Sundays at home

cream cardigan p/s (stolen from mom) On Nick: Hedley & Bennett apron, thermal joggers

As much as we love dining out, my favorite part of the week is cooking Sunday supper with Nick. We usually reserve this day for any slow-cooking or soups / stews, and start early so that the aromas fill the house by the time afternoon sports are on. This weekend we made both my favorite dutch oven crusty bread and white chicken chili - the chili is easy enough for beginners, takes under an hour, and boy is it flavorful! Nick likes his brunch-style topped with a sunny side up egg. Read on below for the recipes!

Kate Spade kitchen towel
I'm also partnering today with Macy's wedding registry - I know several of you are planning a wedding (a huge congrats!), so I wanted to share some of our favorite, useful registry-friendly items. Snapchat friends probably see our Le Creuset cast iron oven on the regular, producing stews, roasts, bread, and so much more. It's quite heavy, so an added benefit of use is an extra arm workout!

Martha Stewart also makes a more affordable cast-iron collection that my mom uses and likes as well. Ours was thanks to a generous friend Liz who makes yummy "dutch oven crusty bread." It's soft on the inside, just perfect while warm with a pat of butter or olive oil. She got her pot as a wedding gift with the bread recipe card inside, and passed the tradition on to me since I always asked her to make it! We couldn't resist baking a loaf to go with dinner (recipe here; instructional video here) - I'm no baker, but this is the simplest bread you'll ever make. Just make sure to use instant yeast per the recipe, or proof your non-instant yeast first.

On to the chili - I love a good recipe that serves as a guideline, but can easily be adapted for individual tastes or for vegetarian friends (try veggie broth instead of chicken; extra beans and veggies instead of meat).

White Chicken Chili Recipe
Adapted from Cathy on Allrecipes. Serves 4.

- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chile peppers
- 1 jalapeno, seeds removed then diced*
- 1.5 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
- 2.5 cups chicken broth**
- 3 cups cooked, chopped or shredded chicken***
- 3 (15 ounce) cans white beans
Optional:
- canned or frozen corn
- topping ideas: cilantro, scallions, ground pepper, cheese or sour cream

* If you like it hot then put some seeds in since that's where the heat lies. Be careful and don't let your bare hands linger on the inner membrane & seeds! I learned this the hard way years ago and had hands on fire.
** Original recipe calls for 2 cans, or 3.5 cups broth which was a little soupy. You can tweak the ratios of broth, chicken, and beans based on your liking.
*** We love flavorful dark meat, so used boneless, skinless chicken thighs seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Wrap in foil to keep juicy, and bake for 20 minutes on 400 degrees. If they're not fully cooked at this point they will be in the chili. Ground chicken or turkey would be interesting too!

1. Heat the oil over a large pot on medium-low heat. Cook and stir the onion until tender. Mix in the garlic, jalapeno, green chile peppers, cumin, cayenne, and oregano. Continue to cook and stir the mixture until tender, about 3 minutes. Mix in the beans then chicken broth, and simmer for 15 minutes stirring occasionally.

2. At this point if you want a thicker texture, dip an immersion blender into your pot, and pulse a few times to puree some of the beans before adding chicken. Otherwise, just stir in the chicken and simmer another 15 minutes. We're obsessed with the Cusineart smartstick (ours is a prior model) which we also got as a gift - it's a food processor, whisk, mini blender, and immersion blending stick all in one. The immersion stick is a must if you like making creamy soups - no messy & dangerous step of pouring hot soup into a blender!

Kate Spade apple spoon rest

3. Stir in optional corn at the end before turning off the heat. Serve hot and top with garnishes. I just love the sweetness of the corn and some fresh cilantro with the spices in this!

Bloopers - got hot beans up my nose due to an impatient Nick

Here's a few other gift-able items that we have and love. Readers - what was your most memorable wedding gift received?

Thank you Macy's for partnering on this post!

Something blue shoes (for less) + holiday weekend sales

Manolo Blahnik sandals (very similar for much less)

I recently dusted these babies off in anticipation of spring (a little premature, I know ; ) and finally removed the embellishments from our wedding day. I had hand-stitched crystal bracelets to the front strap, making sure to sew only along the existing stitches to not damage the suede. I got the general idea from a smart friend, who had done the same for her bridal shoes except with glue - I imagine that'd be sturdier and so much less painstaking, but I couldn't bear to glue my shoes. Anyways, I found an almost exact-looking dupe for these Manolos at a fraction of the price! I had been eyeing these Steve Madden suede sandals (more colors here) for a while in Sand, and noticed they just added blue suede - perfect for anyone looking for a little "something blue."

