Getting over my Shopping Fears.

While browsing through the makeup aisle recently,  I thought about how long it has taken me to get to the point where I am comfortable enough on my own to head into the store and look at and buy whatever makeup or clothes I want.  It’s been about 20 years since I bought my first items of makeup with my Wife’s (Then Girlfriend) help.  Since then it’s been a long trip learning how to shop for makeup and clothes by myself.  It took me a long time to bring my confidence level up to the point where I am able to head out and shop on my own which I think is better for both of us,  don’t get me wrong I love shopping with the wife but when shopping for Cynthia it can be stressful.  My wife does not wear a lot of makeup to begin with so she does not really enjoy browsing.

I can still recall like yesterday how our first trip went.  After telling the wife about Cynthia I had asked if she would help me pick up some makeup.   She agreed and we headed to the local Wal-Mart.   I can remember sitting on the car waiting to go in and shaking like a leaf I was so stressed out.  I wanted the entire Covergirl Fall line at that time but I was not able to afford it.  We were both a little nervous about the whole situation and just wanted to get in and out as fast as possible.  Some bad choices were made,  but we were young and it was a learning experience.

Shopping trips went on like this for years,   heading into stores with a vague idea of what I wanted or needed with the wife quietly asking me questions.  This caused the wife much stress as she was always worried that someone would overhear that our purchases were not for her, but me.  I admit I was worried about this as well back then,  but that faded.

It took a long time for me to reach the F**K it moment and realize that no one cares what you are buying,  they just want to go home.  It was also getting annoying for the wife to have to go out and help every time I wanted something new from the stores,  and I can totally agree with that.  I am not going to lie,  It was so easy for me to drop into a pink fog,  it was not even funny.  I cannot even imagine what it was like living with me at those times.

It was the perfect storm that helped me get off my ass and over my fears.  Firstly one of my favorite stores was having a 70% off sale which meant I could get the bra set I had my eyes on,  and only for about 17 dollars.  Secondly the wife was sick at the time and was in no shape to be heading out in the crappy January weather.  I knew it was now or never,  I checked online and made sure the items I wanted were still in stock in store,  I made my list and waited till I was done work and headed off to Addition Elle.  I did have a friend who offered to take me as well,  but I knew if I did not do this on my own now I never would.

With list in hand, I sat in the car for at least a good 10 minutes waiting for the store to look a little more empty.  When it looked quiet I headed in and straight up to a sales assistant at the front counter and asked for some help getting some presents for my wife,  she was more than willing to help and thought my list was a great idea.  I am sure while talking to her I was as red as a beet but she either didn’t notice or didn’t care.  In no time she had found 3 of the 4 items I really wanted and was ever so helpful in finding something very close to the last one I wanted.  I paid my bill and left the store with my purchases and felt as high as the clouds that I had done this myself.

Of course, once I had completed this task it just seemed to get easier and easier.  Soon I was not even taking a list in with me,  just walking in and heading right over to the sale racks,  looking through and grabbing what I wanted.  Not more mention of buying for my wife because no one ever asked me,  no one really seemed to care as long as I paid and went on my way.  It was true about what they said,  SA’s don’t care (at least from my experience) what the purpose of your visit as long as you be courteous,  pay and leave.

It was not long before I was applying my new-found courage to the makeup aisle as well,  taking my list along with me if I was ever asked if I needed help.  A list is a must have for the makeup aisle just because of the sheer number of brands and products available.  I have been approached only about 3 times while browsing for makeup.  The worst part was going through the checkout and I was sure the lady scanning was going to look up and see who was purchasing the foundation.  Not once did she look up from her task of scanning my items to verify if it was a male or female buying the items.

This post is not a damnation of people who feel they can’t go out and buy for themselves yet.  I was in your heels at one time and I know exactly how you feel.  You may never become comfortable enough go out and get stuff on your own and that’s completely fine.  So many more options are around you could buy everything you ever need and not talk to another human being.

Some tips I have.

• Do make a list.  Some clothing store websites have the option to check stock,  but it might only be updated every 24 hours.  Make sure you have some backup pieces if needed.
• Pick stores with self-checkouts.  This can limit your needed interaction with clerks if this makes you nervous.
• Take proper measurement to reduce returns.  If you are not going to be trying clothes on you will want to make sure you get the proper size.
• Read reviews before buying products.  I find Makeupalley is great for this as it’s all people who have brought the product.
• Don’t break your bank,  pick a few items you need and just get those.

When it comes down to it no matter why you are Crossdressing it should be fun and exciting and shopping is just part of it.

 

Thanks for reading

Oh, Happy Autumn. Fall 2018

Normally I never start dressing until at least late October,  but this year I was given the opportunity to start in August,  a very hot August.

