On March 6, 2010 at 10:45pm, I got my first tattoo. (& despite the post title, I promise I was not drunk)
The story really starts about five years ago, when I decided I wanted a tattoo. I wanted to be a rebel! I wanted to be a free spirit! I knew EXACTLY what I wanted – three stars on my neck, symbolizing my sorority’s ritual & the guide posts to how I live my life.
The problem? I was a wuss.
I was afraid of the pain. I was afraid of what people would say (especially The Momma). I was afraid of being “that girl” that impulsively etched permanent ink on her body at 19, only to regret it when she was 25. But on Saturday night, over a dinner celebrating two girlfriend’s birthdays, I realized that I am a different woman now.
Pain? HA! I’ve experienced childbirth. Impulsive? Hardly. Afraid of what people would say? That bird flew the window about 18 months ago when I began writing publicly. The Momma? Okay…that one’s still there. & she’s still a force to be reckoned with. But I’m almost 27. I’m married. I am a mother. & with everything spinning around in my life, it felt like a calling to have something etched on me that would always be there. A reminder of beauty, truth, character, & my faith.
I really wasn’t nervous. At all.
Okay, that’s a lie. I made Laura hold my hand. But this guy (bless his heart), was perfect for a tattoo virgin. He was funny. He was steady. & he gave direction. He also said that he doesn’t like to call ladies “tramps,” & so he prefers “California License Plate” when referring to lower back tribal tattoos.
& I think despite his sleeves of tattoos, he was kind of scared of the 5’1″ Laura. But I think he was also secretly thrilled at being piled in a room with six girls.
The sound of the needle is one of the most terrifying, irritating, & LIBERATING sounds known to mankind.
It really did not hurt. I promise. It was almost like a paperclip scratching behind my ear. & it took a grand total of 10 minutes. Maybe.
My first glance at the completed tat.
Holy hell. I’m inked?? ME?
Yep. Me.
That's awesome. I'm happy for you! I've wanted one but I'm not their yet to that point. I really like it by the way
-ashley
Love it!
i love it! i was a wuss too and i have two now, i have one near my right ankle that i designed myself and then i have butterfly for my daughter that died on the day of her birth (5-2-1997) on my right shoulder. that one hurt a bit more than the ankle one but i did have a tattoo artist tell me it depends on the artist, some are heavy handed which the guy who did my butterfly was, i have to come up with something to symbolize my boys . but blair you are an amazing woman, and no matter what is going on with the ppd as long as you remember that your an amazing strong woman who is very loved by friends family husband son and internet blog readers /stalkers, everything is going to be fine. promise! xo
So sexy!
My God, you are gorgeous. Heather did an amazing job documenting the experience. Love!
that'll look just lovely with your "mother's dress" at Harrison's wedding someday.
I know, right? I'll have to get a navy dress to match! Maybe a chain necklace? & ride in on a motorcycle! vrooooom….
Obviously the attention is going to be on her dress…duh!
http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2006/stylechanne…
Yes, because you should base all of your decisions on something that may or may not take place in the very distant future!
love it! I myself have a "California License Plate". It was "soooo sexy" before it became streaked with purple stretch marks. Now the tribal heart has a purple slash through it : )
Love it!
I've been following your blog for over sometime now and I adore your perspective on life. Dear Vivian got me hooked
I usually don't comment as a blog follower, but since I most definitely relate to this post, I simply had to. I also have a tattoo, honoring the values represented by my sorority – those values, love, honor and truth, have guided me through life and remind me daily how blessed I truly am! I too, feared the wrath of the momma, but she was cool with my decision (after a few months, of course) when she learned what it stood for! Props to you for sticking with the values you mentioned with your new permanent ink – love, love, love the stars 
P.S. What sisterhood do you belong to?
ADPi
Me too! Alpha class 2003 at MTSU in TN!
ahhh!!!! I figured you were one! I was initiated in 2002.
Blair, honey, I've been following your story for a while. You are a tough woman and I should have known that you were a fellow ADPi. I have three stars on my foot and am proud to call you a sister, sister!
Love it! I love tattoos that are different, and have special meaning to the person. Good for you!
I love my tattoos! I have two. I decide I want a tattoo and then wait 3 years to actually get it. If I still want it, then I figure I probably won't regret it. Def don't regret either one so far!
I love it! I have half of my back done and the pain is totally worth it. You just look so darling!!
xo!
Wow, go you! It suits you very well. Congrats!
Wow, so pretty! I also have a small tattoo on my neck that represents my sorority. I still love it, 3 years later.
Good for you for going for it! Be sure to let us know how The Momma reacts!
