The Motherhood: From Egg to Zine (and everything in between) Tour in Chelan, Washington!

The talented mamas of Motherhood: From Egg to Zine (and everything in between) (ME2Z) are heating things up in sunny Lake Chelan, Washington on August 1st! ME2Z is a literary and arts performance tour of moms, grandmas, and would-be moms whose mission is to celebrate motherhood and passionate creativity of women.

Pack up your beach blankets and festival chairs, because the mamas are bringing their “mamapalooza” to Chelan’s Riverwalk Park Pavilion. Presented by the Historic Downtown Chelan Association, the outdoor venue is free to the public and has plenty of lawn to lounge on while you take in the show.

This summer’s event will open with music by Two Wannabe Divas and One Real One, the “divalicious” trio comprised of CherylAnn Ellingson, Jeannie Kappple and Kathryn Castrodale, starting at 6:00 p.m.

From 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., enjoy readings by Corbin Lewars of Reality Mom Zine, Rosie Weagant Norton of Riot Mama, The Gonzo Mama’s Christina-Marie Wright, Christy Cuellar-Wentz of Mommy-Muse.com, and more.

Writer/actor/director Laura Leon Freeman will perform reader’s theater segments, and attendees will be treated to the indie folk rock stylings of Ilka Haley of Small Town Girl Productions.

Dance has been a staple of ME2Z performances since the group’s creation, and the Chelan tour will offer belly dance performances by Christy Cuellar-Wentz, Heartfelt Fitness belly dance students, and special sword-dancing and roller-dance segments by Laura Folsom of Heartfelt Fitness.

The Historic Downtown Chelan Association will provide a wine garden with wines from Hard Row to Hoe Vineyards and is planning for a fun mix of vendors during the event. More performers are being added to the program as confirmations roll in, so keep up to date by visiting MotherhoodEggtoZine.com.

For more information, call Christina-Marie at 509-670-8823 or email motherhood@motherhoodeggtozine.com.

Screw Stages, This is Real Life

I come home from my drawing class, tuck the kids in, crawl into bed myself and burst into tears. On this seemingly random night, what I have been trying to deny for over two years overcomes me: my marriage is over...

Read the rest of Corbin Lewars's piece here.

Upcoming Performance: Chelan, Washington!

Motherhood: From Egg to Zine (and everything in between) is looking for talented mommy writers, musicians and performers for the Motherhood: From Egg to Zine (and everything in between) tour. We will be performing in Chelan on August 1st.

The tour is comprised of readings, dance performances, music and more to spotlight talented moms and celebrate motherhood. We are a group of moms, grandmas and want-to-be moms who live through passionate creativity.

Would you like to join the Motherhood? Email us at motherhood@motherhoodeggtozine.com!

When Somebody Needs a Nap (Besides Me!)

Does your child need a regular nap time? When are kids too old for naps? Can mama still get her quiet time when the kids reject the concept of napping?

Christy Cuellar-Wentz shares her wisdom here.

I am David Sedaris' Mom

Motherhood is not about perfection. Some days are better than others, as Corbin Lewars notes in her confession.

Read it here.

From Separated Mom to Single Mom

Corbin Lewars is known for being brutally raw and honest in her zine, Reality Mom.

Here, she shares her journey of separating and trying to keep herself and the kids sane.

Motherhood: From Egg to Zine - A Behind-the-Scenes Tell-All by Corbin Lewars

The hysterically funny and seriously talented Corbin Lewars tells the dirty little secrets of our debut performances in Seattle, Washington.

Read her shocking revelations here.

It's the PHONE, Mommy

Surely, you've had the divine experience of all hell breaking loose as soon as you get on the phone. You pick up the receiver, and your children take it as a cue to do anything and everything to get your attention.

As columnist Miryam Gordon points out, it's not just the kids who feel neglected when Mommy gets on the phone.

Read her funny observations here.

The Circumcision Decision

To circumcise or not to circumcise? That's the question, and it's not an easy one.

Tanya Ruckstuhl-Valenti wrestles with it here.

