Author: Julie Meyers Pron

Journaling (and writing in general) doesn’t come easy for every kid (or everyone). Strategies and journal prompts for home and school journals for writing. I’ve probably always been a writer. It came naturally for me. Others, though, have a lot more difficulty finding the right words and placing them on paper. Some find it difficult, frustrating, and intimidating. Either way, even when it’s difficult, writing can be one of the most rewarding areas of learning for children, and encouraging writing practice on a consistent basis will help children to become stronger, more confident writers. Below are writing prompts to help…

Schools offer less running and playing time for kids, making it so valuable to offer physical activity time at home after a busy day of work work work. But the challenge comes when we’re stuck inside on snow days and rainy days — we need a mix of active activities and calm, peaceful play. On days when it’s too cold or wet for me to kick them outside to play, the kids come home or stay home on a snow day craving excitement and activity, and things can get a little crazy. We try lots of activities–cooking, games on the…

Bloggers can get anywhere from 5-200 press releases and Public Relations outreach pitches each day. So often, I hear bloggers complain about the influx of inappropriate emails or the “zero budget.” As a former PR and marketing professional who currently sits on the side of blogging more than marketing, I wanted to dispel a few misunderstandings in the blogging world. The purpose of a Press Release is to share information with the media The Goal of a Press Release is to Get the Word Out. Period There is a big difference between a press release and other marketing communications. A…

Last week, I was invited to attend a meeting for a local newspaper’s blogging group. Held at their headquarters, I got all dolled up, hired a new sitter, and went to learn how we could work together. I’ll tell you what, I was excited. I anxiously waited to learn just how they wanted to connect my site to their town-hall-style collective. This paper embraced bloggers. They understood that the world of the media was changing, and rather than fight it and sarcastically put down new media, they wanted to collaborate and work together. We went around the room introducing ourselves,…

This week’s Celebrity Apprentice introduced a term that not all of America is familiar with: Advertorial. It’s especially relevant with many current conversations regarding how to get paid in blogging. So, totally upfront, here are a few opportunities in blogging. Advertorial This is a paid advertisement but written in the style of the publication. In a magazine sense (as should have been done in episode 3 of the 2010 season of The Celebrity Apprentice), it’s an ad that blends so well into its’ magazine’s pages that the reader would think it was written by the staff of the magazine for the…

After all the hours I spent planning out the “perfect” dining plan for my family in the form of ADRs (Advanced Dining Reservations), one would think I wouldn’t allow for a change of plans. Not so, not so at all. On our very first night, Monday, we made changes. We skipped the Whispering Canyon Cafe and opted for counter service at Cosmic Rays so that we could casually enjoy the beautiful weather, lack of lines, excitement of being there, and the fireworks at 8 pm at the Magic Kingdom. (when at Disney, you don’t have to cancel your ADRs unless they verbally told…

For a while, I’ve recognized the importance of all-around wellness. We all know that to have a healthy, balanced life, we need to start the day with a healthy breakfast, continue through two more well-rounded meals and a healthy snack, or two, during the day, and get fair amounts of exercise. And, if you’re an active reader of my blog, you also know that I’m a firm believer of me-time equaling wellness. Oh my goodness. Reading through that list and knowing that’s just the edge of all a busy mom needs to do to be well and balanced makes life seem rather…

Recently, I learned just how intense back to school is for moms. It’s not just a transition for the student; it’s also one for the parents. We adjust to new schedules. We meet teachers and make friends and lunches and breakfasts. We’re running from soccer to scouts to swim lessons and shuffling homework and family time and playdates. You know what’s usually forgotten? The mom. The MOM. The mom who makes lunch and breakfast and drives the carpool and prepares a snack for all 8 kids that came to her home after the school bus dropped off the kids, not…

We were invited out for breakfast Saturday morning, but, knowing how my kids would much prefer a laid-back Saturday morning at the house, I offered to host a brunch. I had been sent a sampler pack of Udi’s Gluten Free Bread loaves and searched for a recipe that I could prepare the night before, using their bread. I finally combined a few recipes and came up with my own: Gluten Free French Toast Bake, a make-ahead breakfast casserole. This recipe can be prepared Gluten Free by using Gluten Free breads and flour, or “regular” using whole wheat flour and a loaf of your favorite…

So, in last week’s Fashion Friday post, I mentioned that stripes are in style this coming spring, and then I walked through Target with Little yesterday, and WOW! There are stripes everywhere! Here are a few tips for wearing stripes. Pick one striped item and keep the rest solid or close to solid Stripes may be everywhere in the stores, but they shouldn’t be everywhere on your body. Too many stripes, and you’ll get an A Bad Case of Stripes [Paperback] … Keep stripes slimming For the longest time, I stayed away from stripes because they’re widening when worn wrong, and, honestly,…