Hurricane Sandy Friendly: Easy Chili

I'm deviating from the norm a bit here, and bringing you my recipe for the easiest chili you will ever make. I wanted to share this because, while I'm not directly on the east coast, we have felt the effects of Sandy. It's oh, I don't know....37 degrees outside and snowing - and it's not even November yet. It was just 80 degrees last Tuesday. As they say "If you don't like the weather in Ohio, just wait til tomorrow. It will change." Also, I'm freezing. The puppy keeps telling me he needs to go outside, when really all he wants to do is play Pocahontas and feel the colors of the wind blowing through his floppy ears. Rawr. But I digress...

Here's my recipe for delicious and easy chili. I use ground turkey because we don't eat red meat at our house, but feel free to use ground beef (you could maybe try chicken or steak, too).

Easy Chili

Ingredients:

• 2, 28 oz cans of crushed tomatoes


• 2 cans of diced tomatoes (or about 3 cups fresh diced tomatoes)


• 1 can of red kidney beans drained, or 1 can chili beans - do not drain chili beans if you use them


• 1 can of black beans, drained


• 2 packets of chili seasoning (we use hot and spicy :-) )


• 1 lb 85/15 ground turkey, browned and drained


• 1 yellow onion, diced

Directions:

• Dump all ingredients into a crock pot (4 qt. and higher sizes) and mix well


• Let simmer on low all day if you like, or about 2 hours on high


• Eat with cheese, sour cream, or whatever plays your fiddle


• Serve with delicious corn bread

Makes about 16, 1-cup servings, at about 167 calories per serving, 22 carbs, 6 g fiber, 10 g protein, 5 g fat, and 239 mg of sodium

Here's a photo of my last batch, because I am lazy haha

Cat Calls - No, I don't have to be OK with it....

So with all of the body love posts, and the anti-breast bullying posts, I've had this kind of topic on my mind for a while. I experienced breast bullying a lot when I was growing up. Nothing entirely too hateful, but enough people made comments about the size for me to feel ashamed of the size of my breasts.

Fast forward to Halloween this year. For any of my Facebook fans, you've seen the pictures that I have posted from Saturday night when my husband and I dressed up and went out. I was a pirate wench, and he was my scurvy pirate dog :-D

Costume: "Vixen Pirate Wench" by Leg Avenue, size 3X-4X. Under garments include: Curvy Kate Emily bra, my own pantaloons, and SPANX tight-end high waisted opaque black tights (FTW love these tights).

As the night went on, and many drinks were had.....this is how I looked:

[caption id="attachment_458" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Beginning of the night; my bra is totally showing....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_459" align="aligncenter" width="225"] OMG Boobs! I actually kind of love the volume in my breasts here[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_460" align="aligncenter" width="225"] And ended with me wearing my husband's pirate wig, a sloppy smile, and lots of boobs.[/caption]

There was quite a lot of feedback about a status I posted on my page, and there was a comment given that is one I have heard before: you have big boobs, you need to have confidence to go with it because people are going to say negative/positive things. That comment really bothered me, as it's not something that's new to my ears, and I think that it can really be viewed as hurtful.

I've thought about that comment, and thought about the reactions that I got from folks at the bar. Within 5 seconds of walking into the bar, a woman came up to me and said "OMG! Your boobs are huge! Can I motorboat you?" Me: "No, thanks...", Her: "Can my husband look at your boobs? He's totally a boobs guy!" Me: *walks away*

Ten minutes later, the owner of the bar comes over to talk to a friend of ours and says "Oh hi, boobs."

Admittedly, I "broke the seal" way too early into the evening, so I kept making multiple trips to the restroom (side note: wearing high-waisted tights with every intention of drinking = bad idea). At one point, I came out of the bathroom and passed two young guys. As I was walking away from them, they said to each other "OMG! Did you see her! Her tits are huge!". As my palm itched to turn around and slap them, I just kept walking and sat back down by my husband.

Let's not add in the fact that there was a guy standing maybe 5 feet away from our table that stared at my chest all night long, and when I got up to sing (clearly, the only way to celebrate Halloween is by going to Karaoke :-D ), he would grunt and make awkward noises towards me. Old Elvis also stared me down awkwardly...