The summer here in South Eastern Ontario was brutally hot,  so even though I had the opportunity to dress,  it was too sweltering to do so most times.   I tried,  I really tried to dress on some of the warm days not wanting to waste the time that I had,  but in 25-degree heat,  I was sweating again after even having a cold shower and foundation does not apply well at all on a sweaty face.

But now that fall is starting to creep in and the days and nights are getting cooler it’s way better.  And with the extra time I have had in this seasonal transition period I have been heading out of doors for some better picture taking.  I was able to head out last weekend and get some pictures of myself in the beginning of the layering/sweater weather season.

I started with working on my makeup,  using mostly products from the Maybelline Fit Me lines I have been picking up.  I am really,  really loving the Fit Me Matte + Poreless foundation in Buff Beige (130).  The coverage is awesome and the match is what I have been dreaming of.  I was also trying out the Maybelline Master Blush Color and Highlight kit.  This is the first time I have really used a highlighter and I really liked how it turned out,  just an extra little POP.

For my lips, I used some Maybelline Color Sensation lipstick in Blissful Berry (410),   it’s a gorgeous berry shade but does not really show up great because my cameras are not the greatest.  I spent a lot of extra time on my eyes this time and used my Covergirl Trunaked Dazed palette which has some really striking colors in it if you are trying to make a statement.

 

So after I had my makeup all done I decided to start casual with just a pair of jeans and a few tops and get a bit dressier from there.  The first top is longer with slits on both sides.  It’s hard to tell from the pictures but it has a red metallic thread woven throughout the top which gives it a really nice look.

I first tried A infinity sweater.  I think these were popular about 5-6 years ago but I have not seen any recently.  It looked okay, but with the ammount of extra fabric this piece has it’s probably easier just to get a basic top and a scarf.

I then moved onto a knee length cardigan which I think is my favorite look of all.  I love how this sweater trails behind you in the wind when you walk.  With the extra large holes in the knit,  I doubt it would be the warmest but it lookes nice.

I changed from the shimmery top to a sleeveless wrap top with a ruffle.  This is more of a summer top but with the right sweater it could be a bright pick me up into the cooler fall.  I paired it with a black ruffled bolero.

I moved on from the tops and pants and tried a dress that I had purchased back at the start of 2016 but have not worn a lot.  It’s long sleeved,  so it’s perfect for cooler weather and the fabric is a bit heavier.  It has a slit up the leg on the left side.  With the long sleeves I would not wear a sweater with this but I may try and pick up a shawl to go along with it

So there are some of my fall picks.  I am sure as the weather gets cooler andI still have some decent time outside I will have some more posts to throw up.

 

Thanks for reading

 

Casual Saturday

So yesterday was a cleaning and chore day,  but I did not wear myself out because I had plans for dressing in the evening.

During breaks between cleaning, I had decided to make a new pair of longer rounded nails for the night.  Recently I had picked up some new Revlon nail polish on sale and other than on my toes I had not used them yet.  I made them longer than I normally do but I wanted something a little more fancy for the night.

After finishing all my chores it was around 4 pm and I had my shower and shaved my face.  I was going to do a full face of makeup but just slapped on a coat of Covergirl Colorlicious lipstick in Bombshell pink.  I like how this feels on the lips and the amount of color but it is very staining so if I needed to get it off quickly,  this is not something I would reach for.

I decided that this would be a casual night with trying on some recent hand me downs from the wife.  I pulled on my only pair of Jeans,  a floral embroidered pair from Addition Elle and pulled on the first top which was a short sleeved animal print top from Laura Plus.  It has a gold ring stitched into the center of the neck line that add’s a little pop to it.  I paired it with an Infinity sweater from Addition Elle and tossed on my heels and voila, Casual night in.

I decided to pop into another top I recently picked up which is a black and white sleeveless top with an attached silver chain with plastic crystals.
Normally I would not wear anything that is sleeveless because I do not really want to draw attention to my arms but I was able to pair this with a longer Addition Elle crocheted sweater top.

After getting all dressed I applied my nails and sat back and watched some Netflix and surfed the web.

It was a pretty uneventful night which is just the way I like them.

 

Thanks for Reading

Cynthia

Hello 2017

I had planned on putting this posting out on Monday the 2nd of January,  as you can see I got a little behind.  Well better late than never.

Well, we made it,  Yet another trip around the sun and here were are fresh and new in 2017.  I hope all my Readers and Friends had a great New Years Eve.  Mine was slow paced and I didn’t even make it to midnight but that’s okay it was still fun enough.  I was able to dress and just hang around the house with some movies and snacks and have a laid back easy night.

