You’ve probably noticed how messy (and completely different) MamaWit has looked lately… I promise there’s a good reason!

Saruskabeth and I have decided to transform MamaWit from a blog (you can get that on Lori Ann and Saruskabeth’s personal sites) to a digital magazine. You know, in all our tons of spare time (actually, with a current plan of 4 issues per year and the fun we’re having working on it when the kids sleep, we aren’t going crazy yet..)

All the details are on this page but the basics are:

• the whole vision is a magazine of uplifting, joy-bringing stories and images… there are already sources out there for parenting advice and for complaining about parenting; instead, we want to present parenting in the context of real (and enjoyable) family life
• the theme for the first magazine is “new” (so think birth stories, newborn pictures, spring nature journal sketches, or anything else)
• contributors whose submissions are selected get live links from the digital magazine and website to your choice site, such as your blog or etsy store
• entries from parents, grandparents, and children are all welcome (homeschool activity, anyone?)
• advertisers will be selected by vote (submitters each get one vote; winning submissions earn you more) because we want to feature mama-run businesses that are popular among real families; the business receiving the most votes will get a free one-page ad in the magazine!!
• the first, open, everything-accepted round of submissions are due Jan. 27; if we still have some gaps, we’ll put out more specific submission requests with a later deadline

So please click over to the “submit” page, think of how your stories can best meet your favorite medium, and get creative!! We can’t wait to read what you have to share!