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.

Now in the seventh year of their partnership, the National 4-H Council and CME Group, the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, are bringing their Commodity Carnival educational experience to 120 state and county fairs across the Midwest.

Commodity Carnival is an interactive game consisting of three activities that guide participants through the process of producing and selling livestock. The program aims to teach young fairgoers the dollars and cents of agriculture and test their knowledge of the risks of bringing food to market.

"There are a number of risks that must be managed before food reaches the consumer's dinner table. Commodity Carnival breaks down these complex topics and decisions by providing an engaging game for students to learn that farming is a business," says CME Group Managing Director of Agricultural Products Tim Andriesen. "CME Group's roots are in agriculture and we're proud to educate the next generation of farmers and ranchers on risk management in production agriculture."

CME Group and 4-H first joined forces in 2013, driven by the same mission to prepare future generations of farmers and food producers with respect to risk management in agriculture. Since then, Commodity Carnival has reached over 400,000 students across the country, including 77,000 last year alone.

"We are so pleased to continue our partnership with CME Group and help prepare today's youth with skills they need to be successful in the future," says National 4-H Council President and CEO Jennifer Sirangelo. "The focus and purpose of the Commodity Carnival is to strengthen our collective efforts to increase agricultural literacy and highlight the important role of agriculture commodities. Students get to take part in an interactive, hands on experience that allows them to learn by doing."

Those unable to participate at the fair can still join the fun by downloading Risk Ranch, the mobile companion app to Commodity Carnival.

To learn more about the Commodity Carnival, Risk Ranch and see a list of more than 100 fairs participating this season, visit www.cmegroup.com/4hcarnival.

But while schools themselves have many ways to fundraise and advocate for expanded federal, state and local budgets, it's parents who increasingly find themselves turning to innovative programs like Box Tops for Education to raise money for things like classroom supplies, technology, field trips and playground equipment. In fact, since its inception in 1996 -when only a select few General Mills cereals were part of a test launch - Box Tops for Education has raised more than $913 million for 70,000-plus schools just by paying 10 cents for every clip submitted from what's now a long list of participating food and household products.

Even better, a new app has simplified the entire process.

No longer do parents, teachers and other community members have to cut out and then physically drop off dozens, or even hundreds, of Box Tops clips at their local school. Instead, they're now able to use the Box Tops for Education app - downloadable for free via iTunes App Store and Google Play - to scan their receipts from any retailer right on their smartphones.

The app automatically recognizes participating products, and funds are instantly added to your chosen school's earnings online. Twice each year, schools receive a check from Box Tops for Education to buy whatever they need.

"When Box Tops for Education began 23 years ago, clipping and mailing Box Tops was the best way for us to run the program," said Erin Anderson, Box Tops for Education's platform manager. "But over the years, technology has advanced at incredible rates, opening up all kinds of new opportunities. By going digital, we will be able to create efficiencies in our fulfillment processes, better understand the health of the program, show supporters their contributions in real time, and attract more brands to participate."

Convenience aside, shoppers using the app have two big advantages:

* The ability to see for themselves, right on the app, how their shopping habits directly impact their schools.

* A chance to win one of five $20,000 makeovers for their school by scanning receipts containing at least one participating product between now and November 15, 2019.

Receipts must be scanned within 14 days of purchase. And as the program fully transitions to a digital format, traditional Box Top clips found on packaging will still be accepted until they expire.

And, yes, "double dipping" is allowed. Meaning, for a limited time only during the packaging transition, savvy shoppers can earn double the cash by submitting traditional Box Top clips to their school's coordinator and also scanning receipts containing participating items through the app. Those without smartphones are encouraged to give their receipts to a friend, neighbor or family member to be scanned on their behalf.

For more information, or to see a full list of participating products, visit www.BoxTops4Education.com.

Humanscale, a leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance ergonomic office products, demonstrates how one company's leadership can set the example.

When it comes to environmental impact, "'less bad' is not good enough," says Humanscale's founder and CEO, Bob King.

