(NewsUSA)

"Hollywood to the Himalayas: A Journey of Healing and Transformation"
by Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati

The enlightening memoir of a reluctant spiritual seeker who finds much more than she bargained for when she travels to India.

As a Stanford grad getting her PhD in Psychology, Sadhvi Saraswati was comfortable with her life. When she agrees to travel to India to appease her husband, Sadhvi would have never imagined that she would be embarking on a journey of healing and awakening.

The book describes Sadhvi's odyssey toward divine enlightenment and inspiration through her extraordinary connection with her guru and renewed confidence in the joy that life can bring. Now one of the world's preeminent female spiritual teachers, Sadhvi recounts her journey with wit, honesty, and clarity. Says Deepak Chopra, "Her inspiring wisdom illuminates the path to healing, happiness, and inner peace." Purchase at https://amzn.to/3hGY0uD.

"The Dreamcatcher Codes"
by Barbara Newman

"This book is a homecoming. It is medicine for the soul and it is frankly glorious. Savor it, share it, be touched deeply by it."

Four girls. Four directions. One purpose. A YA novel filled with imagination, adventure and hope.

Powered by the elements earth, air, fire, and water, and secret messages from mystical dreamcatchers, four girls begin a quest to recover the stolen piece of the sacred Crystal Horseshoe. Snatched by a giant raven, this ancient talisman holds the Codes of Nature and is the key to its survival. The four girls bravely face what lies ahead. But time is running out. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3uip5Jn.

"The Essence of Nathan Biddle"
by J. William Lewis

This timeless coming-of-age tale has been likened to "discovering 'The Catcher in the Rye' all over again." Kit Biddle, a rising prep school senior, finds himself tangled in a web of spiritual quandaries and intellectual absurdities, compounded by his Uncle Nat's unspeakable acts which he claims were direct orders from God.

The tragedy haunting his family follows Kit like a dark cloud. When the brilliant Anna dismisses him, Kit spirals into self-destruction. But when his irrational decision to steal a maintenance truck and speed aimlessly down the highway ends in a horrific accident, Kit is forced to examine his perceptions of his life. Beautifully written and profoundly moving. Purchase at https://amzn.to/2SNarfw.

"Sugar Birds: A Novel"
by Cheryl Grey Bostrom

Harris Hayes has taught his daughter, Aggie, the ways of the northern woods. When her mother's depression worsens, Harris shows the girl how to find and sketch the nests of wild birds as an antidote to sadness. Aggie is in a tree far overhead when her unpredictable mother spots her and forbids her to climb. Angry, Aggie accidentally lights a tragic fire, then flees downriver. She lands her boat near untamed forest, where she hides among the trees and creatures she considers her only friends.

Perfect for fans "The Scent Keeper," "The Snow Child," and "The Great Alone," this is a layered, evocative coming-of-age story set in the breathtaking natural world where characters encounter the mending power of forgiveness. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3stiDyA.

NOTE: BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA) - Home offices are personal spaces that reflect the user's personality. Whether you work in a room with a closed door, a nook in the kitchen, or a corner of the family room, home offices are becoming a part of life.

Furniture that fits, figuratively and literally, into our homes and lives can make working from home a more pleasant, productive, and comfortable experience.

In addition, consumers are more conscious of the environmental and economic impact of large purchases such as furniture.

Custom furniture company Baru not only creates pieces that fit your needs and your space exactly, they work with trusted furniture makers in your community. Once you experience customized furniture for your home office, your relationship with your work space will change.

Not only will you have a unique furniture from top-quality materials, you will have supported the local economy and helped cut down on the waste associated with overseas manufacturing supply chains. Baru's network of skilled woodworkers can turn your order around quickly, and for a fraction of the cost of typical "custom-made" items.

Several more reasons to choose custom furniture for your home office include:

- Investing in quality. Custom furniture from Baru is designed and built to last so you can maximize your investment. Local manufacturing avoids long-distance shipping, so the money can be put towards higher-quality materials and components to make your investment worthwhile.

- Showing your style. Even if you are the only one who sees your home office, you have the ability to customize a desk with drawers just where you need them, and choose custom finishes and colors that bring pleasure as well as function to your workspace.

- Saving you time. Baru's sustainable manufacturing practices allow the company to know the sources of all materials and where the pieces are made (in the U.S.A.). Local production means a shorter wait time for your furniture to reach your door, and reduced carbon emissions associated with long-distance shipping.

Baru's top design and manufacturing engineer, Leland Thomasset, is an artist in his own right, with an extensive career in woodworking.

One of his designs was a walnut sideboard with a wireless charger and built-in mini speakers. But wait, there's more -- the sideboard had no bottom, so those seeking unobtrusive "instant office space" can pull up a chair, open the doors, and get to work, then close it all up for an "out of sight, out of mind," aesthetic.

Visit hellobaru.com for more information about how you can change your relationship with your furniture, and feel good about it.

(NewsUSA) - Whether you are returning to an office or upgrading a home office, nothing refreshes a business or residential space like new, high-quality flooring. The right flooring can help add style and warmth to a kitchen, infuse energy into a workout room, and lend an air of professionalism to an office.

