Gold: A few things that helped me:
1) When stopping, like at a light, clip out a little before you need to stop.
2) the clip out is like a side kick. Hard to explain but it is twitching your foot and ankle.
3) if you can, bring the bike to the shop when you get the pedals put on and practise clipping out. 20 times on each leg. Get the motion down. Have them adjust the pedals so it is easier to unclip.
4) make sure the cleats are put on right and yes, this does take some tweaking.
5) I rode on grass for the first ride at a school on the weekend so if I fell, at least it was in the grass.
6) down shift before stopping at the light. This will make it easier and faster to clip back it.
7) it will take you a little while to get used to clipping in without looking. But it will happen.
hope this heps.