Keep family notes away from snoops
Dear Heloise: My hus- band and children used t o leave me little notes such as: “Please pick up my insulin on your way home tonight,” or “Your mom called and wants to talk to you ASAP.” These were not big secrets, but they were private. I found one of my neighbors going through a small stack of those messages one day
en she was over. I found this intrusion aggravating.
So, I took some chalk- board paint and painted the inside of my utility closet door. We now leave mes- sages on it instead of on Post-it notes. At least I have my privacy back! — Frances H., Peabody, Massachusetts
A cheesy idea
Dear Heloise: When I tried to grate cheese, I always made a mess. Finally I tried freezing the cheddar, and it was much easier to grate. — Lois W. Evansville, Indiana
An alarming situation
Dear Heloise: Twenty years ago, two men broke into my home at night in an attempt to rob me. Af er they left the house, I called the police, and one of the policemen gave me a good idea. He told me to always keep my car keys on my nightstand. If I hear a noise, I can press the alarm button, which will usually scare the intruder enough to leave.
It worked last month when two teenagers broke into my home. I pressed the button and they ran out. One boy tripped and broke his ankle. He was still on the ground crying when the police arrived. — Janet D., Biloxi, Mississippi
Bathroom organization
Dear Heloise: I have a long bathroom counter, and it was barely visible with all the clutter on it. I finally decided to get organized. I used a large serving tray and put some clear plastic organization containers on the tray to hold my makeup, but I needed something to hold my many makeup brushes.
I found some beautiful cut-glass cups. Now my bathroom counter looks beautiful, and I’m totally organized. — Courtney J., Ponca City, Oklahoma
Travel hint
Dear Heloise: I travel about 105 nights a year on average, so I’ve learned a thing or two about packing. If you are packing shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, or anything that can be sprayed or is liquid, no matter how tight the lid is, always place those items in a large zipclose bag to keep any spillage from ruining your clothing. Always roll up your jeans and T-shirts, and don’t forget to pack slippers to wear around your hotel room. — Heidi S., Detroit
Using leftover dips
Dear Heloise: I wanted to share my ways of using leftover dips. I use them as sandwich spreads and on baked potatoes. The cheesy ones enhance the flavor of boxed macaroni and cheese. —