"We took a look at our manufacturing and operational activities to understand our key impacts: energy, water, emissions, resource depletion, wildlife preservation, social responsibility and healthy materials," says King.

"In each area, we consider what it would take to go beyond sustainability to making a truly positive impact on the world around us. If a company can make a positive impact in all of these ways, it will be acting like a tree," he explains.

"While trees aim to grow, they're self-sustaining and they replenish the environment. If we want to live at peace with the planet, then our factories must be like trees, our companies like a forest."

Humanscale is set to release its annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report in time to coordinate with Earth Overshoot Day, the date calculated to mark when humans have depleted Earth's resources beyond its ability to regenerate these resources within a given year.

Company achievements highlighted in the report include the use of solar energy for nearly 70 percent of electricity used by the company's main manufacturing facility in 2018; reduction of normalized greenhouse gas emissions by 63 percent since 2011; and the use of rainwater for 100 percent of production water in the United States.

In addition, in the last year, nearly 500 of Humanscale's employees voluntarily completed more than 10,340 activities that involved saving energy, reducing water use, and cutting down on their emissions.

Humanscale has also made material transparency a priority. Material transparency means labeling products, such as furniture, similar to food ingredient labels that clearly state what materials a product contains. Material transparency labels, such as Declare labels and Health Product Declarations (HPDs), identify potential toxins and unhealthy materials in products so consumers can make informed decisions before choosing these products for their homes or offices.

Humanscale has taken the lead in this area. Their products contain no Red List chemicals, and as of December 2018, the company has published 60 percent of all Declare labels and 54 percent of all HPDs that exist in the entire furniture industry.

In 2018, Humanscale received a BIFMA (Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer's Association) Level 3 (the highest level of that association's certification) for all its products. The BIFMA is based on analysis of product manufacture, including water and energy use, emissions, chemicals, waste, and environmental design.

For more information about Humanscale and its sustainability efforts, visit humanscale.com.

For many middle-class families, the ongoing out-of-pocket costs for asthma or COPD medications is a growing burden. When money runs low, some people will try to stretch the use of their inhalers for as long as possible; others try to get by without them at all, placing their health at risk.

Asthma affects about one in every 13 Americans, one-fourth of whom are under the age of 18. It is the third-leading cause of hospital stays for children. COPD is a group of progressive lung diseases that obstructs airflow. Some 16 million Americans suffer from COPD, 70 percent of whom are 45 and older.

While many patients and caregivers struggle with these complex conditions, the high-cost insurance premiums, along with steep deductibles, copays, and poor prescription coverage, can prove a significant barrier. This is compounded by the fact that 75 percent of patients are not taking their medication correctly. And the impact of nonadherence can mean a visit to the hospital.

Asthma and COPD require an arsenal of medications. And, it is not uncommon for people suffering from one of these conditions to be impacted by other chronic conditions.

Rather than point fingers at medication costs or insurance company profits, it is important to help people find solutions.

Copay assistance cards, also called copay coupons, can help take the financial sting out of the cost of medication. Go to www.legacyhealthendowment.org to obtain one, and look for the button, " Click for Asthma and COPD Recommendations."

Please remember to start with your local pharmacist. He or she is the most informed about prescription medications.

And if you are uninsured, there are programs that often cover close to 100 percent of your costs. Try this website, mat.org, offered by the pharmaceutical manufacturer's trade association.

Cost should never be a barrier to care.

Jeffrey Lewis is president and CEO of Legacy Health Endowment in Turlock Ca.

Mr. Lewis' email address is [email protected]

Motivated by the potential for growth, small businesses across the country are taking advantage of this movement with more enthusiasm year after year, given strong consumer response. GS1 US, an information standards organization that helps small brands identify their products for commerce, recently spoke with small business owners who have run successful Small Business Saturday campaigns. They discussed three big benefits to buying from small businesses this holiday season. 

Unique Products 

Consumers are hungry for a wide variety of unique products, which provides prime motivation for shoppers to support small businesses.

