[anarch]

thanks, tree. (I now remember getting temp tattoos when I was a kid, but it's been so long, I'd forgotten.)

Yay for boob-love!

[crinoline]

Whoops, I meant to add this to my last post.

Anarch: I have mixed feelings about my being shaped like a classical painting / sculpture. I was an art history minor, so I studied quite a lot of works featuring "beautiful" women with my body type. On one hand, I think they look beautiful, but my issue is that modern society just doesn't seem to agree.
There would always be that one d-bag in class who just had to comment on how fat or lumpy or flat chested these women are. And I'm sitting there thinking "gosh, she looks just like me!".
I actually had one (male) professor who just couldn't keep his mouth shut about cellulite. He'd show us a slide of "Birth of Venus" and talk about her lumpy thighs between comments on brushstrokes and shading.

I just need to be brave and take confidence in the fact that I really do think all those classical goddesses are lovely, and it doesn't really matter what some dude thinks. So maybe I'm not so bad either, lumpy thighs, flat chest, and all.

[crinoline]

Alright, so I just received them in the mail and tried them with a couple of suits. Here are my first impressions:

They are quite padded, adding nearly a cup size, more than I expected. However, the bulk of the padding is on the bottom, having a "push-up" effect.

Cons:
Sharp edges, but can be trimmed.
Show slightly through thinner materials.
They are quite stiff, for foam inserts.
They are a bit large for me (only come in A/B, not just A), but again, they can be trimmed.
The size makes it a bit difficult to fit them in some smaller suits, if the slit for inserts is small.

Pros:
They add almost a full cup size.
They have a nicely rounded, natural shape that's fuller on the bottom. (even the triangle ones)
They do give me some semblance of cleavage, which is rare.
My breasts fit nicely in the scoop inside the inserts.
They seem to stay in place well (when put in a suit with insert pockets)
Besides the edges, they're not uncomfortable.

So, I'm pretty happy with my purchase. I wish I had gotten one silicone set so I could compare them.
Once i go to the beach, I'll let y'all know how they perform "in action", getting wet and such.

ttfn!

[spot-on]

Crinolene, yeah I saw the silicone ones in the store a few months back and was curious. I figure they slip in the same pockets as the foam "dimmers". Let us know what these ones are like for sure! I could do with a little help in a swimsuit for sure!

re: real women have curves
Unfortunately they weren't just talking about the anorexics they were talking anyone who wasn't curvacious or "voluptuous". Some people do truly believe that all women should look this way. Unless I get plastic shoved into me I never will. I have a great ass (it sticks out at the back), but not very wide/shapely hips, and obviously I have small boobs. I am naturally athletic figured. As I stated in my reply "does this make me any less of a woman?" NO!

<quote>
I think the worst comments that make me feel really bad are when its a picture of a small-breasted woman and people will comment that she looks like a boy. ugh i really hate that one! Just pisses me off!</quote>

Yep exactly this! I guess I am more sensitive to the statement that the "average woman" but damn how about we all be happy in our own bodies, and if we're not then work at getting those bodies to a great healthy shape NATURALLY.

treehugger, loving those fake tats! Awesome, and great pics of small small boobies! Go IBTC!

[treehugger]

anarch, it's like a transfer-you get the paper wet and then peel it away-the ink stays.

It was GORGEOUS while it lasted-but it only lasted a few hours. It kind of made me want to get real tattoos though!

And I LOVE that picture of Venus.

[anarch]

I'm naturally built like an old oil painting.

But she's beautiful! And, funny, I never really noticed before (I'm often amazingly unobservant) that the Venus in the most famous Birth of Venus painting has small boobs. I mean, Venus! Goddess of Love! (We've probably talked about it before in here during conversations about changing standards of feminine beauty, but it bears repeating that we are not defective women, no matter how much the stupid society we live in tells us we are.)

treehugger, looking at those tattoos makes me smile. First thing I thought was, "Pretty! Hmmm...is it edible? Or non-toxic, anyway?" But on thinking about it more, I guess it's more like a sticker? Or what? (If I tried showing them off to the spousal unit, they'd trigger a lot of lickin' and lovin' ...) Ha, love this comment on their home page:

“I put one on as a surprise for my boyfriend, and he got mad for not asking if I could get a tattoo. That made me realize how wrong he was for me. I dumped him on the spot.”
Holly in California

[buttercups]

Thanks for all the support ladies, it always helps!

