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Summer always makes me think of the time my family would go to Wildwood, NJ for a week in July and have so much fun. We'd stay at a hotel and get a room that had two double beds (one for my parents and one for my younger brother and I). The room also had a kitchenette for storing drinks, snacks and certain items to make a sandwich in case any of us got hungry. The room came with a percolator coffee maker, too, so that my parents could have coffee in the morning. The room also had a table with four chairs that we would use when eating or when my parents played cards at night. Our hotel room resembled a very large studio apartment.
 

Summer also makes me think of the great lengths I went through to get a perfect golden tan. And trust me, I would do anything and use anything to achieve that tan.

I'm sure some of you who are around my age are familiar with using baby oil mixed with iodine, to get that beautiful burnt-to-a-crisp-look. Very similar to the photograph below the post title.


And if the baby oil with iodine weren't enough, I would also use one of these solar tanning blankets...
 

..and it's funny because when I would turn over on the blanket to tan my back, I could literally hear a sizzle sound, as if I were a fried piece of bacon.

And do remember these sun reflectors for your neck and face? I had one of those too!


And OMG, do you remember how popular blue eyeshadow and pink lipstick and nail polish were back in the 60s?

Besides baby oil and iodine, there were other popular tanning lotions that I would use...


I used them all, but Sea & Ski was my favorite because of the smell. l also enjoyed the smell of Bain de Soleil Orange Gelee. Faaaaaabulous scent! 

Oh, and I forgot, I used self-tanners as well. 

On Moving To Florida-

Being that I loved to tan, you can imagine how ecstatic I was when my family moved to Boca Raton, Florida in 1973, because I could tan 12 months out of the year. Our home not only had a built-in pool in the backyard, but we were also only 2 miles from the beach, so I could ride my bike if I wanted to. Which I did.

I would go to the beach with my high school friends on the weekends and we would bake in the sun from 10am to 5pm.  

Many years later, when tanning beds were invented, I used to go to a tanning salon several times a week to keep my tan from fading. I remember working at a hair salon in Orlando in the early 80s, and would drive to my favorite tanning salon to get a quick 20-minute tanning session in between my haircutting appointments. Yes, I was obsessed with keeping up with my tan.

Here are a few tan photographs that I found in my archives.

My Senior Prom-

This was my good friend in high school, Mike. And no, we didn't go to prom together as a couple, although I would have loved to because I had SUCH a crush on him. He took his girlfriend, and I took a date. Which was hilarious because my date and I were both gay, but hadn't come out yet. LOL!


Standing in front of the acting school I attended in NYC. This photo is from a time when I went back to visit New York with my friend Laurel and her husband. We spent about four days there and had such a great time. Anyway, here I am with my Florida tan..


I know this next photo makes no sense when you first look at it; however, there is a story here. This photo was taken when I still lived in Florida and had a really cool job as a prop stylist for a school book publishing company (btw, my friend Laurel also had a job there).  For some insane reason, I took both these dolls and sniffed their heads, and then later wrote the caption, "I love that baby fresh scent."...


And last but not least, here I am pretending to do a BM in the restroom at the hair salon I used to work at in Orlando. Please notice my severe sunburned TAN. I can't remember who I got to take this picture for me, but I'm absolutely sure they thought I was crazy. 

Which I am...


It was in the late-90s, when I started to get disenchanted with tanning. Little by little as summertime rolled around, I'd slather on my sunscreen to protect what skin I had left; no longer exposing it to the sun. And do you know what? I now like the way I look without a tan and have accepted it. Yes, I definitely have sun damage, however throughout my years in the beauty industry, I've been able to find excellent products to help correct some of that damage. 

I leave you with a GIF, that reminds me of my tanning bed days...


BLT anyone?

Have grrrreat week y'all....💗



24 comments:

  1. Boy, could I relate to this post, Ron!!! I was obsessed with tanning! Yup, I did the baby oil and iodine trick and had the tanning blanket. My favorite product was the Hawaiian Tropic coconut oil that came as a solid in a dark brown tub. Smelled so freaking good!!! I loved seeing your tan photos! You look so handsome at your prom and in front of the acting school! I have photos of me from my HS graduation that my kids had no idea it was me because I’m so dark!!! Lol! I remember I had this goal of ‘laying out’ (that’s what we called it) earlier and earlier each year. My record was February 12th in the driveway at my childhood home. Around 1982? It must have reached 60 degrees that day. I was crazy!

