There’s just no getting around the fact that shapewear is so unsexy. I feel kinda sad for the poor model above. She’s working it, but it’s still shapewear.

Anyhoo… I was recently sent a pair of ShāToBu High Waist Shaping Tights to review. I wasn’t excited about reviewing these tights because I have plenty of pairs of tights and almost all of them are shapewear tights. Don’t get me wrong – I love shapewear tights, I just wasn’t looking for another pair!

When I finally decided to wear these last week I took them out of the package and started trying to get my body into them without REALLY knowing what I was putting on. BIG mistake. It took me 10 minutes to get into the tights and at the end of it I was nearly sweating and a little bit out of breath. Until I got them on I felt like I was stuffing myself into a casing that was 10x too small. {Not the best way to start a Monday morning!}

Only after they were on did I read the packaging to learn that ShāToBu High Waist Shaping Tights are “Get Fit” tights. What this means is that the tights are constructed with muscle toning resistance bands. If you look closely at the image above, you’ll notice parts of the tights that are darker than the rest of the tights. This is where the resistance bands are located. They pretty much cover your entire midriff straight down to your knees, hence why it took me so long to get into the tights. The bands are tight and firm, and putting the tights on took quite a bit of effort!

Throughout the day it was clear to me that I had resistance bands wrapped around my legs. There were times when I was walking around at work that I actually felt like I was exercising, which was a little surreal. As for the color of the tights, I received a jet black pair to try, and they are a great opaque black.

I’m not going to try to tell you that you’re going to get SO SLIM wearing ShāToBu High Waist Shaping Tights because that would be absurd. Having worn them now twice, I do think there is something to the resistance bands and at the very least I can believe that you would burn a few extra calories just by wearing the tights and going about your normal routine. The resistance is light, but it’s there. There are even resistance bands that wrap around your bottom! You have to pull them up specifically into place or you’re going to feel really awkward! They do give a great boost to the old posterior!

Because of the extra strength of the tights due to the resistance bands, I 100% believe these tights do a better job than most other shapewear tights I’ve tried of sucking everything in and making you appear trimmer. I never felt uncomfortable, but I definitely felt trimmer, tucked in, and all smoothed out.

My only complaint – and it’s a relatively small one – is that the resistance bands weight down the tights in a weird way. Not that I felt droopy or anything, but anytime I used the restroom I had to be certain to pull the tights all the way up again – starting below my knee – because the fabric seemed to fall quite a bit.

Would I spend $38 to buy these tights myself? Heck yeah! In fact, I’m going to go one step further.

I fully intend on investing in this sexy garment to wear under my wedding dress in July! This is the ShāToBu Seamless High Waist Shaper and I think it’ll give me the exact support I want under my gown. This shaper is pricier at $68, but if it makes me look as trim as the tights do then they’ll be worth the cost!

Disclosure: I was provided with one free pair of ShāToBu High Waist Shaping Tights to review. Honesty is the best policy, therefore all opinions above are my own.

ShāToBu High Waist Shaping Tights Review is a post from: Fantabulously Frugal.

What is StyleMint you ask? Well, it’s similar to the other shopping clubs in that it’s a membership site but for T-shirts. I LOVE t-shirts! Seriously, they are my drug of choice. So of course I was head over heels and just had to check them out! And they are designed by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olson. They’ve come a long way from being little Michelle, haven’t they!

As with any membership club, you register and take your style quiz. It’s $29.99 a month, but you don’t pay until your first purchase. And, because I love you, I’m totally going to share this email they sent me AFTER my first purchase (of course they would, right?!).

15% off PLUS free shipping when you use the code MEMBER15. It only applies to new members on their first purchases. Enjoy!

For the first time I actually agreed with my style choices. When I signed up for ShoeDazzle they wanted me too try 5 inch heels. I am clumsy. That wasn’t correct. However, this is right on the money.

I’m very laid back. I like to be comfortable. I am also not a fan of anything too tight or revealing. So of course I was thrilled to be offered the Hudson shirt as one of my choices.

I love how soft the shirt is. It’s made of 50% pima cotton, 50% micro modal and comes in mushroom/ivory (featured above) and charcoal/black. However, the mushroom/ivory is currently only available in a size 5, while the black/charcoal is available in all.

Make sure you check the size chart!

Size                                                           Bust         Waist              Hips

I usually wear a small or x-small in tops, so I took a chance and ordered a 1. I was nervous it would be too snug, but was pleasantly surprised. It fit wonderfully.

Here’s my thoughts on the shirt:

Positives

• Super comfortable
• I’m very modest and don’t like things low-cut. This wasn’t too bad at all. Granted, I did wear a tank under it, but still.