She amazed me! I told her this morning & she LAUGHED. Seriously, she laughed. I thought she would flip but she was totally cool & calm about it.
Especially because I told her that I waited so long to do it, Nate knew I was going to, & I thought long & hard about where to put it so that I could cover it easily. (obviously, since I had it almost a full week with her having NO CLUE)
Okay….I read your post title and immediately thought that you accidently flashed your va-j-j in public. So glad you just got a tattoo. Congrats! I’m too scared to get one.
I totally thought that too! I've apparently been defining "pulling a Britney" a little differently. Of course, I suppose it's less "pulling a Britney" and more, "showing your Britney" when I talk about it
I am a FIRM believer in underwear. Have no fear.
That's awesome. I want something like that…an a million other tattoos but DH says no. Boohoo.
Just do it when he's not looking. It's not like he can erase your tattoo.
I'm joking, of course. Please don't do it and then end up getting divorced because of something I told you to do.
Eeeek! I love it. Husband has tattoos but I am petrified…. PETRIFIED of needles. When they drew blood from me and J at the Genetics lab J was fine and I cried. I just don't think I could swing it.
But they look fab on you. Glad you did something for yourself!
love it!
I like how they look, I like the placement, I like everything about them! I have three so I know how painful it can be. Good job!
Lovely my Dear!! Just lovely!
And Nate? What does he think?!
He LOVES it. He knew I was getting it
OMG I love it! It is so hollywood. I have two tattoos quietly hidden on my back where only my husband sees them but I have secretly always wanted the little wrist stars!
Oh and I read your post and thought you shaved your head!! haha! The first picture looks you might be about to do that!
I never wanted a tat when I was younger. But now that I am a mom, I feel compelled to get a tat that symbolizes my kids. I'm not nervous about the pain but I'm just chicken to permanently get something on my body. I keep trying to think of ideas of what to get and where. My hubs would totally FREAK if i got a tat though!
Holy crap, we now have the same tattoo!
Congrats you rebel you!
ok- this makes me want one now! i lurve it!
Good for you! Like you, I've wanted a tattoo for YEARS (almost 10 now), but only recently figured out exactly what I want. I was working up the nerve to do it, and then I got pregnant again. So my inking is currently on hold.
Awesome! Glad you took the leap. Does it mean anything special? I have a guess that it's Nate, Harrison and Harpie, but I could be wrong.
I'm so excited for you! I have a star tattoo on each hipbone and my sister has one on her wrist… LOVE it… you look beautiful!
Yea! I myself have 2…A rose on my upper right breast (That Lexi LOVES to try and pick off) and a butterfly on my left hip. My middle name is Rose, hence that tattoo…and the butterfly was symbolic of a huge change in my life shortly before I got it. I want another…something to symbolize my DD.
I love it and I love the story. Way to go!
I soooo want a tat! I want to get my sons name on the back of my neck, but the only thing is- what if it hurts? What if it hurts so bad that when I have another child I will be too much of a wuss to get his/her name added?
Careful now sista……
They are extremely contagious! Pretty soon you"ll be thinking about where else you can "tat"
ugghh…i am sooooo jealous…I want a small one on the underside of my wrist something awful! My dad would freak out, my mom would freak out, but my step mother would love it!!! Husband would probably like it as long as it was meaningful…
I love the stars, the location, the meaning, everything! You rock, woman! Very cool.
Sometimes our own moms surprise us. I'll never forget, once in college my mom walking in on me (in my apartment) painting and smoking a cigarette (smoking was just a brief phase), and I froze out of fear, but she thought it was hilarious….I was being all artsy and needed to smoke while painting! Ha!
Nice! I have two (ankle, and lower back. yes, I have a "tramp-stamp". Shut up, it's hot). It's a great feeling and they look awesome!
how pretty! i have six tattoos, and i know exactly what you mean about your momma
my mom hates them! but, its our body, and you pull off the ink quite well 
congrats!
Love it!
Too funny – I got my first tattoo a few weeks ago and have yet to tell my mom.
I love yours – the story, the design, the placement.. everything. Good for you for going for it!
K
Welcome to the club!Very cute! But remember I warned you, they're addicting. I started with 1, now I've got 5 and I'm still going to get more. Oh yea, and they seem to get progressively bigger and less hidden as you go lol
DON'T DO THAT! I thought you shaved your effin hair off! YAY for the tattoo though. But they're addictive so watch out…I'm about to be on # 4
P.S I wear my tramp stamp proudly
I love it! I've never regretted my one tattoo and hope to get another someday. But you never said what your Mom's response was!!!
This is something that I've always dreamed of doing. I haven't ever figured out where would be a good idea to get it though… my mom is in HR and drilled into my head to not get something that would visable professionally… so doing this, behind the ear like that, I LOVE but my mom would kill me.