Step-Wives: The Good, the Bad, and the Butt-Ugly

Columnist Christina-Marie Wright tells the story of the other women in her life, and shares what happens when very different women marry the same man!

Read all about it here.

Education Limbo: How Low Can You Go?

Motherhood: From Egg to Zine (and everything in between) columnist Christina-Marie Wright laments the "dumbing down of America," poor grammar, and the texting generation.

Read her hilarious rant here.

Men's Postpartum Depression: Myth or Reality?

It's only been in recent years that society has accepted the fact that a substantial number of new mothers become depressed in the weeks and months after the arrival of their babies. Growing evidence is mounting that new fathers also experience nearly the same type of postpartum depression as their partners. They, too, can feel a sense of stress and depression when transitioning into their new parental responsibilities.

Christy Cuellar-Wentz explores the issue here.

Epilepsy Meds: Not Just for Breakfast Anymore! by Christina-Marie Wright

Christina-Marie Wright shares the ongoing story of her adoption of a child with epilepsy, and worries about the decision to put her young daughter on medication.

Read it here.

Sleep? Sleep? Where did you go???

Miryam Gordon reflects (with humor!) on her increasing difficulty in finding sleep.

Read and commiserate here!

Dreams Versus Reality by Corbin Lewars

Corbin Lewars compares the dream to the reality when it comes to spending quality time with her children in public.

Read the hilarious comparison here!

How the Phone Thwarted My Birth Control (Or... Why Disconnecting the Phone is 95% More Effective Than Vasectomy) by Christina-Marie Wright

Christina-Marie Wright explains how she became the "unexpectant" mother of seven children... having conceived six of them over the phone.

Have a laugh, and share her story here.

How to Be More Than A Sperm Donor: Top 10 Things New Dads Need to Know by Christy Cuellar-Wentz

Christy Cuellar-Wentz uses wit and wisdom to help new dads through the transition into new fatherhood.

Read her hot tips here.

Motherhood From Egg to Zine (and everything in between) debuts in Seattle on Saturday!

What do a hippie nudist turned reclusive writer, a goat-milking belly dancer, a hip-hop loving, booty shaking realist and a woman who “conceived” six children over the phone have in common?

They are all in different stages of motherhood, and each have a story to tell.

Corbin Lewars of Reality Mom Zine, Christy Cuellar-Wentz of Mommy-Muse.com, Monica LeMoine of Exhale Zine and Christina-Marie Wright of The Gonzo Mama column and Gonzo Parenting Zine are the founding members of Motherhood: From Egg to Zine (and everything in between), an inspiring literary performance group for thinking parents, and those who want to be. They are also respectively the nudist, goat milker, booty shaker and child magnet. The foursome will tell all and share their views on motherhood and creativity at two performances on Saturday, January 24, 2009.

Play Matters (www.playmattersseattle.com), located at 7720 Greenwood Avenue North, will host the founders plus poet, playwright and prose writer Ann Teplick for readings and “Q & A” at 2:00 p.m. (Children are welcome!) A second, expanded performance will take place at the Richard Hugo House (www.hugohouse.org), located at 1634 – 11th Avenue, at 7:00 p.m. (adults only, AND there's a bar!), where other area zinesters, writers and musicians will be joining the cast. The show will feature belly dancing and music, as well as readings.

A donation of $5.00 is suggested for each event.

Additions to the troupe for the Hugo House appearance include Nina Packebush of The Edgy-catin’ Mama, Granny Chronicles and The True Adventures of the Feminist Snails zines; Pushcart Prize winner Kristin King, clinical social worker and mother of twins Tanya Ruckstuhl-Valenti, belly dancing by Delilah’s Neighborhood Temple Priestesses (VisionaryDance.com) and more. Washington REALTORS® president Greg Wright will serve as master of ceremonies.

For more information, comment below. We'll answer your questions here.

See you there!

Motherhood's newest author!

Motherhood: From Egg to Zine (and everything in between)'s very own Christy Cuellar-Wentz, The Mommy Muse, has just published her latest e-book,The Belly Dance Prescription: Shake Your Hips AND Depression!

