It's a Doll.

I generally do not blog about controversial things. I steer clear of politics, religion, and anything like that. I don't like getting people riled up and getting nasty comments on my blog. We are all entitled to our own opinions and they don't always have to be the same.

That being said - I do not understand the recent controversy over the new Barbie. Really, I see nothing wrong with this doll.

First, Matel is not gearing it towards kids. This is a collectable doll. If a child ends up with one...that's because an adult bought it for them. And obviously if a parent has no problem giving this doll to their child, you shouldn't have a problem with it either.

Second, tattoos, pink hair, and a cute outfit do not make someone a bad person or influence. Did you know both Teddy Roosevelt and FDR both had their family crest tattooed somewhere on their bodies?  Sure, they aren't huge....but what's the difference between one tattoo and a chest full of them?

Finally, just because you play with a toy does not mean that it's going to influence you. It's funny...I played with a cash register when I was little...I'm not a cashier. I had toy cars, remote control cars, and that red and yellow car that everyone had....and guess what, I don't drive. Get the hint? In fact, I did have a ton of Barbies, dressed them up, cut their hair....and I don't have a bad body image (or know how to cut hair.)

So, how about this...it's a doll. Plain and simple. She has tattoos just like 1 in 4 Americans between the ages of 18 and 50. Or 36% of people between the ages of 18 and 29. I bet some of your favorite bloggers even have tattoos that you don't know about.

Michelle's Tattoos

You have seen all of my tattoos already. But after getting the newest ones yesterday, I wanted to show you all of Michelle's. She didn't even think it was weird when I asked to take pictures of all of them. So, here they are..Michelle's artwork! All eighteen of them!

 Betty Boop lips on her butt!

Anchor on her left foot

Cherry blossoms on the left side of her hip

It used to say "Dude." Now its leaning more towards "dud."

Star on her wrist

On the side of her lower back

Anchor on her right upper ribs

Awesome lighthouse on her left foot

Diamond on the other side of her hip

Lightning bolt behind her ear

HUGE flowers on her ribs

"Sailor" on her ankle

"love" written in rope on the other side of her ribs

More huge flowers going up the side of her back

"Stay True" on her shoulder

Our great-grandmothers name on her wrist

Unfinished sugar skulls

The latest addition!

Day Five: Pay Day Rants, Tattoos and Cookout!

So, it's payday. I'm not sure if I've ever voiced my opinion about how much I hate direct deposit. I don't like having the money go into one spot. I like having a check in my hand, going to the bank, cashing it..and deciding how much I want to keep there. I live by the envelope system. I have since I was 16 and I really don't see myself ever backing away from it. I think it's hard for people to understand how it works. Danny doesn't. He just knows we are saving money. Anyway, today was payday. I had a fit this morning about how much I hate direct deposit...and then we moved on and I filled up my envelopes.

Me and Michelle went to Walmart to get stuff for the cookout. Like I said, it's payday. She thought it was so funny that everyone was stocking up on things for the next few weeks. I just think it's funny that you can tell when the entire town gets paid. Do most people just do their grocery shopping on payday? Maybe it's with the help of the envelope system that we go every week. I can't imagine getting everything I need/want only twice a month.

Okay moving on from my rant!!

Me and Michelle got tattoos today! We both got "Let It Be." She got it on her foot, I got mine on my wrist. That makes number 7 for me. And way more for Michelle! I just decided that someday I'm going to do a blog entry on all of HER tattoos! As usual the tattoo artist thought it was my first one. I guess I should start getting bigger more obvious ones! AND he thought all The Beatles were still alive...he must live under a rock!

 I'm paranoid that the birds don't look like birds!

I see a starfish, dolphin and wishbone...

We had a cookout tonight! The four of us, Reina and Dave, and Dan and Natosha. We had wayyy too much food. Reina made an awesome dessert, we named it the candy apple dip. It was a-maaa-zing! Miley even had a little play date!

Somehow we ended up at the bowling alley. Very rowdy, some of the boys had way too much to drink. It was a fun time hanging out with everyone! 

