Feel Good Half Naked

Hola! Buenos Dias amigos. Although not exactly fluent in Spanish, I did pick up a few things in Mexico while on our family vacation last week. Not only some key phrases (margarita por favor, gracias, banyo?) but also some tips to pass on to fellow travelers:

Vacation Tip #1

Do a pre-vacation spray tan! After a quick 20-minute session the day before our departure, I felt ready for the beach. Suddenly my legs looked like they belonged in shorts, and being half naked in public was far less painful with my beautifully-bronzed complexion. Most importantly, I didn’t have to subject my skin to harmful sunrays in order to get some color. I did way too much of that in my younger years!

Vacation Tip # 2

Swimsuit cover-ups are essential and of great value. On numerous times I found myself in a grocery store wearing simply my swimsuit and a cover-up. I love cover-ups because they make me feel stylish and less exposed while going from the beach, to the hotel, to the store, and out for lunch – all the while protecting my skin from the sun!

Vacation Tip #3

Sundresses are the best in après beachwear. They’re comfortable, cool, forgiving, and fashionable. Dress them up with strappy sandals and jewelry, or dress them down with a pair of flip-flops. Have you checked out the “8-Way Dress” video on Swimco’s website? It’s the most versatile vacation wardrobe piece you’ll ever own!

Other Things To Pack…

• Several swimsuit styles so that you can vary strap tan-lines and coverage.
• Comfy sandals that you can dress up or dress down depending on the time of day.
• Big beach bag to hold towels, books, lotions, games, drinks, hat, etc.
• Lots and lots of sunscreen.
• Rashguards to wear in the water. Swimco carries a surf tee that looks like a t-shirt but has SPF 50+ sun protection. A must for kids in the sun, snorkelers, and surfers.
• Bug spray, “after bite” lotion, and antiseptic for minor scratches and cuts.

It can take a lot of planning to make sure you are well-equipped for your holiday, but it’s worth it to be prepared. There were things I wished I had brought, such as a 2-piece (I can’t believe I just said that – I’m a tankini girl!) and another sundress.  Oh well, lesson learned for next time.

I had a tremendous holiday in Los Cabos with my husband, two sons, my brother Steve and his wife Nicole. To me there’s nothing more special, nor more memorable than a family vacation. It’s worth all the planning and preparation!

And now I’m headed to the gym to start working off those margaritas and nachos. Adios for now!

My husband Dave got me hooked on Dancing With The Stars, so every Monday and Tuesday night we spend way too much time sitting in front of the TV. I find myself admiring the amazing outfits on the ladies, but at the same time wondering how on earth anyone can dance in something that skimpy!  Dave commented that the stars on the show wouldn’t normally wear such “barely there” clothing (well, most of them anyway), much less dance in it on TV.  But because of the excellent fit and construction of the clothing, they’re able to dip and spin without anything “popping out”.

Dave’s s comment was an “ah ha” moment for me. I have a vacation coming up, so I knew I had to try on swimsuits, even though it wasn’t going to be easy after watching these tightly-toned stars strut their stuff. After all, I don’t stand a chance stacking up against Pamela Anderson. Yikes.  However, my standards had been raised.  I vowed to find a swimsuit that would make me feel as confident as the dancing divas on “The Stars”.

After passing on the first few swimsuits, I slipped on a pin-dot halter 1-piece by Miraclesuit. I knew instantly that I’d found “the one”.  I have never worn a Miraclesuit, but because they’re supposed to make you “Look 10 Lbs Lighter in 10 Seconds”, and the fact that so many of our customers swear by them, I thought I’d give it a try. To my delight, I actually seemed to look 10 lbs lighter!  The extra Spandex in the Miraclesuit helped to tuck everything neatly into place.  And most importantly, I felt like I could face the public, half naked, with confidence.

Ladies, it’s all about the fit. Once you feel secure that you’re covered up in a flattering manner and certain body parts will stay in their place, you are ready to dance in front of millions of people. Okay, maybe not millions. But I will feel great on my trip and I will walk the beach with confidence. Thankfully you don’t have to be Pamela Anderson to look good in swimwear, you just have to find “the one”. Hallelujah, it’s a MIRACLE.

‘Til next time,

I’m excited to be traveling to Miami next week, especially after the recent nasty turn in Calgary’s weather.  Although Spring is hinting at its return, the baring of human appendages is still not advised. Thankfully I get to escape and have a taste of Summer for a few days. Time to dust off my shorts, sundresses, swimsuits and cover-ups. I’m hoping they still fit and are somewhat relevant to this year’s trends!

I have my eye on several new swimsuits, cover-ups and sundresses that we have just received into the store. I’ve also been eyeing some great sandals and a beach bag that I now have an excuse to buy. Lastly, I can’t forget my sunscreen, hat, and snorkel set.  Ah, the joys of being able to shop at work!

There’s a lot to think about when packing for a warm-weather vacation. Nothing’s worse than forgetting an important item, or learning the hard way that a single swimsuit for a 7-day vacation is not enough. No one likes putting on a damp suit!  Or have you ever found yourself trying to shop for a swimsuit while on vacation only to waste your valuable time sifting through shop-worn, stringy things of questionable styling with a shocking price sticker? Be prepared – shop before you go.

Your vacation starts with a dream of escaping to the sun, the beach, blue skies, and even bluer water.  Then there’s that pesky little task called “packing”.  Knowing how overwhelming packing can be, we’ve created a handy “Vacation Checklist” to help our customers prepare, whether it’s for a tropical destination or the annual trip to the lake. Save yourself some stress by downloading a printable version of our Checklist here: http://www.swimco.com/pdf/swimco-vacation-checklist.pdf

Be sure to send me your holiday stories and pictures. I’d also love to hear about your favorite things you took on your vacation. Maybe we’ll add them to “The List”!

Do you have a favorite swimsuit that you just can’t let go? I know I have several.  The ones I rely on and wear far more than any others. They’re just so comfy and flattering! Unfortunately there comes a time when we must say “good bye” to these faithful standbys. Here’s a funny story from a friend of mine who carried on her love affair with her swimsuit just a little too long. Has this ever happened to you?

I was snorkeling with my husband and a group of our friends in the bay of Santa Maria, looking at the beautiful fish in my “can’t let it go” 5-year-old black 1-piece swimsuit.  I wanted everyone to have a good viewing of the sea life, so thinking I was Jacques Cousteau, I stuffed the bra of my suit with bread.  As I brought out bits of bread to feed the fish, more and more came.  Some even nibbled the gold beads on my swimsuit.  Suddenly…I felt a snap.  At first I thought a fish had yanked too hard on one of the beads.  I looked down to witness the horror of my swimsuit, which used to fit me snuggly, now hanging below my body in the water and flowing with the current.  Our friends were getting a viewing alright – I had become the largest fish out there!  The elastic in my suit had let go all at once and was carelessly floating what seemed like a foot below my body. You could see EVERYTHING. I might as well have been skinny- dipping. Total embarrassment!

I wasn’t sure how to get out of the water without subjecting my friends to a full-on peep show.  When I came out of the water, my suit fit me more like a hanging gunny sack, with lots of gaping. Unfortunately my towel was over on the patio, so I had to fold my arms across my chest as I walked up to the house.  My suit drooped down to mid-thigh where it had once fit tightly around my legs.  Needless to say, we all had a good laugh.  Now that’s what I call truly getting to know your friends on vacation!