10 time-saving gems that will take your routine to the next level

Feeling like there aren’t enough hours in the day? If it makes you feel any better, you’re not alone in the battle against the clock! We’ve got a secret stash of time-saving gems that’ll make you feel like you got your hands on Hermione Granger’s Time-Turner.

1. Make a bunch of perfectly shaped meatballs in seconds with this manual kitchen tool. You don’t need to get your hands dirty or make any mess. Put the meat mixture inside the container and press down. Enjoy the result!

Pros:

  • This product is a huge time-saver. You can make up to 5 meatballs at once.
  • The device is easy to use and clean.
  • The bowl is made of clear plastic so you can see what’s inside while cooking — handy.

2. Don’t waste time looking for your keys, use this magnetic key holder instead. This fluffy white cloud is pretty versatile: you can also use it in the kitchen, living room, bedroom, and even bathroom. It is easy to install and holds well on a wooden, ceramic, plastic, or metal texture. The surface has to be flat and smooth for the product to have better bearing capacity.

Pros:

  • The product is versatile.
  • It fits nicely into any interior.
  • Does its job quite well and keeps keys securely in place.

Cons:

  • You need to make sure you properly stick the device to the surface to prevent it from falling off.

Promising review:

  • Love the easy installation. Clean the wall, peel off the sticker, and place it where you like. The magnet is strong and holds my heavy car key. Recommend! — Jamie P.

Buy this item on AMAZON here

3. Get your glasses squeaky clean in the blink of an eye with this efficient lens-cleaning cloth. The power of Japanese microfiber is real! The product represents itself as ultra-fine, super-dense, and completely lint-free cloth. Its texture is extremely soft yet very durable.

Pros:

  • Works like a charm.
  • The packaging is handy.

Cons:

  • Gets dirty quicker than one may have hoped.

Promising review:

  • They came neatly packed in a sealed box. Each cloth is in its own slipcover. I was able to easily refold the cloth and put it back in the cover for future protection. It seemed to easily clean my lenses without a cleaning solution. — MS

Buy this item on AMAZON here

4. Prepare a batch of eggs for a big company or a big breakfast just for you using this stainless steel poached egg cooker. The pan will cook perfect eggs every time. The stainless steel device is sturdy and heavy. It goes well with all stove types (including induction).

Pros:

  • This product will save you a lot of time. It is perfect for a big family.
  • The device is sturdy and efficient.

Cons:

  • You’re going to need a mitt for the metal handles (to remove the egg trays safely).

Promising review:

  • I was hesitant to order this but figured I’d give it a shot. And you want to talk about perfect, commercial, beautiful eggs?? You’ll find it with this product. Easy to use, easy to clean.
    And I ask myself, «How did I live without this tool in my kitchen!?» You want those perfect eggs? Get this! — Amy

5. Use this strainer lid to drain unwanted liquid from a can—fast and mess-free. This item is efficient, flexible, and durable. The product has a bit of stretch, so it can fit slightly wider cans.

Pros:

  • The product is adjustable.
  • It is also portable; It’s small, light, and easy to carry. You can take these lids on a camping trip.

Cons:

  • The lids might not be suitable for a particular can size. Don’t forget to check the size beforehand.

Promising reviews:

  • I like the idea of not having to get a big colander out when draining cans. — Ruthy
  • I picked these because of the size. They are perfect. — Karen Walton

6. Here is the fastest way to make dessert for a big company. This silicone popsicle mold is non-stick, hygienic, and easy to use. The popsicles slide out super easily. To top that off, you can fill the product with fruit juice, purée, yogurt, jello, berries, fruits, or jam. Yum!

Pros:

  • Super easy to use and clean.
  • The product is also a great space-saver.
  • Comes with a funnel and a cleaning brush.
  • Versatile

Cons:

  • A little on the small side.

Promising reviews:

  • I liked that it was very easy to use. You can remove the popsicle very fast and have good-looking popsicles. — Marsela Ballabani
  • It’s convenient that it comes with a funnel and cleaning brush! Great buy! — Quality!

