Fake and Bake

April - I got my first spray tan!

As you all know, I am a very fair skinned girl. With summer approaching, I decided that for once I didn't want to start bathing suit season looking like Casper the friendly ghost. So, I decided it was time to check out this spray tan fad that all the celebrities are into.

I found a chic salon in my neighborhood and made my appointment. When I arrived, I set up my package (10 sessions - 5 of spray tan, 5 of heat lamps to seal my fake tan). An attendant sat with me and explained the process, we discussed skin care, my goal shade, and how smart it was for me to choose spray tanning instead of frying my skin in a cancer box - she took this stuff very seriously. (I was too ashamed to admit that I'd been addicted to these "cancer boxes" a few years ago, so I patiently listened as she explained disgustedly how atrocious these "skin suicide" machines were).

The attendant loaded in my shade and gave me my equipment - nose plugs, foot adhesives, a shower cap, eye stickers, body lotion, and lotion for my finger and toe nails. After a 5 minute prep session - disrobing, slathering on lotion, making sure all of my hair was securely tucked away - I entered the booth and waved my hand over the sensor to begin my session. A soothing voice directed me through the positions and I was sprayed from many different angles with a delicious white mist that smelled like a tropical cocktail. Then I stood under a heating lamp (no UV rays obviously) and waited to dry. The entire process took about 20 minutes. I toweled off, dressed, and waited 4-6 hours for my results.

I'm very happy with my new, tan, non-orange glow. Two weeks from now I'll be bronzed, wearing a bikini and soaking in the real sun in South Beach... nobody will suspect that this impressively even tan is covering my white pasty skin.

Quarter Century

For my 25th birthday, I threw myself a party where I acted 21. The night was great - Mexican for dinner (complete with strong margaritas); pre-gaming at my apartment and dancing to Justin Bieber, LFO, and other ridiculous tunes; and then to the bar, where everyone would eventually stop by throughout the night. I had tons of drinks with great friends, danced (in my fabulous 5 inch gray platform pumps) until my feet were sore, and lost my voice from singing so loudly. My college roommate, Nicole, was in town which was such a treat since we both lead busy lives in different cities. It was a perfect way to leave my early 20's behind and enter into my (gulp) mid 20's.

In grad school news - Another semester is winding down or should I say coming to a crashing end - deadlines, due dates, final projects, presentations, and of course tons of reading. Stressful, yes! But I've really been enjoying my course work and professors this semester.

In music news - May 2nd at 7:30 pm I'll be performing with the South Shore Symphony at St. Agnes Cathedral. It's shaping up to be quite a performance! Saint-Saens Organ Symphony No. 3 and some beautiful choral pieces. For more info: http://www.sssymphony.org/