Photo of a pink flower crown on the back of a brown chair.

How to Celebrate Summer Solstice

As part of my ongoing journey into learning about different religions and traditions, I’ve been especially drawn to Wicca lately. One thing I love is how closely Wiccans connect their celebrations to the natural world—recognizing that the earth’s rhythms mirror our own. Every season has something to teach us.

The Solstice is the longest day and shortest night, when the sun is at its most powerful. In Wiccan tradition, it’s a time to celebrate abundance, warmth, light and play—a big, sun-drenched “thank you” to nature before the days start slowly getting shorter again. It’s also a great moment to pause, soak in the light, and plant a little joy in our lives before the growing season begins to tip toward harvest.

We leaned hard into the sunshine theme with a yellow feast that would make the sun itself proud. The table was full of sunny treats: Twinkies, Capri Sun, Goldfish crackers, bananas, oranges, etc.

Next, we made flower crowns to honor nature in full bloom. In Wicca, flowers are often used in rituals to represent beauty, growth, and fleeting moments. Making something with your hands that you’ll wear—even just for an hour—is a lovely way to stay present.

Then came the main event: the Sun Piñata! Stuffed with candies and sparkly trinkets, it was a big, happy burst of sunshine hanging from a tree. But we added a twist: a magical piñata challenge!

To take a swing, each person rolled a die, and the number they landed on determined their “weapon”:

  • 🎲 1: Rubber chicken
  • 🎲 2: Giant foam finger
  • 🎲 3: Inflatable boxing glove
  • 🎲 4: Child-size sword
  • 🎲 5: Pool noodle
  • 🎲 6: A banana (yes, really)

Watching the kids (and adults!) try to whack the sun with a banana or bop it gently with a foam finger had everyone howling with laughter. The silliness felt just right for this holiday.

In Wicca, the sun at its peak reminds us to shine bright, to play, to be bold, and to enjoy this high point in the wheel of the year. It’s also a great time to check in with ourselves: What are we growing in our lives? What’s blooming? What light do we have to share?

Happy Summer Solstice! Shine on.

Image Credit: Jenn Vazquez

Picture of bay leaves and berries on a wood countertop

How to Celebrate Imbolc

Lately I’ve been diving into the study of different religions, and one that’s especially drawn me in is Wicca. There’s something deeply peaceful about its rhythms—its connection to the seasons, the earth, and the belief that there’s a higher power we can all feel when we slow down and tune into nature. Some people describe that power as love. Others call it energy, or peace, or contentment. Whatever you call it, you might take a moment—just one breath—to feel it settle in your chest or swirl gently around you. That’s where the magic begins. Wiccans often talk about life and the seasons as being closely connected. Think of it like this:

Spring is the Maiden, full of youth, curiosity and new beginnings.

Summer and fall are the Mother, whether she’s nurturing children, ideas or community.

And winter? That’s the Crone, the wise elder who brings rest, reflection and endings.

Each phase—and each season—offers its own wisdom.This weekend, we celebrated Imbolc, a Wiccan holiday that marks the shift from winter to spring. It begins at sundown and ends at sundown the next day. Imbolc is about stirring from rest, lighting little fires of hope, and setting gentle intentions for what’s to come. It’s also full of symbolism—especially circles, to remind us of the turning wheel of the year.

We began our celebration by sweeping out the winter. The kids each grabbed a little broom and ran in a big circle around the yard, laughing and sweeping away the cold and gloom to make space for spring’s light. Circles were everywhere, reminding us of the cycle of life, death and rebirth.

Next, we gathered for a moment of stillness. We spoke softly about what spells really mean in Wicca—not sparkles and potions, but setting intentions, kind of like meditation or the affirmations we whisper to ourselves when we need courage or focus. Want to fly high on the swings? Tell yourself, “I can do it.” That’s a kind of spell.

After that, we opened a few small presents and moved on to a craft—painting birdhouses—a way of welcoming back the birds and helping spring feel invited to return. Then came the intention spell.

Each child wrote one meaningful word on a bay leaf—something they hoped for in the coming season. Then, with help from the grown-ups, we burned the bay leaves and sent those hopes off into the universe, carried by the smoke like whispers on the wind.

