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!

Each Summer brings with it, romantic ideals and fantasies, each of which one hopes will come true…

Simple things like dancing in the moonlight on a hot, starry night, just two people entwined in the mystical magic of the moment, or a starlit cruise on a boat, then anchoring, listening to some excellent mood music, sipping champagne, and feeding chocolate dipped strawberries to each other, or having a party for couples with romantic themes, which are a lot of fun, and can truly be memorable…

One of my favorite times in the Summer is an annual trip to Chicago. It is a romantic setting, if you are downtown and near some of the nightlife and Navy Pier. The Pier is a great place;featuring eating establishments,a few bars, a beer garden, outside vendors, boutiques, shops, entertainment, rides, a tropical atrium, and lots and lots of people, some lovers, some seeking love. If the weather is great, which it usually is when I go there, it is such a great experience. Chicago has a lot to offer, and the nightlife is top notch. I take the train, cabs, walk, and experience the Summer heat in the city…

Taking short trips in the Summer is a great way for couples to reconnect, have some fun, do something different, enjoy each other, as companions and as lovers. There are so many great places to go, even if only for the night, it is worth the effort; the fun you share will be there to relive when times seem less than perfect…

Where I live there are lots of quaint little places on the water. You just pack up a small overnight bag, some swimwear, lingerie, some sexy clothes for the two of you, some necessities, some surprises, and off you go to horizons unexplored. Taking long walks on the beach, a romantic dinner, some dancing, and simply doing whatever you want, if only for a night, refreshes and stimulates the entire senses, which means heightened feelings of desire, closer feelings of togetherness, and memories which bind the pages of your life…

Summer makes us feel sexier, it opens up more avenues to stroll and explore, and when you share it with someone who touches your soul, Summer is sexy, Summer is when dreams are realized…

I am so happy that the warm weather is here, finally! After the winter which we just endured, it is like, so special to see the sun, the birds, the flowers, the green grass, and other elements of nature in their rebirth! Yes, it is more than welcome, it is appreciated!

This means time for swimsuits! I know that in the beginning of the season this can be a dreadful experience, it is like, Oh no, I am so white, so out of shape, sooooooo exposed! Ha! We have all been there, for sure. Yet, as the season wears on, we are sun kissed, in better shape, and far more confident, and we wear our favorite suits with feminine glory…

Finding that perfect suit is not always easy. Personally, I find that mail order, or ordering online, especially from Girlfriend’s Lingerie is the easiest, least painful experience there is. GFL has one of the finest swimwear collections of any I have seen, being foresighted enough to cater to every body type, personality, and mood of most women. And talk about quality! Wow! Style? Double Wow! So many gorgeous, flattering, sexy, and absolute perfect suits to choose from, so many. There are teeny bikinis, tankinis, and devastating one piece suits to choose from…

Myself, I have to have a lot of suits! I am a beach babe, and suits are like fashion statements to me. I have to have one for like sporty days, one for fun days, one for tanning, or two, one for those sexier, more romantic times, and one which will double as a top with shorts or a skirt. I love swimsuits, though, surely I feel those pangs of insecurity now and again. Ha! My favorite suit of all time was a brown one piece which had spaghetti straps, was cut high on the leg, and had a deep squared back. I wore that suit for so long and it never wore out. I played volleyball, swam with the lifeguards, jogged, walked, body surfed and you name it, that suit was present, and it wore and wore and wore. It was like my signature suit, you could spot it down the beach a few hundred yards and know it was me. Ha! I had my suits for tanning and special other occasions, but, that brown suit suited me perfectly, and to this day, that is my favorite ever. Now I see that Girlfriend’s Lingerie has almost the same suit, so, that will be my first purchase of suits this year. I can’t wait to see if it still thrills me with confidence and fit as did the last one of its kind!

Girlfriend’s Lingerie has SO many suits to choose from, each wonderfully designed, each unique, each exquisite material, color, style, and form, that I cannot make up my mind which other suits I will buy, but, I know that I will probably buy at least 3, for there are just so many which I might never see again, and, I know each will look and feel great!

Many people are apprehensive about buying online or mail order, well, I can tell you from my own personal experience that it is the best way to go. Besides the ease, selection, and other pluses, the fit is almost perfect. I have been ordering clothes, lingerie, suits and more for years, and have only had to return 3 items!

Last year I shopped all over town for a perfect suit for a large family gathering at a golf resort! I could not find anything! Most of the cuts were terrible, the materials were so-so, and the prices were way exaggerated! I had to settle for time ran out, and while the suit I found was gorgeous in the front, the back was hideously stupid, like my Mother or someone would wear; I had no choice, I ran out of time. I had to wear that suit around those 100 people or so, feeling less than attractive, but, I got so burnt in the first few hours playing water basketball, that I could not go out in the sun again for the entire 3 day weekend! Ha! Problem solved. Anyway, I can assure you that if you follow the sizing chart, you will be right on target, and, if you have any questions help is there for the asking…

Take a look, you will be amazed at the wonderful, thoughtful, and sizzling selection of swimwear at GFL. While you are there, take a look at all of the other exquisite stock of lingerie, clothing, and accessories, you will be convinced that this is your one stop lingerie and swimsuit shopping experience…