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Ready for a little retail therapy? Here’s the Let’s Go Shopping event schedule and vendor details!

Here is the final schedule and business directory for the all-day, online, virtual shopping day! See you there!

Saturday, April 4th, 2020, from 7 AM to 7 PM Pacific Time. Let’s Go Shopping is an all-day, online, accessible event connecting small businesses and the customers who need them. Ready for a little retail therapy?

Let’s Go Shopping!

Please note that all times are pacific Time. Adjust accordingly for your time zone.

7:00 am PT: Good morning and welcome (Laura)

7:30 am: Sight and Sound Technology

8:00 am PT: Elegant Insights Braille Creations

9:00 am PT: Hartgen Consultancy

10:00 am PT: PattiandRicky.com Adaptive Fashion

11:00 am PT: Strawberry Moon Reborns

11:30 am: Beauty by Brittany

12:00 pm PT: A. T. Guys

12:30 pm: GlamSticks

1:00 pm PT: GuideLights and Gadgets, Inc.

1:30 pm: Scentsy with Nini

2:00 pm PT: PattiandRicky.com Inclusive Accessories

3:00 pm PT: GuideLight Dogs

3:30 pm: Tawny’s Pottery Lab

4:00 pm PT: A. T. Guys

4:30 pm: The Unseen Bean

5:00 pm PT: The Harbolt Company

6:00 pm PT: Elegant Insights Braille Creations

6:30 pm: Door prizes and wrap-up Laura and friends

Let’s Go Shopping with these fabulous vendors!

Sight and Sound Technology
Sight and Sound Technology Ireland is the leading provider of hardware and software to the blind, visually impaired and those with learning and reading difficulties.

Stuart Lawler
?www.sightandsound.co.uk
Telephone: +35316909720
Mobile: +353879926360
stuart.lawler@sightandsoundtechnology.ie
Twitter: @sastireland

Elegant Insights Braille Creations
Jewelry and accessories with a tactile twist. We bring out the beauty of braille.

Laura Legendary
www.elegantinsightsjewelry.com
l.legendary@elegantinsightsjewelry.com
702-605-1265
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Elegant.Insights
Twitter: @ElegantInsights
Instagram: www.instagram.com/elegantinsights

Hartgen Consultancy
Training and products for the JAWS Screen-reader. Quality, Confidence, Excellence.

Brian Hartgen
www.hartgenconsultancy.com
US: 239-256-7779
Twitter : www.twitter.com/hartgenconsult
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hartgenconsult

Patti and Ricky
Functional and fashionable apparel and accessories for people of all abilities.

Alexandra Herold
www.pattiandricky.com
303-578-6594
alex@pattiandricky.com
Twitter: @pattiandricky_
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pattiandricky/
Instagram: @pattiandrickycom

StrawberryMoonReborns
Lifelike baby dolls for your child, or the child in all of us.

Lulu Hartgen
www.strawberrymoonreborns.com
+44-7773-501-358.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/strawberrymoonkins
And
Facebook: www.facebook.com/strawberrymoonreborns
Instagram: @strawberrymoonreborns
Twitter: @SMReborns.

Beauty by Brittany
Color your world with Mary Kay Cosmetics

Brittany Savage
Independent beauty consultant
www.marykay.com/bsavage2
tanielizabeth21@yahoo.com
Twitter: @tanielizabeth21

A. T. Guys
A. T. Guys will be offering a special deal for everyone who tunes in. We are taking orders and ready to provide the technology you need.

J. J. Meddaugh
support@atguys.com
269-216-4798
Twitter: @atguys
Facebook: www.facebook.com/atguys

Glamsticks
Glamsticks ™ are bespoke, designer and couture crutches, canes, walking sticks, wheelchair covers and accessories all individually crafted for your personal use.

Lady Sharon Farley-Mason
www.glamsticks.co.uk
glamsticks@hotmail.com
UK 07903143322
Twitter: @glamsticks
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GlamSticks
Instagram: @sharonfm1_glamsticks

GuideLights and Gadgets, Inc.
Simple and affordable technological fun.

Barry Scheur
www.guidelightsandgadgets.us/
1597 Suncrest Drive
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577.
(617) 969-7500
bscheur@scheur.com

Scentsy with Nini
Fill your life with fragrance.

Nini Urschel
Independent Scentsy Consultant
www.nini.scentsy.us
916-206-1151
nini95626@sbcglobal.net
Facebook: NV Wickless Scents & More

GuideLight Dogs
Happiness wags.

KaeAnn Rausch
www.guidelightsandgadgets.us/CatalogGuideLightDogProducts.html
guidelightdogs@gmail.com
781-286-1696
Twitter: @Kaeko658

Tawny’s Pottery Lab
From my hands to yours, everyday art designed to touch: pet bowls, mugs, pendants, home decor

Tawny Villegas
Www.pottery-lab.com
www.etsy.com/shop/tawnyspotterylab
IG: @potterylab
Twitter: @pottery_lab
FB: www.facebook.com/potterylab/

The Unseen Bean
Taste the passion in blind roasted coffee.

Jerry Leary
www.theunseenbean.com
720-369-8039
info@theunseenbean.com
Twitter @theunseenbean

The Harbolt Company
We specialize in unique and hard to find items to make your life easier. We love what we do, and so will you!

Brent Harbolt
www.harboltcompany.com
sales@harboltcompany.com
405-633-2572
Twitter: @harboltcompany
Facebook: www.facebook.com/theharboltcompany

Special thanks to The Harbolt Company for donating the Zoom virtual shopping mall. Thanks also to vendors donating door prizes throughout the day. Be sure to tune in on saturday, April 4th, 2020 to shop ’till you drop!

Let’s Go Shopping!

Join us via the Zoom Video Conferencing platform:

Laura Legendary has invited you to the online event, “Let’s Go Shopping!”

An all-day, accessible, online event. Let’s Go Shopping! We’re connecting small businesses and the customers who need them.

