Fill the pot about halfway up and place it on the cooktop over medium heat. Then, set a small mixing bowl over the opening of the pot. The water will heat the bowl from underneath, allowing you to combine the various ingredients for your chocolate without burning them.  You want the water to be nice and hot, but not boiling. If the temperature is too high, it could easily scorch your chocolate as it cooks. A proper double boiler can help you get the job done with fewer pieces of cookware. After your chocolate has had plenty of time to set up, break it into pieces or pop individual chocolates out of their molds and have a nibble. Store your homemade milk chocolate in a covered container on your countertop, or inside a pantry or another cool, dry place. It should keep for about 1 year (thought it will be a miracle if it actually lasts that long!)

Summary: Create a makeshift double boiler using a pot of water and a mixing bowl. Let your chocolate harden in the refrigerator for 1 hour.


No matter what your teen’s interests-- sports, music, fashion, TV, video games, friends, school work--be open to talking about them. Work on being a good listener and try to show genuine interest in what your teen enjoys discussing. A good rule of thumb is to listen twice as much as you speak. This ensures you are giving your teen enough time and attention to talk about their interests. Teens are great at doing or saying things that annoy their parents or elders. Rather than react emotionally to their actions or words, consider why they be pushing your buttons. The answer could be resentment towards being late for an important event, or simply that they are being a moody teenager. By reflecting on your responses to your teen, you can find the root of the problem or issue. This will likely also lead to less fighting and more talking. This can be difficult to do, as you may feel you need to serve as a good role model for your teen. But acknowledging when you made a mistake will allow your teen to see you are human, and someone they can relate to. In fact, admitting a wrong and apologizing sets a positive example for your teen. “I’m sorry” are powerful words for a teen to hear from their parents or authority figure. This kind of positive communication will give your teen a chance to learn how to talk honestly and respectfully with others, even when they disagree. They will also learn to feel more confident when discussing their feelings with others, including you. Chances are you will hear your teen say something you disagree with. But its important to avoid statements like, “That’s a stupid decision,” or “You’re wrong about that boy.” Instead, try to offer an opinion by saying, “I understand where you’re coming from but this is how I see it…”. Or “I’m here to listen, but let me know if you want any advice from me.”  Start by noting your teen’s feelings. “You seem upset about what happened last night.” Using a statement rather than a question will make the phrase sound more like a suggestion, rather than an accusation. Give them all your attention and listen to what they have to say. Put your phone away, turn off the TV, or shut the door. Make your teen feel like they have the floor. Offer help or advice once they have finished speaking. Ask them: “Is there something I can do to help?” or “Would you like some advice?” Often, teens just need to talk about issues or problems to someone they trust and respect. They may not be seeking the answer to a problem or an easy solution. So, be willing to listen to them, rather than lecture them. These aggressive actions will likely kill any meaningful conversations with your teen. Remember you are trying to talk to your teen, not shout them down or get upset at them.

Summary: Try to talk about things that are of interest to your teen. Be aware of your own reactions to your teen. Admit when you are wrong, and apologize. Offer your opinion, but avoid lecturing or nagging your teen. Avoid yelling, blaming, and name-calling.


Take first stitch in the row and slide it off of the left hand needle and onto the right hand needle. Do not knit the stitch. Just slide it from one needle to the other. Insert the right hand needle into the next stitch on the left hand needle as if you are going to knit the stitch. However, do not complete the stitch yet. Take your working yarn strand and wrap it around the needle that you just inserted through the stitch. Wrap the yarn around the needle in a clockwise fashion and then bring the strand to the front of your work. Use your thumb to anchor the loop at the length you want it to be. If you want a long loop, then position your thumb a few inches away from the needles. If you want a shorter loop, then position your thumb right next to the needles. After looping the yarn around your thumb, bring it back up and around the needle again, but wrap it in the opposite direction (clockwise) this time. Complete the first loop stitch by knitting 1 stitch. The loop will be secured by this stitch. Next, lift the first loop up and over the stitch you just knitted. Knit the next stitch as a normal stitch. It is important to knit 1 regular stitch after each loop stitch. After you finish 1 loopy stitch, start the sequence over again and continue to repeat it to the end of the row. The next row should just be knit stitches. This will ensure that your project is stable enough to support the loopy stitches. After a knit row, return to the loopy stitch row, and then the knit row again. Continue this sequence until you have completed your project.

Summary: Slip 1 stitch from the left needle to the right needle. Insert your needle into the next stitch. Wrap the yarn around the needle counter-clockwise 1 time. Loop the yarn around your thumb and then around the needle. Knit 1 stitch. Lift the first loop on the needle over the stitch you just knitted. Knit 1 stitch normally. Repeat the stitch sequence to the end of the row. Knit the next row. Alternate between loopy stitch rows and knit rows.


To produce a smooth, powerful, and natural voice, you must first learn proper breathing techniques. While humans are meant to breathe and speak from their diaphragms, many people do this with their chests instead, and this produces a weaker voice. You know you're a chest breather if you take a breath and your chest and shoulders rise. To correct this and to teach your body to breathe from the diaphragm:  Breathe in deeply for four seconds, making sure you breathe into your diaphragm. After four seconds, hold the air in your diaphragm for another four seconds before exhaling for a count of four seconds. Repeat this exercise for two minutes every day. Work your way up to practicing this technique for five minutes a day. Once you're comfortable with the four second breathing, you can practice the same technique, but extend the inhale, hold, and exhale to 20 seconds each. You only need to do this once daily. As you teach your body the proper breathing technique, you can start working on speaking from your diaphragm as well. To do this, take a deep breath into your diaphragm and practice speaking as you exhale and your belly flattens. As you begin to run out of air, take another deep breath and speak again, but be sure you only speak as your belly is flattening. When possible, always breathe through your nose. Air inhaled through the nose is moister and better for your vocal chords and vocal strength. Muscle tension in the body and throat or emotional stress can all wreak havoc on your voice, and this can lead to a thin and nasally voice that has no resonance (doesn’t carry well). The breathing exercises will hopefully calm your body and mind, and you can relax your throat by: Yawning deeply, and as you finish the yawn, begin humming. Open your jaw to a comfortable width and move your jaw from side to side as you hum. Do this for a few minutes, then use your fingers to massage your throat.
Summary: Practice proper breathing. Incorporate proper breathing into your speaking. Relax your body and your voice.