Taking Care of Your Swimsuit

May 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

To extend the life of your swimsuit: Pink-Swim-Dress

  • Whether or not you will be wearing it again soon rinse it in cool clean water to remove chlorine (or salt water).
  • Hand wash in cool water with a mild hand washing liquid detergent like Zero or Woolite (no more than a cap full).
  • Do not use the washing machine to wash your swimsuits as the friction pulls and loosens the material.
  • If you must hang your swimsuit outside make sure it is in the shade. Sun exposure fades colors and breaks down fabric quicker.
  • Lie clean swimsuit on a double folded towel and role firmly to remove excess water. Remove and lie flat on a clothing dryer.

A little extra care will encourage longevity in your swimwear and extend your investment.

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Topic Links
* Swimwear For Real Women

Filed Under: News, Swimwear Tagged With:

More U.S. Shops Delivering to Canada

May 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Three more plus size clothing shops from the states are offering shipping to Canada: Woman Within, Roaman’s and Jessica London. They are under the umbrella of OneStopPlus which is owned by RedcatsUSA. They also offer PayPal as a payment option which totally makes me happy.

While this is good news there is also some bad (and strange) news to along with that. Not everything they sell is available to international shoppers. i.e. fave brands such as “Aerin Rose, Aerosoles, Alight, Carol Wior, IGIGI, Kiyona, Lafayette 148 New York, Torrid, Ulla Popken, SVOBODA, Sealed With A Kiss Designs (S.W.A.K.), Tafford Uniforms, Reebok, ShoeBuy, handbags, jewelry, fragrances, costumes, home and kitchen, items delivered from the manufacturer, or gift cards & e-gift cards.” It does not say if it is only certain countries or not but it is something worth noting while you are shopping. Now many of these brands already offer shipping to Canada from their sites: Igigi, Kiyonna, Torrid, Ulla Popken, S.W.A.K. but it would have been really convenient to shop them all at one place.

It also looks like that any coupons for discount may not be applicable to Canadians. It has usually been pretty standard for free shipping not to be offered to international customers (although some do) but I am not liking the trend for other discounts not being honored.

I have added them to the list of online shops that offer delivery to Canada because they do have a huge assortment of options in all areas of dressing for plus size women. Have fun exploring these curvy clothing sites.

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Topic Links
* Visit Woman Within for plus size clothing
* Visit Roaman’s for plus size clothing
* Visit Jessica London for plus size clothing

Filed Under: News

Plus Size Yoga in T.O.

March 1, 2012 By 5 Comments

If you live in Toronto and have been wanting to try yoga but did not want to join a thin and trim class of awkwardness then there is another option. Suzanne Gracan of YogaZonePLUS emailed me today to let me know about their yoga classes/workshops created specifically for larger people. woman in sitting pose

They currently have two classes a week that run for 8 weeks each. New classes for Wednesday (6:00 to 7:00 p.m.) start on March 21st and new classes for Sunday (9:45 to 10:45 a.m.) start on March 25th. Currently these classes are held at 509 Bloor St. W.

At the moment the prices seem a bit hefty to me but I am not familiar with the cost of yoga classes in T.O. Their 8 Class Package is $160 ($20.00/class) for once a week. If you want to go twice a week it is discounted to $288 ($18.00/class).

YogaZonePLUS currently rents spaces and is looking for suggestions for other locations (and times) in the Greater Toronto Area. If you can get 6 friends (max 10) together to start a new class and have a location suggestion give them a call.

Update: Suzanne gave me an explanation of the pricing –>

“First, our classes aren’t the ‘typical’ yoga studio classes, they are a beginner workshop. If you compare our prices to other beginner workshops, we are very competitive. I’ve seen workshops charge up to $40/class. Our only plus size yoga competitor in Toronto charges $30/class for a package of 6 classes. We include all equipment such as yoga mats, straps and bolsters and maximum class size is only 10 people so we can provide individual attention and modifications to allow for body size and various medical conditions. In Toronto, the average class price is $16-18 for a drop-in, they don’t provide individual attention or modifications for larger people, equipment rental is an extra fee and there are usually upwards of 40 people in a class.”

