Everyday Amenities

Little Things That Make Life Better: The Classic

When I met up with Karen in Seattle, she’d come bearing some charming gifts. One was this gorgeous printed handkerchief from D. Porthault. I remember my mother and grandmother always having a pretty handkerchief or two in their purse. It feels so much more elegant than a crumpled plastic pack of tissues. Now I’m thinking about picking up a few more so I can always have a fresh one ready. Some pretty options at Etsy.

The New And Now

While I don’t subscribe to the notion that we need to have every new piece of technology that comes down the pike, sometimes a clever little gadget or product actually does make life easier.

This is one of those genius things that I never knew I needed until I tried it. I love my iPhone 6Plus, but I have small hands and its larger size often required using both hands to snap photos or scroll through my email. No more…the “popsocket” is an expandable gadget that adheres to the back of your phone or case, and allows you to hold the phone securely with one hand. After I tried Karen’s and ordered one for myself, I started noticing other people using them everywhere.

One thing that drives me absolutely crazy is when my glasses get dirty or smudged. For the last several years I’ve used those microfiber cloths which are good, but need to be washed regularly to remove grease. I kept seeing ads for this eyewear cleaner in my various social media feeds, and decided to give it a go. Love this thing!! It gets my glasses cleaner than the cloths, and is good for 500 uses. There’s also a little retractable brush to remove dust or debris before cleaning. I’ve been using mine for a few months now. It still works brilliantly without damaging my lenses. I chose mine in a bright color so it’s always easy to find in my purse.

The same company also makes this screen cleaner for a smartphone or tablet.

On The Beauty Beat

I love my Fresh Sugar Lip Polish, but it’s not very portable, and requires rinsing off after use. During our expedition through the cosmetics department, Karen and I tried this stuff and both purchased it. Dior Lip Sugar Scrub smooths, exfoliates, and moisturizes, but doesn’t require rinsing. Great for travel!

Have you found any new gadgets lately that you wonder how you did without?