Join us Saturday April 4, 2020, start time 7:00 AM Pacific Time, 8:00 AM Mountain Time, 9:00 Central Time, 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada). Event concludes at 7 PM Pacific Time.

Join Zoom Meeting from your computer or mobile device with Zoom app installed. (needs meeting ID.)
Meeting ID: 287 180 525

zoom.us/j/287180525

One tap join from your mobile device. (does not require meeting ID.)

+16699006833,,287180525# US (San Jose)
+13462487799,,287180525# US (Houston)

Dial by your location on a land line phone. (needs meeting ID.)
Meeting ID: 287 180 525

+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US
+1 301 715 8592 US
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

Find your local number: zoom.us/u/abZUrvSCbt

Be sure to show up and shop!

LL

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For immediate release – An online, accessible event: Let’s Go Shopping!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 30, 2020

Stuck at home? Let’s Go Shopping! Attend this online event that brings together small businesses and the customers who need them.

Henderson, NV – Laura Legendary, owner of Elegant Insights Braille Creations, has organized an all-day, online accessible experience for seniors and consumers with disabilities called “Let’s Go Shopping!” On Saturday, April 4th, from 7 AM PT to 7 PM PT, shoppers will be able to call or connect to the Zoom platform to shop for gifts for Easter, Passover, Mother’s Day, graduations, or any upcoming gift-giving occasion. With millions of people in self-isolation, getting out to shop is all but impossible for those with limited mobility.

People with disabilities, seniors, and those in rural areas with limited bandwidth or lack of access to help from their children, in-home health care provider, or personal assistant may find navigating web sites to go shopping online difficult. “People with print or cognitive disabilities who would normally have access to assistive technology through their workplace, or a care worker who they rely on to accomplish shopping tasks may now find themselves cut off, thanks to the need to remain at home. As a result, they may find online shopping to be cognitively burdensome,” says Legendary. “My goal with the Let’s Go Shopping event was two-fold: Not only to give micro businesses a boost, but to bring a virtual shopping mall to customers,” says Legendary, who is blind. “Besides, we could all use a little retail therapy about now.”

Attendees will access the live online mall using the Zoom Video Conferencing platform. Zoom has been a lifesaver for students and parents who need to connect with teachers and colleagues. Zoom enables users to sign in using a desktop, laptop, smartphone app, or even their landline telephone. Brent Harbolt, of The Harbolt Company, one of the participating vendors, has donated the Zoom room for the event. “Let’s Go Shopping is an opportunity for me to reach new customers who are looking for gadgets to make their life a little easier, provide product descriptions, and directly answer people’s questions in real time,” says Harbolt.

All of the small business owners participating in the “Let’s Go Shopping” event have a disability. Vendors include A T Guys, PattiandRicky.com, GuideLights and Gadgets Inc., Elegant Insights Braille Creations, Hartgen Consultancy, and more. Shoppers will be able to purchase artisan crafted dolls, home fragrance and beauty products, independent living aids, adaptive apparel and accessories, ceramics, and braille jewelry.

Elegant Insights Braille Creations is a distinctive, handcrafted collection of jewelry and accessories, made in the USA, and embossed in braille. Founded in 2011 by Laura Legendary, Elegant Insights jewelry is meaningful, unusual, accessible, and inclusive. We bring out the beauty of braille.

Contact: Laura Legendary, Elegant Insights Braille Creations
702-605-1265
l.legendary@elegantinsightsjewelry.com

Braille jewelry in bloom…

To attend, use any of the following Zoom links or appropriate phone numbers for your area:
Join Zoom Meeting from your computer or mobile device with zoom app installed. (needs meeting ID.)
Meeting ID: 287 180 525

zoom.us/j/287180525

One tap join from your mobile device. (does not require meeting ID.)

+16699006833,,287180525# US (San Jose)
+13462487799,,287180525# US (Houston)

Dial by your location on a land line phone. (needs meeting ID.)
Meeting ID: 287 180 525

+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US
+1 301 715 8592 US
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

Find your local number: zoom.us/u/abZUrvSCbt

###

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Let’s Go Shopping! An online event for small businesses

Greetings from the Las Vegas lockdown. Whether you are free to move about, or are staying home to stay healthy, there’s no doubt that life as we know it, at least for now, has changed. For some, it’s definitely inconvenient. For others, it’s stressful. For still others, it’s devastating. We are sailing in uncharted waters for now, with no land in sight. We don’t quite know where we are, and we have no idea what’s going to happen. It’s probably going to get a lot worse before it gets better.

With the passage of the two trillion dollar government rescue package comes a bit of a welcome port in the storm for some workers, but certainly not for all. Additionally, there may be a group of people who fall through the cracks, and who may not receive any rescue at all. Some of these people are contract workers, service providers, and home-based business owners.

I have not read the entirety of the rescue package, so I cannot claim to know all the particulars. There are provisions for small business owners who keep their employees on the payroll in the form of payroll relief, SBA loans, and checks for many working families. What I do not know is whether or not people who have a business that employs people only part-time, or on a contract basis, or those who are sole proprietors, micro businesses, niche or boutique businesses will see any relief. Further, not everyone is going to be willing to take out a business loan. The last time the government provided rescue or bailout money, they did not include people with disabilities, or those on any sort of government assistance, including recipients of SSI, assistance for needy families, Social Security or SSDI recipients. I have no idea as of this writing whether or not any of these groups will see financial relief. Consequently, I’ve decided to take matters into my own hands and give entrepreneurs with disabilities a boost. So, let’s go shopping!

What is it?

Let’s Go Shopping is an all-day, online shopping event that is intended to benefit two groups: Small business owners and the customers who need them. Each business owner can choose a timeslot, and a presentation length of 15, 30, or 60 minutes. During that time, you can:

Do a little show and tell – Give demos of your products.

Do a little Q and A – Answer your customers questions.

Have some chat time – Just hang out and talk shop.

