Productivity @ Home

The Truth about Restaurant Calories

Today's guest Health and Fitness article was written by Lynn Bode.

By now it is probably clear to most consumers that eating out is not the healthiest choice. Yet, all the marketing hype projected by restaurants can sound quite convincing. Restaurants and fast food chains are pitching everything from fat free, no carbs, low calories, high fiber and other specialty menu items.

Many even make specific promises about their food choices by providing nutritional information guides and even list macronutrient details right on their menus. Such details have been welcomed by millions of consumers who are watching their waist line. Unfortunately, even if you adhere to ordering from these "healthy" menu offerings, you may still find yourself struggling to lose weight.

There may be a legitimate reason for this struggle; it's been discovered that many of these so-called healthy menus are providing misleading information. A recent Scripps Television Station investigation revealed very disheartening results. The investigation uncovered huge discrepancies.

Both restaurant chains and fast food establishments were tested in the investigation. While some food menu items matched their published nutrition details or came close, others had variances such as twice as many calories or eight times as many fat grams. Yikes! That means while you might have counted that meal you ate out last night as only 500 calories, in reality it might have been a whopping 1,000 calories!

So, if you rely on self-published macronutrients from restaurants, you may be severely sabotaging your diet. Does this mean you must cook every meal you consume, seven days per week? No! This investigation's evidence is just a reminder that YOU must always take full responsibility for understanding what is going in your mouth.

Rather than relying on caloric and fat information provided by restaurants, just stick with these tips when dining out:

• Start your meal with a salad that ONLY consists of veggies. Have your salad dressing on the side and try to use only 3 to 4 spoonfuls of it on your salad.
• Order your meals steamed, grilled or broiled.
• Avoid items that are fried or sautéed.
• When your server brings your meal to you, ask that half of it already be placed in a to-go bag. Then save that portion for another day.
• Ask that side veggies be steamed with no added butter or sauces.
• Choose beverages without sugar or sugar substitutes. Try water with lemon slices, unsweetened tea or caffeine free coffee.
• Skip the bread bowl.
• Don't order appetizers in addition to an entrée.
• Share a meal with a friend.
• For sandwiches, ask for whole wheat bread.

Copyright 2009 Lynn Bode

Lynn Bode is a certified personal trainer specializing in Internet-based fitness programs. She founded Workouts For You, which provides affordable online exercise programs that are custom designed for each individual. Visit: http://www.workoutsforyou.com for a free sample workout. Fitness professionals take your business online, visit: http://www.trainerforce.com

Budgeting Tips For Newbies - 4 Money Saving Tools That Work

Today's guest Family Finances Column was written by Abi Bundance.

Every financially savvy family budgets their monthly income. Understand that budgeting is a must in order to maximize your resources for the greatest return. It is not as difficult as it seems as long as you utilize the tools that are readily at your disposal.

1. Budgeting Programs are essential. Be mindful that there are various budgeting programs available to help you track and evaluate your spending patterns. These money management programs provide you with a framework to follow that helps you to track your cash flow from small to large expenditures. As long as you are disciplined in entering the necessary information in the system, you can generate reports that diagnose your spending behaviors and help you determine where you may be overdoing it with your credit and debit cards.

Through these programs you can also input your various bi- weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly payments. They can also help you to keep track of what you give to your church or favorite charity. Additionally, some programs also offer you a tracking measure so that you can easily import the information from your budget to your tax forms when it is time to give Uncle Sam his cut.

2. Coupons help cut food budgets. Another less glamorous and possibly time consuming budgeting resource is the handy dandy coupon. Almost every item that is sold in the grocery store carries some sort of coupon for it from time to time. You may find it easier to just buy some of these items at the local Aldi's or Save-a-Lot store instead of spending hours cutting out coupons though. I remember when I found out that these smaller and lesser attractive grocers provide a 40% savings to my family food budget overall. It was amazing.

If you buy a pack of Oreo cookies in the local Wal-Mart or Krogers, chances are you are going to pay at least $3.00 for the pack on sale. At Aldi's they sell an off brand version of Oreo's for $1.00. That's at 67% discount without ever having to take out a pair of scissors. If you are worried about the taste, then do a blind taste test with your children to see which ones they prefer and let that be the deciding factor.

3. A list is a friend not an enemy. A good list system will help you to be way more productive in budgeting. A lot of people use spiral bound notebooks to keep their lists, others use their mobile or cellular phone to stay op top of their budgets and some prefer the flexibility of their personal digital assistant (PDA). No matter what type of list tool you use, you must remember to refer back to it often in order to stay focused or you will not be very good at following your budget objectives.

