Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Happy Holidays!

I hope you all are enjoying some great leftovers today, along with some AWESOME Boxing Day deals!

We will start planning our Spring issue next week. If there is anything you want to see or if you have someone you would like to see featured, then please give us a shout! We are always open to suggestions for article ideas or features.

I know I was supposed to post some pics from the Spice Girls concert but I have no idea where the time went. To top EVERYTHING else off, my little family had the stomach flu for Christmas! Nice, eh? We ended up staying home for the holidays instead of making our usual trek to Wetaskiwin where Ron's parents live. As I cooked my little chicken last night I realized just how much I prefer to spend the holidays with them. Ron's brother and his wife are usually there, too, so I have some drinking partners!

Most times I complain about having to go to see the in-laws but last night as I poured the box of Stove Top Stuffing and opened my package of gravy, I found myself truly bummed that we weren't enjoying a homemade Christmas meal.

I shouldn't complain because I know I am fortunate. There was a time in my life when the meal I had last night with my family would have been considered "gourmet." That was when I was a kid and some days I would have Ketchup sandwiches for lunch. Not by choice, either.

My grandma would do everything to ensure a yummy dinner but eventually it would turn into a family brawl. Unfortunatly, I think these memories shaped my way of thinking about the term "family" so I never wanted to be a part of one. Even after I married Ron, I kept a distance from his family despite the fact they made the Brady Bunch look bad. They are wonderful people and in my own way I adore them. My mother-in-law annoys the crap out of me and I think she always will. But I will take her over my own mom, as bad as that sounds. My kids are so luck they don't have to listen to breaking dishes or nasty swearing (except the "mommy words" that I use!) or see their dad get into a fight with HIS dad because of something that happened 15 years ago.

Nope, my kids have it very good. Instead of waiting for Santas Anonymous to deliver presents so that we have something under the tree, we deliver presents for Santas Anonymous. Instead of dreading family get-togethers, my kids enjoy spending time with their uncle Randy and aunty Charlene.

And even though our Christmas was small and spent fighting over the toilet, we were together.

Merry Christmas!! I look forward to chatting with you all in the New Year!

Cheers!
t.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Seriously, Dude, Where's Your Sense of Humour?

Let's clear a couple of things up about MOM Magazine:

MOM is not a magazine for the Betty Crocker moms out there. We are not geared towards the moms who take themeselves seriously.

MOM Magazine does treat our content as conversational and we talk about issues the way we would talk to our girlfriends. This includes but is not limited to:

SEX.

We do occasionally use conversational words like Ass, Crap, Boobs, etc.

As the founder and publisher of this magazine, I have never tried to hide the fact that we are a magazine for moms to try and bring back the message that ALL moms are goddesses. There is nothing wrong with embracing the sensual side of being a woman. That is, after all, the way you became a mom.

We get a lot of people commenting that MOM Magazine has offended them by using the word ASS on the cover because little Johnny might pick it up and read that word. If your kid is reading, you can pretty much rest assured that he's learning much worse words on the playground than he will from MOM Magazine.

Ironically, not one response has been about the picture of boobs that goes with the Do your Boobs Hang Low? article.

There is a tone to our magazine that should be obvious here... our content is designed to be toungue-in-cheek. Fun. Silly. Light-hearted. We do tackle some very serious issues - Breast Cancer, Menopause and Cooking.

But if it's housekeeping tips or parenting advice you are after, then Chatelaine is the mag for you.

If you want a break from the responsibilities that go along with the role of Mom, or want to reconnect with your inner goddess or you can relate to all of the other moms we relate to, then MOM Mag is the one for you!

We are not out to offend anyone with our content. Keep things in perspective and in the context in which things are written. Kickin' Breast Cancer's Ass is a good thing. Do You Spit or Swallow? It refers to wine tasting and it is a legitimate question. The C-Word... Credit is something most women don't like to talk about, let alone say out loud.

Have some fun in life, people! Life's too short to take it so seriously.

I do hope you enjoy the articles for what they are. And if you need to vent, please do. I do take your suggestions and criticims very seriously.

Cheers!
tamara

No more slots...

It has been a great trip to Vegas but I am glad to be home.
The Spice Girls were AWESOME and you know what made it even better? They're moms! They are the epitome of what our magazine is all about. Despite the fact that they gave brith, they are sexy, sassy and super fun! In fact they are better now then they ever were. But isn't that how life is? We are better versions of ourselves now than when we were 20. And I am speaking from personal experience. At 20, I was clumsy, uncomfortable with my body and my body image and had no idea where I wanted my personal life to go - professionally, I was ahead of the game.

