My own personal list of useful and potentially weird things found on Amazon.... and why.

Amazon is like the wardrobe to Narnia: once you go in, you never know what you will find and oftentimes you wind up a gazillion miles from where you thought you were going. Come to think of it, there are several things that sound like that.... IKEA stores, Tik-Tok videos, Pinterest... I could go on and on, but this post is about Amazon and the weird things I have found.

Here are my top thirty things on Amazon that I was not expecting to find AND then make use of AND continue to use today. Why thirty? Because ten was too short and fifty was too long. [Insert legal stuff here] This page does have Amazon affiliate links throughout, that do not cost you anything extra; by clicking on one you are paying the exact same price that you would on Amazon, AND you are supporting this blog if you decide to purchase via the click through link. For more information, click here. Now, without further ado, the (first?) 30 things on Amazon I didn't even know I needed:)

1. REVLON One-Step Volumizer Original 1.0 Hair Dryer and Hot Air Brush, Black

Finding this was a game changer for me. I have fine thickness, but thick density hair with a funky natural wave that does not like to scrunch into a curl, but also refuses to dry straight unless heat is applied. I blow dry my hair (ALWAYS using a heat protectant) using my hands to 'comb' my strands while drying, then use this bad boy as a finishing tool and I may as well have walked out of the salon with a blow out.

2. artscape Magnolia Window Film 24" x 36"

We have several windows in our house that are odd shaped and sized. A couple of them just happen to be located in the perfect spot to catch the sun at the worst time and shine it right in your eyes... I'm looking at you front door window that glares my TV screen every day around 3 pm... While these are technically cling sheets, I've had mine up since Sept 202 and they are most definitely still in place and looking great. They allow plenty of light through, but not enough to cause horrible reflections on computer or TV screens and contrary to other clings I was looking at, these actually do look like stained glass.

3. Cryosphere Cold Massage Roller 2Pcs

These things are simply amazing for neck pain. I was on a mission to find an ice massager after my oddly resourceful husband grabbed a piece of ice and used it to massage my neck one year while I was fighting a losing battle with Thanksgiving dinner. I had never experienced (or even heard of) an ice massage but it was just what I needed and immediately decided I needed one that was a bit more permanent and less...drippy. Several years later, these guys still live in my freezer, ready for my next ice therapy session.

4. TABINO YADO Hot Springs ''Milky'' Bath Salts Assortment Pack From Kracie, 13 25g Packets

It is no secret that I am a bathie. Baths are directly tied to my sanity and are a permanent part of my Self Care Sunday routine. During one of my searches for bath recipes and new soak ideas I happened into these. They are authentic and directly imported from Japan. These are not your typical bubble bath or scented soak. These are mineral baths designed to mimic the many different Japanese hot springs and all of the health benefits that come naturally from the minerals contained within. Simply put, these are amazing. I'm on box #5.

5. MoxieLash Magnetic Eyelashes with Eyeliner Kit

Ok these things actually work. Color me amazed. The liner is a bit clumpy, but hey it's magnetic. Go slow and it makes a clean line. If you want a winged look, you will def need a different liquid liner to get that fine point, but you can always layer the magnetic liner on top of the winged liner. I have hooded eyes, so wings don't look right on me anyways. These things and their little magnets pop right on, stay on all damn day, don't irritate my eyes and come off easy at night. The liner is easy to take off with micellar water and/or a face butter wash. I've worn mine at least a half a dozen times and they still look new and work as well as they did when I first bought them. One tiny note: when you go to trim them, make sure you trim close to the nearest magnet so that they will lay down on your lid line properly and not poke you in the inner corner of your eye.

6. Dropps Fabric Softener Pods: Clean & Crisp | 64 | Count

I absolutely adore these things. I am tired of tossing huge plastic containers into the trash. I know, I know, they are recyclable. But most of them wind up in landfills anyways because they aren't rinsed and/or whatever recycling facility has them, cannot recycle that particular plastic. Easy fix: no plastic fabric softener. Grab one and toss it in the wash with your detergent. These little packets pack a powerful punch. They don't smell overly perfumed (read as chemical) and you only need one little square per load. I am keeping plastic out of the landfills and my laundry feels and smells amazing. I call that a definite win/win.

