(Parts 1 and 2.)

Connoisseurs jewelry cleaner.
My mom gave me a jar of this when Rob and I got engaged. It makes rings look like new, and leaves my diamond super-sparkly. If I'm going to be at a jewelry counter for something, I'll ask them to professionally clean and buff my rings. The rest of the time, I swear by this stuff.

Lint roller.
There is no escaping cat hair at our house - with 3 cats, it constantly floats in the air and attaches itself to everything. We have been five days into traveling in a different country only to find a cat hair on one of our shirts. A shirt that was clean when it was packed! Whenever that happens on a trip, I'm like, "Aww, look! A Bridgie hair! I miss that kitty." But the rest of the time? Not so great really. And thus the lint roller.

We keep one in each car glove compartment and in a drawer in the kitchen. Part of the morning ritual is to lint-roll before leaving the house. If I'm wearing black, I'll do it again when I get out of the car because apparently cat hair is floating around in there, too. I used to be coy about it, but now I just stand next to my car and roll that thing all over myself. I can't count the number of times I've said to Rob in a parking lot, "Hold on, I have to lint-roll my boobs." And then, a moment later, "Now can you do my ass?" Somehow this is less scandalous to me than being caught with cat hair on my clothes.

Swivel Sweeper.
Just bought this, so I can't actually say yet if it's something I swear by. But it's got the potential to be. This is one of those As Seen on TV things. I didn't see it on TV, but almost all of my co-workers did and they all LOVE theirs. Like, I have heard them having water-cooler conversations about how amazing their Swivel Sweepers are. Our custodian even bought one to use at work. One day a plant fell off the windowsill and soil went everywhere, and so I got a live demonstration. That sold me.

We have bare floors throughout our house, and I sweep a lot. I'm not sure this will replace sweeping altogether, but it is great for quickly running over the floors every couple days. It's very light, and the small swively head can fit basically anywhere. It maneuvers around chair legs and under the sofa very well. And it doesn't send dust into the air like sweeping does (especially when Rob is sweeping, I'm just saying).

Tupperware Forget Me Not containers.
We always have half an onion or green pepper or tomato in the fridge, and until I bought these, we'd stash them in plastic zipper bags. Which made me feel wasteful and guilty. I got these at a Tupperware party (how quaint, I know) to use instead. I guess oftentimes people forget they have that onion or pepper or tomato leftover, and so these are designed to hang from a fridge shelf to remind you. We don't use them that way, though. I just like that they are the perfect size and shape for all those slicing/chopping foods we keep on hand. Rob's improvement to these would be to make them transparent, because as they are now you can't see what's inside without opening.

TableCraft wine pourer and stopper.
Perhaps the most used, most loved item I have ever bought for the house. That might sound extreme, but keep in mind we drink a hella lot of wine. This thing is a 2-piece deal - a wine pourer, with a stopper that slides out. I've seen other versions, but this one is simpler and more elegant. Also makes a nice gift. I get this item at Target, although I think they recently stopped stocking it. That means you should run to your closest Target now and buy all the ones they have left.