Last Saturday morning, my friend mentioned a strawberry-picking festival with promises of strawberry shortcake, which was enough to get me leaping out of bed. I love picking seasonal fruit at local farms, but the cherry on top is when the farm’s market offers corresponding treats (fresh cider donuts, anyone?). If you’re interested in finding “pick your own” farms near you, this international guide looks like a pretty good resource (seeking out cherries next!).
Our first stop of the day was to fuel up on my favorite breakfast dish in the greater Boston area…
Sofra, a little Turkish bakery & cafe, is the sister operation of Sienna Farms and the popular Oleana restaurant in Cambridge. I’ve tried a number of things here, but the “shakshuka” (eggs poached in a flavorful tomato broth served with a freshly-baked roll) brings me back time and time again. If you don’t like your eggs too runny, let them know. We’ve tried to recreate this dish at home and it never comes close. Tip – order 3 extra “pita” rolls to sop up the yummy sauce, and it could be a small breakfast for two (leaving room to try the pastries).
For the farm, I was warned that there’d be sweat, crawling, and lots of bending over. I picked an easy-to-wash ASOS set, wore bike shorts underneath, and grabbed a big hat for sun protection. I first saw this skirt set on Khatu last year and loved it on her. The midi-length design (original fit) was not flattering on me with flats, so I hemmed it a few inches shorter to hit right above the knees. ASOS Petite runs very small in my experience – I’m wearing a US 0/1 petite here, which fits about a size smaller than American brand 00Ps.
We went to Verrill Farm in Concord, MA (30-40 min outside the city), which allowed self-picking starting at 9AM. Entrance is free and picked berries were a reasonable $3/lb. I highly recommend arriving at farms as early as possible – we lazily rolled in around 1pm and the fields were very picked over (visitors after us were cut off). All the ripe berries remaining were teeny but tasty, and the air in the fields smelled so sweet and delicious.
Post-picking snack of strawberry shortcake with a generous dollop of whipped cream
Soft-serve ice cream lovers should save room for Dairy Joy on the way home, and Thoreau fans can make a detour to the nearby Walden pond reservation. After we got home, the mini-sized berries made a good puree for chilled bubbly drinks.
Photos borrowed from friends’ Instagrams
I must say, picking grounded fruit turned out to be one of the best workouts my thighs/butt have had in a while. The only ripe berries left were hidden underneath, requiring low bobbing from row to row. I had been doing squats regularly at home, but the burn from those was nothing compared to what was felt the days post-berry picking.
As my mother says, when people use words like "ugly" or "dumb", they are simply portraying their own faces lol.
The pictures of this post are just…magazine high-quality. Great read for my Friday night (just cross my fingers that some of your yummy dishes will appear in my dreams, which is kinda good start for a weekend, don't you think?)
I have to sort of agree.. It is becoming more of a food blog rather than clothing combined with irritating details about things like blood pudding
The commenter is missing that Jean's "lifestyle" posts are fashion posts, which is what makes her blog useful and unique. I would have thought, "Strawberry picking in the dirt? Throw on an oversized ratty tee and shorts." Jean puts on a cute outfit that's both attractive and suited for her day's activities. I've learned that weekend wear can be practical and fashionable (and hopefully no longer get mistaken for a 12-year-old child on Saturdays!)
As much as love bloggers like Wendy as fashion eye-candy, I could never wear for my weekend lifestyle anything Wendy wears.
I went to LOFT to try on those pants and I wasn't feeling them. The fabric was all wrinkly on the hanger from the person who tried them before me and they looked like old lady pants on. 🙁
You are a beauty Jean, you really are! I love this outfit, a lot, and I really wish I had some money to buy something similar because it's exactly to my taste. I had no idea strawberry picking would be a work out..great idea!
Flora
http://www.twowithseven.blogspot.co.uk
I disagree. I always like Jean's content. She's a high quality blogger.
