Sterling Creations

Nutella, a chocolate hazelnut spread (or any hazelnut cacao spread) · 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder · 2 tablespoons natural sweetener of choice/raw sugar Optional Toppings: · Marshmallows · Crushed hazelnuts · Chocolate chips · Extra Nutella Instructions 1. Heat milk in a medium sized saucepan on medium – high heat until beginning to warm and steam. Add the spread, cocoa powder and sugar, and whisk until dissolved and combined. Bring to a gentle simmer while stirring, and take off heat. 2. Serve with your desired toppings. *6. Red Velvet Hot Cocoa Ingredients · 1 cup of skim {or 1% milk · 1/2 cup of chopped bittersweet or semi-sweet < www.heathersfrenchpress.com/2014/01/red-velvet-hot-cocoa.html> chocolatehttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png {chocolate chips work well} · 1 – 1 1/2 tsp red food coloring · 1 tsp vanilla · · for the whipped cream: · 1/4 cup of heavy cream · 1 Tbsp powdered sugar 1/2 tsp vanilla Instructions · heat the milk over medium · whisk in the chocolate, and stir until melted · stir in the food coloring and the vanilla · whip the cream with the sugar and vanilla · serve the hot chocolate topped with whip and chocolate shavings · * *6. S’mores Hot Chocolate Prep time 5 mins Cook time 5 mins Total time 10 mins Creamy ‘Smores Hot Chocolate with graham cracker rim and toasted marshmallows on top! Recipe type: Beverage Serves: 2 Ingredients · 2 cups milk, any kind · 1 cup water (or use 3 c milk) · ¼ cup cocoa powder · 2 Tbsp light chocolate syrup · 2 Tbsp sugar · 1/4 tsp non-bitter stevia (or add 1-2 Tbsp more sugar to taste) · pinch salt · graham crackers, crushed (for lining rim) · ½ cup marshmallows Instructions 1. Preheat oven to low broil and move oven rack to the second from the top (high enough up to broil your marshmallows). Place baking sheet on rack. 2. Heat milk and water in a saucepan over medium heat until warmed through – about 5 minutes. Be careful not to overheat or scald. 3. Add cocoa powder, chocolate syrup, sugar, stevia and salt and whisk vigorously until thoroughly combined. 4. Meanwhile, take a few marshmallows and rub them around the top of your mugs so the graham crackers will stick. Then, dip mug in graham cracker crumbs until well lined. You could also add some graham cracker crumbs to the bottom of your mug for extra graham flavor. 5. Pour in hot chocolate and top with ¼ cup marshmallows each. Carefully set mugs on the baking sheet in the oven and broil marshmallows until browned, watching carefully as to not let them burn. 6. Carefully remove from the oven with a towel and serve with holders or a small towel to protect hand from heat (they should cool quickly for handling). Top with a drizzle of chocolate syrup and extra graham cracker crumbs for serving (optional). Notes Adjust flavors before serving, adding more chocolate or sugar if you prefer. Also, you could add a shot of Kahlua or Bailey’s to make it a boozy hot chocolate. Nutrition Information Serving size: 2 servings; per serving: Calories: 275 Fat: 4.5 g Saturated fat: 2.5 g Carbohydrates: 53 g Sugar: 39 g Fiber: 3.5 g Protein: 11 g *7. Sugar-Free Hot Cocoa Cook Time: 10 minutes Ingredients (serves 2) · 1 1/2 C full fat Coconut Milk (comes in a can – look for it by the evaporated milk) · 1 1/2 C Water · 1/2 C Unsweetened Cocoa Powder · 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract (check your label for sugar content) · seeds from 1 Vanilla bean pod · Cinnamon – for sprinkling · Optional – Whipped Cream, unsweetened. Instructions Combine all ingredients into a pot an whisk over medium high heat. Pour and serve, sprinkling some cinnamon on top. I found mine to be very bitter, so I added a 1/4 C of unsweetened whipped cream and some extra cinnamon to it and it helped. To keep this treat Dairy-Free as well, you can whip coconut milk fat. I was out of it, so I used whipping cream instead. It just makes me happy 🙂 *9. Vegan Coconut Cocoa Serves 2-3 Ingredients: 1/3 heaping cup of vegan chocolate chips (Enjoy Life brand is good) 3 cups coconut milk (Silk brand is preferred) Combine chocolate chips and 1/3 coconut milk into a medium pan over medium heat. Heat until chocolate chips melt. Whisk together. Add remaining milk and heat through. Do not boil. Whisk again, or beat with electric beaters or immersion blender. Serve warm. Enjoy! *9. Christmas Crackers are a great form of festive fun. Avoid pulling them from just one end, as it may cause you to fall backwards. Why not ask a friend to pull one with you? *10. Posting a card to a friend or relation at Christmas is a great way to send them your festive greetings.You can buy your ‘Christmas card’ in a shop, or, if you