Love using the mustache trimmer rather than the seam ripper...a REAL time and frustration saver! It's one of my favorite tools.
I bought my husband one of the battery headlamps that you can focus the beam directly on your work. I "borrowed" it for my sewing room. It helps when sewing with black/dark colors, especially at night. It's also good for hand work when you need more light directly on your stitches. Below is a sample. They are readily available at hardware stores, WalMart, etc., in a range of prices.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Designers...Q&gclsrc=aw.ds