day with a balanced meal, of course, but don’t forget mid session snacks either because you will definitely need them. My favorite snack during a tap out is nuts or trail mix because it’s an immediate protein boost. They pulled through in the clutch on Wednesday!

Hydrate A LOT:

Although I don’t mind an occasional Diet Coke when getting tattooed, I primarily make sure to drink a ton of water. It promotes healing, skin buoyancy, and can help soothe any nerves. I am one of those people that feels chronically thirsty during tattoo sessions so I always bring several bottles of water with me. I also never drink coffee before an appointment unless it’s absolutely necessary. Lots of caffeine comes with the jitters and I don’t like experiencing a midday crash when I’m getting tattooed.

Comfort Is Key:

Being tattooed is obviously an uncomfortable situation and it’s up to you to deal with it so your artist can work. Be sure to dress for comfort and the area being tattooed. You’re not going to want to wear jeans if you’re getting your legs tattooed lol! Other items that might be good to bring include a hoodie if it’s chilly in the shop or a pillow to place around your body as needed. You could even bring something that gives you comfort like a stuffed animal. Whatever gets you through. And don’t forget a phone charger!!

By doing the above before every session, I am able to endure eight plus hours of being tattooed. I have not tapped out once yet and I don’t plan on it any time soon!

What are some of your tattoo session tips? Do you have a go to tattoo artist? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr19

Tattoo Touch Ups

Posted on April 19, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! Way back in April of 2022 was the last time that I got any new tattoos and let me tell you that the ink craving has been real! So much so, that I am prepping for an eight to ten hour session later today as I type this. The day before my big sesh was dedicated to coming into Vivid Visions, my artist’s tattoo shop, for touch ups and placement planning. The main thing that needed some extra TLC was my hands, which were tattooed two years ago. They looked fantastic when I first got them done, but holy wow do they look even better now! Check it out:

My tattoo artist, Emily, has done almost all of my body art except for three tattoos. She is, hands down, one of the best artists in my neck of the woods and I am blown away by her work every time I look at myself lol. For my touch up session, she went over my hands in their entirety for areas of improvement. This included the front of my hands, my palms, and my fingers with more plans for that during my appointment today. She started with my fingers first and after just one letter I noticed a massive difference.

My hand touch ups took about an hour or so and it was kind of weird being tattooed again after so long. Not weird different, but weird that it was exactly how I remember it being: Not bad. Part of this is due to my insanely high pain tolerance, but the other part is all Emily. She has the most gentle hand that I have ever experienced being tattooed. If you’re inked, you know what it feels like to be tattooed by a heavy handed artist – not great. Not only does she have just the right touch, but she works quickly and efficiently while still paying the keenest attention to detail. Before I knew it, she was done and my hands looked brand new. I am so in love with this night and day makeover!

Stay tuned for more new work soon because there is going to be a lot! So glad Emily offers tap out sessions so I can get everything I want done in one day. CAN’T WAIT!

Have you gotten any new body mods recently? Do you plan on getting any soon? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov25

New Piercing, Who Dis?

Posted on November 25, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Last weekend was full of changes and I felt nothing short of inspired after getting my hair done. So much so, that a new hairdo was simply not enough and I needed something more. I have been wanting a double septum piercing for literal years now and I decided that there was no better time than the present. Rather than thinking about wanting it for the millionth time, I finally walked the walk on top of the talk and scheduled an appointment to get it done last Saturday. I went to Lucid, which is an amazing piercing shop down the street from me. Alex, the owner, took exceptional care and gave me an end result that I am thrilled with:

^^^ Don’t mind these terrible pictures lol you will see my new piercing soon enough in my Thanksgiving OOTDs! 🙂

I have been to Lucid several times to change out my nose jewelry, but have never been pierced by Alex before. As soon as Johnny and I walked into the store, he armed me with knowledge about the procedure of the piercing and assisted in the jewelry selection. For my original septum piercing, I chose a new close fitting hoop with black gem detailing – it is gorgeous! I still loved the shape of the horseshoe jewelry for my original piercing and chose a slightly smaller version for the piercing that Alex would be doing. Once my jewelry was chosen, he went to work on sterilizing the jewelry and piercing room. I would be a liar if I said I wasn’t a bit nervous because it has been over half a decade at least since I have gotten a new piercing!

After the room was prepped, it was time to get this thing over with. I definitely had some butterflies in my basket and Alex was most skilled at putting me at ease. Throughout the entire process, he talked me through every step of what he was doing as he did it. His voice was so soothing and calm and it made me feel infinitely better to hear him explain things since I couldn’t really see it. Alex swapped out my original jewelry, marked where my new piercing would go, pierced my double septum, and…

It wasn’t so bad!! Lol, it was honestly exactly how it felt when I got my septum pierced the first time and that was minimally painful. Then again, I have a really high pain tolerance so my opinion might not be the best one if you are considering something similar! After my jewelry was in, I was blown away by Alex’s expertise. He placed the new piercing perfectly and I couldn’t stop looking at myself in the mirror. This new piercing is fun and different and I can’t believe it took me this long to finally get it done!