prefer, you can make one yourself. Remember to write your name at the bottom or they won’t know who sent it! *11. A great time to post a Christmas card is in the run-up to Christmas.If you post your Christmas card in the period from January to August, it will arrive too late. Or too early, depending on which way you look at it. *12. A brilliant way of ‘personalising’ a Christmas card is to write your friend’s name on it. So if your friend is called Jane, for instance, then write ‘To Jane’ on the top. This will make Jane think you wrote the card specially for her. *13. If you have two friends called Jane, then you should send them two different cards, each with ‘To Jane’ on it. Don’t ask the two Janes to share the same card, because though it might be cheaper for you and less bother, they might not know each other, and live miles apart. *14. Bath salts are always a great idea for a present, but take special care not to sprinkle them over your food or it won’t taste nice. If you throw them into the bath, make sure you remove them from the bottle first or you could get broken glass everywhere. *15. Children love being given presents by adults at Christmas, but don’t expect the same standard of present in return, as many children don’t earn as much money as you. We may all be thinking, ‘I’ve just given you a brand new toy car, so where’s my new pair of earrings from Bond Street?’ but we try not to mention it! *16. If you feel like eating a farmyard animal this Christmas, then why not try a turkey? *16. When planning your Christmas dinner, bear in mind the number of guests who will be sitting down to eat it. Your calculations also depend on what item of food you plan to serve. One turkey per guest is probably too much, but one Brussels sprout per guest may well be too little. *17. A chipolata can be eaten from either end. *18. To avoid that last-minute dash, why not buy your Christmas presents before on Christmas Eve? The more time you leave for buying presents, the longer you will have. *19. If you want to wrap your presents in paper, then why not try ‘Wrapping Paper’? *20. ‘Wrapping Paper’ is a great way of wrapping presents, but it’s quite unusual to give it as a present by itself. But if you do want to give a sheet or two of ‘wrapping paper’ as a present, then do be sure to wrap it up, for which you may need an extra sheet of ‘wrapping paper’. *21. If the present you have just bought for your friend or relation is liquid, such as perfume or wine, then it’s best to keep it in the bottle when you wrap it up. *22. Picking a Christmas tree takes time and care. I always go for a small fir tree rather than something which may take up more space, like an oak or a cedar. I try to avoid bushes, as they can be too long and ‘bushy’. *23. A tree in the corner of the living room can look a little stark. So this year, why not try decorating your Christmas tree? Baubles and tinsel are well-suited to this task: I don’t recommend wallpaper, which tends to work best on smoother surfaces. *24. If a group of strangers arrive at your door singing carols at Christmas, don’t worry – they’re probably only carol singers. *25. Decorating a fireplace with artificial snow is a lovely way to make it look festive. Avoid real snow, as it tends to melt. If you do use real snow, then preserve it by turning off the heating and keeping all the windows and doors open. *26. If you are looking for something really super to put on your head at Christmas lunch, then why not try a ‘paper hat’? A paper hat is basically a hat made out of paper. As headwear goes, it is not super-protective. So best not go outside in your paper hat in a terrible storm, as it is not really designed to keep you from getting wet, and may even blow away. You never see lifeboat men wearing paper hats when they set off to rescue people at sea, for instance. Not unless it’s Christmas Day, of course! *27. Take some time out to have a cuddle with the ones you love on Christmas morning. The fuss and work can wait while you spend some time drinking in the Christmas atmosphere – that’s more important than the dinner. *28. Whatever your faith, make the effort to attend a church or religious service with the family around Christmas-time. It can be magical and helps to bring home the real message of Christmas. Many churches welcome non-attenders and have services especially for children. It’s a chance to meet and chat to little-known neighbours and there’s something special about communal carol-singing. A nice alternative to the shop-till-you-drop craziness at this time of year *29. Don’t forget to give to the postie/binmen/delivery drivers or trash pick up men, at Christmas. A small token of chocs/biscuits or booze