I'm in a Gang





























We call ourselves the ToeTat5.

We all have the same toe tattoo...and well, there are 5 of us.

Pretty snazzy name right?!

We think so.

There's Ranch Girl on the far left, then Miss Bloom, Miss Nash-center, Moi, and Mom3CrazyGirls.

And, YES, I was sporting my post-baby-don't-ever-let-me-do-that-again spiral perm. This pic must have been 2006. Shut up.

So it's closing in on that time of year again. Our annual tattoo ritual Girl's Trip. 35 days and counting. Oh yes, I am counting.

Once upon a time these ladies lived in my town. But for reasons that didn't take my gentle state of mind and co-dependence into consideration beyond my control, my dearest friends moved on and away.

Ranch Girl I've known the longest. Her hubby was my boss/principal when I got my first teaching job back in 1996. 3 years later, when DQ was one, I met her through her husband, she had little M. Getting together with her and our local mom's group was a Godsend and it's also led me to the other ladies. She in soCal at least, but still a long drive.

Through Ranch Girl, Creative Memories, our mom's group, and scrapbooking, I met Miss Nash. Mom to 2 beautiful girls, we soon found out that we were pregnant and due about the same. If I remember right, I knew that Miss Nash's stay in my little town was temporary, this saddened me immensely, but the bond was too hard to avoid. March 12, 2001 I gave birth to My Boy and on March 15, 2001 her youngest and 3rd girl entered the world. Just a month later she moved back to Idaho.

Mom3CrazyGirls came to town knowing few people with children and again, through the great mom's group, we met. We were also neighbors which was nice and in August of 2001, her 3rd daughter was born. G moved to Indiana a short time later.

Miss Bloom and I also had a 2001 baby in common and as with the other girls, we were all avid scrapbookers. She's in Nevada now, we're so lucky to see her in Tahoe when we vacation as well.

In 2004, all of us with a handfull of our other friends headed to Santa Barbara and spent a long weekend to celebrate Ranch Girl's 40th birthday. After an amazing time, the five of us bonded in a way that we didn't want to lose the connection we'd sealed that weekend. We vowed to meet each year from then on and share fun, special memories.

This year is our 5th trip together. We've been to SB, Couer d'Alene, Idaho, South Lake Tahoe, back to Santa Barbara, and this year we're headed to Reno, near Miss Bloom's home. As all our kids get older we'll venture off the Pacific Northwest, but as we always say, we could stay anywhere as long as we're together!!

Our first trip we decided to get tattoos. For 4 of us, our first ever! We took the design from Miss Bloom's ring. Since then I've gotten a second, G has gotten her 5th or 7th...something!! Ranch Girl got a second and Miss Bloom got her second. I think all our husbands are leary after each trip wondering if they'll find ink in a new spot. We always like to keep them guessing.

Anyway, since the departure of these friends, I now have a contract signed by any potential new friends. They may NOT move out of town before I do or else the friendship is OVAH! Even Deb, who signed my contractI was counting on, moved to Texas. Luckily I get another Girl's Weekend though, so I guess she's sorta off the hook.

Friendships like these are tough to come by.

Once in a lifetime.

Irreplaceable.

60 supporters in group:

  1. jill jill bo bill said...

    Sooo, if you need me to watch your new bag while you throw caution to the wind, you know I am here for you!
    I love my BFFs! It's great you get to go and I am jealous!!!

  2. Anonymous said...

    Jealous much! Wish I had a 'gang.' But its no wonder I don't...I'm too squeamish about the initiation rites like toe tattoos!

  3. Pam said...

    least you have friends! LOL i don't have any...i don't know why that is. *looks quizzically* mostly my fault though, i don't keep in touch very well.

    the girl trips sound fun and i would so get another tattoo if i was part of that LOL

  4. Ann Harrison said...

    Please plan your next trip to the Pacific Northwest!
    (*pleading*)
    I won't crash your party. Just a little visit. (I'll b.y.o.b. and bring other goodies too! ;-> )

  5. Lindsay said...

    ooo that is very fun! I love that you guys got inked together. Do we get to see a picture of the ToeTat5's toe tats?

  6. Toni said...

    I am not sure if I am more jealous you have this awesome group of friends, or that you get to go away every year without the kids :)

    Loved this post!

