The new look for 2025
Welcome to our new look monthly tips where we are pleased to share a plethora of tricks and tips that are relevant to such things as technology, travel, managing your daily life, and much more.
So just come aboard, sit back, take a deep breath, and enjoy!
If you wish to contact us then please do not hesitate to write to us at info@sterlingcreations.ca and we promise to respond within 2 business days as long as technology allows us to do so.
Give us your feedback, comments, suggestions, and thoughts!
For it is only through you and with you that we are able to do this!
Table of contents –
1. From our 10 tips on technology series
2. From the pages of Donna’s travel diary
3. A bit of this and a bit of that from Donna’s did you know diary
4. From the scam watchers
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From our 10 tips on technology series
Hello everyone:
Welcome to my 10 tip series where each month I’ll be sharing 10 tips on various pieces of technology.
This would include tips on popular screen readers, office software, and browsers.
If you have any suggestions on what you would like me to share then by all means! Write to me at donnajodhan@sterlingcreations.ca.
For this month:
10 tips for learning Power Point
Here are 10 tips for learning PowerPoint efficiently:
1. Start with the Basics
• Learn how to add slides, insert text, images, and shapes.
• Get familiar with the ribbon (toolbar) and its key features like Home, Insert, Design, and Transitions.
2. Use Pre-Made Templates
• PowerPoint offers built-in themes and templates to make slides visually appealing.
• Try free resources like Microsoft’s template library or websites like Slidesgo, Canva, or SlideCarnival.
3. Master Slide Layouts and Masters
• Use Slide Master to maintain a consistent design across all slides.
• Adjust layouts instead of manually formatting each slide.
4. Keep Slides Clean & Minimalistic
• Avoid excessive text—stick to bullet points and key ideas.
• Use high-quality images and icons instead of text-heavy slides.
5. Learn Shortcut Keys
• Speed up your workflow using shortcuts like:
• Ctrl + M → Insert a new slide
• Ctrl + D → Duplicate a slide or object
• F5 → Start the slideshow
• Shift + Drag → Resize images proportionally
6. Use SmartArt for Visuals
• Convert bullets into graphics using SmartArt for better visual appeal.
• Use charts, diagrams, and infographics to present data effectively.
7. Experiment with Transitions & Animations
• Use subtle transitions (e.g., Fade, Push) for professional slides.
• Avoid overusing flashy animations like Bounce or Spin.
8. Use Speaker Notes for Presentations
• Add Speaker Notes to guide yourself while presenting.
• Use Presenter View to see notes while the audience sees only slides.
9. Practice Presentation Mode
• Use F5 to start a full-screen slideshow.
• Press Shift + F5 to start from the current slide.
• Use the Laser Pointer or Pen tool (Right-click → Pointer Options).
10. Save & Export in Different Formats
• Save as PDF to share a non-editable version.
• Export as MP4 to turn your presentation into a video.
• Use PowerPoint Online for cloud-based access.
To contact me please send an email to info@sterlingcreations.ca
I’m Donna J. Jodhan (sight loss coach and accessibility advisor)
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Important tips from the travel table
From the pages of Donna’s diary
Memories of Anne Frank’s house
O my gosh and this is one of the dreams of my life that I managed to fulfill in 2024 and thanks to my friend Jilla it was done.
What made this visit very accessible despite the many steps to be ascended and descended was the following:
* Staff members were extremely accomodating and went beyond the call of duty to ensure that I as a vision impaired visitor did not miss out on any of the attractions and exhibits.
* A staff member discretely followed us at every step to ensure that we could negotiate the stairs.
* The atmosphere created absolutely suited the reverence and seriousness of the visit.
I truly appreciated this dream come true and it was worth the while to travel so far to make it happen.
I’m Donna J. Jodhan enjoying my travels.
To learn more about me as a sight loss coach and author visit
Home
On your next trip you could enrich your down time with some of my audio mysteries. Take them with you wherever you go!
In the car, on the plane, on the bus or train, at the beach, anywhere!
And now you can listen to Donna’s weekly podcasts!
Ask donna – a plethora of tips from a sight loss coach along with book and product reviews!
Dining with donna – recipes and time saving tips for the kitchen!
Your mental stretch with Donna – how to recharge, renew, and get going! Save yourself from those dramas, traumas, and stress!
Visit www.donnajodhan.com/youtube
and subscribe for free
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan
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A bit of this and a bit of that from Donna’s did you know diary
September 2025 monthly tips
A bit of this and a bit of that from Donna’s did you know diary
Award winning sight loss coach, author and advocate
You can contact me via email at donnajodhan@gmail.com
Practical and natural!
