Dear Readers: Today is MOTHER’S DAY, a time to honor our moms and their influence on our lives.

Take a moment to celebrate your mom. You don’t have to buy a fancy gift; just tell her you’re grateful for her.

If she’s no longer with you, find another way to applaud moms everywhere. — Heloise

GROUNDS FOR THE GROUNDS

Dear Readers: A delicious cup of coffee is a comfort to many, but after you brew, what do you do? Save those coffee grounds. They can work wonders in the garden. Add the grounds to your compost, along with leaves and sticks, for a good balance of nitrogen and carbon.

Snails don’t like coffee grounds, but earthworms do. Generously sprinkle used coffee grounds in the garden and around plants. Earthworms aerate the soil and distribute the nitrogen-rich grounds throughout.

Another option: Infuse water with the used coffee grounds. Place the grounds in an old hosiery, and place in water overnight. Then use this to water the garden.

Finally, after a day of digging in the grass, dirt and garden, scrub your hands with hand soap and a gob of grounds to exfoliate naturally. — Heloise

P.S. Ask the neighborhood coffee shop for its used grounds, too!

PET PAL

Dear Readers: Meet Sam. Marianne M. sent pictures of her handsome, gray, green-eyed cat Sam hanging out on his favorite blanket chest, alternatively napping and watching the squirrels and birds outside.

To see Sam and our other Pet Pals, visit www.Heloise.com and click on “Pet of the Week.” Do you have a furry and funny friend? Email a picture and description to Heloise@Heloise.com. — Heloise

TO PUSH OR

TO PULL?

Dear Readers: When you’re moving objects, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (www.OSHA.gov) recommends pushing the object whenever possible, instead of pulling it.

When you push, OSHA says, you use more muscles over a greater area of your body. Pulling the same object?

You can risk muscle strain — a painful injury. — Heloise

NAILED IT!

Dear Heloise: I like using nail polish because it reduces breakage, but nail polish feels heavy, and I want my nails to be uncovered and exposed to air.

My solution: I polish only the tips, using horizontal strokes, and I use all the coats (base, color twice and top coat).

It looks exactly like a French manicure, yet it leaves most of the nail free from polish, pink and healthy! — R.B., Silver Spring, Md.

‘EGGCELLENT’ EGGS

Dear Heloise: I break three or four eggs into my personal blender and add a decent-size spoonful of cottage cheese (in place of cream or milk) and a dash of salt and pepper.

I blend the ingredients and pour into my pan to scramble. They come out nice and fluffy, and they have the added protein from the cottage cheese. — Cheryl O., Aberdeen, S.D.

A PICTURE IS WORTH

1,000 ARGUMENTS

Dear Heloise: My No. 1 use for my cellphone is in grocery stores. I take a photo of a sale item with the price showing, so when I get to the checkout, there’s no questioning the price. This has happened in past months, and the picture’s settled it.

I read your wonderful column in the Journal-News in Hamilton, Ohio. — Betsy, via email

SUICIDE

PREVENTION

Dear Readers: Different types of people can contemplate SUICIDE: teens, veterans, LGBTQ+, the elderly and trauma survivors.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (suicidepreventionlifeline.org) recommends supporting someone who might be contemplating suicide with the following action steps: Ask; Keep Them Safe; Be There; Help Them Connect; and Follow Up.

The NSPL has a toll-free number staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year: 800-273-TALK (8255).

Assure people that you care, that their feelings are real and valid, and that help is available. — Heloise

HOMEMADE CLEANING

SOLUTIONS

Dear Heloise: I rarely disagree with you, but I must. Many of the items you recently listed to stock up on for spring-cleaning are not necessary because another product in the list will serve two or more purposes. For example: Chlorine bleach is an excellent toilet bowl cleaner, eliminating the need for a special toilet bowl cleaner.

White vinegar is a wonderful all-purpose cleaner, bathroom cleaner and window cleaner, eliminating the need for special cleaners. — Carol J.R., Texas City, Texas

Carol, you’re right! Of course we want our cleaning products to do double duty and to cost less! I’ve compiled a collection of my favorite homemade cleaning solutions in a handy pamphlet. Getting one is simple: Visit www.Heloise.com to order, or send a stamped (70 cents), long, self-addressed envelope, along with $5, to: Heloise/HCS, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. FYI: Heating vinegar amps up its cleaning power! — Heloise

COVER ALL YOUR BASES

Dear Readers: Eye shadow base serves many purposes: It evens out skin tone, gives shadow something to “grab on to” if your lids tend to be oily, it can reduce creasing, and it can make colors more vibrant and long-lasting.

Also, you don’t need a special eye shadow base. Concealer has the right consistency to act as an eye shadow base. Give it a whirl! — Heloise

CLEAN BLENDER

Dear Heloise: My sister told me just to squirt dishwashing liquid in my blender, pulse it a couple of times and voila — clean blender!

That’s OK, but every other week I take the blender completely apart, scrub it with a bleach cleaner and let it dry thoroughly. Tiny seeds and other residue can get in there; a deep cleaning is necessary. — Marie W., Marion, Ohio

EDITOR’S NOTE: Send your great money-saving or timesaving hint to to Heloise at P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, Fax to 1-210-HELOISE, or email to Heloise@Heloise.com. She can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in her column.