Melificent

Tattoo Tour

Funny enough, while filling out one of those Instagram templates about tattoos, I had several people comment that they had no idea I had so many. One suggested a tattoo tour, and here I am! I love all my tattoos, I love the culture and the way they make me feel. In a very conservative city like Miami, they are often covered up, as people here are not always very fond of them, but I’d really like to change the stigma. Sure, it is lifting in many places, but I feel like if you are a young professional mother, they are still frowned upon, which is just the silliest.

I have established really amazing relationships with my main tattoo artists, and I really love that I have mainly been tattooed by women. I’ll be sharing the who/what/where of them, and also their stories because although they are really pretty or cool to look at, they also have deep meaning.

  1. Butterfly on lower back // Tattoos by Lou // Artist unknown

Lets start at the beginning. I didn’t hesitate one minute when I turned 18. The only birthday gift I wanted was a tattoo, and it was quite the affair. My older sister came with me, along with a pile of my friends. I picked something off the wall, at a generic but popular tattoo shop and put it in the most eye roll inducing spot ever. What can I say? I was a teenager. Yes, I have a tramp stamp. No, I don’t care in the least. I have fond memories of it, and that time in my life. Plus, I never see it. Like, taking these photos is when I was able to really get a good look at it after all these years.

2. Smashing Pumpkins heart // Tattoos by Lou // Artist unknown

My second tattoo was the SP logo. They were my favorite band, with an adorable logo, so it was only natural I would get it tattooed. I know a lot of people get freaked out getting “favorites” tattooed, especially when they are young, but I can honestly say they are still my favorites. If you know me personally, you definitely know this is true. I got this one about a year after my first, so I went to the same shop with my best friend at the time, who got her first that day as well.

3. Smashing Pumpkins lyric // Ocho Placas // Javier Betancourt

There was a very big gap in time between my 2nd tattoo and my third. Like, 8-ish years (?) worth of a gap. In that time, I had a lot of friends that were into tattoos and was way more informed as to what a good shop and a good artist was. This was a totally spontaneous one. My husband and I were at a bridal shower where we had a few too many tropical drinks and started talking about tattoos. Before we knew it, our friend who has beautiful handwriting had scratched out two of our favorite Smashing Pumpkin lyrics and we were at her most trusted shop, Ocho Placas, with its most talented artist, Javier (who is now the owner). Mine is from the song, Fuck You (An Ode to No One) and reads, “Destroy the mind, destroy the body, but you cannot destroy the heart,” while my husband’s is from Muzzle and reads, “I fear that I am ordinary, just like everyone.” Fun fact (s): it was his first tattoo + I was wearing a dress when I got there so I had to go into a private room so I wouldn’t be exposing my goods for everyone to see. Ah, youth.
Unfortunately, this one will be covered up in the near future as it hasn’t aged well due to placement. It rubs up against my pants a lot and has gotten really blurry and hard to read.

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Three.

I am having a hard time processing the fact that I am writing your THIRD birthday post here on the blog.

Even though you are only 3, your big personality is shining through. I have loved getting to know you, and am going to love every second of continuing to watch you grow and evolve into the amazing human being you are. Sometimes, when you put your face close to mine and giggle infectiously like only you can, I take a moment to take you in. REALLY take you in. And I can’t believe you are mine.

Your imagination is wild, and you love to make believe. Dressing up is your favorite and I can only address you by whomever you are dressed like at that moment or you will quickly prompt me otherwise. You hate conflict and will constantly try to make things right – even when your friends get into disagreements or are sad. You are so social and affectionate. You love to hold hands, group hugs and seeing others smile. Your smile, though, is the one that could light up the whole world.

You love fashion and prefer to wear dresses over anything else. Every day after school,  you ask to change into a different princess dress, although if Elsa is an option, you will always choose her. You dance. Constantly. When you aren’t dancing, you are performing a scene from one of your favorite movies or TV shows. You really love PJ Masks and Blippi, and could watch Frozen Fever for hours on a loop. You are easily scared by villains, but love to watch Jurassic World. Blue is your favorite and I’m pretty sure you have a crush on Chris Pratt.

