Great Products
I've used this smartphone mount for the car for over 7 years now. It's well built, lasts forever, and keeps any phone in place without issue. Since owning my first one back when the company sent me one 9 years ago (back when I was a journalist) I've purchased 3 more, for friends and family. I've never heard a single complaint from anyone about it; simple, elegant, and perfect for the job.
Ever since moving into an apartment right next to the freeway, dealing with dust and crud in the air has been a nightmare. LA's relatively poor air quality didn't help. For nearly 3 years, I've relied on this Coway air purifier to keep my household air clean and clear. This HEPA-certified purifier does a tremendous job of keeping the air clean from so much: dust, cigarette smoke, airborne particles, and anything else you don't want to breathe in. Especially after the birth of my son, I've kept the Coway running 24/7, and it soldiers on. Cleaning it is easy, and it stays on always and only turns on high when the air needs some serious scrubbing.
I've owned this rice cooker for almost 4 years, and it's been perfect every time. In my household we're regularly making rice, and this Hamilton Beach Rice Cooker will likely stay with us for at least another 4 years; the build quality is excellent, and with the least amount of care it's still in practically mint condition. I have only used the steaming option once, and it worked perfectly; I just don't steam food much. But for rice? Nearly weekly. Cleaning is easy, and I've never needed to do any maintenance on it once. If you're looking for a good wedding gift for someone, this is the rice cooker to give.
There's an old joke about engineers: input coffee and problems, output code and complaints. As much as using coffee as a fuel for work is wildly unhealthy, I've relied on my OXO Brew for nearly three years and have never had a bad cup due to the machine. It works flawlessly: add ground coffee and run.
Maintenance is easy: clean the pitcher regularly, and every few months (when the machine says to) desalinate it. The stainless-steel build makes it a cinch to clean, and with the minimal amount of care it'll easily last for years.
Recently it's become even better; now every morning when I make coffee, my son wants to watch the whole process. At 6-months old, no less! He loves to see the grinder work, then the whole ritual of pouring the grounds into the machine, adding water, starting the Brew, and watching the water percolate. For weeks now it's been an enthralling experience, and some slight respite in the morning before I've had my first cup.
My only qualm is the pitcher is prone to get loose at the top, and no amount of cleaning will clean off the coffee stains on the outside. And, as a slight aside, the built-in pitcher stand doesn't keep the pot hot; for me that's probably a benefit, otherwise I'd drink the whole pot myself daily.
One of my first serious purchases after moving into an apartment was a proper trash can. It sounds silly, yet around 7 years later it's keeping the house smelling free of garbage and making life simpler and easier. Simplehuman is an excellent company that produces some very high-quality products, and this trash can was my first foray into their product line.
So, just to be clear, yes it's a $100 trash can. And it's the last trash can you'll ever need to buy. So if your living situation includes a publicly accessible (ie. not hidden) garbage bin, and space/size isn't a limiting factor, this is a great option (it looks like Simplehuman no longer sells the 30 gallon, but there's an identical 38 gallon that's the same price). Handling is easy, cleaning is easy, and...well, it's not awful on the eyes either.
Ironically, in my current apartment (where all major appliances are provided), my stainless-steel OXO Brew and trash can look way better than the fridge, range, or sink.
$4 for 4 unbreakable combs. Perfect size, perfect for home or travel, excellent feel. 'nuff said.
My first mattress was a hand-me-down twin. My second was a Leesa (below), but between moves, and with a need to accommodate guests in a one-bedroom apartment, I invested in a blow-up mattress. The Insta-Bed is awesome, and ended up replacing my actual mattress for months because of how solid it is. Thanks to its Never Flat Pump, any lost air will be recouped quietly enough to not wake you up while sleeping on it.
This is by far the best air mattress I've ever slept on or owned. After 4 years it's never popped or required a replacement, with both one and two people sleeping on it. It's easy to pack and store, and excellent when traveling and you're not sure if there's enough bed space. Make sure you get a mattress topper though; the divets are much too uncomfortable to sleep on with just a sheet.