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Topic Links
* Learn more about YogaZonePLUS’s plus size yoga classes at official website
* Learn more about DIY plus size yoga

Filed Under: News Tagged With: ,

Plus Size Mannequins

February 28, 2012 By 3 Comments

I had a fun visit to Penningtons this weekend. While I visit the website often I do not get to walk through their doors on a regular basis. I was very pleasantly surprised to see the prettiest plus size mannequins ever, and lots of them. The sales associate told me they have had them for about three months. They are fabulous, giving us a better idea of how their clothing fits. I was also thrilled to see that they used so many of them. I took a bunch of pictures with my husband’s Blackberry because I did not think to bring a camera.

plus size women mannequins from Penningtons

Plus Size Mannequins wearing career clothing

Plus Size Mannequins wearing business attire

Plus Size Mannequins wearing skirt

plus size bottom mannequins from Penningtons wearing jeans

So what do you think? Do larger mannequins make your shopping experience easier?

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Topic Links
* Shop for plus size clothing at Penningtons

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , ,

The Valentine’s Day Bra

February 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

If the Valentine’s Day bra was not pretty enough they went and put one on the lovely plus size model Ashley Graham. And then made a sexy video about it:

This and all bras are currently buy one get the second for 50% off until February 14, 2012.

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Topic Links
* Get your plus size bras from Addition-Elle

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , ,

Bargain Moose App Available

January 24, 2012 By 1 Comment

One of my favorite sites to learn about the best Canadian bargain (coupons, bargains, and deal), on pretty much anything topic, is from the Bargain Moose. I have been visiting Anna’s site for a few years and have it linked in the blogroll. Bargain Moose Shopping App

This month I received a tweet from her letting me know about their new Bargain Moose App which makes viewing their site from your iPhone so much easier.

And the app is free!

It is a pretty app that works smoothly and if you do any kind of bargain surfing from your iPhone, iPod, or iPad I would highly recommend adding it.

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Topic Links
* Visit the Bargain Moose
* Get the Bargain Moose app
* My other favorite apps

Filed Under: Accessories, News Tagged With: , ,

Twitter Chat with Ashley Graham

January 20, 2012 By 1 Comment

Plus size model Ashley Graham hit super model status after the sexy Lane Bryant commercial featuring her was banned from the super bowl. It went on to be immortalized on the internet. If you missed it you can view it (or relive it) here:

Ashley has appeared on the pages of Vogue, Latina and this past year she has been every where in betweeen including the Addition Elle website and in store banners. On Sunday January 22 fans will be able to Twitter Chat with the bombshell via Addition Elle’s twitter. You can do a twitter search for this hashtag: #AdditionElleChat to keep up with the conversation.

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Topic Links
* Get your plus size clothing from Addition-Elle

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , ,

Best Shipping Costs

January 2, 2012 By 2 Comments

Shipping costs are the bane of my existence when it comes to shopping online. There is an incredible variance of charges from the US while charges from the UK tend to be cheaper. I would rather wait an extra two weeks than pay an additional $20 in shipping costs.

Here are a list of online shops that offer reasonable if not awesome shipping charges (under $10) to plus size customers in Canada. I have divided them into four headings (bare in mind that shipping costs can change at any time so please confirm their shipping charges before ordering): packaging parcels

Free

* ASOS Curve
* Sealed with a Kiss (Swak Designs)– on orders over $75
* Nygard — on orders over $100

$10 and Under

* eShakti
* Evans UK
* Nordstrom
* Addition-Elle / Penningtons (with intermittent periods of free shipping)
* Mark’s
* Moi Wear
* Reitman’s
* Thigh Society

$20 and Under

* Buy Costumes
* Comfort in Fashion
* Lands End
* Silver Jeans
* Ulla Popken
* We Love Colors
* Ample Mama
* Forever 21
* Maximum Woman

Above $20

* Anna Scholz
* Alight
* Always for Me
* Big on Batik
* Black Cat Plus
* Baghaus
* Destination Maternity
* Lane Bryant
* Igigi
* Mode Merr

Some shops were too obscene to mention, some had no shipping on their website, and others was just too much of a pain to even find.

Filed Under: News Tagged With:

Top Five Choices for Last Minute Shopping

December 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I love gift certificates. I absolutely love to receive them because they are the only time where I can truly experience guilt free shopping. Who doesn’t love guilt free shopping? If you haven’t found a gift for the plus size women in your life then please do consider gift cards or online e-certificates which can be sent directly to their email. Here are my top five favorite online shops for gift certificates: Dog in Christmas Hat

When choosing an online store be sure to take a look at the product line to see if it fits the personality of the person you are shopping for. Consider the price point — how much does it cost to buy a top or a complete outfit. Don’t give a gift certificate for $30 if it costs $40 for a top. Don’t forget about the $10 to $15 for shipping costs (lots of shops have free shipping this time of year but they may not).