Make a show of it – Give a multi-media presentation.

The bottom line: It’s your time to shine. Put a face and voice to your business, and introduce yourself and your fabulous products. Do whatever you want with the time allotted, but give customers a reason to buy.

When is it?

Saturday, April 4th. As I do not have a complete schedule yet, I do not have a start and end time to share, but I can assure you, it will likely last almost all day. If the event is a success, I’ll do it again. Also, the entire day will be recorded, so that vendors and customers alike can edit, share, or revisit any vendor presentations they missed.

Who can participate?

If you have a micro business, sole proprietorship, niche or boutique business, or if you are a crafter, candy maker, home fragrance or beauty products representative, or if you are an entrepreneur with a disability, consider being a part of this exciting event.

Need a little retail therapy?

On the flip side, millions of potential customers are stuck at home, with little or no ability to buy gifts for Easter, Passover, Mother’s Day, birthdays, graduations, or just to gift a friend a lift. Not only is the “Let’s Go Shopping” event a way for home-based business owners to showcase their products, it’s a great way to make life a little easier for seniors and people with disabilities to get some shopping done. Without access to a home care worker, personal assistant, or assistive technology, online shopping can be out of reach for some. Besides, we could all use a little retail therapy, right? Maybe a senior is isolated without their children, caregiver, or personal assistant to go shopping for them. Maybe your spouse is now teleworking, and has commandeered the PC and bandwidth. Maybe someone at home is feeling alone and overwhelmed, and the idea of shopping online is cognitively burdensome right now. If they can’t go to the mall to shop, let’s bring the mall to them!

Want to participate? Here are the rules of the road:

The idea here is to make shopping as accessible and as frictionless as possible for all, so vendors will be asked to make a few accommodations. First, you must be willing to accept orders by phone, email, or means other than just your web site. You must agree to provide your business phone number or email address during your presentation. When customers call, be sensitive to their situation, be reassuring and comforting, friendly and attentive. Hopefully, the entire experience will be almost effortless for all concerned. Please provide excellent customer service!

Vendors will also be asked to assist in publicizing the event. At the very least, please tweet/post/update/blog about your timeslot. We want to help you meet the needs of potential customers, but they have to know about your availability, so please do your part to spread the word. Use the hashtag #LetsGoShopping when tweeting about the event.

Let’s Go Shopping, how? Exactly?

We will all use the Zoom conferencing platform. If you are unfamiliar with Zoom, it is an accessible video conferencing platform that can be accessed by phone, smartphone, app, or desktop. It’s free to download the app, and there is a free version you can use for your own purposes. However, I will send you all the specifics, as well as publish them here, so you will know how to call or log in. If you already know how to use Zoom, you’re golden. Just wait for an email from me.

Who is “me”?

My name is Laura, I am the owner of Elegant Insights Braille Creations. I will feature my braille jewelry and accessories products as a fill-in or backup for anyone who accepts a spot but is unable to make it. If you would like to participate, please go to Elegant Insights and use the contact form to get in touch. Or, you can call the number on the homepage, which I will also add, below.

So far, there are over a dozen small businesses from three countries eager to present their products, including technology companies, artisans, home and beauty product representatives, apparel and accessories, and of course, braille jewelry!

A complete list of vendors and their timeslots will be published next week, so check back for more details. The response has been incredible so far, and we even have door prizes donated by some of the vendors! This promises to be a fun and exciting event, so…let’s go shopping!

LL

Elegant Insights Braille Creations
PH:702.605.1265

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Cooking in the era of the Coronavirus: Tips for newbies

If you think of yourself as a pretty good cook, there’s probably nothing in this post for you, but there’s probably plenty you could contribute. In our current age of convenience, the abundance of prepared foods found in any grocery store makes feeding oneself, or a family, quick and easy. However, we are now entering the era of the Corona virus, and that means access to convenience foods may be limited. For the first time, you may find yourself without access to hot and fresh pizza appearing at your doorstep, fully cooked meals in a box, or timely grocery delivery. Suddenly, you may find yourself required to cook if you want to eat.

Earlier this week, I found myself tweeting out suggestions as to how to store foods, or what ingredients to use to stretch, or “bulk up”,a meal, or info as to how long certain food items can be stored. It occurred to me that a more comprehensive list might be helpful to my readers, most of whom have a disability, who find themselves cooking, perhaps for the first time. Below is a list of tips and suggestions on a variety of topics. I encourage all of you who think of yourselves as a kitchen whiz to contribute in the comments. The list that follows is by no means exhaustive, but we can all share what we know to help others in our community. Also, this is not a list fit for a prepper. I’m not talking about survivalism here, just offering tips for those of you who may be looking at a box of something in your cupboard and thinking: “Can I use this? “Is this still good?” ” Or, “How do I use this?” There are lots of things you can make with very few ingredients, and it’s always a good idea to have at least some of these items in your pantry, since they last (almost) indefinitely.

Stuff that lasts (almost) indefinitely, depending upon how it’s stored:*

Alcohol. Without comment as to how alcohol may be used to self-medicate, it lasts a long time and can be used for purposes other than over imbibing.

Apple Cider Vinegar and white vinegar: Can be used for making everything from salad dressings to barbeque sauce or marinades, to cleaning your bathroom.

Baking Soda: Don’t use the box you’ve had in your refrigerator for the past year when called for in a recipe. Have a couple of small boxes on hand for cooking, cleaning, and absorbing odors almost anywhere.

Bouillon Cubes: These are tiny little cubes of flavor that are a bit throwbackish, as they were once maligned for containing MSG. They are also very high in sodium, so while they keep well, if you have any special dietary requirements, you may want to use an alternative. One is mentioned below.

Cocoa: Both the hot chocolate powder and the pure cocoa powder. Lots of ways to use either for drinks or baking.

Corn Starch and corn meal: Both keep well when stored correctly, but note that they are not the same thing. You cannot make cornbread using cornstarch.

Corn Syrup: Used in place of sugar.

