Photo of a tree branch with a soggy, old roll of toilet paper on it

Top Sustainable Toilet Paper Choice for 2025

Mollie Bloudoff-Indelicato Leave a comment

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

Sustainable Options Overview

TLDR: Bamboo and recycled paper TP is a no-go because it’s not sustainable and often has a large carbon footprint. Buy a bidet and use Bumroll TP for drying. 

Why you should care: We cut down trees to wipe our butts. Trees are saving the world from climate change. WE CUT THEM DOWN for our BUTTS. In Canada alone, loggers clear cut more than a million acres of forest—mostly to feed US demand for toilet paper. Only read this article if you want to be super sad: https://www.nrdc.org/bio/jennifer-skene/toilet-paper-driving-climate-crisis-every-flush 

What you should buy: https://joinbumroll.com/products/premium-toilet-paper#looxReviews  

$5 discount: https://loox.io/z/1u68F6i2N 10% discount: BUMROLL10

Overall, I like Bumroll. It’s made in the US, recycled paper, no bleaching/chemicals and no plastic. It’s not soft but it doesn’t bother me because I’m using it with a bidet. https://lospatiperros.com/eco-friendly/say-goodbye-to-toilet-paper-the-sustainable-bidet-solution/

Basically, bamboo TP would be great except that most of it comes from China (bigger carbon footprint) or is grown in areas where forest was cut down to grow it. Recycled materials TP is also better for the environment but we’re running out of stuff to recycle so it’s not a long-term fix. Bidets are the best thing for the environment. Sure, they use water, but WAY less water than it takes to make rolls of TP. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/15/climate/toilet-paper-bidet-environment.html

This was helpful. I liked their review of “Who Gives a Crap,” which is recycled bamboo TP. Unfortunately, it’s made in China so the carbon footprint is an issue. https://sustainablykindliving.com/best-non-toxic-eco-friendly-toilet-paper-brands/

Funny NYT slideshow about what else to use besides TP. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/05/07/style/toilet-paper-alternatives-coronavirus.html

Super easy to understand breakdown of all the acronyms people use. If you’re gonna help the environment, don’t get scammed! This website gets some points knocked off for recommending TP that comes swathed in a plastic bag—kind of defeats the purpose of being eco-friendly! It also has a lot of UK-based products, which adds to the carbon footprint depending on where you live. https://www.leafscore.com/eco-friendly-bath-products/the-9-best-plastic-free-eco-friendly-toilet-paper-brands/

Photo Credit: Denny Müller

photo showing the trunk of a tree up close and the leaves and branches far away up in the sky

Say Goodbye to Toilet Paper: The Sustainable Bidet Solution

Mollie Bloudoff-Indelicato Leave a comment

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

Sustainable Options Overview

TLDR: Bidets are better for the environment, more sanitary than TP, cheaper in the long-term AND easy to install.

Why you should care: We cut down trees to wipe our butts. Trees are saving the world from climate change. WE CUT THEM DOWN for our BUTTS. In Canada alone, loggers clear cut more than a million acres of forest—mostly to feed US demand for toilet paper. (Only read this citation article if you want to be super sad https://www.nrdc.org/bio/jennifer-skene/toilet-paper-driving-climate-crisis-every-flush )

What you should buy: Rinseworks hand held bidet https://rinseworks.com/shop/aquaus-360-hand-held-bidet-sprayer-for-toilet/

I read a LOT of reviews about bidets. Some of them were fairly expensive and had bells and whistles that I was pretty sure I didn’t need. Some people complained about the aim of the water or suggested sitting a certain way to make sure they actually got clean. I didn’t want to deal with any of those shenanigans.

I decided to get a handheld bidet so I could aim where I pleased. This has the added benefit of being able to use it to clean the sink, a dirty cloth diaper or water a nearby houseplant. 

I also opted to get a non-heated option. It’s the middle of a snowstorm as I type this, and I have no regrets. You don’t really notice the temperature of the water, honestly. Plus, a heated bidet would just require you to run the water in your sink for longer until it heats up, and I don’t have time for that ish. 

