DEAR HELOISE: My mother always said to make your bed in the morning and don't leave dirty dishes or glasses in the sink. Doing this keeps my workload down for the day and makes my home feel neater and more organized.
-- A reader
in Austintown, Ohio
DEAR READER: And my mother would add, always hang up clothes rather than throwing them on a chair or the floor. Put items to be laundered in the hamper or laundry basket. When you take something out of a cupboard, put it back rather than leaving it on a counter.
DEAR READERS: I love to find unique gift wrapping. Here are a few suggestions on what you can use:
• Deflated foil party balloons.
• An old map.
• Aluminum foil, shiny side out, covered by a sheet of colored, plastic wrap.
• White wrapping paper can be personalized with stencils, colored markers, crayons or stickers.
Dear Heloise: I've found a delicious way to make French toast. I take a little chocolate syrup and mix it with the egg coating. Before serving, I mix a little chocolate to the maple syrup and drizzle it over the top. Sometimes, instead of adding chocolate, I add some vanilla to the batter for a change of pace.
-- Betty in New York
DEAR HELOISE: I had an old dresser that was handmade by my great-grandfather. It had been passed down in the family and is very special to me. The dresser was in great shape, but the top had been battered, stained and scratched over time. I was going to refinish it, but my husband had another suggestion. He had a piece of marble cut to fit perfectly over the top of the dresser. Not only is it attractive to the eye, it's easy to clean and gives the dresser a more expensive look.
-- Addie
in New Hampshire
DEAR READER: What a wonderful way to bring new life to a treasured piece of family history. Well worth the expense of the marble.
DEAR HELOISE: I use my blender daily to make a protein drink. To be sure it is clean to use the next day, I first rinse it, then fill it halfway with water and add a drop of dishwashing liquid. With the lid on, I run the blender at its lowest setting for a few seconds and follow by rinsing thoroughly. Once a month I take the blender apart and clean the blade attachment area.
-- Roger in North Dakota
Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email
Heloise@Heloise.com