Banana Republic gray jeans 00p, Pleione wrap top xxsp, Zara navy heels (similar)

Goyard St Louis tote, J.Crew skirt (old), Manolo Blahnik BB pumps (old color)

My gray jeans above are currently marked down with extra 40% off (code BR40)! They are very stretchy and comfortable, and the knee holes hit at the right place on me. Length is an inch or two long on me which I wear cuffed up. BR has lots of other markdowns right now all with extra 40% off - see my last review of their collection.

The Ann Taylor wrap blouse sold out so quickly in the smallest petite sizes, although the versatile navy color still remains for sizes xsp and up. I wanted to share a few other similar options available in petites. I've mentioned the Pleione wrap blouse many times before, but had never tried on xxs petite, a new extended size they introduced last year (yay!).

I actually ordered this Pleione blouse over a month ago and the package got mysteriously lost, only to show up on my doorstep yesterday. My first impression is like when I tried it on years ago - the material feels and drapes similar to silk, and looks like a higher-end top. I love the slightly longer back, which in this size was not overwhelming on me. Compared to the AT blouse which is made in thicker, stretchy crepe, this is more billowy and lightweight, made of a chiffon-y non-stretch material. Petite sizes are also going quickly since it is on sale, but I've seen this top at Nordstrom for 3 years and am hopeful they'll restock colors and sizes!

xxsp measures: 21" length in front, 25" length in back, 13.75" across the shoulders, 21.5" sleeves (there's a button-closure tab for keeping sleeves rolled up). Snap button closure at chest.

Another option currently in-stock in small petite sizing is this light gray New Look wrap top, available in size 0P and up (more pictures & angles can be found in the regular-sized listing). Keep in mind sizing for petite brands on ASOS can run pretty small, and for a blouse this style I wouldn't mind a looser drape.

Now it wouldn't be a roundup without some food pics...this is Nick's homemade version of a brunch dish we fell in love with in Portland, Maine. Cornbread cooked in a skillet, with a runny egg nestled in topped with a little seared meat (bacon is the obvious choice, but we had Spam begging to be used), a little cheese and fresh herbs. Several of you asked for the recipe but unfortunately Nick doesn't write much down when cooking. You can follow your favorite skillet cornbread recipe (this one has good reviews) but about 5 minutes before the cooking time is up, take it out of the oven and scoop out a shallow hole on top. Crack an egg into that hole and finish baking, careful not to overcook the egg. The restaurant we had it at slid a pre-soft boiled egg fully into a hole inside the cornbread before concealing the opening with cheese and baking another minute, which is the way to go for a true "surprise."

Miso and Shoyo (in the back) at Ganko Ramen in Brookline

Ganko is the latest addition to Boston's ramen scene, located in quaint Coolidge Corner. I had really high hopes and thought it was good but not spectacular. I think mine had a little too much cabbage & bean sprouts which took away from my noodles, and the spicy garlic oil was not spicy. I did like the other components though and the egg was *perfect.* Nick wolfed down his Shoyo and we will be back to try the interesting "tan-tan" spicy sesame ramen.

PS - wanted to mention again that my swing trench coat has been fully restocked in both navy and cream, and is 40% off w/ code WEEKEND. See my review here - it is beautiful quality so I'd highly recommend, especially in a less stain-prone color like navy. Also, my longer wool Burberry Daylesmoore trench coat is marked down on their site in gray with sizes 0 and 2 left in stock! It's one of their classic coats which comes back each year. See my old review - I got a size 2 for layering room, and had the sleeves shortened and belt loops raised.

PPS - J.Crew Factory is having a HUGE clearance event with lots left in extended sizing, although sizes are going quickly. Use code EXTRA50 to get an additional 50% off clearance items, but beware of final sale. You can shop all and filter by size, or here's some items of note with great reviews:

- Double-serge wool pencil skirts in regular, petite, and tall, with colors starting as low as $19.99 after discounts.
- The black puffer coat I previously reviewed is now on sale for a whopping $49.99 after discounts. Still left in xxsp and several regular sizes.
- Wool-blend topcoat for $69.99 (I've seen this in-person and it is pretty nice for the price). This sold out almost immediately after being released but numerous sizes have popped back.
- classic-looking camel scarf for $10.99 - never hurts to check the men's department!
- Flannel sleep pants starting in xxs for under ten bucks

And from J.Crew regular, take extra 40% to 50 off final sale w/ code SALEONSALE:
- Petite bi-stretch wool martie pants - $29.99 down from $120, a steal. Lots of colors in 000p and up! I ordered mauve and gray in 00p. I had tried the 000p before and it was like stuffing a sausage, so good news for smaller-framed ladies.
- Petite excursion vest starting in $48
- Petite lady day coat in red left in 00p and 0p, on clearance for $174
- Their popular icon trench coat in wool-cashmere in 3 colors, left in regular sizing 000, 00 or 0 only.

