Family * Travel * Food

Mommy Mixology to the rescue! {Giveaway}

Moms, how often do you feel like you want to throw in the towel and run away from home? Sound familiar to you?  I think moms can get really overwhelmed with the duties of the day... from piles of laundry to walking through a sea of toys that you have should have been picked up hours ago. Of course, it's just not realistic to run away so we have to find alternative ways to relax. I received a fun book called Mommy Mixolgy by Janet Frongillo, that is designed just for moms to help you get through those crazy moments in motherhood. The thing that stuck out to me most is the blocks on the front cover of the book that reads "BAR" and also the part that says "A Cocktail for Every Calamity".

This book takes you through the stages of conception all the way to kindergarten. There are some cocktails called "Sleeptastic Sangria", "Cosmopotty" and "STFU Slushie". I couldn't help but chuckle and think, "Yeah, I sure could have used one of these when we were going through that stage!" There are so many great drink recipes for every occasion, even sickness and dealing with the PTA. There's a lot of great full-color photos of the fun cocktails decorated to suit the occasion. You have to check it out!
The book is filled with humorous content that is so easy to relate to. I think this would make the perfect baby shower gift. I guarantee that the mother-to-be would love it! It's a great conversation piece and I really believe any mom with kids of any age would appreciate it. You can purchase a copy of Mommy Mixology at Amazon for $14.95 or $9.99 for the Kindle edition.

How would you like to win a copy for yourself? (One winner) Enter below in the Raffecopter widget.
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This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on Sept 10, 2012. Please follow giveaway rules. Momfiles is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Winner will be chosen at random and contacted by email.

I received a copy of the book for review. All opinions are 100% mine.

Shelly, Mom Files
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Our Great Wolf Lodge Experience










We had the great pleasure of experiencing Great Wolf Lodge (Concord, NC) to end our summer off with a splash! Unfortunately, the weather was not the best but it did not stop our adventure. Lucky for us, Great Wolf Lodge has an amazing indoor water park that is kept at a comfortable 84 degrees. Before I go into that, I will start by telling you our first impression when we drove up to the resort.

The entire family fell in love with the beautiful grounds and the enormity of the resort. The gorgeous wolf statues were huge! We were promptly greeted by a gentleman at the front entrance and directed to our parking spot. Then we entered through the front doors and immediately started oohing and ahhing. It was so beautiful inside, almost overwhelming at that! Our experience at the check-in desk was fast and the clerk was extremely professional and helpful. We felt as if we were the only guests on the property with the type of customer service we received. Truly first class!

Once we got our wristbands and room information, we headed up to our Family Suite. What a lovely suite it was! I can't begin to tell you all how clean and pretty the room was. There were so many wonderful details including the signature wolf towel on one of the beds, rustic decor, an in-suite safe, microwave/fridge/iron & ironing board, balcony with table and chairs and one of my favorites... the signature paw print embossed toilet paper. You can absolutely tell how much the resort management and staff care about their guests by how immaculate the property is inside and out. We had an abundance of towels, blankets and extra pillows. The beds were so comfortable and we slept soundly. We were amazed at how quiet it was in our suite since the resort was super busy and packed with so many families. Another great plus is how environmentally friendly the whole facility is by having recycling bins in each suite as well as all over the resort. Even the hair dryer in the room had green standards!

The hubby loved the balcony and enjoyed catching up on some reading and of course, sipping on his Dunkin Donuts coffee. The resort had so many food options to satisfy every family member. Believe me, we tried almost every spot! We had everything from pizza, ice cream, doughnuts, salads and so much more. I think our favorite place was the sweets and bake shop. Hey, we were on vacation!

Although this is not my photograph, I wanted to show you what the indoor water park was like. Truly amazing and everyone had a blast! There was something for every age. The water slides were incredible and the outdoor pool area was very nice and lots of fun! It was almost impossible to get the kids out of the water. Something I noticed was that EVERY lifeguard on duty was very focused and constantly looking around to make sure all the guests were safe. That truly made us feel at ease, especially with a 4 year old that can't swim yet.
The other big highlight of our visit was the Northern Lights Arcade. We ALL had so much fun and I can't remember the last time I laughed that much, non-stop! There were so many other activities but we did not have the time to do everything. We are planning to visit again when it is during the off-season.



