All About my Current Tattoos 💀

So, I don't think it's been a secret about how I have a few tattoos but I literally get so many questions from a younger crowd and usually they're the same kind of questions so I thought I'd make kind of an FAQ on them :)

1.) Did they hurt?

Honestly, I didn't think any of my tattoos actually "hurt." But, keep in mind some people's pain tolerance can be incredibly low and it hurts them more than another person. Pain wise, it really depends on the placement and if you're getting inked where the "typical" tender parts are being tattooed on the body. (Ex: ribs, feet, spine etc.) For me, I believe I've had the easiest placement pain wise to get tattooed, which is why I crave more. To me, I wouldn't say tattoos hurt but they can sting and be uncomfortable at times. The one thing I can compare getting tattooed pain wise, is it feeling like a warm cat scratch. Which is really not that bad. 

2.) How do you take care of your tattoo after you get it?

Depending on how large your piece is, keep it wrapped up for about an hour, to two hours or even 4 hours just so the gauze can soak up all the plasma and blood, which is completely normal! After the bandage is off by the artists directions, I rinse it off with some warm water, put a thin layer of Aquaphor and then the next day, proceed to wash it gently with my hand, using non-scented anti-bacterial soap and reapplying the Aquaphor in an extremely thin layer about three times a day! Do not exfoliate with an abrasive loofa or exfoliating brush after you get a fresh tattoo!

3.) How Many Tattoos Do You have?

Currently, I have about four tattoos, but I am working on my full sleeve on my left arm!

4.) What do Your Tattoos Look Like?

I guess it's easier to show you guys than to explain them ;) 

Photo Credit: GKR PHOTOGRAPHY

Excuse the awkward picture but when you're a one man show, you gotta do what you gotta do ;)

5.) What do Your Tattoos Mean?

"I got a pocketful of dreams" actually is something I've wanted for years. To me, it basically reminds me to hold on to your dreams no matter what anyone says, turn them into reality and then make for dreams or goals for myself.

My skull and roses actually represent a lot to me. I've been through a ton of negative things in my life whether anyone knows it or not, my life isn't unicorns and rainbows coming out of my butt and the skull essentially represents that the negative things are dead while there are roses and leaves growing out of the skull that signify new beginnings and a new life. It shows that every negative thing that happens, I can put it to rest and grow as a person from those unfortunate situations.

6.) Do You Think You're Inked Up and a Badass?

HELL NO. I actually feel the exact opposite of myself. Yes, I do have a little ink, but I won't consider myself "Inked Up" until my sleeve, ribs, back and thighs have all the tattoos I want! I would also never consider myself a "badass" well because I'm me. I'm just a kid who loves art, that's it!

7.) When Should I Get a Tattoo?

Personally, I really have to think before I get inked because it's PERMANENT. That's a huge dedication and commitment to get a tattoo. Whenever you feel ready and know that the tattoo is something you've wanted for awhile, go for it! 

I hope this gave you guys some insight about the questions that are asked! If any of you get some ink show me on Instagram by tagging me @the_katiee with the hashtag #showkatieink 

As always follow me on my social media sites!

Instagram: the_katiee

Twitter: kallmekatiee 

Facebook: like me at Katie McBride

Email: katiemcbride.business@gmail.com 

XOXO,

Katie 

 

My Vans Story ❤️

Photo Credit: Divineskye Photography

Photographer: Megan Lunsford

Location: Manitou Skate Park in Colorado Springs Colorado

Outfit: Creme Lace Dress from Vans, Black Glitter Belt from Forever 21, Studded Leopard Cardigan by KIRRA from Pacsun, Rabbit Spirithood prop borrowed from Megan Lunsford, Black Glitter Striped pantyhose from Forever 21 and Leopard/Black Sk8Hi Wedges from Vans

Photo Credit: Divineskye Photography

Photographer: Megan Lunsford

Location: Cheyenne Mountain 

Outfit: Studded Denim and Chiffon High-Low Dress from Macys, Red Belt from Target and Leopard/Black Sk8Hi Wedges from Vans

Photo Credit: Divineskye Photography

Photographer: Megan Lunsford

Location: Manitou Skate Park in Colorado Springs Colorado

Outfit: Creme Lace Dress from Vans, Black Glitter Belt from Forever 21, Studded Leopard Cardigan by KIRRA from Pacsun, Rabbit Spirithood prop borrowed from Megan Lunsford, Black Glitter Striped pantyhose from Forever 21 and Leopard/Black Sk8Hi Wedges from Vans

You can find Megan Lunsford at:

megan-lunsford.squarespace.com 

www.facebook.com/DivineSkye

P.S: She's AWESOME! 

