Leather bag lady

I felt the need this weekend for a little bit of bronzing my body. You see, after living in Arizona, a person gets used to a certain level of tan-ness. Now that I live in Seattle, that level has gotten much WHITER.

It really isn't much of a deal up here...everyone is mostly pale in these parts, but I run into another issue...THE FARMER'S TAN. You see, I ride horses very often, and always in different types of shirts: tank tops, racer backs, t-shirts, etc. And then there are the jeans of course, forever holding me back from having any sense of tanning even-ness across my body.

I'm too cheap for a spray tan, and certainly will NEVER go to one of those damn "cancer beds" again. So, I broke out the bikini, and even though I was going to lay out for a tan, you better fucking believe I coated myself with SPF 30. I'M GOING FOR BRONZE HERE...NOT BURNT.

After the SPF action, I headed to the roof with the book that I'm currently reading: These Is My Words by Nancy Turner. So far it's a pretty interesting read...based on the diary of a woman from the late 1800's that was traveling to Arizona Territory...her trials and tribulations (she didn't have any SPF...uh oh!).

But back to the point: I laid out for ONLY an hour and a half. If there is one thing I have learned from living in Arizona, it's that any more than two hours at 30 SPF in one day....IS TOO DAMN MUCH. Why? Well, you can stay out there longer if you want to, and slather some disgusting baby oil on for all I care...but in 10 years, THIS is what you're going to look like:

I mean, who doesn't want skin that equates to the material of a fucking leather hand bag?

Yes, I know...tanning feels good, it's relaxing, and sometimes it helps prevent face breakouts. But, there is such existence of TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING. LESS IS MORE, PEOPLE! Personally, I would rather look more like 35 when I'm 40, as opposed to looking 50 when I'm 40, which is what tanning does to you....it ages your skin.

So to all you tan-aholics out there...you can still get your daily dose of Vitamin D, but don't over-expose. You'll regret it, and I sure as hell don't want to have to look at your leather-bag body in 10 years.

Song of the day: "Away From The Sun" 3 Doors Down (less is more, people.)