I did take some pictures and tweeted them through the night but I figured I would post them all here as well for my first blog post of 2017.

So I had planned to start getting ready Friday night after work (Shower and shave legs) but that did not pan out at all,  after spending the day outside in the cold I was exhausted.  Normally I can make it from 4 to 10 pm but Friday night I had to take a nap from 5 to 7 just to be able to get back on my feet.  After waking up I was still somewhat tired so decided against doing anything more than painting my toenails and pulling all my stuff out of storage.

After finding all my boxes I was at least partially ready to get things going for Saturday night.

The box on the Very top is all my makeup and the one below that is all Lingerie.  The box on the right of that is stockings, pantyhose and where I keep my forms.  The big green box is all clothes plus there were about 2 more bags from summer sales that I still have not had time to put away in the box.  I should really clean that box out because I know there is some at the bottom that I never wear anymore.   It would be great if there was enough closet space to hang all this up but alas there is not.

The box on the floor at left is nail polish and on the right is more stuff like deodorant, facial cleansers and moisturizer.

Saturday morning I was slow getting going and was out of bed at around 7 am.  Coffee was a must and after about 4 or so cups I was ready to go.  I decided I needed a nice new set of nails for the night so I set about making up a set.  I decided to do something other than the squared oval that I have been doing.

I have searched before online to try and find some type of guide to nail shaping but is seems most times they are done the nails are already attached to the person before they are cut and filed into the profile wanted.  It was easier said than done but I was able to measure the length I wanted and then use a circle template to roughly mark out the rounded shape I wanted.  I then cut the excess off and finished off with some custom nail files I had made that have more grit for taking off material faster.  I was pretty happy with how the shaping turned out and decided to go with a color that up until that point I had not used called Glistening Plum that I used on my toes Friday night.  

I was really happy with how these turned out and extremely happy with this color.  If the lights hit these just the right way they almost look metallic like in the top photo.

So after finishing the nails and getting a little bit of cleaning and some laundry done it was close to about 2 in the afternoon so it was off to the shower with some of my favorite stuff to really start to get ready.  I love to take my time when having a shower,  there is nothing worse than being rushed and missing a ton of hairs on your leg.  I have been using the Gillette Venus Swirl razor for over a year now and out of all that I have tried I really like it the best.  My only complaint here is with the Shave Gel,  I can’t say I am really crazy about the smell but overall is decent to use.  The original type I used does not seem to be made anymore,  I am a little sad over that.

After taking my time in the shower it was still only about a quarter after 3 and I was so excited for the new nails that I just had to get them on right away,  this was a bad idea.

The nails take me anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes to apply.  Getting all the adhesive strips on then removing the second part and then finally applying the nail all takes time and patience as to not screw things up.  As I was sitting there admiring my new beautiful nails I realized I was not dressed yet or had my make up on.  I was not about to take them off because even though I have lots of the adhesive strips they no longer sell them at the beauty store so what I have left has to last me.  This was going to be a real challenge.

Now I sometimes have a hard time doing my bra strap up as it is because I prefer to do it up from the back which I hear is less wear and tear on the garment than doing it up from the front and then spinning it around.  I had to fiddle with it but was pretty happy with myself after finishing the last of the 4 clasps.  Now came the pantyhose.  I have a hard time with pantyhose on the best of days,  my hands are so rough that even my skin can snag on them and make it almost impossible to get on let alone with new long nails that I am still getting used to wearing.  After some fidgeting, swear words and some close calls I was now again one step closer.

Now makeup……..This again was going to be a little bit of a task seeing as now I was having a hard time opening up my compacts and cases to get the products I needed to use.  Foundation was easy but the eye shadow cases seemed to be a bit of an issue but I perceived and even though it was not one of my best jobs the face was done.

For my first outfit, I decided to go with a short sleeve lace dress I had picked up from Penningtons in late December before Christmas.  It seemed like a festive little number.  I paired the dress with a black cover-up that my wife had recently given
me and I thought it finished the look off pretty well

 

Of course, you can’t stick with just one outfit all night,  so it was time to change.

 

 

 

My second pick for the night was a lace pencil skirt from Penningtons and a lace 2 piece top from Addition Elle.  Looking back at the pictures now I am thinking it was maybe a little too much lace but it was fun to wear for the rest of the night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When 10 pm rolled around I was dead on my feet so I packed it in for the night and headed to bed.  On Sunday I still had some time to kill do I decided to paint my natural nails which is something I don’t get very much chance to do.  When it was all said and done they did not meet my expectations and the pictures I tried to take did not turn out at all so needless to say I was not really happy,  but it was practice.

So that was my New Years Weekend,  nothing too exciting but it was fun for me.