Instagram Lately + Favorite San Diego Eats

Modcloth cropped cardigan in navy sz S, Ann Taylor shirt 00p (also worn here)

Halogen leopard heels sz 5, Prada tote bag in caramel, J.Crew skirt 000p

Just popping in to share some recent sale finds and another Instagram roundup! I stumbled upon this very good sale of Nike sneakers (including my favorite Free 5.0) that don't often get marked down, with free 3-day shipping and returns! There's also no sales tax for orders shipping outside of NJ or NY. Outside of sneakers, NAP also has a pretty big sale selection of designer shoes, clothes and accessories which the site is more known for. Many items are left in small sizes so try filtering by size on the left.


Rag & Bone is also having a big sale with free ship & returns. Includes several styles of premium skinny jeans (this looks like a classic pair for half off) and ankle boots, like their popular Newbury, Margot, and Harrow style booties. Please note the Harrow boot is known to run small, so may even fit ladies who usually need a tough-to-find size 34.

Next up, the outfit above from my Instagram - got so many questions in the comments about how to tuck both a shirt and cardigan in a pencil skirt without bulges! That is the beauty of a cropped-length, 3/4 sleeve cardigan. No tucking-in needed, plus allows for a cute cuffed-sleeve looks without bulk at the lower arms. This one comes in so many versatile colors and runs small - mine in size S measures 15" from top to bottom, and my guess is this length will vary with each size. If it's too short for you to wear as shown above, it'll still look cute worn open over dresses to show off your waistline.

Cauldron nitrogen s'mores ice cream in a "puffle" waffle / egg-puff cone

On to my favorite part of this post - the most memorable eats from our last SoCal trip! We look for new places to try each visit, and these did not disappoint. Cauldron is actually quite a bit outside SD in Santa Ana. We were passing by and it looked interesting on Yelp, with nitrogen ice cream finished science experiment-style in front of you, and their signature "puffle" cone which is a hybrid of mini Asian egg puffs and a regular waffle cone. You can tear off the slightly warm little puffs one by one and dip into your ice cream. To further entice the ladies, they can carve any ice cream into a rose shape if you so desire.

We got the S'mores puffle above, and although Nick rather liked it (probably b/c he's a big fan of the traditional egg puffs as seen here in # 6, ha!), I'm not really been into those and would get a regular waffle cone next time. We also wished there was more of the creamy ice cream inside the cone - ended up gobbling this one up and had to get another cup to fully satisfy our cravings.

Tajima signature ramen (requested spicy) w/ added corn

I am perpetually on the lookout for good ramen, and this had most of the components I love plus a few pleasant surprises. You also get to choose from a variety of noodles including thin, thick, or gluten-free. We both got thick and they were wonderfully springy in texture. Also I'm a huge fan of "garlic chive" (the longer ones at the top of the bowl) in dumplings, stir-fries, etc, and found them to be equally tasty in noodles. I would get the Tajima non-spicy next time in order to better appreciate the broth flavors.

Oscars Mexican Seafood tacos and shrimp + fish ceviche

No trip to San Diego would be complete without fulfilling Nick's taco fix. These large ones are from Oscars, where I hope to try the "surf & turf" next time. The tacos were good (with sauces aplenty for this condiment junkie) but I thought the ceviche was the star.

Poke Go brown rice combo (ahi tuna, salmon, octopus) + avocado

Oh my poke goodness, I can't get enough of these bowls. It's the perfect light but filling lunch or post-workout treat. Boston is a few waves behind all the food trends of the west coast, so although these are old news for many, I was quite giddied up to eat it every chance I got (which was 3x during this last visit...mmm). Orange County seems to have a plethora of options, but Poke Go was the only dedicated poke bowl shop we found in San Diego, having opened just a few weeks ago. I got a combo in their lighter soy-based sauce, with a little spicy mayo on the side. The bowl was fresh and delish, but I'd request less onion next time and more of the cucumbers for added crunch.