We finished with warm cinnamon rolls—soft spirals, another nod to the circular year—and mugs of tea. The final moment was a poem, chanted together in rhythm:

Winter is a time for rest
Maiden, mother, crone
Burrow down deep in your nest
Maiden, mother, crone

Sleep and heal and patch and mend
Maiden, mother, crone
Learning that all stories end
Maiden, mother, crone

Goodbye crone, you coldest year
Maiden, mother, crone
Hello maiden, spring is near
Maiden, mother, crone

Thank yee crone, we learned your lesson
Maiden, mother, crone
Keen and ready for spring’s blessin’
Maiden, mother, crone

Finally, we gave the children a choice: collect seeds and examine them under a microscope, or keep painting. Some kids even tried writing their own little spells—tiny poems or words of power just for them.There’s something beautiful about pausing midwinter to honor the quiet wisdom of the crone, even as we turn to greet the maiden. We’re not rushing spring—we’re just giving her a warm welcome. Happy Imbolc!

Image Credit: vojtech Havlis

Courtney Parks, Water Lily Therapy Review

I have an embarrassing phobia.

Yup, it’s true. I’m not afraid of normal stuff like snakes or spiders or heights. I’m afraid of something I’ll nickname “yellow hats.” (I’m not going to name the actual phobia here because that just feels like asking to get roasted on the internet.)

I also have OCD.

A few months ago, I decided it was time to take real action. I was already seeing a therapist, but she wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about OCD or phobias. So I started the emotionally exhausting, time-consuming process of finding a new therapist.

I wrote up an email to explain myself to potential providers—my quirks, my challenges, my strengths, my OCD, and yes, my fear of “yellow hats.”

And it worked. After just one interview, I met Courtney Parks at Waterlily Therapy LLC, and I felt an immediate sense of warmth and connection. She seemed friendly and open. I was actually excited to begin therapy.

At the same time, I was nervous. I’ve been abandoned a lot in my life, and I worried I’d get attached only to have that stability pulled away. I even voiced that fear in session, and Courtney said she understood. That helped me trust her.

So I started to feel something like therapeutic love—not “love” love, but a kind of hope and gratitude. The kind of bond that makes you think, “Maybe I can finally get help.” I wish we had better language for that kind of connection.

After a few sessions, I realized that although I had talked about my “yellow hat” issue in detail, I hadn’t asked about it in direct relation to her. So I sent an email asking, somewhat awkwardly, if she planned to, um, buy a yellow hat.

She wrote back that she was considering it.

The stomach drop I felt was intense. If you’ve ever had a phobia, you probably know the feeling—your brain tells you the threat is irrational, but your body doesn’t listen. If you haven’t experienced it, this link gives a good overview.

I didn’t want to walk away from therapy with her. We had built rapport, and I genuinely liked her. But I was also overwhelmed—my mom had cancer, and the same week, my 2-year-old service dog (and best friend) was diagnosed with aggressive cancer. Emotionally, I was hanging by a thread. I knew I wasn’t in a place to go searching for someone new.

So I replied to her email, explaining that I was upset, but I just needed a little time and space. I told her that I planned to circle back after my pup had her first cancer surgery.

She responded by terminating me as a client. She said not to take it as a rejection, that she was making the decision out of ethics and kindness.

And maybe she truly felt that was the right, ethical thing to do. But from where I stood, it felt like being dropped when I was already drowning.

I know that to someone in a healthy place, this might not seem like a big deal. Maybe I would’ve ended things myself down the line. But the hardest part for me was that I didn’t get to decide. I didn’t get a conversation, or a warning—it was just over.

As someone who’s neurodivergent, I’ve often experienced people stepping in and making decisions for me—without asking how I feel or what I need. It’s a painful pattern I’ve lived through many times, and in that moment, it felt like it was happening again in therapy, where I had least expected it.

From the start, I had asked Courtney—what if I said the wrong thing, or expressed frustration? Would she leave? And she had assured me she wouldn’t. So when she did, it hit hard. I wasn’t just sad; I was disappointed in myself for believing it would be different.

And when she told me not to take it as a rejection, that it was just “ethics and kindness,” it didn’t land that way for me. Maybe that was her intent. But it still felt like a rejection. The difference is—she got to move forward and find another client. I had to sit in the waiting room of the vet’s office, waiting to hear if my dog’s cancer surgery had gone okay, and process that I’d just been let go by my therapist, too.

Now I get to start the therapist search all over again.

That’s my experience. Hopefully it won’t be yours.

I’m sharing this not to blame or accuse, but because I wish I had known what to look out for. This is just one story—mine. Others may have had very different experiences, and that’s valid, too.

Photo Credit: Nik Shuliahin

Baby wipes, rubber duck in a purse. Blue background.

Sustainable, Eco-Friendly, Safe Baby Wipes

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

TLDR: Commercial wipes aren’t good for your skin. Even the ones that are marketed for babies have some sort of chemical to keep them from molding.