Little William loved the story-time at night at the big Clocktower. He was completely mesmerized. He still continues to howl "Great Wolf style", as he likes to put it.
It was hard to get really clear photos with all the crowds and chaos going on but overall, we had the most wonderful experience at Great Wolf Lodge. I truly could go on for hours telling you even more but you need to go check it out for yourself. You and your family would NOT be disappointed! This was the most fun family getaway we have ever been on and we can't wait to do it again!

We want to give a big thank you to the entire Great Wolf Lodge staff for making us feel so welcome and comfortable. There was never a moment that we did not hear "We hope you enjoy your stay". That we did!

Stay connected with Great Wolf Lodge via the web, Facebook and Twitter for discounts and deals. 

I received a discounted rate from Great Wolf Lodge and all thoughts/opinions are 100% my own.
Shelly, Mom Files
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Why hydration is important

I made the most ridiculous mistake this weekend when my family went away on a getaway. I knowingly did not drink any water (besides maybe a few ounces) for about 3 days. As a matter of fact, I pretty much didn't drink a lot in general on those days. I normally drink a minimum of 60+ ounces of water daily. My body totally showed me how bad I had been. I suffered from several muscle spasms in my feet and a lot of aches and pains throughout my body. I got so consumed in all the activity that was going on and the weather was unusually cool, so I completely neglected to hydrate like I should have. I think being at an indoor water park made me not think about being thirsty. Needless to say, I had to get back into the practice of proper water consumption and have incorporated a banana and 2 servings of orange juice into my daily diet. I have learned my lesson, the hard way. I will do my best to never make that mistake again!

Does your body do crazy things when your diet is off?

Shelly, Mom Files
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Married to Jonas on E! and my tips for the newlyweds {Giveaway}

Contest ended- Winner is Cheryl Free

Have you guys heard about the new show on E! called Married to Jonas? I can't believe Kevin Jonas is all grown up and married! Kevin and his young wife Dani make the most adorable couple. Their show will chronicle their new life together as a married couple and also give a peek into their new families... with the in-laws! Oh, they have some very interestingly fun times ahead! Married to Jonas airs on Sunday's 10/9c.


It got me to thinking, being so young and married is not easy. You think things will be as perfect as the day you met, but man oh man do things change! It is important to get some good advice from seasoned couples to make sure you do all you can to make things work. Since I have been married for over 18 years, I feel like I know a thing or two. Here is my top ten list of marriage tips to Kevin and Dani and to all the newlyweds out there. 
  1. Always try to impress each other. If the woman wore make-up and heels while dating, still do it. If the man dressed well and wore nice cologne, keep it up. Don't fall into the trap that your significant other loves you and there is no need to impress them anymore. Don't let yourselves go!  
  2. Ladies, if you and your man are lost in the woods somewhere and he tells you to wait in a specific spot, stay your butt right there. I confess that as a woman, I tend to want to show my man that I can hang and end up getting both of us in more trouble! 
  3. Gentleman, always tell your woman how beautiful she is. Don't tell her that because the world is always saying how beautiful she is that she knows you feel the same. She wants to hear it from YOU! 
  4. Always appreciate each other. Never forget to thank your mate for all the little things. 
  5. Ladies, let your man be a man. They need time to blow off steam and do "boy things". Perhaps not the same things they did when they were single, but you get the idea. 
  6. Be honest each and every day. If you don't like something about your mate, tell them! Holding back never helps things. 
  7. Give each other space. There will be times that you both drive each other crazy. Take some time away from each other. You don't have to be joined at the hip 24/7.
  8. Have a sense of humor. You can't take every single thing so seriously. Laughter is so important to balance out all the serious stuff. 
  9. Ladies, this is important. Be a lady in the street and a freak in the sheets. Seriously, just keeping it real! 
  10. My last tip is very important and it is for the men. Gentleman, just know that the woman is always right. It will make for a lasting and happy marriage. It's as easy as that! 
Giveaway: 
One lucky Momfiles reader will win a fantastic In-Law Survival Kit ($112 value) 
The kit will include:
· Stress Relief - Eucalyptus Spearmint Sugar Scrub 
· Bliss Fabulous Skin-Reviving Rubberizing masks 
· Soothing Herbal Tea
· Aromatherapy Spa Stress Relief - Shea Butter & Cedarwood Reed Diffuser 
· $15 iTunes Gift Card 
· EarPollution Plugz Headphones