[caption id="attachment_462" align="aligncenter" width="225"] He sang "Love Me Tender"[/caption]

I tried to let the comments just kind of slide off my skin. And I was cool with it. Obviously, I wore something revealing, and my boobs are not tiny (something another girl talked with me about in the bathroom - she sympathized, being a HH and all - commiseration was nice). However, what got under my skin was the notion that because I have big boobs, I have to be okay with it.

Why do I have to be okay with it? Why do I have to be okay with men/women degrading me into a sex object? Why do I have to be okay with disrespectful comments? As someone else said on my FB page, when you see someone in a dress that has small boobs, you don't go up to them and say "wow! your boobs are tiny! it's too bad they don't fill out that dress! you would look so much better with bigger boobs!".

So, if we don't say that to people who aren't as endowed, then why is it okay to make comments like this to women who ARE full busted? It's a double standard, and a wrong one at that.

Yes, it takes a lot of confidence to be comfortable with your body when you are full busted. But that confidence should not come at the price of having to listen to negative and snarky comments from other people. Confidence doesn't make it okay. For me, it comes down to respect. Respect for other people's bodies.

Now I know that I wasn't at the bar to make friends or necessarily share my personality, my thoughts, my ideals....but at the end of the day, I - like many other people - want to be seen for who I am on the inside, versus the large sweater puppies I have on my chest. I don't know that that's too much to ask.

No, I don't have to be okay with cat calls and remarks about my breast size. Kind of like sexual harassment is all about perspective - not intentions - to me, I felt as though I was being breast bullied. And that's not okay. 

***Have you ever had a similar experience based on something that you wore in public? How did it make you feel? What did you do about it? Let me know in the comments below***

Plus Size Bra Review: Elomi Betty

I promised this review to be posted on Saturday, and then I remembered that I don't really blog/facebook/twitter much on the weekends :-)

Anyways...



 

The Elomi Betty is available in sizes 34 GG-HH, 36-42 D-HH, 44 D-G, and 46 D-DD in the beautiful navy color (and soon in Black/White dot in December). Matching panties available in sizes M-4XL. I paid $68 for the bra, and $32 for the matching panties. I almost cried.

On my trip to size a friend at Nordstrom, I happened to see that they finally started carrying the Betty and matching shorts. I knew I shouldn't have tried it on....because as soon as I did, I had to buy it. I bought the Betty in a 40HH, and the matching shorts in a 2XL.

Pics:



 



 



 

Features: Fully adjustable straps, 3 hook and eyes, plunging center gore, 4 part cups including side sling to push tissue forward, embroidered rose detail, bows on straps and central gore, minimum stretch 1" straps, mesh wings, banded bottom.

Fit: A 40HH is typically the size that I can wear in a lot of Elomi bras. I need a 38J, but a lot of Elomi's styles do not come up to a J-cup (at least not most of the really cute bras). Anyways, I could use a smidge more space on the side of the cups, but overall, the fit is good. I've worn this a few times and even once for more than 5 hours. I do not feel as though I am going to fall out of the cups, as is what usually happens when I wear a plunge bra.

Support and Shape: The support in the Betty is fabulous!! The shape on the other hand.....a tad too point for my tastes. Admittedly, I would love a little more more "oomph".  I would love for my girls to be smushed together a bit more for a bit more of a dramatic cleavage line. See here how it holds up under a few of my low v-neck shirts/dresses:



[caption id="attachment_450" align="alignnone" width="300"]    t-shirt[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_451" align="alignnone" width="300"] wrap dress

Wrap dress[/caption]

 

As you can see, either my purple wrap dress is too low, or the Betty isn't a good option for that dress. You also get more of an understanding of how pointy the Betty is in the side view.

Other Thoughts: I was really surprised by how stiff the material of the Betty was when I first got it. It reminded me of industrial strength netting that you would use to sew strange foundation garments. The panties are made of a similar material, though not as stiff. With multiple washes, the panties have definitely softened up, but the bra is still stiff. The material does not bother my skin, but it feels weird to touch. I do love the novelty of the Betty plunge, but as you can see, it's not ideal for very low necklines, and gives quite a pointy shape. Other than that, the bra is quite comfortable, and you don't fall out of it. I would have loved more oomph in this bra.