Now is the perfect time to enhance your space with new flooring as you welcome more guests to your home, or welcome more clients to your office. Some popular types to consider for your floor installation or replacement include laminate and vinyl. Both are attractive, cost-effective, and easy to install. Here's a quick rundown to help you decide which is best for you:

- Laminate: Several key features make laminate flooring stand out from other types. Laminate flooring is made by taking an ultra-high-definition image of the material, whether it is wood, tile, or stone, and printing that image within the plastic material of the flooring.

"Laminate flooring used to have a reputation for being slippery; however, modern manufacturing methods have enabled designers to use slip-resistant material and increase the texture gravure depth allowing for better traction," according to HomeSolutionz, a licensed, bonded, and insured flooring company based in Phoenix, Ariz.

Laminate flooring can be used in any area of a home or office, including kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, living rooms, and even home workout rooms or art studios.

"Using Click and Lock Technology at the seams, new laminate flooring is designed to be easy to install," according to Home Solutionz experts.

- Vinyl: Luxury vinyl plank is an elegant and popular flooring choice that has the added benefit of being easy to clean and care for, a bonus for busy homes and offices. A skilled contractor will ensure that the vinyl plank floor in a home or office lasts as long as it should. High-traffic areas may require more frequent replacement, but a reliable flooring company, such as Home Solutionz, can install a luxury vinyl plank floor with seamless spot treatments or more complete replacements when needed to keep your home or office looking fresh and appealing.

Call 1-602-610-1636 or visit homesolutionz.com to learn more about the many ways to refresh your home or business with new or replacement flooring.

(NewsUSA) - Toys for Tots is the Nation's flagship children's Christmastime charity, but the program offers more than holiday hope. Toys for Tots has expanded its reach to help families in need throughout the year, and its services have been more valuable than ever in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The past year saw a huge increase in the number of families in need, and many are still struggling. In order to continue providing emotional relief, comfort, and a sense of normalcy to impacted families, Toys for Tots distributed one million toys, games, and books to COVID-19 impacted families through their DoGoodNow campaign. The generosity of the American public allowed Toys for Tots to source these gifts to children across the United States, but now they need help to refill "Santa's bag of toys" in preparation for what will likely be another busy holiday season.

"We didn't want to wait until the holidays to support families in need, so we provided one million toys throughout the spring and summer," says LtGen Jim Laster, USMC (Retired), President & CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. "Through our DoGoodNow initiative, we depleted our emergency supply of toys originally reserved to kick off our holiday campaign. The primary goal of our Christmas in July campaign is to restock our inventory of toys after our second special COVID distribution, and we could use everyone's help in preparing for a busy holiday season," he emphasizes.

The impact of Toys for Tots' DoGoodNow campaign has been extremely successful thanks to the generosity of the American public. The support has reached nearly 400,000 children from coast-to-coast with help from our partner Good360 and their network of hundreds of local non-profits distributing toys in areas still reeling economically from the pandemic.

The emotional support offered to these families is made possible by the kindness and generosity of Toys for Tots supporters whose donations make a real and genuine impact on families in need. Visit toysfortots.org/ChristmasinJuly for more details or to make a donation. Be sure to follow Toys for Tots on Facebook and Instagram, where Toys for Tots spokesbear "Gunny Bear" shares examples of the impact your support makes.

(NewsUSA) - Lung cancer kills more people each year than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined. To address this, new federal recommendations have nearly doubled the number of Americans eligible for lung cancer screening.

Increased use of these annual CT scans, which detect the disease early, can save up to 60,000 lives in the United States each year.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) now recommends screening people ages 50-80 with a 20 "pack-year" or more smoking history. If you smoke, or used to smoke, a pack of cigarettes per day for 20 years, or two packs per day for 10 years, that's a 20 pack-year smoking history. Insurers must cover USPSTF-recommended exams.

"Lung cancer screening and improved therapies save lives," says American Cancer Society Senior Vice President of Cancer Screening Robert Smith, PhD. "Expanded screening coverage is a leap forward for lung cancer care."

The new guidelines nearly double the number of Black people eligible for screening. Black people get the disease earlier in life -- often with lighter smoking histories.

"Expanded coverage can address racial and regional disparities and spur lung cancer care equity," says Prevent Cancer Foundation Founder and Chief Executive Officer Carolyn Aldigé. "Black men are the most likely Americans to die from lung cancer."

Medicare covers screening for beneficiaries ages 55-77 with a 30 pack-year history, but is considering expanded coverage. Doctors and patients must discuss risks, benefits and smoking cessation (if the person still smokes) before a scan is ordered.

"Consistent Medicare and insurer coverage would boost screening and save lives," says GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer Co-Founder Laurie Fenton Ambrose. "Doctors, patients and insurers must make this happen."

If you think this screening can help you, talk to your doctor. Less than 15% of those eligible for screening are tested.

"This exam can save more lives than any cancer test in history. Doctors should talk to eligible patients today," says American College of Radiology® (ACR®) Lung Cancer Screening Committee Chair Debra Dyer, MD.

Screening is not an excuse to keep smoking, but a chance to help people who smoke to quit and reduce smoking's impact on them and those around them.

"Finally, we have a test that can change the face of lung cancer to a survivable one. More coverage means more people tested and saved," says National Lung Cancer Roundtable (NLCRT) Chair Ella Kazerooni, MD.

Visit NLCRT.org for more information.