Links for Learning

2011-03-12T11:50:00.001-08:00

Just want to throw this out there.... but teach your kids not to put cans in the microwave. Asked Ben to make Emma and Audrey a can of Spagettios... put unopened can in microwave.

2011-03-07T07:31:00.001-08:00

So my sister Beth asked if we were going to hold Emma back a year from entering kindergarten because she is so short -- Rude.

2011-02-24T08:02:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to give a quick shout out to my dad for telling my Emma back in January that he use to change my diapers... she reminds me of that everyday with the "Hey remember when Opa use to change your diapers... that is so funny".

2011-02-21T11:36:00.001-08:00

Newest Favorite Discount Site
http://ping.fm/BJa0k

Freaking Lego Genius

2011-02-18T08:49:00.000-08:00

I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I am the Freaking BIGGEST Lego Genius of all Time. Yes, I am. Chalk it up there with all my other creative identities and I might just be the Worlds Greatest Mom, as well. Let me give you a bit of a background, I do a bit of freelance writing and am writing a book for a sales floor on how to teach kids to budget their money. As this is one of my biggest downfalls in my life, I have to write and implement the program at the same time... best to learn through trial and error if I do say so myself.

So the first order of business is allowance and teaching my son how to save his money. He is a spender, much like his mom and dad and aunties and uncles and grandparents... the list is long, but I am set on breaking that chain of command. A wonderful friend taught me that in order for kids to save money they have to have a goal... a realistic goal that will require savings and patients. Here is my plan. When my kids reach $100 I will double it to $200. When they then reach $500 I will add another $100. When they make it to 1000 I will add another hundred...My friend double it at $100, $500, and $1000, but my husband is a cop and I am a mommy blogging teacher so that would kill our budget and place us in financial ruin.

Ben worked during the Christmas Break and made $60... THEN we do the allowance of $1 per age a week and since December he is up to $75... $25 to go. His friends are all into the Lego Ninjagos... and if you know Lego's they like to capitalize on making there old products new with a new name so kids will spend money on something they already have at home... His Christmas consisted of the Mega-blocks (not to be confused with the Lego Brand) of Halo and so now that the new trend has shifted to Ninjagos... he wants to spend all his money in one shot, without saving anything, on getting these guys.

Being the now savvy shopper that I am (Did I mention my husband cut off all fund for the month of February??) I told him... Ben, you already have all the legos that are in these boxes... we just need to make the characters. So I grabbed the two cans of spray paint that I have -- red and black -- see Tyler IT IS important to keep cans of spray paint at all times -- and started to put together my own version of these Damn Ninjagos. Ladies and Gents... While my hands are now red and black for the next week I present the Cluff version of Ninjagos... Hold the applause until the end of the show, please...

Here are the ACTUAL Lego Versions of theRed Ninjagos..And here is mine... I am going to have to get a black permanent marker though to make the markings of the ninja.

And here are the Blue and Black Ninjagos... Since I have a coupon at Smith's Market Place I think I am going to run and get some Blue Spray Paint later today.
And here is my version of the black one. Sorry cheap camera makes it hard to focus... But I just sprayed painted the entire thing black...

2011-02-18T07:48:00.001-08:00

Why is it always surprising that my kids leave for school and then LEAVE their cereal bowls on the table??!!

2011-02-12T10:54:00.001-08:00

Can anybody help?? http://ping.fm/7EBVG

2011-02-07T19:20:00.001-08:00

Emma just shaved her legs, stomach, arms, and armpits. Sometimes I wonder where I went wrong in my parenting with this child.

twoprincessesandoneprince.blogspot.com

2011-02-05T11:26:00.001-08:00

Can life get any better than Saturday cleaning day??!!

2011-02-02T07:10:00.001-08:00

what are the odds that I Tyler says I can't buy fountain sodas for the month of February so in preparation I buy cans of diet coke and put them in the freezer outside only to go and get one this morning to find that ALL the cans had frozen and exploded. Now I am out cokes all week. Stupid 5 degree weather.

2011-02-01T12:38:00.001-08:00

I am Your Wife, Not a Criminal...

http://ping.fm/W2lkE

2011-01-28T11:57:00.001-08:00

Anybody looking for a job?? In this economy we are all looking. Lol

http://ping.fm/rxGGP

#mommyblogger
#mormonblog
#parentingtips
#helpkids

2011-01-27T22:07:00.001-08:00

Really a cheer mom?! I guess I should of seen it coming

http://ping.fm/GyiFH

#mommyblogger
#cheermom
#parenting

2011-01-26T08:28:00.001-08:00

Wordless Wednesday!!

http://ping.fm/d0DZ9

#mommyblogger confessionsof mormonmom parentingtips kids SAHM WAHM

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-26T08:22:00.000-08:00

2011-01-22T11:21:00.001-08:00

Just came back from Disneyland... Spent $350 total! Want to know how?? Go to my blog!

#confessionsof
#mommyblogger
#mormonmom

2011-01-15T14:25:00.001-08:00

"If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live." Happy birthday, Dr. King.

#twoprincessesandoneprince.blogspot.com
#mommyblogger
#mormonmom
#parentingtips

2011-01-13T12:13:00.001-08:00

Dear God:
For 2011, all I ask for is a big fat bank account and a slim body. Please do not mix up the two like you did last year. Amen

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-12T11:45:00.000-08:00

2011-01-12T07:24:00.001-08:00

My sweet husband let me sleep in and got the kids up and dressed for school this morning. My 7 year old was wearing a 3T shirt.... Should I tell him to check the sizes??

#mommyblogger parenting parentingtips moms mormonmom

2011-01-11T13:43:00.001-08:00

While this season of Desperate Housewifes started out horrible, I think the series is kicking it into full gear with the latest hilarious quotes and laughable moments. I swear I died when Rene said, "You guys are like the mean, pretty girls who won't let anyone sit at your lunch table". Mainly because I can relate. Not because I am or was the mean, pretty girl (we'll okay, I am pretty), but because as a mom I think I need a SOLID foundation of friendship to keep me going throughout the day, a clique (more or less) that I can count on to sit with my at a lunch table on a consistent manner. Seriously, carving out some time with BFF's is such a stress reliever and I think is overall healthy for my kids and my marriage.

http://ping.fm/dCVzm

#confessionsof mommyblogger desperatehousewife mormonmom

2011-01-11T13:42:00.001-08:00

Are you a Desperate Housewife?? Read my Confession of a Overworked and Underpaid Oppressed Housewife...

http://ping.fm/MxdqO

2011-01-11T09:40:00.001-08:00

HELP! I want to get to 100 followers on my blog! Click on the link below and then scroll down the left hand side to follow!

http://ping.fm/Zi66f

#mommyblogger parentingtips mormonmom mormonblogger

2011-01-09T11:54:00.001-08:00

I just found out that Diet Coke is a great way to get rid of headaches!!

http://ping.fm/IdT7k

#mommyblogger confessionsof parentingtips moms kids

2011-01-07T07:34:00.001-08:00

Here is a little bit about the overworked and underpaid oppressed housewife! http://ping.fm/Uoves

#mommyblogger confessionsof parentingtips momhumor lifestylemom husbands

2011-01-06T15:00:00.001-08:00

Ever since I was in High School I remember having a bit of a feminist side. While we did celebrate every third Thursday of the month as Men are Scum Days (My poor father), I hope over the years I have toned down on the way I handle my thoughts in that respect. I do remember that my father in law told my husband “You are going to have to keep in control” were my husband replied “I don’t think that is possible”.
But, I do think with all my strange antics and ideas towards women the most important aspect is that women hold the power, especially mothers. Honestly, we moms are the ones that buy the products, handle the money, etc and my mom always said that what women do best they do “through the grapevine” But really this whole “heard it through the grapevine” is something that women do to share or “be sure” that the information isn’t, well crap. The biggest example of this is all the Mommy Bloggers and Freebie sites that you can Google.
So today, mothers, women, etc. I am sharing some of my secret information with you that I am sure I have gotten through the grapevine from one or another. I guess it is my way of connecting with people while I am doing laundry much like the women who would talk over hanging their laundry outside.
First, Method Spray. LOVE IT! My BFF, Jenna, told me about this brand called Method that you get at Target. It smells heavenly and makes my granite countertop shine like the top of the Chrysler building (thank you,Annie!). AND even better it is something natural so I think that means if the kids spray it in there eyes we don’t have to run them to the ER?! I was actually talking to Leah yesterday, http://freutcake.com (another must visit), about this spray. They even have this pink one that smells like grapefruit and one for the horrible stainless steel (which they might not get stains, but why don’t fingerprints count in that category?). Plus anything pink that sprays totally will rock my mommy world.
Next, my favorite thing in the world has to be the Dyson. I know, it is such an old school product, but I just got one for Christmas and my mind races about the countless things it can do around the house. So far, I have cleaned the entire downstairs without changing plugs, vacuumed the dog hair AND the dog. I can’t wait for the weather to heat up (yes, lets make it above the 30’s) so I can vacuum out the car. Imagine all the French fries, happy meal toys, and other wonders that will disappear! I bought the yellow one, mainly because my brother in law, Noah, said they are all the same accept for the different attachments. I need the workout, so I opted OUT for the attachments. So if you don’t have, get it. Remember, this is my birthday month so it is OK to treat yourself! Actually I found the best time to get one for super cheap is during black Friday… so I guess you can wait, but start saving now! I got mine for $230.00 at Target, or so I think.
Have you been to Tulle4us.com? AMAZING! I am usually pretty intimidated by these trendy stores that are SUPER expensive…and NO DOUBT this is one of those stores. It is like a little boutique you would just go in and window shop, but they have the MOST AMAZING sales. I got a white winter jacket there for $20 at the end of the season. So while the shop may seen, well a bit expensive, go straight to the sales section, do not stop at go do not collection $100, and sign up for the emails. This is where I get the sales. At the end of winter, they put almost everything on sale for about $5… can’t beat that at any hometown boutique! It like a Jackie O outfit on a Walmart Budget (I would like to ad that in no way do I condone shopping at Walmart, just go to Target or the Dollar Store, it is always too crowded)!
My final favorite grapevine advice is to go to DealstoMeals.com. This site is the bomb shiggity bomb of saving money and feeding the family gourmet meals. It is $4.95 a month and these ladies give you a complete menu for your family, what to eat and do it based on sale items in your area. They shop the ads, they compare the prices, and then they design both a weekly grocery list and a really good meals from what is on sale. While I can say I was an avid coupon shopper like 2 years ago, that lasted about 5 minutes. Let’s face it. I am a neat freak that hates to have a mess and things in the house that don’t have a spot. I tried to cut the coupons and save the newspapers and you know what it brought me? A HUGE HEADACHE! The papers ended up in a box, the coupons where all over the house and by the time I was able to go to the grocery store, it wasn’t worth it. Time is Money to me and my coupon shopping doesn’t pay me enough to do. On that note, I found this site, don’t have to use coupons, shop the ads and it is just a few simple click and print.
So there you have it, use it wisely and as Yoda would say “May the Force Be With You”. Got any other ones for me?

mommyblogger mom parentingtips parenting confessionsof overworkedandunderpaid kids humor

2011-01-06T12:48:00.001-08:00

We had 14 deer sitting in our backyard. Emma came running in "I saw a Buck!" I thought the male deer was called an "Elk" until I was 32! What a bright child I am raising.