I wanted a handle made of brass. Brass works better than normal handles or handles coated with “antimicrobial” film because it kills bacteria within minutes by messing up its DNA. That’s great because messed up DNA means the bacteria can’t mutate and cause a superbug. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3067274/ 

The bidet I recommended comes with this part, but in case you get a different type, please note: “‘Bidet attachments draw water from the same water supply that supplies your faucets. Each bidet attachment should come with a minimum of a one-way check valve to allow water to enter the bidet, but not allow it to go back to your water supply and possibly contaminate it.’ 

If your device doesn’t come with one, Diciolla said you can, and should, add one for sanitary purposes.” https://www.bhg.com/bathroom/remodeling/planning/best-bidet-attachments/#toc-best-handheld-brondell-cleanspa-luxury-handheld-bidet 

But a bidet uses water! So isn’t TP better? Nope, TP actually wastes more water than a bidet. https://betterhomepursuits.com/bidet-vs-toilet-paper/ 

Additional Reading:
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/bidets-better-than-toilet-paper/ 

Photo Credit: Michael Bryant

photo of a sign. on the sign is a dog holding a poop bag. the sign asks dog owners to clean up after their pets.

Sustainable, Eco-Friendly, Healthy Dog Poop Bags

Mollie Bloudoff-Indelicato Leave a comment

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

Sustainable Options Overview

TLDR: there are no sustainable options. Use stuff that you’d throw away anyway to pick up your dog’s poop.

Why you should care: Plastic bags used to pick up dog feces can pollute the environment, with an estimated 415 billion dog waste bags used each year globally (Mai et al., 2022). If you don’t have a dog, check this out for your feline friend.

What you should buy: You SHOULD NOT buy dog poop bags. Even the bags that say they’re degradable and biodegradable AREN’T. That’s because the bags need to be in lab or industrial composting conditions. And, I don’t know about you, but I don’t have an industrial composter in my house. Plus, even if the bags finally do break down, they leave microplastics behind, which pollutes the soil and the water. Not cool. (I actually had a great email conversation with one of the authors of this paper. She’s awesome!) Source: https://setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ieam.4970 

Here are some options that don’t require you to buy bags at all. Instead, it recommends using things from around the house. I asked my neighbors to save the bags that cover their newspapers. I use those when my dog does her business. https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/alternatives-to-dog-poop-bags I’ve also used empty cereal bags and plastic packaging from junk food.

Reviewers say that this poop paper works for large dogs. I’ve contacted the company to see what the “grease resistant coating” is made out of. They haven’t replied. https://www.chewy.com/pooch-paper-biodegradable-dog-waste/dp/263163 

Photo Credit: Todd Morris

Picture of a cardboard sign that says Earth is More Valuable Than Money

Sustainable Options Overview

Mollie Bloudoff-Indelicato Leave a comment

Strive for progress, not perfection.

When I’m buying a product, I take three things into consideration. In order of importance: health/safety, sustainability, adoption. These may be in a different order for you. For example, a lot of blankets and rugs are made out of recycled plastic. That’s awesome for sustainability, but for health, it’s not as great. “Adoption,” in this case, means how easy it is for me to incorporate this into my life. I’m pretty good at learning new habits if it means contributing to the greater good, but for some people this is more difficult. Research and see what works for you.

Health/safety: In terms of health/safety, there are two certifications that really stand out. They’re called GOTS and Oeko-Tex. GOTS is more strict but Oeko-Tex is a close second. These are two good explanations. The articles relate to rugs but the standards are the same for all products with these labels: https://begood.eco/sustainable-fashion/gots-vs-oeko-tex-whats-the-difference/ 

It’s important NOT to take a company’s word for it if they say they have a certification. Go onto the GOTS and Oeko-Tex websites to make sure.

Now, there are a few products that I recommend that do NOT have these certifications. And that’s because I believe the products are safe/healthy and sustainable but the companies are smaller and can’t afford/don’t want to pay for the certifications.

Why are certifications important in the first place? If it says “100% cotton” then it’s just cotton, right? Well, then you have to think about all the pesticides and chemicals that were used to grow, process and create the fiber. Plus all the chemicals for the dyes. And all the other crap that goes into making fabric that I don’t know about because I don’t have a degree in this kind of thing. Then there’s the issue of how the workers are treated, and how the land is treated, etc. These certifications mean we can worry less. There’s always going to be more research to do, but this is the very best of what we have right now.