Angie you're right, the stress is getting to me and its making me lash out at myself and at my bf too. I was practically starting a fight with him last night and i dont even know why, i was just feeling upset. He's really sweet to put up with a crazy girl and i tell him that every time im stressed out and going nuts, and i really dont know why he puts up with it. i know he could be with someone who is pretty by my standards and could at least fill out an A cup, but for whatever reason he doesnt mind about my size. I think it's really sweet that your man said you look like a painting too, that is adorable i love it.

nbdx, I definitely think we're alike in a lot of ways too because I can relate to so many of your posts. I do get stuck in negative self-talk and i can try to talk myself out of it and it usually works until i walk out the door, then I just feel inferior to the world. I know I can't really change the way I look anymore than I already do cause you reach a point where without a plastic surgeon its out of your control. I can't change it so why do I worry so much about it? I truly have no idea. And ugh your ex sounds horrible I'm glad he's away from this terrific girl! My ex's new gf is prettier than me too- tall, blonde, the works. I just have this fear that he's comparing her to me, since I was the first person he ever slept with, and saying "finally, im with someone with boobs!" or something like that. don't know why i even think about that considering he's pretty much out of my life now. Why bother?

Treehugger, you rock your hot tats! I bet you look sexy as all hell!

Spot-on, I tend to hate that crap too, mostly bc I'm super tiny and haven't equated any part of my body with having a "curve", but I'm sure everyone on here is right that they mean not anorexic. I think the worst comments that make me feel really bad are when its a picture of a small-breasted woman and people will comment that she looks like a boy. ugh i really hate that one! Just pisses me off!

All right ladies gotta run to work, love you all!

[treehugger]

(((buttercups))))

(((spot on))))

With regards to that Tanner scale, I don't have the under-boob crease either. Meh.

So I went to the sex store and found (NSFW) these. I bought a pair and they look AMAZING. I got the top one, the ivy.

And, I think they look better on my small boobs. If you click on the gallery, there is a couple small-breasted women and they look HOT. (my personal fave is the woman in the cowboy hat on the bottom left side.)

I'm going to enjoy these-they are supposed to last up to three weeks.

[nbdx0645]

Spot-on: I understand what you're saying, and I think I can express it in a different way. It seems that, with larger boobs, you get more of a social 'allowance' to be curvier, since there's more balance in proportion. I think that's what's getting her frustrated. It gets my sister frustrated, too. Beauty isn't one's own; it's a reflection of one's culture, and this is all something that we were taught.

Buttercups: You're stuck in the same undertow that I get sucked into. I start thinking, "I can't change the way I feel, because I can't change the way I look" and before I know it, I'm losing entire evenings to sadness. My issues are more "what if" based. "What if someone makes fun of me?" "What if someone is wearing the same thing I'm wearing, and they look better in it?" "What if I run into someone who made fun of me in the past?" " Would I do better with others if I looked better?" The final answer is "maybe." With all that worrying, I accomplished nothing. Lately it's been "What if others can tell that my boobs are lopsided?" and the answer to that, is also, "maybe." I really, really, REALLY hate to see you knock yourself around for things you cannot change. I feel that we're very similar people, and we fuel ourselves with oodles of negative self-talk. We have to stop destroying ourselves. Having small boobs does not make us "less than" everyone else. My ex's current GF looks absolutely fantastic, and he comments about how great and womanly she looks on FB. It's a way to make me feel worse about myself. In the beginning it worked, but now I see it for what it is, and it doesn't bother me anymore. They're "EX's" for a reason!

[angie_21]

oh my, so many things at once!

First, crinoline, I'm built like the women in those old paintings too. in fact, the first time we had sex, my boyfriend was looking at me lying on the bed and said "oh my god you're beautiful, you look just like a painting." so I've never been unhappy that my body looks like that! And you know what, he likes victoria's secret models well enough, mostly becuase they're always half naked, but he doesn't find their figures all that attractive. Usually it's the photoshopping that really bugs him, but he doesn't understand why they take beautiful women and make them extra skinny and put fake tits on them, it turns him right off. As far as wanting to look like the girls in magazines - when I was a teenager, before photoshopping and fak boobs were so rampant, I had exactly the the body of the girls in magazines - a 12 year old's body. I knew that looking like them wasn't going to make my life magically better, because I did look exactly like them and guys weren't knocking down my door for a date, that's for sure! Now that I'm 26 and I no longer spend a lot of time watching music videos or movies, I kind of laugh when I do see the "it" girls who are supposedly so hot. They're just that, girls. I'd rather be a woman, thanks.

whew that was long already.. spot-on, I agree with Crinoline. What most people mean when they say that isn't that real women have giant boobs, they mean that real women shouldn't have bony elbows and shoulder blades and look like they have been locked in solitary confinement without food for six months. a lot of young girls these days DO try to look like that, there's a lot of eating disorders, and that's what people are saying is wrong. While I personally think that when girls are skinny enough that their bums look like skinny 12-year-old boy bums, they've gone a little too far, I do agree with you that everyone has their own body type and should just be happy with it. There's a lot of variety in the world, and that's a good thing. I do think we put more pressure on ourselves than actually exists in the real world - for example, immediately interpreting curves to mean boobs rather than simply a healthly amount of body fat.