7. Snow Hill Incense Rope Holder -Handmade in Nepal & Lamatar1 Tibetan Rope Incense, Hand Made, Organic, from Kathmandu Nepal- Set of 3.

I have been using traditional stick incense as well as charcoal and resin for quite some time. Imagine my surprise when I discovered rope incense... I was floored. Not only do the ashes actually fall straight down into the hand made wooden bowl, but it burns fast and smells amazing. Bonus points: The ropes are handmade by women in Nepal to help support the Nepalese community.

8. Pedi Couture Pedicure Sandals for Women - Toe Separator Slippers

The first time I took these into my usual nail salon, the gals there thought I was crazy... and then came the time to actually paint my toenails and they were all wondering why they hadn't thought of this first. No more weird toe spreaders and flimsy flip flops that trip you up. Pro Tip: Be sure to put these on after the pedi, but BEFORE the painting.

9. AmeriTop Dusk to Dawn Light Bulb- 2 Pack, A19 LED Sensor Light Bulbs; UL Listed, Automatic On/Off, 800 Lumen, 10W(60 Watt Equivalent), E26 Base, Indoor/Outdoor Lighting Bulb (3000K Warm White)

For security reasons, we always have our front outdoor lights on and for whatever reason, my household has a habit of forgetting to turn off the porch light in the morning. With these, the switch is always on, but the lights turn on and off on their own. One of the lights is underneath a porch overhang, but the light sensor on it still picks up daylight just as well as the others that are in direct light. No more worrying that someone forgot to turn on or off the porch lights :)

10. WTJMOV Mini Electric Tea Kettle, Fast Boiling, Auto Shut-off 350ML. For Offices, Dorms, Travel and More

I found this thing while doing research for an extended trip we took last Christmas on Amtrak. We knew we were going to be on the train for three days and I wanted to figure out how to make hot coffee and soup to help with the costs of travelling and break up the monotony of the onboard diner and cafe. It heats up very quickly and is very stable on a moving train :) This would be great for a dorm or even a car trip (you can get the car adapter as well). Do take note, be sure that you only put water in here.

11. Liqui-Dirt Nano Powder All-Purpose Organic Complete Plant Food -18 Balanced Super Foods Blend of Vitamins Minerals Micro-Fungi and Bio-Organisms (makes 50 Gallons)

This stuff is actual liquid gold- ok not literally, but for plants, it may as well be liquid platinum. This tiny little bag makes about 50 gallons of liquid plant food. It's all natural, no chemicals, safe for pets and fish, can be used in hydroponics and/or dirt for indoor and outdoor plants. I use it on my indoor houseplants and am 100% convinced they look the way they do because of this stuff. It's expensive, but remember, it's a concentrate that makes 50 gallons of plant food AND it is simply amazing.

12. BAGSMART Toiletry Bag for Women, Travel Toiletry Organizer with hanging hook, Water-resistant Cosmetic Makeup Bag Travel Organizer.

I had been looking for a travel organizer for quite some time that was big enough to hold my skin care routine AND my make up, but that was small enough to actually be a travel organizer. After several failed attempts, this bag was the last one I would try. It is roomy enough for all of my stuff, has a water-resistant side and unfolds in a logical manner that allows it to hang securely from its hook

13. ELF Flex Elf Upgrade Kit.

Sometimes the silliest things make me stupid happy. This is one of those things. I love my Elf on the Shelf.... he's actually a Seahawks version and every Christmas he comes out to help me navigate my Holiday shenanigan's. Trying to get him into any other pose than the standard sitting while clapping position was always an adventure. After a single Frankenstein session, my Seahawk on the Shelf can now be manipulated in ways that make the other elves jealous. He can pose like Marilyn or Madonna and I absolutely adore this kit for giving me that option.

14. SKIN1004 Zombie Pack (1box - 8ea) & SKIN1004 Pumpkin Pack(1box -16ea)

If you follow beauty trends, you will likely have heard of the Hanacure facial. While I would not call this a knock off, it is definitely the same idea. The Zombie pack is a mix up mask that uses egg whites and dries in about ten to fifteen minutes to give you a very tight facial that is then rinsed off with warm water. When it is dry, you skin looks like, well, a zombie. I like to follow that up with the Pumpkin Pack and my skin looks and feels amazing.

15. 5 Pairs Reusable Chopstick Helpers for Any Age.

