You may not know that you need a carry strap for your mobile phone or produce saver sheets for your fruit and veg, but you soon will…
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As the best beauty products list I published recently was so popular, I thought I’d follow it up with a general “completely brilliant things” list – here’s my current top 9!
There’s no theme whatsoever to the items I’ve included – they’re all completely random and could be beauty, homewares, fashion or health and fitness products. What they DO all have in common, however, is that I bought them to either solve a problem or because I thought they’d spark joy in me à la Marie Kondo – and they’ve all turned out to be a lifesaver/godsend/brilliant problem solver/all-round excellent product.
Disclosure: This blog uses affiliate links (at no cost to you). Full disclosure
While none of the 9 things have been gifted to me this time, I may well repeat this list in the future with more brilliant things, and I won’t discount anything if they’re PR samples.
Everything comes highly recommended by me, and I hope they may solve a few problems and/or bring joy to you as well. Happy new product discovering…!
How you tried any of these things before? Any that you think you’ll try? Tell me in the comments (and don’t forget to link up to the #ShareAllLinkUp below)!
9 Completely Brilliant Things I Bought Recently…
1. Mobile Phone Cover with Crossbody Cord Strap
This has been SUCH a lifesaver. I’ve had so many people ask me where I got this from: it’s basically a crossbody mobile phone case/holder/bag thing. I have it on me all day at home – it means I won’t miss a call, misplace my phone down the back of the sofa or drop it down the toilet because I’ve put it in my back pocket (hands up everyone who’s done that =holds hand in the air=). It saves you having to take a bag when walking the dog (or just going out for a walk) as your phone is always there ready rather than you having to scramble around for it in your pocket or bag. That’s good both for security reasons and for easy access if you want to take a quick photo.
There are quite a few online, but this one comes in loads of different strap colours and is available in just about every size for all phone models, plus the case is very thick and protective if you unfortunately drop it. I’d be lost without mine.
2. Orelia Mini Pave Gold Hoop Earrings
I’ve honestly found the Holy Grail of wear-them-all-the-time earrings. I love wearing statement earrings to match my outfit, but even on days at home in my comfies and no makeup I still like to have a little sparkle on my earlobes. It makes me feel a bit less minging than I do when I’m not front door-presentable.
However, I can’t sleep in studs as the pointy backs dig into my neck, so I take them off each night. I had the bright idea of getting some small hoops with a click clasp (no butterfly/stud back, in other words) and came across these Orelia hoops. I didn’t want a £4.99 pair of earrings as they’d tarnish quickly, so a gold-plated pair at £20 seemed like a good bet… I couldn’t have chosen a better pair. Not crazy expensive (it wouldn’t be the end of the world if I lost one), but good enough quality not to go green after a week’s wear. They have just enough sparkle to make my ears look pretty and are comfortable enough to sleep in.
I think these would make the perfect present – for all the reasons I mentioned – and there are loads of metal/stone colour variations on this page if this exact style isn’t quite for you. I have a feeling these won’t be the only pair I’ll be buying.
3. Fenugreen FreshPaper Produce Saver Sheets
I can’t tell you how much money AND food we’ve saved since using these. If, like us, you buy berries, loose vegetables, etc., then these magic sheets will keep your fresh produce fresh for SO much longer. For example, we find that raspberries, strawberries and blueberries start going mouldy after just a couple of days in the fridge – these sheets mean they never go bad before we use them. Don’t ask me how they work, it’s some herbs infused into the paper or something. We put sheets in with veggies, fruit and salad in the fridge, in the fruit bowl, and in the cupboard with things that don’t need to be refrigerated, e.g. onions, potatoes, lemons, uncut butternut squash, etc.
They’re not cheap at £5.99 for 8 sheets, but they last quite a while, can be reused several times and save us a ton of money by stopping food going to waste. They’re also brilliant because they’re biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable. The company also makes bread saver sheets to keep your loaf fresher longer (bread rarely lasts long enough in our house for the sheets to be needed, however)!
4. M&S No-VPL Microfibre High Rise Midi Knickers
Now, I KNOW these aren’t sexy(!), but when you find a pair of super comfy, don’t-ride-up-your-bum pants then I feel it’s your duty to share them with the world. I can’t deny that dependable underwear provider M&S have created what, for me, is the best pair of everyday pants I’ve ever bought. My days of wearing “sexy” thongs are long gone – though I think said garment died a death along with Britney’s youth and innocence sometime around 2007 – and I’m not ashamed to admit I want my pants to be practical and comfy these days. (Yes, I do wear pretty matching sets on occasion, but these are my go-to for everyday wear.)
If these are too high rise for you (I like them higher in the winter to keep my belly warm) then they do have a low rise shorts version.