#mommyblog parenting kids confessionsof overworkedandunderpaid moms parentingtips

2011-01-05T08:15:00.001-08:00

Why I am a Work at Home Mom?

Because Sandy Peanut Butter Sandwiches are Much Better Than Fancy Lunches With my Co-Workers
#WAHM mommyblogger confessionsof

2011-01-05T07:35:00.001-08:00

So Emma starts to cry... can't really tell what she is saying, but it sounds like "the dog ate my hamburger". I send the dog to his bed. Emma still is crying. I see the hamburger on the ground. I pick it up. She says the dog ate the pickle. I give her back the hamburger. Is that bad?

#mommyblogger confessions of overworkedandunderpaid parentingtips

2011-01-03T20:57:00.001-08:00

Why can't life always be one big long Christmas Vacation?? Back to school, new year... Holy Hell Fire!
#mommyblogger parenting insanity parenting tips confessionsof

2011-01-03T20:42:00.001-08:00

I often wonder if it is possible for my life to get any more hectic... Then I comes the first day of the new year... Can anyone help with my headache??

#mommyblogger parenting moms dads parentingtips confessionsof

2011-01-02T15:49:00.001-08:00

Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory
Sunday, January 2, 2011
What I know for sure about 2011 and my New Years Resolutions

The New Year is like a rebirth for us mothers… a time when we can reflect on our mistakes throughout the past 12 months and vow to become a new mom, a super mom, in the next few days. We put together a list of mental and physical activities with great detail confessing our top sins and plans to over come them. But, by March, the battle of new mom versus old mom is lost, we feel like a bunch of losers for, once again, not being able to keep a promise.

One might ask, WHY?! Why do we always fail in our quests for rebirthing a new year and becoming the moms we see in the neighborhood? We’ll it is because we overestimate ourselves and wish to resolve the wrong issues. Let’s face it, we have eaten our way through 2010 and it isn’t just going to just magically stop because we stay up past midnight. While it would be nice to be one of “those moms” who has quiet authority over her children it is just not something realistic with my lifestyle.

Plus it is a total drag to give up bad habits that took a good year to install! So, I suggest, let’s give ourselves a break. Life is tough, the economy is bad (we are in a freaking recession!) and setting myself up for failure should not be in the daily routine of 2011. This years resolutions have to set us up for success and the most successful resolutions are those that are SUPER vague, something that we will be doing anyways, and something that we really really want to do (no, sorry, we really don’t want to get up at 5 am and do P90X).

While you are brainstorming your ideas here are a few of mine. Wish me luck…

1. To stop asking stupid questions like “Did you flush the toilet” or “Did you unload the dishes” or “How many times do I have to tell you”? Instead I am going to command attention from my children “FLUSH THE TOILET”! “UNLOAD THE DISHES” “I AM ONLY GOING TO SAY THIS ONCE”. While they might just laugh, at least I can say I did it.

2. To keep a stash of Diet Coke in the pantry hidden from my husband and children for emergency anti-stress applications. Though I am now calling the local 7-11 my “mommy cave”.

3. To maintain a permanent chore chart list so Ben and Audrey don’t keep fighting about whose day it is to do the dishes or who needs to feed the dog. It will be SET in STONE until 2012.

4. To NEVER, EVER take my kids with me to the grocery store. Enough said.

5. I will spend less time yelling (this does come with a disclaimer... unless the situation demands a good yelling for example when the kids walk across the floor I just mopped). So it is LESS time yelling, not totally not yelling.

6. I resolve that my house will never be a house free of clutter, thus I resolve to ignore my husbands comments that the house is a always a mess.

7. To stop screaming “What? What did you say?” when my kids are suppose to be in bed, but trying to find a way to maintain constant communication with me.

8. To stop asking, “Why is every light in this house turned on?” and instead charging them for the electricity.

9. To superglue the gloves to my son’s hands so they actually make it to school and home, in the same day.

10. Finally, I will exercise patience and control my temper when I meet dumb people (especially fat men at Maverick who hit my car door and then try to blame me for what happened. Only to cause me to escalate into a roaring fit, call my husband, and explain to the police officer why I hate dealing with fat, egotistical men).

We’ll there you have it, resolutions I can live with and actually have a good feeling about. Maybe I should of added work on procrastination because it is the 2nd and I am just making my list… but then again New Years was on a Saturday and we should ALWAYS start things on a Monday. Heck, I might just resolve these all in January and have to add the get my kids a pet resolution....

#mommyblogger
#Confessionsofa30-ishOverworkedandUnderpaidOppressedHousewife

2011-01-02T14:44:00.001-08:00

I was talking with a friend and she said that for my New Years Resolution I should make a mommy cave... I told her I already have one: Maverick.
#mommyblogger
#twoprincessesandoneprince.blogspot.com
#Confessionsofa30-ishOverworkedandUnderpaidOppressedHousewife

2011-01-01T15:29:00.001-08:00

Looking forward to the Most Amazing 2011! Any parenting suggestions?? I have already decided on Diet Coke over Diet Pepsi! mommyblogger twoprincessesandoneprince.blogspot.com

2010-12-31T11:18:00.001-08:00

I was at the drive through with my 4 year old, E, and I ask her what she wants to drink... "We'll I would like Diet Coke, but if they have Diet Pepsi that is okay!" mommyblogger twoprincessesandoneprince.blogspot.com

2010-12-30T20:57:00.001-08:00

http://ping.fm/3x254

Our new blog logo! twoprincessesandoneprince.blogspot.com for all mommybloggers

2010-12-30T10:42:00.001-08:00

Wow... Good times. Took us 2 hours to get home from lehi main. Amen for my husbands stealth driving skills and all wheel drive!

Check out my snow pile on my mommyblog

twoprincessesandoneprince.blogspot.com

2010-12-28T17:54:00.001-08:00

Well look at that... the Dyson can work on floors and the dog!! mommyblog

2010-12-28T17:53:00.001-08:00

Well look at that... the dyson can work for floors and the dog!

2010-12-28T15:04:00.003-08:00

Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Husband 1.0 -- Tech Support Needed
Dear Tech Support,

10 years ago I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed a distinct slow down in the overall system performance over the years, particularly in the flower, chocolates and jewelry applications, which operated flawlessly under Boyfriend 5.0.

In addition, Husband 1.0 automatically uninstalled many other valuable programs, such as Romance 9.5 and Personal Attention 6.5, and then installed undesirable programs such as

NBA 5.0,
NFL 3.0 and
Golf Clubs 4.1.

It also seems that Conversation 8.0 no longer runs, and Housecleaning 2.6 simply crashed all together.

Please note that I have tried running Nagging 5.3, as suggested, to fix these problems, but to no avail.

What can I do?

Signed,

Desperate.

DEAR DESPERATE,

First, keep in mind, Boyfriend 5.0 is an Entertainment Package, while Husband 1.0 is an operating system.

Please enter command: ithoughtyoulovedme.html, try to download Children Climbing 6.2, and do not forget to install the Guilt 3.0 update. If those applications work as designed, Husband 1.0 should then automatically run the applications Jewelry 2.0 and Flowers 3.5.

However, remember, overuse of the above application can cause Husband 1.0 to default to Grumpy Silence 2.5, Midday Napping 7.0, or Serial Starter 6.1. Please note that Midday Napping 7.0 is a very bad program that will download the Farting and Snoring Loudly Beta.

Whatever you do, DO NOT under any circumstances install Father-In-Law 1.0 (it runs a virus in the background that will eventually seize control of all your system resources.)

In addition, please do not attempt to reinstall the Boyfriend 5.0-program. This is an unsupported application and will crash Husband 1.0.

Overall, Desperate, Husband 1.0 is a great program, but it does have limited memory and you will need to understand that it cannot learn new applications quickly. You might consider buying additional software to improve memory and performance. We recommend

Cooking 3.0 and
Road Rage 7.7

but overall it is important to remember that you do have a program that will last forever.

Good Luck!

2010-12-28T15:04:00.001-08:00

2010-12-27T23:28:00.001-08:00

How My Life is Like a DREAM VACATION.
So I thought about it and I really do live the life of a sex goddess who at any point in time can up and travel to see the wonders of the world, right from the comforts of my home. HOW? Just keep reading.

1. So you wish to see the Changing of the Guards in England? Who needs that when I have the changing of the sheets. Between the bed wetting and the throw up, heck this could be a daily occurrence. Feel free to stop by anytime for this magnificent encounter.
2. Niagra Falls? See the waterfall every 30 minutes with Emma during her potty training time. Heck, it happens in the living room, the kitchen, the bathroom. And for a twist... you never know when or where it will happen.
3. Imagine going to FAO in New York? OR you could come on down and see all the toys in our basement. Heck, we probably have a section for everything.
4. Travel to see the Great Barrier Reef? or you can see the great barrier of jackets that lay in my entry way. Much cheaper. They might claim to have 10,000 different species, but I claim to have at least 10,000 different shoes, Pokemon cards, gloves, hats, and other unidentifiable objects.
5. The Golden Temple is a hot spot, but I have 3 porcelain gods that have been graciously used by my daughter who is learning to transition from the pink portable toilet in the living room to these precious beings. Even my other kids are appreciating this site more.
6. VIVA LAS VEGAS, BABY or chance your luck at my house with my three kids. I am always playing a game of Russian Roulette when I forget my birth control and watch as my kids gamble away their existence by refusing to do many activities such as their daily chores, back talking, and the ever popular potty training.
7. Who needs the Taj Mahal when I have the Cluff Casa. It may not have a hybrid of artistic style and a river running along the side, but its home, its decorated and we have deer, dang it.
8. AHH, the great pyramids. This is an ever popular attraction at our house, even a hot topic of discussion with my husband. Feel free to see the "Great Pile of Laundry" that is sitting in the laundry room and now has trickled out into the hall. At this point, hiking tours are available and a necessity for those living in this area.
9. Hike Yosemite? Or Hike up and down the stairs trying to clean the house (make it even more of a challenge and bring your own vacuum)... we even have a basement so that is 3 rough trials for your hiking eadventure. Watch out for the wildlife, our cat and the falling rocks (or Star Wars characters, my little ponies, etc.), they get me on a constant basis and beware of the "loud language" that might fall at anytime. While you are at it hike all the way up the stairs and bring those toys right up to the rooms!
10. The warm close beaches of Hawaii would be nice. Yet, I find the same warmth and even more closeness in all my kids smooching into my bed in the middle of the night (though it isn't as relaxing on the body as laying on the beach) each coming in at individual times so I can consistently get a limited amount of sleep. You can expect great hospitality with a foot or hand constantly in your face and a volcano of sulfur on nights we eat beans for dinner.
11. Imagine seeing the Eiffel Tower in person!!! Even better, I have a lovely Diaper Tower that is now open for your viewing pleasure or at least until Thursday which is trash day. Same thing, but maybe a bit more stinky.

