Don’t you just love it when you let your puppies lose at the end of a long day? Free to find their own centre of gravity and get closer to sea level. As soon as I walk in the door, the first thing I do even before I take off my shoes is to take off my bra. After a short dance and shoulder stretch, what could be taken as a quick tango – swift snap at the back, dramatic shoulder strap pulling through your sleeves… and flick! –  its off … run free little ones… run free…

Nothing to see here . . .

As you know, I lucked out in the bosom department and only just manage a B cup (with a fair bit of space which can look weird if dented). One benefit though is – us nothing-girls have the luxury of not having the very unattractive, 2cm wide strap that eventually leave an imprint on your shoulders.  The dreadful ones that last a lifetime, let alone the backache that can come with it.

I want to apologize up front to the ladies who have bigger breasts… I have a confession to make!  While I might skite about having a small bust, let me tell you…, it’s not really a winner in the dating scene.

Big breasts certainly help get attention with a large number of men (especially the ones who were obviously breastfed too long by their loving mothers)…. so be honest I have always envied those who could show them off and squish them together with their arms and use them to hold their iPhones, money etc.

It’s not all about cup size!

My real gripe is the width of bras! Why is it that you have to add extenders…surely there must be some way of making bras for PLUS SIZE ladies who simply have a broad back… Can you imagine, adding 3 extenders… getting them all the same so they look a little like they match…all the eyes are at different levels and make this nice mishmash across your back…adding to the T-shirt texture against your back fat.

In my dreams, I love bra shopping! I breeze through the massive section of stunning colourful sets. Beautiful patterns and fabrics… imagining myself lying on a fur rug like Mariah Carey, with my perfectly shaped breasts, in a matching French silk and lace number, smoothly sitting on my glowing skin – not a dent or dimple in sight. The music is playing softly in the background and my Brazilian personal trainer accidentally walks in and sighs, “OMG you are simply stunning”…

Sorry… got carried away for a moment…. Yes, bra shopping! After I allow my imagination to run wild and pawing over the pretty things pretending I’m getting something for my daughters, I find my way to the trusty nude coloured t-shirt bra… $8.99 what a bargain! As usual, the bigger sizes are on the bottom rack at the back…  Bending down as far as I can and untangling the whole rack, (my knees hurt, and squatting is something that I haven’t been able to do for years) I find the one and only elusive 18C… the one and only one the store took the risk to order. Now it’s time to check the width to see how generous it is… will I need 2 or 3 extenders, how many hooks is it 2, 3 or 4 hooks…?

When are manufacturers and retailers going to understand?

Why oh why does it need to be this difficult when so many women have the same problem? When do you think manufacturers will work it out that just because you are a Plus Size, doesn’t mean you have PS boobs…?

Exhausted, it’s time to head home. The walk-by tantalizing treats, calling your name as you slowly pass by is a difficult one today.  It takes every bit of energy to speed up my waddle, but I manage to walk by three coffee shops and congratulate myself as I say “NO” to something I don’t need or can’t afford for that matter.

No wonder they have so many coffee shops at Shopping Centres!  They are there to get people like us after soul destroying shopping trips… to trick us into buying something to make us feel better rather than sinking into deep and dark depression.

Sue you nailed it!

I feel proud of my strength and determination after settling for a practical but extremely ugly and unattractive option and realizing I don’t need a food reward for the bra marathon.

Do we need to fall into this trap? Do we need the luxurious matching set of underwear to feel special or nice?  Probably? – Probably not?

It’s up to you how you choose to feel about underwear. Yep, UNDERWEAR – clothing that you wear under your clothes that nobody if anybody really gets to see.

Ladies, treat yourself to some stunning perfume, lavish yourself in some special moisturiser…or my choice sandalwood or lemon myrtle soap.  There are no body size limitations when it comes to body products… Go wild ladies…aaaand the added bonus… more skin, more fragrance! Yea!.

It’s our mind that decides what we think about ourselves and how it affects our day. Does it really matter what we wear under our clothes… as long as it’s comfortable-right?  Comfortable clothing is a whole other story for another time…!

Let’s think positively about our differences, and not feel sorry for ourselves if we don’t live up to what the designers and manufacturers think we should be.  Be practical and effective with things that we can change – how we cope and manage our ongoing and never-ending challenges, it’s our mind that inevitably decides how we react …

It’s time we allowed ourselves to feel special in your own skin – lumps, bumps, back fat and all….

Big lady hugs,

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