The Panty Experience: I did buy the matching panties in a 2XL. There's no clear size conversion for Elomi's panties, but I would say that the 2XL is comparable to a US 18/20. They are definitely much shorter than I am used to wearing (I typically wear full briefs), which is kind of hard to get used to. Also, they are completely sheer - hence no pictures. My husband really appreciates this characteristic, but I was kind of "meh" about it. The material of the panties is kind of slippery; when I wore them with jeans, I felt like my jeans were about to slide off of my bottom because of the panties. (maybe I need smaller jeans...)

Overall Grade: B.....the shape and the oomph of this bra could be improved! 

Also, follow me on Pinterest! :-) 

 

 

Fussy Busty's Thursday Faves 10/25 ....A day late...

I was really busy yesterday, but there are still some great reads this week that I wanted to highlight :-)

 



 

 

We ARE Good Enough  - Oh how I LOVE this post by Erica at A Sophisticated Pair. It's a wonderful read and I don't want to give too much away so that you HAVE to go read it :-)

Breast Bullying  - Claire at The Butterfly Collection talks about what Breast Bullying is and how we can stop it. I grew up with big boobs and always took flack from my family, friends, and even the people that I dated it. It hurts and it needs to stop.

Also, if you didn't know, the girls over at Invest In Your Chest are celebrating their 2nd Blogiversary! Go check out their blog! They have tons of giveaways that you can enter to win :-) 22 days left to go!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

As part of Thursday Faves, I am going to start including any relevant sales that I see on bras. I get all these emails in my inbox that I usually ignore (I am on a bra buying hiatus until after all of my Christmas shopping is finished....I solemnly swear I am up to no good....)

Both BraStop and LoveBras are offering free shipping to UK address and half-off worldwide! Yay for only paying $6 instead of $12 to the US for shipping. Also, they have tons of bras that are up to 75% off on the site (including bikinis!). Good until midnight Sunday 10/28

Bras are BOG1 1/2 off at Lane Bryant's Cacique (for those of you under a UK 44FF)

If you see anything else, feel free to comment :-)

 

Upcoming Reviews:

Elomi 'Betty' plunge bra (40HH)
Panache 'Tango II' Balconnet bra (in a 38J this time)
Elomi 'Energise' Sports Bra (in the sample size 38JJ that Eveden sent me)

 

 

 

 

Where are you, Busty Ladies???

A topic that came up on Miss Underpinnings blog has really hit home for me....

Being a part of the bra blogging community is wonderful, but when you're not physically close to other bloggers, it's hard to stay connected. So many of the FABULOUS blogs I read are either based in the UK, or are located in states that are quite far away from Ohio. The most exciting thing that has happened to me was meeting Suzanne from Eveden (which was really quite exciting). I would love to meet other busty ladies in person!

Anyways, if you're from Ohio (or even close by PA, Indy, or maybe even Kentucky), shoot me a message! I would love to meet you and talk about boobs, bras, and a good fit :-)

 

Plus Size Bra Review: Elomi Sakura

The Elomi Sakura bra is actually a discontinued style, however, the new 'Libby' is built on the same frame. The Libby is available in sizes 36-42 E-JJ and 44 E-G in Raisin/Chocolate for AW '12. Matching panties are available in sizes M-4XL

I remember seeing the navy blue print of the Sakura a while ago on HerRoom's website and didn't buy it. However, a couple weeks ago I happened to find the Sakura in Blossom on eBay in a 40J for only $27.50 (in my mind, quite the deal!). Yes I need 38's, but I really wanted this bra and figured I could take in the band if need be.

Pictures:

[caption id="attachment_430" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Sakura, 40 J[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_431" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Sakura, 40 J[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_432" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Sakura, 40J[/caption]

Features: Fully adjustable, minimal stretch straps, banded bottom, higher central gore - though not as high as the Caitlyn, 3 hooks and eyes, 4 part full coverage cup, bows on straps and center gore, and mesh wings.

Fit: In the 40J, there was a little bit of space in the cups as you can see. Also, I think in general, I'm struggling with how wide the wires are. I know that in Elomi bras, in a 40HH, I still get the same side coverage I need without the really wide wires (you can see in the Sakura that the wires are almost to my back). The wideness of the wires isn't uncomfortable, but it looks silly and I worry that it won't help in the retraining of my migrated tissue. The central gore sits flush against my chest BUT I have found that because of the height of the wires and the non-stretch materials of the cup, the bra tends to shift throughout the day, pushing the central gore away from my chest and giving me a bit of double boob on my bigger side. The band was surprisingly firm in the 40 when I first wore it, but it only took a day of wear for it to relax.

