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Yes, it is really that easy!

May 17, 2012 By 8 Comments

Check out eBooks at Skoob.com

Nowadays, you can do almost everything online, whether it is shopping for clothes, buying food, online banking or reading the news. Also, buying books online and reading them instantly was never a possibility before. When you wanted to get yourself some amazing new story to read, you usually had to travel down to your favourite book store and endlessly browse for a book there. However, this is no longer necessary as this process has been so much facilitated through the internet over the last couple of years, that now, everything is about ebooks.

It is so easy. You simply have to register on the online bookstore where you want to shop, browse through the online book shelves and finally buy and download your preferred ebook. What is even more attracting is the fact that there is also a choice of free ebooks available online.

For example, the romantic Eat, Pray, Love ebook by Elizabeth Gilbert is available for free. Consequently, you are not only rewarded by free bestseller literature, but also by a free guide of how to enjoy life. If you are not so much into romance, maybe another choice out of the huge selection of ebooks might do it for you. What about the exciting and hooking story of Stieg Larsson with The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo ebook? If you like this edition, you will also like the other volumes by Stieg Larsson, such as ‘The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets’ Nest’ or ‘The Girl Who Played With Fire’. All three editions deal with the ‘wanted’ woman Lisbeth Salander and two Millennium journalists who are trying to expose the truth about sex trafficking in Sweden, (political) corruption and murder. Can’t get enough of this? Just download the electronic format of Stieg Larsson’s amazing stories, store them on your little Kindle device, take it anywhere you want and enjoy these stories at any place at any time.

Yes, it is really that easy!

This guest post is sponsored on behalf of Skoob.com

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Look Cute in a Maxi Dress This Summer

May 11, 2012 By 5 Comments

This sponsored guest post is brought to you by SwayChic.com

Looking cute in a maxi dress isn’t all that hard, and it can really set you apart in fashion sense! I think maxi dresses are very cute and can give you a very stylish edge.

In indie fashion there are a lot of different maxi dresses available, along with pretty summer dresses and whatnot. The hottest trends are just around the corner and I’m here to tell you about a few trends that are already hot and are sure to last throughout the rest of the year.

Have you checked out the cute summer dresses section yet? There is a huge selection of them amoung stores’ dress sections. If you want to look super hot this summer (and I don’t mean from the weather), you should get some of these dresses into your closet as soon as possible. They are all beautifully made and come in a great variety of colors and styles. Don’t worry if you think you wear clothes that no one else does as these dresses come in all different kinds and there will surely be some that fit your stylish needs. Make sure to go shopping with a friend! Everything is more fun when you can take turns trying on different clothes and seeing someone else’s individual style (or maybe just get matching dresses!).

When it come to finding an awesome clothing outlet, there are tons of different places that you can look. If you don’t like the stores at malls around you, try online! If you’ve never shopped online before, you are surely missing out. Personally, I do almost all my clothes shopping online since I can usually find things much cheaper than in stores, but I also can find unique clothes so that I never have to worry about matching with some random stranger. If you have a party coming up, make sure to try your best at shopping online since a unique dress is imperative to showing up at a party. No girl wants to be wearing the same dress when they go out unless they are best friends. There are tons of designer out there and I’m sure that you will find one with a style similar to yours.

I dont really like any designer labels, I go more for a “genre” kind of look. Dressing alternative has kind of always been my thing, but maybe it’s yours too! In that case I suggest searching on a search engine for cool online shopping stores to sort through and find your next treasure! There are lots of different styles that maxi dresses come in and I’m sure you’ll find the perfect one by searching a store near you. I’ve found a lot online that were one of a kind, literally. An artist tie dyed them and now they are beautiful and wearable works of art.

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K5, An Online Reading and Math Program, is Offering 6 Week Subscription(s) to Bloggers

May 7, 2012 By 1 Comment

K5 Learning has an online reading and math program for kindergarten to grade 5 students. I’ve been given a 6 week free trial to test and write a review of their program. If you are a blogger, you may want to check out their open invitation to write an online learning review of their program.

I signed up a few days ago, after seeing the call for bloggers posted on another blog. When signing up, I saw that we were required to post the call information prior to being accepted, so I signed up anyway and sat back. I wasn’t entirely sure as to whether it was legitimate or not. I was accepted and was given all information prior to posting, so it is completely a legit request for bloggers, and Carli and I will start exploring K5 Learning into her homeschool rotation.

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Protect the Home: The Next Best Thing to a Doberman

April 20, 2012 By 3 Comments

I live in Central FL, only minutes away from where the infamous Treyvon Martin murder occurred. In fact, before buying our current home, we had looked into buying a town home in that neighborhood. (It really is a nice neighborhood, regardless of what happened.) There wasn’t a moment that I would genuinely feel unsafe in that particular area and I am pretty paranoid about safety.