Dried Beans: Almost any variety, pinto, kidney, black beans, etc. can last for years when stored in a very dry place in an airtight container.

Ghee: A butter alternative, can be stored for long periods because of the way it’s processed. It’s packaged in a can.

Honey: Eventually, honey will harden or crystallize, but that doesn’t mean it’s gone bad. Just gently warm it up, or give it a good stir to reliquify it.

Instant Coffee: Hey, when you’re desperate for a caffeine fix, you’ll drink anything. This keeps a long time, just make sure you keep it sealed.

Powdered milk: Just add water.

Tea: Bags or loose, both will store a long time, keep it in an airtight container.

Maple Syrup: The high sugar content is what keeps maple syrup – the real thing, not the imitation – stable for a long time.

Pasta: Not variety specific. Spaghetti, rigatoni, fettuccini, whatever. Store it in an airtight container so it doesn’t attract bugs, and if it’s not old or packaged badly when you bring it home from the store, it will last for years.

Potato Flakes: Also called instant mashed potatoes. You might want to transfer these to an airtight container if you think you won’t use them for a while.

Ramen Noodles: There’s no telling what preservatives are used in those foil “flavor packets,” but in a pinch, they’ll fill you up, even if you’ve had them for years.

Rolled Oats, and to a lesser degree, instant oatmeal: Same packaging requirements as mentioned previously. Keep away from moisture, and store in an airtight container.

Salt: It’s a natural mineral from the Earth, and you may not need to worry about salt going bad, ever.

Soy Sauce: It has a lot of salt in it, which acts as a preservative, so that bottle you have in the door of your fridge from the one time last year you attempted to make an Asian dish is still good.

Sugar: Sugar really should be transferred to an airtight container, especially if you’ve opened the original box or package, since it attracts ants.

Vanilla Extract: The alcohol content is what makes this substance last a long time. Vanilla extract is an ingredient frequently called for in baking recipes, so it’s good to have on hand.

Rice, both white and brown: Stored properly rice can last a long time, although brown rice lasts only about 6 months, whereas white rice lasts much longer.

Spices: Spices are simply dried leaves or ground seeds, roots, or herbs. They will last for years in a sealed container, but note that the longer you have them, and the more you use them, the less pungent they become, due to exposure to air.

* Note that the vast majority of the ingredients above store much better if they are kept in a cool, dry place. Often, repackaging them into an airtight container will not only lengthen the storage life, but preserve the taste as well. Just be sure to use storage containers that are clean and dry, and have not been previously used for keeping something aromatic, as the smell can transfer.

Stuff you can use to easily make other stuff:

Bisquick baking mix: The original, all-purpose variety is the most versatile. Just add a liquid to a quantity of Bisquick, and you can make anything from muffins to dumplings to biscuits. You can also find a really convenient Bisquick pancake mix that comes in a pre-measured jug, with a mark as to where to fill with water. Simply add the liquid, water or milk or buttermilk, whatever the instructions suggest, and shake, shake, shake until blended. Then, just pour silver dollar sized dollops into the pan and cook as directed.

Self-rising corn meal: Making cornbread is pretty easy, but it’s even easier if you use a self-rising corn meal, because it eliminates an ingredient you may not have on hand – baking soda or baking powder.

Anything in a box by the Jiffy brand: While the cooking directions printed on the box may suggest you add milk, eggs, oil, or other ingredients, when I’ve been out of any of these, I’ve just used water, stirred, and cooked as directed. You may get muffins or cornbread with the dimensions of a hockey puck, but it tastes fine.

Canned tomato paste, or crushed tomatoes: Endless possibilities. Tomato paste usually comes in a tiny can, and usually costs less than a dollar, and because it’s condensed, one little can can result in a very nice quantity of soup base. Crushed tomatoes add heft to sauces or soups.

Better Than Bouillon: Soup is one of the best ways to get a whole lot of nutrition in a very simple meal. Better Than Bouillon is a brand of soup and meal base that is, in my opinion, and as the name suggests, better than bouillon cubes. You can get it in a low sodium, vegetarian, or vegan version, and there are many flavors. It’s economical, easy to store, and there’s almost nothing you cannot make with it.

Campbell’s tomato soup, condensed or not. Sometimes, when you need to change the taste of an otherwise bland dish, such as pasta or rice, adding a can of this soup can work wonders. Of course, it’s a great start to a soup stock, or, you know, a bowl of soup.

Frozen fruit and vegetables: Use your imagination. Veggies can be tossed into casseroles or stews, frozen fruit is great for smoothies, ice cream or oatmeal toppers, mixed drinks, or in cereal. Yum.

Great tools for people who don’t cook:

Stock pot: A big giant pot. Manufacturers often stamp the bottom of cookware with some info about capacity, so check to see if your pot is 4, 6, or 8 quart capacity, just FYI.

Slow cooker or Crock pot: Similar to a stock pot, except that these are electric and enable slow cooking.

Rice cooker: For those of you who insist you can’t boil water without burning it, a rice cooker will save your bacon. Or, in this case, rice.

Instant Pot: Which you’ve probably heard about, ad nauseam.

Bread machine: Surprisingly fun and easy to use, and really puts out a delicious loaf, while filling your home with a glorious baking bread aroma.

Stuff you may not have realized freezes really well:

Butter: Just leave it in the original packaging and toss it in the freezer.

Cheese, block or shredded: If you buy this in bulk, consider how much you usually use before storing. Cut the block of cheese into pieces and wrap tightly in plastic wrap before freezing. If you buy an 8 ounce package of shredded cheddar, toss the unopened package in the freezer, as is, and only take out what you need, as needed. Otherwise, an opened package of cheese will only last about a week in the fridge, depending upon how you store it. If you plan to use the cheese in a dish where the cheese will be melted, such as in burritos, or as a topping, you don’t even need to thaw it first.