((buttercups)) I think there's no doubt that stress is really getting to you. I know exactly how you feel. When I get really stressed out, my sex drive is always the first thing to go, I turn into some kind of asexual being with no desire to interact with men. and relationship problems always happen soon after. Don't be too hard on yourself - you are under an insane amount of pressure right now, and it's completely natural for your brain to be going a little crazy. Remember that this too, shall pass, and you can and will be back to normal. Whether you decide to stick it out with school is another story, let me know if you need someone to talk to about it. As for your boyfriend look at photos of his ex - you know him better than anyone here and hopefully you know what it really means in terms of his feelings towards her. what I always remember with my sweetie is this - guys look at attractive girls. This include girls with big boobs. It also includes girls with small boobs, pretty faces, short hair, long hair, long legs, etc etc. It also includes me. there are a lot of pretty girls in the world and 99% of them don't look like the girls on TV. but the one he loves is me and I can do things for him a lot of those girls wouldn't

sorry for the logn post everyone. hope you're all having a great weekend

[crinoline]

spot-on - These are more padded than the thin foam inserts that come to prevent nipplage. They also have a push-up "bump" on the bottom to create cleavage, or in my case, any shadow of boobage whatsoever. I looked at the silicone ones, but I bought the foam, because they were cheaper and I was also afraid the silicone would be too heavy.

buttercups - yeah, the friend thing really sucks. We grew up together, and the really odd thing is that sometimes she'll get drunk and talk about being jealous of me, because I'm tiny and have natural light blonde hair. So I guess no one is happy with what they've got, no matter how perfect it looks to other people.

And buck up, buttercup! Your boyfriend is with you because he wants to be with you. Take a deep breath and think about all of the wonderful things that make you you. Since you're here, I'll bet you're pretty awesome! Busties don't come in any other flavor!

spot-on - The curves thing used to bother me, but then I turn it around, and they're right; women do have curves. "Curves" does not mean "boobs" it means the subtle ways our bodies are different from men's. The soft edge of an inner thigh, or in my case a rounded bottom. The graceful curve of a feminine neck or wrist. Even the soft contours of a vulva. These all count as "curves" in my book. Tits do not make the woman. The woman makes the woman.

also, xoxo to all you ibtc card carriers!

[spot-on]

On a similar rant

A message board I frequent (health/fitness related) has a post about a fashion modeling article regarding a size 4 being fat and the general opinion expressed by the members was that "real women have curves". Seriously this gets right on my damn nerves. No they don't! Just because I don't have big tits doesn't make me any less of a woman! FUCK this annoys me so much. And yes I posted a rant on the board, no responses to it so far maybe people actually sat down and thought about what they were saying! I hope so! Fucking idiots!

[buttercups]

Ugh I'm with you Crinoline, I've soo been there being jealous of a friend that you love and never wanting to hurt them, but just feeling insecure around them. Please let me know how the bathing suit cups work and how much size-age they add, I've been looking for something to fit inside a triangle top.

