The Mad Mom's Manifesto

Back to School Photo Contest

Seems like it was just yesterday it was the last day of school and the summer loomed before us with tons of possibilities.  Now in a few more weeks for K, school will be starting.  SFGate has a cute Back to School photo contest.  Usually, I post baby photo contests info on my Starbaby blog but I couldn't resist posting this one.  Winner gets $200 in gift cards.  They're looking for well-executed images that capture a moment and express some emotion: humor, excitement, sadness, fear (there's always the kid who doesn't want to start kindergarten). Contest ends Sept. 12th.

Writing Contest for Traveling Mamas!

Travel Mamas is looking for a few good writers for its "So You Think You Can Blog Contest." The winning blogger will be awarded a $100 gift certificate to Diapers.com, which offers a wide selection of staples like diapers and baby food, plus baby toys, books, strollers, baby carriers, and more - much of which is perfect for traveling with tots. The first-place article will be featured on the Travel Mamas home page, accompanied by a profile story about the winner.

TravelMamas.com launched at the end of March to help parents who want to travel with babies, toddlers, and children of all ages. The site offers travel tips, packing lists, recommended resources and tell-it-like-it-is stories for moms and dads on the go.

Both unpublished and professional writers are encouraged to participate. Submissions must be received by August 31, 2009. Articles should be 500 - 800 words and provide tips on traveling with children. View contest rules at TravelMamas.com.

Three finalist blogs will be posted on the Travel Mamas website September 7 - 20 of this year. During this time, site visitors will be able to vote for their favorite of the finalists' submissions. The article that receives the most votes will win the contest. Finalists will be selected by Travel Mamas based on usefulness for traveling parents as well as writing style and entertainment value. All finalists will receive a Travel Mamas Tote Bag, perfect for use at the beach or as an airplane activity bag. The winning blog entry will be announced on TravelMamas.com on September 21, 2009 and will be featured on the home page for two weeks.

The Hughes Brothers Back in Action

Glad to see I wasn't the only one who wondered what had happened to the Hughes Brothers. Here's a piece in the LA Times that tells what they've been up to.

Your Time To Shine as a Pantene Model

Pantene's holding a casting call for African-American women who use Pantene products.  For the month of July you can upload a 3-minute vid sharing your fabulous hair with the world.  Go here to upload your video and good luck!

Enjoy Cheap Movies Throughout the Summer!

Staycationing seems to be the way to go this summer. We'll be making the most of what LA has to offer for free or on the cheap. Many movie theaters offer cheap movies during the summer, how cool is that?  Whenever I take my daughter to the movie it's like going out on a date because I'm spending at least $30 on tickets and food!  Cheap is definitely the word of the day.  Here are two LA theaters participating in the Summer Movie Club programs: http://www.freeshiet.com/Los-Angeles/Free-Events.aspx

AMC Theatres has $1 movies on Wednesdays, 10 am from June 17-Aug 5.

Cinemark Movies (a little bit of trek to Woodland Hills) has 10 2nd run films for $5 from June 9 through Aug 12. Click on the link to see the schedule.

Check out the Free Shiet for some more LA freebies.

• $1 movies from June 17 – August 5
• Shows starting at 10:00 a.m. every Wednesday

Are You Colorful Enough? Enter Maybelline Contest

Here's a press release I got today.  I would love to enter but somehow don't think I'm quite as colorful (or extroverted) one would need to be in order to compete.  Good luck if you enter!

Maybelline New York and MORE magazine LAUNCH contest celebrating America’s most ‘colorful’ women.  Grand Prize Winners to Star in a Short Film and Meet Candace Bushnell as part of an All-Expenses Paid Trip to New York City!

What makes your life colorful? Maybelline New York and More magazine want to hear your story!

 Maybe you’ve started your own business based on a personal passion, or you’re a community leader who everyone looks up to. Perhaps you dedicate your time and energy to a cause, or use art as a means of creative expression. Tell us how you exude confidence, optimism and personality while balancing a variety of roles – at home or at work – all with grace, flair and style!