The book details the history of belly dance, how to choose an instructor, and how to empower and improve your physical, mental and emotional health through belly dance.

Purchase the e-book for a mere $7.33 (the gorgeous color photography alone is worth the purchase price!) directly from this informational page with PayPal.

Whether you currently celebrate your body through the art of belly dance or have yet to begin your belly dance journey, this e-book is a must-have for any creative mama!

Life With Postpartum Mood Disorders: Are You Perfectly Normal or Going Insane? by Christy Cuellar-Wentz

Are your postpartum feelings normal, or something more serious?

Christy Cuellar-Wentz's informative article helps decipher the often difficult emotions many women feel after the birth of the baby. Get answers here.

Teaching Your Kids About Money by FLIE.ORG

(Financial Literacy Is Essential (flie.org) is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the concept of personal financial literacy as a "right" rather than a privilege of "luck".)

Miryam Gordon discusses the importance of talking to your kids about money. Get her wisdom here.

Miryam Gordon is Board Chair of Financial Literacy Is Essential
and author of "Money Sucks! Money Strategies for Real Life" 2nd Edition.

Save the Date! January 24th - Motherhood: From Egg to Zine (and everything in between) performs in Seattle!

What do a hippie nudist turned reclusive writer, a goat-milking belly dancer, a hip-hop loving, booty shaking realist and a woman who “conceived” six children over the phone have in common?

They are all in different stages of motherhood, and each have a story to tell.

Corbin Lewars, Christy Cuellar-Wentz, Monica LeMoine and Christina-Marie Wright are the founding members of Motherhood: From Egg to Zine (and everything in between), an inspiring literary performance group for thinking parents, and those who want to be. They are also respectively the nudist, goat milker, booty shaker and child magnet. The foursome will tell all and share their views on motherhood and creativity at two performances on Saturday, January 24, 2009.

Play Matters (www.playmattersseattle.com), located at 7720 Greenwood Avenue North, will host the founders plus poet, playwright and prose writer Ann Teplick and Jack Straw writer and relation/ship memoirist Janna Cawrse Esarey for readings and “Q & A” at 2:00 p.m. (Children are welcome!) A second, expanded performance will take place at the Richard Hugo House (www.hugohouse.org), located at 1634 – 11th Avenue, at 7:00 p.m., where other area zinesters, writers and musicians will be joining the cast. The show will feature belly dancing and music, as well as readings.

A donation of $5.00 is suggested for each event.

Additions to the troupe for the Hugo House appearance include Nina Packebush of The Edgy-catin’ Mama, Granny Chronicles and The True Adventures of the Feminist Snails zines; Pushcart Prize winner Kristin King, clinical social worker and mother of twins Tanya Ruckstuhl- Valenti, belly dancing by Delilah’s Neighborhood Temple Priestesses (VisionaryDance.com) and more. Washington REALTORS® president Greg Wright will serve as master of ceremonies.

For more information, comment below, and include your email address.

Taking Over the World by Corbin Lewars

Corbin Lewars accidentally heads up a posse of mamas with the power to take over the world...

Read all about it here.

Unblanced/Rebalanced

Mothering twins is like riding drunk on a unicycle along the edge of a cliff: never before has balance been so important. Before Benjamin and Jonah erupted into my life and turned even the tiniest scrap of civilized living into decadent spa-like luxury, I was a self centered, unbalanced person… which is to say normal.

Read Tanya Ruckstuhl-Valenti's hilarious perspective here.

The Belly Dance Prescription: Shake Your Hips AND Depression! by Christy Cuellar-Wentz

Belly dance instructor Christy Cuellar-Wentz teaches women to value their bodies through creative expression and self-love.

Read how belly dance can help and heal you (yes, YOU!) here.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Riflemen by Christina-Marie Wright

Christina-Marie Wright's humorous essay chronicles the blending of her vegan lifestyle with her husband's hunting passion, making them the only family in America to be card-carrying members of both PETA and the NRA!

Read it here.