Swimsuits For All - Sizes 8 and Up Swimwear Shop Review

Get ready ladies. It's that time of year again. Yes, I'm talking about swimsuit season! Whether you enjoy splashing around in the ocean or pool, or prefer lounging on your deck to soak up the sun, you want a comfortable bathing suit that makes you look and feel great and won't max out your credit card.

Shopping for a great fitting swimsuit is easier said than done. Aside from the frustration of not finding a single swimsuit, I want to know why the fitting room lights feel like heat lamps baking my skin? If you are like me and aren't quite ready to head to the stores to begin the search for a figure flattering swimsuit, you should head over to www.swimsuitsforall.com .Use the style selector to find the perfect fit for your body in the privacy of your own home!

Taking inspirations from sun, sand, and sea, Swimsuits For All offers plus size swimwear, plus size swimsuits, women's swimsuits, and related apparel & accessories that work for women with real curves, sizes 8 & up. Swimsuits For All strives to offer quality swimsuits that will fit your unique body, style, and budget and fashionably flatter your next escape.

Swimsuits For All has a vast selection of swimwear for women of all shapes and sizes. I chose a Black & White Floral Two Piece Shortini swimsuit from the Beach Belle collection. Beach Belle was designed for real women with real curves helping them feel confident and comfortable, while being easy on their budgets and flattering to the eyes.

I love this classic plus size shortini because it is modest, yet it doesn't look like something my grandmother would wear. This is the first summer I will have worn a swimsuit following the birth of my son. Having a child has completely changed my body. It is important to me that I keep my imperfections hidden. This swimsuit provided the perfect amount of coverage while still allowing me to feel sexy.

Of course, it doesn't need to be summer for you to wear a swimsuit. You can wear your Swimsuits For All swimsuit at the gym pool, indoor pools, or in the hot-tub during any season. I wore my cute shortini in our hot tub. The elastic waistband allowed for a perfect fit. This is the most comfortable swimsuit I have ever worn! I admire the fact that both my top and bottoms stayed in place. Often, I find swimwear that seems fine until I get into the water only to discover the material stretches out and nearly falls off.

Whether you are looking for Tankinis , Skirtinis, Shortinis, One Pieces, Swim-Dresses, Coverups, Maternity Swimsuits or Post Mastectomy Swimwear, Swimsuits For All is available 365 days a year to help get you into the perfect swimsuit for your body and style.

They offer free consultations where their swimsuit specialists can personally advise you on finding the right swimsuit for your body!

So whether you're going to enjoy sun, sand, sea, or pool, flatter your next escape with SwimsuitsForAll.com

Where To Buy: Shop www.swimsuitsforall.com

Cost: $48.00

Try It Before You Buy It! Enter to Win a $50.00 Gift Card!

Disclaimer: I received a sample for reviewing purposes. The opinions & thoughts expressed are my own. I received no other compensation for my review nor was I under any obligation to give a positive review.

Many thanks to Amanda for providing the review sample and giveaway item!

Are You Ready For Summer?

This year is flying by faster than ever. I can't believe it is almost summer! I didn't even realize summer was here until I noticed a swimsuit display during a recent shopping trip to Aeropostale. I don't know about you, but I feel like I am nowhere near ready! I am so behind on getting in shape for summer. I gained 90 pounds during my pregnancy. Everyone I know keeps telling me "you just had a baby, you will lose the weight." Did I mention my son is almost two?

I have tried every fad diet imaginable: Cabbage Soup Diet, Yogurt Diet, Atkins diet, and those are just to name a few. I have come to the conclusion that fad diets just don't work. Prior to my pregnancy, I was overweight. My doctors suggested I lose weight in order to become pregnant and suggested I try The South Beach Diet. I found South Beach Diet coupons for recipes, advice and support. I was able to lose 30 pounds in 30 months and kept it off until I became pregnant. The South Beach Diet is not a fad diet. It is lifestyle change. You are taught how to make healthier choices and the weight really does just melt away.

I would love to get back on the South Beach Diet, if only I could convince the rest of the family to follow with me. It's such a hassle to cook three different meals. I think a more practical approach is to use discounts for eDiets. They have personalized menus, plans customized to your weight loss goals, convenient recipes and fast food options and over 20 plans to choose from. I definitely think I could find a plan from eDiets to work for the entire family!

So, are you ready for summer? What steps did you take to get in shape? Are you still battling with those pregnancy pounds?

*This is a sponsored post.