We got these after a waitress at a restaurant in Salem, Oregon gave us a pair when our son showed an interest in learning how to eat with chopsticks. He is a lefty so the fact that these things go onto any chopstick made them worth every penny.

16.Extreme Value pack-24 - BEST EVER FAMILY GAMES in one big box. Step-by-step picture guide. Age 6+.

I got this for my brother and his family as a Christmas advent present - one game for each evening. The games in here are definitely doable by all ages 6 and above, younger than that will need a hand, but still definitely doable and enjoyed by all. These are activities that ask you to bend twist and potentially contort in order to achieve the goal. All of the items needed for the games are included along with detailed instructions. This little box provided hours of family time that created one of my most favorite memories from this past Holiday season!

17. ComfiLife Gel Enhanced Seat Cushion - Non-Slip Orthopedic Gel & Memory Foam Coccyx Cushion for Tailbone Pain - Office Chair Car Seat Cushion - Sciatica & Back Pain Relief (Black)

My husband kind of snickered at me for this one, but once he actually sat on it, it was my turn to snicker. This cushion really does help with long drive times. The little keyhole opening goes to the back and while it seems weird, it is designed that way so that your tailbone is suspended rather than compressed. Do take note, this also kind of acts as a booster seat: it does raise my tush off the seat by about an inch. For me, that's not an issue and actually helps my posture in the car. For taller individuals, just be prepared that it will change the way your body sits in the car and you may not have enough headspace while using it.

18. Interactive Floppy Fish- Dog Toys for Large/Medium/Small Dogs, Motion Activated Floppy Shark (and it even has a cover replacement option for $8.91!)

I'm all about dog toys. My daughter says that I get more excited than our dogs do when I find one I like. This one, I'm still raving over- and oddly enough, so is our dog. We have a Jack Russell that loves to shake things that wiggle. This shark does exactly that- it wiggles its tail- and then stops.... and then wiggles again. This drives my furbaby crazy, but in a good way! Best part: it's rechargeable and the cover is removable (read washable).

19. LifeStraw Personal Water Filter for Hiking, Camping, Travel, and Emergency Preparedness

These are all over most survival and hiking lists out there, and for good reason. These are definite lifesavers. They are small and lightweight and even when we go for short day hikes, we make sure our LifeStraw is in our packs. We also have one in our 'go bag'/disaster kit. We often take fresh water for granted, trust me and get a couple of these. You never know when the unexpected is going to happen. You can try to prepare for it though.

20. ICEFANG Tactical Dog Operation Harness

As I mentioned, we have a Jack Russell terrier, but we also have a German Shepard/Beagle mix. Both of our girls love going for walks, but the Jack Russell has a definite Houdini streak and the Beagle can be quite stubborn at times when it comes to leaving the latest smell and continuing her walk. This amazing creation is the first, and now the last, harness to keep our girls secured while out. It is a six buckle harness, two of which are quick release around the neck and is fully customizable to the shape and size of the dog, just be sure to use their measurement guide and get the right size harness to start with. Three years going and they have yet to escape out of this. I just wish it hadn't taken me a dozen other harnesses to finally find this one.

21. Tile Slim 1-Pack.

I've used the small tiles for years, but did not realize that had started making them into flat credit card size tiles. This was the perfect solution to my son's wallet problem. I don't know how, but that wallet disappeared more than David Copperfield. We are now about halfway through year number three and are on tile #2. The first one died after almost to years, so the battery life is good and will likely only get better. $35 every two years vs. having to replaced a wallet every couple of weeks is a definite yes, please.

22. Ecoegg Fragrance Free Laundry Egg 720 Load

I stumbled into this when I was doing research on how to keep plastic out of our landfills and bought it when I bought the fabric softener alternatives. We are still on the first egg and have only topped it off twice in the year that we've had it. We are a family of three and wash about 6-8 loads a week. This egg is strong enough to get sweat out of gym clothes (as long as you don't let them set in the hamper for a week) but gentle enough for things in the delicate cycle (like lace tops). It does have a lovely scent to it that is not overpowering, but it is also available in unscented. I love my laundry egg and I have no regrets switching from the mainstream.