The band is not too tight, but no surprise to me, the bottom of it tends to flip up. The banded part of the bra flipped when I had only had the bra on for a couple minutes! I know that the Libby was often suggested to me when I first started buying bras in my more accurate size, and when I expressed concerns about the banded bottom, I was told not to worry. I think the reality is that I am really quite short waisted, so even the slightest bit of extra material around the wires is uncomfortable for me. Instead of me constantly flipping the band back down, I just let it flip and then go about my day as it is more comfortable without the band pressing on my tummy anyways.

Support and Shape: I very much prefer the shape of the Sakura than my other Elomi bras such as the Briony and the Abi; I feel as though I get much better lift in this bra and the shape is less wide. It might have something to do with the better anchorage of the banded bottom, but I'm no bra constructionist.

Other Thoughts: This bra is soooo pretty. It makes me happy to wear it. Probably not the sexiest thing, but I love all of the sweet touches of femininity on this bra. I wore this bra, and then wore my new Betty (review to come after a few more wears), which has led me to truly appreciate plunge bras as I love the lower central gores.

I would definitely recommend the Libby to anyone who is looking for a full coverage bra that provides great support and shape, without being as overwhelming (and work horse-like) as the Caitlyn.

Grade: A

Ambition is Bigger Than Time....

More and more, I keep thinking this is what I want to do. I want to own a lingerie boutique. I want to fit women and change their lives!

I also want to own a bakery. And a restaurant. And a craft store.

I have the tendency to start many, many projects and then have myself spread thin. Like right now? I work full time, I'm finishing up my master's, we got another dog in August (yikes, potty and puppy training), I have a very successful Etsy wedding favors store, we're working on starting a handmade soap business, and I have all those buckeyes to drill holes into and make into necklaces and wreaths, etc. We're also listing our condo for sale in the Spring to move closer to my family (2 hours away). Oh, did I mention that I'm an avid crocheter? I'm actively looking for a teaching job that I can start up after graduation, too. Yesterday, my husband and I started working on our massive combined family trees (with my Dad's side of the family's lineage dating all the way back to 1700's Germany...).....The # of pots we have our hands in right now is insane.

But, as I was sitting and talking to my uncle's sister on Saturday, telling her about bras and fit and the brands I love for a half hour - poor girl, I chat her ear off - I kept thinking "This is what I want to do!". But I've thought that about so many of my other projects. And yes, somehow, the schedule always works out, and I am able to get everything done. But how would I start a lingerie boutique?

I wish I was the kind of person that could choose one thing to be passionate about and devote all of my time towards that one thing. There are pros and cons to being the way I am (see: unfocused), and sometimes I only see the pros and others just the cons. Admittedly, I'm not sure where I'm going with this. Just kind of stream of consciousness.

In other news, I'm hosting my first bra fit workshop in a couple weeks! I am aching to share what I have learned and what I know with the women in my life, so I'm inviting a group of ladies over to my house to talk about bras, how they should fit, and how they can help their friends and family, too. Obviously, I have nothing to sell except for the big message: every woman should know how a bra is supposed to fit her, that way she can make an informed decision when she is out shopping, or when she is fit by someone in a store (i.e. Victoria's Secret, Lane Bryant, etc...).

I guess in a way, this is my contribution to the people in my life. I can't actually start a lingerie boutique right now, but at least I can help to educate other women :-)

And now, I have probably spent enough time distracting myself from my thesis...

Happy Monday!

 

Fussy Busty's Thursday Faves 10/18

Is it really Thursday again, already???



 

Linda's Response to OUR responses about her use of the term Vanity Sizing

And, of course, the lovely Claire's response back 

Love this tongue in cheek guide to 8 last minute costume ideas over at The Lingerie Addict

The Kiss Me Deadly 'Elle' Robe....WANT....

Plus Size Bra Review: Panache 'Sienna'

I've been lusting after the Panache Sienna bra since the first time that I laid eyes on it. I mean, c'mon....It's gorgeous....

The Panache Sienna is available in sizes 30-38 D-K in Black/Lagoon for Fall (and some purple still hanging out around there). I got this for about $34.00 on FigLeaves.com. Matching short/thong available in sizes XS-XXXL. A UK size 20 = US 16.