7. Speed up your cooking process with these 2 pairs of kitchen scissors and a pair of 5-ply herb scissors. And you don’t need to look for a cutting board. They are suitable for cutting different food items: herbs, veggies, meat, dough, and more.

Pros:

  • The devices come with protective covers and a cleaning brush.
  • They are sharp and work well.
  • The kitchen scissors have additional features: built-in nutcrackers, bottle openers, or fish scalers.

Cons:

  • The devices do not come apart for easy cleaning.

Promising review:

  • Very nice scissors. Each pair has a sheath to protect you or others from getting hurt and the scissors from getting damaged. I am very pleased with this set. — Bob M

8. You don’t wanna waste another minute when you are seriously hungry. Cut your tasty pizza the fastest with this no-effort pizza cutter. It fits comfortably in the palm of your hand and lets you fully control the cutting process. The large cutting wheel makes it extremely easy and fast.

Pros:

  • The product is high-quality and sharp; now you can slice and dice your food rather efficiently.
  • It comes with a protective blade guard and is easy and safe to store.
  • Disassembles in seconds to be washed.

Cons:

  • The cleaning is tricky because keeping the blade still might not be easy.

Promising review:

  • I bought this as a replacement for a really cheap one. I loved the idea of not needing a handle, and the blade cover was a plus. I liked how big this one was, so I bought it. I was pleasantly surprised with the ease of cleaning. You can completely take it apart and wash every part of it. It took me a minute to figure out how to take it apart, but once you get it, it’s easy. — Annika R

9. You’ll not have to waste your time looking for stuff if you have it neatly arranged with this under-sink organizer. This item maximizes under-sink space nicely. The item is easy to set up. It also has an adjustable height for the top shelf, which can be very handy.

Pros:

  • The product will save a ton of space in your kitchen.
  • The construction is pretty spacey.

Cons:

  • A little pricey.

Promising review:

  • I was skeptical at first. Especially when I was putting this together, I didn’t think it was going to be large enough. But to my surprise, it was! It was easy to put together, too! — Meg

10. This «meatball master» will be handy for cooking a fast dinner and storing meals in the freezer for later. You can use it for making meatballs, cookies, sushi, and more. The design allows you to remove the portions effortlessly (even when frozen). After using it, you can throw it in the dishwasher with no fuss.

Pros:

  • The product is versatile.
  • You can prepare a lot in a short amount of time; for instance, you can make 32 meatballs at once.
  • Easy to use and clean.

Cons:

  • The size of the meatballs could be too small for some people’s taste.
  • The results may vary if you overfill the product.

Promising review:

  • Where has this been—all of my cookie-baking life?? It is so much easier to use than a scoop. I bought 3 of them.
    I made a double batch of cookie dough, and I am pleased that you got 96 cookies. You do not get that many using a scoop. I like that all the cookies are baked evenly and are all the same size. I soak the containers to get them clean. — Chris Boor

We hope that these products will find their way to your heart. They can make your routine considerably simpler, so you can spend your spare time on something truly important.

Bright Side gets commissions for purchases made through the links in this post. Reviews could have been edited for length and clarity.

Preview photo credit Amazon

I Saw the Message ‘I’m Pregnant’ on My Husband’s Phone and Secretly Came to Dinner With a Stranger

When Caroline read the words “I’M PREGNANT” on her husband Daniel’s phone, she laughed it off as a mistake. But when another message followed, this time inviting him to dinner, she knew she had to uncover the truth. What she discovered that night was a secret Daniel had hoped to keep buried.

What would you do if you found a message from a stranger that said, “I’M PREGNANT,” on your husband’s phone? Would you laugh it off as a mistake? Or would it consume you, gnawing at your thoughts until you had to uncover the truth?

I’m Caroline, 42, and I’ve been married to Daniel for 12 years. We have two boys, ten and five, and we’ve built a messy, beautiful life together. I’ve never had a reason to distrust him. We’ve always shared everything — our phones, our plans, and our dreams.

Portrait of an emotional woman | Source: Midjourney

Portrait of an emotional woman | Source: Midjourney

If his phone buzzed while he was out of reach, he’d just say, “Can you read that for me?” That’s why, when his phone pinged last Tuesday while he was rinsing dishes, I didn’t think twice.

I picked it up and saw a text from an unknown number: “I’M PREGNANT.”

At first, I laughed, calling out to him, “Wrong number, babe. Someone’s telling you they’re pregnant!” I was already reaching to show him the screen.

Daniel turned his head, water still running, and smiled briefly. “Weird,” he said, shrugging. “Just delete it.”

A shocked woman staring at a phone | Source: Midjourney

A shocked woman staring at a phone | Source: Midjourney

That night, as I lay in bed, the memory of his dismissive tone gnawed at me. I rolled over to face him in the darkness.

“Daniel?” I whispered. “Are you awake?”

“Mmm,” he murmured. “What’s wrong?”

“Remember that text today? It just felt… strange. The way you brushed it off.”

He reached for my hand under the covers. “Caroline, honey, you’re overthinking this. Come here.” He pulled me closer, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.

An anxious man | Source: Midjourney

An anxious man | Source: Midjourney

“It’s just… you didn’t even look at it. Aren’t you curious who might have the wrong number?”

“It’s probably just spam,” he said, his voice thick with sleep. “Let’s not let some random text ruin our peace, okay?”

I hesitated. Something about how quickly he dismissed it felt off, but I told myself I was being paranoid. It was probably just some poor woman texting the wrong number, right?

But then, two days later, there was another message. This one made my stomach twist: “Will be waiting for you at La Bella Vita on Friday. Got a reservation at 7 p.m. See you then. Love you.”

A startled woman looking at a smartphone | Source: Midjourney

A startled woman looking at a smartphone | Source: Midjourney

I stared at the screen, my heart pounding in my chest. This wasn’t a mistake. It couldn’t be. The first message was strange enough, but this one? It was clear. This person wasn’t texting the wrong number — they were texting MY HUSBAND.

That night, as we sat on the couch after the kids were in bed, I casually asked, “Hey, have you gotten any more weird messages from that number?”

Daniel didn’t even flinch. “No,” he said, reaching for the remote.

I pressed further. “Are you sure?”

He glanced at me briefly, his expression calm but dismissive. “Yeah! Someone’s just messing around. Forget about it, honey.”

A man lying in his bed and smiling | Source: Midjourney

A man lying in his bed and smiling | Source: Midjourney

I grabbed the remote from his hand and switched off the TV. The screen went dark, but my mind buzzed with suspicion. Why would Daniel lie to me?

By Friday, the message had completely consumed my thoughts. My husband claimed he had a work meeting that night and would be home late.

“I’ll just eat with the boys,” I said casually, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Sorry, babe,” he said, pulling on his jacket. “I’ll make it up to you this weekend.” He kissed the top of my head and walked out.

As soon as the door closed, I grabbed my keys and called the babysitter. My hands were shaking so badly I could barely dial the number.

“Yes, ma’am?” our regular sitter, Jenny, answered.

“Jenny, I need you to come over. Right now. It’s an emergency.”

A distressed woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

A distressed woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

“Is everything okay?” she asked, concern evident in her voice.

I choked back a sob. “I don’t know. I honestly don’t know anymore.”

La Bella Vita was one of those upscale restaurants where couples celebrate anniversaries and job promotions. It wasn’t the kind of place you went for a casual meal.

I sat in my car in the parking lot, gripping the steering wheel. My stomach churned, and for a moment, I wondered if I should just drive home. But then I thought about the texts from the stranger. If I ignored this, I’d never be able to forgive myself.

I caught my reflection in the rearview mirror. “You can do this,” I whispered to myself. “Whatever happens in there, you deserve the truth.”

At 7:30, I walked inside.

An agitated woman sitting in a car | Source: Midjourney

An agitated woman sitting in a car | Source: Midjourney

The hostess greeted me with a smile. “Do you have a reservation?”

“No,” I said, scanning the dining room behind her. My heart stopped when I saw Daniel sitting at a table near the window.

He wasn’t alone. His hand was on HERS.

There was a young girl, maybe 17 or 18, sitting across from him. Her face was animated, her hands gesturing as she talked. Beside her was an older woman — close to my age, but dressed in a way that screamed “trying to impress.”

And Daniel? He was smiling. The girl’s hand rested lightly on his as he listened to her.

Close-up shot of a man holding a woman's hand | Source: Pexels

Close-up shot of a man holding a woman’s hand | Source: Pexels

My legs felt like lead as I walked toward them. Each step felt like walking through quicksand, my chest tightening with every breath.

“So, this is your ‘work meeting’?” I hissed.

Daniel’s head snapped up, his eyes wide. “Caroline!” he said, half-standing. “Wh… what are you doing here? How did you…? WELL, I’M SO GLAD THAT YOU CAME!”

“Are you?” I asked, folding my arms.

“Please,” he said quickly, pulling out an empty chair. “Sit down. I can explain everything.”

A furious woman in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

A furious woman in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

I glanced at the two women. The younger girl looked confused, but the older woman? She looked annoyed, like I’d just crashed something important.

“Who is she?” the older woman demanded, her eyes narrowing at Daniel. “You didn’t say anyone else was coming.”

“She’s my wife, Caroline. I didn’t know she was coming,” Daniel admitted, his voice strained. “Caroline, please, sit down.”

I sat down, my eyes never leaving Daniel. “Start explaining.”

Daniel took a deep breath. “This is… complicated. Caroline, this is my daughter, Sophie. And this is her mother, Lisa.”

His words didn’t make sense. “Your DAUGHTER?” I repeated.

An anxious man in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

An anxious man in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

My head literally started spinning. I gripped the edge of the table to steady myself when Daniel nodded, tears slowly brimming in his eyes.

“A daughter?” I whispered. “All these years… all these years we’ve been together, and you never once mentioned —”

“Because I didn’t know!” Daniel’s voice cracked. “Caroline, look at me. I swear on our boys’ lives, I had no idea until a few weeks ago.”

“A few weeks?”

“Yes,” he said, leaning forward. “She’s 18. I didn’t know about her until a few weeks ago. Lisa and I dated in high school. We broke up, and… I had no idea she was pregnant when we broke up. She raised our child… alone.”

Grayscale shot of a pregnant woman | Source: Unsplash

Grayscale shot of a pregnant woman | Source: Unsplash

I turned to Lisa, who was sitting stiffly in her chair. “You’ve known for 18 years and never thought to tell him?”

Lisa’s expression hardened. “We didn’t exactly part on good terms. And honestly, I didn’t think he’d care.”

“Didn’t think he’d care?” I snapped. “Then why now? What made you decide to contact him?”

Sophie spoke up for the first time, her voice small. “Mom always said he left us…”

A sad young girl in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

A sad young girl in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

“That’s not true,” Daniel said firmly, his eyes glistening. “Sophie, I would never have abandoned you. Never.”

Lisa’s face flushed. “Well, it doesn’t matter now, does it? We’re here because Sophie’s pregnant.”

I blinked, stunned. “She’s PREGNANT?”

Lisa nodded. “And I don’t want her to make the same mistakes I did. The man has to take responsibility, and as Sophie’s father, Daniel needs to help us… financially.”

An annoyed woman frowning | Source: Midjourney

An annoyed woman frowning | Source: Midjourney

My jaw clenched as I turned to Daniel. “Financially? You didn’t think to discuss this with me first?”

“Caroline,” Daniel started, “I was going to tell you —”

“When?” I cut him off. “Before or after you handed them a check?”

Sophie burst into tears. “I’m sorry,” she sobbed. “I didn’t want any of this. Mom insisted…”

Lisa crossed her arms and glared at me. “This is none of your business. It’s between my daughter and her father.”

“None of my business?” I laughed bitterly. “This absolutely is my business. If Daniel’s going to support you financially, it’s coming out of OUR budget. The budget that feeds our children, pays for their school, and their future.”

A frustrated woman with her arms crossed | Source: Midjourney

A frustrated woman with her arms crossed | Source: Midjourney

“Your children?” Lisa sneered. “Sophie is his flesh and blood too!”