13 years later, I can STILL relate to the Spice Girls because they have evolved and are better versions of their old selves. I love it! We had amazing seats and I got to sing with them! Granted I sang from the comfort of my awesome seat but STILL! It was cool. Daina, Jody and I even did our own Spice Girls routine... again from the comfort of our seats but nonetheless, we were by far the coolest moms in the crowd!

Afterwards, as Daina and I waited patiently for our hubbys at Ceasars Palace (there's a story there), we decided to take in the sights at Pure. For those of you in the know, Pure is THE place to party in Vegas. Daina put on her best Posh face and gave some attitude to the doorman.

"I'm with Tamara and the MOM Magazine team and I'm suppose to be in there."

"Are you on the list?" At this point, she puts her hand on the guy's clipboard and says, "LOOK! I'm suppose to be in there."

And so he waved her in... at this point in the story, because I was off gambling and wasn't with her while she did this, she says she went in and saw Mel B. I'll have to get the details again because when she told me, I was well into my 17th gin and tonic.

Anyhoo, suffice it to say I've got wicked pics from the concert, my blisters have blisters and I am so freakin' tired that Lola had chocolate suckers for breakfast.

On that note, the MOM team is back now and we have heard some feedback about our recent edition.

I would like to address a couple of things in my next post....

Cheers!
tamara

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Super SPICE!

It was SO good! I have so many pics to post and some great stories to tell... however I'm off to gamble and drink! So when I get back home I will tell you ALL about it! Jody did not end up in jail, thankfully, but we did get to party with Mel B. at Pure. Ahhh... so many things to tell!!!!

Cheers!
t.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Tonight's the big night!

Eeeeehhhhhhh!!! It's countdown time until the Spice Girls! We're all in Vegas, lovin' every minute of it. I'm a little hungover today - our first night was a DOOZY! Drinkin', gamblin, and partying like a rock star! LOL

Too much gin and tonic and not enough time!

So I'm hoping to post pics of the concert but probably not until we get back. I'll let you know how AWESOME they are and if Jody really DOES lick Mel B. If so, I'm sure my next blog will be from a jail cell here in Vegas!!!

Hope you are enjoying the Winter edition of MOM Mag. Remember to send us your feedback!

Cheers!!
t.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

One week until the Spice Girls!!!

This time next week the girls and I will be rockin' to the Spice Girls!!!

From the reviews I've been reading, it seems the average age of fans are young girls to mid-20s.... huh?! That makes no sense to me... all the moms I know LOVE the Girls!!!!! So does that make us too old? Are we trying to recapture our youth through the songs of Girl Power? Hell NO! Those songs are just fun, the music is catchy, bouncy and reminder of good times!

I can't WAIT! I know Daina and Jody can't wait! In fact we've called an emergency meeting to discuss what we'll be wearing to said concert!

Yep, I'm just waiting for them to get here! So I thoght I'd say hi, let you know what we're doing and get you as pumped for the details as we are to give them to you!!!!

This awesome concert, btw, will be held at theHotel at Manadaly Bay. It's a pretty swanky place from what I can tell online, PLUS Ron and I will actually be staying there!

After the hel we all went through to gt this next issue out, we deserve this little treat!!! The mag, btw, comes out in a couple of days. Don't worry, we won't go to Vegas without making sure you get yoiur copy! Dragon Lilies is definitly the place to pick one up... if we make it anywhere with the mag it will be there for sure!!!

cheers!
tamara

Sunday, December 2, 2007

It's 8 sleeps till VEGAS, BABY!

Daina, Jody and I are going to see the Spice Girls in Las Vegas and we are SO excited!!! It's our MOM Magazine Christmas party... what a better way to celebrate the holidays than with some Holiday Spice in Vegas!

Our next issue of the magazine will be available in general distribution Dec. 7. The best place to pick it up is at Dragon Lilies in Spruce Grove. We will also have a list of pick up locations available on the website closer to delivery date.

One of our features in the magazine is a story called, "Kickin' Breast Cancer's ASS!" This empowering story of a local mom shows that no matter what life throws at you, life does go on! It's an amazing account of, well, kickin' breast cancer's ass!

The MOM Magazine team is truly proud of this issue. The content is tight, the cover is beautiful thanks to our cover mom Leslie Robinson, the design is solid... it's our best issue EVER!

If you have any comments, criticisms or suggestions, please feel free to contact me directly at tamara@a-muse.ca or Daina at daina@mommagazine.ca

Please remember to support our advertisers because without them, it would be tough to get MOM Magazine out to you!

I look forward to hearing your feedback on our next issue! And I will keep you posted on our trip to see the Spice Girls! Girl Power WOOHOOOOOOO!!!

Cheers!
Tamara