Fresh herbs: This is a trick I had forgotten about until a friend recently reminded me. Fresh herbs last a nanosecond, but you don’t have to throw away leftovers. Tear fresh herbs into small pieces, place a few bits in the bottom of each square of an empty ice cube tray, fill with water, and freeze. When you want to use them, toss the ice cubes directly into the dish you are cooking. The ice melts, the water evaporates, and the herbs do delightful things to your meal.

Fruit juice: Do the ice cube tray trick with fruit juice. Fruit juice ice cubes are surprisingly useful.

Panko: If you like to use bread crumbs, you may already know about Panko, which is a more coarse grind, so whatever you coat with Panko tends to come out crispier than bread crumbs. You may have to add seasoning, though, as you may find them bland. Store them in an airtight container, and use as needed, no thawing required.

Tortillas, flour, corn or veggie wraps: Most tortillas are packaged in resealable bags, which can be tossed into the freezer as is. Store them flat, and they will be easier to separate when frozen so that you can just thaw what you need. Gallon sized freezer bags are great for resealing and storing leftovers.

Stuff that’s really cheap you can combine with other ingredients to stretch a meal:

Mashed potato flakes: Can be used to thicken a soup or stew, coat chicken or meat for baking or frying, or add milk, water, cheese, and bacon bits and other ingredients to make loaded mashed potatoes.

Bread crumbs: Whether used plain or blended with Parmesan cheese, herbs, and spices, adding bread crumbs can transform boring fish or even veggies such as eggplant into crunchy goodness.

Corn Flakes: Out of Panko or bread crumbs? Use Corn Flakes. Yes, the cereal. No, I’m not kidding.

Crackers, such as saltines, oyster, or even matzo: There are endless uses for crackers, including bulking up ground beef for burgers or meat loaf, binding together other ingredients, and used in place of bread.

Pasta, including the old standby, ramen noodles: It’s pasta. Enough said.

Frozen hash browns: Unless you bought the kind seasoned with onion and green peppers, they’re just shredded potatoes, and can be used to add filler to soups, stews, casseroles, and so on. You can make potato pancakes or fritters, and then there’s, you know, breakfast.

Pie crusts: Keep some plain frozen pie crusts in your freezer. At the end of your grocery buying cycle, you may have a plethora of ingredients in your fridge leftover from several days of meals. Bake one pie crust and set aside. Throw together your leftovers with a little bit of liquid, and fold it all into the cooked pie crust. Bake. When almost heated through, pull it out of the oven, lay a thawed second pie crust over the top, and continue to bake until the top pie crust is golden brown. Easy way to make your own chicken pot pie, or “impossible pie,” and takes care of those leftovers without the guilt of throwing them away.

The 2:1 ratio:

You may have a package of rice or grains in your pantry that you’ve repackaged, and therefore may not have the original cooking instructions. For most grains, such as white rice, brown rice, basmati rice, buckwheat groats, also called Kasha, quinoa, millet, which is actually a seed, and others, the cooking directions are nearly the same. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, add 1 cup of rice or grains, stir, bring back to a boil, cover, and then simmer on low heat for about 25 minutes. There may be slight variations to the cooking time, based upon your stovetop or cookware, but this is a general guideline.

There are lots of great books and web sites on food preparation, food storage, safety, and reuse. If you are looking for more substantive information on long-term food storage and disaster preparedness, I have a few to recommend. Just ask. Feel free to include your own tips or favorite resources in the comments below. We’ve got to keep our head together during this stressful time, and by extension, we must keep our families, communities, and societies in general together as well. In other words, we need to look out for one another as well as ourselves. The minute we abandon our neighbors is the minute we jeopardize our own well-being.

I’m rooting for you, precious humans.

LL

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The struggle is real: Self-serve SEO or pay for page rank?

To plagiarize the 80’s pop ditty, everybody wants to rule the world. When it comes to achieving any sort of visibility on Google, there’s not a great deal of room at the top. In fact, depending upon your industry, there’s no room at all, because the big players are firmly cemented in their page rank placement. There may be a bit of jockeying for position on page one of the search results, but you’ll almost certainly get the result you expect when you plug in “cat food,” “auto repair,” or “fashion,” into the search bar. If you are not atop the peak of Mt. Search, what can you reasonably expect from your home-grown SEO efforts? Should you DIY it, or pay for page rank?

I am a sole proprietor (translation: I can count the number of my employees on one hand, including my mother), of a boutique business (translation: minuscule), in a very niche market (translation: I have another job). Still, I have competition, and after nearly a decade in business, I felt a growing sense of irritation that when you searched for my keywords, you were lucky to find me at the bottom of the second page, but more likely, the middle of the third page. Even though I installed an out-of-the-box SEO WordPress plugin, I had no idea what to do with it beyond click “activate.” Since the plugin appeared to do nothing for me, I embarked upon a grass-roots campaign to get anyone and everyone I interacted with to link to my web site in articles or mentions of my business. I dutifully read everything I could about SEO (search engine optimization), and did all I could do that was within my limited technical skills to boost my page rank in the search results. A friend offered to use her preferred plugin to work some fo-real SEO magic on my pages, and I made sure to cram as much keyword-rich content into my blog posts, product descriptions, and ancillary shop pages as I thought the index bots would tolerate. My page rank didn’t budge. Quick…Somebody send out a search party. My web site is still missing without a trace.

About six months ago, with trumpeting fanfare, my web hosting provider announced that discount SEO services were available for a limited time. Hey, fifty bucks off is big money when you are a business barely perceptible on a microscope slide. I took a deep breath, and clicked “interested,” and subjected myself to the sales pitch. I was skeptical, but I was willing to give it a try.

After learning that SEO strategies are not what they used to be, thanks to new algorithms (translation: Everything you’ve done was a huge waste of time), and that in order to see real results the process can take several months (translation: We are invested in seeing to it this takes as long as possible, since we bill you monthly). They claimed to use a panoply of techniques that should slowly but surely raise your visibility on the search engines, which should result in more web site traffic.