“Stop it!” Sophie cried out. “Just stop! I can’t take this anymore!” She pushed back from the table, her chair scraping loudly against the floor.

“Sophie, wait —” Daniel reached for her, but she pulled away.

“I never wanted money,” she said, tears streaming down her face. “I just… I just wanted to know my father. To know if he would’ve wanted me if he had known.”

A distressed young girl | Source: Midjourney

A distressed young girl | Source: Midjourney

Daniel’s face crumpled. “Of course I would have wanted you. Sophie, please —”

I watched the scene unfold, something nagging at the back of my mind. Sophie’s outburst felt… rehearsed somehow. Like a performance designed to tug at our heartstrings.

Years of teaching drama to fifth graders had made me pretty good at spotting the difference between genuine emotion and acting. And something about this felt off.

A suspicious woman staring at someone | Source: Midjourney

A suspicious woman staring at someone | Source: Midjourney

I turned to Daniel, my voice low and steady. “If you’re going to help them, fine. But we need proof. A DNA test to confirm she’s YOUR daughter, and a medical certificate confirming the pregnancy. Until then, we’re not committing to anything.”

Lisa’s face turned red. “How dare you question us?”

“Because this affects MY family too,” I said firmly. “If you’re telling the truth, you shouldn’t have a problem proving it.”

The meeting ended awkwardly. Lisa stormed out, dragging Sophie with her, and Daniel stayed behind, his head in his hands.

A woman storming out of the room | Source: Pexels

A woman storming out of the room | Source: Pexels

“Caroline,” he said softly, “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to keep this from you. I just… I didn’t know how to handle it when Lisa and Sophie texted me. Lisa said she got my number from one of my college friends.”

I reached across the table and lifted his chin. “Look at me. Did you really not know about Sophie?”

His eyes met mine, filled with pain and regret. “I swear to you, I had no idea. When Lisa contacted me… it was like my whole world shifted. She told me that I have a daughter, Caroline. A daughter I never knew existed.”

“You should have started with the truth,” I said, standing up. “From now on, that’s the only thing I’m willing to accept.”

The next few days were tense. Lisa sent a few more texts asking for money, but Daniel stuck to my request for proof. When we insisted on a DNA test, the messages stopped altogether, and both their numbers were suddenly disconnected.

A woman seeing her phone | Source: Midjourney

A woman seeing her phone | Source: Midjourney

One night, I found Daniel sitting alone in the dark, staring at his phone.

“What if she really was my daughter?” he whispered. “What if I just lost my only chance to know her?”

I wrapped my arms around him from behind. “If Sophie is your daughter, she’ll find you again.”

A week later, Daniel got a call from an old friend and was shaken to his core.

“Lisa has pulled this trick before with her ‘pregnant daughter,’” he told Daniel. “Same story, different guy, pal. Both Lisa and Sophie are running a scam. They target Lisa’s exes from high school, claiming Sophie is their long-lost child. Last year, they got ten grand from Mike — her ex before she started dating you — and disappeared from town before he figured out the truth.”

A shocked man talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

A shocked man talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

That night, as we lay in bed, Daniel finally broke down. The sobs that wracked his body were unlike anything I’d ever heard from him.

“I really thought…” he choked out. “For a moment, I really believed I had a daughter.”

I held him close. “You were naive… but don’t let anyone take advantage of your kindness again.”

Daniel hugged me tight, tears in his eyes. “Thank you for being strong when I wasn’t,” he whispered.

I kissed his cheek. “We’re a team, Daniel. But if you ever lie to me again, that team is over.”

He nodded, pulling me closer. “Never again,” he promised. “Our family is everything to me. Everything.”

A couple comforting each other | Source: Pexels

A couple comforting each other | Source: Pexels

As we drifted off to sleep, I thought about how easily a few text messages had almost shattered our world. And how a stranger’s fake tears had nearly cost us not just money, but our trust in each other.

I held Daniel closer, grateful that we’d emerged stronger, wiser, and more united than before. Sometimes the hardest moments show us exactly what we’re made of and what we’re worth fighting for.

A woman smiling | Source: Midjourney

A woman smiling | Source: Midjourney

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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