    I never did do the tanning bed thing, as I thought that was taking it too far (plus, I didn’t want to spend the money) I had a boyfriend in college who did and whenever I made fun of him for that, he told me he wouldn’t show me his tan lines!!! Lol!

    Like you, I’ve given up tanning, but I do use the self tanner lotion from April through October when I’m likely to wear tshirts or shorts. I’m fairly pale, so it just makes me look normal…..ha! Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Ron! It makes me want to do a similar post, though I have a feeling not many of my readers are like you or me in this regard! XO

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  2. Yes, yes,yes!!! Tanning was the thing to do!! Living in Colorado, closer to the sun (literally) we didn't have to be out long before our tan was achieved...even tho I made sure I'd be out each day at high noon. Now, all wrinkly and sun damaged skin, if I was young again, I'd probably do it all over again.

    http://hootin--anni.blogspot.com

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  3. Ron, there is so much I love (and laughed at) in this post that I don't even know where to begin. I never tried it myself, but I knew about baby oil and iodine because my mother used it when she was in her teens. I can only imagine the tan (burn) you could get from using it. Do you remember Hawaiian Tropic? That's why I used. The smell was heavenly.

    Like you, I tried (briefly) tanning beds because they claimed that using them was less damaging than actually laying in the sun. However years later, they discovered they did MORE damage to your skin. I always hated the smell of my skin after using a tanning bed. And you weren't supposed to shower for at least an hour after tanning because it would stop the tanning process.

    I even tried spray tans, but they didn't seem to last more than a few days and it was expensive.

    The tan photographs you shared from your archive are priceless! And I can see why you had a crush on Mike, what a cutie. But so were YOU! And "I love that baby fresh scent" made me LOL!!!! And you're not crazy, you're hysterical. And that's why I love you.

    Like you, I moved to Florida from the Northeast and was so excited about having access to the sun 365 days a year. But the excitement gradually wore off over time. Plus, I could see what the sun was doing to my skin, so I stopped.

    Thanks for the morning laughs, Ron! I can always count on you to start my day off with your humor! xo

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  4. "Living in Colorado, closer to the sun (literally) we didn't have to be out long before our tan was achieved...even tho I made sure I'd be out each day at high noon.."

    Yes, Anni, I know what you mean about being closer to the sun because I lived in Lake Tahoe for a summer and was blown away by how fast I would tan.

    "Now, all wrinkly and sun damaged skin, if I was young again, I'd probably do it all over again."


    Meeeeeeeeeee too! I have no regrets.

    Always great to see you, my friend. Have a terrific Wednesday!

    X

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  5. OH. MY. GOD....YES!!!!!! Hawaiian Tropic coconut oil, I used it too. And you're right, the smell was sooooooooo freaking good. I used that oil when I moved to Florida, so whenever I smell it, I am reminded of my days on the beach of Boca Raton.

    "I remember I had this goal of ‘laying out’ (that’s what we called it) earlier and earlier each year. My record was February 12th in the driveway at my childhood home. Around 1982? It must have reached 60 degrees that day. I was crazy!"


    HISTERICAL!!!! But I totally understand because when you lived where there are four seasons, you eagerly anticipate SUMMER. I was the same way. And yes, we called it "laying out" too.

    And you're right about tanning beds, they were very expensive to use. Some salons would offer monthly discounts if you paid in advance, but I never did that. However, the one thing I did like about tanning beds was the "no tan lines."

    And speaking of self-tanner, I will occasionally use tanning towels because they are so easy to use. But I only use them on my face. But I find that self-tanners make the dark sunspots on my face so much darker, that's why I only use them occasionally.

    Oooooooooooo....I think you should do a similar post. And I think your readers would love it. That's what I so enjoy about your blog, the diversity in your post topics.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a faaaaaaaaaabulous rest of your week!

    X

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  6. Hola Denise!

    "Do you remember Hawaiian Tropic? That's why I used. The smell was heavenly."

    OMG...YES...I DO remember Hawaiian Tropic because I used it too. And it's ironic you mentioned that because one of my other readers mentioned it too. The smell was AMAZING!

    "Like you, I tried (briefly) tanning beds because they claimed that using them was less damaging than actually laying in the sun. However years later, they discovered they did MORE damage to your skin. I always hated the smell of my skin after using a tanning bed. And you weren't supposed to shower for at least an hour after tanning because it would stop the tanning process."

