A Mama's Rant

Getting started on my Mother's Notebook

This summer I'm using Lisa Garrigues's book Writing Motherhood: Tapping Into Your Creativity as a Mother and a Writer to get out of the writing slump I've been suffering from this past couple of months. (Check out the MotherTalk Blog Tour for Writing Motherhood for reviews.)

I highly recommend this book for all moms who are professional writers as well as women who just want to write about motherhood for their own needs or pleasure.

Why not turn this into a mother-child writing project? I've taken Lisa's concepts about keeping a writing notebook (what she calls a "Mother's Notebook") and am using them over at my children's books and cooking blog, A Readable Feast. Each week I'll be giving kids writing prompts along with ideas for summer reading and cooking.

So, dear reader, how about joining us? You can do your 15 minute writing "invitation" (as Lisa calls them) while your child does their weekly writing assignment. It's a great way for self-discovery, family bonding, and sharpening those writing skills. Plus, it's a good excuse for a little quiet, down time this summer as well.

Are you in for a little summer writing? Let me know!

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Want to ask the editor of Every Day With Rachel Ray a Question?

I've been given the chance to do an email interview with Silvana Nardone, the editor of Every Day With Rachael Ray magazine. Silvana, a mom of two, would love to discuss cooking - from great kid-friendly recipes to how cooking with your kids can be a wonderful bonding experience.

Are you a fan of Rachel Ray and her magazine or show? Or just need some cooking advice? Either way, send me a question or two for Silvana. Feel free to ask about work/life balance, editing a magazine, or writing, too - your questions don't have to be about food or cooking with kids.

Then email me the questions, your name (the way you'd like it to appear in public) and website link (if you have one) to readablefeast@gmail.com by Monday, June 4. If I useone of your questions, I'll credit you when I post the interview over at my children's books and cooking blog, A Readable Feast.

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Has it really been a month?

Has almost a month gone by without blogging at A Mama's Rant? I'm totally embarassed, and don't even have a visit to the hospital as an excuse...just burn out and a 12-day trip to visit my sister in Switzerland (brag, brag, brag - yes it was wonderful).

So here's what I'm working on for you dear reader, if you're still there and bothered to wait around.

1) A best of photo album of our family's trip to Switzerland! Lots of castles, the Alps, a statue of Freddy Mercury (I'm not joking), botantical gardens, boat rides on Lake Geneva, side trips to France and London, and cute pictures of the kids, too. (BTW - Lucie and Nathan's picture in Gruyere made it in The Denver Post's Sunday travel section. Too cool.) I'll be providing food recipes and reviews for the fabulous meals we had over at my cooking blog, This Mama Cooks!

2) Writing! Since I've been in a writing rut, I've turned to Writing Motherhood: Tapping Into Your Creativity as a Mother and a Writer for inspiration. While urges you to write in a Mother's Notebook instead of a blog, I hope to transcribe some of the better pieces here on this blog. I'm really praying that this type of writing will bring me back to where I started - writing about parenting - and renew my love for the craft of writing. (I hope it inspires you to start a Mother's Notebook, too.)

3) Book reviews! I've been getting some terrific ones from book publishers, like Anita Shreve's latest, Body Surfing: A Novel. Not only it is classic Shreve and great poolside reading, but it takes you back to the beach house from The Pilot's Wife. I've read many of Shreve's books and began to dismiss them as "too Oprah's book club" (you know, female tragedy and heartbreak). But reading Body Surfing, I realize that Shreve's writing has a kind of peaceful and meditative rhythm to it - perfect for relaxing and getting centered when your life is hectic and noisy.

4) Weight loss! I'm tired of being 20 pounds overweight, and so are a bunch of friends of mine. We've decided to buddy up and lose weight together. I'll be doing the Extreme Fat Smash Diet by nutritionist Ian K. Smith of Celebrity Fit Club. It promises fast results and will get me to exercise, which is the main reason I've gained so much.

5) Heroes! Yeah, I'm completely obsessed with the TV show (just like SweatPantsMom - must be catching.) But then it's been a long time - like since Star Trek: The Next Generation back in the '90s - when I've liked a scifi series this much. Plus NBC's marketing of the show has been fascinating with their use of blogs, extra "side episodes," streaming video, downloads, comic book artwork, fan sites, etc. Very cutting edge and much appreciated by us marketing mavens.

So here's to a fun summer. Stop by and visit sometime!

(And if you're wondering what to do with your children this summer, click on over to my children's book blog, A Readable Feast, for writing prompts, book reviews and fun summer cooking with kiddos!)

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