I'm so glad that you did it and while I'm jealous, I just don't think I'm ready…
Don't get me wrong, I'll be dreaming of it though…
Awesome!! I would like a really, really small one that represents my kids somehow……..I just dont know what.
YOU'RE SUCH A LITTLE VIXEN! I adore this. I want a tattoo in a bad way but I am a W-I-M-P. You've inspired me though. Maybe in a couple more years.
Good for you for thinking it through.
I regretted the placement of my tattoo (shoulder blade) and paid $3,000 to get it removed just before my wedding. Tattoos are NMS any longer.
Cuuuute! So did you tell your hubs pre-tat or did you surprised him when you came home? What did he say?!
Good for you Blair!! Love it!
What do three stars stand for?
I know you said your sorority’s ritual, but is that beauty, truth, & character?
Looks great & most importantly is that you love it! Hooray!
Oh dear – I have to agree with Edith on this one.
TRASHY with a capital "T".
So, where did you get this done?
They are very addictive! It looks great on you , Blair!
Love it
I have a California License Plate & have never regretted it haha.
Great… now I'm trying to think of where to get another one!
I am so happy you did this! I have been wanting a tattoo for 5 or 6 years now, too. I said I would get one on my honeymoon, but chickened out. Then I said I would get one after I had Luke… well, here we are, no tattoo. I come from an ultra conservative background so I am a wee bit afraid of what the fam would say, then again I'm 27 and my own woman, dammit!
So, this really inspires me. Maybe I will go for for it. Thanks for posting!
ALL THE OTHER MOMMY BLOGGERS WILL KNOW WHO TO BLAME FOR THE UNSCHEDULED RESET THAT MIGHT HAPPEN SINCE YOU'RE A BIG CHEATER. 1000 votes in less than two weeks- my ass.
you are an attention whore and it's a damn shame you boast about it on your twitter account.
get a life, do your job and take care of your baby.
darling, you have commented 3 times today under different "names."
Someone is lacking a "life" in this scenario…& it's not me. I'm not the one stalking Top Mommy statistics, Twitter, & then prancing ass ponies on someone else's blog, continuously logging in under the same IP address but different names, all in the quest to put someone down over the interwebs.
Whoa. Chill the eff out. Seriously, take a frigging Xanax or something. Or at least switch to decaf.
Well, aren't you the kettle calling the pot black? With all the posting you've been doing here, I'd say the AW is you!
Blair, honey, you keep AWing all you want. This is, I do believe, your blog, and you get to do whatever you want on it. You AW here and you can bet your sweet southern ass I'll keep reading. I think my life as the interwbs and Google Reader know it would damn near be over if you stopped now.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to see if I can still vote for Blair. Just to get on E's nerves. "Cause Blair is awesome like that!
(Ahem, didn't mean for my interwebs-girl-crush to show. Sorry.)
I'm glad you love it. I've got nothing against tattoos, but I just don't get the placement. Why the side of your NECK? There's no hiding it. EVER. Even with your hair down it will still be slightly noticeable. And I tend to agree that bc of the placement you will never be able to look elegant and sophisticated. Angelina may be able to pull that off, but mere mortals just look trashy.
hahaha true !
glad someone else agrees.
maybe harrison could get a nose ring to match mommy.
I will die when she gets "Harrison" under her freaking breast.
And think of it this way- acid wash jeans, stirrup pants, poufy bangs. All things that were super trendy less than 20 years ago and look so dated and dumb now. You think those stars aren't going to look ridiculous in a few years? And when you're 80 you choices are either to look trashy with your weird behind-the-ear tattoo or you have to leave your hair long and down (which is also undesirable for old women).
Klassy.
I don't love the neck placement, but to each their own. However, I wonder if "now" was really the "I've thought this through" time… really, a few weeks after you are diagnosed with severe PPD and start a course of anti-depressants and therapy, you're sure that you are not making an impulsive decision that you are going to regret?
Reading comprehension is a dying art.
Meg, I do appreciate the concern. Truly
I actually did speak with my psychiatrist about it, with Nate present, & she is not concerned. Had it been a situation where I was simply driving by a tattoo parlor & stopped in, then yes. Absolutely a cause for concern. But the fact that I knew exactly what I wanted, where I wanted it, & it had stayed the same for years (which Nate & my girlfriends will attest to), she's not worried. I will admit (& she agreed) that my current "state of mind" definitely has lessoned my impulse control, rather by meds or simply the disease, but I think it was more just pushing me to finally do something I've always wanted to do.