As soon as I saw that I could get this for - what I call - a decent price, I set out to order it. There's really *not* a lot of reviews of the Sienna in the blogosphere, so I wasn't quite sure about sizing. I'm in between a J/JJ in my 40's of my Panache bras, so the first time I ordered the Sienna, I ordered it in a 38K (since I am sizing down in band). Here's how that turned out:

[caption id="attachment_402" align="aligncenter" width="300"] 38K[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_403" align="aligncenter" width="279"] 38K[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_404" align="aligncenter" width="300"] 38K[/caption]

If you can see in the second photo, the wires come up unbearably high on the sides. I called FigLeaves to see if they could tell me if this was something that was due to the wire shape of the Sienna, or if I should try the next cup size down. We ended up deciding that I would return the 38K for the 38JJ. I fell in love with the bra, and it gives a lovely shape. The 38K was a pretty good fit, overall, but I was hopeful about the 38JJ. I also ordered the matching briefs in a UK 20.

So, here's the 38JJ:

[caption id="attachment_406" align="aligncenter" width="560"] 38JJ[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_407" align="aligncenter" width="560"] 38JJ[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_408" align="aligncenter" width="300"] 38JJ[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_409" align="aligncenter" width="300"] 38JJ[/caption]

What you can see in the photos is that, in all reality, sizing down in the cup didn't change anything about the wire height on the side - however, it did put the wire placement forward about a half an inch on my side, under the arm.

Features: half adjustable, semi-padded straps, 3 hooks and eyes in JJ and K cups, 3 part balcony cup, fully lined cups, non-stretch upper lace cup, pretty bow on central gore, stretch lace mesh wings, higher wing height.



 

Fit: I'll be assessing the fit in the 38JJ. The cups fit perfectly; no gaping, no double boob, the central gore lies flat, and I feel as though all of my tissue - even on the sides - is able to be pulled into the cups. I think it's important to keep in mind that the lace upper part of the cup is not stretch. Therefore, I think if you have any more than maybe a half cup size differences in your breasts, this might not work for you. The 38 band is everything I hoped it would be! Snug and comfortable, and keeps the wires of the bra firmly against my body which prevents the sliding and rashes associated with a band that is too big. If you can see, I fit into the bottom of the cups of the 38JJ better than the 38K.

Support and Shape: The shape that I get in the Sienna is what I consider ideal for a non-padded bra. My breasts are lifted and rounded by the expert seaming of the Sienna bra. The wires are not very flexible, which means that the support is constant and unwavering. The center gore is nice and low (a VERY welcome change in comparison to the Tango II wires), but it seems as though the Sienna overcompensates for a low central gore with very tall wires on the sides.

Other thoughts: I love this bra. The minute that I put it on, I feel sexy and confident. And then I relax my shoulders and I am stabbed by the underwires under my arms. It's possible that the wires will relax and I will get used to them being higher....honestly, the bra is too pretty to return and the fit really *is* great other than the unfortunate wire height. The materials are great for this bra! And the color is to die for.

The Panty Experience: I ordered the matching panties in a UK 20 (my first ever matching set!!), and was so sad to see that they did not fit. Realistically, I should not have been surprised. A UK 20 = US 16; I typically wear an 18/20 in cotton panties. The panties came up pretty low on me, and I had a bit of a muffin and rather indecent exposure in the front. However, I will say that the panties are as equally gorgeous as the bra is. The panties are lined in the front, but the back is sheer lace mesh. I'm keeping these as well, as I continue to lose weight and these panties are going to be so awesome when they fit.

Overall Grade: B- .....the bra is sexy, but is wire stabbing worth it?

Fussy Busty's Thursday Faves 10/11

 

 

Today's Thursday faves are all photos from my morning today. I am currently working as a nanny while I finish up my master's, so every day is something new with the kids. This morning the 4 year old and I went out to "pick berries" at 9 am (and 31 degrees.....*bbrrrrrr*) and we discovered that the family has a buckeye tree in their yard.

I'm from Ohio. We are the buckeye state. My husband's entire family is full of die-hard OSU Buckeye Football Fans. I employed the 4 year old to help me collect ALL of the buckeyes we could find. I am going to use my husband's drill and get my craft on later and put together some Christmas gifts after the buckeyes dry out. Perhaps some wreaths? Necklaces? Ideas abound!

