2015.

2015 was been a hell of a year. It's had ups, and more downs that I would care to remember, and there are loved ones who aren't here to see in the new year that I wish more than anything were here. I thought I'd do a little summary of some of the good bits of 2015, those moments I want to remember and celebrate.

I went to Tattoo Tea Party and got tattooed by Keely Rutherford. It was a really great event with some incredible artists, and it was fun to get tattooed in a totally different environment and see how I dealt with it. Plus, True Romance inspired moth!

I surprised Stu with a tattoo by Lawrence Canham for his 40th birthday. He was so excited, and Lawrence totally blew us both away with his work. It was so fun being able to surprise Stu!

I went to a Scarlett & Jo meet up in Sheffield hosted by Georgina Grogan. It was the first time I had met any other plus size bloggers, and it was so lovely to finally get to!

Festivals! Stu and I went to 2 fake festivals this summer, Boltfest and Feswich, and had such an awesome time. It is always good to get away from home with the one you love and adventure. These are both actually free festivals and so so good for free!

I got Botox! I vlogged and blogged about it, but the short version is this - I have had serious chronic headaches and migraines for the last 6 years that have left me in pain everyday, in and out of hospital, and generally limited in what I could do. Botox has given me my life back and allows me to live a pretty normal life which is something I truly believed was only a dream for me. I love the NHS!

I went to London and met Steph from Nerd About Town. Ever meet someone and feel like you've known them forever and just totally adore them right away? Yeah, that happened. What an absolute babe.

I got my tattoos turned into a lower leg sleeve by Keely Rutherford! I have one more session to go before it is finished, but I love my leg soooooo much. Isn't it the prettiest?!

I went to the Curve Fashion Festival and met more amazing ladies than I could ever have dreamed of! To be surrounded by so many incredible and inspiring people was just brilliant, and I met people I just know I will be friends with for the longest time. 

I did a whole ton of photoshoots but I'm going to feature my favourite photos of the year in a seperate blog post.

These are my top instagram photos of 2015! This was so fun to see. It's totally different from last year's top photos on my instagram which was all my photography of models instead.

And finally, but so so importantly, Sinbad joined our furbaby family! Every day all my fur children just totally blow me away with their love. I feel so honoured to be their Momma! Sinbad has been through such a trauma with getting shot in the eye, a new home, and losing his eye, and he is still the sweetest and loveliest little handsome man. He follows me around all the time and sleeps on my back. MY HEART <3 He makes me have all the feels. All of them!

What were your 2015 highlights? What gave you all the fuzzies?

Much love,

Kitty xxxx

I snagged myself some bargains in the Asda George sale!

A 40th Birthday Surprise!

Ever see something so perfect for someone that you had to get them it? I had that moment in October 2014 when Lawrence Canham posted a sketch of a tattoo design he wanted to do on facebook. As soon as I saw it, I knew what I was getting for Stu, my then-boyfriend and now-fiance, for his 40th birthday in April 2015!

This is the photo that he posted. Perfect! It has a skull, dot work, and a beautiful death head moth. Stu has been admiring Lawrence's work since my first visit to Loaded Forty-Four in May 2014, and had been desperate to get something by him. I messaged Lawrence as soon as I saw the design, and asked if he would be prepare to hold it for such a long time for me and explained why. He was super sweet and eager to help. An hour later, Stu noticed the photo on facebook....

Too late though Stu.... I had already paid the deposit and it was booked, but not till April! I spent ages debating how to tell him and when. In the end, I settled on the night before the appointment, which was a week before his birthday.

In the end I opted for this, a little heart made out of paper, with the photo taken from facebook, and a little message written on it too. 

I was so nervous, but thankfully Stu was so totally thrilled! Yay! So the next day we got up and got ready and drove to Swinton to see the crew at Loaded Forty-Four.

Lawrence spent a bunch of time getting the stencil just right, with it having straight lines he wanted it just so. We naired Stu's legs the night before and Lawrence remarked that they were the 'smoothest men's legs he'd ever encountered' haha. And off they went!

Lawrence tattooing Stu.

Getting there!

Half done and time for a break.

Thanks to Lydia (I think it was Lydia, sorry if it wasn't!) for grabbing Stu a straw so he could comfortably sip his Relentless. We nattered most of the time, and towards the end I sat reading Game of Thrones on my Kindle and he played Cookie Jam haha.

The finished piece! Seriously, how amazing is that? The detail and dot work is just incredible. Stu loves it so much which makes me super happy. He's been living in shorts since he got it done to show it off and is already planning what he wants Lawrence to do on his other calf.

And now, the tip! I take tipping tattoo artists very seriously, I like to buy them little gifts and presents, and as soon as I saw this I had to get it. It's a cake, that's a pie, a pie, that's a cake!! With chocolate gravy and icing chips and peas. Amazing!

Thank you so so much to Lawrence for helping me surprise Stu, and holding this design for over 6 months. I cannot recommend Lawrence and the whole crew at Loaded Forty-Four enough. They are a seriously talented bunch and I hope we will be back over to them soon to get more work done.

And here is healed photo!

Much love,

Kitty xxxxx

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