I guess I can't complain of not being able to vacation when I seem to be doing it on a daily basis.

2010-12-27T13:54:00.001-08:00

What a rip off! No diet coke drop from Santa. I thought at least I would of had some neighborly Santa elves get my back!

twoprincessesandoneprince.blogspot.com/

2010-12-26T15:13:00.001-08:00

And Ben said....

"Mom why are you using that toothbrush??? Emma used it to scrub her feet!"

Seriously??

2010-12-23T22:59:00.001-08:00

The Annual Cluff Family Newsletter of 2010 http://ping.fm/eR4ym

Last Minute Shopping Ideas...

2010-12-23T22:18:00.000-08:00

Twas the night before Christmas Eve and all through the houses mother were shopping online for the perfect gift blouse… Well maybe not a blouse, but it did rhyme!

I have to say it this year, “Bah Humbug”. I am starting to wonder if maybe Mr. Scrooge had it right. Now ordinarily I LOVE LOVE Christmas. I get so excited when the day after Thanksgiving I can walk into any store and hear “those sleigh bells ringing”. I print out my Christmas List early so everything is done and prep the kids on how to smile in pictures and what to say when the in-laws start to hand out the red reindeer sweaters. Every house we pass that has a Christmas Lights a blazing, my kids and I ooh and ahh!

Then it hit, a couple of weeks ago, it was all fun and games as I woke up early to head out for the last minute Black Friday sales. Then the calendar started to fill up with seasons greetings, Christmas parties, Christmas sings, dance recitals, husband work party and the snow started falling (literally, we are in Utah). And seriously how can any parent stay sane at this point with a 2 hour dance, 4 year old Christmas Grinch dance performance?

It isn’t that my standards are set super high for this holiday (though my husband just texted me and asked if I was going to cry because he only got me one present), I know I will never have the perfect Martha Stewart tree and the stockings all hung with care. But the pressure is ON, like donkey kong, to make this the “happiest place on earth” in my house on the 25^th. You see my kids know Disneyland, oh they know it well, and that is some high expectations. I blame the television and all the ads that blast daily in our house. Emma asks for a different toy everyday and most I have no idea what she is talking about (what the heck are Zoobles??).

Year after year, I have to remind myself that it really isn’t all the stuff and the parties and my high strive for excellence that counts. Ben still talks about how every year we go and see the lights at Thanksgiving Point. Audrey loves it that we open pj’s the night before. And Emma, well, she has no idea what is going on. Now to all those last minute shoppers, I forgot that doing isn’t as important as savoring the memories. So it is December 23^rd… I might still have time to save the holiday. Time for me to do less, rein in on the reindeer's, reduce my stress, my kids and husband will actually be able to see a more relaxed and calm mommy. I guess that would be “the most happiest place on earth” for my family.

2010-12-23T21:35:00.001-08:00

Whatever Lindsay Lohan... I'd give my right arm for solitary confinement right now.

2010-12-23T14:29:00.001-08:00

Dear Santa – Here is my Christmas List

I hope you’ll be able to assist You see, please bring them all, My husband just couldn’t seem to find them at the mall.

I would like to have my own king size bed, That includes a pillow for just my single head. You see, dear Santa, it may seem, My kids are unable to have a good dreams.

Without adding trouble I need this to include a full night’s sleep,You must understand I know what I am asking for is pretty steep.Also, I need to have a long, hot shower.

Now I am not asking for magical unicorns, a wand or a clown, The next thing I need is the disappearance of these unwanted pounds.

In that small request I have to inquire, If no working out or food deprivation can be required?It is quite simple, for Christmas I want those pounds to simply melt away,Heck, I am sure you can easily fit that simple enough in your sleigh.

Strange enough, I remember putting this on my list last year,I guess there was mis-communication and I wasn’t very straightforward or clear. I would simply like to go to the bathroom alone, Somehow we need to make this a kid free zone.

Now, if this last gift request does seem a bit difficult or unfair, I can settle each morning to brush my teeth and comb my hair.

2010-12-23T09:03:00.001-08:00

I enjoy dressing my children up like fashion victims regularly because I have no life. They're weird and amazing and sort of funny and that is okay because we made them that way. Come join me as a mother of imperfections in a perfect world.

Breaking Dawn Has the Single Most Important Aspect of Marketing

2008-08-14T08:09:00.001-07:00

On the 8th of August, I got up at 7 am and drove to Barnes and Noble to get a copy of the much anticipated "Breaking Dawn" Vampire book by Stephenie Meyer. I had been following the book since last summer when my sister, Becca, finally talked me into reading the series. She had been following Stephenie since before her major popularity with the book "Twilight". I went home and sat on my couch from 8 in the morning until about 4 pm (which my husband was not too fond of, he doesn't understand the relationship I have with books when I am reading). The book was very long, but I think amazing, mainly because of the background of the author and her ability to keep my attention for 8 hour spans.
Now I have read the reviews of the last book in the series and have some serious issues and opinions about what took place in this last book, both good and bad. I have the right mind to write them all down at this very second, but then thought, it has all been said before. Every single person has their opinion, positive and negative, and that is what makes the book a keeper. What I am most interested is about this author. I have done a ton of research on this woman and she is a complete unknown, stay at home mom, who had a dream, an idea and took it to the next level. Her idea was that that had been done before, a vampire book. When my sister had begged me to read this book, I was not going to do it. I was a "Buffy" and "Angel" fan (very embarrassed to admit) but another book about vampires, come on! But this book had something that marketing entrepreneurs need to capitalize on, something Kim Power Stilson calls, "The Grapevine". This book had stay power because every single person you talked to said, "YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK". Hello, this is the sure power of tell all communication and recommendation. I think that any business can take from what Stephenie Meyer had to offer and see that the real power of advertising isn't through complicated and expensive giant billboards and commercial advertising, but producing something that people talk about. Talk is cheap. And on the side note, don't forget to listen to me live every Friday at 1 EST on "The Debbie Cluff Show", we can talk about breaking dawn, we always do.

SIDE NOTE ABOUT BREAKING DAWN AND EDUCATION
What are the educational benefits of this book? Besides just getting kids to read—and these are real page turners—the books can be used educationally by looking at questions the texts themselves bring up (why are they so popular and is it good for girls to be identifying with Bella?) as well as linking them to other things we might be teaching, like religion and mythology.Bella's character, what she is modeling for young women, is a good thing to explore. On the one hand, she seems to represent a step backward in terms of role models. She will marry very young, she is willing to exchange her humanity for an eternity with her boyfriend, she gets pushed around quite a lot, and she needs to be rescued frequently. On the other hand, she has redeeming qualities including her intelligence, her willingness to put her life on the line to save her loved ones, and her total acceptance of people society would label monsters (By Amrisa Niranjin -- School Library Journal, 8/1/2008)

Misspelled Words While Blogging

2008-07-29T11:50:00.000-07:00

There are two reasons why I am writing this blog. The first has to do with being an educator and correcting 6th graders on their punctuation and spelling (meaning incorrect spelling is a GIANT PET PEEVE) while I was teaching in Alhambra. The second has to do with my mother who always, so graciously, would correct every wrong word spelled, in every location we went(Born To Spell)! I remember walking into the local bank my senior year in High School and they had a word spelled wrong on the white board. My mother kindly spoke with the manager of the bank, who didn't believe her that the word was spelled incorrectly, and then got a dictionary to show my mother that she was wrong. My mother gleamed as the dictionary was pulled out and the manager was put to shame. Sure showed me that spelling is important in every business.
But what does misspelled words have to do with blogging?
I found this WONDERFUL website (or so I would have thought) called Hot Topic Blogs. It actually pulled up first in my Google search (remember I am a Google addict) and that means it has the rankings which I highly admire. Looks like a great site and even pulls up as the "rick, niche" blogging site. The first sentence on this site says, "
Niche Market Research Methods: The first module of the Rich Niche Blogging Training is now launched. It took a long time to get organised but it was released yesterday very quietly as I’m still testing out a few things. But I’m really excited to tell you about it.
Did you catch it? ORGANISED? Right there, I stopped reading the blog and questioned whether the author was educated in any way and/or why they didn't do spell check ( a simple button to help those lacking spelling abilities). I can't go on. I would love to find my rich, niche in blogging and training, but I just can't do it. The website is selling a book and I don't want this book because the author cannot spell. I can't get passed these people and these sites who are trying to "EDUCATE" and "TEACH" people how to use the internet when in turn, can't spell. Any joe-schmo can write a book and post it for pay on the internet, but remember if you are writing a book, you need to show your true background and demeanor through your writing, which includes correct punctuation and spelling.
I will confuse that I do read to find mistakes in spelling, but come on, we have proof readers, engineers, web site hosts, web masters, friends, family members, and spell check! This is the internet, a place where we have to read and put the words, faces, and expressions in our head. With the misspelling of words, it just lowers the readers thinking of your IQ level and actual education behind the company. So Blog away, blog far, but spell the words correctly!

Maybe next time we will talk about CAPITALS and when to use them :)

Kim Power Stilson Does it, again!

2008-07-28T16:57:00.000-07:00

I finally finished and here we go! I call it Make, Bake, Shake, Rake & Fresh and it is the story of how a Woman turns 17 year dream into solution for small businesses.

July 26, 2008—Woodland Hills, UT & Dunmore East, Ireland

Kim Power Stilson, mother, at home entrepreneur and dual-citizen releases new education guide to give small business owners competitive edge to marketing their products online.

Kim Power Stilson literally delivered her third child while working in the corporate world. She wanted to spend more time at home with them so she developed a solution that helped her company gain 150% increase in name awareness taking them from 126th in the industry to top 3 in nine months, coming 60% under budget, bringing in $50 million in ordered sales and funding and . . . the real success, a promotion which “allowed” her to work from home a few days a week.

