This summer, people all across the U.S. will be indulging in the latest vacation trend—the staycation! Not familiar with the concept of a “staycation”? Let me educate you.

The staycation is a vacation at home. With gas prices and airfare seeming to increase by the day, and economic prosperity seeming to decrease at a similar rate, staycations are the way to go.

In my younger years, I had no choice but to take staycations when I used my vacation time. My salary didn’t allow for savings and as a singleton, I wasn’t comfortable traveling alone anyway.

Staycations are no longer for the young, single, or financially-challenged. People everywhere are viewing staying-at-home as not only practical, but creative, an investment in their local community, and fiscally responsible.

Themes Aren’t Just For Kids’ Parties

If you were going on a traditional vacation, there’d be a theme. Even if it’s just a geographical theme (the mountains, the beach, a different country), there is an underlying motif that ties everything together.

Since staying at home for your vacation isn’t geographically different than any other day, it’s up to you to choose the theme. The best part? You can change your theme daily or however often you like.

One day can be all about the outdoors—you and your significant other in your hottest swimwear, soaking up the rays, playing in a sprinkler, wading in a pool (even a plastic or inflatable pool will put you in the spirit!) for part of the day. Then, cover up with a cute wrap or sarong for grilling or just for eating outdoors.

Other themes can include a bedroom day (ladies and gents—this is the perfect opportunity to indulge in some new under things!), a day full of rental movies (series of movies or changing between your picks and his picks are a good way to go),

Focus On Yourselves As A Couple

Don’t feel any pressure to entertain others while you’re on your staycation. After all, if this was an away couples’ vacation, you probably wouldn’t be dragging your best friends along with you.

Try to incorporate some things that you would do on any other vacation. Try out a new restaurant or, at least, one you’ve never tried before. Try a new activity. Your spirits and intentions during a regular vacation can be fostered during a staycation with the right attitude.

Make time for real conversation. This is something many couples find being revived when on vacation because they’re away from their usual elements and stressors. Make a concentrated effort to do the same during your staycation. Don’t talk about the honey-do list or the laundry.

A good rule of thumb: if you wouldn’t be doing it on a regular vacation, put it off until your staycation is over, too!

Indulge In What You Can

Typically, new clothing is bought in anticipation of vacation. Okay, maybe this is mostly applicable to us ladies. At any rate, if you’re already cutting out airfare, gas, car rental, hotels, park tickets, and so on… you don’t have to cut out everything.

Why not get a new bathing suit and sarong for your outdoor theme day? Why not buy some cute loungewear for the movie day? Even guys need some new drawers, lounge pants, and maybe some slippers.

You don’t have to eat out every day the way you probably would on vacation elsewhere, but don’t spend all your time in the kitchen, either. Order take-out, delivery, or buy easy and convenient to make foods from the grocery store.

Be A Tourist In Your Own Town

You know all those places you drive by all the time and don’t stop at? We’ll get to it someday, you think. Well, a staycation is the perfect someday occasion.

Local museums, historical sites, parks, and the zoo can be just as exotic and new in your own hometown. If it helps, imagine you’re visiting from another town.

Do all the fun touristy things you’d do elsewhere and be unashamed and unapologetic about it! Take pictures in front of signs and landmarks. Ask others to take pictures of you and your significant other together.

Get souvenirs. This is one of those things you can indulge in, too, since you’re saving money elsewhere. Save little mementos to remind you later of the great times you had during your staycation. Napkins, menus, matchbooks, ticket stubs, and postcards can all be added to any pictures you take to make a nice scrapbook page or memory box of your staycation.

Take Care Of Yourselves

You know how when you come back from vacation, people notice a certain glow about you? It’s not necessarily just from spending time on a beach or poolside. Getting caught up on your sleep helps, as do the other care-taking activities you indulge in.

If you normally make a point of getting your hair done or having a spa day on vacation, there are creative ways to do this that can be very romantic, as well. Treat you and your significant other to some new fluffy robes or silky kimono robes for your at-home spa day.

