A Mama's Rant

5 Reasons Why I Loved The Fiction Class

First a little background. The Fiction Class by Susan Breen is about Arabella Hicks, a single, 38-year-old writer who has been working on the same book for seven years. Every week Arabella teaches a beginning fiction class. Afterwards, she travels out to visit her difficult mother at her nursing home. The book is about her struggles as a writer, her relationship with her mother, her budding romance, and her students.

There's more of course, but I don't want to give it away. Instead I'll share five reasons why I loved The Fiction Class.

1. Susan Breen is inspiring. Like so many of us writer mamas, she has to schedule her writing around her work and family life. (Susan has four kids.) She's written a great book even though she has a "real life" as a mom, wife and daughter. If she can manage to find the time, surely I can.

As she says on her website:

The problem is not finding time to write. The problem is finding time to do anything else, like the laundry, or cleaning the bathroom. I decided when my kids were little that something had to give. My children would be my primary focus, but the minute they were asleep, or at school, or watching TV, I would sit down and write. The result is that we live on pizza and none of our socks match and there are sections of my kitchen that really are a biohazard.

I can relate. After coming back from a wonderful trip to San Diego, I came home and noticed that the house looks especially shabby these days. That's what happens when you let your daughter make sandwiches on the couch.

Mamma Mia! Grab Your Video Camera and Enter Pond's Contest

We all have our guilty pleasures in life. Some of mine are watching "America's Next Top Model," reading too much science fiction, and listening to Duran Duran. I also - true confessions time here folks - like Abba. I don't know what is it about songs like "Waterloo" and "Dancing Queen" but when I hear them on the car radio, I turn them up.

Well if you're a woman over 40 who likes Abba, and you have a video camera, you may be interested in this contest.

Pond's has partnered with the big screen remake of Mamma Mia!, starring Meryl Streep that's coming to theaters this summer. (Abba and Meryl Streep? Sounds like CHICK FLICK EXTRAORDINARE to me!)

They're looking for a trio of 40-something (or older) women who best embody the sassiness, sexiness and confidence of Donna & the Dynamos from the movie. And they want you to create a video of you three performing one of the songs from Mamma Mia! Click here to go to Pond's website to get the details of their contest.

If you live near New York City, you can attend the live audition on April 28 at Spotlight Live, 1604 Broadway (at 49th Street), Monday, April 28, 11am - 4pm. To reserve a time slot, you'll need to call 866-99-DYNAMO (39626).

The winners of the contest will win a lavish trip to London to live the life of three Dynamos at the world premiere of Mamma Mia!

If you're a fan - and a ham - bribe two friends (heck, get them drunk) and enter. Just making the video sounds like a hoot. But winning, wow! Good luck!!

The word every mom fears - LICE

While moms don't want to hear about an outbreak of lice at school, I know of some kids who are absolutely terrified of getting lice. My sister Michele was one of those kids. She was obsessed about lice. Fearful of lice. And worried constantly about getting lice.

I, being the older sister, teased her unmercifully about it. One year I even made little "lice" out of white modeling clay, and put it in a fancy gold box as a birthday present. Was I evil or what?

But we pretty much went through our school years without getting it. Except one time that is. My parents were out of town and I was in charge. Since I was driving, I must have been 17 and Michele, 12.

I dropped her off one Saturday morning at a local salon to get her hair cut. A little while later I received a phone call from my sister. She was crying and really upset. "The stylist says I have lice!" she sobbed. "Can you come pick me up?"

I got her and we drove over to Long's Drugs to buy a bottle of lice shampoo for the two of us. The stylist said we both needed to do a lice treatment, wash our sheets and towels in hot water, and bleach our hair brushes and combs.

We weathered the storm and I think we were both proud that we could take care of something this serious - LICE! - on our own.

Hybrid Mom magazine needs help with the Six O'Clock Scramble

You know you need the Six O'Clock Scramble when:

• "What am I going to make for dinner tonight?" is the first thought that pops into your head the moment you wake up in the morning.  
• Your kids think most people eat pancakes for dinner, but you have the desire to create quick and healthy meals for your family.

If this describes life at your house, Hybrid Mom wants you to tell them why you need the Six O'Clock Scramble in your life.

Who is Hybrid Mom Looking For?
They'll choose one mom to feature in their summer magazine print issue and one mom blogger to chronicle her daily experience and chart her Six O'Clock Scramble progress on their website.

