HELOISE Color used to identify each item

Dear Heloise: My mother is in the process of downsizing and moving to another state. She wanted to be able to indicate which items she wanted to move and which were headed for other destinations. She was going to write a complete inventory of her belongings, but quickly realized that it was out of the question.
Her idea -- colored stickers! When we walked into her house, nearly every item had a sticker. She placed a color key by the door: red -- move; green -- sell; orange -- gift; and yellow -- think about it.
As we began helping, it saved a lot of questions. Mother still had to go through everything personally, but then any of us was able to pack items for their proper destination. Ann Higgins, Florence, Ala.
Give your mother a Heloise Hug for being so organized. Heloise
Fast facts: Do you have any suggestions for reusing CDs? Sandi Makowski, Ormond Beach, Fla.
Here are a few to get you started:
UGlue one inside a school locker for use as a mirror.
UUse them as reflective bases when displaying figurines.
UUse the shiny side as a clock face for a clock-making kit.
UThey make great coasters under drink glasses.
UMake a "sun catcher" by hanging several with nylon fishing line. Heloise
Dear Heloise: When traveling we stayed on the second floor of a hotel with a great view that we hated to block by closing the drapes.
In order to keep the view and assure ourselves some privacy, we needed to block the lower portion of the window. Voil & aacute;! A trip to the car to bring back the (cardboard) windshield sunshade, which we stretched across the width of the windowsill, and our problem was solved. Hope van den Heuvel, Newton, N.J.
Dear Heloise: I was reading your column about joggers carrying identification and thought I would share my solution.
I went to a store that has a machine for making dog tags and made a tag with my name, address and phone number. I then used a chain to hang it around my neck. Identification without having to have a pocket. Doris Riecke, Norman, Okla.
Doris, our military members call them "dog tags" for a reason. Heloise
Dear Heloise: When I purchase cosmetics, many times I receive a gift that includes a cosmetic bag. I fill these bags with things young women would like -- lipstick, nail polish, hair accessories, perfume samples, etc.
I donate these bags to a local charity for distribution to young women during the holiday season. You could also make up grooming kits for young men. D.L., via e-mail
Sound off: I just bought some seat pads for my dining-room table. The label tags are huge!
Because they contain info on maintenance, I don't want to cut them off . Couldn't they have sewn them on the backside of the cushions? Mary Zaagman, Michigan
Why not cut those tags off and attach one of them to an index card that can be kept in the laundry room? Heloise
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can't answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.
King Features Syndicate