"Story of my Sole": 

Vans has always been a huge part of my life, ever since I was a toddler. I remember my mom buying my light blue denim authentic Vans to wear with all of my play clothes. I distinctly remember having the denim authentics, white authentics and navy blue authentics because back then, Vans didn't have the awesome glittery ones like they do today (so jealous.) Even throughout Preschool, Kindergarten and the early years of Elementary School, I had Vans! See, my Dad used to skate board back in the 80's and saved his old board for me to ride when I got old enough which was about 6 years old. I looked really cool out where our cement walkway is up to our stairs and riding back and forth for hours! Unfortunately, I never did any more skateboarding because well I'm really clumsy, but later music became a huge part of my life and I started going to the Vans Warped Tour the summer going into 8th Grade and haven't missed a year since and is what I always look forward too during the summer! Vans, have always been a staple in my wardrobe and I've really had the Vans lifestyle all my life. I'm different, eclectic, strange and most of all, an individual which is what Vans is known for as a brand and lifestyle. I believe the only year I didn't wear Vans was in the Third Grade because, Etnies were all the rage back then, but when I got into Fourth Grade, I told my Mom that I wanted Vans and that's what I got! I remember they were Pink and White Old Skools with satin pink laces and they were so COOL! Ever since then, Vans have always been in my wardrobe every single year. I have some Authentics that are limited edition and some that aren't, a few pairs of limited edition Classic Slip Ons, a ton (I mean a ton) of Authentic Lo Pros, lots of Hadleys, a pair of Sk8Hi Wedges that are always shown in my pictures, a couple pairs of Mohikans from the Surf Collection, and my newest edition, the Sk8Hi Slims in (Leather) Black/True White. I can definitely say that I have a problem with shoes. 

My Life Changing Experience! 

When I was fresh out of High School in 2012, I had been looking for a job literally EVERYWHERE in Colorado Springs and one magical day, I was in buying shoes at Vans (of course) and the Assistant Manager told me that I should apply because they were hiring. As soon as I got home I submitted my resumé and was hoping so bad that I would have the opportunity to interview as a sales associate. I was that annoying kid that would call and follow up to see if Vans was hiring at the time and finally one day in July, I got a call asking if I would be interested in interviewing with a few other people and I quickly, with no thought or anything said "Oh my gosh! Yes!" A few days later I came in to interview with about 12 other people and the whole time I was thinking to myself "Uhh yeah, all these kids have way cooler stories than me, I'm just some average girl who likes fashion, is in to music, always attends Warped Tour, I can't skate, I don't have any work experience and I haven't overcome being paralyzed, so I'm definitely not getting hired here." When I got home from my interview that day, I was really discouraged and was being pretty hard on myself as I always am. Two days later, I got a call saying I was hired and that's when my life completely changed. When I first started working for Vans, I was literally the most quiet, shy, insecure and awkward girl ever. I was painfully shy throughout my life since I was a gymnast and didn't have a social life at all. It was so hard for me to go up and talk to customers without being incredibly awkward. But after about a month, something really changed inside of me. I became more confident in myself, I liked what I saw in the mirror, I learned that people want to actually talk to me for who I am as an individual which made it so much easier to go up and talk to people about their day and everything in between. 

A Vans Romance Story?

What's a life changing story without a little bit of romance right? Let me take you back to the first time I ever had a shift at Vans, there was this guy working with me, was super nice, talked to me and really helped me out. After that, I didn't see him for a few weeks and then I worked with him again for a couple hours and he was still as cute and nice as I remembered! So, he asked if I wanted one of his shifts and of course I said yes because I loved working there. But then, something inside of me told me I should text him and as creepy as I am, I got his number from the employee phone book and texted with "Hey thanks for giving me your shift!" Super weird, you don't have to tell me twice, but he asked if I wanted to hangout that next day and being the girl that I am, I said yes! Later I found out he thought I was pretty and ever since then and after a first kiss, I've always gotten "butterflies." I know, I know, I'm lame. We hangout whenever our schedules are clear and every time I'm with him, the more I grow feelings towards this person and I can't tell you why. While I was living in Denver working at another Vans store, there honestly wasn't a day where I didn't think of him and wanted to be with him, but this is when I completely screwed up, got arrogant, cocky, big headed, turned into the biggest bitch and thought I was hott shit because I was kind of with someone else. It is the past but literally if I could go back in time I wouldn't of been so selfish and stayed where I was in life. So, things went sour in Denver and he was literally the only person I wanted to be with. Of course there was a time period where he wasn't a fan of me, at all to say the least  and I don't blame him. But, when I moved back where I am now, we started to talk and hangout again and I realized that when I'm with him, that's where home is and there's no place else I'd rather be. He is special person and really the only person I have truly cared about and it's crazy to think that we met at Vans, happen to both work there at the same store, love the brand and live the lifestyle. I feel like it's kind of like a romance movie without the makeout scenes in the rain! Haha 😉

My Realizations: 

I really was shown the type of person I am and what my personality is really like from the almost two years I've been with Vans. I've become to understand myself as a person, have come out of my shell and blossomed into the person I want to be. If it wasn't for Vans I'd probably still be that quiet shy girl with no personality and for that, I'm forever grateful for having the opportunity I have with this company. If it wasn't for my family at Vans supporting me, cheering me on and being there when I'm at rock bottom I don't know where I'd be. From fashion, to music, to getting to know myself as an individual, to experiencing feelings I've never had, Vans is where my heart is and is my passion. ❤️

I have had a ton of questions as to why I always rep Vans and I hope this all answers your guys' questions from head to toe! 