What did you do?

Thanks for reading

Cynthia

Cynthia’s Holiday Wish List 2016

We again are very close to the Holiday season and with that in mind I decided to go ahead and do a wish list for some stuff that I would love to find under the Christmas tree.

Penningtons Lace Pencil Skirt is just gorgeous in my opinion.  It has everything I love all wrapped up into one.  I love lace designs and with the black background.

 

It reminds me of a Lingerie set I reviewed back awhile ago in  Cynthia’s Lingerie Drawer.  They would pair very well together in my opinion.

And of course to finish off the new skirt there has to be a new top to go along with it.  I could not decide between the two Addition Elle tops in either black or white.

I would lean more towards he white one myself but I think the black could be paired nicely.

 

Can’t have a new Holiday Outfit without a new pair of shoes.  Torrid has recently opened up a store not too far away from where I live.  Searching around their website I found this little number that should pair well with the skirt (I think).

And what is a new Holiday outfit without  some Holiday themed lingerie.  Although not mentioned as such in the Addition Elle website you have to admit with the festive red and black lace these to have a Holiday feel to them.

2016 was a year I was at times able to dress a little more than I normally could because the Child was away at some camps and staying over at friends houses so I was able to practice my make up more than I ever have before.  Awhile back I picked up a ECOTOOLS Day to Night 6 piece brush set and was amazed and what a decent set of tools can to to help.  Although the set looks different now it can be seen here.  I think my next logical step would be to pick up the Essential Eye Set to try and work on my shadow skills.  I really must say I was very pleased with the quality of these brushes.

And last but not least I would love to get a gift card for either MAC or Sephora.  It would be really nice if I could actually work up the courage to go into one of these places and get myself some real matching foundation.

So that’s my 2016 Holiday wish list.  Love it hate it?  leave me a comment and tell me what’s on your list.

Thanks for reading

Cynthia

 

 

Fashion Upgrade

Summer is almost over and Fall will soon be upon us,  it will soon be time to break out the Razor and  nail polish and get ready for this dressing season.

This summer seemed to go by like a flash,  A very hot and dry flash.  But at the end of Summer comes the end of season sales and this year I had the time and money so I figured it was time to update my wardrobe.  I have had hand me downs and thrift store buys for far too long and it was time to upgrade and scratch some things off the list I had wanted for awhile.

The first store I was prompted by with summer sales was Penningtons which is a Canadian store owned by the same parent company as Penningtons

Short Sleeve Crochet Dress Front

I get emails from the company when they have deals or sales and I was prompted about a 50% off sale about mid July.  Scanning the website I came across the Short Sleeve Crochet dress to the left and I love lace so it seemed like a great match.

The Penningtons website description read as “Revamp your dress code in this stylish plus-size dress! It has a rounded neck, keyhole opening at back, short sleeves, a lovely patterned crochet overlay with stretchy knit lining and soft chiffon insert at back, as well as an elastic waistband. It offers a flowing, flattering fit with a high-low hem. Complete the look with heels!“

I picked up the Dress in Black and Wild Aster

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was also able to pick up a nice lace skirt as well.  The web site described it as “Add a feminine touch to your work wardrobe with this pretty plus-size dress! It features a comfortable pull-on waistband, hidden zipper at side, 100% cotton patterned lace top layer and stretchy knit lining underneath. Team it with a blouse for a fabulous office look!“

I also needed some new tops to go along with the new skirt so I picked up a couple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had to pick up just one more dress though as my closet is sorely lacking them and I found another short sleeved lace dress.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To top it all off I picked up some necklaces for the new outfits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After Penningtons it was sale time at Addition Elle also with a 50% off.   By the time the wife got there though the sale rack had been pretty much picked through.  I did find a nice new top that would work well with lots of my other skirts.

 

I also picked up a couple of new bras as well

Both are from the Ashley Graham Collection.  The black one is the Dreamer Fatal Attraction Unlined Bra.  Addition Elle website reads “Enjoy this unlined Ashley Graham bra with natural shaping that doesn’t add a size. The Fatal Attraction plus size bra combines unlined lace and mesh in a two layer cup with contrast trim, while creating the perfect fit with a sexy peek a boo effect. Double straps suggest a naughty bondage look. Opt for a halter neckline to mix things up. The triple strip at back wing (hook & eye) creates a modern caged look. A perfect match for the Retro Brief, this sizzling bra with pearl, sparkle and bow detail is a sophisticated item for the bride to be’s collection“.

The back straps on this bra can be removed and re-ordered into a criss cross patterns for a sharper look.  Although I have tried to put it on in this configuration and cannot get into it.

