Heloise

Dear Heloise: The French have a saying: "Scents are made to be discovered, not announced." — David K., in Buffalo, New York

David, this is very true. But unfortunately, some people — both men and women — don't understand the phrase "less is more." — Heloise

SEND A GREAT HINT TO:

Heloise@Heloise.com

HUMIDIFIER HINT

Dear Heloise: I'm not sure how well this is known, but it took us years to learn it. We use room humidifiers, especially at night, because we live in a dry climate in Montana. Before, we used water from the cold water tap that was untreated, and we would ex-perience small white particles that accumulated on nearby furniture and flooring. We learned to use water from the hot water tap that had been treated ("soft water"), and this completely eliminated the deposits. — Brent C., in Billings, Montana

SPEAK ENGLISH WELL

Dear Heloise: By the time my little sister graduated from college, we had four English majors living under our roof. My mom was a music teacher, but she was just as concerned about grammar and pronunciation as the rest of us. The word "February" was one of her pet peeves.

My dad taught high school history and was obsessed with the correct pronunciation of "mischievous" and "caramel." I followed my dad into the teaching field and taught bilingual education at the elementary school level for 17 of my 27 years. Having begun as an English major, I was very interested to learn that pointing out issues in Spanish to my students was also important when developing good, fluent English.

I've heard appalling grammar in the classroom. "I'd have went" is a common mistake made in the classroom, as well as "I seen it!" Part of the problem with the classroom is that they keep adding more responsibilities to the teacher's day. It's disturbing that our students don't even know how to sign their names because handwriting isn't taught in the classroom.

When students grow up in homes where their own families don't speak good standard English, it is difficult for them to know that what they are actually speaking is substandard English. I was motivated to write by another Lori H. from California! — Lori H., in California

Lori, young people need to understand that proper English is very important, especially when you get out in the world and need to apply for a job. If you're in a role that represents your company, your employer will want someone who speaks well, sounds educated, and gives a good impression.

Speaking English properly makes you sound bright, educated and intelligent. When you're going in for a job interview, everything about you is important from the way you dress to the way you speak. So, speak correctly and edge out the competition. — Heloise

HOMEMADE POPSICLES

Dear Heloise: Dena G. is right about store-bought popsicles, but you can easily make your own and have a delicious (and even nutricious) snack by using high-quality juices. (Avoid brands with added sugar.)

Here's my secret to improving the texture of the ice, which tends to be unpleasantly hard: Add applesauce! What a difference it makes without modifying the flavors. Experiment to suit your taste, but start with about 4 spoonfuls of no-added-sugar applesauce, at about a 1:4 ratio.

Snacking tip: Have a small bite of several of your favorite snacks, don't gobble or gorge on them, then top it off with a tasty homemade popsicle! — David B., in Oregon

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