I love living at the beach. I love the sand, when it is not all over my floor or at the bottom of my washing machine. I love everything about the ocean, it’s ever changing colors, the sound of the waves and the smell of salt in the air. Lets not forget my wonderful southern brethren and beach life in general. Every little thing about it TICKLES me… except the sun.
The sun is not my friend. It is my nemesis. I want to be friends with the sun, truly I do. Sunny days make me happy and put a pep in my step. I love to be outside goofing around, riding bikes, gardening and simply enjoying life. Not to mention the Vitamin D is always a plus but the affect of the suns rays on my Hydro Glow skin is a cruel twist of fate.
Yes that is me, sorry about the focus but I never take photos of my self. Yes I do know better after thirty some odd years of living in this skin. Just call me Candy in the morning baby…(name that rewritten tune). There are occasions though where I miss some spots with the sunblock and end up looking like a stick of Juicy Fruit. I am dreading my trip to the dermatologist.
Mrs. Red you are married to a surfer?
Yes! Why yes indeedy. That I am 🙂
And he spends all of his time at the beach?
Yes. Well 90% of his time is spent at the beach since he competes and coaches. You could say the beach is his office 9 months out of the year.
And you are with him at the beach? Watching contest? In the blazing sun?
Ummm…yesss. Most of the time. I do however wear sunblock and hide under a tent. That is when I am not taking photos (squirm), or goofing around with the monkeys (wiggle), which would be (cough) often.
Mrs. Red do you know the statistics of getting Melanoma for someone with your complexion and hair color?
Yes doctor I do but I have a condition.
A condition? What condition?
I have an incurable case of the Ga Ga’s.
Excuse me! The what?!
The Ga-Ga’s. You haven’t heard of this disease? It has been documented.
Documented where might I ask?
I have talked about it on my blog. What? Doesn’t that count?
No Mrs. Red that does not count. Who diagnosed you?
Oh, I am self diagnosed going on 15 years now. Some days are better than others but I am managing the Ga Ga’s as well as can be expected being married to my surfer and all.
***???***
But doctor I reeaallly do have the Ga Ga’s! I swear. Also I seem to have developed an new condition over the years due to the monkeys called Wahoo. I need help, some serious help.
How am I supposed to get a handle on the Ga Ga’s with this in my face?
Tee hee… nipple shot, sorry had to say it. DROOL BUCKETS! Serious Ga Ga material folks.
How do I go a whole summer of missing out on moments like these? I don’t like being left out of the fun ya know.
Wahoo! Wait for me monkeys!
Geez Louise! See man, my conditions are for real. I wouldn’t be fluctuating between hedonistic thoughts and maternal compulsions to be included with my monkeys if they weren’t. Feeding the Ga Ga’s and now my Wahoo’s are a must. I have to be out in the sun or they will just build up and get worse. I’ll loose my top like that Volcano in Iceland if I don’t get my fix or daily dose of wetsuits, board shorts and monkey fun.
Mrs. Red I am going to recommend another dermatologist for you… a female one. I am also giving you the name of a highly recommend psycho-therapist for your other issues. Please take better care of your skin in the future, call the therapist and farewell.
Wetsuit Hint-Think Kilt 🙂
Man, Oh man! The tips and tricks I can tell you about sunblock. I know the ins and outs like nobody’s business. Being as fair as I am and living at the beach it is an ingrained routine and a daily requirement. Obviously I am not perfect. When I’m not distracted or in a rush I usually don’t end up looking like a zebra.
Here are my tips and suggestions for sunblock whether you live at the beach or on a glacier.
1. Apply your sunblock at least 20 min. before your designated outdoor fun filled activity and let it absorb into your skin. Especially if it involves water.
2. Don’t be a dork like me and miss some areas. Even rub it in under the outer edge of your clothing or swim suit. Fabric shifts and moves…joy, fun, yipee.
3. Cream sunblocks are good for letting you know that you haven’t missed a spot but Gel sunblock works best for your water activities. I have yet to find a cream sunblock that does not rub off into your eyes even after it has absorbed for 20 min. or longer.
