DEAR HELOISE: I take two medications, one in the morning and one at night. They come in the same size and color bottle. I would have to read the label to figure out which one to take.
I took a permanent marker and printed a big, fat "D" on the day bottle and an "N" on the night bottle. Now I just look for the letter on the bottle instead of trying to read the label.
On trips, I put my meds and supplements in a pillbox. I took one pill out of each container and noticed that the morning one was round, like the sun, and the evening one was oval, sort of like the moon, and now I don't ever mix them up.
-- T.G., via email
DEAR READER: Taking and identifying meds can be a little confusing at times. For your travel pillbox, try putting the morning pill on one side, mark that "D," and the evening one in the other side, marked with an "N" for nighttime.
DEAR HELOISE: Whenever I need to measure or weigh ingredients like mayonnaise or peanut butter, I use my food scale and a small, flat plate, not a measuring cup.
I place the plate on the scale first so its weight isn't calculated into the weight of the ingredient. I scoop the amount needed onto the plate until I have the right amount/weight, then scrape it off into the other ingredients.
It's far easier to scrape these sticky or thick ingredients off a flat plate than out of a measuring cup.
-- Mary M. in San Antonio
DEAR READER: Readers, Mary weighs and measures foods on a scale. This is a superior hint, especially for diabetics or others who must watch food calorie and sugar input carefully.
DEAR READERS: Here are uses for an old birdcage:
• Hang outside as a "critter" feeder.
• Decorate with artificial vines and flowers, and place in the fireplace with flameless candles.
• Spruce it up and use as an accent piece or decoration.
• Place it in the living area to keep necessities organized.
• Put in a craft room as extra storage for supplies.
DEAR HELOISE: I use large rubber bands and tie some to the ends of a hanger. I can position them anywhere. For tank tops, I put multiple rubber bands on each arm so I can hang more than one top at a time.
-- Gracie B., via email
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
MovieStyle on 02/17/2017