Three Grand-Prize winners will:

    * Star in a Maybelline New York “Colorful Life” short film

    * Take a fabulous, all-expenses paid trip with a guest to New York City

    * Receive a Maybelline New York Makeover by a professional make-up artist

    * Meet Candace Bushnell, best-selling author of “Sex and the City”, at her Webisode Premiere Party and appear in a “behind-the-scenes” webisode

 Women can enter the nationwide contest today by logging on to www.Maybelline.com/ColorfulLife. The contest ends June 30, 2009. Winners will be selected by Meredith Publications and Maybelline New York.

New Fave Detangler

Ok, in addition to having an inordinately large amount of books about writing and not having written many books, I also like to spend my money on...drink? Nope.  Clubs?  Nope.  Shoes?  Well, plead the fifth on that one.  I spend way too much time and money on hair care products because I'm always in search of that magic potion that makes combing out my daughter's hair less time consuming.  I've tried A LOT of stuff and talk about false promises.  The other day while in Target (shopping just for one thing and leaving with 10, you know the drill) I stumbled upon a new product from the Just for Me line  by Soft & Beautiful - Hair Milk with Soy and Honey Straightening Mist.  I washed my DD's hair last night and it was so easy to comb through.  You have to be very liberal with it though, I know I went through a third of the bottle (it's only $4.99 though, pennies when compared to the overpriced and Knot Very Good detangler by Kinky Curly).  It definitely made her hair more manageable, I used it in conjunction with the Soft & Beautiful Botanicals 3-N-1 Botanical Oil.  I find that it gives our hair a nice sheen and is a great remedy for a dry scalp.  It also acts as a great detangler but I find if you use too much it gets too oily.  I sprayed it on her scalp and used the Straightening Mist to comb through.

Bookcase Under the Stairs

Here's my ode to apartment therapy.  I'm always looking for storage solutions.  The space under the stairs is underutilized and just begs for a make-over.  Here's what I was working with:

So I had someone come in and knock out the wall and build a bookcase.

Wasn't crazy about it.  Found someone on Craigslist to finish it off and I think they did a great job.  I haven't painted it yet but put the books in there to get them out of my garage.  What do you think?

Writers Conferences Abound

I was unpacking some boxes the other day (yes, six months later and I still have a garage full of boxes!) and finally got around to putting away my books.  I had forgotten how many books I have on the craft of writing!  I think I've single handedly kept Writer's Digest in business.   I've never met a book about writing that I didn't feel the need to buy.  And now we're heading into my favorite time of year...summer writers conferences.  I had been eyeing The Maui Writer's Conference. It's over Labor Day weekend.  I'd been twice before years ago and it was fabulous (of course, it's in Hawaii). I looked at the list of presenters and it doesn't seem to be as big as it has been in the years past (because of the economy I'm sure). Then there's the SCBWI Annual Children's Writing Conference in the beginning of August over in Century City.  I went two years ago and heard Neil Gaiman (author of Coraline) speak and was generally awed by all of the children's writers in the room.  A new conference recently hit my radar, the Williamette Writer's Conference in Portland.  Every session has a workshop I want to attend (which is rare) and there are going to be plenty of editors and writers to network with. This is the same weekend in August. They are all in the same price range although Williamette comes in by a nose as more cost effective.  I have four novels that I wrote that are a good rewrite (or two or three) away from being finished, so this gives me even more motivation to get my act together.  I'm reading Ariel Gore's How to Become a Famous Writer Before You're Dead and she so accurately describes that love/hate relationship you have with your work in progress when you hit page 100.  I'm so there.

Ning: The future of online social networking? - CNN.com

Cool article.  Ning: The future of online social networking? - CNN.com.  My friend Yazzy hipped me to Ning months ago.  Such the techno forward thinking gal, she's been all over Twitter too.  I've been on Ning and I think I set up a group but I haven't had time to really focus on it. You know, between managing my MySpace and FB pages, sending Tweets, managing connects on Linked In and uh being a mom, how am I supposed to find the time?