Start a Momtourage! Coming Unglued: Review & Giveaway

What is a momtourage? Quite simply it is a play group for moms.

Doesn't that sound fun?!

See, we all know that we modern moms are in over our pretty little heads. According to "The Today Show," iVillage and MSNBC, it takes more than a village to raise a family - it takes a "Momtourage." In a trend marked by multiplying play groups, Bunko groups, stitching circles and book clubs, moms are uniting through common hobbies to find companionship and emotional support. So if you find that you need your mom time with the girls, don't feel bad - You are not alone!

In fact, a recent survey by the Craft & Hobby Association says scrapbooking moms have bonded to the tune of a now $2.5 billion industry!! The flourishing industry has spawned scrapbook-centric clubs, conventions, retreats, TV shows, books - even themed cruises on the Queen Mary 2. Being a scrapbooker myself and having been to a convention or two, I totally believe it!

Rebeca Seitz is an avid scrapper, momtourage mobilizer and the author of the "Sisters Ink," novels. She knows first-hand how important girlfriends are to a woman's stability, but in the often isolating world of motherhood, she also knows how difficult it is to find them. She discovered the power of female networks after finding out about her first husband's infidelity. Her girlfriends rallied around her and today, Rebeca is remarried and the mother of two (baby #2 is on the way).

Today, she relies on scrapbooking as a social outlet and the glue that keeps her momtourage together. She brings women together through scrapping, around her kitchen table and in her online community, Sisters Ink.net, a digital craft circle for scrappers looking to connect regionally.

Want to start your own Momtourage?

Rebecca offers five steps for getting a Momtourage started.

Momtourage 101

1. First, identify a common thread. Motherhood? Love of scrapbooking, books, sewing? Obsession with chocolate or coffee?
2. Carve out a space in your home like a spare room or game room where girlfriends can join you in your craft, or secure a space at a public facility like a library or community center.
3. Establish a schedule and take turns hosting, or determine to schedule each consecutive meeting at the current meeting.
4. Connect. Make certain your time together allows for the most important thing - conversation!
5. Stick with it. Remind each other that you are better moms, wives, daughters, women because you’re connecting with other women. No need for guilt!

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Now let me tell you about a new kind of Fiction series -- Written By, For, and About Scrapbookers!!!

“Millions of scrappers are engaged in this hobby because they love to capture the stories of their families,” Seitz says. “That love of story carries over into the world of novels. We love reading other people’s stories as well. My hope is to entertain scrappers and lovers of fiction alike with stories about small towns, sisters, and scrapping.”

A new four book series, Sisters Ink, is being published by B&H Publishing Group. The series centers on the popular world of scrapbooking and four adopted sisters who unite in their mom’s attic to scrap and, ultimately, support one another through life’s trials in the process.

Coming Unglued is the second book in the SISTERS, INK series of novels. At the center of the creativity and humor are four unlikely young adult sisters, each separately adopted during early childhood into the loving home of Marilyn and Jack Sinclair. (Gee, I wonder why that would appeal to me?!:)

Ten years after their mother Marilyn has died, the multi-racial Sinclair sisters (Meg, Kendra, Tandy, and Joy) still return to her converted attic scrapbooking studio in the small town of Stars Hill, Tennessee, to encourage each other through life’s highs and lows. They’ve even turned their artistic passion into a new local scrapbooking business known as Sisters, Ink.
Coming Unglued focuses on painter and musician Kendra who struggles with her sense of self-worth—a struggle that only intensifies when she realizes a “friendship” developed with a guy at a jazz club is actually an emotional affair. With her sisters’ help, Kendra strives to do what’s right, embracing the call to safeguard her heart and mind and hold fast to her Beliefs.

This is a strong and well written book - not just fluff. If you enjoy crafting, scrapbooking, sisterhood and the great bonds of friendship, you will enjoy this book!

The next book in the series, Scrapping Plans, Sisters Ink Series #3 will be released 2/1/09!

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Win it!

The Prize: A copy of Coming Unglued, the second book in the Sisters Ink series.

How You Can Win:

Tell me how you preserve your family memories. That's it!

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This giveaway is open to US addresses only. Good luck!

Who is eligible:

You must have a US mailing address. You don't have to be a blogger to win, just supply a valid e-mail address. Make sure to leave me that email address though because if I cannot get a hold of you, you cannot win!

When the giveaway ends:

The giveaway will run now through October 14th at 11:59pm CST. I'll pick the winner using Random.org as soon as possible after that. You may choose to check for your nickname at Prizey.Fetch, a cool site that compiles winners in one convenient place:



Winners will have 3 days to reply before another winner is selected.

Bonne Chance!!

Be sure to check out my other blog, 3 P's in a Pod!
Coming+Unglued