Little Helpers to Make Life Simpler

I received the following products in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. This post contains affiliate links.

I love trying out new gadgets. All gadgets. High-tech and low-tech alike. These items help make housekeeping simpler and more enjoyable. I’ve found that the right gadgets also save you money and time. 

Here’s a sample of the latest items that I’ve tried this summer:

Kitchen Gadgets

• Meat thermometer: I’ve tried meat thermometers that are real losers. The Alpha Grillers Digital MeatThermometer isn’t one of them. This thermometer is long, gives temperatures in Celsius and Fahrenheit, and is super simple to use. It also has a “Hold” function that holds the temperature reading. The kitchen gadget is similar to a Thermoworks Thermapen, and the metallic probe folds, saving you precious drawer space.
  
  
  
  
  

• Silicone lids: I’m guilty of using ill-fitting lids over pans and saucepots. I also plastic food storage lids when heating food in a bowl or mug. Thanks to the Practico Kitchen EZ-Lid Silicone Lids, this type of disorder is a thing of the past. The set comes with a large 10.5-inch lid for pots or bowls and a smaller 6-inch lid for cups and the like. I am so happy with this set of lids. They come with a hook for hanging and make cooking so much simpler when I can’t fit a lid over a pot, like when steaming vegetables with a colander. I’ve used these lids countless times.

• Cast iron scrubber: I sometimes clean pans so well that I scrub the cured coating right off cast iron skillets. It takes a long time to cure cast iron cookware, and the Hudson CastIron Cleaner saves me from stripping the seasoning off pans. The scrubber is a stainless steel chain link “washcloth” that you use to rub food off the pan. It works perfectly and I’ve never had any problems cleaning soften bits of food that remain in my cast iron pans. 
  
• Desk easel: No, I don't paint in the kitchen. I do, however, like to use cookbooks. Being clumsy, I sometimes get my cookbooks dirty as they lie on the counter. The US Art Supply Solana Adjustable Wood Desk Easel is a great solution. Propping a cookbook on the easel makes it easier to see and keeps it cleaner.
  
  
  
  
  
• Infrared heat gun: Is the surface of your grill or pan hot enough? Find out with the Numbee Temperature Gun.
  

Travel Gadgets

• Passport holder: Carrying around a beat-up-looking passport isn’t cool. I needed a passport holder for a recent trip that was durable and stood out from others (the black ones that everyone seems to have). La Fede's Aqua Series Passport Holder is just that. I received the blue passport holder, which came in a nice presentation box and in a dust bag that helps preserve the leather. The exterior of the holder has a water-like ingrain texture. The inside has a wing pocket for the passport book, as well as an inner pocket and four card slots. The design of the holder will make it simple for customs agents to look at and scan my passport, and the slim design won’t be too bulky in my luggage.
• Headphones: From crying babies to annoying children to just wanting some peace and quiet, headphones are essential. Audiosharp let me test its AS1318 Ultimate Noise Isolating In-Ear Headphones with Super Enhanced Bass. Despite the name, these are earbuds, not headphones. I don't usually think much of earbuds unless they constantly fall out of my ears or sound horrible. These did neither. They have a noticeably nice-sounding low end, although the highs are a bit tinny (but it's not that noticeable). My husband says that the AS1318 sound like a pair of $200 earbuds that one of our friends have. At the time of publication, these accessories cost under $30. I really like how the earbuds look with their transparent cavity and wires. They also come with a hard carrying case and a Velcro strip to keep the cord nice and neat.

Garden Gadget

• Hand rake: I didn’t own a hand rake, so I always pawed at the dirt to dig up roots and break the soil. My fingernails didn’t like this. The LifeWell Garden Hand Rake is great. The rake is long (about 1 foot), sturdy, strong and has a lifetime guarantee. I like that the polished aluminum head is rust-proof and the handle feels comfortable. The handle’s bright color makes the rake easier to see if you leave it lying around on the ground.

 

Health and Beauty Gadgets

• Therapeutic soap: I can’t get enough of the benefits of essential tea tree oil and essential peppermint oil. OleavineTherapeutic Soap combines the two, along with other oils (e.g., neem oil) to give you a body wash that’s soothing and naturally helps relieve inflamed, itchy and dry skin. It’s good for fungal skin infections, too. I like the pleasant, minty smell, as well as how it makes my skin feel fresh and tingly. Using the soap is one of my favorite parts of my shower. 

• Electronic earmuffs: Of all the “noise-cancelling” headphones that I’ve tried, none have really worked unless I have music playing. When I want to concentrate, I don’t want to listen to music (it distracts me too much). The FSL Patriot Electronic Earmuff is perfect for blocking out the world. The earmuffs use batteries, which allow you to turn on sounds that you hear through the microphone. When you go shooting at a range, the earmuffs block automatically block out the loud sounds. These earmuffs work as well as other shooting earmuffs that I’ve tried in the past. 

• Garment bags:  There are certain articles of clothing that I don't wear all the time, like nice dresses and business suits. When they hang in my closet, they get a nice coat of dust across the shoulders that seems hard to remove. Bags, like the Arwins Garment Bag Covers, are great because they protect my clothes from dust and they come with two shoe bags. The bags are sturdy, as they use a fabric-like material, making them good for air travel. I like the matching shoe bags because they help you coordinate your outfits.

Productivity Gadget

• Stylus pen: I enjoy using a stylus with my smartphone. It’s annoying to switch between a stylus and pen when I’m working. The Rebelite Stylus Pen is a 6-in-1 pen that has a stylus, pen, two screwdriver heads, ruler and level. It’s so cool (and looks cool). I really like it so far, and the pen doesn’t feel heavy when I write. My only complaint is that I have difficulty pulling out the screwdriver tip.               

 

Pet Gadget

• Litter mat: I have a cat. She recently started using a cat litter that tracks all over the house, which is annoying. The Two Meows Cat Litter Mat came right on time. The mat has a paw shape (with the wrong number of toes), is made of a plastic-like material and feels soft. This mat does a good job at trapping the litter on my cat’s paws. What impressed me the most is how simple it is to clean. My cat got it messy one day, so I had to wash it with soap and water. The mat dried overnight. I like the mat. My cat seems indifferent.

 

I received the products mentioned in exchange for an unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links, meaning that I receive a small commission if you click on a product link and make a purchase through Amazon.com. (pm312dbec06d3efb840e10513e8775bc74)