Lake Life Lately: Adiós Winter

I'm starting a new series: every Friday I'm planning to get a little personal and share a snippet of life on the lake.  I'm going to keep the format really relaxed and casual. 

As you know, I've been on a mission to embrace all four seasons - as opposed to complaining my way through Fall and Winter, like I normally do.  When the temperatures really plummeted in December, it was a challenge!  The biting cold definitely sidelined my plans for snowshoeing and other outdoor winter fun.  Mostly we got cozy by the fire under a blanket.  With snacks.  There may or may not have been one day, after the snowblower broke and I got stuck trying to power my way out of the driveway in four wheel drive, that I beat a metal post at the end of our driveway with a shovel, screaming "I hate this f*%$ing snow" before flinging my shovel into the woods.

But all in all, I've been pretty good at living in the snowy moment and appreciating just how beautiful winter can be.  I've barely complained, I swear.

It helped that I discovered the trick to enjoying winter when you live somewhere really, really cold: book a trip somewhere really, really warm.  There are actually direct flights from my one-horse town to Punta Cana!  That says a lot about how people here handle the winter.  Hubby and I have never been anywhere warm in the winter - we've only been on one beach vacation (Portugal, seven years ago this May).  So when, on a particularly blustery day in December, friends invited us to Punta Cana with them, we said yes!  Ironically, there goes my new snowblower money...   

Of course, since then the weather warmed up considerably and temperatures have actually been above freezing - the snow even melted in places.  The bay opened up and one particularly glowy sunset even had me thinking that spring was on its way.

I could really get on board with winter if it was this mild all of the time.  It hardly feels like winter at all!  Still, I'm counting down the days until I'm sprawled on a beach. 

We've never stayed at an all-inclusive resort.  The adults only (yes!) one we booked has something like 700 rooms, which is so nutty to me!  We usually vacation very differently: coming home from vacations more exhausted than when we left because we tried to cram in as much sightseeing as possible.  This will be different, that's for sure.  Packing has been a real challenge because after my weight loss, I never really dealt with my too-big wardrobe and so I'm doing this unintentional extreme capsule wardrobe thing, meaning only a handful of things fit and I wear them over and over again.  I recently bought some new swim suits, a floppy brim straw hat, and I'm on the hunt for cute summer dresses.

In my bathing suit shopping haul, I bought mostly two piece tankinis (my favorite) in different turquoise designs (literally nothing but turquoise) and paired them with high waisted bottoms.  I also got a cute turquoise bottom that's a little skirt plus I bought an adorable one piece with the cutest vintage styling.  The funniest thing is that I was so wowed with the selection at a local shop, I brought my Mom there the next day because she's had her bathing suit since I was in the second grade.  She ended up finding only ONE that fit her, and it fit her perfectly.  Want to guess which one?  The one piece I had bought the day before!  She was reluctant to buy it, but I am cracking up picturing us swimming in them this summer and the neighbors spying across the bay with binoculars like, "what the...?"

Although we have a house/Szuka-sitter all lined up, I'm not sharing the dates we leave.  Any would-be robbers would know from the blog that I've spent all my money on Pyrex anyway, lol, but I always cringe when bloggers blast their trip dates all over the internet.  It just seems unsafe!  But I'll be sure to share some photos - and what I ended up packing - when we get back, all sunburned and blissed out.   

Does anyone have any tips for packing for a beach vacation?  I'm all ears!

Finding a Stylish, Modern Spring Rain Jacket for Curvy Bums and Thighs

Lolë "Memory"

Since losing more than 50 pounds, I now know what it actually means to "have nothing to wear".  Because we're a bit boat broke right now, I've been rationing clothing purchases and trying to limit myself to one item of clothing a month - but I'm finding that really difficult!  I was swimming in my old spring coat and last week I finally broke down and bought myself a new rain jacket for spring.  I searched high and low in my small city for a rain coat that would be practical and stylish, because I'll probably live in this jacket for the foreseeable future. 

