Does Everything Have to Mean Something?

The title of this post may be a bit more dramatic than the contents. This post is not about epiphanies or the answer to the meaning or non-meaning of life (depending on how you look at it). No, this post is about tattoos.
I am now the proud permanently inked girl of two new tattoos, which brings my total up to 4. I got my first tattoo when I was 19. It is small heart on my right forearm. I call it my "Tester Tat." I knew I wanted a tattoo, but I didn't know if I could handle the pain. Well, I think I can since I got three more since then, but they also have all taken less than 3 minutes to complete, so maybe I only have a three minute pain tolerance threshold. I'll have to get back to you on that.
My second tattoo I got about two years ago. It is of an elephant located on the left forearm in line with the heart. This tat did have a bit more meaning. One, I love elephants. Two, they are representative of love, wisdom, and patience. All things to be admired. So there you have it.
My third and fourth tattoos are just two days old. One is a triangle just below the elephant, and the other is an arrow on my ribs.
Like any good social media junkie, I Instagrammed an abstract photo of my arm and the tattoo pen.

Shortly after my Insty, I received The Question. "What do they stand for?" and "What is the symbolism there?"
Honestly, I was a little annoyed. While the triangle does pose meaning- past, present, and future for each three points- to be a smart eleck, I responded by saying the triangle was to show my alliance for the Illuminati. (Urban dictionary definition, actual definition in case you are new to this concept). I think some people believed me. As for the arrow, I really have no other answer, besides I liked the design. But maybe I should start to go with a Hunger Games related reason. "Oh, I got the arrow because I am a BIG Katniss Everdeen fan! Team Gail!" I think people would accept that answer before they would accept, "Because I liked it."
Yes, I agree tattoos are a big commitment, but I did not just show up at the tattoo shop and pick the first random shape that popped in my head. I did give it some thought. But that also does not mean I have some deep, emotional, enlightened purpose for my ink. I just liked the designs and I wanted them.
So, you tell me, does everything (AKA tattoos) have to mean something?

"I'm Not a Bum..."

Living in New York City, I have encountered many homeless people. I see them on a daily basis, which is not something I am used having grown up in a little rural town in Upstate New York. Everyday I see homeless people on the streets, sleeping on subway benches, sleeping on the steps of churches, jingling their cups and dare I be honest and say, agitating me when I am just trying to get from point A to point B on the subway without having to listen to a speech that ends in asking for money. At one point, I can remember thinking how annoyed I was by these disruptions. I know how saying all this makes me look, and I will followup up by saying I am not a heartless person. I am a "victim, " in the loosest meaning of the word possible, to my surrounding. Seeing these occurrences daily takes a toll on you. It does make me sad, but it also makes you immune. What I mean by this is, seeing a homeless person multiple times a day became "normal," and thinking of them as bums was my mindset. I started to view these human beings as non-human. I believe a lot of this has to do with the fact that I cannot understand how they got to this place, but I also believe I do not know how lucky I truly am. And that is what it is, folks. Luck.

After watching this video, I have a new perspective. I read this quote somewhere and it sums up my feelings and newly acquired outlook on the situation- "The only time you should look down on someone is when you are reaching down to lift them up."

So, give this 4 minute video a watch. Listen. Learn. Be grateful. Gain perspective.

The Madness is Coming!

Jimmy Kimmel is the prankster of late night television. From asking parents to lie to their kids about eating their hard earned Halloween candy to the even funnier Lie Witness News segments, Kimmel is a prankster who turns jokes into eye-opening clips about what people will do and say to fit in. Shortly after New York Fashion Week last year, Lie Witness News focused on the runways shows at Lincoln Center. His crew interviewed people outside of Lincoln Center about designers that do not exist. Note: these designers are not real! With that said, the people interviewed had a lot to say about these faux designers and collections. This segment proves to some degree why people think the fashion world is a joke. But these same people may be the ones how fall privy to the latest fashions and trends, but I digress... With the Fall/wWinter 2014 shows around the corner, let's gear up for the madness that is Fashion Week!

7 Reasons Why The Voice is the Best Singing Competition on TV

1. Adam and Blake's witty banter. Those two are so in love/hate it is adorable. Watching Adam and Blake during the blind auditions might be my favorite part of the show.

2. CeeLo's outrageous outfit choices. I am currently watching The Voice while I write this and CeeLo is sporting a very interesting leather cape? He also likes to throw some fancy shades in there every once in a while. (Don't even get me going on the head tat.) Way to keep us guessing CeeLo! 

3. Meeting CeeLo's many strange pets. Just a week ago, I discovered CeeLo not only has a cat and a parrot that we meet in previous seasons, but also a llama named a Ollama (clever) and a pig named Little Richard. At least he is no longer interviewed while petting his fluffy white cat. He looked like an evil villain. You know it's true!

4. Blake's dimples. I know he is a married man and about the same age as my father, but those dimples! Too cute!

5. Sometimes Adam looks like Tom Hanks from Cast Away. Adam Levine is a good looking man, but every once in a while it's nice to see him not looking like a Greek God and putting all other men to shame. So, thank you, Adam, for occasionally making everyday men look slightly more appealing.

6. When Christina "freestyles". Christina Aguilera has the most beautiful voice, and that is truly recognized when she just casually hits a couple high notes when helping a contestant out on how to improve their range. No biggie and I'm sure the contestants feel no extra pressure...

7. The contestants!!! Ughhhh! I love them all! I want Jacquie Lee to win. I want Caroline to win. I want Will Champlin to win! I WANT THEM ALL TO WIN. Except for Kat Robichaud. She can go home. Just not feeling her. Sorry. 

The Not-So-Lucky Cover

Well, this is interesting... The woman on this cover is supposed to be Kerry Washington, but if you ask me she looks like a morphed combination of Naomi Watts, Michelle Obama, and Kerry Washington. Three beautiful women, combined- not so much.  I have seen tabloid street shots of Mrs. Washington  that look better than this clearly photoshopped picture. This photo does no justice to the talented actress, but it blatantly portrays how often and how excessive photoshopping is, even on the most beautiful of women. How could anyone let this photo go to print? People are "blaming" Anna Wintour, but isn't Eva Chen the Editor in Chief of Lucky? And what about all the other people who worked on this shoot? I am sure there was a better picture to choose from?! My only question is, what does Mrs. Washington think about this?

Photo source: http://stylecaster.com/anna-wintour-kerry-washington-lucky-cover/

The Miley's Were Multiplying!

If you noticed far too many Miley look a likes this weekend, have no fear the horror should be over soon. Halloween celebrations have come to an end, and hopefully come Monday the Miley costumes will be out of sight, but you may have to stay of any social media platform for about a week or so.

Celebs from Paris Hilton, Joan Rivers, Crystal Harris, and even Kelly Ripa were wearing a Miley outfit. WHY?

Maybe next year, we could all take some tips from this incredible mother-daughter duo.

Source: People