There is a LOT happening in Mel and Kirsten's worlds right now, so this week on Skin Deep Stories, they're catching up on everything from tattoo convention wins and upcoming pop-ups to international travel, motherhood, and the sudden urge to reinvent your entire life the second fall arrives.

Kirsten is getting ready for an extended honeymoon in Indonesia, which means squeezing in as much work as possible before leaving, figuring out how to pack for a month away, getting ALL the vaccines, and preparing herself for the possibility of the infamous "Bali Belly." Turns out the glamorous international travel era requires quite a bit of admin first.

Back in Montreal, the girls recap the recent tattoo convention, where plans for casual walk-ups quickly turned into a competition. The result? A second-place win for Kirsten's Scooby-Doo tattoo! They talk about the experience, the incredible artists they met, and how tattoo conventions have evolved from something that once felt very niche and intimidating into a much more welcoming and inclusive celebration of the industry.

They also look ahead to upcoming tattoo pop-ups, talk about what actually works when creating flash for these fast-paced events, and put the call out to listeners: what designs do YOU want to see on their next flash sheets?

But between all the travel plans and tattoo talk, the conversation gets a little deeper. Mel and Kirsten reflect on the weird emotions that come with watching your kids become more independent, figuring out who you are as motherhood changes, and the pressure women feel to constantly improve themselves, their bodies, their health, their homes, and basically every other part of their lives.

It's a catch-up episode about being busy, getting inspired, letting go of impossible expectations, and trying to enjoy the season of life you're actually in.

Oh, and apparently an entire episode of horrifyingly embarrassing stories is coming soon. You've been warned.

Follow the hosts:
Kirsten on Instagram: kirstentattooarts
Mel on Instagram: melrocktattoos

Book a tattoo or learn more:
Visit wildmagnoliatattoos.com to see their work and book your next tattoo consultation.