Hi Jean, I just wanted to let you know that I LOVE your blog, and I love these lifestyle posts. It's nice to see what you wear to do activities in addition to what you wear to work. It gives me ideas of how to look cute when I'm traveling or running around. I'm not petite at all but your blog is definitely one of my favorites. Keep being you and writing what you want. If someone doesn't like it, they don't have to read it.
I love the lifestyle and DIY posts, Jean! I generally prefer them to the 3 or 4 outfit pics provided by most fashion bloggers. If I only wanted to look at pictures, then I'd pick up a magazine, thankyouverymuch.
Hi Jean,
First time comment here. I just wanna take this chance to thank you for such an interesting and informative blog, whether it's fashion, clothes alteration, travel, food, or life. I can tell you contribute a lot of efforts and time to this blog. Keep it up and don't stop what you are doing!!
Sometimes I wonder why I follow this blog so religiously since I'm not even petite and I live in Canada so a lot of the clothing you mention I can't even buy, or the shipping is too expensive. But the answer is that I love your style and I love to see what you wear on a regular basis and it's also fun to see what you're doing in your life as in this post. I personally don't care for the prices of certain items or sales, but I would never comment telling to stop posting those things because I know other readers enjoy that. At the same time, this reader should have realized that a lot of us do enjoy these fun posts and they are by no means "dumb" and there are readers who "give a crap", so please don't stop making them!
Exactly my thoughts! I think some personal bloggers put on outfits, take some pics, and then go home, because seriously, to where do they wear their (oftentimes non-functional) outfits? And I love her travel posts, because besides being entertaining, they provide us with travel packing tips, outfit ideas, and informative reviews. Jean, I love your blogs and I've been following you for years!
xoxo,
Yessi
Hi Jean
The 'anonymous' commentator was pretty rude, she could have said all that in a more subtle way…Anyways, I've been following your blog for the last year and half and I must say I love your blog. I do enjoy your fashion and other related/ not related blogging.
I actually PREFER it when Jean posts about things outside the usual petite-fashion related world. I too am in a business related field, specifically in accountancy, and I am a few years younger than Jean, so I am not afraid to admit that I look up to Jean. I admire her and am inspired by her, not only of her fashion, but also her personality, her intelligence, and humbleness and perseverance. I too, would like to obtain my CPA cert in the near future, and Jean is a subconscious encouraging factor for me to keep going. So posts like these, outside the realm of fashion, gives readers like me ideas and motivation to continue walking upright and reach towards my goals. It gives me a broader sense of who she is and what she enjoys, which I truly appreciate. So anon, just because YOU don't enjoy something doesn't mean others wouldn't.
And not to mention, it's JEAN's BLOG. She can post whatever she likes, and if you don't like it, just exit. Nobody in this world lives to please you.
I absolutely love this blog and your outfits. Jean, you are such a sweet person and your personality shines through in your posts. I love seeing your outfits and get inspiration for my own work wardrobe, even though I am not petite. Constructive criticism or not, that initial comment was uncalled for and rude. There were many ways to go about communicating dissatisfaction and obviously, the person knew she was a bitch and hid behind anonymity. Please continue to post about your travels, food, and activities along with your regular posts. It just makes readers like you more as a person…and this is YOUR blog 🙂 just run with it, girl.
Hey, I LOVE the lifestyle posts and I'm not the only one!!! The travel, the food, all of it. So many other style/fashion blogs are vapid streams of consumerism and the writers come off more as mannequins than anything else, and I admire that your blog stands out in an interesting, creative way. I would be sad if your lifestyle posts ever went away.
Hi Jean,
I've been following your blog for about a year now (I think?) and love that you provide your readers with fashion related posts as well as "lifestyle" posts. Your new "lifestyle" posts helps us get to know you better. I enjoy reading the travel and food parts of the blog as it gives me ideas of where I can eat when/if I ever travel to those places.