Before you go to buy food next time, plan out what you will allow in your shopping cart based on your upcoming menu. You should take a look at what is in your cupboards also before you head for the store (Your older kids are great at doing this for you). My daughter saves me every time I forget to do this because for some reason I always believe we are out of mayonnaise and it ends up in my cart more frequently than it should. She reminds me that it is not on the list for a reason when she is with me and then laughs at me when I bring home another unneeded jar again.

Your list should also contain the items that your are very low on and will run out of before your next food trip. This will save you having to do a midweek trip that guarantees you purchasing items that you do not need and were never budgeted for. If you are the kind of person that cannot follow your list to save your life then you might need to enlist the help of your kids. Let your kids do the shopping.

Arm them with your list and have them shop for the items, then they can let you know when they are done (Read a book or something in the car while they shop). Then you can go into the store and pay for the food and if they make wrong selections you can tell them to go back for the right ones. This will help them to understand how expensive food is as well and make them more sensitive to waste.

4. Your filing cabinet will help you keep your records straight. Another invaluable tool for budgeting is a filing cabinet. You should start labeling your files in order to put your bills in good order for continual use and retrieval in case you need them later.

I recently changed my filing system because now I scan them and put them on a disk. If I need to print off a copy I can easily do so and if there is ever a fire in my home it is easier to believe that I can get my disk folder than take out my entire filing cabinet should the worst happens. By keeping your bills, statements and receipts together, you are more able to keep track of how much you owe and the due dates of your payments.

Effective budgeting tools can be invaluable in helping you address organizing your money budgeting program. You can create your own budgeting tool or find a program to do it for you.

Did you know that the average financial planner cannot help you if you are already struggling financially? Most of the products that financial planners offer are not good for YOUR financial future but how can you know this? Understand how to manage your monthly finances by signing up for my free Financial Basics 101 e-book, please visit http://www.financialbasics101.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abi_Bundance

i Before e Except after c

Over the next few weeks, on our Learning and Professional Development Wednesdays, I am going to be sharing with you some great excerpts from the book i before e (except after c) by author Judy Parkinson.  I was thrilled to receive this book for review and can't recommend it highly enough.  Here's a brief overview of the book:

Featuring all the mnemonics you’ll ever need to know, this fun little book will bring back all the simple, easy-to-remember rhymes from your childhood—once learned, fix the information in the brain forever—such as learning to count by reciting “One, Two, buckle my shoe, Three, Four, knock at the door.” Packed with clever verses, engaging acronyms, curious—and sometimes hilarious—sayings that can be used to solve a problem or cap an argument.

Take a trip back to the classroom, and rediscover the assortment of practical memory aids covering a range of different subjects, including spelling, time, mathematics, history, general trivia, and much more. The information is organized in short snippets by category such as:

• Geographically Speaking: Remember North East South West by reciting Never Eat Slimy Worms or Naughty Elephants Squirt Water.
• Time and the Calendar: “Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November; All the rest have 31 excepting February alone; And that has 28 days clear; With 29 in each leap year”
• Think of a Number: Know the Roman numerals by remembering “I Value Xylophones Like Cows Dig Milk”
• World History: “In fourteen hundred, ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue, And found this land, land of the Free, beloved by you, beloved by me”

The clever verses, engaging acronyms, curious sayings are endless. Guaranteed to amuse and inform, here is a perfect gift for any language lover—complete with a To/From gift plate.

Here's this week's excerpt for your learning convenience:

The Greek Philosophers

The names of the three most important Greek philosophers, in order of their dates of birth and also their influence, are:

Socrates (469-399 BC)
Plato (c. 429-c. 347 BC)
Aristotle (384-322 BC)

Socrates taught Plato, and Plato taught Aristotle. Together they created the foundations of Western philosophy. Use your visual memory and imagine them meditating in a health SPA. Or think of the phrase: Smart People of Athens.

The above is an excerpt from book i before e (except after c) by author Judy Parkinson.  Judy Parkinson is a graduate of Bristol University in England.  She is a producer of documentaries, music videos, and commercials, as well as the recipient of a Clio Award for a Greenpeace Advertisement.  Parkinson has published four books and has contributed to a show of life drawings at the Salon des Arts, Kensington.  She resides in London.

