MY PICKS

What I Use in Real Life — Coffee, Comforts & Everyday Essentials

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This is my real-life resource page — the things I actually use, rely on, or have researched carefully. These aren’t random picks. These are things I actually use, tested in real life — especially here in the desert and in caregiving.

Some of these come from learning the hard way — like the carport (we lost a cloth one when the wind picked up during setup and sent it flying into the desert). Everything here made the list for a reason. If it’s here, it earned it.

Explore and click around, or use the index below to jump to what you need.

Explore More: Caregiving • Parkinson’s • Coffee • Cocoa • Resale • Desert Life • Robots

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Clean Coffee, Cocoa & Cacao

☕ From the Blog: Hard-Earned Lessons from Real Desert Living

Beaniac Organic French Roast
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Decaf & Lifeboost Options
Decaf • Lifeboost

Cacao Options
Sunfood • Navitas

Caregiver Tools, Comforts & Quiet Survival Tricks

Caregiving isn’t a hobby — it’s a full-body, full-heart, full-brain job that nobody trains you for. You learn by doing, by Googling at 2 AM, by crying in the laundry room, and by celebrating the tiny wins that nobody else even sees.

These are the things that have actually helped us — not the Pinterest version, not the “in theory” version, but the real-life, desert-living, Parkinson’s-family, caregiver-survival version.

Bathroom & UTI Essentials (Click to open)

UTI Test Strips
If you know, you know. One minute they’re fine, the next minute they’re confused, agitated, or suddenly “not themselves.” Before we panic, we test. These strips have saved us from unnecessary ER trips more times than I can count.
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D-Mannose
A gentle supplement many caregivers swear by. We keep it on hand for early symptoms or doctor-approved prevention. It’s not magic, but it’s helpful.
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Fleet Enema
The unglamorous hero. Sometimes the “sudden confusion” isn’t a UTI — it’s constipation. A Fleet enema can clear the fog faster than any detective show plot twist.

Constipation, according to our urologist, is often connected to UTIs — that's something we’ve learned the hard way.

We also keep Miralax on hand for regular support (Costco has the best price we’ve found).
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Liquid I.V. (Sugar-Free)
Arizona heat + Parkinson’s = dehydration waiting to happen. These packets live in our med bag — easy, fast, and helpful for daily electrolytes.
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Depends (Costco)
The workhorse. Costco has been the best value for us by far. If you need a backup option online:
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NorthShore (If Available)
The heavy-duty option caregivers rave about. Not always on Amazon, but worth checking.
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Caregiver Quick Grab List (Click to open)

Depends (Costco = Best Value)
One of the biggest ongoing costs. When we run low, we feel it fast.
Check Amazon backup option

UTI Test Strips
Sudden confusion or agitation? This is one of the first things we check.
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Urinal / Urine Bottle
Nighttime lifesaver. Helps prevent risky trips to the bathroom.
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Blood Pressure Monitor
Parkinson’s can affect blood pressure more than people expect — having one at home helps catch changes early.
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Mobility & Daily Living (Click to open)

These are the practical, everyday items that make the difference between struggling through the day and getting through it safely. Not glamorous — but essential.

Walker for Stability & Confidence
When balance starts to shift, a good walker helps maintain independence and reduce fall risk.
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Laser Cane (For Freezing Episodes)
A specialized cane that projects a visual line to step over — this can help restart movement during freezing episodes. This is our next cane!
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Bed Rail Assist
Makes getting in and out of bed safer without needing a full hospital setup.
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Bidet Attachment
One of those things you don’t think about until you need it — improves hygiene and makes caregiving easier and more dignified.
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Parkinson’s Movement Tools (The Ones My Husband Actually Asked For)

Every neurologist we’ve ever met has said the same thing: movement is medicine. These are the tools that have genuinely helped with balance, strength, and confidence — and the ones my husband specifically wanted.

Stand-In-Place Boxing Pole
Rock Steady Boxing at home — no hanging hardware, just movement and energy. we bought ours used at a sports consignment shop for $100. These options are great and on our radar for when its time to replace.
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Boxing Gloves
12–14 oz is a good range for most adults. Great for coordination and confidence.
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Stretch Bands
Daily mobility, posture, and strength support.
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Weights (Up to 20 lbs)
Strength training matters. We rotate between lighter and heavier sets.
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Exercise Bike
Ours has lasted years — great for consistent cardio and leg strength.
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Forced-Exercise Bike (Wish List)
This is one I’d consider adding — designed to help push movement beyond what the body initiates on its own. When we looked into it, even refurbished ones were running in the thousands, so we went with a NordicTrack recumbent bike instead.

If your person with Parkinson’s isn’t self-motivated, this kind of bike can make a real difference — it helps keep the movement going even when the body won’t.
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Resale Tools I Use

Bubble Wrap — Skip the Big Store Prices
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Brother Laser Printer (for Shipping Labels)
I ordered the most popular thermal printer three different times — and every time it was a fail (total fail-whale). Even my hubby finally threw up his hands in despair. They all went back.

Meanwhile, my trusty Brother laser printer has lasted over 6 years and is still going strong. At this point I’d buy another without hesitation — budget-friendly, reliable, wireless… honestly, what’s not to love?
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Shipping Labels (2 per sheet)
Basic but essential — and something you’ll go through faster than you think. I stick with standard 2-up labels so they work perfectly with a regular printer.
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Collections, Finds & Value

🪙 From the Blog: The Roommate Coin Story

Coin Kit
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Magnifier
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Home & Desert Essentials

Tripod Sprinkler — Feel Like a Kid Again (and Water Your Trees)
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Shed, Carport & Outdoor

Shed
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Carport
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Splash Pad - Haven’t Tried This Yet (But I Want To)
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Brain Health & Parkinson’s Support

🧠 From the Blog: Caring for a Partner with Parkinson’s

ParkinsonPlace.org
We do it all — MCT oil, CoQ10, B12, turmeric extract, cognitive supplements.

But exercise is the only approach consistently shown to help slow progression in many cases.

Move it or lose it.

Please treat everything here as ideas, not professional advice.

You’re not alone in this — and I hope this helps.

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Never expected — always appreciated.