 

 

[caption id="attachment_395" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Look at all the buckeyes!!![/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_394" align="aligncenter" width="225"] A buckeye was trying to evade our collection by hanging out in its shell.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_396" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Yep; We used one of their sand buckets. We actually ended up with almost double what you see here.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_397" align="aligncenter" width="560"] All gone![/caption]

 

Updates:

• Still waiting on my Panache Sienna to get here so that I can try it again (got it in a 38K; too big in the cups, so re-ordered a 38JJ); Sending back the Tango for a 38J.


• Winners for the giveaway were posted; I'll be working on coding data and compiling results in the next week. Thanks again to everyone that participated!!

This weekend is my husband and I's anniversary trip, so the blog/facebook/twitter will be exceptionally quiet Sunday-Wednesday. 

Plus Size Bra Review: Panache Tango II

[caption id="attachment_376" align="aligncenter" width="255"] Photo from Barenecessities.com[/caption]

The Panache Tango II bra is available from sizes 28E-44FF for $54.00 in fashion and continuity colors

*This bra was gifted to me by Panache North America in a size 40J for review.

Pictures:

[caption id="attachment_380" align="alignnone" width="300"] On the loosest hooks[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_381" align="alignnone" width="300"] On the tightest set of hooks[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_377" align="alignnone" width="300"] On the tightest set of hooks, I still have quite a bit of space in the band[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_382" align="alignnone" width="300"] T-shirt views are important :-)[/caption]

Features: Half adjustable, semi-padded straps, 3 hooks and eyes in a J cup, 3 part balcony cup, light lining, embroidery on cups, bow on central gore, wider wings.

Fit: Overall, the 40J is too big. As I've noted in a few posts here and there, I'm realizing that I realistically need to start exploring 38 bands as 40's are too big and I'm not getting the support that I need. You can see in the one picture that I hooked the bra immediately on the tightest set of hooks and I think I could stand to have the bra tighter.  While my Andorra 40Js are actually a little small in the cup and small in the band, the Tango seems to fit a little more "stretchy" - comparable in band to Curvy Kate Emily and Angel. Also, as I'm learning and getting to know my breasts, I am more full on the bottom than on the top. This combined with really tall wires in the center means that there was quite a bit of space left in the top of the cups of the Tango. The wires on the sides did not come up very high (I know that some women have said that the wires come up very high under the arm, but I found the wire height to be similar to my Curvy Kate bras, but higher than my Elomi bras) and were quite comfortable on the sides. In terms of the cup, I had a hard time getting my breasts to settle into the cup and I couldn't get the wires to sit directly under the root of my breasts. Again, this is because I need a tighter band that holds the wires in place.

Support and Shape: The bra is comfortable and gives pretty good lift. Because it's the wrong size, I'm curious to see what kind of lift I would get in perhaps a 38J/JJ. The shape is a little more pointy than I prefer, but that is fairly typical of non padded bras. My biggest complaint about the shape is that this bra isn't really a balconnet - at least not for me - which might have something to do with it being too big. However, in my experience with Panache bras (Andorra, Ariza, Tango Luxe, and now the Tango), the wires come up really high in the center of their balcony bras. On me, the wires actually came up so high that there wasn't even breast tissue around the wires - it was literally so high that it was past the natural crease of my breasts. When I sat down with the bra on, the tops of the wires were visible through my t-shirt because they were so high.

Other Thoughts: I think, if able to get the right size, this would definitely be a go-to bra for me. I love the comfort of the wires of Panache bras and I can usually overlook the wire in general. I would say that this bra is more full coverage than balcony. It provides a lovely shape and has the lift that the Superbra line is known for :-)

I've contacted Courtney at Panache to see if I can send this back for another size or a different style, so hopefully I will be able to update my review once I get my hands on a smaller size.

Overall grade: B (for now)

Fussy Busty's Thursday Faves 10/4

***LOVE YOUR BOOBS. OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU DID A SELF EXAM?***

Even if you're only slightly involved in the lingerie blogging community, you are sure to have heard about Linda the Bra Lady's faux pas of suggesting that bras are vanity sized (ick. even typing that makes me want to gag - now you know how I feel about it!!). For anyone doubting the authenticity of the Daily Mail's quotes of Linda, click here to see the original article that Linda promoted on her own FB page.

Here's some great blogger's responses to this:

Congratulations, We all Win  - Sweets writes an amazingly eloquent post about NOT competing with each other and NOT comparing our breast sizes.

