Social beliefs and pressures shape what we think is the ideal woman. Most women get breast implants because they think it will make them more money. To some degree it does! Mostly, its about what you think of yourself and if bigger breasts means that you feel sexier, then that is what really makes you more money. Our industry is driven by what women think men like. Duh, men like boobies.

Now, personally, I’m not into surgery but I am curious about alternative natural ways to make my breasts larger. I’m figuring that if a pill can make a man’s penis bigger, longer, and wider, then maybe there is something to the claims of a pill or cream to help firm, lift, and enhance our breasts.

My good friend/co-worker was talking about breast enhancement cream/pills. Specifically Bloussant. She touted that her friend used it and it worked for her. Yada yada yada. However, she was talking about the pain involved in the growth of her mammary glands (similar to puberty pain) and how she had to massage them to help relieve her discomfort.

This triggered a memory for me. Years ago, I tried GroBust.  I bought the cream and supplement program and used them for about a month. I did see a noticeable difference in my breasts after just one month but the pain wasn’t something I was expecting. Of course the websites don’t tell you about the pain so as not to discourage you. Fortunately the pain is a sign that it is working!!

Recently I began to do more research on natural breast enhancement options.  I found many website including Bloussant. From an herbal stand point, most of the ingredients are the same, blessed thistle, dong qui, saw palmetto, and wild yam.  I chose Triactol figuring advancing technology would be better than a decade old recipe.  For more info on the ingredients of Triactol, visit Triactol.com

What really sold me though was if a product like this is cheap, its probably a rip off. Triactol is consistently priced with the other products. And the company offers a 60-day money back guarantee. All of the sites have a disclaimer that the products may not work for everyone. It’s nice to know that if it doesn’t work for me, then I can return it and get my money back.

I also sent an email to the Triactol Customer Service address and they replied within 24 hours. Once I made contact with them, I placed my order.

The only negative I can find about their site is when I clicked the link in my confirmation email, I was redirected to a form page. I tried to fill out the form exactly the way it directed and still nothing. Fortunately, they provide an 800 number to call. When I called, they answered all my questions.

So far so good. Now I just have to wait a few weeks for my breast enhancing cream to arrive then we’ll see if the proof is in the pudding!

<3 Perelandra

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Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide specific tax advice and should be used as a guideline to help encourage you to seek professional tax services.

First and foremost, legally, you -have- to claim all of your wages that you made in the last year. However, most dancers do not. Don’t think that you can escape the IRS though. Everything that you deposit into your bank account or major purchases will be tracked to you and it will catch up with you.

Over the last year, you should have kept your receipts for shoes, make-up and mileage to and from the club.

What’s that? You didn’t keep track? No problem. Here are some easy tips to help you figure out what sort of deductions you can claim this year on your taxes and how to get them ready for the CPA of your choice.

Find a random shoe box and begin accumulating the following items for your Tax Professional.

*  Cash – If you didn’t keep any receipts for make up, shoes, or jewelry purchases there is pretty much no way you can claim a deduction for those items if you paid cash. Any time you purchase -anything- from the costume lady,  ask for a receipt. Even if they give you a funny look, feel good about being smart with your money. If you happen to find some random receipts stuffed in a drawer or in a old Mac bag,  add those to your shoe box.

* Debit/Credit Card Purchases – You should be receiving monthly statements from your bank or Creditor. Go through those to find purchases made local and online that were for your stripping business. Highlight those items with a highlighter pen and put with any receipts you found.

* The next time you go into work, figure out what the mileage is and calculate an average of how many shifts per week you worked over the last year (all of 2009).  For example:

If the club is 10 miles away, that’s 20 miles round trip. You worked 3 shifts on average per week, times 52 weeks equals 156 shifts. You then times 156 by the 20 miles and that equals 3,120 miles. Just write that down on a piece of paper and place in box.

* If you traveled out of state to work, your airfare is deductible as well as hotel and other expenses. Your CPA will be able to tell you exactly what you can deduct for business travels.

At the end of your gathering, just take the shoe box to your CPA appointment.

Preparing all year for the inevitable tax season can make a huge difference for your stripping business and your purse.

~Perelandra

Tip #1. First aid is most important when starting out. Here is a small list of things you’ll want to have on hand..

Band aids- get the stretch fabric kind as the clear one’s actually glow in the black light.

Super Glue – As you wear down the sole,  you’ll need to glue the bottom rubber back on your shoe.  Note: If the body of the shoe breaks never try to glue it back together and continue dancing! Its an accident waiting to happen.  If there isn’t a girl there who is willing to let you borrow shoes for the remainder of your shift, go home.  No amount of money is worth twisting your ankle or falling and getting hurt.  Cut your losses and get another pair ASAP.

Spray Deodorant – Whether open toe or closed, your shoes will begin to smell as your  feet sweat.  Spray your feet lightly with Arid Extra Dry Regular/Unscented before your shift to keep away the funk.  Make sure to put band-aids in place before spraying or they wont stick.

Gel Inserts - these have the ability to save your night. Less than $10, slip these into your shoes for added comfort as you build your calluses.

Tip #2. When first starting to dance, you’ll want to get 5 – 6 inch heels. Going for the 7 and 8 inch heels is a very bad idea if you’ve never walked in them. Wobbly ankles is not attractive. Starting low and working your way up builds stability. The muscles on your shins will need to strengthen also so be prepared to feel pain when simply standing as you use them to balance.

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Tip #3. Recognize that your feet will be molding into your shoe. My first recommendation is the solid sole with 2 clear plastic straps. As your feet sweat, the straps stick and keep the shoe on. This has been the most comfortable shoe for me right out of the box, however, I still got a few small blisters. This is where band-aids come in handy.

Tip #4. When I first started dancing I learned in 5 inch stilettos and I ended up pinching the nerve in my feet. I couldn’t feel my toes until I started wearing 6 inch platforms.  I recommend platforms 10 out of 10 times.

Tip #5. When getting a pedicure, ask them to not remove your precious calluses. Expect your feet to get somewhat beat up as this job is hard on them but you need the calluses for protection. If you remove them, your feet will hurt forever. Keep them and your feet adapt.  Expect them to hurt for the first 3-4 months of dancing until they adjust.

Tip #6. Practice walking around in your work shoes at home. Start out walking in the kitchen and graduate to carpet. Some clubs have carpet in the VIP rooms so be prepared.  Stages are usually vinyl but don’t always have an even surface.  Walking around at home will also help break in the shoes.

Tip #7. Now that you have been dancing for a while you’ll notice the quickest part of a stripper shoe to wear out is the sole – the second being plastic strap.  After inspection, if you have determined that the shoe is still good (ie., straps intact, cracks in plastic, etc),  have them re-soled by by a local shoe shop. This usually costs around $20 and takes about a day to repair.  You can also re-sole brand new shoes to make them last months if not a year longer.

Hope this helps and, as always, if you have questions regarding this article, feel free to leave a comment.

~Perelandra