Going to the tropics, need help with girly stuff

[Irulan]

my hubby and I are going to the Yucatan for 2 weeks coming up May 1, for our second honey moon. No kids of course.

Tanning... I've never done the tanning booth thing but I think it'd be a good idea to get some sort of base down so I don't FRY. I've got a nice olive complexion. Any tips on how to best do this? My gym offers time, other considerations

Waxing - never done this either but I'm thinking this would also be a good idea. I'm sure I'll go for a fairly full wax ( I'll refer back to the hairdo thread... ) but how soon before should I do it?

I think we've got the rest of it covered. We fly into Cancun ( leave ASAP I HATE touristy stuff) leave for the inland for a few days, then to the beach for a few days. We'll do the ruins thing, rent kayaks, lay on the beach, etc etc and then we go to Cozumel for 8 days of scuba diving.
we'll be here on the beach for 4 days....

if any one has any fun romantic ideas to let hubby know how much I adore him ( besides being his sex slave ) I'd love to hear them. I am already making a list of 100 reasons why I love you to give him. Sick, huh?

[Veronica]

I probably wouldn't bother with the tanning booth - unless you want to look tan before you go. For both our trips to Hawaii, I just used a 30 - 45 SPF sunscreen and did not burn - except where I missed putting it. I'm fairly fair skinned and we spent all our days outside doing something.

Veronica

[KTeach]

Ditto on skip the tanning booth...use sunscreen instead! If you want to look darker use a self tanner.
With the waxing... my suggestion is don't go overboard with the bikini area - I don't recommend a "Brazilian landing strip" for bikers. You'll go nuts when it's growing back and your're biking! Itch, itch! Not to mention the protective benefits of some hair (keeps bacteria out! Cushions the ride!). In other words, wax enough to look good in your swimsuit. You can wax bikini and thigh and shave the lower leg and still look fabulous for hubby.
I guesstimate you should wax about 3 days before you go - if it's right before you may be irritated and unable to apply sunscreen.
I don't find bikini waxing too painful, but if you do the legs be prepared 'cause the ankle area HURTS!!!
Have fun!

[Adventure Girl]

Originally posted by Irulan
Tanning... I've never done the tanning booth thing but I think it'd be a good idea to get some sort of base down so I don't FRY. I've got a nice olive complexion. Any tips on how to best do this? My gym offers time, other considerations

I used a tanning booth several times before my wedding (a long time ago) because I wanted to be bronzed and golden . Also, we went to Jamaica for our honeymoon and I didn't want to get fried without a "base tan". Those were the good old days... Now I have to agree with the other tanning booth vetoes. Short term it worked. But I wouldn't do it again. Sunblock and self tanners are my choices these days. The sun is so damaging.

If you're doing it so you don't get burned, I think sunblock is a better solution. Maybe hubby can help rub it all over you. As a mountain biker, you have to have a favorite that is long-lasting and sweat-proof. If you're doing it to be golden, some spas now offer self-tanning or bronzing applications so it goes on more evenly. I've even heard of a place that air brushes the tanner on you to accentuate your muscle definition. Body builders do it before competitions. I wonder if they could air brush me so I look taller!!

On our 15th anniversary, I took my husband away for the weekend (as a surprise). Actually I had a friend drop him off at the hotel. I was waiting for him in the Bridal Suite. When he came into the room I was hiding. I left a note for him to push the "play" button the CD player. I had cued up the Wedding March. When "Here Comes the Bride" played, I walked out wearing my wedding gown. He even cried! We toasted on a bottle of champagne from our wedding. Romantic and all, but not the kind of thing you'd do on vacation. But is there anything that happened on your honeymoon you could reenact?

OK... bringing this back to the cycling forum..... When I got married I wasn't a cyclist. In fact, not too fit at all. So one bonus to the story is that my wedding gown is MUCH too big for me!

[MightyMitre]

Irulan - I am SOOOOOOO jealous!!!!!!!!!

Just looked at the link to the website and it looks totally out of this world!! I bet you'll have an amazing time.

Any room in your suit case - pleeeeease. I promise I'll keep out of the way...

[Irulan]

Where we are going the reefs are protected, as in National Parks or World Heritage sites. In many cases, the use of sunscreen is forbidden, in others you can only use special biodegrable. Regular stuff leaves all sorts of residue in the water that is poisonous to the coral reefs and sea life.

Irulan
http://www.diveparadise.com/reefs.htm

[annie]

Says Irulan :
"If any one has any fun romantic ideas to let hubby know how much I adore him ( besides being his sex slave ) I'd love to hear them. I am already making a list of 100 reasons why I love you to give him. Sick, huh? ""

Not sick at all! Very sweet. Keep the romance alive, or re-kindle it!
Going along with the sex slave idea - pick up some really pretty and sexy lingerie before you go. Don't let him see it till you are there then come out and surprise him. You probably won't have it on for long, but most guys are really visual and seeing you in something sexy you bought just for him, well, I think it could be lots of fun.

[sno4rent]

If you can't wear sunscreen in some places, then I would suggest going to a tanning booth. Besides, you want to make people jealous when you get back home about how tan you are - just give it a little boost before you leave home... My opinion.

And obviously you are doing much better since your "stoning"?!? Good for you!!!

~ Wendi

[Irulan]

And just to keep this on topic, I'm certain we'll at least rent some cruisers to tool around on. I'm debating on whether to take a "jungle mountain bike tour". I'm so anti-tour, but at the same time it sounds like fun.

as for teh frilleis... I was as regional manager for a lingerie company for many years, don't need convincing

Irulan

[grannydea]

If you cant use sunscreen defiantly get a base tan in the booth if you tend to fry in the sun. Waxing I defiantly say get it done professional and go for what ever you are trying for be it convience or something for hubby After all it will grow back. But defentaly leave the laptop home this is after all a second honeymoon we can wait for storys and pictures later. I checked out the link and wow that looks so romatic I'm jelouse. Have a marvelous time. Have to ask, how many years? married that is.
Dea

[Irulan]

no need for a laptop. Every corner of every town in Mexico has internet cafes where you get coffee and time by the hour. It's different there in that people do not have home computers, they go to the cafe.

So I might just have to pop in and say hi!!

Irulan

[kate]

Irulan

I get a bikini wax about every 6 weeks or so, all year round here in Florida, and there is very little pain. Hair should be about 1/4 inches long so the wax has something to grab onto.

I highly recommend it for a nice clean look but do it about 3/4 days before you go.

Kate

[Adventure Girl]

Originally posted by Irulan
my hubby and I are going to the Yucatan for 2 weeks coming up May 1, for our second honey moon. should I do it?

The big trip is next week. Are you waxed, tanned and packed? I'm still jealous!!

[Irulan]

packed? Yes. Tanned and waxed? well not quite.. didn't get either of those together so I guess we will look like tourists for sure.

leaving tomorrow... can't wait......