Hearing of her success her small business owner friends asked for her marketing help she knew there had to be a way for them to promote their products without the high corporate staff and price tag.

Kim came up with a plan she simply called, Make, Bake, Shake, Rake & Fresh and used that strategy to help her company, her clients and her friends succeed. Kim went on to become one of the first women to pioneer Internet talk radio and she helped over 107,000 people promote their products online. During this time her goal was always to find time to write a guide which would allow her to help thousands more. Today she is pleased to announce the release of her two new marketing guides and a workbook which allow any small business owner to quickly have a marketing strategy and the tools to promote their business online and traditionally.

Her guides, “24 Hours to Zero Down Marketing Strategy Guide and Workbook” and the “Get online Blog, Ping, Pod, Stream, Bookmark, Blast, Release, Wiki, Widget, Web, Link, Avatar, Tag and Twitter! What is it and how do I do it?” are now available with a FREE excerpt at www.powerstratgies.TV .

According to Kim, who now works at home very successfully with teenagers in the house says that every person can choose the life they want to lead and make money while doing it by marketing their business.

“Marketing is essential but it does not have to be expensive rocket science,” said Power Stilson. “Women and family-owned business can make money by marketing their products online and offline without a large budget and while at home. I worked through labor and delivery of one of my kids and my goal in life is to prevent any women from ever having to do that! I promise this will help.”

Both guides and the workbook are offered in Green-style online in a PDF version, as well as, a robust video, audio, Internet, Web, Social Media & Marketing certified education course. (Prices range from $240 - $2400 with certification.) For Free Media trial contact: Jack Brian or Anne Roberts Jack@powerstrategies.TV or anne@powerstrategies.com or 801-473-9174.
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About Kim Power Stilson:
Kim Power Stilson, award-winning marketing strategist and first women to pioneer Internet talk radio, is a social media and Internet marketing strategist who has helped over 100,000 small businesses promote their products online. Founder of Power Strategies, Inc., she is the Internet talk radio, host of “My Best Friends are Dogs and Bloggers” on Planetary Streams (Log on and listen at www.planetarystreams.com) and “Power Strategies, market your business to better bottom line!” talk radio show on MyExpertSolution.com. She is the founder of the Bluebird Sisterhood and her blog is www.myheartisinireland.wordpress.com and www.powerstrategies.tv. She loves to watercolor, play tennis, snow ski, write and be near the sea. She divides her time between California, Utah & Ireland.
Kim Power Stilson is the author of Women Buy Everything (Fall 200 24 Hours to Zero Down Marketing Strategy Guide and Workbook and Get online Blog, Ping, Pod, Stream, Bookmark, Blast, Release, Wiki, Widget, Web, Link, Avatar, Tag and Twitter! What is it and how do I do it? Her professional marketing background includes over 17 years experience and a proven track record of success. She has created marketing positioning campaigns based on her own copyrighted Make, Bake, Shake, Rake & Fresh marketing strategy to build name awareness and speed up the sales process hundreds of companies delivering award-winning campaigns to national and international audiences for at 60% savings over costs, with an 140% increase in name awareness and delivering ordered sales of $50 million plus. www.powerstrategies.tv.

About Power Strategies, Inc:
Power Strategies is a Social Media, PR, Web & Internet Marketing Strategies Company providing Education, Marketing Consultation and Public Relations Services to women and family owned businesses and corporations in the United States and Ireland. www.powerstrategies.TV

What Does Your Future Hold?

2008-07-21T21:21:00.000-07:00

I was out to lunch with a dear friend, Kim Power Stilson, a couple of days ago and she asked me what my plans were for the future, career wise. It as an interesting question that I didn't have an immediate answer to so I simple said, "At this time I am not sure as I am trying to figure out what I want to do". Growing up, my father had never really settled on one job, so it seemed like a silly question to ask. I had always followed in his entrepreneur steps and always sensed that opportunity would knock. Was I wrong? or just naive in my thinking?
I pondered on that question for a couple of days and now think I have a solid answer to "what my future holds". I began my career choice as many young teenagers do, the decision was made by my parents. My mom had 10 kids and I liked kids so teaching felt like the right career path. She had gone to school to be a teacher, so that is what I was mostly pushed into doing. My mom had always said it was a good choice for moms to be teachers, so I went that route, seemed like a work from home job, in some sense as teachers were always working from home. I taught for two years and decided I hated teaching, too much politics and social networking (in the non-online form). So I had to adapt to my surroundings and, as my mother would say, "See a need, fill it".
I decided to do the next best thing to teaching, online tutoring and instant homework help. This was a definite "work from home" field with an "online marketing business" twist. I spent hours on end (remember the quote from Abe Lincoln, "if I had 6 hours to chop down a tree, I would spend the next 4 hours sharpening my ax") learning about the internet. I learned how to social network, how to start my own small business, all about the SEO (Search Engine Optimization)and WWW (World Wide Web). I became a "preferred" writer on sites such as ezineonline.com and article city (they even sent me a mug at the end of the year for all my writing contributions). I found amazing business consulting sites (such as powerstrategies.tv and planetarystreams.com) that enabled me to bring my business to a successful money making company.
I am at a new stage in my life, but a lot of what my future holds depends on what I steps I decide to take in my life and how I strategically place my next pieces. I don't think I was wrong or naive in not knowing that answer to what my future holds mainly because I am know I am able to do something with what I am giving. To quote the amazing President Abe Lincoln again, "During the Civil War the generals told the President that they had caught 6 cows and wanted to know what to do with them. He replied, "Milk Them". So to the World Wide Web and those spending hours on Google trying to find the answer to what their future holds, just remember to take what you are given and find the easiest solution.

How I Won A Game of Mexican Train

2008-07-14T07:52:00.000-07:00

I had one last piece, an orange number eight, and it was my turn to place. I looked at my husband who gently nodded to my train of dominoes and I then knew that I could place my last piece. There it was, a double orange eight, at the top of the train… a place I had forgotten about and the spot I could lay down my last domino. I cheered, it was Laurie’s turn, and with that squeal the group had known they lost, I put my piece down and WON! I was proud, my friends cheered and my husband laughed as this was our 9^th time playing, and I had finally won my first round of Mexican Train. We played a few more rounds after my first victory, but as the title states, “I won A game of Mexican Train” (I did joke with my girlfriends that I would be Blogging about this the next day and here I am).

I joked with those around me, that I am not a winner of games. I actually, pretty much, loose every game I play (accept this one time last week, I totally killed everyone in Bowling on the Wii, who knew). I am a super good sport about it because even it I try to engulf my competitive side, I still loose, and then I am grumpy. Yet, as I basked in the glory of my won win, I thought about the quote, “I try to make all my failures seem like small triumphs”.

I was researching different keywords on Google, for my company, and found that the words “online marketing, moms, work from home, home based business, small business” were very popular terms (with a million plus hits a day) and seemed to represent what our society is trying to achieve. Everyone wants to be that ONE company who WINS their turn on the World Wide Web by having their keywords placed #1 on the Google or any Search Engine (or SEO as those geeks like to call it). We still have to remember that maybe just having one of our keywords placed is just as great as having all of them. So play the game of SEO, but remember that your time will come when you are #1 in the Search Engines (and it might not last J).

How to Win Friends and Influence People

2008-07-11T22:48:00.000-07:00

Each Mother’s Day the Boys and Girls in our congregation stand up and sing, “I know a name, a glorious name, greater than any other”. This song came to mind while I was advised to read the book by Dale Carnegie, “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by a wonderful associate. In this book, there are two entire chapters dedicated to the tactics and techniques in getting people to like you all based on remembering a person’s name. Mr. Carnegie speaks about President Roosevelt’s ability to recall the names of his entire staff and the secret behind Andrew Carnegie’s success simply being to remember names of everyone he met. He states, “The executive that tells me he can’t remember names is at the same time telling me he can’t remember a significant part of his business and is operating on quicksand.” These chapters got me thinking about how names and people have impacted my life.

When I was in the 11th grade we had to do a report and I choose the topic, “Etiquette”. I remember that the queen of Etiquette, Emily Post, had spoken of the importance of remembering a person’s name. To this day, I always try and spell the person’s name in my head upon introduction or/and if I don’t remember somebody’s name when I am introducing a person I say, “He/She has the most interesting name, can you please spell it for so and so” It seems to work great, unless they have the name Sam or Bob, then I think they catch on to my lack of remember their name. If Emily Post, President Roosevelt and Dale Carnegie strongly suggest the importance of remembering names, then there has to be something to it.

When I was teaching elementary school, one of the most effective ways to teach a child is to learn and use their name daily in the classroom. While I was teaching 1st grade, I made sure to say each students name, 3 times a day, I have to add that I did tally for the first couple of times, but then it became habit (Yelling or Scolding the Student didn’t count). It was fun to have parents of the shy students come into the classroom because they always would tell me that their child loved being in my class, and I would simple tell the parents that they really just liked the attention and positive reinforcement of me saying their name repeatedly throughout the day. My kids LOVE it when I say there names and I secretly think they like to mimic me and overly use my name in vain.

So how important is it in remember names? Today I took the challenge to call every person I met by their first name because how important is a name?

I started off the day on a bad note. I was calling for my daughter Audrey to come downstairs and pick up her toys and on repeated occasion (which I seem to do over and over again) I kept yelling my 2 year old Emma’s name instead. Finally Audrey looks at me and says, “Mom, I am Audrey”. I instantly flashback, to my mother, who had 10 children, and would always get our names wrong, not only would she get the name wrong, but she would call us up to 7 names before she would look us in the eye and say, “You are the one”. The name calling would go something like this, “Katie, Beth, Christina, Jacob, Rebecca… whatever your name is, I am looking at you, get over here”. I have to confess that sometimes I call my son, Ben, my brother’s names… “Matthew, Jacob, Justin, Mike, Nick, BENJAMIN!” Audrey did eventually clean up her mess, but then she does give me that look… the “not again” look that I am sure I gave my mom.

I then get a call from my cousin, Julie, and she instantly says, “Hi Devin” (Devin is her husband) we laughed and she corrected herself. The rest of they day I greeted people by their first name, remembered to say, Thank you Liam, to our waiter and even got to know the window cleaner, Blair. I met Tyler at Mavericks who takes my money for soda and Chris who gave us dessert after our date night. I asked everyone I met, “What is Your Name” and with a HUGE smile they would tell me.