I was really happy with the fit and quality of my old coat, the Lolë "Glowing" Jacket (in "Black Embossed"), which is a three season belted style that I wore non-stop until it was time to don my parka:

Lolë "Glowing" Jacket

The only thing I didn't love was the design which, although subtle, made it more difficult to accessorize than a simple black coat.  The fit, however, was outstanding and very forgiving as my weight fluctuated - the fabric has a nice stretch to it which makes it incredibly comfortable and it fit over my wider hips with room to spare.  You can tell from the photos with models how much extra wiggle room there is in the hip region. 

I tried on the newer "Glowing" design, this time in a pretty grey design ("Dark Charcoal Corn Field") and although I loved it even more than my last jacket because the pattern is more "me" and the belt now has a chicer design, I couldn't commit because it's pretty warm thanks to a cozy liner.  Because we're headed into what I hope will be summer weather, I decided something lighter might serve me better.  But I'm watching for a good sale and I might pick this up for fall because I just love it so much!  That pattern really has a mid-century modern look:

In the end, I kept coming back to this stylish rain jacket:

Lolë "Memory"

Lolë "Memory"

The Lolë "Memory" is lighter weight, but still water-repellent.  I love the ruched waist (which also stops drafts) and the double zipper.  I still have a bigger bum and thighs - which I love! - compared to my waist and small chest, so a double zipper makes sitting for long stretches comfier because I can create a little more wiggle room.  It's also great for hauling my ass into our giant truck without ripping a side seam!

I've been wearing this coat non-stop since purchasing it and I feel so great in it!  I bought "Dark Charcoal," which is a pretty tame colour but it lets my sky blue Hunter boots shine (they're cute in the matte finish too)...

Another contender was the Marmot Essential Jacket (I liked it in black, but it's chic in grey too).  I almost bought it because it fit so well, looked really sleek and modern, and was made of Gore-Tex, but in the end I vetoed it because the Velcro closure on the pocket kept catching on the sleeves of my sweater.  The Marmot Highland Jacket looks really sophisticated as well - and has zippered pockets! - but no one carried it locally.

Marmot Essential Jacket

For a really relaxed shape, the Lolë Stratus was a great fit with tons of room for ample derrieres and thighs.  I just personally love a coat that's belted or ruched in the waist, but for anyone who prefers a more relaxed cut, I highly recommend this jacket:

Lolë Stratus

My post about narrowing down some winter coat options for women with a similar figure as me (wider hips and thighs, narrower waist, small chest - a pear, if you will) was a real hit, so now that I found a great spring jacket, I wanted to share!  I think it might turn out that I'm a  Lolë devotee because their coats are designed to be really flattering and fitted, but tend to offer some room for curvy bodies.  I love that! 

Have you splurged on a new jacket this season?  Do you have any go-to brands for clothes that are flattering and forgiving? 

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How to Dye Jeans Darker (+ Dye FAQ)

I mentioned in passing, awhile back, that I had successfully dyed a new pair of jeans darker and I received a lot of questions about the process.  I wore that pair of jeans for almost a year and was so impressed with the results!  I recently dyed another pair and decided that this time I'd share a "before" and "after," along with answering some FAQ about dyeing jeans (at the bottom of this post).

I have been on a weight loss journey since the fall and have lost 25 pounds (and a couple of pant sizes).  I am trying to lose 25 more, so I have been hesitant to spent money on pants - although I need them!  My old jeans have become insanely baggy and frequently droop, pulling my underwear down with them.  Pant shopping isn't easy though, because I don't like when jeans have any whiskering or fading on the front/back of the thighs.  I prefer a simple dark wash but, alas, jeans that fit me aren't the wash I like and the jeans with the wash I like are usually uncooperative and won't zip up.

Not a problem!  I found inexpensive, comfy, skinny jeans at Winner's for only $25 and turned them into a perfect dark wash.  Here's a look at the original finish:

And here's a look at them now:

In this photo, the colour seems lighter than real life and doesn't appear 100% uniform, but they are perfectly uniform and a lovely dark wash now.  I'm so thrilled with how they look!

