Q: I’ve been reading and enjoying your articles for a very long time, and I finally need your help. I’m looking for a liquid starch. — Marybeth Bennett, Lawrenceville
A: Once a laundry staple, liquid starch is more popular as a craft item these days, often found in classrooms rather than laundry rooms. I found 64-ounce bottles of Sta-Flo concentrated liquid starch for $2.97 at Walmart, 3245 Lawrenceville Suwanee Road, Suwanee, 678-482-5441. You’ll find the jugs of blue liquid starch on the bottom shelf where the spray starch is located.
Q: Someone gave me a small bottle of O.P.I Avoplex moisture replenishing lotion in a 1-ounce size. It smells like daffodils and is delightful. I would take other fragrances as well if I could find a place to purchase various amounts. Please help. Thank you. — Sally Pullano, Powder Springs
A: Sally, the lotion you have is available through www.ulta.com for $2.50 for a 1-ounce bottle. However, at Ulta, 680 Barrett Parkway, Kennesaw, 770-419-2755, you can purchase O.P.I Avoplex high-intensity hand and nail cream that also boasts a floral scent, and a 1.7-ounce tube costs $7.50. Both Avoplex lotions are boosted with avocado.
Q: I do a lot of baking for my family, friends, school and church functions. Cupcakes and muffins are what I make most often. I can’t remember the name of the item, but I’m looking for something that looks like a plastic measuring cup that you use to pour the batter into cupcake cups or muffin pans. This sounds much easier than my messy method. Thanks. — Ellen Worthington, email
A: It sounds as if you’re looking for Wilton Scoop-It batter spoons, which allow you to pour the same amount of batter into each cup. The spoons come as a set of three so you can make mini, regular and jumbo muffins. Scoop-It batter spoons are designed with a silicone edge that acts as a scraper or spatula so that you can scrape the bowl clean as you scoop your batter. Each set of three spoons sells for $5.99 at Bed Bath and Beyond, 130 Perimeter Center West, Atlanta, 770-673-0171. You’ll find them along the wall to your left when you enter the store. Look for the bakeware sign in the Kitchen Basics section of the store.
Q: I have a severe case of vitiligo. As a beautiful black women still in the workplace, this is very distressing! While there are many products available that may camouflage the areas, including Dermablend, I found that Exuviance CoverBlend corrective leg and body makeup in mahogany was the perfect color blend for my skin tone, and it provided the level of coverage that I needed. Exuviance stopped making this particular color in the leg and body makeup about three years ago. I haven’t been able to find anything with the exact color or quality to replace it. Unfortunately, I’ve had to settle for other products, which has become very costly. Can you help me? Thank you in advance for your assistance. — L. LuGrand, email
A: Because the leg and body makeup line has been discontinued, you’re left with few choices when it comes to snagging your favorite corrective makeup. You can find some tubes of the mahogany shade on www.ebay.com, with prices starting at $13.99 for a 1.75-ounce tube. I also found some tubes for $39.99 at www.bonanza.com. And I’m not sure if you’ve seen that Exuviance ColorBlend has a multifunction concealer in the mahogany shade. But, it comes in a small .05-ounce tube and sells for $22 at www.neostrata.com. I’d like to ask any readers who have the same issue to let me know if they’ve found a concealer that works well, and I’ll pass the information along.
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