Stock up on some fun face masks from the local drugstore, some cucumbers to slice up for your eyes and fancy little cucumber finger sandwiches to enjoy with some home-brewed iced tea.

Since you’re home alone, guys may even be willing to undergo some manicure and pedicure procedures. Swear to him you’ll keep it secret, though. And what could be more deliciously romantic than a bubble bath for two with candles and flower petals sprinkled on top?

Creativity And The Right Spirit Are Key

Staycations are only limited by your imagination. As with any vacation, it’s your time to do what you want. If the point is to spend alone time with your significant other, then honor that.

As with most things in life, if your spirit and heart are into it, the fun will follow!

Sex or making love? Lust or passion? Can they be the same thing? Of course, within the boundaries of a relationship, yes! With someone new or a one night stand, we pretty much know the answer, although, if it is like meant to be, or love at first sight, then it could still be possible to have all 4…

Sex is sex, but making love is sex personified. Lust is a great motivator, but passion is the euphoric high before, during, and after the fact. Passion, like love, has many facets and is a necessary emotion to have and to develop. Some are more passionate than others, for instance, the Italians, the Greeks, and even some European cultures are very ingrained with the passions of life, love and liberty…

I am very passionate, I have been all of my life, and have embraced its purpose for the long haul. Passion can create problems as well as pleasure, for passions run deep, and often bear the head of temper, though, that is just how it appears, still passionate people are moved to expression very easily and if compelled, it could very well be temper.

Passion is the melody and beat of music, the fine strokes of the painters brush, the flowing words of a writer, the sultry dance of the dancer, and the soft sounds of a lover…

Passion is about feeling, expressing, living. It is the full throttle experience, it is the essence of the experience itself, often felt prior to the experience. Passion is a very deep and winding emotion, which begins at the soul and is not satisfied until it has landed in the depths of another soul. Passion is inflamed with delivery, with purpose, with exactness of the feelings which drive it….

I often wonder what makes some so passionate and others so passive. It seems to me that everyone should possess passion in the highest forms for it is the gifter of all pleasure, the creator of the full experience of life, love, and liberty, indeed…

Couples should be sincerely good to each other. There should always be the element of the most honest kindness, through every moment of life. Why wouldn’t you be kind to the one you say you love? I find this very curious. I see couples who are supposedly so in love and one or the other is mean to the other, often without even thinking about their actions… I remember such a relationship with someone, and I always asked him why he was so nice to everyone else, but, when it came to me he was short, harsh, and rude. He told me that he was as nice to me as he was anyone else. Needless to say, our relationship went like the water of a flood..

When we live with someone and profess love, it would only seem right that they are the most important person in our lives, and that they should be held in high esteem. They should be treated as a best friend, a favored companion, a sexy partner. They should not have to bear being treated like an object, or as a possession, or as less than their worth…

This partly happens because people take each other for granted, which is never a good thing. Life is so unpredictable, you just never know what is around the corner, you never know when it will change dramatically, which
might mean that this one person could be all you have left, or even worse, that they might not be around. So, always consider that they ARE imperative to your life, else why are they there???

Love and love making should be an effort by both partners, that it is an ongoing investment in the relationship. It should be maintained, that it is exciting, hot, anticipated, embraced and cherished at all times. It should not live merely beneath the silk, it should over flow into your daily lives. You should each care that your partner is happy, satisfied, and smiling when they think of you, look at you, or touch you. There is no greater reward than to have a thriving, evolving, ever growing relationship with the person who at one time, you swore to love, and said you could not live without…

Kindness, respect, genuine sharing, caring, and consideration for each other at all times leads two to becoming ecstatic in love and life. Success in life, love and growth depends on our home lives to a great degree. Let me put it this way, when all is smooth and happy at home, it is much easier to progress in the world, for your mind, spirit, and body are free of tension, dissention, and wasted negativity.