How to Dye Jeans Darker at Home:

If you're read any of my DIY dye posts, you know that the procedure is really simple and not scary at all - especially if you dye in the washing machine.  Here's the how-to:

• Completely soak the denim (or give them a pre-dye wash)
• Fill the washing machine (or a large basin) with hot water
• Add a cup of salt and fully dissolve
• Pour in one bottle of Rit Dye Black and another bottle of Rit Dye Navy Blue
• Agitate for 30-40 minutes (either re-setting the machine or doing it by hand)
• Rinse and let dry (I line dry to preserve the colour)
• Run the machine through with bleach to remove dye

And now, the Jean Dyeing FAQ:

Did the dye cover the denim evenly?

Yes!  All of the whiskering and fading was covered on both pairs I've dyed, and the result was a uniform hue. 

What dye formula did I use?

The first time I dyed jeans, I used two bottles of black and one bottle of navy.  The result was very inky - I loved it, but it did add to the cost because three bottles was about $12.  This time I used only two bottles and did a 1:1 ratio of navy and black, which resulted in a dark denim blue.  I love the shade and it looks great.  Because these jeans are temporary, I wanted to keep the cost low so I didn't want to purchase three bottle, but if I'm being honest, I preferred the 2:1 (black to navy) ratio because the jeans were really dark - almost black, but with some depth.  I'd call the result a midnight blue.   

How much dye do I need?

I used two bottles for one pair of pants and was happy with the results.  The Rit Dye instructions indicate that one bottle covers 1 pound of clothing, but suggests using more for darker/brighter colours.

Will any colour work?

You can dye denim with any colour but I find that the black/navy combo looks most like a commercial "dark wash" denim.  But you could turn white jeans into teal (do it!) or go for all-black.  Rit Dye even makes a "denim blue" that might be great on its own.  It's a bit of a gamble, though, how dye will look when applied over an already dyed fabric. 

Did the dye cover the stitching as well?

No.  The stitching remained light, so they don't look like they were given at at-home dye bath.  This happened with the dress I dyed as well.

Did it wash out quickly?

No!  I was surprised!  I never had to re-dye the first pair of jeans I dyed and I washed them once or twice a week (no dryer, though).  They faded a bit, but the whiskering didn't come back and they were still a dark wash - they just looked like broken in jeans.  I was really impressed - my dyed dress has barely faded, if at all (although I don't wear that nearly as often as jeans).  

How can I make the colour last longer?

I find that washing my jeans inside out, on cold (preferably using a detergent meant for dark colours), and skipping the dryer helps preserve the colour of dark clothing, whether I've dyed it or bought it that way.  Line drying dark items (out of the sun) really helps keep their colour longer than simply tossing them in the dryer - that's probably the best colour-saving tip I have up my sleeves.

Did the colour rub off on furniture?

No!  The dye stays put once the jeans were dry.  After the initial dye, while they were line drying, they deposited dye on anything they touched while wet (like the wall and the lid to the washing machine - crap).  This contact stained, although with scrubbing I got 95% of it off.  But once the denim was dried, and especially after the first wash, there was absolutely no transfer, which was interesting because I've experienced colour transfer with commercially dyed indigo jeans.

Did the jeans feel stiff?

Briefly.  Any time I dye something, I notice that it feels a bit stiffer when it's first dyed.  But after it's ironed or worn, it immediately softens and the fabric feels completely normal again. 

Will it wreck my machine?

Nope!  BUT, you have to run the machine empty, with bleach, immediately after dyeing to remove any dye from the machine (otherwise it can stain the drum and plastic pieces).  I usually use this bleach load to wash my floor rags and scungies because I hate wasting water.

Am I missing any questions?  I've also used this process to re-dye my comfiest pants/jeans once they've become faded from wear.  However, I find that dye always "sticks" best to clothing that hasn't been worn.  So, while my brand new jeans took the dye well and stayed dark, my old and faded pants were only temporarily revived by dye as it seemed to fade more quickly from the beat up pants.  But I will definitely keep dyeing jeans because it makes it so much easier to find the perfect fit when I no longer have to be concerned about the wash.

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Parkas Designed to Fit Pear Shaped Women

Moving back to Northwestern Ontario sees us contemplating a long "to-do" list.  Among the many unchecked items is getting prepared (again) for harsh winters.  In the years since we've been gone from the region Hubby and I have lightened our winter attire.  We're pretty glib about Ottawa winters and have spent the last four winters in fall-weight coats and uninsulated boots.  I actually get cold easily, but it's been a weird (and stupid) source of pride for me to say, "Oh, this is my winter jacket.  I don't need a hat.  I'm from Thunder Bay".