4. Please remember that sand and water reflect the sun’s rays back up at you. It may not be hot out, it may be cloudy but you can still get sun burnt. Wear your sunblock and sunglasses my darlins’.
I realize that ya’ll probably already know these tips but I can’t help and remind everyone especially since I have changed my name to Candy this week. The name is Cane. Candy Cane and I like my skin white not striped.
Okay giveaway time. I am assuming that it is pretty obvious at this point. If you guessed sunblock give your self a high five. Although not any old sunblock. My absolute favorite, stay in the sun unconcerned 4-6 hours, super duper, amazing sunblock.
It is a bit greasy/sticky but it is my best friend in the summer. Now if only I would stop being a moron and apply it correctly.
In case you think I jest look at my sunburn photo again. That burn is from three and half hours of exposure. The lily white shoulder above has a one coat application of super duper sunblock on it. Gotta love it. Wish I had done a better application job 😦
I am giving away for this Monday is Giving-Giveaway, in a cute Ripcurl bag from Aussie Island Surf Shop,
One 4oz tube of Aloe Gator Gel 40+ spf
One tube of Aloe Gator Lip Balm (a yummy flavor I promise)
One bottle of Aloe Gator Green Stuff (in case you pull a dorky maneuver like I did)
Even if you do not live at the beach you will appreciate this giveaway. The same rules apply as last time.
” Let me know about your worst burn or a funny outdoor related story”
Comment on THIS post by 11:59 pm PST May 7th.
1 random winner will be announced by midnight May 8th. I will notify you by email and you will have 72 hours to respond before I have to choose a new winner.
If you live outside of the US , I want you to participate but we will need to split the shipping, them’s the breaks my pals.
Extra Entries: There is also a chance of getting a total of 4 entries by doing the following.
Tweet about this giveaway. Include @iamtickledred and a link to the giveaway in your tweet. Leave the link to your Twitter post in a comment. Yes I caved and now Tweet. It’s not so bad actually, it makes for a good excuse as to my messy house.
Subscribe to Tickled Red either by email or RSS reader. New Subscribers only.
Become a fan of Tickled Red on Facebook.
Easy Peasy!
1. Comment
2. Tweet
3. Subscribe
4. Fan of FB
Please remember to leave a separate comment for each of your entries letting me know. Be sure to leave your name and email address as well.
Have fun in the sun this summer ya’ll.
xoxo,
Tickled Red
May 3, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Random does not work for this giveaway – split it between me & Kate. Else we can rename ourselves the candystripe triplets.
May 3, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Ahh the joys of Hydro Glow skin 🙂
May 3, 2010 at 8:43 pm
–>I have the blood of the lepreuchaun and burn easily too but if I get sun in small increments eventually my freckles merge to make me look tan. I feel your Pain though!
~deb
May 3, 2010 at 9:08 pm
I wish that my freckles did that. I just burn and go back to white…it’s worth it though.
May 3, 2010 at 10:25 pm
Oh, how I miss the beach. In New England, it was hypothermia-inducing even in August, but it made for some beautiful scenery.
Perhaps you could find one of those period-piece bathing costumes to cover you from head to toe?
May 3, 2010 at 10:37 pm
HaHa that’s classic. I’ll have to find one for Halloween at least.
May 4, 2010 at 3:16 am
Sorry Red, I have no burn stories for you. I’m half Chinese half English but some strange alchemy of the two has meant my skin turns nut brown after 20 mins (Yah, sorry to make you jealous). I can sit in the sun with olive oil… What?! It feels good! I know I know, terrible for me… Seriously I know this will come and bite me on the ass pretty soon, BLAM! It’ll just come up on me suddenly and I’ll be one of those 33 year old women who looks 80 with a face lined in leathery wrinkles (I’m 32 now)… So I’ve made an appointment with a dermatologist so he can shout at me for my stupidity!
