@
Meeting Invitation
Meeting Invitation


    Millie Zemlak Millie_Zemlak
    (NewsUSA) - It's no surprise that parents today seek books that will delight, engage, and educate their children. However, some parents are seeing gaps in the available options of topics they want to share with their children. To combat this, there is a growing trend of parents who have taken matters into their own hands and turned to self-publishing to fill these holes themselves.

    Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) from Amazon is one self-publishing option that offers editorial freedom and ease of use for busy parents looking to create something that meets their kids' needs.

    KDP success stories include Handeep Dhoot (who writes as "Dr. Dhoot"), a mom with a Ph.D. in chemistry who wanted to introduce her young daughter to STEM topics.

    Dr. Dhoot has self-published the growing Tinker Toddler series of STEM books aimed at young children, including Machine Learning for Babies & Toddlers.

    "Becoming a parent helped me realize the urgency for introducing scientific topics, like STEM, to kids while their brains are still developing. KDP allowed me to self-publish books that portray these ideas in an accurate and digestible way for kids, including my own daughter."

    Gabi Garcia, a long-time school counselor and mom, turned to self-publishing when she saw a lack of books for Spanish-speaking and bilingual children about how to understand their emotions and feelings.

    "It's so important to engage with children early to discuss mindfulness. Self-publishing on KDP empowered me to take all that I'd learned and seen as a school counselor and make it accessible to more children, in both English and Spanish."

    She has published several books on these topics through KDP, including Listening to My Body, published in both English and Spanish. She now writes full-time on mindfulness and social awareness topics for children, parents, and educators.

    Brendan Kelso struggled with dyslexia as a child, but found learning and performing dramatic monologues helpful. He enjoyed Shakespeare, but, like many young readers, found the text hard to understand.

    After a career in engineering, he became a stay-at-home dad and came up with an idea to write versions of Shakespeare's plays that were more accessible to kids. His loveof theater and writing led him to self-publish several works through KDP, starting with Shakespeare's Hamlet for Kids.

    "I have the freedom to spend more time with my family, while pursuing my passion on my own terms with KDP."

    These parents have been able to create the books they couldn't find for kids and found financial success - and sometimes a whole new career - in the process.

    For those parents who are toying with self-publishing, but still have questions, consider this:

    * KDP lets authors set their own prices and retain all rights to their work.

    * As an author, you can publish your book in minutes, and these books are available to a worldwide audience through Kindle online stores in 24-48 hours.

    * You can publish Kindle eBooks and paperbacks in multiple languages.

    Visit kdp.amazon.com for more information about Kindle Direct Publishing.

    Ref: Encouraging - in Blogs
    90 0

    Millie Zemlak Millie_Zemlak
    (NewsUSA) - Sponsored by GAF - It's time to stop thinking of Millennials as totally uninterested in owning anything just because they were early adopters of Uber.

    The newly released U.S. home ownership rate rose in 2017 for the first time in 13 years - it now stands at 64.2 percent - driven mainly by a shift towards owning over renting by the under-age 35 crowd who'd been wary of committing for both financial and personal reasons.

    "This is happening because young households are buying homes. Full stop," Ralph McLaughlin, chief economist at home listings provider Trulia, told the Wall Street Journal.

    They're not the only purchasers, of course. Which means if you're looking to sell your house now or in the not too distant future, you might want to check out this generational roadmap to four upgrades experts say are worth it to help attract potential buyers.

    * Cross-generational: a new steel door. The only thing that beat it on Remodeling magazine's annual Cost vs. Value Report for 2017 was loose-fill attic insulation, but this project - with a 90.7% return on investment - speaks directly to the report's main takeaway: "Curb appeal projects, by and large, generated higher returns on investment than work done inside the home."

    Plus, as far as Millennials go, while their ideal interiors may differ from older generations - for example, they prefer open floor plans and hardwood floors - Architectural Digest says they're still into "traditional exteriors."

    * Millennials: smart-home tech. Yes, there are Boomers and Generation Xers who are super tech savvy, but Millennials especially crave homes that allow them to control their heating, air-conditioning, home security, and lighting systems from their phones.

    "They want to use their brains for other things, not for remembering whether they adjusted the heat or closed the garage door," Angie's List stressed.

    * Cross-generational: a new roof. It's the ultimate curb appeal enhancer and a perennial Remodeling magazine A-lister, with Credit.com having observed that "buyers pay a premium for one already in place."

