Funnix Beginning Reading Program

Through the end of January, Funnix is offering their Beginning Reading program and Funnix 2 program for FREE! Since I'm all for anything that's free, I decided to give it a shot, since it's about a $249 purchase, typically.

We haven't started the program yet, but I figure since Hannah can recognize all of her letters and knows at least one sound most of them make, I thought it wouldn't necessarily hurt to give it a whirl. 

The course was put together by Siegfried Engelmann. "Zig" received the Council of Scientific Society Presidents' 2002 Award of Achievement in Education Research, and has authored books including Give Your Child A Superior Mind and Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons. You can find out more about Zig here. Looks like he's done some pretty impressive stuff, so I was inclined to try this program out. 

Everything I've heard is that this isn't a program to park your child in front of, then let them do it while you vacuum the living room - which is fine with me, because 1) I hate vacuuming, and 2) I wanted something that I could do with my daughter. We haven't gotten to start it yet, like I said above, but I have installed the program on my computer, and I need to find some time to print out all the papers that go with the program. There are 120 sheets that go with the first lessons, and 100 that go with the second, all of which need to be printed in order to use it with the program. There is also a teachers guide that goes with it, which I will read, but probably won't print out, because who can afford to print that much stuff??

The PDF workbooks are included so you are getting almost the complete Funnix system, which normally costs $249 plus shipping. There are no special codes required and it appears they are offering the Funnix system for free during the entire month of January. Also, the software won't expire, so once you have it, you have it forever.

The downloads take about an hour each on a cable internet connection, and there are three of them, so don't plan to download this when you want to start working with your child. This will take some preparation. I'll keep everyone posted of our progress (or not, if there isn't any), and I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on the Funnix program too. Have you tried it? What do you think of it? Did it work for your child(ren)?

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored review. The Funnix software if free to everyone until January 31 (per the Funnix site). I am sharing this as a helpful resource to others who want to teach their child to read.

A simple way to make life better

This is my year.

This is my year to make my life better.

So, how am I going to do this? Well, by making simple changes in my life. As a working mom, simple is about the best I can do, but it's already been an improvement!

My big change this year was to just start walking on my treadmill three days a week. It was so hard to motivate myself to want to do it when I first started, but I feel so much better now that I've been doing it so much! My energy level is up, and I find myself able to keep up with my daughter, which makes our days so much more fun!

Another simple change I've made is to change the way I eat. Instead of eating candy bars and cookies all day (though trust me, those are still some of my favorite foods!), I eat more fruit, and when I really need something sweet to eat, those Special K Chocolaty Drizzle bars are the best! Their only 90 calories! But fruit, by far, has been one of the best changes for me. I started doing Weight Watchers before the new year, and on their current plan, I can eat as much fruit as I want! Not to mention, SIMPLE! Apples - don't have to peel them. Bananas - no core to deal with! And, my favorite fruit is now available in the grocery stores again! Yay! If you haven't tried an Ugli fruit (or a Uniq fruit), you've got to give them a go!

There are so many simple changes one can make in their day to day life that will make them feel so much better about the life they live.

Maybe it's to build your savings - put $5 per week in a savings account. It's amazing how fast that adds up!

Is your goal to get in shape? Find a friend and start walking!

Maybe you want to learn a new hobby? Start by taking a class! 

These are all simple things you can do to make a positive change in your life. Some things might be more time consuming than others, but they're simple changes just the same.

Have you made a simple change in your life that you want to share? Leave me a comment and tell me about it! Let's work together to make 2011 our year!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Simply Orange® blogging program. If I am one of the first 65 blogs received by SocialsMoms, I will receive a $25 Target gift card and a gift pack that includes a Simply Orange® cooler bag and logoed fleece.

2011 - a year of new beginnings!

2010 was a great year for me. Not an exciting year, by any means, but a great year. My now 2 (almost 3) year old continues to grow and blossom into a fantastic and fun little girl. My husband and I have a great marriage. I'm almost completely content with my house (though when someone invents the first backpack that kids can wear around the house that cleans up after them, I'll be completely happy with my house!), my job, and my life in general.

So, what new beginnings am I hoping for in the new year?

Well, for starters, I'd like to learn more about jewelry making in order to get my jewelry business off the ground. I've had some small sales this year, which has been great! But I'd really like to up the ante for myself, and begin making some stellar items! 

I think learning something new, whatever it is, is an amazing way to make a new beginning. My new thing I want to learn is jewelry making. Of course, the other thing I'd like to do is take some college classes, but they're so darn expensive. I work in an ever changing field, and I'd like to learn some new skills to keep up with that. However, I also work for a non-profit, and the financial help just isn't there to help me pay for the classes. 

Another new beginning for me is to actually lose weight. Now, I know everyone says that's their New Year's resolution, but I really need to. I joined Weight Watchers the week after Thanksgiving. I bet you're saying "What? Now, come on! Who joins a weight loss program during the holidays?!" But the truth of it is, I knew that if I could do it during the holidays, I could do it for the rest of the year.

As I said before, my daughter is almost three. I want to be around to see her live to be 63 (or older, God willing!) and not get hit with any medical issues that could take me away from her. I have a long way to go - more than 110 pounds to lose to be considered a "healthy" weight for my height, but I'm going to focus on losing first my 5%, then my 10% goal, then on losing 50 pounds, then on losing the rest. That feels a little more manageable. It makes it a little less daunting, too. If I can at least lose 50 pounds, I'll feel much more comfortable in my own skin.

