Dear Heloise: Every summer, bags seem to get bigger with more pockets and space, making it harder to find small things like keys. This year, I tried something different, and it worked great. My current bag is a compact, 7-by-10-inch, envelope-style purse that was made from repurposed sailcloth ...

Dear Annie: My wife and her sister have always had a close but delicate relationship. They can talk for hours, laugh about old family stories and check in on each other several times a week. But every so often, something shifts, and my sister-in-law becomes sharp, angry and deeply hurtful ...

Dear Heloise: I just read a hint in the Ventura County Star about avoiding ants in a cat’s food bowl by setting the bowl on a pan of water. It reminded me of our cruise through the Panama Canal years ago. We learned that during the construction of the canal, the local hospitals placed the bed ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: Please write about the correct amount of water that people should drink. There’s so much misinformation! — E.N., MD ANSWER: There is so much misinformation since a simple answer, like “more is always better,” is easier than a nuanced answer. It depends on your age, ...

Dear Annie: About six months ago, I grew close to a woman I had known casually for some time. She had recently come out of a painful breakup, and what began as friendship quickly turned into something much more emotionally intimate. We talked every day, shared deeply personal things and became ...

Dear Annie: I love your advice and the fact you're able to cut to the chase. I find myself in need of your level head, too! I've been (mostly) happily married for 26 years. My husband is very gregarious and never met a stranger. In fact, he happily opens up his life to anyone and everyone. I ...