Why you should care: Again, wipes aren’t good for your skin, including a baby’s skin. I think, on this one, the health impact is the most important. The environmental impact is also pretty icky: https://www.proquest.com/openview/9d58febe5e1c637f87f152d2aaa0dbf8/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=5038271 

What you should buy: You actually don’t need anything for this one other than about 50 bits of cloth in wipe-sized pieces. You can use GOTS or Oeko-Tex certified cloth if you’d like. To make the spray, mix two tablespoons of castile soap and two tablespoons of olive oil and make sure they don’t separate. Boil two cups of water and let cool. Then add the mixture to it. Spray onto the cloth to create wipes. Put the soiled wipes in their own diaper pail and then launder them. (Make sure to use your handheld bidet to wash off any solids first.) These work great!

Image Credit: Natracare

Photo of a cute brown puppy on a blue dog bed with a blue blanket and a blue wall. The floor is hardwood and there is a parlor palm in a pot to the left of the dog bed.

Eco-Friendly, Zero PFAS, Safe Dog Bed

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

TLDR: All the same stuff that’s bad for you is bad for your pets—only their bodies are smaller and thus toxins are more concentrated. Here’s just one study of many: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/environmental-science/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2022.1023818/full Get them high quality stuff to help them live healthier lives.

Why you should care: They’re your best friend. ‘Nuff said.

What you should buy: https://myessentia.com/products/kingston?sscid=b1k8_z1btr

Dog beds made of plastic and full of fire retardants are bad for you AND bad for them. It’s a good idea to invest and get something good and (mostly) chemical-free. This was an expensive purchase for me, and I waited for a sale. But it could save me money on vet bills, human doctor bills AND give me more time with my beloved animals. Worth it.

I actually didn’t buy the bed that I recommended. It was too big for my dog’s crate. I ended up purchasing from The Futon. https://www.thefutonshop.com/certifications (If purchasing, make sure to get a wool filling, which is temperature-regulating and no outside coating.) I don’t recommend The Futon Shop if you’re not prepared to wait. It took a couple follow-up emails before they finally sent me a shipping confirmation. You can message the company directly to ask for a discount on the product as it and shipping are expensive. If you live in California or Seattle you can pick the beds up directly. They also ship the beds with a ridiculous amount of plastic and now I have a huge pile of the stuff that I have to repurpose somehow. It’s a huge pain and not environmentally friendly at all.

If I were to do it over, I’d get My Essentia. I wanted to use non-plastic, Oeko-Tex and/or GOTS certified materials. Several of the sites fill their beds with recycled water bottles, which is awesome but not for me. Avocado had some parts of the bed that were certified but not everything. The Rawganique looked amazing, but the price was more expensive than My Essentia.

No matter what you buy, ask the company to ship you the product without plastic.

NOTE: Bearaby and Omi mattress are both no longer available. You can still get Avocado but not through the site. You have to message customer support with exactly what you want and they’ll send you a link to buy it. (I asked but they wouldn’t tell me why it’s such an odd buying process!)

Additional Reading:
https://www.leafscore.com/eco-friendly-pet-products/best-eco-friendly-dog-beds/
https://www.petplay.com/pages/oeko-tex
https://iheartdogs.com/best-eco-friendly-dog-beds/
https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/eco-friendly-dog-beds
https://www.greenmatters.com/green-matters-approved/best-dog-beds
https://www.rover.com/blog/reviews/organic-dog-beds
https://theroundup.org/what-is-natural-latex/
https://rawganique.com/products/sesame-organic-cotton-dog-cat-pet-bed?Click=140523
https://www.avocadogreenmattress.com/collections/dog-beds/products/organic-dog-bed

Photo Credit: Jamie Street

Woman with black hair in black dress putting a black flower-shaped pillow onto a black and white couch in a modernist room

Eco-Friendly Couch Cover With No PFAS

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

TLDR: I haven’t found an eco-friendly couch cover.

Why you should care: A lot of parents (both for fur babies and human babies) want a couch cover to protect their sizable investment. But getting something that’s not made of natural materials will leak microplastics into the environment, which we now know ends up in our bodies.

What you should buy: I don’t have a recommendation, but I’ll tell you what NOT to buy. Molly Mutts has a couch cover that they SAY is eco friendly OEKO-TEX certified cotton and natural silicone. But it’s actually half polyester, which is plastic. I don’t mind buying thrifted polyester but I don’t believe in bringing more plastic into circulation, especially since microplastics are everywhere. 

