For 2009, I want to keep a reading journal so at the end of the year I can look back and see what I've read and what new authors I found. I will try to keep this list current.

My Best Friend's Girl, Dorothy Koomson- A light, cute fast read. Thumbs Up (Jan 09)

To Have and To Hold: A Novel, Jane Green- Very good, typical Green. Thumbs Up (Jan 09)


Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Lisa See- Very good. Rich in Asian culture. (For book club, Jan. 09)


The Next Big Thing, Johanna Edwards. Cute and fast. The main character is overweight. A little cliche with the ending but I'm glad she didn't feel the need to drop down to a size 4 to be happy. (Jan. 09)

Barefoot, Elin Hilderbrand. Thumbs up. A fast, light read with one main character named Melanie. This was the first book I've read by her, I will definitely look for her others. (Feb. 09)

Bitter is the New Black, Jen Lancaster. Thumbs Way Up. This was hilarious. Even though I wasn't a VP I could relate to the laid off, lifestlyle adjustments Lancaster made. I can't wait to read her other two. (Feb. 09)

Forget About It, Caprice Crane. Thumbs Up. Cute and fast. Made me wonder what I'd change if I could fake amnesia. What inner parts of me would I want to bring out? (March 09)

A Long Way Down, Nick Hornby. Neutral. It was a little hard to get through at first. I stuck it out to see how the characters worked through the issues that made them want to commit suicide (it's not depressing) and if they found ways to be happy. (For book club, March 09)

Still Alice, Lisa Genova. Thumbs WAY up. I flew through this after my mom passed it on.It's gripping and sad. It's got me a little freaked out. Every time I walk into a room and forget why I'm there I'm wondering if I should see a doctor! (April 09)

Let's Get To Know Each Other Better

Melanie Sheridan is an African American lifestyle blogger writing about fashion, tech, her favorite apps, her newbie photography skills, saving money and couponing, books, social media, the occasional recipe, family and parenting and living in southern California.

She married her high school sweetheart 16 years ago and they share one amazing kid. Melanie is an avid reader, shoe collector, Twitter addict, newbie photographer, coupon clipper, closet gadget girl, wannabe foodie, #HockeyMom and recovering shopaholic.

Melanie has appeared on local television news segments and, in September 2013, was cast in a Walmart commercial that ran in local television, print and digital media. She has attended events for Coca Cola, Disney, General Mills, and TJ Maxx/Marshalls. She has had the honor of attending the invite-only Disney Social Media Moms Conference four times and the Blissdom conference as both attendee and speaker. 


She is an avid reader, shoe slut, Twitter addict, chocolate fiend, newbie photographer, closet gadget girl, wannabe foodie, late iAdopter, recovering shopaholic and a Pinning Fool. Melanie is very active in San Diego's social media community and attends many San Diego events. 

Melanie is currently freelancing and providing social media consulting services for small businesses. Please contact her for consulting rates and sponsored content opportunities.

In addition to Twitter, find Melanie on:
Melanie Sheridan on You Tube
Mel, A Dramatic Mommy on Facebook
Melanie Sheridan on LinkedIn 
Melanie Sheridan on Instagram
Melanie Sheridan on Pinterest (If you really want to get to know Melanie, follow her here. All her hopes, wants, dreams and interests in one place)
 
Events Melanie has co-hosted and co-planned:

*National Mom’s Out in 2009 and 2010 in partnership with BSM Media. Both events had some of San Diego's most influential bloggers in attendance and raised money for charity.

A few of the junkets Melanie has attended:
TJ Maxx/Marshalls corporate headquarters
General Mills blogger Eat and Greet in Minneapolis
Kodak
Disneyland/Disneyworld 
Souplantation/Sweet tomatoes for a local blogger's event
HOP press movie junket
The Lorax press movie junket
International Housewares Show (Chicago, on behalf of Hoover)
Coca Cola 

Past speaking engagements:
2012 speaker in a virtual conference for small business owners, panel topic blogging for business
Blissdom 2010 as a panelist on blog monetization 

Past blog sponsors:
TJ Maxx/Marshalls
Foot Petals
Smart and Final 
National Dairy Association

Awards/Nominations:

*2010 Influence SD nominee 

*2010 recipient of a ToeSox scholarship for the Susan G Komen 3 Day 

Charitable cause Melanie supports: 

*2009 and 2010 Online Ambassador for Susan G Komen 

*Susan G Komen 3Day walker in 2009, 2010 and November 2011 

Memberships:
SD Bloggers
Collective Bias

Melanie in the media:
Interview for Bankrate.com about apps and shopping with smartphones  (May 2012)

Power of Mom Bloggers segment (KNSD June 2011)

CA Non Stop segment on family camping 7/25/11 (KNSD)


CA Non Stop segment on saving money for Back to School 9/7/11 (KNSD)

Melanie and her family were in Redbook Magazine (June 2009) as part of a feature article on finances and were interviewed by the Los Angeles Times in December 2008.


Want to know even more about Melanie? Check out her 100 Things post. Want to get in touch with Melanie? Shoot her a message. Her email address is ADramaticMommy [at] gmail [dot] com.

Links to printable Google Docs:
-About Melanie
-LA Times article
-Redbook article

Updated August 2014