Ever since the multiple protests, Central FL (including Sanford, which isn’t really all that bad) took a big hit. The bad press and all the angry citizens around the United States — crime through out the area has grown significantly. People are angry and it seems they are taking it out on just about everyone.

I have one friend (located near the same area) who had her car stolen. The person drove it all the way out to Orlando, used the SunPass multiple times, and eventually set fire to the car to cover their tracks. It was devastating for their family, so much that the health of her husband dramatically suffered.

Another blogger in Central Florida, Lee, had her home ransacked with the robbers stealing thousands of dollars of personal property. {Check out her post on what it feels like to be a victim of theft.} Please stop by her blog and leave her words of encouragement. She deserves it as she did not deserve to be victimized in her own safe haven.

I am lucky that I was gifted nature’s most wonderful home protection — a doberman pincher. The doberman pincher was bred to protect and Vega is wonderful at protecting and has a very sharp instinct and ability to differentiate threat from non-threat. Check out a video of the sharp skills of a doberman who can tell a threat from a non threat in seconds: (The still picture is a Rottie, though.)

Dobermans are an amazing breed — protective, affectionate, and playful with children and an all around people pleaser. Yet, they will put themselves in the line of fire for those they love. Not everyone has this amazing dog breed, though. Many people don’t have dogs at all, or any home protection. It’s important, above all else, to protect your home electronically.

I can’t stress that enough.

Even if you live in a “safe area”, you just never know. While a dog may defend the home, it surely cannot identify a potential criminal. An electronic surveillance system, however, can do wonders for protecting all that is important in your life.

It is important, now more than ever, to protect your home while you are away from it. Home protection isn’t signally important in Central FL, but everywhere. Do you have an alarm system installed in your home? What about outdoor cameras to monitor the perimeter while you are away?

Choosing the right home security system for your family or loved ones can be a bit overwhelming but finding an authorized home security system dealer in your area will help significally in any questions you may have about protecting your home, your belongings, and your life.

Personally I recommend:

  • Shatter detectors for windows (as well as monitors to alarm when they have been open.) This is also beneficial for if you have young kids who like to open doors.
  • An active alarm system that is monitored through a reputable alarm company.
  • Security cameras monitoring entrances.
  • Flood lights for night time security.
Have you heard of the ADT Pulse? Security is not the ONLY thing you’ll want to protect your home from. The Pulse system will also monitor (24/7) fire, carbon monoxide, and flood sensors.  You can even arm or disarm your ADT Pulse alarm system from your web enabled phone!
Protecting your home is important, so I highly recommend looking into a thorough security system for your home. (Plus do you know homeowners usually get a financial discount on insurance if they have a security system?!)
I know that fronting money for a security system can also be daunting, but from what I have come to know, ADT also has frequent specials that make it doable for everyone to put a system in their home.
So, what are you waiting for?

Sponsored by: Home Security Sun City by HomeSecurityFamily.com.

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Win a Brezza Baby Food Maker & FREE Produce for a YEAR!

December 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

* NOTE * I am not personally holding this sweepstakes, but instead, telling you about it. The company is holding this sweepstakes.

If you have been following my blog, you are familiar with my 17 month old (Kate) and her food issues [1, 2, 3]. Because of her food issues, it is important that I have food she can eat in its most simple and pure form with little to no additives or mixed ingredients.

Basically — zilch on most processed foods.

I have been looking for many months to find a food processor that specializes in baby food. I needed something that would steam AND puree my food for Kate. I was getting sick and tired of spending so much money on Earth’s Best and Beech Nut. There is nothing wrong with these two fabulous food companies and I am quite thankful for their natural selections — but, we just spend so much money. Plus, there never is a guarantee that there is no cross contamination. Each time I am feeding her processed baby food I run the risk of cross contamination with their oats (from their baby cereals) or the rice flours they both used to bulk up some of their stage 2 and 3 foods. In fact one of Kate’s worst reactions was from Beech Nut’s stage 2 “Mangos”. Because a majority of their single fruit purees are just the fruit, water, and absorbic acid, I stupidly didn’t realize that the Mangos did not follow the same trend. T hey also had rice flour in them; rice being a common FPIES trigger.

That mistake cost us a few hundred dollars in hospital fees and hours of watching my little girl fall hopelessly ill. It was a nightmare, none that any parent should have to deal with — ever.