I would like something made of OEKO-TEX or GOTS certified alpaca because it’s so good at repelling spills and odors. Otherwise, I’ll find something with a natural silicone bottom.

Additional Reading:
https://magiclinen.com/products/linen-couch-cover-in-natural
https://www.potterybarn.com/products/relaxed-fit-slipcover
https://slashop.com/products/custard-cream-reversible-comfort-sofa-couch-cover

Image Credit: Slipcover KAS

Photo of person with long, blue hair facing away from the camera and wearing an olive green shirt. White background.

The Unicorn: Fantasy Hair Dye That’s Zero-Waste, Sustainable and Chemical Free

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

TLDR: It seems that the worry over what’s in our hair dye is slightly overblown. From the studies I’ve read, not too much dye comes into contact with your skin, and the stuff that DOES get on your skin isn’t usually absorbed to a dangerous degree. What you should avoid is dyes containing a chemical called PPD. If you do that, even pregnant people don’t have to worry. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK582739/ 

Why you should care: For this product, it comes down to plastic. I couldn’t find ANY dyes that didn’t involve plastic in some way. This is where the “adoption” part of my research comes into play. Am I willing to give up plastic, which is harmful to the environment, and stop coloring my hair? At this time, no. Coloring my hair is such a part of what makes me happy and what makes me feel comfortable in my body that giving it up would be too much of an ask. But if you can do it, I applaud you! The other issue is PPD—it’s not great for your health, and it’s looking like it’s pretty bad for the environment. https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/original_article/pdf/244736/20240623-5018-er6oe3.pdf and https://www.annallergy.org/article/S1081-1206(13)00737-0/abstract 

What you should buy: IroIro with 10% discount code: 10-3B6C8A9C List of ingredients: https://iroirocolors.com/blogs/news/iroiro-semi-permanent-hair-color-ingredients 

In my research, there aren’t any dyes that are totally natural that’ll give you fun, long-lasting colors. There are dyes that will do the job with minimal synthetic chemicals that are also vegan and cruelty-free. (Henna is an all-natural dye, but experts caution against it as it reacts with each person’s hair differently and can cause some pretty odd streaks and patches. Get a professional to show you how to do it the first time!)

P.S. You know how all hair dyes tell you to do a patch test before applying and then you don’t do it? Actually do the patch test. There is a small risk of anaphylaxis. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0536.1996.tb02348.x 

NOTE: The IroIro pink lasts forever: https://www.reddit.com/r/HairDye/comments/1chk2we/approach_iroiro_with_caution/ Purple seems to fade to pink: https://www.reddit.com/r/HairDye/comments/rwgqw7/iroiro This person didn’t like the platinum: https://omgluie.com/omgluie-hair-dye-review-iroiro-semi-permanent-hair-color-in-140-iro-platinum 

Additional Reading:
https://www.greenmatters.com/p/eco-friendly-hair-dye
https://sustainablykindliving.com/12-best-non-toxic-natural-hair-dye-brands
https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/original_article/pdf/244736/20240623-5018-er6oe3.pdf This study does a good job of telling you potential risks, but it’s definitely fear-mongering. It doesn’t tell you the LIKELIHOOD of potential risks. 
Arctic fox ingredients: https://incidecoder.com/products/arctic-fox-hair-color 
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/24/well/hair-dye-health-cancer.html

Image Credit: Elizabeth Lies

Photo of back of woman who is hugging herself. Dark setting, very shadowed.

Lotion That’s Good for Your Skin and the Environment

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

TLDR: Get good ingredients ‘cause this stuff is getting absorbed into your skin. And keep it sustainable! 

Why you should care: Lotion gets absorbed into your body. Plus, the bottles are a waste of plastic, which takes resources to make and then lives in our landfills and oceans. Gross. 

What you should buy: https://www.shopetee.com/products/lotion-bar or less expensive option would be to make your own 

I hate lotion that’s too thick, but I also hate lotion that’s too thin. I want the Goldilocks of lotion, dangit! I’ve tried this one https://www.plaineproducts.com/shop/#hairbodycare and found I was constantly reapplying. I actually really liked Ethique https://ethique.com/blogs/ethique-products/why-should-you-switch-to-a-solid-moisturiser but it’s made in New Zealand and some ingredients are sourced from Samoa, and the carbon footprint is too high for me.

There are also a lot of sustainable options that come in glass jars. I keep lotion all over the house, and I know I’m going to knock one over or a pet will so that won’t work for me either. I need something in aluminum or cardboard.