I am loving my new look and am considering a Medusa piercing in the future. Hey, I’m not getting any younger and I know exactly where I’ll go if I get it done!

Have you gotten a new body modification recently? Do you have any plans to get one soon? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct4

You’re Never Too Old!

Posted on October 4, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! As you all know, I am a HUGE lover of body modifications, fun hair, and fashion. I’m twenty-eight years old and I could never picture looking or dressing any differently than I do. In fact, I truly believe that I will have my five nose piercings in for all eternity and that’s fine by me!

When I’m out and about in a killer OOTD or just bumming it while running errands, a comment that I always seem to get is: “I wish I could dress or dye my hair like that but I’m too old.” To which I will always reply: “NO YOU’RE NOT!!” As sweet of a compliment as it is, it makes me sad because I am a firm believer in age being nothing but a number – even though I sometimes internally cry over approaching the big 3-0 *face palm*.

I also think that life is too short to be anything other than yourself. And if that means getting a tattoo or piercing at fifty or dying your hair pink at ninety, then I say go for it! What is the point in denying yourself something that would make you happy? Answer: There is no point.

During a trip to the zoo a few weekends ago, I wore this outfit:

While exploring the Akron Zoo with my sister and nieces, I ran into one of my friends and her three daughters. The two older of the three told me that they wanted to dress like me when they grow up and it warmed my cold, bitter heart. They also said that they never see adults who look like me and it’s cool.

I asked how old they thought I was because sometimes I have a hard time believing I’m an adult lol and one of them replied with “I don’t know… nineteen?” At this point, I thought my heart was going to explode and their minds were blown when I told them how old I am. I enlightened them on my philosophy about always being true to your own personal style and I think that it stuck!

No matter your age, there is nothing wrong with being the best version of yourself. If you are toying with the idea of changing your look up, then this is your sign to do it. You can thank me by telling me all about your transformation! ❤

What do you love about yourself? Do you have any plans for new hair, tattoos, etc? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul10

White Hot OOTD Pt. 3

Posted on July 10, 2022 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and welcome to the last of my White Hot OOTD shoot before we move on to the lols of the blooper reel! Prior to taking these pictures with Johnny, we had no idea of the beauty surrounding our new apartment. Although we still live in the same community, the scenery at our new place is vastly different to the old one. We used to be in a cluster of different complexes and are now nestled in the woods with greenery everywhere and a creek running through the property.

The last location we shot at is actually really cool because it’s a rock wall that makes up the base of our new complex:

To wrap up this photo series, I thought that we would talk a little bit about accessorizing. Knowing how to accessorize is just as much of an art as any other aspect of fashion because it is a delicate dance. Too much jewelry can take away from a great outfit and too little makes it feel like it’s missing something. You, truly, need that “just right” medium for optimum success and I think this OOTD achieved that.

There are a few key rules to follow when accessorizing that will help you put the cherry on top of any look:

Fill Negative Space:

Blank spaces on an OOTD are where accessories come into play, which you can see on my OOTD. Are you wearing a tank top? How about adding a jangling stack of bangles? Or, maybe you’re rocking a hot pair of short shorts – try an anklet or some bejeweled Gladiator sandals! Scooping neckline? Add a necklace of an appropriate length to fill the space!

Creating visual interest with an outfit means that you are making the eyes of whomever is looking at you dance. So, instead of just a brief up and down glance, they are looking here, there, and everywhere at all of the little touches you added to your look. Properly placed accessories is what helps to achieve this.

Consider Your Clothing:

This seems like an obvious tip but it needs to be said. Accessories thrive on a more neutral palette, which is why I limited mine to the top half of this OOTD. A bold patterned piece of clothing is an accessory in and of itself so you don’t want to weigh it down with unnecessary jewelry.

Let’s think about a white tank top again – this is grounds to spice things up with a lengthier pendant necklace. But what if you’re wearing a bright floral top? A short length silver or gold chain necklace or sweet stud earrings will work perfectly. Remember, accessories are meant to enhance – not take away from your overall OOTD.

As a heavily tattooed and pierced woman with some crazy cool hair, I have had to reconsider how I accessorize as my body mod collection grows. All of my modifications are my accessories so I am even more mindful of the jewelry that I wear in my OOTDs. The tips above work wonders for me and I know for a fact that they will for you too!

What is your favorite type of accessory? Do you have a piece of jewelry that you wear every day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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