Skipping, skipping, skipping (translation: I don’t’ want to confess to the blistering monthly interrogation to which I subjected the SEO team), after four very expensive months, I am now ranked at spot five for my keywords on the first page of the search engines I care about. Did it work? Yes. Was it worth it? That depends upon how you define success. If your metric is selling enough product to have paid for the service, and then some, only you can answer that. What happens after a potential customer lands on your page is up to you. I broke even. If your metric for success is page visits, then it worked wonders. I have more unique site visitors than I have ever had, and my business may benefit in other ways. There’s something to be said for more eyeballs on your business name. If I could afford to, I would continue the service, and I would recommend that you do. Perhaps the best strategy for small business owners is to pay for SEO in the months before your busiest season. Or, perhaps the most profitable solution for you would be a combination of paid SEO services, DIY link building, and targeted ads. Or, maybe just boosting your Facebook and Instagram posts would be sufficient.

My observation is that entrepreneurs tend to fall into two categories when it comes to spending money. They either throw every penny they have at a problem, thinking that they can fast track success by buying it, or they spend as little as possible, thinking that if they do it all themselves, and don’t spend a dime, the growth will happen naturally. Eventually. Well, eventually is right. In my case, eventually took years. The answer, I think, is somewhere in the middle. Spend something, at least on the tasks you know are not your best skills. It’s a cliche that entrepreneurs wear many hats, but it’s also key that you know your strengths. If self-serve SEO is not in your wheelhouse, then leave it to the pros, and be prepared to pay handsomely for page rank. Translation: It’s not as cheap as hiring your mother.

LL

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Why marketing gurus might think I’m a chump, and other games marketers play

Ask any marketer about the fastest and best way to convert browsers into buyers, and they’ll say email marketing still reigns supreme. Believe me, when your livelihood depends upon building a following from which to build a customer base, with whom to build trust, on which to build a relationship, on which to build a business, that’s a lot of building. The extortionist, hostage-taking approach to social media doesn’t work for everyone, as the algorithms used by social platforms that enable you to build a following, only to require you to pay for the privilege of communicating with them, can quickly get expensive.

The attention span of these followers is seconds at best, so the most effective way to capture a potential customer’s attention and convert that interest into a sale is by enabling them to voluntarily express that interest in hearing from you in the place where they live…their email inbox. Pop! We interrupt this compelling, well-written, information-packed article with a request to submit your email address.

Growth hackers have advocated a myriad ingenious solutions for increasing sales via email marketing, and each involves extensive site visit behavior analysis. Where does a web site visitor go? How long do they stay? What do they do after they click this page, or that link, and what is their next move? The resulting tools available to track, trip, and trap these site visitors into your sales web utilize landing pages, gateways, squeeze pages, popups, exit popups, video popups, slide-in popups, popup lightboxes, embedded forms, social popups, info bars, two step opt-ins, user inactivity triggers, exit intent triggers, repetition control, page level targeting, sticky ribbons, and referral detection trackers that the marketing gurus would all but guarantee will take your email subscription list to the next level. One subscription technique even helps you lock a portion of your content on the website by hiding or blurring it, and it asks visitors to enter their email address to unlock the content. It’s all very transactional.

If you are a business owner, then you know the number one rule is, know your customer. I do. I know my customers, and one thing I know is that some of them are screen reader users. In most cases, the cutting-edge techniques mentioned above are a usability nightmare. Disrupted reading flow, screen reader focus switching, click-trapping with no discoverable exit or close button, and other navigational black holes are a fast track to alienating my potential customers. So, I use none of these. Does my email subscriber list cup runneth over? No. I value quality over quantity. Does that make me a marketing chump? The gurus might say so. The email capturing techniques mentioned above may be “proven,” but they do not respect customers with disabilities who may find the pop-ups or slide-ins confusing, as they clutter the screen, create a cognitive load for new site visitors, or impose a barrier for customers who may be in a hurry, and may even trigger some users who need to avoid sudden motion, strobes, or flashes.

Usability is a simple concept that is inclusive of everyone, and it doesn’t have to be a tough choice. You can make your email opt-inform simple, obvious, and easily discoverable. Playing games with your site visitors can inspire annoyance, frustration, and resentment, which can easily result in avoidance or cart abandonment. Most site visitors who find a barrier to entry, especially if they are motivated to purchase or learn more, seldom return to a web site they have determined to be inaccessible. Word of mouth marketing is arguably the most effective marketing of all, and word quickly spreads about a destination that is a time-waster. Even though I live in Las Vegas, manipulative marketing is a game I’m definitely not willing to play.

LL

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Last-minute gift ideas from my 2019 guide to holiday gift guides

These days, online shopping is catching up to, if not surpassing, the volume of in-store shopping, to the surprise of no one. Especially for those of us who do not have easy access to transportation, or who are housebound, physically disabled, or who may otherwise feel uncomfortable about making a shopping trip via public transit. Fortunately, many businesses offer gift guides to assist online shoppers to make the best decisions about the gifts that would be perfect for their list of recipients. Below are a few for your consideration.

One of my favorite gift guides is brought to you by Access World. Author J. J. Medaugh of A T Guys {@ATGuys} curated a great list of items in several tech, gadget, and game categories. Check out the Access World gift guide here.

For the past few years, Alexandra Herold, founder of Patti and Ricky, has published a gift guide filled with thoughtful, functional, and fashionable gifts for people of all abilities. Whether you are shopping for adaptive swimwear, lingerie, shoes, or jewelry, you’ll find an incredible collection ofapparel and accessories at www.pattiandricky.com.

Emily Ladau offers a disability gift guide featuring artists and craftspeople who, in most cases, have created products specifically for people with disabilities, or who are disabled themselves. Find Emily’s disability gift guide here. While there, check out past gift guides, which are linked on the same page.

