SQUAD.

Ever wondered about someone’s tattoos but never asked? To be honest, I don’t really like explaining them to people I don’t know. It’s personal, I’m usually asked in a crowded place, and it takes a while because I have heaps. Some have number significance, dates, travel, family, and there’s a couple I got for fun. Pizza anyone?

I’ve partnered with Vintage Ink Wines to share my tattoo stories and introduce a contest for a new wine label design based on tattoos submitted by people like us. The tatted!

Tattoo Tales: Stories Behind My Tattoos

I got my first tattoo in Australia, the southern cross constellation between my shoulderblades. It was about 4pm and we were driving from from Bronte to Bondi beach with no plans so, my friend Cameron and I decided randomly to get tattooed. We both didn’t have any until that day!

My next tattoo was 2 lines on my right hand ring finger, one blue one orange.

The idea is derived from a personality test called True Colours. It used to be used in workplaces to break people into groups and pair them together based on personality for group cohesiveness. It was prevalent in my studies and I learned that in order to be my most successful self, a 50/50 mix between my true colours was ideal.  Orange – outgoing, vibrant, strong vs. Blue, analytical, organized, list maker. I still find this tattoo a helpful reminder.  Note, tattoos on the hands fade faster than any others. I’ve had it redone about 3 times in 10 years.

I got this owl about 2 years ago. It’s on my right arm, like most of mine because I drew them all on with marker first. I’m left handed. I found this design in a Google search and customized it to change the watch face for gears. There was no way I could pick a time to live with forever and I like seeing the gears, they’re what make the clock work.

I get asked all the time if I’m going to colour it and and tbh, I really don’t know. I’ve got a lifetime to decide!

This is one of my fav tattoos of them all. It’s 16 dots, evenly spaced in 2 custom shades of green. I got it on a Friday the 13th many moons ago. I used to have Triskaidekaphobia, a fear of the number 3 and 13. I would never do things in 3s. Finally I was like ‘I AM IN CONTROL HERE NOT MY FEAR’ so I booked this tattoo on Friday the 13th and have gotten tattooed on that day several times since.

I drew this on a paper then it was out on a stencil and tattooed by Rob Coutts. He’s currently the artist doing tats for Suicide Squad the movie.

I got this heart + hai (life in Hebrew) years ago. It was also done by Rob Coutts at Bobby Five tattoo.

This collection of tattoos is forever growing.

• Red lipstick – always wearing, sign of confidence
• Pizza & garlic sauce – another tattoo I got this year and like who doesn’t love ???
• Mirror – long history of talking to myself in the mirror as a kid, talking into phones today, writing a blog about your own life has an element of narcism
• <3 from a fundraiser we hosted after the Japan earthquake
• Infinity/8 – my fav number. Used to look like a jail tattoo because I let a friend do it as his first one. Sean has the same tattoo.
• Roses – traditional/beautiful
• Nautical star/compass rose – I had done in a Sailor Jerry airstream outside the Drake Hotel at the start of TIFF one year. Such a little rebel!
• Anchor – crossed the ocean, family tattoo

This lady is a drawing my Angelique Houtkamp from Amsterdam. I love this one. Reminds me of an old photo of my nana. I have another one of her drawings tattooed on the back of my right arm, Drifting Heart. I got it in Thailand!

Find Vintage Ink wines at the LCBO and look for posters around the city. I saw one on the way to work today!

Enter the Vintage Ink Contest

1. Upload a photo of your tattoo(s) to Instagram or Twitter and tag @VintageInkWine with with the hastag #myvintageink

That’s it! Your tattoo could be chosen as the inspiration for a custom, limited edition label. I would love to see one of my tattoos inspire a label. Something you would keep for ever photograph and put on the wall.

For more info visit myvintageink.ca.

Want YOUR tattoo featured on 500 limited edition bottles of Vintage Ink? Post a pic of it on Insta or Twitter with #MyVintageInk to enter. Have your friends vote for your tattoo by visiting myvintageink.ca, click link in bio. ​

A photo posted by Vintage Ink Wine (@vintageinkwine) on Jun 8, 2015 at 6:34am PDT

Feel free to tag me in your posts too. I’d love to learn your tattoo stories. If you have any questions or comments about mine, Tweet me @casiestewart.

<3 CASIE

We got the 1982 Corvette on the road this weekend. I swoon so hard around this car, and Sean driving it. 

Talk about dreamboat. 💛

My parents had a 1979 silver Corvette. It was their first brand new car when they immigrated to Canada. I can’t wait to take it out for a cruise again. The engine sounds amazing and love the t-top roof. Vroooooom! 

😀 CASIE 

This weekend I went to Woodbine Racetrack for Woodbine Oaks, the first leg in Canada’s Triple Tiara of Racing, the prep race for The Queen’s Plate. I’ve been to the Queen’s Plate a few times and this summer I’m excited to partner with Woodbine Racetrack for the ENTIRE race season. I’ll be attending major races from from now till November. Better get some new hats!

Since I’ll be at the races a fair bit, I decided to get a lesson in exactly HOW to bet and the fine details about horse racing. Some people pick based on names and numbers, which is ok (and what I had done previously). In my session learned about the odds, how they change, and Win-Place-Show. Picking a horse to win with 20-1 odds can really work in your favor!

Grandad would be proud. Wish me luck! #OfftotheRaces pic.twitter.com/k2b5djXFpR

— CASIE STEWART (@casiestewart) June 14, 2015

Both my mum’s dad and dad’s dad were really into horse racing, so it’s natural I like it too. When I lived in Australia, going to the horse racing was a HUGE thing. One of my fondest memories was going for a surf at Bronte in Sydney’s north beaches then rushing home to get ready for race day. Threw a friends dress on with my ocean tossed beach hair, grabbed a hat, and I was off to the races.  We had such a fun day. Paris Hilton was there too.

This weekend I bet on a couple races and even won a few $$ back. It’s so exciting when the race starts and you see your horse leading the pack. Everyone is standing up and yelling, it’s exhilarating!

The next big event is the Queen’s Plate on July 5th. It’s HUGE and one of the most stylish events of the summer. Last year, Sean and I raced home from the cottage, changed outfits and went straight to the red carpet.

Upcoming Events at Woodbine Racetrack

• Woodbine Oaks – Sunday June 14, 2015 at 1:00pm
• Queen’s Plate – Sunday July 5, 2015
• Ricoh Woodbine Mile – Sunday August 16, 2015
• Pattison Canadian International Gr. 1 – Sunday October 18, 2015
• Breeder’s Crown – Saturday October 24, 2015

Later this week I’ll have details on an exiting contest where you can win a $1000 Woodbine Racetrack gift card at the end of the the season. For more info about Woodbine and horse racing visit the website at woodbineentertainment.com and follow updates on @woodbineracing (Twitter), @woodbineracing (Instagram), WoodbineRacing (Facebook).

I look forward to bringing you race season through my eyes and especially the most stylish looks from the Queen’s Plate. Hopefully I can perfect my betting skills while I’m at it! 🙂

CASIE