    So if the first thing prospects notice even before exiting their cars looks like something out of "Twister," you've got a problem.

    "It's a huge turn-off," said Patsy O'Neill, a sales associate with Sotheby's in Montclair, New Jersey, "and makes buyers of all ages predisposed to find even more things they don't like."

    If your roof does need replacing, those particularly interested in targeting Millennials might want to consider the very affordable Sienna line of diamond-shaped shingles from GAF (gaf.com), North America's largest roofing manufacturer, since they capture that generation's sensibilities.

    "They pick up on key Millennial style trends of natural, clean materials, clean lines, and the integration of artistic elements," said Leslie Franklin, executive director of residential marketing at GAF.

    * Millennials: all-new appliances. Realtors will tell you that major kitchen (and bath) upgrades aren't generally worth their high costs, in terms of return on investment, since prospective buyers' tastes can clash with yours.

    However, Millennials do love, love, love all-new stainless steel appliances. So much so that what RealtyTimes.com called "an astonishing majority of 75 percent" of respondents in a recent survey chose to spend their hypothetical home buying budgets on them.

    Ref: Gardens - in Blogs
    64 0

    Rebecca Ebert Rebecca_Ebert


    107 0

    Aric Feeney Aric_Feeney


    80 0

    Rebecca Ebert Rebecca_Ebert


    88 0

    Millie Zemlak Millie_Zemlak
    (NewsUSA) - It's no secret that shopping for holiday gifts can be overwhelming.

    The answer to alleviating the stress of thoughtful gift giving comes in a cardboard box.

    Seriously.

    Subscription box services are popular options for a "gift that keeps on giving," providing a personalized experience delivered safely every month.

    In fact, in a survey conducted by the Paper and Packaging Board from August 2015 to November 2016, 82 percent of those surveyed agreed that they could rely on corrugated cardboard boxes to get their merchandise shipped and delivered safely. And 60 percent feel that products that come in paper-packaging tend to feel more premium.

    Innovations in box and packaging design allow these boxes to delight well past delivery with extended use and upcycling options.

    Find the perfect gift for your loved one this season with one of these favorites:

    * KiwiCo (Kiwico.com):

    For the Kid Who Is Going to Run the World.

    KiwiCo develops monthly STEAM educational hands-on projects and activities to spark curiosity and creativity in kids aged 0-16+.

    Each eco-friendly corrugated box is filled with interactive projects to fit a child's respective age group. As your child or loved one grows, so do the boxes!

    * Loot Crate (LootCrate.com): For the Pop-Culture Obsessed.

    Loot Crate is a pop culture- themed subscription box featuring a changing monthly theme that covers all fandoms.

    These corrugated boxes hit every interest from video games to television and movies. Loot Crate offers an additional perk - the box is part of the monthly theme itself, which is to say, the box transforms into a "bonus" gift with some simple cuts and folds. You have to see it to believe it.

    * Graze (Graze.com) - For the Foodie.

    Graze is a subscription box that uses high-quality, nutritionist- approved ingredients to provide wholesome snacks. Graze uses responsibly resourced paper-based packaging to ensure that its products are safe and fresh for consumption.

    Foodies can subscribe for weekly, bi-weekly or monthly deliveries of personalized Graze boxes based on their custom-snack profile.

    *KitNipBox (KitNipBox.com): For the Cat Lover.

    KitNipBox is uniquely themed so cats (and their humans!) have something fresh, fun and new to look forward to each month. The design of the box, which can be recycled, is specifically made to fit 95 percent of cats, so they can play with the box and fit inside of it.

    Additionally, KitNipBox uses specially designed crinkling tissue paper in the boxes, so that the unwrapping experience is even more special for cats and their owners.

    * Cratejoy (Cratejoy.com):

    For Everyone.

    Cratejoy is the world's premier subscription box website, providing a global marketplace of products.

    Cratejoy offers a vast selection of uniquely crafted corrugated boxes suited to virtually any hobby, interest or taste.

    Gifting a subscription box service is an easy yet thoughtful option for anyone on your shopping list! Unbox an experience that will last long past this holiday season. Find out more by visiting HowLifeUnfolds.com

    Click here to view video.

    Ref: Giveaways - in Blogs
    96 0

    Aric Feeney Aric_Feeney


    70 0

    Ramiro Williamson Ramiro_Williamson


    67 0
Load More