The second bra was lined cup bra in a light pink tone called Ballet. “This sexy Ashley Graham bra is lightly padded for full support without bulk. Trimmed at the cups and center gore with scalloped eyelash lace. Straps and wings are kissed with delicate crown picot elastic. Wear this plus size bra with a matching Ashley Graham panty!“

I did pick up the matching underwear for both bra’s only issue was I was not paying attention and ended up with thongs.  I have never worn a thong before and it was definitely a new experience but not as bad as I thought it would be.

 

Years ago I bought a pair of heels from a thrift shop,  not the best looking in the world but they worked for me and helped me with learning how to walk in heels.  Over the years they have worn out so bad and at one point I fell in them causing a rip in the side.  It was finally time to take the plunge and get myself a nice new pair of heels so off to Payless shoes which as far as I know is the only local store we have in town that sells heels in a size 12.

With the Payless Bogo sale I was able to get a decent black pair of heels and a second pair for the low price of about $7.00,  not a bad deal I think.  The plaid one should pair nice with the skirt or any of the 3 dresses and black goes with anything.

My final sale purchase is also met with a bit of sadness.  Sally Beauty Supply  is where I have been picking up my fake nails and stickers that hold the nails on,  I had them in another post way back called Hard as Nails.  As it turns out Sally Beauty will no longer be stocking the tip stickers and there will be no replacement.  When I found this out via twitter I almost ran to the local store and picked up every last pack they had and 2 more boxes of nails.  For good measure I picked up 5 new polishes.

I really like the Nina Ultra Pro nail polishes.  The coverage is great and the brushes are huge compared to other brands I have tried.

The colors from left to right are:

1. Plum of the Earth
2. French Roast
3. Happily Ever After
4. Ruby Road
5. Glistening Plum

I would like to thank my wife for putting up with me and letting me drag her around to all these store to pick up all the new clothes.

If you have made it this far I thank you for reading and hope you enjoyed.

Thanks

Cynthia

 

Canadian Content

While surfing online recently I came across a new Company that I I had never heard of before.  Upon further inspection it turns out this company is Canadian owned.  Of course I had to do some more digging find about a bit more.

The Charchar

Unless you you are a size 10 in Canada you will know most plus size fashions store in Canada can be very pricey.  I am a avid shopper at Addition Elle and Penningtons but I usually only buy  when they have sales on due to the sometimes steep prices.  A nice dress at either of the aforementioned places can be anywhere from $80.00 and up.

Hip and Curvy sells plus sized fashions for a really decent price and has many different styles from Maxi Dresses and Rompers to Skater dresses and Blouses.  There seems to be a style for almost anyone who is looking for trendy and reasonably priced Curvy Clothes.  I picked out my 2 faves and posted them below,  The Jamie and The Karly

Like I always do when I find a new place to shop I contacted the owner and ask if they are CD/TG Friendly and ask permission to do a blog post about their product.  Business owner Jennifer was quick to email me back and stated she has sold clothes to Crossdressers on a few occasions.  I decided to do a little bit of a interview and spotlight some of the fashions she sells.  Her website can be found at Hip and Curvy

1: What was the main reason you decided to get into Curvy Clothes?

The Jamie

I have been plus size since i hit puberty. At my slimmest I was a size 14. I always struggled finding trendy clothes that I could afford. Thus, Hip and Curvy was born. I want all curvy women to wear clothes that they feel GREAT in; confident in. Just because I am fat, doesn’t mean I should have to wear ugly clothes.

2: Do you prefer “Curvy” over “Plus Size”

I am so comfortable with myself that it doesn’t matter what you call me. I am fat. I am a size 20 and I have lots of fat, however, I look fabulous! I think that once you are comfortable with who you are, it doesn’t matter what someone wants to refer to you as.

3: Do you do the designs yourself?

I do not design the clothes myself, but I select all of the styles personally. I select items that I feel are flattering for curvy women!

The Karly

4: Do you just ship in Canada or Internationally?

At the moment, I am targeting a Canadian audience because there is more access to plus size clothing in the United States. However, I am open to shipping internationally if needed!

5: What do you think is most important when picking out a new dress?

I think the most important thing when picking out a new dress is finding the right color for your complexion. TRY THINGS ON! TRY NEW THINGS!!!! Finding a dress that fits your curves is important as well. If you don’t have a waist, buy something that makes it look like you have a waist (Empire is usually best for this). Depending on the occasion, when appropriate, show a bit of cleavage!

6: Where would you like to see your business in 5 years?

In 5 years, I would like to be designing the clothes myself and having my designs manufactured. In order to do this, I have to build up my clientelle, which is happening now.

The Nikki

I would like to thank Jennifer for taking time out to answer my questions and I am hoping at some point I will be able to order a piece from her.

