I got a press release today about an interesting contest (grant) for innovative moms. Here’s the official release:

This Mother’s Day, May 11, Whirlpool brand will kick-off the fourth annual Mother of Invention Grant Program – just in time for the 100th anniversary of Mother’s Day. In the past three years, Whirlpool brand has recognized and helped more than 15 moms turn their innovative ideas into reality.

The Whirlpool brand Mother of Invention Grant Program provides seed money and expert guidance to moms to turn their invention, business or service ideas into full-fledged businesses. Contest winners receive:

• A $20,000 grant for the grand prize winner
• $24,000 in grant money for the four runners-up
• Appliance prizes
• Invitation to business boot camp where winners will receive guidance from Whirlpool and industry experts

This year, we are greening the program by adding a new category focused on moms who create an environmentally friendly product/service or use natural/recycled materials to create their invention.

More information and entry forms can be found at www.whirlpool.com/moms, May 11. Entries are accepted through July 31, 2008.

Last year’s grand prize winner “created the Quick Change Crib, which gives parents direct access to the crib’s mattress so that sheets can be changed simply by sliding the mattress out and back into the crib.” Sounds pretty cool.

Maybe the invention you keep telling your husband about could be next.

Related:

• Read about the grant here.
• See the list of past winners.

Could you give up your TV (except one hour per day), computer, iPod, video games, bottled water, going out to eat, all shopping for one week? Two families did for the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Yesterday’s episode was an awakening for millions of Americans as we watched these two families struggle with this challenge. One five-year-old was so attached to video games that the mom describes the experiment like watching a heroin addict go through withdrawal.

Each family had its ups and downs during the week, but ended up saying the experiment has changed them for the better.

National turn off TV week begins April 21. Can you try giving up just the TV for one week? Visit the Unplug Yor Kids blog to take the no TV challenge.

I’m taking a Master’s class about Executive Leadership and my assignment last week was to put together a presentation about an executive leader in the entertainment business. Lots of names came to mind, but I chose Paula Deen because she represents what I call an “overnight entrepreneur.” And, she’s a mom.

Paula Deen is an original mompreneuer. She’s enjoying success today because of a lot of hard work in order to take care of her sons. Here’s why Paula is an inspiration to women and moms.

• Devastation Leads to Action
  After 20 years of marriage, Paula Deen was faced with a devastating divorce, and the need to find a way to make a living to support her two young sons and teenage brother. All she’d know to this point in her life is how to cook and care for people, but she needed skills — and fast. Money was tight; she only had $200 and no business skills. This didn’t stop Paula from digging down deep to survive with the only thing she knew; cooking. (source: Paula’s Story.)
• Overcoming Obstacles
  She had no money, no formal education, and a disease that kept her indoors. (source: Paula’s Story.) A New York Times article quotes Paula on her agoraphobia:

  Some days I could get to the supermarket, but I could never go too far inside,” Ms. Deen said. “I learned to cook with the ingredients they kept close to the door.”

• Believing In Herself
  Paula believed in herself and self-published her first cookbook. Since that time she has had multiple cookbooks published along with a new memoir and is the Editor-in-Chief of a magazine.
• Taking the Good With the Bad
• Take Control of Your Life
• Do What You Love

Paula sums it up great on her Web site:

But, you know what, none of this would have happened if I hadn’t of taken the good with the bad, embraced both the heartache and joy, and taken control of my life when I thought it could not have gotten worse.”

Related:

• PaulaDeen.com
• NY Times article about Deen.
• Cooking With Paula Deen magazine.
• Top 5 recipes from Paula’s magazine.
• Paula’s The Lady and Son’s restaurant.
• Paula on Food Network.

So says, Kate of “Jon and Kate Plus 8.” Last night I was watching an episode of this true and funny family that has one set of twins and one set of sextuplets (hence the 8 reference in the show title) when Kate is obviously ticked that the children were eating gum at their Aunt’s house. It’s something we can all relate to.

Kate is a Mom that we can learn from. When you watch the show you see so many techniques and Mom-isms:

• She’s organized: She has to be.
• She only makes one thing for dinner and can’t cater to the eating whims of toddlers. If they don’t like it they don’t eat.
• She’s just trying to be the best Mom she can be.
• She wants the best for her kids.
• She tells it like it is.
• She’s created “special days” for each of her eight children so they can have private Mommy and Daddy time. How hard is that when you have 8 special days and have to get a babysitter for 7 kids every time you have a special day with one of the kids? If she can do that, the rest of us can be sure to spend some special time with our children.

When I am able to catch an episode of Jon & Kate, I realize that for every day I struggle to do it all, I look at the Gosselins and remember and see that they manage to feed, clothe and entertain 8 kids every day. I can manage one right now.

Related: 

• The family’s Web site.
• Kate’s tips for a smooth household.
• Find showtimes.

I’ve been surrounded by stressful situations lately, too many to name, and stumbled upon a mom blog that hit the spot — she’s got beautiful photos that you can download to your desktop or just print out.

It’s the perfect idea for some breathing space. View the images here.