HELPFUL HINTS
DEAR READERS: Today’s Sound Off is about people who are perpetually late.
DEAR HELOISE: Why are some people always late for everything? I have a friend who seems to think showing up on time is beyond her capabilities. She’ll say things like, “Time is my enemy.” If we’re meeting for lunch, she is sure to be 20 to 40 minutes late. Several of our mutual friends have stopped inviting her to various functions for this very reason. I only hope this will give others who are never on time a chance to think about how it affects others.
— Charlotte F., Hot Springs
DEAR READERS: Here are some hints for repurposing books:
Stack up several volumes to make a side table by a chair.
Create a multilayered wall collage with pages from any book.
Hollow out the inside of the pages and hide valuables in there, then place on a bookshelf.
Cut pages into strips and glue to a lampshade for a “novel” look for your lamp.
DEAR HELOISE: I use a facial mask that is wonderful and all-natural. It works well on nearly everyone I know:
Grind 5 tablespoons of oatmeal in a blender or food processor until it’s a coarse powder. Add 1 tablespoon of honey, 2 tablespoons of plain nonfat yogurt and 1 egg yolk, optional.
Mix everything together and apply to your face for 30 minutes in order to achieve best results. If you have time, lie down and relax during this treatment. Everything in this mixture is designed to brighten the skin, remove dead skin cells and nourish the skin.
— Vanessa K. in Detroit
DEAR HELOISE: My ex-husband and I decided years ago that no matter what happened, we would always take a “family portrait” every year. This was for the sake of our three daughters. The girls agree that we are still a unit, and it’s nice to see how the girls have grown and how my ex and I have changed through the years. We’ve been doing this for 15 years, and I believe it’s helped keep a civil relationship between my ex-husband and myself. — Courtney J.,
Suffolk, Va. DEAR READER: I agree that exes should remain civil to one another for the sake of the kids and for their own peace of mind. 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