Sustainability: As a first pass at sustainability, I tried to avoid products that were packaged in plastic. Then I looked at certifications. There are a LOT of certifications and many of them don’t mean much. The GOTS certification explained above really takes care of most of these concerns for anything fabric related. For other stuff, like paper products, I paid close attention to Forest Stewardship Council and Rainforest Alliance certifications. Basically, it means that forests aren’t being clear-cut to create the product you’re buying, no child labor, companies aren’t being jerks to the local community, etc. etc. nuance, etc. (check out the certifications’ websites to make sure brands are actually certified before buying.) https://wwf.panda.org/es/?219250/Remarkable-social-progress-when-forests-are-FSC-certified—new-study-confirms One caution, though, is that a recent lawsuit alleges that the RA isn’t actually doing its job: https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/rainforest-alliance-and-hershey-chocolate-sued-falsely-claiming-fair-labor-and-sustainability So be skeptical. And remember that sustainability also includes the safety and wellbeing of the people working for the companies and whether they’re paid a fair wage.

Shoe footprint in the sand surrounded by leaves, ferns, flowers, succulents, rocks and pine cones

Carbon footprint: When it came to buying products I was going to use for many years, I wasn’t as concerned about the carbon footprint of shipping. However, for products like toilet paper etc., that I go through frequently, I wanted a distributor closer to home. These recs are all based on my location on the East Coast of the USA. There are other great options out there if you’re in Europe or Australia or New Zealand.

Extra credit: Remember to thrift and buy second hand as much as possible! Don’t throw out the stuff you already have. Just make good choices when you go get new stuff.

Word choice: I use the word “chemicals” in mainly a negative context. I know that everything is a chemical—water is a chemical. Chemicals can be awesome. They save lives. We couldn’t live without them! I probably could be more creative but because this is already way longer than I expected, you’ll just have to excuse my broad brush. I also use a lot of “should” and “should not.” These are blanket statements, but they don’t apply to everyone. For example, most people should not take 30 minute showers. It’s just not good for the environment. But if you have something like, say, depression and a 30 min shower is what you need to do to get up in the morning then—you do you. You’re not a bad person for not doing ALL THE THINGS. Do what you can. Progress, not perfection.

Why you should trust my recs: I mean, always do your own research. I’m a health/science journalist so I’m good at reading studies and parsing info. But this isn’t an article. I’m only writing this up because I spend hours and hours researching before making a purchase. I often read dozens of sites and academic articles. I’m not gonna make this pretty or eloquent. It’s just an information dump. My hope is that I can save you some time.

Privilege: Remember that doing this kind of stuff takes privilege. If you have privilege, then you should go above and beyond to make changes. The idea is that your purchases can drive down costs and make healthy, sustainable products more easily accessible.

Money: “Wow, these things you’re recommending are way more expensive than stuff I can buy on Walmart/Amazon, etc.!!” Yep, think of how much extra work it takes to make a product safe and eco-friendly. It’s way easier to half-ass something and sell it than it is to put a lot of thought and care into a product.

Does it even matter?: Consider the starfish… http://jmjfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Starfish_Parable.pdf 

Photo of an orange, five-footed starfish in the sand as sea foam comes toward it, almost touching the left-side foot

Kids and Fur Kids: This stuff is important for adults, but it’s even more important for your kids and fur kids. “A baby’s skin is thinner than an adult’s, and chemicals can be absorbed more easily. ‘In fact, my original research when I was a doctoral student was on agricultural workers and pesticide penetration through their clothing,’ she says. ‘And one of the things we found in those studies was that farmers would come in and they’d pick their kids up and hug them, and the farmer might not get pesticide poisoning but the child would because that pesticide would be on the garment.’ https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/laundry/wash-new-clothes-before-wearing-them-for-the-first-time-a8763351216/ 

Health risk: You say that a lot of stuff isn’t healthy, but is that true for me specifically? Good question—I don’t know! I know that research shows that this stuff isn’t good for your body and it’s even worse for a kid’s body, but I can’t determine your individual risk. Only you and your doctor can do that.

Errors: What if I find an error? Or things you didn’t consider? WELL! You can always message me and NICELY give me additional info.