I sat back and wondered if, by saying their name, I had made an impact in their life (my husband did say I most likely had made them feel all warm and tingly inside, but he does have a sarcasm history) or if they thought I was a crazy lady going to stalk them in the future. I will never know the impact of knowing the names had on the people I met at this exact time, but you can bet that I am going to keep it up and try to aspire to the greats by remembering the names of people I encounter. It is a great habit to get into, putting others first. I have to remember that people like to feel important and a name brands them with who they are and what they want to become. Everyone wants to aspire to be wonderful and maybe by having a strange lady at the drive through know just a little about you can inspire confidence to be better. So going back to the song the kids sing in the congregation at Mother’s Day, “I know a name a glorious name, sweeter than any other”, I can truly say that I know a lot of names and each name is sweeter than the next.

Can You Twitter...

2008-07-09T13:55:00.000-07:00

I remember the first time a lovely friend asked me if I can twitter. The first thought that came to mind is that Bootsy Collins Song, “Do You Love Me” which asks, “I can mash potato, I can do the twist, now tell me baby, do you like it like this”. Of course, I answered “Yes” as I was a Cheerleader in High School, still constantly dance in the car with my children’s music blaring, and do think of myself as the Grace Kelley of my time.

I soon came to find out that twittering,www.twitter.com, as I now like to call it, isn’t a mere dance or that squawking noise on top of the roof I hear early in the mornings, but a type of Social Networking/ Micro-Blogging site which simple asks the question, “What Are You Doing”. This site is basicallyis teaching social skills and personal relation that we might have missed in the 1st grade. Each person on Twitter only has 140 characters to express their “tweets” of that moment. Anything from “Going to Maverick for a Diet Dr. Pepper with a twist of Lime” to “Meeting at 1 has been changed to 3, thank heavens!” So my question would be, “What Are you Doing” and I could answer in a sentence what I am doing at that moment at that time( In all honesty, my reply, “trying to tune out my 4 year old who seems to have missed the mute button when we passed them out”).

So Why Twitter? Most of our lives are hidden from people we care about and we want to share what we are doing in our lifes, so we blog. But did you ever stop to think that when you finally have showered, taken the kids to lessons, gone through the budget, uploaded all the photos, let the dog out, cooked dinner, got dressed, mowed the lawn, and put the kids down to bed, that most the daily juice of your life has been sucked dry so you don't write everyday, but instead try to recap everything at once or hit on only the small bits of interest. So with this Micro-Blogging, Twitter, you don’t have to sit down and write a long daily diary of exact minute by minute interludes of your life. Just go and type on sentence throughout the day. Real life seems to happen between all the blogs, posts, and emails and now there is a way to share. So I say, go ahead, Mash Potato, Do the Twist, and while you are at in, start to twitter.

How I became a WAHM

2008-07-07T13:03:00.000-07:00

I was reading a recent post on twitter which said SAHM wanting to be a WAHM. I thought those were the strangest acronyms and quickly googled them to see what they meant. I guess SAHM means Stay at Home Mom and WAHM is Work at Home Mom. Having just gone through the program created on www.powerstrategies.tv I have now become a WAHM. Amazing that finding one program, a program that actually supports being a SAHM and will discount their program becuase they see value in who I am, can change my life. I know you have heard this a million times, but Kim Power Stilson is the real thing and she really wants Women, Small Businesses, and Stay at Home Parents to become successful and accomplish their dreams. So about the business I have…

I owned this site since 2005 called Links for Learning, www.links-for-learning.com and this was a great site for parents to come to and educate themselves and their children. Yet, I was missing a great aspect of online marketing that I knew I needed but was unable to figure out. Having just graduated with social media certification, I am able to take my company to the next level and truly support my family from the home. I think this is every mothers dream. So now I guess I am both, a SAHM and a WAHM… what more in life could I ask for? Maybe a dog.

From a Book I Read...

2008-07-02T13:39:00.000-07:00

I get books in the email from different publishers wanting to come on my talk radio show. I usually look at the title and try to read each and everyone I get, which isn’t always that possible when they come 3 a day for 5 days straight! All I have to say is thank heavens UPS is not opened on Saturday and Sundays!

I started to read this book, which was a bit interesting and lost my attention about 3 pages in, but had one great quotes which I would like to present to the bloggers. These quotes were on a “wish list” of things this woman wanted in her life. This quote is:

1. I want to see failure as a small victory.

That “wish list” items I has now been added to my “to-do” list. As a 32 year old mother of 3, an educator, a wife, a friend, an entrepreneur, etc. I have had and will have so many failures in my life. I must confess, at this time in my life, I feel the failures are far exceeding the successes. I am surrounding by amazing people who are able to do the most remarkable tasks! And while I watch these amazing people, I question whether I will ever be able to have those opportunities and feel success with myself.

But I have to remember with each failure comes something new, a new opportunity, a new friend, a new means of income which really is a small victory for this woman who always feels inadequate to those around her. Maybe I am one of those woman who has always seen my small fortune as a grand entrance into a new education. So I am thankful for all my failures, even the smallest of small, becuase they have made me who I am!

Links for Learning Founder and the New Blog, Ping, Blast Book!

2008-06-16T14:26:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to be sending this blog becuase finally the "how to blog,ping, blast, etc." program is up and ready for sales. Please see this PR for additional information!

I am very excited to announce that the Blog, Ping, Blast, etc. program that Kim Power STilson and I have been working on is finally available to all of our students! Here is the Press Release Just sent out!

Blog? Ping? Pod?

A mom with 4 dogs, 3 kids, 2 birds and a cat

& a zany little lady from Pasadena

Share how to use the Internet, the Web and Social Media Tools!

June 13, 2008, 2008— Pasadena, CA & Salt Lake City, UT – Kim Power Stilson and Debbie Cluff today announced the release of

Get online and Blog, Ping, Pod, Stream, Bookmark, Blast, Release,

Wiki, Widget, Web, Link, Avatar, Tag & Twitter!

What is it and how do I do it?

An Education Guide to the Internet, the World Wide Web

and Online Social Media Communications!

This guide is available online and in a social media education training package on www.powerstratgies.TV.

Two work-at-home moms, both with hectic lives, decided life would be easier if they figured out how to succeed online like the Pro-bloggers and other online businesses. They made two discoveries. First, there was a lot they did not know, like what is a Wiki and Twitter. Second, they realized it wasn’t as intimidating as it sounded. They shared the information with their friends and other entrepreneurs who all insisted they needed it all down in a guidebook. So, Kim collaborated with Debbie to research, write and present: Get online and Blog, Ping, Pod, Stream, Bookmark, Blast, Release, Wiki, Widget, Web, Link, Avatar, Tag & Twitter! What is it and how do I do it? An Education Guide to the Internet, the World Wide Web and Online Social Media Communications!

According to Kim Power Stilson, marketing strategist, the guide combined with her new 24 Hours to Zero Down Marketing Strategy Guide & Workbook is the culmination of 17 years of hard work, marketing while raising kids, dogs, etc. She believes the Internet and World Wide Web are a tremendous convenience for working moms, single parents and small businesses.

“Life online is easier! I’m positive they invented the Internet and World Wide Web for busy women,” says Kim. “Everything I need to do, purchase, sell and find is all online! How convenient is that? I wanted everyone to know how to use the offerings and tool available online!”

According to Debbie Cluff, mother of three and master educator, founder of Links for Learning, having an online tutoring business inspired her to help women and parents find a comfortable way to use online tools to their advantage. She sees that working, playing and learning online brings convenience and success and most moms, parents and people need that benefit.

“We could totally see us on the Ellen Show helping all the women in the world learn how to blog, ping, pod, etc., and we loved the idea of women using this knowledge to get better jobs, work from home, and succeed online,” said Debbie. “As an educator I thought it would be fun to teach something everyone wants and needs to learn!”

The Guide, Get online and Blog, Ping, Pod, Stream, Bookmark, Blast, Release, Wiki, Widget, Web, Link, Avatar, Tag & Twitter! What is it and how do I do it? An Education Guide to the Internet, the World Wide Web and Online Social Media Communications! is offered in an online PDF version, as well as, a robust video, audio, Internet, Web, Social Media & Marketing certified education course. (Prices range from $240 - $2400 with certification. Huge Discounts for women, single parents and small businesses. Get your guide at www.powerstrategies.TV) For Free Media trial contact: Jack Brian or Anne Roberts Jack@powerstrategies.TV or anne@powerstrategies.com or 801-473-9174.

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About Kim Power Stilson:

Founder of Power Strategies, Inc., Kim Power Stilson, is the author of Women Buy Everything (Fall 2008) 24 Hours to Zero Down Marketing Strategy Guide and Workbook and Get online Blog, Ping, Pod, Stream, Bookmark, Blast, Release, Wiki, Widget, Web, Link, Avatar, Tag and Twitter! What is it and how do I do it?

Kim is the weekly Internet talk radio host of "My Best Friends are Dogs and Bloggers" and "Women Buy Everything" radio shows on Planetary Streams (Log on and listen at www.planetarystreams.com ) and the founder of the Bluebird Sisterhood. She really does have 4 dogs, 3 kids, 2 birds and 1 cat and a very patient husband. She loves to watercolor, play tennis, snow ski and be near the sea. She divides her time between California, Utah & Ireland. She blogs at www.bluebirdsisterhood.blogspot.com & www.twitter.com, www.mybestfriendsaredogsandbloggers.wordpress.com.

About Debbie Cluff:

Debbie Cluff is the CEO of Links for Learning, Online Coaching and Instant Homework Help. She was born and raised in South Pasadena, California, USA. Debbie has taught in both the home and the classroom and has her Masters in Reading and Writing at the Elementary School Level. She is a reading specialist and an author. She has written over a dozen articles for online publications and has been a contributing author to such online companies as, earticle.com and ezine.com. Her first book 7 Easy Ways to Help Your Student Succeed: How Ordinary Parents can Make Extraordinary Students, can be purchased or downloaded free directly from her website, www.links-for-learning.com.

Debbie hosts two weekly talk radio shows on Planetary Streams called “The Debbie Cluff Show” and “Women Buy Everything” you can listen by logging on to www.planetarystreams.com.

Debbie loves to read any books. Her favorite books are anything by Mary Higgins Clark and Jane Austin. Debbie resides in South Pasadena, California with her husband and three children. She would LOVE to hear from you and your personal educational stories, please contact her directly at debbie@links-for-learning.com.

Links for Learning and Power Strategies

2008-06-12T19:51:00.001-07:00

Links for Learning will be online coaching in a different element starting next week! We will be teaching our students about internet marketing and social media... Read the PR!

Kim Power Stilson Launches 24 Hours to Zero Down Marketing Strategy Guide for Companies Who Want to Succeed!

June 12, 2008, 2008—Salt Lake City, UT & Dunmore East, Ireland – Kim Power Stilson, announced today, the release of her new marketing strategy training guide and workbook, 24 Hours to Zero Down Marketing Strategy Guide and Workbook. This guide is available online and in a social media education training package on www.powerstratgies.TV.