"People shop small because it makes them feel good. It allows people to discover interesting products, and feel like they are helping a real person, as opposed to a big corporation," says Andrew Jacobs, CEO of JAM Paper and Envelope, an e-commerce paper company.

According to a study by the NFIB and American Express last year, nearly two-thirds of online shoppers (65 percent) are likely to seek out small, independently-owned retailers. This helps unique products from small brands compete right alongside products from larger, well-known brands.

"It's so important for small businesses to be recognized in order to compete with big businesses," says Lisa Burginger, founder of Qubits Toy, Inc., a company that makes colorful building sets for kids. "For our company, it's our busiest time of the year." 

Community Support 

For many consumers, shopping small is driven by the desire to support their local communities. When consumers spend $100 at a local business, roughly $68 stays in their local economy, according to a recent Civics Economy study. The local impact, which helps benefit food, service and civic organizations within the community, could be 50 percent larger than a similar purchase from a regional or national retailer.

"I believe people want to support their communities," says Allison White, founder of Scout Cart, a unique personal utility cart company. "They often know the owners of local small businesses and these small businesses often provide employment opportunities for the young adults in our families." 

True Connections 

Small businesses can use the extra consumer attention to nurture brand loyalty beyond just one day. According to the 2018 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey, 96 percent of consumers who reported shopping on Small Business Saturday say the day makes them want to shop "small" all year long, not just during the holiday season.

"Small businesses can give you special services, discounts, and one-to-one customer service that big businesses can't always offer," says Burginger.

Increasingly, shopping is about a shared experience - the small businesses that create memorable moments for consumers will likely experience growth.

"The next generation is looking for more than just a product, they want an experience," says Travis Wayne, product manager, TEKLYNX, a barcode software company that is certified as a GS1 US Solution Partner, a program that helps small businesses find qualified partners to help them reach more consumers.

"When you walk into a hardware store, for example, or if you shop online, it's more about personalizing that experience and ensuring that the consumers get what they need. Some businesses teach instructional courses on a product, or supply some kind of educational information. It's about going above and beyond consumer expectations with the hopes of increasing the sale and maintaining a customer for life."

Taking advantage of Small Business Saturday is ultimately just one way small brands are setting themselves up for growth. Beyond the holiday season, businesses of all sizes need to think strategically to succeed in a competitive retail landscape. Visit www.gs1us.org/small-business to access research from GS1 US on the ambitions and challenges of small businesses, watch videos featuring entrepreneurs, and learn more about their growth journeys.

Founded in 2000 by the World Heart Federation, this specific day aims to increase awareness of heart disease and stroke worldwide. The American Heart Association, a global force for longer, healthier lives, is a founding member of the World Heart Federation and continues to work collaboratively to reduce premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease.

This year's campaign, called "My Heart, Your Heart" is about celebrating and connecting like-minded people, and creating a sense of commitment around the common cause of heart health. It is a concept that encapsulates the values of World Heart Day through making a "Heart Promise" to improve your heart health by eating healthier, being more physically active and stopping smoking and/or vaping.

"World Heart Day is about what you can do to get, and keep, your heart healthy, and the American Heart Association is proud of the extensive work we do to provide the information to get you to optimal heart health," says Sidney Smith, M.D., volunteer medical expert and past president of the American Heart Association. "Through the areas of cardiovascular research, healthcare quality improvement and resuscitation science, the American Heart Association is committed to reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease."

Cardiovascular disease is the leading global cause of death, accounting for more than 17.6 million deaths per year, a number that is expected to grow to more than 23.6 million by 2030, according to a 2014 study. It accounts for approximately 1 of every 3 deaths and claims more lives each year than all forms of cancer combined. However, through making healthy behavior changes, it's possible to greatly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

To learn more about World Heart Day and the World Heart Federation's campaign, visit www.worldheartday.org.

