Life Life Strategies A Silicone Lipstick Organizer—and More Clever Items to Simplify Your Life Fourth of July is over and we’re officially in peak summer mode. Take advantage of beach days with an absorbent towel that doubles as a game table. Take fresh fruit with you on the go (and keep it mush-free) with a portable colander. Compost those uneaten berries with plant-based bags. By Erica Finamore Erica Finamore Erica Finamore is Real Simple's home director, sharing her knowledge on decorating, organizing, cleaning and DIYing. She has over 10 years' experience and favors statement sofas, gallery walls and organizing books in rainbow order. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on July 7, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. HomeGoodsCanada/Etsy Fruit Colander uncommongoods.com $18, uncommongoods.com Berries tend to get squishy when they're sitting for a while—but this bummer of a fact is made way better by this colander. Pour your berries in and the liquid will drain from them throughout the day, keeping your snack plump and fresh. Light Stick store.moma.org $25, store.moma.org This teeny tiny lithium battery-powered waterproof light comes in clutch for any nighttime activities. It fits securely on your jacket zipper or dog collar and keeps its charge for up to 10 hours of soft, ambient light. Price at time of publish: $25 Game Towel sunnylife.com $45, sunnylife.com A beach towel. For summer. Groundbreaking. No disrespect to Miranda Priestly but this beach towel actually is pretty exciting. Use it to dry off, of course, but when it's not soaking up salt water, it serves as a board game for checkers or backgammon. Price at time of publish: $45 Makeup Organizer etsy.com $20, etsy.com Acrylic lipstick holders are pretty, but the moment you try putting a slightly longer lip gloss in there, they become useless. Swap to a silicone tray that will grip the products and keep all of your glosses, sticks, balms, and liners upright. Price at time of publish: $20 Compostable Bags repurpose.com $11, repurpose.com These plant-based bags allow you to gather up waste without creating more trash. They're leak-proof and completely home compostable. Just toss them in your countertop compost bin. The 9 Best Compost Bins for Your Kitchen and Beyond Toy Storage Organizer amazon.com $50, amazon.com If you've ever stepped on a rogue Lego without shoes on, you know the dire consequences of leaving toys out all over the place. This bin makes toy cleanup quick and easy. It serves as a small storage ottoman when holding all of your kid's things, then when it's time to play, you pull out the nylon playmat and pour their toys out. Price at time of publish: $60 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit