A Silicone Muffin Pan—and More Clever Items to Simplify Your Life

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Hem tape, a doggie doorbell, and a windshield guard.

The elements are at it again with blustery winds, snow storms, and layers of thick ice. So, while the weather outside is getting frightful, we’ll use these clever items to enjoy our time inside and to brave the outdoors more easily (when necessary). Under-the-bed storage boxes packed full of your summer clothes will help to make room in the closet for all your thick wool sweaters. A nonstick, silicone muffin pan will keep warm, delicious scents floating throughout the house as the holiday baking takes hold. And a winter windshield guard keeps your car’s windshield free from snow and ice, and saves you from freezing your butt off trying to scrape it away. Check out these nifty little items, and more, below.

No-Sew Hem Tape

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Need to hem some pants but your sewing skills are... sub-par? This Heat n Bond Hem tape will solve all your problems. The double-sided adhesive tape works on a range of fabric, like cotton, denim, suede, and wool. Just adjust your clothing to the desired length, apply the tape, and iron—no pinning or sewing required! Now you can get perfectly tailored clothes without the cost (or the skill).

Price at time of publish: $3

Under-bed Storage Box

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Swapping out seasonal clothes is a must to keep your closet organized, because we always need more space! These Underbed Storage Bags from The Container Store are the ideal storage solution for your breezy summer clothes, made of a polyester-cotton fabric with heavy-duty zippers, a lined interior to keep your delicates safe, and a built-in label holder to keep you organized. They fit perfectly under your bed or sofa, and with handles at each end, they’re easy to grab when you need them.

Price at time of publish: $25

Tubing Mascara

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The winter weather can wreak havoc on our makeup with dry skin, red noses, and watering eyes resulting in thick, black clumps of mascara raining on our parade. Thrive Cosmetics’ Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara uses flake-free tubing technology so it’s perfect for surviving the cold. The mascara creates minuscule tubes around each lash, creating dramatic length and fluttery lashes that are a breeze to remove with warm water. Unlike traditional mascaras, tubing mascaras don’t flake or smudge. Thrive Cosmetic’s version, with an orchid stem cell complex, helps lashes grow stronger and longer and is dermatologist and ophthalmologist-approved. With three shades—black, brown, and navy—it’s the perfect addition to your winter makeup routine.

Price at time of publish: $25

Silicone Muffin Pan

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Silicone mats are a game changer for holiday cookies, but did you know they made muffin pans too? Neither did we! Originally crafted for professional french pastry chefs, Silpat now makes a line of silicone pans for muffins, cupcakes, pastry shells, and mini quiches. Made from a fiberglass fabric coated with food-grade silicone, the pan is lightweight, flexible, nonstick, and optimizes heat conduction for the perfect golden brown bake, every time. These reusable, easy-to-clean, and dishwasher-safe pans will make any home chef feel like they’re running a bakery in Paris.

Price at time of publish: $65

Windshield Guard

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Scraping ice and snow off cars is up there on our list of Least Favorite Things About Winter, so we were jazzed to discover Urban Transit’s Frostguard. A wind-resistant, winter windshield cover, the Frostguard is made of durable polyester and weather-resistant PVC. With side poles that hold the screen taught, protecting your windshield and wipers from snow and ice, security flaps that stay locked inside your car, elastic straps that make it easy to slip on, and ear muffs for your side mirrors, the Frostguard makes de-icing your car in the morning a breeze. It comes in two sizes that’ll cover any car, no matter how big or small, and in a variety of cute colors and patterns to add some holiday flare to your morning commute.

Price at time of publish: $32

Doggie Doorbell

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You know the saying, "If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for them." But some dogs thrive in chilly weather, waiting all year for the snow, and not all of us have convenient doggy doors to let them come and go as they please. For those of us with pups who love the winter wonderland, try this Doggie Doorbell from Pebble Smart. It’s weatherproof, easy to install inside or outside the door your dog uses, and has volume control. The large yellow button is ideal for a quick boop of your pup’s nose, and with some basic training, your furry friend can enjoy the snow all they want and let you know when they're ready to head inside.

Price at time of publish: $30

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