Will I look back & regret it? I doubt it. But who knows? I think that's part of the "culture" of a tattoo. I think anyone who's ever gotten one would attest that there is at least a wee bit of impulse involved – it's what allows you to let a stranger take a drilling needle to your body!
It's a tattoo, not a limb amputation.
Way to go Blair! They really are addicting. I'm ready for one with DS's name and a Libra one in addition to the 2 I already have.
My sister has the exact same tattoos on both sides.
Cute!
I have stars too, but mine is a "california license plate" LMAO!
It's perfect–I love it! Good for you!
I will take the tatt plunge one day. I plan on getting two to start.. One for the baby I lost (Green Bean) and one for miss Nellie. I just have to figure out the perfect place and design. I love that your tattoo has meaning and isn't just a random design thrown up on your body somewhere!
Look at you, that's awesome. I bet your husband loves it, mine has one and would find it totally sexy if I joined him. However, my grandmother is whispering in my ear "one hole in each ear only, no extra piercings or tattoos or no jewelry for you". I just can't give up diamonds =)
You seriously can tell ppls ip addresses? I am so computer illiterate. Watch out stalkers Blair is watching you. hahaha
Love the Tat!! Being a tattooed momma and wife of a tattoo artist, I have to know two things; Did you love the adrenaline rush?? and have you planned your next yet?
1) LOVED. If the grin on my face didn't say it enough
2) Harrison. Under my left breast.
Tattoos & sex are like Pringles – once you pop, you can't stop!
Sweet! I just got my 3rd tonight and I brought Tanner with me! I'm already planning my 4th!
Love it!!!
1. My bff has a star and moon in the same place you got yours and the tattoo artist who did it told her that that is one of the least sensitive places on the body- meaning it's one of the most pain-free places to get tatted. Just an FYI in case you decide to get one later thinking that tattoos don't really hurt. Not that the pain is *that* bad other places. (Unless we're talking about your foot. THAT hurts!)
2. Like I said, my bff has one behind her ear and it's not as noticeable as some are saying. You would think it would be, but your ears bend back so from most angles it is hidden. I hardly ever remember she has that tattoo and I see her all the time. Nobody at her work (a conservative place) has ever commented about it. Although hers are smaller than yours.
3. You said that you want a lower breast tattoo… I have one there. It will hurt when they go over your ribs but besides that it's not too bad, and people complement me on the placement all the time. I've even had 2 friends get tattoos there because they thought mine was so cool!
Super awesome. I got a tatoo when I was 22, and now at 34 people hardly believe I am inked and always ask to see it (on my ankle) -I love it because it reminds me of a certain time in my life.
Totally nms, but seeing how happy it made you in your pics is awesome
I am generally anti-tattoo but I love yours! Very nice and easy to hide if need be. Good for you!
http://crazylovegamblestyle.blogspot.com/
It looks great on you! Cute top BTW!
That's awesome I was way too big of a coward to get a tattoo with my sisters. But I love the part about your mother the best. I was terrified about mine seeing my belly button ring for the first time when I went to try on wedding dresses. I tried to hide it from her for the 1st three. I was 32. She laughed when she saw it.
That's cute.
I love love love tattoos! But seriously, watch out! I have 6 now and am planning on many many many more. They're so extremely addicting. I don't know too many people who get one and are just content with one!
Wooooo! Looks awesome! I want one for ds but too nervous and not sure what yet! One day ill get drunk and take the plunge lol
Hey girl. Cute tattoo. I have 3 and am nowhere near finished. I have to wait until I'm done nursing to get my next one however.
I read all the replies ( admittedly in a haze with no sleep) and wonder what do they mean again ( the stars)
Blair,
Love the tat! I have 7 so far and plan on getting another now that I'm a mommy. I have to admit, I'm glad you were just getting a tattoo! Like some of the pp's, I thought you might've flashed a ton of people. LOL.
Love love love it! DH has tons of tattooes (full sleeves) and I have none, but I want one. I just don't know what yet…
I have to ask, what is the meaning behind the star tatoos? I know you said yours represents your sorority…but how? Is it a symbol recognized by your sorority – or is this a personal meaning you have attached to them? I have googled the meaning behind these things so many times and can't find a good answer but all the hipsters seem to have them so I'm sure I must be missing something. This isn't meant as a criticism, just genuine curiosity.
Britney is one of the best singers in the world but she does bad things too …
So how are you going to wear your hair when you're sitting on the porch in a rocking chair at the old folks home (sippin' on sweet tea of course)??
Are you going to go all Betty White style or maybe a little more glam like Helen Mirren.
I have always thought about getting a tattoo on my neck but worry about it showing when I have old lady hair.
I love all kinds of tattoos! These are some of my favorites. Thanx