Lately I've just been right back down in the dumps on my body. It's more than my small boobs, its my whole small body, but of course the boobs take the brunt of it. Idk what's gotten into me lately. Idk if I'm upset inside because I've caught my bf looking at pics of his ex-gf in her bikini (which she filled out and looked great in) on facebook, or if it's because I'm super stressed out and not sleeping/taking care of myself or what, but I've been so goddamn down on everything about myself in the past few weeks. I never used to mind being short too too much, but now I'm totally having a problem with it and I'm feeling like a little girl. I'm back to not wanting my bf to touch me/see me during sex, and I've started to hate my face and my hair and everything about me. I feel like I'm losing my mind or something. I've been especially sensitive to other girls, especially when they tower over me and make me feel insignificant (even though they don't mean to that's just their height). My insecurities are getting the best of me and I'm hating my body and feeling like the only AA that ever lived and just wanting to hide. I've been trying to find a source lately and other than those things I can't really think of any. Maybe also learning about normal adult development in class didn't help either because I totally didn't follow those lines. I also know that whenever I get really stressed out my body dysmorphic disorder starts to really rear its ugly head, and I'm trying to tell myself that's what it is and that it's all in my mind, but I still keep resorting back to thoughts and behaviors that I've tried so hard to get rid of. I feel like my bf would be better off with another girl and I'm asking him constantly if he wants to be with someone prettier. looks dont fuckin matter and i tell myself that until I see someone drop dead gorgeous that is everything i want to be or until i hear men talking about women or something else that gets me down on myself. im comparing myself to everyone and feel like i cant see worth in myself unless im pretty- something ill never see myself as. how fucked up is that? that in all honesty i dont feel worth anything unless im pretty and im just not. i just put all of my emphasis on how i look, and its weird bc other than comparing myself negatively to someone i dont base other people's worth on how they look. I only see my friends as beautiful no matter what bad things they tell themselves they see and my family as beautiful and a lot of that has to do with their wonderful personalities. I can see them for what they really are but when it comes to me i think everyone's just thinking "whos that ugly girl" instead of "shes a really nice person". i know this isnt all about small boobs ive gone off on a tangent, but i know you ladies the best and i feel most comfortable ranting here. im also hating my boobs haha so it somewhat fits. im going to go look back on all of your posts that made me feel so good and empowered before and try to get that feeling back. i need to de-stress. i need to drop out of school. and i really need to stop hating myself so much bc i have no idea why i do.

[spot-on]

It's weird how we all react differently eh? Different strokes and all that

I haven't tried those shapers but when I bought bikini's last year they had those foam inserts is this the same thing? or are these more padded? The ones I am talking about are the light pads to avoid headlights I've seen the gel insets in some stores/amazon and am tempted for this Summer, we'll see...

I need to get a bikini that fits first!

I can only do braless in certain structured tops, usually woven fabrics (rather than clingy knits).
The really wierd thing is that I'm uncomfortable going braless at home. I have three brothers, who I know could give a rat's ass, but I dunno, it's just wierd.

In other small boobie news, spring is sneaking up and since I live 15 minutes from the beach, I've been preparing. I bought two types of swim shapers: full and triangle , to go in my various suits. Has anyone tried them before?
My biggest concern is that they may show, or even soak up extra water or something.
I just wanted something to help me be less self-conscious when I'm trying to have fun. I've already accepted that I will never ever be comfortable in a bikini and have moved on to retro one-pieces (thank mod they're back in fashion!)

[crinoline]

I can only do braless in certain structured tops, usually woven fabrics (rather than clingy knits).
The really wierd thing is that I'm uncomfortable going braless at home. I have three brothers, who I know could give a rat's ass, but I dunno, it's just wierd.

In other small boobie news, spring is sneaking up and since I live 15 minutes from the beach, I've been preparing. I bought two types of swim shapers: full and triangle , to go in my various suits. Has anyone tried them before?
My biggest concern is that they may show, or even soak up extra water or something.
I just wanted something to help me be less self-conscious when I'm trying to have fun. I've already accepted that I will never ever be comfortable in a bikini and have moved on to retro one-pieces (thank mod they're back in fashion!)

This is shallow and terrible, but it's really hard that my best friend is nearly 6 ft, naturally tan, weighs literally 110 pounds, and has natural but fake-looking C cups. She's naturally built like a Victoria's Secret model. I'm naturally built like an old oil painting. And though we weigh about the same, and wear the same dress size, I'm a foot shorter and two cups smaller so a size four looks a hell of a lot different on me. So when we go to the beach, I feel like my myriad flaws are highlighted next to her perfection. I would never say anything, of course. She never tries to make me uncomfortable, it's just my issues.
Gah. I hate feeling simultaneously too big and too small. It's beyond frustrating.

/end rant. sorry.

[spot-on]

Weird huh? We are our own worst enemies I tell ya! I think I am ALMOST ready to go braless in public! Almost! The tops I have been wearing, most have a shelf bra in them anyway for a little 'lift' but honestly I just find if I wear I bra under these tops I'm so self conscious. Yet like I said shove me in a group with shorts and sports top and I rock it. I'm a freak! I feel more comfortable in less clothes! lol!

spot-on I know what you mean about feeling awkward when something you're wearing just doesn't feel right (or even worse, that it's just drawing too much attention to one spot!). But I don't think anyone would have even noticed or cared either way what kind of bra you were or weren't wearing, other than you! it's so awesome that you love your body as much as you do, and have the courage to jump around in front of so many people in shorts and a sports bra. If I did that, there would be so many things jiggling all over the place, it's just wouldn't be good. But actually I am pretty comfortable in front of my friends - I'm not really embarrassed of my body, but I know most other people have hang-ups and I don't want to make them uncomfortable by putting my less-than-perfect body out there in their faces. but with my friends, I figure we're all adults and if they don't care, I don't either.