Courtney McCormick, Dietitian at Nutrisystem, offers five low-carb swaps to keep you healthy and happy through the holidays:

1. Try veggies when you're craving a crunch. We're all guilty of lingering too long at the chips and salsa bowl at a holiday party. If you're craving something crunchy such as a pretzel or chips, try carb-conscious snacks with a crunch - brussel sprouts chips, kale chips, veggies such as cucumber, zucchini, and carrots - they pair wonderfully with a healthier dip such as low-fat ranch or hummus.

2. Sub in cauliflower for your favorite comfort foods. Do you love mashed potatoes, rice, pizza, and tater tots? If you've been avoiding these foods as part of your healthy lifestyle, cauliflower is here to help. This versatile veggie has recently become popular as a substitute for some of our favorite comfort foods. Mashed and steamed cauliflower have a texture and taste that is surprisingly similar to mashed potatoes - add a bit of salted butter and enjoy! And if you're not ready to go all in on the cauliflower craze just yet, McCormick recommends swapping out at least half the potatoes for cauliflower.

3. Mix your own dressings and condiments. Have you taken a close look at the nutrition facts on your favorite cranberry sauce? You might be shocked by the carbs and added sugars in dressings, sauces, and condiments, even those that appear to be "healthier" options. The best way to avoid sneaky carbs in your condiments is to make them at home. That way, you can control the ingredients and ensure they taste great.

4. Bring the healthy alternative to the holiday party. Where everyone else is hauling sugary cookies and cakes, dare to bring the delicious low-carb snack! Get creative with the presentation - use edamame hummus, pita, and slices of red pepper to make perfectly festive "holiday trees."

5. Don't drink your carbs. You've probably heard the saying, "don't drink your calories," before, but you shouldn't drink your carbs either. Toss the fruit juices and sodas for seltzer, unsweetened tea, and the original favorite, water. Light beer, spiked seltzer, or dry wines are good low-carb alcohol options if you're celebrating.

For more great tips and tricks on how to make the most of your holidays with healthy alternatives, visit leaf.nutrisystem.com.

The Modern Wine "Factory" 

Even under FDA regulations, US mass wine producers like many in California can include up to 70 additives in their wines. Colorings like "mega purple" or "ultra-red", synthetic fertilizers, tartaric acid, powdered tannins, and gum Arabic don't even have to be disclosed on the label. Once again, consider California wines: overall, many aim for consistency year after year. Mass producing wine in some parts of the world is more like a factory than a vineyard. Though there is something to be said for uniformity, a lot of the magic of winemaking is lost. It's no surprise that all-natural and organic wines are gaining popularity year after year. 

What's Old Is New Again 

Not all wine regions use these artificial tactics. Natural winegrowing and winemaking are not new to Bordeaux. Not only has this region been making wine naturally for centuries, they are literally required to do so. They believe in the art and science of maintaining the holistic health of the region as well as each individual estate's ecosystem. Only nature determines the wine. Artificial enhancement or even irrigation is forbidden.

In Bordeaux, it's more than just the law. It's a passion for winemaking methods passed down for hundreds of years. It all starts with the "terroir"- the soil and unique climate conditions where the grapes are grown. Vineyards on two sides of the same hill can produce vastly different characteristics.

"Every year nature provides wine makers in Bordeaux a fresh canvas," says sommelier and wine expert Joel Prato. "This relationship with nature is evident in the unique taste of each Bordeaux vintage." In a place like Bordeaux, the seasons also have a huge influence on the character of a vintage. Weather can make or break a year. For example, a 2013 Bordeaux is a rare sight as fluctuating weather conditions meant many vineyards didn't have a crop to bottle. Nature determines production, not factory settings. 

Making Music (and Wine) 

Making natural wine is not always easy. To combat the elements, innovative winemakers like Damien Landouar of Château Gaby are turning heads by introducing techniques like Genodics - playing music to the vineyards to boost their natural immunity. When you can't count on additives and chemicals, you have to be creative. His vines most likely have better taste in music than most people. 