When we are happy, we are more receptive to life and its elements, when we are more receptive, we are more open, when we are more open, the options before us are limitless. Our love, the one we chose to love, deserves the best of us, in all facets, and at all times. As we develop more and more in love, the successes in our lives multiply, as we compliment each others live more, we are filled with the rewards of having it all, and, as two become one, isn’t that the ultimate expectation of the experience???

Lingerie has a world of its own, filled with inviting, intriguing, and interesting designs and styles to enhance our lives, especially our love lives, although, that is not necessarily so, as, I, without or with a partner, still love to wear lingerie. I love the materials, the feel, the softness, the drama, the cut, style, design, and the intent behind lingerie. It makes me feel better all the way around, and, it makes the nights seem much more interesting…

There are so many lingerie manufactures, distributors, companies, stores, and other dealers, that it makes one wonder why there is still some embarrassment or secrecy about the love of lingerie. There are hundreds of thousands of lingerie styles, from soft and sexy to blatant and even violent. Each person has their own idea of what lingerie is, and, each has their own liking when it comes to style and design. Some like very feminine pieces, though many like leather and vinyl. It is one of the most individualist areas of attire ever…

Lingerie companies have expanded beyond lingerie, offering accessories, toys, enhancement products and much more. Each company has its own signature specialty, some cater to career women and men, some to the young, some to the kinky, some to the inhibited, some to role actors/actresses, some to undergarments, and so on, though most carry a bit more than they had originally decided to carry; which is necessary to keep up with the changing public and their tastes…

Lingerie parties, sex toy parties and/or lovers accessory parties, are becoming mainstream. Even some of the most conservative people in the world are attending or holding such parties. Sex sells? Sure it does, but, is that the underlying trend? I think that it is a matter of couples taking the responsibility to keep their relationships fresh and exciting; instead of losing one another to outside fantasies, they are making every effort to keep their passions hot and continuing, which is great news, for many aspects of life, and for the lingerie industry…

From Tupperware parties, to candle parties, and now to adult themed parties, the world has evolved, eh? I was talking to a lady the other day, and discovered that she loves adult themed parties, seems her and her girlfriends have them frequently. I was surprised as I had always viewed her as a huge conservative, but, I was pleased too, for I realized that hey, everyone is getting into the game of keeping romance alive and well, and, that is a good thing indeed…

Where I live, over a quarter of a million women in the past several years have taken stripping lessons from professional strippers, all in hopes of keeping their spouses at home instead of in the clubs. Strip clubs are extremely inhabited here, and, lots of women are at their wits end because of it, and so, one of the radio stations, which started as a sort of joke, got this learn to strip thing going, and wow!, it is so popular; so many women are signed up there is a huge waiting list. Mostly it is to learn pole dancing, but, they learn much more along the way. So, you see, there is effort ongoing to keep love and romance in the boundaries of the home, and, in doing so, there are some valuable lessons being learned, as well as some very pleasantly surprised partners seeing a side of their women which they never knew existed. That is what it is all about, going to the limits to keep love interesting, sensuous, and fulfilled

With the warmer months approaching, we will be shedding our winter layers for more and more breezy, silky, mesh, and satiny attire. Since lingerie materials do not cling or bind, they are perfect for hot nights, and, long weekend days…

There are so many styles to choose from; boy short sets, Cami sets, chemises, gowns, bra sets, baby dolls, and teddies, each of which are perfect for one time or another, each of which will enhance and air the heat of the season…

I do not care for constant cool air, instead I often run many fans, ceiling or otherwise, as we are couped up all winter, so, why should we be all of the warm season too? I like to wear floaty materials, or as little as possible, still seeking to be comfortable and sexy, so, lingerie allows me many options for this time of year, that which will make me look and feel like a vision on a Summer night…

We are in better shape in the warmer months, and boast a golden glow from the sun, which only makes lingerie all the more exciting. It is also a time of more energy, which means that we are more apt to activity, be it dancing, partying, or what have you, and, again, lingerie plays an important role in such…