Lifestyle blogger Luke Sam Sowden has a holiday gift guide just for the guys. Luke is a prolific blogger who writes about food, fashion, fragrance, and luxury gifts from prestige brands. Follow Luke on Instagram at www.instagram.com/lukesamsowden or on Twitter at {@lukesamsowden}. This year, Luke has a gift guide for the guys.

The Fashionability Channel podcast is your guide to accessible style. Emily Davison of www.fashioneyesta.com and I co-host the podcast, where we chat about all things style and beauty, especially as it pertains to people with disabilities. You’ll find a few holiday podcasts on topics from holiday stress-relieving self-care strategies to stocking stuffers. Subscribe to The Fashionability Channel podcast today.

Finally, I created my own holiday gift guide featuring jewelry and accessories by Elegant Insights Braille Creations, which I posted on my own blog, Sparkle On. Find products organized by price that are perfect for all the friends and loved ones on your gift list. The perfect holiday touch: Gifts of braille jewelry.

Keep in mind that in most cases, this weekend is likely your final opportunity to shop at many of these retailers, because shipping slows as the burden of moving literally billions of packages overwhelms parcel delivery services. This weekend is your last chance to shop til you drop…at least, online.

I wish you a very merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, joyful winter solstice, and a happy and healthy 2020.

See you next year!

LL

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Fashionable gifts for people of all abilities. problem solved.

It’s such a great feeling when you know you’ve finally found the perfect gift for that hard-to buy-for someone on your gift list. The frustrating conundrum as to what to get for the person who has everything, is often solved with a food gift basket, novelty items, or, for the gift that proves you just flat gave up, a Starbuck’s gift card. But the question, “what do you get for a friend or loved one with a disability?” can be even harder to answer, because there may be some specific needs that must be taken into consideration when selecting a gift. You may be plagued by doubt, wondering if your gift is appropriate, or even usable, given your recipient’s specific circumstances.

Finally, there’s a place to go where you can get gifts that are fashionable, functional, and in many cases, designed by people with disabilities. Patti+Ricky is a one-stop shop for stylish apparel and accessories that are inclusive of everyone. Whether you walk, tap, or roll, these clever items have universal appeal. No longer are you limited to shopping at a medical supply outlet, or settling on daily living aids or in-home care items. At www.pattiandricky.com you will find top-quality products designed by problem solvers who are living the experience for which they have created solutions.

Gifts for the guys:

These flannel shirts have hidden magnetic closures that make dressing effortless for anyone who has manual dexterity issues due to arthritis, neuropathy, or, in the case of the designer’s husband, Parkinson’s des ease. MagnaReady is a line of apparel that looks, feels, and wears like any other clothing, but without the frustrating closures that can make getting dressed a challenge.

Photo of a burgundy flannel shirt, folded.

Photo of man wearing a long sleeved burgundy flannel shirt and khaki pants with hidden magnetic closures.

Whether your gift recipient is ready to relax or ready for the office, MagnaReady apparel will have him dressed and ready for anything from desk to dinner. Shop magnetic shirts here.

When people think of disability, they naturally tend to think “disability” translates to “inability.” In fact, at one time or another, most of us could use a little extra support. Whether you’ve sprained your ankle, had a hip replacement, or are working through physical therapy for any number of reasons, you might find yourself, or a loved one, in need of a balance or support cane. Wouldn’t it be fun to use one that suits your style? With Lorraine’s Canes, you can not only feel confident with a trusty cane by your side, but you can look fabulous, too. These artisan crafted, hand-painted canes are just your style, because they can be made to your specifications! Love animal prints? Flowers? Unicorns? You can have a stylish support cane that also supports your style profile.

Photo of a walking cane painted with a sparkly unicorn.

Photo of the paint-a-cane kit attached to a white cane.

Lorraine’s Canes are even available in a paint-your-own option, which is a complete kit that the grandkids can paint, and give to Grandma or Grandpa. Now, THAT would be the hit gift of the holidays! Shop Lorraine’s Canes here.

Love a little bling? Jewelry lovers who have low or no vision can adorn themselves with jewelry that says something about what they value…literally! Elegant Insights offers a distinctive collection of jewelry and accessories that are all handcrafted, made in the USA, and embossed in crisp, readable braille! Make a stylish statement without saying a word.

Photo of a heart pendant, bracelet, and earrings in copper with rose quartz and copper beads.

Photo of a brass and copper necklace featuring a disc braille embossed with "believe."

Elegant Insights jewelry is beautiful, unusual, accessible, and inclusive. Shop Elegant Insights here.

Patti and Ricky is an online marketplace consisting of products created by over 70 vendors. You’ll find everything from adapted swimwear to PICC line sleeves to pretty ostomy pouches. Have a friend or loved one who is post-surgery, and could use a lift? Forget about the flowers and bring a beautiful gift that is stylish and useful for anyone, whether their circumstances are temporary or ongoing. If you need advice or want to submit a suggestion, CEO and founder Alexandra Herold has you covered. This year, give a gift that can be both beautiful as well as practical. Then, remember Patti and Ricky for birthdays, Mother’s or Father’s Day, or, best of all…just because! Shop til you drop this season with Patti and Ricky.com!

LL

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Ingenious solutions for barrier-free fashion on the Today Show

Unless you are one of my regular readers, you’ve probably never heard of an online store called Patti + Ricky. I’m guessing, though, that you’ve probably heard of a national morning TV program called the Today Show. If you tune in to your local NBC affiliate on Thursday, May 9th, you will have an opportunity to watch the founder of www.pattiandricky.com make her Today Show national television debut.