Thanks For Reading

Cynthia

100 Questions someone might ask a Crossdresser: Part 2

And finally now for part 2.  Like I said back in part one questions 66 to 85 were compiled by a co-worker and she has a no nonsense kind of attitude so her questions  were left just as she sent them too me.  I even bugged Katieinthehall  for some question and she obliged with 94 to 98.

51. Favorite place to shop for Make up?  Shoppers Drug Mart. I try to go when they have decent sales on.
52. Favorite place to shop for clothes? Addition Elle.
53. Favorite place to shop for Lingerie?  Addition Elle.
54. Best time you can think of spent dressed up?  Last year spent the night dressed with the Wife while watching Mrs Browns Boys.
55. If you could have the ultimate day out where would you go? Manicure, Make over and shopping.
56. Funniest thing that’s ever happened to you while Crossdressing? While trying to put on a garter belt I ended up giving myself a Charlie horse in my arm.
57. Do you have pierced ears or wear clip ons? I only have one pierced ear but hopefully some day will get the other done.  I don’t have any other jewellery just yet so it’s ok.
58. Do you wear heels? Yes.
59. How long did it take you to learn how to walk in heels?  Probably a week’s worth of walking in them and falling over every night.
60. How many pairs of heels do you own? 1.
61. Name a article of Women’s clothing you can’t live without? Seeing as I can’t fully dress up regularly I would have to say my underwear.
62. What is one article of Women’s clothes you don’t like? Rompers.
63. Do you sleep in a nightie? Only if my Daughter is away.
64. What type of panties do you like? As most people call them “Granny Panties” but with a little flash of lace and sparkle.
65. What is your Favorite color for a dress? A nice lace purple dress would be great.
66. When you’re wearing pantyhose, what do you do with your junk? Let it be free or tuck it up and tape? Seeing as I tend not to wear tight clothes and stay at home I don’t feel the need to tuck.  So if I am wearing panty hose it’s just over some panties.
67. What stops you from ‘dressing’ in public? Fear of yourself or of others? I guess it’s a fear of both.  I am not crazy about being around lots of people and especially while being in a situation where I could be outed.
68. When did you first know your taste in fashion was different from other boys? My earliest recollection would be around the 7 or possible younger.
69. When did you tell your wife? What was her reaction? We had been dating for about 5 months and I figured waiting any longer would maker it harder and a worse situation.  I could not come out and say it so I tried to spell it.  I didn’t even get past “C” and she thought I had Cancer.
70. What would you tell your 5 year old self if you could? You are going to have some tough times but hang on it gets a lot better.
71. Do you shave your chest and armpits as well as your legs? Just the legs.
72. Have you ever told anyone and they reacted badly? No.  I have been pretty lucky I guess.
73. What was your most surprising reaction when telling someone? A Co-worker.  I kinda told her by accident (even though I had thought of telling her before) and with a stone cold face she just said “so”.  She also told me later than everyone deserves to be pretty.
74. For most women, taking the bra off at the end of the day and having a good under-boob scratch is the equivalent to a man scratching his nut-sack. Is it the same when you take off your bra? Not for me.  It is such a build up to get dressed for me that taking it all off means that for a time it’s over.
75. How did you feel the first time you ‘dressed’? First time truly dressed I felt okay until I glanced in the mirror.  Shock and disgust would be the best way to describe it.
76. How did you feel the last time you ‘dressed’? Great.  No better way to relax after work than to come home slip into a nice blouse and skirt do your make up and watch some tv.
77. Do you and your wife share clothes? We have a few articles that we share.  Mostly blouses and sweaters.
78. What do you wish everyone understood about why you dress that no one seems to really get? I think most people think it’s some sort of fetish and to some people it is and that’s not a issue.  But to the majority of Crossdressers expressing our femininity is just something we feel we need to do.
79. Do you prefer skirts and dresses or pants?  Skirts and dresses mostly.  But I do have a great pair of Jeans I love with some floral embroidery on them.
80. How do you hide your 5 o’clock shadow? Not really a issue for me as I don’t go out but a good shave, some red lipstick and good foundation can work wonders I hear.
81. If you could go somewhere on the planet where not one soul knew who you were and publicly dress, would you? I would have to work my way up to it but I think I could do it.
82. Do you think you’ll ever tell your children? Still debating that.  My daughter is a pretty open thinker.  She already has a understanding of LGBTQ Community.  But I am not sure I ever want her to have to carry around a secret this big.
83. What will you tell your children (if you don’t intend to tell them) and they find out accidentally? I guess at that point Pandora will be out of the box and that Daddy at times like to express a Feminine side.
84. Why aren’t women who wear menswear considered cross-dressers? I never understood that.  I think it’s because men’s clothes is seen as more utilitarian where as Female clothes is seen with more sexuality.  
85. Where the hell do you find shoes to fit? My one and only pair I was able to pick up at a local thrift store.  I keep looking but have never seen size 12’s there again.  I have found on-line stores that do carry sizes well past 12.
86. What is the longest you have ever dressed for? Most would be for a 5 hour stretch.
87. Do your bra and panties have to match? Yes.
88. Do you find there is a big difference between your male and female self? If so how? Although I try to change my mannerisms for the most part my personality is pretty much the same.
89. Does it matter to you if you “Pass” or not? I don’t go out yes so not really.  If I did go out I would want to be as passable as I could get.
90. Do you “Pass”? No.
91.  How long does it take you to get all dressed up? From the time I come home and hop in the shower till I finish my make up and slip into the heels at least a hour and a half maybe longer.  I have never timed it.
92. If you had a chance to remove your desire to Crossdress would you take it? 7 year old me would probably take you up on that offer if only not to feel different.  Adult me knows that in the long run it gets better and I am not hurting anyone doing it so no.
93. Do you have any female role models and if so who are they? Any Woman who is brave enough to stand up and be happy with herself no matter what.
94. Do you listen to anything while getting ready? No,  I tried but then I spend more time trying to pick songs.
95. What do you hope to accomplish by Crossdressing?  For me I don’t think there is anything really to accomplish other than to accept and be happy with myself.
96. What do you expect crossdressing to teach you about being a woman and the experiences associated with it? It has really opened my eyes as to what the Women of today have to put up with.  Being bombarded 24/7 about having to look this way and wear this and how much you should weigh.  Makes you really respect what Women go through.
97. Do your personal or political views change as a result of the experiences of crossdressing? No my views are my views no matter what clothes I am wearing.
98. Has your views on relationships changed with crossdressing in your life?  I was always worried I would never really have a relationship because I was “Different”.  My wife whole heartedly accepted me so I was never really shot down because of it.
99. What was you best Crossdressing experience? Best ever would be the first time that I ever really dressed in front of my wife for a extended time.  I figured her reaction to seeing me dressed would be horrifying but her expression never changed a bit.  I don’t think I was ever more relieved in my life. Second best is when she walked in on me putting on pantyhose and gave me the raised eyebrow and backed out of the room.
100. What was your worst Crossdressing experience?  I don’t think I have had any yet.  I don’t go out so there is not much chance of anyone finding out.  Although last night the cat put a run in my pantyhose so that kinda counts.