A Little Bit of Bra Info is a Dangerous Thing - Claire touches on the fact that sharing inaccurate bra information is detrimental to women as a whole, and also talks about why the +4 method was used and isn't always necessary now.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - For the Love of Lingerie notes different ways you can celebrate, donate and save some $$$ by showing some love to boobies :-)

_________________________________________________________

Side note: I do not feel as though bras are "vanity sized".

Also, please take the time to ENTER my giveaway!! :-) Contest ends Monday, 10/8.   **Complete nerd moment: the key to my SPSS software from my stats class last quarter is still valid, and I will be coding data to do an actual correlational analysis to determine if there is INDEED a connection to # of wears and wash habits. Please be sure to answer all parts of the contest to the fullest extent possible :-)

Survey Says....Let's have a giveaway!!

Last week, I posted a couple polls for readers to answer.

The first poll was "How often do you wear your bra before washing it?"

• 6 people said 1 day


• 13 people said 2-3 days


• 16 people said 4+ days

The second poll was "How do you wash your bras?"

• 13 people said By hand, in the sink or the bath tub without lingerie wash


• 12 people said By hand, in the sink or bath tub with lingerie wash


• 6 people said In a lingerie wash bag, in the washer, with lingerie wash


• 14 people said In a lingerie wash bag, in the washer, with regular laundry detergent


• 5 people said In the washing machine, not in a bag and with regular laundry detergent

I am infinitely curious about these results. Did the women who responded to the first poll also respond to the second poll? Admittedly, the psychologist in me wants to know if there is a connection between how many times women wear their bras before washing and how they wash their bras.

Obviously, the most popular answers indicate more frequent wear, and the use of a wash bag with laundry detergent.

So, starting today, I am hosting my first giveaway! The prizes are supplied by me because this is really just to satisfy my own curiosity. 

Prizes are as follows:

• 1 mesh lingerie wash bag


• 1, 32 oz bottle of either Lavender or Unscented Lingerie Wash

1-2 winners will be chosen, based on the number of entrants

Contest starts today and ends Monday (10/8). 

Click here to ENTER

(no, WordPress does not like Raffle Copter. Yes, I created a free web page just to host it).

Saying Goodbye to Loved Bras

Now, I'm not saying that I have been having a love affair with some of my bras....but the reality is that, well, I kind of have.

Over the past month or so I have lost about 10 pounds, and my size has definitely changed a bit. What I'm finding is that I am really in need of bras in a size 38J or 38JJ. My 40's are not feeling snug, my shoulders are hurting again, and my back keeps cracking in weird ways.

The long and short of it is that I love the look and style of my Curvy Kate bras, but other than the Emily, I cannot stand to wear them. The Portia that I got (40J) I wore once on August 8th and have not touched the bra since. My breast tissue is definitely migrating back into the right spot, and this bra just does not fit in the cup anymore.  The Angel that I got (40JJ) I have also only worn once and it continues to sit in the closet. My compulsive need to immediately pop tags off of bras when I get them new is part of the reason I am stuck with the Angel.

I LOVE the Angel bra. It is so gorgeous. I love everything about it. But the lift and shape is so off for me. The reality, I think, is that Curvy Kate is not the brand for me right now. I think this means that I am swearing off Curvy Kate - at least for a while. Many others have noted that the styles don't scale well into larger cup sizes, and I would have to agree. Perhaps if my breasts get smaller as I lose weight, Curvy Kate may be a viable option for me again. If you see another CK review from me in the next 4-6 months, slap my hands!!!

To remedy this situation, in the past couple days I have been uploading pictures to eBay to offload my ill fitting, and unworn bras. I've had pretty good success so far, and hopefully will have a decent amount of cash to put towards better fitting bras that won't hang out in the closet. It breaks my heart to sell these bras, but I know that it doesn't make sense to keep them in my closet unworn.

 

**How do you know when it's time to step away? How long do you let a bra sit in your closet before you decide it's time to let go? Let me know in the comments below**

Size Misconceptions at Victoria's Secret

I've never been one to shop at Victoria's Secret for a handful of reasons. My boobs are too big for their bras, and I have always been plus sized (wearing typically a size 22 or larger in pants). Admittedly, in American culture, there's such a stress on being able to shop at VS. I've always felt like I was missing out on something, or that maybe I was less of a woman because I could not shop at VS because of my size. I mean, c'mon....the place OOOZES sexiness. Who doesn't want a piece of that?