Here's how to enter
Tell the folks at Hybrid Mom in a brief essay of 200 words or less why you should be part of the Six O'Clock Scramble and send your submission to them at scramble@hybridmom.com. (This e-mail address is protected from spam bots, so you'll need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

All entries must be received by April 14, 2008 at midnight. Be sure to include your name and phone number along with your essay.

Good luck!

(Not your cup of tea, but looking for a place to be a mama writer? Check out Hybrid Mom's writer's guidelines.)

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Take a virtual writing and blogging workshops at MotherVerse

MotherVerse, a semiannual literary magazine for mothers, is is now offering virtual workshops for mother writers and bloggers, and those who are looking for a way to get started in either. These virtual workshops are designed to help facilitate mother-writing by encouraging mothers to come together to learn and guide one another. The workshops will be led by experienced published mentors and are a great opportunity to start or expand a writing project or blog.

MotherVerse is currently offering two workshops, "Writing Motherhood" and "Publishing a Blog" which will begin at the end of April and early May. If you are interested in joining please sign up as soon as possible as each workshop has a limited enrollment. Visit the MotherVerse Workshop page  for more information and to register.

Writing Motherhood Workshop May 5 - June 2
This workshop focused on developing your current writing (creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry and blogging) or finding your voice in developing new writing. Gain the support and feedback of fellow mother writers and experienced mentors in this supportive environment. This is a 4 week workshop. Limit 20 attendees.

Publishing a Blog Workshop April 28 - May 19
Learn how to begin and follow through on a successful mother writer’s blog with the help of experienced mother bloggers. This workshop will cover both the technical aspects of starting a blog as well as the development of blog writing. This is a 3 week workshop. Limit 20 attendees.

Workshops are held online in a private forum and fees are based on a very reasonable sliding scale. There are also full scholarships available. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to join with other mothers and work on your writing, or learn how to publish that blog you have always wanted to start.

If you're a mama writer or blogger, visit the MotherVerse blog, their print submission page, and their blog submission page.

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10 Ways to Green Your Home and Family

These days the whole world seems to be turning green, which is a good thing not only for the environment but your bank account.

Many companies are producing green versions of their regular products, for example Clorox's Green Works, which is very affordable. (Click here for my review of Green Works.)

And like many moms, I'm buying more recycled and earth friendly products like energy saving light bulbs, toilet paper made from recycled paper, and environmentally friendly laundry detergent - all available at my local Costco for the same price (or cheaper) than the regular items.

Plus, I'm eating more organic and locally produced milk, eggs, and veggies. (Click here for  my review of Horizon Organic's new DHA Omega-3 milk.) Often the organic stuff costs only a little bit more, plus I find that a lot of it tastes better than the mass-produced stuff.

A Book We Should All Read

So when the folks at FSB Associates told me about Nancy H. Taylor new book, Go Green: How to Build an Earth-Friendly Community, I was very interested and ask for them to send out a review copy. This book gives readers the tools for a greener lifestyle beyond their own homes by profiling green transportation, schools, hospitals, and businesses. Go Green also includes tips for building green remodeling and eating locally. 

FSB also sent me Nancy's article 10 Ways to Green Your Home and Family, which gives terrific tips on how to save energy in the home. I already do many of the things she suggests like turning down the water heater and using energy saving bulbs. However, I spend way too much energy yelling at my family to turn off the g-damn lights or TV.

10 Ways to Green Your Home and Family

By Nancy H. Taylor, author of Go Green: How to Build an Earth-Friendly Community

We use a lot of energy in our daily lives, for heating, cooling, lighting, appliances and transportation. There are many ways to save energy and money by making a few simple changes.

1. Change your non-dimmable light bulbs from incandescent to compact fluorescents (CFLs). CFLs come in all shapes and sizes and even many shades of the color spectrum. So you do not have to have a white glare or even use the curly bulbs. Incandescent bulbs are going to be obsolete soon, so educate your kids about how much energy CFLs save. Because CFLs have a trace of mercury in the bulb, they must be disposed of at a recycling center.

2. Turn down the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees F. or 50 degrees C. If your water heater is not insulated, wrap an insulating blanket around it. If your water heater is gas, and not insulated, be sure to leave room for the air vent. Do not cover any venting pipes with a blanket.