Enter below in the Rafflecopter widget.

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This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on Sept 7. Be sure to leave your email address in case you are selected as the winner. Please be sure to follow entry rules. Momfiles is not responsible for any lost of stolen prizes. Good luck!

I will receive the same prize package as the giveaway winner for posting. No other compensation was received and all thoughts/opinions are 100% my own.
Shelly, Mom Files
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First day of school 2012

Brie (sophomore) & Chardie (Senior) 
I can't believe how fast time has gone by. My girls are so grown up and today they start their new school year for 2012-13. They were up early full of excitement for their first day back. It was a whirlwind of emotion for me. My oldest is a high school senior and my younger daughter has outgrown us all! We had such fun in the car on the way to school. We shared a lot of laughs and reminisced about them being in elementary school. I am looking forward to the stories we will share this year.

Wishing everyone a fantastic school year ahead!
Shelly, Mom Files
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Scotch-Brite Botanical Disinfecting Wipes for back-to-school


It's back-to-school time and this means new clothes, school supplies, books and of course, all those pesky germs. I think almost every school year from kindergarten all the way to middle school, one of my girls got sick during the first week back.
This year, I will be sending the teachers things like Kleenex and Scotch-Brite Botanical Disinfecting Wipes. These wipes kill 99.9% of household germs and can be used around kids, pets and food. They leave no residue, don't require rinsing and are made from botanically pure plant extracts. It's nice to be able to breathe easily while you clean.

You can find these wipes at most Walmart stores and other retailers as well. They are priced at around $2.99 for 35 wipes and $4.99 for 75 wipes. I did see them last week at Walmart for $1.97 for the 35 count. I bought one for my husband to keep in his desk in the event someone uses his phone or computer. You can't beat one step sanitizing. These are so convenient and I am sure your child's teachers would appreciate them in the classroom!

Stay connected with Scotch-Brite via the web, Facebook and Twitter to learn about new products and special offers. Also be sure to grab a coupon here to help you stock up.

I hope your kids have a great new school year with fewer illnesses!

I received a product sample for review and all thoughts/opinions are 100% my own.
Shelly, Mom Files
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Got ants? Get rid of them with Combat Source Kill Max (Giveaway)

**Contest is over** The winner is Jared. Congratulations!
It's summertime and this means ants. I think that every time it rains, I find ants outside and sometimes inside the house. Living in the south it seems like there is no getting rid of them! I tried out the Combat Source Kill Max Ant Gel and Baits. My husband got excited when he got to try out the syringe with the ant killing gel in it. He squeezed some into a crack where some ants made there way into one of our windows and within an hour, all signs of ants were gone. It has been a week and it appears they will not be coming back!
I sent the ant baits over to my mother-in-law since she was complaining of ants making it into her kitchen area. Since she just put them in place yesterday, she will still have to give it a chance to work and hopefully get rid of those pesky ants for good.

Right now, you can enter to win $1000 in the Combat Bug-Free Backyard Bash Sweepstakes. Imagine what a fun, bug-free backyard event you could throw for your family and friends with $1000 and a variety of Combat Ant killing Baits and Gels! It is easy to enter and you can even get a coupon after you enter your information. It took me about a minute to complete. Go enter! Good luck :)

Combat is providing one Momfiles reader a Source Kill Max Ant Killing Kit. Entering is easy in the Rafflecopter widget.
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Giveaway is open US Residents only and will end on Sept 1. Please leave your email address if you do not have a Blogger Profile. All entries will be verified so please follow rules or your entries will be disqualified.