The diced fish in sauce concept is technically very easy to make at home if you have access to fresh ingredients...but you can't beat the convenience of picking up a bowl. Wonder if I can convince my favorite sushi take-out joint to start adding this as an option ; )

For anyone planning a SoCal visit, here are my other favorite spots from a past trip.

San Francisco outfit layers & food travel diary

LOFT sweater (review; also worn here) xsp + jeans 24p, Burberry trench sz 2 (similar)

Clare Vivier bag (old), Stuart Weitzman Lowland boots sz 5 c/o (review; also here)

Hello hello ~ This is a little belated, but I wanted to share one last outfit post from San Francisco as well as some yummy highlights from my visit. You guys certainly knew the hot spots, since most of the places I called from your suggestions were booked or had hours-long waits. I only made it to a few, but now all the more reason to go back! My trench coat and flat boots came in handy for all the "hiking" up and down those steep hills, necessary for working off the good eats.

pretty painted ladies in Alamo Square

I'll start with my favorite meal of the trip - garlic noodles & peppercorn crab at PPQ Dungeneses Island, a must for fellow crab lovers. Please pardon the low-quality image taken from my Snapchat. Not the most compelling visually, but I'm practically drooling at the memory! I hate the fussiness of eating crab, but the shell was so soft we didn't even need cracker tools. Not recommended for those who don't like to get their fingers messy and probably not for first dates. I can't wait to go back and try their other items, as well as their crab-petitor restaurant Thanh Long for comparisons sake.

Oh, Mr. Holmes, how I wanted to love your famous cruffins! Like madwomen, my friend and I made a cruffin plan of action to ensure that we'd get some, and even went to bed early the night before. The filled muffin-croissant hybrids come out at 9AM each day, and apparently on weekends lines start as early as 8 (each person is limited to buy 2). They bake only 1 flavor each day so we had our fingers crossed for matcha green tea w/ strawberry filling, but were met with chocolate hazelnut. Nick enjoyed them back in Boston, but I likely wouldn't line up for them again. However, for fans of savory pastries, their pastrami + sauerkraut croissant was de-lish...we fought down to the crumbs for that one.

The frequently-Instagrammed Rotunda at Neiman Marcus, where I ended up a few too many times during my stay. Such a pretty place to meet over their fresh popovers and huge lobster clubs.

Dim sum at Yank Sing - I'm usually wary when my favorite familiar cheap eats are served in a more upscale setting (I mean just look at that teapot!), but it was pretty good here. And anywhere I can get a full range of dim sum, crispy roast duck buns, and juicy soup dumplings all in one place gets a thumbs up from me.
My first time trying okonomiyaki - had to Google it at the table as I couldn't decipher what it was made of. Apparently it's a popular Japanese savory pancake made commonly with a shredded cabbage base and a variety of mix-ins. Quite yummy with interesting textures! We had this at Namu Gaji, a farm-to-table type of restaurant.

And I'll leave you guys with this satisfying treat from Bi-Rite Creamery, just a few steps down the street from Namu Gaji. So many interesting and unique flavors available for packing into little ice cream sandwiches. I defaulted to my usual green tea, which did not disappoint!Thanks to my friends Ping for playing tour guide and Wendy for taking these photos!

How To Create A Stylish Breakfast In Bed Setup

Photos by Jenn Camp

There's nothing like breakfast in bed! Here's my take on a stylish setup that I created with my top picks from Simon. Make sure to head over to Simon SAID for all the details!

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Simon. The opinions, as always, are my own.

Instagram Lately + SoCal Food Guide (tacos, mochi, poke, hot pot)

Anthropologie petites dress (old), Steve Madden sandals (runs narrow), Chanel bag

Whenever we travel, scouting out and trying the best local eats is one of my top priorities. I'm constantly bookmarking / screenshotting yummy-looking places and badgering Nick to go a little out of our way sometimes for a bite. I wanted to share some of our favorite spots along the route of San Diego to Los Angeles from our trip last month, for anyone planning a visit. I would also LOVE some recommendations around those areas for our future visits!

Guess boy-fit shorts (on sale), Ann Taylor top

Starting in San Deigo, we landed and made our way to Hammond's Gourmet Ice Cream. Move over, beer flights...this place has the cutest mini ice cream flights with your choice of sugar or house-made waffle cones. You can get singles or flights of 3, 4, 5...up to 32 for enthusiasts who want to try every flavor! I called up a local hungry friend who eagerly ditched work to help us polish this off. If you're having trouble narrowing down options, the Banana brownie storm, POG (pineapple orange guava) sorbet and thai iced tea were a few of our favorites.