Highly Rated, Naturally 

If you're new to natural wines from places like Bordeaux or want to try a highly rated vintage from the region, here are some recommendations:

Château Gaby (Canon Fronsac) - Grown on a 350-year-old vineyard, Château Gaby is truly Bordeaux's best-kept secret. This complex and well-structured merlot blend is ranked in the top 1 percent of all wines in the region by Vivino and given 92 points by Decanter Magazine.

Château Auguste Rosé (Entre-deux-Mers) - Step aside Provence. Bordeaux is making a statement with this organic rosé. Racy, precise, and light on its feet, Château Auguste celebrates strawberries and tangerines with bright minerality.

Château Moya (Côtes de Castillon) - A picture of elegance, smooth and balanced. Taste how good organic can be with Château Moya. Awarded 96 points by Jancis Robinson, this wine is a heavenly pairing for delicate cheeses and fresh, seasonal dishes.

Château Du Parc (Saint Émilion Grand Cru) - Château Du Parc is grown on older vines in an appellation known for its wine since the days of Ancient Rome. This broad-shouldered and spicy blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc was given 94 points by James Suckling. Learn more at chateau-duparc.com.

The holiday season is a time to celebrate with friends and family. These good times of laughter and love are all natural. Shouldn't your wine be too?

Jocelyn Vasquez is living proof of those statistics.

At a young age, her parents instilled the belief that if you owned a home, you had achieved the American dream. That dream of homeownership carried a lot of weight for her Hispanic parents, who had immigrated from El Salvador in 1977.

Jocelyn turned the dream into an aggressive goal for herself:

"My goal, as a U.S. citizen, was to graduate college and get a house before turning 30," says Jocelyn. "And, I wanted to do it on my own."

To accomplish this, the Los Angeles, California resident made a roadmap for herself. She saved, attended college and kept her student loan debt as low as possible - all without burdening her parents.

After she graduated, Jocelyn got a job as a loan officer assistant. It wasn't until she had worked there for three years that she fully understood what was needed to qualify for a mortgage. The lightbulb went off when she realized, "I really could buy my own home someday."

That was when she got serious. Because California real estate is so expensive, Jocelyn got a second job. She earned her real estate license and worked part-time as an agent, determined to save all her commission checks for a down payment.

It took her three years to build her savings, pay off bills and get her debt-to-income (DTI) ratio low enough to qualify for a loan. (Many lenders don't want a borrower's debt to be greater than 45 percent of their gross income.) Once she achieved this, it was time to execute her plan.

Jocelyn searched for a house that was less than $300,000 - not an easy task in the Greater Los Angeles Area. She looked at 16 homes before she found a 2-bed, 2 ? bath townhouse, with a 2-car garage for $285,000. Even though it was perfect for her, she took the weekend to think it over before making an offer. Unfortunately, her hesitancy cost her. By Sunday night, the seller had already accepted an offer. Jocelyn was devastated.

"I felt so discouraged, I didn't know what to do," she admitted.

"After all my hard work and determination, I couldn't believe I had missed out on this house. But I told myself what I tell all my buyers, 'If it's meant to be, it will be.'"

It must have been meant to be: Five days later, Jocelyn got an alert on her phone informing her the house was back on the market - for $7,000 less. Jocelyn immediately called the seller's agent, who told her the first buyer had backed out of the deal because his truck didn't fit in the garage. This time, Jocelyn didn't hesitate to offer the new asking price of $278,000.

Jocelyn used conventional financing with private mortgage insurance, which allowed her to put down less than 20 percent. By saving diligently, she was able to make a five-percent down payment of $13,900. Her current monthly payment of $2,020 is exactly what she paid to rent her previous 1-bed, 1-bath, 640-sq.-ft apartment in downtown LA.

"This is the best investment I've ever made," says Jocelyn. "In the two years I've owned my home, its value has increased by almost 15 percent. It took a very long time, but I knew my plan would work eventually. And, I did it all on my own at age 28. My goal now is to help other Hispanic homebuyers realize the American dream of owning their own home."

For more first-time homebuyer stories, visit readynest.com.

1 According to Fannie Mae's 2018 National Housing Survey