I received products samples for review purposes and all thoughts/opinions are 100% mine as always

Shelly, Mom Files
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Washy Wonder Review


Do you feel like the cost of resealable bags have skyrocketed? I know I do. I don't buy them as often as I used to and if I can, I wash them to reuse them. I receive a neat gadget from Washy Wonder that is a bag saver system that you can use in the dishwasher. 
The way it works is you put your bag over the Washy Wonder paddles and attach  them to the prongs on your washing rack. It works on both straight and bent prongs. Once you have the paddles attached, you will find that your bag will fit more securely. Then you just let it run through your washing cycle along with your dirty dishes.
It did clean the bag well and I like the idea of the burst of steam to help sanitize the bag. The winning points for me is the fact that I can reuse my expensive bags, you can also wash reusable cloth bags and it is a smart choice to cut down on the use of plastic bags to help out the environment. I did find that I had to remove the Washy Wonder with the bag and transfer it to my dish drainer to let it finish drying off. Even through the full dry cycle, it remained wet.

Over all, Washy Wonder is a great item to have and I keep it stored in the dishwasher so I remember to use it. There is a special on their website where you can buy one set and get one free.

I received a product sample at no cost for review. All opinions are 100% my own.

Shelly, Mom Files
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COVERGIRL and Olay Review

I received a great product package from COVERGIRL on behalf of BzzAgent. My review pack came with a COVERGIRL & Olay Tone Rehab 2-in-1 Foundation and a COVERGIRL & Olay Pressed Powder. I have been wanting to try these products from the first time I saw them advertised in TV and magazine ads. I have always loved COVERGIRL cosmetics and have been using Olay moisturizer since I was a teenager. I figured with both brand combined, you get the best of both worlds!

Before I received my package, I had concerns about COVERGIRL having the right make-up shades to match my skin tone. I was really surprised when I saw how rich and dark enough the color was. The foundation was in Tawny (shade 165) and the powder was in medium/deep (shade 360). The 2-in-1 Foundation is supposed to help cover discoloration and age spots as well as hydrate to improve skin tone over time.

I started off with a clean face and applied a little bit of the foundation with a sponge wedge so it would be even. I didn't need much. It spread well and was not sticky or heavy. It had a fresh cosmetic scent and was not strong or irritating at all. I then swiped over some of the pressed powder to even out my skin tone. I did apply a little gold eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara and lip gloss to complete my look. I took a before photo but decided I didn't want to scare you all. Here is the finished look. What do you think?
My daughters were envious of how glowing and pretty my face looked. Even my husband admitted that he was admiring me from the moment he saw me. I did not feel like I was wearing any make-up at all. I really love it! I look forward to seeing how it will continue to work over time. So far, so good!

Be sure to check out COVERGIRL on Facebook to get updates on new products and promotions. If you would like a couple coupons for $2 off (expires 10/31) send me an email and I will get them mailed out to you.

I received products samples from BzzAgent for review purposes. All opinions are completely my own.

Shelly, Mom Files
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Food Lion $25,000 Kitchen Makeover

Food Lion is launching a sweepstakes to win a $25,000 kitchen makeover! The sweepstakes is open to residents in both North and South Carolina and runs from 8/15 – 9/12. There will be a Grand Prize, a 1st & 2nd place prize, as well as multiple Food Lion gift card giveaways.

~ Grand Prize: $25k Home Makeover Package
~ 1st Place: $10k in cash
~ 2nd Place: Free Groceries for a Year
~ 100 weekly $20 Food Lion gift cards (400 total)

This made me think of all the things I could do if I won the big makeover for my kitchen. $25,000 is a lot and even the 10k in cash is not too shabby.  My kitchen is very small so I could see trying to expand it just a bit. Of course my ancient cabinets and counter tops would have to go! I would even volunteer to be on the demolition team! I can just see the dark cherry wood cabinets with pewter fixtures and brand new charcoal gray granite counter tops. I would stick with a traditional double sink and a swanky new faucet with matching fixtures. So after all that is done I would go for all new appliances. I don't have to have the fanciest ones but I would LOVE a convection oven with a flat top range. Okay I admit, I entered the sweepstakes. It took me all of one minute. I would love love love to win!
Go check it out for yourself and you can get additional entries through "checking in" on Foursquare and Facebook and purchasing My Essentials brand products. Be sure to stay connected to Food Lion on Facebook and Twitter.