Anyways, a few years ago I had heard that the VS Pink lounge pants ran fairly big. It was something I brushed off, thinking "They can't possibly run as big as I need them to..."

A couple weeks ago, I double checked the sizing chart on the VS website for their Campus Lounge Pants to see if I really could measure up and try the pants out that every woman who tries them raves about.

 

[caption id="attachment_361" align="aligncenter" width="222"] Photo from Victoria's Secret.com[/caption]

 

Size chart from VS website for campus pants:

Size	XS0	XS2	S4	S6	M8	M10	L12	L14	XL16
Bust (in.)	32.5	33	34.5	35.5	36.5	37.5	39	40.5	42.5
Waist (in.)	24	25	26	27	28	29	30.5	32	34
Hip (in.)	34.5	35.5	36.5	37.5	38.5	39.5	41	42.5	44.5
Thigh (in.)	20.5	21	21.5	22	22.5	23	24	25	26.5

 

So, the last time I checked...my under bust measures 53"", my waist 40", my hips 48", and my thighs about 27". Based on this chart, it does not appear as though I could really even smash myself into a VS XL. Which is fine; I wear 20's in pants, and even up to a 24 in some brands. But, I thought....why the heck not?

On Wednesday when I met with Suzanne from Eveden, my husband and I decided to do some shopping afterwards (we WERE by the mall after all...), and I wanted to stop into VS to try the pants on. I could complain for hours about the terrible service that I received, but let me sum it up in a couple sentences: We were completely ignored when we walked into the store - no hello, no nothing. I walked by a group of four women talking and they did not acknowledge me. Never having shopped in a VS before, it took me a while to find what I was looking for. Granted, they do not have XLs in the store (at least not in lounge pants) so I started to feel even more out of place. I grabbed the campus pants in a large and figured I would try them on. To get to the fitting room, I had to walk from "PINK" through the beauty and makeup section to the actual bra shop. In beauty, there was an associate trying on lipstick. In the bra area? Four women standing in a circle laughing. I asked for a fitting room and got some rude looks as I was led back to try the pants on. I put them on and VOILA! A large fit my plus-sized, big belly body. When I walked out to show them to my husband, a handful of associates turned around with shock on their faces that the pants actually fit me.

Had it not been for the insane comfort of the pants, I would have walked out without buying anything. But I decided that my own desire to have comfy sweats this winter was more important than being snubbed by rude sales associates.

Okay, I said I wouldn't complain.....but....I was so appalled by how I was treated in that store.

But I digress....

It's possible that there ARE more options for plus sized women at VS than I originally thought. I was curious about the sizing of the campus pants the other day and held them up to a new pair of jeans that I just bought at Torrid (the same day we stopped at VS). The jeans I bought are skinny jeans - I can review them if readers are interested - in a size 24. They run small, but they are a great fit once you figure them out (on the torrid size chart, I measure into a size 20 - which fit in their boot cut jeans, but not the Sophia skinny jeans).

 

Size chart from www.Torrid.com

Torrid Sizes	Bust	Waist	Low Hip
12	39"	32"	41"
14	41"	34"	43"
16	43"	36"	45"
18	45"	38"	47"
20	47"	40"	49"
22	49"	42"	51"
24	51"	44"	53"
26	53"	46"	55"
28	55"	48"	57"

 

The waist measurement of size 24 jeans on their sizing chart is 44", but keep in mind that the skinny jeans I have run a size small (so the measurements are more related to a size 22). When I held up the  VS campus pants to these new jeans, the VS pants - not stretched - are 2" smaller - so the waist size is actually 40" instead of the 32" that they list on their sizing chart. 

Which means that a VS size Large in their campus pants will actually fit most women up to a US size 20. On top of this, I would say that there is a good 4" worth of stretch in the waist band. So realistically, it's possible that women who wear a US size 24 could wear these pants.

Now, the same cannot be said about all of VS's bottoms, i.e. panties, other styles of pants, etc. But if you're looking for a pair of the most comfortable pants you will ever own and are willing to throw down $46.50, and you happen to be plus sized....know that just because the tag says "L" does not mean that you cannot wear these pants.

Happy October and have a great Monday! :-)