ARE YOU GETTING PAID FOR THIS?: I don’t get paid for any of my recommendations. I don’t get discounts or kickbacks or anything at all except a healthier home (which is wonderful!). If you find this helpful at all, think about how much time/effort/frustration was involved and consider Venmo-ing me as a thank you: @molliemakesitllc

Photo Credit: featured image, Markus Spiske/ footprint, Evie S./ starfish, Pedro Lastra

What to do on a short trip to Alaska

Mollie Bloudoff-Indelicato Leave a comment

Utqiaġvik (1 day)

Picture of a big, green boat covered in snow and leaning up against a large shack-like house that is also covered in snow. Sun setting in the background over miles of ice and snow.

We went to Alaska in June for the good weather. One of my life goals was to go to the northernmost part of the United States, which is a town called Utqiaġvik (Oot-Key-og-vik) or Barrow depending on if you’re a foreigner or a native American. It’s easy to get to but getting back can be hard if there’s a storm or fog that cancels flights. There aren’t too many places to stay and they book up far in advance for workers, scientists and naturalists that venture up there. Here’s where we stayed: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/9059712 Photo Credit: Deborah Schildt

Photo of a polar bear with its paws crossed in front of it, looking down from a tall pile of snow and ice.

I also really wanted to see a polar bear, and we got lucky and spotted one (from far away, thank goodness!) while we were there! We hired a tour guide named Mike (907-367-4972), and he was quite the character. But he picked us up from the airport and drove us around. We got so many awesome stories. He even offered to park and let us jump in the water, but it was frozen solid so we declined! Photo Credit: Annie Spratt

Food is really expensive there because everything has to get flown in so you can bring a bag of your own food, pay your B&B host to cook for you or shop at the local grocery store. Just be prepared for the prices to be quadrupled from what you can get in Anchorage. There’s no alcohol.

You can also reach out to local research centers and native communities to see if there are any events. We met up with a scientist to chat and got to see a local whale catching ceremony! You don’t need a car here, everything is within walking distance or you can ask anyone for a ride. There’s also a great community FB group you can join and meet up with people or ask for advice!

Must Sees:

Anchorage (1 day)

Pic of a long main street at night with buildings on either side. It is raining.

Photo Credit: Simon Hurry

Seward (3 days)

Picture of small mountain peaks and a large swatch of what looks like snow but is actually a glacier! Blue sky with wispy white clouds.

Seward was pretty awesome. We hiked up a glacier and then went ice climbing in a crevasse! It’s WAY easier than rock climbing and so so beautiful. On the hike there we saw a brown bear a little too close for comfort, but our guide was super on it and we were still able to get to our destination. Really appreciated their safety consciousness! https://www.exitglacierguides.com/content/exit-glacier-ice-climbing-trip Here’s where we stayed: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/46714430 Photo Credit: Drew Farwell

Picture of a pod of orca whales partially breaching the ocean water. Grey-blue sky in the background.

We also booked a half-day boat tour and achieved our life goal of seeing orcas (among others)! There’s also a full-day tour available. I’d probably go for longer if you like boats. I’m just not a fan of being on the water so we opted for a shorter ride. Major Marine tour options Photo Credit: NOAA

NOTE:

There are a LOT of anti-vaxers and MAGA people in Alaska. I would bring COVID tests and Paxlovid just in case you get sick and aren’t able to find them.

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Neighbors

Mollie Bloudoff-Indelicato Leave a comment

I like to get the neighbors on my block little gifts for various holidays. Just simple things to let them know I appreciate them!

For Valentine’s Day this year, I bought a bunch of chocolate roses and then attached cards to them that read:

Roses are red
Violets are blue
We’re so lucky
To have neighbors like you!

Everyone really appreciated the sentiment, and it made me happy to bring a some cheer to an otherwise cold and dreary February.

Image Credit: Jamie Street
Image is of a heart drawn with sparkler fire.

