DEAR HELOISE: I had a "light bulb" moment when getting ready to return some clothing I had purchased online. To return soft goods (and sometimes shoes) that usually come to you in a plastic bag from the manufacturer, just turn the bag inside out. Your original shipping label to get the goods is still attached inside the bag. Just insert the goods you are returning, and include your "return/ exchange" info slip inside. I usually make a copy of my invoice and insert that also.
Be sure you do not insert the return mailing label in the bag. Tape up the bag and put the label on it, and you are done.
-- A Shopper in Virginia
DEAR HELOISE: When making soup that has pasta as an ingredient, do you cook the pasta first, or can you add it uncooked?
-- Steven W., Nebraska
DEAR READER: You can add cooked or uncooked pasta to soup. Uncooked pasta will soak up the broth/liquid more than cooked noodles, but if you like a little thicker soup, this is the way to go. Also, by adding uncooked pasta, you don't dirty other pots.
DEAR HELOISE: My husband and I were arranging our cornstalks and pumpkins, a traditional fall decoration here in New Hampshire. We were wondering how to hold the cornstalks up. My husband suggested that we use our Christmas-tree stand. Our stand is a large, green, plastic circle with a well for water. We jammed cornstalks in the well, arranged more stalks around the outside and tied it all together. Worked well!
-- Judith M., Bedford, N.H.
DEAR HELOISE: For your reader with the rusty can opener (Heloise here: The column was about cleaning a rusty opener using vinegar), I take a short strip (maybe 6 to 8 inches) of newspaper, paper napkin or paper towel and run it through the opener mechanism after each use. This cleans it immediately. No more gunk or even need to wash the can opener.
-- Francoise W.,
Kerrville, Texas
DEAR HELOISE: After Christmas, instead of throwing away all of the Christmas cards we've received, I cut off the half with the picture on it (as long as there is no writing on the other side) and use them for next year's Christmas gift labels.
-- Sheryl S., Maui, Hawaii
Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email
Heloise@Heloise.com
Style on 12/06/2016