5. Tower Egg Boiler and Poacher with Steamer
If you’re a fan of boiled eggs then I can’t recommend an egg boiler enough. Watching a pan of boiling water and getting the timing right for your perfect boiled egg is a bit of a pain in the arse, but this boiler takes the headache out of it. Admittedly I don’t like 3-minute runny eggs – I’m a 10-minutes-plus eggs girl all the way – so I mostly only use this to make cold, hard-boiled eggs. But this boiler will automatically cook eggs runny, medium or hard for you as well as doing poached eggs (which I haven’t actually tried yet).
When I went on my health kick to get fit over the summer, I’d have a cold hard-boiled egg and a raw carrot for breakfast (I still do on most days). I cook the maximum seven eggs for Keith and myself in advance and put them in the fridge for the next few days. This model turns itself off when the eggs are cooked, but others have an audible sound as well to tell you when they’re done. (I think the latter is better if you’re having soft-boiled eggs for breakfast, whereas I put mine on, walk away and leave them to cool). Boiled eggs have never been easier – I use my egg boiler nearly every other day.
6. Elho Plunge Watering Can
I first saw this on Kimberly’s Swoonworthy interior design blog and straight away bought a yellow and a grey one as we have so many plants – one for upstairs, one for downstairs. As well as being a functional design it’s sculptural and looks good left on a shelf (which can’t be said for many indoor watering cans). As well as the grey I mentioned it also comes in Royal Blue and Black… what else is there to say? I love it.
7. Sports Motivational Water Bottle with Straw and Times to Drink
Another product that I’ve attributed my successful fitness regime to, this bottle ensures you don’t forget or lose track of how much water you’ve drunk (or haven’t drunk) throughout the day. The straw design means there’s no tipping your head back to drink (good for when you’re out walking) and you only have to refill it once halfway through the day before starting on the times again.
It also has all the usual “good plastic” attributes: BPA free, nontoxic and phthalate-free – a reusable bottle saves on disposable plastic ones too, of course. The times thing is SO handy.
8. Eco-Friendly Bamboo Reusable Makeup Remover Pads
Something I’d been meaning to buy for ages, I’ve used cotton wool pads with cleanser to remove makeup for years and years… I just wish I’d bought these sooner (mostly because I didn’t know they existed)! I get through them at a rate of knots, but a pack of 20 is easily enough for you not to run out of clean ones before the dirty ones are washed. They’re made of organic bamboo. They’re chemical free. They stop me putting cotton wool into landfill. They’re brilliant.
9. Massage Ball Set for Relaxing Tight Muscles
Oh lord, this ball is a GODSEND and actually saved me a trip to the doctor. On the advice of the personal trainer I had while I was at the Slimmeria detox retreat, I bought this pack of massage balls to relieve what he said was plantar fasciitis; in other words, pain in the heel and arch of my foot. I’ve had it for a while and it was, at times, so painful I could barely walk. I’d actually booked a doctor’s appointment to find out what it was. I asked the PT last time I was at Slimmeria, and he said to try one of these balls… it was an absolute miracle worker. You just roll it around (with pressure) under the affected area of wherever your joint pain is* (it’s also very good for shoulder and neck pain), and although it’s excruciating, it really does help massage the pain away after regular use.
My pain hasn’t disappeared altogether – I still have to use it often – but the massaging helps keep it at bay. I used to sit at my desk, lie in bed or watch TV and think about how painful my feet were… not any more, the pain rarely bothers me. And if it does, I just give the ball a roll under my foot and it goes within a day or so.
*Disclaimer: I am not a doctor – this is just something that may help ease joint pain. I’d always advise you get your pain checked out by a professional…!
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hi catherine, i had years of plantar fascitis, temporarily relieved by rest and by massage, and cold treatment, but permanently, quickly and completely relieved by orthotic insole. Get a qualified and experienced podiatrist to analyse your gait and how your foot falls with their cool machines, and they can prescribe a bespoke insole if you need it. best advice i ever got and best money ever spent. Thankfully ECCO and some other brands have removeable insoles so i can use my orthotics. happy new year.
Author
Hi Lizzie – thanks so much for those details, I actually had this done a few years ago BEFORE I had the plantar fasciitis (I had an operation on my toe and something else bothering my foot, I can’t remember why he recommended the foot test thing now)! I went private for the op and the test so it was pretty expensive, and as the massage balls work a treat now I don’t feel I need to go back for the test again. But that’s actually great advice for anyone who’s had the same problem, thank you for sharing! xx
Interesting things that you bought. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
Author
thanks so much Patrick, you too!
What a fun list! Before reading, I was trying to decide if the watering can was indeed a watering can or a sculpture. LOL!