Making her own food, though, I would have a better control of her food and I could come up with new recipes for my little girl that will help her thrive. So, I needed a baby food maker. Something simple, and easy, and life changing for my little girl. My little girl needs to start growing.

Then, one day, a few weeks ago, I received an email from Baby Brezza about their sweepstakes. Their email lit up as if the Heavens had sent them to me, personally. I had never heard of Baby Brezza prior to this email and it may just be the answer to my prayers!

This is the email I received.

The holidays are a time for counting your blessings and the New Year is a time for new beginnings and a fresh start. At Baby Brezza, we encourage moms everywhere to take advantage of both, which is why we’re extending our “Fresh Produce” Sweepstakes! There’s no better blessing than good nutrition for your baby (and the whole family!) so we’re keeping the Sweepstakes open throughout the holiday season- and increasing your chances to win!

When the New Year arrives, we’ll select a lucky recipient who will receive our grand prize of fruits and vegetables for your family for an entire year**, as well as a first place prize winner who will receive a Baby Brezza One Step Baby Food Maker!

Until December 31st, you can enter theSweepstakes by completing the following simple steps:

Add the Baby Brezza One Step Baby Food Maker to your Baby Registry wherever it’s available, including retailers such as Babies R Us (retail location and BabiesRUs.com), BabyBrezza.com, Target.com and Amazon.com
If you already have the Baby Brezza One Step Baby Food Maker on an existing registry, you’re still eligible to win! Simply follow the directions below for sending us a copy of your registry.

Send an e-mail to sweepstakes@babybrezza.com including either the direct link to your registry or attach a scanned copy. Make sure you also include your full name, address, preferred email address and phone number.

Winners will be randomly selected and announced by January 6th, 2011. For full sweepstakes rules and regulations, click here.

Don’t miss out on your chance to win this fantastic prize for your family! Add this must-have baby item to your list and enter today.

In my experience so far, Baby Brezza is incredibly generous and giving and truly want the best for your child. After explaining to them my issues with Kate, they offered me the chance to review the product, myself.

** CUE THE ANGEL CHOIR**

So for now, make sure to add Baby Brezza to your Baby Registry so that you will be eligible for a Baby Brezza One Step Baby Food Maker.  You can only enter by December 31st so ENTER NOW!

Make sure you also come back to Well-Read Reviews for a follow up review on the product. :)

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Help KidFresh Feed the Hungry this Holiday Season by “Liking” Their Page

December 7, 2011 By 7 Comments

A few weeks ago I posted about my experience with a FABULOUS product called KidFresh. This particular pre-packaged food line (that you can find in your local frozen food aisle) is a HEALTHY quick option for quick meals. Even better, they hide vegetables in their food. (But don’t tell the kids. They will never know.)

I was recently contacted by an employee and told of this amazing thing they are doing for the hungry this holiday season. I just had to share!

Like Kidfresh on Facebook to donate 30 meals now: http://www.facebook.com/Kidfreshfoods (until December,15th)

With your help, this Kidfresh donation could help feed thousands of hungry children in the city. “There are 1.4 million New York City residents, including over 400,000 children, living in households facing food insecurity today (1). We cannot sit and do nothing when 1 in 5 children don’t know where their next meal will come from, right here in our community. At Kidfresh, we are committed to help children in need as much as we possibly can.” said Matt Cohen, CEO and Founder of Kidfresh.

Yummy Yummy!!

The company will donate all six nutritious meals for kids: Totally Twisted Pasta & Meatballs, a pasta dish complete with meatballs and tomato sauce hiding a half cup of vegetables, Wagon Wheels Mac + Cheese, an all-time kids favorite enriched with hidden carrots in a creamy cheese sauce as well as Spaghetti Loops Bolognese, Muy Cheesy Quesadillas, Rainbow Rice & Chicken and Easy Cheesy Ravioli.

About City Harvest
Now serving New York City for more than 25 years, City Harvest is the world’s first food rescue organization, dedicated to feeding the city’s hungry men, women, and children. This year, City Harvest will collect 28 million pounds of excess food from all segments of the food industry, including restaurants, grocers, corporate cafeterias, manufacturers, and farms. This food is then delivered free of charge to nearly 600 community food programs using a fleet of trucks and bikes as well as volunteers on foot. Each week, City Harvest helps over 300,000 hungry New Yorkers find their next meal. To learn more, visit http://www.www.CityHarvest.org.