What would you want to make over in your kitchen if you won?

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Food Lion. I received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.
Shelly, Mom Files
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Trying to keep it together

I have been absent from the online world lately. My days are filled with all things back-to-school, volleyball practices, registration, senior pictures, preschool (at home) preparations, being a good wife, keeping our home in order and taking some down time with the family. It has consumed my time! I have had some really good days as well as some trying ones. So far, both girls are ready to start school next week. They both are fully registered, picked up books, got lockers and have completed everything needed for a smooth start. They also have been going through volleyball conditioning all summer long and had try-outs last week. Both of them made the Girl's Varsity team! The first scrimmage of the season is today. It is going to be a treat to watch my girls play together on the same team. They are excited about it as well...it is heart-warming :)

I have been getting things together for William to get him ready for kindergarten next year. It is so different teaching him that it was with the girls. I beat myself up a lot because there is so much he does not know or has trouble with. I feel like I am failing him most days. Sometimes I have a good cry and want to throw in the towel and just put him in pre-k. Other days, he does an amazing job and shows how much he is absorbing. My problem is that when my girls were little, technology had not quite blossomed yet. We didn't have a computer until the oldest started kindergarten and it was a while before we obtained digital gadgets. Of course back in the day, our means of learning was to physically go to the library and check out books for projects. Now in this day, our kids will receive mandatory mini notebook computers for school use. I am surprised they still have actual books. I know one thing though, some of the most basic things in life can't be taught from a computer. I have vowed to focus in on William and make sure I give him all I can over the course of the next year, to get him where he needs to be. I will fight through my own insecurities and anxiety and do whatever it takes.

If anyone has any tips to share on things I can incorporate into preschool at home, I would appreciate it! So is everyone ready for school to start back?

Shelly, Mom Files
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Back to School Basics: Is a Tablet Necessary?

I wanted to share some interesting information with you all from Andrea Eldridge, on the subject of if your child can benefit from a tablet for school use.

As parents everywhere prepare to send sons and daughters back to school, they want to arm them with the best possible resources. For many families, computers or tech gadgets are alongside clothes, pens and paper on the list of purchases to budget for. As tablets grow in popularity, you may be wondering if your student would benefit from having an iPad or inexpensive back to school tablets like a Kindle Fire, Google Nexus or Barnes and Noble Nook in their book bag.

As I’ve explored in previous articles, tablets can play a role in our children’s education. Studies have shown that playing certain educational games can improve test scores. Access to the internet (when in range of a wireless signal) can give your student instant answers to any of her queries, or make quick work of finding ideas for a science project. Office-style programs, while limited, can even provide the ability to write reports or create presentations and email them to her teacher.

However, the overall value of a low-end tablet to pre-college level students is limited and handing your child unfettered access to the internet is a dangerous proposition. The portability of tablets makes it all too easy for Jr. to head off to his room to research that paper, only to end up somewhere you’d rather he didn’t explore on the internet. A common area computer allows you to more easily monitor his activity or better yet, install parental control software to set some limits. Parental controls on tablets are minimal, typically restricting access to certain apps, but not limiting exposure online.

It’s difficult to use a tablet for the kind of school work your pre-college age child will be focused on. Most teachers won’t allow the tablet to be used in-class, and even if they are permitted your child won’t likely have access to WiFi. While the starting price is low (beginning at around $200 for the Fire, Nexus or Nook), you’ll have to add on a Bluetooth keyboard for typing papers and a sturdy case to minimize the risk of damage from bumps and drops. Printing is a challenge and while the programs available to integrate with Word, Excel and Powerpoint give you basic document and presentation production capability, many are limited in their function, particularly when you aren’t in range of a WiFi network. For a tablet running Android, you’ll be best served by investing $20 in Quickoffice HD Pro while iPad users can install Pages, Numbers or Keynote depending on the functionality needed (iTunes app store, $9.99 each).