While most Americans watching the Today Show are doing so while getting dressed to go to work, a task performed more or less mindlessly day after day, it is a task that may be insurmountable for some people with disabilities. Further, when it’s time to engage with the world beyond our doorstep, finding mainstream, fashionable clothing that is inclusive of everyone can be a challenge. Sweats are fine for knocking around the house, but sometimes the world expects a little more. What if an important client meeting meant dressing to impress on a day when chronic pain made fastening the buttons on your work shirt impossible? Wouldn’t it be empowering to know you could opt for a dress shirt with magnetic closures? What if you wanted to go swimming on a resort vacation, but in a typical bathing suit, using the bathroom is an ordeal? Wouldn’t it be great if there existed a swimsuit that enabled you to use the bathroom unassisted? A suit that didn’t require a complete undress, which may not be feasible for someone with a mobility disability? What if you are receiving medical treatment for an illness that requires intravenous medication via a PICC line, and would like to wear something to cover the port that’s more attractive than a plastic hospital sleeve? What if using an ostomy bag decorated with a pretty pattern or funny saying could lift your spirits, just a little? Or, what if you wanted to give a jewelry gift to a loved one with vision loss that was embossed with a sentimental message he or she could actually read?

Alexandra Connell is the founder of an online department store that offers a wide variety of gifts, clothing, and accessories for men, women, and children with and without disabilities. She will appear on the Today Show to talk about Patti, her mom, and Ricky, her cousin, who are the inspirations behind the amazing pattiandricky.com web site, which offers ingenious solutions for barrier-free fashion.

Photo of Alexandra seated at a table, on which there are folded dress shirts, with a rack of clothes at her side. Behind her there is a sign that says Patti and Ricky.

You may recall that I’ve written about this online destination previously, and I have also interviewed Alexandra on The Fashionability Channel podcast. Now, you’ll have a chance to see her share some of her products with a national audience.

One reason I think you might be interested in watching the program is because pattiandricky.com is one of the distributors of my Elegant Insights Braille Creations. Alex wore some of my jewelry on the set, and brought a couple of pieces to share during the “walk and talk” she did with the show host. Whether or not any of my products made the cut, and didn’t end up on the editing room floor, as it were, remains to be seen. However, if they take a medium shot of Alex, you’ll see one of my necklaces around her neck, and one of my cuff bracelets on her wrist. Needless to say, I’m very excited about this.

Photo of Alexandra Connell with Jill Martin on the Today Show, looking at Elegant Insights braille jewelry.

Any of you who have been following me for awhile know that I have been in business since 2011, and that I sometimes exhibit my products at ACB or NFB national conventions, state conferences, art shows, and expos. I hope you share my excitement as my braille jewelry gets national exposure. Some of the items Alex has available are exclusive to pattiandricky.com, so I’ll have a link back to her web site, with photos on the Elegant Insights home page, with a caption that reads: “As seen on the Today Show,” of course!

Whether or not my products actually see the light of day is only one aspect of the importance of the segment. People with disabilities are badly underrepresented in the fashion industry, and are all but invisible in print and digital media. This Today Show appearance is a victory for all of us, because Alex is bringing inclusive fashion to a mainstream audience. I call that must-see TV!

Don’t forget – The Today Show on NBC Thursday, May 9th. The segment will probably air the 3rd hour of the show, barring breaking news, a natural disaster, a mass shooting, or someone in our government doing something scandalous or saying something stupid. Oh – I’m sorry…was that last one superfluous?

Please share on social media and tag your friends!

LL

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Zappos Adaptive and Runway of Dreams present a livestream inclusive fashion show

Every season, the fashion industry rolls out what is hoped to be the next big wave of style trends, whether in apparel, accessories, hair or makeup looks. While prestige brands seek an upscale clientele, most fashion innovations are reinterpreted for the mainstream. Unfortunately, what constitutes “the mainstream” in fashion typically leaves out people with disabilities. Finally, the fashion tide is turning in our direction.

You probably already know of the online retail fashion destination, Zappos.com, but you may not be aware that the company also has a team devoted to making apparel and accessories inclusive of everyone. Zappos Adaptive features products that make a critical part of everyday life easier – getting dressed. Throw away the old ideas about adaptive clothing, though. No longer are people with disabilities forced to settle for garments that are as fashion-forward as sweats or hospital scrubs. Now, you can find stylish clothing by brands you know. To prove it, Zappos Adaptive and Runway of Dreams have collaborated on a ground-breaking fashion show just for people with disabilities, and you’re invited.

Be part of the growing movement that brings together fashion leaders, innovators and the disability community to experience the evolution of adaptive apparel and inclusive design with Zappos Adaptive and Runway of Dreams Foundation! Together, they will host the first, live-streamed fashion show in Las Vegas featuring 30 models and influencers with disabilities to showcase sporty, casual and evening wear looks that are functional, fashionable, and make getting dressed easier. It’s a celebration! Cocktails and hors d’ oeuvres will be served.

Donations and proceeds from the event will benefit the Runway of Dreams College Club Program, which is bringing positive visibility to disability by showcasing students with disabilities modeling Zappos Adaptive products and advancing the inclusive fashion movement on campuses across the country.

The event will be hosted by actor and model RJ Mitte, best known for his role on “Breaking Bad.”

WHERE: Symphony Park at the Smith Center Las Vegas
361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89106

WHEN: Wednesday, March 27, 2019 | 5:00PM – 7:30PM
Doors Open | 5:00PM
Cocktails & Hors D’oeuvres| 5:00PM
Program & Runway Show | 6:00PM

HOW: Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite.
· General Admission ($100) includes reserved seating, cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres.
· VIP Tickets ($250) include VIP seating, a private bar, hors d’oeuvres, and a swag bag.

About Runway of Dreams Foundation:
Runway of Dreams™ Foundation works toward a future of inclusion, acceptance and opportunity in the fashion industry for people with disabilities. We live our mission by developing, delivering and supporting charitable programs that break down stereotypes and empower people of all abilities with confidence, independence and style through a movement of inclusion in the fashion industry.

About Zappos Adaptive:
The Zappos Adaptive mission is to provide functional and fashionable products to make life easier. We are an online shopping experience offering clothing and shoes from innovative brands with unique features that address a variety of needs.

Here’s the link to the event livestream.

I’ll be covering the event for The Fashionability Channel, so be sure to watch for pre and post event coverage.

LL

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