Obsessed. Amanda Wachob can tattoo like no other. Her watercolor style amazes me and is beyond out of this world. There exists a stigma with tattoos that you can't get just one, I've been living with my singular body modification for almost four years and am really ready for another. From her bio "Amanda has been tattooing since 1998... she [pushes] the boundaries of the tattoo medium in order to blur the line between fine art and body art".
And she does so decidedly well. Have a look at my favorites from her portfolio, then book an appointment with her at Dare Devil Tattoo. Let's go together.
St. Louis; HELLO DEFINES
We just got back (a week ago!) from St. Louis for the first annual Define family reunion. My plan was to walk around and say "Hello, Define!" and snap all the Define's pictures to do a really awesome blog post celebrating its' namesake--but I was having too much fun and forgot! ..I took photos, just didn't represent the whole family... I'm sorry Defines!!
Saturday was Steven's 26th birthday and I wanted to surprise him, so my aunt Nancer and uncle Kevin picked us up from the airport--unbeknownst to Steven who was looking for my Dad--and we headed down to the Forest Park/Washington University/Loop area for Cheddar Burgers and Shiner beers (YES IN MO.!) at the infamous Blueberry Hill--where Chuck Berry still plays!
Blueberry Hill//Steven's apropos DEFINE "GIRLFRIEND" t-shirt
Then we went to the rooftop deck of our hotel, the Moonrise and had great drinks and awesome views of Delmar in the Loop.
the Moonrise Hotel
Moonrise
Moonrise's Eclipse cafe/bar
Saturday we walked up and down Delmar and had waffles and cafe du monde at Meshugga Cafe, found a sofa I really wanted to ship to Houston, then walked to Forest Park and took a paddle-boat through the park to Art Hill and got a little sun.
We checked off the must-have foods: Lion's Choice, Imo's and Steak 'n Shake--and had dinner at Louis & Clark's in St. Charles for Steven's birthday.
uncle Rob's taking sneaky photos at Louis & Clark's
No explanation.
Giggering Steven.*
Aunt Sue in my 1950s Ray Bans
Sunday was the reunion at Rabbit Run Park--it was really awesome to see all the Define's again in better circumstances, but we all missed my Granddad. I talked to my great aunt Yolande Define the most, she told me stories about the early Define days and we talked about my upcoming wedding plans.
This is the only attempt I made at a group shot. I missed like 30 Defines.
Throw it, girl.
My cousins Eric + Lindsay in background v. my cousin Nick and his girlfriend Marissa playing Polish Horseshoes.
Steve and Dad wearing their Houston T's in the Lion's den of Cards fans... and Mom up close.
Mom and Dino
Al, Mom, me and Mike -- I took this one from my mom's cousin Barb from facebook
Monday our flight departed at 5 so we wanted to pack in a trip to the Arch--my most treasured place in this damn city. It is impossibly giant, soars so far into the sky that its' pinnacle disappears into the clouds. I never tire of the Arch. It always amazes--Steven and I took a photo in the same spot as we did the first time I brought him to St. Louis in 2006, so that's awesome to see how we've changed.
the General American Building - from "Up in the Air"
Bless America and PERSEVERE
GATEWAY ARCH
Our nation's tallest monument at 630ft.
Me, Mom, Al, Nancer and Steven
Original Busch Stadium Seats in the special exhibition Baseball: America's Past time
Just cheering. Reraxing all cool.
Mom and Nancer
Same spot as in oh-six.
Driving to Steak 'n Shake... bye-bye Arch!