will make a big difference to the service you get for the following year! – *30. We always split our Christmas Day to keep down the stress levels and keep the children occupied and active. In the morning we open presents, make phone calls to the family, etc. Then we all pile into the car with a yummy picnic. We pick a different place each year, but the main idea is to find the perfect car park with a view and then set off to have a bracing walk in the country. By the time we return to the car we are all ready for a some sandwiches, pie and of course some Christmas cake. We arrive home in time to put the turkey in, and then the children get a chance to play with all their new toys. We find this so much better than the big lunch time meal that leaves everyone too full (and a little too ‘tiddled’)!! – posted by Rebecca G Collect small items throughout the year (non perishables). Cover an old shoe box in wrapping paper and fill with items collected. Make sure they are for a specific person i.e. baby boy/girl, teenage boy/girl, lady/man. Hand them into your nearest church or group which is collecting shoe boxes for Romania or a similar initiative. You can use items that are used but in good condition (clothes etc) but also use things that are maybe on offer in the shops (BOGOF etc) It will bring a smile to the recipient’s face at Christmas and also make you feel like you have helped just a little 24. Clearing up & organisation Get plenty of big black bags in ready for all the wrapping paper, boxes, bows etc. that get discarded on Christmas morning – posted by Karen P We’ve trained the dog to pick up the discarded wrapping paper and take it into the kitchen to the dustbin! – posted by Jeanie E I always have a stash of thank you cards to hand and a pen and paper. The “who sent what” list gets attached to the cards and dealt with as soon as the little ones have finished unwrapping and are busy playing. It doesn’t take long to do, you can have a glass of something yummy while you do it and then feel virtuous – posted by Rebecca D Christmas organisationUse the little draw string bags that you get with washing tablets to keep all the fiddly bits out of kids toys (ie the balls out of hungry hippos, the teeny pieces from Lego sets etc…) *31. Always keep all the wrapping paper that is collected in a bag in a garage/cupboard for a week or so after Christmas in case anything – toys/receipts etc. – has been scooped up in the clear up – *32. Save some presents for after lunch. It’s often the time of day when the kids are getting tired (especially if they’ve been up since dawn). We’ve found that this allows us to get the washing up/tidying done in peace whilst the kids play with whatever arrived in the “second round *33. Have a good sort out of old toys a month before Christmas to make room for the new toys. The old toys can be donated to others in need – posted by P.P Save egg cartons or egg trays to store Christmas baubles in – posted by Mary C To keep curious little children from finding where the presents are hidden keep them locked in a suitcase until they are ready to be wrapped! – posted by Sarah And if it all gets too much… Get out in the fresh air – that gives everyone time to let off some steam and makes for a peaceful household! If you can’t go out for a walk, maybe set up a little ‘Santa’s Treasure Hunt’ in the garden with clues and little prezzies along the way. Get adults and kids in teams and let them loose! Lots of glitter will add a magical trail along the way. And don’t forget ‘the reason for the season’ – that will keep everyone focused on what it’s all about and gives a healthier focus than just how many prezzies they get – posted by Gill As a general rule happy children = happy parents. So when the roast potatoes are burning but the turkey is still running around, take a deep breath and send the children on a treasure hunt. Wrap up small yet desirable things and hide them around the house; a new toothbrush, fancy bobbles and clips, a hot wheels car, and don’t forget the sweets! – posted by Lucy P I know it can be a real stress if things don’t seem to be going according to plan, but really, in the great scheme of things, nothing can be that bad. Enjoy the day and don’t worry about all the little things – it’s your Christmas, too! – posted by Jennifer T Don’t get caught up in all the hype that tells you you’re bound to be stressed – why should you be stressed? It’s a day off work, and a roast dinner. End of. Ditto present buying. You don’t have to spend hours/days shopping, or start in November “in case they run out”. Guess what? Christmas comes every year and shops do actually stock up – often reducing prices nearer to Xmas. Make a list, go out and get it at the quietest time your life allows, shop online if it helps. What’s the big deal? What’s the worst that can happen? ]]>