Welcome to my Donna’s did you know diary for this month and pleased to share the following with you.
Here’s what I learned for this month.
1) A great way to promote restful sleep?
Wear a pair of socks on your feet.
This helps to keep your feet warm and to promote blood circulation to your feet.
2) A way to keep your microwave fresh and clean?
On a regular basis, fill a cup with equal parts of vinegar and lemon juice.
Place your cup of vinegar and lemon juice in your microwave.
Turn on your microwave on medium high for 2 minutes.
When done, leave the cup in the microwave then remove.
You can now use a soft cloth to wipe the sides of your microwave.
3) Growing tomatoes?
Tomatoes love warm temperatures.
They do not thrive in colder weather.
4) Heard about the double decker scam?
This is the scam where scammers carry out their scams by obtaining your financial identity along with your personal identity.
They use your financial identity to obtain your credit card and banking details.
Then they use your personal identity to obtain your address.
They place their orders using both of your identities and voila!
They come by to collect their package using your info.
They keep a watch on your porch and balcony and swoop in when the package is being delivered.
5) And here is a tip when cooking salmon!
You do not need to cook it for more than five minutes.
Spread some butter in your skillet.
Place it skin down in your skillet
Cover and cook for five minutes.
6) About caffeine in your tea?
Believe it or not tea contains caffeine.
7) Wi-fi connections on a river boat?
Wi-fi connections are pretty iffy at the best of times.
8) Wi-fi connections in a hotel?
They are pretty reliable.
You can have access to a secure network or sometimes it is unsecured so be ware of this.
9) If you are planning to visit Switzerland!
This beautiful country is made up of lots of lakes and mountains.
It is divided into four Cantons based on language.
French, German, Italian, and Austrian.
Switzerland is a neutral country because of its location and being bordered by France, Germany, Italy, and Austria.
10) A safe way to wash your delicate clothes in the washer?
Place your delicates in a mesh bag and then place the mesh bag in the washer.
See how well they wash!
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From the scam watchers
Donna J. Jodhan is a world renowned advocate, author, blogger, sight loss coach, dinner mystery writer and producer, entrepreneur, law graduate, and podcast commentator.
Donna has been in the business since 2000 and her many roles have allowed her to recognize that there is a growing need for consumers and clients to be made aware of some of the most dangerous and popular scams.
Donna herself has been unwittingly scammed over the years a few times and now she is using her skills, experience, knowledge, and expertise to help others avoid pitfalls and heartache.
And as a vision impaired professional and person she is ready to help you stay ahead!
Donna knows only too well how much we all need to work overtime to protect the most vulnerable from those unscrupulous scammers!
Please read her latest suite of scams and she would love to hear from you with your own feedback.
Here are three scams that are likely to be prevalent in September:
1. Back-to-School Phishing Scams
• How it Works: Scammers send fake emails or text messages pretending to be from schools, universities, or educational suppliers. These messages may offer discounts on school supplies, demand urgent tuition payments, or claim to update student records.
• Red Flags:
• Emails with urgent payment requests or unexpected login links.
• Misspellings or generic greetings like “Dear Student” instead of your name.
• Unfamiliar sender email addresses.
• How to Avoid: Always verify with the school directly and never click on suspicious links.
2. Hurricane or Disaster Relief Scams
• How it Works: September is peak hurricane season in the Atlantic, so scammers take advantage of disasters by setting up fake relief fund websites or posing as charities seeking donations.
• Red Flags:
• Unsolicited calls, emails, or social media messages asking for donations.
• Requests for donations via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
• Fake charity names that sound similar to real ones.
• How to Avoid: Verify charities through Charity Navigator or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) before donating.
3. Labor Day Travel & Sales Scams
• How it Works: Scammers create fake airline ticket deals, hotel discounts, or Labor Day sales on social media and fake websites. Victims pay for a trip or product that doesn’t exist.
• Red Flags:
• Too-good-to-be-true travel deals.
• Being asked to pay via CashApp, Zelle, or Venmo instead of a credit card.
• Websites with poor design, misspellings, or missing contact details.
• How to Avoid: Book directly with well-known airlines, hotels, or retailers, and check for HTTPS in the website URL.
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Contact info:
Visit our websites at www.sterlingcreations.ca
www.donnajodhan.com
www.sterlingcreations.com
Email us at info@sterlingcreations.ca
Or call us at 416 491-7711
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Contact info:
Visit our websites at www.sterlingcreations.ca
www.donnajodhan.com
www.sterlingcreations.com
Email us at info@sterlingcreations.ca
Or call us at 416 491-7711