About Kidfresh
Created by parents for parents, with the help of top pediatric nutritionists and NYC-based chefs, Kidfresh has grown from its initial concept store on Manhattan’s Upper East Side in the mid 2000’s to become a pioneer in all-natural, wholesome, yummy kids meals, available in the freezer sections of leading grocery stores and supermarkets in the United States. Kidfresh offers time-tested kid favorite entrees with 100% natural ingredients, blended vegetables and key nutrients for growing children – ready in 3 minutes. Kidfresh meals are a welcome solution to today’s busy parents and the company’s founder Matt Cohen created the line of frozen meals with his family in mind and makes sure that his company also helps children in need; Kidfresh is a proud sponsor of Save the Children and has donated meals to City Harvest, a New York-based non-profit which helps to feed families in need. To learn more, visit http://www.Kidfresh.com.

(1) Source: http://www.nyccah.org/learn-about-hunger/hunger-in-nyc

It’s not to late to ‘Like’ KidFresh on Facebook, now. Because of your support, a simple click of a button at NO COST TO YOU, will help children everywhere be fed this season. It’s simple.

Thank you to KidFresh for doing this amazing thing! The food is amazing and I am happy to see that there is a heart in the company that backs up this amazing product!

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SCENTSY: Join the Scentsy-Love Bandwagon [*GIVEAWAY*]

October 19, 2011 By

WIN THIS: LIMITED Snow Day Warmer

PLEASE tell me you have heard of Scentsy?

No?

Well, Scentsy is all sorts of awesome and I am kicking myself for not jumping on the bandwagon earlier.

After my best friend, Blair, started talking about the product and all the scents she wanted to get, I started to pay more attention. She threw a party and I decided, I’ll walk the plank into the unknown and try out Scentsy.

Scentsy is a plug-in wickless candle. When you plugin a Scentsy warmer, it uses a low wattage lightbulb to illuminate the warmer, and warm the melting dish. Usually in the melting dish you would have 1-2 cubes from a scent bar of your choice. The deliciously scented soy wax melts fairly quickly and fills the room (about 200sq feet) of an amazing, mouth watering, smile-inducing scent.

Mmm… is your nose begging you, yet?

I ended up purchasing the Graphite Mid-Sized Scentsy Warmer, along with 3 scents to try out:

  • Pumpkin Marshmellow - Sticky, sweet marshmallow spooned onto fresh-baked pumpkin and wrapped in a graham cracker crust.
  • Cinnamon Bear - Crisp, spicy cinnamon, reminiscent of Red Hots candy with a touch of cloves.
  • Perfectly Pomegranate - Dark and juicy pomegranate with a sweet berry finish; this is a classic.

I eagerly awaited my package and when it arrived, I was impressed that my soy wax scents came sheltered with dry ice! I immediately smelled them and they smelt soooo good. I was surprised just how heavenly they smelled– and just as described, if not better!

The first one I tried was the Cinnamon Bear, as I am a huge huge fan of the apple-cinnamon type smell. When Scentsy describes it as resembling Red Hots candy, they weren’t kidding. It smells EXACTLY like Red Hots. A few hours later, I turned off my warmer and tried to pour the wax back into the bar holder, as instructed. That sooo was not happening.

I found that placing the warmer in the freezer for about an hour (until dry and cold) and then taking it out, turning it over, and tapping it — quickly releases the melted wax from the melting dish. I place the scent into a plastic bag for later use and move on.

Pumpkin Marshmallow. Oh YUM. Freaking A, it’s so yummy! I could go ON AND ON about how much I loved my Scentsy Warmer and the 3 bars I had purchased, but you get the idea; I love it but let’s move on with the show.

PURCHASE

Scentsy is not sold in stores. Sure, you can get Scentsy wannabes, but you’d be missing out on the high quality products and scents (as well as costumer service) that you get when purchasing through an Official Scentsy Consultant.

I am hosting my VERY OWN Scentsy party and EVERYONE is invited. It’s online, of course!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER

Make sure you are purchasing under Well-Read Reviews: Allison Vaughn. As your host, it helps me earn more Scentsy products! If you are interested in hosting your own Scentsy Party, feel free to contact the consultant, my friend, Melissa Perez.

TIP FOR ORDERING

Check out the “Combine and Save” page for custom Scentsy packages. You end up saving quite a bit that way.

REMEMBER

Please remember to let Melissa Perez know that you are purchasing through the Well-Read Reviews party. Don’t forget! ;)

Now, the part you are probably REALLY waiting for.. (It’s okay to admit it.. You’re here for the giveaway!)

WIN THE SCENTSY GIVEAWAY

Up for grabs is the 2011 Limited Edition Full-Sized Warmer, titled Snow Day (as seen above). Snag it while it’s hot (and the weather is cold!). It retails for $35. Most limited edition Scentsy warmers go for about $60+ on eBay after they are discontinued. SUCH a deal! Plus, this one is FREE. :)

To enter:

MANDATORY:

Leave a comment with your contact email. This is needed in case you win. If your entry is selected and we have no way of contacting you, then we have no choice but to draw again. (1 point)

OPTIONAL:

Runs October 19th 2011 – Nov. 9th 2011
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It’s hard finding a NORMAL Halloween costume, these days.