. We recommend providing a rescue email address. However, it is not necessary to set up an account with the Appstore. If you’re trying to create an account using an existing Apple ID, you’ll see a message that the email address you provided is already an Apple ID. Tap Continue, and then tap Use Existing Apple ID on the following screen to sign in. 8. Enter your credit card and billing information, then tap Done. You will not be charged until you make a purchase. You can change or remove your payment details later. 9. Check your email for a verification email from Apple and follow the steps to verify your email address. Learn what to do if you need to 10. After you verify your email address, you can sign in to the iTunes Store, App Store and other Apple services such as iCloud with your new Apple ID.]]>

still haven’t found that special gift for someone with a visual impairment, whether blind or low vision, here are some more options. I have used all of the products listed below and recommend them. When ordering a product online, consider expedited shipping if the gifting date is near. All prices in this article are subject to change. Gift Cards Gift cards have become very popular for the holidays. Make sure to give the recipient the value, card number, and PIN if there is one. Popular cards include iTunes, Amazon, and restaurants. * Audible and the Audible Accessible Site http://www.audible.com/access Audible offers thousands of audio books. They are available the same day the print version is released. Books can be played on many devices including a computer, a tablet, or a smartphone. Audible has several gift plans, starting at $45. Members can also use their credits to gift books to other Audible members. * Fitbit Flex http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s?k=Fitbit+Flex If the gift recipient likes exercise or wants to get in shape, the Fitbit Flex ($99.95) is a good option. The Flex tracks steps, active minutes, calories burned, and distance walked. You can manually add calories consumed, exercise, and weight. The Flex is worn on the wrist and is roughly the size of a small rectangular wristwatch. The actual electronic device (called a tracker) slides into the flexible wristband and is lightweight. Two wristbands are included in black, one small and one large. Additional wristbands are available at extra cost in various fashion colors to match your outfit. There is a free, accessible iOS app that syncs with the Fitbit. The user can also sync their Fitbit with the Fitbit website. http://www.fitbit.com/in * Jawbone Jambox Wireless Bluetooth Speakers http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=a9_sc_1?rh=i:aps,k:jawbone+jambox&keywords =jawbone+jambox&ie=UTF8&qid=1446080721 For the music lover, consider one of the Jambox Wireless Bluetooth Speakers from Jawbone (Big Jambox, $160; Mini Jambox, $86). They have very good sound, especially for their size. All controls are tactile. It is easy to pair any Bluetooth enabled device, such as an iPhone, with these speakers. The top of the speaker has extremely tactile, differently shaped, raised buttons. The side of the speaker has an On/Off button, a button for pairing a device and ports for connecting the speaker to headphones, connecting the speaker with a device using the device’s headphone jack, and USB. The speaker has a built-in rechargeable battery that holds its charge for about 10 hours. * PenFriend2 Voice Labeling System http://www.maxiaids.com/penfriend2-voice-labeling-system The PenFriend2 ($139.95) provides a quick and easy way to identify items. It uses a pen-like device to record a description and special small stick-on labels. Many different sizes and shapes of labels are included and more can be purchased. Simply attach a label to an item, touch the pen to the label, press the record button, and record a description. Read a label by touching the PenFriend to the label. These labels can be used on items that will be stored in the refrigerator and freezer. * L’Occitane en Provence http://usa.loccitane.com/ L’Occitane is a French company that offers skin care, bath and body, and fragrance products for both men and women. They pay extra attention to charitable causes and one of their goals is the “support of visually impaired people worldwide.” Every L’Occitane product has a braille label, even the little soaps. They recently donated $100,000 to the American Foundation for the Blind. The company is environmentally friendly and does additional charitable work. L’Occitane has special holiday gifts including a