  7. Ranch Girl said...

    Okay, Jen, that left me teary-eyed. I have to remember to qualify my "I don't have any friends" to "I don't have any friends in my new locale". I feel so blessed to have such dear friends as you and other ToeTat5's. I feel like my life is so much more than it was for having known all of you :-)

  8. Anonymous said...

    Awesome!! You guys are a hollywood movie just dying to happen!!!

  9. TentCamper said...

    Great story. Commitments between friends are always great!!!!

    I did not know you were in so cal too.

  10. Unknown said...

    LUCKY!

  11. Merrie said...

    I love that you guys do this. AND I love that we're going to have to start our own tradition. Since yours is usually fall, let's aim for spring so that we can break them apart.

    How nice to have found such lasting friendships in our 30's. I just wish people would stay put a little longer. The grass isn't greener, people!

  12. Brittany said...

    I want a tattoo gang!

  13. jill jill bo bill said...

    Okay, which foot is yours?

  14. hippos toes said...

    Looks like a lot of fun Jen. I love the toe tats!! I've been thinking about getting a tat, never considered the toe :).

    It's great that you have a posse and these great traditions!

  15. Leah said...

    Me too Brittany...wanna be in my gang?:)

  16. Carrie and Jim said...

    Good friends are priceless! It's nice to see ya'll inked out.

  17. The Mom Jen said...

    I am the french pedi!

  18. Blog said...

    Oh, wow! That's REALLY special. I love it! And, I love the tats! I'm totally wanting one more and more as I get older.... We'll see!

  19. Aubrey said...

    Ok! Who didn't get the pedi memo before the trip? Just Kidding!
    You got me motivated to get in touch with some old but great gang members. Oops, I mean friends!

  20. Corey~living and loving said...

    how fun and interesting. so unlike me. LOL
    Sucks that your friends always move. that is so unlike me as well. I stay where I'm planted. tee hee

    hope all is well! Have a great day!

  21. G said...

    that's so awesome that you have such a great group of girlfriends! *sigh* i can only hope to one day find something like that! :p

  22. Toni said...

    That is great! Love the tats!

  23. Clare said...

    Oh Jen, I LOVE your gang and your toes! So cute! I hope you have a great time on your trip coming up. I need to get some friends to sign some contracts over here, everyone is moving!! I hate it!

  24. Anonymous said...

    Friendships are so special. I am glad that you have yours.

  25. Laurie Roskam said...

    Oh I thought I was done getting tats! NOPE! I loooove this idea! I've put off getting a foot tat but this has fueled some new ideas!!! VERY nice post! With gratitude, Laurie B. PS. I love your blog!

  26. Kristi O said...

    Oh my gosh, my gang of Bff's should hook up with your gang, we don't have tats but we live in the NW and have a ton of fun!!!

  27. Wendi said...

    I love your GANG!!!
    Aren't girlfriends just the best?

  28. Indy said...

    How cool that you are all such great friends. So jealous!

  29. Kristen Andrews said...

    How nice, looks like a great group! Hope your trip is fun. Hey congrats on winning the purse!

  30. Deb said...

    You said it. Good friends are priceless! I love girl's weekends!

  31. Our Crooked Tree said...

    The best thing about friends like these is that geography does not changes things. Good for you!

  32. Tenakim said...

    I wanna join a gang, it sounds so sweet and I'm jealous! I'm sure you'll have a great time, like always!

  33. Ann(ie) said...

    Do girly pals rock or do girly pals rock???? I don't know what I'd do without mine. They make me sane. And keep me laughing.

    I think you're all adorable, but I am a little bitter that you all have cuter toes than me! hrrrmmmmph.

  34. Tami said...

    That is sooo cool! How great to have such a great group of friends and to have a girls' weekend every year :)

  35. Tena said...

    Nothing like a gang of sassy girls tattoo'ing it up on a girls weekend! My kind of fun! Wit woo!

  36. flickrlovr said...

    I've always wanted a Sisterhood-of-the-Traveling-Pants-ish crew of girlies to be uber close with. Alas, I only have a few, many of which are heading off to college in a few days or already have. Poop on life. Why must it always take us in different directions?

  37. Buttons and Dots Photography said...

    I want to be in a gang...it looks like great fun! I have a posse...(P-O-S-S-E! get your mind out of the gutter!) my kids are my posse. They follow me everywhere, sometimes it is a good thing, sometimes not!

