Mail order cookbooks: Check them out first at store

Dear Heloise: I get special offers in the mail all the time to order cookbooks at a discounted price. Before ordering, I go to a local superstore or bookstore that carries that book and browse through it. That way, I can make sure the book is one that I would be interested in, and I am not wasting money on something I would not use once I have ordered it. Anne Akin, Texarkana, Texas

What a good idea! Heloise

Fast Facts

Dear Readers: Here are some handy uses for a flannel-backed plastic tablecloth:

•Place on bed (flannel side up) when a young child is sleeping over.

•Use as a cover for items stored outside.

•Put in a car trunk for a ground cover when needed.

•Make into place mats. Heloise

Dear Heloise: The thin, lightweight produce bags are always so hard to open. I’ve solved this by wetting my finger on a moist surface where the fruits and vegetables are displayed (from the ones that get sprayed periodically). The ends of those thin produce bags will open with no problem with a damp finger. Peggy B., Spokane, Wash.

Dear Heloise: I find that my cell-phone plan offers many more text messages per month than I actually use, so I found a new use for them. When I need to remind myself of something, I send myself a text message. That way, I use up some of those wasted messages, and I don’t have to worry about writing myself a reminder and forgetting where I put the piece of paper. Because my cell phone is always with me, every time I check it I can see that I have a text reminder. Katie, Washington, D.C.

Dear Heloise: So many watches nowadays have no ridges in the crown (watch stem), so when I tried to reset my watch to the correct time, my finger would keep slipping, and it would take forever to reset. Easy way to fix: Take a rubber band and wrap around your finger until it’s secure, and the rubber band gives a great grip, allowing easy rotation of the stem. C.C. Fritz, Arizona

Dear Heloise: As a professional woman who has to wear heels often for work, I found a great hint for those slippery soles on shoes, which will help prevent slipping and falling.

Cut bathtub appliqu s to size and put on the shoe bottoms. Clean the shoe bottom first to make sure it sticks. Appliqu s come in fun colors and add interest to the shoes. Try to get the darkest color so that when dirty, they still look good. Kathy Morgan, Yorba Linda, Calif.

Sound Off

Dear Heloise: I wish people who leave messages on answering machines would slow down. Sometimes, I must listen to the message several times. Dorothy Jones, Youngstown, Ohio

SBlt 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