I don't know why I'm a jerk sometimes.  And about the weirdest things.

Maybe the truth is we hate shopping for outerwear because in addition to being skimpy, our "winter" clothes were falling apart at the seams.  Begrudgingly, we recently schlepped from store to store and each bought a seriously toasty winter coat and a pair of winter boots.  Hubby had it much easier: walk into store, try on three coats and pick one.  Done.  Walk into another store, try on two pairs of boots and pick one.  And he looks as handsome as ever in his new gear.  I, on the other hand, had a ridiculous time finding a winter coat that would actually zip over my hips and not be uncomfortably over-sized on the top.  Desperately I Googled "warm winter coats for big hips and smaller chests" with no luck.  Instead, I tried on what feels like a hundred different coats until my hair became pure static.  Honestly, it also made me feel like crap about my body.  When I finally found a good short list of coats that fit trimly through the torso with a little wiggle room in the hips, I decided I'd post my own list for anyone who might be having the same struggle.

One caveat: none of these are cheap coats, but I needed to find a seriously warm coat.  Thunder Bay has had winter weather as cold −36 °C, with a wind speed of 54 km/h for a wind chill temperature that dipped to −58 °C.  Unfortunately, Szuka has her own, naturally toasty fur coat and loves the snow - she will not accept a cold, blizzardy day Robert Munsch would write about as reason enough not to go for a walk.  

Stylish Parkas for Wider Hips

The first contender was the Columbia Madraune, a 80% duck down/20% feather parka (in black or a mushroom-y greige hue).  It has Columbia's "omni-heat" reflective lining that apparently reflects body heat back toward the wearer.  It's soft and warm, but nipped in at the waist so it doesn't feel bulky.  I found it was cut generously through the hips.  I liked it (it was also the cheapest: just over $200 in-store), but was told by the store staff that while it is certainly a good parka for chilly winters, it won't do for epic cold.

My favorite was this teal North Face Metropolis parka and I think you know why!!  I tried this on a million times and each time I lovingly admired the colour.  It was cut boxier than the Columbia parka, but still wasn't bulky on top, even though it zipped easily over my derriere.  It was also a lighter weight coat, but I read some reviews on Amazon and gals in the UK have gone gaga for it - so I think it can handle pretty chilly weather.  The only drawback was that not all of it was lined, and Hubby convinced me the wind would whip off the lake and tear right through the seams of unlined quilted areas.  I think he's right, but the colour!!  There were actually a few styles of North Face parkas that fit me comfortably, and dozens more online that looked like they would also fit wider hips.  They have a lot of stylish and colourful options and I think it's worth taking a look.

I actually found quite a few listings on Amazon for this coat, if you can't find it locally.  This seller has a bunch of sizes and colors.

I actually bought and returned this Lole Andorra jacket.  Again, the salespeople just shook their heads when I told them where I was moving and asked whether this would be warm enough.  I found one review online that indicated that while the body was warm, the sleeves of the coat weren't insulated enough for extremely cold temperatures.  It felt super cozy to me and the green was really pretty (it comes in grey too).  I especially loved the clean lines of this coat.  The problem I had with it was that it was a smidge snug on the hips.  With pants it was fine, but I wanted the option to sneak some snowpants underneath for longer walks and general country-bumpkining.  For a town coat, though, this would have worked perfectly.   

The Patera Parka by Arc'Teryx is the coat I decided on because salespeople (and online reviews) were unanimous that this coat is WARM.  It has European goose down, so it's cozy, but also has a durable Goretex exterior that can stand up to wear.  It's simple enough that I can pair it with snow pants and frolic, but also wear it with regular clothes for my day-to-day comings and goings.  I almost fainted when I saw the price, but I've pledged to wear this, and only this, for many, many winters to come.  I already went for a long walk in it and I did stay really toasty, but the best part is this coat isn't bulky or cumbersome. 