May 4, 2010 at 7:52 am
1. Not bloody fair 🙂 Nah it’s all good I actually enjoy my Hydro Glow skin.
2. Seriously, olive oil!!! Yes you do need to be fussed at my friend but I will let the dermatologist do that.
Have a great day in HK
xoxo
May 4, 2010 at 9:13 am
Worst sunburn ever…canoeing here in Mid Missouri. forgot…totally forgot sunblock on the upper legs and knees. I can’t even write about it without wincing.
May 4, 2010 at 9:15 am
Ouch! Yep. Been there. Fell asleep once on the beach and it hurt to wear pants. Love the name by the way 🙂
May 4, 2010 at 2:21 pm
When I was younger I NEVER put on sunscreen, in fact I slathered myself with baby oil at the beach and got very tan, but somewhere around 18 years old, I started to burn, instead. I had my first job at Carl’s Jr. and had to stand over the grill with a bad sunburn…it was murder! Now I use sunscreen and wear a hat and I haven’t burned in a loooong time:)
I’m glad you take it seriously and use sunscreen and cover up! Besides avoiding skin cancer, you won’t have wrinkles! 🙂
May 4, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Yikes!! I thought working at Subway one evening with bad sunburn was awful. At least I didn’t have to be near a hot stove. I feel for you. I wish on the wrinkle part you should see my laugh lines 🙂
May 4, 2010 at 2:22 pm
I subscribe! 🙂
May 4, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Didn’t you already subscribe goof-a-nut? LOL
May 4, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Yes, but I thought I was to tell you that I do for another entry:)
May 4, 2010 at 4:40 pm
New subscribers. You are now locked in as my buddy my pal 🙂 What’s new in the kitchen darlin’? I am starving 🙂
May 4, 2010 at 2:24 pm
I am a FB fan!
BTW…very cute post! May you always be Ga Ga over your surfer! 🙂
May 4, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Awww… Thanks! That is the plan, if I can keep him from skydiving, base jumping or anything else extreme that may cut his over the top life short 🙂
May 4, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Love this post. Thanks for sharing the pictures of the beach and your cute guys. Worst sunburn ever: Mission Beach (San Diego) boy watching. Long time ago, but so totally worth it 🙂
May 4, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Haha this post made me absolutely crack up 🙂 I am forever getting sunburned no matter how hard I try, and I always, always miss places and end up burnt & spotted 😉
May 4, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂 I am so glad to hear that someone else is walking around with Juicy Fruit stripes and spots.
May 4, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Oh, you poor thing! That looked like it hurts. Great advice, although here in Michigan skin cancer isn’t really our biggest threat.
I sure wish it was, though. Just sayin’…
~Maria
May 4, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Thanks. Still feeling the burn darlin’ 😦 but worth it….sort of. My mom lived in Michigan for a couple of years. The winters were too much and she moved back to the south 🙂
May 5, 2010 at 6:44 am
Unless in the water you’ll find me in a wide brimmed hat and long sleeve shirt. I fry like a piece of bacon in an iron skillet. And it’s not pretty.
Last year on vacation the back of my legs got fried and I could hardly sit down – it felt like my skin was shrinking. I was nick named “Smoked Salmon” which was a nice shade of pink.
May 5, 2010 at 10:28 am
LOL “Smoked Salmon” and “Hydro Glow” what a colorful pair we make darlin’.
May 5, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Loved the post! You should had brought up the time at the lake when you were about 10 years old. I had you slathered in lotion and covered up with a baseball shirt. You went tubing all day and came back with burnt KNUCKLES! :O Who would have thought knuckles would burn?! I guess I missed that spot! Hugs- “Mom”
May 5, 2010 at 2:43 pm
I so forgot about the knuckles :o…Thanks Mom 🙂 Love you bunches.
May 6, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Ouch! Those sunburns can be a real bummer for a day or so. Hope it feels better soon.
Last sunburn? Kiawah Island 1991. Ouch! I can still feel it!
May 6, 2010 at 6:34 pm
Those might be worth it since you were in paradise 🙂 I’ve missed you CG. I hope that you are doing well.