Michelle
Author
Thanks Michelle! 🙂 x
Brilliant post Catherine, I so enjoyed reading about these new things in your life……I have the knickers lol !!!…will confess in public I actually have bought the full version in the sales to try them out. I am quite tall and curvy so hope they won’t look too grandma like !!!
Its funny you have mentioned those makeup remover pads, I have been looking at them recently online but was put off as I will still need cotton wool for nail varnish remover ( though in the winter just tend to have ‘clear’ on the fingernails which takes little removing) Think I will give them a ago anyway as it will definitely cut down on waste.
The water bottle is a great idea, I drink too much tea and coffee being a bit more ‘ home based’ now……if I was full of water the need to stick the kettle on might diminish …..well that’s the theory ?!!!
Thanks again, hope you are having a lovely weekend x
Author
Karen I forgot to mention I tried the pads for nail polish… it didn’t go well. It wasn’t that they didn’t wash well – they did – but it was the fact that the pad seemed to soak up SO much remover and then not be very efficient in removing it that I went back to cotton pads for that. But I keep it as minimal as possible, using just one pad for both hands if I can.
Glad you liked the other things too, and high five for wearing/loving the same pants! Big pants rule!!!!! 😀 lol
Thanks so much for hosting!
Author
Pleasure, Dee 🙂
Microfibre seamless high rise knickers. Fan-tas-tic!! I love mine and I do not care that they are un-sexy.
Author
Hehe neither do I, Ratnamurti 😉
All of these things are truly brilliant, and I can attest to the life-changing effects of wearing comfortable yet invisible underwear! Off to buy reusable makeup remover pads now!
Cheryl Shops
Author
Ugh I can’t believe how I put up with uncomfortable thongs for so long, Cheryl…!! #facepalm
Ohhh….thank you for this collection of stuff! All well thought out and useful too.
I’m ordering the make-up removal pads as I’ve dithered over these for some time – also the watering can…great design and water bottle…I don’t drink enough and this might give me the motivation I need.
I already have a rolly thingy for plantar fasciitis which was so simple yet so effective in alleviating the pain.
The Orelia website has some great earrings so I’ll have a good browse there. An really good post, as ever!
Author
Thanks Erika – glad you thought they were all brilliant as well!
I have that egg cooker and my husband laughed when we first got married about it. I can’t hard cook eggs without it!!
OXOX
Jodie
Author
Same, Jodie – I’d be lost without mine!!!!
I have some fab Stylish watering cans but need that water bottle so will buy that!! thank you will keep it on my desk it’s such a fabulous simple idea !
I think marc might like the egg cooker too !
Bestest
A xxx
Ps just bought the bottle cheers darl ! Xxx
Author
Brilliant, Ashley! I just got one for my dad as he’s had an op and was under STRICT instructions to drink water… he barely drinks any at all and was told he’s severely dehydrated. The bottle is actually working, and he’s the stubbornest donkey in the world!!
OOH, I’m interested in the egg cooker! I’ve just ordered some reusable makeup pads but I love, love the watering can!
Author
The watering can is SUCH a great design, Laurie! And I know how you like eggs so yes, I think the egg cooker would be great for you 😀
These are all great finds. I really need to get some sort of produce saver sheets, will be looking what’s available in the States. Loving that watering can, it looks so artistic! Oh, and the waterbottle would be sooo helpful to have. Thanks for sharing these!
Ellibelle’s Corner
Author
The saver sheets are US made, Ellibelle, so this actual brand should be easy to find!
I’ve been looking for a way to wear my phone over my body and that cover with the strap is brilliant.
Thank you for sharing!
XXX
Samantha
Author
It’s one of those things that make you think, WHY didn’t I look for something like this ages ago, Samantha! You’ll find it so handy 😀
Catherine, when I read the title of this post, I kind of rolled my eyes and thought, “Oh c’mon. How brilliant can these things actually be?” Haha. Then I read the post! OMG. Yes, so brilliant to so many of these things! I think I need the phone cross body strap, for sure. I am over here raising my hand because I have absolutely dropped my phone in the toilet because I forgot it was in my back pocket. I also need the produce saver sheets (I was just discussing with a friend last night ways to better preserve produce, so I need to inform her of these as well). And the high rise knickers! I appreciate that you feel obligated to share that information because finding comfortable underwear is seriously the bane of my existence! The make up remover pads looks fantastic and so does the egg boiler. I can’t boil an egg without ruining it and Ralphie loves hard boiled eggs for breakfast. I rely on my husband to make them, but he is leaving for 3 weeks at which point I generally just tell Ralph he can’t have hard boiled eggs until Daddy gets home. Perhaps you have offered the perfect solution for me! Great post. That was fun!
Shelbee
Author
Haha I completely got you hook, line and sinker, Shelbee!! 😉 Glad you liked all the things… yes it sounds like the egg boiler would be perfect for you…!