The Ultimate Flattering Swimsuit : Hapari Giveaway

Summer is just around the corner which means swimsuit season is fast approaching. I know you are as ready as I am to relax at the pool all day and soak up the sun at the beach! As much as I love summer, I always have a difficult time finding a flattering, yet modest swimsuit. That it, until I recently discovered Hapari Swimwear!

Hapari Swimwear offers swimwear for the entire family. Their swimwear is designed to enhance your curves and hide your flaws. They even have silicone breast inserts to help give the girls a fuller uplifted look. Hapari has a beautiful selection of modest swimwear including tankinis for women sizes x-small - 3x.

At Hapari, you can expect to find an extensive array of high-quality and fashionable swimsuits. Don't you hate it when you find a tankini print you adore, but wish it was made in a different style? Hapari understands the need for versatility, which is why their tankinis can be worn in three different styles: halter, crisscross and tank.


Being a plus size woman, shopping for swimsuits is always a discouraging event and usually ends with me frustrated and crying. I was so excited to have found Hapari. I found a beautiful plus size tankini that will flatter any plus size figure.

From their vast selection of tankinis, bikinis, coverups, mastectomy swimwear, plus size swimwear and tummy tuk bottoms, you can mix and match to create the the most flattering swimsuit of your choice. Hapari's modest swimwear is designed with their body shaping secrets which help enhance your figure and give you the confidence you desire.

Hapari has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers a $96.00 gift certificate valid at Hapari.com So cool, right?! Keep reading for details and many chances to win!

MANDATORY - Visit Hapari and let me know which suit you would choose. Your email address must be visible in your entry comment.

Optional Extra Entries - Eligible after completing mandatory entry above: You can do any or all of the following for one entry each. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done.

-- Follow Review Retreat Publicly.
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#Win a $96 GC to Hapari #Swimwear @Hapariand @Jennifer_Marek #contest #giveaway #summer #swim #plussize #free #bikini http://tiny.cc/az398

DETAILS
Giveaway begins on April 29, 2010 and ends on May 18, 2010 at 11:59 cst. Giveaway is open to US & Canadian Residents. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Winner must respond within 48 hours otherwise a new winner will be selected. Click here to view the complete giveaway rules/guidelines.

Disclaimer: I received a gift certificate in exchange for my honest review. The opinions & thoughts expressed are my own. I received no other compensation for my review nor was I under any obligation to give a positive review or host a giveaway.

Many thanks to Hapari for providing the review sample and giveaway product!

SurgiCare Body & Facial Wax Review

SurgiCare has been formulating hair removal products since 1957. Originally, their products were used by hospitals to safely remove hair prior to surgery. It wasn't long before the beauty industry heard about the great products SurgiCare has to offer. SurgiCare is used in the medical field, salons, and millions of homes all over the country. Today, SurgiCare is one of the top-selling depilatory brands used around the world.

It's not unusual for a woman to find hair growing in places she thought it never would. Unwanted hair-growth is common on the upper lip, chin, cheeks, back, legs, fingers, feet/toes. Years ago I was diagnosed with an endocrine disorder known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. One of the side effects is hirsutism, or excess hair growth. There are a variety of factors that contribute to unwanted hair growth and there are many products and procedures you can use to remove the hair growth. Most of them are costly and ineffective. However, I have discovered the brand that will solve all of your hairy problems!

I received the following SurgiCare products: Soft Face Wax (sensitive skin), On-The-Go Travel Kit, Face & Body Wax Strip Kit, Face Cream, Face Cream (sensitive skin), Face Wax and the Brazilian & Body Wax Kit. All of SurgiCare's products are based on a 3-step system:

1. Cleanse- A gel that cleans skin prior to cleaning.
2. Remove- Gentle wax & cream hair removal formula.
3. Soothe- Replenish lotion that helps restore skin's natural ph balance.

I found their 3-step system to be easy to follow. All of the products are clearly labeled which made it easy to determine when to use each item. I didn't feel the need for the cleansing gel because my skin is extremely dry in the winter. The gel would be ideal for me during the summer months to remove natural skin oils. The gel is made with Eucalyptus, Camphor and Arnica. It has a nice minty scent to it. The Replenish Lotion (Step 3) has a light citrus scent to it. I applied this after waxing which really helped the redness fade quicker. It did not leave a greasy feeling. Instead, it was ultra moisturizing and made my skin feel buttery soft and smooth.