I found it incredibly frustrating to try on coat after coat obviously not designed for my body type, and if there's anyone else with a pear-ish shape I hope this helps a little.  At least know I'm frustrated along with you - but there are a few good options out there, I promise!  But I'm happy now:

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How to Use Needle Felting Techniques to Decorate - or Mend - a Wool Sweater

Spring is the time to say "see ya later!" to all my winter clothes.  I don't actually have a special place to put them, but I do shuffle things around in the closet so really out-of-season things are hidden and spring/summer clothes are front and centre.  I also take this time to make sure every last sweater is washed in Eucalan (the stuff I use for washing "dry clean only" woolens at home), plus I use a sweater shaver to remove any pills. 

My Mom is doing the same seasonal song and dance so we thought it was high time we mended a hole ruining a perfectly lovely, if a little boring, cashmere sweater of hers.  Inspired by my wooly round up of projects in the winter (particularly this tutorial), we thought a DIY needle felted wool patch/applique would be a perfect dose of whimsy - and the perfect hole-hider. 

Instead of just a single heart to hide the hole, we needle felted on a row of hearts to hide the small hole but also give a basic sweater a little character that Jessica Day would surely approve of (if it were yellow or pink - but I couldn't convince my Mom of the merits of more zing). 

Supplies:

• Wool sweater
• Needle felting needle
• Foam block
• Wool roving (we chose black, but you can use any colour)
• Cookie cutter
• Iron

We used a cookie cutter to help keep the shape, but you can also draw on a design and felt in the lines.

First we slid the sweater on to the foam block.  Then we pulled off a small amount of wool roving and placed it in the shape of the cookie cutter.  We bit off  more than we could chew and felted a huge wad for the first heart.  Multiple, thin layers workers better!

This is the best part of needle felting: stab, stab, stab.  If you haven't been tempted by my needle felted art, let me say again: nothing relieves stress like stabbing something woolly with a barbed needle!  Just watch the fingers because these needles are terribly painful.  But this is really all there is to it!  Stabbing the felted wool repeatedly works the fibers into the wool sweater.

Once all three hearts were felted neatly, we used an iron on the "wool" setting and gently pressed the hearts to smooth them out (I've seen other people skip this step, I've seen others mist with water first).  The finished sweater needs to be hand-washed (which means soaking and rinsing and laying flat to us) just like before.

Cute, right? 

The same technique would look great on a cozy wool pillow.  Needle felting is quick and easy work, so a pillow with a dense pattern or repeating design would look amazing and take very little time. 

Happy felting!

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DIY Dyed Dress: How to Dye Clothes in the Washing Machine

I heart dresses.  I'm a fair weather friend, though, because I don't wear dresses in the winter (I don't heart tights).  While it's easy enough for me to find a good sleeveless dress, affordable, comfy dresses with sleeves are harder to find.  Maybe that's why I panicked and bought this beige 1950s-style cotton shirt dress?  Actually, I think the pockets sold me.  The dress is cute and I love the comfy cut, which is perfect for warm, but not quite sleeveless, weather.  It was a touch frumpy, though, and the drabbest colour out there, making me look a little . . . blah.  I packed this for my trip to Hungary and literally only wore in once.

I'd been itching to dye something and had pinned so many DIY dye projects, including this gorgeous kelly green dress makeover.

From Melancholy Smile, pinned to my DIY to Try Board

I decided to stop pining (and pinning) start doing!  I decided to dye my drab dress a deep green, with a hint of teal, but prepared myself for any shade of green because I had read that dyeing can have some unexpected results.  This was my inspiration:

1, 2, 3

Rit Dye has a formula guide on their website for mixing colours and I liked the look of dark green mixed with navy or teal (221 or 224 - top row).  I meant to buy dark green and navy dye but I accidentally grabbed dark green and royal blue.  I didn't realize until I was pouring the dye into the machine!  At that point I abandoned the formula and poured both bottles in.  I read that Rit dye can be lighter than expected, so I figured doubling the amount wouldn't hurt (instructions on their website say to use no more than two bottles at a time, so I was in the "safe zone"). 