There is nothing better than being hot, taking a refreshing shower, spraying with light body oils, and scents, putting on a wispy piece of lingerie, sitting in a fan cooled room, sipping on a cold beverage, and doing whatever the mood moves us to do. From head to feet we are groomed, for warm months call for this to be a constant, we have gone to lengths to look our best, our hair is sun kissed, our bodies are bronzed, and we are feeling sexy: all which add to the element of dreams coming true…

I have several lighting systems for hot nights, like dance balls, a 4 foot water light, lava lamps and other such, which take the place of hot candles. I like music even more in the Summer months, and, on any night you might find me dancing the night away, having fun, and probably driving my neighbors mad. Something releases in me over the warmer months, and I am much more free, more adventurous, more expressive, and, much more in the mood for fun and romance, and indeed, I take advantage of the whole nine yards…

It is also time for those midnight dips in the pool, and, while most will skinny dip, there is something to be said for beginning with a sexy piece of lingerie, for when wet, it clings just so to the curves, and the water droplets glisten like jewels, creating such perfect imagery for the passionate nature of our partner. Just be sure that the lingerie you wear can handle the chlorine, and the water itself, of course, you could always wear a lingerie inspired swimsuit, some of which are devastatingly sensuous and make every body appear as mirages of the best kind…

Yes, the warmer months are upon us, and I, for one, am so anxious to shed the winter, once and for all; to dive into the excitement of the season, and, to inspire at every point imaginable, for this is what keeps love and relationships alive and bonded. Sharing such times is romantic, stirring, encompassing, and, ever lasting, for the memories will surely be worth the effort, every single time…

I so love being a woman. There are so many factors to being a woman which are simply wonderful. While men are my favorite beings, they are less complex than we women. They might have some complexities of character or personality, but, basically, they are what they are; like what you see is mostly what you get. You can make a man look a bit different here and there, with certain clothes, etc., but, they are not so mysteriously transformed as a woman can be…

Take hair, makeup, clothes, lingerie, and other such dressings for women. We can easily transform from being wife, Mother, housewife, career woman, or what have you, into a total diva, a dream come to life, a devastating and seductive stranger. We have at our convenience, the ability to totally transform our looks, our personality, our character, and, become whatever we, or our partner wants us to be. How cool is that?

Regardless of the woman, there are many women existing inside that persona waiting to exhale. There is the ability to entice in every woman, and, if she is encouraged to use it, watch out. Women are fabulous at role playing, once they get the gist of it, and, they often love the freedom of release…

I love being every woman within me. I am not too shy about letting them have their stage, for they each have something to lend to life, and often, there is a lesson or an encouraging facet coming of them. Each of these women, for the most part, are kept deep inside, for what reason, I have no idea, but, letting them come forth for an evening is like seeing yourself for the first time, and, since it is really you personified, it is a growth experience. It can be a great confidence builder, and, it can lift you when you are feeling less than exciting….

I have a bit of the movie star in me, and, I like it. I can play the highly acclaimed and rather spoiled actress so well. Perhaps it is from childhood fantasy, perhaps it is really a part of being a woman. I have been told often that I am intriguing and mysterious, and, I think that the reason is because of these characters who combine with my basic character, to make me appear as such. Perhaps it is because I Know for certain what I can accomplish in my role as devastator, or that I am comfortable with the many facets living within me, whatever it is, it allows for fun, adventure, and, certainly leaves them wanting for more…

Being a woman is indeed, a great thing to be. The men in my life have helped me to understand, embrace, and, flourish in this fact, and, I am so grateful that they realized before I did, what lived beneath the surface, and, allowed me to bring forth the wonderfully exciting temptresses which compose me as a whole… It has made me free to be, me…

Life is short, and, love is in that cycle, so, we must act out our fantasies. Well, the ones which won’t chase our love away…

