RUBY has arrived, and other spring news from Vintage Mama

It always happens the first week of every month . . . . the new issue of RUBY magazine is published, and I feel quite successful! It’s a big job putting all of the submissions together in one, neat, tidy little bundle with pretty pictures – but I love creating this fun publication every month. After all, I’ve been doing this little project for going on ten years, so I’m getting pretty good at figuring out all of the technical details. But it still takes a lot of time, and once it is finished, it seems that there are lots of people who are blessed by the inspirational articles, short stories, poetry, and book reviews that my writers send in.

I also like to include a few recipes and / or craft projects for each season, so that is a fun part of this project for me, as well. Of course, I’m always looking for new recipes and crafts for each issue so if you have anything you would like to share with the readers of RUBY magazine, please let me know! I would love to include you. It would be fun to do a quarterly / seasonal issue filled with all crafts and recipes, focused on different DIY projects and holiday cooking ideas. Hmmmmm . . . . not that I actually need one more thing to do, but that does sound like a fun project!

But this week has been another busy one – in addition to my online teaching five mornings a week and finishing up the May issue of RUBY magazine, I’ve also been working on altering prom dresses. Yes, it is that time of year, so we had to go shopping for a prom dress (“I’ll pay HALF for a dress THAT expensive!” declared this frugal mama), and then there are the matching shoes, and the hair appointment. Oh, and having a teenage driver – priceless! Literally, it doubled our auto insurance premium, but then we knew all along that raising kids is expensive, and it doesn’t last forever, so we’re good with all that. Life is short, and they really do grow up REALLY fast, so we’ll probably work the rest of our lives, but at least we’ll have good memories.

For this week’s Favorite Things Blog Hop and Linky Party I knew that I was just about on the edge of exhaustion, but I knew that I had to let you all know about the new issue of RUBY, so here it is. As soon as we get through the weekend (prom is Saturday night!), I have some other fun projects to share with you. I’ve been making progress on my art journal, and I have the pages for both April and May finished. I’ve gotten a tiny bit daring and I’ve started including my own writing, in rather discreet places like tiny booklets tucked into pockets and envelopes, but still that is progress for me. I know that might seem strange for someone who spends her life writing, sometimes for a living, but I’m really quite private with my own writing, so this is a big step for me. I do feel rather intimidated, but still somewhat successful for finally finding the courage to share my own words . . . even if it is only in my own, private journal!

(You can read “The Perfect Mother” by Gloria Doty in the May issue of RUBY magazine, along with lots of other inspirational articles and short stories)

I hope you can join us for this week’s TFT party. It has been an important part of my life for several years now, and the friendships I’ve made along the way are truly a blessing. Come on along for the ride, make new friends, find new blogs, and learn new stuff! It’s fun, and I would love to see you there. OK I’m done for today. I have to be up at 5:00 a.m. to teach my kiddos on the other side of the world about the English language, you know nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs . . . . and how to say, “Hello, my name is _____________” and “How are you today?” and “I am fine. How are you?” and “I am fine, too, thank you.” It’s the best part of my day, those early morning times of connecting with little people and sharing friendship, laughter, and knowledge. Hope to see you at the party!

PS If you want to send me something for the June issue of RUBY magazine, leave me a comment with your email, or you can email me at editor@rubyforwomen.com  You can also visit our submissions page on the RUBY blog HERE.

 

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Please join us for this week’s

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop and Linky Party

 

Katherine-Katherines Corner

Nina-Vintage Mamas Cottage

Marilyn-Marilyns Treats

Bev-Eclectic Red Barn

Angelina- Petite Haus

Theresa Begin – Shoestring Elegance