lazy
although i really dont have your standard weekends since i am taking a break from work and travel, i still feel mentally lazy on this #sundaze.

“she is water,
powerful enough to drown you,
soft enough to cleanse you,
deep enough to save you.”

ricky stanicky
to ease the sunday scaries, i recommend this amazon prime comedy with zac efron and john cena. i wouldnt say it is the best comedy movie, however there are a lot of familiar faces. plus, it’s just one of those mindless movies that easily passes time – in a happy, funny way, of course.

@corporatenatalie instagram
i’m definitely bias when it comes to content around san francisco, and this content creator is spot on when it comes to hilariously mimicking start-up work culture, and girl culture too. please, to anyone who works remotely, in a start-up, or just appreciates #sfw humor, follow her. i have not followed her recently launched podcast yet, but it is on the list for sure!

too good to be true by kacey musgraves
calm music pairs extremely well with a lazy day, and kacey musgraves new album hits today. this is my favorite song because it’s close to home for me – “be good to me, and i’ll be good to you, but please don’t be too good to be true.”

harmless harvest coconut water
literally the best coconut water on the planet. no added sugars, this sweet, electrolyte beverage is both tasty and very healthy. for both the egg retrieval and cancer treatments, it is highly recommended to intake lots of electrolytes to stay hydrated and mitigate a lot of symptoms including bloating, digestion issues, and more. it naturally does have a lot of sugar so i make a hormonal-friendly cocktail – coconut water, orange juice, salt, and water.

glow recipe watermelon glow pha + bha toner
before i started chemo, i researched a lot about beauty and from the little i found, there were a lot of similarities in recommended products that are safe for women who are pregnant or have pcos – basically natural, safe chemical products. to my surprise, the glow recipe toner received a 100/100 score on the yuka app – plus, it smells great and is effective! also, it comes in a travel size, which is a must!

vuori pose plyo tank – white heather
medium
if you knew me just by my blog, you would think i am just this boujee fitness apparel wearer, which ironically i am not at all. traditionally a bargain shopper, i have been looking high and low for built-in bra tank tops that are comfortable, can support these two different-sized ladies, and looks good for everyday wear. i finally found pieces from vuori and athleta (and not amazon, i know…) that hit all the points. my absolute favorite is the plyo tank that supports, has padded liners, comes in neutral colors, and can look good for casual, leisure wear. please note: i do not recommend this for workouts as there is not enough support to strap these puppies down.

medical update
i just want to share that i am extremely grateful on what i have been physically and emotionally experiencing during this cancer-fighting journey so far. i know i have it much better than most as i have not felt nauseous, experienced mouth sores or nose bleeds, eye toxicity, and the extra-long list of other symptoms that go with chemotherapy. i also do realize this is the start of the journey so i am appreciating every single day that goes by where i feel somewhat normal.

with that said, as those who know me in a professional setting, i still like to proactively prepare, just in case. to prepare for my next infusion on 3/26, here is a list of things to do/bring before you head to your treatment:

here is my chemo packing list on my amazon storefront in case you are interested in product recommendations:

prep/wear:

• hair: wash your hair with sulfate-free shampoo AND NO CONDITIONER IF YOU ARE COLD CAPPING WITH DIGNICAP. DO NOT STYLE YOUR HAIR BECAUSE THEY WILL SPRAY AND SOAK THE HAIR ON YOUR SCALP AND PUT A THICK SWIMMERS CAP OVER IT.
• APPAREL: I WORE A THICK SWEAT SET, HIGH SOCKS, AND KNOCK-OFF PLATFORM UGGS, AND WAS HAPPY WITH MY CHOICES.
• EAT: IT CAN TAKE HOURS BEFORE YOUR INFUSION ACTUALLY STARTS WITH YOUR LABS, ONCOLOGY APPOINTMENTS, AND PHARMACY PREP – SO IF YOU CAN, HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO EAT AND DRINK BEFORE YOU GET TO THE HOSPITAL.
• rinse: my doctor’s office recommended that i rinse my mouth out 4 times a day with 1 tsp of baking soda and 1 tsp of salt. *knock on wood* i have not experienced any mouth sores, and recommend it too!
• pain prevention: for those cold capping, my doctor recommended me to take advil or tylenol 30-60 minutes prior to treatment. please check with your doctor but i did not feel any pain or “brain freeze” during treatment.

PACK:

• sense of humor: this whole thing is fucked up
• large duffel: to hold all the things
• warm blanket: iv is cool, and frozen scalp from cold capping, duh. ALSO, DO NOT BRING A CORDED, HEATED BLANKET AS THE HOSPITAL WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO PLUG-IN FOR POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARDS. I DIDN’T THINK IT WAS NECESSARY BUT MAY BE BETTER TO BRING HAND WARMERS OR PACKS INSTEAD.
• hard candy: iv can bring out INTERESTING tastes in your mouth. mine was a subtle taste like when you brushed your teeth and then drank orange juice and randomly onset for almost a week
• chapstick: being cold can make lips dry
• headphones: make sure you wear the right kind if you are cold capping – mine required the over-the-ear type!
• water: recommend one with a straw
• hot tea or coffee, or something with flavor: recommend a thermos with a straw too since you can’t really move from your chair or want to remove your blanket if you don’t have to. plus, you may want to bring something that isn’t just water to help with the temporary taste in your mouth.
• light meal: of all the things i brought, i really snacked on chips and things that were small and easy to eat. i was nervous of getting nauseous
• fun stuff: since i had to freeze my eyes during the 90-minute infusion, i was not really able to read or go on my laptop, but highly recommend bringing things to do while you are sitting – since the whole treatment can be 4-5 hours long if you are cold capping.
• portable battery + chargers: luckily, ucsf is equipped with outlets right next to your infusion chair, but have read that not every hospital is like that. make sure to check or bring a portable battery that can charge your phone and/or laptop

if your doctor does not give you pre-infusion iv medication (thank you dr. rugo for zofran), i would recommend bringing things to prevent nausea. as mentioned, i did not experience that symptom but here are things i found that have helped others, including pregnant women:

• disposable vomit bags: for the car ride to- and from- treatment
• portable aromatherapy stick: distracting senses helps me from feeling BAD (SICK, CLAUSTROPHOBIC FROM MRIS, ETC.), and THIS ONE GOT REALLY GREAT REVIEWS FROM AMAZON.
• ginger chews: similar to hard candy, ginger is supposed to subside any nauseous feeling so it may be good to bring some of these