list of gifts for under $30. They also sell individual items and sets. Their products are available on their website, http://usa.loccitane.com/ beauty.com http://www.beauty.com/ , at Sephora, http://www.sephora.com/ and at L’Occitane boutiques (a boutique locator is available on their website). http://usa.loccitane.com/ *The Gift of Reading Printed Text Reading printed materials is something that sighted people may take for granted. For someone losing that ability or for someone who has never been able to read print, that ability can be a tremendous help. There are two optical character recognition (OCR) programs available that I especially like for reading printed text. These programs use an electronic device to take a picture of text and then convert the photo into text that the device’s screen reader then reads aloud. There are stands available, if needed, for holding a device steady and properly aligned for scanning. Several AccessWorld articles compare various OCR programs and stands. Not all devices are supported by a particular OCR app or stand. Check the links below to determine whether a specific device is supported. All products in this section, with the exception of the KNFB Reader, are mainstream products and are not specifically designed for people with visual impairments. KNFB Reader ($99.99) Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sensotec.knfbreader iOS https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/knfbreader/id849732663?mt=8 My favorite OCR program is the KNFB Reader. Although it is expensive, this app does an excellent job of recognizing text; it is easy to use. This app is specifically designed for people who are blind or visually impaired. In the latest version, the device can be placed in a stand and documents can be scanned automatically without having to press the “Take Picture” button between pages. Abbyy TextGrabber + Translator ($4.95) Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.abbyy.mobile.textgrabber.f ull&hl=en iOS https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/textgrabber.ocr/id438475005?mt=8 My second favorite OCR app is Abbyy TextGrabber + Translator. This mainstream app is significantly less expensive than KNFB Reader but it does a very good job. It supports many languages and does an excellent job of translation. * Giraffe Reader ($52) http://www.giraffe-reader.com/ The Giraffe Reader stand is used to hold a phone and works with iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5C, 6, and 6 Plus. Android users should e-mail Giraffe Reader to determine whether their particular device will work. The Giraffe reader is very easy to assemble and folds up into a small size. Although a bit expensive, it is an excellent product. * StandScan Pro ($34.95) http://standscan.com/ The StandScan Pro works with just about any device that has a back-facing camera. It is held together by tiny magnets and is not difficult to assemble. It folds down to fit into a computer bag. The StandScan Pro comes equipped with LED lighting to insure a good scan. It is powered by battery or electricity. *Conclusion Even if you need a last-minute gift, there are still many options for a person who is blind or visually impaired. When giving a gift, be give sure to give the recipient information on how to use it. For example, if you’re giving someone a Giraffe Reader, offer to help them put it together the first time. Remember to get your gifts as early as possible. Happy Shopping and Happy Holidays.]]>

www.sterlingcreations.ca and happy holidays and season’s greetings to everyone! I hope that everyone is enjoying this special time of the year and for today our president is a bit serious in her editorial as she discusses the aging process. Read Donna J. Jodhan’s editorial below. Happy December weekend to everyone! +++++++++++++++ My view of the aging process By Donna J. Jodhan Sure! We are all growing older and there is no stopping it so we might as well get used to it. However, I believe that there are things that we can do in order to welcome it, enjoy it, and embrace it. For me, this is how I am dealing with it. It is happening and it will continue until I leave this earth. It is going to bring me some additional challenges and it is going to bring me some sadness. It is going to bring me some joy and it is going to bring me some comfort. Additional challenges? Sure! My bones are going to get weaker, my hearing is going to become less acute, and my energy levels are going to decline steadily. I will need to take better care of my health and be more careful with my diet. However, and I say this with tongue in cheek: My sight is not going to decline because I am already almost totally blind! Some