Out of the products I received, the Face & Body Wax Strip Kit and the Brazilian Body Wax Kit are my favorites. The Face & Body Wax Strips are strips that already contain wax and come in 3 different sizes : 8 large strips, 6 bikini strips, and 6 small strips. Because of genetics and hirsutism, I have sideburns. Not Elvis Presley sideburns, but I do have an abnormal amount of sideburn hair for a woman. I feel it is very unattractive and it does cause me to be insecure. I used the Face and Body strips to wax this area. None of the strips were the right size for this area so I cut a large strip into the desired size and it worked great! I could actually see the roots from my hair on the wax strip. It has been a week now since I waxed my sideburns and the hair still hasn't grown back. My skin is still very smooth as if I just waxed today. I like this product the most because it is very convenient, easy and the wax strips can be used for any area. I think the 3 sizes will accommodate most women's needs. I do like the fact that if they don't, you have the option to cut your desired size using the largest strip.

I had to recruit several family members to help me with this review. I know I may be hairy, but nowhere near 7 boxes of wax hairy. My mother used the Soft Face Wax (sensitive skin) on her upper lip. She doesn't have experience with waxing and made a mess with this product. The wax is almost like a liquid gel. You apply the gel to the desired area using the included spatula. She used more than needed and the gel drizzled all over the counter. Once she applied the gel, she applied the cloth strips. I firmly rubbed the strip and enjoyed ripping it off. I admit, I was a little disappointed when she didn't scream. She admitted to a slight sting, but nothing compared to the pain she had experienced with other waxes. The Soft Face Wax did a great job of removing the small amount of fuzz she had. I would only suggest that when using this product, remember less is more. It only takes a tiny amount. Using too much will probably cause a mess.

My other favorite is the Brazilian & Body Wax Kit. Not only because I had the opportunity to test this on my husband, but because it works great for large areas. This kit comes with body wax, cleanse & prep gel, replenish lotion, 5 wooden spatulas, 5 accuedge spatulas and scissors to trip longer hair prior to waxing. This wax needs to be heated before using. The directions indicate anywhere from 30-60 seconds. I found that in order to melt the full jar, I had to microwave my wax for 2 minutes and 30 seconds. You will want to start at 30 seconds and increase by 15second increments. The actual heating time will vary based on your microwave.

Once heated, this was very easy to apply. I used to wooden spatula to apply to my husband's shoulder. When I first saw the wax heated, I thought "Oh God, this is going to make a huge mess!" To my surprise, it didn't make a mess at all. The wax is very thick so it didn't drip like I thought. Against my advice, my husband told me to apply to the entire area (so I did). I followed the instructions and left the wax on for 15-30 seconds. No strips are needed with this kit. The wax hardness and you actually lift the edge of the wax and pull to remove hair.

As you can see, the Brazilian & Body Wax kit is very effective at removing hair. All of the hair was removed, with the exception of one or two strands. This product is great for large areas such as the shoulders, back, forearms, bikini area, legs, ect. I did notice of the two areas I applied this wax, it was easier to remove the smaller section. I wouldn't recommend waxing your entire leg at once, but in several small areas instead.

The Face Cream is easy to use. You simply apply the cream, wait 4-8 minutes and wipe off with the included spatula. The hair is instantly gone. Unlike other hair removal creams, there is no burning sensation. The last item I tried was the On-The-Go Travel Kit. This kit includes 6 double sided wax strips, cleanse & prep gel, SurgisSooth replenish lotion, 2 precision razors and a pair of EZ-grip tweezers. All of the items are stored neatly in a blue-lined clear travel pouch. The On-The-Go kit is a must have for anyone who travels, especially in summer. There is nothing worse than going to the pool or beach with unsightly stubble. Like the other SurgiCare products, these are both very effective at removing hair.

If you have unwanted hair, SurgiCare is the way to go! Plucking is painful and only works on small areas. Shaving causes hair to grow back thicker and can cause ingrown hairs. The hair also grows back faster than it would if you had waxed. Laser Hair removal may remove hair, but it will cost you an arm and a leg. Surgicare wax and creams will remove your hair from the root, resulting in smooth hair-free skin.

Want to try SurgiCare? Use their convenient store locator to find a store near you.
OR
Click here to enter my SurgiCare Giveaway!
30 Winners will be selected, so be sure to enter for your chance to win!

Disclaimer: I received these complimentary products from SurgiCare in exchange for my review. The opinions & thoughts expressed are my own. I received no other compensation for my review nor was I under any obligation to give a positive review/giveaway.