picture of a waterfall in the distance surrounded by green jungle

Things to do in Eastern Costa Rica

Mollie Bloudoff-Indelicato Leave a comment

Pro Tips

  • I would recommend renting a car unless you’re taking a tour.
  • If you’re driving in the country, know that many cars will flash their lights at you instead of honking to signal their displeasure.
  • Drivers turn on their hazards when they’re going to slow down for stuff like a traffic jam or even for an upcoming turn.
  • Make sure to rent a car that can handle huge potholes
  • Before heading out, check out the route on google maps and LOOK at the condition of the roads. Google Maps will recommend taking dirt roads. Don’t. They are awful, long and a great way to get stuck somewhere.
  • I’d recommend not driving long distances at night if you can help it.
  • Be prepared for fog and heavy rain. Know what to do in both.
  • Rental companies will give you the option of renting electric vehicles but we didn’t see many charging stations so best to get gas.
  • Bring a light for your camera. The rainforest is often dark and you’ll get better animal photos if you have a light.
  • I brought hiking shoes and didn’t end up wearing them. I wore wool socks with my Keens sandals. My feet dried quickly and stayed cool. If you’re going on legit, off-trail hikes then I’d recommend something sturdier, especially since Costa Rica has so many venomous snakes.
  • Bring lots of DEET and long-sleeved quick dry pants/shirts. Costa Rica does have ticks and breakbone fever, and you do NOT want to get it.
  • That being said, before you go out, know where hospitals are that carry anti-venom. And look up what to do if you’re bitten. You have about three hours before the damage becomes permanent.
  • Before you head out, stop by a store and pick up electrolytes. It’s good to have on hand in case you get traveler’s diarrhea.
  • When you book a flight, get extra leg room (ELR). The seats are much smaller in Latin America and ELR seats are like regular North American seats. If you actually need ELR then you’ll need to look at business or first class seats.
  • If you’re flying Avianca, do not sleep if you want a snack/drink. They will not ask you if you want something. You must flag down the cart and ask yourself.
  • “Qué chiva” means “how cool.”
  • People really do say “Qué pura vida” a lot!
  • In the U.S., “Mucho gusto” usually means “nice to meet you” but in Costa Rica it’s used in another way, too. It’s often said by a waiter at a restaurant after you’ve ordered food and means something like “with pleasure.”
  • Don’t post pictures on social media of anybody handling animals. It could get the rescue in trouble and their funding rescinded.
  • Make sure a rescue is legit before visiting. If you get to handle any of the animals, it’s not legit and you shouldn’t give them your money.
  • Don’t spend money on a hotel/airbnb with a beautiful view. Firstly, it rains ALL the time so you’re likely to not even get the view. Secondly, people don’t lie but they do fib a lot so the photos you see on the website are probably not super accurate.
  • All the places we stayed at in the rainforest had their showers outside. This is great if you’re really into nature, but not great if you’re prone to mosquito bites! I would try to get a room with the shower indoors.
  • People will often tell you what you want to hear but not actually follow through. They’re trying to be polite, but if you don’t know how things roll, it can be frustrating and confusing. I had to see the doctor, and I asked the nurse when he’d be back. He said that the doctor would be back in 10 minutes because that’s obviously what I wanted to hear. Forty-five minutes later… Don’t trust that someone will follow through. Either go with the flow or do what you need to do to make it happen
  • Bring ear plugs. Construction happens at all hours. People let their dogs roam around and get into fights/howling contests. A lot of houses are made of metal containers and the rain falling on them is very loud.
  • If you get severely dehydrated, go to a Unimed and see a doctor to get an IV. It’ll cost you like $150 for a few hours, and they’re meant for tourists so they’ll speak English. I got sick while I was there, and it was definitely worth the money to feel better.
  • We didn’t get to do this, but I wanted to add this to our itinerary: https://badgeofawesome.com/400-metre-jungle-waterslide-costa-rica/

San José Airport

When transferring/layovers, keep the receipt for anything you buy in the airport because you’ll need it when you get searched or they’ll just throw it away.

We didn’t change over any money at the airport, and we didn’t need to. Most places take credit card or US dollars.

When we landed, we stayed nearby at the Fairfield Inn. It was a little noisy between 8 and 9 a.m. when most people seemed to be heading down to breakfast, but it was super quiet overall, and I got a good sleep. Everyone there was very friendly and the checkout time was noon!

I find that travel makes my stomach a bit finicky so we ordered from Denny’s a lot. It’s on Uber Eats, and you can get it delivered to the hotel even late at night!

Poas Volcano

picture of a couple wearing quick dry clothing in front of a caldera filled with turquoise liquid

Book tickets online before going. Arriving late isn’t an issue. Be prepared to pay for parking and bring a mask if needed (for the sulfur). If you’re sensitive, plan for a shorter visit. Avoid rainy days, as you probably won’t be able to see anything. I loved the path up the side of the volcano—it was full of huge, beautiful plants I’ve only seen in greenhouses! Lots of birds, too, so make sure to download Cornell’s bird ID app on your phone. The paths weren’t crowded, and we just sat at the top of mountain and watched the clouds roll in. It was very calming, and I felt close to nature.