[spot-on]

nbdx it sounds like you are becoming more body and emotion aware lately so big congrats to you!!! I just figure my smaller boobie needs more lovin

Why do most people assume we should consider implants? IMO it's because of implants that smaller breasts are now consider by some as abnormal! No it's not abnormal, what IS abnormal is putting lumps of plastic in your breasts and saying "hey I got boobs now"! Be proud of yourself girlfriend, you are growing into a beautiful wise woman!

Oh and yes pockets on a shirt is so awesome huh?

As for the boobs being different sizes, I'm just going to ride it out. I've only been on BC for 2 months, and I wear stretchy bras, so I don't notice that much of a gap. Zovia has really cleared up my painful acne, so I really like it. This experience made me realize that if my boobs change in size, I'd just point out something else I don't like (and I think what's next would be that my boobs are spaced far apart.) So I'm just going to shoosh myself about it and be a small-boob advocate. I'll just say my cup size is an A+!

One thing that's been a big help for me...I've been very lucky to have quite a few coworkers who also have small chests. I told one of them the other day "I love your sweater!" (it had big cables running down the front of it, I was thinking "Now how do I knit that...") and she replied "it helps give the chest some oomph!" I pointed to my shirt that had pockets on the bust, and said "I know what you mean!" I think if she said that a year ago, I'd have an entirely different reaction. I was very proud of my reaction. And another thing, my coworker is so pretty and intelligent, and has great fashion sense. Anyway, I noticed that I can poke fun about the subject a bit, instead of sitting in a corner, crying. Though once, a friend was telling me how annoying it is to buy extended-size bras. I told her I had to shop in the children's section. She looked at me with so much pity and asked if I was thinking of implants. I said, "Hey, we're women of extremes. That's just how it is."

[angie_21]

thanks enfemera! I am almost recovered thank heavens, but I will definitely be checking that thread out to see if anyone has any miracle cures. I'm still interested to see how my bearberry/uva ursi tea will work. I'll also be checking out the cystex, it looks like it might actually be available in Canada.

nbdx, I know I've been annoyed at my friends for insensitve comments, but pity would be about the most annoying thing possible! yeesh.

On another boobie tangent, I took out my nipple piercing this morning. I've had it for 3 and a half years and always loved how it looks and it has made me feel more feminine having a little "decoration" on my boob, but it's always getting in the way and often uncomfortable. So I figured while i'm on antibiotics already is one of the safest times to do it. By noon it had already closed up almost completely. I was thinking I might regret it, but I kinda like how it looks au naturale. I do think that nipple is slightly bigger than the other one now, though... hopefully it will go back to normal as it heals! Don't think I'll miss it at all.

[enfermera]

bumped the UTI thread for ya

[nbdx0645]

If Cystex was illegal in my country, I'd start a smuggling operation. Every once in a while, I absolutely need it. My UTI's get so bad, I can't walk to the bus stop. Sometimes you can tell when you're going to get one, and when I feel that tingling, I start chugging water. Here's a link to the stuff: http://www.certaindri.com/Pages/About%20Cystex I think a UTI thread would be fantastic.

And no orange pee! That dye stuff stains my panties.

As for the boobs being different sizes, I'm just going to ride it out. I've only been on BC for 2 months, and I wear stretchy bras, so I don't notice that much of a gap. Zovia has really cleared up my painful acne, so I really like it. This experience made me realize that if my boobs change in size, I'd just point out something else I don't like (and I think what's next would be that my boobs are spaced far apart.) So I'm just going to shoosh myself about it and be a small-boob advocate. I'll just say my cup size is an A+!

One thing that's been a big help for me...I've been very lucky to have quite a few coworkers who also have small chests. I told one of them the other day "I love your sweater!" (it had big cables running down the front of it, I was thinking "Now how do I knit that...") and she replied "it helps give the chest some oomph!" I pointed to my shirt that had pockets on the bust, and said "I know what you mean!" I think if she said that a year ago, I'd have an entirely different reaction. I was very proud of my reaction. And another thing, my coworker is so pretty and intelligent, and has great fashion sense. Anyway, I noticed that I can poke fun about the subject a bit, instead of sitting in a corner, crying. Though once, a friend was telling me how annoying it is to buy extended-size bras. I told her I had to shop in the children's section. She looked at me with so much pity and asked if I was thinking of implants. I said, "Hey, we're women of extremes. That's just how it is."