Monday July 4, 2016 - Happy 4th of July - I am going shopping!

Today we celebrate our country's freedom. Today I am celebrating my freedom as my meds make me feel liberated from my male cage. I feel calmer and more relaxed as my body and mind adjust to the new normal.

Next Monday is my one month doctor's appointment in which they will take blood samples and see how I am doing.

I have a BBQ to attend later this afternoon. But this morning I am going to head out shopping and enjoy this day and my new found freedom.

With my added experience with bras, I am going to look again for a few more to purchase. I want to concentrate on full coverage, comfort and security. Cuteness can come later.

Sunday July 3, 2016 - All Bras are not the same

Friday I bought two new 36A bras. Well, Saturday I wore one all day and Sunday, I wore the other one all day. There was a big difference between them.

Before I get into the differences, there is a difference between my sports bras and my new regular bras. The sports bras have kept me flat over the past few decades when presenting as a man. Now that my breasts are filling out, these bras do not keep me as flat and because there is no padding, I am having problems when my nipples become pronounced. This is spontaneously happening more and more. The new bras are padded and hide erect nipples. But the new bras  produce a more pronounced breast outline. As my breasts grow, this will make hiding when in boy mode much more difficult. Which in turn may require me to come out full time much sooner.

I wore the green and silver bra on Saturday. The band was a perfect size as it hugged by body and felt so natural. The cups were large enough to hold both the width and depth of each breast. Its a soft cup bra that wears well. I did not notice it all day. It kept me feeling comfortable and secure. I made sure my shirt was big enough, so my breast line did not show.

The pink bra was a completely different story. Even though it was also a 36A, the band was tight around me. Because it was a triangle or balette style, the cups did not completely cover my breasts. I had to position the cups to cover as much as possible without breast tissue showing under the cup or outside under my armpits. This meant I had to let more breast tissue push out toward the center of my chest. I soon realized that this type of bra is good for showing cleavage with a low cut top.

The above picture is my pink bra under a low cut T-shirt. You can see the cleavage and that one side is now larger than the other. The right side is slightly larger.

I did not feel as secure or comfortable with this top as I did with Saturday's green bra. I also realized that not all 36A bras are the same.

I am going to find some more bras over the next month and I need to become more aware of the style and that all 36A bras do not fit the same.

Sunday July 3, 2016 - 1.4M U.S. Citizens are Transgendered

Updated estimates show 1.4 million adults identify as transgender in the US, doubling estimates from a decade ago

For Immediate Distribution

June 30, 2016

Contact:

The Williams Institute, williamsinstitute@law.ucla.edu, (310) 267-4382
Click here for detailed report

Representative, state-level surveys provide data sources for estimates of the population of adults who identify as transgender.

LOS ANGELES — An estimated 0.6% of adults in the United States, or 1.4 million individuals, identify as transgender, according to a new study authored by researchers at The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law. The study provides the first ever state-level estimates of the percentage of adults who identify as transgender throughout the United States, ranging from 0.3% in North Dakota to 0.8% in Hawaii.

The study, titled “How Many Adults Identify as Transgender in the United States,” is also the first of its kind to provide estimates of the population in each individual state identifying as transgender.

Key findings from the study include

• Approximately 0.6% of adults identify as transgender, or 1.4 million adults.

• There are differences in the percentage of adults who identify as transgender among the states. Hawaii (0.8%), California (0.8%), Georgia (0.8%), New Mexico (0.8%), Texas (0.7%), and Florida (0.7%) are the states that have the highest percentages of adults who identify as transgender.

• The states with the lowest percentages of transgender-identified adults are North Dakota (0.3%), Iowa (0.3%), Wyoming (0.3%), Montana (0.3%), and South Dakota (0.3%).

• Young adults are more likely than older adults to identify as transgender. Among adults ages 18 to 24, 0.7% identify as transgender; among adults ages 25 to 64, 0.6% identify as transgender; and among adults ages 65 and older, 0.5% identify as transgender.

