Stamp Act
Go online (not in line) to buy stamps at www.usps.com. The selection is terrific, and the stamps arrive in your mailbox a few days later (you pay $1 more for the transaction--a fair trade-off for your time). Look at the issue-related stamps, such as those for breast cancer, Special Olympics, and more. Your click helps a cause.

Conquer Pet Plaque
Scary stats: Uncared-for teeth in dogs can lead to tooth loss, potential spread of infection to vital organs, and--gag, gag--bad breath. So brush those pooch pearlies once a week. The job’s easier with an electric toothbrush and beef-flavored toothpaste from Hartz. First rub the yummy toothpaste on the pet’s gums; then introduce the gently whirring bristles. Doggone fun at $2.50 for paste, $6.99 for brush at pet and superstores.

De-junk the Drawer
Do you really need all the stuff in that drawer? (Test: Can you open it without a jam?) Empty the contents, and form four piles--keepers, stuff for elsewhere, giveaways, and throwaways. Return only the keepers to the drawer.

Car Games
Is your car a mobile history of what you’ve done (and eaten) lately? It’s time to clean.

Weekend #1: Toss the obvious garbage (bye-bye, Big Mac wrappers).

Weekend #2: Bring items that don’t need to ride inside the house.

Weekend #3: Arrange what must remain. Visit www.familyonboard.com (organizers section) for CD holders, travel organizers, seat back pockets, etc.

Weekend #4: Take a Sunday drive in your spiffed-up ride.

This article is from our 2005 Weekend Living special issue, on newsstands the week of September 12!