Negatives

• Remember, this is just a negative for me, so it may not bother you one bit, but it’s shorter in the front, longer in the back. I get very self-conscience and kept tugging at it. So then I put on a cami and felt much better.
• $29.99 is a little much in my opinion for a t-shirt.

All in all I LOVED the shirt. It would look adorable with a pair of skinny jeans and boots. Or heels. The possibilities are endless!

I totally recommend signing up and checking out StyleMint. You will fall madly in love! Oh, and don’t forget to use the code MEMBER15 for 15% off!

Megan’s StyleMint Review is a post from: Fantabulously Frugal.

I am always on the lookout for a great eye make-up remover. I have SUPER sensitive eyes, so most removers don’t work. They’ll either sting my eyes or they’re way too oily.  When I received a generous sample of Klorane Soothing Eye Makeup Remover with Cornflower Water in one of my recent Birchbox shipments I was excited to give it a try.

The first thing I noticed about the product is that it’s blue, which I liked. That shouldn’t be a selling point, but I was amused. I’m not sure there’s much one can say about eye make-up remover, but I think this product works great. It gets off all of my eye make-up without any scrubbing or the need to keep going over my eyes. I wear a moderate amount of eye make-up and it always comes off easily.

The Klorane hasn’t bothered my sensitive eyes at all. Apparently the pH formula of the Klorane is similar to that of tears, which helps explain why it’s great for sensitive eyes. Also, I think the product is moisturizing! I haven’t needed to apply moisturizer after using the remover because my skin feels great!

If it tells you anything, the Klorane Soothing Eye Makeup Remover with Cornflower Water is the first product I’ve purchased after sampling the product from Birchbox. {I’m happy that I still have the sample size for when I travel, too!} I really love it and can see myself remaining loyal to this makeup remover for years.

The only downside is this makeup remover is not particularly cheap. The 3.38 fl oz. bottle seems to cost $9 everywhere {this is what I purchased} and the 6.76 fl oz. bottle is $16. You can buy it directly from Birchbox, but I also found it at Drugstore.com.

Beauty Reviewed: Klorane Soothing Eye Makeup Remover with Cornflower Water is a post from: Fantabulously Frugal.

Well, this review turned out to be approximately 4 minutes longer than I think it probably should be.  When I watched it after recording it, it was so incredibly long that I sped up the section where I take the mask off to avoid you hearing me remind you 80 more times to make sure you apply it in a thick layer.  Feel free to enjoy cartoon-speed Shaina!

In short:  the Boscia Luminizing Black Mask kicks some serious skin booty.  Yes, it’s kinda painful and difficult to peel off.  Yes, it can rip your hair out by the roots.  But you know what else?  It unclogs all sorts of nasties from your skin.  And that, as Martha Stewart would say, is a good thing.

You can find the Boscia Luminizing Black Mask at Sephora for $34.

Beauty Reviewed: Boscia Luminizing Black Mask is a post from: Fantabulously Frugal.

For years I have been a very loyal user of Aveeno lotion. When I find a product I like and that works I tend to stick with it.

With that being said, do you ever go to the store and wonder why things cost so much money? On one particular day a few months ago I was about to pick up some more Aveeno but I balked at the price tag. {It was about $10, I believe. Not that much money but sometimes I have these days when I am super cheap and then other days I could buy the store out. This day was a cheap day.} I started looking around for something less expensive when I spotted the Lubriderm Daily Moisture Shea + Enriching Cocoa Butter Skin Lotion. It was only $5.99 or so, so I made it mine.

Even though I used Aveeno lotion for years and years and years, I am thoroughly smitten with the Lubriderm. When you put it on it feels like silk. And the smell. Oh, the smell is incredible. I don’t know how to explain it, but the smell of the shea butter is super calming. Putting on lotion each morning used to be a mundane chore, but now I actually kind of look forward to it.

Oh, and lest I forget, this lotion is also super hydrating. {This is perhaps the most important part? } My skin gets super dry and itchy when the weather gets cold, but this lotion provides the perfect amount of moisture and I haven’t had any skin issues since I started using it.

Lubriderm Daily Moisture Shea + Enriching Cocoa Butter Skin Lotion is easily one of my most favorite budget beauty finds!

Beauty Reviewed: Lubriderm Daily Moisture Shea + Enriching Cocoa Butter Skin Lotion is a post from: Fantabulously Frugal.

I was given the Futuristic Dress, the Holiday Cheer tank, and the First Glimpse sweater. Check out my video review below!

The Futuristic Dress: I love this dress. I really, really do. I can see myself wearing this on numerous occassions. It’s comfortable and gives me a nice shape. Both of those things are a plus in my book! I normally wear a 6/8 and this dress is a M and fits like a M. Perfect.