sadness? Sure! I know that as I grow older, I am going to be losing some of my loved ones along the way. It is only natural that some will die before me and that eventually I’ll die before others. I have already lost my dad and brother Robert, granny, uncles, aunts, and some cousins. So I need to be prepared to accept this natural process. Joy you ask? Sure! because as I grow older I’ll have the chance to share my knowledge and experiences with others. If they let me, I can help them to avoid pitfalls that I have experienced. I can show them how to overcome certain challenges and I’ll do the best I can to encourage, motivate, and stimulate the imaginations of others. It’s all about helping to make a better future for our kids! Comfort? Sure! That I have been able to make it this far in my life despite all of the stresses and challenges that have come my way. All of the chances and opportunities that I have managed to take advantage of and now it is time for me to get ready for the life beyond the great blue horizon! Am I afraid to face beyond the big blue horizon? Not at all! Every opportunity is exactly as it is; to take advantage of and every chance is another door to walk through. Just my thoughts for today. I’m Donna J. Jodhan wishing you a happy and Holy holiday season! Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad! Joyeux Noèl! To reach me, please send an email to info@sterlingcreations.ca and I would be delighted to send you an electronic copy of our latest newsletter. Or you can view all of our newsletters at www.sterlingcreations.ca/newsletter.html Here is a complete list of where you can view Donna’s blogs and editorials. Donna Jodhan! Advocating accessibility for all www.donnajodhan.blogspot.com Weekly features on how to increase your success with your business ventures www.sterlingcreations.com/businessdesk.htm Weekly articles and editorials on issues about accessibility www.sterlingcreations.ca/blog Learn more about Author Donna Jodhan and her campaign against bullying at www.jodhanmysterybook.club Now you can enjoy Donna’s detective DJ crime crushers Series by visiting www.donnajodhan.com And now her weekly podcast at www.takeanother5.com. From recipes to apps, and from 5 minutes mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and alerts on the latest scams Available for download from iTunes and Google music play. You can follow me on twitter @accessibleworld and chat with me on Skype at habsfan0526. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan ]]>

www.pparx.org/?utm_source=Everyday+Cheapskate <https://www.pparx.org/?utm_source=Everyday+Cheapskate&utm_campaign=340805d3 70-&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3eccb93339-340805d370-67655377> &utm_campaign=340805d370-&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3eccb93339-340805d370- 67655377 Once there, simply enter the name of the medication or the manufacturer then click "Get Help Now" to discover if there are currently programs and assistance with the cost of that medication. Also check with disease related associations such as the American Cancer Society www.cancer.org/?utm_source=Everyday+Cheapskate <http://www.cancer.org/?utm_source=Everyday+Cheapskate&utm_campaign=340805d3 70-&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3eccb93339-340805d370-67655377> &utm_campaign=340805d370-&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3eccb93339-340805d370- 67655377 or the American Diabetes Association diabetes.org/?utm_source=Everyday%20Cheapskate&utm_campaign=340805d37 0-&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3eccb93339-340805d370-67655377 for help in locating less expensive options that relate to those diagnoses. 5. BIG BOX STORE PROGRAMS. Many discount store chains like Walmart, Publix, Target, Meijer and Costco offer deeply discounted generic medicines for $4 to $10. Some medicines, like antibiotics or pre-natal vitamins are offered free at some of these stores. Costco’s assistance is available for members only and it is fantastic-well worth the price of membership if you do not already have prescription drug insurance coverage. 6. AARP DISCOUNTS. If you’re eligible (age 50 or older), look into joining AARP as their members receive many discounts including mail-order pharmacy discounts through reputable distributors. 7. BUY IN BULK. Certain medications (cholesterol statins for example) are often available for a greatly discounted price in a 90-day supply. You may be required to order by mail order to get that price. It’s sure worth looking into. From Mary Hunt’s Everyday Cheapskate, July 10, 2015. Note from Dan: I have checked all the links and recommendations and all still applies today. ]]>