by Alissa | Jul 7, 2018 | Alissa McClure blog, giveaway, lifehacks, random thoughts, self-improvement
It’s my blogiversary! I can’t believe that AliMcJoy has been live for a YEAR! The past twelve months have taught me a lot. I learned what a gravatar is and how to set up an automation. I learned how to create graphics with Canva. But I also learned quite a few...
by Alissa | Jun 20, 2018 | Alissa McClure blog, reading with kids
In the past we have focused our Reading with Kids discussions primarily on how to read with young children. I have shared experiences with my own younger children and emphasized the importance of reading for at least 10 minutes each day. Today I want to remind you...
by Alissa | Jun 13, 2018 | Alissa McClure blog, random thoughts, strengthen family
Dear Dads, Thank you. Being a dad is not easy. So many outside forces are attacking families and leaving you feeling distracted and inadequate. You wonder if you should be working more outside of the home so you can provide a “better” life for your family....
by Alissa | Jun 6, 2018 | Alissa McClure blog, lifehacks, random thoughts, self-improvement, Writing
I attended my local chapter meeting for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators this week. During the meeting, the presenter shared quite a few things about the science of brain research and how those things influence us as writers. There were a...
by Alissa | May 23, 2018 | Alissa McClure blog, reading activities for kids, reading with kids
Comprehension, Comprehension, Comprehension With summertime fast approaching and my mind shifting from after school routines to summer routines, I want to examine a very important aspect of reading: comprehension. There is a very important difference between...
by Alissa | May 15, 2018 | Alissa McClure blog, marriage
Lesson #15–Date Chances are you went on quite a few fun, memorable dates before you got married. We did! But after we got married, things slowed down a little bit. Fortunately for us, we received great advice from lots of happy couples. One piece of advice that...
by Alissa | May 14, 2018 | Alissa McClure blog, marriage
Lesson #14–Be His Intimate Just a few years ago I thought we were doing our best at this marriage thing. We were not fighting, we were just really busy. And tired. I heard Ramona Zabriskie speak at a Mom Conference and realized I could be doing better. I found...
by Alissa | May 13, 2018 | Alissa McClure blog, marriage
Lesson #13–Don’t Bash Him I really don’t like it when people are two-faced. When people are one way in your presence and another way behind your back, it says a lot about their character. It also makes me afraid to open up to people and to ever feel...
by Alissa | May 12, 2018 | Alissa McClure blog, marriage
Lesson #12–Say “I Love You.” I hate to be morbid, but you just never know when a conversation will be your last. I want the last words I say to my husband to be “I love you.” Since I don’t know when exactly those words will be, I...
by Alissa | May 11, 2018 | Alissa McClure blog, marriage
Lesson #11–Speak Kindly Early in our marriage we decided that sometimes words and phrases just sounded too harsh. We had spent some time with a family who, while they appeared to be joking around, were so mean to each other. We set a few ground rules to make...