October 16, 2011 By 21 Comments

Remember when costumes were appropriate?

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays of the year. I’ve always had great memories growing up and have been a wide variety of things such as a zebra, a cat, a witch, and a bride. Halloween (to me) was about dressing up as something I (obviously) wasn’t and snagging some free candy.

As I have grown older, maybe it’s just my generation (or something?) but Halloween has turned into another “sexy” holiday. Most costumes for adults are slutty. I mean, seriously? I definitely would like to dress up but not only finding something that is scary or interesting — but also finding something that would even look good on my curvy body; it’s impossible!

Dorothy Gale was NOT A SLUT! (WTF is this?!)

For years I have wanted to go as Dororthy from The Wizard of Oz, however any costume that I saw wasn’t even remotely realistic to the movie — it was something more appropriate for roleplaying in the bedroom.

PLUS — would you wear this outfit (to the left) around your children? I wouldn’t. I am not prude, but this is not what Halloween is about. What is frustrating is that it seems to be the ONLY costume I’ve seen for Dorothy for YEARS.

Last year, though I managed to find a normal appropriate Wizard of Oz costume (that even was available for plus sizes). Besides having the Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, Plus Size Costume Super Center has a variety of fun costumes for women with curves.

When I ordered the costume (as seen above on the top right), my experience was extremely pleasant. The customer service answered all my questions and went above and beyond to make me happy. The package arrived securely and quickly (within just a few days of ordering). I couldn’t be happier!

I got my Dorothy shoes on sale at Wal-Mart last year, and now, after years of waiting — I finally have a costume for this upcoming Halloween (and it doesn’t involve showing off my cleavage…)

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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Did You Win a Giveaway? These are the Winners for August 2011! **15 Winners**

September 6, 2011 By 8 Comments

Our 2 Year Bloggerversary

Thank you to EVERYONE who participated in the Well-Read Reviews 2 Year Bloggerversary celebration! We have a lot of winners so please check below to see if you have won! :) Please note that all winners were selected at random through a wordpress plugin called “And the Winner Is..”.

The Winners

The Sunshine Dress Pattern REVIEW & GIVEAWAY. (Ends 9/02) – Erin (winning comment)

Review & GIVEAWAY: Melissa & Doug Kid’s Trunki (Ends 8/19) – Kelly Ann Thuet (winning comment)

GIVEAWAY: The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards (Ends 8/12) - Alison T (winning comment)

GIVEAWAY: The Wives of Henry Oades by Johanna Moran (Ends 8/12) – Daniel M (winning comment)

GIVEAWAY: {YA Novel} Wake by Lisa McMann (Ends 8/12) – Dan V. (winning comment)

GIVEAWAY: Horrid Henry Set by Francesca Simon (Ends 8/12) – Raven in a Blue Room (winning comment)

GIVEAWAY: This is Me From Now On by Barbara Dee (Ends 8/12) – Lois Payton (winning comment)

GIVEAWAY: The Soldier’s Wife by Margaret Leroy (Ends 8/12) – Jim Lynam (winning comment)

GIVEAWAY: These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf (Ends 8/12) – Shaunda Eppes (winning comment)

GIVEAWAY: Pride & Prejudice & Zombies/Dreadfully Ever After Books (Ends 8/12) – Debbie (winning comment)

GIVEAWAY: {YA Novel} The Everafter by Amy Huntley (Ends 8/12) – Breanne (winning comment)

GIVEAWAY: {YA Novel} Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (Ends 8/12) – Vicki Wurgler (winning comment)

GIVEAWAY: $75 Gift Certificate to Zutano (Ends 8/26) #Baby #Child – Michelle (winning comment)

GIVEAWAY: {YA Novel} SCARS by Cheryl Rainfield (Ends 8/12) – Amanda (winning comment)

GIVEAWAY: Autographed YA Novel, Watched by Sharde Richardson (Ends 8/12) – Crystal F. (winning comment)

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The Sunshine Dress Pattern REVIEW & GIVEAWAY. (Ends 9/02)

August 22, 2011 By

The Sunshine Dress (Pattern) by Monique Daley

I love to sew. I started sewing when Carli was about 9 months old. I taught myself on my old $100 Brother machine. I started with sewing squares and I moved up to cloth diapers and eventually ventured onto children’s clothing. I can tell you one thing — there is nothing more self satisfying then making something by hand for your children that they love.