Beloved Journals

As we wind towards the end of February, with love still on our minds, I wanted to share with you an interview I recently conducted with Shari Sears, author of For My Beloved Husband: A Journal (Beloved Journal) and the entire Beloved Journal series.  I love these journals for the emphasis they place on family communications and memorializing our relationships.

I'm pleased to share the following conversation with Shari Sears.

How do your journals differ from others on the market?

Thank you for your interest in our Beloved Journals.  This is really a kind of new concept in journaling and an idea that we hope will capture the attention of people as they realize its true treasure and impact on their marriage.  Romantic love, when it is expressed, has the power to ignite passion in a way few other things can.

Most journals on the market were created for a generic purpose.  In other words, choose an appealing cover and use the journal for whatever purpose you would like.  Our Beloved Journals have a very specific purpose and everything in their design was created for this purpose……keeping romance alive through written expressions of love.  The look and feel of the journals is rich and romantic; they are filled with quotes and Scripture verses on love and devotion to help inspire couples to express from their heart.  They really must be seen to be appreciated.  We want these to be a treasure, something you keep forever and even pass on to the next generation as a testimony of your love and devotion.

How did you come up with the idea of the Beloved Journals?

The idea for the journals came in a flash of inspiration as I was looking at a stack of cards on top of my husband’s dresser.  Because these cards contained written messages, they became difficult for him to discard.  Can anyone else relate to this??  After seeing the cards sitting there time and time again, and not being sure even how long they had been sitting there, the thought suddenly occurred to me that it would be great to have all those messages written in one journal, versus having a stack of cards that you don’t know what to do with.  If all those messages were written in a journal, several things would happen.  First, every time you write a message, you have the opportunity to read past messages…and so does your spouse.  The journal then becomes interactive between you as it is written in and read over and over again.  The messages remain fresh.  This is helping to reinforce your relationship.  Another wonderful benefit is that you are beginning to tell the story of your love.  As I have read messages my husband wrote to me in cards through the years, it brings back memories of things we were going through that I had forgotten about. This is a priceless treasure and also helps to cement your marriage as you see the various stages of life in marriage, how you survived many of life’s challenges.  It encourages us to keep going knowing that we have endured challenges in the past and survived!  From a practical standpoint, you eliminate the storage issue of years’ worth of cards that usually end up in a storage bin under a bed, in a closet, or in my case….the back of the sock drawer(!) where they are rarely seen…much less read and doing something positive for your relationship.

In the day and age of technology, writing seems to be a lost art.  How can Beloved Journals help bring families together?

Because we live in a technological world, the personal touch of much of our communication is lost.  This is a pity as there is something beautiful about the handwritten message.  Not only is each person’s handwriting unique, this uniqueness is a way of identifying the writer of the message.  Think of people who specialize in handwriting analysis; there is much deep in our personality that is expressed just by the way our handwriting looks!  But more importantly, writing gives us the opportunity to express something – usually deeper – that we might not say with spoken words.  Certainly in our fast paced lives, we are not always taking the time to get to those deeper parts of ourselves.  However, when we take the time to sit down and write, we also take the time to think about what we want to express, which helps us to give more of our intimate selves.  The combination of our unique thoughts, style of expression, and personal handwriting just has an unbeatable and irresistible charm that an e-mail or text message cannot duplicate.  Because these notes can be read over and over again, the words are reinforced in our hearts and our relationship is strengthened each time we read them.  This, in itself, helps to strengthen our relationship even more than words that are spoken and perhaps forgotten….in other words, our voice is preserved through our writing.  This again, is a priceless treasure.

Why take time to write one another when we can simply call, text or even email?

Hopefully you can see the value of taking the time to write your feelings to your ‘beloved’ even though our world is saturated with cell phone calls, text messages and e-mails.  Any of these mediums carries the chance that your message will be ‘lost’ in cyberspace….or worse, accidentally deleted and for sure lost forever!  Even if you do choose cyber options to express your love, consider opting for that good old-fashioned handwritten note from time to time….you’ll have a hard time beating the charm of it with anything else!

What type of feedback have you received from families who have used these journals?

Our journals are brand new and the concept is unique so we are definitely looking for feedback from people who put them to use.  As we talked to friends and family about this concept, there was much excitement and encouragement to proceed.  Everyone looked forward to having them available.  We think they look gorgeous, romantic and elegant.  We do have plans to expand the line of Beloved Journals with some additional ideas and we hope to be able to bring them to market.  We want people to see that this is an investment you make in your relationship—and perhaps the best gift you’ll ever give each other!!