Supplies:

1. Washing machine (that isn't brand spanking new)
2. Rit Dye (here's the Navy Rit Dye and Dark Green Rit Dye I intended to buy)
3. Rubber gloves
4. 1 cup salt (helps achieve more intense colour with cotton, rayon, ramie, or linen)
5. 1 tbsp. laundry detergent (I buy this earth-friendly stuff at Costco)
6. Kitchen timer (had to link to an adorable retro-looking one!)
7. Bleach (for cleaning up)
8. Centipede poking stick (may not apply to everyone - I encountered three during my dyeing extravaganza in the basement)

How-to Dye Clothes in the Washing Machine:

1. I washed my dress in warm water, then set it aside.
2. I filled the machine with enough hot water for the dress to be able to move around.
3. I added one tbsp laundry detergent and the two bottles of dye as the machine was filling.
4. I let the machine agitate, to mix up the dye, for a minute.
5. I smoothed out and added the dress, then closed the lid (boy, does it splatter!)
6. At the five minute mark, I added 1 cup of salt, diluted in warm water (the delay helps the dye process).
7. The dress was in the dye for a total of 25 minutes because it rinsed and spun before I could stop it in time (30 minutes is the minimum).
8. I rinsed the dress in warm, then cold water, until the water ran clear.
9. Then I washed it again on the warm cycle, before rinsing it again.

At this point, the dress looked okay: dark green, not much blue, but good.  EXCEPT that from the one time I wore this dress my crazy strong anti-perspirant chemically altered the fabric so there were lighter splotches under the arms.

Super attractive.  No worries!  I went out and bought more dye.  This time I purchased two bottles of navy.  I figured a darker colour might cover the lighter areas better.  And the green was feeling a bit military, anyway.

I repeated the process, but stopped and re-set the machine to the beginning of the agitation, so it was in the dye for about 40 minutes this time.  I rinsed and washed the dress again.  The underoo region looked better!  The colour turned out really interesting - a deep, inky hue that's kind of navy but warmer.  (The light spots aren't on the dress - it's the camera).  The end formula was 2 parts navy, 1 part dark green, and 1 part royal blue - but the original colours impacts the outcome a lot.

I'm going to call this a success because it's no longer blah.  Added bonus: it didn't even shrink after being dyed in hot water!  Here's another look at the dress before: 

The stitches didn't take the dye and were really visible at the waist, but I always found this dress a little frumpy anyway, so I added a hand painted belt I bought in Hungary last year.

A fashion blogger, I am not (what the heck am I supposed to do with my body?)

How to Clean a Washing Machine After Dyeing Clothes in it:

1. I quickly wiped down any splatters with a soft cloth and soapy water.
2. I poured in one cup bleach.
3. Then I ran the washing machine - empty - on the hottest setting.
4. I washed a load of dark laundry first, just in case.

Does Dye Stain a Washing Machine?

My machine tolerated the dying process well!  A few plastic areas were tinted every so slightly, even after I scrubbed them, but I knew that was a possibility and I wasn't concerned because our machine is really old.  It works like a boss, but isn't pretty.  You can also dye clothing in a basin or sink but you have to stir the dye bath for the whole time for even results.  That sounded too labour intensive for me (plus, hanging around in the basement that long really doubles my centipede-seeing risk). 

Some tips:

• Read the instructions carefully - instructions vary from brand to brand.
• Double up the dye if you are using a dark dye, to get desired results.
• Be flexible about the results & don't dye anything precious.
• Be sure to wash items before dyeing - twice if you still feel sizing on the material.
• Be wary of dying clothing that may have come in contact with chemicals like perfume, anti-perspirant, etc.
• Use the hottest water you can because it helps the dye take
• For the first few washings of a dyed item, wash it by itself in cool water with small amount of detergent that does not contain bleach.
• Always wash a dyed item with items of a similar colour. 
• Be prepared for an item to fade over time, here's a really good example.
• Note that thread, zippers, and other parts may not take the dye

Want to dye some more?  I have tons more DIY dye ideas!

Since dyeing my dress, I've dyed some vintage doilies (with napkins to match):

I also routinely dye light wash jeans scored for cheap a darker indigo shade to save money on clothes. This post has TONS of additional tips and FAQ about wear and transfer:

I have a tutorial with tips for dip dyeing - there's one simple tip you need to know for getting a softer gradient:

For something really fun, take a peek at my tutorial on ice dyeing. 

I even dyed some bottle brush trees!

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