Unstoppable in Stilettos: A Girl's Guide to Living Tall in a Small World

By Lauren Ruotolo

How to Live Large Every Day and Kick Butt Along the Way!

 How does a girl who was originally predicted to live a wheelchair-bound existence become adventurous, self-assured, successful, and . . . unflappable? Standing 4 feet 2 inches tall in flats (which she would never be caught dead in, anyway), Lauren Ruotolo has spent her thirty-four-ish years seeing the world from a unique angle—upward facing. Lauren was born with McCune-Albright syndrome, a mysterious and rare genetic disease that researchers say occurs in anywhere between 1 in 100,000 and 1 in 1 million people. Some people with the condition tend to go the wheelchair route, but that was never a road Lauren wanted to travel. Her preferred method of transportation, instead, includes stiletto heels. Lauren has avoided the label of 'disabled' through uniquely discovering who she really is, and now you, too, can learn the secrets to living life in a big way.

In Unstoppable in Stilettos, Lauren offers you 'Lauren's Lessons,' in which she shares her hard-earned wisdom and life experiences to offer you a unique brand of life philosophies that you can apply to any of the rights of passages you may be experiencing as a Twenty-first Century Woman, including:

• Navigating social pressures
• Avoiding the label game
• Overcoming insecurities
• Combating career confusion
• Turning rejection and obstacles into triumph
• Dealing with toxic people
• Discovering true self-expression
• and so much more.

With Unstoppable in Stilettos you will have the tools to carve out your own path to self-confidence, success, and individualism . . . and have a blast along the way.

Order on Amazon today! 

Good Girls Don't Get Fat: How Weight Obsession Is Messing Up Our Girls and How We Can Help Them Thrive Despite It

By Robyn Silverman

Based on Dr. Robyn Silverman's groundbreaking research at Tufts University, and filled with searingly honest young voices, Good Girls Don't Get Fat:

– Decodes the ripple effects of actions that damage our girls—and provides tools to help stop them.
– Shines light on the positive influence of women who embrace body types of any size—and explains how to model the right behavior.
– Shows how girls, whatever their size, can own their strengths, trust their power and accomplish amazing things.

Order on Amazon today!  

Old Dogs, New Math

Old Dogs, New Math
By Mike Eastaway and Rob Askew

“Can you help me with my math homework?” If, like most parents, this question fills you with a sense of dread (or even panic), then this is the book for you.

So much for the “good old days” when elementary students simply memorized their times tables and struggled through long division. Today, students are expected not just to find the right answer, but also to choose the best method for doing so—and to explain why it works.

On top of that, students are learning new strategies—even for basic arithmetic—that look foreign to many parents: What are open number lines, decomposing and nets, and how do you multiply on a grid?
If your attempts to help your child are met with “That’s not how the teacher does it,” then it’s time to take the stress out of math homework. Old Dogs, New Math is your guide to:

• Number lines, place value and negative numbers
• Long multiplication and division
• Fractions, percentages and decimals
• Shapes, symmetry and angles
• Data analysis, probability and chance

Complete with sample questions, examples of children’s errors, and over 25 games and activities, Old Dogs, New Math will not only demystify math, but also help you and your child discover math all around you—and have fun doing it!

Order on Amazon today!

The Children's Movement of Florida

The Children’s Movement of Florida is a citizen-led, non-partisan movement to educate political, business and civic leaders – and all parents of the state – about the urgent need to make the well-being and education of our infants, toddlers and all other children Florida's highest priority.

Our mission is not about raising taxes, but rather about raising children. Florida's children deserve to be our first priority when deciding how the state's resources are spent.

Read more.

Not Your Parents' Money: The TALK

By Jean Chatzky

For the first time, financial guru and TODAY Show regular Jean Chatzky brings her expertise to a young audience. Chatzky provides her unique, savvy perspective on money with advice and insight on managing finances, even on a small scale. This book will reach kids before bad spending habits can get out of control. With answers and ideas from real kids, this grounded approach to spending and saving will be a welcome change for kids who are inundated by a consumer driven culture. This book talks about money through the ages, how money is actually made and spent, and the best ways for tweens to earn and save money.

Find out more and order on Amazon today!

Prudential Spirit of Community Awards - Teen Volunteers and Community Service

Do you know a teen that are making a difference in the lives of others?  A youth that is reaching out in their community, giving their time, donating items or simply being part of an organization targeted at helping others?  Paying it forward is part of building a community. 

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is the largest youth recognition program in the country based exclusively on volunteer community service. And what better way to recognize our young heroes and inspire others to follow their lead than honoring them with these prestigious awards?

If you know someone from grades 5-12 who has demonstrated outstanding volunteerism over the past year, then encourage them to complete an online application at http://spirit.prudential.com. State and national honorees will receive a cash prize, a trip to Washington, D.C., and an engraved medallion to thank them for the great work they have done. 

This is a great opportunity to reach out and recognize those that are exceptional youths and create a positive and inspiring environment.

If you are a junior or senior in high school, acquiring your community services can make a major difference on your college applications.  What most teens realize is that giving back is actually helping them to build their self-esteem and will give you a warm feeling.

Do you know a special youth today?  Nominate them and they may be rewarded!


Watch video for more information.