Keep up the great work! ^_^
You look adorable! I love berry picking and havent seemed to find the time to do it yet this year! xo
http://allthingsprettyandlittle.blogspot.com/
Cute outfit, and I love your nail polish. Mind sharing what shade/brand you're wearing?
I like it when bloggers write these personal posts every once in a while. As followers of your blog we get to know you. I would consider this post an "outfit in action". Sometimes I look at some personal fashion blogs and I wonder how, where and when would I ever wear that outfit? Personal blogs are becoming much more versatile and include more than just fashion or outfits etc. Maybe some of us like to see the person behind the advice. I know I enjoy it. Keep up the good work Jean.
It would be presumptuous to assume she doesn't blog about reviews and shopping for fear of someone copying. I remember reading Jean's post about her blog changing https://www.extrapetite.com/2012/09/15-outfit-navy-silk-dots-blouse-wool.html
I have been reading this blog for over a year and love it. I am not petite at all (5'10) but I do love your style especially for work outfits. The posts about your travels and activities are fun to read so I do hope that you continue to post about them.
Jean I love it when you post about your travel and food. It makes you more human and relatable. Please keep doing them!
Woah ok, that kind of comment is uncalled for. I'm a lurker on your blog, I love your fashion and I love it when you share your travel and food stories with us.I'm sure many readers agree, we're interested to know about your life and the evolution of your fashion.so please up the great work,fashion or not and let rude comments like that slide off your back
Every year my husband and I say we need to go strawberry picking, and every year we never get around to it lol…you look adorable!
The commenter above was rude for sure but good for them for being direct about it. The point another reader said about this blog being copied had me thinking…the tit for tat with another blogger is becoming completely ridiculous (by all bloggers involved, not accusing any one person). Unfortunately when this happens, the readers suffer. Just hold your head high and keep blogging about the fashion you love and never mind if you think someone is or isn't copying you. Who cares! We follow *your* blog because we want *your* point of view, period. If you feel you can't blog about reviews, shopping, clothing because you are afraid someone is going to copy you, then you're not being true to your readers anymore, and it isn't fair to us. If you're blogging about strawberry picking and ice cream because you actually enjoyed it and want to share it with us, then you have the right to do that too. If you are trying to grow your fan base by appealing to new audiences by writing about DIY and food, you have the right to do that too. You have the right to do whatever you please. But to change the way you do what you love because you let that other person get to you is basically letting them win.So, yeah, I used to herald this blog to everyone I knew who was petite as *the* resource for petite fashion, and I don't anymore (and really haven't for a while since all of the drama with other blogs- that stuff is useless to me). To the other readers who think the above commenter was a troll- no- they were giving honest feedback that happened to be negative. Taking the good with the bad is part of every aspect of life including comments on a blog post!!!
I agree, this post is good, that commenter is a troll. I like seeing the two piece dress in action and the info about hemming it so you can wear it with flats is great and makes me want to check my own wardrobe for little fixes like that I could do to optimise it. I don't think i could pull off a two piece dress, but you make it look so effortless:)
I also enjoy the travel and food parts of the post, to me they add to your blog and add more dimension. I find your blog is the one that relates to real life the most and I love that about it.
Only you could look so chic picking berries! Is your outfit actually 2 pieces or one?
Your dress looks so pretty! And I really love fresh strawberries.
Please unfollow and never come back. You will not be missed. Your comment just reflects how ugly you truly are.
I love that you are not the typical fashion blogger. Just started following fashion blogs and I appreciate yours the best as it is multidimensional. The crazy troll does not represent anything…for 1 reader lost, you have gained many others by being different.
First Alterations Needed and now you, it sounds like the same person is attacking the both of you. Anonymous, do us all a favor and go find other blogs to read. Jean does not need rude, obnoxious, and closed-minded readers like you.
Great post and very cute outfit:)
If you have time, follow me on http://laptopsandheels.com, thanks!