Before I started sewing clothes, I was really intimidated by the idea. I still am, to some extent, so I need something that was really easy and quick. I needed it easy so I wouldn’t get discouraged and anything that took a long time to make would prevent me from making more of the same item. The Sunshine Dress, a pattern designed by Monique Daley, embodies all that is great about making your own kid’s clothing. It’s easy, it’s quick, and oh so cute!

From start to finish the dress took maybe an HOUR out of my time to do. Just an hour. I was pleasantly surprised and Carli was very eager to try it on. Here are some things to consider when sewing up your own Sunshine Dress.

The short-sleeved version.

1. Use a VERY stretchy fabric. I used a jersey but it wasn’t stretchy enough and contributed to size discrepancies that I faced.  Carli is a petite one and most size 3Ts are big on her. However I found it to be a bit snug. I think this is due in part to my fabric selection, however. I also used the same fabric around the neckline and it did not fit over her head. The neckline was too small for her so I had to cut it and add a hoop and button in order to accommodate her — uhh — big head. :) I haven’t tried with any other fabric but when in doubt — size up.

2. If you are going to hem the dress, you may want to make some bloomers underneath as it is a bit short,or just use the length of the next size up to add some length to the dress. Or you can use your serger to make a tight edge (rolled hem, I think it’s called) and not hem at all.

I really liked that the Sunshine Dress was so easily customizable. The pattern comes with two options, short-sleeved and long-sleeved but Monique has set it up to make it very easy to modify to your own needs. As I live in Florida, I wanted something really cool for Carli to wear so I simply modified it to be sleeveless.

I really do not know why I was so intimidated to make this dress. It truly was easy and would make for a wonderful project for an advanced beginner.

Purchase

You can purchase your VERY own pattern from Sew Me a Garden for just $9.95 and now you can get a discount by CLICKING HERE, a discount made especially for Well-Read Review readers! So for a limited time, you can get $2 off the Sunshine Dress pattern!

More Pictures

Enter to *WIN*

What you are winning:  A FREE Sunshine Dress pattern to a very lucky reader!

Extra Entries

For every extra entry, make sure to fill out a comment for every point that it is worth. If the extra entry is worth 3 points, please fill out 3 comments stating what you are getting the extra credit for!

  • Subscribe to my RSS Feed (2 points)
  • “Like” me on Facebook (3 points)
  • “Like” Sew Me a Garden on Facebook. (3 points)
  • Follow Me on Twitter (2 points)
  • Follow Me on Google Friend Connect (2 points)
  • Tweet about the Giveaway (2 points each tweet) 5 max a day.
  • Link to Well-Read Reviews on your sidebar (5 points)
  • Blog about Well-Read Reviews hosting this giveaway (7 points)
  • Stumble This Giveaway (2 points)
  • Heart the pattern on Etsy (2 points).
  • Visit Sew Me a Garden and then post a comment about another pattern that you like.

Note:

If you have purchased the pattern (because you just couldn’t wait) then Monique will refund you OR you can select from her other wonderful patterns, like my personal favorite — Trimsies Cloth Diaper Pattern!

8/22/2011 until 09/02/2011

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Ooh! Get a FREE $250 Spa Credit (10/04 at 7pmEST)

August 18, 2011 By 5 Comments

When asked what travel agency you are working with: ALL ABOUT TRAVEL

Sandals is THE vacation spot for you and your loved one. If you’ve heard of Paradise, you’ll not quite “get it” until you’ve actually stepped foot IN paradise — Sandals All Inclusive Resorts.

But don’t take my word for it. Just attend this FREE Webinar sponsored by Sandals All Inclusive Resorts and earn a $250 spa credit just for attending.

When asked as to what travel agency you are working with, PLEASE include that you are working with ALL ABOUT TRAVEL.

Information

Register: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/674488768
Contact: All About Travel
Date: Tuesday, October 4th 2011 at 7pm ET.

**** IT is a VIRTUAL EVENT ****

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Birthdays, Birthdays, Birthdays!

August 9, 2011 By 7 Comments

Strawberry Shortcake Theme

The most amazing 3 months have passed — 3 months of birthdays, birthdays, and more birthdays!

Carli’s 3rd birthday was on June 12th, although we waited to have her birthday as Katie’s was July 13th. Forrest and I realized that it may be more difficult to have two parties so we opted for just one big one. Even though we had planned it, we hadn’t realized just how big it would actually be. Our apartment was packed to the max.