One thing Nick always misses from home are the tacos, so we make sure to get our fix whenever there. TJ Oyster Bar is a small chain outside of San Diego with delish seafood tacos and ceviche. I'm not even a big taco person but I loove the tasty octopus and garlic shrimp tacos (so many shrimp for the price!) here, and the fish or shrimp cevice - be sure to ask for extra tostadas for scooping it up.

Kawamata Seafood - in Dana Point, CA right off the 5 freeway. I can't believe this was our first time trying poke bowls, a Hawaiian specialty. As an avid sushi and chirashi lover who usually spends a good 5 minutes at dinner cutting everything into bite-sized pieces, I felt like this dish was made for me. You get to choose from ahi tuna, salmon, octopus (or a mix) with a variety of sauces and add-on toppings, and white or brown rice. Soo good and felt light but filling.

Boiling Point - Irvine, CA (also right off the 5 freeway) and multiple other locations around the US. We read there's usually long wait times but we went during a non-peak time and were seated right away. I'm the biggest hot pot enthusiast but this was the first time we tried it Taiwanese-style! I've never ordered hot pot with all of the ingredients coming out already stewing in the pot. For adventurous eaters, there are interesting, authentic items to choose from like stinky tofu (very palatable name, I know). I can't wait to try to Seattle location when visiting my brother.

Brodard - almost 4,000 reviews on yelp say it all for their famed pork & shrimp spring rolls or nem nuong cuon. My friend Wendy first took me here for these (I had never seen her so enthusiastic about food!), which are apparently high in the ranks of Vietnamese comfort food. I can see a platter of these being the perfect late-night drinking food.
Cafe Maji - two locations in Artesia or Arcadia, CA. Within a few moments of posting this on FB and IG several of you guys asked if this was a pregnancy announcement...rest assured no baby bear on the way, it was just the barista's choice that day : ) Everything looked amazing but the green tea latte and green tea/strawberry/red bean waffle were a little too sweet for us. We did however love the regular cappuccino and the tasty little cream puff it comes with. Looking forward to trying their other drinks and quesadillas next time.

Mikawaya mochi - in Little Tokyo, LA. Home of the boxes of mochi sold at Trader Joe's. My mind was blown to see "mochilatos" on the menu...little glutinous rice balls stuffed with creamy gelato instead of regular ice cream. At $1 to $1.50 a pop, these are perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth after a ramen meal in the area.

Photos are all from my Instagram. As mentioned above, we visit every so often so I'd absolutely love more recommendations in the SD to LA areas!

Instagram lately: outfit ideas & favorite eats

ASOS scarf (see all pattern options), Rag & Bone jeans sz 24, J.Crew tee (25% off)

I lived in these oversized scarves last fall/winter so am glad to see many options this year. This big check pattern has most of my favorite neutral colors -taupe, ivory, light and dark grey- in one. I also have this tartan plaid one posted previously on Instagram. If you feel at a loss due to the size, definitely check out my video on how to style blanket scarves (I also kept these at work and just draped over my shoulders when cold). This J.Crew heathered tee is a great basic - mine is years old in XS regular, which is long on me in the torso and sleeves, but I just noticed they now make it in petite sizing!

J.Crew vest (25% off), Vince Camuto booties, Articles of Society "Sarah" jeans

BR shirt (old, similar gingham - extra 35% off + free ship), Ann Taylor tote

This is the year I finally cave to New England favorites like the down vest and weather boots, and I'm not sure what took so long! I was very happy with this vest, and as some of you may have seen on Snapchat (@extrapetite) - envious Nick stole it right away to try on and consequently got stuck. This vest and grey tee above are still on sale through tonight w/code TIMETOSHOP in a multitude of colors. If you're looking for max versatility, navy should be a safe bet. I got xxs petite and it comes in one size smaller for smaller-framed ladies.

I'm trying on the VC Franell booties in both photos above and found them to fit and feel very similar to their Hillsy booties which I already have. Both feel very cushy and comfortable on the foot, but I can't speak to walking longer distances as I haven't worn mine outside yet. If you're in between sizes, I'd suggest going up.

