Spring is in the air

Well, spring has shown it's face here in Central Vermont and it's about damn time. It's sunny and 60 degrees today - beautiful. So why am I sitting here, inside, at my desk? I'm thinking about moving my laptop out on the front porch and get cozy in my rocking chair with my yellow lab at my feet and a fresh squeezed lemonade....sound good? Oh yea, cancel that. I just looked at the clock and remembered I need to pick up one of my sons in an hour for a doctor appointment and I have piles of laundry that need to be folded before that. Such is life.

So, I have lots going down. The magazine is coming along great - getting closer to sending it off to the printer (in about 2 weeks)! One would never even imagine how much work goes into putting together and launching a print magazine. I thought the online mag was a lot of work and time - it doesn't even come close to the work and time involved in getting out a print issue. BUT, I LOVE it! The launch date is June 25th, however, my printer will have them ready one month ahead for the premier issue as I will be in NYC the end of May at the Writer's Digest Conference with MWLM on display and complimentary copies for all guests...I know, I know, so cool! Then there is BEA the following few days - so much going on. We are also planning MWLM launch party! At this time plans are set for Boston at the end of June but I will announce more when the plans are finalized. This is a party you DON"T want to miss.

Anybody reading a GOOD book these days? I read The Mother-Daughter Project which was excellent. I highly recommend this book to mothers of daughters and to older daughters. Great info. I just started reading Writing Motherhood by Lisa Garrigues who is in the hot seat at the moment and so far so good Lisa. Then I am looking SO forward to reading Jacquelyn Mitchard's upcoming novel STILL SUMMER. Jackie sent me the ARC (advanced reading copy) last week and along with it was this teeny tiny message in a bottle with shells and sand inside -so cool, I love it! (Oh, it kinda goes along with the fiction story) :)

Better run - the laundry and foot doctor are calling...

Ciao, Paula

Mood: Cheerful

Spring Break and Happy Mama

Hi!

Well it's Thursday, we are over hump day and on the home stretch to the weekend! Yay!!! This week my younger kids were on their spring break (lucky me):) and we have had crap for weather! However, starting tomorrow and through the weekend we are supposed to see the 60's and clear blue skies - hey, we just may have a baseball game this weekend. That is if the snow all melts and the fields dry up in the next two days. I don't know about your kids but my gang is SO ready to play outside!

Got some great news yesterday...My magazine for moms, Mom Writer's Literary magazine, was chosen for the second year in a row by Writer's Digest magazine as "One of the Best Websites for Writers"!!! I'd like to thank my MWLM team once again as we could not do it without you. So exciting!

So, I am reading an excellent book right now. It's called The Mother-Daughter Project by SuEllen Hamkins, MD and Renee Schultz, MA (Penguin Group). Their publisher sent this to me in hopes that I will decide to do an interview with their clients, SuEllen and Renee in my magazine. Right now it's lookin' good...If you are a mom with a daughter(s), definitely check this book out ;)

HEY! Are You A Slacker Mom?

No. Really? Are you? You can find out at www.areyouaslackermom.com. Don’t be afraid – check out your parenting style, it’ll be fun, you’ll see, and you will learn some fun tips on mommyhood along the way!

It's time for this mommy to say goodbye for now...have an awesome weekend!

Toodles,
~Paula

Mood: Happy

Down with a cold

Hi all you mamas out there! I am sick. Sicker than a dog. I went to Boston this weekend and had a blast and two days later, after I returned home, I started with a nasty cold. And two of my five kids got it too! It is SO hard to get out of bed in the morning when you feel like your head is going to explode and your throat is on fire - not to mention the drippy nose and stuffy ears! The kids seem fine. Seems like mom got the worst of it...

Oh well. We had an awesome time in Boston and hated to leave. They food was scrumptious and the science museum is so cool. That's probably where we picked up the germs as everything is HANDS ON. We saw this incredible movie at the IMAX theatre (at the museum) on Alaska. Such beautiful country and even the kids really enjoyed that - so worth seeing! And of course, we did some walking around the city. Such a fun place for families or singles and adults. We did run into a total drunk at one of the restaurants who was hanging around the bar and the door trying to leave with any female that moved. The kids were getting a good laugh about it but it was SAD. Finally I guess his date showed up and they went back into the bar barely able to stand and walk (both of them). Hopefully they would be leaving by "Party Limo" of Boston :)

So, let me check - it is April 12th and we are having a major snowstorm here today in Vermont - like 8 inches of snow or more...sheesh! Lucky me, we are supposed to get hit again starting this Sunday. So much for the kids baseball season starting in 2 weeks.

OK, time for this mom to blow her drippy nose again (wash hands again) and think about dinner for the gang. I really would just like to go to sleep.......

Until next week, keep happy and healthy!

CHOW,
~Paula

Mood: Sick

Boston here I come!