    Yes to all of that!!!!! I did read somewhere (years after I used them) that the skin damage they caused was much worse than laying in the sun. And you're so right about the smell. It was disgusting. Apparently, the smell had something to do with the bacteria on your skin resulting from the heat from the tanning bed.

    I never tried a spray tan because I had heard from people who did that the tan didn't last very long. I take TWO showers a day, so I think the tan would last even less on me.

    Isn't it funny how the 365 days a year tanning novelty living in sunny Florida, eventually wears off? And particularly for someone like me, who went from loving the heat to hating the heat. I enjoyed my time in Florida, I really did; however, I'm so happy to be back in the Northeast.

    Much thanks for stopping by, Denise. Have a great rest of your week!

    X

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  7. Ron, my heritage is Irish/English, so I have that white, white, paler than pale skin. So I don't tan, I just look a lot like that photo of Will Ferrell. I turn fiery RED. LOL!

    But I have to say that I loved reading this post about your efforts to get (and keep) a tan. And the photos you shared are stellar! As one of your other readers said, you look so handsome! But with or without a tan, I think you're handsome.

    I used to live in NJ, so just like you, my family would go to the shore, usually Ocean City. It felt so special after a long, cold winter.

    That photo of you on the loo is hysterical!

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  8. Ron, you are freaking hilarious! I love the overview of the tanning items you used. I never knew there was such a thing as a TANNING BLANKET?!?! I bet it got very hot while laying on it.

    I used to tan, but stopped because I had some precancerous marks removed from my shoulder several years ago. Thank god my dermatologist found them during a skin exam. I feel lucky.

    I so enjoyed your archive photos of when you tanned. Your buddy, Mike, was hot! The two of you make a very handsome couple LOL! And I laughed about you and your prom date both being gay, but it was before you came out!!! The picture of you with the little dolls is truly brilliant, especially with the caption! Wasn't there a fabric softener with that tagline?

    Thanks for the memories, Ron. You are such an entertaining guy!

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  9. ",,, I have that white, white, paler than pale skin. So I don't tan, I just look a lot like that photo of Will Ferrell. I turn fiery RED. LOL!"

    OMG Clair, I know many people with that same heritage and they say the exact same thing. They don't tan, they just BURN. And I have to say, I love the look of white, white, paler than pale skin. I think it's beautiful. It's very GOTH.

    "I used to live in NJ, so just like you, my family would go to the shore, usually Ocean City. It felt so special after a long, cold winter."

    You're so right, it did feel so special after a long, cold winter. Btw, I have a friend who currently lives in Ocean City and she loves it.

    Always great to read your comments. Thank so much for stopping by and have a great rest of your week!

    X

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  10. Helloooooooooooo there, Daniel!

    Yup, there was such a thing as a tanning blanket. They were very popular back in the 60s. So were the face and neck reflectors. And yes...it got so damn hot laying on that blanket, but you didn't care because all you could think about was how fabulous you were going to look with a deep, dark, BURNT tan!!!

    "I used to tan, but stopped because I had some precancerous marks removed from my shoulder several years ago. Thank god my dermatologist found them during a skin exam. I feel lucky."

    Good for you. And yes, I bet you do feel lucky. I've never had a skin exam, but I should probably get one, just to see if I have any areas on my skin that need removing.

    Wasn't Mike a HOTTIE? Too bad he wasn't gay. I know, wasn't that funny how my prom date and I were gay. We met up a year after we graduated and came out to each other, and LAUGHED! I lost touch with her over the years, but I think she still lives in Florida.

    Yup...it was a tagline for a fabric softener. It was that, or either the tagline for a perfume called, "Loves Baby Soft."

    Thanks so much for stopping by, Daniel. Hope you're having a faaaaaaaantastic week!

    X

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  11. Oh Ron, this post brought back so many memories for me during my tanning days! YES!!!!!!!!!!! And HOW I remember the baby oil/iodine thing and getting burnt to a crisp. And I also remember my mothing telling me at the start of every summer that once I got that really good FIRST GOOD BURN, I would tan from that moment on. LOL! I also used a face/neck reflector and a tanning blanket. And do you remember tanning lamps? I can't tell you how many times I burned the crap out of my face, trying to get a tan. They should have called them BURNING lamps!!