Ann Taylor top, Banana Republic pants, Zara heels, Baublebar necklace c/o (25% off)

As previously mentioned, this AT top was a little too long for me in the sleeves. I wanted to share a very simple DIY alteration I performed on it that only requires a needle and thread. For tops in a drapey material where the shoulders feel a little too wide and/or the sleeves are a bit too long, I love this shirring the shoulders tip. By shirring together the width of the shoulders, the sleeve length gets raised as well.

I picked out this dress (c/o) for a campaign with WHBM and thought it was super flattering. It is a fully-lined knit material with invisible back zip, faux leather trim on the sleeves, and a fun chevron "V" back. For ladies who want some variety outside of the usual work brands AT/LOFT/BR, WHBM comes out with a few pieces each season that really catch my eye. Unfortunately they don't have sales often and petite sizing is online only, however I did see that full-priced petite items online get everyday free shipping & returns.
And it's not an Instagram roundup without some food snaps...one of the things we'll definitely miss come Fall is the abundance of fresh corn. We've been making an easy version of elotes, or Mexican-style corn, in the oven instead of grill. Simply bake unhusked corn at 350 for about 30 min or until done, then shuck and brush/spread with light mayo (to get toppings to stick). Top liberally with paprika or chili powder, grated cheese, chopped herbs, and lime juice. So good!

We love making day trips up north, but fellow Bostonians may agree that Route 1 is one of the more bleak drives, especially when hungry. Amidst the shell of restaurants that have seen their heyday we found Pho Paris - it's not a contender for my favorite in Boston (Pho Viets) but is enough to make future drives a little brighter!

Last but not least, I found my husband mouth agape staring at these treats inside a local Asian grocery (Super 88), and was like a child on the verge of a tantrum unless we brought them home. We were first introduced to Mikawaya by way of the frozen mochi ice cream at Trader Joe's, then became further addicted via their store in little Tokyo, LA. I still prefer their mochi, but for fellow lovers of green tea or red bean ice cream - these didn't disappoint!

All photos from Instagram (@extrapetite) - find me on there for daily updates!

Cape Cod weekend: New England Clambake + ASOS floral swimsuit

ASOS swimsuit (runs small, fit review below) - filter by size on all their cute swimwear here

H&M hat, Ray-Ban 58mm aviators

The one-piece swimsuit made a major comeback recently and I hope it's here to stay. What's not to love about tummy coverage, especially in all the cute prints and designs that this year's suits came in? We spent a weekend with friends in Cape Cod where the highlight of the trip was an authentic New England clambake. With chowing down heartily on the agenda, a one-piece was a no-brainer.

Being small-chested, I usually shy away from styles without underwire cups or some kind of padding. I ordered this suit anyways to try on because it was so darling. Despite the lack of a boost in the bust, I was really pleasantly surprised by the look when on, and encourage fellow small-busted ladies to not be afraid to try things outside of your comfort zone...
Nick loved it as well which always serves as a double vote for me. I will say it runs very small on the bottoms and the waistband. I am wearing a US 0 and heard the sound of some stitches ripping as I pulled the waistband on over my hips. In hindsight I probably should've sized up to a 2, but wasn't going to return it after busting a few threads! I think the stitches that broke were not critical, since I've worn and washed it 3 times since with no issues, holes, or signs of it coming apart, so I'm not concerned. The higher-style bottom kept my tummy tucked in all day comfortably despite large meals.

The suit is lined but not padded in the bust. I tried it on at home and it was not see through for me, but not wanting to leave anything up to chance (or potentially cold breezes), I used needle and thread to tack in (stitched and knotted just at the corners of the triangular shapes) a few thin liner cups that I took out of an old swimsuit. These cups are also sold at Joann's or other fabric/craft stores where the bra clasps are. So many swimsuits that I browsed only are only lined and not padded these days...must be a lot of brave souls out there. I also want to note that the butt coverage on this is less to medium. Definitely not brazilian style, but in between there and full coverage.

An authentic clambake involves a lot of labor and love, and the end results get scarfed down in minutes! The boys had gathered wood and stones the day before, and were up at 5AM digging a sandpit and heating them up. The heated pit is then layered with seaweed before the goodies go on and get covered by a tarp. Everything is steamed together under the tarp for a while, and the tarp lifting below is truly magical to hungry bystanders.

Lobster, clams, potatoes, corn, and sausages oh my

PS - ASOS also has some great padded/cupped swimsuit options in extended sizing, ranging from 30A to DDD/F cups! See my past review on their underwire cup swimsuits and also their full swim selection (you can filter by size, which is the easiest way to browse for me).