Beloved Journals Titles:

• For My Beloved Husband: A Journal (Beloved Journal)
• For My Beloved Wife: A Journal (Beloved Journal)
• For My Beloved: From My Heart (Beloved Journal)

Organize This Life

If you're looking to truly get your act together and get things done, I want to recommend one of my favorite new books, Organize Now!: A Week By Week Guide To Simplify Your Space And Your Life by author and blogger Jennifer Ford Berry.

Here's a brief overview of this great resource:

With a unique week-by-week approach, Organize Now! gives readers simple and effective tools to organize every aspect of their lives. Jennifer Ford Berry walks the readers through each step of the organizing process for 52 different topics, dealing with each topic one week at a time. Organize Now! is not only easy-to-use but covers a wide variety of topics from paperwork, time management, mental clutter, pets and specific rooms to special events such as moving or vacation planning. The advice is proactive, straightforward and presented in checklists so that readers can see immediate results as they work. Advice for monthly and yearly maintenance is provided. Due to the structure of the book, readers can follow the book from start to finish for a full organizational makeover, or work through the book in any order they wish, targeting the problem areas for their life.

Offers practical, effective and easy-to-use instruction on organizing 52 specific problem areas and is structured so that readers can take a week-by-week approach if desired.

Printed on uncoated paper so that readers can easily mark off the checklists and write in their own notes and ideas.

I've been loving Jennifer's book, as well as her super blog at Organize This Life!  If you're looking for a book that will help you to systematically get things organized around your home, this one's a winner!

Organize Now!: A Week By Week Guide To Simplify Your Space And Your Life by Jennifer Ford Berry

4 Fitness Tips For Anyone Struggling to Get in Shape and Build a Great Body

 Today's guest article was written by Shaun Allen.

If you're like most people, it can be difficult to get in shape. You're probably overloaded with work and this makes it difficult to get in shape. If you have kids that is another stress added on. Then to top it off it is difficult when you're bombarded with a whole bunch of information and suffer from "paralysis by analysis".

In this article I am going to show you a few tips that will get you started on the right track. In fact, they're so easy you can get started today.

Fitness Tip #1 - Set proper goals to achieve your dreams. Write your goals down and stick them up on the wall somewhere. That way you can see your goals every day and get the motivation you need to accomplish them. When you write down your goals, make sure they are measurable and have a deadline.

Fitness Tip #2 - Now that you've made it clear what you want. You need to figure out how to get it. So you've written down your dreams and goals. But what do you have to do to accomplish them? Getting in shape isn't easy or we'd all be in shape. You'll have to workout, watch what you eat, and live a healthier lifestyle. Write down what you have to do to get in shape.

Fitness Tip #3 - The next tip is to make your life easier to accomplish your goal. So if you wrote down that you need to run on a treadmill for 30 minutes a day, it's time to go sign up at a gym for $20/month. If you wrote down that you need to eat healthier, it's time to get rid of your junk food and replace it with healthy food. Get rid of all the temptations you can to accomplish your goal.

Fitness Tip #4 - The last tip is to create a workout and food journal. Go buy 2 different cheap notebooks and write what each is for. The food journal is used to keep track of what you eat throughout the day. You'll learn how much healthy food you're eating which is probably not that much. You'll also learn how many calories and grams of fat you're eating. With your workout journal you can write down the exercises you did and how much weight was used, or how much time you did each exercise.

I've created a free Weight Loss Course for anyone who would like to lose 10 pounds in 14 days. By following this program you'll discover the exactly what you need to do to get motivated and start burning fat and losing weight quicker than you ever thought possible. You'll have a sexier, healthier, and even a more youthful body in the shortest amount of time possible. You can find this plan at http://www.betterbodyjourney.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shaun_Allen

Baby Money Saving Ideas For Parents

Today's guest post was written by Julie R. Holland.

Having a baby can really hurt your wallet. Before you start counting how much each smile will cost you, here are some money-saving ideas for parents of new babies.

* Babies outgrow things fast. Look for good-quality used items. Babies really don't care if their things are new. After they spit up on it, it won't be new anyway! Look for good used items at consignment stores, thrift shops, yard sales, and on local classified ads such as Craig's list. Be sure that anything you buy is in good, safe condition, and do watch for recalled items. If in doubt, you can do an internet search for recalls on that item. We found a $200 co-sleeper - still in the box- for $80 on a local classified ad and a nearly new $60 swing for $5 at a yard sale.