    I never tried the tanning beds because I think by then, I was OVER getting a tan. I remember people older than me when I was a kid, how the damaging effects of the exposure to the sun would catch up with you one day. And they were right, as soon as I got into my 40s, the shit hit the fan and I started seeing the damage.

    The photos you shared from your archives are fabulous!!!! My husband and I both cracked up laughing at your baby scent one, and you sitting on the toilet doing a fake BM! I can't get over just how tan you get for being on the light side. Must be that Italian blood in you!

    Thank you for sharing you memories because they spark the same ones in me. You're hilarious!

    Have a great weekend, sir! xo

    Can you believe the HEAT wave we're having at the moment? Its' disgusting. Sunday it's supposed to reach 100 degrees!

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  12. Ron, my girlfriend and I both laughed our asses off reading this post! WOW, I can't get over all the things you did to get a tan and keep a tan. It must have been a fulltime job! LOL!

    Being that my girlfriend and I are so damn pale, we've never had any interesting in getting tan during the summer. We both look like the offspring of Dracula because we are THAT pale. Plus, we're not fans of summer, heat, or the sun. We like the gray days of fall and winter.

    We LOVED scrolling through the photos of you during your tanning days. Man, you really do get tan. The one of your and your friend Mike almost LOOKS like you're couple because you look so good together! :Love your tuxedos!

    Thanks for the laughs, dude. CRACK ME UP!

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  13. Hiya, Matt!

    You got that right....it WAS like a fulltime job keeping with my tan!!! HA! I don't think I ever recalled my own skin color for most of the years I lived in Florida. And then one day when I started to letting my tanning days go, I gradually began to recall my original color!

    "Being that my girlfriend and I are so damn pale, we've never had any interesting in getting tan during the summer. We both look like the offspring of Dracula because we are THAT pale. Plus, we're not fans of summer, heat, or the sun. We like the gray days of fall and winter."

    I actually love the look of pale skin now. I think it's sexy, in a GOTH way. I enjoyed my years of tanning for sure, but I've come to really embrace my paleness. And like you, am NOT a fan of summer. I much prefer fall and winter, and the gray days that come with it.

    HA! I know, aren't our tuxedos hilarious? We both look like we should be on a Las Vegas stage as the opening act entertainment for someone like, Liberace! LOL!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, Matt. Have a great rest of your week and weekend!

    X

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  14. "And I also remember my mothing telling me at the start of every summer that once I got that really good FIRST GOOD BURN, I would tan from that moment on. LOL! "

    Bwhahahahahahahaha! OMG, you are soooooooooooo right about that! We were actually encourage to get out there and get that tan started with a really good first burn. It laid the foundation for the upcoming tan!!!

    "And do you remember tanning lamps? I can't tell you how many times I burned the crap out of my face, trying to get a tan. They should have called them BURNING lamps!!"

    Funny you mentioned the tanning lamps because my partner and I had one in our NYC apartment that we would use at the start of the summer. And OMG...we burned the crap out of our faces. I remember I burned mine so bad that I couldn't sleep all night because my face felt like it was on fire. We used to use Noxzema cream to take away the burn, but it only made it worst because of all the menthol, camphor, and peppermint in the cream OUCH!

    Me too, that's when I started to notice the damage, I was in my early 40's. What bothers me the most are the sunspots. I used a really good Vitamin C serum, along with a retinol, which seems to fade them and make my skin look for uniformed.

    Yes, exactly, it's that Italian blood in me that gives me a bronzy, golden tan. I tan fast, but I also fade fast. So that's why I had to keep the tan going.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, neighbor. Have a faaaaaaaabulous rest of your week and weekend!

    X

    And please, let's not even talk about the heat wave we're having. I had to run a few errands today, and by the time I got home, my t-shirt was soaking wet. In fact, my whole body was dripping in sweat. God, how I had summer.

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  15. Ron, would you mind telling me which of those products (brand names) you use, I'd definitely be interested in investigating more about them. Thanks!

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  16. No, Elaine, I would mind at all.

    -Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Serum
    . It's AMAZING! It's got a 15% stabilized Vitamin C, which is very powerful. I've tried many different Vitamin C products in my life, but not of them worked like this one.

    -Dr. Dennis Gross Retinol + Ferulic Overnight Texture Renewal Peel. A-MAZING as well! I've been using them for years. I only used peel 1-2 a week. The box comes with 16 pads. They are not cheap, but well worth it because they work.

    You can either get them online (on the brands' websites), or at Sephora. They are so worth the purchase.