So, those are my two big ambitions for 2011. What are some of your thoughts? I'd love to hear them in comments! Also, please stop back and check in with me - I need people to keep me accountable for my own ambitions! Maybe I'll help make sure you stay accountable to yours too!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network blogging program, for a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Holiday tech shopping made easy

Holiday season is an awesome time to work buy some top notch electronics for the special people on your shopping list. But, how can you be sure you're buying a quality item? How do you know it's the best price? My husband is a bit of a techie, so I've got to bring my A-game when it comes to electronics purchases. Here are my top five ideas for purchasing new gadgets during the holiday season.
1. READ REVIEWS - I can't stress this point enough. Research the product you want to buy, then research it again, and then one more time. First, get ideas of what gadget you're looking for: Is it a new cell phone? Video game system? Narrow it down to what it is you want to get. Then read professional reviews. CNet.com is a great website for things like that, as is Consumer Reports. Finally, read reviews from actual users of the item. A professional review might say the product is affordable and works well, but Joe the Plumber might say that he had his new toy for a week before it broke. See what real life people who use the item every day are saying about it!
2. Bypass store shopping - Many places now offer free shipping after your order reaches a certain dollar figure, and, lets face it, most electronic purchases are going to be over that minimum for free shipping. So save yourself the hassle. You'd be surprised to find that many retailers offer the same, or better, deals on their websites. 
3. Don't give a monthly payment - New toys like tablet PC's, cell phones and some e-readers might seem like a great gift idea. However, you might inadvertently increase the spending of the person you're giving it to! Phones are a prime example. According to the blog Gizmodo, the iPhone 4 retails for about $199, but will cost the user about $1,999 over the course of a two-year service contract, and that's on the cheapest plan AT&T offers.  Some tablets and e-readers come with 3G access instead of just wi-fi. This then costs the user a monthly data charge. Wi-fi is free, but available in fewer locations. 
4. Don't buy a tech gift for a technophobe! - My parents are NOT what anyone would call tech savvy. At ALL. That's not to say my dad can't use his computer or his Blackberry, but it took my mother a long time to learn that she was not going to blow up the computer by turning it on. For just this reason, I would never spend the money on a technologically advanced gift for someone who can't use it or fully appreciate it. I wouldn't ever buy my parents a digital picture frame, because I know they wouldn't be able to figure out how to change the pictures on it. Know the person you're shopping for.
5. Watch out for bogus ads and classifieds - The FBI has pointed out that classified ads such as Craigslist can be a great place for scammers to locate new victims looking for hot tech gifts. The fraudsters use their own order forms to get payment details, then charge the victims credit card, but use a stolen credit cart to buy the actual item, which is then sent directly to the victim. In short, you'll still get the product, but you could be liable for receiving stolen goods. If you're making a purchase via a classified ad, see if the seller will take a legitimate payment service such as Paypal instead. 


So, that's it, those are my big five tips. I'm sure I could have gone on for a while with a few other suggestions, but these are the ones that I like to keep in mind while shopping. 


I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Staples blogging program, making me eligible for a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Too funny not to share

I just saw this video while browsing around on Facebook, and I though it was too cute not to share! I don't watch a lot of SNL anymore, but every once in a while, I see something that tickles my funny bone a little!

Rules for Halloween

Tell A Gal Pal!!!

Every day, one in three women die as a result of domestic violence.

Scary number, isn’t it? Here’s another scary one: three out of four women know someone who is affected by domestic violence. That means that you probably know someone who is affected in some way.

The National Coalition of Domestic Violence defines domestic violence as “the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior perpetrated by an intimate partner against another. It is an epidemic affecting individuals in every community, regardless of age, economic status, race, religion, nationality or educational background. Violence against women is often accompanied by emotionally abusive and controlling behavior, and thus is part of a systematic pattern of dominance and control. Domestic violence results in physical injury, psychological trauma, and sometimes death. The consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and truly last a lifetime.”

Domestic violence (DV) is a scary reality for many men and women in the country. It is an important topic to discuss. Women especially, need to talk openly about domestic violence. Tell your Gal Pals – whether it’s your best friend, sister, mother, daughter, niece, cousin or neighbor – to face domestic violence, share their opinions and experiences and show support for survivors.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline has some tips for people who want to help a friend or family member:

Don’t be afraid to let him or her know that you are concerned for their safety. Help your friend or family member recognize the abuse. Tell him or her you see what is going on and that you want to help. Help them recognize that what is happening is not “normal” and that they deserve a healthy, non-violent relationship.

Be non-judgmental. Respect your friend or family member’s decisions. There are many reasons why victims stay in abusive relationships. He or she may leave and return to the relationship many times. Do not criticize his or her decisions or try to guilt them. He or she will need your support even more during those times.

Encourage him or her to talk to people who can provide help and guidance.Find a local domestic violence agency that provides counseling or support groups. Offer to go with him or her to talk to family and friends. If he or she has to go to the police, court or a lawyer, offer to go along for moral support.

If you need help getting a conversation started with a friend or loved one, visit ClickToEmpower.org for easy ways start the conversation, check out resources for survivors or read inspirational survivor stories. This website is a wonderful resource, and even has information on local DV coalitions in your area.

How can you help right now?

For each person who “likes” the Click To Empower! Facebook page, The Allstate Foundation will donate $1 to the National Network to End Domestic Violence (up to $20,000). Click here to go to the Facebook page.

The Allstate Foundation will donate another $1 if you take the pledge to Tell a Gal Pal about domestic violence. As part of the pledge, your photo will be added to the “Faces of Support” gallery to show survivors that they aren’t facing domestic violence alone.

If you or someone you know needs help, please call: THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE at 1-800-799-7233

I wrote this blog post while participating in The Allstate Foundation’s Tell a Gal Pal blogging program with TwitterMoms, making me eligible to get an interview with Cheryl Burke. For more information on how you can participate, click here.