Rest of the Summer Plans

We plan to have a few more cookouts before the summer is over. Believe it or not, the freezer is still full of Omaha Steaks..and we're expecting more hamburgers in the mail this week. I tweeted that the burgers were a little small, Omaha Steaks saw that, apologized and insisted on sending me bigger burgers. Now that's good customer service!

My sister and her boyfriend will be here in exactly one week. So excited for that. We have an awesome night in Charlotte planned. We have reservations at a fancy-shmancy sushi place, a hotel reserved...and we're seeing this guy in concert!

We'll go to the beach a lot before the summer is over. Free fun! I love taking Miley to the beach, she loves to run and chase the waves. It's a lot of fun for all of us. I'm sure me and my sister will be spending a lot of time sitting on the beach while she is here...and getting this inked on our bodies....

Last night I saw a commercial for Busch Gardens and decided we have to go there before the summer is over. I look it up, we get free tickets. Found a hotel that we can bring Miley to, with no charge. Only a few hours away, gas isn't too expensive. And we save our change...and yes, our CHANGE is paying for this trip. SO EXCITED!

So excited about our Myrtle Beach trip at the end of August. My friend Lindsey is coming down, my friend Danielle is going to meet us there with her boyfriend...and a lot of alcohol will be consumed. It's a MUCH needed trip and I am so so so so so so excited!

My sister is bringing my wedding dress down with her. Trash the dress pictures WILL be happening.

With any luck we'll be in Maine for Labor Day and Danny's birthday. We'll be on the lake, soaking in the sun and relaxing. 

What do you have planned for the rest of the summer?

Shoes, Microwaves and Tattoos

(This post is going to be all over the place and could probably be three posts..but I'll forget something if I don't just do it!)

My husband has a shoe obsession. His only goal last weekend was to buy three pairs of shoes. Flip flops (check!) running shoes (check!) and white tennis shoes (check!) And BONUS! He got polish for his many pairs of boots. Why do I find this so interesting? I think it's the tennis shoes! He reminded me of something straight out of a polo commercial...or a Kennedy hanging out on the Cape (think, snobby.) I made fun of him endlessly, good thing he has a great sense of humor!

Now, microwave! We registered at Kohls for our wedding and one of the first things we recieved in the mail was a really nice microwave. When we moved into the apartment, I set it up and threw away the box. How was I to know it was broken. We searched endlessly for the same microwave to do a swap out and return it...but we couldn't find anything! So, we went to Walmart and bought the boring and cheaper version of our broken one. Now, the fun stuff. We did the swap out and returned the broken one to a different Walmart. We had a great story...we were returning it because it didn't look like what was on the box. The woman ate it up, gave us our money back and sent  us on our merry way. Ten minutes later? "Could the customers who returned the  microwave please return to the desk?" We snuck out the back door! And now I have visions of WANTED signs at the return counter! Wanted: Walmart Microwave Swappers!

This week has been so great! As a result the apartment is a mess..but I've been having such a great time! Monday me and Breanna went to Raleigh and did some shopping. Tuesday I had lunch with Katie. And yesterday I was officially welcomed to the Marine Corps. (Swiping my ID) Beep! "Hear that sound? Welcome to the Marine Corps." Then! Me and Breanna went out for tattoos!! I came out with this little gem on my ribs, and we're going back Saturday so Breanna can get hers! 

I'm loving life and I hope everyone else is having a great week!

It's The Hap-Happiest Time Of the Year!

Most people reserve that for Christmas, but me...nope! It's tattoo time! Five years, five tattoos..and now it's time for the 6th one! I have stars on my shoulder, hearts on my back, flowers on my hip, my hippie tattoo (peace love and music) on my foot and cherry blossoms on my wrist. What's next? I don't know! Here are some things that have sparked my interest!

I wish I had the guts to do a sleeve, but I think it's something I would like today and want to hide tomorrow. But I know this...I'll have one by the end of the week!