XOXO

Modeling Advice

Photo Credits: DivineSkye Photography and Sharon Arnoldi Photography

Photographers: Megan Lunsford from DivineSkye and Sharon Arnoldi from Sharon Arnoldi Photography

Modeling has been something I've been interested in my entire life. I remember being little, going outside and making my Mom ALWAYS take pictures of me. It's something that I love and really have a passion for and that's what my blog is about, right?! My first "real" photo shoot was when Sharon approached my Dad about doing my senior pictures. She featured me on her website and stated that I "was fun, easy to photograph, comfortable around a camera and photogenic" which really sparked my interest even more. I thought to myself  "Huh, this is something that I think that I can actually do that's not music and being a total nerd playing the infamous Call of Duty!" I definitely know that I am NOT a Runway Model because I'm not an almost 6ft tall woman, unfortunately I'm only about 5ft 3ish. Although, I'm pretty little I am really interested in being a Print Model. Seriously, how cool would it be to be in a magazine for Vans or even Young and Reckless, I mean come on...that would be HUGE. From my experiences with the photo shoots I've had, I take all of them as a learning experience! I ain't no professional model ;) But, for the girls who are looking into it or want to experience what a photo shoot, here are some of MY personal tips that work for me!

1. PRACTICE IN FRONT OF YOUR MIRROR AND TAKE SELFIES! It sounds totally weird, but it's something that I think you really need to do to get comfortable with yourself changing your poses and faces. You absolutely need to have a flow when you're working with a photographer. They don't want to be telling you what to do every step of the way! Getting in front of the mirror and posing will really help to get you to know your "angles." Knowing your good angles and sides are so important for a picture to come out great! For example, my best side is my right side with my chin slightly tilted down with my neck a tad bit elongated depending on the pose. I feel like it's my "signature" kind of picture are all of those things with my mouth a tad bit open and relaxed, which is what really works for me.
2. WORKOUT and EAT HEALTHY! I mean come on, you have to be in shape in my opinion. If you want to look good in pictures you absolutely need to keep your body toned. Eating healthy and drinking a ton of water is very important, you don't want to have pimples all over your face,  no do you?!
3. ENHANCE WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE WITH MAKEUP! This is one of my favorite things about photo shoots, is that I get to experiment with makeup or have someone do my makeup for me. But what I love when I do my own makeup, is that I get to use great products that enhance my features and I don't need to cake it up because I do eat healthy, resulting into having healthy looking skin and fortunately I don't struggle with acne anymore. The things I do for my face when I do my own make up is, use any BB Cream I have on hand, use Benefit's Porefessional face primer, use one pump of MAC's Studio Fix in NW15, contour my face with Revlon's Whipped Cream Foundation that's about three shades darker than my NW15, set it with a translucent powder, go over my contouring with Avon's Marberlized Bronzing Powder in Bronzed Peach and then my favorite part...highlighting with either MAC's Mineralize Skin Finish in Porcelain Pink or the sample that I have of Benefit's Watt's Up highlighter which is so on point! Now, it seems like a lot for someone who doesn't have problematic skin, but it I like having my face look flawless on camera! For my eyes, I really don't do a lot besides swipe Mac's eye shadow in All That Glitters all over the lid, blend it out with Mac's Esperesso in the crease, highlight my inner tear duct with any white shimmery eye shadow, wing out my eye liner with Maybelline's Eye Studio Gel Eyeliner in black, smudge black eye shadow under my lower lashes, curl my eye lashes and use a couple coats of Benefit's They're Real Mascara in black, maybe slap on some false eye lashes and always do my lips either nude, pink, or dark! 
4. FIND THE PERFECT OUTFIT! It's all about fashion and looking good, it doesn't matter if it's uncomfortable or not, you have to make sure your outfit is on point and fits the theme and desired look for the photographer!
5. SMILE! There's nothing prettier than a genuine smile and confidence! 

So there's my Modeling 101 and story! There's not a lot that beats the feeling of having a photo shoot and looking hott!! I hope it's useful to some of you and that y'all can learn a little something from someone who's had a few amazing experiences! You guys can see more pictures from shoots on Instagram @callmeekatiee :)

 Good luck <3

XOXO,

Katie