Wee gizmos that make my life easier and better

First thing in the morning, chez nous, is coffee. Not negotiable, and certainly not optional.  But in the super-hot weather, heating water for the French press can bring added heat to the wee apartment that is NOT necessary.  But we discovered the idea of the electric kettle when we lived in Ireland - furnished apartments included the kettle!  And it heats up a full pot of water in about a minute, AND you can adjust the temperature for the nuances of optimizing black tea, green tea, French press coffee etc. It doesn't leave behind a hot stove burner, and it uses electricity for only a very short period of time.  Through the day, when I want to drink tea, I turn it on repeatedly...

electric kettle - Breville

Our very lovely little apartment has one ENTIRE wall of windows.  Most of the time this is a source of beauty and delight, but sometimes, it makes sleep more difficult.  I could never wear sleep masks because the pressure on my eyelids made me feel claustrophobic.  One of belovedest's closest friends bought us a couple of these nifty masks  - they're molded foam, shaped so that you can OPEN YOUR EYES while you're wearing them.  It takes about 2 minutes to get used to wearing them - they're feather-light - and they transform sleep during the "long daylight" parts of the year.  And on an airplane, they're amazing.  The flickering from other people's movies and activities is completely blocked out.  When coupled with good earplugs or headphones, sleep is almost possible, even in coach class!

eye mask - Bucky

Extremely inexpensive, lightweight, folds down into most handbags, and essential when power surges hit - I would be a very unhappy girl without my hand fans.  Muji carries them from time to time, with aluminum frames - if you ever see those, grab a couple. 

hand fan - Luna Bazaar

I have a problematic relationship with nail polish; while I'm certainly not immune to the appeal of shiny toes during sandal season, I'm not really willing to get involved in spending the money, the time, the chemicals, nor the non-recyclable little bottles and brushes. It's maddening to me to get my nails done, knowing full well that it's only the most temporary of gestures, due to start looking worn and chippy in just a short time.  Even the "chip-proof" gel polishes will grow out...

 But I DO like nice-looking hands, so I've started buffing my nails.  These little blocks cover all of the necessary steps, take up no space, and last for months...

nail buffer - Sephora

As with all things, your mileage may vary!