Monthly Archives: June 2010

Remember to listen to your tattoo artist…

because nobody wants to end up on a tattoo fail blog.

I got my first tattoo when I was 22. I went to a semi-clean, highly creepy little place in Buffalo. When you’re 22, it’s more about getting the tattoo done instead of researching where to go.

When I moved to Charlotte in 2000, I had just graduated from college. Of course the super cool trend at the time was the ever popular “tramp stamp” location. Now, of course I thought that was a brilliant tattoo location because it was a little bit sexy, but not totally bimbo and it could be hidden. To me, the bimbo location of the time was a band around your upper arm, a la BAYWATCH role model Pamela Anderson. Fast forward ten years, I’m just not in love with the location thanks to videos like this:

Turlington’s Lower Back Tattoo Remover:

I got the stamp in 2000, after I found a studio here in Charlotte that was immaculately clean, and the artist was kind. I actually recommended them to basically every Charlottean that had ever asked me about tattoos. But when I went to that same location for a consultation a few weeks ago, I was offended by the one artist’s “no can do” attitude. I’m certainly no Bombshell McGee, but this guy’s demeanor towards me was completely dismissive. So I left.

And I was pissed.

I had to find a new studio, but I really needed to research the local shops because I’ve seen a lot of God awful tattoos.

I noticed there was a tattoo studio called Paris Tattoos in Southend next to The Liberty and under Pewter Rose. My favorite shops, bars and restaurants are over there so I had to check it out. I happened to be in that area the other day, wrote down the studio name, came home and did some googling.

I found a fabulous write up in Creative Loafing LINK

which led me to his website LINK

and a studio that looked like an art gallery LINK

So I drove over there a few days later and met with Alexandra. Not only was she charming and lovely, and the studio is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I am not exaggerating, it’s like an art gallery inside.

Yesterday I showed up for my appointment with my ideas printed out on paper, and Paris with his dry sense of humor said, “honestly, you’re going to look like a truck driver.” And you know what? He was absolutely right. I explained what “theme” (if you will) I was going for, and that I was trying to deflect attention away from the tramp stamp. We brainstormed, and he sketched these beautiful butterflies to symbolize my four children.

LOVE them!

Paris opened three months ago, if you’re looking for the best tattoo artist in Charlotte, you’d be foolish to go anywhere else.

Here are some more links about Paris Pierides

http://www.inkfestlive.com/paris.htm

http://tattoo.about.com/od/featuredartists/p/parispierides.htm

http://www.kypriaki.com/paristattoos/paris.htm

http://www.myspace.com/paristattoos

And I kept telling both Paris and Alexandra to get involved in the Twitterverse with us! Go follow Paris, we’ll turn them into twitter junkies before you know it.

http://twitter.com/paristattoos

Everyone should live in Kaskonia!

One of my besties is an amazing teacher here in Stepford, and was acknowledged by the Charlotte Observer!!

Here’s the article link, check it out!!

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/06/27/1525758/enchanted-kaskonia-is-place-for.html

Congratulations to a marvelous teacher!! We are all so proud of your hard work and dedication!! xxoo

Cake Boxes. Let the shopping begin.

I can’t even remember how much I have or have not shared about my business concept online, but one of the biggest and most important parts of “my thing” would be the fact I’m going to be as “green” as possible.

You aren’t going to find me sporting flashy, overpriced, colored packaging. A pink box doesn’t turn me on, and then you have other box options….

I struggle with the idea of box inserts, because it’s not me to add extra trash to trash, but I know from experience for travel purposes they’re going to be a necessary evil. I have bought a boat load of different bakery boxes, yet can’t seem to find one that I love AND that I can afford in mass quantity.

First of all, a big “no no” for me are any boxes with film windows. Have I used them? Yes- but not really by choice. It was more like I ran out of boxes, had to run to a local store to pick some up and that was all they had- because Wilton rules the world. And sure those boxes are clever to see in to, but if you are a recycle fanatic such as myself you hate packaging like this because every freakin’ time I have to crush boxes for my recycle bins, I literally sweat like a pig assaulting globs of heavy duty industrial glue to rip that nasty plastic off.

If you buy the recycled, brown old school boxes you have to apply for a second mortgage and sometimes, honestly, the product is sad and flimsy not to mention cost you MORE.

In all honesty, one of the hardest parts about being “earth friendly” is that it’s soooooooo ridiculously expensive. Hello, organic foods- where the prices are so exorbitant for a handful of chemical free peaches that you almost have to buy the ones laced in atomic bomb matter…

I think I have been to every single box website in the universe and I can’t seem to happily commit to anything more than a minimum.

I just keep thinking if choosing boxes is a hassle, God help me when I get to fancy sprinkles. Although I can eat those, so I definitely won’t be complaining.