Things #24-26. Purses.

Of course I have to say something about purses. There are two—count ‘em, two—chapters in my book about purses. For some women it’s shoes; for me, it’s purses.

Sorry, you non-purse-carriers out there. Check back later for some tips that apply to you.

Thing #24. Carry a medicine bag in your purse.

This is a little tip I learned from my bestie, Ruth. She’s very organized. Years ago I observed that she had a little zippered bag in her purse that kept all the little bits and pieces rounded up—medicine bottles, nail clippers, nail file . . . . I adopted the practice. My little zippered bag, a bit smaller than my hand, also holds a mini sewing kit, a tiny bottle of lotion. And something deserving of its very own “thing.”

Thing #25. Keep a tape measure in your purse.

Yes, my little purse pouch holds a tape measure. It comes in handy. You never have to wonder if that side table at the garage sale is going to fit in the little nook in your living room (provided you’ve already measured the nook in your living room). I’ve also pulled out the tape measure at work—will that bookcase fit in that corner?

Thing #26. Keep a flashlight on your key ring or in your purse.

Yes, I have a flashlight in my purse, too. Ever tried to read a program in a dimly lit auditorium (before the concert, of course)? I’ve even pulled it out in a dark restaurant. Most people have this option on their phone, but I don’t get much light from my phone, so a little flashlight is just the ticket.

Besides, without a flashlight, how am I going to find anything in my purse?

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Thing #22. Store your shirts on their sides so you can see them all at once.

I saw this idea online several months ago and decided to give it a try. I really like it. It’s so much easier to find what I’m looking for, or to look at all my shirts at once to decide what to wear. My shirts do come out a bit wrinkled, but I think they did when I stacked them on top of each other, too.

Which brings me to my next “thing.”

Thing #23. Spray clothes with water to get rid of wrinkles.

I do this just about every day before I get dressed.  I pull something out of my closet or a drawer and discover a few wrinkles or a crease. I put the garment on a padded hanger, spray the wrinkles, and do whatever else I need to do to get ready other than putting on that piece of clothing. I’m sure this works because of the kind of fabric I tend to wear and the fact that I live in a very dry place (Colorado), but give it a go and see how it works for you. Some fabrics don’t like water, so test a hidden area first to be sure you don’t leave water spots on your clothes. 

This tip is especially helpful when traveling. I’ve tried various methods of folding clothes in a suitcase—including rolling rather than folding—and things still seem to come out wrinkled. So now, when I arrive at my motel (or friend’s house), I take out all my clothes, hang them up (if possible) and give them all a spray. (I pack an empty spray bottle and fill it with water at my destination.) Wrinkles are usually gone the next morning.

You’re welcome.

Things 17-21: Weight Control

I have a constant battle with my weight. I'm always a little heavier than I should be.  I tend to binge on sweets and the pounds creep on. But I have learned a few things that help take the weight off, and help me maintain my weight in between holidays.

Thing #17. Drink water.

On a very basic level, water fills you up so you eat less. But there are other advantages that have little to do with weight control. According to WebMD, drinking water helps maintain the balance of body fluids (our bodies are 60 percent water, don’t you know), helps energize your muscles, and helps your kidneys function properly.

Thing #18. Eat an apple a day.

It keeps the doctor away and all that. But it’s also high in fiber, so it fills you up.

Thing #19. Make a large salad and eat on it for several days.

 I enjoy salad, but it takes so much effort to put together. But if there is a large bowl of salad already made, I’ll grab some for lunch, or make it a large part of my dinner. You may prefer to have several dishes of different salad ingredients ready to go rather than having it all tossed together. Either way is a huge time saver and will encourage you to eat more fresh veggies.

Thing #20. Eat vegetables only for one meal a day—salad, or steamed.

Very similar to tip #19, this tip encourages you to make veggies your entire meal once a day—or more. Or set aside one day a week to eat only veggies. Stick to low starch veggies to get the best weight loss benefit. (I have to be careful not to overdo the corn, peas, and lima beans. I love them all.)

Thing #21. Make a small change.

If you need to adjust your eating habits—or any other habit—decide on one thing you can do this week that will send you in the right direction. Then next week, or maybe the week after, make another change. Don’t try to fix everything all at one.

What will be your healthy eating change for this week?