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , ,

Who is Sheena Snively

October 7, 2011 By 3 Comments

One of the producers over at MTV contacted me recently to ask if I would talk about Sheena Snively to Five Favorite Things readers. As someone who watches way too much TV, I am ashamed to say I had no idea who she is. But if you are an advent watcher of MTV LIVE you probably know way too much about this drop dead gorgeous blonde from Hamilton, Ontario. Actress, Comedian and Host, Sheena Snively

MTV LIVE is currently hosted by Daryn Jones and Nicole Holness with appearances by Paul Lemieux (a.k.a. Paul the Intern) and Sheena Snively. She is known for her outrageous behavior during interviews and comedic skits. From the little I have already seen of her, I think it is safe to say that nothing is off limits and she braver than any ordinary person. To give you an idea of some of her antics she has competed in a mud pit belly flop contest, sumo slammed a Cadbury egg, and flashed celebrities like Tommy Lee.

Here is a clip of Sheena on the street talking to people about what is hidden in their handbags; actually it is more like chastising people for what they have in their handbags — and a perfect example of “why not to open your handbag up to a woman with a mic and a camera:

Now whoever said fat girls are not active has not seen Sheena at work. In this clip she gets a workout butting in lines all over the place. Here’s Sheena doing a little butting in line at Fan Expo (make sure you click on the wedding “photo bomb” after you watch this one):

You can also find her over at MTV FORA getting all edgy about fashion and beauty. Here is a clip of Sheena talking about a shipment of plus size clothing she received from Torrid (there is a coupon in sidebar):

After all this something tells me Sheena is one of those people that you either love or you hate. Check out her official networking sites and decide for yourself but we really need to support our plus sistas when they are in the media because it is very rare that we see any.

Go Sheena! Go Sheena! Go Sheena!

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Topic Links
* Sheena Snively on YouTube
* Sheena Snively on Twitter
* Sheena Snively on Facebook
* Sheena Spoofs Weight Watchers with Fat Watchers

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , ,

Cotton Ginny Update

February 25, 2011 By 22 Comments

I still haven’t heard any official buzz but I went to Kingston this week and their big beautiful store was closed. When I checked the website a few weeks ago it was still listed in their store locator which is now greatly reduced in number. ball of cotton

I notice now there are only 12 locations in Ontario, 2 locations in Alberta, 1 location in British Columbia, 1 location in Manitoba,  and 1 location in PEI.

The locations in Ontario are Collingwood, Huntsville, Lindsay, London, Midland, Orangeville, Ottawa, Sault Ste. Marie, St. Thomas, Straford, Sudbury, and Toronto. You can find specific locations, addresses and Google map directions at the Cotton Ginny website.

The website is still not offering online shopping.

I find the lack of communication between Cotton Ginny and it’s customers very disheartening. At the very least they could let us know what is going on via their website which currently only lists a promotion and the store locator. There is not even contact information.

UPDATE: Cotton Ginny has filed for bankruptcy and closed all doors. See comments below for further info.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: ,

Lane Bryant Drops Canada

December 23, 2009 By 10 Comments

I was online today with my shopping cart full and ready to take advantage of their Buy Two Cacique Bras Get Two Free sale and I couldn’t enter my postal code like I normally could, actually, it didn’t register my usual login, then it wouldn’t take my new registration. On looking closer on the fine print located deep withing their shipping information I found “Sorry, no international orders including Canada.”

I’m so devastated by Lane Bryant choosing to drop Canadian customers from their online shopping store front. Canadians have a hard enough time as it is finding affordable, fashionable, every day and career wear without being further limited by one of the top American brands that so readily directs our fashion.

Update: Lane Bryant is delivering to Canadians again! Visit Lane Bryant for plus size clothing

Filed Under: News Tagged With:

Crystal Renn on Hungry

September 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment

One of my favorite models since the first time I laid eyes on her is Crystal Renn. This month she celebrated the official release of her biography Hungry which highlights some of the emotional and physical hurdles she has overcome to attain her goals. Here is a quick video courtesy of Ford Models (who represent her):

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , , , ,
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