So there you have it all 100 questions compiled and answered.  It only took me since the end of January to get it all done.

If you would like to answer the 100 Questions yourself you can get a blank copy of them from here.

Hope you all enjoyed reading it

Cynthia

One of those rare Occasions

So my daughter is away for the night which means that Cynthia gets to come out and party.  And by party and mean sit on the couch and watch TV.

It was a pretty slow day at work so I was not really tired which meant I at least had the energy to get ready.  The wife and I headed to the mall to get something to watch for the night and we picked up season 3 of a show we really like.  Bob’s Burgers.  For those of you that are not familiar with it it’s a animated show that revolves around a family’s wacky antics as they try to keep their restaurant open.  After the mall we went and grabbed some supper from a sub shop and headed home.  After supper I hopped in the shower and got cleaned up and proceeded to put on my underwear and slip in my forms.  Tonight I was finally able to wear the dress I had purchased back in  January that I wrote about here.  I didn’t go crazy with the make up,  just put on some lipstick for some colour.

The rest of the night was spent with the wife sitting in front of the TV just having a good laugh.  Sometimes it’s not what you do it’s who you do it with.

I am still working on part 2 of the 100 Questions that someone might ask a Crossdresser and I am down to 3 questions.  As soon as I can complete the last 3 questions I will post up the second part of the list.  If anyone has any ideas for the final 3 questions please email me at cynthia01012 at gmail.com and I will give you credit for the question and I will link back to your blog.  If you want to complete the list yourself I will email me and I will send you a copy of the list.

Thanks for reading

Cynthia

100 Questions Someone might ask a Crossdresser

I had some fun doing the 100 questions blog awhile back so after I completed that I decided 100 questions more geared for a Crossdresser would be even more fun.  Now as easy as you would think it might be I had to wrack my brain trying to come up with all of them and even had to call in some favours from friends and family to complete the whole list.  Questions 66 to 85 were compiled from the woman I work with and I am hoping my wife will contribute a couple as well.

Just like the other 100 question blog post I will be breaking it into 2 parts because 100 questions is a lot to read.