  38. Anita Revel, author said...

    awwww your tatts are beautiful! What a gorgeous way to commemorate a friendship!

    xx
    Anita

  39. Anonymous said...

    Sounds like fun to me!

  40. Sue Wilkey said...

    (*pant pant*) my boyfriend's song is playing.

    I had a gang too (sniff) but my mean husband made me move away from them 2 years ago for stupid thing called a "job". Now I have to get on a plane to see them. But I've been rushing new girlfriends here in PA and I've found 3 I really like: I may wait on suggesting the toe tattoo.

  41. Belle (from Life of a...) said...

    I have a little group that gets together a couple of times each year...sometimes just the girls and sometimes we let our husbands tag along. I love my life but I declare, those get togethers give me such a wonderful boost. We never judge each other...we just enjoy!

  42. Marla said...

    one of these years i'm going to get my act together and do this myself with some of my long lost buddies...

    wo awesome that you still do this...

  43. Rebecca said...

    I love your toe tatt and I am jealous of your girlfriend meetup!
    I know how hard it is too keep friends, being a military wife you loose friends all the time, just when you get good and chummy too. :(

    I still want to meet up with ya when you come down my way in the future!!

    BTW, I like you hair with the perm, I think it looks cute!

    MUAH!

  44. Jenny said...

    Jen...that is SO AWESOME! I can tell you, my one and only BFF would NEVER get a tattoo with me. NEVER.
    Don't be surprised if I show up at your getaway with a drawn on toe tattoo. :)

  45. Jill said...

    Oh I just love hearing stories about good friends.... They make all the difference in your life!

    Tattoos - I would love to get one, but I'm afraid of the pain. Sissy, I know!

  46. Carol said...

    You gotta love great friendships. Sounds like you have some great ones.

    One of my closest friends ever just moved from here in England to Utah.

    I need to buy a money tree and start planning annual retreats.

  47. Carol said...

    You gotta love great friendships. Sounds like you have some great ones.

    One of my closest friends ever just moved from here in England to Utah.

    I need to buy a money tree and start planning annual retreats.

  48. The Mrs. said...

    friends like that make life more liveable! besides our family and coca cola but you get the point.

    we're military so sadly friends go as quickly as they come but the good ones stay in your life forever. Thank goodness!

    Enjoy your girls trip! happy pow!

  49. The Mrs. said...

    friends like that make life more liveable! besides our family and coca cola but you get the point.

    we're military so sadly friends go as quickly as they come but the good ones stay in your life forever. Thank goodness!

    Enjoy your girls trip! happy pow!

  50. Dawn said...

    Great friends equals great memories!!

  51. Allison R said...

    Sounds like an awesome group and looks like you had a blast. A group of my friends just started an annual girls trip and we're loving it!

  52. Unknown said...

    What a blessing to have a such a great group of girl friends.

    Me & my girls are planning a girls trip too and it will be my first since kids. VERY excited!

    Have fun on your trip this year!!

  53. mom2natnkatncj said...

    How great that you have such good friends and are able to get out for some girl time. Enjoy your trip. Be sure to share with us any new ink stories ;).

  54. Sara said...

    it is a very cute tattoo

  55. Texasholly said...

    What a great thing to have close friends like that and get together regularly. So sweet and I am a tad jealous....

    Thanks so much for linking today!

  56. Colleen - Mommy Always Wins said...

    You're lucky to have them! My attempts at getting my friends together for a girls weekend were in vain...everyone made excuses - BAH! Maybe I should place a want ad. Seeking new friends...

  57. Carissa(GoodnCrazy) said...

    Hey if this is what you consider your best post...Then you consider your friends to be your best thing? cool. Just moved. Am missing my friends. But since I have all of you...I'm good. Would love a girl's weekend with some of them though! No tats for me, tho. Sheesh!

  58. Anonymous said...

    I love the title .Vey humorous.I dont have any tats however i think the idea of it is so sweet. you are a lucky to have best friends

  59. Deanna said...

    Aww good girl friends ARE hard to come by. Fun stories
    xo

  60. tannawings said...

    I am not in a gang, but I think yours is pretty nifty. I love the toe tatoos they are cute! I wish I had friends like that.

    ellen beck

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