La Fortuna Waterfall

two people wearing safari hats smile in foreground and you see a waterfall in the background surrounded by jungle

The La Fortuna Waterfall was underwhelming. The photo above is exactly the same picture you’ll get. Loud music from the restaurant and nearby construction* scared away wildlife, and the orchids on the Orchid Walk were tiny and not colorful like the ones you find in greenhouses. You can walk down a long staircase to the base of the falls, but swimming is often restricted due to weather. With so many other waterfalls to explore, this one didn’t feel worth the trip. Consider alternatives for a better experience.

*In Latin America, someone is ALWAYS building something. Don’t count on peace and quiet anywhere!

Koki’s

picture of delicious vegetables in a stone bowl

Koki Beach Restaurant was the best place we ate! It was a standout experience! Sit in Fabian’s section—he was amazing and kindly lowered the music for me due to my sound sensitivity. The veggie rice dish was fresh, beautifully presented and delicious. Ask to see the owner’s Chavela Vargas museum and the local photography exhibit. The maracuyá crème brûlée is heavenly! Try the local piña arroz drink and their amazing piña coladas. Note: there’s occasional backfiring cars nearby—an FYI for those with PTSD.

Sloth Sanctuary

picture of baby two toed sloth looking at the camera

The Sloth Sanctuary was the highlight of our trip! Ignacio, our guide, was phenomenal—knowledgeable, engaging and passionate. Make sure to bring extra cash to tip him; he truly deserves it. The private tour is absolutely worth it, offering a more personalized experience. The baby sloths were beyond adorable and unforgettable. This sanctuary is doing incredible work to protect these amazing creatures. I’d return to Costa Rica just to visit this center again. It’s a magical experience and a must-see for any animal lover!

Banana Azul Hotel

The villa was a bit out of date, and unfortunately, we had a lot of mosquitos inside and a large roach. We had to go out and buy a mosquito net, which wasn’t ideal. Getting bitten indoors was not fun. The plunge pool was tiny. The restaurant was decent but nothing special. On the positive side, everyone was friendly, which made communication easy. And there were some cute turtles. Overall, while the location had potential, but it wasn’t worth the price.

Jaguar Tour

Carlos led our jaguar tour, and he was fantastic! The group size was about a dozen. The guides are all volunteers, so make sure to bring cash for tips. We saw amazing wildlife, including a howler monkey, toucan and agouti. The sanctuary has great rules in place to protect the animals, which we really appreciated. The stories were fun, informative, and added a lot to the experience. Highly recommend this tour for anyone looking to learn about wildlife and support conservation efforts! (PS There are no jaguars. They explain the misnomer during the tour!)

Spicy Coconut Restaurant

picture of a stone path that leads to a horizon dotted by palm trees

The service wasn’t friendly, and I felt pressured to order something I didn’t want. However, the maracuyá pina and ginger drink was absolutely delicious! I also appreciated the use of metal straws, which was a nice eco-friendly touch. Landscaping outside the restaurant was gorgeous, and I might stop just to take some photos. Overall, the drinks were the highlight of the visit.

picture of red gift box with gold bow on top surrounded by red paper hearts on black paper

What to Buy Someone Going Through Chemo and Radiation for Cancer

Mollie Bloudoff-Indelicato Leave a comment

When my mom started chemotherapy and radiation, I knew I wanted to get her little gifts throughout the process to cheer her up. But I was also a little worried about what exactly to get. I didn’t want to ask her for ideas and make her use up valuable brain power. (If she had needed something, I 100% would’ve just made sure she had it. This was supposed to be totally unnecessary stuff.) I also didn’t want to get her practical things OR stuff that would exacerbate her symptoms. So many blogs posts out there recommend food baskets (during chemo?!) or products for chapped lips, etc. None of that sounds fun. (Of course, everyone is different!) Here’s what I ended up buying:

Book of 100 Hugs

Link: https://www.betterworldbooks.com/product/detail/100-hugs-a-little-book-of-comfort-9781449427290

My mom said she loved carrying this little book around with her. It’s light and easily fits in a purse or backpack. She said she’d pick a random page, read it and just feel a tiny bit better.