23. BeauVibe Compostable Mailers - 10 x 13 Poly Mailers - 50 Pcs

If you have a tendency to send a lot of clothing through the mail, and you use poly mailers, then you need to give these a try. Most poly mailers are in fact recyclable, but these bad boys are actually compostable. You read that right, they go in the compost bin. Bonus feature: they are double taped, so they can be used, opened, and then used again before finally being composted. It's a win/win/win. What else could you ask for?

24. BUG BITE THING

I saw an ad for this little thing somewhere during a trip down the clickbait rabbit hole and actually wound up seriously looking into it. While sucking the venom out of a snakebite sounds like something done in a cheesy Hollywood survival movie, sucking the venom out of bug bites actually helps them to heal faster. Please do not put your mouth over any bite.... instead, use the bug bite thing. My son was stung by a wasp about a month after we had purchased this. We followed the instructions and there was an immediate and noticeable reduction in the swelling around the sting and by the next day you couldn't even tell he had been stung. I am actually looking forward to mosquito season- okay, not really. But at least I'm not dreading it this year. Obviously everyone will be different, but the bottom line, is that this little bug bite thing really works.

25. Saltverk Birch Smoked Sea Salt, 3.17 Ounces of Handcrafted Gourmet Salt Flakes from Iceland

Okay, I'm a sucker for salt. I love it on everything. Having said that, not all salt is created equal and table salt should be banned entirely. My own opinion, but then, so is this entire blog post ;) This salt, however, has it's own designated spot in my kitchen. It is AMAZING. The smoked birch flavor is subtle yet distinct and is multi-dimensional on baked salmon. Also very good when searing steaks and sautéing veggies. This salt does come from Iceland and while Saltverk offers many different salts, this one is hands down my absolute favorite.

26. Heated Eyelash Curler

My eyelashes have been through the ringer... or the curler... I have thin, lighter colored lashes and cannot do lash extensions for several reasons. In trying to find alternatives, I landed on doing lash lift and tints. In an effort to reduce lash fallout, sessions need to be spaced out and you need to avoid pinching the lash line. This meant normal lash curlers were out the window. This tiny handheld, cordless eyelash curler is quick to heat up, has built in eyelid/lash line protection, is USB chargeable and has an automatic shutoff. It has its very own spot of honor in my makeup drawer and a year and a half later, still works beautifully every time.

27. DASH My Pint Electric Ice Cream Maker Machine for Gelato, Sorbet + Frozen Yogurt, 0.4qt - Aqua

Need is a strong word. But sometimes, I definitely need ice cream. My problem, is that I don't always want what's on the shelf and I don't like buying it by the quart because I will only eat a small amount and the rest will usually get tossed due to freezer burn. With this gadget and a little bit of preplanning, I can make the amount that I know I'm going to eat using only ingredients that I chose. This is entirely self contained and no salt is needed for the freezing process. Full disclosure here: I have only used it to make ice cream, so I cannot attest to using it for gelato, sorbet or frozen yogurt.

28. Reynolds Kitchens Slow Cooker Liners, Small (Fits 1-3 Quarts), 5 Count

I've been using a crockpot for a very long time now. There are just some things that need to slow cook and I simply do not have the time to stay tethered to a stove top for hours on end. I also was not overly fond of cleaning said crock pot after using it. Enter the slow cooker liner. We recently downsized our crock pot since there are only three of us at home now, and the small Reynolds liners fit our 2qt pot perfectly. I have tried other brands, but this one is the only one that actually fit right AND did not puncture when we were dishing out food.

29. 2 Pack Christmas Santa Claus Porch Light Covers

This is another of those things that just made me smile- and who doesn't need to smile? The gnomes are made from recycled plastic and slip over your existing lamps outside. We put ours on either side of our garage door. Combined with our dusk to dawn automatic lights, this was quite possibly one of our easiest Christmas decorations ever.

30. RENPHO Heated Eye Massager for Migraines with Bluetooth Music, Rechargeable

I was actually on the fence with this for a while before buying it. I get awful migraines and terrible seasonal allergies that drive my sinuses and eyes absolutely insane. One of the things that helps me through them, is face/forehead massages from my hubster. In an effort to try to supplement those massages, I did a ton of research and filtered through hundreds of reviews. I finally went ahead and bought this and have never looked back (pardon the pun). There are several different customizable options: intensity, pressure, heat, vibration and even the Bluetooth settings for listening to music while enjoying your massage. My only regret is that I didn't buy it sooner.