Here’s what’s actually sitting on my desk after the latest wave of orders
Last week the courier brought me three packages at once that I bought during the latest AliExpress sale, and I thought it would be a good reason to finally show what actually arrives at my home. Not some abstract “top 10 products,” but specific things I unpacked, touched, and have already started using. Some of them I ordered again, some for the first time based on reviews. There’s a pillow for 1,200 rubles, a smartwatch, and kitchen stuff I can no longer imagine my daily life without. And many of them can still be bought at a discount, so let’s take a look.
3D Feather Pillow — I’ve Been Sleeping on It Since March
Got two — one for myself, one for my wife, both still like new
You know what’s annoying about cheap pillows? After a month the filling clumps up and you’re sleeping on a flat rag. The dual-sided 3D pillow with a twisted pattern is a completely different story. The filling is feather, not polyester, so it’s dense, weighty, and actually holds its shape. I ordered two at the beginning of March, and neither one has flattened out yet.
The pillow looks and feels about three times more expensive than its price. The cover is pleasant, the seams are even, and there’s no smell out of the box. I used to buy similar ones at a certain Swedish store — well, this one is just as good, but costs several times less. If you’re looking for a decent sleeping pillow and don’t want to overpay — I recommend giving it a try.
Price: 1,210 rubles
Magnetic Knife Strip — Hung It Up and Forgot About It
Been hanging above the countertop since January — holds the chef’s knife rock solid
After IKEA closed, finding a decent magnetic knife strip became a quest. Hardware stores offer either bare metal at insane prices or outright junk. The magnetic holder in acacia wood is exactly what I was looking for: it looks warm and premium, and the magnets inside are strong enough to hold even a heavy chef’s knife.
Wall mounting hardware comes included, and installation takes about ten minutes. I hung mine back in January — during that time not a single knife has fallen, and the strip, 40 cm long, holds five or six knives. It looks neat in the kitchen, and the wood doesn’t swell or darken.
Price: 1,260 rubles
30-Meter String Lights — Survived Winter at the Dacha
Hung all summer and fall on the porch — not a single bulb burned out
If you’ve ever tried to create a cozy atmosphere at a dacha or on a balcony, you know that good string lights cost an insane amount of money. The G40 bulb string lights solve the problem radically: 30 meters of warm white light at a price that will surprise you. The bulbs give a soft glow, don’t blind you, and don’t flicker — exactly what you need for evening get-togethers.
I hung one like this at the dacha last summer, and it survived rain, wind, and the first frosts without any issues. It runs on 220V mains power, no batteries needed. The wire is flexible enough to run along railings or stretch between trees. The main thing — don’t expect floodlight brightness from it, this is specifically decorative lighting.
Price: 1,380 rubles
UGREEN GaN Charger — I Charge My iPhone 15 Plus with It
20W, GaN, the size of a finger — I charge my iPhone every morning
A charger is the kind of thing you buy once and either forget about it or suffer with it for years. The UGREEN 20W with a GaN chip falls in the first category. A compact body literally the size of a matchbox, fast charging for iPhones and Android smartphones. The plug doesn’t wobble in the outlet and doesn’t block the neighboring socket.
For this money you get a full-fledged fast charger that charges an iPhone from zero to 50% in about half an hour. The original Apple adapter costs three to four times more and does exactly the same thing. The key here is not to confuse it with no-name knockoffs: I’ve been buying UGREEN for years now, and not a single one of their chargers has let me down yet.
Price: 810 rubles
Baseus Braided Cable — I Buy Them in Bulk
Three for 900 rubles — one at home, one at work, one in my backpack
I used to search for a cable all around the apartment every time — either my daughter would take it to her room, or I’d leave it in the kitchen. Now I simply buy Baseus in nylon braiding three at a time and distribute them: one at home, one at work, one in my backpack. At 300 rubles each — it’s a no-brainer.
The reinforced connector doesn’t get loose in the port, and the braiding doesn’t fray at the bend. The cable doesn’t tangle in your bag because it’s stiff enough, yet still flexible. Honest downside: after six months of active use, the braiding near the plug base got slightly worn, but the connection was not lost. For this price — an excellent consumable, not an “eternal” cable.
Price: 300 rubles