* Ask around to see if friends will let you borrow or have their used baby items. Many times you'll find that you can borrow a crib, highchair or other high ticket item.

* If at all possible, breastfeed your baby. Breastfeeding is healthier than bottle-feeding for many reasons. It helps reduce ear infections and colds, so you'll save money at the doctor too! Formula will cost about $125 a month, plus the cost of bottles. Breastfed babies have been shown to be healthier, learn faster, and have fewer ear infections than bottle-fed babies.

* Trade babysitting with another parent or group of parents. You'll get a chance to get out of the house and save money too. Even if money is tight, a short break from baby duty can do a world of good for your marriage - and divorce is expensive! Try something inexpensive like going out for ice cream cones or finding a dollar theater. You don't need to spend a lot of money to take a break. We often use buy-one-get-one-free restaurant coupons for a half-price date.

* Consider cloth diapers. Disposable diapers will cost you about $2,000 or more for 2 years. Cloth diapers, even the really good, easy-to-use kind, will cost about $300-500 over those same 2 years. Even with the minor added expense of electricity and water, you'll save a lot of money. Reuse those diapers on a second child, and you'll save a total of $3500! Modern cloth diapers are so much easier to use, and you'll benefit the planet too!

* Consider whether one parent can stay home or work from home. Although it may seem impossible to give up one income, when you look at the real cost, it can often save money to have one parent at home full or part time. Add up the cost of daycare, additional meals out, a second car, commuting costs, etc., and you may realize a savings very quickly.

Savings can really add up when you combine these money-saving tips. My daughter is four months old and we have already saved more than we have spent on baby things. We actually have more baby things than she can even use, enough to pass along to her younger cousin and still have plenty for our next baby.

A little creativity can make having a baby much more affordable. Just be sure that no matter what you choose to save money on, you never lose sight of how precious your baby is each day.

Julie R. Holland is an attachment parenting author and owner of Little for Now cloth diaper store. You'll find more money-saving tips for baby care in the Little for Now articles section. Subscribe to the free Little for Now newsletter for cloth diaper savings and more great articles like this one.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_R._Holland

Printable Homework Charts Keep Mom From Pulling Her Hair Out

Today's guest post was written by Colleen Langenfeld.

If you are battling with your kids over doing homework, there is a simple tool that can really help. Printable homework charts have made a difference in many homes and they can work in your home, too.

This premise is amazingly straightforward. Kids, like most adults, need structure. However, most kids do not understand their need for structure and will not institute any on their own. That's normal and where you, as a parent, can really shine.

 Helping your student get organized using homework charts is easy. Realize you may have to make tweaks in your system over the first few weeks. Many parents are frustrated with a new system that doesn't work perfectly the first time. Don't fall for that! Making changes over time is called progress and should be celebrated.

Start by sitting down with your child and going over his homework needs with him.

- How many classes or subjects does he have?

- What are the daily assignments that never change; such as daily reading or memorizing math facts.

- Are there days of the week he never has homework?

Use this information to get a feel for your child's homework needs and then head to your computer to get some printable homework charts. There are a wide variety of charts available online; some simple and some quite sophisticated. Take a look at your choices and print some charts out to get started. You can always get different ones later on.

Fill out the homework chart for the first week or month. Consider that this is a new habit for your child and some motivation to stick with the program will probably be needed. This is not so much about grades as about becoming responsible for doing the homework with minimal prodding from you.

Let the homework chart be the 'heavy' or authority on this issue. Explain to your child about this new system designed to help make her life easier (which it will absolutely do if she gets on board with it). Tell her there will be frustrations at first, that's fine, but grown-ups push through frustrations with a decent attitude.

Then get started. Each day point to the homework chart and ask if she has completed it for the day or how far she has gotten. Keep pointing out the natural consequences for not keeping on top of homework and establish your own family consequences for not keeping school a priority.

If you begin this system when your children are young and just starting out with their educational careers, you will find that you don't have any difficulties nagging about homework as they grow. If your kids are older and have already established non-productive homework patterns, then your work will take longer, but you can still get the job done. Let's face it. Adults complain loud and strong when they have to make changes they don't like, so why should we expect our half-grown children to be any different? That's human nature and as parents, we can be patient and show our kids the great skill of changing ourselves willingly and intentionally.

Use printable homework charts in your home to develop strong self-discipline habits and a healthy appreciation for education. Good homework habits are worth their weight in gold over the lifetime of your family.

