Focus on the meaning of Thanksgiving Day

Dear Readers: Today is Thanksgiving Day, a time of family, friends, feasting and football. Be sure to take a moment to really count your blessings and to appreciate everything you have.

Things may not be perfect, and despite the problems we all face, there is still a reason to be thankful and hopeful. Seek out that reason. — Heloise

Easy Clean

Dear Heloise: I’ve found an easy way to clean my stainless steel appliances (we have five). The best cleaners are those eraser-type sponges. I just wet one a little and wipe across back and forth. I dry with a soft cloth. I’ve loved your hints for many years. — Sharon in Clayton, Ohio

Milk Snack

Dear Heloise: I came up with a good bedtime snack. I usually don’t finish my glass of milk at dinner, so I save the milk in the fridge and then add some cereal into the glass. A crunchy snack, and no wasted milk. — Heather P., age 9, Odessa, Texas

Compliment Call

Dear Heloise: When I get good service from a company, I am always quick to call and report the great experience! Everyone is always in an all-fire hurry to complain, but I like to call out good workers — to their boss, not to them. — Jackie W. in New York

Naikled It!

Dear Readers: Labeling with red or purple nail polish is one of my tried-and-true hints. Which items get labeled? Read on:

■ keys

■ the “Off” position on an appliance

■ the “On/Off” button on the TV remote — Heloise

Pumkin Pie Spice

Dear Readers: To give your home a warm, seasoned scent, add 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice to 1 cup of water, and microwave on high until the water boils, usually around three minutes. The aroma will remind you of a bakery. — Heloise

Wax Facts

Dear Heloise: I had some furniture with scratches that I thought was ruined. I discovered wax sticks can fill in and hide the scratches. These are available at the hardware store, and they come in many colors. — Belinda E. in Florida

Softened Sugar

Dear Heloise: Brown sugar can get rockhard! I’ve found that putting a few apple slices in the container with the sugar will soften it. — Maddie T. in Pennsylvania

Leave the slices in overnight. — Heloise

Center Of Attention

Dear Readers: To make a pretty, unique centerpiece, a wineglass with a stem, when turned upside down, can become a stand for a short candle. Adhere the candle to the glass with some melted wax. Place some pine cones, pretty mini ornaments, dried flowers or holly under the glass.

Don’t let the candles burn too low. The glasses can get too hot and crack. — Heloise

Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or email it to HeloiseHeloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.