Carli had been watching Strawberry Shortcake a lot lately and I figured it would be such a cute and refreshing summer birthday theme. The birthday cake was made by one of Forrest’s coworkers and oh, how it was so delicious! It was red velvet with cream cheese frosting and fondant. It couldn’t have been more tasty.  I am actually surprisied that a lot of people didn’t eat it at the party. Though, when Forrest brought it to work, it was completely gone by the time he came home. I was rather disappointed as I wanted more.

My Baby Clothes Boutique

The birthday could not have possibly been complete without Carli & Kate’s matching tutu dresses, a gift from the wonderful My Baby Clothes Boutique. It’s important that the birthday girls felt like the party was all about them, and with these wonderful Mud Pie tutu dresses — they knew it was.

I spent months trying to find the perfect matching birthday dresses for my little girls but My Baby Clothes Boutique had just what I was looking for the entire time. They have a wide assortment of clothing available for any of your special occasions. If you have a birthday boy, no sweat — My Baby Clothes Boutique has the most adorable outfits for little boys, too! Think rock and roll and fedoras. Yeah, the boy’s clothing is just that cute.

The girls had such an amazing time at their party. Kate was a little overwhelmed as she is rather timid and quiet, although Carli was right in her element — the life of the party. Carli was so happy to have all her friends at her house that it was everybody’s birthday.

I am so thankful for all our family, all our friends, and of course .. My Baby Clothes Boutique for such a memorable day.

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Review & GIVEAWAY: Melissa & Doug Kid’s Trunki (Ends 8/19)

August 5, 2011 By

Sponsored by GummyLump.com

Description:

Taking a trip with Trixie (Pink Trunki) means the fun begins when packing! Your child will delight in tucking in favorite clothing and toys for a night at grandma’s or a family vacation.

This is the ideal suitcase, full of child-friendly features for traveling or stay-cations!

Educational Value: A great way to foster independence and self esteem in children. Your child will be able to pack his own things and pull his own suitcase along like the big people do!

Review:

Check out Carli’s reaction when she discovers what is in the box sent from GummyLump.com. Please ignore the vacuum in the back. Having a 3 year old means vacuuming constantly. (I’m sure you know how it is..)

I can honestly say (as you can see) that Carli LOVED her Melissa & Doug Trunki. At first she thought it was a car, which was fine as she could ride around on it. The Trunki is quite sturdy, made of a hard plastic. It is made especially for the loving “touch” of a child. ;)

The Trunki comes with many stickers so that your child can personalize it. You can make it look like an animal or simply make a goofy face! Carli especially loved picking out which face stickers to use to personalize her own Trunki. There are also a few dozen travel patch stickers to place all over the suitcase. Even though I wanted to be very specific where the stickers went, I let Carli have at it. She really enjoyed applying all the stickers herself.

The few issues that I did have with the Trunki are small and once figured out it’s not a big deal. I felt that the side locks were a bit difficult to both install and to use, not making it incredibly child friendly. When trying to figure out how to correctly install and use the side locks, I sent them flying a few times. It was my husband who actually figured out how to correctly install them (I had one upside down) and use the side locks.

Also, although this won’t be an issue with an older child, my 3 year old liked taking off the stickers just as much as she enjoyed putting them on. So a warning for the young ones — don’t expect the stickers to be permanent. I actually think it may have lasted longer had I brushed some modge podge over it to seal the sticker to the surface. Again, it’s not a big deal.

My daughter has had her trunki for a while now and she still uses it for sleepovers at her Memaw & Papa’s house. She frequently stays over as they are two of her most favorite people in the world so it’s great that she has a suitcase that she can pack herself and take with her. I also don’t have to worry about her destroying. It was made to withstand my daughter. That is for sure! Overall, I thought it was very cute and Carli just loves it. We will be using our Trunki for years to come!

Win it!

With your choice of a Melissa & Doug Trunki & matching Totebag and Saddlebag sponsored by GummyLump.com

To see the color options, please visit the Trunki page on Gummylump.com.

There is absolutely NO cost to enter. You simply just comment on this entry with your email and name. If you are a winner, I will email you at the email address provided. If you do not respond within 1 week of my email, the winner will be redrawn. Make sure you can receive emails from allison@wellreadreviews.com!

Our 2 Year Bloggerversary

Extra Entries

For every extra entry, make sure to fill out a comment for every point that it is worth. If the extra entry is worth 3 points, please fill out 3 comments stating what you are getting the extra credit for!