Colleen Langenfeld has been parenting for over 27 years and helps other moms enjoy mothering more at http://www.paintedgold.com . Visit her website and grab your own printable homework charts today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colleen_Langenfeld

Tips for Keeping Kids Active

Today's guest post was written by Troy James Macraft

Keeping kids more physically active in today's day and age is increasingly becoming more difficult because many forms of entertainment are televison and video games. The majority of kids don't live on farms and have to be up at dawn to work and get the much needed exercise. Children today must find creative outlets that allow to be more interested to get away from the television and video games from time to time. If children are given the proper toys and resources they will take advantage of them.

Sports are a good way to get a child active. They are one of the most common ways to get a child physically fit and they also promote social development skills. For example, depending on the age of the child, a mini basketball rim would be great way to for a youngster to get some exercise. They can call their friends over and play against one another. Soccer ball, a tee ball set, football, a goalie net, puck, and hockey stick, all these are a good source of exercise. Table tennis would be a good way to build hand eye coordination.

If the child isn't into sports there are a variety of tents and tunnels that can be placed in the back yard. These tents can serve as fort and create a world of fantasy for young children. Those who have the space jungle gyms are an excellent means of exercise because they contain many features such as swings, slides, and climbing bars. They are really an all in one child workout center.

Obviously bicycles are very common for people of all ages. If one is looking for an alternative to a bicycle a pogo stick would do the trick. Pogo sticks are intended for kids over the age of three. There are scooters, 3-wheel riders, and pedal cars which are all good ways to get those little legs moving. Hopscotch is another fun source of exercise especially for young girls.

Any physical activity will be highly beneficial to a child and can lead them on a path to a better, healthier life. While circumstances and parenting habits are different, scheduling a time for a child to be physically active may be a good idea. Who knows, a child who frequently becomes active in a particular sports mat make a career out of it. It is important to expose a child as many physical activities as possible.

Troy James Macraft, Gifts for Kids, Kid Toys

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Troy_James_Macraft

Why Positive Thinkers Have the Power

Do you know a teen who you'd describe as a "positive thinker"?  If you answered yes to this question, you may want to share the following information with your favorite "positive thinking" teen.  Thanks to Ken Bossone for sharing this press release and an opportunity to teens to help shape our future.

What Is The Key To Teens Becoming Successful to Help Make The World More Peaceful?

After Ten Years Of Research, Ken Bossone, President Of The World Positive Thinkers Club, Has The Answer In His Exciting New Book And A Contest For Teens.

Orlando, FL. (February 03, 2009) Ken Bossone, President of The World Positive Thinkers Club, has announced the opening of an important nationwide contest for teens.

The Contest requires the student to write a 300 word essay that showcases skills in identifying a personal individualized plan in becoming successful in today's society while also implementing inspiration in making the world more peaceful.  

The top winners in each high school will receive prizes including cash, and a personal autographed copy of Bossone's brand new seven-time award winning book, Why Positive Thinkers Have The Power: How to Use the Powerful Three-Word MOtto to Achieve Greater Peace of Mind.  Additionally, winners will be granted induction into the WPTClub, and a letter of personal recommendation sent to the Department of Admissions at the winner's choice of college. Second place runner-ups will also win prizes.

Please see worldpositivethinkersclub.com for additional information.

Contact: Ken Bossone (407) 474 0413 or, via email, mail@worldpositivethinkersclub.com for more details or to schedule an interview.

ABOUT KEN BOSSONE:
Ken Bossone has been on numerous radio shows and relates to people of all ages, including teens, is an award-winning author, noted speaker and is on the faculty of the prestigious Internet Masters Teaching Program.  His latest book, Why Positive Thinkers Have The Power: How to Use the Powerful Three-Word MOtto to Achieve Greater Peace of Mind , has garnished SEVEN outstanding book awards from the Parent to Parent Adding Wisdom Award/Business Book of the Year, and is now available at http://www.amazon.com  and in bookstores nationwide.

ABOUT The World Positive Thinkers Club:
The World Positive Thinkers Club www.worldpositivethinkersclub.com is comprised of over 600 amazing members worldwide including Lance Armstrong, Eli & Payton Manning, Yao Ming, Tom Brady, Jodie Lynn, Joe Torre, Larry King, Shirley Cheng ( known as the modern day Helen Keller), Kurt Warner, Tony Dungy, and hundreds of more professional athletes and incredible business people.  Many have his book.  The club mission is to help others strive to reach higher and in turn to help others, especially children.