When it comes to your college-age student on the other hand, there may be some definite advantages to adding a tablet to their arsenal. Using a stylus with certain note taking applications converts handwritten notes to searchable text, while drawings become images that can be inserted into future reports and projects. Their ultra-portability makes them the ideal addition to a backpack and professors typically don’t limit their use in the classroom. Spring for a pricier iPad and your co-ed can utilize iTunes U, the “world’s largest online catalog of free education content from leading institutions”. Even if their specific lessons aren’t posted through the app, they can access virtual lectures, videos and books from the leading minds in education at Stanford, Yale, MIT and many more.

 Finally, many college-level courses expect work to be submitted electronically which is far easier for a tablet user to accommodate than the printouts and tangible paperwork expected of younger students. The “WiFi everywhere” atmosphere at most college campuses also leads tablet users to be more productive than when they’re unable to access the internet. While it would take some getting used to and some working around its limitations, a college student with a Bluetooth keyboard, office-style productivity suite and cloud-based backup and syncing service could definitely benefit from having a tablet at their fingertips. Some may even be able to get by without a laptop or PC.

So what do you think? Are you sending your kids to school with a tablet? 


About the Author: Andrea Eldridge is CEO and co-founder of Nerds On Call, an on-site computer and laptop repair service for consumers and businesses. Andrea is the writer of two weekly columns, Computer Nerds On Call a nationally syndicated column for Scripps-Howard News Service, and Nerd Chick Adventures in The Record Searchlight. She regularly appears on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, The CW, and CNN on shows such as Good Day Sacramento, Good Morning Arizona and MORE Good Day Portland, offering viewers easy tips on technology, Internet lifestyle, and gadgets. Andrea recently has begun working with Demand Media to produce content for eHow.com and has written a book for them Smartphone 101: Integrating Your iPhone Into a Windows World.

Shelly, Mom Files
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Clean the old-fashioned way with Brillo

I can remember ever since I was a little girl, there was always a box of Brillo Steel Wool Pads in the cabinet underneath the kitchen sink. Some things never change. Brillo pads have helped to keep my pots and pans, grills, roasters and many other things, super clean and sparkling for decades. I received a couple items from Brillo to test out including the original Brillo pads and some Estracell Sponges. Of course I have had a lot of experience with the original steel wool pads, but the Estracell Scrub Sponge with the Wedge Edge was new to me. I admit that I have seen it many times in the stores before but was scared to try it because of the way the sponge looked. I know it sounds silly but I thought it would be cheap. Boy, was I wrong! One of the first things I noticed was the unique wedge shape. It makes getting into corners easier. The best part about the sponge was how well it made my dish soap suds up. I have used premium sponges in the past that no matter how much dish soap I would use, there was very little suds. The sponge is very durable and rinses clean. I like the fact that it air dries fairly fast too.

You see the pan in the photo below? I have had this pan, along with a few pots that match for over 18 years. Brillo pads work brilliantly to keep the stainless steel surface clean and shiny. Trust me, I use my cookware daily and I can see my set lasting me many more years. You just can't go wrong with a trusted brand that has been around for almost 100 years!
Do you use any Brillo products? Be sure to check out Brillo on the web, Facebook and Twitter.

I received product samples for review purposes. All thoughts/opinions are 100% mine as always.

Shelly, Mom Files
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FREE American Girl dress and swimsuit patterns


For those crafty mamas out there, here is something you might like. FREE patterns for American Girl dolls clothing. You can get a download a pattern for a Drawstring Dress here and a swimsuit pattern here.

You can also receive two more free patterns for signing up for the newsletter from Liberty Jane Clothing. Just thought I would share! Enjoy :-)

Shelly, Mom Files
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