Holiday Cheer Tank: Again, I love sparkle and this tank has just the right amount. It’s not too much and not too little. It also comes in black. Love.

First Glimpse sweater: This little number is on sale! It was originally $38.00, but is on sale now for $24.98. Totally doable in my opinion. Just wear something under it, unless you are way braver than me.

Right now Francesca’s Collections is offering free shipping on orders of $50 or more, their BOGO sale when you buy one piece of apparel you get your second piece for 50% off, and their BOGO sale on watches and jewelry. I want one of everything! And don’t forget that now through December 31st, save 30% off one regular-priced item – online only – with code FAB!

I’d love to see your Francesca’s finds!

Megan’s Francesca’s Collections Video Review and Vlog is a post from: Fantabulously Frugal.

In the video above I review the following items:

Mixed Metals Necklace – $28 – My necklace is in coral, which doesn’t seem to be available online any longer. It is still available in turquoise though, which is just as gorgeous as the coral necklace. This necklace is such a high quality that it seems like it should sell for way more than $28. As I say in the video above, I can see wearing it with a T-shirt and jeans or something more formal. It’s beautiful!

Homegrown Earrings – $12 – Francesca’s Collections is so popular that items are constantly selling out, and that is the case with the Homegrown Earrings I reviewed. Like the necklace above, these earrings could easily have cost more than $12. They’re made of a high-quality metal and have a little bit of bling in the middle of the flower.

Foldover Double Buckle Tote – $48 – Francesca’s was nice enough to send over something that’s not even on their website yet … SNEAK PREVIEW! While I wouldn’t normally gravitate toward a red handbag, this one is super cute. Truthfully, I wouldn’t have even known it wasn’t real leather it’s that high of a quality. There are so many pockets on this tote, and it’s super trendy in that you can either wear it folded over, or carry it with the short handle. Also incredible? The lining of the tote. Love it!

These were the first items I’ve ever actually had from Francesca’s Collections and I am majorly impressed. As far as accessories go, everything I received was top notch. This is definitely going to become a can’t miss shopping destination of mine!

Lisa’s Francesca’s Collections Review & Vlog is a post from: Fantabulously Frugal.

Gals that grew up playing softball are often built like tanks. They’re exceptionally strong and muscular, especially in their legs. I grew up playing softball and am built like a softball player, which means that yes, I am kind of comparing myself to a tank. Hmmm. This doesn’t really bother me as I am a huge proponent of loving whatever body you have. You only get one body, so don’t spend too much time hating it or trying to change it. I’m built like a tank and you’re built like a string bean. It’s all cool.

The one thing though that has always bothered me is that I have never, ever owned a pair of tall boots because my calves are too muscular. I have tried on probably hundreds of pairs of boots over the years, but there hasn’t been one pair that I’ve been able to zip up or pull up over my tank-like calves. Though I’m generally pretty positive, there have been a few boot shopping excursions that have almost had me on the brink of tears because all I wanted were a pair of tall boots, gosh darn it.

I got a little desperate Sunday night. There are so many cute outfits and styles that all involve tall boots, so I went searching for the boots with the absolute widest circumference I could find. Generally the circumference of the calf on a pair of normal boots is anywhere from 13″-16″, which wasn’t cutting it for me. Even a wider circumference tends to top out about 18″, which also wouldn’t work. I searched the entire internet before I eventually ended up at Zappos and the pair of Ros Hommerson Sonah Wide Wide Boots above.

These Ros Hommerson’s have a 20″ circumference and were pretty much the largest I could find. They’re a little pricey at $165 and I didn’t have a coupon, but sometimes you just have to go for it. I crossed my fingers and ordered them.  I opted for the free shipping option, which is typically a 4-6 day delivery period, but thanks to Zappos and their awesomeness I received the boots yesterday!

I took the boots out of the box, held my breath, crossed my fingers, and slipped my foot in. Then – the hard part. Zipping them up. I closed my eyes as I pulled up the zipper because I didn’t want to be disappointed again. I creeped the zipper up and met no resistance. THEY FIT.

After a 10 year search, I FINALLY have a pair of tall black boots. I’m wearing them today and I’m positively in love with them and excited about all of the new outfit possibilities I’ll have in the future. They’re pretty basic, as far as boots go, but they look good.

If you’re anything like me and frustrated because tall boots don’t fit your legs, don’t despair. Check out Ros Hommerson because their boots come in all different circumferences, and hopefully you’ll find something to fit your leg and make you feel fab, too.

Note: Neither Zappos nor Ros Hommerson asked me to write this post or gave me a dime. I wrote this post simply because I found something that worked for me – finally – and maybe one of you can benefit as well.

Ros Hommerson Sonah Wide Wide Boots Review is a post from: Fantabulously Frugal.

