Card trick is a worth repeating each holiday

heloise

Card trick is a worth repeating each holiday

Dear Heloise: I read a column where one of your readers sends her husband the same card for holidays year after year. I think I can go one (or more!) better.

Somehow, years ago, a friend and I started returning cards back to each other for the next birthday, Easter, Halloween, etc. But we wrote new notes on them — and usually a date. Sometimes other friends would add a note. Some years we will send lots at the same time — it’s so much fun to see the old messages and how long the cards have been around.

And, not to be outdone, my mother used the same birthday card for all of us for years. It is pretty tired now and quite soiled — but my sister still has it. Never know where that one will pop up again. Mary Helen Madden, Alexandria, Va.

How charming, and a real walk down memory lane to read past notes. Heloise

Dear Readers: You know those handy, zippered plastic bags that curtains, tablecloths, sheets and comforters come in? Don’t toss them; they have a multitude of uses. Here are some we came up with here at Heloise Central:

UStore craft items or crocheted pieces.

UStore seasonal decorations.

UStore seasoning packets in the pantry.

UStore assorted greeting cards.

UStore gardening seed packets. Heloise

Dear Heloise: I have a lot of mini flags, and the slacks/trousers hangers (the type that have five on one hanger) work well for hanging them rather than putting them in a drawer. You can slide the opening on the flag on it. That way, I can go through them and see what I have. Vicki Gehris, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: Since all cordless phones have different “flash” buttons, I found that a small dot with bright-red, quick-dry nail polish on this button makes it easy to find in a hurry for me and for any guest using my phone. Susan M. in Monroe, La.

Susan, good hint! Speaking of nail polish, here’s a hint from Mimi Cheevers of Houston: “Do you know anyone who uses up every last drop of nail polish? Waste not, want not. Give those unused colors a new life as paint. Use them on craft/art projects or when you need a permanent marker.” Heloise

Dear Heloise: My washer and dryer are in my utility room. To save steps, I have a baby monitor set up with one part in the utility room and the receiver in the house. Pat Rogers, Lady Lake, Fla.

Sound off

Dear Heloise: Here is my Sound Off — the cellophane packaging for egg noodles. The minute you open the package, it rips and spills the noodles on the floor. Why don’t the packagers use good-quality plastic, as for rice, or boxes, as for all other pastas? Anne Brewster, Albany, N.Y.

X Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.

King Features Syndicate