I'm (Going To Be) A Mom With Tattoos – Alyx From "A Day Time Thug"

Welcome back to another installment in our new series – I’m A Mom With Tattoos.  In case you have missed the last couple, don’t forget to check them out here.

You guys…  Seth and I are going away for the weekend.  Like, just the two of us kind of going away.  I don’t even think that excited is the right word to describe where I am at today.  I know that I will miss the kids once I am there, but right now I cannot wait to run out the door.  I need this.

Also, when I saw Alyxs tattoos on Twitter a while back, I knew that we had to share them here, so let’s totally forget the “Mom” with tattoos part because, well, I said so.  Back to the tattoos – I adore the cherry tree tattoo, so absolutely beautiful!  Your eyes are definitely in for a visual treat this morning, so make sure they are wide awake with that mug of the good stuff.

Your name and blog deets:  Alyx Carolus (www.adaytimethug.wordpress.com)

Your age: 22

Your Occupation: PR/Marketing intern and social media manager

Tell us about your family: I’m an only child raised by a single mom.

If you work, tell us a bit more about your working environment – are you regularly in contact with new “clients/public”.  I have plenty of meetings with the public beyond the office – but mainly I work from an office park in Observatory.

• Tell us a bit about your tattoo’s, what they are, why you have them, where they are located

I have 7 tattoos.

I have a portrait on each thigh (one in colour and one in black and grey)

Dedicated to two very important women in my life – and played a profound part in my life. I also love portrait work – I think it’s beautiful to capture a face.

Both have frames around them.

I have a cherry blossom tree branch with a hanging bird cage on my inner left arm.

This is was done during a particular rough period of  my life and represents freedom at a time  when I felt I didn’t really have any. It was designed by my best friend and tweaked by my artist.

I have an image of Invader Zim on my right inner arm

I have always been a fan of Invader Zim and Jhonen Vasquez – but it made me laugh and is one of my more funny tattoos – purely for me.

I have my late best friend’s initials on my left hand and Incubus lyrics (make yourself) on my left forearm.

My best friend passed away in a car crash in 2011. All members in the car were intoxicated at the time. I got her initials tattooed on my hand to have a piece of her with me – and to remind me that life is exceedingly short. She was just twenty years old when she passed.

Incubus is my favourite band – and their album Morning View and Make Yourself got me through the darkest periods in my life. I consider the words make yourself my mantra.

I have the opening line of T.S Eliot’s East Coker on my right ribs.

I love literature and poetry – T.S Eliot was one of my favourites. I wanted my first tattoo to be meaningful – but also to have longevity.  And “in my beginning is my end” represented the fact that life comes full circle.

How old were you when you got your first tattoo?  19

Which tattoo is your favourite and why?  My cherry blossom tree. It has so many meanings and is truly exquisite. Feminine without being overwhelmingly girly, you know?

Do you plan on getting more?  YES. I want to continue on my  legs and definitely want a full back piece at some stage.  I adore how my body  looks with tattoos.

How do your family and friends feel about your tattoo(s)?  My mom is pretty chilled about it. The rest of my family don’t really approve – and also don’t know how many I have. My body is my body –and no else’s opinion is really that important to be honest.

What is the general reaction that “the Public” have towards your tattoo’s?  Have you run into any negativity or adversity because of them?   I definitely have had some people try to feel me up. People seem to think your body is fair game when you have tattoos. That’s pretty annoying. I am usually quite abrupt with that kind of situation. I don’t have the time to be nice – when you don’t respect my space. Most people think they’re all pretty rad – and tend to compliment me on them. But I have had some old ladies give me evil eyes for having them

Any advice for those interested in getting tattooed?  DO NOT GET TATTOOED OUT OF SOMEONE’S KITCHEN. Pay the cash for a decent tattoo and really think about what you want. I see too many badly done cheap homejobs out in the world.

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As usual – PLEASE get in touch if you want to share your story with us!  (cindyalfino@gmail.com)