As soon as they found out she had her own marketing company, people would ask Kim for suggestions on how to spread the word about their product/services. Based on a success-proven strategy, Make, Bake, Shake, Rake & Fresh, created with 17 years of marketing success, Kim would suggest first creating a strategy or plan based on goals and then applying regular efforts to achieve name awareness and sales success.

Most small companies could not afford her or other marketing professionals consultation fees ($30,000 strategy creation fee and monthly service fee $5 -10,000 per month) but they still needed the help and she wanted to assist them because she believes that marketing or not marketing a product/service makes the difference between success and failure. She was inspired to write this step-by-step guide and which gave the power back to the company owners with marketing knowledge at a budget-

worthy cost.

“Once you have a plan, a strategy and you know what you need to do then you run out of excuses to not take the time to market and sell,” said Kim Power Stilson. “With each marketing effort company owners gain a little more success. With consistent efforts like even 24 hours a month focused on marketing, they will see real results in the areas of increased name awareness and sales.”

According to Kim Power Stilson, this is a great strategy guide for business owners and employees who want to impress their boss by helping their company increase their chances for sales. “You may have a great product but if consumers don’t know about it they can’t buy it,” said Power Stilson. “Online and traditional Marketing is an essential component to business success. Entrepreneurs and small business sometimes overlook marketing because they don’t have the resources to hire someone and most don’t have the time to do it themselves. Now they can be doing effective marketing in just 24 Hours for a fraction of the cost.”

To make marketing affordable, Power Strategies offers a “Monthly Marketing Service – 24 Hours” style to help companies keep marketing once they have a strategy. The service includes Live chat, Social Media, Internet, PR 2.0 and Web 3.0 & Marketing instruction, tips, templates & advice from Social Media & Marketing Strategist Kim Power Stilson. (Prices range from $240 per month to a discounted cost for women, small-business owners and single parents of $24 per month.)

24 Hours to Zero Down Marketing Strategy Guide & Workbook is offered in an online PDF version, as well as, a robust video, audio, Internet, Web, Social Media & Marketing certified education course. (Prices range from $240 - $2400 with certification.) For Free Media trial contact: Jack Brian or Anne Roberts Jack@powerstrategies.TV or anne@powerstrategies.com or 801-473-9174.

###

About Kim Power Stilson:

Founder of Power Strategies, Inc., Kim Power Stilson, is the author of Women Buy Everything (Fall 2008) 24 Hours to Zero Down Marketing Strategy Guide and Workbook and Get online Blog, Ping, Pod, Stream, Bookmark, Blast, Release, Wiki, Widget, Web, Link, Avatar, Tag and Twitter! What is it and how do I do it?

Kim is the weekly Internet talk radio host of "My Best Friends are Dogs and Bloggers" and "Women Buy Everything" radio shows on Planetary Streams (Log on and listen at www.planetarystreams.com ) and the founder of the Bluebird Sisterhood. She really does have 4 dogs, 3 kids, 2 birds and 1 cat and a very patient husband. She loves to watercolor, play tennis, snow ski and be near the sea. She divides her time between California, Utah & Ireland. She blogs at www.bluebirdsisterhood.blogspot.com & www.twitter.com, www.mybestfriendsaredogsandbloggers.wordpress.com.

Her professional marketing background includes over 17 years experience and a proven track record of success. She has created marketing positioning campaigns based on her own copyrighted Make, Bake, Shake, Rake & Fresh marketing strategy to build name awareness and speed up the sales process hundreds of companies delivering award-winning campaigns to national and international audiences for at 60% savings over costs, with an 140% increase in name awareness and delivering ordered sales of $50 million plus.

About Power Strategies, Inc:

Power Strategies is a Social Media, PR, Web & Internet Marketing Strategies Company providing Education, Marketing Consultation and Public Relations Services to women and family owned businesses and corporations in the United States and Ireland. www.powerstrategies.TV

About the Power Strategies Education Courses:

The "Power Strategies Internet, Web and Social Media & Marketing Strategy Education" includes 24 education sessions, 3 education courses, 32 learning components and one 24-hour workbook all Online to get you certified and marketing at your own pace in 24 hours to 24 weeks:

Internet, Web & Social Media Training -- Learn Social Media, Internet and Web tools like Blog, Ping, Pod, Stream, Bookmark, Blast, Release, Wiki, Widget, Web, Link, Avatar, Tag & Twitter! Includes EBook, Audio / Video training.
Marketing Strategy –Create and implement a traditional, Internet and Web marketing strategy for you, your company, and your products/services. Includes 24ZDM guide and workbook along with Audio / Video training.
Education Sessions – 24 Internet, Web and Social Media personal LIVE 15 minute educations sessions (powered by Links-for-Learning.com) online at your convenience. Ask questions and get answers from a "live" marketing coach.

*Certification in "Power Strategies Internet, Web and Social Media & Marketing Strategy Education" through this robust online course will give you the ability to create a traditional and Internet marketing strategy and the understanding to communicate on the Web with social media tools. Graduate from this course with Certification in Social Media, Internet Marketing and Marketing Strategy.

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The Debbie Cluff Show Helps Parents and Teachers in the NCLB crunch - Free-Press-Release.com

2008-05-27T07:45:00.001-07:00

nited States of America (Press Release) May 26, 2008 -- May 18, 2008- Pasadena, California- “The Debbie Cluff Show”, which gives power to parents by helping them find the missing link in their child’s education, streams only on Planetary Streams, www.planetarystreams.com, is proud to announce there support to both parents and educators in helping to achieve the NCLB proficiency goals.

The Center on Education Policy released the following statement in which, school districts are going to “make nearly impossible improvements in student’s performance to reach the federal law’s target of 100 percent proficiency by the 2013-2014 school year”. In order to support the student trajectories, “The Debbie Cluff Show” will be providing tips and programs for both parents and school districts every Friday from 1-2 EST, LIVE on Planetary Streams. While there are many different supplemental educational services offering at school or in corporate centers, this show will provided a LIVE call-in segment, 1-866-535-0840, where parents and educators can ask direct questions to the hosts, Debbie Cluff and Melanie Roberts. Both hosts hope this will help educate parents and teachers on what to do and what to expect with the upcoming NCLB deadline.

Parents and Educators are not educated in the terms and conditions of the NCLB law and the hosts of “The Debbie Cluff Show” want to bring awareness to how achievement goals are set in each district. “Education is the key to success for NCLB”, explains Debbie Cluff, host, “and we want everyone to simply understand what is going on both nationally and locally”. The show hosts are asking both parents and educators to call in and ask what they can do to support this educational law.

For additional questions about this program, listen to The Debbie Cluff Show stream LIVE every Friday 1-2 EST only on www.PlanetaryStreams.com or call 1-866-535-0840. For information on the news in this press release, please contact Tyler Cluff at www.links-for-learning.com. Additional products available for parents are educational products for infants, toddlers, preschool students, and elementary aged students.

ABOUT DEBBIE CLUFF:
Debbie Cluff is an author and the CEO and owner of Links for Learning, http://www.links-for-learning.com, an online tutoring and instant homework help site.She has her B.A. in child development and her Master's in Education. She has 3 children and is currently in a preschool classroom. Debbie Cluff was raised in South Pasadena, California. Her mother a special education teacher inspired her to become a teacher.

ABOUT PLANETARY TALK RADIO
Planetary Talk Radio is 24/7 Internet talk radio network which gives power to the people by letting you hear what you want to hear and talk back 24/7 with talk radio shows from real people around the planet. Planetary Talk Radio is powered by Planetary Streams International, an internet Radio & Talk TV communications company created to meet the growing demands of audio and visual delivery on the internet. PSI operates globally from the “Broadcast BARN” in Woodland Hills using proprietary technology to deliver marketing messages from individuals and companies. Planetary Streams provides inexpensive Talk TV and Talk Radio to businesses and persons who need a way to effectively marketing on the internet.

Classroom Arrangement

2008-05-25T12:30:00.000-07:00

The set up of a classroom is very important to how a classroom is being managed. The teacher needs to make sure his/her classroom is arranged for the students to be productive. The teacher also needs to make sure their classroom has a positive environment for the students as they enter the classroom. Another key fact a teacher needs to consider is that their classroom needs to be ready for learning everyday. This is because in order to manage a classroom with proper discipline, a product and active classroom set-up is important. The students need to be placed in an arrangement that will keep them focused on the lesson and not deter them from learning. In this paper, we will discuss and provide ways for a lower elementary classroom to be set up.

Classroom Arrangement

Our map shows the classroom is arranged in centers. The students will sit in groups of six in four different groups. The reasoning behind the groups is that the students will be able to learn how to work with others. The students will also be able to motivate each other to do their work. The desks are arranged in the middle of the classroom so it will allow the teacher to walk around the room freely. Plus the teacher will be able to control the students in a more compact area. The setting of the desk will also help students to stay on task.

Reading Corner

In the corner of the classroom is a “cozy” reading nook which will contain the classroom library. This area will provide a “home” feeling and help the students to feel relax when they are in this area. The reading nook will also be a place for students to go to when they have completed their work and want to read a book in a cozy are. If a child is able to feel at home in the reading nook this can cut down on behavior problems for the teacher. In the reading nook, this area is a quite place. The reading nook is not located in the same area as everything else in the classroom. By having the reading nook in the corner of the classroom, it will help to promote reading in the classroom.

Centers

The listening center and computer station will be placed on the outside of the classroom. The centers will be facing the walls because the students will be rotating to the varies centers within the classroom. Plus, while students are at their centers they will need to be able to concentrate on their work. Also, located on the outside of the classroom are the storage areas for Science, Math, Art and Writing materials. This storage area allows the students to have a centrally located area to receive and place materials for Science, Math, Art and Writing. Plus, this area will help the teacher to keep his/her classroom organized.

The student’s desk will also serve as centers. During center time students will be able to move around the whole room to gain information. At each group their will be a different theme for students to learn about. By having the centers on both the inside and the outside of the classroom will enable the teacher to focus the students’ attention to their center activity instead of just rotating around the room. This will keep the flow of the classroom and will not give the students time to mess around maintaining classroom structure and discipline.

Teacher’s Desk Location

The teacher’s desk is located in the back of the classroom. The reason of this arrangement is that this will help the teacher to promote a student – centered classroom. By having the desk located in the back of the classroom the teacher will have full sight of his/her entire classroom at all times. Plus, the teacher will only use the desk for paper work. The rest of the time the teacher will be in the same area as the students.