This weekend I went to Sephora and picked up the Give Me Some Lip kit, which came with an assortment of six lip sticks and glosses to try out for $25. I love kits like this because you get to try out a nice assortment without shelling out a huge amount of money.

I wanted to take a second to tell you about a product that has already catapulted to the top of my favorite products list: bareMinerals Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish.

Which of you has been holding out on me when it comes to this product? In the past 18 hours I have gone from unknowing to completely obsessed.

Generally when I buy new lip polish/gloss/stick I use it once and then forget about it.  I’m kind of weird and don’t actually like the feel of anything on my mouth.  I just sit there and obsess over how sticky it’s feeling or whether it’s rubbing off, so generally it’s better to go without.  This is doubly true when I’m going to work – I can’t imagine why I’d wear anything overly sparkly on my mouth just to sit at my desk all day.

So yesterday afternoon I pulled the Buxom Lips out of my sampler pack to try and immediately liked that neither the colors or the sparkles were overwhelming.  You could tell I had on something, but I didn’t look too glamorous to take my dog {Bacon! Please Vote} on a walk.  Walk we did and halfway through the walk I thought “oh my, what is going on with my mouth?!”  Weird, I know.  There’s something in the lip gloss that results in a cooling sensation that – I’ll admit – feels incredible.  It feels so incredible that I can see myself getting addicted to this lip polish because I have reapplied it at least 5 times today, which is 5x more than I have on any other day.  I’ve never, ever reapplied any type of product while at work.

The cooling sensation is hard to explain, but most reminds me of the awesome coolness you’ll feel in your throat after you have a cough drop.

bareMinerals Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish is allegedly also a lip plumper, but I’m not using it for that reason and haven’t noticed any abnormal plumping.  It could totally be happening, but I don’t usually worry about how plump my lips are to begin with, so I really wouldn’t know.  All told though, I am in love with this product.

The color that came in my kit is Leslie, which is only available at Sephora. However, if you wanted to try the product out in a different color, you can pick it up at the Beauty.com Friends & Family Sale.  It sells for $18 {the same as at Sephora}, so after the 20% discount you’d pay $14.40.

Review: bareMinerals Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish is a post from: Fantabulously Frugal.

That’s right.

Leather.

Love.

This is the amazing and incredible Plus Size Pelle Studio Smooth Lamb Jacket from Wilsons Leather. Let me reiterate – it is amazing and incredible.

I have always wanted a leather coat, because as I’ve mentioned many times I like to pretend I’m a rock star. However, I could just never make the leap to purchase one, so I’ve always admired them from afar. When Wilsons Leather offered to send me one to review, of course I jumped at the opportunity.

I picked out the Plus Size Pelle Studio Smooth Lamb Jacket you see above.  As I mentioned in my last Wilsons Leather review, I have one leg in traditional sized clothing and one in plus sized clothing.  When it comes to coats, however, I almost always size up because there’s nothing worse than feeling too constricted in a coat.  I went with the plus size leather coat, in a size 1x, and like the other coat I reviewed, it fits like an absolute glove. {Thanks, Wilsons, for your great sizing for me!}

The leather on this coat is so soft.  So, so soft.  As I mention in the video above, I actually wore the coat to work last week as a blazer.  The leather is so soft that I didn’t feel like I was wearing a coat all day.  At the same time, this coat is surprisingly warm.  Wearing it as a blazer may not have worked out so well if my office weren’t so cold, because believe me, this coat will keep you warm!  I guess I wasn’t really expecting that – I’m actually looking forward to the temps dropping a bit so I can wear it everyday.  I have a feeling that I’ll be able to wear it well into winter.

I am seriously in love with this coat, y’all, and actually being able to try on this leather coat and wear it for a few days makes me think about my next leather purchase.  Like a good pair of leather shoes, I might be hooked.

You can currently snag the Plus Size Pelle Studio Smooth Lamb Jacket from Wilsons Leather for $224.99, down from the original price of $450.  PLUS, use promo code “6960A” at checkout and you’ll save $20 on $200+ orders, bringing the price of this coat down to $204.99.  Shipping is free on $75+ purchases. Not bad at all!

By the way, if you’re looking for a non-plus size leather coat, check out this Pelle Studio Leather Jacket w/ Pleated Back Peplum & Leopard Print Lining:

Leopard print lining? Incredible! This jacket is $179.99. Use coupon code “6960A” to save $10 on a $100+ order, and drop the price of the coat to $169.99.

Disclaimer: Wilsons Leather provided me with a Plus Size Pelle Studio Smooth Lamb Jacket to review, however, all opinions are my own.

Wilsons Leather Review: Plus Size Pelle Studio Smooth Lamb Jacket is a post from: Fantabulously Frugal.