Deadlines and more alcohol

First, if you haven't done so already, check me out on twitter: MOMmagRocks

Second, the mag went to press yesterday but not without a few glitches (BIG friggin' surprise!)

This issue has forced me to get back on schedule - which is a good thing - but it happened at the expense of my family. I spent the last two weeks literally glued to my chair working on ads, design, writing... if it had to be done, I had to do it.

Now, I can relax for a few days, get reaquainted with the kids and maybe - just maybe, mind you - catch up on some sleep before the next issue demands my attention.

I've had tonnes of interest in the magazine from other areas of the country! They like what I am doing and recognize that it is a unique twist on an old concept. HALLE-freakin' LUJAH!!

Someone out there other than me, gets it! I was beginning to think I was alone in this process but am glad to see there are people out there who are smart, too.

If you're one of the smart ones who read the mag and the blahg, FABULOUS! If you're not, and read this just to find something to complain about, here's something for you to ponder: "Don't tell me about rules, dear, wherever I go, I make the gawddamn rules!" opera diva Maria Callas

And on that note, cue the music!

t.

deadlines and alcohol

Ok, OMG!

The window of opportunity to get this next issue to press has been SO tight!! But holy crap does this issue ever ROCK!!

I know, I know, I say that EVERY issue but MOM continues to kick MAJOR ass!!!!

Our cover is off da hook! Our content smokes! Our design is faboosh!

I'm so pleased! Can you tell?!

Now I only have 2 1/2 days left till press but I wanted to give you a quick update.

ALSO
If you aren't a member of our Facebook group, get on it!!! We've had some pretty fan-freakin'tastic contests that you've missed out on because you're not there!

I'll chat more later... gotta run!

dear diary, two weeks till press time!

How the HELL did I lose track of time?! It's April 10 and I need to send the files to press April 24 in order to have my street date of May 1!

Big Daddy and I are going to Vegas April 28 for his 40th birthday and I'm super pumped HOWEVER if something goes wrong while I'm away, it means I'm screwed. SCREWED I tell you!!

I'm also dissapointed in the ad sales. Our numbers our wayyyyy down and I think that is due directly to all the gloom and doom of the gawddamn media!!

I saw an article on Canoe.ca about

dear diary, i need an assistant!

No this isn't a help wanted ad, I'm not actually hiring anyone but when I can afford to do so, I will let you know!!

I just put together my to-do list for tomorrow and I want to go back to bed and cry. PMS is a bitch that way. I get sooooo overwhelmed by all of the things I want to do and then when I start to organize it and look at how I have to accomplish it, I think WTF!!! Why do I do this to myself?!

I have a couple of big projects in the works and realize that maybe - just maybe - I have to learn to delegate. Hmmm... delegate. Such an odd and foreign concept to me. But it may just be the answer to saving my sanity and my marriage.

I mean, look at this for Gawds sakes!! It's Sunday afternoon and I'm blogging about all the crap I have to do this week. Gawd forbid, I actually tear myself away from the computer to clean my house! LMAO! Now why the hell would I do that?!?!

Seriously, though, I need to start getting up early again so I can accomplish more... I'm pretty productive at 4 a.m.

Fortunately, I have some fabulous girls working with me so maybe - just maybe - I can throw some stuff their way.

On another note, Spring looks like it's here (about f'kin time, too!!) so I am adding a personal to-do list to my day and even programming it into my Imposter Barry. Tanning, nails, showering... these are all things a girl should really do!! And, what the hell!! I think I'm gonna do it!! Uhm, kidding about the showering thing, though... :D

In the meantime, I am looking for some "volunteers" to do some stuff... let me know if you're interested!!

cheers!
t.

dear diary, I was in awe...

For the past three days, I have been at the Alberta Women Entrepreneurs conference at the River Cree.

It was basically a gathering of business women to network, listen to amazing speakers and learn how to be innovative and successful.

I can't say it was the best use of my time but it wasn't a total wash.

Personally, the hilight was a phenomenal speech given by Ben Barry, the creator of the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. You know that campaign - it's the reason we all LOVE DOVE!

He is YOUNG!! 26 to be exact! His story is amazing but I'm not going to tell you right now...

Anyway, he was so inspiring and fabulous that I had to show him the magazine. He LOVED IT!!! Because we do what he does - only on a much smaller scale but with the same empowering message!!

Also, I truly enjoyed listening to Eveline Charles, CEO extraordinaire of EvelineCharles Salon and Spas... I had heard things about her prior to meeting or hearing her speak. Things like: She's a bitch, she's a piranha, she will eat you ALIVE, she has no time for anyone who is "beneath her"... I'm sure you've heard the rumours.

But, having never met her I was curious about her story and what she had to say. As I listened to her speak, I realized we had very similar personalities and similar drive and passion for what we do. Now, I admit, I've been called a bitch, too, among other things but I truly beleive that those who do the namecalling are weak and jealous.

I had the chance to chat with Eveline after her speech and was thrilled that she took some time to look at the magazine and offered to follow up with a phone call to chat further. That is one phone call I am looking forward to!!

