Ski Bunny

I get 176 hours of vacation time at work.  That is not including federal holidays I get off or the 6 days that carried over from 2012 that I didn't use.  I don't get paid a lot or get a lot of benefits, but lots of vacation is one.  My carry over vacation goes away at the end of March if I don't use it.  And I don't want to lose it.

I have plans to go to Canada and Ireland this year.  So, I decided to go to Canada before March, probably in March.  That means snow, cold, and winter.  It's quite intimidating for a southern girl who faints when it gets close to 45 degrees.  But I figure if I'm going to visit Canada in the winter, I should do something you can only do in the winter, in Canada.

And that is when I spied it - Hotel de Grace, an ice hotel.  I admit, ever since I heard of the concept of an ice hotel 6 odd years ago, I've been enamored with the idea.  I wanted to spend the night in one and it just so happens that outside of Quebec City is the one and only ice hotel in North America.  Ding, I had a winner.  And since it is located at Quebec City, I had my location in Canada for my trip.

Now, I'm still planning it out.  I'd like to stay a night at Hotel de Grace and Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac.  I'd also like to make my way over to Montreal to see the Notre-Dame Basilica.  Tomorrow I'll do more research into what I'd like to see.

Anyways, the cold made me think that I need the appropriate clothing, which I completely lack.  Which prompted me to make a trip to Academy sports and outdoors.  They have winter and ski clothing right now, on clearance and they are getting ready to clear it all out.    If I waited, I know I would have a heck of a time getting any ski clothing.  I did do a price check online and Academy won for cheapest hands down.  I just hope the stuff isn't too too big 3 months from now.

I am, however, happy that I have lost as much weight as I have because otherwise, I doubt I would have been able to wear any of it.  As it stands now, it's a little iffy on the sizing.

I got a woman's XL pink ski pants.  There was a L in another brand that fit the same.  And, I'm pretty sure I could have gotten away with a men's M which would have only been too big in the waist.

I got a matching pink and gray ski jacket L.

And a gray fleece jacket that can line it.  Men's S.  They didn't have a women's in the color or size I wanted.  I wanted gray so men's it was.

I got boy's size 6 black snow boots.

Pink size small shirt and pants long underwear.

Total about $175 dollars.

If I decide not to go to Canada, I can always return the ski stuff.