April 6th CAN NOT get here fast enough!!! Tomorrow I will be packing up and heading off to Boston for the weekend - Yippeeee! It's been a year since I was there last on business but this year - it's for pleasure baby!! The whole family is going (I know, NO sleep for me!), however, I am SO looking forward to this. 2 1/2 days not knowing what day I am on, what time it is, and NO cooking and cleaning :) YES. It doesn't take a lot to make this mama happy!

SO what's new with YOU? Stop by and tell me about your holiday weekend! I'd love to chat one mom to another :)

Cheers!
Paula
www.paulaschmitt.com

Mood: Working

Spring is just around the corner...

Hey Ladies!

Hope you have all had a fabulous week! I did. And I'm tired as hell to prove it :) OK, OK, not good but my spring issue of Mom Writer's Literary magazine launched on Monday the 26th and we are taking pre-orders now for our summer issue in June that will be going to print and it is so exciting to see all the moms who are supporting our literary magazine for mama writers!!!
Please check out www.momwriterslitmag.com and you can even order a t-shirt to show your support in lemon yellow (perfect for spring!).

Speaking of spring - it is almost here! My little gal, Anna is SO ready to play outside sans snowpants and boots and I don't blame her one bit. We are in Vermont so I'd give it another few weeks and by then we should be able to see all the brown, dead grass. NOT pretty.
I can't take one more minute of MUD season. My SUV is caked with the stuff.

Well, Easter is only 10 days away...and of course I am not prepared. We are going to Boston this year for Easter weekend (and the hubbies b-day)and yes, dragging along all five of the rugrats. Am I nuts? Really, it should be fun as long as I get to sip a little white wine each night...and day. :)

Time for this mama to get on the treadmill tonight. Have a groovy week and I hope to see you at MWLM!!!

Hugs,
Paula

Mood: Exhausted

Tired as Heck

Hiya!

Well, I've had a long day - Phew!! I notice it is almost midnight as I am typing this - where did the day (and night) go??!! Tonight was my youngest son's basketball banquet (award night)at the school's gym, but beforehand, we had the gang over to our place for some pizzas. It was fun! I am just exhausted from lack of sleep and cramming too much into 24 hours every day this past week! Any moms out there feel this way? What is your normal amount of hours of sleep each night? I would love to hear...for me, I usually get maybe 6 hours when my mind and body are desperately screaming for 8 or 9!

Well, just three days until Mom Writer's Literary magazine's spring launch! Yay!! Please check us out at www.momwriterslitmag.com and if you are a mom writer/author, please submit something to us for consideration - we'd love to hear from you :)

OK, I was thinking about different authors lately and thinking back about the books I have read over the years and recently...I would love to hear YOUR thoughts and comments on writers and books you have read and loved or hated! I have been hearing about Alice Hoffman lately so I decided to.google her to check her out. Wouldn't you know it, I couldn't resist. I just bought her latest novel Skylight Confessions and I am eagerly waiting to dive in - need to finish the novel I am reading now first. Has anyone ever done that before...read two or three novels at a time? So many damn good books, so little time!

OK, I need to go to bed. My alarm will be going off bright and early (6am)and I HATE MORNINGS!!

Hope to hear from you! Have a great weekend and get some sleep!!

~ Paula

Mood: Sleepy

I'm A Real Savvy Mama!

Hi Everyone!

My name is Paula Schmitt and I am so excited to be here at RSM!! First I'd like to tell you a little bit about myself...

I am a mother of five, I live in Central Vermont and I am a writer. I started my company, Mom Writer's Productions, LLC in 2005, wrote a book about raising boys, got it published and then decided to write another book on adoption (I have 4 biological boys and one adopted girl). My second book is not out yet, but will be in 2008. I created and hosted a talk radio show for mom writers and authors and I started an online literary magazine for moms which has been online for almost two years and is now going to print in June on our two year anniversary! AND, NY Times Bestselling Author Janet Evanovich is our featured cover story!! I am so pyshed! You can check out the site here: www.momwriterslitmag.com. We would LOVE to hear from you! Oh, BTW, our spring issue launches on March 26th - hope to see you there :)

Anyone going to BEA (Book Expo America)in NYC June 1-3? I will be in NYC the end of May for the Writer's Digest Conference (with my new magazine for moms!) and the Keynote Speaker is the one and only Bestselling Author, Jodi Picoult! Has anyone read Jodi's novels? She is an amazing mom writer and was profiled in my winter issue that is out right now. Check it out!

OK, enough about me. I would really enjoy chatting with YOU! Please email me or leave me a comment here if you have any questions or if you are a mom writer/author and would like to know more about how to get started, or possibly getting published in my magazine, or just to CHAT about a mama's life :)

Chow!
~Paula
www.momwriterslitmag.com
www.paulaschmitt.com

Mood: Working