Another "piranha" who was there was Venture Publishing CEO Ruth Kelly. The rumours about her are similar to those of Eveline Charles. However, having worked for Ruth I could see why and where those rumours came from because she IS tough and she can cut you into a thousand little pieces with her comments. God knows, she did it to me. But you know what? She didn't get to where she is by mothering her staff or playing nice with the boys. She did it by kickin' ass and takin' names. But there is another side of her that, if you're perceptive enough and smart enough to recognize it, is caring and thoughtful. If she weren't, I don't think I would've been able to approach her for mentoring with my magazine. But when I did, she took time out of her INCREDIBLY busy schedule to help me. Some of her advice I took and some of it I filed for future reference.

I digress.

The point is, the conference was "meh" and I would have like to see more hands-on training in smaller groups.

Oh, and Debbie Travis was there!! She closed out the conference talking about sex and alcohol. Seriously, I think she's a dirrty girl the way she was handing out dating tips like "Have sex on the first night!" and how she enjoyed "Drinking lots of wine and lots of coffee to recover!" I loved how real she was!!

Well, it's Saturday and I haven't seen my kids for EVER so I'm taking the Oz man with me to deliver magazines. Quality time with the boy! Oh, and I think Monsters vs. Aliens is on, too, so we might take that in...

What do you have planned for the weekend?!

Be safe, regardless of what it is!

t.

dear diary, the champagne helped!

What an amazing kickoff we had for FIERCE! I had so many women coming up to me saying how great the event was, how inspiring I am (blush) and how great the group is!

I'm truly looking forward to building it into an EMPIRE!! I'm also excited at the thought of connecting with so many like-minded women!!

I also launched the FIERCE Woman of the Year award and everyone was more than a little surprised at the rules: You must nominate yourself!!

Strange, I know, but I don't follow the rules!! :D

Electric Rodeo sure put on one helluva feast for us and the champagne and orange juice was such a wonderful treat!!

Looking forward to more FIERCE events!!

The info will be on the website soon. As well as the details for the Pajama Party... gimme a break, a girl's gotta sleep sometime!!!

t.

dear diary, I am FIERCE

Last night, I went to see Arlene Dickinson speak. She is the CEO of Venture Communications Inc. and a panel judge on the Dragons Den.

She is also FIERCE but she doesn't know it!! (Females Inspiring Each other in a Real Community of Empowerment.... the group I'm starting... I'll get to that later)

She spoke about being true to yourself and knowing that if you are being honest about who you are and what you are doing, it is more important than anything else you can offer someone.

I needed to hear what she said last night because of all of the other bullshit that is being - or has been - said about the magazine, and now my blog.

So I listened carefully when she started talking about taking on a leadership role, seeing the potential instead of the problem, and waking up every day with a purpose. Now, I thought about this a LOT as I drove home and wondered how I could see all of these negative comments as potential.

Let's recap, shall we?

Point one: My blog is "unpolished and unprofessional."
Well, yes, yes it is, I guess if you like to follow the rules but as my dear friend Maria Callas said, "Don't talk to me about rules, dear. Wherever I stay, I make the goddamn rules."
Perhaps my content and the language I use aren't the norm in small-town publishing but that's OK. Rules are made to be broken and I have built a community of MOM Magazine readers who happen to like what I do.

Point two: I'm using the wrong fonts and the design is all wrong.
OK, so AMPA and the panel of industry "experts" didn't really care for the magazine but I look back at our first issue - which I would NEVER have submitted and it was actually designed by someone in the industry - and I am so proud of where we are now! We will continue to develop and grow, using the wrong fonts.

Uhm I'm tired of defending what I do and how I do it, so let this be the last post on that. If you continue to have issues with it, check out our What the FAQ!? section on the website. That should address some, if not all of your concerns.

After I let go of some of these problems, I had to look at the potential. Now, I always see room for growth and hope to evolve the magazine with each issue. I am keeping the pinup look - even though a design "expert" referred to it as a Sunshine Girl look. I have researched some different typefaces and even asked a dear friend of mine for some tips. She happens to be the art director for Consumer Reports magazine in New York, so I am sure she will provide some ways to clean up the design without talking down to me.

And last, but not least, I know the magazine has touched lives and made a difference to some women. That is what I am trying to do, and after hearing Arlene speak about taking a leadership role I know I am on the right path.

When I wake up every day, I have multiple purposes (insert sex joke here!!). LOL
My purpose includes connecting with women and telling YOUR stories. My purpose includes being the best mom I can be to Oz and Lola. My purpose includes empowering women. My purpose includes being myself and not compromising what I believe in.

My purpose is FIERCE.

Now, speaking of FIERCE. The kickoff is Sunday and I am frantically trying to finalize some things. So far I surpassed the number of tickets I expected to sell, so that makes me happy!

I only hope it all comes together and that I can pull everything off in time for the big day!!

Have an extremly productive day and get on your path to success!!

t.