I agree with the comments above. I enjoy reading all your posts, whether strictly fashion-related or not. They're all very interesting and fun to read. I'm from Manila by the way, hope you could visit the Philippines again soon! 🙂
I have followed and enjoyed your blog for the last couple of years. I truly like the way your blog has evolved! Even though I love shopping and fashion, I recognize we need balance in our life. I admire the fact that you are analyzing your purchases and trying to shop less. I think a travel/cooking/strawberry picking post will always be relevant – you are applying fashion to real life experiences. I can tell from your blogs that you are incredibly intelligent as well as empathetic about others needs and perceptions. Thanks for an amazing blog!
Arlene
Jean, I love your "lifestyle" posts (bonus is that my wallet stays fatter)! I've always appreciated that your blog content is a thoughtful mix of topics. Don't let that troll get you down or shape what you post about in the future.
Jean, I LOVE these posts as they give readers a different glimpse into your life. Thank you for sharing your weekend with us. I'm actually hoping that Dylan will walk soon so that we can enjoy some of these trips too!
Jean, I hope the first comment from anonymous does not deter you from sharing these wonderful posts about food and travel. I really like that you share these parts of your life with us, and I feel that it sets you apart from other blogs in a positive way. Don't mind the rude anonymous commenters – they can wallow in their own mindless, rampant consumerism.
Obnoxious, rude and abrasive — yes. But I have to say she kind of has a point. I've followed Jean for 3 years now and I miss the style of her older posts (however, posts like these are much harder for you-know-who to copy). She may be slightly off-topic, but at least it's always very well done.
I appreciate the feedback. I'm shopping a lot less this year for a number of reasons, but when I do find the occasional keeper, I try to do a review and answer any questions on the fit. Of course I am sorry to turn off readers, but I hope ppl can find reads that meet their needs.
Love ALL your posts 🙂 Don't listen to the person who left that ridiculous rude comment.
Wow that's harsh. I'm a long time lurker on this blog (even though I'm not even petite) and I enjoy reading Jean's posts about food and travel in addition to her fashion posts. Her blog is one of my favorites…it's always thoughtful and well written. Plus she usually does have some mention to clothing even in her travel posts. Keep it up Jean! 🙂
I really like your travel posts around the world and domestically. Please don't listen to this person who's commenting above. Your blog is definitely differentiated with the original content you have–whether it be clothing alterations, travel posts, or outfit pairing posts. The reason why I love your travel posts is because you are so informative about the places you stay and go to which is so helpful because I also live in Boston and have gone to the places that you visit!
I might even go strawberry picking in Ipswich 🙂
how cute are these photos!!! i want to try strawberry picking. seems like a lot of fun. you look lovely as well!!!
🙂
Carrie
http://readmylifeascarrie.blogspot.com/
And now I'm inspired to go strawberry picking! Also, you were in my hometown! I knew the Dairy Joy sign looked familiar… I live down the street 🙂
I actually enjoyed this post. She did mention her dress which was petite friendly. It was interesting to see a two-piece set.. I don't come across those too often in-store or online. She also mentioned the LOFT 50% off sale and her top picks and why. The food and strawberries were just a bonus !
Wow… ok BYE GIRL. One less visitor wouldn't make a diff.
You won't be missed. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Very fun – I grew up going strawberry picking and apple picking every year. Love your hat – perfect for the occasion.
http://www.zipstyleseattle.com
This blog used to be one of the best petite blogs out there, but it has gone downhill over the past few months with these dumb posts about food, travel, and strawberry picking. No one wants to see posts from you romping through a strawberry field – if I cared about picking my own strawberries or anything related to food, I would turn to a food blog. If you don't want to start losing readers, go back to talking about petite clothing, because no one gives a crap what you're eating on a day to day basis.
What a fun time! I am glad I just finished dinner so your post does not make me too hungry. 🙂 I clicked on the "international guide" link you suggested and am surprised to see a "pick your own" farm in Vegas!