Getting Your First Tattoo?

Hello loves,

So for this past week I have been wanting another tattoo so badly and since that is what I've had on my mind so much I decided I would write up a little post to try and help out people who are thinking of getting their first tatt by giving you some tips on how you can prepare for it.

First of all this is super cliche and kind of annoying but please make sure that the tattoo you are getting is 100% the one that you want. I suggest giving an idea a couple of weeks to think about before getting it done as there have been times when I have wanted a tattoo so badly and then a few weeks later had second thoughts. It's all about patience.

I would also like to state that I am of course not a professional; these are just tips that have helped for me in the past but for the best advice about preparing for a tattoo your best bet is to speak to your tattoo artist.

STEP NUMBER ONE

One of my main tips of advice is to make sure you get a good night sleep. Depending on the time of your appointment you want to make sure that you get yourself to bed nice and early so that your body is feeling alive and ready to tolerate pain.

For my first tattoo I made sure I went to bed early but as I got more & more tattoo's I became super cocky and thought I could handle a tattoo while I was tired and I can 100% tell you that I definantly felt the pain more when I was sleepy than when I wasn't.

STEP NUMBER TWO

Make sure to bring some kind of drink with you - preferably something quite sugary. This is because rising your sugar level can make you feel better during your tattoo. Sometimes the pain can make you feel quite light headed & some people even faint during the process so it is important to keep those sugar levels up & to also stay hydrated.

However, if you aren't a fan of sugary drinks you can bring a bottle of water with you to stay hydrated and also bring along a snack as this has the same effect as a sugary drink.

STEP NUMBER THREE

Something that helped me so much to stay calm during my first tattoo was bringing my sister with me; especially since she already has tattoos so I trusted her when she told me everything would be fine - and it was!

Having someone that you love there with you can make the experience much less scary and a lot more comfortable / calm. Now me and my sister often go together and it's become a really fun and bonding experience for us both.

STEP NUMBER FOUR

This step is completely optional and will depend on what your tattooist wants you to do after your tattoo is complete.

I always make sure that I purchase a cream called Bepanthen to use on my tattoo during the healing process. It has worked wonders for me and really helps with the itching you have during the scabbing of the tattoo. You do not have to use this specific cream but do ask your tattooist what cream would be best for you.

STEP NUMBER FIVE

ENJOY IT!

Yes, getting a tattoo can be scary and not everyone will have a great experience but just remember that once it's done you will have something beautiful on you for the rest of your life that represents you and your journey. You will never know how you will react to it until you try it yourself so try not to listen to other people! Getting tattoo's has become one of my favourite things and I love every single one of them for all kinds of different reasons and I hope the same goes for you!

Thank you for reading,

Katie xxxx

5 Ways To Be More Positive

Hello loves,

I think we can all agree that we all have situations or people in our lives that give us ALL the negative vibes. Lately I have been slowly introducing little things to create happiness and joy resulting in a more positive attitude towards life and I want to share these 5 little tips with you that I have found helpful when it comes to training my mind to block out negativity.

1. LET IT GO

There are so many things that have happened in my past that I have struggled to forget simply because I held onto the anger and hurt attached to those memories or people. Once I decided to lead a more positive lifestyle I realised that to do this I had to come face to face with these things and ultimately let them go.

Although it is hard I think getting rid of negative people is the best thing to do. It's so hard to be positive when you have someone down your ear talking about all the things they hate in life. Remember that this is your journey and sometimes it's best to leave people behind before you start it.

Memories are still something I am struggling to let go of. However, I have learned to detach the anger and hurt that came with thinking of those memories. I done this by thinking about them a lot - trying to understand the other persons point of view and also realising that I am human and bad things will happen to me it's how I deal with those moments that determine how I feel.

2. DECLUTTER YOUR SPACE

For me this is something that was completely necessary. I'm definantly someone who gets effected by my surroundings quite a lot.

The first thing I found helpful was to go through my wardrobe and bag the clothes I wanted to give to charity; not only are you getting rid of things you don't need but giving clothes to charities or homeless shelters can really boost your mood.

I also redecorated my room by filling it with things that make me feel happy. Posters with positive quotes, fairy lights, candles, plants and lastly some pebbles I had picked up from Brighton (which is my happy place!). It's little things like this that can surround you with good vibes.

3. REFUSE ANGER

This is something that I struggle with so much. I have always been an emotional person and anger is something that I hate feeling. I find that when i'm angry I begin to think all kinds of negative thoughts and it really brings my mood down.

However, I have began to look at things in a completely different way. For example; if someone is trying to begin an argument with me I will take myself away from the situation and remind myself that everyone has there bad days & that life is just too short to have petty arguments. Talking sense into yourself is so important when it comes to battling anger.

4. SOCIAL MEDIA

I'm definantly not going to be stereotypical here and tell you that you HAVE to stay away from social media to live a more positive life because I don't really believe that is true. You definantly need time away from social media, yes; but blocking it out completely I feel is a little unnecessary.

Finding a line between your online life and your 'real life' however is definantly important. By this I mean reminding yourself that you are a beautiful person & that you shouldn't compare your life with those on social media. You don't need that flashy car Kylie Jenner just posted on instagram, you don't need to hate your body because of Selena Gomez's bikini pics and you also don't need to be jealous of those online who seem to have it all because they 100% don't. Admire from a distance and be happy for them that they have what they do but don't forget to do the same to yourself too.

5.

Lastly is something so simple - SMILE.

I have gone through so many points in my life where I would smile and think 'Wow, I can't remember the last time I truly smiled.' and that is NOT cool.

If you don't feel you have anything in your life to make you smile then find it; even if it's a silly program on TV or a song that you love; finding time for things that bring us happiness will always lead to a positive outcome.

Thank you so much for reading and have a beautiful day.

Katie Ellen xxxx