Florida Heritage Book Festival at Flagler College

Some teens believe books are boring, while children get so excited about the book fair at school.  Have you ever considered taking your entire family, including your teens to a book festival?  The events with famous authors, the excitement of workshops and the fun of meeting great people can make this weekend a family affair.

Now in its third year, St. Augustine’s Florida Heritage Book Festival is looking forward to even more one-of-a-kind literary events that only our nation’s first city can offer. Best-sellers, writers’ workshops, authors in schools and Literary Legends are just some of the favorites of this preeminent event.

September 25 and 26 are the dates to save.  Located at the most beautiful historic Florida campus in St. Augustine, Flagler College will present the Florida Heritage Book Festival and proudly opens with renown author Carl Hiaasen as a keynote speaker in the Flagler Auditorium at 9:00am.

The best part, is this event is FREE!  Yes, with today's struggling economy here is an opportunity to include your entire family with an outing that is both educational and tons of fun.

Book signings, author presentations and children's events are all included. 
Check here for the event schedule.

Visit www.FLBookFest.com for more information including a writers workshop!

Read more.

Raising Able by Susan Tordella

Raising Able describes how to enlist 2-to-22-year olds in contributing around the house.


Young people will feel a sense of belonging, while learning responsibility and self-discipline. Chores nurture self-esteem and develop competence while giving the adults a break from being the family servants.

Cleaning toilets, doing dishes and sweeping the floor counteract entitlement. Learn more positive parenting strategies to have a calmer, more harmonious home, written by a mother of four who has coached other parents in workshops for nearly a decade.

Learn more about the author and the book.

Yoursphere - Get Inspired: Where Kids Create, Connect, Share...

Most importantly - safety and privacy comes first!

Meet Yoursphere
 
Yoursphere.com offers a vibrant, online, interactive, experience for kids and teens. Member’s safety and privacy come first through the application of common sense safeguards. The site devotes a hyper-focus towards supporting the positive interests, talents and aspirations of its members.

The site is free and is exclusively for children and young people through age 18. Yoursphere offers members a unique online community experience that is rewards-based, content appropriate, age-relevant, and socially conscious.

Yoursphere leads the global social media industry in online safety through our unparalleled common sense approach. We verify identities, require parental consent, perform a predator check, and use both technology and human oversight to monitor site activity. Because of these standards, Yoursphere is the sole youth-only online community approved by the Privacy Vaults Online Safe Harbor of the Federal Trade Commission.
Parents are empowered and educated with tools and information to help create a safety-first experience for their children online through Mary Kay’s Internet and Social Networking Safety Blog: Yoursphere for Parents.

Memoirs of a Runaway: A Story of Hope

by Michael Kennon

Michael Kennon is the CEO and President of Kennon Transport, LLC, a successful trucking business he runs with his wife, Sue.  Before owning his own company, Mike was a runaway and was virtually homeless for most of his childhood and young adulthood.  To survive on the road, Mike drove trucks, sold encyclopedias, hustled pool, was a baker, ski instructor, sous chef, drug dealer just to name a few.   Drugs and other dependencies took over Mike's life to the point that he could not accept help when it was offered, nor could he stop running away from a past that haunted him. 


While now blessed with what he has achieved in his life and in his personal and family relationships, things were much different at one time.  "Memoirs of a Runaway:  A Story of Hope" is a tale of survival and spirituality.  Isolation and reconnection.  Most of all, it is a hand reaching out to those who travel down the same troubled path; a story of hope.

"I was a runaway at age 12 and has become a real passion of mine to help runaways and the parents of." - Michael Kennon

VolunTeens: Promoting Community Service

As schools have opened in many areas, many teenagers in high school that will be graduating this year and applying to colleges. They will need to consider their community service and volunteering hours.  Colleges have become more competitive and adding your volunteer services can enhance your college application and possibly be the deciding factor in being accepted into your first choice school.

VolunTeens.com is your source for opportunities for volunteer services in Broward County and Palm Beach County.  There are many chapters throughout the country.  Whether you are a teen seeking community service hours or an organization that needs volunteers, visit their website today for more information.

Volunteens.com is a website that assists teens in finding service opportunities that best fit each individual. Whether it is working with children, animals, or the elderly, volunteering is extremely rewarding.

Be an educated parent, your teens will have a brighter future!

Children Now: Promotes Talk With Your Kids

Our nation’s leaders often speak of children being a priority, yet the reality is that children continue to be underrepresented and under-funded by state and federal policymakers. Their well-being is steadily declining because our political system is driven by the interplay and competition among interest groups.

Interest groups rely on the established sources of political power—organized constituencies, lobbying dollars and campaign contributions—to get results. Since children are, after all, just children, they currently do not have any source of political power behind them. They have no competitive voice in this system.

“But they’re children,” you may be thinking, “aren’t their issues treated differently?” They are not. Over 20 years of experience on the front lines and the opinions of the top political analysts with whom we’ve strategized tell us that children are subject to the same political forces as any other issue.

Children Now—and your participation in The Children’s Movement—gives children the source of political power they need. Together, we can hold policymakers and industry more accountable by giving children a stronger voice in interest group-driven politics. We, as a unified force, can bring attention to the tremendous opportunities our society has in establishing better policies and practices concerning our children.