Print Rich Environment

Not only is the arrangement of the desk important to the classroom but the motivation the classroom has to offer the students. To have a print-rich-environment, the teacher needs to have posters and signs that help to promote literature in the classroom. By having posters and signs on the classroom walls and bulletin boards will help the students gain a great deal of experiences with the different types of literature. Plus the students can do a read around the room, while sitting in the reading nook. By providing a print-rich environment, the students will be placed in a positive learning atmosphere that promotes learning thus preventing classroom misconduct.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the arrangement of the classroom is a very key part of how well the students will learn and interact with their classmates and their teacher. If a classroom is disorganized and clustered, then it will be kind of hard for a child to work and learn new skills. Plus, the teacher needs to take time to make sure his/her room is set up for learning because no matter how well your lesson plans are completed and ready to be presented. If the students do not feel comfortable in the room then the lesson plan will be presented in a way the teacher wanted it to.

Resources for Parents

2008-05-22T16:59:00.001-07:00

An educational phenomenon has begun in the world of learning for students in K-12th Grade who are seeking additional resources in reading, math, and writing. Online Tutoring, virtual tutoring sessions where the students are instructed from the comfort of their own home, are becoming more mainstream as an alternate learning tool. Once informed about resource, parents are grasping onto this technologic capability of enhancing their students learning levels and demanding further attention be brought to the importance of this online tutoring ingenuity. Tutoring sessions are now not just available to those that can afford private training, but to anybody who has access to a computer in their own home. Online Tutoring makes sense and parents need to become aware of the positive effectiveness this convenient tool can have on their child’s education.

Online Tutoring is the key to the future of our children’s education because the sessions are presented in a non-threatening situation. “Online Tutoring allows students to learn in their home setting rather than a public institutional setting. Students learn best in this non-commercial, familiar, stress-free environment” explains Debbie Cluff, CEO of Links for Learning, an online tutoring site. She goes on to say, “Parents need to become aware of the positive educational resources available to them right in their own home”. Parents have the ability to be present during all tutoring sessions and reinforce the ideas presented during the sessions. Parents can then discuss the online tutoring session during a private chat with their online tutor or via email. This builds the necessary tools to create a structured learning environment for students because it involves the three aspects of gaining an education. These three aspects are the co-relation of the parent, the student, and the teacher.

During the online tutoring sessions, the students are in the comfort of their own home, learning in a positive atmosphere. The tutoring session have unlimited access because in the online sessions, “the world is your oyster”. Students gain confidence and a better understanding of their problem area because of the unique style of learning the sessions present. Online tutors are able to plan each lesson around the individual students needs and are not limited on the resources they have because of working online. Online students feel certain about what they are learning and how they are learning. Learning in the home is the ultimate learning experience.

Online tutoring is available at many different sites. It is important to find an affordable and convenient site that has specific teaching credentials. Some companies offer online tutoring for a low price, but are not really willing to work with both the parents and the students. Also, some sites offer tutoring sessions that do not have credentialed teachers working as their tutors. Some sites do hire tutors that do not live in the same country that the students live in, which is hard to tutor because of the different language barriers. Make sure that you feel comfortable with the tutor that you are going to have your most priced possession dealing with. Homework Help is offered at some sites which is another great resource to enforce the online learning setting. This is a great resource for working parents because it enables their student to have access to a tutor 24/7, a tutor who can help with homework questions.

Online tutoring is the new phenomenon that is sweeping through the educational world. Colleges have invested in this idea and use online tutoring in most of their beginning English courses. Parents need to now invest in this idea and help it to become more mainstream in the educational society.

Emotional Development and Self Esteem in Children

2008-05-19T18:27:00.000-07:00

Many theorists have suggested the emotional development of a child, or the core of one’s self esteem needs to be understood and fostered at home and in the classroom. Teachers and parents should focus on children’s emotional development or the “feelings that generally have both physiological and cognitive elements which influence behavior” (Feldman, 2000, p. 329), at a young age. These feelings need to be positively reinforced to develop a high self-esteem through out the child’s life. Most theorists agree that there is a link between a child’s development and their respective emotional levels. The views of the theorists also clarify the most influential stages in a child’s life when emotional development is necessary and how this development reinforces a child’s self esteem. A child’s emotional development needs to be built at home and school in order to develop a high self-image.

By the time a child is three years old, he or she is an emotionally complex person who has experienced a wide range of emotions. As parents, teachers, and caregivers we need to help promote our children’s emotional development so that they will be able to develop healthy relationships with their peers and learn how to manage their emotions effectively. This will help them get the most benefit out of their learning and eventually adulthood development. A child’s emotional development begins with the relationship with their caregiver. The type of responses that a child receives from their first caregivers (i.e. parents, daycare providers) will determine how that child will learn to deal with their emotions later on in their live (Ashiabi, 2000). A child who has a secure relationship with their caregiver will initiate positive interactions and respond positively to initiations with others (Ashiabi, 2000). Conversely, a child who has an insecure relationship with his or her caregiver will show more negative emotions while interacting with others (Ashiabi, 2000).

Elizabeth Cady Stanton once said, “Self-development is a higher duty than self-sacrifice” (Quote, 2004). Having a good self worth or attitude about oneself can define self-esteem. Children with a “healthy” self-esteem feel, “that the important adults in their lives accept them, care about them, and would go out of their way to ensure that they are safe and well” (KidSource, 2004). In younger children, self-esteem is not measured by their self worth, but by how well the loved ones in their lives respect and respond to their particular needs. For example, children with a lack of role models or a lack of parental support tend to have a lower self-esteem because they feel that these adults do not accept or care about them. This is the main factor which children base their level of self-esteem on through out their childhood and then on into adulthood. An example of this can be seen in early childhood development of infants who respond and attach themselves to the adults who love and are responsible for them. In the magazine American Baby it states, “What’s usually the fastest way to soothe a crying baby? Snuggle together while gently stroking him. Your touch has an amazing power to communicate love” (Wu, 2004). What this is pointing out is that the infant is responding to the trusted adult’s touch basing its emotional development on this form of communication and overall establishing the child’s future trust and self-esteem.

One big question about self-esteem is, “The more you praise your child, and the more self esteem your child will have. This is correct, isn't it?” (Cyperparent, 2004). The answer to this question is not as simple it seems. It has been said that if you continuously praise a child, it may make the child question the sincerity of that adult, causing them to soon dismiss these praises as “fake” and eventually hindering their self esteem. Even young children can see through excessive praise and flattery (KidSource, 2004). This is very important in today’s classroom. Research suggests that we should praise, but also challenge and encourage the student to take risks. Praising your children and your students should be only one aspect of raising self-esteem. The main aspect of this development should focus on how, “Helping children develop self-esteem involves listening, accepting, and praising. Self-esteem comes from acceptance. Provide positive self-esteem. Help your children grow self-esteem” (KidSource, 2004). A child’s self-esteem is not something imprinted in their DNA when born, self esteem is established and planted by parents and teachers through a lot of time, dedication, and positive reinforcement. Remember that a child, also, does not and really cannot develop self-esteem over night. Self-Esteem is something that is trail and error for each child and with the positive help and influence of parents or teachers, a proper and high self esteem can be established, building upon each event through out their life, representing their emotional development.

It has been established for a long time that emotion does play a role in learning (Gewertz, 2003). Recent research has also shown that a deliberate approach to teaching social and emotional skills in the classroom increases test scores and grades, increases students’ enthusiasm and motivation to learn and reduces behavior problems. Children who are distracted by emotional issues do not learn effectively (Gewertz, 2003). By focusing on developing emotional and social skills, teachers and parents can help students to maximize their learning potential.

There are many ways a teacher can establish a child’s emotional development. As we have stated previously, children build their self-esteem and emotional development based of the adults who they are close to and whom they spend a lot of time with. Teachers need to encourage children by building upon their self-esteem in their lesson plans so that their students will feel comfortable and confident with themselves. A teacher can make their students feel more confident by giving each child a specific responsibility. This is not only exciting for the child, but it also provides an opportunity for the student to gain some ownership of the classroom. A teacher can also show the students to how to learn from past failed attempts (Research and Children, 2004). In order to make this work, a teacher needs to let go of their instinct to overprotect the students and allow them to be creative and encourage any questioning. Building or growing a child’s emotional development is different than teaching it. Teachers also have to keep in mind that they might be the sole provider for this form of development if the child is not receiving it at home. Thoroughly planning lessons around positive thinking will help to reinforce this theory.

There are many lesson plans teachers have access to via the internet. Most of these can easily be adapted to fit a teacher’s specific situation. The K-5 lessons range from a “Who am I Collage,” by Linda Bauck, which teaching the child who they are, to a “self esteem/class pride chain,” by Kimberlee Woodward, which teaches them teamwork and self worth. The collage allows the students to create and present a piece of work about them. This allows the students not only to talk about their interests and characteristics, but also to work on presentation skills with peers. The chain lesson plan allows the student to list five talents on separate strips of construction paper. Then with the teachers help they will be linked to form a chain. The students each present their talents to the class, then link the entire chain together. This serves as a reference point and a reminder throughout the year. A student can always look up and see that he does possess talents, and so do his peers. Lesson plans building child development can be found on the internet at sites such as www.eduref.org/, which these lesson plans were located at. Another route the teacher can look into is character education which is a theory based on teaching children character. Really the focus of the teacher should be to learn about emotional development then implement it into the classroom.

There are outlining stages for emotional development and children. Parents and by teachers need to understand these stages so that they can aid in building their children’s emotional development and positively mold children’s self esteem. Emotional Development is important to understand because it can really help the child all the way into adulthood. Amos Alcott once said, “The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence” (Quote, 2004). Teachers and parents are responsible for the emotional development of the children and the influence they share with these children can affect the children’s lives forever.

Debbie Cluff is the founder and owner of Links for Learning, www.links-for-learning.com. Links for Learning is the online tutoring and instant homework help site for students in Reading, Writing, and Math. Debbie is the mother of 2, with one on the way, and has been married for 5 years. She has her BA in Liberal Studies, her Master's in Education, and is currently in the 1st grade classroom. She can be reached at debbie@links-for-learning.com.

Students Who are At-Risk!

2008-05-16T09:10:00.000-07:00

Author: Debbie Cluff

Students who are placed at risk due to poverty, race, ethnicity, language, or other factors are rarely well served by their schools (Hilliard, 1989; Letgers, McDill, & McPartland, 1993).