You inherited your mom’s sense of adventure. You are curious and love to explore new situations and places. You prefer to be out and about, but sometimes will ask for home if you are really tired. You love spending time with our friends, and love their attention. You are at your core, a happy child: full of energy and a free spirit. You are playful, talkative and expressive. Your eyes are constantly sparkling with joy, and you have no idea how much my heart swells with unconditional love for you.

I say this often, because it is true. I have no idea how we got this lucky to have you. Sometimes I feel like you can’t even be human. You are so pure and magical and UNREAL. I don’t want anything to taint you. This you I see right now. You make me feel like a child again too, and that has been such a gift. I see the world through your eyes and it is so beautiful, even amongst all the ugly that surrounds us.

Happy third, my lion.
One | Two

 

 

 

All pictures by Agustin Sanchez.

Hiatus.

In my endless efforts to be transparent on this blog, I have to admit that I have not been giving it the attention it needs. Mom life, muggle jobs, and some family difficulties have made it hard to have any free time (or inspiration). I have also found Instagram is a great avenue to more personally connect with you all and share my style, life and general Melificent-ness in a quick way that doesn’t take away time from what’s important to me. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that I am taking a blogging hiatus. However, I will be active as ever on all my IG accounts. If you aren’t following me or my projects on there, here are simple links to do so.
@melificent
@geekgirlgangshop
@geekyfashionbloggeralliance

I hope you guys have an amazing holiday season and I’m sure this isn’t goodbye, just see ya later.

Two.

It’s really hard to wrap my head around the fact that my little baby is two. I feel like I was just writing the “one” post for her yesterday, and here we are. The past year has been so revolutionarily different from the last. It was more learning how to balance mom life with personal and work. It was hard. Many times I felt very much alone. But it made me realize how much I am really capable of. I’ve always struggled with confidence and believing in myself (I blame it on being the “baby” of the family), but Luna gave me a great gift. She let me see what I am truly made of. She has made me feel like a wonder woman, and there are few moments where I feel like I can’t conquer something if I try hard enough, and that is quite a feat. She has also opened my eyes to the people I want in my life, my goals, and what is truly important. I am a different person: a better one because everything is in perspective.

As for Luna, she has grown in so many ways. She loves the outdoors and is a very active child. Her favorite past time is running outside and she has just recently begun to jump, which is adorable to watch. She also loves music (she was made her music teacher’s helper at school), singing and dancing. Her favorite movie is Moana, and her favorite TV shows are PJ Masks, True + the Rainbow Kingdom and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. She loves to rough house and her giggles could light up the whole world. She always cleans up after herself, loves to wash her hands, and is successfully potty trained. She is sassy, says “cheeeeese!” when she sees a camera, and is a social butterfly. She loves to pick her outfits every morning and will shout “BOW! (go)” at the top of her lungs when we are taking too long to get out the door. She is beautiful and magical. She is my best friend, and my tiny partner in crime. It’s us against the world, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Thank you for all the gifts you unknowingly give me every day, Luna.
Happy second, my lion.

 

 

All photos by Agustin Sanchez.

The Bitch and the Bully

When I entered middle school, I found myself in a war zone. I was immediately targeted for teasing. I didn’t really understand why or how it started, I just know a new girl rolled into my class and picked me to start harassing all day, every day. 

It grew to a point that I would pretend to be sick or just cry hysterically every morning in hopes I didn’t have to go to school, but every day, I was dropped off to experience my own form of torture. Days upon days of turning bright red, sweating profusely and crying in bathroom stalls. My mom had enough and told me to defend myself. She told me to turn their insults back on them. To not cower but to fight back. 

I did. But it didn’t go as planned. When the “new girl” hurled an insult at me, I hurled one back. She was taken aback. I thought, “it worked!” It didn’t. 

Immediately the next day, I had a new label aside from nerd, dork, geek and ugly. It was not one I was expecting: BITCH. I was picked on further, but only to say how nasty and mean I was. It was so confusing. How could I be the mean one when I was just standing up to those that had been abusing me for months?

Thankfully, all of the teasing stopped when I went to high school and this girl went elsewhere. I never saw her again. Funny story? She added me on all social media a few years ago. I didn’t return the favor. 

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