What is your favorite fantasy? Myself, I have lived most of mine, but, I have one about living on a tropical island, where I am one of the only foreigners residing. I have a lovely beach house, about 20 feet from the end of the sand. I have helpers to maintain my home, all sexy, and, all men. They attend to my every need, though, I never take advantage of the fact that they would indeed, attend to my every whim. I have a lover who is kind, considerate, sweet, caring, and also attentive to my every need. He is rather tall, well tanned, kind of big, and very good looking in a boy next door kind of way. He is not too young, nor too old. He is mature, fun, and a great lover, and, he makes me crazy with his ways… I will leave the rest to imagination…

The point is, I could easily make this fantasy a reality, even if I cannot go and live on a tropical island. There are places right here in my own country that I could go to, which would be very close to paradise, and, I could act out the entire fantasy, if only for  a weekend. Ah, what a romantic weekend that would be…

It is important to share these fantasies with your lover, for, they most likely need to share theirs with you too. Then, you can determine ways to fulfill these fantasies, which will create romance, for it will be a shared experience which no other two on Earth have shared. It will be your secret meeting of the minds and body, which will surely further bond the soul…

Women fantasize all the time, but, men fantasize more, and, their fantasies are a bit easier to fulfill than that of women. So, if you can get your man to open up about his hidden desires, perhaps you can make him very happy by participating, and, making that dream come true, which means that you will be even closer than you were…

Of course, there are those fantasies which are beyond compromise. Many people have very far fetched fantasies, and, while, if both parties are agreed to try them out, they can often backfire on you. Sometimes if a couple acts out far fetched fantasies, there is resentment, regret, and other negatives, so, be sure to consider the extent of the fantasy before you agree to it…

There should be freedoms within a relationship which allow partners to share their deepest desires, and, to act them out. It gives romance a whole new level of excitement, and, truly creates hours of entertaining ideas before and after the actualization of fulfillment… Realities in fantasy are wonderful, for they no longer exist selfishly within, they have been shared by two whose love is boundless…

Too many people in relationships are always looking back. They should always look forward. While there are certain conditions which might create pain, hurt, suffering, and, resentment, if you decided to work it out, you should let that remain behind you like a shadow in the full sun…

Even people who haven’t had many problems along the way, remind each other of the things they feel were out of line, or upset them. It is like the negative is heavier than the positive, and, that is never good…

We should strive for positive thoughts and actions each day, and, this should definitely be a part of a love relationship. Love should be unconditional, however, that is not always the case, though we could try harder to be more tolerant of things which set us off. One thing is for sure, if you have a mate who knows how to trigger you, they will use that to their advantage when they feel the need to, and, we all know how that scenario winds up…

We all have faults, shortcomings, idiosyncrasies, bad habits, annoying quirks, and other human traits, but, if we love someone, we accept these in the onset, so, why not farther down the line? You accept the same in your relatives, or your children, so, why not with your partner?

Partner is a great word, which means one who shares something with another,a comrade, friend, consort, companion, mate, participant… We would do well to remember what partner means. I like participant as the best descriptive of the word, for we are participants in the commitment, in life, in love, and, in all aspects of each. One thing which should also be thought about is that each partner is an equal participant in our life. When we committed, we granted them that right, and, it should be honored, remembered, and, respected…

Keeping love alive involves multi faceted, multi tasking, management ingenuity. We should pour as much imagination, creativity, and, planning in our personal relationship as we do our projects, for these are the most important of life’s payoffs. A great relationship with your partner will outsource all of your brilliant endeavors outside the home, therefore, it should be attended to with at least that much skill, enthusiasm, and attention to detail as anything else we do…

Try to recall why you came to be. Remember that bond which brought your relationship into existence. Be good to each other. Be respectful, thoughtful, kind, compassionate, humorous, and adventurous. Forget the small stuff, leave the negative baggage in the past, which is just a moment before. Don’t sweat what is wrong, embrace what is right. Make each day end on a positive, loving note. Be happy to be, together. Look forward and never back for when you are always looking back, you are missing that which is wonderful now….