They often attend schools where they are tracked into substandard courses and programs holding low expectations for learning (Oakes, 1985; Wheelock, 1992). If parents are to achieve the desired goal of success for all students, they must hold high expectations for all, especially this growing segment of learners. They must view these students as having strengths, not "deficits," and adopt programs and practices that help all students to achieve their true potential. At-risk students can be defined as students who are not meeting academic expectations. This can be due to many factors, such as ADHD or other learning disabilities. These students are just not being help in the regular classroom setting and need additional support outside of school. It is important to build on the student's strengths rather than their limitations. Teachers need to be education in the different styles of teaching at-risk students along with students with learning disabilities. It is important for these students to know that their teaching staff cares about their learning outcome. The special aspect of our site is that we are able to work with every learning style.

These learning styles are Visual Learners (through Reading the Live Chat and Books), Auditory Learners (Listening during our Chat Conversation and Reading Program), and Tacticle/Kinesthetic Learners (through typing on the keyboard). Online Tutoring and Homework Help is able to work with your child's learning style becuase the internet embodies these styles. They try to use children's traits to their advantage and teach them how to make their learning habits work for them in the classroom. Online Tutoring is so important to students who are at-risk because the tutors can work better with their learning styles and needs.

During most online tutoring sessions, the students can be wiggly and will not get in trouble. The tutors have to explain themselves very carefully and very briefly because of the Instant Messenger factor. This is why at-risk students recieve higher schools when taught online.

About Author:

Debbie Cluff is the owner of Links for Learning, www.links-for-learning.com, an online tutoring and instant homework help site for K-12th grade in Reading, Writing, and Math. She is the oldest of 10 kids, mother of 2 (expecting one more), and a devoted wife. She has her B.A. in Liberal Studies from CalState L.A. and a Master's of Education.

Yes, Reading is That Important!

2008-05-15T17:54:00.000-07:00

The National Network for Child Care explains that reading with your child is important. Why would the National Network for Child Care be commenting on the importance of reading with your child? It seems that Child Care is more categorized by dealing with unhealthy situations in the home. Reading to your child is caring for their well-being and educational standards because it defines the basis of their learning process. Why is reading to a child beneficial in the home?

There are basic reasons behind this. It increases children’s vocabulary, stimulates the imagination, teaches them how to listen, helps improve self-esteem and encourages positive social interaction. These are a few basic principals that need to be taught in the home in order to gain ideal educational goals. Reading stories to children encourages them to read and helps develop emotions and intelligence. Reading to children in the early stages of their learning process, helps to prepare them for kindergarten and school experiences in the future (http://www.beyond-words.org/reading_importance.htm). Reading with a child is the one of the most important projects a parent can do to better his educational success.

Reading together can bring a closeness and sense of security between the parent and child. Dr. Bruce Perry explains, “The most important property of humankind is the capacity to form and maintain relationships. These relationships are absolutely necessary for any of us to survive, learn, work, love, and procreate.. Within this inner circle of intimate relationships, we are bonded to each other with "emotional glue" — bonded with love” (http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/bruceperry/bonding.htm). Parents can hold their child and share a special moment when reading to them. This time can give the child a sense of love and importance in their parents life. Reading can help form an attachment to their parental figure.

The National Assessment of English Reading tested around eight thousand first and fifth class students at schools around the country. Here is what the tests found in regards to the importance of reading in the home. “The study found that children who are read to before starting school perform better than average” (http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/6-2-4/37699.html). All these explanations prove that reading in the home is as important as feeding a child. Parents need to feed their children’s education and can do it simply by sitting down with their child for 20 minuts a day and read a book to them. If this can’t be done, the parent could have the child read to by a close sibling or in the extreme, online tutoring.

Reading is so important in the home and really sets the basis for the educational success of a child. Reading brings closeness to a family and encourages the building of self-esteem which will last into adulthood. Why would the National Network for Child Care bother with teaching parents about the importance of reading with their child? Simple, reading is that important to care about.

Reading is Fun Week Article

2008-05-14T13:25:00.000-07:00

The Importance of “Reading is Fun” Week

I can bet that you don’t know what the second week in May is?. This week is simply “Reading is Fun” week; dubbed by the non-profit organization Reading is Fundamental. “Reading is Fun” week gives parents and students an opportunity to spend time together reading. Whether you are 90 or 9, reading is fun week provides the perfect excuse to stop what you are doing and read a book with a loved one. The most important aspect of this week is to make sure that your children understand that reading is a great experience.

I can remember growing up and watching my mother read her books. My father would get upset because once she picked up a book, she didn’t put it down until it was complete. This meant that she would sit in her room and read, ignoring all the other household duties (to some extent). This was really a great learning experience for me because it taught me the value of reading and that it should play an important aspect in my life. I am a great reader and now my children watch me sit and read all weekend knowing that I am completely absorbed in this book and experience. I am proud to say that my children are fantastic readers because I set the example of reading being fun.

The key to “Reading is Fun” week is to make the reading experience fun and truly take the time to plan activities that your children will look forward to. Reading and reading activities should not been seen as one of the chores that have to be done during the day. Instead parents should foster the concept of love of reading through “fun” reading activities. The most important principle to remember during this week is that teaching your child to have fun while reading needs to become a part of your daily life.

I do lots of public speaking through out the United States about “How Ordinary Parents can Raise Extraordinary Students”. Parents are always so surprised when they come to the seminars and find out the simple three steps in educational success in the home. And while there are two other steps, the most important aspect of “raising an extraordinary student” is reading in the home. By reading regularly to your children you can improve your speaking, listening, writing, and vocabulary.

Although the life of a parent is very hectic, you should try to read with your child a least once a day. Don’t worry if you miss a day or don’t always keep the scheduled reading time; just try to read with your child as often as possible and when you can.

Parents, please just encourage reading in your home by starting the second week of May and celebrating “Reading is Fun”. Take this week to get your reading schedule and activities planned for the rest of the month, or even better, the year. So what are some reading experiences you can have with your child during this week and year round?

· Take advantage of having a night time routine by reading with your child. I will ask my kids to get in their pajama’s and pick their favorite book. My husband and I will read with a child, while the other ones are getting ready for bed. It is very simple to have your children grab a book and spend 5 minutes reading with them every night.

· Enjoy the weather by planning a family picnic which involves your favorite book. Every Monday, my husband and I (weather permitting) take our children to the park and read a book then let them play. Be bold and be carefree with reading and your children. Don’t let them think reading is a chore, but a privilege.

· Consider reading a series with your entire family. Who read the “Sweet Valley High Series”? I remember my mother would take me to the book store when a new book in this series would be coming out and we would buy the book, and then get ice cream. It was one of my favorite things to do with my mom. What a simple way to teach me that reading is fun. So start any series with your entire family and read every night, one chapter. The big kids can help the little kids with questions and answers! This is a great bonding reading/family activity.

· Plan a vacation around a book you are reading. Of course, my family has read the “Star Wars” series mainly because my son is a Stars Wars fanatic! So we are planning a trip to Disneyland this summer to coincide with his reading. Very simple reading activity that will tell my son that what he is reading is important to the family.

· Reading on the go sometimes is all parents have time to do. The simple solution is to have your child read on computer. This is a great start for some children and families. I know that my son loves to play games on the computer and also loves to read books on the computer. At Links for Learning, www.links-for-learning.com, parents can download free books for their children to read. There is an amazing reading CD available that you can have play in the car, which is a huge time saver! During the “Reading is Fun” week, Links for Learning is giving away their Reading Program for Free to parents who have logged reading hours with their younger child.

Reading is a fun experience and thanks to “Reading is Fundamentals” for reminding us parents of the importance of reading to our children. Find a way to implement reading in your life.

Debbie Cluff is the owner of Links for Learning, www.links-for-learning.com, the online tutoring and instant homework help site for k-12th grade and host of the talk radio show and television show, The Debbie Cluff Show streaming on www.planetarystreams.com. Her current blogs can be read at www.linksforlearning.wordpress.com and www.thedebbiecluffshow.blogspot.com. is the mother of 3 and wife to Tyler for the past 8 years residing in South Pasadena California.

Links for Learning is Celebrating Reading is Fun Week

2008-05-12T13:15:00.000-07:00

Reading Is Fun Week at Links for Learning,

Online Tutoring and Instant Homework Help

Sponsored by The Debbie Cluff Show only on Planetary Streams

May 12, 2008 – Pasadena, California- Debbie Cluff,host of “The Debbie Cluff” Talk Radio and Television, mother of 3, and CEO of Links for Learning is exciting to announce a free trial of the Beginning Readers Program (valued at $250) the week of May 12^th-18^th in honor of Reading is Fun week available only at www.links-for-learning.com.

May 12^th to 18^th is Reading is Fun week, which gives parents and students an opportunity to spend time together reading. Whether you are 90 or 9, reading is fun week provides the perfect excuse to stop what you are doing and read a book with a loved one. To celebrate this week, Links for Learning, the online tutoring and instant homework help site, will be giving away their Beginning Reading Program to parents who have logged reading hours with their children. To help celebrate this week, go to the library, find your favorite book on the shelf, and visit www.links-for-learning.com to sign up for the Reading is Fun program, which provides an academic basis for beginning and struggling readers.

According to CEO and host of The Debbie Cluff Show, Debbie Cluff, oldest of 10 kids, “Reading is Fun week is very important to my company because it is a simple reminder of how important books are in our lives! I spent 10 years in developing a reading program that would motivate and build confidence in students. Reading is such a powerful force in any child’s learning process and with this reading program, your child will be able to gain power in their education”.

For additional information about Links for Learning, the online tutoring and instant homework help site, go to www.links-for-learning.com. For additional questions about this program, listen to The Debbie Cluff Show stream LIVE every Friday 1-2 EST only on www.PlanetaryStreams.com

ABOUT DEBBIE CLUFF:

Debbie Cluff is an author and the CEO and owner of Links for Learning, http://www.links-for-learning.com, an online tutoring and instant homework help site.She has her B.A. in child development and her Master's in Education. She has 3 children and is currently in a preschool classroom. Debbie Cluff was raised in South Pasadena, California. Her mother a special education teacher inspired her to become a teacher.

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Planetary Talk Radio is 24/7 Internet talk radio network which gives power to the people by letting you hear what you want to hear and talk back 24/7 with talk radio shows from real people around the planet. Planetary Talk Radio is powered by Planetary Streams International, an internet Radio & Talk TV communications company created to meet the growing demands of audio and visual delivery on the internet. PSI operates globally from the “Broadcast BARN” in Woodland Hills using proprietary technology to deliver marketing messages from individuals and companies. Planetary Streams provides inexpensive Talk TV and Talk Radio to businesses and persons who need a way to effectively marketing on the internet.

Links for Learning, Online Coaching and Homework Help K-12th Grade ...

2008-05-10T20:21:00.000-07:00

The official Links-for-learning Blog has begun. I am looking forward to giving power to parents and helping them find their missing link in their childs education! Don't forget to visit http://www.links-for-learning.com to find out more about online education!