Flowers in a Dome

Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CLNV5GHB/

I wanted to buy her flowers after her first surgery but knew she was also dealing with some pretty serious nausea. Flowers can get smelly. Plus, I knew my dad would have to take care of them and eventually throw them out. It seemed like a bit of a mess when they were already dealing with so much. So I got her these flowers in a dome. They’re supposed to last for ages and—no smell or mess.

Pocket Hug

Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LLTQKTZ

They have lots of engraving options for this pocket hug, but I actually thought the message for sobriety was the most fitting for a cancer journey. You can also look for these on Etsy.

Books

Link: https://bookshop.org/

I got my mom a few books that would be engaging but not emotional. Something she could read when she felt up to it but nothing that would require too much effort or emotional regulation. I purchased them on Bookshop.org, which helps support local bookstores! Perestroika in Paris, Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, Dark Matter, Sure I’ll Join Your Cult, A Deadly Education Scholomance, Dial A for Aunties, How to be Champion, Get Fuzzy Bunch #14

Positivity Calendar

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Catchyourdreams-Daily-Motivational-Calendar-Inspirational

This one isn’t for everybody, but my mom is really into positivity, and this is a cute calendar that you can use and reuse year after year! I found that the quotes aren’t too sappy and more lovey, which is what I was looking for.

Hug Pillow

Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074PBGM1F

Apparently I’m really into hug gifts! This one was cool because I live far away and couldn’t give my mom a hug when I know she could’ve used one. There are a lot of products that you can customize so you can make this as detailed and personalized as you want.

Funny Positivity Frenz

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1595857600/positive-potato-gifts-with-stand-cute

These are just cute, inexpensive and bring a smile. I doubt this is going to last forever in my mom’s clutter-free house, but it was worth it for a small laugh.

Through Thick and Thin

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1322282647/friendship-gift-best-friend-gifts-gift

You can find these as key chains, necklaces, rings, etc. I liked the idea of sending a little reminder that we have your back no matter what.

Gratitude Journal

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Gratitude-Journal-Notebook-Self-Care-Affirmations/dp/B086PQXNC6

This gift is definitely not for everyone. Cancer sucks. Illness sucks. Going to the hospital sucks. You get the idea. But if you know your person really well then you can help them acknowledge the bad and the good.

Heart Photos

Link: https://www.minted.com/product/photo-art/MIN-ZRO-GCP/heart-snapshot-mix-photo-art

I thought this was a great idea because it’s decently priced and small enough that it’s not a burden to find a place to keep it. It can also remind your person of fun times you’ve had together and get their mind off of current suckiness.

Feminist Sweatshirt

Link: https://feministtrash.com/collections/sweatshirts

Hospitals are COLD. Get a HUGE sweatshirt so your person is comfy, can layer and also has space for IVs and other hospital accoutrements. I liked these feminist ones because they make you feel badass.

Affirmation Tote Bag & No-Scent Markers

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1583273746/positive-affirmations-coloring-tote-bag

I got my mom a tote bag should could use to carry stuff to the hospital and some unscented markers she could use to color in the design if she felt like a calming activity. There are lots of options for totes—some of them are really spicy and could be fun for different personalities! https://www.etsy.com/listing/4330766373/personalized-bad-btch-affirmations-mug

Crochet Flowers

Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4345745174/care-package-for-women-going-through

My mom loves flowers, but I know real flowers have an odor and, again, I didn’t want my dad to have to clean anything up. These crocheted flowers are sunny and cute and can get donated to a thrift store guilt-free when they’re done brightening her day.

Practical Gifts

And, finally, we have a list of practical gifts. Some people are just very practical, and I don’t want to leave them out! Here’s what we stocked up on for my mom. I think, for some people, it would be cool to dress it up a bit in a gift basket with a big bow. Make sure to clear all these products by their doctor. For example, many doctors say you shouldn’t eat grapefruit because it can interfere with medicine. Even if it seems benign, always best to ask!

Candies: ginger, people swear by Jolly Ranchers or Sour Patch Kids and cannabis gummies

Good teas for nausea include: ginger, chamomile, honey-lemon, fennel, peppermint and licorice. I read that it is best to try and get decaffeinated tea because caffeine can dehydrate you.

