What’s that saying: the days are long but the weeks are short? The weeks are short but the years are…also short? Time is short?

Anyway, October is about to reach its end, which means it’s time to talk about the products and tools that have made life easier, cleaner, more organized, and/or more beautiful these past few weeks.

Here comes the low down:

1. Smart Store Compact white bin

Here’s why these are awesome: they’re very sturdy and very affordable ($2.99-$9.99). They look clean, they have built-in handles, their lids can double as trays, and they have a coordinating label system. They’re on the smaller size, making them perfect for containing things like bottles of supplements, cosmetics, and so on. Use them in cupboards or inside drawers.

2. Two tier stainless steel turntable

Sleek, smooth-turning, and cabinet-space-maximizing, this double tier turntable is a beautiful way to keep things like spices organized and accessible. I’ve used both this version and this single tier version in all the kitchens as of late, and you can certainly consider that a staunch endorsement.

3. Stasher reusable silicone bags

I’ve seen everyone and their environmentally conscious nanny rave about these reusable bags, and so this past month I decided to find out for myself what all the fuss was about. The verdict: fuss, warranted.

These food storage bags are made out of 100% pure platinum food grade silicone, and I don’t have the foggiest what that really means, but I think we can agree it sounds great. They’re freezer, microwave, dishwasher and boiling water-safe. Hi. The seal is highly dependable, they’re the perfect level of opacity (in terms of being able to see through to the contents inside), they pack well and travel well, and, hello, I’m a convert.

4. Car vacuum

Over the summer, I wrote a post about keeping your car clean and organized, and in the process, car vacuum cleaners (by way of explanation: a vacuum cleaner that lives in one’s automobile and is powered by one’s automobile) were a thing that came onto my radar.

I am, unsurprisingly, a person who both insists on having an immaculate car environment, and constantly hauls dog-covered bags of other people’s giveaways. Suffice it to say: this product found in me its target demographic.

So I buy the vacuum, lower my expectations, and power it on. It was love, family. I was the heart-eyed emoji floating away over the rainbow, because this thing is wondrous. Cord long enough to stretch the length of my long car? Check. Necessary attachments included? Check. Crazy impressive suction power for something so affordable? Check, double check, check. None of the anxiety about how long the charge of the vacuum would last and whether I’d be able to complete the job before the charge ran out? Check. I honestly doubt I’ll be without one of these for as long as I’m a driving person, and I plan to use it exactly as much as you’d expect a neurotic germaphobe to use her car vacuum cleaner (I’m a kick, I swear. Can’t you tell??).

[The only downside I must note is that, as the vacuum is powered by the car, the car must be on in order for the vacuum to operate. I wasn’t thrilled about idling for about ten minutes, but ultimately, I’m comfortable with the trade off. Those of you who are staunchly opposed to idling longer than 3-minutes might be better off with a different solution.]

5. Sistema To Go Collection Food Storage Containers

I bought a range of these a number of months ago now for The Man With Whom I Share A Refrigerator. He’s a Large Human, and thusly requires considerable nutrition while on the go. While I’m a die-hard proponent of these, they’re just not the best option for grab-n-go. They’re heavy, is why. So I chose these. Available in a wide range of options, from tiny dressing container to larger salad container to lunch cube, these are lightweight, very dependable products. Their lids clip and lock down securely, they’re BPA-free, dishwasher, microwave, fridge and freezer safe.

David doesn’t continue to use anything I give him just to appease me, and he’s kept packing these up week after week. Boom.

6. Steele hamper

Steele hampers are the absolute best on the market, still, forever, hands down, bar none, the end, thanks for playing.