 

1. How old were you when you realized you were different?  I was at least 5 or 6 years old
2. How old were you when you first tried wearing women’s clothes, make up etc?  Around the age of 7 I think
3. Have you ever told anyone you were a Crossdresser? If yes who? I have told my wife, A friend and a co-worker
4. At what age did you come up with your femme name?  I picked Cynthia when I was about 26
5. Did you use any other femme names before you chose your current name if so what was it?  For awhile I used Anastasia.
6. How did you come up with your Femme name?  I had seen the name Cynthia somewhere before and really liked the sound of it.
7. Have you ever been caught dressed?  No.
8. How did the people you told take it?  Wife and friend were a little surprised and co-worker took it great.
9. Are you married?   Yes.
10. Does your spouse know? and if so are they accepting?  Yes she has known for at least 20 years now and is great about it.
11. What was the first article of women’s clothes you ever bought?  The very first item I ever bought was a skirt from a thrift store. 
12. What was the last article of women’s clothes you bought?  I bought a new dress about 2 months ago.
13. Long or short skirts?  Depends on my mood but at least to my knees or longer.
14. Do you venture out dressed? If yes how often do you go out dressed?  Never strayed past my back deck while dressed.
15. If you could go back and change one thing about your Crossdressing what would it be?  I would have started dressing in front of my wife a lot sooner.  She always told me I could but I was too self conscious.
16. Do you feel being a Crossdresser makes you a better person? If yes how so? I think I have a better idea how women feel and therefore understand them more.
17. How long were you dating / married before you told your significant other or spouse?  I think roughly 5 months.
18. What is your favourite article of clothing? A denim skirt that my wife gave me.
19. If you have bought your own clothes,  have you ever had any issues with store clerks?  Never had a issue as I make a list and tell the clerks that it’s for my wife.
20. What is your greatest Crossdressing accomplishment?  Buying clothes by myself.
21. What is your favourite brand of make up?  Mary Kay.
22. Do you wear perfume? If yes what is your favourite fragrance?  I have a terrible sence of smell so it would be a waste.
23. How many lipsticks do you own?  11
24. What is your favourite colour of lipstick called?  Berry Kiss.
25. Did you buy breast forms or do you make your own?  I have made a few sets from pantyhose and rice to a sewn set.
26. Do you ever have dreams related to Crossdressing? if yes what was it?  I have had only one that I can remember.  It involved my mother in law somehow finding out I dressed and then getting me a gift card to my favourite store.
27. When not dressed how often do you think about it,  for example while at work?  At least 10-15 times a day.
28. Favourite hair removal method?  Shaving.
29. If you could spend a day with anyone else dressed who would it be? I have always wanted to have a girls day with the wife.
30. Do you have space in the closet for your clothes or do you have to hide them?  Seeing as my daughter does not know it’s best to keep stuff as well hidden as I can.
31. Have you ever purged your clothes?  No.
32. Given the opportunity would you take a job where you could work as either your male or female self at any time?  Most likely not.  I have a hard enough time keeping male clothes looking good at work.
33. Do you paint your natural finger nails or use fake ones?  I use fake ones.  I use fake ones.  Way easier to clean up.
34. What Colour do you like to use on your finger nails?  Purples or pinks.
35. Do you keep your toe nails painted?  Only in the Fall and Winter
36. What colour nail polish do you like best on your toes?  Mostly a metallic purple
37. If you wear make up what part do you find the hardest to learn how to do?  I find eye shadow the hardest part for me to do. 
38. Have you ever had a professional make over?  No.
39. Have you ever worn a Bikini or other swimsuit?  No.
40. Do you own or have you ever worn a Wedding Dress?  No.
41. Do you own a wig or use your own hair?  I own a very cheap wig that does not look very believable.  For the most part I do have longer hair that I just pull back into a pony tail.
42. How often are you able to dress up during the week?  With a teenage daughter not at all save for under dressing.
43. How many Blouses do you own?  4
44. How many Skirts do you own?  6
45. How many Dresses do you own?  1
46. How many bra’s do you own?  8
47. How many pair’s of panties do you own? 15 or more
48. What is your favourite colour for lingerie?  Pink
49. Panythose or Thigh Highs?  I will wear both but thigh highs are so much easier and better looking in my opinion.
50. Favourite place to shop for misc items?  Shoppers Drug Mart. 

Questions 51-100

So that’s questions 1 to 50.  I still have about 15 or so questions that I have to complete before I can do questions 51-100.  I even went as far as to put it out on Twitter but never got any replies back.  So we will see what I can think of today.

If you would like to answer the 100 Questions yourself you can get a blank copy of them from here.

Thanks for reading.

Cynthia