Snacks: salt and vinegar chips, saltine crackers, pretzels, cold foods like popsicles, applesauce, cereal, milkshakes with protein powder, anything with peanut butter like peanut butter pretzels, ensure protein drinks, frozen grapes, goldfish, plain bagels

Drinks for electrolytes: apple juice, pedialyte and pedialyte popsicles, LMNT citrus, Liquid IV

Items: no spill cup (like a Contigo). If you’re in a comfy position or just don’t feel like sitting all the way up, you can still sip without getting messy. Hot water thermos. 9 ft phone charging cable. Imodium. Alcohol swabs to sniff when nauseated. Personal wipes/face wipes. Battery-powered humidifier. Battery-powered dim light. Heated blanket. Noise-canceling headphones. Bougie hand lotion. Vix for nausea. Eye mask. Chapstick. Water bottle. Slipper socks with grips on the bottom. Sanitizing wipes for the hospital. Crossword puzzle. Pillow.

Non-emotional movies: Memento, Insomnia, The Prestige, Glass Onion, Knives Out, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Baby Driver, Groundhog Day, Fargo, Punch Drunk Love, Collateral, Star Trek (2009), The Adventures of Tin-Tim, The Gentleman, Snatch, and Sherlock Holmes are pretty fun. Guy Ritchie films, James Bond, Mission Impossible, Jack Ryan, Ocean’s movies with George Clooney, Adam Sandler movies, Edge of Tomorrow, Source Code, the Phonebooth, Heat is a classic heist movie, Young Frankenstein, Magic Mike, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Uncle Buck, Elf, Old School, Only Murders in the Building, Horrible Bosses, Inside Man TV show

Pro tip: Many bloggers recommend asking your doctor to schedule hydration appointments after you finish chemo to prevent dehydration and feel better, faster. https://mycancerresources.com/what-is-hydration-therapy-for-cancer-patients/

Photo Credit: Kostiantyn Li

How to Paint a Couch or Chair

Mollie Bloudoff-Indelicato Leave a comment

I watched a LOT of YouTube videos (see below).

I think the videos all used “regular” paint. So all the stuff they did to get it to soak into the fabric like scrubbing and then using sand paper is really unnecessary if you just buy the right paint in the first place.

This dye is great if you’re starting out with a white or gray fabric and going darker.

If you’re starting with a patterned chair or something a little darker, you’ll want a paint like this.

I sealed everything with a color fixant in a spray bottle.

Here are how my projects turned out:

Here are some helpful links: Painting a chair, chalk painting, painting upholstery, dye a sofa, dye a velvet chair

Photo Credit for Featured Image: Taelynn Christopher

Review of RTZ Hope Retreat

Mollie Bloudoff-Indelicato Leave a comment

Grief is a tricky thing, especially the grief of losing a child. When my loss was nearing its one-year anniversary, and I was still heartbroken, still processing the grief, I knew I needed more help than a weekly therapy session. So I looked into grief retreats.

I wanted to attend the RTZ Hope Retreat, but I didn’t feel comfortable going because of their lack of understanding regarding service dogs. As someone with a disability, I’m not required to message venues about bringing a service dog. But I always like to give people a head’s up. Ninety-nine percent of the time it’s fine, but if there’s a 1% chance that someone won’t welcome my dog, I don’t want to be there.

To their credit, employees wrote to me and told me that having my dog would be OK. But then they wrote to me saying, “service animals do have certification, which emotional support animals do not.” The retreat told me that I would not be able to book specific sleeping accommodations because of my dog.

I explained, “Most people don’t know this, but you’re not required to have a certification to have a service dog. And you’re also not allowed to be segregated to specific areas because of the animal.”

And, “(The information) is available on the federal government’s website and on CA’s info page. Hopefully, once they read the laws they’ll be a bit more welcoming. =)”

Unfortunately, the employees I corresponded with did not admit to their error. I felt like if they didn’t understand the basic laws surrounding service dogs and weren’t willing to look into it then there would be other problems if I went on the retreat. And I didn’t think I could handle trying to deal with those problems while also trying to process my grief.

I wanted to post this review so hopefully the next person with a disability won’t have the same issue I did.

Here is a link to the federal rules regarding service animals:

Here’s another link regarding the federal rules:

Photo Feature Credit: Priscilla Du Preez