Saturday July 2, 2016 - Bra Shopping

The day I had planned did not workout. On Thursday night I installed my first advertising machine and had some problems. So I knew I had to go back on Friday. Also, one of my real estate clients wanted to meet with me for lunch. This meant I needed to be in boy mode for Friday.

I no longer had time for a pedicure but I was still going to go bra shopping.

First, I went to Walmart because I needed to get an oil change for a used car I was asked to sell. While waiting, I walked over to the Women's section and shopped for bras. It did not bother me that I was a "guy" looking at bras. I am really a women crossdressing as a guy. I noticed a set of bras that had two sizes (34B/36A). Earlier, I had measured my body under my breast line and I was 35 inches. Even though the 36A bra I had at home fit well, I wondered how a 34B would fit. I decided not to purchase at Walmart.I just did not see anything I liked.

Later I went to Belks. I looked at their selection and they had some nice ones, but none of them grabbed my attention. Most were underwire and mature looking. But for me, I am a young teen looking for something cute that was colorful and had lace. I did not want an underwire old woman look. Right now I do not need an underwire bra.

My next store was Kolhs. I buy some of my panties from here because I like their variety and prices. I found a nice selection of colorful bras and in both 34B and 36A. So I decided to go into the men's dressing room and try both sizes on. I wanted to see the difference.

The first one was the 34B. The problem was that it was too tight around my body. You can see the skin puffed out under the band. Also the bra was a little to tight under my arms and the straps sat toward the outer edge of my shoulders. I could have loosened the straps a little to give more room under my arms, but the band was already at the outer most line of hooks. I could now tell that this size was too small. At least for this brand.

Next I tried the 36A. This size definitely had a better fit. I felt more comfortable and it did not cut across my body. It was wider and not only gave me more room but I liked how it the straps laid on my shoulders. The straps were more in the center of my shoulder. This bra just looks better on me.

The problem with this bra was that it was an underwire and the price was above my budget. So I left without buying.

Finally, I went to a used clothing store. It was not Goodwill because they keep their bras in a bin and I did not see much of a selection. So I tried a more "upscale" second hand store. They had their bras hanging up by size. I went over to the size 36 rack. They had the type of bras I was looking for. There were a few colorful ones that were not underwire and the price was within my budget. So I bought two that  matched the color of some of my panties.A green with silver and a pink. A girl must have a pretty pink bra.

I could not try them on because this store does not have a changing room. But I feel pretty confident about the fit. I am going to wash them Saturday with my other laundry. Today happens to be laundry day.

I had fun shopping for a bra. I was not able to make a day of it or dress appropriately, but I did enjoyed it. One of the readers commented on Friday's post about a Griffin, GA store. I use to go there decades ago when my children were young but I had forgotten about it.

I am so glad she reminded me because I am going to take a day trip next week to visit that store and a few Goodwill stores in the area.

BTW, I upgraded my phone Friday and I hope to have better picture from now on. Also, I did fix the ad machine, it was a bad keyboard.

Friday July 1, 2016 - Pedicure and bras

Today I am going to go bra buying and get I pedicure. I have not had a pedicure in months. I want to get one, so I will feel better. I am tired of looking at my poorly polished toes. Plus, I just feel better after getting one. Its one of the nice treats of being a lady.

I am going to spend a few hours bra hunting and maybe buy one or two. I did not realize how expense a nice looking bra is. I do not want to spend a lot or buy too many because my size will be probably be changing over the next two years.

I want something colorful and with lace. I am excited about this purchase. I wish my mother could be with me. I bet its special when young girls go with their mom to buy their first cute bra that is not a basic white training bra.

I have bought racing bras before. They are basic colors with three in a pack. I do not have the more colorful or ornate bras. These racing bras are like my training bras and now I am moving up.

But this is different. These bras will be more expense and reflect my unique femininity in a way that welcomes me into womanhood. I am very excited about this shopping expedition.

I am going to check out, Kolhs, Belk, Walmart and JC Penny's.