I have a few basic requirements for a rain coat – something that doesn’t scream “I also hike in this”, something that will survive being repeatedly crammed in a bag, and something that fits my petite frame. I also have a few more personal requirements: no wool (I’m allergic) and no extraneous buckles/straps/flaps that I will only manage to catch on everything. This combination of things were surprisingly difficult to find for a while and at one point I ordered ten possible coats online and tried them on one after another at home. Some were too fussy, too heavy, too narrow in the hips and some were terribly tight up under the arms (what’s up with that Michael Kors?). At the time I overlooked the coat I’m about to tell you about because honestly, the photos online make it look more shiny and flimsy than it is in person and they never seem to have it in the stores to check out in person.

The Eddie Bauer Girl on the Go® Trench Coat and Girl On The Go® Insulated Trench Coat filled the raincoat shaped hole in my life. I brought the insulated version with me on a trip to the UK in Oct. and Nov. of last year and I was never cold or wet, the coat could be crammed into my suitcase and emerge looking just fine and I like to think I didn’t stick out too much as a tourist.

The petite size manages to give me some shape and, miraculously, still fits over my not insignificant hips when I’m wearing my bulkiest sweater. I have both the regular and insulted version of the coat. The insulated liner has full sleeves, buttons out when you don’t need it and is surprisingly warm — in fact I was too warm when descending to Tube stations in London. (So, this could be a downside if you live in a city with a subway.) The only difference between the regular and insulated versions is that the waist is cut in a bit tighter in the regular version and it’s more flattering. Which is why I kept both versions. Because vanity. These coats are perfect for the Seattle climate and they both get a lot of use throughout the year so I have no regrets. I have the coat in black but the putty color, shown above, was tempting.

Things that are not so great:

• it is all synthetic fabrics so it does make scratchy/swishy noises when you move, it doesn’t bother me (crinkle noises are insignificant when rain is pelting the side of your head) but I’ve known a few people for whom this is a peeve so I’ll mention it
• the hood detaches but it doesn’t tuck into the collar so you just have to keep track of it

Things that are great:

• interior chest pocket that will hold an iPhone, the pocket sits low enough so that it hits, thankfully, underneath my boob
• hood cinches down
• no velcro
• zips from the bottom as well as the top
• snaps shut as well for those times when you’re just popping out to grab the mail and don’t want to fuss with zippers
• can be balled up and shoved in a bag and won’t wrinkle
• without the insulated liner the coat is surprisingly lightweight so it’s not too much trouble to carry with you shoved in your bag for the day
• the petite size fits a petite (but not necessarily skinny) frame well with room for a warm sweater

I will also point to the MacKenzie Trench Coat, shown above right. It’s a little less sporty looking with a matte fabric and empire waist and comes in a nice dark gray. Ultimately I valued the longer length of the Girl On The Go coat but nearly fell for the MacKenzie.

Both of these coats are on sale right now so if you’re looking for a raincoat I can recommend giving them a try.

DIY Kits | Haptic Lab. These are city map prints that you use to create your own small quilt. I LOVE this. These are also available from Purl Soho.

Molly’s Sketchbook: Breezy Friendship Bracelets – The Purl Bee. So easy and colorful. I’m late to the friendship bracelet renewal thing, I know. See also: Cashmere + Neon Friendship Bracelets.

Cool Tools – Rapid Heat Ceramic Glue Gun. “It’s better than guns costing 5 times as much.”

5 Small & Simple Leather DIYs | Apartment Therapy.

“What would happen if a whale suddenly appeared in the sky and then plunged down into a South American town.” at the Ninth Letter Arts & Literary Journal. Via The Morning News. No mention of a bowl of petunias.

Bone Records – Mighty Girl. Oh wow, people in the Soviet Union listened to banned music made using records created from repurposed the vinyl in old x-rays.

Damn, Gina, It’s never not a good time to read Wikipedia’s Bog Bodies at Damn, Gina. We saw a few of these at National Museum of Ireland in Dublin. Go and read about how they were found and try not to think about it next time you are enjoying your Scotch.

Harvesting Free Food at Seattle’s Beacon Food Forest | Garlic Gulch. This is in my neighborhood!

Recasting Gilmore Girls for the Highly Anticipated, Hypothetical Movie, at Gawker. I was pretty worried about what recasting choices people might expect but this article makes some solid points. Via Making It Lovely.

Cool Tools – Hugo’s Amazing Tape. It only sticks to itself.

Five Things You Didn’t Know About The Red Carpet – A Practical Wedding. Meg’s writeup about what it’s really like on the red carpet is a whole lot of fun.

nateswinehart: Being good to each other is so important, guys. This is so true, and so funny, and true again.

48 Unexpected Views Of Famous Historic Moments. These are really amazing. Via Girls of a Certain Age.

Cool Tools – UpLift Electric Sit-Stand Desk Base. I need to start standing while I work as well, enough with my swivel chair.

Little Green Notebook: Making a Wall Mural. Great big color mural here and the source, Wizard Prints.

How To Use IKEA Trones Storage Boxes in Every Room of the House | Apartment Therapy. We use three of these as recycling bins and they are great – large enough to hold a gallon size container or a newspaper, shallow enough to fit in our limited space and they disappear on the wall.

How to Make Gold Leaf Wall Art | Brit + Co.