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8/05/2011 until 08/19/2011

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GIVEAWAY: The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards (Ends 8/12)

August 5, 2011 By

Synopsis:

Kim Edwards’s stunning family drama evokes the spirit of Sue Miller and Alice Sebold, articulating every mother’s silent fear: what would happen if you lost your child and she grew up without you? In 1964, when a blizzard forces Dr. David Henry to deliver his own twins, he immediately recognizes that one of them has Down Syndrome and makes a split-second decision that will haunt all their lives forever. He asks his nurse to take the baby away to an institution and to keep her birth a secret. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child as her own. Compulsively readable and deeply moving, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter is an astonishing tale of redemptive love.

Win it!

With a copy of The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards

There is absolutely NO cost to enter. You simply just comment on this entry with your email and name. If you are a winner, I will email you at the email address provided. If you do not respond within 1 week of my email, the winner will be redrawn. Make sure you can receive emails from allison@wellreadreviews.com!

Our 2 Year Bloggerversary

Extra Entries

For every extra entry, make sure to fill out a comment for every point that it is worth. If the extra entry is worth 3 points, please fill out 3 comments stating what you are getting the extra credit for!

  • Subscribe to my RSS Feed (2 points)
  • “Like” me on Facebook (3 points)
  • Follow Me on Twitter (2 points)
  • Follow Me on Google Friend Connect (2 points)
  • Tweet about the Giveaway (2 points each tweet) 5 max a day.
  • Link to Well-Read Reviews on your sidebar (5 points)
  • Blog about Well-Read Reviews hosting this giveaway (7 points)
  • Stumble This Giveaway (2 points)

8/05/2011 until 08/12/2011

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GIVEAWAY: The Wives of Henry Oades by Johanna Moran (Ends 8/12)

August 5, 2011 By

Book Cover

Synopsis:

When Henry Oades accepts an accountancy post in New Zealand, his wife, Margaret, and their children follow him to exotic Wellington. But while Henry is an adventurer, Margaret is not. Their new home is rougher and more rustic than they expected—and a single night of tragedy shatters the family when the native Maori stage an uprising, kidnapping Margaret and her children.

For months, Henry scours the surrounding wilderness, until all hope is lost and his wife and children are presumed dead. Grief-stricken, he books passage to California. There he marries Nancy Foreland, a young widow with a new baby, and it seems they’ve both found happiness in the midst of their mourning—until Henry’s first wife and children show up, alive and having finally escaped captivity.

Win it!

With a copy of The Wives of Henry Oades by Johanna Moran

There is absolutely NO cost to enter. You simply just comment on this entry with your email and name. If you are a winner, I will email you at the email address provided. If you do not respond within 1 week of my email, the winner will be redrawn. Make sure you can receive emails from allison@wellreadreviews.com!

Our 2 Year Bloggerversary

Extra Entries

For every extra entry, make sure to fill out a comment for every point that it is worth. If the extra entry is worth 3 points, please fill out 3 comments stating what you are getting the extra credit for!

  • Subscribe to my RSS Feed (2 points)
  • “Like” me on Facebook (3 points)
  • Follow Me on Twitter (2 points)
  • Follow Me on Google Friend Connect (2 points)
  • Tweet about the Giveaway (2 points each tweet) 5 max a day.
  • Link to Well-Read Reviews on your sidebar (5 points)
  • Blog about Well-Read Reviews hosting this giveaway (7 points)
  • Stumble This Giveaway (2 points)

8/05/2011 until 08/12/2011

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GIVEAWAY: {YA Novel} Wake by Lisa McMann (Ends 8/12)

August 5, 2011 By

Book Cover

Synopsis:

Not all dreams are sweet.For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people’s dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody- notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie’s seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can’t tell anybody about what she does — they’d never believe her, or worse, they’d think she’s a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn’t want and can’t control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else’s twisted psyche. She is a participant….

Win it!

With a copy of Wake by Lisa McMann

There is absolutely NO cost to enter. You simply just comment on this entry with your email and name. If you are a winner, I will email you at the email address provided. If you do not respond within 1 week of my email, the winner will be redrawn. Make sure you can receive emails from allison@wellreadreviews.com!

Our 2 Year Bloggerversary

Extra Entries

For every extra entry, make sure to fill out a comment for every point that it is worth. If the extra entry is worth 3 points, please fill out 3 comments stating what you are getting the extra credit for!

  • Subscribe to my RSS Feed (2 points)
  • “Like” me on Facebook (3 points)
  • Follow Me on Twitter (2 points)
  • Follow Me on Google Friend Connect (2 points)
  • Tweet about the Giveaway (2 points each tweet) 5 max a day.
  • Link to Well-Read Reviews on your sidebar (5 points)
  • Blog about Well-Read Reviews hosting this giveaway (7 points)
  • Stumble This Giveaway (2 points)

8/05/2011 until 08/12/2011

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