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  17. What a fun post, Ron, and I never knew that baby oil mixed with iodine gave a great tan. Most likely that's because growing up my family NEVER went to the shore, even though we lived in NJ. So, I never grew up obsessing over a summer tan, which might be a good thing because of concerns about skin cancer. Hopefully, you have not had any problems.

    I have seen really sun tanned people and while it looks good when they are younger, but I have never been envious. Thankfully, my skin will tan just from being outdoors and not necessarily sitting on the beach.

    Your look-back photos were fun and YES, my friend, you really did work on that tan!

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  18. Helloooooooooo there, D!

    Yes! Back when I was growing up, baby oil mixed with iodine was such popular way to tan (BURN) by using things that you would have at home. The oil attracted the sun, while the iodine actually tinting your skin to make it look like you had a bright tan. However, all you really got was a very bad burn. LOL!

    Interesting to hear that your family never went to the shore even though you lived in NJ, But it's a good thing because you prevented getting sun damaged skin, and yes...even skin cancer. And then having lived in Florida for 20, I continued to be exposed to sun. But eventually, the novelty wore off. I no longer have any interest in the sun or getting a tan.

    I know, you can really tell just how TAN I was back then, can't you? HA!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, D. Have a faaaaaaabulous weekend. We are presently getting hit with a severe heatwave and it's disgusting. Oh GOD, how I can't wait for FALL!!!

    X

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  19. Oh Ron, thank you so much for sharing the products you use. I can't wait to look for them either online or at Sephora. And I don't care about spending the money as long as they work, THANK YOU AGAIN!!! Stay cool. x0

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  20. Elaine, you are so welcome! And I'm like you, I don't mind spending the money if something works. And I think you will love them!

    Stay cool too! X

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  21. Lol Ron!! I remember both those pics but didn't have a copy of the baby doll one! I do now 😁 I also remember sunbathing with you many a morning down by some lake near one of our houses. If I get skin cancer it will be your fault 🤣 I was kinda shocked years ago when you told me you don't chase a tan anymore. You loved the sun so much. But as usual your instincts are on point and now we all know it's dangerous to get too much sun. Such great memories though, worth their weight in sunscreen for sure 😘

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  22. Hellooooooooooooo there, Laurel!

    HA! Isn't that photo crazy? And wasn't that job fun? I loved how we were all hired by Trudy Bruner, so the whole staff consisted of local theater actors.

    " I also remember sunbathing with you many a morning down by some lake near one of our houses. If I get skin cancer it will be your fault 🤣"

    LOL! Yes, I do remember that! And I think it was the lake very close to where my downtown Orlando garage apartment was located.

    I know, wasn't it shocking how I stopped chasing a tan? And I did it for two reasons. 1) I began seeing the effects of sun damage, and 2) I was tired of spending all that time chasing a tan.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Hope you're enjoying a fabulous weekend. We just got hit with a major heat wave in Philly, and you know how much I LOVE the heat. NOT! LOL! I'm so looking forward to Autumn!

    X

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  23. Why, oh why, did we do this to our skin, Ron?? I got a chuckle out of your "Dorito dust" analogy. Yes, too many of us were running around trying for that "golden girl" look when even back in the day, dermatologists were cautioning us against it.


    I bought into it ... but only somewhat. I never wanted my face to be tan! Thank Heaven for that!! But I saw my Italian mom get a lovely tan and I wanted one, too (when that was the last thing my Irish skin needed!) Now I'm plagued by ugly spots on my legs and have to cover them up during the warm months of the year. It's always something, isn't it?


    Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Hasn't it been HOT?!? xx

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  24. Good morning, Debbie!

    I know, why on earth did we do this to our skin?!?!? My only save grace was that when I was in my 20s, I was a licensed esthetician, so although I did lay in the sun, I took care of my skin using effective products. However, my skin still got damage, just not as much had I not taken care of my skin.

    "I bought into it ... but only somewhat. I never wanted my face to be tan! Thank Heaven for that!! "


    Good for you! And thank heaven for that is right, because the face is the area of our body that has the most delicate skin, thus it gets the most sun damage.

    And even me, coming from a complete Italian background, I can still see the damage. Such as, those ugly darks spots.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Hope you had a great weekend.

    And OMG yes....it's been INSANELY hot and humid for the past week. Yesterday was the worst. Looking forward to FALL!!!

    X

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