I decided that cardboard was the most eco-friendly. And I went with a vegan option that didn’t use beeswax since I have a lot of questions about the sustainability of beehives from my honey research and potential glyphosate in beeswax. I can attest that the bars actually do last a long time so you only need a small amount.

Beeswax, which is used in lots of cosmetics, also contains harmful chemicals.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278691523002089 and https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969719353045

Additional Reading:
https://ecoroots.us/products/yay-for-earth-zero-waste-lotion
https://www.glam.com/1222963/best-solid-body-lotion-bars-for-sustainable-moisturization/https://www.sustainablejungle.com/lotion-bars/
https://ecoroots.us/products/lotion-bar
https://attitudeliving.com/products/body-butter-leaves-bar

Photo Credit: Romina Farías

Arm covered in a pink dish washing glove, holding a yellow spray bottle in front of a light blue background

Supposedly ‘Green’ Cleaning Products Still Emit Harmful Chemicals

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

TLDR: Even supposedly “green” cleaning products can emit VOCs. It’s more cost-effective, more sustainable and healthier to make your own cleaners out of simple stuff you probably already have in the house. 

Why you should care: VOCs cause lots of health issues. It’s not worth it.

What you should buy: https://www.lung.org/getmedia/3030b2d9-02f0-4be4-ab86-d6bd86f88b88/ALA-Safe-cleaning-products-MHE-program-August-2022.pdf or, if you don’t want to make your own, https://www.shopetee.com/collections/household-cleaners 

I like Etee for SO many reasons. They’re based in Canada so they’re not too far away. They donate to good causes. They don’t do plastic. They don’t test on animals, and use safe materials. They care about their workers and supply chain. Their soap doesn’t have a strong scent, which is great if you have smell sensitivities. 

Remember that there’s a difference between cleaners and disinfectants. See my post on bleach for more information. https://lospatiperros.com/eco-friendly/bleach-is-bad-for-you-and-the-environment/ 

Additional Reading:
https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/cleaning/things-you-should-never-clean-with-vinegar-distilled-white-vinegar-a3336471803/
https://www.lung.org/clean-air/indoor-air/indoor-air-pollutants/cleaning-supplies-household-chem
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/household-cleaning-products-emit-chemicals-associated-with-heart-disease-cancer 
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/14/health/cleaning-products-chemicals-safety-wellness/index.html
https://www.ewg.org/cleaners/content/cleaners_and_health
https://sixdollarfamily.com/how-to-make-liquid-castile-soap-from-a-bar
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31264367/is-vinegar-a-disinfectant/ 
https://www.healthline.com/health/is-vinegar-a-disinfectant#products

Image Credit: Jeshoots.com

Arm covered in a pink dish washing glove, holding a yellow spray bottle in front of a light blue background

Supposedly ‘Green’ Cleaning Products Still Emit Harmful Chemicals

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

TLDR: Even supposedly “green” cleaning products can emit VOCs. It’s more cost-effective, more sustainable and healthier to make your own cleaners out of simple stuff you probably already have in the house. 

Why you should care: VOCs cause lots of health issues. It’s not worth it.

What you should buy: https://www.lung.org/getmedia/3030b2d9-02f0-4be4-ab86-d6bd86f88b88/ALA-Safe-cleaning-products-MHE-program-August-2022.pdf or, if you don’t want to make your own, https://www.shopetee.com/collections/household-cleaners 

I like Etee for SO many reasons. They’re based in Canada so they’re not too far away. They donate to good causes. They don’t do plastic. They don’t test on animals, and use safe materials. They care about their workers and supply chain. Their soap doesn’t have a strong scent, which is great if you have smell sensitivities. 

Remember that there’s a difference between cleaners and disinfectants. See my post on bleach for more information. https://lospatiperros.com/eco-friendly/bleach-is-bad-for-you-and-the-environment/ 

Additional Reading:
https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/cleaning/things-you-should-never-clean-with-vinegar-distilled-white-vinegar-a3336471803/
https://www.lung.org/clean-air/indoor-air/indoor-air-pollutants/cleaning-supplies-household-chem
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/household-cleaning-products-emit-chemicals-associated-with-heart-disease-cancer 
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/14/health/cleaning-products-chemicals-safety-wellness/index.html
https://www.ewg.org/cleaners/content/cleaners_and_health
https://sixdollarfamily.com/how-to-make-liquid-castile-soap-from-a-bar
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a31264367/is-vinegar-a-disinfectant/ 
https://www.healthline.com/health/is-vinegar-a-disinfectant#products

Image Credit: Jeshoots.com